Category: What’s News Asia

Industry leaders and practitioners gathered in Hong Kong to advance climate adaptation, building transformation and AI-enabled solutions for a more resilient built environment across Asia.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – Arup and Saint-Gobain hosted the Asia launch (Hong Kong) of their global report, Adapting Buildings to Climate Change, alongside a technical seminar on AI-enhanced building design and operation. Supported by the Hong Kong Green Building Council, BEAM Society Limited, Business Environment Council, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Royal Institute of British Architects and American Institute of Architects Hong Kong, the event brought together more than 100 industry leaders, developers, architects, engineers and sustainability practitioners to examine how the built environment can respond to the growing challenges of climate change. The Hong Kong edition follows the report’s European launch in Brussels earlier this year and marks the beginning of a wider conversation across the Asia Pacific region.

Reflecting the value of collaboration between government and industry, Mr Sammy Yeung, JP, Commissioner for Climate Change, Environment and Ecology Bureau, HKSAR Government; and Mr Benjamin Hubin, Deputy Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, graced the launch ceremony as distinguished guests. Their presence underscored a shared commitment to addressing climate challenges and strengthening the resilience of Hong Kong’s built environment.

The urgency of that shared agenda framed the evening’s discussions. The scale of the challenge is significant. More than 7,000 major climate-related disasters caused nearly US$3 trillion in losses worldwide between 2000 and 2019, and the frequency and severity of heatwaves, floods, storms and extreme rainfall continue to rise. As one of the world’s most densely developed cities, Hong Kong faces distinct pressures, with rising temperatures, intensifying rainfall and a large existing building stock reinforcing the need for adaptation alongside decarbonisation. The pressure is particularly acute in dense urban areas, where Arup’s research has found the urban heat island effect can raise city temperatures by up to 8.5°C compared with rural surroundings, putting lives at risk and driving up cooling demand. Against this backdrop, the report examines how buildings can better withstand extreme heat, flooding and storms while supporting the transition to a low-carbon future.

Building on these themes, distinguished speakers and panellists from across the built environment sector shared their perspectives throughout the evening. Through a series of presentations and a panel discussion, they explored how building owners, investors and industry professionals can extend asset life, strengthen resilience and create lasting social and economic value through climate-responsive design, retrofitting and advanced technologies, as well as the growing role of digital innovation and artificial intelligence in enabling smarter, more sustainable decision-making across the building lifecycle.

Ir Dr Vincent Cheng, Arup Fellow and APAC Environment, Climate and Sustainability Services Leader, said, “Climate adaptation is no longer a future consideration. It is a present-day imperative for our cities, communities and economies. Buildings account for a significant share of our urban assets, and enhancing their resilience is essential to protecting people, livelihoods and long-term prosperity. Through this report, Arup and Saint-Gobain aim to provide practical insights that help the industry move beyond identifying climate risks and towards implementing solutions. By combining adaptation, decarbonisation and digital innovation, we can create buildings that are not only more resilient, but also healthier, more efficient and better equipped to support thriving communities.”

Mr Ludovic Weber, CEO Asia, Saint-Gobain, said, “Building adaptation to climate change cannot be addressed through one discipline, one stakeholder or one product alone. This report reinforces and accelerates Saint-Gobain’s long-standing approach of combining materials, systems and building-science expertise to deliver integrated, performance-based solutions tailored to specific climate risks and local needs. Together with Arup, we aim to turn knowledge into practical action and help create buildings that are more resilient, sustainable and valuable over the long term.”

About the report
Adapting Buildings to Climate Change explores the impacts of climate change on buildings and sets out strategies to strengthen resilience across the asset lifecycle. It identifies three complementary design approaches, namely robustness, adaptiveness and flexibility, and presents practical families of construction solutions ranging from thermal envelope and solar protection systems to green infrastructure and enhanced-resistance measures. The report highlights the business and societal value of investing in adaptation, showing how proactive measures can safeguard assets, improve occupant wellbeing and support more sustainable, resilient cities.

Hashtag: #Arup #Saint-Gobain

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

About Arup

Arup is a global built environment consultancy providing advisory and technical expertise for our clients across more than 150 disciplines. We create safe, resilient, and regenerative places.
www.arup.com

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – TIME named He Tingbo, President of HiSilicon, Huawei’s semiconductor division, to the 2026 TIME100 AI, a list recognizing the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence.

In May 2026, He Tingbo unveiled the “Tau (τ) Scaling Law” at the IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems in Shanghai: a proposal to replace the geometric shrinking of Moore’s Law with time-based scaling as the guiding principle for semiconductors and the electronic systems built on them. In the past decade under her leadership, the company has built its competitive edge in AI computing including Ascend AI accelerators, Kunpeng server processors, and UnifiedBus-enabled SuperPoD systems.

To assemble the list, TIME’s editors and reporters examined the key stories in AI over the past year and consulted with expert sources and industry leaders for recommendations. The result is a list of 100 leaders, innovators, shapers, and thinkers who have a stake in the future of AI.

See He Tingbo’s story here: https://time.com/collection/time100-ai/2026/he-tingbo/

See the full list here: http://ti.me/100ai

Hashtag: #Huawei #TIME100AI

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

Empowering SMEs and Working Professionals to Embrace AI and Foster Widespread AI Adoption in Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) today held the Launching Ceremony of the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, aligning with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the “AI+” initiative, and supporting the HKSAR Government’s policies of “industries for AI, AI for industries” and “AI for All”. Coordinated by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB), the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme aims to promote the widespread adoption of AI across society. As one of the programme implementation partners, HKPC will lead the “AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment” sub-programme, focusing on practical business applications, talent development, and inclusive technology adoption. The initiative will provide targeted support to SMEs, professionals, labour groups, and underprivileged communities through a range of training courses, hands-on application programmes, and industry-academia-research collaboration, promoting AI literacy and the practical deployment of AI technologies.

Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, officiated at the ceremony, joined by Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, and Mr Mohamed Butt, MH, Executive Director of HKPC. The event also brought together representatives from leading international and Chinese Mainland technology enterprises, chambers of commerce, and industry leaders, who shared successful case studies and practical insights, fostering collaboration across sectors to advance Hong Kong’s AI ecosystem.

Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said: “AI has become a key factor in global industrial upgrading and driving the development of the digital economy. Helping SMEs to achieve digital transformation and enhance competitiveness through AI is one of the focal points of the ‘AI for All’ inclusive programme. This time, HKPC as the third implementing organisation for the ‘AI for All’ inclusive programme, leverages its years of experience serving businesses to provide targeted and professional support to SMEs, helping them seize opportunities in the AI era. I hope that through the ‘AI for All’ inclusive programme, AI will not only serve as an empowering tool to enhance corporate value and competitiveness but also transform into a super dividend that benefits SMEs and the general public. Let ‘AI for All’ become Hong Kong’s vision for ‘Upgrading for All’ and ‘Opportunities for All’.”

Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, said: “AI should not be a privilege reserved for large enterprises. It should become a productivity tool that every business, every employee, and people from all walks of life can leverage. HKPC has long been committed to helping enterprises, particularly SMEs, enhance productivity, drive digital transformation, and convert innovative technologies into tangible business value. We focus on integrating AI technologies across different industries by providing practical, scalable and replicable solutions that support smart transformation. As one of the implementation organisations of the ‘AI for All’ Inclusive Programme, HKPC will centre its efforts on ‘AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment’, connecting Government, industry, academia, technology partners and social service organisations to help enterprises, SMEs, professionals and underprivileged communities acquire AI capabilities and transform AI into real productivity and business value, thereby advancing Hong Kong’s high-quality development and digital inclusion.”

“AI for All” Officially Launches with “Business Empowerment” Series to Drive Widespread AI Adoption

To advance the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, HKPC has launched the “AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment” training series, centred on practical business applications. Through a two-year training and promotion programme, HKPC will work with technology companies, chambers of commerce, labour groups and community partners to help SMEs, professionals, working individuals, labour organisations, underprivileged groups and the general public acquire AI knowledge and application skills. The initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of AI and support digital and smart transformation across industries, sectors and communities through three key focus areas:

1. Business and Industry Upgrading: Through AI-focused programmes such as “AI+ Industry Boost Training” and “SME AI Connect”, enterprises can rapidly adopt AI technologies to enhance productivity and competitiveness. Key training topics include:

• Practical Applications of Generative AI: Learning how to use generative AI tools for content creation, data analysis, and workflow optimisation.
• AI Applications Across Industries: Exploring how AI enhances efficiency, optimises operations and drives innovation in sectors including education, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and logistics.
• AI Project Workshops: Providing hands-on experience in AI application development and implementation, enabling participants to integrate AI solutions into real business scenarios.

2. Human Resources and Leadership: HKPC will continue conducting the “Hong Kong Enterprise AI Application Trends Survey” and share insights through “AI Talent Winning Tips”, helping organisations understand AI talent management and application trends while preparing for future workforce needs. Key topics include:

• AI and Career Development: Examining the impact of AI on the future workplace and helping professionals understand emerging skills requirements.
• AI Talent Management and Application Strategies: Sharing successful corporate experiences and practical strategies for AI transformation and talent development.

3. AI for ALL: Through the free online learning platform “AI BiteClass”, HKPC will provide convenient AI learning resources for SMEs, professionals, senior citizens and underprivileged communities, enabling people from all backgrounds to access AI fundamentals and the latest application trends anytime, anywhere. Key topics include:

• Introduction to AI Fundamentals: Covering basic AI concepts, operating principles, common use cases and future trends.
• Getting Started with Generative AI: Introducing generative AI tools and their everyday applications.
• AI Ethics and Responsible Use: Building awareness of responsible AI adoption, including issues relating to data privacy, bias and transparency.

“AI BiteClass” Debuts at Launch Ceremony, Bringing Global Technology Expertise to Hong Kong

As part of the launch event, HKPC presented a live edition of the “AI BiteClass”, featuring experts from HKPC and leading global technology companies, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Huawei Cloud, Lenovo, Samsung, Tencent Cloud and Microsoft. The sessions shared practical AI techniques and real-world application cases tailored for SMEs. Through concise yet insightful presentations, the guest speakers highlighted the best practices and implementation strategies for AI, demonstrating how businesses can leverage AI to drive growth and enhance operational efficiency.

Looking ahead, the “AI BiteClass” will introduce a range of free online courses covering popular topics such as generative AI, AI agents, workflow automation, data analytics and enterprise transformation. Members of the public will be able to access practical AI learning resources at any time through the online platform or via iAM Smart.

HKPC has long positioned itself as a “technology adopter and enabler”, committed to helping enterprises transform innovation into tangible business value. Since 2024, HKPC has organised more than 600 AI training sessions, serving over 32,000 participants, including SMEs, large enterprises, HR professionals, industry leaders, students, educators and members of the public. These efforts have played a pivotal role in fostering a more competitive AI application ecosystem in Hong Kong.

