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Natura Bissé becomes the first and exclusive ‘OFFICIAL SPA BRAND’ OF The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2025

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BARCELONA, Spain, Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Spanish skincare brand takes a key step in its commitment to remaining a global leader in the world of high-end wellness experiences and becomes the first and exclusive “Official Spa Brand” of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, the global authority in hospitality excellence. With this partnership, Natura Bissé strengthens its commitment to luxury hotels as part of its international growth strategy.

Natura Bissé First and Exclusive Official Spa Brand of The World's 50 Best Hotels.
Natura Bissé First and Exclusive Official Spa Brand of The World’s 50 Best Hotels.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels awards ceremony will be held in London this week, bringing together the world’s top hoteliers for a three-day event. For the occasion, Natura Bissé will curate a series of innovative experiences designed to inspire attendees in their continuous pursuit of excellence for their guests and to support a sustainable and profitable business model.

This is a key alliance at a time of unprecedented growth in luxury tourism. Demand for high-end, innovative experiences continues to rise, and wellness is becoming a core element of the new emotional and transformative luxury. The latest report from the Global Wellness Institute* states that the wellness sector has grown by 9% annually since 2020 and is projected to reach $9 trillion by 2028 – nearly double its size in 2019.

* Global Wellness Institute (2024). The Global Wellness Economy Reaches a New Peak of $6.3 Trillion And Is Forecast to Hit $9 Trillion by 2028. Link to the article.

“Natura Bissé was born as a spa brand, and for over four decades we have collaborated with some of the world’s most iconic hotels. It is an honor to become the first and exclusive official spa partner of The World’s 50 Best Hotels. We are convinced we can bring real value to an industry we strongly believe in—one that will play a key role in a new global paradigm that increasingly demands truly transformative wellness experiences.”, Lluis Uriach, Strategic Projects Director of Natura Bissé Group.

Natura Bissé is currently present in over 450 hotels around the world, including major groups such as The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria, Rosewood, Belmond, St. Regis, Fairmont, Mandarin Oriental and Grand Hyatt. The brand’s treatments make a true difference in the spa, its 100% charitable amenities—recently awarded by Condé Nast Traveler Spain— delight guests in their rooms, and a carefully curated retail selection allows them to continue their self-care at home.

“We are thrilled to partner with Natura Bissé, a leading name in skincare and spa, that shares our unwavering pursuit of excellence and unforgettable experiences. We are confident they will bring great added value to the 50 Best community and the properties on The World’s 50 Best Hotels list.”, Craig Hawtin-Butcher, 50 Best Managing Director.

Contact:

Mireia Gallart, mireiagallart@naturabisse.com + 34 93 591 0231

 

 

 

AFTEC Distils 16 Years of Arts Education Leadership into New Book, Offering a Roadmap for Hong Kong’s Creative Future

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Igniting a Creative Renaissance, New Book Evolving Creative Mindsets Provides the Roadmap to Transform Hong Kong Schools


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 October 2025 – AFTEC today hosted the official book launch for Evolving Creative Mindsets: Thinking Through the Arts, where leading experts from academia and policy research called for a systemic shift in education to secure Hong Kong’s future. The event, held at the Fringe Club, brought together educators, policymakers, and cultural leaders to discuss the critical role of creative learning in an era of global uncertainty.

Authored by Ms Lynn Yau, AFTEC’s Chief Executive Officer, and published by Hong Kong University Press, the book arrives at a pivotal moment. The latest OECD PISA creative thinking assessment has highlighted a global need to strengthen creative skills, and this book offers a timely roadmap for Hong Kong to address this challenge and cultivate a more innovative generation.

A Call to Action: Nurturing ‘First-Class Humans, Not Second-Class Robots’

Speaking at the launch, author Ms Yau said: “For too long, the arts have been perceived as peripheral—for entertainment or school portfolios, but not as a core driver of learning and innovation. This book is a call to action, built on 16 years of frontline work with AFTEC. It demonstrates through real-world case studies how we can bridge the gap between the arts and education. We need to move away from siloed thinking and build a true ecosystem where creative mindsets can flourish. This is not just about creating artists; it’s about nurturing what Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, calls ‘first-class humans, not second-class robots.'”

Although the arts have been firmly planted in the Hong Kong school system since the 1950s, they are often sacrificed in place of core subjects and preparation for examinations. Drawing on over 16 years of exploration and experience, Yau makes the case that arts are critical to cultivating creative mindsets, which are our best resource for innovating and responding to challenges in this complex world of sudden changes. Through case studies and conversations with practising artists and educators, the book demonstrates why arts and education, two normally discrete disciplines, should be broadly integrated into the local Hong Kong curriculum, and how this can be—and has been—achieved.

