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Dongying’s investment soars with quality focus

DONGYING, China, Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

Dongying’s investment promotion system has made significant strides in 2024 by enhancing the quality and efficiency of investment attraction. The city has seen a notable increase in investment, higher project quality, and a major share of industrial investment.

Dongying secured 526 new investment projects last year, with a total contract value of 237.05 billion yuan ($32.55 billion). Currently, 425 projects are underway, with an investment of 92.43 billion yuan.

The city has focused on attracting large-scale, high-quality projects, including 61 by Fortune Global 500 companies and state-owned enterprises like Shanghai Electric and Guohua Energy, totaling 43.07 billion yuan.

Industrial investment projects made up a significant portion of the city’s total investments. Specifically, 122 key provincial and municipal projects contributed to 56.5 percent of the total number of projects. These projects accounted for 58.3 percent of the total investment, amounting to 214.43 billion yuan.

In 2025, Dongying’s investment promotion efforts will center on five key initiatives: enhancing industrial investment, driving large-scale projects, innovating investment models, optimizing services, and strengthening investment capabilities.

The city will adopt a chain-based approach to promote traditional industry transformation, using leading enterprises to attract supporting and upstream and downstream partners. It will aim for industry value chain projects to account for over 65 percent of total investments in 2025.

The city will also focus on emerging industries such as the low-altitude economy, new energy storage, and hydrogen energy to build new competitive advantages.

This year, Dongying plans to attract more than 40 projects, each valued at over 1 billion yuan, and achieve breakthroughs in key emerging sectors. It will introduce a new investment model that combines resources, market opportunities and application scenarios, launching 70 key scenarios across six categories with an expected investment of over 33 billion yuan.

The city will also implement a dynamic management system for key projects and establish a mechanism for addressing challenges during the project execution process, aiming to create a model for national investment attraction services based on Dongying’s approach.

Dongying is committed to attracting high-quality investments, driving industrial transformation, and fostering emerging sectors to ensure long-term, sustainable growth.

PTT Oil and Retail Business Appoints M.L. Peekthong Thongyai as CEO, Accelerating Regional Expansion and Digital Transformation

BANGKOK, Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR) has named M.L. Peekthong Thongyai as its new Chief Executive Officer, reinforcing the company’s push for regional growth and operational innovation. Under his leadership, OR is positioning itself as a dominant player in Southeast Asia’s oil and retail industry, leveraging digital technology and strategic investments to drive sustainable, long-term value.

M.L. Peekthong Thongyai, CEO of PTT Oil and Retail Business Pcl. (OR), leads the company toward regional growth, digital transformation, and sustainability.
M.L. Peekthong Thongyai, CEO of PTT Oil and Retail Business Pcl. (OR), leads the company toward regional growth, digital transformation, and sustainability.

Strategic Business Pillars for Growth

M.L. Peekthong has outlined OR’s three-pronged strategy for expansion:

  • Seamless Mobility: OR is actively growing its service station network, enhancing fuel accessibility while accelerating the rollout of EV Station PluZ, a key initiative in the company’s transition toward clean energy solutions.
  • All Lifestyles: OR is deepening its presence in the food and beverage sector, spearheaded by its flagship Café Amazon brand, while also exploring high-growth opportunities in the health and wellness industry.
  • Global Market Expansion: OR is ramping up international investments, strengthening its footprint across high-potential markets through infrastructure development and strategic acquisitions.

M.L. Peekthong’s agenda is structured around these three key business pillars, with digital transformation and innovation serving as core enablers. His vision is to enhance OR’s regional presence, optimize its energy infrastructure, and expand its diversified business portfolio, solidifying Thailand’s role as a regional energy hub while integrating next-generation mobility solutions.

Driving Digital Transformation and Operational Efficiency

OR is accelerating its digitalization strategy to optimize operations, improve decision-making, and future-proof its business model. As the first oil and retail company in Southeast Asia to implement SAP S/4 HANA, OR is setting a new industry benchmark for enterprise-wide digital adoption. The company has also launched a Control Tower Dashboard, providing real-time data analytics to enhance operational agility and efficiency.

