RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved a set of amendments that includes a set of facilitations related to the procedures for opening and operating investment accounts for certain categories of investors.

The amendments aim to keep pace with regulatory and technological developments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to facilitate investment in the Saudi capital market by enhancing the procedures for opening and operating investment accounts, including the addition of new investor categories and regulating transactions related to those accounts. These changes are expected to strengthen the attractiveness of the Saudi capital market to both local and international investors, enhance investor protection, and reinforce the confidence of market participants.

According to the announcement by CMA, the requirements for opening an investment account for individual foreign investors residing in one of the GCC countries have been revised. Additionally, the scope of securities they can directly invest in has been expanded to include the shares of listed companies in the Saudi Main market (TASI). Prior to these facilitations, their access was limited to the debt instruments market, the Parallel Market (Nomu), investment funds, and the derivatives market. Furthermore, trading in the main market was previously restricted to being a final beneficiary under a swap agreement with a Capital Market Institution or as a client of a Capital Market Institution that made investment decisions on their behalf.

Additionally, the approved amendments introduce a new investment opportunity for who previously resided in the Kingdom or GCC countries. For the first time, these investors will continue operating their investment account and investing in listed shares in the main market even after their residency ends and they return to their home country. This change not only strengthens investor confidence but also reinforces the perception of Saudi Arabia as a long-term investment destination.

Notably, foreign investment in the Saudi capital market has seen significant growth over the past four years. The value of foreign ownership in the market reached over SAR 500 billion by the end of Q1 2025. Net foreign investment amounted to SAR 218 billion by the end of last year, up from SAR 140 billion in 2021. The value of sustainable investments held by QFI reached approximately SAR 7.8 billion by the end of 2024, an increase of 29% compared to 2023.

The CMA has previously introduced several improvements and development initiatives related to foreign investors, aiming to stimulate investment, enhance the market’s attractiveness and efficiency, and draw in greater foreign capital. Among the most notable of these initiatives is the announcement of allowing foreign investment in real estate listed companies operating in Makkah and Madinah.

Contact:
Capital Market Authority
Communication & Investor Protection Division
+966114906009
+966557666932
[email protected]
www.cma.org.sa

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9493830

CGTN published an article exploring how Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent reply to veteran film artists struck a chord across the country’s dynamic film industry. The article underscores the sector’s unwavering drive for innovation as well as its impressive blending of technology and culture.

BEIJING, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In 1905, a silent, 30-minute black-and-white reel captured Peking Opera master Tan Xinpei performing as a general in “Dingjun Mountain” – China’s first-ever film – ushering in an era of visual storytelling for the nation.

Now, 120 years later, China has rewritten global box office records with “Ne Zha 2,” an animated epic that stands as the highest-grossing animated film of all time and one of the top five films worldwide by total earnings.

In a recent reply letter to eight veteran Chinese film artists, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the country’s film industry to create more outstanding cinematic works that reflect the spirit of the times and express the aspirations of the people.

Xi encouraged them to inspire the broader film community to strengthen cultural confidence, stay grounded in real life, and make new contributions to the prosperity of the arts and the building of a culturally strong nation.

When tech meets Chinese culture

From the muted flickers of early reels to the dazzling spectacle of AI-powered epics, China’s 120-year cinematic journey has been defined by unyielding innovation.

The runaway success of “Ne Zha 2” – which follows the rebellious boy-god Ne Zha and his dragon companion Ao Bing as they reclaim their physical forms and rewrite their destinies – is fueled by breathtaking, action-packed visuals.

Behind this cinematic hit lies a technological feat: advanced computer graphics and custom algorithms powered hyper-realistic lava flows, explosive particle effects and vast crowd simulations.

To achieve these immersive scenes – some featuring up to 200 million characters in a single frame – a collaborative network of 138 animation studios across China worked in unison, elevating both the scale and precision of the film to unprecedented heights.

A growing wave of Chinese films is also harnessing cutting-edge technology to enrich storytelling and push the boundaries of cinematic innovation.

In “The Wandering Earth 2,” a Chinese sci-fi blockbuster, production teams leveraged 3D printing to craft highly detailed props, including futuristic spacesuits, quantum AI computers and robotic arms. The Chinese fantasy trilogy “Creation of the Gods,” known for its heroic clashes between good and evil, utilized motion capture technology and Hollywood-style production pipelines to standardize its filmmaking process.

China’s film industry today blends state-of-the-art technology with the richness of a 5,000-year cultural legacy, producing visually stunning narratives that resonate with global audiences.

