• Expert jurors from 26 countries select Farizon SV for IVOTY shortlist
• High standards of efficiency and safety are key factors jurors consider
• Winner to be announced at Solutrans Expo in Lyon, France on 19 November

HANGZHOU, China, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The all-new born-electric Farizon SV large van has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2026 International Van of the Year (IVOTY) Award. The news comes ahead of the overall winner being announced at a ceremony to be held at the Solutrans commercial vehicle expo in Lyon, France on 19 November.

An expert panel of jurors from 26 countries have selected the Farizon SV after evaluating numerous new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) that have been introduced to global markets this year. The jurors consider a vehicle’s contribution to high standards of efficiency and safety among other factors when deciding on the final shortlist.

Jarlath Sweeney, Chairman of the International Van of the Year Award, said: “We’re in a very interesting period in our sector, with new players coming into the marketplace, with fresh thinking, creating new segments, and offering new solutions, all with emission free technologies. These new brands are most welcome, and to have them in the contest alongside household names in the trade, makes our job when voting even more difficult.”

Cook Xue, CEO at Farizon Auto International Company, said: “We set out four years ago to develop and build the world’s best van, and being shortlisted for the IVOTY award is testament to the hundreds of engineers and manufacturing colleagues that produce the Farizon SV. In conjunction with distribution partners around the world, we have successfully launched across Europe, the Gulf region and Asia Pacific through 2025, and to cap off the year with the IVOTY award would be very gratifying. We’re excited to hear the result in November.”

The Farizon SV 

The Farizon SV features a host of advanced innovations, including drive-by-wire technology, a unique hidden B-pillar design, and cell-to-pack battery packaging, which combine to deliver market-leading cargo capacity. With a payload of up to 1,465 kg, load space up to 13 m3, and an ultra-low loading height of just 550 mm, the SV sets a new benchmark for capability and versatility in the global medium / large van sector.

A single highly-specified trim level includes several premium features as standard, including a unique payload monitoring system, heated seats, heated multifunction steering wheel, heated windscreen, and a 360-degree surround view, depending on market. A comprehensive suite of ADAS safety systems is also included. The SV has earned the highest five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.   

The model line-up includes the option of a 49 kWh, 67 kWh or an 83 kWh battery, or a 66 kWh or 106 kWh battery, depending on market. Depending on the model, peak power is rated at 200 kW (272 PS) and maximum torque at 343 Nm. The SV delivers a WLTP range of up to 551 km (342 miles) on the WLTP city cycle, and up to 398 km (247 miles) on the WLTP combined cycle. A 20 to 80 per cent top-up charge can be completed in as little as 36 minutes.  

About Farizon

Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group is the commercial business division of Geely Holding Group. With the support of Geely Holding Group’s Central Research Institute, Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group has founded China’s largest new energy commercial vehicle research institute. It is responsible for the R&D of a new generation of green and intelligent commercial vehicle products based on passenger vehicle technology. Farizon has become China’s first commercial vehicle brand to offer a full range of new energy product. Farizon is committed to becoming a comprehensive intelligent and green transportation technology service provider.

Farizon has doubled its Chinese market share for three consecutive years, with a product market share exceeding 20%, continuously consolidating its leading position in the new energy commercial vehicle industry. In 2024, Farizon has reached the milestone of 300,000 unit sales, becoming the first new energy commercial vehicle brand ever to achieve this goal.

For more information regarding Zhejiang Geely Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group please refer to the official website at https://global.geelycv.com/ 

BANGKOK, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) has captured global attention as a unique development philosophy, emphasizing holistic well-being over mere economic metrics. Yet, as Mr. Namgay Tshering, Former Finance Minister of Bhutan and alumnus of Chulalongkorn University’s Master of Public Health program, points out, the concept often raises questions: “People tend to ask whether every Bhutanese is happy. GNH is not about individual happiness alone—it’s about collective wellbeing, sustainability, and inclusivity.”

When Happiness Meets Real-World Pressures

“People tend to ask whether every Bhutanese is happy.”

Bhutan faces modern pressures that test the resilience of its happiness-centric model. The country remains largely import-driven, leaving it vulnerable to global economic shocks and inflationary pressures. Tourism, once a cornerstone of the economy, is still recovering from the pandemic, and over-reliance on any single sector proved risky. Technological advancements, while offering opportunities, also pose societal challenges. As Tshering notes, youth may struggle to make rational decisions in the digital age, requiring careful oversight and education.

