Category: What’s News Asia

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 August 2026 – On August 20, 2026, Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, shone even brighter as it celebrated its renowned music festival. The youthful Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, hailing from Wuxi, China’s first UNESCO “City of Music,” stepped into the heartland of classical music for the very first time under the leadership of Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Lin Daye. Inside a packed Gallus Hall at Cankarjev Dom, a profound and heartfelt musical dialogue unfolded between East and West.

As Slovenia’s largest international summer music festival, its stage saw the name of Wuxi, China, etched upon it for the very first time this summer. As the conductor’s baton cut through the silence, this ancient Central European city warmly welcomed the debut of this Eastern orchestra with thunderous, prolonged applause.

The concert opened to the magnificent sounds of the Overture to Verdi’s I vespri siciliani, with Lin Daye delivering the passion of Italian opera through his deeply expressive conducting. The orchestra then presented the festival debut of Fly To The Sky, an original symphonic suite by Li Shaosheng, whose embedded Eastern worldview resonated profoundly with the audience. Suona virtuoso Zhang Qianyuan’s performance in Questioning the Heavens was high-pitched and evocative, while tenor Xue Haoyin sang with heroic majesty in Heaven’s Movement is Strength, driving the atmosphere to a climax.

In the second half, the orchestra performed Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor. On a stage that has witnessed countless iconic performances of German-Austrian classics, the orchestra paid tribute to heritage through a precise yet impassioned interpretation. As the grand theme of the finale—symbolizing “through darkness into light”—echoed through the hall, the entire audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation, expressing high acclaim for the orchestra’s flawless execution. Darko Brlek, Artistic Director of the Ljubljana Festival, noted that this was the very first standing ovation given to a Chinese orchestra in the festival’s history of over 70 editions.

As the opening stop of their 2026 European tour, the Ljubljana performance marked a striking debut and strong statement of cultural confidence. Showcasing Jiangnan’s Wuxi to the world, these musical ambassadors from Lake Taihu foster cross‑cultural understanding through music, letting the world hear and understand China.

Click the link to watch the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra’s performance in Slovenia: https://youtu.be/Ghk3aIYcHXc?si=PzVdV99ZikOqiMA7

Hashtag: #WuxiSymphonyOrchestra

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

SANYA, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – On the evening of August 19, the banquet hall of The Sanya Taikang Tribute Portfolio Resort, was brightly illuminated and filled with youthful energy and the warm spirit of the island. As the opening event of the 2026 Hong Kong and Macao Youth Study Tour and Exchange Program in the Chinese mainland, the “Hainan Night” cultural tourism promotion event, themed “A Young and Joyful Hainan Summer,” was held here. More than 200 principals, teachers and student representatives from primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong and Macao, heads of study tour organizations, and representatives from the mainland’s cultural tourism sector gathered on the shores of the South China Sea. Through an immersive experience of island culture, they officially kicked off a week-long study tour and exchange program across Hainan.

The event was hosted by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports of Hainan Province and the Sanya Municipal People’s Government, organized by the cultural tourism authorities of Sanya, Danzhou, Wenchang and Wanning, and co-organized by the Hainan Study Tour and Tourism Association, with support from the Asian Tourism Exchange Center and the World Study Travel Organization. Combining multisensory immersion with interactive scenarios, the event integrated coastal scenery, intangible cultural heritage and study tour resources, offering guests from Hong Kong and Macao a warm cultural tourism welcome featuring distinctive local characteristics and youthful vitality.

Immersive Island Welcome and Youthful Celebration Ignite Sanya’s Night

Upon entering the venue, guests were immediately immersed in the atmosphere of an “Island Wonderland.” Coconut palm-inspired installations were arranged along the passageways, while traditional Li brocade patterns added decorative touches. Warm yellow lighting created a relaxed yet vibrant tropical-island ambiance, while guests dressed in traditional Hainan island attire moved throughout the venue, bringing the distinctive charm of Hainan to life.