The book launch began with a guided exhibition tour led by the AFTEC team, followed by a dynamic panel discussion. Experts including Mr Victor Kwok, Deputy Director of Research at Our Hong Kong Foundation; Professor Anna Hui of City University of Hong Kong; and independent evaluator Mr Robert Li explored the policy barriers, the economic case for investing in creativity, and the practical steps needed to foster a more innovative education system.

Inside the Book: A Blueprint for Transforming Hong Kong’s Schools

Evolving Creative Mindsets: Thinking Through the Arts is a comprehensive guide that deconstructs the challenges and opportunities facing Hong Kong. It explores:

  • The “Poverty of Imagination”: An analysis of how economic and educational constraints can limit the cognitive and emotional growth of young people, and how the arts can redress this imbalance.
  • A Proven Pedagogical Model: Detailed case studies from AFTEC’s programmes, such as the Sm-ART Youth and Bravo! Hong Kong Youth Theatre Awards, which showcase practical methods for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.
  • A Blueprint for Policy: A proposal for a phased, 10-year human resources plan designed to cultivate a new generation of “Creative Practitioners” and build a more sophisticated, engaged audience.
  • The Future of Learning: An examination of how skills nurtured through the arts—such as abstract thinking, emotional intelligence, and collaboration—are precisely the competencies demanded by a future global economy where 47% of jobs may be automated.

The book challenges the status quo, urging a move from short-term, “copy-and-paste” collaborations to deep, sustainable partnerships. It critiques the current “service provider” model, where arts groups are hired for one-off school performances, and instead advocates for embedding creative practitioners within the educational fabric. The work has already received high praise from international and local leaders in arts education, policy, and culture (see appendix II).

In her closing remarks, Ms Yau reiterated the book’s central message: “The core question we must ask is how to empower our youth to navigate a world of increasing complexity and ambiguity. The answer lies in evolving our mindsets. This book is an invitation to our entire community—educators, artists, policymakers, and parents—to sit side-by-side and build a truly creative city together. The future starts now.”

This book is intended for policymakers, teaching and learning professionals at K-12 and tertiary levels, visual and performing arts establishments, and arts institutions that nurture educators and artists. The volume will also appeal to readers curious about how and why the arts should be foundational to education and capacity building in the twenty-first century.