Turning Vision into Sustainable Action

To address these challenges, Bhutan has embraced sustainable policies and diversified its economy. During his tenure as Finance Minister, Tshering developed public financial management and debt policies as well as enacted taxation laws—all evaluated through the GNH framework to ensure meaningful, sustainable growth. Beyond governance, Bhutan has launched visionary projects such as the Gelephu Mindfulness City, championed by His Majesty the Fifth King. The city integrates nature conservation, spirituality, economic growth, and good governance, serving as a global model of mindful urban development.

Moreover, Bhutan invests heavily in youth development programs to ensure that young citizens grow to be healthy, sensible, and responsible individuals, capable of embracing technology while preserving cultural values. Tshering continues to mentor the next generation, guiding them toward balanced, impactful lives.

Redefining Leadership for a Changing World

Reflecting on leadership, Tshering emphasizes a holistic approach: academic excellence alone does not make a leader. “Embrace a wholesome education—go beyond the curriculum, explore different perspectives, and understand global dynamics,” he advises.

His career exemplifies this philosophy, blending national service with international experience at the World Health Organization, World Bank, and Global Fund.

Shaping Perspectives and Inspiring Action

After his undergraduate studies in Bhutan, Tshering pursued a Master of Public Health at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s oldest and most prestigious institution. He credits Chula for providing not just academic knowledge, but a global perspective: “I could discuss policies, meet colleagues from different countries, and hear about their experiences. It has been a driving force behind my success.”

Through his work, Tshering demonstrates how Chula alumni contribute to society on both national and international stages, applying knowledge with purpose, compassion, and a commitment to sustainable development

Read the full article at: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/260992/

Watch the video for this story: https://youtu.be/a10uzeJb27g 

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About Chulalongkorn University

Chulalongkorn University has made the world’s top 50 university list for employment outcomes, which reflects both the high employment rate and work ability of Chula graduates. The university is also listed as the best in Thailand for the 15th Consecutive Year (since 2009), according to the newly released QS World University Rankings 2024, putting Chula at 211th in the world, up from 244th last year.

Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChulalongkornUniversity

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/chulauniversity

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/school/15101896/

Major Acquisition Deal Originated at 2024 Event Highlights Conference’s Role as Premier Investment Platform

HONG KONG, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Questex’s IHIF Asia cemented its position as the APAC region’s premier hotel investment forum after three days of intensive deal-making and strategic discussions. The event attracted 520 senior delegates from 33 countries, with investors representing $280B in AUM comprising 40% of attendees – a 33% increase from the $210B represented at the 2024 event.

The conference’s deal-making hub was illustrated by the revelation that Seibu Prince Hotels’ acquisition of Ace Hotel Group – a landmark transaction that reshaped the boutique hotel landscape – originated from meetings at IHIF Asia 2024. This demonstrates the forum’s unique ability to facilitate transformative deals that drive industry consolidation and growth.

Diversified Capital Sources Signal Maturing Market

A standout feature of the event was the significant increase in Chinese and Japanese investor participation, and the emergence of new capital sources that demonstrate the hospitality sector’s evolving appeal to institutional investors. Private equity firms including Blackstone, BlackRock, Brookfield, Bain Capital and Fortress Group were represented alongside investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, signalling the asset class’s growing sophistication.

The event welcomed an increasing number of family offices, multilateral and bilateral institutions, reflecting the sector’s expanding investor base beyond traditional hospitality-focused funds.

Chinese investment groups including Delonix, Huamao, JinJiang, SSAW Group, Funyard Hotels & Resorts, and China Travel Group registered their strong presence with expanded delegations, while Japanese participation reached new heights with institutions representing both inbound capital seeking regional opportunities and outbound capital targeting domestic market expansion. This bi-directional capital flow from Japan demonstrates the country’s evolving role as both a destination and source market for hospitality investment across APAC.

Japan’s real estate developers – Mitsubishi, Indochina Kajima, Takenaka Corporation and Mitsui – brought delegations highlighting the convergence of hospitality and real estate investment strategies.

Key Investment Opportunities Drive Strategic Decision-Making

The forum’s strategic sessions delivered actionable market intelligence influencing capital deployment decisions across the region. Gateway city trophy assets in established markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and Sydney dominated investor appetite, with focus on operational upside opportunities.

Emerging markets across Southeast Asia and India emerged as key expansion targets, while technology-enabled hospitality captured attention through measurable AI integration and automation returns. Cross-border partnership structures between Western operators and Asian capital were highlighted for market access and risk mitigation, with third-party operators importing best practices from US and European markets.

