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ShengShu Technology Partners with Lenovo to Bring Vidu’s Generative Video Solution to Lenovo PCs and Smart Hardware Ecosystem

SINGAPORE, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vidu, the flagship product of ShengShu Technology and a pioneer in generative AI video, is announcing a strategic partnership with Lenovo that will introduce Lenovo PCs bundled with Vidu’s industry-leading generative video solution that streamlines the production of high-end visual effects with text or image prompts.

The rising influence of content creators is driving a new wave of creative professionals (and influencers) fueling the digital content creation industry’s projected 13.9% annual growth between 2025 and 2030. This shift is accelerating the interest in lightweight but high-performance, AI-enabled PCs (AI-PCs) that are optimized for speed and the processing demands of a generative video platform.

Driven by its mission to lower the barrier to create professional video content, enabling users to focus more on their creative vision rather than being held back by a lack of technical expertise, Vidu recently introduced its latest groundbreaking generative video model, Vidu Q1:

  • First-to-Last-Frame – Vidu Q1 offers cinematic-quality transitions that rival those created by VFX artists. Upload two images or frames and type a text command, which generates a believable transition clip with minimal randomness.
  • 1080p Video Output – Vidu Q1 supports generating up to a five second clip in high definition 1080p, while reducing rendering wait times.
  • AI Sound Effects – Generate background music or sound effects in an industry-first 48 kHz, high-resolution, HD audio, which can also be prompted to match the mood and tone of any video clip. Vidu Q1 also offers precise controls including the ability to fix audio onto timestamps with text-prompts, and also layering multiple audio tracks for up to ten seconds per track.
  • Animated Character Transitions – Users will now enjoy a higher consistency and expressiveness for generated animated characters, including more cinematic and natural-looking transitions between frames.

By fully harnessing Lenovo’s high-performance hardware, users can bring their most ambitious ideas to life that were once considered out of reach without the resources of Hollywood studios. The result is the empowerment of a new generation of creatives, and the ability to lower the cost and time for creating visual effects, be it for film and television or advertising, gaming and even education.

“The future of generative video depends not only on breakthroughs in technology, but also hinges on powerful hardware. The cooperation with Lenovo is not only about offering a cutting-edge technical solution for producing video content, but also about perfecting the workflow of developing creatives in a way that lowers the barrier to entry,” said Wang Chuan, Vice President of Commercialization of ShengShu Technology. “By combining high-performance hardware with Vidu, users gain access to a portable creative engine that empowers creativity without restriction.”

“AI video is reshaping the content creation model, and PC devices are the key to unleashing the potential of AI,” said a Lenovo spokesperson. “The cooperation with ShengShu Technology will promote the in-depth application of AI video generation technology on PCs and other devices, providing more powerful productivity tools for creators around the world.”

But this partnership is only the beginning for both ShengShu Technology and Lenovo. As AI-powered solutions become increasingly integrated into hardware, users can expect even more powerful, personalized explorations of generative video solutions optimized not only by AI-PCs, but also other devices.

To learn more about Vidu, please visit https://www.vidu.com
To learn more about Vidu API platform, please visit https://platform.vidu.com/

About ShengShu Technology

Founded in March 2023, ShengShu Technology is a world-leading artificial intelligence company, specializing in the development of Multimodal Large Language Models. Driven by innovation, the company delivers cutting-edge MaaS and SaaS products that revolutionize creative production by enabling smarter, faster, and more scalable content creation. With its flagship video generation platform Vidu, ShengShu Technology’s solutions have reached more than 200 countries and regions around the world, spanning fields including interactive entertainment, advertising, film, animation, cultural tourism, and more.

China Automotive Systems to Announce Unaudited 2025 First Quarter Financial Results on May 14, 2025

WUHAN, China, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — China Automotive Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAAS) (“CAAS” or the “Company”), a leading power steering components and systems supplier in China, today announced that it will issue unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, before the market opens.  Management will conduct a conference call on May 14th at 8:00 A.M. EDT/8:00 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss these results.  A question and answer session will follow management’s presentation.

