HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – While Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is evolving rapidly, AI models still struggle with understanding long videos. A research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a novel video-language agent, VideoMind, that enables AI models to perform long video reasoning and question-answering tasks by emulating humans’ way of thinking. The VideoMind framework incorporates an innovative Chain-of-Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) strategy to reduce the demand for computational resources and power, advancing the application of generative AI in video analysis. The findings have been submitted to the world-leading AI conferences.

Videos, especially those longer than 15 minutes, carry information that unfolds over time, such as the sequence of events, causality, coherence and scene transitions. To understand the video content, AI models therefore need not only to identify the objects present, but also take into account how they change throughout the video. As visuals in videos occupy a large number of tokens, video understanding requires vast amounts of computing capacity and memory, making it difficult for AI models to process long videos.

Prof. Changwen CHEN, Interim Dean of the PolyU Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Chair Professor of Visual Computing, and his team have achieved a breakthrough in research on long video reasoning by AI. In designing VideoMind, they made reference to a human-like process of video understanding, and introduced a role-based workflow. The four roles included in the framework are: the Planner, to coordinate all other roles for each query; the Grounder, to localise and retrieve relevant moments; the Verifier, to validate the information accuracy of the retrieved moments and select the most reliable one; and the Answerer, to generate the query-aware answer. This progressive approach to video understanding helps address the challenge of temporal-grounded reasoning that most AI models face.

Another core innovation of the VideoMind framework lies in its adoption of a Chain-of-LoRA strategy. LoRA is a finetuning technique emerged in recent years. It adapts AI models for specific uses without performing full-parameter retraining. The innovative chain-of-LoRA strategy pioneered by the team involves applying four lightweight LoRA adapters in a unified model, each of which is designed for calling a specific role. With this strategy, the model can dynamically activate role-specific LoRA adapters during inference via self-calling to seamlessly switch among these roles, eliminating the need and cost of deploying multiple models while enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of the single model.

VideoMind is open source on GitHub and Huggingface. Details of the experiments conducted to evaluate its effectiveness in temporal-grounded video understanding across 14 diverse benchmarks are also available. Comparing VideoMind with some state-of-the-art AI models, including GPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro, the researchers found that the grounding accuracy of VideoMind outperformed all competitors in challenging tasks involving videos with an average duration of 27 minutes. Notably, the team included two versions of VideoMind in the experiments: one with a smaller, 2 billion (2B) parameter model, and another with a bigger, 7 billion (7B) parameter model. The results showed that, even at the 2B size, VideoMind still yielded performance comparable with many of the other 7B size models.

Prof. Chen said, “Humans switch among different thinking modes when understanding videos: breaking down tasks, identifying relevant moments, revisiting these to confirm details and synthesising their observations into coherent answers. The process is very efficient with the human brain using only about 25 watts of power, which is about a million times lower than that of a supercomputer with equivalent computing power. Inspired by this, we designed the role-based workflow that allows AI to understand videos like human, while leveraging the chain-of-LoRA strategy to minimise the need for computing power and memory in this process.”

AI is at the core of global technological development. The advancement of AI models is however constrained by insufficient computing power and excessive power consumption. Built upon a unified, open-source model Qwen2-VL and augmented with additional optimisation tools, the VideoMind framework has lowered the technological cost and the threshold for deployment, offering a feasible solution to the bottleneck of reducing power consumption in AI models.

Prof. Chen added, “VideoMind not only overcomes the performance limitations of AI models in video processing, but also serves as a modular, scalable and interpretable multimodal reasoning framework. We envision that it will expand the application of generative AI to various areas, such as intelligent surveillance, sports and entertainment video analysis, video search engines and more.”

Hashtag: #PolyU #AI #LLMs #VideoAnalysis #IntelligentSurveillance #VideoSearch

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SANYA, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – On June 8, the Overseas Tour Operators Hainan Tour 2025 was inaugurated in Sanya, China, and more than 450 tourism industry representatives worldwide explored new opportunities in Hainan.

Themed “Travel to Meet the World,” the event showcased the province’s advancements in enhancing international visitor experiences, such as payment facilitation, multi-language services, visa-free policies, and expanded air routes. Enterprises from 18 cities and counties across the island showcased their unique cultural, tourism, and creative products, engaging in one-on-one discussions with global travel agencies to strengthen tourism cooperation.

