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Bokeo Police Dismantle Call Center Gang Amid Nationwide Fraud Crackdown

On 12 May, Bokeo police dismantled a multinational call center scam gang, arresting 62 suspects amid Laos’ nationwide crackdown on cybercrime and online fraud networks. (Photo: Bokeo Police)

Bokeo provincial authorities dismantled a multinational call center scam gang operating in Ton Pheung district on 12 May, as part of Laos’ intensifying crackdown on cybercrime and online fraud networks.

Authorities detained 62 suspects of different nationalities, the majority being from Myanmar. Officials confiscated desktop computers, laptops, and a large number of mobile phones used in the operations. 

Investigations and interrogations are ongoing to expand the case, identify further accomplices, and ensure all those involved are prosecuted according to the law.

The 12 May operation followed a series of earlier raids across the province. On 4 to 5 May, authorities arrested 71 suspects in Houayxay district, mostly Chinese and Myanmar nationals. On 11 May, a larger operation in Ton Pheung district detained 159 individuals, including 106 Lao nationals, along with nationals from China, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. 

In total, approximately 230 suspects from six nationalities were arrested across Bokeo between 4 and 12 May. Authorities have not yet released full details regarding charges or the scope of the alleged fraud operations as investigations continue.

On 7 May, authorities transferred 605 suspects linked to alleged computer fraud operations in Savannakhet Province to Vientiane for further investigation. The group included nationals from eight countries: China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Across Laos, the total number of individuals detained in connection with online fraud and cybercrime networks in the first half of May exceeded 1,500, when combined with a 1 to 2 April operation in Ton Pheung district that detained 742 suspects representing 12 nationalities.

The operations follow a late April directive by Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to strengthen nationwide action against online scams. On 30 April, Minister of Public Security Vanthong Kongmany visited the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo to reinforce enforcement efforts in the area.

The Lao operations are part of wider regional enforcement activity. 

On 10 May, Cambodian immigration authorities detained 994 foreign nationals from 16 countries in an anti-scam operation. Separately, Indonesian authorities arrested around 321 foreign nationals, including 11 Lao nationals, in Jakarta on 9 May in connection with a major illegal online gambling network.

LALCO Expands Role in Connecting Lao Producers to International Markets

A picture of LALCO Team. (Photo by LALCO)

Lao ASEAN Leasing Public Company (LALCO) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Laos’ economic development by strengthening its role as a community-focused trading platform linking local growers and producers with international markets.

Speaking on 4 May, the company highlighted the continued expansion of LALCO Trading, which has evolved from its beginnings in mineral trading in 2022 into a diversified commodity business operating across agriculture, frozen meat, and industrial resources.

The company’s current portfolio includes coffee, cassava, corn, animal feed ingredients, premium poultry and beef products, as well as metal concentrates and energy-related raw materials managed under regulatory compliance standards.

LALCO stated that its approach focuses on supporting local growers and producers in meeting international certification requirements, helping Lao products improve competitiveness in export markets such as China, India, and the United Arab Emirates.

“Our vision is to serve as a trusted bridge that unlocks new opportunities for local industries,” said Mr Yoshihito Oshima. “By integrating growers and producers into global supply chains, we are building a more resilient, export-ready, and sustainable economic ecosystem for Laos.”

Established in 2015, LALCO initially focused on strengthening Laos’ financial sector before expanding into commodity trading through the launch of LALCO Trading in 2022. The company later entered the coffee plantation sector in 2023 and broadened its agricultural investments in 2025.

International Markets and Looking Ahead

According to the company, its international sourcing network now spans Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia, Argentina, and the United States, supporting access to global commodities while strengthening the export potential of Lao-origin products.

LALCO noted that its operations contribute to foreign currency inflows, trade finance access, and the development of more transparent and ethical supply chains aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.

The company also works closely with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while investing in cold-chain logistics and export-ready packaging to improve product quality and export readiness.

LALCO said it remains committed to supporting long-term economic growth in Laos by combining international expertise with local partnerships to strengthen the country’s role in regional and global trade.

