Author: Media OutReach Newswire

  • Gorilla Technology to Host Second Quarter and First Half 2026 Financial Results Conference Call on August 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET

    Gorilla Technology to Host Second Quarter and First Half 2026 Financial Results Conference Call on August 31 at 4:30 p.m. ET

    London, United Kingdom – Newsfile Corp. – August 20, 2026 – Gorilla Technology Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GRRR) (“Gorilla” or the “Company”), a global solution provider in Security Intelligence, Network Intelligence, Business Intelligence, IoT technology and data centres, will host a conference call on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss its financial results for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2026. A press release containing the financial results will be issued before the call.

    Call Date: Monday, August 31, 2026
    Time: 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time)
    Toll Free: +1-800-715-9871
    International: +1-647-932-3411

    Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact RedChip Companies at 1-407-644-4256.

    The conference call will be webcast live and available for replay at: https://www.gowebcasting.com/14983

    About Gorilla Technology Group Inc.
    Headquartered in London U.K., Gorilla is a global solution provider in Security Intelligence, Network Intelligence, Business Intelligence, IoT technology and data centers. We provide a wide range of solutions, including Smart City, Network, Video, Security Convergence and IoT, across select verticals of Government and Public Services, Manufacturing, Telecom, Retail, Transportation and Logistics, Healthcare and Education, by using AI and Deep Learning Technologies.

    Our expertise lies in revolutionizing urban operations, bolstering security and enhancing resilience. We deliver pioneering products that harness the power of AI in intelligent video surveillance, facial recognition, license plate recognition, edge computing, post-event analytics and advanced cybersecurity technologies. By integrating these AI-driven technologies, we empower Smart Cities to enhance efficiency, safety and cybersecurity measures, ultimately improving the quality of life for residents.

    For more information, please visit our website: Gorilla-Technology.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Gorilla’s actual results may differ from its expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “might” and “continues,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding our beliefs about future revenues and our ability to sign new contracts and execute existing contracts, along with those other risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Form 20-F Gorilla filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 15, 2026 and those that are included in any of Gorilla’s future filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the control of Gorilla and are difficult to predict. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Gorilla undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Dave Gentry
    RedChip Companies, Inc.
    1-407-644-4256
    GRRR@redchip.com

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

  • Li Ning Company Limited Announces 2026 Interim Results

    Li Ning Company Limited Announces 2026 Interim Results

    Firmly Implementing the “Single Brand, Multi-categories, Diversified Channels” Strategy; Super BOOM Capsule Technology Achieves Full Commercialization; Deepens Global Professional Sports Resources Together with Curry

    FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    • In the first half of the year, the Group recorded the following operating results:
      • Revenue rose by 2.8% to RMB15,235 million; gross profit margin increased by 0.9 percentage points to 50.9%
      • Net operating cash inflow was RMB954 million
      • Net profit attributable to equity holders was RMB1,816 million with net profit margin of 11.9%, and EBITDA margin was 22.1%
    • Working capital remained at a healthy level:
      • The percentage of gross average working capital to revenue was 7.8%
      • The cash conversion cycle was 35 days, an increase of 4 days compared with the same period last year
    • The Board resolved to declare an interim dividend of RMB35.12 cents per ordinary share of the Company issued or to be issued upon conversion of convertible securities for the six months ended 30 June 2026.

    OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

    • The retail sell-through for the overall platform increased by low-single-digit from last year, including online and offline channels.
    • Offline channel new products sell-through accounted for 83% of overall offline channel sell-through, maintaining a healthy and reasonable level.
    • Channel inventory-to-sales ratio of 4 months; and inventory level and ageing structure remained at a healthy level.

    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – Li Ning Company Limited (“Li Ning” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, collectively the “Group”; Hong Kong Stock Exchange stock codes: 2331 (HKD counter) and 82331 (RMB counter)) today announced the unaudited interim results of the Group for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (the “Reporting Period”).

    FINANCIAL RESULTS

    In the first half of 2026, the Group continued to enhance product technology performance, optimise channel efficiency and deepen its professional brand mindset, maintaining steady operations. During the period, the Group’s revenue reached RMB15,235 million, up 2.8% year-on-year (2025: RMB14,817 million). Gross profit was RMB7,751 million, up 4.5% year-on-year (2025: RMB7,415 million), and the Group’s overall gross profit margin was 50.9%, up 0.9 percentage points year-on-year (2025: 50.0%).

    During the period, profit attributable to equity holders of the Group was RMB1,816 million (2025: RMB1,737 million); the margin of profit attributable to equity holders was 11.9% (2025: 11.7%); and return on equity attributable to equity holders was 6.5% (2025: 6.5%). Basic earnings per share were RMB70.40 cents (2025: RMB67.43 cents). The Board resolved to declare an interim dividend of RMB35.12 cents per ordinary share of the Company issued or to be issued upon conversion of convertible securities for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (2025: RMB33.59 cents).

    In terms of cash flow management, net cash generated from operating activities during the period amounted to RMB954 million (2025: RMB2,411 million). As at 30 June 2026, cash and cash equivalents (including cash at banks and in hand, and fixed term deposits with original maturity of not more than three months) amounted to RMB13,003 million, a decrease of RMB3,713 million compared with 31 December 2025. Adding back amounts recorded in bank time deposits, the cash balance was RMB19,389 million, a net decrease of RMB585 million compared with 31 December 2025. During the period, revenue increased year-on-year while cash expenses such as marketing expenses and taxes increased, resulting in a year-on-year decrease in net cash generated from operating activities; an increase in time deposits led to a significant increase in net cash used in investing activities. The Group will continue to prioritise cash flow management to ensure the stable development of the Company in the long term.

    BUSINESS OVERVIEW

    In the first half of 2026, the Group firmly implemented its core development strategy of “Single Brand, Multi-categories, Diversified Channels”. On one hand, it continuously strengthened the core of professional sports technology and product performance, consolidating the brand’s professional mindset in niche segments; on the other hand, it continuously deepened its highly efficient operating model, maintaining solid operating fundamentals and a healthy inventory level.

    In terms of product upgrades, the Group drove iterative upgrades in the performance of its core category products through technological innovation, and coordinated the synergistic development of the core categories of running, basketball, training, badminton, table tennis and sports casual. The Group launched its “Super BOOM Capsule” technology, applied to racing running shoe series such as Feidian and Red Hare, covering the full-scenario needs of competitive training, elite and mass runners; the LI-NING Aerospace Dynamic Thermal Technology was applied to the award equipment of the Chinese Sports Delegation at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics. The Group also expanded its outdoor product matrix and accelerated its layout in the outdoor market.