Enhancing Stakeholder Engagement and Long-Term Growth

To reinforce transparency and corporate accountability, OR is launching the “CEO on Tour” initiative, designed to deepen engagement with investors, employees, and strategic partners. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to open communication and collaborative growth.

“In today’s rapidly evolving market, success is built on resilience, innovation, and strategic partnerships,” said M.L. Peekthong Thongyai, CEO of OR.

As OR advances its transformation, the company remains committed to its philosophy—‘They Grow, We Grow’—ensuring that every aspect of its expansion strategy contributes to sustainable progress and shared value creation across its entire ecosystem.

To enhance accessibility and engagement, M.L. Peekthong has also launched his official Facebook page, “Tone Peekthong”, as a dedicated platform for industry insights and stakeholder interaction.

About PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR)

PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR) is a leading force in Thailand’s energy and retail sectors, integrating innovation and sustainability to meet evolving consumer and business needs. OR operates PTT Station, PTT Lubricants, FIT Auto, PTT LPG, and EV Station PluZ, providing mobility solutions across industrial, marine, and aviation sectors. Its lifestyle business includes Café Amazon—one of Asia’s largest coffee chains—along with convenience stores and space management services. Expanding into high-growth markets such as Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, OR is also investing in EV charging infrastructure and sustainable energy solutions, driving responsible growth and enhancing everyday experiences.

For more information, visit www.pttor.com.

Tencent Cloud Supports Fusion Bank’s Successful Launch of a Next-Generation Core Banking System

The bank’s seamless upgrade, completed in just 10 months, sets a new benchmark for core banking transformations in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As digital transformation accelerates worldwide, banks must build core systems that are scalable, agile, and resilient. In October 2024, with the support of Tencent Cloud and leveraging WeBank’s independently developed digital banking technology, Fusion Bank completed its migration to a new core banking system in just 10 months—setting a new industry benchmark for core banking upgrades in Hong Kong.

Jun Cao, General Manager of Tencent Cloud Commercial Banking Solutions; Ming Zhou, Vice General Manager of WeBank Digital Finance Development Department; Billy Chiu, Alternate Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of Fusion Bank; Liming Hu, Vice President of Tencent Cloud and Double Tang, Senior Director of Cloud Infrastructure & Application Management of Fusion Bank (From left to right)
Jun Cao, General Manager of Tencent Cloud Commercial Banking Solutions; Ming Zhou, Vice General Manager of WeBank Digital Finance Development Department; Billy Chiu, Alternate Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of Fusion Bank; Liming Hu, Vice President of Tencent Cloud and Double Tang, Senior Director of Cloud Infrastructure & Application Management of Fusion Bank (From left to right)

As a licensed digital bank in Hong Kong, Fusion Bank officially commenced operations in December 2020 and has experienced rapid business growth. As demand for its services increased, the bank needed to enhance service quality and operational efficiency, leading Fusion Bank to initiate its next-generation core banking system migration project in December 2023.

Migrating a bank’s core system is a highly complex and risk-intensive endeavor. Fusion Bank needed to seamlessly integrate and transform over 150 subsystems across five key banking areas—retail deposits, retail loans, corporate deposits, corporate loans, and foreign exchange services—while ensuring compliance with regulatory and market standards, and minimal user disruption.

To support the migration, Tencent Cloud built a robust cloud computing environment for Fusion Bank, powered by solutions such as Tencent Cloud Database (TDSQL) and Tencent Cloud TCE. TDSQL, fully compatible with MySQL, enabled effortless integration with Fusion Bank’s business systems, while its powerful batch migration capabilities facilitated smooth data transfers, minimizing user impact and maintaining business continuity.

Tencent Cloud TCE played a critical role in addressing challenges related to platform deployment, management, and compatibility. Through containerized deployment, it significantly improved resource utilization efficiency, reducing costs by 40% and shortening recovery time objectives (RTO) to within 30 minutes. It also supports various non-x86 architecture CPUs, meeting Fusion Bank’s diverse hardware needs.

