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BIK Behavioural Verification technology as the response to the growing wave of digital fraud in the African financial market
In today’s digital economy, trust has emerged as the most valuable asset, surpassing money as the key currency. The collaboration between BIK and Fair Score Africa unites a robust, well-established security infrastructure developed in Poland with the dynamic growth of African markets, where mobile payments and digital banking are rapidly becoming central to everyday financial transactions. This partnership is focused on the deployment of BIK’s proprietary Behavioural Verification Platform in seven leading African countries: South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, Ghana, Namibia and Zambia.
The collaborative initiative directly addresses the rapidly expanding issue of financial fraud in Africa’s fast-growing markets, which are home to a population exceeding 427 million. According to the Interpol report Africa Cyberthreat Assessment, published in June 2025, cybercrime now constitutes more than 30% of reported fraud cases in both West and East Africa. Between 2019 and 2025, the continent has suffered financial losses exceeding USD 3 billion as a result of identified cyber incidents.
Security measures relying solely on passwords, one-time SMS codes, and other traditional identity verification methods are no longer sufficient and fail to provide effective protection against increasingly sophisticated threats.
The BIK Behavioural Verification Platform (BVP) is an innovative response to the escalating challenge of digital fraud within the financial sector. Designed to proactively safeguard both individuals and institutions, the BVP leverages advanced behavioural analytics to identify each user’s unique patterns of interaction. By monitoring how customers engage with their devices during online and mobile banking sessions, the platform operates in real time to detect anomalies that may indicate fraudulent activity. This enables the prevention of unauthorized transactions and the submission of credit applications without customer consent, ensuring enhanced protection for all parties involved.
Using state-of-the-art Machine Learning algorithms, the platform continually updates each user’s behavioural profile, adapting dynamically to emerging threats. All data is processed in a context-free manner, strictly adhering to international privacy standards. The BIK Behavioural Verification Platform delivers robust security for end users and supports financial institutions in significantly reducing fraud-related losses across the entire ecosystem.
The BIK solution streamlines institutional anti-fraud operations while maintaining a seamless customer experience. Developed and proven in the Polish financial market, the BIK Behavioural Verification Platform is now emerging as a new standard for digital protection, combining effectiveness, user convenience, and resilience against modern cyber threats. Its adaptable nature enables deployment across international markets, setting a benchmark for security and operational excellence globally.
“Our collaboration with BIK directly responds to a pressing need across the African market, where we are witnessing a swift rise in financial crime, especially through mobile platforms. BIK’s behavioural verification technology offers a crucial enhancement to our security landscape-improving fraud detection without compromising the user experience. We believe this forms the basis for secure and sustainable growth across the region” – says Dr. Danny Zandamela, CEO of Fair Score Africa, and adds:
“We position the partnership with BIK as a long ‑ term commitment, the outcome of which is the ability to provide local financial institutions with a critical technology that protects against the evolving threat landscape across the African continent. In future, it may serve as an authentication layer for national citizen ‑ identification systems through integration with, for example, the Ghana Card or Nigeria’s NIN, which are the respective equivalents of the Polish national identity card” -adds Dr. Zandamela.
“At BIK, we are proud to be building one of the world’s most advanced anti-fraud ecosystems, renowned for its exceptional scope and technological sophistication. By expanding this digital shield to our partners’ markets in Africa, we are not simply sharing technology – we are exporting trust and confidence in the financial sector. By analyzing each customer’s distinctive behavioural patterns, our technology can safeguard their finances even in situations where login credentials have been compromised by cybercriminals. We are demonstrating that cutting-edge technology developed in Poland is fully scalable and ready to protect financial sector clients across continents” – says Mariusz Cholewa, PhD, CEO of BIK, President of ACCIS.
BIK – the only Credit Information Bureau in Poland, member of ACCIS, associating the largest group of credit registers in the world. BIK supports the security of financial institutions and their clients by providing a safe system for exchanging credit and economic information and innovative anti-fraud solutions. The sectoral solutions in BIK portfolio are: BIK Anti-Fraud Platform, Cyber Fraud Detection Platform, Behavioural Verification Platform, ESG BIK Platform. BIK collects and provides data on the credit history of individual customers and entrepreneurs from the entire credit market, as well as data from the area of non-bank loans. BIK possesses the highest competencies in market analysis and modern technologies. It combines the features of a modern technology company with the attributes of a public trust institution.
