HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – The Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world’s foremost authority in gemology announced a redefinition in diamond grading on June 2, 2025. Beginning at the end of 2025, GIA will cease using the internationally recognized 4Cs grading system (Cut, Colour, Clarity, Carat) for lab-grown diamonds. Instead, GIA will implement a new descriptive grading system that lab-grown diamonds submitted to GIA will receive simplified descriptors—categorized broadly as either “premium” or “standard” or no grade at all if the quality is subpar. This transformative change marks a historic shift in the global diamond industry, not only redefining the value perception of lab-grown diamonds but also enhancing the differentiation between natural and lab-grown diamonds.

This initiative is not merely a terminology adjustment; it represents a systematic effort to separate the grading systems for lab-grown and natural diamonds. As a non-profit organization, GIA emphasizes the fundamental differences between the two, including their formation processes, physical characteristics, and market values. According to Tom Moses, GIA Executive Vice President and Chief Laboratory and Research Officer, “More than 95% of lab-grown diamonds entering the market fall into a very narrow range of color and clarity. Because of that, it is no longer relevant for GIA to describe man-made diamonds using the nomenclature created for the continuum of color and clarity of natural diamonds.”

Reaffirming the Unique Value of Natural Diamonds

This revision of grading standards is another milestone following GIA’s abandonment of the term “Synthetic” and its move to describe lab-grown diamonds in relation to natural diamond standards. GIA created the 4Cs—cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight—as a rigorous system to help consumers understand the unique and qualities of natural diamonds. With the new lab-grown diamond grading system, the core value of natural diamonds—rarity and emotional attributes are further emphasized.

No two natural diamonds are exactly alike. Every natural diamond is unique, characterized by its distinct growth patterns, inclusions, and colour formed over billions of years. These nature’s treasures, formed deep within the Earth, are considered valuable collectibles due to their beauty, rarity and non-renewability. They symbolize values associated with love, commitment, and eternity, while also contributing to the social and economy welfare of the diamond mining communities through responsible mining practices.

In contrast, lab-grown diamonds are man-made and mass-produced using high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) or Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) processes. Their industrial nature limits their ability to embody the multiple values associated with natural diamonds, including emotional attributes, rarity, investment potential, and heritage. GIA’s reform not only reaffirms the irreplaceable status of natural diamonds but also clarifies that lab-grown diamonds should not be assessed using the same criteria as natural diamonds.

Ensuring Consumer Awareness and Transparency

Over time, some lab-grown diamond sellers have been using ambiguous marketing terms such as “sustainability” and “equivalency” that may mislead consumers about the differences between lab-grown and natural diamonds. GIA’s new approach ensures consumers can make informed choices without confusion, protecting their rights to knowledge, choice, and fair trade. By discontinuing the use of the 4Cs standard for lab-grown diamonds, GIA reaffirms its commitment to scientific integrity and public transparency.

GIA’s grading redefinition is poised to have a profound impact on the global jewellery industry. As this change takes effect by the end of 2025, it is anticipated that gemological institutes worldwide will follow suit. The boundaries between natural and lab-grown diamonds are clearly defined through GIA’s new grading standards.

Hashtag: #GIA #NaturalDiamonds #LabGrownDiamonds #DiamondCertification #DiamondGrading

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – Aspire, the all-in-one financial operating system for modern businesses, today announced its integration with Payboy, one of Asia’s leading payroll software providers, serving over 70,000 users across the region. This integration marks Aspire as the first fintech company to directly integrate with Payboy, streamlining payroll operations for growing businesses.

Payroll management is traditionally a cumbersome process. Businesses often spend valuable hours manually reformatting payroll files for bank transfers, increasing the risk of errors and operational disruptions. In fact, 52% of Singaporean HR professionals report spending up to 6 hours per week troubleshooting payroll errors, revising records, or querying data, time that could otherwise be directed towards strategic business growth and productivity.