To participate, please call the following numbers 10 minutes before the call start time and ask to be connected to the “China Automotive Systems” conference call with pin 714212:

Toll Free: 877-545-0523
International: 973-528-0016
China Toll Free: 86 400 120 3199

A replay of the call will be available on the Company’s website in the investor relations section.

About China Automotive Systems, Inc. 

Based in Hubei Province, the People’s Republic of China, China Automotive Systems, Inc. is a leading supplier of power steering components and systems to the Chinese automotive industry, operating through its sixteen Sino-foreign joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company offers a full range of steering system parts for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles. The Company currently offers four separate series of power steering with an annual production capacity of over 8 million sets of steering gears, columns and steering hoses.  Its customer base is comprised of leading auto manufacturers, such as China FAW Group, Corp., Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd., BYD Auto Company Limited, Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd. and Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. in China, and Stellantis N.V. and Ford Motor Company in North America. For more information, please visit: http://www.caasauto.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Our actual results may differ materially from the results described in or anticipated by our forward-looking statements due to certain risks and uncertainties. As a result, the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2025, and in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of these factors and other factors beyond our control, could have an adverse effect on the overall business environment, cause uncertainties in the regions where we conduct business, cause our business to suffer in ways that we cannot predict, and materially and adversely impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. A prolonged disruption or any further unforeseen delay in our operations of the manufacturing, delivery and assembly process within any of our production facilities could continue to result in delays in the shipment of products to our customers, increased costs and reduced revenue. We expressly disclaim any duty to provide updates to any forward-looking statements made in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Jie Li
Chief Financial Officer
China Automotive Systems, Inc.
jieli@chl.com.cn 

Kevin Theiss
Awaken Advisors
+1-212-521-4050
Kevin@awakenlab.com

Trip.com Group Limited to Report First Quarter of 2025 Financial Results on May 19, 2025 U.S. Time

SINGAPORE, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM; HKEX: 9961), a leading one-stop travel service provider of accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours and corporate travel management, will announce its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 on Monday, May 19, 2025, U.S. Time, after the market closes.

Trip.com Group’s management team will host a conference call at 8:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on May 19, 2025 (or 8:00 AM on May 20, 2025 in the Hong Kong Time) following the announcement.

The conference call will be available on Webcast live and replay at: http://investors.trip.com. The call will be archived for twelve months at this website.

All participants must pre-register to join this conference call using the Participant Registration link below: 

https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI6db246c54bbe4fc1aebb10f5ad6be21c .

Upon registration, each participant will receive details for this conference call, including dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN. To join the conference, please dial the number provided, enter your PIN, and you will join the conference instantly.

About Trip.com Group Limited

Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM; HKEX: 9961) is a leading global one-stop travel platform, integrating a comprehensive suite of travel products and services and differentiated travel content. It is the go-to destination for many travelers in Asia, and increasingly for travelers around the world, to explore travel, get inspired, make informed and cost-effective travel bookings, enjoy hassle-free on-the-go support, and share travel experience. Founded in 1999 and listed on Nasdaq in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, the Company currently operates under a portfolio of brands, including Ctrip, Qunar, Trip.com and Skyscanner, with the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world.”

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations
Trip.com Group Limited
Tel: +86 (21) 3406-4880 X 12229
Email: iremail@trip.com

BNM’s Policy Rate Call Looms: Octa Broker Highlights Inflation, Exchange Rate and Trade Challenges


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 May 2025 – This Thursday, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will announce its policy rate decision. While most analysts expect no change, Octa Broker suggests that a rate cut is on the table and is highly likely to take place later this year due to subdued inflation, stronger ringgit, and a higher likelihood for Fed rate cuts.

Octa Broker

On Thursday, 8 May, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the nation’s central bank, will reveal its policy rate decision. Like most other central banks around the world, BNM strives to maintain a balance between low inflation and sustainable economic growth. Its key monetary policy instrument is the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR). By adjusting the OPR, BNM influences interest rates throughout the Malaysian economy, impacting borrowing costs for businesses and consumers and ultimately influencing economic activity and inflation.