Fair Score Africa – the company is an innovative FinTech in credit repair, credit re-integration, alternative credit scoring and financial inclusion, developing mobile‑ and behavioural‑data‑driven risk assessment tools that enable the secure scaling of financial services across African markets. Fair Score’s Score Improvement Program is able to improve the credit risk profile of individual consumers through targeted interventions that improve the behaviour of consumers in the credit economy, making them more responsible participants of that arena. In this way, lenders are also able to engage these consumers through a redefined credit risk outlook in their assessments. The Score Improvement Program has recently been awarded as being the Best Credit Assessment Initiative – Africa for 2026 by The Digital Banker in Singapore.
Hashtag: #BIK
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CUHK’s Academic Excellence and Global Research Impact
CUHK’s academic rigour is further recognised in the 2026–27 Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report, where it ranks 28th globally and 5th in Asia, remaining Hong Kong’s top university for the fourth consecutive year. The University features 15 subjects in the global top 50, including five in the top 10, such as Education and Educational Research (#1), Gastroenterology and Hepatology (#2), Computer Science (#7), and Arts and Humanities and Artificial Intelligence (both ranked #9).
CUHK: Where Bold Ideas Become Impactful Research
CUHK provides an exceptional environment for impactful research, supported by approximately 300 research institutes and centres, alongside four state key laboratories approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. Reflecting on the academic environment, Zhamilya Zhirenova, a PhD student in Biomedical Science from Kazakhstan, has deepened her expertise through her involvement with the Centre for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine (CNRM), an InnoHK research centre CUHK established with Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet.
Unlike traditional research pathways, where students are often confined to a single university laboratory, Zhamilya gained extensive experience at Hong Kong Science Park, a dynamic setting that closely resembles industry. “It feels more like an industrial company,” she reflected, “and that experience has been invaluable.” For researchers with ambitions beyond academia, such early exposure to the pace and expectations of the biotech industry provides a distinct advantage.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Scientific Innovators
Many of CUHK’s scholars are globally renowned experts who have made significant breakthroughs in their respective fields. These experts provide valuable mentorship, cultivating an intellectually stimulating environment for innovative research.
At the Centre for Novostics, an InnoHK research centre dedicated to advancing molecular diagnostics, Yasine Malki, a Chemical Pathology PhD student from Hong Kong, highlighted mentorship as a defining aspect of his experience at CUHK. Benefiting from the mentorship of Professor Dennis Lo, CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President, and a pioneer in molecular diagnostics, Yasine collaborates with specialists in molecular technologies, bioinformatics, and clinician-scientists, exemplifying CUHK’s dynamic, multidisciplinary approach to medical science.
Through the latest global rankings, CUHK continues to demonstrate the impact of its research and scholarship. The University offers robust financial support to attract top-tier global talent, such as the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) for the 2027–28 intake, which provides over HK$1.81 million (approximately US$232,420) in funding. Applications open on 1 September 2026.
Hashtag: #CUHK
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About CUHK
Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a leading comprehensive research university with a global reputation and world-leading rankings. Located in the heart of Asia, CUHK has a vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. The University has eight faculties: Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, and Social Science. Together with the Graduate School, the University offers over 300 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. All faculties are actively engaged in research in a wide range of disciplines, with an array of research institutes and research centres specialising in interdisciplinary research of the highest quality.
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HKDL’s Immersive Interactive Experiences Win Guests’ Hearts Lucky Nugget Spin at Grizzly Gulch Surpasses 30,000 Participations
Immersive experiences fuel collectible merchandise craze and extend magical memories
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 July 2026 – In tune with the growing popularity of experiential travel and guests’ desire for participation and immersive experiences throughout their journeys, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) has been integrating retail with storytelling at the park through an endless flow of innovative interactive experiences and distinctive merchandise offerings. Emotional connections with guests are strengthened as merchandise is transformed into meaningful souvenirs interwoven with their Disney memories.
Launched in April this year at Grizzly Gulch, the Chip ‘n’ Dale Lucky Nugget Spin has recorded more than 30,000 participations as of the end of June, becoming one of the park’s most popular activities. Combining storytelling, live interactions, and surprises, the experience has been warmly received by guests and has further enhanced the atmosphere throughout the land.
David Koo, director of merchandise at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, shared: ‘Today’s guests are looking for more than products; they want keepsakes that capture the stories and memories of their visit. Through interactive experiences, we hope to make merchandise a natural extension of the Disney park journey. Whether it is a plush toy, a pin or an accessory, the true value lies not only in the item itself, but in the magical moments and personal memories it represents.’
David Koo, director of merchandise at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, is pictured in the center
This story- and interaction-driven strategy has been incorporated into various guest experiences across the resort. For example, in an engaging experience at the Popcorn Pop-Up Shop on Main Street, U.S.A., guests can reach into a giant popcorn bucket-themed installation to catch a “popcorn” and reveal the hidden Pixar pals plushie together with Disney cast members on the spot. Meanwhile, the Snow White Grotto, located beside the Castle of Magical Dreams, has introduced a new “Lock of Dreams” experience, offering guests a sense of ceremony and a souvenir to cherish.