The new integration directly addresses these challenges by enabling a seamless export of payroll data. Businesses can effortlessly export payroll files from Payboy and import them directly into Aspire without any additional manual reformatting. This streamlined process drastically reduces error rates and administrative workload, enabling payroll to be executed efficiently in just two simple steps: export and upload.

“We are proud to be the first fintech to integrate with Payboy,” said Andrea Baronchelli, CEO and Co-Founder of Aspire. “Aspire is leading the way in simplifying financial operations. We’re not just offering faster payroll, we’re redefining what modern, automated finance should look like for ambitious businesses.”

“This collaboration represents a shared vision of what business tools should be: intuitive, compliant, and built for growth,” said Raphael Ng, General Manager of Payboy. “Together with Aspire, we’re helping teams move faster with confidence, and enabling data driven decisions.”

The partnership supports Aspire’s broader vision of streamlining business finance through seamless integrations with trusted tools. The Payboy integration expands Aspire’s suite of payroll integrations, reinforcing its commitment to automating and simplifying financial operations for Singaporean entrepreneurs and businesses.

The integration is now live and available to Aspire users in Singapore, create an account at aspireapp.com.

https://aspireapp.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspireapp-global/

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

Aspire

Aspire is the all-in-one finance platform for modern businesses globally, helping over 50,000 companies save time and money with international payments, treasury, expense, payable, and receivable management solutions – accessible via a single, user-friendly account.

Headquartered in Singapore, Aspire has 600+ employees across nine countries, clients in 30+ markets and is backed by global top tier VCs, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Y-Combinator, Tencent and Paypal. In 2023, Aspire closed an oversubscribed US$100M Series C round and announced that it has achieved profitability.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2025 – From June 12 to 15, the INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE&SUPPLY CHAIN EXPO in Hong Kong will host a major international auto show under the theme “New Car, New Journey.” The event will bring automakers, experts and media together showcasing future mobility innovation and trends.

At the upcoming exhibition, BAIC Group will present both passenger and commercial lineup, such as the BJ40PLUS RHD and X55 II RHD. BEV models include ARCFOX αS5, ARCFOX αT5 and STELATO S9(REEV).

Internationalization is one of BAIC Group’s core strategies.As the general platform of internationalization, BAIC INTL comprehensively coordinates the overseas business. Since its established in 2013, BAIC INTL has expanded to more than 50 countries, establish nearly 300 sales network , and set up eight KD plants—including one wholly owned overseas production base. Its portfolio consists of three distinct brands: BAIC, focused on mainstream and off-road models; ARCFOX, a high-end NEV brand expanding from electric to hybrid offerings; and STELATO, targeting the luxury new energy segment.

At the show, BAIC will unveil a range of advanced technologies, including its self-developed Polaris EV platform and the world’s first AI-integrated cockpit system. Driven by artificial intelligence, the company is building a closed-loop innovation system that connects user insight, product development, and after-sales service—enabling continuous product evolution and a more intelligent mobility experience.

From June 12 to 15, visit Booth C02, Hall 6 at AsiaWorld-Expo to discover how BAIC is driving the next chapter of global mobility—powered by technology, guided by innovation.
Hashtag: #BAIC

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

SANYA, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2025 – On June 7, more than 450 global tourism industry representatives met in Sanya, China, for the Night of Hainan Tourism Promotional Event, where they learned about the province’s tourism and cultural resources.

At the event, guests were amazed by Hainan’s natural beauty and cultural legacies showcased in the promotional video. They engaged in in-depth discussions on hot topics, including the latest visa-free policy for citizens from 85 countries, the opening of international air routes, and payment facilitation measures.

According to the Hainan Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, TV, and Sports, Hainan’s visa-free policy for 59 countries, combined with China’s mutual visa exemption policy with 27 countries and unilateral visa waiver policy for 47 countries, allows ordinary passport holders from 85 countries to enter Hainan without a visa.