    In terms of brand communication, the Group focused on building an all-round sports resource system represented by its cooperation with the Chinese Olympic Committee (the “COC”) and top international athlete IPs. During the period, the Group continued to strengthen its strategic partnership with the Chinese Olympic Committee, developing podium wear for the Chinese sports delegation competing at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics, and establishing a presence at the “China House” in Milan, working alongside the Chinese Olympic Committee to showcase the strength of Chinese sports. In addition, the Group entered into a long-term strategic partnership with NBA superstar Stephen Curry and his brand “Curry Brand”, cooperating on the research and development of professional basketball equipment, the promotion of event culture, and the expansion of new-generation consumer groups, enhancing LI-NING’s professional sports brand perception and international exposure.

    In terms of channels, the Group continued to deepen strategic synergy with leading commercial complexes and orderly carried out the planning and roll-out of innovative store formats. During the period, the standalone outdoor store “COUNTERFLOW” officially opened in Chongqing, laying the foundation for the Group’s outdoor category to deepen its presence in the Southwest regional market; the Group’s cooperation with quality commercial resources also entered a new stage, creating favourable conditions for the concentrated opening of multiple “Loong Stores” in the second half of the year. At the same time, the Group continued to optimise its rental structures and commercial cooperation models, enhancing the overall operating health of its channels.

    In terms of retail operations, the Group promoted dual-driven growth in products and brand by establishing a high-tier market operating model and a distribution business operating model. In high-tier markets, the Group strengthened its brand image around three dimensions, namely channel structure optimisation, refinement of store product mix and upgrading the shopping experience, driving incremental capture of brand elevation and category depth. In terms of distribution business, the Group concurrently established a distribution management model to enhance distribution efficiency and the sustainable operating capability of the channel. In terms of terminal operating capability, the Group continued to drive the implementation of retail standards on a project basis, strengthened coordination efficiency between headquarters and terminals, and enhanced sports advisors’ customer reception capability and professional service standards, comprehensively improving consumers’ shopping experience in LI-NING stores and laying the foundation for enhanced single-store operating efficiency.

    In terms of e-commerce operations, the Group leveraged key promotional opportunities including Tmall Celebration Day, Goddess Festival and 618 to precisely target new-customer acquisition and deeply reach female consumer groups, effectively driving simultaneous growth in sales scale and brand influence. The Group also converted cutting-edge technology into quality product experiences, coordinated Olympic champions and celebrity spokesperson resources, and worked with fashion magazines, trend events and social media platforms to continuously consolidate its professional sports mindset. Flagship products including basketball shoes Gamma 2, LI REN 6V2 and DLO 2, as well as the running shoe matrix of Wushi, Youzhi and Zhui Feng, all achieved notable results in expanding awareness and increasing sales, while the Feeling family remained ranked first in searches in the thin-soled shoe segment.

    In terms of new retail business, the Group established a new retail department to focus on mapping out its omni-channel growth business model. Through the O2O model, it connected online and offline merchandise pools, providing consumers with a more consistent and efficient shopping experience. The Group also accelerated its layout on mainstream instant-retail platforms, making concerted efforts across three areas: channel store expansion, merchandise matching and refined single-store operations. On the one hand, it fully leveraged the Group’s multi-category advantages, expanding product coverage on the basis of core categories such as running shoes, basketball shoes and lifestyle apparel in combination with sports and lifestyle scenario needs; on the other hand, it strengthened the supply of seasonal categories such as outdoor and sun protection around consumption nodes such as holiday travel, driving stable growth in sales scale for the instant-retail channel.

    In terms of product management, to respond to market competition, the Group increased its technology investment in high-end professional running shoes, leveraging the “Feidian” family driven by “Super BOOM Capsule” technology and the brand-new “Red Hare ULTRA” series to consolidate the brand’s product mindset and market position among professional runners. While the basketball shoe market faced challenges, the Group relied on core signature models combined with an e-commerce-channel-led promotion strategy to keep basketball shoe sales stable across directly-operated and e-commerce channels. The Group also actively applied flexible supply models such as segmented production and rolling replenishment orders, dynamically adjusting order scale according to actual sales and, in particular, carrying out refined control of the inventory structure for the running shoe category, maintaining healthy inventory levels amid a challenging market environment.

    In terms of supply chain and logistics, the Group continued to advance the building of a large supply-chain system across five directions: planning management, quality control, cost management, development management and digital-intelligence transformation. The Group actively advanced the development of its Glory Gold Label series to safeguard the supply of top-tier event equipment, while also promoting the implementation of AI and 3DVR design and development processes for footwear, substantially shortening the R&D cycle. On the logistics front, the Group advanced omni-channel logistics integration, connecting online and offline inventory, and continued to drive warehouse automation and the application of RFID technology, improving the efficiency of goods flow and the precision of inventory management.

    OUTLOOK

    Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, the Group will continue to seize the development opportunities arising from the ongoing release of domestic demand potential, uphold its core value of ” Serve With Sportsmanship “, continuously refine the “LI-NING’s experience value”, and strive to become the preferred professional sports brand trusted by consumers in the sports consumption sector.

    1. Technology-driven product upgrades: The Group will continue to adhere to technological innovation as its core driving force, strengthening the core competitiveness of its products through the three major levers of its technology innovation platform, a full-scenario category matrix and Eastern aesthetics, while reinforcing its layout in high-potential tracks such as professional sports and urban outdoor.
    2. Top-tier resources empowering the brand: The Group will coordinate its domestic and overseas marketing resources. By leveraging core resource deployments such as its partnership with the Chinese Olympic Committee and collaborations with superstar IPs, the Group will build a multi-dimensional, long-term and high-conversion communication system. The Group will continue to deepen its long-term cooperation with the Chinese Olympic Committee, supporting the Chinese sports delegation as it competes in international events such as the 2026 Asian Games, and will deepen its strategic cooperation with Stephen Curry and “Curry Brand”.
    3. Elevating both the quality and efficiency of business operations: The Group will focus on the three core pillars of channel layout, merchandise systems and supply chain integration, accelerating online-offline integration, prioritising the scalable replication of innovative store formats such as “Loong Store”, and building a flexible supply chain system that is high-efficiency, low-cost and fast-response.
    4. Strengthening the foundation to safeguard development: The Group will reinforce its operating foundation across talent, finance and digital intelligence, building out its talent pipeline, maintaining ample cash flow and a rigorous risk control mechanism, and advancing the deep penetration of artificial intelligence and digital technologies across the full scenarios of R&D, production and channels.

    Mr. Li Ning, Executive Chairman and Joint Chief Executive Officer of the Group, commented,“The year 2026 marks the opening year of the ’15th Five-Year Plan’. Although the external trade landscape was complex and volatile in the first half of the year and structural divergence in the domestic consumer market persisted, consumption in functional niche segments such as professional sports and urban outdoor remained resilient, supported by a series of national policies to expand domestic demand and promote consumption. Facing a challenging external environment, the Group firmly implemented its core development strategy of ‘Single Brand, Multi-categories, Diversified Channels’, achieving steady growth in both revenue and profit while maintaining healthy inventory and working capital levels, a clear demonstration of the resilience of the Group’s operating fundamentals.