Malaysia inflation and interest rate vs USDMYR exchange rate

Source: LSEG
Source: LSEG

BNM has kept its OPR stable since May 2023, when it surprisingly raised it to 3.00% in response to persistently high inflation amid solid household spending and tight labour market conditions. Since then, the economy has not really slowed much, so BNM has kept its base rate unchanged for almost two years now. This stance distinguishes it from its regional counterparts – Bank Indonesia, the Bank of Thailand, the Philippine central bank, and the Bank of Korea – all of which have lowered interest rates to stimulate economic growth.

In fact, the latest official figures showed that Malaysia’s economy showed surprising strength in Q4 2024. Gross domestic product (GDP) outperformed both official estimates and market expectations, growing by 5% year-on-year in Q4 2024. According to BNM, the GDP growth was driven by robust domestic demand, strong investment, and recovering exports. Meanwhile, national inflation has continued to decelerate, with Consumer Price Index (CPI) hitting a three-year low of just 1.4% in March 2025. Indeed, even with reduced government subsidies for diesel, electricity, and chicken, overall inflation has been successfully managed, potentially allowing the BNM to cut its base rate later this year. However, an overwhelming majority of economists polled by Reuters see no policy change this year, suggesting the central bank will wait and see how external and domestic factors unfold.

“The Malaysian economy is doing rather well, but major risks lie ahead, particularly stemming from its high degree of openness. With global trade tensions rising, Malaysia interconnectedness and integration into the global supply chain could exert a negative impact on GDP”, says Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa Broker. Indeed, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of 24.72 billion ringgit in March, well above the poll forecast of a 13.8 billion ringgit surplus. Most importantly, Malaysia’s exports to the United States rose to a record high of 22.66 billion ringgit ($5.14 billion) in March, a 50.8% increase from a year earlier, buoyed by strong demand for electrical and electronics products. However, with the United States introducing import duties on Malaysia as well as on Malaysia’s key trading partners – particularly, China – the strong pace of exports may not last. BNM has recognized this risk in its latest statement: “The growth outlook is subject to downside risks from an economic slowdown in major trading partners amid heightened risk of trade and investment restrictions, and lower-than-expected commodity production”.

Although the market largely expects the BNM to keep its base rate unchanged for the 11th consecutive time on Thursday, Octa Broker analysts argue that the chances of a rate cut have increased particularly because the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) may also be willing to cut the rates soon. “With inflation subdued, USDMYR trading at a seven-month low, and rising expectations for a dovish Fed, I think BNM is seriously thinking about when it may need to cut the rates”, says Kar Yong Ang. Indeed, after last week’s U.S. GDP data came below expectation, the risk of recession in the U.S. has increased and the market is now pricing in a 47% of 50 basis points (bps) worth of rate cuts by the Fed by the end of Q3 2025. The dovish Fed may put an additional bearish pressure on USDMYR, highly improving the probability of an eventual BNM rate cut.

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Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to engage in any investment activity. It does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation, or individual needs. Any action you take based on this content is at your sole discretion and risk. Octa and its affiliates accept no liability for any losses or consequences resulting from reliance on this material.
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Hashtag: #Octa

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

Octa

is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools.

The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.

In Southeast Asia, Octa received the ‘Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024’ and the ‘Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023’ awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively.

Laos Begins Transition to Underground Power, Communication Cables

The project signing ceremony between Electricité du Laos (EDL) and SISAN International Development Cooperation Company Limited (Photo: EDL LAOS)

Laos has launched a new infrastructure project aimed at relocating internet, communication, and low-voltage electricity cables underground. The move is expected to improve public safety, reduce outages, and better organize the country’s utility network.

ISX Financial Reports Strong Q1 2025 Results, Demonstrating Strategic Momentum and Innovation in BankTech

NICOSIA, Cyprus, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ISX Financial EU Plc (‘ISXPlc’), a leading European BankTech and payments infrastructure provider, today announced its Q1 2025 results, delivering sustained growth across key financial and operational indicators. The company’s performance highlights its continued success in executing its strategic roadmap.