Any inquiries, please contact to: + 856 20 54 859 270

ONYX Hospitality Group Celebrates 60th Anniversary, Sets THB 10.33 Billion Revenue Target with THB 5.5 Billion Expansion Plan

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 May 2026 – ONYX Hospitality Group, a leading hospitality management company in Asia-Pacific, has unveiled its growth strategy as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. With a portfolio spanning hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, luxury residences, as well as dining and spa offerings, the Group is targeting total revenue of THB 10.33 billion in 2026, representing a 14% year-on-year increase. It also plans to expand its portfolio to more than 75 properties by 2030, underscoring its sustained growth momentum and strengthening its position across the Asia Pacific region. This expansion will be supported by a planned investment of THB 5.5 billion over the next three years, primarily focused on enhancing and upgrading existing properties.

ONYX 60th Anniversary

Over the past six decades, ONYX Hospitality Group has grown from managing a single hotel in Thailand into a regional hospitality company with a multi-brand portfolio including Amari, OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence. Each brand has a clearly defined identity and market position, enabling the Group to meet the evolving needs of modern travellers across a range of segments.

Today, ONYX manages 49 properties and remains on track to expand its portfolio to more than 75 properties across Asia Pacific through a disciplined and sustainable growth strategy.

Yuthachai Charanachitta, Chief Executive Officer of ONYX Hospitality Group, said: “Over the past six decades, ONYX Hospitality Group has built a strong foundation of expertise and experience, growing from the management of a single hotel in Thailand into a regional hospitality player with an expanding presence across Asia Pacific, continuously earning the trust and confidence of both partners and customers.

This growth has been driven by a strong Thai foundation, combined with a global outlook and a strategic focus on regional markets, which have consistently served as the key pillars underpinning the Group’s development.

As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we see this milestone not merely as a reflection of our past achievements, but as the beginning of our next phase of growth. Looking ahead, we remain committed to expanding our regional footprint, strengthening our brands, and creating long-term value for our partners, investors and customers, while continuing to develop the organisation in a balanced and sustainable manner. At the same time, we are dedicated to playing an active role in elevating service standards and supporting the long-term advancement of Thailand’s hospitality industry.”

Accelerating Expansion to Support Long-term Growth

ONYX Hospitality Group continues to expand its presence across Asia Pacific under its vision of becoming ‘The Best Medium-sized Hospitality Management Company in Asia Pacific’.

In 2026, the Group is set to launch several new projects, including Shama Sukhumvit 101 Bangkok, Shama Medini, and Y Hotel Nanshan Shenzhen Inspired by OZO, reinforcing its strategic expansion across the serviced apartment and lifestyle hospitality segments in key regional gateway cities.

At the same time, the Group continues to advance a strong future development pipeline, including Shama Rayong, EQ Phuket, Shama Hub Ladprao Bangkok, Shama North Pattaya, and the luxury development Amari Resort & Villas, Samui, alongside a major transformation of Amari Phuket aimed at revitalising the property and elevating the guest experience.

By 2030, ONYX aims to expand its portfolio from 49 properties to more than 75, with a focus on quality growth through long-term partnerships and a tailored approach to hospitality that reflects the needs of each market.

In addition to regional expansion, ONYX Hospitality Group is driving growth through effective asset management and investment strategies, with ONYX RT serving as another key growth engine. Supported by lower interest rates, recovering investor confidence, and the return of more than 35 million international travellers, the Group expects its core assets — including Amari Bangkok, OZO Samui, and OZO Phuket— to further enhance portfolio value, with a targeted valuation of more than THB 4 billion.

Strengthening Brand Positioning Across the Portfolio

As part of its 60th anniversary, ONYX Hospitality Group is advancing its overall brand development through its long-term strategic framework, “ONYX Universe”, which has been designed to support future growth across all dimensions of the business. The framework covers talent development, technology, sustainability, brand strength, marketing and revenue efficiency, customer engagement, food and beverage, and asset management to drive long-term returns. It will serve as a key foundation for enhancing the Group’s regional competitiveness while responding to the evolving needs of travellers and residents.