Next to the registration area, a bamboo-pole dance welcome team was already in position. Accompanied by lively Li ethnic percussion music, long bamboo poles opened and closed rhythmically, attracting many young visitors from Hong Kong and Macao to give it a try. At first, some participants were somewhat unfamiliar with the movements, carefully stepping in and out to the beat. After several attempts, however, they quickly found their rhythm. The sound of bamboo poles clacking together blended with the laughter of the young participants, turning the entrance into a sea of joy.

The island-themed photo area, intangible cultural heritage experience zone and study tour resources exhibition were also bustling with visitors. Some guests captured their first moments in Hainan against a backdrop of coastal scenery, while others stopped to watch demonstrations of traditional Li instruments, including the nose flute and zhuoba. Many students gathered around the study tour displays, carefully exploring the diverse opportunities available for educational travel in Hainan.

At around 6 p.m., the opening dance performance, Come See the Sea, gracefully took the stage. Through fluid movements that mimicked the rise and fall of waves, the dancers condensed the vastness and gentle beauty of the South China Sea into a captivating stage performance. All eyes turned toward the stage, officially opening the event.

In her remarks, Wang Hejiao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Hainan Provincial People’s Government, noted that in 2025, the number of Hong Kong and Macao study tour participants visiting Hainan exceeded 10,000, with two-way youth exchanges continuing to gain momentum. Since the Free Trade Port’s “Riding the Waves Program” was launched in 2023, nearly 30 universities in Hong Kong and Macao have participated, attracting more than 1,500 students. Of these, 200 Hong Kong and Macao university students have completed internships in Hainan. In 2026, another 60 university students from Hong Kong and Macao will come to Hainan for practical training and experience. Generation after generation of young people from Hong Kong and Macao have visited Hainan to experience firsthand the vibrant development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, helping build a strong foundation of friendship and mutual understanding among the three regions. She expressed the hope that participants would explore Hainan’s landscapes and allow a shared sense of national identity to grow through firsthand experiences.

Tian Zhiqi, Chief Operating Officer for the Asia-Pacific Region of the World Study Travel Organization, said that Hainan has enormous potential in study travel. The organization is actively responding to the needs of the digital economy and people’s aspirations for a better life, while following the trend toward carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. It promotes coordinated development of new routes, new business models and new market participants. He expressed the hope that, together with the Hainan Free Trade Port, the organization could build a study travel system featuring an international perspective as well as Chinese approaches, Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions, thereby strengthening China’s voice in the international study travel sector.

The immersive study tour promotion, A Young and Joyful Hainan Summer, followed. Through real-life imagery and vivid presentations, three distinctive study tour routes—space exploration, deep-sea discovery and rainforest adventure—were gradually unveiled. Many young people in the audience watched with anticipation, quietly discussing the highlights of the upcoming itinerary with their peers.

Following the promotion, a series of artistic performances and interactive activities kept the exciting building. The dance Fisherfolk Weaving the Moonlight portrayed the life of fishing communities along the South China Sea, showcasing the rich cultural character of Hainan. The Sanya Akage Band performed original songs including Ben Nei Re and Children Who Guard the Mountain Orchid, allowing guests to experience the vitality of Hainan’s intangible cultural heritage. When familiar classics such as Kara Forever OK, Walking Along the Road of Life and A Dream of Blades and Swords were performed, the atmosphere reached a climax. Many teachers and students from Hong Kong and Macao spontaneously joined in the singing, bringing people closer together across the distance between the regions.

Two rounds of interactive lucky draws were also held during the event, alongside a promotion of “Cool Travel Hainan,” Hainan’s public cultural tourism service platform, which offered exclusive travel benefits to guests. The evening then culminated in an interactive singing and dancing session. Guests and young participants took to the stage, singing and dancing among the rising and falling bamboo poles, pushing the festive atmosphere to its peak as laughter and cheers echoed throughout the venue.

Building Bridges Through the Night: Young People from Hainan, Hong Kong and Macao Share a Common Dream

The vibrant “Hainan Night” was not only a concentrated showcase of Hainan’s cultural tourism appeal, but also a warm prelude to the entire Hong Kong and Macao Youth Study Tour and Exchange Program in the Chinese mainland.