The copy is available on https://hkupress.hku.hk/Evolving_Creative_Mindsets

Appendix I: Synopsis

Chapter Synopsis Selected Quote
Introduction The introduction establishes the book’s central thesis: Hong Kong’s education system sacrifices the arts, hindering the development of creative mindsets crucial for the 21st century. It defines key terms like “arts-in-education” and presents a roadmap for integrating the arts and education, framing the book as a call to action for policymakers, educators, and artists. “Our best resource is our creative mindset, hence the cultivation of our people.”
Part A: Origin
Chapter 1: Cracking the Creativity Code: The Future Starts Now This chapter traces two decades of Hong Kong’s education reforms, revealing a persistent gap between policy aspirations for creativity and classroom reality. It makes a powerful economic case for change, citing global reports on the future of work to argue that creative and social intelligence—skills honed by the arts—are essential for the jobs of tomorrow. “Rote learning cannot save jobs. Adaptability and flexibility to deal with suddenness are crucial.”
Chapter 2: The Power of Imagination: Redressing Poverty? The author introduces the concept of a “poverty of imagination” as a direct consequence of a deficit-based education system focused on rote learning. The chapter argues that redressing this requires a shift to an asset-based model that uses the arts to release the imagination, making empathy and a belief in alternative futures possible. “As dismal as economic poverty is the poverty of the imagination. In the end, these children may not see alternative ways of living, ways to gain a better quality of being because they are not exposed to, nor do they understand, possibilities and probabilities.”
Part B: Passage
Chapter 3: In Praise of Gaps: Programming with Voids This chapter details AFTEC’s core strategy: identifying and filling “gaps” in the arts and education ecosystem. Instead of routine programming, the organisation creates targeted projects—from theatre productions that embed learning to cross-sector collaborations with medical schools—that serve as proven models for change and capacity-building. “Gaps need not be ascribed as failings; they can be opportunities to create something of substance to fill the void.”
Chapter 4: Passivity to Engagement: Sm-ART Youth Case Study Through a detailed case study of the seminal Sm-ART Youth project, this chapter provides a practical roadmap for transforming passive students into engaged learners. It demonstrates how to cultivate a creative classroom by rethinking the physical environment, building trust, and integrating cultural outings and parent collaboration to foster autonomy and self-expression. “Cookie-cutter activities in which the standardised requirement of the teacher reigning as the sole source of information and students producing the same answers were replaced by authentic experiences that engaged the child’s own experiences, thoughts, and feelings.”
Chapter 5: Reflections as Assessment: Acknowledging Considered Thinking This chapter challenges the traditional view of assessment in the arts, moving “from measurement to judgement.” It champions reflective practice—through journals, dialogues, and guided questioning—as a powerful tool to assess and document qualitative growth. Using case studies, it shows how this approach makes intangible changes in students’ confidence and critical thinking visible and valuable. “Assessment and evaluation are about storytelling, that through narratives, we can tell how we are doing what we are doing, thereby giving confirmation to why we should continue (or not) doing it.”
Chapter 6: Those COVID Days: The Arts and Well-Being Using the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic as a backdrop, this chapter explores the critical link between the arts and well-being. It documents how AFTEC adapted through a “growth mindset” and presents compelling case studies and international research showing how arts engagement promotes mental health, resilience, and social-emotional learning, especially for the vulnerable youth. “It took a global pandemic to start this conversation.”
Part C: Bearing
Chapter 7: Creative Mindsets, Creative City: OECD PISA Creative Thinking Test This chapter analyses Hong Kong’s lacklustre performance in the landmark 2022 PISA creative thinking assessment, contrasting it with top-performing economies like Singapore. It argues that the results are a direct reflection of a school system that, despite policy rhetoric, does not systematically cultivate the creative habits of mind needed for a truly innovative city. “If we are indeed to be the East-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange, then the degree of contentment, or complacency, should be a driving force.”
Chapter 8: Museums and Performing Spaces: Sites of Creative Learning The author reimagines museums and performance venues not just as places for consumption but as dynamic “Sites of Creative Learning.” The chapter argues that by moving beyond chronological displays and passive viewing, these spaces can become powerful environments for fostering inquiry, critical thinking, and deeper audience engagement. “The tightness of space need not hamper the expanse of the mind. Their evolution as sites of creative learning has immense possibilities.”
Chapter 9: Contextualising Human Resource Planning: A Triumvirate Concept This chapter presents a strategic blueprint for developing Hong Kong into an East-West cultural hub by strengthening the “triumvirate” of audience, schools, and creative practitioners. It argues that the current supply-demand imbalance in the arts can be rectified by investing in a recognised, professionalised corps of “Creative Practitioners” who can elevate both arts education and audience sophistication. “Quantity may be good as long as funding lasts; quality delivers higher sustainability through investing in current and future generations.”
Chapter 10: Myths and Misunderstandings: Musings and Replies In this concluding chapter, the author directly confronts and debunks common myths about the arts—from the idea that they are merely peripheral to education, to the belief that creativity is only for artists. It serves as a final, passionate plea for a more nuanced and accurate understanding of the value of the arts in society. “The arts have everything to do with everyone if only we manage to open up, through creative learning, to create curiosity and subsequent inquisitiveness.”
Epilogue: First-Class Humans The epilogue serves as a powerful concluding call to action. It poses a critical question for Hong Kong’s future: “How can we ensure our young people become first-class humans and not second-class robots?” The answer, the author concludes, lies in systemically embedding creative learning at the heart of education and society. “In space-constrained Hong Kong, physical limitations can inspire the growth of mental capacity when we nurture creative thinking and artistic expression.”

Appendix II: Testimonial
‘Our schools and professional communities increasingly need creatively vibrant learners to succeed. Evolving Creative Mindsets hits the bull’s-eye exactly, showing creative practitioners how the AFTEC approach, proven by research and by similar best practices around the world, effectively develops the innovative learners and active creators we want and need. Bravo.’

– Eric Booth, co-founder of International Teaching Artist Collaborative (ITAC) and author of Making Change: Teaching Artists and Their Role in Shaping a Better World

‘Lynn’s lived experiences are painstakingly distilled into a book that advocates the imminence of creative thinking as a top future skill set and how to cultivate it. This book speaks to those in education, culture and creativity, policy and grant-making, community NGOs, youth development, and even healthcare. Most importantly, this is one for all the parents in the city.’