ONYX has also refined the positioning of its four core brands to strengthen differentiation and align more clearly with current market demand:

  • Amari has been repositioned in the upper-upscale segment, offering Thai hospitality enriched by local insight and the distinctive character of each destination.
  • OZO has evolved into an upper-midscale lifestyle hotel brand with enhanced service, designed for modern travellers who expect a seamless stay with the right essentials and a touch of elevated comfort.
  • Shama continues to focus on serviced apartment living, fostering vibrant communities while delivering Joy of Living through thoughtfully designed experiences that combine comfort, quality, and meaningful lifestyle for both short- and long-term stays.
  • Oriental Residence has been elevated to a more refined expression of luxury, where elegance is understated, privacy is paramount, and every detail is thoughtfully personalised.

This brand evolution reflects ONYX Hospitality Group’s commitment to creating clearer differentiation in support of long-term business growth.

Driving Sustainable Growth Through Regional Expansion and Brand Strength

Built on a 60-year legacy, ONYX Hospitality Group remains committed to growth through regional expansion, brand enhancement and continued organisational development. Anchored in its Thai roots and global outlook, the Group continues to place regional growth at the heart of its strategy as it works towards becoming the best medium-sized hospitality management company in Asia- Pacific, while delivering sustainable value to all stakeholders.
Hashtag: #ONYXHospitalityGroup #HospitalityIndustry #AsiaPacificTravel



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

About ONYX Hospitality Group

ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in Asia Pacific’s hospitality industry, operates a collection of comprehensive yet complementary brands – Amari, OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence – catering to the distinctive needs of discerning business and leisure travellers in Southeast Asia where their expertise lies. In addition to its brand portfolio, ONYX Hospitality Group also operates additional hospitality services across spa and food and beverage. With over six decades of management experience, the company extends its innovative solutions throughout the region, upholding internationally recognised standards and ensuring optimal operational manoeuvrability. By fostering enduring relationships with like-minded business partners, ONYX Hospitality Group delivers unparalleled experiences in a dynamic and competitive market, meeting the ever-evolving demands of travellers.

More information:

THE ADECCO GROUP Q1 2026 RESULTS

Strong revenue growth, share gains and improved profitability, supported by rigorous execution

ZURICH, Switzerland, May 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT pursuant to Art. 53 Listing Rules of SIX Swiss Exchange

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Accelerating organic revenue growth of +5.3% TDA yoy
  • Continued strong market share gains: Group +365 bps, Adecco +210 bps vs. key competitors
  • By GBU, Adecco, +7% yoy, with growth in all regions, led by Americas +15%, APAC +8% and EMEA excl. France +7%. Akkodis -1% yoy; LHH -1% yoy
  • Healthy 18.8% gross margin, -40 bps yoy, reflecting current business mix
  • EBITA €148 million excl. one-offs, +24% yoy
  • Robust 2.6% EBITA margin excl. one-offs, +20 bps yoy: higher volumes and pricing, rigorous cost management driving improved profitability, with productivity +4% yoy and DDR >100%
  • Operating income €127 million, +28% yoy; Net income €69 million, +41% yoy
  • Basic EPS €0.41, +40% yoy; Adjusted EPS €0.50, +6% yoy
  • Strong 94% LTM cash conversion, operating cash flow -€178 million, working capital absorption driven by stronger revenue growth, and in line with normal seasonality
  • ND/EBITDA -0.2x yoy, consistent with year-end 2025 deleveraging
  • Continuation of positive momentum in volumes to date this quarter

Denis Machuel, Adecco Group CEO, commented:

“Our strategy combined with rigorous execution delivered a strong start to 2026 and sustained our momentum. Growth and cost discipline are improving profitability. This marks our fourth quarter of growth: at 5.3% year-on-year. We gained another 365 basis points of share, while maintaining healthy gross margins and robust EBITA.

“Adecco continues to outperform the market with growth across all regions and double digit increases in Iberia, Nordics, North America, Latin America and Asia. Akkodis is stabilizing revenues and improving profitability. LHH achieved a double digit EBITA margin, driven by strong growth in Career Transition and Ezra.

“Our tech agenda advanced with further agentic AI deployments across new markets on our digital platform, lifting fill rates and reducing time to fill, while enhancing the candidate and recruiter experience.”