Zhu Shanzhong, ambassador of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, pointed out that Hainan is giving full play to the policies of the Free Trade Port and leveraging its rich tourism resources and industrial integration system so as to accelerate the construction of an international tourism consumption center.

“Hainan is home to not only a breathtaking natural landscape but also a vibrant and ever-growing cultural heritage,” said Peter Semone, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association. He believed that through innovation, regional cooperation, and sustainable practice, Hainan could build a “meaningful Asia-Pacific tourism economy,” improve service quality while protecting tourism resources, and be a benchmark for tourism development in China with a notable influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cynthia Tan, deputy president of the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association and executive director of Roystar Travel & Tours Sdn. Bhd., praised the abundant tourism resources in Hainan. Lee Kwah Ho, CEO of South Korean travel agency LK Global, said, “I can’t help but recommend Hainan’s offerings, especially premium hotels, to South Korean tourists. The next step is to partner with Hainan in high-end coastal vacations.”

“We plan to join hands with scenic spots in Hainan to design programs for Hong Kong students’ field trips,” said Florence Lo, director of iStudent Tour (HK) Limited.

According to the Hainan Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, TV, and Sports, as China’s only tropical island province and its largest Free Trade Port, the province warmly invites global visitors to embark on a vibrant tropical journey, experiencing a modern and dynamic Hainan brimming with opportunities.

Hashtag: #HainanDepartmentofTourismCultureRadioTVandSports

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DA NANG, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – The direct route between Dubai and Da Nang, operated by Emirates – one of the world’s most prestigious airlines – has officially launched. These flights from the Middle East, a fast-growth region, are expected to bring significant changes to the coastal city. Sustaining long-term appeal for this class of affluent travellers is now a central concern for Da Nang.

Potential from the Middle East

Emirates, recently named a global leader in aviation by Forbes Travel Guide 2025, is the largest airline in the Middle East with over 4,100 flights each week from Dubai International Airport to more than 140 cities across 80 countries.

The new direct route to Da Nang is a gateway for billionaires from one of the wealthiest regions on earth to access Vietnam’s central coast, carrying immense spending power. It also facilitates the arrival of high-end travellers from Europe and the Americas, as Dubai ranks among the world’s busiest international transit hubs.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang, as of April 2025, over 13,000 visitors from Middle Eastern countries had arrived in the city. This figure represents 0.73 percent of total international visitors, with most travellers coming from Iran, Israel and Turkey. With the new Emirates route now in operation, this number is expected to rise sharply, potentially adding trillions of Vietnamese dong in tourism revenue to the local economy.

In recent years, Da Nang has made notable progress in diversifying into new high-potential markets. With a keen focus on growth, the city is extending its tourism outreach to areas including the Middle East and Central Asia. Charter flights to Da Nang have already launched from several cities, including Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, with seven airlines offering 10 weekly flights from April to October 2025. Centrum-Air Airways is also operating a weekly service from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

According to Tran Chi Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, the launch of the Emirates Dubai–Da Nang route reduces the travel gap between Da Nang and major global markets such as the Middle East, Europe, North America and Africa. It also helps to strengthen tourism development and opens new avenues for trade, investment, and cultural exchange.

Da Nang appeals to affluent travellers

To serve high-end tourists, a destination must offer diverse experiences and premium resorts. Travelers from the Middle East are increasingly seeking new places to explore beyond the typical Southeast Asian favourites like Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. It’s a prime opportunity for Da Nang, a city that combines natural beauty with world-class hospitality services, to welcome this affluent market.

By May 2025, Da Nang had around 1,290 tourist accommodations, including 111 four and five-star hotels. InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Premier Village Danang Resort, Novotel Danang Premier Han River and Mercure Danang French Village Ba Na Hills, along with international brands such as Hyatt, Sheraton and Marriott which are favoured by Middle Eastern elites.

The city boasts 16 tourist sites, with top destinations like Sun World Ba Na Hills and its iconic Golden Bridge, Da Nang Downtown and Than Tai Mountain Hot Spring Park drawing global attention. Golf tourism is another asset for Da Nang. The city features three international-standard golf courses. Ba Na Hills Golf Club, a masterpiece designed by golf legend Luke Donald and managed by IMG, which lauded as Asia’s Best Golf Course five times.