Recent hits such as the “Ne Zha” saga, the “Creation of the Gods” trilogy, and “Chang An” have reimagined ancient Chinese legends through modern storytelling and visual artistry.

CMC Pictures announced last week that the English-language version of “Ne Zha 2” will debut in IMAX and 3D across theaters in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand starting August 22.

Ellen Eliasoph, an Academy Awards juror and veteran filmmaker, emphasized that the global expansion of Chinese cinema is driven not merely by commercial ambition, but by its profound cultural influence – which she described as the true cornerstone of its success.

“China is truly an untapped goldmine of intellectual property when it comes to filmmaking,” said Eliasoph, who was the first Hollywood executive to work in China, in an interview with China Media Group in April.

A thriving industry

China is now the world’s second-largest film market. In 2024, over 1.01 billion cinema visits were recorded across the country. As of July 8, data from online platforms showed that China’s cumulative box office revenue for 2025 – including presales – had exceeded 30 billion yuan (about $4.18 billion), reaching this milestone in just 189 days, 28 days ahead of last year’s pace.

The country is also playing an increasingly influential role in reshaping the global cinematic landscape. In 2024 alone, China hosted international film festivals in more than 30 countries and regions. At home, Chinese theaters screened 93 imported films, generating over 9 billion yuan in box office revenue.

Chen Daoming, a renowned actor and chairman of the China Film Association, said President Xi’s reply letter offers a guiding framework for the Chinese film industry.

“It’s an essential and profound source of inspiration,” said Chen, who was one of the writers of the letter to Xi. “I hope that through our joint efforts, we can create many outstanding works that contribute to the prosperity of the arts and the building of a culturally strong nation.”

Gao Ying, a manager at the time-honored Capital Cinema in Beijing, said the president’s letter awakened a deep sense of mission within her.

“We are committed to transforming every screen and theater into a cultural window that tells China’s story and celebrates the Chinese spirit.”

For more information, please click:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-07-14/A-letter-to-inspire-Xi-s-words-echo-through-China-s-film-industry-1EZPEXHS38A/p.html

Contact: CGTN, [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9493807

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 July 2025 – SleekFlow, an Agentic AI platform for conversions, announces the launch of AgentFlow, a transformative AI solution designed to build teams of AI agents and redefine how businesses do sales. By leveraging cutting-edge conversational AI, AgentFlow empowers enterprises of different sizes to turn every interaction into a conversion opportunity, accelerating lead generation, sales, and customer retention across multiple channels.

• SleekFlow, launched in 2019, operates in 6 regions and helps more than 2000 businesses globally handle 600k conversations every day
• With its engineering team led by former Silicon Valley based LinkedIn China CTO Gao Lei, SleekFlow presents one of UAE’s first AI agent platforms specifically designed to increase sales and human collaborations

AgentFlow: A New Era of Secured Intelligent Customer Interactions curated by AI

AgentFlow is built on SleekFlow’s advanced AI engine, utilizing a multi-agent architecture and graph database technology to deliver scalable, context-aware conversations. Unlike traditional AI systems that struggle with complex queries, AgentFlow deploys specialized AI agents to handle distinct tasks—such as data retrieval, inquiry resolution, and lead scoring—with unparalleled precision. Key capabilities include:

• Multilingual Mastery: Supports seamless conversations in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Cantonese, enabling businesses to engage diverse audiences effortlessly.
• Advanced Data Processing: Extracts structured information from complex file formats like spreadsheets, PDFs, and visual-heavy documents, ensuring accurate and context-rich responses.
• Model-Optimized Performance: Integrates models like GPT-4o, 4o-mini, and Gemini, dynamically selecting the best model for each task to enhance natural language understanding and data retrieval.
• Vector Database Efficiency: Leverages vector databases for rapid, scalable retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), minimizing response times and reducing AI hallucinations.
• Seamless and No-code Integration: Trains AI agents using existing knowledge bases and integrates with Flow Builder to embed intelligent automation into workflows.
• Enterprise-level Security: AgentFlow is developed with security and compliance at its core ISO/IEC 27001 & SOC 2 Type II Certified and GDPR Compliant. AgentFlow is built on Azure OpenAI, the customer data is never used to train public models.

“With SleekFlow’s AgentFlow, we’re making it radically easy for businesses to deploy AI at scale in a flexible and effective solution.” said Henson Tsai, CEO of SleekFlow. “We want to empower companies to deliver human-like interactions that drive revenue and build lasting relationships, and this is just the beginning.”

