Category: What’s News Asia

Thai craftsmanship and contemporary design come together under “The Art of Unity”, bringing locally handwoven cotton and traditional indigo textiles to the international sporting stage.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – SIRIVANNAVARI has designed the official ceremony uniforms for Thailand’s national athletes for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, taking place in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. Created by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, Founder and Creative Director of SIRIVANNAVARI, the uniforms bring locally handwoven cotton and traditional Thai indigo-dyed textiles into a contemporary tailored silhouette, placing Thai craftsmanship at the heart of Thailand’s presence on one of Asia’s largest international sporting stages.

Conceived under the concept “The Art of Unity”, the uniforms express a meeting of cultures, craftsmanship and communities through the language of fashion. The collection incorporates handwoven indigo-dyed cotton from the Donkoi Model in Sakon Nakhon Province, alongside handwoven cotton from theSUPPORT Foundation, transforming generations of textile knowledge into a modern expression of Thai identity.

SIRIVANNAVARI, the Bangkok-based fashion house that presents its collections during Milan Fashion Week, has developed a distinctive design language that brings Thai craftsmanship into dialogue with contemporary fashion. For the Asian Games, this approach extends beyond the textiles themselves to a specially developed embroidery motif inspired by the cultural connection between Thailand and Japan, symbolising a dialogue between Thailand and the host nation while reinforcing the collection’s spirit of unity.

Designed for both male and female athletes, the official ceremony uniform comprises four key pieces. The handwoven cotton jacket is cut in SIRIVANNAVARI’s signature tailored silhouette, featuring three functional patch pockets and custom logo-embossed buttons. A crisp white shirt is distinguished by an elongated pointed collar and an embroidered bib panel carrying the Thailand–Japan motif. Coordinating tailored trousers complete the silhouette, while the House’s signature “Diamond Knot” necktie introduces a recognisable SIRIVANNAVARI design code.

Bringing “The Art of Unity” to life, the accompanying photo and film campaign brings together some of Thailand’s most celebrated athletes across generations and sporting disciplines. Dressed in the SIRIVANNAVARI ceremony uniforms, each represents a story of dedication, achievement and national pride — reflecting the same collective spirit embodied in the craftsmanship and communities behind the uniforms.

The campaign features Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, Asian Games Gold Medallist in Equestrian Dressage (Team Event) at Busan 2002 and an accomplished international equestrian athlete; “Tennis” Panipak Wongpattanakit, two-time Olympic Champion in Taekwondo at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024; “View” Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Paris 2024 Olympic Silver Medallist and 2023 Men’s Singles Badminton World Champion; “Yu” Banlung Tubtimdang, Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games Champion in Men’s -63kg Taekwondo; “Beam” Pimpichaya Kokram, Asian Champion and a leading member of Thailand’s national women’s volleyball team; and “Ying” Suthasini Sawettabut, Southeast Asian table tennis champion and multiple SEA Games gold medallist. Together, the six athletes embody the spirit of “The Art of Unity” — bringing different generations, disciplines and achievements together under one national identity.

More than ceremonial attire, the uniforms represent a meeting point between fashion, sport and Thai craftsmanship. By bringing locally made textiles and the skills of Thai artisans to the Asian Games, SIRIVANNAVARI presents a contemporary expression of Thailand — one rooted in cultural heritage while confident in its place within international fashion.

As Thailand’s athletes enter the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, they will wear more than the colours of their nation: they will carry the craftsmanship, creativity and collective spirit of the Thai communities behind them — united through “The Art of Unity.”

Designed by:
SIRIVANNAVARI, under the creative direction of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya

Design Concept:
“The Art of Unity”

The concept expresses the spirit of unity among the Thai people as they come together in support of Thailand’s national athletes on the Asian stage.

THE HEART OF THE DESIGN

At the heart of the ceremonial uniforms is the use of naturally indigo-dyed handwoven cotton from the Donkoi Model in Sakon Nakhon Province, a sustainable community development initiative under the vision of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, together with handwoven cotton from The SUPPORT Foundation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.

