Media OutReach
HKSOS x Sowers Action Challenging 12 Hours Charity Trail Marathon 2025
Over 1,300 Participants Run to Support Underprivileged Students
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 November 2025 – The HKSOS x Sowers Action Challenging 12 Hours Charity Trail Marathon 2025 successfully took place today (2 November). The event, co-organized by Sowers Action and the mobile application HKSOS, was officiated at the kick-off ceremony by the Hon. of the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung. Other officiating guests included the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Information Systems), Ms. Kwan Chui-ching; the Assistant Director (Kowloon) of the Fire Services Department, Mr. Tsang Wing-hung; Divisional Commander (Kowloon East), Mr. Chu Man-chiu; Assistant Commissioner (World Customs Organization) of the Customs and Excise Department, Mr. Li Kin Kei; Acting Chief Pilot (Operations) of the Government Flying Service, Mr. Lui Tak-shun; and Staff Officer of the Auxiliary Medical Service, Mr. Siu Kwan-choi.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Information Systems) Ms. Kwan Chui-ching remarked:“It is an honour for the Hong Kong Police Force to co-organize the ‘Challenging 12 Hours Charity Marathon’ with Sowers Action, bringing together the dual missions of education and technology. Since its launch in 2024, the HKSOS mobile application has successfully assisted over 270 citizens, averaging one rescue every two days. Its patented system integrates AI-powered incident detection, direct linkage to the 999 emergency centre, and an emergency contact network, forming a robust ‘safety triangle’ designed to enhance outdoor safety. We are especially delighted that over 1,300 runners participating today have downloaded HKSOS. Two weeks ago, our team also successfully conducted a satellite rescue test at an altitude of 5,600 meters in Nepal, marking an important milestone in validating cross-border emergency response capabilities. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to China Mobile Hong Kong for their strong support, and to every participant who has joined us in promoting both charity and safety through technology. I wish all runners a safe race and great success in this meaningful event.”
Secretary for Security Mr. Chris Tang also said: “I am delighted to once again be invited by Sowers Action to officiate at the ‘Challenging 12 Hours Charity Trail Marathon 2025’ and to witness the results of the runners’ dedication and hard training. Over the years, Sowers Action has been steadfast in supporting underprivileged children both in Hong Kong and overseas. In recent years, the organization has also refocused its efforts locally, including the establishment of a support centre in Sham Shui Po to assist grassroots families. This year, the event is expected to raise over one million Hong Kong dollars, a strong reflection of the city’s spirit of compassion and community engagement. In addition to the popular 3 km Family Run, I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the six disciplined services and two auxiliary services under the Security Bureau for forming multiple teams to take part in the 42 km race, together with youth uniformed groups — jointly passing on the spirit of charity and service. Every participant, regardless of ranking, has already made a meaningful contribution to children’s education through their actions. This truly embodies the event’s mission of ‘Changing Lives Through Running’.”
This year’s event raised funds for Sowers Action’s Education Assistance Program for Underprivileged Students. All proceeds will support initiatives improving learning conditions and educational facilities both locally and abroad. Past projects have funded teacher development, school renovation, and the purchase of learning equipment — enabling students from deprived backgrounds to continue their studies under better conditions. Sowers Action has provided educational support in mainland China, Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Nepal. As of June 2025, its total funding contributions have exceeded HK$794 million.
For the 14 km race, Zeng Tsz Shing won the Men’s Championship with a time of 58 minutes and 27 seconds, while Lee Tsz Tung secured the Women’s title in 1 hour, 10 minutes and 44 seconds. In the Open Team Category, Team “Walk Faster! Hey!” finished first with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes and 59 seconds.
Bronze Sponsors included Po Lin Monastery, Shang Sin Chun Tong Charitable Foundation, VTech Holdings Limited, Beijing Enterprises Holdings Limited, New Town Medical, Cool Partners International Limited, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co., Inc., HILX, Nutriworks Limited, Tiger Balm, Chuan Tong Natural Fermented Yogurt Limited, Legacy Footcare and HMN International Smart Co., Limited. Dozens of volunteers from various organizations and government departments served along the trail, providing water, snacks, timekeeping, and first aid support — ensuring every participant could complete their race safely and enjoyably.
Hashtag: #SowerAction
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Sowers Action
- Constructed 1,310 schools and dormitory buildings, and funded 463 supporting educational facilities.
- Sponsored education for 500,000 student beneficiaries, covering primary, secondary, university, and vocational school levels.
- Provided training for 32,000 teachers, including special education and English instruction programs.
- Distributed 180,000 winter jackets to students living in remote mountainous regions.
- Supported the operation of three children’s homes and one girls’ high school.
- Established a community service centre serving over 1,400 grassroots families, offering programmes related to child development and family well-being.