To enhance operations and maintenance (O&M) efficiency, Tencent Cloud implemented a Configuration Management Database (CMDB), significantly improving system maintainability and simplifying O&M processes. This enabled Fusion Bank’s IT O&M team to focus on business innovation and development rather than system management.

The close collaboration between Fusion Bank and Tencent Cloud allowed the migration to be completed in just 10 months. The system switchover took only 15 hours, and within a six-hour data migration window, systems and data from multiple vendors were seamlessly transferred to the new core system.

Billy Chiu, Alternate Chief Executive and Chief Technology Officer of Fusion Bank, said, “We are delighted to have successfully completed Fusion Bank’s core banking system migration project in collaboration with Tencent Cloud. By 2027, we anticipate a 53% reduction in non-labor IT costs compared to 2024, with these costs gradually decreasing from 60% to 39% of our total expenses. Beyond cost efficiency, the new core system enhances our agility, allowing us to swiftly respond to market shifts by introducing innovative financial products and providing our customers with superior financial experiences in a timely manner.”

Liming Hu, Vice President of Tencent Cloud, said, “We are very pleased to assist Fusion Bank in launching its new core banking system. The success of this migration underscores the strength of Tencent Cloud’s proprietary solutions, including TCE and TDSQL, in driving digital transformation in the financial sector. We look forward to empowering more financial institutions in upgrading their core banking systems, accelerating fintech innovation in Hong Kong and beyond.”

With over 10,000 financial clients worldwide—300 of which are overseas financial clients spanning 20 countries and regions, including Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas—Tencent Cloud continues to provide industry-leading digital banking solutions. Its global cloud infrastructure, comprehensive enterprise software, and standardized hardware architecture enable financial institutions worldwide to optimize costs and enhance operational efficiency.

About Tencent Cloud:

Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation.

8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA at Galaxy Macau Welcomes New Executive Chef Marino D’Antonio for a Master Collaborative Dinner at Showcasing the Vibrant Culinary Cultures of Italy with Umberto Bombana


MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 February 2025 – Galaxy Macau™, the world-class luxury integrated resort, stands as a premier culinary destination, offering exquisite dishes from around the globe and ensuring that every visit to Macau is vibrant and memorable. Since its opening in 2015, 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA at Galaxy Macau has garnered numerous accolades, including a Michelin one-star rating for nine consecutive years and a Forbes Travel Guide five-star rating for three years running. This year marks a new chapter as the restaurant welcomes its new Executive Chef, the renowned Italian chef Marino D’Antonio, acclaimed for his exceptional culinary talent in various Michelin-starred establishments and five-star hotels.

The new Executive Chef of 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA at Galaxy Macau Marino D'Antonio (left) and Michelin Three Starred Maestro Chef Umberto Bombana (right).
The new Executive Chef of 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA at Galaxy Macau Marino D’Antonio (left) and Michelin Three Starred Maestro Chef Umberto Bombana (right).

Celebrating Chef Marino’s return to the Bombana family, Maestro Umberto Bombana will make a special appearance at Galaxy Macau to collaborate with Marino for a dinner event on February 26 and 27, inviting guests on a luxurious culinary journey.

Chef Marino, coming from a family of cooks, embarked on his culinary adventure in China in 2006 and quickly established himself in the culinary scene. In 2013, he partnered with Chef Bombana to open Opera BOMBANA, which rapidly became the hottest Italian restaurant in Beijing. Their partnership has flourished over the years, fueled by a shared passion for gastronomy. Over the past two decades, Chef Marino has opened many successful restaurants across China and authored two culinary books to share his knowledge of Italian cuisine.

Chef Marino will also present his Marinated Langoustine with sea urchin, Oscietra caviar, and Orange Chantilly, which he describes as a “must-try” at 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA.
Chef Marino will also present his Marinated Langoustine with sea urchin, Oscietra caviar, and Orange Chantilly, which he describes as a “must-try” at 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA.

The essence of Italian coastal cuisine lies in its high-quality ingredients, a pursuit central to Chef Bombana’s philosophy of “Quality, Tradition, and Consistency.” The menu for the dinner on February 26 and 27 features an exquisite selection of seasonal ingredients: majestic King crab from the pristine, icy waters off Hokkaido; the fragrant Périgord black truffle, which elevates comforting tagliolini with a luxurious touch; and the luscious Mayura beef, expertly paired with earthy morels.