    Looking ahead to the second half of the year, we will stay rooted locally while looking to the future, seizing the structural opportunities brought by the ’15th Five-Year Plan’ policies to expand domestic demand and build a leading sports nation, advancing the scalable replication of innovative store formats such as ‘Loong Store’, deepening the dual drivers of technological innovation and top-tier sports resources, so as to deliver higher-quality and more sustainable steady operations in return for the long-term trust of our consumers and shareholders.”

    Hashtag: #LiNing

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

    About Li Ning Company Limited

    Li Ning Company Limited is one of the leading sports brand companies in China, mainly operating professional and leisure footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories under the LI-NING brand. The Group has comprehensive research and development, design, manufacturing, marketing, distribution and retail management capabilities. It has established an extensive retail distribution network and supply chain management system in China. We are committed to be the most prominent, stylish, world-leading sports brand from China.

    In addition to its core LI-NING brand, the Group also manufactures, develops, markets, distributes, sells various sports products which are self-owned by or licensed to the Group, including Double Happiness (table tennis), AIGLE (outdoor sports) and Kason (badminton), which are operated through joint venture/associate with third parties of the Group.

  • From the Ground Up: Vinhomes Is Building Cities to Global Smart-City Standards

    From the Ground Up: Vinhomes Is Building Cities to Global Smart-City Standards

    HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – As global investors increasingly evaluate cities through measurable resilience, governance and sustainability, Vinhomes is taking an uncommon approach, embedding internationally recognized smart-city standards into large-scale developments from day one.

    Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise occupies one of Vietnam's most distinctive ecological settings, bordered by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.
    Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise occupies one of Vietnam’s most distinctive ecological settings, bordered by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.

    Through landmark partnerships with global certification bodies, the company is seeking to demonstrate that future cities can be designed not only to be greener and smarter, but also to perform against internationally benchmarked metrics.

    When Data Becomes the New Currency of Cities

    In the global competition for capital, talent and innovation, cities are increasingly judged by their ability to generate measurable outcomes. Investors today want evidence that infrastructure is resilient, mobility is efficient, governance is transparent and environmental commitments translate into long-term economic value.

    This transition is reshaping how cities are planned. According to the OECD, data governance has become a foundational element of smart-city development, while internationally standardized indicators such as ISO 37122 enable cities to measure performance consistently, benchmark against global peers and inform better policy and investment decisions1.

    Meanwhile, the World Council on City Data (WCCD) says that ISO-standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data enables cities to make better planning and investment decisions, benchmark performance against global peers, and attract investment through greater transparency and comparability2.

    That helps explain why international standards such as ISO 37122 are attracting growing attention. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the framework establishes globally comparable indicators for evaluating smart-city performance across mobility, energy, environmental management, digital infrastructure, governance, public safety and innovation. ISO 37122 measures how effectively an urban system performs as an integrated whole.

    For governments and developers alike, the implication is significant, future cities will increasingly be judged by what they can measure and verify.

    Few developers have attempted to integrate those standards before a city is even built. Yet that is precisely the path Vinhomes is pursuing. Instead of treating certification as a post-construction credential, the company is embedding internationally recognized smart-city metrics into the planning process itself, a strategy that could place Vietnam among a new generation of countries helping redefine how future cities are conceived, governed and evaluated.

    Embedding Global Standards from the Ground Up

    On March 3, 2026, Vinhomes Green Paradise – Can Gio officially launched its Smart City Certification Project in partnership with Korea Management Association Consulting (KMAC), the WCCD and the Standardized Urban Metrics (SUM) initiative.

    The collaboration aims to achieve the WCCD/SUM ISO 37122 Custom Smart City Certification, a customized framework derived from ISO 37122 and specifically developed for large-scale greenfield urban projects.

    Under the partnership, KMAC provides strategic consulting and technical advisory services to align the project’s development with internationally recognized indicators. WCCD and SUM are responsible for developing the customized indicator framework, supervising the assessment process and overseeing certification, with an Interim Certification targeted within 2026 before full certification in subsequent phases.

    The approach reflects a broader evolution in urban development. Historically, many cities have sought certification only after major infrastructure systems were completed. Greenfield developments, however, offer a different opportunity: sustainability, digital governance and performance measurement can be integrated into planning from the outset rather than retrofitted later.

    “This project symbolizes a landmark collaboration between Vietnam and Korea in advancing global smart city standards,” said Mr. Chulse Oh, Head of AX Group at KMAC. “By combining Vinhomes’ visionary urban development with KMAC’s consulting expertise and WCCD/SUM’s global certification framework, Vinhomes Green Paradise will become a model for data-driven governance, sustainability, and smart innovation.”

    Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise occupies one of Vietnam’s most distinctive ecological settings, bordered by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve spanning more than 75,000 hectares. The project features 121 kilometers of coastline while maintaining a construction density of just 16%, reflecting a development strategy that prioritizes environmental resilience alongside long-term urban growth.

    Its ESG++ framework expands upon traditional Environmental, Social and Governance principles by adding two additional pillars – Regeneration and Climate Adaptation – placing ecosystem restoration alongside economic development.

    Once fully operational, the development targets 100% clean electricity generated from offshore wind, solar power and battery storage systems. Transportation is envisioned as an entirely net-zero ecosystem supported by electric cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, boats and a high-speed railway connecting directly with central Ho Chi Minh City.

    The project also places biodiversity at the center of its long-term strategy. A dedicated Forest Regeneration and Climate Adaptation Fund has been established to support research, ecological restoration and mangrove conservation, reinforcing Can Gio’s role as a natural coastal defense system while strengthening climate resilience for future generations.

    Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of WCCD and Director of SUM, believes the initiative reflects Vietnam’s growing role in global urban innovation.

    “Vietnam is emerging as one of the most promising leaders in smart and sustainable city development. The Vinhomes Green Paradise is a remarkable new development in Vietnam that deserves global recognition,” she said. “We are honored to partner with Vinhomes and KMAC to ensure that Vinhomes Green Paradise achieves global recognition through our WCCD/SUM ISO 37122 Custom Certification.”

    Vinhomes Green Paradise has also become the first official participant in the “7 Wonders of the Future Cities” campaign initiated by New7Wonders, further reinforcing its aspiration to become a benchmark for AI-ready, data-driven and environmentally resilient urban development.

    A Broader Vision for Vietnam’s Next Generation of Cities

    Less than two months after launching the Can Gio certification initiative, Vinhomes unveiled another flagship development that broadens the company’s long-term urban vision.

    On April 25, 2026, the developer officially introduced Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long, a coastal mega-city spanning more than 6,200 hectares in Quang Ninh Province. Positioned as a “New Hanoi” beside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, the project is designed as a fully integrated urban ecosystem where residents can live, work, study, receive healthcare and enjoy world-class leisure amenities within a single destination.

    More than 2,500 hectares are dedicated to green landscapes, water systems and mangrove forests, including 680 hectares of naturally filtered sea, approximately 200 kilometers of white-sand coastline and more than 660 hectares of Globe Ha Long Forest Park. Together, these natural assets form the foundation of an ESG++ ecosystem centered on regeneration, biodiversity and long-term environmental resilience.