- Supported the learning needs of underprivileged children through after-school tutoring, free music lessons, and distribution of stationery kits and computers, benefiting more than 7,700 participants.
- Provided training and support for approximately 2,000 children with special educational needs (SEN) and their families.
- Offered care to low-income households by distributing anti-pandemic supplies and emergency food items during the COVID-19 pandemic, and festive caring packages during holidays — with over 40,000 beneficiaries in total.
- Constructed 90 schools, dormitories, special education centres, and supporting infrastructure projects.
- Carried out improvement works for 237 schools, including installing solar lighting systems and multimedia teaching facilities.
- Built deep water wells for six schools located in arid and saline areas, benefiting the entire local community.
- Provided assistance to 16,000 students, including school meal programs and education sponsorships.
- Donated 20,000 winter jackets to children in the cold mountainous regions of northern Myanmar.
- Supported two children’s homes through funding and facility improvement.
- Conducted humanitarian relief operations, distributing 150,000 pieces of anti-pandemic supplies and 130 oxygen concentrators to communities in need.
- Constructed five school buildings and dormitories, and funded six computer facilities.
- Sponsored the education of 630 Chinese-language students.
- Supported Chinese-language teacher training programmes, and for two consecutive years distributed Spring Festival gift packs to over 500 teachers.
- Funded one school facility project and provided school meals to 1,800 students.
- Distributed 10,000 winter jackets to children living in mountainous regions.
- Supported the operation of one children’s daycare centre.
- Established Chinese language classes to enhance participants’ employability.
- Conducted eight humanitarian aid projects, providing emergency relief and living supplies to 50,000 people affected by natural disasters.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, donated 400 oxygen concentrators, medical and oxygen supplies to 11 medical centres, offered food aid to 2,250 households and three children’s homes, and delivered 1,000 meal boxes daily for one month.
- Supported five livelihood projects, including community improvement, agricultural development, and medical outreach programmes.
Media OutReach
Etiqa Insurance Singapore Appoints Claudia Soh as Chief Executive Officer to Lead Next Chapter of Growth
Veteran insurance leader to accelerate growth, strengthen partnerships and drive customer-focused innovation
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singapore today announced the official appointment of Claudia Soh as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 14 Aug 2026. Over the past six months, while serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer and continuing in her role as Chief Financial Officer, Claudia has led Etiqa Insurance Singapore through a period of sustained growth and transformation, strengthening the company’s foundations while driving initiatives focused on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity. Her appointment reflects the Board’s confidence in her leadership and vision as the company embarks on its next phase of growth.
With more than 20 years of experience in the financial services and insurance industry, Claudia brings extensive expertise across finance, strategic planning, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations and auditing. Her career spans both the public and private sectors, including experience at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and senior leadership roles within the insurance industry.
During her tenure at Etiqa, Claudia has helped build on the company’s strong momentum by supporting its growth agenda while advancing new initiatives. Her collaborative leadership approach and focus on long-term value creation have contributed to strengthening Etiqa’s capabilities for the future. She has also been an advocate for transforming the finance function from a traditional support role into a strategic business partner that helps create stronger outcomes for customers, employees and stakeholders.
“We are delighted to formally appoint Claudia Soh as CEO of Etiqa Insurance Singapore,” said Kamaludin, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etiqa Insurance and Takaful. “Claudia has demonstrated strong leadership, strategic clarity, operational excellence and resilience. Her ability to drive innovation, build strong teams and adapt to changing customer needs will continue to strengthen our market position in Singapore to deliver long-tern value for our customers, employees and stakeholders”
On her appointment, Claudia said, “I am honoured to undertake the role of CEO at Etiqa Insurance Singapore at a time of significant change for our industry. As customer expectations continue to evolve, we must remain agile, innovative and focused on delivering purposeful value. By combining digital innovation, data-driven insights and strong partnerships, we will continue to enhance the customer experience and help more individuals and businesses build financial confidence and resilience.”
Deepening Partnerships and Empowering Financial Readiness
As a leading composite insurer, Etiqa Insurance Singapore will continue to deepen its distribution capabilities and ecosystem partnerships to make protection more accessible and relevant to customers. Beyond its longstanding bancassurance partnership, Etiqa will work closely with Maybank to deliver more integrated financial and protection solutions, leveraging the strength of the Maybank network and customer ecosystem. Etiqa will also continue collaborating with partners across Singapore to develop innovative solutions that support customers’ evolving protection, savings and financial wellness needs.