Honored with “Wine List of the Year” by Gambero Rosso—the world’s authority on Italian food, wine, and travel—the restaurant’s wine pairings for the evening are exceptional, elevating the dining experience to new heights.

One signature dish on the menu is the Veal and Ham Agnolotti in Classic Broth, which represents one of Chef Marino’s earliest food memories as a child.
One signature dish on the menu is the Veal and Ham Agnolotti in Classic Broth, which represents one of Chef Marino’s earliest food memories as a child.

Refreshed Menu and New Lunch Offerings Present the Finest Italian Flavors

Chef Marino has big ambitions for 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA and looks forward to introducing his own signature dishes to diners in Macau. One signature dish on the menu is the Veal and Ham Agnolotti in Classic Broth, which represents one of Chef Marino’s earliest food memories as a child. “This is a memory that I carry dearly with me,” he says. “When my mother used to prepare this small ravioli for the family during the winter festivity, there was always a lot of excitement to prepare the broth with just the right amount of Capon chicken veal neck and the spices were always carefully handled by my grandmother. The dough for the Agnolotti skin also needed to be very precise and thin. I can still remember the aromas in the air and the happiness of the family reunion. This always gives me good memories and that is the reason why I love this dish.”

He will also present his Marinated Langoustine with sea urchin, Oscietra caviar, and Orange Chantilly, which he describes as a “must-try” at 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA. Inspired by Chef Bombana’s love for high-quality ingredients, this dish exemplifies Italian coastal cuisine and the cooking style very much adheres with the culinary traditions of Italy’s Liguria region. The scampi, sea urchin and citrus together orchestrate an explosion of flavors, with Oscietra caviar elevating the dish even further. The new menu will also draw inspiration from 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA in Hong Kong, allowing guests at Galaxy Macau to savor beloved classic dishes.

The 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA’s décor harmoniously blends modern and classic styles, creating an elegant and inviting atmosphere.
The 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA’s décor harmoniously blends modern and classic styles, creating an elegant and inviting atmosphere.

Additionally, the restaurant will introduce a new lunch menu starting in March, available every Friday and Saturday, with dishes starting from MOP 680, featuring Michelin-quality cuisine. This menu showcases exquisite Italian classics paired with fresh seasonal ingredients to ensure a high-quality culinary experience in a short timeframe. Guests will have the opportunity to savor the restaurant’s signature dishes and may also choose to enhance their meal with freshly shaved truffles, adding a rich aroma to elevate their dining experience.

Marino’s culinary creations embody rich Italian traditions while showcasing his unique interpretation, delighting diners with a warm and inviting approach. “Respect is fundamental. It is important to respect your team, your guests, and the ingredients,” Chef Marino says. “Our goal is to source the highest quality ingredients, and the closer we can find them, the better. Our planet is one, and we need to keep it for the next generation. Respect for ingredients is vital in our Italian culinary culture. ‘It’s about Tradition, Quality, and Consistency’, as Chef Bombana says. His words have truly stuck with me, and these are the principles I strive to uphold.”

A New Height of Italian Culinary Experience with Starred Chefs

At Galaxy Macau, every meal is a sensory delight. 8½ Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA’s décor harmoniously blends modern and classic styles, creating an elegant and inviting atmosphere. Guests can indulge in not only exquisite cuisine but also the cultural essence of Italy, experiencing a dining environment that beautifully interprets contemporary artistic elegance. With outstanding service, diners are treated to a feast for both the eyes and the palate, as well as an experience of the essence and soul of Italian gastronomy.

Galaxy Macau, the world-class luxury integrated resort, stands as a premier culinary destination, offering exquisite dishes from around the globe and ensuring that every visit to Macau is vibrant and memorable.
Galaxy Macau, the world-class luxury integrated resort, stands as a premier culinary destination, offering exquisite dishes from around the globe and ensuring that every visit to Macau is vibrant and memorable.