Full Press Release

Webcast Details | Investors & Analysts

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

investor.relations@adeccogroup.com

+41 (0)44 878 88 88

Press Office

media@adeccogroup.com

+41 (0) 79 876 09 21

 

 

IMBA and FOMO Pay to offer universal accessibility to arts and payments


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 May 2026 – IMBA Theatre, Singapore’s first-ever attraction at Gardens by the Bay dedicated to art, storytelling and immersive experiences, has partnered with FOMO Pay to deliver a seamless, inclusive payment experience for its diverse local and international audiences. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to universal accessibility: while IMBA brings world-class arts and culture to a global audience, FOMO Pay provides the seamless payment infrastructure to make those experiences inclusive for all.

A Stage for Every Story

Located within Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay and just steps from Marina Bay Sands, IMBA Theatre is a cultural space where education, entertainment and culture exist in one space. Every show is designed not only to immerse and engage, but to spark curiosity and leave visitors with something new to think about.

Michael Lee, CEO, IMBA, said, “At IMBA, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of how technology and big ideas intersect to make culture accessible to people of all walks of life. By integrating FOMO Pay’s world-class digital payment solutions at our venue, we are ensuring that our visitors can engage with our exhibits through a seamless, contactless, and future-ready payment ecosystem.”

The 80,000 sq ft space includes two purpose-built black box theatres with cutting-edge technology, a dedicated gallery for exhibitions, a retail merchandise store, a wellness dining concept, and an immersive cultural zone by Prudential Singapore. Officially launched on 21 April 2026, IMBA Theatre currently houses the world’s first tri-format presentation featuring works by celebrated Colombian artist Maestro Fernando Botero, jointly presented with the Fernando Botero Foundation; and Lightroom’s David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away), currently the only place in Southeast Asia where audiences can experience the show. Beyond international productions, IMBA actively nurtures Singapore’s local arts talents, giving homegrown artists and creators a platform alongside world-renowned works.

Built for Everyone Who Walks Through the Door

As the only immersive theatre of its scale in Southeast Asia, IMBA welcomes a diverse and international audience. Serving them means making every part of the visitor journey seamless, including how they pay.

FOMO Pay’s FOMO AI Soundbox is Singapore’s first compact payment and merchant intelligence device, consolidating cards, PayNow, e-wallets, and stablecoins into a single terminal. Instant audio confirmations keep queues moving efficiently, even during peak visit periods. Built with an integrated microphone and an AI-powered merchant intelligence layer in development, the device also enables IMBA’s team to surface operational insights in real time, supporting faster, smarter decision-making across rotating shows and exhibitions.

“Art and culture have the power to connect people across languages, backgrounds, and borders, and the experiences built around them should reflect that,” said Louis Liu, Founder and CEO of FOMO Pay. “Our partnership with IMBA reflects what FOMO Pay is built to do, and that is to make payments simple, so visitors can focus fully on the experience itself.”

Two Brands, One Vision

The partnership between IMBA and FOMO Pay brings together two organisations with a shared belief that great experiences should be open to everyone. While IMBA works to make arts and culture accessible to all, FOMO Pay ensures the payment experience is equally inclusive, familiar to visitors regardless of where they come from. As IMBA continues to grow its regional footprint, FOMO Pay is proud to support that journey.

Hashtag: #DigitalPayment #DigitalBanking #DigitalAsset #FinTech #AgenticPayments #AI



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

About FOMO Pay

Founded in 2015, FOMO Pay is a payment institution licensed in Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East. The firm has become a leading one-stop digital payment, digital banking, and digital asset solution provider. It is currently building Asia’s fully licensed financial platform, helping institutions and businesses connect between traditional and next-generation financial services. The firm offers its three flagship products:

  • FOMO Payment – One-stop digital payment solution for merchants, corporates and financial institutions
  • FOMO iBiz – Facilitate businesses’ everyday requirements for transactional banking needs
  • FOMO Treasury – One-stop digital asset services provider bridging Web 2.0 & Web 3.0

Visit for more information. For media inquiries, contact .