– Helen So, board member of the Hong Kong Palace Museum

‘Evolving Creative Mindsets is an eloquent, evidence-rich treasure. Lynn Yau weaves Hong Kong’s vivid case studies with universal insights – uniting policy, assessment, well-being, and creative thinking in one compelling narrative. A practical handbook and visionary manifesto, it will inspire educators, policymakers, and artists striving for sustainable, globally resonant arts learning.’

– Anne Bamford, OBE, director of International Research Agency and former Strategic Education, Skills, and Culture Director for the City of London

Hashtag: #AFTEC

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

About AFTEC

Advancing creative learning and arts education in Hong Kong

Creativity allows us to recognise potential within ourselves and the world around us. It promotes problem-solving, nurtures relationships, cultivates resilience, and can transform lives in countless ways. At AFTEC, we work with students, educators, and creative practitioners to plant the seeds of creativity in our community—seeds we have seen yield season after season.

As a proudly homegrown Hong Kong organisation, we nurture the city’s greatest natural resource — its people. Through co-designed, collaborative, and inclusive bilingual educational programmes, we create supportive environments where young minds are free to explore, express, and flourish. We spark imagination, build confidence, and foster a sense of growth and belonging together.

MMTEC, Inc. Announces Receipt of Nasdaq Delisting Determination Regarding Minimum Bid Price Deficiency

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HONG KONG, Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — MMTEC, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTC) (“MMTEC”, “we”, “our” or the “Company”), a China-based technology company that provides access to the U.S. financial markets, today announced that on October 27, 2025, the Company received a determination letter (the “Determination Letter”) from the Listings Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) regarding a failure to meet Nasdaq’s minimum bid price requirements. The Determination Letter advised that for the last 30 consecutive business the minimum closing bid price per share for the Company’s common stock was below the $1.00 per share requirement for continued listing under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Rule”). In addition, because the Company effected a one-for-eight reverse stock split on December 18, 2024, pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A)(iv) the Company is not eligible for the 180-calendar day compliance period otherwise available under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A). As a result, the Determination Letter states that Nasdaq has determined to delist the Company’s securities from The Nasdaq Capital Market.

The Determination Letter has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Unless the Company requests an appeal, trading in the Company’s securities will be suspended at the opening of business on November 5, 2025, and a Form 25-NSE will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to remove the Company’s securities from listing and registration on The Nasdaq Stock Market.

The Company has the right to request a hearing before a Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) to appeal this determination, with such request due by November 3, 2025. A request for a hearing would stay the suspension of the Company’s securities pending the Panel’s decision. The Company is currently evaluating the Nasdaq determination and considering its available options, including whether to request a hearing. The Company currently intends to appeal the determination; however, there can be no assurance that the Company will, in fact, move to appeal the determination, that any appeal would be successful, or that the Company will ultimately be able to regain compliance with the applicable Nasdaq listing requirements.

This press release is issued pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(b), which requires prompt disclosure of receipt of a delisting determination.

About MMTEC, Inc.

Headquartered in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, our Company mainly focuses on investment banking and asset management business, providing customers with one-stop and all-round financial services.

More information about the Company can be found at: www.haisc.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “project”, “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Specifically, the Company’s statements regarding its ability to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule, its continued growth, its business outlook, and other similar statements are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F and its subsequent filings. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

 

Cognex Introduces the Solutions Experience (SLX) Logistics Portfolio

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AI-Powered, Easy-to-Deploy Machine Vision Devices Solve the Most Critical Logistics Applications

NATICK, Mass., Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX), the global technology leader in industrial machine vision, today announced the launch of its first line of Solutions Experience (SLX ™) devices, application-specific solutions designed to easily solve the most critical applications in key industrial verticals.

The Cognex SLX logistics devices are ready to take on specific logistics applications.
The Cognex SLX logistics devices are ready to take on specific logistics applications.

The first set of SLX devices is tailor-made for the logistics industry, serving as both an entry point for facilities that are just ramping up their automation and a complementary “bolt-on” solution to enhance existing automated systems. Each SLX device in the logistics portfolio is simple to deploy and provides reliable barcode reading and AI-driven item detection.

“The SLX-3816 is an enabling first step in our vision strategy, delivering on barcode capture, image capture, and package detection. Integration with our application was seamless and we are able to scale this solution easily across our terminals and network,” said Jay Fisher, Operations Systems Manager at Purolator.