The Donkoi Model originated from Her Royal Highness’s commitment to the continued development of Thai textiles. Following a visit to the Donkoi weaving community in Phanna Nikhom District, Sakon Nakhon Province, in 2020, Her Royal Highness provided guidance on textile design, quality, patterns, colour development and production standards, helping traditional handwoven textiles respond to contemporary applications while creating greater economic value for local communities.

The initiative subsequently developed into the Donkoi Model, an approach to sustainable community development that combines the preservation of local textile wisdom with the creation of livelihoods and income. In collaboration with Thailand’s Community Development Department, Ministry of Interior, the initiative has also supported the development of products towards Premium OTOP standards and greater recognition for Thai textiles nationally and internationally.

THE CEREMONIAL UNIFORM

Designed for both male and female athletes, the ceremonial uniform comprises four key pieces: a suit jacket, white shirt, trousers and necktie.

• THE SUIT JACKET

Tailored from handwoven cotton, the three-pocket jacket is shaped in SIRIVANNAVARI’s distinctive silhouette and incorporates details created specifically for Thailand’s national team.

The chest pocket carries the Thailand national team emblem for the Asian Games 2026, while the back is embroidered with “THAILAND”, featuring a heart-shaped detail above the letter “I”.

The jacket is finished with signature light-blue SIRIVANNAVARI logo buttons — four at the front and four positioned diagonally at each cuff. Two adjustable waist-button positions allow the fit to be adapted to the wearer’s physique, providing greater comfort and freedom of movement.

• THE WHITE SHIRT

The white shirt features SIRIVANNAVARI’s signature elongated pointed collar and a detachable embroidered chest panel specially created to express the cultural dialogue between Thailand and Japan.

Thai identity is represented through Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn) and the Bodhi tree, while Japan is represented through Nagoya Castle and cherry blossoms (sakura).

The two cultures are connected through Seigaiha, the traditional Japanese wave motif symbolising peace, prosperity and a smooth journey. The embroidery is completed with two geometric weaving patterns that share a visual affinity: Thailand’s Chalew and Japan’s Kagome, representing the rich craft traditions and artisanal wisdom of both nations.

• THE TROUSERS

The straight-leg trousers are tailored from premium suiting fabric in a colour coordinated with the jacket, creating a harmonious balance between Thai textile heritage and contemporary international tailoring.

Side openings at the hem allow greater freedom of movement, while an adjustable waist fastening enhances comfort and fit. The back is finished with SIRIVANNAVARI’s signature peacock emblem.

• THE TIE

Completing the ensemble is a tie styled with the signature “Diamond Knot”, a detail that reflects the SIRIVANNAVARI’s meticulous attention to craftsmanship and refinement in every element of the design.

THE ART OF UNITY

The SIRIVANNAVARI ceremonial uniforms for the Asian Games 2026 embody national pride through contemporary design. Every element balances aesthetic refinement with functionality, comfort and freedom of movement for the athletes.

At the same time, the uniforms bring Thailand’s textile heritage, indigenous wisdom and craftsmanship onto an international stage — transforming traditional handwoven textiles through a contemporary fashion vocabulary and celebrating the collective spirit behind “The Art of Unity.”

Hashtag: #SIRIVANNAVARI #20thAsianGames #TheArtOfUnity

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The Bertelsmann Stiftung’s new Policy Brief uses 50 case studies from 22 countries to illustrate how AI can support citizen participation and to identify the risks that must be considered. The study was conducted in collaboration with the OECD.

GÜTERSLOH, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 26 August 2026 – Artificial intelligence (AI) offers enormous potential to better deliver on the key promises of political citizen participation: broader inclusion, genuine openness, user-friendly processes and scalable processes. Governments and civil society actors around the world are already using AI for this purpose: from analysing large volumes of citizen input to supporting participation processes through chatbots, moderation systems and AI-assisted moderation.

