NPST’s innovative technology underscores its commitment to advancing digital payment adoption to meet diverse user needs, and its strategic adaptability establishes it as a pivotal player in India’s financial ecosystem.

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan recently researched the payment technology industry and, based on its findings, recognizes Network People Services Technologies Ltd. (NPST) with the 2024 Indian Company of the Year Award. 

The company provides banking solutions and payment processing infrastructure that interconnect financial entities within the broader banking and fintech sectors.

Its core mission is to provide cutting-edge digital technology to all entities in the financial value chain, ensuring robust support at every stage of the payment process. The company provides banking solutions and payment processing infrastructure that interconnect financial entities within the broader banking and fintech sectors. 

Listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) SME platform, NPST has significantly shaped India’s digital payments landscape. Its solutions span digital banking, payment switching and processing, merchant acquiring, and RegTech offerings, catering to banks, payment aggregators, merchants, and TPAPs. 

With a forward-looking vision encapsulated in its NPST 2.0 strategy—Innovate, Transform, and Grow—the company is driving technological advancements in areas like fraud detection, real-time lending, and embedded payments, enabling transactions through ERP and smart devices such as vehicles, smartwatches, and meters. 

NPST is making significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to enhance its payment solutions. NPST’s Risk Intelligence Decisioning Platform, a cutting-edge AI-driven operations engine, is supported by a comprehensive data lake that consolidates transaction data. This advanced system allows for the real-time identification of high-risk transactions and merchants. It includes tools designed to enhance compliance and mitigate fraud, such as a merchant trust score, a customer transaction score, and chargeback fraud prevention.  

Additionally, the company’s flagship EVOK 3.0 Payments Platform as a Service provides a comprehensive solution for aggregators, gateway providers, and merchants. Covering the entire payment life cycle—from transaction processing to risk management—EVOK 3.0 integrates AI and ML to offer advanced capabilities like multi-bank intelligent routing and predictive fraud intelligence, ensuring efficient management of high transaction volumes.  

Other groundbreaking innovations include: 

• PayJoy:  Seamless access to real-time UPI credit in a country with low credit card penetration. 
• Bill Direct:  Bill Aggregation engine for deeper penetration in payment collections. 
• TimePay Cash:  Enabling cash withdrawals using QR codes at local stores. 
• UPI Circle:  Expanded digital payment access through shared accounts.
• Contextual Payments: Enhanced customer checkout experience.
• UPI Lite Auto-Top Up: Automatically replenishing UPI Lite accounts, ensuring users have sufficient transaction funds.  

Rahul Agarwal, Associate director for growth advisory at Frost & Sullivan, observed, “NPST’s achievements, including pioneering online merchant dispute resolution in India and expanding its platform to offer value-added services like AI-powered fraud detection and real-time lending, set it apart in the industry. Its diversification into non-banking financial companies and third-party application providers highlights a well-rounded growth strategy.  

NPST consistently prioritizes customer experience, fostering long-term relationships and demonstrating its commitment to client satisfaction and growth. The company’s focus on exceptional service is reflected in the loyalty of some of its clients, with critical partnerships spanning over a decade.   

The company is also working to improve payment acceptance infrastructure via access to affordable devices, (QR and SoundBoxes) while integrating AI and ML capabilities to enhance, efficiency, and scalability. These investments support growing transaction volumes and help NPST maintain its competitive edge in facilitating wider digital payment adoption. The company’s emphasis on client relationships, digital literacy, and social responsibility underscores its role as a payment technology leader and its commitment to broader economic and social contributions.   

The company’s financial performance reflects strong growth, with revenues increasing from INR 41 crore in fiscal year (FY) 2023 to INR 130 crore in FY 2024, and EBITDA rising from INR 12 crore to INR 43 crore during the same period. NPST’s strategic adaptability establishes it as a pivotal player in India’s financial ecosystem, drives economic growth, and promotes financial inclusion across the country.  

