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Over 250 million people worldwide unaware they have diabetes, according to new research from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)

New estimates from the IDF Diabetes Atlas highlight the growing diabetes threat, with nearly one in nine adults now living with the condition.

BRUSSELS, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Globally, nearly one in nine adults (589 million) are now living with diabetes. Of these, an estimated 252 million are not yet aware they have the condition, placing them at higher risk of serious complications and early death. Many will be diagnosed when they already have one or more of the associated complications and have missed opportunities to prevent or delay their onset. These alarming findings are from the 11th edition of the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas, released today at the start of the organisation’s World Diabetes Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.

The latest IDF estimates show that:

  • 589 million adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes globally, more than the population of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean combined.
  • The estimated number of adults with diabetes is projected to reach 853 million by 2050.
  • 3 in 4 adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • Diabetes is responsible for over 3.4 million deaths annually.
  • 1 in 8 adults are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
  • 1.8 million children and young adults under 20 are living with type 1 diabetes.

As the number of people living with diabetes continues to rise, the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas emphasises the urgent need for improved prevention, early detection and intervention to tackle the burden diabetes places on individuals, communities, health systems and economies. In 2024, global diabetes-related health expenditure surpassed one trillion US dollars for the first time, up from $966 billion in 2021.

First published in 2000, the IDF Diabetes Atlas offers insights into the impact of diabetes at national, regional, and global levels, based on the best available evidence. The 11th edition reflects new methodologies that incorporate trends in health expenditure, regional prevalence rates, and a focus on undiagnosed diabetes.

Commenting on the new edition, Professor Dianna Magliano, who co-Chairs the IDF Diabetes Atlas Committee along with Professor Edward Boyko, said: “The new data provides strong evidence that should spark action and promote initiatives to improve the lives of the many millions now living with diabetes and encourage more to detect diabetes in those at risk.” Professor Boyko added: “Addressing the rising trend will require greater awareness, a focus on prevention and ongoing surveillance of diabetes prevalence to support accurate monitoring of the global diabetes impact.”

Diabetes is associated with serious complications, such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, nerve damage and loss of vision. The latest data shows that people living with type 2 diabetes, which accounts for over 90% of all diabetes, are at 84% higher risk of heart failure than people who do not have the condition.

The International Diabetes Federation warns that the alarming rise in the prevalence of diabetes demands immediate action. Governments should invest in preventive healthcare programmes, especially in regions where diabetes is often undiagnosed, to detect people at high risk early and help delay or avoid the onset of diabetes and its related complications.

Speaking at the launch, IDF President Professor Peter Schwarz said: “The findings underscore an urgent need for bolder national and global action to tackle diabetes. With over 4 in every 10 people with diabetes not yet diagnosed, governments must prioritise screening, early diagnosis, and education. Addressing the rising tide of diabetes will demand collaboration across multiple sectors and disciplines. Governments, the healthcare sector, education, technology and the private sectors all have a role to play. The consequences of ignoring or not paying sufficient attention to the diabetes challenge are too significant. Inaction in the face of this pandemic is not an option.”

To explore the global, regional and national findings presented in the IDF Diabetes Atlas 11th Edition, visit https://diabetesatlas.org/.

About the International Diabetes Federation

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organisation of over 240 national diabetes associations in more than 160 countries and territories. Its mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes and prevent diabetes in those at risk. www.idf.org.

About the IDF Diabetes Atlas

The IDF Diabetes Atlas is the authoritative resource on the global impact of diabetes. First published in 2000, it is produced by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in collaboration with a global committee of scientific experts. It contains statistics on diabetes prevalence, diabetes-related mortality and health expenditure at the global, regional and national levels. The 11th edition has been produced thanks to educational grants from Sanofi, Novo Nordisk and MSD. https://diabetesatlas.org/.

 

SS&C Strengthens Middle East Business with Saudi Arabia Office

WINDSOR, Conn., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: SSNC) today announced an expansion of its global footprint by opening a new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The office will enable SS&C to forge new relationships and work more closely with the Capital Markets Authority and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. 

SS&C’s Middle East business serves 850 financial institutions and corporate clients; 150 of these clients are in Saudi Arabia. SS&C offers leading software and services solutions across investment management, risk management, automation and deal services. Issa Jadon, Director, will lead the new office.

“We are excited to extend our business in Saudi Arabia,” said Bill Stone, Chairman and CEO. “With more than $3 trillion in investments likely under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation program, the Kingdom’s financial services market is expanding rapidly.  SS&C leads with world-class technology, service, and deep knowledge of local markets and regulations.”

“We are pleased to see SS&C strengthen their presence here,” said Abdullah Al-Eisa, COO at Jadwa Investment, SS&C’s long-time client in Saudi Arabia. “As their client for nearly two decades, we’ve experienced first-hand their innovative technological solutions, which have helped transform our investment operations. Establishing a new office in Riyadh signals a new chapter in our partnership, offering us more localized and tailored services.”  

About SS&C Technologies

SS&C is a global provider of services and software for the financial services and healthcare industries. Founded in 1986, SS&C is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, and has offices around the world. More than 22,000 financial services and healthcare organizations, from the world’s largest companies to small and mid-market firms, rely on SS&C for expertise, scale and technology.

Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq: SSNC) is available at www.ssctech.com.
Follow SS&C on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

 

World Health Day Focus: Yeast Protein for Muscle Gain Unveiled through Scientific Clinical Trials

YICHANG, China, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In recognition of World Health Day 2025, themed “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” Angel Yeast (SH600298), an innovation-driven global biotechnology brand, is championing inclusive health solutions that transcend gender, age, and geography. At the heart of this commitment is its breakthrough Yeast Protein, a sustainable and scientifically proven nutritional solution designed to support muscle health, enhance overall wellness, and promote long-term vitality for people of all backgrounds.

World Health Day Focus: Yeast Protein for Muscle Gain Unveiled through Scientific Clinical Trials
World Health Day Focus: Yeast Protein for Muscle Gain Unveiled through Scientific Clinical Trials

Aligned with the World Health Organization’s call to build healthier foundations for all communities, Angel Yeast is encouraging the incorporation of yeast protein into everyday diets—via shakes, bars, or functional foods—as a complete, ethical, and eco-friendly protein source that empowers healthier lifestyles and more resilient futures worldwide.

Yeast Protein for Muscle Gain: A New Fitness Choice Revealed by Scientific Clinical Trials

With the rise of fitness trends, an increasing number of people are focusing on scientifically proven methods to build muscle and enhance athletic performance. Among various nutritional supplements, yeast protein is emerging as a popular choice for fitness enthusiasts due to its unique nutritional value and scientifically validated benefits. Today, we explore the research behind yeast protein’s role in muscle growth and uncover its remarkable advantages.

Yeast protein is a high-quality natural protein derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (brewer’s yeast). It contains all essential amino acids required by the human body, with a balanced amino acid profile that ensures efficient absorption and utilization. Notably, yeast protein boasts high biological value, safety, sustainability, and eco-friendliness, making it widely applicable in both conventional and functional foods.

Scientific Breakthrough: Yeast Protein Rivals Whey in Muscle Support

A recent double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted by Australia’s RDC Clinical Institution yielded promising results regarding yeast protein’s efficacy in muscle building. The study involved 79 healthy adult males, who were divided into three groups: a yeast protein group, a whey protein group, and a placebo group. Over eight weeks, participants consumed 40 grams of their assigned protein daily (20g twice per day) while engaging in resistance training three times per week.

Results showed that both the yeast protein and whey protein groups achieved significant improvements in muscle mass and strength compared to the placebo group. Specifically, the yeast protein group demonstrated exceptional gains in trunk and total lean muscle mass, along with unique advantages in reducing diastolic blood pressure and enhancing muscular endurance. These findings suggest that yeast protein is comparable to whey protein in promoting muscle growth and athletic performance, with certain superior attributes.

A Sustainable and Inclusive Choice for Global Health

Complete Amino Acid Profile: Yeast protein provides all essential amino acids in balanced proportions, meeting comprehensive nutritional needs for muscle repair and growth.

  • High Digestibility: While yeast protein is digested more slowly than some proteins, its ultimate digestibility matches that of soy protein and surpasses many plant-based alternatives. This slow digestion prolongs satiety, making it ideal for meal replacements.
  • Eco-Friendly Production: Unlike resource-intensive agricultural or livestock farming, yeast protein production has a lower environmental footprint, aligning with sustainable practices.
  • Broad Applicability: Suitable for fitness enthusiasts and older adults alike, yeast protein offers robust nutritional support to help achieve muscle-building and performance-enhancement goals.

If you plan to incorporate yeast protein into your regimen for muscle gain or improved performance, consider the following recommendations:

  • Optimal Dosage: Based on clinical trial results, a daily intake of 40 grams of yeast protein is recommended. Divide this into two 20g servings, ideally consumed after breakfast and lunch.
  • Combine with Exercise: Yeast protein’s benefits are most pronounced post-workout. Consume it immediately after resistance training to maximize muscle recovery and growth.
  • Maintain a Balanced Diet: Alongside yeast protein supplementation, ensure adequate intake of carbohydrates, fats, and other nutrients to support overall health and athletic performance.

As a premium natural protein source, yeast protein is gaining prominence in the fitness and nutrition industries. Supported by rigorous clinical trials, it has demonstrated significant efficacy in boosting muscle mass and athletic performance. For those seeking a safe, effective, and environmentally friendly supplement to achieve fitness goals, yeast protein stands out as a compelling option. Embrace science-backed strategies to unlock a healthier, stronger version of yourself.

WeBank Technology Services Launches Value Exchange Infrastructure to Boost Hong Kong’s Web3 Ecosystem

HONG KONG, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — At the Hong Kong Web3 Festival 2025, Henry Ma, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of WeBank, as well as Director of WeBank Technology Services, unveiled a blockchain-based inter-institutional “value exchange infrastructure” solution aimed at supporting the prosperity of Hong Kong’s Web3 ecosystem. As Hong Kong actively integrate Web3 into its traditional financial system, this solution, with a balance among efficiency, security, and compliance, strives to accelerate the implementation of innovative and regulated use cases such as stablecoins and real-world asset tokenization (RWA).

Henry Ma unveiled a blockchain-based inter-institutional "value exchange infrastructure" solution
Henry Ma unveiled a blockchain-based inter-institutional “value exchange infrastructure” solution

In recent years, Hong Kong has introduced a series of policies to guide the compliant development of Web3 and to attract global fintech institutions to actively engage in the Hong Kong Web3 ecosystem. As institutional trading models continue to evolve, the expanding market scale has begun to expose limitations in the current Web3 trading framework, making it increasingly difficult to meet the diverse needs of value exchange between institutions.

