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Checkout.com becomes first Global PSP to launch Octopus, the leading payment method in Hong Kong, for online payments

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Checkout.com is the first global digital payments provider to offer Octopus as an online payment method for merchants.Octopus, the leading payment method in Hong Kong, boasts an impressive 98% penetration among its 7.5 million residents, making it the most popular payment method in the region.This new offering enhances Octopus’ portfolio of Alternative Payment Methods (APMs), driving better performance and providing significant benefits for merchants with a business presence in Hong Kong or those operating e-commerce or retail platforms catering to Hong Kong residents.

HONG KONG, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Checkout.com, a leading digital payments provider, today announced a strategic partnership with Octopus, Hong Kong’s first homegrown global fintech, to enable online payment for customers of Hong Kong’s leading payment choice – becoming the first global payment service provider (PSP) to add Octopus as a payment option at check-out. 

Octopus, the dominant payment experience in Hong Kong, boasts an impressive 98% penetration among the city’s 7.5 million residents. Initially introduced as the world’s first contactless card for multimodal transportation in 1997, Octopus has evolved into a versatile payment system, now widely used for retail, shopping, and food and beverage transactions at home and abroad.

In a strategic move to stay competitive in a market where digital-first payments are increasingly expected, Octopus has been driving the shift toward digital payments in Hong Kong. Since launching its mobile app in 2012, there are now more than 4.5 million Octopus wallets. With its ecosystem partners, the company continues to drive mobile payment adoption in Hong Kong, as well as expansion of interoperable payments in Mainland China and overseas. Through this integration, Checkout.com empowers merchants targeting Hong Kong residents to offer a seamless, tech-forward payment experience that meets the evolving expectations of consumers.

The collaboration will make Octopus more accessible to merchants seeking a secure, efficient digital checkout experience, while also enhancing merchants’ payment performance. Checkout.com’s offering includes the integration of Octopus’s online payment solutions through Octopus mobile app.

Brian Sze, General Manager, APAC at Checkout.com, said: “Catering to local payment preferences is crucial for success in the Hong Kong market. Our strategic partnership with Octopus underscores Checkout.com’s commitment to investing in our Asia footprint, delivering localized payment solutions that empower merchants to thrive in this dynamic region.”

Edwin Lai, Head of Business Development and International Business at Octopus, said: “At Octopus, we pride ourselves for making everyday life easier. This partnership with Checkout.com will enhance and broaden the payment experience not just for our customers, but also merchants within Hong Kong and beyond. We anticipate robust demand from global and local businesses eager to access Hong Kong’s consumers. We hope this collaboration will help support the growth of the city’s digital commerce.”

*ENDS*

About Checkout.com

Checkout.com processes payments for thousands of companies that shape the digital economy. Our global digital payments network supports over 145 currencies and delivers high-performance payment solutions across the world, processing billions of transactions annually.

With flexible and scalable technology, we help enterprise merchants boost acceptance rates, reduce processing costs, combat fraud, and turn payments into a major revenue driver. Headquartered in London and with 16 offices worldwide, Checkout.com is trusted by leading brands such as Sony, Shein, Sainsbury’s, Wise, GE Healthcare, and The Financial Times.

Checkout.com. Where the world checks out.

About Octopus Cards Limited (Licence Number: SVF0001)

Operating under the Stored Value Facilities Licence, Octopus Cards Limited (OCL) provides innovative offline and online Octopus payment services to meet customers’ diverse payment needs. Launched in 1997 by OCL, the Octopus system in Hong Kong is one of the world’s leading and most extensively accepted contactless smartcard payment systems. Its aspiration is to bring diversity and inclusion in payment to customers of all facets of life.

Today, more than 24 million Octopus cards and products are in circulation; spanning businesses including public transport, parking, retail, self-help services, schools, and leisure facilities, and access control for residential and commercial buildings. There are almost 190,000 Octopus acceptance points in the market. Octopus’ application has been extended to online and mobile payment arenas with services including Octopus on iPhone and Apple Watch, Octopus on Samsung Pay, Octopus on Huawei Pay, Octopus App, Octopus Wallet, Octopus Mastercard® and UnionPay, bringing new payment experiences to customers.