The devices in the SLX logistics portfolio enhance operational equipment effectiveness (OEE) and reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) through innovative technology:

  • AI-powered detection: Built on a decade of industrial AI machine vision innovation from Cognex, the SLX logistics devices reliably detect items across a wide variety of conveyances and packages.
  • Shared web-based guided UI: SLX devices can be set up and deployed in minutes by non-technical staff, thanks to a guided web interface and user-friendly AI vision tools that are shared across all SLX devices to reduce training time and costs.
  • Dual-function performance: The SLX logistics portfolio combines both advanced barcode reading and AI-powered item detection in the same devices, reducing the number of devices needed and lowering maintenance costs.
  • Multi-device management: SLX devices enable scalable mass deployments and firmware updates directly from the device, reducing costs and saving time by eliminating the need for unnecessary software tools needed to download and run updates on each new device.

The Cognex SLX logistics portfolio currently includes three devices, each targeted at specific applications:

  • SLX-280D: Consistently reliable barcode reading for zone routing systems and tote inspection
  • SLX-290: High-performance classification and barcode reading
  • SLX-3816: High-resolution side-by-side detection and large-format top-side barcode reading

Cognex plans to expand its SLX offerings with innovative, AI-powered, user-friendly devices that support application-specific automation needs across many industries, delivering lower TCO and higher OEE. For more information, call 1-855-4-COGNEX or visit https://www.cognex.com/products/logistics-solutions.

About Cognex Corporation

For over 40 years, Cognex has been making advanced machine vision easy, paving the way for manufacturing and distribution companies to become faster, smarter, and more efficient through automation.

Innovative technology in our vision sensors and systems solves critical manufacturing and distribution challenges, providing unparalleled performance for industries from automotive to consumer electronics to packaged goods.

Cognex makes these tools more capable and easier to deploy thanks to a longstanding focus on AI, helping factories and warehouses improve quality and maximize efficiency without needing highly technical expertise.

We are headquartered near Boston, USA, with locations in over 30 countries and more than 30,000 customers worldwide. Learn more at cognex.com.

IR Contact
Greer Aviv 
Head of Investor Relations
Cognex Corporation 
ir@cognex.com

Media Contact
Jeremy Sacco
Senior Manager, Global Content Marketing
Cognex Corporation
pr@cognex.com

 

Hong Kong & Chinese Mainland Investors Signal Strong Interest in Tokenized Funds, According to Joint Study by Aptos Labs and BCG under HKMA’s Project e-HKD+

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61% of retail investors in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland are set to double their investment allocations to funds — driven by features unlocked through tokenization and digital money innovation.


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 October 2025 – Retail investors in Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland may double their asset allocation to funds, leveraging digital money and advanced features enabled by tokenization, according to new research commissioned by Aptos Labs, core contributor to the Aptos Layer-1 blockchain, and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). This follows a successful joint pilot with Hang Seng Bank conducted under Project e-HKD+.

With the rapid evolution of digital money and tokenization worldwide, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) renamed Project e-HKD as Project e-HKD+ in 2024 and commenced Phase 2 of the e-HKD Pilot Program (Phase 2), expanding its coverage from e-HKD only to a more comprehensive exploration of the digital money ecosystem in Hong Kong. Under Phase 2, Hang Seng Bank, Aptos Labs, and BCG collaborated on a joint pilot to explore new business features and investor use cases, which was followed by the Digital Money & Tokenized Assets Hong Kong Survey, conducted by Aptos Labs and BCG, to validate the commercial viability of these features.

Conducted between May and June 2025, the Digital Money & Tokenized Assets Hong Kong Survey engaged over 500 retail fund investors to assess their behavior, perceptions, and demand for tokenized fund products. The findings revealed strong investor interest and confirmed that these innovative features are not only feasible but also highly valued by retail investors.

Innovative Features Fuel Investor Appetite

The survey findings highlight strong momentum for tokenized funds, with 61% of retail investors in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland planning to double their allocations – driven by innovative features enabled by tokenization. In particular, Chinese Mainland respondents expressed a high demand for cross-border investment avenues. The results also signal a shifting investor landscape, where attributes such as liquidity, transparency, and faster access to capital are becoming increasingly valued alongside traditional performance metrics.

“The survey results underscore the scale of opportunity in tokenized funds and programmable digital money,” said Solomon Tesfaye, Chief Business Officer of Aptos Labs. “These technologies are transforming the investment landscape and investor expectations – unlocking efficiency, transparency, and new possibilities. Aptos Labs is honored to be part of Phase 2 of the e-HKD+ pilot program and the e-HKD Industry Forum in partnership with Hang Seng and BCG, contributing to building the infrastructure that helps bring these opportunities to life.”

David Chan, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, added, “Our global experience in digital money initiatives and business builds suggests that successful digital money adoption depends on delivering a clear value proposition for each client segment. Firms need a holistic operating model to orchestrate rapidly evolving technologies for effective value delivery. We hope our survey findings help guide healthy and responsible industry growth.”