The Unstoppable Rise of AI in Commerce, revealed by SleekFlow’s exclusive survey

SleekFlow’s 2025 Whitepaper on AI in Commerce underscores the critical role of AI in today’s business landscape. Based on a survey of 200 UAE consumers and businesses, the findings reveal:

• 44% of businesses in the UAE have implemented AI agents, transforming customer service interactions
• 80% of consumers consider personalized experiences “extremely” or “very important” for purchase decisions
• 63% of businesses in the UAE have already integrated AI or automation, with continued investments in AI agents and chatbots

These insights highlight the growing demand for intelligent, scalable platforms like AgentFlow, which empower businesses to meet evolving consumer expectations while optimizing operations.

About SleekFlow

Trusted by over 2000 enterprises across 70 countries, SleekFlow unifies WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, SMS, Website Live Chat, and more into a single, clutter-free workspace—so your team can focus on building relationships that convert.

Seamlessly integrated with your e-commerce, payments, calendar, and CRM systems, our AI Revenue Agent understands customer history, recommends products, collects payments, and schedules appointments—handling the entire journey from inquiry to sale.

Designed for AI-human collaboration, SleekFlow’s Inbox Copilot centralizes communication, automates repetitive tasks, and highlights next steps and upsell opportunities. This empowers your team to close more deals with less effort.

SleekFlow is located in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, and the UAE. In Jun 2025, the Series A+ startup secured an additional funding round, bringing its total capital raised to USD $23.5 million. Investors include Atinum Investment, AEF Greater Bay Area Fund (managed by Gobi Partners GBA and Transcend Capital Partners) Moses Tsang (Former General Partner of Goldman Sachs Group and Chairman of Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC) and Mars Growth Capital.

 

Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) announces today they have delivered another US$160m debt finance for their long-standing Brazil-based client, BTG Pactual.

The US$160 million 7-year senior unsecured loan was provided by AIIB, and the transaction follows on from several prior transactions for BTG also advised by EMGA for a cumulative US$1.1bn.

Sajeev Chakkalakal, Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking at EMGA, said: “This facility again demonstrates our long-standing relationship with BTG. It has further enabled growth in their water and sanitation portfolio, thereby cementing their role as one of the pre-eminent Brazilian banks in the ESG investment sector. It was also a pleasure working with AIIB as a leading multilateral DFI on their largest deal with a Brazilian private sector bank.”

Jeremy Dobson, Managing Director, and Head of Operations at EMGA, added: “This is our first transaction with AIIB, and we look forward to working with them again in the future. To date EMGA has secured nearly USD 2bn of investment into Brazil, and it remains one of our most important markets globally.”

BTG Pactual: BTG is the largest investment bank in Latin America, the 6th largest bank in Brazil by shareholders equity and a key player in providing loans and guarantees to a broad set of clients, from SMEs to large corporations. BTG is a pioneer in promoting climate finance in Brazil and plays a pivotal role in channeling resources towards projects with a positive impact in the community.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank and international financial institution that aims to collectively improve economic and social outcomes in Asia. It is the world’s second largest multilateral development institution.

Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA), with offices in London and New York, helps financial institutions and corporates seeking new debt or equity capital. EMGA’s multi-national team collectively have decades of experience in closing over USD 9bn of debt and private equity transactions for their clients within the world’s emerging markets and frontier economies, including Brazil which remains a key market. With a proven track record in capital formation and strategic advisory throughout diverse economic cycles, EMGA continues to deliver geographic reach and a diverse service offering, solidifying its place in the market as a pre-eminent emerging markets specialized boutique investment bank.

Contact [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001117698

NEW YORK, July 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Krispy Kreme, Inc. (NASDAQ: DNUT) between February 25, 2025 and May 7, 2025, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important July 15, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Krispy Kreme securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Krispy Kreme class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=39576 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for more information. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 15, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) demand for Krispy Kreme products declined materially at McDonald’s locations after the initial marketing launch; (2) demand at McDonald’s locations was a driver of declining average sales per door per week; (3) the partnership with McDonald’s was not profitable; (4) the foregoing posed a substantial risk to maintaining the partnership with McDonald’s; (5) as a result, Krispy Kreme would pause expansion into new McDonald’s locations; and (6) as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about Krispy Kreme’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Krispy Kreme class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=39576 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for more information.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

——————————-

Contact Information:

        Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
[email protected]
www.rosenlegal.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9493130