Disney’s Classic Pin Trading Tradition Extends the Magic Beyond the Visit
Disney’s iconic Pin Trading tradition has long been an important part of how guests explore the park and connect with others. Reopened in June, Main Street Collectibles now features dedicated pin display areas designed to celebrate and elevate this beloved tradition. Guests can discover unexpected treasures while searching for favorite designs as they trade pins with Disney cast members and fellow collectors. More than just an addition to a collection, each pin carries unique memories and extends the guest journey.
More Than 3.5 Million 20th Anniversary Merchandise Items Snapped up
New Pixar and Marvel Experiences on the Way
Merchandise sales grew continuously during Hong Kong Disneyland’s 20th anniversary celebrations, which attracted a large number of local, mainland, and international visitors and concluded with fanfare in June. Since late June last year, the resort has sold more than 3.5 million 20th Anniversary-themed merchandise. Among them, about 600,000 units of the SouvenEARS collection have been snapped up. Meanwhile, the blind-box series inspired by attractions and themed lands achieved sales of more than 500,000 units during fiscal year 2025, demonstrating the continued popularity of merchandise with strong storytelling elements and collectible appeal.
Looking ahead, HKDL will continue to enrich the guest experience across the resort. New Pixar-themed and Marvel-themed experiences will be introduced, further expanding both entertainment and retail offerings. Through ongoing innovation, HKDL remains committed to meeting guests’ demand for more immersive experiences, enhancing its appeal to local, mainland, and international visitors, and strengthening its position as a leading travel destination in the region.
Hashtag: #HongKongDisneylandResort
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The HR Asia Awards are among Asia’s most prestigious annual human resources awards, recognizing organizations that demonstrate excellence in workplace culture and sustainable people development. Winners are evaluated using the TEAM (Total Engagement Assessment Model), which measures employee engagement, organizational trust, and workplace experience, drawing on benchmarking data from more than 2.5 million employees across 20,000 organizations throughout the region.
According to the independent assessment conducted for the HR Asia Awards 2026, Green SM significantly outperformed market benchmarks in the “Best Companies to Work for in Asia” category, achieving outstanding scores across several key dimensions, including technology enablement in the workplace (4.8/5), workplace sustainability (4.71/5), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (4.72/5).
A defining element of Green SM’s workplace culture is its unwavering commitment to the principle that “Every Voice Counts.” This commitment is embedded through comprehensive employee engagement initiatives, including regular internal surveys, 360-degree performance evaluations, and multiple feedback channels that transform employee insights into tangible improvements in policies, workplace practices, and operational excellence.
At Green SM, talent development is viewed not merely as an HR function but as a strategic driver of service excellence. The Company continues to invest comprehensively in recruitment, professional training, operational standardization, workplace culture, and structured career development pathways for its Green Drivers. In parallel, Green SM delivers continuous capability-building programs for managers and employees, combining practical learning with digital learning platforms to strengthen leadership and management capabilities and organizational agility in an evolving business environment.
Alongside its investment in people, Green SM has been progressively building a unified organizational culture across its international markets. Rooted in values established in Vietnam while embracing the diversity of local cultures and communities, the Company fosters an environment that encourages collaboration, continuous learning, and empowerment. This enables teams across different countries to uphold consistent service standards while remaining responsive to the unique needs of local customers and communities.
Green SM also received the Technology Empowerment Awards in recognition of its continued digital transformation in human resource management. Through the digitalization of HR processes, the development of competency frameworks, the expansion of digital learning ecosystems, and the integration of data-driven people management, the Company has streamlined repetitive administrative tasks, enhanced decision-making efficiency, and enabled employees to devote greater focus to innovation, customer experience, and superior service delivery.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Global Chief Executive Officer of Green SM, said: “Our people have always been the cornerstone of Green SM’s sustainable growth. We believe that when individuals are empowered by technology and united by shared values, our teams across every market can deliver exceptional experiences for our customers. These two awards affirm the direction we have taken and further strengthen our commitment to building a truly multinational organization with its roots in Vietnam.”
In 2026, Green SM aims to expand its global workforce and partner network to approximately 400,000 people worldwide. As the Company continues to accelerate its international expansion, it will further invest in talent development and technology-driven people management to build a highly capable global workforce, maintain consistent service excellence across markets, and advance its vision of becoming the world’s leading green mobility platform.
Hashtag: #GreenSM
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