Distinctive Needs and Opportunities Between Investor Groups

The survey has identified four distinct investor personas, each showing a strong willingness to increase fund allocations to tokenized products – provided the features align with their specific investment needs:

  • Hong Kong Frequent Traders – A dynamic cohort of young to mid-aged investors focused on active trading for amplified returns. They anticipate increasing fund allocations from 10% to 26%, drawn to features like 24/7 trading access and greater allocation flexibility, which enable faster cycles and opportunities.
  • Hong Kong Wealth Legacy Planners – Investors with significant assets under management, focusing on wealth transfer strategies and trust creation, are especially attracted to programmable fund structures that support tailored trust setups and transparent fund management. Their average allocation is expected to grow from 5% to 16%.
  • Hong Kong Long-Term Investors – Discerning mid-aged investors who value security, transparency, and liquidity in their investment choices. They see strong utility in tokenized funds for instant capital redemption and using tokenized funds as collateral for short-term financing needs. Their planned allocation increase is from 8% to 25%.
  • Chinese Mainland Investors – Affluent individuals seeking diversification beyond mainland markets into promising Hong Kong investment avenues. Their average allocation is set to rise from 11% to 24%, with tokenized funds offering a strategic route around capital controls. Programmability features allow flexible investment across Hong Kong fund products, utilization of profits locally, and seamless overseas transfers.

The survey revealed that tokenization unlocks a wide range of capabilities, with each investor persona valuing different features based on their unique investment goals. While programmability emerged as a universally appreciated benefit, preferences varied from wealth transfer solutions to global diversification strategies, highlighting how tokenization can flexibly meet diverse investor needs. This signals a strong opportunity for targeted adoption and product innovation.

Regulatory Tailwinds and Mature Technology Accelerate Digital Money Adoption

These insights align with Hong Kong’s growing momentum in digital asset development. Following the passage of the Stablecoins Bill by the Legislative Council, the city now hosts a formal licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoin (FRS) issuers.

As a member of the e-HKD Industry Forum and the Programmability Working Group established by HKMA, Aptos Labs works alongside leading financial institutions to address challenges in scaling the adoption of new digital money formats and shaping future institutional standards. The company also brings extensive global experience, supporting major stablecoin ecosystems with over US$60 billion in monthly transactions facilitated through the Aptos blockchain.

Together, these regulatory and institutional tailwinds provide a strong foundation for the investor demand reflected in the survey, signaling a market ready for large-scale adoption, redefined capital flows, and a new generation of financial infrastructure powered by blockchain technology.

Hashtag: #AptosLabs

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

About Aptos Labs

Aptos Labs is dedicated to creating network tooling and seamless usability for users of the Aptos network, a next-generation high-performance public Layer 1 blockchain. Aptos is backed by top-flight investors including a16z, Katie Haun, Apollo Global Management, Binance Labs, Dragonfly, PayPal Ventures, and Franklin Templeton Investments.

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

ST Engineering iDirect ‘s AI-Powered Network Analytics Platform Improves Customer Experience and Operational Performance

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Anomaly detection use case will be demonstrated live with partner Q-KON at AfricaCom 2025

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect, a global leader in satellite communications, today announced its AI-powered network analytics platform proof of concept that enables operators to anticipate and resolve network issues before they escalate. This underscores how real-time insights, predictive analytics, and anomaly detection are reshaping satellite network operations.

Anomaly detection use case will be demonstrated live with partner Q-KON at AfricaCom 2025
Anomaly detection use case will be demonstrated live with partner Q-KON at AfricaCom 2025

ST Engineering iDirect’s platform leverages both historical and real-time data—such as weather patterns—to predict throughput, identify anomalies, and drive proactive interventions. By minimizing downtime and maximizing network reliability, it empowers operators to meet customers’ expectations and deliver exceptional service by ensuring uninterrupted connectivity. The platform will help operators cut operating expenses, streamline resource management, and transition from manual to autonomous workflows, driving greater customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

“Our strategy goes beyond connectivity. We’re developing value-added applications that help our customers run smarter, more resilient operations and create a true competitive edge,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, CTO and SVP of Engineering, ST Engineering iDirect. “By enabling operators to resolve issues early, optimize resources, and boost workforce efficiency, our network analytics platform advances both business outcomes and customer satisfaction.”