Ajay Treon, CFO of ISXPlc, added: “Building on the strong results of the twelve months of 2024, Q1 delivered continued momentum driven by strategic growth initiatives, the rollout of new products and services, and operational achievements. These outcomes, despitea shift in global economic sentiment, underline our commitment to advancing in the BankTech and payments sectors.”

ISXPlc recorded a 12% year-over-year revenue increase and a further 2% rise from the previous quarter, reflecting the strong uptake of its core transactional banking offering and open banking payments solution. Net Assets increased by 114% year-over-year and 14% quarter-over-quarter, reinforcing the company’s robust financial trajectory.

With an EBITDA margin of 53%, ISXPlc maintains a resilient financial foundation as it continues scaling its infrastructure and expanding into new markets. Q1 saw an €0.8 million investment in Research and Development, underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to innovation and product leadership in the digital payments space.

Operationally, the successful rollout of the SEPA Direct Debit product contributed to higher customer adoption and deeper market penetration across the EEA. Increased costs in the quarter were primarily linked to performance-based sales commissions and the natural release of listing-related accruals in Q4 2024.

ISXPlc CEO, Nikogiannis Karantzis, commented: “At ISX, we are engineering the future of rapid payments—where settlement speed, API driven reporting, and server to server control replace legacy delays and friction associated with retail payments to consumer facing businesses. Despite consumer confidence and discretionary spend in the EU, and in particular Germany, being at near historic low levels, our Q1 results reflect the strength of our platform, the resilience of our model, and the calibre of our people. As we continue to grow, we remain focused on building a scalable and secure immediate payments infrastructure that enables our clients to operate with greater efficiency and certainty across borders.”

The company also reaffirmed its commitment to investing in talent. ISXPlc significantly reinforced its leadership and technical teams in Q1, focusing on senior hires to support its international growth agenda amd The company’s headcount reached 180 as of the quarter’s close.

In conclusion ISXPlc Q1 2025 results showcased its strong financial foundation, growth and its strategic investments have positioned the company for continued success in 2025.

To view ISXPlc’s full Q1 2025 report, click here: https://www.isx.financial/hubfs/isxreports/25%20Q1.pdf

Media enquiries: +35722015740, media@isxfinancial.com

PONY AI Inc. and Uber Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Autonomous Mobility

GUANGZHOU, China and SAN FRANCISCO, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pony AI Inc. (“Pony.ai”) (Nasdaq: PONY), a global leader in achieving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility, and Uber Technologies, Inc. (“Uber”) (NYSE: UBER), today announced a strategic partnership to deploy Pony.ai’s Robotaxis onto the Uber platform.

The partnership is expected to first launch in a key market in the Middle East later this year, with a goal of scaling deployments to additional international markets in the future. Once available, when a rider requests a qualifying ride on the Uber app, they may be presented with the option to have their trip fulfilled by a Pony.ai autonomous vehicle. During the initial pilot phase, these vehicles will have a safety operator onboard, until the companies’ fully autonomous commercial launch.

This is a key step in Pony.ai’s global expansion strategy, leveraging its established ecosystem to showcase robust technological readiness. Pony.ai’s seventh-generation autonomous driving system facilitates the mass production of Robotaxis on a more scalable and cost-effective basis. This technological advancement aligns with the strategic goals of the partnership, empowering Uber’s platform to more quickly and safely integrate autonomous vehicles as the collaboration expands to new markets.

“At Pony.ai, our vision is to develop autonomous driving technology that is not only safe and reliable but also scalable, transforming daily transportation,” said Dr. James Peng, Co-founder and CEO of Pony.ai. “Partnering with Uber accelerates our shared mission to make autonomous mobility a real, everyday experience for more consumers around the world. By combining our proven autonomous systems, with Uber’s unparalleled ride-hailing platform, we’re poised to set a new standard for the commercialization of driverless services, starting in the Middle East before expanding to new markets.” 