This is demonstrated in the new Policy Brief “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Participation,” which is based on a joint paper by the OECD and the Bertelsmann Stiftung and examines 50 specific cases of the application of AI from 22 countries.

Overall, the findings show that AI can make citizen participation more accessible, scalable and effective. However, its true value very much depends on how it is used. AI can only strengthen participation if it improves governments’ ability to listen to citizens without replacing democratic judgement, transparency and trust.

Nine types of AI applications

The study identifies nine different areas where AI can be applied in citizen participation: sense-making, information development, translation, transcription, virtual assistance, facilitation, moderation, simulation and participation architecture. Sense-making, virtual assistance and automated translation are particularly widespread at present.

Sense-making applications can analyse large volumes of ideas and comments, identify patterns and summarize contributions. Translation and transcription tools can reduce barriers to access. Virtual assistants, such as chatbots, help citizens access information and participation opportunities more easily.

Relevant examples demonstrate how this works in practice, such as the one in Cambridge in the United Kingdom, where an AI tool in 2024 supported the analysis of qualitative contributions from a public consultation and reduced the time needed by about 50 percent. In Finland in 2024, the Finnish innovation agency Sitra used the AIpowered platform Polis to enable over 18,000 people to participate in the public consultation “What do you think, Finland?”

Opportunities and Risks

In addition to the considerable opportunities, the use of AI also carries risks. Biased data can influence results, and a lack of transparency can undermine trust and legitimacy. In addition, there is a risk of new forms of digital exclusion. Other challenges include a lack of AI expertise in public institutions and dependence on proprietary systems – that is, closed technologies whose source code, interfaces or formats are under the sole control of a manufacturer.

To ensure that AI supports civic participation in a responsible and inclusive manner, the Policy Brief offers recommendations in three areas: guardrails, enablers and public engagement. Governments should establish clear guardrails, build capacity for the responsible use of AI and involve citizens in the design and oversight of these systems.

Ultimately, AI is, of course, no substitute for democratic participation. However, when used responsibly, it can help make participation more accessible, scalable and responsive.

About the publication

The Policy Brief is a condensed version of the OECD paper “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Participation: Typology of applications, opportunities and challenges for democratic innovations,” based on a collaboration between the OECD and the Bertelsmann Stiftung.

Download link for the study: https://www.bertelsmann-

stiftung.de/de/publikationen/publikation/did/artificial-intelligence-and-the-future-ofcitizen-participation

EN: Policy Brief 07/2026: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Citizen Participation

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SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – Today, Huawei and HP Inc. announced the signing of a multiyear global patent cross-licensing agreement, including license to HP Inc. for certain Huawei WiFi patents. This milestone agreement not only reflects the companies’ cooperation in the field of intellectual property licensing but also recognizes Huawei’s innovation capabilities and core technological strength as well as HP’s position as global leader in computers and peripheral equipment.

Alan Fan, Huawei’s Chief Intellectual Property Officer, stated, “Huawei is pleased to reach this patent cross-licensing agreement with HP Inc. This agreement is a strong testament to Huawei’s persistent independent innovation in cutting-edge fields in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Through patent licensing, Huawei shares its innovation with the industry, particularly in the area of standardized technologies, which brings leading technological experiences to consumers worldwide.”

Steven Geiszler, who represented Huawei in the negotiations, stated: “This is another successful licensing of Huawei patents, particularly in the area of standardized Wi-Fi technologies—while obtaining valuable reciprocal patent rights from HP Inc. I appreciate the professionalism and courteousness shown by HP’s negotiation team during this project.”

Wi-Fi has become one of the most widely used wireless technologies in the world, connecting homes, schools, hospitals, offices and public spaces. Each generation of the standard is developed openly, drawing on technical contributions from companies across the industry, and is then made broadly available to implementers.

Although lacking the speed and throughput of newer generations, Wi-Fi 4 and 5 are still widely used, providing reliable networking for less demanding applications.

High speed, large capacity and lower energy consumption enable Wi-Fi 6 to deliver multiple high-definition video streaming, gaming and AR/VR services alongside legacy broadband and IoT devices such as laptops, refrigerators, cameras, doorbells, thermostats, and lightbulbs—all with a single wireless router.