The platform was recently validated in a real-world use case. Q-KON, a leading provider of satellite communication solutions in Africa, utilized ST Engineering iDirect’s platform to detect anomalies affecting network performance. The early identification of a recent installation error allowed Q-KON to take corrective action and avoid service degradation, directly improving customer experience and operational performance.

“The insights gained from ST Engineering iDirect’s network analytics platform will be transformative,” said Dr. Dawie De Wet, CEO of Q-KON. “The ability to predict and prevent issues before they impact service will raise our operational standards, ensure reliable connectivity for our customers and enable us to offer advanced service packages.”

Live demonstrations of the platform will be hosted at Stand C63 during AfricaCom, Nov 11-13, 2025. Register today at https://www.idirect.net/event/africacom-2025/.

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications (satcom) providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their satcom networks. With over 40 years of delivering innovation focused on solving satellite’s most critical economic and technology challenges we are committed to shaping the future of how the world connects. The product portfolio, branded iDirect, represents the highest standards in performance, efficiency and reliability, making it possible for its customers to deliver the best satcom connectivity experience anywhere in the world. ST Engineering iDirect is a leader in key industries including mobility, broadcast and military/government. In 2007, iDirect Government was formed to better serve the U.S. government and defense communities. For more information visit www.idirect.net.

 

Altair RapidMiner Data Analytics and AI Platform Accelerates Enterprise Intelligence with Expanded Agentic AI and Analytics Ecosystem

By
Advertorial Desk
-

New software release includes enhanced automation, governance, real-time analytics, and self-service data preparation

TROY, Mich., Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Altair, a global leader in computational intelligence, today announced major updates across Altair® RapidMiner®, its data analytics and AI platform, to help organizations operationalize intelligence, bridging human insight, data automation, and agentic AI collaboration across a unified ecosystem.

Altair has announced major updates to the Altair® RapidMiner® platform to help organizations operationalize intelligence, bridging human insight, data automation, and agentic AI collaboration across a unified ecosystem
Altair has announced major updates to the Altair® RapidMiner® platform to help organizations operationalize intelligence, bridging human insight, data automation, and agentic AI collaboration across a unified ecosystem

The latest updates strengthen Altair’s data analytics and AI ecosystem, empowering organizations to build scalable, trusted, and intelligent data environments.

“The latest updates help organizations move from isolated analytics to fully connected intelligence,” said Sam Mahalingham, chief technology officer, Altair, and head of simulation, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “By bringing together AI, data governance, and real-time decisioning, Altair enables every team — from business analysts to data scientists — to turn data into action faster and more confidently than ever before.”

Driving Connected Intelligence Across the Enterprise

Altair® AI Cloud delivers a secure foundation for deploying intelligent, multi-agent systems at scale. Through the new Agent Studio, users can build and orchestrate agentic workflows combining large language models (LLMs), machine learning, and enterprise data in one environment. Enhanced multi-agent collaboration allows agents to reason, retrieve, and automate tasks collectively. With these features, traditional data processes become dynamic, autonomous ecosystems that democratize access to enterprise-grade AI.

Altair® Graph Studio™ anchors Altair’s ecosystem with semantic data intelligence and governance for agentic systems. With Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration, agents directly interact with Graph Studio to query, reason and make decisions, while embedded LLM-powered copilots simplify metadata management and ontology creation. The release also introduces granular attribute-based access controls and policy-driven governance for improved privacy, compliance, and lifecycle management—helping to ensure data is not only connected but also controlled and compliant.

Altair® Panopticon™ continues to redefine real-time analytics for industries where milliseconds matter. The update introduces a rebuilt network graph visualization with richer node-edge detail, customizable labels, and advanced styling options.  A new guided workbook experience walks users step by step through dashboard creation, while automatic data refresh keeps visualizations aligned with live data—assisting in ensuring every decision is made from the most current information. Enhanced data table management, faster rendering, and expanded connectivity—including InfluxDB v2 and advanced alerting—further accelerate insight generation for time-critical decisions.

Unified Analytics and Language Flexibility

Altair’s unified data analytics and AI platform continues to expand its flexibility and integration for both technical and business users. Altair RapidMiner removes barriers between teams, modernizes existing SAS investments, and streamlines migration to open, cloud-ready environments.

Altair® SLC™ broadens language coverage and data connectivity with a new Databricks connector, expanded HDFS and Tagsets.RTF support, and dozens of enhanced and new SAS procedures. Running seamlessly across major operating systems and environments, Altair SLC empowers users to execute SAS, Python, R, and SQL in one unified framework.