Da Nang is embracing Halal tourism, to make Middle Eastern guests feel at home. This travel model respects the religious and cultural practices of Muslim travellers, has become a core part to serve this market. Currently, the city has nearly 30 restaurants and eateries offering Halal-certified or Muslim-friendly cuisine. Among them, Halal Indrapura and Bharata Restaurant at Sun World Ba Na Hills, have received official Halal certification.

Nguyen Vu Quynh Anh, Deputy CEO of Sun Group and CEO of Sun Hospitality & Entertainment Group, said: “In addition to high-end services, it is the understanding of culture and the ability to offer culturally refined experiences that allow us to fully meet the needs of these highly discerning guests.”

By establishing itself on the Emirates flight map, Da Nang has taken a strategic step forward in tapping into the Middle Eastern tourism market. This new air route is not only a catalyst for tourism growth but also a gateway for expanding trade, investment and cultural cooperation, said Truong Thi Hong Hanh, Director of the Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Hashtag: #DaNang #Sungroup

https://sungroup.com.vn/en

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WUXI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – At the opening ceremony of the 2025 Jiangsu Week of Grand Canal Culture on June 10, Wuxi, a city located in the heart of E China’s Jiangsu Province, takes center stage as a “City of Music”. The city’s rich musical heritage was highlighted through captivating performances, including traditional Xiju Opera, which enthralled the international audience and provided a window into Wuxi’s vibrant cultural scene.

Wuxi, a city intertwined with the historical Grand Canal, boasts rich musical legacy. As the birthplace of the renowned “The Moon Reflected on the Erquan Spring,” composed by the Chinese folk musician A Bing, Wuxi has been enchanting the world with its melodies since the 1950s. This piece is just one shining example of the city’s musical treasures. From Ji Zha, one of China’s earliest music critics (544 BC), to Liu Tianhua, the master who introduced the erhu to university classrooms in 1922, Wuxi’s musicians have shaped nearly every facet of Chinese music

Today, Wuxi continues to nurture its musical legacy. Over 70 schools offer folk music classes, and the city has a thriving music industry. The city is also a leader in the production of accordions, harmonicas, and harps. The Wuxi Symphony Orchestra and the Wuxi Traditional Orchestra serve as ambassadors of the city’s musical excellence, performing globally and bridging cultures through symphonic and traditional music.

Wuxi’s dedication to music extends to all aspects of life. From special education schools to public transportation, music is a constant companion. The city’s music festivals, such as the Golden Cup Accordion Art Festival and the Asia Pacific Harmonica Art Week, attract musicians from around the world, creating a harmonious blend of global melodies.

Wuxi cordially invites you to immerse yourself in its musical soul. Whether you are captivated by the timeless elegance of Kunqu Opera, the soul-stirring notes of the erhu, or the contemporary rhythms of a symphony orchestra, Wuxi offers a symphony of experiences. This is a city where every corner resonates with music, and every heart beats to its rhythm. Come, listen to Wuxi, and let its melodies enchant you.

Hashtag: #Wuxi

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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – Africa is undergoing a profound financial transformation driven by rapid technological advancements, with fintech and cross-border payments leading the charge. The continent’s cross-border payments market is projected to grow from $329 billion in 2025 to $1 trillion by 2035, fueled by fintech innovation and intra-African trade. This growth enhances financial inclusion, connecting millions to financial services via mobile money, which Africa leads globally.

However, this digital surge heightens cybersecurity risks, with rising cyberattacks necessitating robust fraud prevention. Fintechs must prioritize compliance, identity verification, and advanced technologies like AI to safeguard sensitive data. AI is revolutionizing African banking by automating fraud detection, enhancing regulatory compliance, and improving risk assessment, enabling more efficient and secure financial systems.

IT News Africa’s Digital Finance Africa 2025, set for July 3, 2025, at The Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg, will convene industry leaders to explore these trends. This premier summit will foster collaboration in fintech, AI, regulation, and cybersecurity, shaping a secure and inclusive financial future for Africa. Join the conversation to drive innovation and trust in Africa’s dynamic financial landscape.

Themed “Safeguarding Innovation: Advancing Secure, inclusive Finance in Africa,”, DFA2025 will explore technology’s transformative power in driving secure financial inclusion and economic development.

Digital Finance Africa attendees can look forward to a day full of insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and exposure to cutting-edge solutions shaping Africa’s FinTech and banking sectors.