A series of “AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment” activities will be rolled out progressively. Enterprises and members of the public are welcome to register via iAM Smart and stay updated on the latest programmes. Through collaboration with global technology enterprises, industry organisations and community partners, HKPC aims to bring AI into businesses, workplaces and communities, advancing the vision of “AI for All” while empowering enterprises and co-building Hong Kong’s intelligent future. For details, please visit: https://www.hkpcacademy.org/en/aiforall/

Please download the high-res photos HERE.

Photo Captions:

1. Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, delivers a speech at the ceremony, sharing the Government’s vision for advancing the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, accelerating AI adoption and fostering innovation and technology development in Hong Kong.
2. Professor SUN Dong, JP, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government (middle), Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC (left), and Mr Mohamed Butt, MH, Executive Director of HKPC (right) officiate the HKPC Launching Ceremony of the “AI for All” Inclusive Programme, jointly promoting AI literacy and application.
3. Mr Emil YU Chen-on, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman of HKPC, says HKPC will help enterprises and talent master AI technologies through the “AI with HKPC – Business Empowerment” series, supporting the transition from AI awareness to practical application.
4. The “AI for All” Inclusive Programme attracts representatives from the business and innovation and technology sectors to explore the latest AI developments and application opportunities.
5. HKPC hosts an “AI BiteClass” sharing session on the day of the Launching Ceremony, inviting technology companies and industry experts to present practical AI experiences and success stories, helping enterprises enhance productivity and competitiveness through AI.

Hashtag: #HKPC

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

About the Hong Kong Productivity Council

The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a statutory body established in 1967, dedicated to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of Hong Kong enterprises through world-class applied R&D, innovative technology services, and integrated manufacturing solutions. As a market-oriented, international R&D organisation, HKPC leverages its deep expertise and extensive industry experience in key areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, life and health technology, green technology and new energy to drive new industrialisation and support the growth of emerging and future industries.

HKPC focuses on addressing businesses challenges and industrial technology needs, promoting the full integration between technological and industrial innovation. Through technology transfer, product innovation, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, the Council fosters collaboration with the local business community as well as top global R&D institutions, delivering added value to industries and advancing the development of new productive forces. HKPC’s world-class R&D achievements have been widely recognised over the years, winning an array of local and overseas accolades, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as an international innovation and technology centre and a smart city.

To help enterprises capitalise on Hong Kong’s strengths in international connectivity to expand into global markets, HKPC offers comprehensive overseas expansion services tailored to critical areas including product development, technology, manufacturing, and management, enabling businesses to successfully go global from Hong Kong.

HKPC is also committed to providing timely and practical support to SMEs and startups with timely and practical , assisting them in accessing Government funding programmes. Through its FutureSkills training initiatives, HKPC helps both industry and academia stay ahead in latest digital and STEM technologies, nurturing a future-ready talent pool for Hong Kong.

For more information, please visit HKPC’s website: www.hkpc.org/en.

Bringing Together More Than 45 Leading Watch Brands to Celebrate Watch Culture
Through The Symposium, Featuring Influential Voices from the World of Horology and
Discover Exclusive Exhibitions and Showcases from 22–27 September 2026 at Siam Paragon

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – Siam Paragon, reaffirming its position as a global landmark and one of the world’s premier Global Luxury Destinations, is set to host a defining landmark of haute horology with the second edition of “Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026.” The event is a ‘Celebration of Watch Culture,” bringing new depth and perspective to the world of horology through an exceptional gathering of more than 45 prestigious international watch maisons, renowned industry leaders, discerning collectors, and passionate enthusiasts from across the globe.

Designed as a dynamic platform for sharing and discovery, The event will feature The Symposium, an engaging forum of conversations with leading voices in horology, alongside exclusive exhibitions and curated showcases that offer visitors an intimate encounter with exceptional timepieces and the latest innovations in watchmaking. Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 will take place from 22–27 September 2026 at Siam Paragon, with a vision to position Bangkok as a Global Watch Destination and one of Asia’s most significant destinations for watch culture.

Entering its second year, Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 welcomes more than 45 prestigious watch brands, including A. LANGE & SOHNE, BIANCHET, BOUCHERON, BREITLING, BVLGARI, CARTIER, CHOPARD, FRANCK MULLER, GRAND SEIKO, HUBLOT, IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN, JAEGER-LECOULTRE, LOUIS ERARD, PANERAI, PIAGET, TAG HEUER, TIFFANY & CO., ULYSSE NARDIN, VACHERON CONSTANTIN, and ZENITH.

The 2026 edition also welcomes a distinguished line-up of new participating brands, including AMIDA, BEHRENS, BLANCPAIN, BREGUET, BREMONT, CVSTOS, DAVID CANDAUX, GERALD CHARLES, GIRARD-PERREGAUX, GREUBEL FORSEY, JACOB & CO., L.LEROY, MB&F, NORQAIN, OMEGA, ORIS, PARMIGIANI FLEURIER, RESSENCE, ROGER DUBUIS, SPEAKE-MARIN, TUDOR, and UNIVERSAL GENEVE.

The event will further enrich engagement within the global watch community through The Symposium, a distinguished platform dedicated to the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and the stories behind the art of watchmaking. Bringing together international brand executives, master watchmakers, renowned collectors, and influential industry figures. In a significant milestone for the event, Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 is honored to welcome the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH), the world’s leading authority on horological culture, to co-host a special edition of The Symposium.