Tata Yam, director of Malaysian tour operator Tata Inn Holiday, said, “These policies have significantly reduced the cost of travel for international tourists, especially for the family vacationers.”

“Hainan has holiday facilities and an environment that are not inferior to those in other regions, and activities like this help everyone to gain a deeper understanding of the province’s tourism and culture,” said Jijo Madhavappallil, managing director of Ashin City Tours and Travels. Optimistic about Hainan’s tourism potential, he added, “I believe that we can jointly develop more attractive products and bring new travel experiences to global tourists.”

During the event, guests will explore various parts of Hainan, conducting on-site inspections of its tourism resources, including tropical rainforest ecosystems, duty-free shopping facilities, and coastal resort amenities.

The Hainan Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, TV, and Sports expressed enthusiasm for sharing the opportunities and achievements of Hainan’s Free Trade Port tourism and cultural sectors with global tourism industry partners. The goal is to foster mutual cultural and tourism exchanges, enabling international visitors to discover, understand, and embrace Hainan.

Hashtag: #NightofHainan

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Vietnam is first market in Southeast Asia to embrace Click to Pay, offering unmatched convenience, security, and efficiency in e-commerce transactions.

HCMC, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2025 – Visa, a world leader in digital payments, is introducing its issuer-offered Click to Pay solution to the market. Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB), Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank), JSC Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank), and Vietnam Prosperity Joint-Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) have been the pioneer banks in adopting the solution. For Techcombank and VPBank, Visa cardholders can experience the solution starting today. On the acceptance side, Click to Pay has been adopted by Ngan Luong Payment Gateway JSC (Alepay Gateway), and VietUnion Online Services Corporation (Payoo), Sai Gon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank), and Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank).

Click to Pay simplifies online payments by allowing cardholders to complete transactions with just a few clicks, without needing to enter lengthy card and shipping information. It provides consumers with a fast, secure and convenient checkout experience with global acceptance, as Click to Pay is now enabled in even more places where cardholders want to shop online.

According to Visa’s Green Shoots Radar survey, which surveyed 1,000 Vietnamese online, 99% of surveyed consumers had shopped online in the last 12 months[1], highlighting the rapid expansion of Vietnam’s e-commerce sector. By using an email address or mobile number to verify identity, shoppers can bypass the traditional checkout process, eliminating the need to enter extensive details. Additionally, Click to Pay utilizes cutting-edge technology and global security standards to enhance the safety of information and transactions, providing cardholders with greater peace of mind when making online payments. Click to Pay not only saves time for customers but also reduces cart abandonment rates, benefiting both consumers and retailers.

“Visa is committed to driving innovation in the payments landscape and enabling a seamless, secure, and convenient online shopping experience for consumers. With e-commerce being so ubiquitous in everyday Vietnamese life and in line with the Vietnamese government’s digitization goals, we are excited to bring this innovative solution to Vietnamese consumers through the support of our key banking partners. Click to Pay with Visa will transform the way people shop online, preparing them for the future of a more connected digital economy,” said Ms. Dung Dang, Visa Country Manager for Vietnam and Laos.

Click to Pay is now available to Techcombank and VPBank Visa cardholders to enroll via the issuer’s banking app or participating online merchants. Consumers can look for the Click to Pay icon at participating online merchants both domestically and abroad to enjoy a faster, more secure, and convenient checkout experience.

In Vietnam, Visa has partnered with Payoo – a payment platform serving as a key intermediary for online retail networks – to integrate Click to Pay across Payoo’s merchant ecosystem. Participating partners include KOI Thé, UrBox Trading, AEONESHOP, Galaxy Cinema, ACFC, Maison Online, NEM, Elsa English, GearVN, Vietrace365, Hop on Hop off, among others. In the near future, Visa cardholders who use Click to Pay at Payoo-affiliated merchants will enjoy exclusive promotional offers, helping to accelerate the shift toward a more seamless and cashless shopping experience.