    Looking beyond today’s internationally recognized benchmarks, the development is envisioned as the world’s first ESG-oriented city progressing toward the emerging ISO 37125 standard for sustainable urban development.

    If Green Paradise Can Gio demonstrates how internationally verified smart-city metrics can be embedded into a greenfield development, Global Gate Ha Long expands that concept into a broader model of human-centered urbanism.

    Taken together, the two developments reveal an increasingly distinctive strategy. Rather than viewing international standards as external certifications to pursue after construction, Vinhomes is integrating them into the earliest stages of planning, governance and infrastructure design.

    By building around those standards from the outset, Vinhomes is making the case that Vietnam can help shape the next chapter of global smart-city development, one where data, governance and environmental resilience become as important as architecture itself./.

    Sources:

    1. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/smart-city-data-governance_e57ce301-en/full-report/component-4.html
    2. https://www.dataforcities.org/about-wccd

    Hashtag: #Vinhomes

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

  • Tonglu Enhances Regional Tourism Strategy Through Immersive Experiences and Infrastructure Upgrades

    Tonglu Enhances Regional Tourism Strategy Through Immersive Experiences and Infrastructure Upgrades

    TONGLU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – Olympic champion diver Quan Hongchan visited the Chuiyun Tongtian River scenic area in Tonglu, China, in early August — not to dive, but to joke with the “Turtle Immortal,” a costumed performer entertaining passengers on boats through the river and its caves.

    The "Turtle Immortal," an interactive character at Chuiyun Tongtian River in Tonglu, greets visitors during a cave tour.
    The “Turtle Immortal,” an interactive character at Chuiyun Tongtian River in Tonglu, greets visitors during a cave tour.

    The exchange spread quickly on Chinese social media. For visitors, the character has become more than a photo opportunity: people stop to trade lines, ask questions and play along. Some have traveled specifically to meet the performer.

    The small scene reflects a larger change underway in Tonglu, a county in Zhejiang province in eastern China. Long known for its scenery along the Fuchun River, Tonglu is adding performers, interactive storylines, water activities and even unexpected roadside attractions to encourage visitors to take part rather than simply look on.

    A cave tour with characters

    The “Turtle Immortal” is played by Zhang Yunbin, a 26-year-old opera performer who studied in Russia and speaks English and Russian. His setting is not a conventional theater but a river route winding through limestone caves.

    At Chuiyun Tongtian River, Zhang is one of a rotating cast inspired by Journey to the West, the classic Chinese novel. Visitors may encounter Zhu Bajie, also known as Pigsy, as well as the Bull Demon King and Taishang Laojun, a Taoist deity.

    More than 120 performers take part in the program. Rather than delivering a fixed show from a stage, they improvise with visitors, pose for photos and pull travelers into short scenes along the route.

    The approach is part of what tourism marketers call immersive travel, though the experience is fairly straightforward: visitors are invited to respond, joke back and become part of the moment.

    Similar experiments are appearing elsewhere in the county. At Yaolin Wonderland and Yan Ziling Fishing Platform in Tonglu, performers appear among caves, riverbanks and mountain paths as characters drawn from folklore, history and local life. A visit might include a brief role-playing exchange, a story about the site or an encounter that changes the pace of an otherwise standard tour.

    The goal is to give visitors a reason to linger.

    An aquarium at a highway rest stop

    Tonglu’s most unusual tourism experiment may not be in a scenic area at all.

    During China’s May Day holiday this year, travelers stopping at the Tonglu service area on the G25 Changchun–Shenzhen Expressway found more than fuel, snacks and restrooms. The rest area featured a large aquarium, mermaid performances and crowds pausing to take photos.

    The attraction turned a routine highway break into a destination in its own right. According to figures released by local authorities, the service area received more than 80,000 visitors a day during the holiday.

    The idea is to capture some of the spending that would otherwise pass through the county without stopping. A traveler who pulls over for coffee may stay for a show, buy a meal or decide to explore nearby attractions.

    County data show that Tonglu received 1.61 million visits during the May Day holiday, up 13.2% from a year earlier.

    Tourism revenue reached 958 million yuan, or roughly $132 million, a 12.4% increase, according to authorities.

    Those numbers do not prove that a single aquarium or character program drove the growth. But they point to the value Tonglu sees in making travel stops more memorable — and in turning short visits into longer ones.

    Scenic Tonglu County. Photo by Huang Qiang
    Scenic Tonglu County. Photo by Huang Qiang

    More ways to spend a summer day

    In late July, Tonglu launched a summer tourism campaign “Water Play Kingdom: Tonglu Is Wild.” The branding is aimed at visitors looking for a mix of rafting, family activities, village stays and outdoor recreation.

    The county’s tourism offerings now range from river rafting and mountain-stream activities to the family resort, rural walks and evening events. The strategy is less about promoting a single landmark than about creating enough options for visitors to spend a full weekend — or return in another season.

    That broader approach matters in a destination with no shortage of natural scenery. Tonglu’s rivers, caves and hills remain the foundation of its appeal. But local planners are increasingly treating those landscapes as settings for activities, stories and encounters rather than as backdrops for a quick stop and a photo.

    Making travel easier for overseas visitors

    Tonglu is also preparing for more international travelers.

    The multilingual “Turtle Immortal” has become a lighthearted symbol of that effort. When the performer chats with overseas visitors in English, Chinese social-media users joke that “the Heavenly Palace has opened an international branch.”

    Behind the joke is a more practical effort to improve the visitor experience. Yaolin township in Tonglu has been selected as a provincial pilot area for inbound-tourism innovation, with work underway on multilingual signs, international payment options and other services for overseas guests.

    For international visitors, those details can matter as much as the attractions themselves. A cave performance or rafting trip may be memorable, but clear directions, workable payment systems and accessible information determine whether a trip feels easy or frustrating.

    The county’s tourism push is still rooted in the things that first drew people there: water, mountains and caves. What is changing is the role of the visitor.

    In Tonglu, tourists may still come for the view. But they may also find themselves joking with a cave character, watching mermaids at a highway rest stop or joining an activity that asks them to do more than pose for a photo.

    Hashtag: #Tonglu

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

  • Phancy 2026 Interim Results: Revenue Up 43.4%, API Revenue Up 860.8%, Turnaround to Profit

    Phancy 2026 Interim Results: Revenue Up 43.4%, API Revenue Up 860.8%, Turnaround to Profit

    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – Phancy Group Co., Ltd. (“Phancy” or “the Group”, stock code: 6682.HK), a leading enterprise AI cloud service platform, today announced its interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2026 (“the period”).

    During the period, the Group achieved revenue of RMB3,765 million, representing a 43.4% year-on-year increase. Gross profit amounted to RMB1,233 million, with an overall gross profit margin of 32.8%. Profit attributable to owners of the parent company amounted to RMB119 million, while adjusted profit attributable to owners of the parent company amounted to RMB150 million. Both measures turned profitable, reflecting continued improvement in operational efficiency and profitability alongside the expansion of the Group’s business scale.