Hashtag: #EtiqaInsuranceSingapore
https://www.etiqa.com.sg/The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Etiqa Insurance Singapore)
Protecting customers since 1961, Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (EIPL) is a life and general insurance company licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and governed by the Insurance Act 1966. Having protected customers in Singapore since 1961 under the name United General Insurance Co. Sdn. Bhd., the company transitioned into the Singapore branch of Etiqa Insurance Berhad in 2009. Today, EIPL in Singapore stands as the pivotal operating entity of Etiqa Insurance Group, a leading insurance and takaful provider in ASEAN.
EIPL offers a comprehensive range of life and general insurance products accessible through its diverse distribution channels, including bancassurance, agents, brokers, financial advisers, partnerships, direct and online sales via Tiq by Etiqa. Etiqa is rated ‘A’ by credit rating agency Fitch for the group’s ‘Favorable’ business profile. The company is a member of the Maybank Group.
Media OutReach
Airwallex and Air Corporate Launch One-Step Setup for Hong Kong Startups to Deliver Day-One Transaction Readiness
New partnership turns incorporation into a transaction-ready business in a single application — and sponsors 10 founders every month with a free upgrade to the fully-managed Expert package
Hong Kong SAR– Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2026 – Air Corporate, a Hong Kong-based digital corporate services provider, and Airwallex, a leading global payments and financial platform for modern businesses, have announced a strategic partnership that eliminates one of the most persistent friction points in business setup: the need to complete two separate applications for company registration and opening a payment account. Through a single application with Air Corporate, eligible founders now receive both a registered Hong Kong legal entity and a live Airwallex multi-currency account. To mark the launch, Airwallex and Air Corporate are sponsoring 10 Air Corporate clients each month with a complimentary upgrade to the fully-managed Expert package, removing the cost barrier that has historically kept early-stage founders on slower, self-managed paths.
The Two-Application Problem
Until now, setting up a business in Hong Kong has required two distinct processes. A founder first incorporates the company, then separately applies to a bank or payment provider, often resubmitting the same KYC, director, and shareholder documents that were already provided during incorporation. Approval timelines vary, rejections occur, and an incorporated company may remain unable to transact after the registration is complete. For founders trying to move quickly, this gap between incorporation and payment readiness has long been an operational obstacle.
One Application, Two Outcomes: The Expert Package
The Expert package serves as the primary component of this initiative. When a client onboards with Air Corporate under this tier, Air Corporate facilitates the entire Airwallex account-opening process on their behalf, thereby eliminating duplicate paperwork and the need for separate submissions to multiple providers. This consolidated approach allows founders to proceed from incorporation to operational status in as little as one to two weeks, compared to the typical weeks to months required for traditional banking solutions.
The Sponsorship: 10 Founders Every Month
Airwallex and Air Corporate are sponsoring a complimentary Expert upgrade for 10 Air Corporate clients each month. Founders who qualify receive a fully managed Airwallex account opening service at no additional cost. This is the same service available through the paid Expert tier. Sponsorship spots reset each month, with new availability opening to qualifying founders on an ongoing basis. Eligibility applies to new Air Corporate clients proceeding with company registration in Hong Kong, and available spots can be confirmed directly with the Air Corporate team.
Why Hong Kong?
Hong Kong remains the leading jurisdiction for founders entering Asian markets. Offshore profits are not subject to local tax; there are no foreign exchange controls; incorporation is fast; and the territory serves as a direct gateway to Mainland China and ASEAN. For international businesses, Hong Kong company registration has become the standard first step in a regional expansion strategy, given that the legal, regulatory, and financial infrastructure required to operate internationally is already in place.
What Airwallex Brings to the Partnership
Airwallex provides the payment infrastructure that enables day-one operability. Its platform supports multi-currency accounts, local collection in major currencies, foreign exchange at market-leading rates, and global payouts, all managed from a single interface. For founders operating across borders, having this capability active from the moment of incorporation removes the lag that typically delays first revenue and complicates early cash flow management.
Speaker Quote
“Our goal at Airwallex has always been to empower businesses to scale globally without borders or operational friction. Partnering with Air Corporate allows us to tackle one of the earliest and most persistent bottlenecks that founders face: the lag between becoming a legal entity and actually being able to transact. By consolidating company registration and financial setup into a single, seamless step, we are giving startups day-one operability so they can focus entirely on growth and building momentum from the very start,” said Marcus Cheng, Associate Director, GTM Partnerships, SME & Growth, Airwallex Hong Kong.
Who This Is For
This solution is built for e-commerce brands, cross-border trade, professional service providers, , and first-time founders expanding into or out of Asia who need to be fully operational and able to collect payments upon registration, without having to manage two separate onboarding processes simultaneously.
Available Now
Founders can apply directly through Air Corporate and check the availability of the monthly sponsored Expert upgrade spots. Further information is available at Air-Corporate.com/hk/Airwallex. Terms and conditions apply.
Hashtag: #Air-Corporate
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
As a leading overseas payment service provider (PSP), PayerMax has integrated Rakuten Pay to enable international merchants to adopt this payment method in Japan. This integration marks a significant milestone in the technical collaboration, successfully supporting merchants in leveraging Rakuten Pay for their local operations.
The milestone not only enhances the localized payment experience for Last War players in Japan, but also demonstrates how international game publishers can leverage trusted local payment partnerships to accelerate market entry, strengthen localization and better engage Japanese consumers.
Connecting with Japanese Players Starts with Local Payments
As more global game publishers expand into Japan, localized payment experiences have become an increasingly important part of player acquisition, monetization and long-term growth.
As one of the flagship payment services within the Rakuten Ecosystem, Rakuten Pay plays a central role in Japan’s digital commerce landscape. The Rakuten Ecosystem connects more than 100 million registered members across e-commerce, financial services, travel, mobile and offline retail, and Rakuten Pay has become one of Japan’s most widely adopted local payment methods.
For international game publishers, integrating Rakuten Pay is about more than offering another payment option. It provides access to one of Japan’s most established consumer ecosystems, allowing games to deliver payment experiences aligned with local player preferences while building stronger engagement in one of the world’s most competitive gaming markets.
Supporting Last War Highlights PayerMax’s Local Payment Expertise in Japan
As one of the fastest-growing strategy games worldwide, Last War continues to expand its global footprint, with Japan representing one of its key strategic markets. As expectations for localized payment experiences continue to rise, enabling familiar and trusted local payment methods has become an important part of enhancing player experience and supporting sustainable growth.
With support from PayerMax, Last War successfully integrated Rakuten Pay, becoming a leading overseas game to support the payment method and offering Japanese players a more localized and seamless payment experience.
Designed to support international businesses entering Japan, PayerMax provides a unified payment solution that bridges the gap between global merchants and the local ecosystem. By leveraging PayerMax’s integration with Rakuten Pay, PayerMax serves as a gateway for international businesses to establish a strong presence in the Japanese market.
Faster Market Entry
Through PayerMax’s system integration with Rakuten Payment, eligible merchants benefit from a standardized integration pathway that shortens implementation timelines and accelerates go-to-market execution in Japan.
Reliable Compliance and Fund Management Enablement
Leveraging the established business relationships between PayerMax and Rakuten Pay, merchants are empowered to integrate Rakuten Pay through a streamlined, standardized pathway which is aligned with Japan’s local regulatory and operational requirements, thereby delivering a payment experience that resonates with the everyday spending habits of Japanese players. Furthermore, within this collaborative framework, PayerMax and Rakuten Pay facilitate the unified orchestration of critical processes including KYC, anti‑money laundering (AML) and fund management, effectively alleviating the operational complexities and associated costs of local payment execution. This enables merchants to refocus their resources on sustainable business growth and enriched player engagement.
Access to Japan’s Consumer Ecosystem
Through PayerMax, businesses can better engage local consumers, strengthen brand presence and build sustainable long-term growth in Japan.
The successful integration for Last War not only demonstrates the commercial value of the partnership between PayerMax and Rakuten Payment, but also provides a proven reference for more global game publishers and digital content companies expanding into Japan.
Executive Quotes
Hiroki Sogawa, Executive Officer, Rakuten Payment, said:
“We are pleased to partner with PayerMax and to see Last War, a leading title, successfully integrate Rakuten Pay as a payment option. Through this collaboration, we look forward to supporting more international businesses and digital content providers in delivering trusted, localized payment experiences for Japanese consumers.”
Will, APAC General Manager of PayerMax, said:
“Integrating with Rakuten Pay marks an important milestone in PayerMax’s expansion of local payment capabilities in Japan. The successful launch of Last War reflects the strength of our partnership and demonstrates our ability to help global game publishers and international businesses localize faster through trusted local payment infrastructure. Looking ahead, we will continue working with leading local payment partners worldwide to deliver secure, compliant and scalable payment solutions for global merchants.”
Strengthening Local Payment Infrastructure for Global Growth
The partnership with Rakuten Payment represents another important milestone in PayerMax’s strategy to strengthen local payment infrastructure across key global markets and further expand its local payment capabilities in Japan.
Today, PayerMax supports businesses across more than 150 markets and offers access to over 600 payment methods worldwide, backed by an extensive network of local payment partners spanning Japan, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and other high-growth regions.
Rather than simply aggregating payment methods, PayerMax focuses on connecting businesses with the local payment ecosystems that shape consumer behavior in each market. By combining enterprise-grade payment technology with trusted local partnerships, PayerMax enables international businesses to localize faster, operate more efficiently and achieve sustainable global growth.
Hashtag: #PayerMax #RakutenPay
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