Wi-Fi 7, building on Wi-Fi 6, delivers higher throughput, lower latency, and more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. These enhancements enable an exceptionally smooth experience for 8K video, gaming, AR/VR, remote work, online video conferencing, and cloud computing.

Together, these advances and applications have made reliable wireless connectivity part of the basic infrastructure of everyday life — supporting remote healthcare, digital education, and more energy-efficient homes and workplaces. Huawei has played a significant role in contributing to the development of Wi-Fi technologies over successive generations and makes the resulting technologies available publicly, so that innovation created in one place can benefit users everywhere.

Hashtag: #Huawei #HPInc #PatentCrossLicensing

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Addressing AI’s growing power demands with greater efficiency and resilience

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – Arrow Electronics, a global provider of technology solutions, will showcase AI, electrification, and intelligent power solutions at PCIM Asia Shenzhen 2026, taking place from August 26-28 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center.

At Booth D20 in Hall 16, Arrow, together with Analog Devices, Molex, Nexperia, NXP, onsemi, STMicroelectronics, and Yageo, will demonstrate how advanced power electronics, intelligent control, and system-level design are helping address the growing energy and performance demands of AI infrastructure, industrial automation, renewable energy, and electrification.

As AI workloads continue to expand, engineers face increasing challenges related to energy efficiency, power density, thermal management, and system reliability. Arrow helps customers accelerate innovation by combining leading technologies with engineering expertise, power architecture design, and global supply chain capabilities.

Showcase highlights

A centerpiece of the exhibit is Arrow’s all-new “Next-Gen 800VDC Data Center Empowers AI Factory” showcase, demonstrating how renewable energy integration, intelligent power distribution, advanced cooling, and AI-driven automation can help reshape future digital infrastructure.

This end-to-end system architecture highlights a connected energy management ecosystem spanning solar energy harvesting, energy storage, 800VDC power distribution, high-density power conversion, GPU power delivery, cooling infrastructure, and AI robotics. Together, these technologies illustrate how next-generation AI data centers can achieve higher energy efficiency, greater power density, and improved sustainability.

Additional showcase highlights include:

• Solid‑State Transformer (SST): High‑efficiency medium‑voltage direct step‑down, reshaping the power supply chain
• HVDC to LVDC: The critical bridge connecting high‑voltage distribution to chip power delivery
• Power to GPU: The “last mile” from 48V bus to GPU core
• Cooling infrastructure and building automation: Liquid cooling and AI‑driven smart thermal management
• AI Robotics: Autonomous inspection, dexterous manipulation, and intelligent operation and maintenance

Advancing AI Infrastructure with SiC and GaN Technologies

Featured demonstrations will highlight how SiC and GaN technologies are enabling more efficient and power-dense solutions across AI infrastructure, industrial automation, energy storage, and power delivery applications. Industry adoption of wide-bandgap semiconductors such as gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) is accelerating as AI-driven data center expansion increases demand for higher-efficiency, higher-density power architectures. As AI workloads continue to scale, GaN-based power systems are expected to play an increasingly important role in enabling next-generation data center infrastructure¹.

“AI and electrification are driving new requirements for efficiency, power density, and system integration,” said Jacky Wan, vice president of sales components, China, at Arrow Electronics. “At PCIM Asia Shenzhen, we’re demonstrating how Arrow helps customers accelerate the development of next-generation AI, energy, and industrial solutions by bringing together leading technologies, engineering expertise, and global supply chain capabilities.”

¹ Source: Yole Group, Power GaN 2025.

Hashtag: #ArrowElectronics

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About Arrow Electronics

Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW) sources and engineers technology solutions for thousands of leading manufacturers and service providers. With 2025 sales of $31 billion, Arrow’s portfolio enables technology across major industries and markets. Learn more at arrow.com.