“NPST’s advances towards international expansion and transitions to the National Stock Exchange of India main board with emphasis on transparency, governance, and continual innovation, cementing its position as a leader in the global payment technology industry. The company’s exceptional performance, forward-thinking strategies, and commitment to customers and societal impact make it a deserving recipient in India’s payment technology sector,” added Norazah Bachok, best practices research analyst at Frost & Sullivan. With its strong overall performance, NPST earns Frost & Sullivan’s 2024 India Company of the Year Award in the payment technology industry.” 

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies, and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration. 

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.  

About Frost & Sullivan 

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, megatrends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact us: Start the discussion. 

Contact: Tarini Singh 
E: tarini.singh@frost.com 

About NPST
Founded in 2013, NPST is a PayTech firm listed on the NSE Small and Medium Exchange. A leader in digital banking and payment processing solutions, NPST is dedicated to advancing the digital payments ecosystem by delivering cutting-edge technology solutions to banks, fintechs, and other industry players. The company’s offerings include online and offline transaction processing, banking super apps, fraud prevention, dispute management, and compliance technology.

NPST’s mission is to drive the growth of businesses, individuals, communities, and economies. With over 100 clients and processing more than 60 million transactions daily, NPST continues to make a significant impact on the digital payments ecosystem. To learn more about NPST and its award-winning solutions, please visit www.npstx.com

Contact: Vanita D’souza
E: vanita.dsouza@npstx.com

Launch of ‘Beyond Tennis’: A new generative AI tennis league with AI players and data-driven tournaments

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Infosys (NSE: INFY), (BSE: INFY), (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, in partnership with Tennis Australia, has unveiled its latest suite of AI-driven features and platforms for Australian Open (AO) 2025, marking another milestone in the seven-year partnership between the two organizations. It further advances their joint vision of creating a more immersive experience of tennis through AI-driven technology innovations.

To know more about Infosys’ AI innovations at AO 2025, click here.

These innovations, powered by Infosys Topaz, an AI-first suite of offerings using generative AI technologies, will redefine fan engagement, empower players and coaches, and expand the boundaries of digital interactivity in tennis.

• ‘Beyond Tennis’ (World’s First Gen AI league in tennis): A unique breakthrough is ‘Beyond Tennis‘ powered by Infosys, the world’s first generative AI-powered tennis league. This fan-driven digital experience will provide year-round interactivity, allowing users to connect with virtual tennis players, train their teams, and compete in AI-generated tournaments. Fans will interact with 16 AI-crafted virtual players spread across eight teams. Envisioned as “The Slam That Never Stops,” the league will enhance the sport’s affinity among younger Gen Z audiences while ensuring their safety in digital environments, enabled by responsible AI framework.
• Agentic AI to drive fan engagement with AI Commentary: Australian Open 2025 will feature AI Commentary in the Infosys Match Centre on AO digital properties, on the website and the app. Using out of the box large language models AI Commentary will provide byte-sized insights at every match moment.
• VR AI Stadium: The Infosys Fan Zone at Melbourne Park steps into the future, introducing a new VR AI Stadium where fans can create stunning virtual courts. Using a new generative AI speech-to-image feature, fans can step onto a galaxy- or nature-inspired court, or even a 1970s themed court, and play a game of tennis.

Infosys is helping the Australian Open with AI, video analytics, and machine learning tools. Using AI Videos, players and coaches continue to get access to post-match reviews and pre-game advance video analysis. The AI Shot of the Day feature helps AO’s media team meet growing digital content demands, enabling rapid creation and sharing of social media-ready clips to feature captivating moments on court.

The Infosys Fan Zone at Melbourne Park remains climate active, with its carbon footprint fully offset and structures fully recyclable. Infosys and Tennis Australia are also advancing the Future Leaders Program powered by Infosys Springboard, the company’s digital learning and collaboration platform for the community, that provides participants with the opportunity to learn transferrable skills in areas such as inclusion, leadership, technology, and design thinking. The participants will also get a glimpse of a generative AI future by visiting the Infosys Fan Zone at Melbourne Park.