Ma analyzed the pain points of four existing models: (1) A single Layer 1 blockchain cannot support virtual assets other than its native cryptocurrency. (2) Over-the-counter (OTC) trading heavily relies on the credibility of counterparties. (3) Decentralized exchanges require assets wrapped from multiple chains onto a single chain, which reduces asset liquidity. (4) Centralized exchanges require users to relinquish control of their private keys, while user experience has to compromise with the complex trading processes.

Is there a feasible solution that balances the needs for efficiency, security, and compliance? Ma suggested the necessity of a common infrastructure to support the access of different types of assets, ensure transaction and asset security through an “atomic swap[1]” mechanism, and establish access protocols to ensure that both parties involved in transactions are compliant, licensed institutions within a regulated framework.

To implement this vision, blockchain technology serves as the backbone. Ma advocates that by returning to the core principles of blockchain technology, we can fully leverage its role as a trust machine and build a secure and reliable infrastructure for value exchange.

At the conference, WeBank Technology Services officially launched POTOS (Portal of the Orient Symposium for Web3), a blockchain infrastructure designed for Hong Kong’s Web3 ecosystem. At its initial stage, POTOS focuses on a “value exchange infrastructure” solution that provides three layers of assurance for institutional value exchange: (1) a high-performance underlying chain is built to connect different types of assets. (2) Trusted cross-chain protocols and smart contracts are introduced to enable atomic exchanges of assets across multiple chains between institutions. (3) Technologies such as multi-group structures and zero-knowledge proofs are integrated to create “value exchange group,” ensuring transaction security and regulatory compliance.

“We hope that this value exchange evolution, driven by the ‘trust machine,’ can truly solidify the foundation of trust for the advancement of Hong Kong’s Web3 ecosystem,” said Ma. He emphasized that WeBank Technology Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of WeBank in Hong Kong, will continue to leverage WeBank’s extensive experience in the blockchain sector to support Hong Kong in upgrading its value exchange infrastructure. This effort aims to attract more institutions to position Hong Kong as a hub for compliant and innovative Web3 practices.

The technical foundation of POTOS comes from the FISCO BCOS blockchain platform, an open-source initiative led by WeBank. POTOS inherits its financial-grade performance and openness that define its core capabilities. Since its full open-sourcing in 2017, the platform has demonstrated a single-chain processing capacity of up to 200,000 TPS while supporting horizontal scalability. It has been successfully applied in over 500 digital transformation projects, including the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cross-border Data Verification Platform,” establishing an open-source community that includes more than 5,000 institutions and over 100,000 individuals. FISCO BCOS has become a de facto standard for blockchain technology.

About WeBank Technology Services

Launched in Hong Kong in June 2024, WeBank Technology Services sets out to leverage WeBank’s cutting-edge fintech capabilities and digital finance best practice to deliver a variety of superior digital finance and digital infrastructure solutions to digital banks, financial institutions, government agencies, and industry partners worldwide. In October 2024, WeBank Technology Services joined the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Ensemble framework working group, offering blockchain technology support to drive innovation and development in Hong Kong’s tokenization market.

About WeBank

Launched in 2014, WeBank Co., Ltd. (“WeBank”) is the first digital bank in China. WeBank provides convenient financial services to micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and the public, and continuously improves the quality of services in response to customers’ specific needs. WeBank has served over 420 million retail customers and 5.8 million enterprises. As a digital bank, WeBank focuses on innovation and technology, and leads the industry in core technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud computing, and big data.

[1] Atomic Swap is an asset exchange mechanism based on blockchain technology. It ensures that cross-chain asset exchanges are completed simultaneously, akin to a face-to-face cash-and-goods exchange, effectively eliminating the risk of counterparty default.

 

Fremantle Selects Prime Focus Technologies and Amazon Web Services to Build its Global Content Supply Chain

LOS ANGELES, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fremantle today announced it has selected Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build a future-proof, scalable, global content supply chain platform that adapts to the evolving demands of the industry.

The platform will seamlessly unify Fremantle’s operations across markets, provide real-time visibility into content workflows, and enable faster time-to-market and commercialization of assets to drive Fremantle’s digital transformation. The platform, which is being built on AWS, will use the latest cloud technologies, and will benefit from the scalability, security, and flexibility enabled by cloud computing. Fremantle will also use PFT’s flagship solution, CLEAR® Smart MAM, as part of the platform, which is also built on AWS. CLEAR®’s agentic AI capabilities will help Fremantle enrich content with contextual metadata, streamline workflows, and enhance efficiencies across its content operations.

Jens Richter, CEO Commercial and International, Fremantle said: “A robust content supply chain that will cater to the dynamic business requirements of monetizing content is paramount, and we look forward to working with PFT and AWS to see what we can achieve together. This collaboration will provide us with the agility, visibility, speed and scalability required across Commercial and International, Digital and Global channels to streamline our media supply chain and digital processes.”

Ramki Sankaranarayanan, Founder and Global CEO of Prime Focus Technologies said: “Our offering is designed to meet the most demanding needs of global content studios like Fremantle. We’re thrilled to partner with them on this transformative journey and enable their vision of a modern, AI-powered supply chain that fuels creativity and revenue.”

