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Management change at X-CAGO: Ingo Kästner takes over the reins

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BERLIN/ROERMOND, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 19 December 2024 – On 1 January, Ingo Kästner, Managing Director of PMG Presse-Monitor, will also take over the management of X-CAGO. The Dutch company is a leading international specialist for data and content conversion in the international publishing industry. The previous Managing Director and founder, Koos Hussem, will be taking his well-deserved retirement at the turn of the year, but will continue to be available to the company with his expertise.

Ingo Kästner has headed PMG Presse-Monitor since 2019. He played a leading role in initiating the acquisition of X-CAGO in 2021. Since then, he has been responsible for the Dutch company’s business together with Koos Hussem.

Olivera Kipcic, Chairwoman of the PMG shareholders’ meeting and shareholder representative of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, emphasises:

‘Ingo Kästner is an accomplished manager and expert in digital content marketing. In recent years, he has created new opportunities to successfully market high-quality content digitally. Under his leadership, PMG and X-CAGO have become a strong strategic unit. His takeover of the management is the next logical step in continuing this success story.’

Ingo Kästner bids Koos Hussem farewell with the following words: ‘I would like to thank Koos warmly for the trusting collaboration over the last few years. With his commitment and vision, he has made X-CAGO one of the most sought-after providers of content management and data conversion since it was founded in 2000. It is an honour for me to continue on this successful path.

Together with his first-class team, we will continue to expand X-CAGO’s role as a technical pioneer and offer content producers worldwide perfect solutions for successful digital marketing.’

About PMG Presse-Monitor GmbH & Co. KG and X-CAGO B.V.
With the largest daily updated press database in the German-speaking world, PMG Presse-Monitor GmbH & Co. KG is a leading provider of digital media monitoring, press review creation and media analysis.

PMG markets the content and rights of around 900 newspaper and magazine publishers. Of over 4,000 print and online sources, around 3,000 are available digitally in the PMG press database. The company supplies over 5,000 customers from companies, associations, public institutions, media monitoring services and PR agencies from its base in Berlin.

Founded in 2001, PMG is a joint venture of German newspaper and magazine publishers with the shareholders Axel Springer, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Gruner + Jahr, Handelsblatt Media Group, Hubert Burda Media, Spiegel-Verlag, Süddeutsche Zeitung as well as the Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger and the Medienverband der freien Presse.

In 2021, PMG is taking a major step towards becoming a central data hub for content publishers with the acquisition of Dutch data converter X-CAGO B.V. The company is internationally successful in converting and standardising a wide variety of content formats. ArchiveExpress, X-CAGO’s digital archive solution, is used by publishers worldwide as a distribution platform for their content.

Hashtag: #PMG

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

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Hong Kong Restaurants Claim Top Two Spots in Asia’s 50 Best

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“Culinary Capital” Title Reaffirmed with Over 200 Restaurants Listed in Internationally Acclaimed Gourmet Guides

HONG KONG SAR –

HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said: “We extend our sincere gratitude to the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants team for selecting Hong Kong for the first time as the host city for the Awards Ceremony. This international award recognises the outstanding achievements of the culinary sector. I am very proud of Hong Kong’s remarkable accomplishments in this year’s Awards. Together with the ‘MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2026’ and ‘The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide’, over 200 restaurants have been listed in these internationally acclaimed gourmet guides, reaffirming Hong Kong’s position as a “Culinary Capital” in Asia. We are delighted to welcome the esteemed Asian chefs and other culinary professionals attending the Awards Ceremony to Hong Kong, and we warmly invite everyone to explore the city’s unique and diverse gastronomic charm by following the master chefs’ curated recommendations featured in the citywide ‘Taste Hong Kong’ Gourmet Guide.”

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Chairman Dr Peter Lam speaks on stage at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Awards Ceremony.
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Chairman Dr Peter Lam speaks on stage at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Awards Ceremony.

Danny Yip, owner of The Chairman, said “Being named The Best Restaurant in Asia for the second time is a huge honour for our entire team, and to achieve it here in Hong Kong makes it even more meaningful. This recognition — as well as the strong results for the city on this year’s list — reflects the depth and diversity that define Hong Kong’s dining culture today. It’s a privilege to represent our city in this way and to continue sharing the traditions and stories that shape our cuisine.”

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Chairman Dr Peter Lam, left, and Danny Yip from top local Cantonese restaurant The Chairman, winner of the first place award, at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Awards.
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Chairman Dr Peter Lam, left, and Danny Yip from top local Cantonese restaurant The Chairman, winner of the first place award, at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Awards.

Hong Kong Leads Asia Culinary Landscape with Two Restaurants in the Top Three

Together with the previously announced extended list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (51th – 100th), a total of ten Hong Kong restaurants were recommended in the Asian edition of the prestigious list. These include six restaurants in the top 50: while The Chairman and Wing topped the list at first and second spots, Neighborhood (No. 24), Estro (No. 32), Caprice (No. 35), and Mono (No.46) stayed strong on the list. Four other restaurants were also feature in the extended list, namely Ta Vie (No. 68), Vea (No. 70), Andō (No. 88), and Amber (No. 90). With this stellar performance, Hong Kong reaffirming its leading position in the regional culinary scene. The winning restaurants cover a diverse range of cuisines, demonstrating Hong Kong’s unique appeal as a melting pot of global flavours and a hub for star-rated dining establishments.

In the recently announced “Black Pearl Restaurant Guide”, the number of Hong Kong entries increased to 39, up from last year, including four first-time entries – Mosu Hong Kong, founded by three-Michelin-star South Korean chef Sung Anh; Jee, a Cantonese-French fusion restaurant; contemporary Indian restaurant Leela, and Cantonese fine-dining establishment Man Ho Chinese Restaurant. In addition, homegrown chef Vicky Cheng of Chinese-French restaurant VEA, and Terry Ho, Chef de Cuisine of French restaurant Amber, received the Master Chef Award and the Young Chef Award respectively in the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, affirming the distinguished reputation of Hong Kong’s culinary talent in the Asian dining scene. In the “MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2026”, more Hong Kong establishments were awarded MICHELIN stars than in the previous year, bringing a total to 77 Michelin-starred restaurants in one destination, further demonstrating the world-class standard of the city’s culinary scene.

Top Asian Chefs and Global Media Gather in Hong Kong to Experience the City’s Culinary

Wong Lung-to, Executive Chef of Forum Restaurant, left, leads a dim sum workshop organised by Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) during the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026.
Wong Lung-to, Executive Chef of Forum Restaurant, left, leads a dim sum workshop organised by Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) during the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026.
Chef Grégoire Michaud from Bakehouse leads an egg tart baking workshop, which is one of the recommended pastry shops under Taste Hong Kong, during the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Awards.
Chef Grégoire Michaud from Bakehouse leads an egg tart baking workshop, which is one of the recommended pastry shops under Taste Hong Kong, during the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Awards.

Capitalising on the opportunity presented by major culinary event being hosted in Hong Kong, HKTB arranged exchanges between leading Asian chefs and renowned local culinary talent, enabling them to experience the city’s diverse gastronomic offerings and produce promotional videos dedicated to “Taste Hong Kong”. In addition, HKTB leveraged its global network to invite media representatives from the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and other key markets to visit Hong Kong. In addition to attending the award ceremony for media coverage of the event, HKTB curated a series of immersive culinary experiences to fully showcase Hong Kong’s unique charm as a Culinary Capital.

Highlights of the itinerary included engaging with local master chef Vicky Cheng to gain firsthand insight into his exceptional culinary skills and cooking philosophy; participating in a dim sum workshop led by master chef Wong Lung-to, Executive Chef of Forum Restaurant, to learn how to make classic Cantonese dim sum such as siu mai (Cantonese pork dumplings) and har gow (shrimp dumplings); and joining an egg tart baking workshop. Media representatives were also invited to dine at several listed restaurants and visit emerging bars to experience Hong Kong’s diverse food and beverage culture in full. Through in-depth media coverage, the media trip will help promote Hong Kong’s distinctive culinary appeal to audiences worldwide, attracting more visitors to explore “Taste Hong Kong” and further consolidating the city’s status as a Culinary Capital.

11 Exclusive Collaborative Signature Sessions around the Awards Ceremony to Share Hong Kong’s Gastronomic Experiences

From left, representatives from restaurants Estro, Baan Tepa, Born, Labyrinth, Eatanic Garden, Crony and Gaggan collaborate at one of several Signature Sessions.
From left, representatives from restaurants Estro, Baan Tepa, Born, Labyrinth, Eatanic Garden, Crony and Gaggan collaborate at one of several Signature Sessions.
From left, representatives from restaurants Louise, Odette and Villa Aida collaborate at one of several Signature Sessions.
From left, representatives from restaurants Louise, Odette and Villa Aida collaborate at one of several Signature Sessions.

To encourage locals and visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere surrounding the award ceremony, HKTB partnered with the organiser for the first time this year to invite 40 internationally renowned and local award-winning restaurants to present 11 limitedtime collaborative Signature Sessions covering various global cuisines, bringing multiple tasting surprises to locals and visitors. The events attracted many locals and visitors, allowing everyone to experience the charm of global cuisines converging in Hong Kong at a single table.

Popular Variety Shows Drive Tourism and Encourage Visitors to Experience Hong Kong’s Diverse Culinary Delights through “Taste Hong Kong”

In line with the “Taste Hong Kong” Gourmet Guide launched in January, which covers all neighbourhoods across the city and features chef-recommended restaurants, HKTB has stepped up its promotional efforts in key source markets, such as the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Korea and Southeast Asia. By collaborating with popular local food variety shows, HKTB showcased Hong Kong’s diverse dining culture to wider audiences, further enhancing international interest in Hong Kong’s culinary tourism.

In the Chinese Mainland, HKTB promoted culinary travel to Hong Kong through a Chinese New Year food programme on Shenzhen Satellite TV, with master chefs introducing restaurants recommended in the Guide and visiting specialty streets such as “Dried Seafood Street” and Shanghai Street, locally known as “Kitchenware Street”, to explore the charm of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods. HKTB also partnered with New Zealand’s popular programme Seven Sharp, inviting media to visit Sham Shui Po to taste authentic local snacks, such as pineapple buns, milk tea, tofu pudding and dumplings, and to dine at a time-honoured Western restaurant to sample Swiss chicken wings and soufflé, showcasing Hong Kong’s diverse food culture. In addition, HKTB collaborated with Taiwan’s Super Taste, South Korea’s Boss in the Mirror, and multiple travel and food programmes in Thailand and the Philippines, featuring visits to recommended restaurants and exchanges with local master chefs. Through the broad influence of these variety shows, HKTB is actively showcasing the unique charm of “Taste Hong Kong”, attracting more visitors to embark on a culinary journey in Hong Kong.

The team from top local Cantonese restaurant The Chairman accept the top prize on stage at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Awards.
The team from top local Cantonese restaurant The Chairman accept the top prize on stage at the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 Awards.

Full results of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026: https://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/list/150
Hashtag: #HKTB

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

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Meitu 2025 Annual Results: Adjusted Net Profit Surges 64.7% YoY to a Record RMB 965 Million, Driven by AI Transformation

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 March 2026 – In 2025, Meitu, Inc. (Meitu) adhered to its “Productivity and Globalisation” strategy, with total revenues from continuing operations surging 28.8% YoY to RMB 3.86 billion. The company’s core business – Photo, Video and Design Products – generated RMB 2.95 billion in revenue, a robust 41.6% YoY increase, accounting for 76.6% of total revenues. Non-IFRS Adjusted Net Profit – a key indicator of core operational performance – soared 64.7% YoY to RMB 965 million. The revenue and profit growth were primarily driven by the rapid adoption of AI Agents integrated into its product portfolio, leading to a significant surge in global paying subscribers.

As of December 31, 2025, total paying subscribers reached an all-time high of 16.91 million, a substantial 34.1% YoY increase, with a subscription rate of 6.1%, up 1.4 percentage points from 2024.

AI Agent-Integrated Products Gain Explosive Popularity, Driving Strong Penetration and Monetization Growth

Following the July launch of RoboNeo (Meitu’s flagship AI visual design agent), Meitu integrated AI Agent capabilities across most of its product portfolio to enhance workflow automation and user experience.

As such, Meitu’s productivity tools segment achieved an all-time high 9% subscription rate, up 3.1 percentage points YoY. Paying subscribers of this segment grew to 2.16 million, representing a significant 67.4% YoY growth, with international paying subscribers more than doubling.

The segment comprises three core tools: DesignKit specializing in AI workflows for e-commerce design,Kaipai and Vmake specializing in AI workflows for video production.

Backed by AI Agent empowerment, in 2025, DesignKit established strategic partnerships with leading global e-commerce platforms including Alibaba, JD.com, and Amazon. Kaipai focuses on verticals including healthcare, education, beauty, insurance, and real estate, empowering industry users to create professional talking videos. In 2025, Kaipai’s MAU nearly doubled, and paying subscribers tripled. Vmake targets fitness and wellness markets, achieving rapid MAU growth in the U.S., with Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) reaching approximately USD 3 million.

Meitu’s leisure product segment including the Meitu app, BeautyCam and Wink maintained robust user engagement. The paying subscribers for the leisure segment grew 30.3% YoY to 14.75 million, driving the segment’s subscription rate to a solid 5.9%.

Globalisation Milestones: Expanding Footprint in High-ARPU Regions

Meitu’s Globalisation strategy achieved significant progress, with MAU in markets outside Mainland China surpassing the 100 million milestone, a 6.3% YoY increase. International paying subscriber growth accelerated in the second half of 2025, with the majority of new additions coming from high-ARPU regions including Europe, the Americas and East Asia, enhancing the sustainability of international monetization.

AI Technology Advancement & Industry Recognition

Following the training of its self-developed large vision model’s foundational capabilities in 2024, the company has since shifted its R&D priorities towards vertical-specific model training and application-level optimization to better address targeted user needs, consistent with its model-agnostic strategy. In 2025, the company’s total R&D expenses grew moderately by 3.8% YoY.

Meanwhile, on Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)’s “Global Top 50 Gen AI Mobile Apps” list, Meitu ranked first in the photo, video and design category by the number of featured products, with four apps selected. This external recognition reinforces Meitu’s position as a leading global AI application company in imaging, video and design.

Fueled by sustained R&D investment, Meitu is systematically deploying AI Agents into scalable productivity workflows. Going forward,Meitu will continue expanding diverse imaging skills to empower global developers and users with professional-grade AI creation experiences.

Hashtag: #Meitu

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

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Valle Venia presents: LPS feat. Natalia Sarsgard: J’ai dû m’arrêter

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NEUSTADT AN DER WEINSTRASSE, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 27 March 2026 – The song by Leo Philipp Schmidt and Valle Venia captures the feeling of losing oneself in a world that is growing ever louder and faster, where restlessness and superficiality cause relationships, friendships, and connections to dissolve and be sacrificed.

J’ai dû m’arrêter LPS feat. Natalia Sarsgard/Leo Philipp Schmidt

With emotional depth, singer Natalia Sarsgard describes the path to finding oneself again, to gathering one’s thoughts, to remaining silent, to withdrawing—in order to reflect in the silence, in the comfort, and in the seclusion, to feel and reconnect with ourselves and others.

Through her multifaceted voice, Natalia Sarsgard’s interpretation of the song conveys how strength and courage can arise from deep vulnerability. Without even realizing it, one is accompanied by the confidence that what was thought to be lost can be found again.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/CINjhTHtmno

J’ai Du M’arreter – LPS, https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/album/6BvbJ0VAAvMwciCD7q7BC8
https://shop.valle-venia.de/products/different-ways
https://www.amazon.de/Different-Ways-feat-Various-Artist/dp/B0CMJVQV2M
https://valle-venia.de/30S/JaiDuMarreter.mp4

www.valle-venia.com
Hashtag: #ValleVenia

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

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