About IMBA

IMBA Theatre opens at Gardens by the Bay in February 2026, presenting art, culture and ideas through immersive experiences and gallery exhibitions. Guided by its ethos Where Curiosity Grows, IMBA collaborates with both local and international artists, institutions and cultural partners to present works across physical, digital and public spaces.

Located within Singapore’s Marina Bay precinct, IMBA Theatre is conceived as an open platform for culture that is relevant and grounded in human experience, offering meaningful entry points for audiences across generations while supporting the growth of the local arts ecosystem.

Sands China Committed to Advancing Macao’s Economic Diversification

Driving the development of Macao as World Centre of Tourism and Leisure through integration, innovation, and inclusion

MACAO, May 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At Tuesday’s opening ceremony of G2E Asia 2026, the annual trade show and conference for the Asian gaming industry, Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., delivered the keynote address to 200 industry leaders and tourism stakeholders from across the region at The Venetian® Macao. The keynote shed light on insights to Macao’s integrated tourism development and pathways to its citywide diversification.

At G2E Asia 2026 on Tuesday, Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., delivers a keynote address to 200 industry leaders and tourism stakeholders from across the region. The keynote shed light on insights to Macao’s integrated tourism development and pathways to its citywide diversification.
At G2E Asia 2026 on Tuesday, Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., delivers a keynote address to 200 industry leaders and tourism stakeholders from across the region. The keynote shed light on insights to Macao’s integrated tourism development and pathways to its citywide diversification.

Themed Evolving Together: Advancing Macao’s Diversification Through Integration, Innovation, and Inclusion, the keynote speech outlined how Sands China’s visionary integration, transformative innovation, and inclusive growth have collectively shaped a blueprint for Macao’s sustainable development.

Such a forward-looking blueprint traces back to the far-sighted vision of Sheldon G. Adelson, the late founder of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Under his leadership, the group’s first property in Macao, Sands® Macao, was launched in 2004; it was followed by the 2007 launch of The Venetian® Macao, the city’s first large-scale integrated resort that merges retail, entertainment, hospitality, and MICE facilities. Ever since, Sands China has laid the foundation for the Cotai Strip, ushering in a new era for Macao’s tourism industry.

To support Macao’s economic diversification, Sands China has continuously invested in a holistic focus on hospitality, MICE, entertainment, and retail. Its 14,000-seat Venetian Arena, constantly staging large-scale concerts and performances by international superstars, has played a key role in positioning Macao more prominently on the global stage.

The company also operates over 1.6 million square feet of MICE facilities, instrumental in drawing world-class MICE events and a large flow of business visitors to Macao, extending visitors’ stay, and further strengthening Macao’s status as a leading business tourism destination in Asia. In addition, Sands China owns the city’s largest retail offering, comprising nearly 780 world-renowned duty-free retail outlets, providing strong support for the development of Macao’s retail sector.

As the pioneer of the integrated resort model in Macao, Sands China has remained steadfast in fostering the city’s economic diversification for over 20 years and continues to hold strong confidence in its future development. With the leadership of the central and the Macao SAR governments, Macao’s long-term political stability under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework has positioned the city as a safe, resilient operating environment for long-term investment, sustained development, and high-quality growth. Macao further benefits from strong organic demand – driven by its proximity to a population of nearly 90 million in the Greater Bay Area and its connectivity to key global markets. Together with tourism infrastructure developed by Sands China and industry peers over years, the synergy that has formed enables Macao to continuously attract diverse groups of tourists and effectively capture visitor demand.

Furthermore, Macao’s supply advantage in having an unmatched critical mass of high-quality integrated resorts, together with government-backed infrastructure such as the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge, have further enabled the scale and efficiency of Macao’s tourism ecosystem and sustained its competitiveness.

Looking ahead, Chum underscored the growing importance of the “Event Economy” as a key driver of the next phase of Macao’s diversification journey, with purposeful programming playing an increasingly strategic role in attracting international visitors and facilitating further economic diversification. The future focus for Sands China is on the curation of globally significant events to maximize impact and long-term value. Crucially, such events generate a broader spillover effect across the city’s economy, benefitting a wider scope of industries.  