    The Group’s three major business segments developed in synergy. The API business recorded revenue of RMB464 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 860.8%, and became a key growth driver for the Group. The AI Platform business recorded revenue of RMB3,088 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 30.0%. The Agentic AI business recorded revenue of RMB214 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.9%.

    Dr. Dai Wenyuan, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Phancy, said: “In the first half of 2026, the Group accelerated revenue growth and further improved profitability, supported by the coordinated development of our AI Platform, API and Agentic AI businesses. The AI Platform continued to strengthen our core business foundation, while the API business delivered breakthrough growth by leveraging the capabilities of the Token Factory, becoming an important growth engine for the Group.

    Looking ahead, we will capitalize on the opportunities arising from the large-scale adoption of enterprise AI, apply our technological and operational strengths to deepen synergies between the AI Platform and API businesses, and focus our Agentic AI business on high-value industry applications. We remain committed to maintaining high-quality growth and operational efficiency while creating long-term, sustainable value for our clients and shareholders.”

    Token Factory Drives Breakthrough Growth in the API Business

    During the period, the API business sustained its strong growth momentum and recorded revenue of RMB464 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 860.8%, supported by enhanced Token service capabilities and growing client demand. In the first half of 2026, Token consumption grew by approximately 620% year on year. As of the end of the period, the Group’s available computing power resources increased to 28,000 PFLOPS, supporting the expansion of Token service capacity and future development of the API business.

    In the first half of 2026, the Group continued to enhance its API service capabilities. As one of the Group’s core technology platforms, ModelHub has accumulated more than 200,000 “model x chip” adaptation combinations, creating an increasingly significant scale advantage and enabling the Group to meet growing demand for AI model calls from enterprises and developers in Mainland China and overseas markets.

    The “Token Factory” is not a standalone product, but an integrated production and operational framework connecting heterogeneous computing resources, models and enterprise applications. Leveraging core technologies including HAMi vGPU and ModelHub, the Group has established end-to-end capabilities spanning computing resource scheduling, model adaptation, and Token production and delivery, creating a complete value chain from computing resources to Token services and enabling clients to use AI services with greater stability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

    The Group will continue to optimize the allocation of computing power resources in line with business needs and enhance the production and delivery capabilities of its Token services. As AI adoption expands across a broader range of use cases, the API business is expected to further unlock its growth potential and create increasing commercial value as it scales.

    Enterprise Private Deployments Strengthen the AI Platform’s Core Business Foundation

    During the period, the AI Platform business achieved revenue of RMB3,088 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 30.0%. The Group’s orders on hand amounted to approximately RMB7 billion. Supported by broader client coverage, a steady increase in the number of paying clients and growing revenue contributions from major high-quality clients, the AI Platform business maintained steady growth and remained a stable contributor to the Group’s revenue.

    During the period, the number of paying clients with RISE vGPU, the commercial version of HAMi vGPU, as their primary requirement increased approximately 5-fold year on year. As the adoption of heterogeneous computing resources continues to expand, enterprises’ needs for more effective computing power and higher resource utilization efficiency are also increasing, creating further growth opportunities for the Group’s related products and services.

    As AI applications become increasingly integrated into enterprises’ core business processes, clients’ requirements for data security, operational autonomy and control, flexible integration and long-term operations continue to increase, highlighting the importance of private deployment of enterprise AI. The Group continues to provide clients across the energy, manufacturing, financial services, retail and telecommunications sectors with full-stack capabilities encompassing unified heterogeneous computing resource management, model adaptation and optimization, and the deployment and operation of enterprise AI applications, supporting clients in expanding AI applications from individual projects to a broader range of business scenarios.

    Agentic AI Focuses on High-Value Applications and Explores Result-as-a-Service Model

    During the period, the Agentic AI business continued to operate steadily, recording revenue of RMB214 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.9%. The Group continued to pursue a focused development strategy, prioritizing investment in industry applications with significant strategic value and the potential to accumulate high-quality, industry-specific data, thereby supporting the long-term development of its business value and industry capabilities.

    In terms of its business model, the Group further promoted its result-as-a-service (RaaS) cooperation model in high-value industry applications, including energy and entertainment industries. Rather than simply selling standardized products, the Group works closely with clients throughout their business processes, using AI to reduce costs, improve efficiency and generate incremental revenue. Commercial arrangements are linked to the value actually delivered. As the relevant projects continue to progress, the Group aims to further deepen these client relationships while accumulating real-world industry experience and know-how, creating favorable conditions to further scale the relevant capabilities.

    Looking ahead, the Group will continue to maintain a focused approach to investment and prioritize business areas capable of creating long-term client value and economies of scale.

    Operational Efficiency and Resource Support Enable Business Expansion

    During the period, the Group’s research and development (R&D) expenses amounted to RMB1,208 million, up 35.2% year on year, and R&D expense stood at 32.1%. As of the end of the period, the Group had accumulated more than 500 invention patents. The Group continued to focus on strengthening core AI infrastructure capabilities, including HAMi and ModelHub, and further enhanced its capabilities in heterogeneous computing power management, model adaptation and enterprise AI services, supporting the coordinated development of the AI Platform, API and Agentic AI businesses while further enhancing product iteration, client delivery and operational efficiency.

    In the first half of the year, the Group strategically increased its computing power resource reserves to support the continued capacity expansion of Token service capacity and meet growing client demand. Capital expenditures amounted to RMB2,237 million. At the same time, the Group had aggregate credit facilities of approximately RMB6,616 million and total borrowings of RMB1,660 million, providing financial support for the deployment of computing power assets and business development. The Group will continue to allocate resources in line with its business development needs and balance capital investment, business growth and profitability.

    The Group’s selling and marketing expenses amounted to RMB28 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 85.0%, while selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 0.75%, primarily due to increased client recognition and enhanced product capabilities. While maintaining investment in core technologies, the Group will continue to optimize resource allocation and operational efficiency and enhance the quality of business growth.

    Dual Growth Engines Driving Long-Term Value Creation

    Looking ahead, enterprise AI applications are gradually moving from pilot programs toward large-scale adoption and continuing to expand into a broader range of core business areas. Enterprises’ requirements for data security, operational autonomy and control, and deep integration with business processes will continue to drive the development of the private AI Platform deployment market. At the same time, the wider adoption of Agentic AI applications and rapid growth in Token demand are expected to drive continued demand for efficient, stable and scalable Token services.

    Leveraging its neutral, full-stack AI capabilities and extensive experience serving enterprise clients, the Group will continue to enhance its technology, delivery and operational capabilities. While maintaining a disciplined approach to operations, the Group will support the steady growth of the AI Platform business, steadily advance the development of the Token Factory and the API business, and focus the Agentic AI business on industry applications with long-term value, creating sustainable value for clients and shareholders.