The celebration will also feature an impressive lineup of novelties, Southeast Asia’s debuts, and world premieres from some of the industry’s most prestigious watch maisons and independent watchmakers. Reflecting its rapid ascent on the global horological calendar, this year’s Bangkok Watch Week has more than doubled the participation of leading international brands, bringing together an unprecedented spectrum of revered watch maisons and acclaimed independent creators. Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 aims to further establish Bangkok as a leading Global Watch Destination.

• World Premieres and the Latest Innovations in Fine Watchmaking

One of the most anticipated highlights of Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 will be the unveiling of significant new timepieces and collections from more than 45 leading international watch brands. Showcasing over 200 exceptional novelties valued at hundreds of millions of baht, the event reflects strong confidence in Bangkok and the growing influence of the global collector community.

Among the standouts, Roger Dubuis will present the global debut of its iconic Knights of the Roundtable collection, offering watch enthusiasts a bold expression of creativity and mechanical mastery. Universal Genève will also make its highly anticipated Southeast Asian debut, providing a rare opportunity for the region’s watch community to experience the next chapter of the legendary Swiss watchmaker.

Collectors and enthusiasts can also explore The Exhibition, a dedicated showcase of the latest releases, limited editions, horological masterpieces, grand complications, rare treasures, and exceptional collections, offering an up-close encounter with some of the finest creations in contemporary watchmaking.

• The Symposium: Shaping the future of horology through dialogue and discovery by leading global voices

At the heart of Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 is “The Symposium,” conceived as a platform for storytelling and meaningful dialogue surrounding the art and science of watchmaking. Through the perspectives of brand founders, senior executives, watchmakers, creators, and influential figures from the world of haute horlogerie,

This year, The Symposium has been expanded in both the number of sessions and the capacity of its dedicated space, enabling an even wider community of collectors and enthusiasts to participate in these exclusive conversations, with a total of 18 sessions taking place throughout the event.

Among the most anticipated speakers is Mr.Georges Kern, Group CEO of Breitling, a leading figure in the Swiss watch industry, who will share his perspectives on the future direction of the industry and his vision for building a watch brand that remains meaningfully connected with audiences in the modern world during The Symposium on The Breitling Journey- Georges Kern, on Brand Legacy, Community and the Future of Watch Culture.

Also taking part is Mr. Emmanuel Breguet, Vice President and Head of Patrimony, who will share insights into the history of Breguet and the maison’s legacy of innovation surrounding the Tourbillon, commemorating the 225th Anniversary of the Tourbillon. His participation offers collectors and horology enthusiasts a rare opportunity to hear directly from an individual with a profound connection to the maison’s heritage.

Throughout the six-day programme, The Symposium will feature a distinguished line-up of sessions, including:

• The Symposium on CVSTOS: Beyond Tradition – Material Innovation in Modern Watchmaking with Sassoun Sirmakes – CEO
• The Symposium on Piaget with Pierre Guerrier – Business Developer and Watchmaking Expert
• The Symposium on Universal Genève Returns: The Beginning of A New Era for Le Couturier De La Montre with House of Brands CEO Georges Kern and Universal Genève Managing Director Gregory Bruttin
• The Symposium on Vacheron Constantin with Morgan Maillard – Style and Heritage Expert
• The Symposium on Franck Muller with Nicolas Rudaz – CEO
• The Symposium on Roger Dubuis: Astronomy Meets Geneva Watchmaking Excellence-Introducing the Excalibur Biretrograde Perpetual Calendar with Jean-Philippe Bonneau, Chief Marketing Officer
• The Symposium on Jacob & Co. Inheriting the Impossible with Benjamin Arabov – CEO
• The Symposium on Grand Seiko: The Evolution of Precision with Takashi Sakamoto – Vice President & Jonathan Bues – Communications and Brand Advisor
• The Symposium on TUDOR: A Century of TUDOR with Cole Pennington
• The Symposium on Gerald Charles with Federico Ziviani – CEO
• The Symposium on Bvlgari: The Art of Time with Emma Behaeghel – Regional Managing Director, Bulgari South Asia Pacific
• The Symposium on Norqain with Tobias Küffer – Vice President

The programme will also feature the Watch Collector Symposium, creating a dedicated platform for collectors to exchange perspectives, experiences, and insights. Further enhancing the programme, the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) will join the event to present an exclusive Symposium programme, making The Symposium a unique platform that connects people with the stories behind watchmaking, from creative concepts and craftsmanship to the heritage of individual maisons and perspectives on the future of haute horlogerie.

• A World-Class Experience Making Its Southeast Asian Debut

Beyond exhibitions and conversations, Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 will offer visitors an immersive experience through “The Experience,” a dedicated experience showcasing distinctive innovations and specially curated activities from participating watch brands.

A key highlight will be the official Southeast Asian debut of the “Academy Lounge” by Fondation Haute Horlogerie Academy (FHH Academy). For collectors, brand executives, industry professionals, and individuals with a passion for horology, the Academy Lounge will provide access to expert guidance and educational resources from the Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH), a globally recognized organization dedicated to advancing knowledge, preserving the cultural heritage of fine watchmaking, and promoting international standards of understanding and appreciation for haute horlogerie.

Visitors will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of horology through a structured learning experience and take part in assessments leading to the FHH Certification, an internationally recognized certification that reflects an established standard of knowledge in fine watchmaking.