Branded residential evolution featured prominently, with hybrid models emerging as preferred structures across diverse Asian markets, creating new revenue streams and enhanced development cycle economics.

IHIF Asia Digital will offer main stage sessions, extending the event’s reach to the broader hospitality investment community. Learn more here.

About Questex

Questex fuels exceptional business connections—where every buyer and seller interaction matters. Through live events enriched with data insights and active year-round digital communities, we deliver measurable results. It happens here.

Media Contact

mfranzman@questex.com

New device harnesses the power of AMD’s Ryzen^TM AI processing technology to simplify complex on-device tasks and bolster productivity in demanding field and industrial environments

News in brief:

• The new S510AD joins the B360 Plus, F120 and next generation UX10 in Getac’s rapidly growing lineup of Copilot+ PCs.
• Powered by AMD Ryzen™ AI technology, the S510AD delivers strong on-device AI performance, supporting faster insights and reducing reliance on cloud connectivity where applications allow.
• The S510AD is ideally suited to professionals working in industries including automotive, manufacturing, utilities, field services, public safety and defence.

TAIPEI, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Getac Technology Corporation (Getac), a leading provider of rugged computing and mobile video solutions and a manufacturer with advanced in-house capabilities, today announced the launch of its new S510AD laptop, a powerful rugged PC built around AMD Ryzen^TM AI processing technology, for professionals who need advanced edge-AI performance in demanding field and industrial environments.

Powerful Copilot+ PC functionality

The new S510AD laptop is the latest Getac device to meet Microsoft’s stringent Copilot+ PC requirements^[1], joining the recently launched B360 Plus laptop, F120 tablet and next generation UX10 tablet in Getac’s rapidly growing lineup. Powered by AMD Ryzen^TM AI 5 340 / 7 350 processors, AMD Radeon^TM 800M graphics, and an AMD XDNA 2 NPU, the S510AD delivers up to 50 NPU TOPS of on-device AI performance, for seamless multitasking and high-quality visuals directly at the point of work. The S510AD also comes with up to 64GB DDR5 memory and 2TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage, while Windows Hello face authentication as standard maintains robust data security.

The result is a highly versatile rugged solution that’s ideally suited to industries such as automotive, utilities, field services, public safety and defence, where access to real-time diagnostics, intelligent automation, and secure offline processing enables professionals to make faster decisions and achieve greater operational efficiency.

Purpose built for complex field operations

The S510AD is purpose built to boost productivity in challenging field situations and scenarios. Its spacious 15.6″ Full HD screen with 1,000 nits of brightness and sunlight readable display makes performing complex field tasks quick and easy in a wide range of weather conditions. A large touchpad and optional multitouch screen ensure smooth operation, even when wearing gloves or working in rain and snow, while an optional dual hot-swappable battery configuration helps minimise downtime on long shifts. The S510AD also boasts an extensive list of connectivity and data transfer options including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 as standard, with options such as 4G-LTE, 5G Sub-6, Dual SIM, and dedicated GPS also available if required.

Redefining ruggedness with sustainability

The Getac S510AD is certified to MIL-STD-810H and IP53 standards and is resilient to drops from up to 3ft (0.9m). It also boasts an operating temperature range of -29°C to 63°C (-20°F to 145°F) for dependable performance in unpredictable field environments.

It is also the latest Getac device to incorporate SORPLAS in its chassis; an environmentally conscious plastic developed by Sony Semiconductor Solutions (SSS) that offers up to 99% recycled material utilisation. With over 45% of its chassis made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, the S510AD helps reduce energy use, carbon emissions, and e-waste across the supply chain, all without compromising on durability.

Delivering robust, AI-driven intelligence for critical frontline operations

From busy workshops and factory floors to remote field environments, the S510AD empowers professionals to stay productive and make confident decisions in real-world conditions:

• Automotive: Mechanics and engineers can run advanced diagnostics and stream multiple camera views simultaneously, helping them identify issues faster and return vehicles to service without delay.
• Manufacturing: Operators can use on-device AI for predictive maintenance and automated quality checks, reducing unexpected downtime and ensuring consistent product standards on the factory floor.
• Utilities: Crews inspecting power lines or pipelines in remote areas can stay connected and productive with hot-swappable batteries, rugged connectivity, and reliable performance in changeable weather.
• Field Services: Technicians working outdoors can transfer data quickly and easily using an extensive array of connectivity options, while powerful AI support speeds up task completion.
• Public Safety: First responders gain real-time situational awareness through video and data analysis in the field, with built-in security features protecting sensitive information at every step.
• Defence: Troops in mission-critical scenarios can depend on secure offline AI analysis, sunlight-readable mapping and video feeds, while hot-swappable batteries facilitate continuous operations even without network access.