How Optism’s Ecosystem Is Transforming Autism Support Across Hong Kong and Asia

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – OPTISM, Asia’s first integrated autism support ecosystem, has crossed a major milestone after reaching 100,000 users across Hong Kong and the wider region.

Founded in 2024, the platform has scaled rapidly to meet a large gap in regional support for families navigating autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In many Asian markets, families often face long public sector waiting lists and a fragmented network of resources when seeking guidance.

The platform is backed by the Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (SIE Fund) and Oxfam Hong Kong to build out and scale the network.

“Reliable content and resources lie at the heart of what we do,” said Founder Carmen Li, who started the platform based on her personal experience raising her 15-year-old son Vincent. “AI gives us the speed to point a parent in the right direction at 2 a.m., but it is our dedicated panel of real-world practitioners and professionals who provide the human sanctuary parents actually need.”

The platform currently operates through four main services:

• Expert Hub: Asia’s first specialized triage network that links caregivers directly to a cross-disciplinary panel of 30 practitioners, legal professionals, and support specialists across 10 different fields.
• Ask Optism 2.0: Our 24/7 bilingual chatbot providing immediate support and information in both English and Traditional Chinese, powered by Optism’s rich ecosystem of trusted autism content and resources.
• Parents Forum: A peer community that uses real-time translation to let families connect across different languages and regional cultures.
• Autism Marketplace: Your trusted guide to finding vetted local therapists, specialized support centers, and inclusive community programs tailored to your child’s needs.

Following its initial scale, the platform is now preparing for its next phase of growth. “This milestone is just our baseline,” Li said regarding OPTISM’s future.

The company’s upcoming roadmap focuses on expanding its footprint across Asia. Next steps include onboarding localized practitioners and professionals in neighboring countries, establishing corporate partnerships, and growing its digital infrastructure to ensure families do not have to navigate autism support in isolation.
Hashtag: #optism #autism #autismsupport #hkstartup #healthtech

https://optism.co
https://www.linkedin.com/company/optism-official
https://www.instagram.com/optismofficial/

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OPTISM

OPTISM is Asia’s first integrated autism support ecosystem dedicated to empowering parents and caregivers.

Founded in 2024, the platform leverages an advanced AI triage system to bypass traditional information silos, instantly routing user queries directly to a vetted regional panel of top-tier ASD practitioners and specialists.

We bring ASD support expertise and peer community resources together to provide reliable, localized, empathetic care to families navigating neurodiversity across the region.

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – From tapping into the metro and paying at local shops to claiming tax refunds, booking family stays and unlocking dining benefits, Shanghai Summer 2026 is introducing visitor-focused products designed to make exploring the city easier for international travellers.

Running from July to October under the theme “Shanghai Summer, Join the Family Fun,” the international consumption season brings together payment networks, banks, hospitality groups and mobility providers to improve the visitor journey.

As a global strategic partner of Shanghai Summer, Visa is expanding its payment-friendly network across the city. Visa’s contactless “Tap to Pay” experience covers dining, accommodation, transport, tourism, shopping and entertainment. Visa data shows that in the first quarter of 2026, offline card spending by international visitors in Shanghai increased by more than 50% year-on-year, while transaction volumes rose by more than 60%.

China UnionPay is expanding its support for international visitors through the Nihao China App, an all-in-one digital platform combining payments, transportation, travel information and multilingual services. Available in more than 160 countries and regions, the app allows users to top up with international Visa or Mastercard cards and pay via UnionPay QR codes at more than 100,000 merchant locations. It also supports metro and bus travel in Shanghai, real-time translation, navigation and instant tax-refund services.

Bank of China Shanghai Branch has launched an upgraded Tax Refund 2.0 programme during Shanghai Summer. The initiative expands tax-refund services into hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, attractions and international talent service centres, supported by integrated POS refund functions and self-service tax-refund machines.

For travellers navigating the city, Shanghai Pass combines transportation, sightseeing and merchant benefits in one product. The card can be used across Shanghai’s metro, buses, ferries, suburban railways, Maglev services and taxis, while cardholders can access privileges at nearly 150 merchants.