The Experience will also feature a diverse range of exclusive activities presented by leading watch brands, offering visitors the opportunity to explore horology through multiple dimensions, including craftsmanship, creativity, technical innovation, and design, through experiences created exclusively for Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026.

By creating an unprecedented horological phenomenon across all dimensions, encompassing insightful dialogues on watchmaking culture, immersive exhibitions, and exclusive showcases, Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 is not merely a venue where brands and collectors meet. Instead, it serves as a premier Watch Culture Platform that unites people, knowledge, craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and the future vision of the horological world. It stands as a celebration of the science, art, craftsmanship, and enduring legacy of watchmaking, driven by the ultimate mission to elevate Bangkok into the epicenter of watch culture in Asia and a landmark destination on the global horology calendar.

Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 will take place from 22–27 September 2026 at Siam Paragon, bringing together the world of fine watchmaking in a celebration designed to position Bangkok firmly on the global horological map as a Global Watch Destination.

For further information, event updates, and registration, please visit www.bangkokwatchweek.com or follow Instagram: @bangkokwatchweek.

Hashtag: #BangkokWatchWeek2026 #SIAMPIWAT #SiamParagon #SiamParagonBangkokWatchWeek2026 #LuxuryWatchDestination

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

Merdeka campaign spotlights 31 entrepreneurs building homegrown businesses across Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – From local craftsmanship to businesses responding to changing consumer needs, Malaysian entrepreneurs are creating value in ways that reflect the country’s diversity, resourcefulness and ambition. In conjunction with Merdeka and Malaysia Day, Shopee today launched Shopee Juara Lokal to celebrate 31 of these entrepreneurs whose journeys embody these qualities.

The inaugural Juara Lokal cohort brings together Shopee sellers from different states and business categories, selected for their distinctive stories, resilience, and established track records on the platform. Collectively, they demonstrate how digital commerce can help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) reach beyond their hometowns without losing sight of their roots.

Through a dedicated Juara Lokal digital showcase, Shopee offers Malaysians a closer look at the people, products, and stories behind these homegrown businesses in one curated destination.

The campaign also features an interview-led video series following the stories of Emilhan Mokhtar of Kita Shop Sabah, Satish Raguchandran of Russell Taylors, Natasha and Samantha Mah of Love Earth Organic, and Datuk Kamaruddin Meranun of MILK™. The series explores the experiences, challenges and milestones that have shaped their entrepreneurial journeys, with episodes released progressively across Shopee Malaysia’s Instagram and YouTube channels in the lead-up to Malaysia Day.

For Emilhan Mokhtar, founder of Kita Shop Sabah, childhood days spent helping his parents at local tamu markets became the foundation for his business.

“Being recognised as a Juara makes me immensely proud to represent the people, culture and craftsmanship of Sabah. Selling online has helped us bring authentic Sabahan pearl craftsmanship to customers across Malaysia, grow our team, and eventually expand from an online business into a physical storefront,” shared Emilhan.

While some businesses are rooted in local heritage and craftsmanship, others were shaped by personal experiences. Love Earth Organic is one such example, whose co-founders Samantha and Natasha Mah’s experience of seeing loved ones face health challenges prompted them to address a gap faced by their community: finding affordable, organic food products that meet Malaysians’ evolving health and lifestyle needs.

Samantha Mah, Co-Founder and Chief of Inspiration at Love Earth Organic, said, “Losing loved ones to cancer made us realise how important the choices we make every day can be, especially the food we put on our plates. That experience inspired us to start Love Earth Organic, to make healthier, organic choices more accessible to Malaysian families.”

Through Shopee Juara Lokal, Shopee is spotlighting the stories and journeys of Malaysian entrepreneurs to inspire more Malaysians to discover and support homegrown businesses. By celebrating their achievements and the impact they’ve made, the campaign also hopes to inspire the next generation of Malaysian sellers to follow in their footsteps and build businesses that positively impact the community.

Nik Emir Nik Din, Head of Public Policy and External Affairs, Shopee Malaysia, said, “Behind every homegrown business is a distinctly Malaysian story, shaped by personal experience, local knowledge, and the determination to build something meaningful. As these businesses grow, they create employment opportunities and open new avenues for Malaysian products and traditions, and reach customers beyond their immediate markets.

The 31 entrepreneurs featured in Juara Lokal demonstrate that success can take many forms, with each carving out their own unique journey. By showcasing their stories, we hope to set an example for future cohorts of successful Juara Lokal sellers, inspiring them to chart their own journeys and find success on their own terms,” he added.

Hashtag: #Shopee #LocalBusinesses #Merdeka #ShopeeJuaraLokal

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

Shopee

Shopee is the largest e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, and is a leading e-commerce platform in Brazil. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the digital economy, with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a global technology company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena, and Monee.

Singapore-headquartered company adopts a campaign-led model for consumer brands across Asia-Pacific, designing creative merchandise that consumers choose to keep.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – DTC World announced it has repositioned as a creative merchandise company, formalising a campaign-led approach it has used with consumer brands across Asia-Pacific. The change moves the company away from a product-first approach, towards merchandise designed to influence consumer behaviour — encouraging repeat purchase, product trial and participation — rather than merchandise distributed as a giveaway.

Under the repositioning, the company defines creative merchandise as branded product designed to serve a specific marketing objective — repeat purchase, product trial, advocacy or participation — with the objective decided before the product is chosen. It contrasts this with merchandise selected from a catalogue and added to a campaign after the fact.