    Hashtag: #Phancy

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

    About Phancy Group

    Phancy Group (6682.HK) is a leading full-stack AI cloud services platform, providing comprehensive solutions for the AI 2.0 era. Our offerings include 4ParadigmSage AIOS, HAMi vGPU and ModelHub XC, delivering efficient and scalable AI infrastructure with end-to-end capabilities. We provide a complete solution from heterogeneous compute resource management and optimization to the deployment of intelligent agent models. These solutions empower digital transformation across a wide range of industries, supporting our vision of building a large-scale and efficient “Token Factory.”

    Guided by the mission of “AI for Everyone” and positioned as the “Navigator of AI,” Phancy Group is committed to becoming a global leader in Artificial General Intelligence.

  • "Japan Home" Singapore Stores Resume Operations

    "Japan Home" Singapore Stores Resume Operations

    Local Franchise Model to Enhance Operational Efficiency and Support Sustainable Growth

    SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – International Housewares Retail Company Limited (“IH Retail” or the “Group”, stock code: 1373), the parent company and owner of the “Japan Home” brand in Singapore, is pleased to announce that all “Japan Home” stores in Singapore have resumed operations and are open for business.

    Following the completion of the transition arrangements, all relevant stores have reopened on 20 August 2026.

    On 13 August 2026, an indirect subsidiary of the Group entered into a three-year master franchise agreement with the Singapore master franchisee, Radha Export Pte. Ltd (“Radha”), the company which is the engine behind the ABC and Valu$ stores in Singapore, and completed the handover of the existing stores on 19 August 2026. The agreement grants the master franchisee the exclusive right to operate the “Japan Home” business in Singapore, including through sub-franchisees, and to establish additional outlets at suitable locations.

    Radha combines extensive experience in consumer goods and wholesale distribution with strong local operational expertise and a well-established supply chain network. By leveraging the Radha’s local capabilities, the Group expects to enhance store operating efficiency, improve its responsiveness to market demand and maintain strong brand awareness in Singapore. The local franchise model is also expected to support the continued expansion of the “Japan Home” brand’s reach and influence in Singapore and across the Southeast Asian market over the next three years.

    This strategic restructuring represents an important step in optimizing the Group’s regional business structure, improving operational quality and enhancing efficiency. The Group remains confident in the long-term development of the Singapore market and is committed to ensuring customers continue to enjoy shopping at “Japan Home” stores in Singapore.

    Hashtag: #JapanHome

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

  • Olymptrade partners with HOPE Worldwide Malaysia for a charitable mission in Kuala Lumpur

    Olymptrade partners with HOPE Worldwide Malaysia for a charitable mission in Kuala Lumpur

    KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – Olymptrade, a global trading platform, partnered with HOPE Worldwide Malaysia on a charity initiative to support food distribution and healthcare access for low-income families in Kuala Lumpur.

    HOPE Worldwide Malaysia is a non-profit organization founded in 2000. It supports urban low-income households and marginalized communities through food assistance, healthcare access and community wellbeing programs across the country.

    On August 15, the partners held a food distribution event near the Sentul Free Clinic, handing out 180 care boxes to impoverished families. Each box contained 10 kg of rice, flour, cooking oil, dried noodles, canned food, a choco malt drink, biscuits, potatoes and vegetables.

    Olymptrade also contributed to HOPE’s Health & Wellbeing Program, which supports both the Sentul Free Clinic of HOPE and mental wellness training for community members.

    The Sentul clinic, one of the NGO’s major projects, has been offering free, high-quality healthcare to local marginalized communities since 2000, treating more than 80,000 patients, including children and the elderly. Olymptrade’s donation will cover two months of the clinic’s operations, covering doctors’ salaries, medical supplies, program allowances and facility upkeep.

    Olymptrade’s donation will also fund three months of wellness training for 25 women, led by a qualified mental wellness facilitator. The program is designed to help mothers build emotional resilience, so they’re better equipped to support and guide their own children.

    This isn’t Olymptrade’s first charity campaign. The company has run similar missions in other countries where it operates, including Indonesia, Nigeria, Brazil, India and others, partnering with well-known local charities each time.

    The Kuala Lumpur campaign follows the same model, pairing immediate relief with a longer-term investment in healthcare and wellness.

    Olymptrade sees this combination as key to helping communities not just today, but for years to come. It also hopes the initiative will raise broader awareness of the food security challenges many Malaysian families continue to face.

    Hashtag: #Olymptrade

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

  • From the Ground Up: How Vinhomes Is Building Cities to Global Smart-City Standards

    From the Ground Up: How Vinhomes Is Building Cities to Global Smart-City Standards

    HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – As global investors increasingly evaluate cities through measurable resilience, governance and sustainability, Vinhomes is taking an uncommon approach, embedding internationally recognized smart-city standards into large-scale developments from day one.

    Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise occupies one of Vietnam's most distinctive ecological settings, bordered by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.
    Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise occupies one of Vietnam’s most distinctive ecological settings, bordered by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve.

    Through landmark partnerships with global certification bodies, the company is seeking to demonstrate that future cities can be designed not only to be greener and smarter, but also to perform against internationally benchmarked metrics.

    When Data Becomes the New Currency of Cities

    In the global competition for capital, talent and innovation, cities are increasingly judged by their ability to generate measurable outcomes. Investors today want evidence that infrastructure is resilient, mobility is efficient, governance is transparent and environmental commitments translate into long-term economic value.

    This transition is reshaping how cities are planned. According to the OECD, data governance has become a foundational element of smart-city development, while internationally standardized indicators such as ISO 37122 enable cities to measure performance consistently, benchmark against global peers and inform better policy and investment decisions1.

    Meanwhile, the World Council on City Data (WCCD) says that ISO-standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data enables cities to make better planning and investment decisions, benchmark performance against global peers, and attract investment through greater transparency and comparability2.

    That helps explain why international standards such as ISO 37122 are attracting growing attention. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the framework establishes globally comparable indicators for evaluating smart-city performance across mobility, energy, environmental management, digital infrastructure, governance, public safety and innovation. ISO 37122 measures how effectively an urban system performs as an integrated whole.

    For governments and developers alike, the implication is significant, future cities will increasingly be judged by what they can measure and verify.

    Few developers have attempted to integrate those standards before a city is even built. Yet that is precisely the path Vinhomes is pursuing. Instead of treating certification as a post-construction credential, the company is embedding internationally recognized smart-city metrics into the planning process itself, a strategy that could place Vietnam among a new generation of countries helping redefine how future cities are conceived, governed and evaluated.

    Embedding Global Standards from the Ground Up

    On March 3, 2026, Vinhomes Green Paradise – Can Gio officially launched its Smart City Certification Project in partnership with Korea Management Association Consulting (KMAC), the WCCD and the Standardized Urban Metrics (SUM) initiative.

    The collaboration aims to achieve the WCCD/SUM ISO 37122 Custom Smart City Certification, a customized framework derived from ISO 37122 and specifically developed for large-scale greenfield urban projects.