Celebrating Stars – Forbes Travel Guide Five-stars x Three Michelin Stars Gastronomic Showcase

Date & Time: 6pm – 9:30pm, February 26 & 27
Price: MOP2,680 per person / additional MOP980 for wine pairing
Location: 2031, 1/F, Galaxy Macau™
Book: +853 8886 2169

Hashtag: #GalaxyMacau

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

ABOUT GALAXY MACAU INTEGRATED RESORT

Galaxy Macau™, The World-class Luxury Integrated Resort delivers the “Most Spectacular Entertainment and Leisure Destination in the World”. Developed at an investment of HK$43 billion, the property covers 1.1 million-square-meter of unique entertainment and leisure attractions that are unlike anything else in Macau. Eight award-winning world-class luxury hotels provide close to 5,000 rooms, suites and villas. They include Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel™, Hotel Okura Macau, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Broadway Hotel, Raffles at Galaxy Macau, Andaz Macau. Unique to Galaxy Macau, the 75,000-square-meter Grand Resort Deck features the world’s longest Skytop Adventure Rapids at 575-meters, the largest Skytop Wave Pool with waves up to 1.5-meters high and 150-meters pristine white sand beach. Two five-star spas from Banyan Tree Spa Macau and The Ritz- Carlton Spa, Macau help guests relax and rejuvenate.

As the dining destination in Asia, Galaxy Macau offers a wide variety of gastronomic delights, exquisite experiences and ingredients of the finest quality with over 120 dining options from Michelin dining to authentic delicacies.

Embark on a delightful and rewarding journey at Galaxy Promenade, the one-stop shopping destination boasting some of the world’s most iconic luxury brands. Be the first to get the latest limited-edition items; explore fascinating pop-ups by coveted labels and revel in fabulous shopping rewards and privileges. Our VIPs are entitled to a highly-curated experience with dedicated personal shoppers at guests’ service, and be invited to exclusive luxury brand events. A different caliber of privileges and rewards also await. Discover the joys of fashion and stand at the forefront of style and sophistication—Galaxy Promenade has everything guests need to stay ahead of the style game.

Galaxy Cinemas takes immersive movie experiences to the next level with the latest audio-visual technology, ultra-luxurious facilities and bespoke services; CHINA ROUGE, one-of-a-kind deluxe lounge that evokes the glitz and glamor of Shanghai’s golden era with entertainment in luxury and style; and Foot Hub presents the traditional art of reflexology to make you feel more relaxed and revitalized. For Authentic Macau Flavors & Vibrant Asian Experiences, Broadway Macau – just a 90-second walk via a bridge from Galaxy Macau, has over 35 Authentic Macau & Asian Flavors at its Broadway Food Street. The 2,500-seat Broadway Theatre plays host to world-class entertainers and a diverse array of cultural events.

Meeting, incentive and banquet groups are also well looked after with a portfolio of unique venues in Galaxy Macau and a professional service staff. Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) is the latest addition to the Group’s ever-expanding integrated resort precinct and will usher in a new era for the MICE industry in Macau. GICC is a world- class event venue featuring 40,000-square-meter of total flexible MICE, and a 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena – the largest indoor arena in Macau.

For more details, please visit and

Wildberries increased network of pickup points by 75% to over 58,000 since 2024

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 February 2025 – Wildberries, a leading e-commerce platform in Eurasia, increased the number of its pickup points by 75% since the beginning of 2024 to support the dynamic growth of its marketplace.

The total number of Wildberries pickup points has surpassed 58,000 across seven countries where the marketplace operates. Three quarters of these pickup points are operated by local partners and the rest are company-owned.

The highest growth in the number of Wildberries pickup points was recorded in Kyrgyzstan (+126%) and Kazakhstan (+105%). In Georgia, where Wildberries launched operations in late 2024, the number of pickup points has also doubled, albeit from a low base. In Russia, the pickup point network increased by 81%, in Belarus by 75%, in Armenia by 55%, and in Uzbekistan by 26%.

Only a fraction of orders placed on the Wildberries marketplace are delivered to homes by couriers, with branded pickup points accounting for 90% of deliveries.