Andrew Groth, Executive Vice President – Asia Pacific, Infosys, said, “Each year at the Australian Open, we have pushed the boundaries of technology to fuel fan engagement and player performance. Infosys is proud to bring the latest generative AI innovations to court, from the fan-driven Beyond Tennis league to AI-amplified VR experiences, leveraging our industry leading AI-suite of offerings Infosys Topaz. Through this collaboration with Tennis Australia, we are enabling truly innovative platforms for fans, players, coaches, and media to engage with the sport.” 

Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia, and Australian Open Tournament Director, said, “For the past seven years, Infosys has helped Tennis Australia to raise the bar and serve up new experiences for fans using digital technologies. We’re excited to see the leaps being made with AI at AO 2025. AI is enabling new dimensions of interactivity for fans and insight for players, not to mention the speed and scale it brings to our content delivery. It’s an exciting leap forward that showcases how technology and AI is transforming tennis.”

Follow all the action from the tournament on AusOpen.com and discover more about the partnership at Infosys.com/AusOpen.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the ‘safe harbor’ under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

Providing on-trend fashion for big and tall men across the USA.

SYDNEY, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Johnny Bigg, a fashion-forward brand made specifically for big and tall men, is excited to announce its retail debut in five Belk stores. This milestone highlights the brand’s growth since its founding in Sydney, Australia in 2014, and its successful introduction to the USA in 2020.

The new concessions will allow customers to experience the apparel in person, providing the opportunity to touch, feel, and try on the products before making a purchase. This launch marks the first stage in the brand’s aspirations for broader US growth.

“Our entry into Belk stores is a significant milestone for Johnny Bigg,” said Katie Burtt, General Manager of Johnny Bigg USA. “Together, we’re making it easier for big & tall men to access the fashion they want in the size that they need. We’re eager to see how this collaboration evolves and look forward to bringing even more of our great offering to Belk shoppers.”

Shoppers can find an edited Johnny Bigg collection in the following locations:

• North Carolina: Charlotte, Raleigh
• South Carolina: Columbia
• Alabama: Birmingham, Huntsville

The full range remains available online at johnnybigg.com and through Johnny Bigg’s other retail partners.

Coinciding with news of their expansion, Johnny Bigg will launch their new collection this week. The collection features a great range of on-trend casuals like knit shirts, casual jackets, hoodies, and jeans, alongside dressier chino, blazer, and suit options.

Since its inception, the brand has collaborated with and received support from notable athletes, actors, and influencers, including the likes of football players Trey Smith and Brock Hoffman, actor Chimechi Uchechi Oparanozie, and big & tall model Cameron Boyland.

Johnny Bigg is dedicated to making every man feel confident and stylish, offering clothing that fits well and looks great. Their expansion into Belk stores and the launch of the new collection are steps toward fulfilling their mission to be the world’s number one choice in big and tall men’s fashion.

ABOUT JOHNNY BIGG

Established in Sydney, Australia in 2014 and subsequently launching in the USA in 2020, Johnny Bigg was created with the big and tall guy in mind, offering a diverse product mix that includes casual, semi-formal, and formal apparel. Their clothing range is designed specifically for men who wear sizes L-8XL and for tall men with sizes LT – 4XLT. Their commitment to providing stylish, well-fitting clothing ensures that every man can look and feel his best, regardless of size. Johnny Bigg is available to buy on johnnybigg.com or via their retail partners: Belk, Macys, Nordstrom, KingSize and Amazon.

Instagram: @johnnybiggusa TikTok: @johnnybiggusa YouTube: @johnnybiggusa Facebook: @johnnybiggusa

For more information, visit johnnybigg.com

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From Bangkok to New York, Tokyo to San Francisco, the Detective Chinatown Universe Continues to Amaze Audiences Worldwide

The Detective Chinatown series, China’s most successful suspense-comedy franchise, is back with an all-new chapter that promises intrigue, laughter, and global appeal. Spanning continents and capturing hearts across cultures, the series returns to its roots in San Francisco with Detective Chinatown 1900.