    Under the partnership, KMAC provides strategic consulting and technical advisory services to align the project’s development with internationally recognized indicators. WCCD and SUM are responsible for developing the customized indicator framework, supervising the assessment process and overseeing certification, with an Interim Certification targeted within 2026 before full certification in subsequent phases.

    The approach reflects a broader evolution in urban development. Historically, many cities have sought certification only after major infrastructure systems were completed. Greenfield developments, however, offer a different opportunity: sustainability, digital governance and performance measurement can be integrated into planning from the outset rather than retrofitted later.

    “This project symbolizes a landmark collaboration between Vietnam and Korea in advancing global smart city standards,” said Mr. Chulse Oh, Head of AX Group at KMAC. “By combining Vinhomes’ visionary urban development with KMAC’s consulting expertise and WCCD/SUM’s global certification framework, Vinhomes Green Paradise will become a model for data-driven governance, sustainability, and smart innovation.”

    Situated across 2,870 hectares, Vinhomes Green Paradise occupies one of Vietnam’s most distinctive ecological settings, bordered by the Can Gio Sea and the UNESCO-recognized Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve spanning more than 75,000 hectares. The project features 121 kilometers of coastline while maintaining a construction density of just 16%, reflecting a development strategy that prioritizes environmental resilience alongside long-term urban growth.

    Its ESG++ framework expands upon traditional Environmental, Social and Governance principles by adding two additional pillars – Regeneration and Climate Adaptation – placing ecosystem restoration alongside economic development.

    Once fully operational, the development targets 100% clean electricity generated from offshore wind, solar power and battery storage systems. Transportation is envisioned as an entirely net-zero ecosystem supported by electric cars, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, boats and a high-speed railway connecting directly with central Ho Chi Minh City.

    The project also places biodiversity at the center of its long-term strategy. A dedicated Forest Regeneration and Climate Adaptation Fund has been established to support research, ecological restoration and mangrove conservation, reinforcing Can Gio’s role as a natural coastal defense system while strengthening climate resilience for future generations.

    Dr. Patricia McCarney, President and CEO of WCCD and Director of SUM, believes the initiative reflects Vietnam’s growing role in global urban innovation.

    “Vietnam is emerging as one of the most promising leaders in smart and sustainable city development. The Vinhomes Green Paradise is a remarkable new development in Vietnam that deserves global recognition,” she said. “We are honored to partner with Vinhomes and KMAC to ensure that Vinhomes Green Paradise achieves global recognition through our WCCD/SUM ISO 37122 Custom Certification.”

    Vinhomes Green Paradise has also become the first official participant in the “7 Wonders of the Future Cities” campaign initiated by New7Wonders, further reinforcing its aspiration to become a benchmark for AI-ready, data-driven and environmentally resilient urban development.

    A Broader Vision for Vietnam’s Next Generation of Cities

    Less than two months after launching the Can Gio certification initiative, Vinhomes unveiled another flagship development that broadens the company’s long-term urban vision.

    On April 25, 2026, the developer officially introduced Vinhomes Global Gate Ha Long, a coastal mega-city spanning more than 6,200 hectares in Quang Ninh Province. Positioned as a “New Hanoi” beside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, the project is designed as a fully integrated urban ecosystem where residents can live, work, study, receive healthcare and enjoy world-class leisure amenities within a single destination.

    More than 2,500 hectares are dedicated to green landscapes, water systems and mangrove forests, including 680 hectares of naturally filtered sea, approximately 200 kilometers of white-sand coastline and more than 660 hectares of Globe Ha Long Forest Park. Together, these natural assets form the foundation of an ESG++ ecosystem centered on regeneration, biodiversity and long-term environmental resilience.

    Looking beyond today’s internationally recognized benchmarks, the development is envisioned as the world’s first ESG-oriented city progressing toward the emerging ISO 37125 standard for sustainable urban development.

    If Green Paradise Can Gio demonstrates how internationally verified smart-city metrics can be embedded into a greenfield development, Global Gate Ha Long expands that concept into a broader model of human-centered urbanism.

    Taken together, the two developments reveal an increasingly distinctive strategy. Rather than viewing international standards as external certifications to pursue after construction, Vinhomes is integrating them into the earliest stages of planning, governance and infrastructure design.

    By building around those standards from the outset, Vinhomes is making the case that Vietnam can help shape the next chapter of global smart-city development, one where data, governance and environmental resilience become as important as architecture itself./.

    Sources:

    1. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/smart-city-data-governance_e57ce301-en/full-report/component-4.html
    2. https://www.dataforcities.org/about-wccd

    Hashtag: #Vinhomes

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

  • ExcelScale Launches in Malaysia with Unified AI Platform Giving Enterprises Access To 100+ AI Models Through a Single API

    ExcelScale Launches in Malaysia with Unified AI Platform Giving Enterprises Access To 100+ AI Models Through a Single API

    New platform lets Malaysian organisations tap leading AI models through one OpenAI-compatible API, helping them scale AI adoption with stronger governance, security, and cost control.

    KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – ExcelScale has officially launched its unified AI infrastructure platform in Malaysia, giving organisations access to more than 100 leading AI models through a single OpenAI-compatible API. The platform addresses a challenge that has become increasingly familiar to Malaysian enterprises moving AI beyond pilot projects: it is no longer difficult to access AI models, but it is difficult to integrate them securely and manageably at scale, with separate provider accounts, APIs, billing systems, and governance requirements adding complexity just as businesses try to expand adoption.

    Mr Todd Abraham (second from right), General Manager of ExcelScale Malaysia, together with (from left) Datuk Wira Tom Chia, CEO of One Solutions System; Kay Cheng, Co-Founder of ExcelScale; and Dan Lim, CEO of Sigmawave AI, officially launched ExcelScale in Malaysia, enabling businesses to access and manage more than 100 leading AI models through a single API.

    As Malaysian organisations extend AI use across software development, research, content production, data analysis and internal workflows, many are managing multiple AI providers at once. This gives them greater choice, but it also raises new challenges around interoperability, governance, and operational oversight as adoption spreads across more teams and functions.

    “Enterprise AI has reached a stage where access is no longer the main barrier. The greater challenge is bringing different AI capabilities together in a way that stays practical, secure, and manageable for the business,” said Mr Todd Abraham, General Manager of ExcelScale.

    “The next stage of enterprise AI won’t be defined by how many models organisations can access, but by how effectively they can integrate and manage them. Businesses want the flexibility to choose the right model for each task without maintaining a separate technical environment every time. ExcelScale was built to provide that consistent foundation, so teams can focus on building useful AI applications instead of managing fragmented systems.”

    Through a standardised API, organisations could connect to models supporting text generation, visual recognition, voice synthesis, video creation, and data analysis without rebuilding their integrations for each provider, letting technical teams choose models by workload while keeping a consistent development and deployment process. Enterprise features including access controls, API key management, configurable model permissions, Virtual Private Cloud deployment options and usage monitoring help businesses manage AI services more consistently, while a centralised dashboard gives oversight of API requests, token consumption, and costs.