Shoppers on platforms such as LG Electronics Vietnam, British Council, PVI Insurance, PropertyGuru Vietnam (batdongsan.com), Mai Nguyen Electronics, and Triumph International Vietnam can enjoy frictionless transactions, as payments are processed through the Alepay Gateway, provided by Ngan Luong Payment Gateway JSC. More merchants are expected to participate in the coming months.

Click to Pay is designed to transform digital checkouts and meet EMVCo standards. It utilises the Visa Token Service (VTS) to provide multiple layers of advanced security, enhancing authorization rates and reducing fraud in digital commerce. By replacing sensitive card information, such as the 16-digit Primary Account Numbers (PANs), with tokens, VTS can reduce fraud by 58%[2] and increase authorization rates by an average of 2.5% in Asia Pacific[3], compared to PAN-based card-not-present (CNP) transactions. Click to Pay with Visa simplifies the checkout experience for customers – it’s like contactless payments in-store, but for online shopping.

Hashtag: #Visa #ClickToPay

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

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2025 – VinUniversity (VinUni) has officially unveiled its second-phase development strategy, with the ambitious vision of becoming one of the world’s top 100 universities. At the heart of this initiative is the “VinUni 500” program, which aims to attract 500 outstanding scholars from around the globe. The strategy is backed by a USD 372 million investment from Vingroup to scale up academic capabilities and cultivate a world-class research ecosystem in Vietnam.

VinUni’s phase 2 strategy is built on two core pillars: enhancing academic and research infrastructure to international standards and strengthening academic capacity to meet global benchmarks. The University will focus on five strategic research domains: (1) Brain, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics;(2) Health Sciences; (3) Environmental Intelligence; (4) Intelligent Computing and Data Science; and (5) Policy Development and Sustainable Societies.

In terms of infrastructure, Vingroup has pledged up to USD 372 million in funding for this new phase. Of this, approximately USD 60 million will be allocated to expanding the campus, including new auditoriums, dormitories, sports facilities, and cutting-edge laboratories. Student enrollment will increase from 1,500 to 5,000, nearly half of whom will be postgraduate students—laying the foundation for VinUni’s evolving research-intensive environment. A highlight of this expansion is the establishment of the VinUni Industry, Innovation and Research Complex on campus— an integrated research center that will house advanced technology laboratories, incubation for university-industry partnership, and a 1,000-seat international conference center. The facility is expected to regularly host over 600 scientists.

At this complex, R&D professionals from industry, including subsidiaries of Vingroup —such as VinFast, Vinmec, VinBigData, VinRobotics, and VinMotion—will collaborate with VinUni faculty members and students in co-innovation studios. Together, they will develop high-impact, application-oriented research with strong commercialization potential, fueled by an entrepreneurial mindset.

In parallel, VinUni will strengthen international academic partnerships with leading institutions such as Cornell University (USA), the University of Pennsylvania (USA), and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), as well as with leading Vietnamese universities. These partnerships will facilitate the formation of interdisciplinary RISE (Research, Innovation, Sustainability, and Excellence) research clusters, aimed at creating high-impact scholarly publications and tackling pressing issues at both the local and global levels.

To strengthen academic capacity, the institution is launching the “VinUni 500” program to recruit 500 top-tier scholars and researchers, including: 10 high-caliber academic leaders, 200 talented research-focused faculties, 200 outstanding early-career researchers, and 100 affiliated faculties.

To attract these scholars, VinUni will offer globally competitive remuneration and support packages. For instance, all faculty will receive a personal development grant of up to approximately USD 6,000 annually, and outstanding researchers may access seed funding of up to approximately USD 230,000.

Besides forging research and teaching excellence, “VinUni 500” serves as a bridge connecting the Vietnamese academics with international scholars as well as world-class scientists from the VinFuture Prize network—fostering impactful, cross-border research collaborations.