A Blockbuster Legacy
Since its debut, the Detective Chinatown franchise has redefined Chinese New Year cinema, creating a “suspense storm” in the festive season. Its meteoric rise is reflected in its record-breaking box office numbers:

• Detective Chinatown 1: 800 million RMB
• Detective Chinatown 2: 3.4 billion RMB
• Detective Chinatown 3: 4.5 billion RMB

These milestones solidify Detective Chinatown as China’s most iconic suspense-comedy IP, bringing together audiences of all ages with its signature blend of mystery and humor.

Unraveling Mysteries Across Borders
At the heart of the series are Qin Feng, the prodigious young detective, and his eccentric uncle Tang Ren, whose unconventional methods and comedic chemistry have become fan favorites. Together, they’ve solved bizarre cases across the globe, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats while delivering endless laughs.

With Detective Chinatown 1900, the story ventures back in time to the bustling Chinatown of 1900s San Francisco. Reimagining Qin Feng and Tang Ren in fresh roles, the film explores a gripping new case, bringing a historical twist to the beloved franchise.

A Global Celebration of Mystery and Comedy
Detective Chinatown 1900 is set to release on January 29, aligning with the Chinese New Year. The film will premiere across major international markets, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, distributed by CMC Pictures. This marks another significant step in bringing Chinese cinematic brilliance to a global stage.

Contact: 
david.duan@cmcpix.com

BANGKOK, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) announced today the approval by the Cabinet of updates and adjustments to the qualifications, criteria, and conditions for the Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa program to facilitate access to a wider range of experts, investors and executives aiming to boost the country’s foreign talent pool and support the further development of the country’s competitiveness. 

“These updates to the LTR program were developed following extensive consultations with stakeholders, such as the foreign chambers of commerce in Thailand, and approved by the LTR committees to address obstacles and streamline processes,” said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the BOI. “By ensuring a more inclusive and competitive approach, we believe these changes will further enhance Thailand’s position as a global hub for investment and high-potential talent. Smooth visa procedures are an essential part of our focus on the ease of doing business.”

The BOI is the agency in charge of the screening of the applicants to the LTR program, which was first launched in September 2022, and offers successful applicant a 10-year residence, and access to a digital work permit, personal income tax privileges among other benefits. The LTR targets four categories, namely Highly-Skilled Professionals, Work-from-Thailand Professionals, Wealthy Global Citizens and Wealthy Pensioners.

The approved changes include an expansion of the list of target sectors for the Highly Skilled Professionals category, aimed at talent and experts. Previously focused on science, technology, and target industries, the list now encompasses a broader range of non-STEM fields, such as Development and sustainability, Disaster and risk management, Integrated innovation. The inclusion of educators in vocational and higher education across all disciplines will ensure the transfer of valuable knowledge to Thai students and professionals, and boost the nation’s competitiveness.

The requirement for a minimum of five years of work experience in a relevant field for applicants to the Highly Skilled Professionals and Work-from-Thailand Professionals categories has been removed to reduce requirement redundancy and increase accessibility, allowing a wider range of high-potential applicants to contribute to Thailand’s target industries.

Two other changes have been made to facilitate applications to the Work-from-Thailand Professionals category. The corporate revenue requirement for overseas-based employers sponsoring an applicant has been lowered to a minimum of USD 50 million over the last three years, down from USD 150 million. Also, employees of wholly owned subsidiaries of major multinational corporations are now eligible to the LTR, provided they can demonstrate financial stability through the parent company’s financial statements, not the subsidiary as previously required. These changes reflect a commitment to attracting more digital and technology specialists, critical for Thailand’s economic transformation.

The minimum annual income requirement for Wealthy Global Citizens category applicants has been removed to prioritize the cumulative wealth and investments in Thailand which are the core requirements for this category, aligning with the goal of encouraging greater foreign investment activity in the country.

Last but not least, the rights for dependents of the principal applicant, to any of the four LTR categories have been expanded without a limitation on the number of dependents. The rights of the principal LTR holder will now include parents and legal dependents to enhance Thailand’s appeal to families and ensure a welcoming and supportive environment for all.

All changes will take effect following the official BOI announcement on the updated LTR criteria and the Ministry of Interior’s announcement on the expansion of dependents’ rights.