Jin Jiang International is taking a similar integrated approach through its “2026 Jin Jiang ∞ Journey, Shanghai Summer” programme, combining hotels with cultural attractions, dining, guided city experiences and family entertainment. Its Shanghai Gourmet Passport 2.0 also connects dining, hotels and cultural experiences for international travellers.

Together, these products are making payment, transport, tax refunds, hotels, dining and attractions more connected — helping international visitors move more freely, pay more simply and experience more of Shanghai.

Hashtag: #ShanghaiSummer

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Financial pressures and burnout emerge as key challenges to life preparedness according to Etiqa Insurance Singapore Life Preparedness Survey 2026

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – Only 49% of Singaporeans feel prepared for the next decade, despite 76% already taking action to improve their financial wellbeing, health and future readiness. The findings, unveiled in Etiqa Insurance Singapore’s Life Preparedness Survey 2026, reveal a disconnect between Singaporeans’ confidence about the future and the proactive steps they are taking today.

This survey, conducted by Kantar in May 2026, tracks indicators of life preparedness across body, mind, money, and future among 1,017 Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 18 and above.

These findings highlight a growing preparedness gap across these dimensions, suggesting that being prepared today requires more than financial discipline alone. It calls for resilience and ability to navigate uncertainty and changing demands in life.

Key findings of the survey include:

• Financial security emerged as the single strongest definition of preparedness, with 68% of Singaporeans identifying it as the most important factor in being future ready. Nearly half of Singaporeans (47%) cite lack of money as their biggest barrier to life preparedness, significantly ahead of lack of knowledge (20%), lack of time (16%), and lack of motivation (15%).
• 68% of Singaporeans expressed readiness to take action to improve their life preparedness. They are most likely to start or increase savings (55%), exercise regularly (49%), spend more quality time with loved ones (38%), improve sleep habits (37%), and learn a new skill or take a course (33%).
• 76% of Singaporeans have already taken action to address their concerns for 2026. Some of the key concerns are financial worries (49%), conflict issues (32%), lack of exercise (30%), and limited time to upskill (28%).

Life preparedness takes a back seat for older mid-life Singaporeans

One in three (39%) Singaporeans aged 45 to 54 are not ready to take action to improve their life preparedness. Among this group, 24% prioritise managing household finances, while 21% are most concerned about planning for their future care needs.

These findings point to the pressures faced by Singapore’s mid-life population, where financial responsibilities and future caregiving concerns compete with longer-term planning. As competing demands increase, broader life preparedness goals such as improving health, building resilience, and preparing for the future can take a back seat.

Burnout emerges as a key challenge to future life preparedness

Over half (56%) of Singaporeans reported experiencing burnout in the past year, with one in five feeling burned out “very often”.

Burnout begins early in life, affecting 44% of Singaporeans aged 18 to 24. For the 18 to 24 age group, burnout is driven primarily by uncertainty about the future (49%), financial worries (43%), and workload or job demands (43%).

Despite these pressures, 42% of Singaporeans aged 18 to 24 identified wealth accumulation as their top focus area for 2026. This highlights a generation striving to build long-term stability despite elevated levels of mental and emotional strain.

Avoidance of future-planning conversations continues to hinder life preparedness

Many Singaporeans are uncomfortable discussing future care needs, finances and legacy planning with their families. Only 21% of Singaporeans have had open and detailed discussions with their family about these topics. Among Singaporeans aged 55 and above, 13% prefer to handle these matters on their own, reflecting a desire for independence and self-reliance when planning.

The findings suggest there is an opportunity to encourage earlier and more open conversations around future care, finances, and legacy planning to help reduce uncertainty and improve long-term preparedness.

Life Preparedness to navigate life’s uncertainties

“Financial readiness remains an important foundation, but resilience today also requires stronger support systems and more open conversations around long-term planning. People are more likely to take meaningful action when they feel supported, informed and empowered,” said Ms Claudia Soh, CEO, Etiqa Insurance Singapore.