Building on this foundation, Altair SLC Hub™ delivers centralized orchestration, scheduling, and resource management for SLC clusters. The latest release introduces a command-line interface (HubCLI) and Windows credential integration for improved workload control, with upcoming support for single sign-on and high availability.

Altair Analytics Workbench® builds on the integration between Altair SLC and SLC Hub, giving users a single, multi-language workspace to build, run, and deploy analytics. Now available on Windows, Linux, and macOS, the latest version adds a stand-alone SQL query block, a workflow import accelerator, and an AI-powered copilot for code generation, documentation, and data exploration. The enhanced notebook experience supports real-time collaboration and integration with live enterprise data.

Smarter Data Preparation and Governance

Altair® Monarch® continues to lead in self-service data preparation, giving analysts a faster way to turn raw, complex data into trusted, analysis-ready datasets. The release introduces support for writing Monarch expressions to filter data directly from ODBC sources like SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, and DB2—eliminating the need for complex SQL queries or database-specific syntax. Enhanced OData connector capabilities simplify data consumption from Mendix endpoints, while improved search and lineage functions make it easier to trace data origins and maintain transparency across the preparation process.

Extending Monarch’s capabilities to the enterprise, Altair® Monarch Server™ provides scalable report storage, process orchestration, and automation within a centralized, high-availability environment. The new release adds support for SQL Azure instance deployment, a unified job view combining logs from multiple workflows, and a consolidated interface for pre-mined table access. Together, Monarch and Monarch Server empower organizations to automate and govern data preparation pipelines from desktop to enterprise scale.

Accelerating the Future of Connected Intelligence

From agentic AI and semantic data governance to real-time analytics and self-service data preparation, Altair RapidMiner delivers the intelligence backbone modern enterprises need to thrive. These innovations empower organizations to make faster, smarter decisions, turning data into a continuous, enterprise-wide advantage.

To learn more about Altair RapidMiner and explore the latest updates, visit http://altair.com/altair-rapidminer.

About Altair

Altair is a global leader in computational intelligence that provides software and cloud solutions in simulation, high-performance computing (HPC), data analytics, and AI. Altair is part of Siemens Digital Industries Software. To learn more, please visit altair.com or sw.siemens.com.

Media contacts

Altair Corporate                                              

Bridget Hagan                                                 

+1.216.769.2658                                            

corp-newsroom@altair.com                   

Altair Europe/The Middle East/Africa           

Altair Asia-Pacific

Louise Wilce                                                   

Man Wang

+44 (0)7392 437 635

86-21-5016635,,825

emea-newsroom@altair.com                        

apac-newsroom@altair.com

 

 

ITALY, ECOMONDO 2025, GLOBAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION HUB

By
Advertorial Desk
-

 From 4th to 7th November, 1.700 exhibiting brands, 350 buyers from 66 countries, 30 official delegations and 90 international associations: a global edition of the ecological transition show.

RIMINI, Italy, Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ecomondo, set to go from 4th to 7th November at Rimini Expo Centre, is Europe and the Mediterranean’s leading event for the green, blue and circular economies, organized by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) with over 1.700 exhibiting brands, a record presence of 350 hosted buyers from 66 countries, 30 official delegations and 90 trade associations from abroad.

In parallel, 200 prestigious conference events.

For IEG president Maurizio Ermeti: “The Ecomondo saga is the story of a long and successful journey. From the end of the ’90s to present day, the event has grown exponentially, becoming an international reference point and essential event for companies in Europe and beyond that want to establish themselves in the green economy’s global markets.”

Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG states: “Ecomondo is the place where innovation, business and strategic vision converge. It connects institutions, companies and the scientific world to discuss challenges and opportunities related to environmental policy and the transition towards a circular economy, promoting strategic collaborations from which global synergies can emerge.”

For Alessandra Astolfi, IEG’s Green & Technology director: “Thanks to synergy with the Italian Trade Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ecomondo is the meeting place par excellence for international ecological transition stakeholders.“

Programme highlights will include the fifth edition of the Africa Green Growth Forum with focus on access to clean and sustainable energy on the African continent, in synergy with the Mattei Plan and the “Mission 300” programme.

The States General of the Green Economy, organized by the Sustainable Development Foundation with the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), will open for the first time to an international audience with a plenary session on 5th November in English to broaden the dialogue with policy makers and foreign companies.

Ecomondo is part of a global network that includes editions in Mexico and China, the Green Med Symposium in Naples and a 2025 roadshow that made stop-offs in Cairo, Belgrade and Warsaw.

Charter flights are scheduled from Munich and Rome. Bilingual topics, with over 500 free places per day, will be held.

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