The Octopus Group exports its unique experience and technology overseas, offering consultancy services across the world. The mission of OCL is simple: Making everyday life easier. For more information about OCL, please visit www.octopus.com.hk.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/checkoutcom-becomes-first-global-psp-to-launch-octopus-the-leading-payment-method-in-hong-kong-for-online-payments-302270206.html

SOURCE Checkout.com

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Osome Eyes the Next Wave of AI Companies Choosing Singapore

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SINGAPORE, HONG KONG and LONDON, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Osome, the AI company management platform trusted by more than 50,000 tech founders and solopreneurs globally, is strengthening its support for the next wave of AI companies choosing Singapore as their regional base.

Singapore’s appeal continues to grow as leading AI companies establish a stronger presence. OpenAI has committed S$300 million (US$234 million) to the country’s AI ecosystem, while Cognition has established its APAC headquarters there. Anthropic and Tencent are also increasing their presence in Singapore.

Budget 2026 reinforces this momentum with a National AI Impact Programme, a new Kampong AI hub at one-north, and a 400% tax deduction on qualifying AI investments. Foreign companies can access these incentives by incorporating a Private Limited Company, which allows 100% foreign ownership and startup tax rates as low as 10% under the Startup Tax Exemption.

As more AI-native startups choose Singapore to build lean, global businesses, Osome helps founders navigate the process. Operating across Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, and the UAE, it enables founders to incorporate a company as fast as 7 days while managing back-office operations, including accounting, bookkeeping, and compliance.

Building on that support, Osome recently launched its Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, turning founders’ preferred AI assistants into a business command center. Through Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini, founders can securely retrieve transactions, shareholder records, financial reports, and other company data from a single AI interface.

AI-native & tech founders are already building with Osome. UpNComer‘s founder, Karan Dasgupta, incorporated his Singapore company within days of switching to Osome, saving “easily 20 hours” every month. Dubai-based Aesty and Hong Kong’s Angelflow have reported similar gains, cutting bookkeeping from around a week of work to just two hours a month.

Eugenio Ferrante, CEO of Osome, said: “A few years ago, building a global company required a 500-person team and a massive regional office. Today, a three-person AI startup can operate globally from Singapore with a laptop. The biggest threat isn’t competition, but administrative drag. With our new MCP server, you can manage your company’s finance and compliance via your AI assistant, leaving you free to focus on building and serving customers.”

About Osome

Osome is an AI company-management platform combining human expertise with automation for incorporation, accounting and tax compliance. Since 2017, it has served 50,000+ startups in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK and the UAE. Learn more at osome.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/osome-eyes-the-next-wave-of-ai-companies-choosing-singapore-302834753.html

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After Arrest Controversy, “Empire State Building Couple” Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus to Address Recent Incident on Gosh Live

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The couple said on social media that they will soon go live on Gosh Live to talk about life after the Empire State Building incident and the questions they want to answer directly.

Safety note: Gosh does not encourage or endorse dangerous, illegal or unauthorised activities. The livestream is intended solely as an entertainment and community interaction session.

NEW YORK, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, the creator couple known for rooftopping and high-altitude visual content, first gained attention through their daring shoots on skyscrapers, city landmarks and extreme urban locations around the world. Their content brings together adventure, striking visuals and their relationship story in the same frame. Their journey was later featured in the Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, introducing them to an even wider audience.

Recently, Angela and Ivan became the focus of media and social media discussion following the Empire State Building incident in New York. According to public reports, the couple were taken into police custody after climbing the Empire State Building and allegedly completing a proposal, and now face related charges. Since then, fans have been following updates on their situation, the legal aftermath and whether the couple would respond publicly.

Following the controversy, Angela and Ivan have chosen to face fans directly through a livestream, where they are expected to talk about the Empire State Building incident, what they have been going through, and the questions they have wanted to address themselves.

According to the preview shared on their social media accounts, the livestream will take place on Gosh Live. Compared with a formal interview, the stream is expected to be a more relaxed online social and entertainment setting, where fans can watch, chat and hear directly from the couple.

During the livestream, Angela and Ivan are expected to discuss life after the Empire State Building incident. They may also talk about their relationship, future plans and whether they will continue creating rooftopping-related content.

The livestream is scheduled to begin on July 26, 2026, at 9:00 p.m. UTC and will be available on the official Gosh Live page.