DTC World said the change responds to how merchandise is now bought. Merchandise budgets increasingly sit inside campaign lines rather than procurement and are judged on what they achieve rather than what they cost, which requires a different starting point: not a product range, but the behaviour a brand needs from its shoppers.

“Most merchandise is designed to be handed out. Very little of it is designed to be kept,” said Jason Cheng, Managing Director of DTC World. “That is the standard we work to. If a consumer would not choose to keep the merchandise after the campaign ends, it was never going to do anything for the brand — and that is a design problem, not a sourcing one.”

One example of the approach is the company’s work with Ben & Jerry’s Singapore, for which DTC World designed four limited-edition socks inspired by the brand’s ice cream flavours. Each pair was packaged in a miniature pint container and distributed across participating retailers, produced as a collectible set rather than a single giveaway item, with the packaging itself designed to be kept. The socks were fully redeemed, and the company said the designs were widely shared on social media.

Similar formats now run through much of the company’s campaign work: collectible series, blind box drops, limited-edition releases and licensed IP collaborations that give consumers a reason to return rather than a reason to accept a free item.

DTC World said campaign merchandise now sits at the centre of its business: programmes built around a defined marketing objective and judged on the consumer behaviour they move. The company continues to produce corporate gifts alongside this work, where the job is building relationships with a known audience rather than moving behaviour at scale.

“Consumers are getting more selective about what they keep, and that is raising the bar on design,” Cheng said. “We expect demand to keep moving towards original artwork, proprietary characters and culturally specific work — merchandise that could only have come from one brand.”
Hashtag: #Dtcworld

https://dtcworld.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dtc-world/
https://www.facebook.com/DTCWorldCorporation
https://www.instagram.com/dtcworld_official/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dtcworld
https://www.youtube.com/@dtcworldcorporation3483

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

About DTC World

Founded in 2001, DTC World Corporation is a creative merchandise company headquartered in Singapore, with operations in Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and China. The company designs and produces campaign merchandise, gift-with-purchase premiums, licensed character merchandise and corporate gifts for consumer brands across Asia-Pacific, working from a brand’s marketing objective rather than a product catalogue.

More information is available at dtcworld.com.

• Astrum Space Inc (“Astrum”) is developing a next-generation satellite-to-device (“S2D”) broadcast network to serve the Asia-Pacific region.
• Astrum holds 25 MHz of contiguous L-band spectrum at 1467–1492 MHz and spectrum and orbital resources associated with the strategic 105°E GEO position.
• Astrum currently operates its own in-orbit GEO satellite and is developing the SWISSto12-manufactured NEASTAR-1 satellite, with launch and orbital-delivery services contracted with Impulse Space for a planned late-2028 to first-quarter-2029 launch.
• The proposed business combination values Astrum at an equity value of approximately US$1 billion.

CALIFORNIA, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – On August 27, 2026, Astrum Space Inc (“Astrum” or the “Company”), a satellite communications company developing a wholesale satellite-to-device (“S2D”) broadcast and data-distribution network, and Black Spade Acquisition III Co (NYSE: BIII, “BIII”) announced that they have entered into a business combination agreement. Upon the completion of the transactions contemplated by the business combination agreement, the combined company will be renamed as “Astrum Space Company” and its ordinary shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The business combination values Astrum at an equity value of approximately US$1 billion, not including cash from BIII’s approximately US$172.5 million of cash in trust (assuming no BIII shareholders elect to have their BIII shares redeemed for cash as permitted).

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, and other customary closing conditions. After the transaction, assuming no BIII shareholders elect to have their BIII shares redeemed for cash as permitted, existing shareholders of Astrum will hold over 80% of the combined company.

Mr. Dennis Tam, Executive Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Black Spade Acquisition III Co, said: “We are delighted to support Astrum in its efforts to advance S2D connectivity across the Asia Pacific region. We have been encouraged by the dedication and long-term vision of Astrum’s management team as they develop services designed to broaden connectivity across the region. Astrum has developed a satellite network and a spectrum position intended to support its connectivity and broadcast initiatives. Over the years, the space sector has evolved into one of today’s most dynamic industries and continues to play an increasingly important role in everyday life. This partnership with Astrum reflects our belief in the power of enabling technologies to create meaningful impact.”

Mr. Michael Do, President and Chief Executive Officer of Astrum Space Inc, said: “Astrum has reached an important inflection point. We have assembled the spectrum, orbital resources and satellite infrastructure to develop a differentiated S2D broadcast platform across Asia-Pacific. With our NEASTAR-1 satellite under development and launch and orbital-delivery services secured from Impulse Space, we believe we have a clear path toward deployment of our next-generation geostationary platform. The proposed combination with Black Spade Acquisition III Co is expected to strengthen our ability to execute our commercialization strategy and expand strategic partnerships across the region.”

Additional information about the proposed transaction, including a copy of the business combination agreement, is available in BIII’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 27, 2026, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) at www.sec.gov.

More information about the proposed transaction will also be described in a registration statement that includes BIII’s proxy statement relating to the business combination, which BIII and Astrum will file with the SEC.

Forward-Looking Statements Legend

Hashtag: #AstrumSpace #BlackSpade

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

About Astrum Space Inc

Astrum Space Inc is developing a next-generation S2D broadcast network designed to deliver wide-area data and content services across the Asia-Pacific region. Astrum combines 25 MHz of contiguous L-band spectrum at 1467–1492 MHz, spectrum and orbital resources associated with the strategic 105°E geostationary (“GEO”) position. Astrum is pursuing a wholesale business model serving mobile network operators, broadcasters, governments and enterprise customers, positioning its GEO platform as a complementary one-to-many broadcast layer for terrestrial mobile networks.