Flagship entertainment and sports events are also identified as powerful brand amplifiers for the city. In particular, The NBA China Games in October 2025 marked a significant milestone. It generated approximately 3 billion online impressions on social media platforms across the Chinese mainland and significantly enhanced Macao’s visibility within global sports and entertainment networks. Around the event, Sands China curated around 100 extended activities and initiatives, including NBA House, the Impact Week community event, fan engagement, and Macao’s first NBA flagship store, ensuring the impact extended beyond the arena into the wider community.

The significance of sustainable diversification lies not only in tourism benefits, but also in creating meaningful and lasting contributions to the local community. By extending the synergy from large-scale events, Sands China has endeavoured to promote community care, bolstering volunteer service, fostering the development of Macao’s arts and culture, empowering SMEs, and advancing community revitalization – ensuring tourism growth drives broader participation and shared benefits across society.

Sands China reaffirms its unwavering confidence in Macao’s future and pledges to continue investing in high-quality non-gaming projects, working closely with the government, industry and Macao community to further facilitate the city’s development as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

About Sands China Ltd.

Sands China Ltd. (Sands China or the Company) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company’s integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip comprise The Venetian® Macao, The Plaza® Macao, The Parisian® Macao and The Londoner® Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company’s portfolio features a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at The Venetian Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, The Londoner Theatre and Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company’s Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).

For more information, please visit www.sandschina.com.

Media contacts:
Corporate Communications, Sands China Ltd.
Mabel Wu
Tel: +853 8118 2268
Email: mabel.wu@sands.com.mo

Jesse Chiang
Tel: +853 8118 2054
Email: jesse.chiang@sands.com.mo

At G2E Asia 2026 on Tuesday, Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., delivers a keynote address to 200 industry leaders and tourism stakeholders from across the region. The keynote shed light on insights to Macao’s integrated tourism development and pathways to its citywide diversification.
At G2E Asia 2026 on Tuesday, Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., delivers a keynote address to 200 industry leaders and tourism stakeholders from across the region. The keynote shed light on insights to Macao’s integrated tourism development and pathways to its citywide diversification.

Following his keynote address at G2E Asia 2026, Chum (centre) gathers with Bill Miller (left), president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, and J.B. Son (right), senior vice president of Reed Exhibitions, Asia Pacific.
Following his keynote address at G2E Asia 2026, Chum (centre) gathers with Bill Miller (left), president and CEO of the American Gaming Association, and J.B. Son (right), senior vice president of Reed Exhibitions, Asia Pacific.

Student Agency in Action: Hong Kong Academy Redefines Environmental Stewardship Through Student-Led Earth Day and Yard Sale Initiatives

HONG KONG, May 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In a world where environmental and social challenges are increasingly complex, the ability to translate personal values into community impact has become a vital part of a modern education. Hong Kong Academy (HKA) is proud to spotlight the recent achievements of its  Student Initiative Council, who successfully spearheaded the school’s 2026 Earth Day activities and the return of the HKA Yard Sale.


HKA Earth Day 2026 Highlights: Action for a Greener Future

The HKA Way: Empowering Student Voice
HKA’s 2026 Earth Day programme championed student agency, featuring initiatives like “Energy Vampire” hunts designed and led by students. This student-led approach shifts teachers into facilitator roles, allowing learners to prioritize their own sustainability questions.

The school’s diverse talent was showcased through three distinct lenses:

Community Organizers: Leading beach clean-ups and biodiversity protection.
Systems Thinkers: Partnering with hkaEATS to analyze food sourcing and sustainable logistics.
Creative Engineers: Applying design thinking to transform recycling into functional tools.

By valuing varied perspectives, HKA empowers students to solve global problems through authentic, practical leadership.

Purposeful Giving and the Circular Economy
The HKA Yard Sale embodied the “Dragonfly” spirit, raising over HK$20K from 300+ visitors. By promoting the circular economy, students diverted goods from landfills to global causes. Surplus books supported literacy in Cambodia, the Philippines, and local prisons, while textiles were donated to Redress to combat fashion waste.