“Our partnership with Pony.ai is another meaningful step towards introducing the benefits of autonomous mobility to the world,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. “As the leading on-demand platform of its kind, spanning mobility, delivery, and freight, Uber is uniquely positioned to help accelerate the commercialization of this exciting technology.”

About Pony AI Inc.

Pony AI Inc. is a global leader in achieving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility. Leveraging its vehicle-agnostic Virtual Driver technology, a full-stack autonomous driving technology that seamlessly integrates Pony.ai’s proprietary software, hardware, and services, Pony.ai is developing a commercially viable and sustainable business model that enables the mass production and deployment of vehicles across transportation use cases. Founded in 2016, Pony.ai has expanded its presence across China, Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and other regions, ensuring widespread accessibility to its advanced technology.

About Uber Technologies, Inc.

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 58 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Pony.ai: media@pony.ai
Uberpress@uber.com

 

Ascletis Announces Oral and Poster Presentations on ASC47, an Adipose-Targeted, Muscle-Preserving Weight Loss Drug Candidate for Obesity at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity

HONG KONG, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX:1672, “Ascletis”) announces oral and poster presentations on preliminary studies of ASC47, an adipose-targeted, muscle-preserving weight loss drug candidate for obesity, will be presented at the 32nd European Congress On Obesity (ECO 2025) in Malaga, Spain.

Oral Presentation Details
Title: ASC47, An Adipose-Targeted, Muscle-Preserving Weight Loss Drug Candidate For Obesity, Demonstrated Significant Weight Loss And Preserved Muscle In DIO Mice
Abstract Category/Topic: Obesity Management and Intervention » Emerging treatments
Abstract Number: 0254
Session: T1 Abstract Session: Novel Drugs. The Seeds for the Future Are Here
Session Date and Time: 11:30-13:00, 13 May 2025 (Malaga Time), 17:30-19:00, 13 May 2025 (Beijing Time)
Presenter: Jinzi Jason Wu

Poster (Guided Poster) Presentation Details
Title: ASC47, a Muscle-Preserving Weight Loss Drug Candidate in Healthy Participants: A First-in-human Single Ascending Dose Study
Abstract Number: 0816
Abstract Category/Topic: Obesity Management and Intervention » Emerging treatments
Session: Track Specific Poster Networking Session
Session Date and Time: 18:00-19:10, 13 May 2025 (Malaga Time), 00:00-01:10, 14 May 2025 (Beijing Time)
Presenter: Jinzi Jason Wu

About ASC47

ASC47 is an adipose-targeted, ultra-long-acting subcutaneously (SQ) injected thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRβ) selective small molecule agonist, discovered and developed in-house at Ascletis. ASC47 possesses unique and differentiated properties to enable adipose targeting, resulting in dose-dependent high drug concentrations in the adipose tissue. Topline data from its Phase Ib single subcutaneous injection studies in Australia in participants with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (NCT06427590) have been released. The U.S. Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ASC47 in combination with semaglutide for the treatment of obesity has been cleared by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

About European Congress on Obesity

Established in 1986, European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) is a federation of professional membership associations from 38 European countries. European Congress on Obesity (ECO) is EASO’s annual scientific congress. The ECO brings together colleagues from every area of obesity research, prevention and management.

About Ascletis Pharma Inc.

Ascletis is an innovative R&D driven biotech listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK), covering the entire value chain from discovery and development to GMP manufacturing. Led by a management team with deep expertise and a proven track record, Ascletis is focused on metabolic diseases by addressing unmet medical needs from a global perspective. Ascletis has multiple clinical stage drug candidates in its metabolic disease pipeline.

For more information, please visit http://www.ascletis.com.

Contact:
Peter Vozzo
ICR Healthcare
443-231-0505 (U.S.)
Peter.vozzo@icrhealthcare.com

Ascletis Pharma Inc. PR and IR teams
+86-181-0650-9129 (China)
pr@ascletis.com
ir@ascletis.com