The reliance on pickup points is a unique feature of Wildberries’ business model that distinguishes it from other marketplaces. When the company was founded over 20 years ago, its largest product category was apparel. At the time, consumers still lacked trust in e-commerce and wanted to preview the clothing they ordered online before confirming their purchase. Wildberries pickup points, equipped with fitting rooms and offering the option to return items on the spot, gave customers peace of mind and quickly gained popularity.

Although Wildberries has long expanded beyond clothing to include dozens of product categories, from electronics to pet products, pickup points remain the most popular delivery option on the platform.

Wildberries has focused on developing its network of pickup points as it expands to new markets. This delivery model enhances customer convenience while providing a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to individual home delivery.

The expansion of Wildberries’ pickup points supports economic growth in the company’s markets of presence. The predominant franchise model gives local entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their business in partnership with a major international marketplace and creates new jobs.

Pickup points also enhance logistics services for the more than one million sellers on the Wildberries marketplace, who can drop off their items at the nearest pickup point for further delivery to the company’s nearest distribution centre.

Hashtag: #wildberries

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Wildberries

Established in 2004 in Russia, Wildberries is a leading e-commerce platform operating in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Uzbekistan, while also partnering with sellers in China. Wildberries provides a state-of-the-art IT infrastructure to support customers and sellers, along with a developed logistics network spanning more than 130 facilities and 58,000 pick-up points across its markets. As of 2024, Wildberries serves over 75 million customers and processes more than 20 million orders per day.

IOC and TCL announce long-term global TOP Partnership through to 2032

BEIJING, Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced a Worldwide Olympic Partnership with global technology company TCL through to 2032. TCL will be the official Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner in the Home Audiovisual Equipment and Home Appliances category.


TCL products will drive new experiences for fans and athletes, from digital displays at the Olympic and Paralympic to household appliances in the Olympic Village. Through this new partnership, the organisations will also work together to bring the magic of the Olympic and Paralympic to billions of fans around the world through innovative marketing campaigns. TCL will play an important role as the IOC progresses its Olympic AI Agenda – including supporting fan and athlete experiences on site and at home. TCL will also support the “Athlete Moments” initiative at the Olympic Games, which allows athletes to connect with loved ones around the world immediately after their competition. 

As a result of the agreement, the IOC will redistribute the revenue it receives to provide financial support to sports organisations around the world, including every National Olympic Committee and their athletes, plus the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games until 2032.

At an announcement ceremony held in Beijing, China, in the iconic “Water Cube” (Beijing 2008) / “Ice Cube” (Beijing 2022) venue, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The IOC is excited to announce its new partnership with TCL, a world leader in the television and household goods industries. TCL has a long history of supporting sport around the world, and is now taking its ambition to inspire greatness to new heights, as the Olympic Games are the greatest, most inspirational global sporting stage.”

Li Dongsheng, Founder and Chairman of TCL, said: “We are honoured to become a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner. As a leading global technology brand, TCL has always striven to ‘Inspire Greatness’, which aligns with the Olympic spirit. The Olympic Games inspire billions of people around the world, and through this partnership TCL’s diverse innovations will empower the Olympic Games and deliver exceptional experiences to a global audience. TCL will continue to fulfil its corporate social responsibility, support the Olympic sustainable development goals, and create a better future.”


TCL has supported sports around the world for decades through multiple partnerships. At the Olympic and Paralympic, TCL will enable new visual and lifestyle experiences by providing a range of intelligent innovations, including smart displays, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, door locks, audio systems, projectors and TCL RayNeo smart glasses.

Founded in 1981, TCL is committed to “Building a Sustainable and Connected Future with Advanced Technology”, dedicated to empowering a smart, healthy lifestyle by enabling next-generation intelligent experiences. With 46 R&D centres and 38 manufacturing bases around the world, TCL operates in over 160 countries and regions, cementing its position as a globally competitive technology brand.

Jiří Kejval, Chair of the IOC Revenues and Commercial Partnerships Commission, said: “TCL is a global leader in its industry and is one of the world’s fastest growing brands. The TOP Programme continues to offer the world’s leading brands and marketeers an unparalleled marketing platform built on the global reach and values of the Olympic Games. Testament to this is today’s announcement, as we bring TCL to the family of TOP Partners.”