Dr. Le Mai Lan, President of The University Council, VinUniversity, shared: “VinUni is not just a university, but a vision to nurture a new generation of talent for the future. We believe that by building internal strength through talent-driven development, leveraging strong commitment from our founding ecosystem, and joining forces with local and global partners, VinUni will make meaningful contributions to the national development strategy in this era of Vietnam’s rise.”

Founded with the mission to build a world-class university in Vietnam, VinUni has, in just five years, emerged as a symbol of entrepreneurial spirit, agility, academic excellence, and global connectivity. It is the youngest university worldwide to achieve a QS 5-Star overall rating, affirming its accelerating progress in the global higher education landscape.

More information on “VinUni 500”: https://legacyofexcellence.vinuni.edu.vn

Hashtag: #VinUniversity

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

Cancer patients, survivors and their loves ones formed an inaugural dragon boat team Citizens and tourists dive into the Dragon Boat Frenzy

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2025 – The “2025 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races”, organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in collaboration with the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association and proudly title-sponsored by Sun Life, saw the city’s waterfront come alive over the weekend as a huge crowd came to enjoy the mix of international competition and cultural tradition, along with a range of other fun activities.

The annual event attracted numerous citizens to the East Tsim Sha Tsui promenade over the two days (June 7-8) to witness 19 thrilling races in Victoria Harbour that drew over 190 teams and more than 4,500 paddlers from around the world. Among the races, the new “Sun Life Elite Cup” saw enthusiastic participation from 21 teams made up of Sun Life’s advisors, employees, and partners, underscoring the company’s commitment to preserving and promoting dragon boat culture.

Demonstrating its strong commitment to the community, Sun Life has proudly sponsored Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre to form the “Move for Maggie’s Dragon Boat Team”. Comprised of cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones, the team made an impactful debut at this year’s “Sun Life Elite Cup”, raising funds to support individuals affected by cancer. Dr. the Hon Leong Che-Hung, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP, Chairman of the Board of Governors at Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre, attended the event to cheer on the inspiring paddlers. Proceeds from the fundraising will enhance the Centre’s free support services, while the dragon boat race itself delivers a powerful message of hope and resilience. Through this initiative, participants and supporters alike embrace a positive outlook on living with cancer, inspiring patients and their families to face challenges with renewed courage and hope.

Mr. Clement Lam, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life Hong Kong Limited, said: “As an international financial institution rooted in Hong Kong for over 130 years, our 16-year commitment to local dragon boat racing reflects not only our dedication to sustaining cultural heritage, but also our pledge to grow alongside this city. We are proud that Sun Life has helped propel this tradition onto the global stage, embodying the city’s spirit of teamwork and energy. Moving forward, we will continue to support diverse sports initiatives, offering innovative experiences that blend athletics, culture, and entertainment for citizens and tourists, ultimately helping our Clients live healthier lives while also creating societal value.”

Alongside the main event, Sun Life launched a variety of engaging promotional activities, both online and offline, that attracted widespread participation across the city. A highlight was the “Sun Life Dragon Boat House”, a giant interactive installation at K11 MUSEA that became a viral sensation. Through its multi-platform campaign, Sun Life helped deepen public appreciation for this cultural tradition – and encouraged greater participation too.

The triumph of the “2025 Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races” reflects the ability of Hong Kong to host world-class events and attract new audiences to an old tradition. It all bodes well for next year.

Hashtag: #SunLife永明 #永明金融 #SunLife #香港國際龍舟邀請賽 #龍舟 #盛事 #盛事之都 #旅發局 #銘琪癌症關顧中心 #HongKongInternationalDragonBoatRaces #dragonboat #megaevent #eventscapital #tourismboard #Maggie’sCanceCaringCentre

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About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.55 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. Sun Life Financial Inc. is the holding company of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. Sun Life Hong Kong Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada.