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PolyU develops novel multi-modal agent to facilitate long video understanding by AI, accelerating development of generative AI-assisted video analysis

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 June 2025 – While Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is evolving rapidly, AI models still struggle with understanding long videos. A research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed a novel video-language agent, VideoMind, that enables AI models to perform long video reasoning and question-answering tasks by emulating humans’ way of thinking. The VideoMind framework incorporates an innovative Chain-of-Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) strategy to reduce the demand for computational resources and power, advancing the application of generative AI in video analysis. The findings have been submitted to the world-leading AI conferences.

A research team led by Prof. Changwen Chen, Interim Dean of the PolyU Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Chair Professor of Visual Computing, has developed a novel video-language agent VideoMind that allows AI models to perform long video reasoning and question-answering tasks by emulating humans’ way of thinking. The VideoMind framework incorporates an innovative Chain-of-LoRA strategy to reduce the demand for computational resources and power, advancing the application of generative AI in video analysis.

Videos, especially those longer than 15 minutes, carry information that unfolds over time, such as the sequence of events, causality, coherence and scene transitions. To understand the video content, AI models therefore need not only to identify the objects present, but also take into account how they change throughout the video. As visuals in videos occupy a large number of tokens, video understanding requires vast amounts of computing capacity and memory, making it difficult for AI models to process long videos.

Prof. Changwen CHEN, Interim Dean of the PolyU Faculty of Computer and Mathematical Sciences and Chair Professor of Visual Computing, and his team have achieved a breakthrough in research on long video reasoning by AI. In designing VideoMind, they made reference to a human-like process of video understanding, and introduced a role-based workflow. The four roles included in the framework are: the Planner, to coordinate all other roles for each query; the Grounder, to localise and retrieve relevant moments; the Verifier, to validate the information accuracy of the retrieved moments and select the most reliable one; and the Answerer, to generate the query-aware answer. This progressive approach to video understanding helps address the challenge of temporal-grounded reasoning that most AI models face.

Another core innovation of the VideoMind framework lies in its adoption of a Chain-of-LoRA strategy. LoRA is a finetuning technique emerged in recent years. It adapts AI models for specific uses without performing full-parameter retraining. The innovative chain-of-LoRA strategy pioneered by the team involves applying four lightweight LoRA adapters in a unified model, each of which is designed for calling a specific role. With this strategy, the model can dynamically activate role-specific LoRA adapters during inference via self-calling to seamlessly switch among these roles, eliminating the need and cost of deploying multiple models while enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of the single model.

VideoMind is open source on GitHub and Huggingface. Details of the experiments conducted to evaluate its effectiveness in temporal-grounded video understanding across 14 diverse benchmarks are also available. Comparing VideoMind with some state-of-the-art AI models, including GPT-4o and Gemini 1.5 Pro, the researchers found that the grounding accuracy of VideoMind outperformed all competitors in challenging tasks involving videos with an average duration of 27 minutes. Notably, the team included two versions of VideoMind in the experiments: one with a smaller, 2 billion (2B) parameter model, and another with a bigger, 7 billion (7B) parameter model. The results showed that, even at the 2B size, VideoMind still yielded performance comparable with many of the other 7B size models.

Prof. Chen said, “Humans switch among different thinking modes when understanding videos: breaking down tasks, identifying relevant moments, revisiting these to confirm details and synthesising their observations into coherent answers. The process is very efficient with the human brain using only about 25 watts of power, which is about a million times lower than that of a supercomputer with equivalent computing power. Inspired by this, we designed the role-based workflow that allows AI to understand videos like human, while leveraging the chain-of-LoRA strategy to minimise the need for computing power and memory in this process.”

AI is at the core of global technological development. The advancement of AI models is however constrained by insufficient computing power and excessive power consumption. Built upon a unified, open-source model Qwen2-VL and augmented with additional optimisation tools, the VideoMind framework has lowered the technological cost and the threshold for deployment, offering a feasible solution to the bottleneck of reducing power consumption in AI models.

Prof. Chen added, “VideoMind not only overcomes the performance limitations of AI models in video processing, but also serves as a modular, scalable and interpretable multimodal reasoning framework. We envision that it will expand the application of generative AI to various areas, such as intelligent surveillance, sports and entertainment video analysis, video search engines and more.”

Hashtag: #PolyU #AI #LLMs #VideoAnalysis #IntelligentSurveillance #VideoSearch

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VinFast Officially Enters Indonesia’s E-Scooter Market, Partners with Strategic Dealers

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HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 February 2026 – VinFast today officially announced its entry into Indonesia’s e-scooter market through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with strategic dealers in the country. The milestone marks a significant step in VinFast’s international expansion of its electric two-wheeler business and reaffirms the Company’s long-term commitment to one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most dynamic motorcycle markets.

VinFast signed strategic MoUs with its first e-scooter partners in Indonesia.

Accordingly, VinFast has signed strategic MoUs with its first partners in Indonesia, including K3, Citra Abadi Sedaya, PT Bevos Auto Mandiri, PT Sapta Jaya, MotorArt, PT Sinergies Dua Kawan, and PT HINU. These partners have long-standing experience in the distribution of automobiles and motorcycles, strong professional operational capabilities, deep market understanding, and the ability to rapidly deploy operations in line with VinFast’s standards.

VinFast will begin rolling out its distribution network in the Jabodetabek area — Indonesia’s largest economic and urban center — from the second quarter of 2026, with plans to expand to other regions nationwide.

In Indonesia, VinFast plans to introduce a portfolio of battery-swapping e-scooters, including VinFast Evo, VinFast Feliz II, VinFast Flazz and VinFast Viper, alongside additional new models to be launched in due course. The product lineup has been carefully engineered and calibrated to suit Indonesia’s tropical climate, dense urban traffic conditions, and everyday commuting patterns.

Throughout 2026, VinFast aims to further expand its footprint to hundreds of authorized dealerships and service workshops nationwide. The Company’s development strategy in Indonesia is designed as an integrated ecosystem, combining retail and after-sales networks, financing solutions, charging and battery-swapping infrastructure through cooperation with V-Green, and partnerships with leading financial institutions.

Prior to this announcement, VinFast had unveiled its strategy to internationalize its electric two-wheeler business and signed agreements with dealers in the Philippines. According to its roadmap, the Company will accelerate expansion across five priority markets in 2026, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. These countries represent high-growth economies with substantial urban mobility demand and a clear transition toward sustainable transportation solutions.

Ms. Vo Thi Cam Tu, Managing Director of VinFast E-Scooters Overseas Market, stated: “Indonesia is a strategic market in VinFast’s global e-scooter expansion journey. Partnering with leading local dealers underscores our partners’ confidence in VinFast’s product quality, service standards, flexible battery-swapping model, and long-term vision. We are committed to accompanying Indonesian consumers on their transition toward a greener, smarter, and more sustainable future of mobility.”

Indonesia stands among the world’s largest motorcycle markets, characterized by rapid urbanization, high population density in major cities, and increasing policy and consumer momentum toward environmentally friendly transportation. These structural factors create substantial headroom for the growth of the e-scooter segment. Indonesian dealers have expressed strong confidence in VinFast’s long-term potential in the country, citing its comprehensive green mobility ecosystem, large-scale manufacturing capabilities, and proven ability to execute swiftly across multiple international markets.

After two years of presence in Indonesia, VinFast has introduced a broad range of electric vehicles, from electric SUVs to models optimized for transportation services, and has commenced operations at its Subang facility. Concurrently, the Company has expanded its integrated ecosystem, including dealership and after-sales networks, charging infrastructure in collaboration with V-Green, and partnerships with leading banks and financial institutions. Through pioneering and customer-centric policies, VinFast continues to lower barriers to EV adoption and enable Indonesian consumers to participate in the global green mobility revolution.

Hashtag: #VinFast

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Voicecomm Technology Wins 300 million RMB Major “AI+ Elderly Care” Project Forging a New Engine for the Silver Economy

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 February 2026 – Voicecomm Technology Co., Ltd. (“Voicecomm Technology” or the “Company”, Stock Code: 2495.HK), one of the leading enterprises in Conversational Artificial Intelligence (CoAI), is pleased to announce that it has successfully won the bid for the “South Sichuan Intelligent Valley AI Vertical Large Model Innovation Platform (川南智谷人工智能垂直大模型創新平台)- Silver Economy Construction and Operation Project” in Neijiang City, Sichuan Province. The total contract value is close to 300 million RMB, including approximately RMB 150 million for the initial platform construction costs; and approximately RMB 140 million for medium- to long-term project operation costs. This indicates that Voicecomm Technology has successfully established a full-stack service closed loop of “construction + operation”. This project marks a significant breakthrough for the Company in pioneering the new strategic track of “AI + healthcare” and represents its first replicable city-level smart elderly care benchmark project.

According to report from iResearch, as the end of 2024, China’s population aged 60 and above has exceeded 310 million, accounting for 22.0% of the total population. As the first city-level AI elderly care project, this not only affirms Voicecomm Technology’s position in the “AI + Elderly Care” sector but also signals a new trend in government investment towards smart elderly care—shifting from infrastructure construction to pursuing effective operational services.

Mr. Sun Qi, Founder and Executive Director of Voicecomm Technology Co., Ltd., said: “China is accelerating into a phase of deep aging, and the needs of hundreds of millions of elderly people constitute a vast blue ocean. Faced with the challenges of an aging society today, we aim to leverage artificial intelligence technology to explore a new, scientifically-driven path for elderly care. The Neijiang project is our first demonstration project in the healthcare sector. Its core lies not in stacking hardware but in using AI as the engine to make elderly care services truly intelligent and smooth, thereby enhancing the quality of life and dignity of the elderly. We hope to build this project into a replicable model for more cities to learn from.”

This project is expected to become a powerful engine for activating the silver economy in Neijiang City. Guided by national Smart Elderly Care policies, the project is anticipated to drive an annual output value exceeding 1 billion RMB in the local elderly care service industry and create a large number of job opportunities. By establishing a unified smart health and elderly care service platform, the project will strive to build a “15-minute elderly care service circle,” achieving deep integration between technology and people’s livelihoods.

Since its establishment in 2005, Voicecomm Technology has been committed to the research and application of Conversational Artificial Intelligence and unified communications technologies. Its solutions cover multiple scenarios in fields such as city management and administration, automotive and transportation, telecommunications, finance, healthcare, and energy management. This successful bid once again unveils Voicecomm Technology’s commitment to promoting technological progress and social development.

Hashtag: #Voicecomm

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Voicecomm Technology Co., Ltd.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Wuhan, Voicecomm Technology is one of the leading enterprises in the field of Conversational Artificial Intelligence (CoAI) listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and obtained the qualification as National-level “Little Giant” Enterprise and High-Tech Enterprise. Leveraging advanced unified communication technologies, core conversational AI technologies and self-developed product engines, we are capable of addressing diverse enterprise demand across “collaborative communication”, “intelligent decision-making”, and “efficient execution”, delivering a one-stop enterprise level intelligent interaction experience. Our solutions have been widely adopted in key industries including city management and administration, automotive and transportation, telecommunications, finance, healthcare, and energy management, empowering clients in digital transformation and business innovation.

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Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited announces annual results for the financial year ended December 31, 2025

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 February 2026

2025 Annual Results – Financial Highlights

(Figures for the corresponding period in 2024 are shown in brackets)

  • Consolidated revenue: HK$1,046million (HK$695million)
  • Consolidated net loss attributable to equity holders of the Company:
    HK$69 million (HK$230million)
  • Basic loss per share: 3.38 HK cents (11.29 HK cents)
  • No final dividend (No final dividend)

Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited (“PCPD”, SEHK: 00432) has announced its annual results for the year ended December 31, 2025.

The consolidated revenue of PCPD and its subsidiaries (together, the “Group”) amounted to HK$ 1,046 million, representing an increase of 51% compared to the revenue of HK$ 695 million in 2024.

The consolidated net loss attributable to equity holders of the Company for the year of 2025 was HK$ 69 million, compared to the net loss of HK$ 230 million in 2024.

Basic loss per share for 2025 was 3.38 Hong Kong cents compared to the loss per share of 11.29 Hong Kong cents for the previous year.

The Board of Directors has not recommended the payment of a final dividend for the year ended December 31, 2025.

In 2025, PCPD achieved robust full-year results, driven by the sustained surge in international travel across our key Asian markets, our operational strengths, and the continued recognition of our high-quality portfolio. This performance was underpinned predominantly by contributions from two segments: Park Hyatt Niseko, Hanazono, our hospitality business in Hokkaido, which delivered a notable rise in occupancy and revenue, and our ski and recreation operations in Niseko, Hokkaido, which also saw a surge in demand and revenue.

Park Hyatt Niseko, Hanazono, our hotel operations in Hokkaido, delivered a robust performance in 2025, as the boom in Japans tourism sector continued throughout the year, again with record-breaking tourist arrivals. The average occupancy rate of Park Hyatt Niseko increased by 4 percentage points.

During the winter season of 2024/2025, total ski-lift and gondola rides increased 9% year-on-year. The travel surge continued to drive robust demand for our recreational business in Niseko well beyond the cold months.

In Phang Nga, Thailand, the Group has sold or reserved 40% of Phase 1A villas. The Group’s revenue from its property development in Thailand totalled HK$14 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to no revenue in 2024.

We formed a strategic alliance with Hotel Properties Limited in Singapore to bring a Four Seasons Resort and Branded Residences to the prestigious integrated resort community of Aquella in Phang Nga. The move represents a significant milestone in PCPDs long-term vision of transforming Aquella into a visionary integrated resort destination that effortlessly blends luxury living, recreation and exceptional service.

In Jakarta, Indonesia, the occupancy of our premium commercial building, Pacific Century Place, Jakarta (PCP Jakarta”), was stable throughout the year, and the project remained a consistent revenue contributor to the Group. As of December 31, 2025, the office space committed occupancy was 87%, compared to 85% in the previous year.

Development of the superstructure of the Groups project at 3–6 Glenealy, Central, Hong Kong, has been progressing well. We have reached a key structural milestone, with the superstructural work now completed and installation of the curtain walls progressing at pace. The name of the development has also been unveiled as Central Residence by the Park”, and its completion is scheduled for the first half of 2026.

In the long run, we remain cautiously optimistic about the long-term outlook for property sectors in Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and Indonesia. With PCPDs disciplined execution and proactive risk management, we have confidence in our ability to drive continued growth and deliver sustained value.

Mr. Benjamin Lam, PCPD’s Deputy Chairman and Group Managing Director, said: “We will maintain our prudent yet proactive approach, allocating resources carefully and pursuing value-enhancing initiatives. Our priority remains to drive sustainable growth, improve profitability, and deliver solid returns to shareholders and stakeholders.”

Hashtag: #PacificCenturyPremiumDevelopments

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

About PCPD

Pacific Century Premium Developments Limited (“PCPD” or the “Group”, SEHK: 00432) is principally engaged in the development and management of premium-grade property and infrastructure projects as well as premium-grade property investments. PCCW Limited (“PCCW”, SEHK: 00008) is the single largest shareholder of the Group.

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