For fans who have been following Angela and Ivan, the livestream could be a rare opportunity to hear the couple speak directly about their situation after the controversy.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/after-arrest-controversy-empire-state-building-couple-angela-nikolau-and-ivan-beerkus-to-address-recent-incident-on-gosh-live-302834765.html

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Think Bold, Ride Bold: Insta360 Takes Over the Champs-Élysées with 200-Rider Community Event

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LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Insta360 announced “Vibrez en Jaune” Pop-Up, a three-day cycling and creator event held in Paris from July 24 to July 26, 2026. Designed to coincide with the electric atmosphere of the Tour de France finale, the event culminated in a 200-rider takeover of the Parisian streets, bringing the spirit of professional cycling to everyday enthusiasts and urban explorers.

Built around the theme ‘Think Bold, Ride Bold,’ “Vibrez en Jaune” Pop-Up featured immersive pop-up experiences, hands-on creator workshops, and a sprawling group ride traversing the iconic 90km classic route from Versailles to the Champs-Élysées. The festival served as a celebration of cycling not just as a competitive sport, but as a vehicle for exploration, storytelling, and community connection.

A Festival of Content and Culture

The event kicked off on July 24 with a two-day hub of activity in the heart of Paris. Moving away from traditional retail experiences, Insta360 hosted a series of “Cycle & Create” workshops designed to lower the barrier to content creation.

Attendees gained access to on-site trial devices, allowing them to test out Insta360’s unique product ecosystem firsthand. Insta360 product experts were on hand to teach advanced cycling photography and videography techniques, ensuring riders knew exactly how to capture dynamic, hands-free POV footage of their urban commutes and weekend group rides.

The pop-up also served as a central gathering space for the community. Registered riders connected over coffee, collected their limited-edition Insta360 yellow cycling jerseys, and prepared for the weekend’s main event.

The Hero Moment: Taking Over the Streets of Paris

On Sunday, July 26, over 200 riders embarked on the “Vibrez en Jaune” Pop-Up main event. Organized in partnership with the Peloton Cycling Club, the group rode a 90km route inspired by the Tour de France Paris finale.

Beginning in Versailles, the group rode through the Paris city center before arriving at the Champs-Élysées. To ensure safety and an optimal experience, riders were organized into small, supervised packs of 20 to 25 across four distinct difficulty tiers—Spicy, Medium-Plus, Medium, and Mild—making the professional route accessible to a wide range of skill levels.

Select riders were equipped with Insta360 cameras to record immersive, first-person footage of the group as they navigated the historic streets, creating a collaborative, community-driven documentary of the ride.

Celebrating the Finish Line

The ride concluded at the Insta360 pop-up space for a vibrant after-party. As the actual Tour de France final stage was broadcast live on a giant screen, participants were treated to a professional DJ, refreshments, and finger food.

To reward the community, Insta360 hosted a drawing featuring premium cycling accessory bundles and high-value grand prizes, including the Insta360 GO Ultra Tadej Pogačar Edition and an exclusive jersey signed by the cycling champion himself.

Redefining Urban Exploration

Beyond the celebration of the sport, “Vibrez en Jaune” Pop-Up highlights the brand’s ongoing commitment to sustainable urban lifestyles. By encouraging people to rediscover their cities by bike, Insta360 aims to promote cycling as an accessible, low-carbon choice that allows individuals to experience urban life in a more mindful, connected way.

About Insta360

With a “Think bold” mindset, Insta360 empowers people to capture and share their lives in extraordinary ways. Recognized as a market leader and innovator, Insta360’s vast lineup includes the world’s best-selling 360 cameras in the X Series, the thumb-sized GO Series for everyday capture, as well as an extensive range of action cameras, gimbals, webcams, and professional photography solutions. With intuitive, AI-powered software, Insta360 simplifies the creative process, allowing users to focus on storytelling without technical barriers. Insta360 is dedicated to helping a new generation of athletes, creatives, travelers and professionals bring their ideas to life.

For more details visit: http://www.insta360.com

About the Think Bold Fund: https://www.insta360.com/ThinkBoldFund
Read our blog: https://www.insta360.com/blog
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Press Contact
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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/think-bold-ride-bold-insta360-takes-over-the-champs-elysees-with-200-rider-community-event-302833050.html

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