Andy Stephenson, Head of Broadcast, Media, and Sport, UK, at AWS said: “We are proud to support Fremantle on its digital transformation journey. By harnessing technologies like cloud computing and AI, Fremantle will be able to drive innovation across its business, scale quickly, easily, and securely, and extract new value from its content.”

The project will be overseen by Thalia Crone, Global Head of Media Supply Chain Operations, Fremantle. Fremantle’s Commercial and International division is responsible for maximizing the commercial value of Fremantle content. From selling content to international broadcasters and platforms, selling Fremantle formats, publishing content to digital platforms, and setting up and managing all Fremantle direct-to-consumer channels.

About Fremantle
Fremantle is a leading global creator, producer and distributor of some of the world’s most successful content across Entertainment, Drama & Film, and Documentaries.   

Amplifying local stories on a global scale, Fremantle produces and delivers premium, multi-genre IP across the 27 territories it operates in. Fremantle is a proudly independent group of content creators, and home to some of the biggest entertainment formats, compelling international dramas, award-winning films and high-quality documentaries.  

From Got Talent to Sullivan’s Crossing,Family Feud to Poor Things, Fellow Travelers to Queens, Too Hot To Handle to Big Mood, Maxton Hall to Idols, and Queer to The Zelensky Story, our focus is simple – Fremantle creates and delivers irresistible entertainment.      

Fremantle also represents world-leading digital and branded entertainment, with more than 550 million fans and 360 billion views for its standout content across all platforms. Fremantle’s Global Channels unit consists of more than 20 FAST channels worldwide, including Buzzr, Rig TV, and Baywatch.  

Fremantle is part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, streaming, content and digital, itself a division of the international media, services, and education company Bertelsmann.      

For more information, please visit www.fremantle.com, follow Fremantle on Twitter @FremantleHQ and Instagram @fremantle or visit Fremantle’s LinkedIn page. 

Media Enquiries:
Catherine New: catherine.new@fremantle.com | +447386655932

About Prime Focus Technologies
Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) is the creator of CLEAR®. It offers streaming platforms, studios, and broadcasters AI technology and media services powered by the cloud that help them enable creativity, efficiency, and, most importantly, revenue generation. PFT works with major companies like Channel 4, ITV, Sinclair Broadcast Group, A&E Networks, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, Crunchyroll, Insight TV, JioStar, BCCI, Tegna, Amazon MGM Studios, and more.

For more information, visit: www.primefocustechnologies.com

Press Contact

T Shobhana
Senior Vice President and Global Head of Marketing
Prime Focus Technologies
Los Angeles, CA
t.shobhana@primefocus.com

News Hub Asia partners with Negeri Sembilan Fencing Association to champion youth in sports

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a strategic collaboration aimed at fostering grassroots sports and supporting athlete development, regional online news portal News Hub Asia (NHA) has announced its official media partnership with the Negeri Sembilan Fencing Association (NSFA) for the upcoming Negeri Sembilan Youth Challenge 2025.

Tengku Dato’ Mu’adzam Sadruddin bin Tengku Noone Aziz, President of the Negeri Sembilan Fencing Association with Ruzanna Muhammad, Editor-at-Large at News Hub Asia. | Photo by News Hub Asia
Tengku Dato’ Mu’adzam Sadruddin bin Tengku Noone Aziz, President of the Negeri Sembilan Fencing Association with Ruzanna Muhammad, Editor-at-Large at News Hub Asia. | Photo by News Hub Asia

This partnership underscores NHA’s commitment to providing a platform that amplifies the voices of young athletes while promoting sports development at the grassroots level. The Negeri Sembilan Youth Challenge 2025 is set to be a premier tournament, drawing aspiring fencers from across Malaysia to compete and showcase their talent.

Building upon the success of previous editions, the Negeri Sembilan Youth Challenge 2025 is poised to further its mission of nurturing young fencing talent. The 2024 tournament attracted over 330 individual entries and 38 team entries, including participants from Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia, as well as numerous clubs and state associations from across Malaysia.

The event featured individual competitions in Under-10, Under-12, Under-14, and Under-17 categories for both girls and boys, across the three fencing disciplines: Foil, Épée, and Sabre. Additionally, team competitions were held at the Under-12 and Under-17 levels for both genders in all three disciplines.

The tournament received support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Malaysian Fencing Federation (MFF), the Negeri Sembilan State Sports Council (MSNNS), and several corporate sponsors. This collaborative effort underscores the collective commitment to fostering youth development in sports.

The 2025 edition aims to build on this foundation, providing young fencers with a platform to showcase their skills, gain competitive experience, and cultivate a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship. By doing so, it continues to contribute significantly to the growth and development of fencing at the grassroots level in Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region.

Ruzanna Muhammad, Editor-at-Large at News Hub Asia, highlighted the importance of media coverage in fostering youth engagement in sports.

“At News Hub Asia, we believe that sports serve as a powerful tool for youth development, instilling discipline, resilience, and teamwork. By partnering with the Negeri Sembilan Fencing Association, we aim to shine a spotlight on the next generation of Malaysian fencing talents, providing them with the visibility and support they need to excel,” said Ruzanna.

The Negeri Sembilan Youth Challenge 2025 will not only provide a competitive platform for young fencers but also serve as an avenue for talent identification and sports development. With fencing gaining momentum as a growing sport in Malaysia, initiatives like this tournament are crucial in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sport.