“Our findings show that Singaporeans are taking positive steps to improve their financial wellbeing, health and future readiness, yet many still lack confidence about the future,” added Ms Soh.

“Life preparedness today is not just about financial discipline. It is about having resilience, support and flexibility to navigate life’s uncertainties, from rising living costs and caregiving responsibilities to health challenges and career transitions. Strengthening preparedness therefore requires building positive daily habits and longer-term planning horizons that help people feel more confident about the future.”

Etiqa Insurance Singapore life preparedness programmes

Etiqa Insurance Singapore supports the community through a range of initiatives focused on improving financial literacy, emotional wellbeing, and future planning. Through community outreach programmes, educational workshops, and accessible insurance solutions, Etiqa Insurance Singapore aims to help Singaporeans build greater confidence in navigating financial, emotional, and lifestyle challenges while preparing for the future.

The full Etiqa Insurance Singapore Life Preparedness Survey 2026 can be accessed here. For more information on our products and services, please visit us at www.etiqa.com.sg
Hashtag: #Etiqa

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

About Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Etiqa Insurance Singapore)

Protecting customers since 1961, Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (EIPL) is a life and general insurance company licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and governed by the Insurance Act 1966. Having protected customers in Singapore since 1961 under the name United General Insurance Co. Sdn. Bhd., the company transitioned into the Singapore branch of Etiqa Insurance Berhad in 2009. Today, EIPL in Singapore stands as the pivotal operating entity of Etiqa Insurance Group, a leading insurance and takaful provider in ASEAN.

EIPL offers a comprehensive range of life and general insurance products accessible through its diverse distribution channels, including bancassurance, agents, brokers, financial advisers, partnerships, direct and online sales via Tiq by Etiqa. Etiqa is rated ‘A’ by credit rating agency Fitch for the group’s ‘Favorable’ business profile. The company is a member of the Maybank Group.

Etiqa Insurance Singapore Life Preparedness Survey 2026

The Etiqa Insurance Singapore Life Preparedness Survey was conducted in collaboration with Kantar in May 2026, surveying 1,017 Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 18 and above. This study delves into the attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours of Singaporeans, with a focus on life preparedness across body, mind, money, and future.

ZHUHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – Recently, Frost & Sullivan, a globally renowned market research and consulting firm, awarded GREE Electric Appliances a certificate, recognizing that “GREE Ranked No. 1 Globally by Sales Volume of Premium Residential Air Conditioners in 2025”. The certification confirms that, based on research into the global Premium residential air conditioning market and measured by sales revenue from Premium residential air conditioners in 2025, GREE ranked first globally.

According to data from Frost & Sullivan, GREE’s leading position in the global Premium residential air conditioning market is built upon comprehensive superiority in core product performance. Consumers in the Premium segment do not pay merely for a “higher price tag”, instead, they choose products that offer superior usage experiences, more durable and stable operation, and outstanding energy-saving performance. GREE’s widespread recognition in this market is fundamentally rooted in its years of deep cultivation in energy efficiency technology, noise reduction technology, and comfortable airflow technologies. These technologies have passed the most demanding user tests across diverse scenarios in different countries and regions.

Winning recognition in the global premium market ultimately relies on what the product itself says. GREE’s reputation for quality among global consumers stems from sustained investments in core technologies, superior user experiences, and user value over many years.

To address the harsh challenges posed by diverse global climates, GREE independently developed a matrix of core compressor technologies covering all climatic zones. The Timo series, equipped with G-Boost single-stage enthalpy-adding compressors, was specifically developed for extremely hot regions like the Middle East. It remains reliable operation even at ambient temperature of 68℃, achieving non-declining cooling performance at 54℃. The Airy series pioneered the commercialization of ultra-wide frequency rotary compressors, capable of continuous heating for 10 hours without defrosting, improving the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) by 9.5% to 16.7%. The S-cool series, equipped with G-Hyper dual-cylinder two-stage compressors, was crafted for extremely cold regions such as Northern Europe and North America. It operates stably within an ultra-wide temperature range of -40℃ to 54℃, achieving industry breakthroughs of “non-declining heating at -25℃ and non-declining cooling at 46℃”. These three compressor technologies provide “all-climate comfort” solutions for users in different climate belts through their respective differentiated technical paths.