“The launch of the S510AD represents another important step in expanding our AI-Rugged portfolio,” says James Hwang, President of Getac Technology Corporation. “Built on AMD’s latest AI processing technology, it addresses customer demand for platform diversity while maintaining the rugged reliability and sustainability they expect from Getac, helping organisations accelerate AI adoption in the field.”

S510AD will be available in November.

For more information, please visit www.getac.com

About Getac

Getac Technology Corporation is a global leader in AI-capable rugged mobile technology and intelligent video solutions, including laptops, tablets, software, body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, digital evidence management and enterprise video analytics solutions. Getac’s solutions and services are designed to enable extraordinary experiences for frontline workers in challenging environments. Today, Getac serves customers in over 100 countries spanning defence, public safety, ambulance, fire & rescue, utilities, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, transport, and logistics. Getac was recently recognized as one of Newsweek’s “World’s Most Trustworthy Companies” for 2024. For more information, visit: https://www.getac.com. Participate in the Getac Industry blog or follow the company on LinkedIn and YouTube. 

Getac and Getac logo are trademarks of Getac Holdings Corporation or its affiliates. Other brands or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2025 Getac Technology Corporation.

HONG KONG, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Men’s shirt brand DETERMINANT has been selected to participate in the Retail4Impact initiative, led by the Consumer Information Programme of the One Planet Network, under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The Retail4Impact initiative unites the retail sector in providing effective, trustworthy sustainability claims to consumers. It aims to combat greenwashing by encouraging transparency, reliability, and clarity in sustainability communication.

Developed within the framework of the Consumer Information Programme of the One Planet Network, a multi-stakeholder partnership to implement SDG 12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production, the Retail4Impact initiative aims to drive meaningful change in the way retail businesses communicate about product sustainability to consumers. The retail sector has a key role to play in preventing greenwashing practices and ensuring product sustainability information is communicated to consumers in a clear, reliable, transparent, relevant and accessible way – not only as a major driver of the global economy, but also as the most crucial link between brands producers and consumers.

DETERMINANT’s inclusion in the initiative recognizes the credibility and transparency of its sustainability claims – particularly those related to its Cotton Waterless Dye Collection. This collection features a closed-loop process that eliminates water, salt, and chemical wastewater from textile dyeing, saving up to 40L of water per shirt. This innovation addresses critical environmental, economic, and social sustainability hotspots. The water savings are independently verified by SGS certification, while consumer safety is assured through OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification, which confirms that every component of the product—from fabric to thread and accessories—has been tested for harmful substances and is safe for human use.

This year, DETERMINANT extended its water stewardship mission through the ‘Frozen in Tones’ Waterless Dye Collection, a design capsule inspired by the UN’s Global Year of Glaciers Preservation. This collection not only showcases sustainable innovation but also raises awareness on the urgent need to protect the world’s water sources.

As part of the Retail4Impact initiative, DETERMINANT commits to assessing and communicating its product sustainability claims in alignment with the UNEP Guidelines for Providing Product Sustainability Information.

About DETERMINANT
DETERMINANT is a system of high quality engineered essentials for those who lead with intention. We create clothes that are thoughtfully designed, sustainably made, and built to simplify life without compromising on style or integrity. Every piece is engineered for clarity, versatility, and confidence – made to move with you, wherever you’re headed. 
https://global.detshirts.com/

About the Retail4Impact initiative 
The Retail4Impact initiative is developed by the Consumer Information Programme of the One Planet Network, a multi-stakeholder partnership to implement SDG 12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production. It unites the retail sector in providing effective, trustworthy claims to consumers on product sustainability information.
https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/consumer-information-scp/product sustainability-information/retail4impact

About the Consumer Information Programme of the One Planet Network
The Consumer Information Programme of the One Planet Network has the overall objective to engage and assist consumers in sustainable consumption, e.g. by making more sustainable choices about goods and services (products), including in their use and end of life phase. This takes many forms, from labels on products; to advertising, marketing, and public and third sector awareness-raising campaigns; to communications between peers via social media or family and friend networks. The programme implements and supports projects, undertakes research, identifies and encourages policies, while providing collaboration opportunities. https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/programmes/consumer-information-scp

About the United Nations Environment Programme 
The United Nations Environment Programme is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
http://www.unenvironment.org