    For businesses, this cuts the need to manage multiple disconnected systems as AI initiatives grow, freeing up time spent maintaining infrastructure for developing applications that support productivity, innovation, and operational improvement.

    “As AI becomes part of everyday business operations, organisations need infrastructure that can evolve alongside the technology. Our vision is to help businesses adopt AI with greater clarity and control,” said Mr Todd.

    “By simplifying the layer between organisations and the models they use, we hope to make it easier for more enterprises to turn AI capabilities into practical, sustainable business applications.”

    For more information about ExcelScale, visit https://excelscale.com/.

    Hashtag: #Excelscale

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

  • "Cheers from the Origin" Kicks Off as Carlsberg Asia Expands Ties with RedNote

    "Cheers from the Origin" Kicks Off as Carlsberg Asia Expands Ties with RedNote

    Starring Shawn Dou, the campaign advances digital premiumisation across key Asia markets, accelerating online-to-offline conversion

    Join Carlsberg Asia and Shawn on the journey to “Cheers from the Origin”: link

    HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – Carlsberg Asia is deepening its partnership with RedNote, China’s leading social commerce platform, through the digital campaign “Cheers from the Origin” (丹麥碰杯時刻). The collaboration expands reach and strengthens engagement with modern consumers across key Asia markets, including Hong Kong, China; Singapore; Malaysia; and Vietnam.

    image-1.jpeg

    Building on the strategic partnership framework established with RedNote last year, Carlsberg Asia is charting a long-term digital acceleration journey by combining Carlsberg’s premium portfolio with RedNote’s social commerce capabilities, data insights, and creator network. The collaboration is piloting new ways to reach Chinese-speaking, digitally savvy consumers and convert online engagement into on-the-ground bar and restaurant visits and e-commerce conversions.

    Carlsberg Asia partners with RedNote on "Cheers from the Origin", featuring award-winning Chinese actor Shawn Dou on a journey to explore Carlsberg's origins in Copenhagen.
    Carlsberg Asia partners with RedNote on “Cheers from the Origin”, featuring award-winning Chinese actor Shawn Dou on a journey to explore Carlsberg’s origins in Copenhagen.

    Starring award-winning Chinese actor Shawn Dou (窦骁), “Cheers from the Origin” brings Carlsberg’s 179 years of heritage and brand philosophy to life through a cinematic hero film and a series of online-to-offline (O2O) beer experiences co-created with RedNote in each local market.

    Arindam Varanasi, Commercial Vice President, Carlsberg Asia, “This campaign marks a pivotal milestone in our Asia Digital Acceleration Program. ‘Cheers from the Origin’ demonstrates our partnership-led approach to linking our premium product portfolio with digitally engaged consumers, scaling online-to-offline conversion, and driving sustainable, long-term value for our brands and our business.”

    Dodo Kwong, Regional Head, Asia Global Business Solutions, RedNote, further added, “Our continued partnership with Carlsberg shows how a heritage brand can thrive on RED, a platform built around community and discovery. Through authentic storytelling and the power of our creator network, we guide consumers to new places, new food pairings and new ways to enjoy Carlsberg, converting social engagement into real-world visits and measurable brand impact.”

    Shawn Dou Traces Carlsberg’s Rich Heritage

    Award-winning Chinese actor Shawn Dou set off for Copenhagen to uncover the stories behind Carlsberg's iconic taste
    Award-winning Chinese actor Shawn Dou set off for Copenhagen to uncover the stories behind Carlsberg’s iconic taste

    The “Cheers from the Origin” campaign opens at the Home of Carlsberg in Copenhagen, moving from the historic brewery and museum to the Carlsberg Research Laboratory, where the brand’s past and present come to life. Experiencing the story firsthand, Shawn becomes Carlsberg’s narrator, guiding consumers through original details that spotlight brewing craftsmanship and open-innovation mindset that has shared breakthroughs across the industry many years ago. Highlights include an expansive product collection that ranges from global favourites to limited Chinese New Year editions for Asia markets, plus a playful search for the world’s smallest toast, a 12mm miniature about the size of a grain of rice with a single drop of Carlsberg 0.0 beer. The journey also celebrates Carlsberg’s pursuit of perfection, where Shawn learns the perfect serve to build a creamy head and release aroma. The film leaves viewers with heritage they can feel, quality they can trust, and a premium beer experience ready for every drinking occasion in Asia.

    Shawn Dou meets Carlsberg's Master Brewer, Zoran Gojkovic, to explore Carlsberg's craftsmanship and the science behind "The Perfect Serve" at the research laboratory.
    Shawn Dou meets Carlsberg’s Master Brewer, Zoran Gojkovic, to explore Carlsberg’s craftsmanship and the science behind “The Perfect Serve” at the research laboratory.

    Cheers with Carlsberg: From Social Discovery to Real-World Beer Experiences

    Through the campaign with RedNote, Carlsberg Asia invites consumers across Hong Kong, China; Singapore; Malaysia; and Vietnam to discover the brand's origin story and celebrate their own Cheers moments.
    Through the campaign with RedNote, Carlsberg Asia invites consumers across Hong Kong, China; Singapore; Malaysia; and Vietnam to discover the brand’s origin story and celebrate their own Cheers moments.

    From now until 9 October 2026, Carlsberg Asia is amplifying its origin story and driving on-the-ground visits across key Asia markets through culturally relevant occasions and content creator partnerships on RedNote. The O2O campaign invites consumers, both travellers and locals, to explore a curated trail of premium bars and restaurants where great taste meets local culture.

    Through an interactive daily mission in the RedNote app, consumers can check in at featured pages and spots, unlock exclusive perks, and share their Cheers moment(#丹麥碰杯時刻) in real time. Each market’s bar trail is anchored by “The Perfect Serve”, a nod to Carlsberg’s heritage and quality from the origin to Asia. Completing missions earns points toward exclusive rewards including Carlsberg x Liverpool jersey, photo autograph of Shawn Dou, or a limited-edition Heipi Vacation Potato Captain plush.

    Carlsberg Asia is tapping RedNote’s user-generated content engine and advanced targeting capabilities to reach digitally savvy consumers, driving online and offline brand discovery and conversion.

    Hashtag: #CarlsbergAsia

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

    About Carlsberg Asia

    Established in 1847 by brewer J.C. Jacobsen, the Carlsberg Group is one of the leading brewery groups in the world, with an attractive portfolio of beer and other beverage brands. With over 37.000 employees, and with a presence in more than 125 markets, the Group has a purpose of brewing for a better today and tomorrow Doing business responsibly and sustainably supports that purpose – and drives the efforts to deliver value for shareholders and society.

    Carlsberg Asia is a dynamic and diverse region comprising 8 operating markets: Cambodia; China; Hong Kong, China; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Singapore; and Vietnam. Altogether we have 34 breweries and some 12,000 employees across the region. The Asia Regional Office is based in Hong Kong, China.