About Black Spade Acquisition III Co

Black Spade Acquisition III Co (“BIII”) is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a business combination (Special Purpose Acquisition Company or SPAC). While it may pursue a business combination in any industry, BIII is focused on identifying a business combination target in the cross section of entertainment-related enabling technology and digital financial infrastructure. Listed on the NYSE, BIII is the third SPAC from Black Spade Capital Limited (“Black Spade Capital”), a global SPAC sponsor managing a diversified portfolio across regions, sectors and asset classes, including equities (including SPAC and pre-IPO investments), fixed income and real estate. In August 2023, Black Spade Capital’s first SPAC, Black Spade Acquisition Co, completed a US$23 billion business combination with VinFast Auto Ltd. In June 2025, the second SPAC of Black Spade Capital, Black Spade Acquisition II Co, completed a US$488 million business combination with a global media and entertainment powerhouse, The Generation Essentials Group, approximately nine months after BSII’s IPO.

Advisors

Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, is serving as financial advisor to BIII. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as U.S. legal counsel to BIII. Loeb & Loeb LLP is serving as U.S. legal counsel to Astrum.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – Apical, through its operating unit PT Kutai Refinery Nusantara (KRN), recently organised a nutritious menu creation competition for children under five in Kariangau Village, West Balikpapan District, East Kalimantan. The event was held in collaboration with the Kariangau Community Health Centre, Kariangau Village Family Welfare Empowerment Team (TP-PKK), Posyandu health volunteers and mothers of young children, with a total of 58 participants taking part.

Community health volunteers and mothers of young children were invited to prepare healthy, nutritious and protein-rich dishes using simple, readily available ingredients. Beyond the competition, the activity also aimed to demonstrate that nutritious meals for young children can be prepared simply and affordably at home. Prior to the competition, participants attended a practical briefing on balanced nutrition and the preparation of nutritious supplementary feeding meal menus for young children. The session was led by Dr. Emy Pramita Utami, Sp.GK, a clinical nutrition specialist at Beriman Hospital in Balikpapan.

PT Kutai Refinery Nusantara General Affairs Manager Randy Suwenli said the competition provided a shared learning opportunity for Posyandu health volunteers and mothers to learn from one another and exchange ideas on preparing healthy meals that can be easily replicated at home.

“What matters is helping families understand their children’s nutritional needs and enabling them to prepare meals using ingredients that are readily available. The dishes prepared by the participants show that simple efforts and creativity can support toddlers’ healthy growth and development,” Randy said.

Dr. Nur Ayu Hasanah, Head of the Kariangau Community Health Centre, said she hoped the activity would encourage more families to adopt healthy feeding practices for young children at home.

“With the right understanding of nutrition, readily available everyday ingredients can be prepared as balanced and nutritious supplementary foods that support toddlers’ growth and development,” she said.

The activity also reinforces Apical’s commitment to supporting efforts to reduce stunting in communities surrounding its operations. Since 2023, Apical has implemented the SEHATI programme, short for “Satu Hari Satu Telur Cegah Balita Stunting” (“One Egg a Day to Prevent Stunting in Toddlers”), through nutrition awareness activities, training and the provision of supplementary food for toddlers who are suspected of or at risk of stunting.

Through SEHATI and other community initiatives, Apical continues to strengthen its contribution to the communities surrounding its operations. These efforts are aligned with the company’s 5Cs philosophy of doing what is good for the community, country, climate and customers, and then only will it be good for the company. By working closely with health workers, local government, Posyandu health volunteers and mothers of young children, Apical, a member of the RGE group of companies founded by Sukanto Tanoto, aims to encourage simple yet meaningful changes in everyday nutrition practices and contribute to improved child health and development in Kariangau.
Hashtag: #RGE #Apical #community #stunting #nutrition #health

https://www.apicalgroup.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/apical-group

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

About Apical

Apical is a leading vegetable oil processor with an expanding global footprint. Our vertically integrated mid-stream refining and value-added downstream processing makes us an integral supplier that supports the needs of various industries namely food, feed, oleochemicals and renewable fuel, including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which enables a great reduction of CO2 emissions.

With integrated assets in strategic locations spanning Indonesia, China and Spain, Apical operates numerous refineries, oleochemical plants, renewable fuel plants and kernel crushing plants. Through joint ventures and strategic partnerships, Apical also has processing and distribution operations in Brazil, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Middle East, Africa, USA and Vietnam.

Apical’s growth is built on the foundations of sustainability and transparency, and motivated by our strong belief that we can contribute to a circular economy for a more meaningful impact, even as we continue to grow our business and deliver innovative solutions to our customers.

The 97% success rate places TrendAI™ ahead of all other entrants on the AI security benchmark

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – The TrendAI™ agentic exploit-remediation engine, codename AESIR, achieved the top position on CyberGym, an independent evaluation benchmark for AI-driven security tooling.

The 97% success rate from TrendAI™ surpassed all other entrants currently on the leaderboard and is nearly 4 percentage points higher than the former leader, who posted a 93.2% score on Aug. 8, 2026.

CyberGym, a University of California, Berkeley benchmark, evaluates AI security tooling against 1,507 confirmed vulnerabilities drawn from 188 large open-source software projects that run in every enterprise.