The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

About TCL

After more than 40 years of transformation, innovation and progress, TCL Industries and TCL Technology are now focusing on three core industries: consumer electronics, display technology and clean energy. TCL is one of the top TV brands and has achieved consistent growth globally. In 2024, TCL’s TV shipments reached a record 29 million units in global market, an increase of 14.8 per cent over 2023. Furthermore, its Mini LED TV global shipments surged by 194.5 per cent year on year. And in North America, Europe and emerging markets, TCL has gained significant market share due to increased sales of its large-sized and high-end TVs. Other TCL consumer electronics products, such as air conditioners and RayNeo’s smart glasses, are also leading global markets with their innovative features. In 2024, the display arm of TCL – TCL CSOT ranked second globally in TV panel market share. Its application of Polymer Stabilised Vertical Alignment technology and Fringe Field Switch technology were pivotal in enhancing visual experiences for viewers.

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our website at www.ioc.org.

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The IOC Newsroom: https://newsroom.olympics.com/

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Proofpoint: 88% of Top Organisations in Asia Pacific Still Put Their Customers and Stakeholders at Risk of Email Fraud as Businesses Face Record-High Email Attacks

  • Protective measures against email fraud remain widely insufficient among leading Asia Pacific companies.
  • Australia’s high adoption rate of proper email authentication (71%) among its top companies sets the standard for the Asia Pacific region
  • Around 50% of leading Singapore and India’s businesses have implemented the recommended level of email authentication
  • Concerningly, less than 20% of the largest organisations in Japan, South Korea, China and Thailand are actively protecting their customers against phishing

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 February 2025 – Proofpoint, Inc., a leading cybersecurity and compliance company, today released new research on a worrying gap among top organisations across the Asia Pacific with only 12% having implemented the recommended and most stringent level of email authentication. In 2024, phishing attacks surged significantly, increasing nearly 60% year-over-year. This dramatic increase underscores the critical need for proper implementation of email authentication, which prevents cyber criminals from spoofing organisations’ identities thus reducing the risk of email fraud.

These findings are based on an analysis of the Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance (DMARC), a widely-adopted email validation protocol records of Asia Pacific companies listed on the Forbes Global 2000. DMARC protects domain names from being misused by malicious actors by authenticating the sender’s identity before an email reaches its intended destination. This authentication system detects and prevents domain spoofing, a common phishing technique. DMARC has three levels of protection – monitor, quarantine, and reject, with reject being the most secure for preventing suspicious emails from reaching users’ inboxes.

“Email remains the most common and critical threat vector across industries. It’s encouraging that many leading companies in Asia Pacific have taken proactive steps to protect their customers from email fraud,” said George Lee, Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific and Japan at Proofpoint. “However, the rising frequency, sophistication, and cost of cyberattacks make it especially concerning that many remain highly vulnerable, exposing them to significant risks from malicious email-based threats such as phishing. Prioritising robust cybersecurity measures is essential to safeguard against these threats and protect customers’ valuable data.”

Proofpoint’s research shows that DMARC adoption in the Asia Pacific region is mostly lower compared to the US and UK, placing organisations and their customers at risk. While Australia leads in email authentication DMARC enforcement, Japan, South Korea and Thailand lag, leaving businesses exposed to escalating email fraud, including business email compromise (BEC) and phishing.

Key findings of Proofpoint’s DMARC analysis across key Asia Pacific markets include:

  • Australia: 71% of the top Australian companies have implemented DMARC at the recommended levels (reject). All the top Australian companies being studied have a DMARC record.
  • Singapore: 46.2% of companies analysed have DMARC set to reject. Yet 23.1% do not have any DMARC record and are wide open to email fraud and domain spoofing attacks.
  • India: 50% of the top Indian organisations implemented the highest level of DMARC (reject), with 30.9% utilising quarantine and 11.8% having no DMARC record at all.
  • Japan: Only 7.4% of top Japanese companies have a DMARC policy of reject in place. 65.6% of companies are at the monitor level, gathering data but offering no active protection
  • South Korea: Only 1.8% have implemented DMARC at the quarantine level with none at the reject level, and 51.8% having no DMARC record at all.
  • Thailand: 17.6% have a reject policy in place to block unqualified emails, while 17.6% of companies implemented quarantine and 52.9% at the monitor level still.
  • China: Only 4.2% of top Chinese companies have the strictest level of DMARC in place. A startling 71.8% do not use any DMARC protection at all.