LTR Applications Data

As of the end of 2024, the BOI has already granted LTR visas to more than 6,000 applicants. Europe leads the list with 2,500 recipients, followed by the United States (1,080), Japan (610), China (340), and India (280).

For more information, please contact:
Thailand Board of Investment
Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111
Website: www.boi.go.th
YouTube: Think Asia, Invest Thailand

Bolsters press release distribution capabilities, facilitates productive and insightful sharing between PR professionals and the media

• 77% increase in media pickups with newly launched APAC English Premium circuit
• 25% increase in average media pickups in Greater China
• Strategic content partnerships with major news agencies and news aggregators in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan

HONG KONG, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PR Newswire expanded its extensive APAC network in 2024, onboarding 280 new content partners, bringing the total network to 2,300. These efforts further strengthen PR Newswire’s position as the most extensive and reliable press release distribution network in APAC, enabling businesses to communicate effectively across diverse markets.

“We are committed to delivering high-quality and highly relevant media coverage in target markets,” said Lynn Liu, VP, Audience Development and Distribution Services, APAC, at PR Newswire. “Our expanded network ensures broad distribution across key channels, while fostering productive relationships between communications teams and the media.”

Key Market Highlights: 

• APAC English Markets: Launched APAC English Premium Circuit 
  • 77% increase in media pick-ups compared to standard APAC English circuit
  • 260 English-language outlets placements
• Mainland China: Launched Xinhua Bizwire Circuit
  • Press release distribution to China’s most influential news platforms, including Tencent, Sina Finance, and the Financial Times (Chinese Edition)
  • 1,300 industry-specific media outlets in finance, technology, healthcare, travel, retail, and B2B sectors
  • 210,000 new social media followers in 2024, bringing total to 2.8 million
  • 500 million impressions and views of PRN content across major Chinese platforms such as Weibo, WeChat, and Baidu
• Hong Kong and Taiwan: Key additions to Greater China Distribution
  • Top-tier news portals such as MSN Chinese, Yahoo Taiwan, and China Times, garnering a combined 814 million monthly visitors
  • AM730, Bastille Post, ULifestyle, Economic Daily News, Investing.com, Yahoo Hong Kong, and Line Today, which all host around three to 46 million visitors monthly
  • 25% increase in average media pick-ups, growing to 300 from 240
• South Korea and Japan: New strategic partnerships across key networks
  • Exclusive partnerships with leading private South Korean news agencies such as Newsis, News1, and ZDNet Korea, which see around 3.8 to 19 million visitors monthly
  • Agreements with major Japanese news aggregators for distribution through leading mobile news apps such as Gunosy, Newspass, and AU Service Today, which attract 6 to 46 million visitors monthly

Bridging Business & Media  

To foster a deeper understanding of the media landscape, media tours were conducted in Hong Kong, Malaysia and mainland China. Such experiences are unique and highly valuable among PR Newswire’s clients and staff as they allow attendees to gain firsthand insights and processes in leading media outlets.

Aside from tours, media gatherings, seminars, and panel discussions were also held in mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam. These events facilitate productive and insightful sharing between PR professionals and the media.

Growing Connections with Journalists and Influencers

In 2024, PR Newswire welcomed over 7,000 new journalists and media newsrooms in APAC to their ecosystem. 

“Currently, over 82,000 journalists, bloggers, and influencers in the APAC region rely on PR Newswire press releases as a key source of news. In 2025, we aim to deepen our partnerships with mainstream and industry-leading media outlets. While driving quality content and traffic to media websites, we will also explore more mutually beneficial collaborations to deliver superior value,” said Lynn Liu.

With 16 offices across 9 markets in APAC and a dedicated team of over 250 experienced professionals, PR Newswire has cultivated a strong, unmatched media distribution network. Leveraging unique partnerships with official national news agencies and their networks, including Xinhua News Agency, Yonhap News Agency in Korea, Kyodo News in Japan, Australian Associated Press, Press Trust of India, Antara News in Indonesia, Bernama News in Malaysia, and Vietnam News Agency, ensures that PR Newswire’s distribution network continues to lead in delivering impactful results for their clients.

About PR Newswire

PR Newswire is the industry’s leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world.