Key Topics and Discussions

The summit’s agenda is designed to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the digital finance sector, including

• Navigating cybersecurity risks in digital finance
• Emerging payment technologies are revolutionizing the industry
• Overcoming capital constraints and funding growth in African fintech
• Implementing AI in banking while ensuring innovation and compliance
• Leveraging cloud infrastructure as the backbone of modern banking

These topics aim to provide attendees with actionable insights and strategies to drive innovation and resilience in their respective organizations.

Benefits of Attending:

Digital Finance Africa 2025 offers a unique platform for:

1. Engaging with over 300 executives, founders, and solution providers in the finance sector
2. Gaining insights from fintech thought leaders and industry analysts
3. Exploring the latest technologies and solutions in digital finance
4. Networking with peers and potential partners to foster collaboration and growth

Sponsorship & exhibiting opportunities are available for organizations looking to promote their products or services, with extensive pre-event and on-site publicity.

Registration and Participation
Register with coupon code “SAVE50@DFA” at checkout to save 50%!
Explore sponsorship opportunities by visiting the official event page: Digital Finance Africa 2025.

Hashtag: #DFA2025

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AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – XTransfer, the world’s leading and China’s No.1 B2B cross-border trade payment platform, and BNP Paribas, the European Union’s leading bank, have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to roll out comprehensive cross-border financial services during Money20/20 Europe in Amsterdam. This collaboration aims to reduce the cost and processing time of cross-border payments for XTransfer’s clients, particularly benefiting global traders with significant markets in the Eurozone.

The signing ceremony was held at Money20/20 Europe, with senior representatives from both companies in attendance. The MOU was signed by Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, and Bruno Mellado, Global Head of Payments and Receivables at BNP Paribas, marking a significant milestone in their strategic partnership.

China and the EU are each other’s major trading partners. In terms of bilateral trade, according to China’s customs, the total import and export of goods between China and the EU in 2024 was US$785.8 billion, representing a 0.4% year-over-year increase. The EU is China’s third-largest export destination and second-largest import source, while China remains the EU’s largest import source and third-largest export destination.

The partnership between XTransfer and BNP Paribas is set to simplify cross-border payment solutions for European SMEs engaged in international trade. By leveraging BNP Paribas’ extensive network across Europe, XTransfer will empower its Chinese clients to collect funds in Euros seamlessly, while assisting European SMEs in making direct payments in Euros to reduce foreign exchange complexities and enhance transactional efficiency. This partnership is expected to expand further, with plans to introduce even more currency options in the near future.

Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, said, “It is a great honour to join hands with BNP Paribas. This MOU reflects our mutual ambition to empower SMEs with enhanced cross-border financial solutions. As we continue to grow our European footprint, partnerships like this are instrumental in building robust, compliant, and innovative financial infrastructure for international trade.”

Bruno Mellado, Global Head of Payments and Receivables at BNP Paribas, added, “By combining BNP Paribas’ extensive European network with XTransfer’s expertise in B2B cross-border trade payments, we aim to simplify international trade transactions, reduce costs, and enhance the global competitiveness of our clients. This partnership marks a significant step forward in our mission to provide innovative and efficient financial solutions for businesses operating in the global market.”

The partnership is designed to facilitate seamless trade between SMEs in China and European countries, at the same time streamlining foreign trade transactions between European businesses and their global partners. By simplifying cross-border payments and reducing transactional complexities, this collaboration will lower the costs associated with global trade and significantly enhance the global competitiveness of European SMEs.
Hashtag: #XTransfer #BNPParibas #Money2020EU #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs

https://www.xtransfer.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtransfer.cn
https://x.com/xtransferglobal
https://www.facebook.com/XTransferGlobal/
https://www.instagram.com/xtransfer.global

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

About

XTransfer
XTransfer, the world-leading and China’s No.1 B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, is dedicated to providing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with secure, compliant, fast, convenient and low-cost foreign trade payment and fund collection solutions, significantly reducing the cost of global expansion and enhancing global competitiveness. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Shanghai and has branches in Hong Kong SAR, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, the UAE, and Nigeria. XTransfer has obtained local payment licenses in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Australia. With more than 600,000 enterprise clients, XTransfer has become the industry No.1 in China.

By cooperating with well-known multinational banks and financial institutions, XTransfer has built a unified global multi-currency clearing network and a data-based, automated, internet-based and intelligent anti-money laundering risk control infrastructure centred on SMEs. XTransfer uses technology as a bridge to link large financial institutions and SMEs around the world, allowing SMEs to enjoy the same level of cross-border financial services as large multinational corporations.