Major Providers and Compliance Mandates Push for DMARC Adoption

Major email providers are making moves to force companies to catch up and use email authentication. Some highly-publicised examples include the October 2023 announcements from Google, Yahoo and Apple around mandatory email authentication requirements (including DMARC) for bulk senders sending emails to Gmail, Yahoo and iCloud accounts. This aims to significantly reduce spam and fraudulent emails hitting their customers’ inboxes.

In addition, organisations that store consumer payment information must comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) or risk paying hefty fines for violations. The latest PCI DSS (v4.0.1) will require companies to use DMARC to protect credit card data by March 31, 2025.

Proofpoint recommends that organisations follow these best practices:

  • Implement DMARC: Protect your domain from impersonation by implementing DMARC and enforcing it at the reject level. Seek expert assistance if needed to avoid blocking legitimate emails.
  • Educate employees: Train staff on how to identify and avoid potentially fraudulent or suspicious emails, such as those impersonating colleagues, suppliers, or customers.
  • Strengthen passwords: Establish and enforce best practices for password management, including requiring strong passwords, regular changes, and never re-using passwords across multiple accounts.

This analysis was conducted in December 2024 using data from companies listed on Forbes Global 2000.

To learn more about DMARC, visit: https://www.proofpoint.com/au/threat-reference/dmarc
Hashtag: #Proofpoint

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Proofpoint, Inc.

Proofpoint, Inc. is a leading cybersecurity and compliance company that protects organisations’ greatest assets and biggest risks: their people. With an integrated suite of cloud-based solutions, Proofpoint helps companies around the world stop targeted threats, safeguard their data, and make their users more resilient against cyber attacks. Leading organisations of all sizes, including 85 percent of the Fortune 100, rely on Proofpoint for people-centric security and compliance solutions that mitigate their most critical risks across email, the cloud, social media, and the web. More information is available at .

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Proofpoint is a registered trademark or tradename of Proofpoint, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

HIX.AI Now Features DeepSeek R1 For Unlimited Free AI Chat

SINGAPORE, Feb. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HIX.AI has been a trusted name in the AI world, originally specializing in advanced AI search capabilities. Now, it has taken a bold step forward by becoming an unlimited free AI chat platform for the revolutionary DeepSeek R1 model.

DeepSeek R1, developed by a Chinese startup, has been described as a disruptive force in the AI industry, rivaling leading models like GPT-4o while being significantly more cost-effective. Now HIX.AI is making this groundbreaking model completely free and unlimited for all users. This means they can interact with DeepSeek without worrying about restrictions on usage, downtime, or subscription fees.

But DeepSeek R1 is just one of the many models available on the new and repurposed HIX.AI. It also offers users access to many other leading AI chat models, including ChatGPT, GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, and more. You can switch between them on the fly and chat with numerous large language models at the same time.

This opens a lot of potential uses and opportunities for HIX.AI users. They can use the many chatbots provided to tackle complex tasks from multiple angles, research topics, get help on their coding projects and other professional endeavors, or just chat about almost any subject on their mind. The uses are nearly limitless.

In brief, HIX.AI now aims to be every user’s go-to platform for instant, free, and unlimited AI chat for DeepSeek. It also gives you full and complete access to so many AI chat tools, you’ll never need to go anywhere else. It’s easy to work with, suiting both beginner and experienced users alike, and it’s great for both personal and professional use.

For more information about the revamped HIX.AI and to experience the disruptive potential of DeepSeek at no cost and with no limits, visit https://hix.ai.

MEDIA CONTACT
Camille Sawyer
CEO, HIX.AI
support@hix.ai