“Our partnership with News Hub Asia marks a significant milestone in our efforts to elevate fencing at the grassroots level. Media exposure is vital in inspiring more young athletes to take up the sport, and with NHA’s regional reach, we are confident that this collaboration will help boost interest and participation in fencing,” said Tengku Dato‘ Mu’adzam Sadruddin bin Tengku Noone Aziz, President of the Negeri Sembilan Fencing Association.

As Asia continues to develop high-performance athletes across various sporting disciplines, the demand for strong media partnerships is greater than ever. By bridging the gap between young athletes and their communities, NHA aims to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sports in the region.

“Providing young athletes with media visibility not only enhances their personal brand but also opens doors for sponsorship and career growth. We hope that through this initiative, more companies and organisations will see the value of investing in youth sports,” added Ruzanna.

The Negeri Sembilan Youth Challenge 2025 is set to take place on 21st to 23rd June at Centerpoint Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia bringing together some of the most promising young fencers in the country. Fans and supporters can follow the tournament’s progress through News Hub Asia’s extensive coverage, ensuring that these young athletes get the recognition they deserve.

For more updates on the Negeri Sembilan Youth Challenge 2025 visit https://nsfencing.org.my.

HKPC’s “Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector” Claims 2025 Edison Awards Gold for the First Time


World’s Pioneering Drone Solution Achieving Millimetre-level Precision
Setting a New Benchmark for Smart Sites in Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 April 2025 – ​The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and the Hyder-Meinhardt Joint Venture have co-developed the “Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector” in the Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel project. This system integrates artificial intelligence (AI), multi-robot systems and precise positioning technique in GPS-denied environments, further advancing the intelligence, automation, and digitalisation of tunnel inspection in Hong Kong. HKPC is pleased to announce that this system has been awarded the Gold Award at the prestigious global Edison Awards, marking the third consecutive year that HKPC’s research projects have received this international recognition, and it is the first time receiving the honour of a Gold Award, highlighting the ongoing excellence of Hong Kong’s research achievements.

The Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and the Hyder-Meinhardt Joint Venture have co-developed the "Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector" in the Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel project. This system integrates AI, multi-robot systems and precise positioning technique in GPS-denied environments, further advancing the intelligence, automation, and digitalisation of tunnel inspections in Hong Kong. The system has been awarded the Gold award at the prestigious Edison Awards, marking the third consecutive year that HKPC’s research projects have received this international recognition, and it is the first time receiving the honor of a Gold Award.
The Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and the Hyder-Meinhardt Joint Venture have co-developed the “Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector” in the Trunk Road T2 and Cha Kwo Ling Tunnel project. This system integrates AI, multi-robot systems and precise positioning technique in GPS-denied environments, further advancing the intelligence, automation, and digitalisation of tunnel inspections in Hong Kong. The system has been awarded the Gold award at the prestigious Edison Awards, marking the third consecutive year that HKPC’s research projects have received this international recognition, and it is the first time receiving the honor of a Gold Award.

Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman of HKPC mentioned: “Winning the Edison Award again is a significant recognition of collaboration between Hong Kong’s Government, industry, academia and research sectors. This locally-developed groundbreaking system integrates air-ground collaboration, edge AI computing, and millimetre-level positioning technology that well overcomes the difficulty of positioning in GPS-denied environments. The system has been successfully applied to major infrastructure projects in Hong Kong, replacing the traditional manual inspection at heights. It not only brings safer tunnel inspection, but also enhances efficiency, and sets a good precedent for global infrastructure digitalisation. As an enabler of new industrialisation in Hong Kong, HKPC will continue to focus on the transformation and realisation of research and development outcomes, aligning with Government policies to transform Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre.” Previous HKPC technology application projects, such as the ‘InspecSpider’ system, have won international R&D awards. This time, the Tunnel Inspector’s recognition with the Edison Award further demonstrates Hong Kong’s strong innovative technology capabilities and its ability to implement these achievements in real-world applications.

AI-enhanced Measurement Efficiency: Reducing Working at Heights

Autonomous Air-ground Cooperative Tunnel Inspector incorporates three cutting-edge technologies: multi-robot cooperation between Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), edge-computing AI module installed in the UGV, and the use of fiducial marker and LiDAR to obtain precise positioning in GPS-denied environments. This combination allows traditionally time-consuming tunnel inspection tasks to be completed quickly. When the system is in operation, it adopts air-ground cooperation between the UGV and UAV to achieve 360° full coverage in the tunnel. The 5K camera automatically captures colour and thermal images, which are then transmitted to the AI module of the UGV for defect detection and analysis. The system can execute defect detection with millimetre-level precision. Compared to conventional inspection methods, it speeds up the inspection by 23 times and saves 50% of inspection cost.

Even in GPS-denied tunnel environments, the system can still calculate the precise coordinates of the UAV and UGV by using SLAM technique with fiducial markers, or deploying survey total stations in the tunnel to swiftly carry out automated tunnel inspections with up to millimetre-level accuracy. The system also delivers fully digitalised inspection reports, thus reducing the manual works. Engineers can monitor the system’s operation in a safe environment, which greatly eliminates the need for working at height and makes the tunnel inspection process safer and more efficient.