In key dimensions of user experience, GREE also addresses consumer pain points with hardcore technology. The newly launched 2026 “Ai Silent King” features GREE’s self-developed AI energy-saving chip. Paired with artificial intelligence algorithms, it saves energy from the moment it is turned on, improving annual energy efficiency by 23%. Meanwhile, GREE’s SilenzX series air conditioners achieve ultra-low sound pressure levels of just 29 dB(A) for the outdoor unit and 15 dB(A) for the indoor unit—far below the industry average. This achievement earned the Gold Medal at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, marking GREE’s leadership in the field of noise reduction technology globally.

From compressors to whole unit systems, from AI energy saving to quiet technology, GREE has built the core competitiveness of Premium products through solid technological accumulation and continuous innovation breakthroughs, creating truly high-quality air experiences for global users.

As of July, GREE holds 50 “world-leading” technologies. From residential air conditioners to central air conditioning systems, from single-refrigerant systems to solutions covering all climatic zones, GREE has constructed a complete, autonomous, and controllable technology matrix. It is this systemic innovative capability that allows GREE to maintain rapid response and technical adaptation capabilities in the face of differentiated needs across global markets.

Currently, GREE products serve more than 190 countries and regions worldwide. By adhering to serving users with core technologies and high-quality service, GREE continues to meet people’s pursuit of a better life. Honors are witnesses to the past, and innovation is the eternal coordinate. Standing at a new starting point, GREE Electric Appliances will continue to drive high-quality development through independent innovation, moving from “scale leadership” to “value guidance,” and from “Chinese Manufacturing” to “Global Brand”, thus achieving “Made in China, Loved by the World”.

Hashtag: #GREE

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BINZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – At a policy briefing on the Binzhou Integrated Real Estate Policy Package held by the Information Office of the Binzhou Municipal Government on August 10, officials outlined the progress of the city’s housing “trade-in” initiative.

Hashtag: #Binzhou

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – JOYY Inc. (NASDAQ: JOYY) (“JOYY” or the “Company”), a leading global technology company, today released its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.

For the second quarter, JOYY reported total revenues of US$590.8 million, representing an increase of 16.3% year over year and 6.3% quarter over quarter. Social Entertainment revenue expanded 7.4% year over year and 5.6% quarter over quarter to US$422.7 million. BIGO Ads and SHOPLINE, the second growth engine of the Company, continued to deliver strong performance. BIGO Ads revenue generated US$133.7 million, up 53.1% year over year, while SHOPLINE contributed US$34.4 million, marking an accelerated year-over-year growth rate of 28.6%.

The Company continued to strengthen its profitability in the second quarter, with non-GAAP¹ operating income reaching US$49.1 million, up 28.2% year over year and 29.4% quarter over quarter. Non-GAAP¹ EBITDA reached US$56.9 million, up 18.1% year over year and 24.4% quarter over quarter. Operating cash inflow totaled US$64.9 million during the quarter, while net cash stood at US$3.06 billion as of June 30, 2026.

JOYY continued to deliver on its shareholder return commitment in 2026. Following the update of its three-year shareholder return program in May, the Company plans to return a cumulative US$1.5 billion to shareholders by the end of 2028. From January 1 to August 21, 2026, the Company returned US$358.8 million to shareholders, comprising US$216.4 million in share repurchases and US$142.4 million in dividends.

1. This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures as additional clarifying items to aid investors in further understanding the Company’s performance and the impact that these items and events had on the financial results. The non-GAAP financial measures provided above should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, the measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. For details of the non-GAAP measures, including the reconciliations of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures, please refer to the press release titled “JOYY Reports Second Quarter 2026 Unaudited Financial Results” issued by the Company on August 26, 2026.

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