Rachel Jin, Chief Platform and Business Officer, Head of TrendAI™: “CyberGym’s validation changes what’s possible for enterprises adopting AI. The race isn’t to find first. It’s to close the exposure window. Cybersecurity has been defined by the scramble from discovery to exploitation; our job is to make that gap meaningless by compressing exposure time towards zero. Our advantage is turning validated vulnerability intelligence into effective risk reduction faster.”

TrendAI™ leverages seven AI models across four providers (Anthropic, DeepSeek, Google, and OpenAI) to maximize detection and remediation accuracy, and it powers a system built around one objective: close the exposure window faster than attackers can exploit it. It begins with discovery, powered by AI-scale identification of weak spots that static approaches miss. Each finding is then validated and turned into a working proof of concept, so teams understand exploitability and true business risk before the noise drowns out the signal. Only then does TrendAI rapidly reduce the risk, translating validated vulnerability intelligence into detection and virtual patches without waiting for the normal patching cycle.

That last step is what makes our approach and usage of agentic security different. This capability is built on more than 20 years of vulnerability research and exploit intelligence from TrendAI™ ZDI, giving the system a deep foundation of real-world knowledge about how vulnerabilities are discovered, validated and exploited. AI is compressing the time from discovery to exploitation, so risk reduction must move faster than the patch cycle, not wait on it. By converting validated intelligence into virtual patching, TrendAI™ shrinks the exposure window from weeks to as close to zero as possible, turning vulnerability management from reactive patching into proactive defense.

The TrendAI™ agentic exploit-remediation engine also powers dynamic discovery of threat actors actively exploiting vulnerabilities in the wild, giving security teams visibility into live exploitation in real time. Our real-world threat-intelligence layer supports the same goal: reduce exposure before attackers can exploit it.

TrendAI™ has published a technical blog post on the CyberGym methodology. For more information, please visit: https://www.trendaisecurity.com/en-us/resources-insights/trendai-security-blog/trendai-first-on-cybergym-top-exploit-benchmark

Hashtag: #trendai #trendaivisionone #visionone #trendmicro #cybergym

https://www.trendaisecurity.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/trendai-security
https://x.com/trendaisecurity
https://www.facebook.com/trendaisecurity/

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

About TrendAI™

TrendAI™, the global AI security leader and enterprise business unit of Trend Micro, empowers organizations with full AI visibility and consolidated security that inspires confidence, drives innovation, and eliminates risk. Trusted by the largest enterprises and governments across 185 countries, TrendAI™ secures the entire organization, from identities, to infrastructure, to data. Global Fortune 500 companies rely on TrendAI™ to cut risk and stop threats up to three months earlier, powered by world-leading threat and attack intelligence. AI Fearlessly.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – For many aspiring business leaders in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong represents more than a study destination; it is a gateway to global markets. For Clarrence Mae, a first-year student from Jakarta, that vision is already taking shape at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Hong Kong: A Strategic Choice for Global Ambitions

A recipient of two prestigious entrance scholarships, Clarrence is currently enrolled in CUHK’s Integrated Bachelor of Business Administration (IBBA) programme. A graduate of SMAK 1 BPK Penabur Jakarta, she saw the city as a gateway to global opportunity. “I think of Hong Kong as a financial hub, a bridge between countries. For someone who wants to study international business or finance, Hong Kong is the answer.”

She first encountered CUHK at her secondary school’s education fair and was drawn to its world-class standing (ranked second in Hong Kong and 18th globally). “I fell in love with CUHK’s environment, the buildings, the nature and all the diversity. The various organisations and events sealed it. For me, CUHK is just right.” On top of her University Admission Scholarship and top-up scholarship by the CUHK Business School, her commitment was further recognised with two scholarships upon admission: the Shum Wai Yau and Kong Fook To Belt and Road First-in-the-Family Tertiary Education Admission Scholarship and the United College CUHK Golden Jubilee First-in-the-Family Tertiary Education Admission Scholarship.

Building Belonging in the CUHK Community

Since arriving on campus, the transition was not without challenges. Language barriers initially meant she missed updates and campus events, but CUHK’s support network for international students helped her find her footing. The atmosphere, she says, is family-like, giving students space to stay connected to home while building friendships across borders. A mentorship programme also gave her early exposure to Hong Kong’s professional landscape. “It really opened my eyes to the real job market here,” she said.

From Classroom to the Global Stage

Clarrence’s ambitions are clearly defined: a Big Four internship, an exchange semester, and a career in Hong Kong before returning to make her mark in Indonesia. “For business, Hong Kong is the answer, and CUHK’s reputation as one of the top universities in the world says it all. With the scholarship opportunities on top of that, it’s truly a win-win.”

CUHK’s Integrated BBA Programme

Offered by the region’s first business school, CUHK’s Integrated BBA programme gives students the freedom to shape a curriculum around their ambitions. Key highlights include:

• Unmatched Flexibility: Nine concentration areas with no intake limits, plus options for double majors, dual degrees and minors.
• A Truly Global Community: Students from over 19 nationalities, fostering cross-cultural exchange and an international outlook.
• Real-World Readiness: 89% of students complete at least one internship before graduating, and 93% access global experiential learning opportunities.
• Comprehensive Support: A dedicated mentorship programme, partnership courses and internship placements prepare students for an ever-changing business landscape.

Graduates leave with analytical, communication and ethical decision-making skills, and access to a network of over 45,000 Business School alumni worldwide.

For more information about CUHK’s Integrated BBA programme, visit https://admission.cuhk.edu.hk/programme/ibbac/
Hashtag: #CUHK

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