Practical Applications of AI and Robotics Leading Hong Kong’s Low-altitude Economy

HKPC was appointed by the HKSAR Government as the technical partner for the Working Group on Developing Low-altitude Economy and established the Hong Kong Industrial Drone Technology Centre in 2021. The Centre provides various low-altitude economy-related services and has trained nearly 700 drone pilots ready to advance the low-altitude economy. A key feature of the award-winning inspection system is air-ground collaboration, where UAV- perform specific tasks while supported by UGV-, which can carry batteries and some payloads on the ground, significantly enhancing UAVs’ flexibility, endurance, and safety. This provides a strong practical example for the future application of low-altitude UAV technology across various industries, potentially accelerating the development of Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy.

About the Edison Awards
First held in 1987, The Edison Awards are among the world’s most prestigious honour in science and technology, recognizing groundbreaking research achievements and innovative products distinguished by originality, creativity, and technological excellence. The awards are judged by Edison Universe, a non-profit organization, dedicated to promoting innovative thinking. Past award winners include Genentech, General Electric, General Motors, GoPro, IBM, NVIDIA and others. For more information about the 2025 Edison Awards, please visit: https://edisonawards.com/

Hashtag: #HongKongProductivityCouncil

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

About Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a multi-disciplinary organisation established by statute in 1967, to promote productivity excellence through relentless drive of world-class advanced technologies and innovative service offerings to support Hong Kong enterprises. As a nationwide leader in innovative, market-driven research and development (R&D) internationally, specialising in leading technologies and all-rounded manufacturing services, HKPC promotes new industrialisation in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area and facilitates the development of new productive forces, leveraging innovation and technology (I&T), as well as bolstering Hong Kong to be an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city. The Council offers comprehensive innovative solutions for Hong Kong industries and enterprises, enabling them to achieve resources and productivity utilisation, effectiveness and cost reduction, and enhance competitiveness in both local and overseas marketplace. The Council partners and collaborates with local industries and enterprises and world-class R&D institutes to develop applied technology solutions for value creation. It also benefits a variety of sectors through product innovation, technology transfer, and commercialisation, bringing enormous business opportunities ahead. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades.

In addition, HKPC offers SMEs and startups immediate and timely assistance in coping with the ever-changing business environment, and strengthens talent nurturing and Hong Kong’s competitiveness with FutureSkills training for enterprises and academia to enhance digital capabilities and STEM competencies.

For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: .

Ping An Releases 2024 Sustainability Report

30 Years of Public Welfare Education
“Worry-free, Time-saving and Money-saving” Project Creates a New Paradigm in Services

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (“Ping An“, the “Company” or the “Group”, HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318) has published its Sustainability Report 2024.

This is the 16th consecutive year that Ping An has released its sustainability report. The report features two themes: “Public Welfare Education” and “Worry-free, Time-saving and Money-saving” services. It also discloses the Company’s latest progress across five key areas: strategic management; business; operations and community; climate change and carbon neutrality; and governance.

Theme One: Thirty Years of Public Welfare Education

Ma Mingzhe, Chairman of Ping An Group said, “As long as there is still one student at Ping An Hope Primary School, our public welfare volunteer teaching will continue.”

Ping An’s public welfare education initiative marked its 30th anniversary in 2024. Since the establishment of the first Ping An Hope Primary School in 1994, the Group has continued to support rural education through measures such as infrastructure and maintenance, volunteer teaching, educational scholarships, training and development, and summer camps. In 2024, Ping An’s support included:

  • renovation of 22 rural schools
  • donation of sports grounds to five rural schools to create a better learning and sports environment for students
  • organization of 987 volunteers to conduct teaching in 74 schools, contributing 6,767 teaching hours
  • educational scholarship programs that collectively supported 1,065 students, including enabling 65 students realize their university dreams
  • training of 294 rural teachers
  • organization of 165 teachers and students from 27 schools to participate in summer and winter camp activities

As of the end of 2024, Ping An had assisted in building 119 Ping An Hope Primary Schools across the country. It recruited 12,708 volunteer teachers who contributed more than 443,000 total teaching hours. Ping An also established educational scholarships which have cumulatively supported 31,345 students, and trained over 20,000 rural teachers, benefiting 310,000 students.

Theme Two: “Worry-free, Time-saving and Money-saving” Project Creates a New Paradigm in Financial Services

Michael Guo, Co-CEO of Ping An Group, said, “Customers’ voices, needs and suggestions are the guide for our service reform and product upgrade.”

Since Ping An was established 36 years ago, the Company has grown into a world-leading “integrated finance + health and senior care” services group. Adhering to the value proposition of “worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving” services, Ping An focuses on developing professional products and services for three main scenarios: financial advisers, family doctors, and senior care concierges. Ping An made every effort to promote its value proposition in 2024. The Group launched its 2024 Customer Listening Day in May, calling on senior executives, business teams and front-line employees to engage with customers to understand their needs and pain points, and then accelerate the upgrading of product and service upgrades.

To meet customers’ diversified needs in wealth management, health, and senior care, Ping An provides services such as wealth management, insurance protection, and consumer credit through an integrated financial model featuring “one customer, multiple accounts, multiple products, and one-stop services.” As of the end of 2024, Ping An had 242 million retail customers, with an average of 2.92 contracts per customer. More than 25% of them were holding four or more contracts within the Group. Nearly 63% of Ping An’s retail customers were entitled to service benefits in the health and senior care ecosystem as of the end of 2024. In 2024, over 21 million customers of Ping An Life used health management services. Ping An has approximately 50,000 in-house and contracted external doctors and partnered with all top 100 hospitals and 3A hospitals in China. It has also established cooperation with over 104,000 health management institutions and 235,000 pharmacies. Ping An’s home-based senior care services cover 75 cities nationwide, and over 160,000 customers are eligible for home-based senior care services.