Building a Foundation for the Future
“Our goal is to provide a space where students realize that their ideas have weight, and we give them the support to act on their ideas.” says a school representative. “By proposing and leading these projects, students learn that their voice counts and protecting our world isn’t a one-day event—it’s a forever mindset which requires persistence and creative thinking.” Through these initiatives, HKA continues to celebrate the diverse talents of its community, proving that when students are given the lead, they don’t just learn about the world—they learn how to contribute to it.

About Hong Kong Academy
Hong Kong Academy is a premier non-profit IB World School. Founded in 2000 the school is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has built an impressive reputation for delivering a high quality, student-centered education which empowers its diverse student body – representing more than 35 nationalities –  to learn, thrive and reach their full potential. Expert teachers provide a through-train education for students aged 2 – 18 years old at the schools’ award-winning campus located in family-friendly Sai Kung. As a fully authorised 3 programme IB World School, HKA offers the IB PYP, MYP and Diploma programmes. In addition, all students graduate with the HKA Diploma and Global Citizens Diploma, going on to study at competitive universities and enjoying successful careers all around the world.

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FinVolution Launches 11th Global AI Competition: Teaching Voice AI When to Speak

SHANGHAI, May 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FinVolution Group has officially launched the 2026 FinVolution Global Data Science Competition today. This year’s challenge focused on turn-taking modeling in conversations, with the aim of giving voice AI a sense of when to speak.

Voice interaction has reached the native-audio era, with AI now responding in real time. What it still lacks is something humans do by instinct: knowing when to take a turn, when to stay silent, and when a brief “mm-hm” is the right reply. Without it, even the fastest model talks over users or lets dialogue stall.

This year’s participants will be given thirty seconds of dual-channel dialogue as context,  to predict the speech events likely to occur in the next 800 milliseconds, equipping AI with the social intuition to read user intent and respond at the right moment.

The dataset behind the challenge is built from real dual-channel telephone conversations recorded across 35 regions of China, spanning a wide range of dialects and speaking styles. Audio comes paired with ASR transcripts and word-level timestamps, allowing participants to build pure-audio or multimodal systems.

“For more than a decade, this competition has been our way of connecting academic research with real-world application,” said Tiezheng Li, CEO of FinVolution Group. “Turn-taking is one of the open problems in voice interaction today. We hope what’s built here reaches far beyond research, letting millions of users experience more natural, more human conversation in everyday life.”

The 2026 challenge is supported by the China Computer Federation(CCF)  Technical Committee on Natural Language Processing as academic advisor, in collaboration with Fudan University’s Natural Language Processing Lab. It is also an official partner competition of the 15th CCF International Conference on Natural Language Processing and Chinese Computing(NLPCC 2026). Top-performing teams will earn a direct path to present at NLPCC 2026 alongside the global NLP research community.

Competition Timeline

The 2026 challenge offers a prize pool of RMB 308,000 (approximately USD 42,900) and will unfold in three stages:

Preliminary Round (May 13 – June 19): Participants train locally and submit their prediction results for real-time scoring by the end of June 16. The list of teams advancing to the semifinals will be announced on June 19.

Semifinals (June 20 – July 16): Semifinalists are required to submit Docker images for evaluation by the end of July 7. Finalists will be announced on July 16.

Final Round (July 16 – late July): Finalists will compete in person before a panel of judges, with the exact date to be announced separately.

Registration is now open through the official competition platform.

Over its eleven editions, the FinVolution Global Data Science Competition has drawn close to 10,000 participants from universities, research labs, and technology companies around the world. Past challenges have spanned deepfake detection, credit scoring, fraud detection, user behavior modeling, and dialect recognition. Partnerships with top AI conferences such as IJCAI (2024), CIKM (2025), and now NLPCC (2026) reflect its rising stature in the global AI ecosystem.

About FinVolution Group

FinVolution Group (NYSE: FINV) is a leading fintech company connecting millions of consumers and small businesses with financial institutions through advanced credit technology. Founded in 2007 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2017, the Company operates across China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Australia, with longstanding work in AI, big data, fraud detection, and credit risk modeling. FinVolution actively supports academic research through long-running sponsorships of premier AI conferences including WWW, IJCAI, CIKM, and NLPCC.