XTransfer completed its Series D financing in September 2021 and achieved unicorn status. The Company possesses a diverse composition of international investors, including D1 Capital Partners LP, Telstra Ventures, China Merchants Venture, eWTP Capital, Yunqi Capital, Gaorong Capital, 01VC, MindWorks and Lavender Hill Capital Partners.

For more information, please visit: https://www.xtransfer.com/

BNP Paribas
Leader in banking and financial services in Europe, BNP Paribas operates in 64 countries and has nearly 178,000 employees, including more than 144,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main fields of activity: Commercial, Personal Banking & Services for the Group’s commercial & personal banking and several specialised businesses including BNP Paribas Personal Finance and Arval; Investment & Protection Services for savings, investment and protection solutions; and Corporate & Institutional Banking, focused on corporate and institutional clients. Based on its strong diversified and integrated model, the Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates and institutional clients) to realise their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, BNP Paribas has four domestic markets: Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg. The Group is rolling out its integrated commercial & personal banking model across several Mediterranean countries, Türkiye, and Eastern Europe. As a key player in international banking, the Group has leading platforms and business lines in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific. BNP Paribas has implemented a Corporate Social Responsibility approach in all its activities, enabling it to contribute to the construction of a sustainable future, while ensuring the Group’s performance and stability.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – Capgemini, and Dai-ichi Life Holdings, today announced the signing of a multi-year agreement to establish a Global Capability Center (GCC) in India.

This landmark agreement is poised to accelerate Dai-ichi Life Group’s digital transformation globally. The GCC aims to tap into India’s deep pool of skilled professionals to support and enhance its IT and digital strategies. As a result, Dai-ichi Life Group’s goal is to significantly strengthen its in-house digital capabilities and technology platforms, driving innovation and operational efficiency on a global scale.

This strategic collaboration with Capgemini, which initially spans Japan, the United States, and Australia, will leverage a broad spectrum of the GCC’s digital capabilities including advanced software development, infrastructure modernization, AI & data solutions, and robust cybersecurity measures. It is designed with the flexibility to expand into other countries based on market needs and potential, to support the global ambitions of Dai-ichi Life Group.

“This strategic partnership with Capgemini supports our long-term ambition to build differentiated, internal capabilities through the establishment of our Global Capability Center,” said Tetsuya Kikuta, President and CEO at Dai-ichi Life Holdings. “By adopting a Build-Operate-Transfer model, we are not only accelerating our digital transformation but also laying the foundation for in-house expertise in critical areas such as AI, data, and cybersecurity. This approach sets us apart and strengthens our ability to deliver innovative, high-impact solutions across the Dai-ichi Life Group.”

Capgemini will bring its end-to-end capabilities at scale, including its strong presence and delivery track record in Japan, the Asia Pacific region and globally, to enable Dai-ichi Life Group’s transformation agenda. The partnership will focus on co-innovating solutions that streamline operations, harness the power of data analytics and artificial intelligence, and fortify cybersecurity defenses, all while helping to ensure a seamless and enhanced experience for Dai-ichi Life Group’s customers.

“This strategic collaboration with Dai-ichi Life Group, a distinguished leader in the insurance sector, comes at a crucial time for the industry. Today, customer service remains one of the most powerful tools for encouraging loyalty and shaping brand perception, and this is increasingly enabled through technology,” said Aiman Ezzat, Chief Executive Officer at Capgemini. “This partnership is built on a shared vision to leverage technology and innovation to not only meet but exceed consumer expectations. By combining Dai-ichi Life’s deep industry knowledge with Capgemini’s global business and technology transformation expertise, including our proven ability to deliver complex solutions, our partnership will help unlock new value for the Dai-ichi Life Group and set new benchmarks in customer service and operational efficiency.”

Hashtag: #Capgemini

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About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.

Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

About Dai-ichi Life Group

Dai-ichi Life Group was founded in 1902 as Japan’s first mutual life insurance company. It became a joint-stock company and was listed on the stock exchange in 2010, before transitioning to a holding company structure in 2016. The Group has since expanded its operations globally, including across the Asia-Pacific region and North America, and now serves over 50 million customers while managing approximately USD 430 billion in consolidated assets. Our IT and Digital strategies enable us to innovate, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experience, while driving long-term growth and sustainability.

By your side, for life | www.dai-ichi-life-hd.com