Top 10 highlights of Ping An’s sustainable development in 2024

1.    Stable business performance, with total cash dividends increasing for 13 consecutive years:  In 2024, Ping An achieved an operating profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company of RMB121,862 million, a year-on-year increase of 9.1%; net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company was RMB126,607 million, a substantial year-on-year increase of 47.8%; and total revenue was RMB1,141,346 million, a year-on-year increase of 10.6%[1]. With the goal of providing stable returns to shareholders, Ping An distributed a full-year dividend of RMB2.55 per share in cash in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 5%. The cash dividend ratio based on the operating profit attributable to the parent company was 37.9%, with the total dividend amount maintaining growth for 13 consecutive years.

2.    Technology empowering sustainable development, driving innovation in finance and healthcare: Ping An continues to increase investment in technology, comprehensively improving the user experience of financial and healthcare services through cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. As of the end of 2024, Ping An had accumulated 55,080 patent applications in the fields of financial technology and healthcare. AI service representatives reached about 1.8 billion times, covering 80% of Ping An’s total customer service volume in 2024. Through intelligent underwriting and intelligent claims settlement, 93% of life insurance policies achieved second-level underwriting. Ping An Property & Casualty independently developed the Disaster Risk System (DRS3.0) and the Catastrophe Emergency Service Platform, integrating over 2 trillion pieces of geographic, disaster, meteorological, and insurance data, combined with meteorological disaster models, satellite remote sensing, machine learning, and other technologies. These tools provide intelligent risk control services such as disaster early warning, risk screening, and catastrophe risk management. In 2024, the DRS 3.0 issued 10.55 billion early warning messages, providing pre-disaster early warnings to 67.34 million individuals and enterprises. In healthcare, Ping An’s independently developed AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment system currently covers the diagnostic knowledge of over 2,000 diseases, with an accuracy rate of over 99% in triage – guiding patients to the appropriate medical department – and an assisted diagnosis accuracy rate of over 95%.

3.    Continuously developing green finance to support the low-carbon transformation of industries: Ping An regards green finance as a systematic initiative, supporting green development and industrial transformation through insurance, lending, investment, and other products and services. In 2024, Ping An’s green insurance premium income reached RMB58,608 million, a year-on-year increase of nearly 57%. The balance of green loans was RMB157,762 million, a year-on-year increase of 13%, and the scale of insurance fund green investment was RMB124,712 million. As an extension and expansion of green finance, transition finance has become a key driving force for promoting industrial upgrading and stable economic operations. Ping An is actively responding to this trend, increasing its support for transition finance and emerging low-carbon technologies. As of the end of 2024, Ping An Bank had cumulatively issued RMB440 million in project loans for carbon capture, utilization, and storage technology (CCUS) to Baotou Iron and Steel Group; and cumulatively issued approximately RMB3.44 billion in project loans for the Coal Grading Clean and Efficient Conversion Project to Yulin Chemical Co. Ltd.

4.    Leveraging integrated financial advantages to promote inclusive financial development: Ping An is committed to improving the accessibility of financial services, providing broader protection and support for micro and small enterprises and low-income groups. In 2024, Ping An Property & Casualty added 304 new inclusive insurance products to further expand the scope of protection. Ping An Life Insurance launched low-premium rural insurance products, covering accidental risks such as transportation and natural disasters, and the product provided protection for 42,000 customers throughout the year. Ping An Bank issued loans of  RMB160,224 million to micro and small enterprises, with a loan balance of RMB 506,331 million in 2024. It also issued 63,000 Rural Revitalization Debit Cards. As of the end of 2024, Ping An Property & Casualty had provided over RMB220 trillion in full-risk protection for nearly 2.4 million micro and small enterprises, with over 900,000 claims processed, worth nearly RMB4 billion. Ping An Bank had cumulatively served 782,000 micro and small enterprise loan customers, and issued nearly 260,000 cards.

5.    Operating carbon emissions decreased by 8% year-on-year, accelerating towards the 2030 carbon neutrality goal: Ping An identifies and assesses climate change-related risks and opportunities, conducts climate risk scenario analysis, and formulates response measures and transformation plans. In 2024, the company actively promoted energy conservation and carbon reduction, with total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the year at 439,291 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), a year-on-year decrease of 8%. Among them, Scope 1 (direct GHG emissions) was 28,158 tCO2e, a year-on-year decrease of 22%. Scope 2 (energy-related indirect GHG emissions) was 342,193 tCO2e, a year-on-year decrease of 8%. In 2024, Ping An purchased a total of 11,612 megawatt-hours (MWh) of green electricity, avoiding nearly 6,800 tCO2e emissions. Scope 3 (paper use and employee travel) was 68,941 tCO2e emissions, about the same as in 2023. As of the end of 2024, Ping An’s self-developed employee carbon account platform covered 180,000 employees, recording 2.26 million carbon reduction actions, achieving an emission reduction contribution of approximately 23,662 tCO2e. In the field of green buildings, Ping An has 30 building projects that have obtained domestic and foreign green and healthy building certifications, of which 10 buildings have obtained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold and above certification.

6.    Protecting consumer rights and privacy, exploring an aging-friendly service model: In 2024, Ping An updated its Policy Statement on Privacy Protection (2024) and Policy Statement on Information Security (2024), conducted special audits on consumer rights protection, and tracked the rectification of problems found in the previous year, ensuring a rectification rate of 100%. Targeting the senior population, Ping An is exploring the “aging-friendly” service model. Actions include installing anti-collision corners in the basic infrastructure of service counters, setting up rest areas for the elderly, and providing equipment such as wheelchairs, walking sticks, reading glasses, and medicine kits for a more friendly service environment for the elderly. Ping An also provides an exclusive service hotline for customers over 60 years old. Through the service hotline, senior customers can directly reach the dedicated customer service with one click, enjoying convenient and caring services. In addition, Ping An continues to explore digital methods such as intelligent voice assistants and simplified mobile app interfaces to help elderly customers cross the digital divide.

7.    Focusing on employee development and protection, with satisfaction increasing for two consecutive years: Ping An is committed to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of employees, helping employees grow through salary incentives and training, and achieving the common development of employees and the company. In 2024, Ping An updated the Statement on Employee Rights (2024), improving its employee protection mechanism. As of the end of 2024, Ping An had 273,053 employees. Female employees accounted for 51%, and in senior management, female personnel accounted for 36%. To encourage retention of core talent, Ping An implemented the Core Personnel Stock Ownership Plan and the Long-term Service Plan. As of the end of 2024, 103,610 employees participated in the plans, covering 38% of employees. For employee training and development, Ping An cooperated with educational institutions to introduce high-quality courses. In 2024, the Group invested RMB956 million in training, and employees benefitted from an average of 49 hours of training each. In addition, Ping An conducts satisfaction surveys for all employees every year. In 2024, the overall employee satisfaction reached 90 points, steadily improving for two years in a row. With excellent talent development and management practices, Ping An ranked 318th globally and second in the Chinese financial industry in Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2024.

8.    Strengthening information security management and building an AI ethics system: Ping An continues to improve its information security management system and is promoting the construction of an artificial intelligence (AI) ethics system. In 2024, the Group, together with its member companies, completed 67 security emergency drills, covering 11 emergency scenarios such as ransomware, anti-DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks, and phishing emails. It carried out database backup recovery drills and cross-regional joint disaster recovery exercises, effectively improving the Group’s emergency response capabilities for information security. Throughout the year, more than 30 information security training sessions were conducted, focusing on eight major risk scenarios, such as personal information leakage, data outsourcing, phishing emails, and third-party personnel management. The training pass rate was 100%. Ping An has maintained information security management system certifications for many years. As of the end of 2024, Ping An’s ISO/IEC 27001 certification coverage rate reached 93%. In addition, in terms of AI governance, Ping An follows five ethical principles: people-oriented; human autonomy; safe and controllable; fair; and just, open and transparent. It issued the Policy Statement on AI Ethics Governance (2022), and aims to scientifically manage the development and application of AI to ensure that technological innovation meets ethical and moral standards.

9.    Actively fulfilling social responsibility and enhancing community influence: In 2024, Ping An provided over RMB52 billion in rural industrial revitalization assistance funds, provided free physical examinations for 6,859 villagers, held 29 lectures on chronic diseases science, upgraded 45 rural clinics, and held 45 free medical consultation sessions in rural areas. Ping An also encouraged employees to devote themselves to public welfare projects. As of the end of 2024, there were more than 490,000 employee and agent volunteers, who participated in voluntary blood donation, educational public welfare, emergency disaster relief, and other public welfare actions.

10. Outstanding performance recognized by international rating agencies and capital markets: In 2024, Ping An was awarded an AA rating in the MSCI ESG rating, ranking first in the Asia-Pacific region in the multi-line insurance and brokerage industry for three consecutive years. It was rated “Low Risk” in the Sustainalytics ESG rating, with a score of 15.6, the best score among insurance companies in Chinese mainland. It was selected for the S&P Global’s “Sustainability Yearbook 2024 (China Edition)”, the only insurance company included in mainland China. In addition, Ping An has been selected as a constituent stock of the FTSE4Good index series for five years and has been a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series for 14 years.

Sustainable development is a cornerstone of Ping An’s long-term strategy. The Group will continue to deepen the “integrated finance + health and senior care” technology-driven strategy, using technological innovation to create a competitive advantage in service. It will provide customers with all-around professional financial advisory, family doctor, and senior care concierge services, enabling customers to enjoy “worry-free, timesaving, and money-saving” services experience, and it will continue to create long-term, stable, and sustainable value for customers, employees, shareholders, and society.

[1] Based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)

For details of the report, please click here.

About Ping An Group

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKEx:2318 / 82318; SSE:601318) is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. It strives to become a world-leading provider of integrated finance, health and senior care services. Under the technology-driven “integrated finance + health and senior care” strategy, the Group provides professional “financial advisory, family doctor, and senior care concierge” services to its 242 million retail customers. Ping An advances intelligent digital transformation and employs technologies to improve financial businesses’ quality and efficiency and enhance risk management. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. As of the end of December 2024, Ping An had more than RMB12 trillion in total assets. The Group ranked 29th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2024 and 53rd in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2024. 

For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn – PING AN.