The program will last seven days. Following the welcome and promotional event on August 19, representatives of teachers and students from Hong Kong and Macao will embark on a themed study tour of Hainan from August 20 to 25. Starting from Sanya, the itinerary will take them to Wanning, Danzhou, Haikou and Wenchang, offering participants a comprehensive look at the dynamic development of the Hainan Free Trade Port. A study tour resources exchange event will also be held during the program, featuring Hainan’s three major study-tour themes—space, ocean and rainforest. Industry representatives from Hainan, Hong Kong and Macao will be invited to discuss opportunities and future directions for cross-border study tour cooperation.

At the event, many guests and young participants from Hong Kong and Macao shared their impressions and expectations.

“This is my first time in Hainan. I was amazed by the bamboo-pole dance and the island-themed decorations as soon as I entered. It is a completely different cultural experience!” said Lin Renhui, a student representative from Hong Kong, visibly excited. “Previously, I had only seen Hainan’s space launch sites and tropical rainforests in textbooks and documentaries. During the upcoming tour around the island, I am most looking forward to visiting Wenchang. I want to see the country’s major aerospace facilities with my own eyes and experience the achievements of China’s aerospace development.”

Zhang Yuzhong, General Manager of Aiyouxue (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., which has long been engaged in the study travel sector, said that Hainan possesses highly distinctive and scarce study tour resources in areas such as aerospace, the ocean and rainforests, giving the island a natural appeal for young people from Hong Kong and Macao.

“This event is not only a cultural exchange among young people but also provides a face-to-face platform for the study tour industries in the two regions to connect and cooperate. In the future, we hope to bring more young people from Hong Kong and Macao to Hainan, while also organizing visits for young people from Hainan to Macao. We want to establish a two-way study tour and exchange mechanism so that young people can deepen their mutual understanding through travel and strengthen their cultural identification with the motherland,” Zhang said.

In recent years, cultural tourism exchanges among Hainan, Hong Kong and Macao have continued to deepen, with youth study tours becoming a regular vehicle for exchanges. Leveraging the opportunities brought by the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, Hainan has continued to enrich its study tour offerings and improve related industry services, with the aim of providing young people from Hong Kong and Macao with more meaningful, engaging and rewarding educational travel experiences.

From the Greater Bay Area to the Free Trade Port, the regions may be separated by mountains and sea, but their hearts remain closely connected. Over the coming week, teachers and students from Hong Kong and Macao will gain a deeper understanding of the vitality of the Hainan Free Trade Port through firsthand visits, carry forward China’s outstanding traditional culture through cultural experiences, and strengthen the emotional bonds and shared aspirations of young people from Hainan, Hong Kong and Macao through in-depth exchanges. In the great tide of an era marked by closer cooperation among the three regions, the energy and dreams of youth will shine brightly.

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

Asia’s landmark art toy event, POP TOY SHOW (PTS) Singapore, officially opened its doors from August 21 to 23 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore. Since making its debut in the Lion City, PTS Singapore has grown into one of Asia’s most influential events dedicated to the art toy industry. Art toy enthusiasts from around the world have gathered in Singapore to experience this annual celebration of contemporary toy and pop culture.

This year’s PTS Singapore brings together more than 100 leading art toy artists from around the world, creating a dynamic platform where diverse creative styles and cutting-edge ideas converge.

Among the participating artists is Yanran Chen, who returns to PTS Singapore with her original IP, KeyA. The exhibition marks the global debut of several new KeyA collectibles, including the KeyA 《Voyage Log》 Figure and the Q‑Style 《Daydream Buddy》Figure. Previous signature works, including the BlinkBot and BuddyGlow figures, are also on display.

The presentation offers a diverse range of collectibles catering to different levels of collectors—from accessible, high-value figures designed for a broad audience of art toy enthusiasts to large-scale art sculptures with strong collectible and artistic value.

For years, Yanran Chen’s practice has extended across painting, sculpture, moving image and IP character design, allowing her to develop a distinctive and highly recognizable creative language. With the “girl” as a recurring conceptual anchor, Chen seamlessly combines mechanical coolness, organic textures and cyber-inspired elements to create a unique artistic world where the virtual and physical constantly intersect.

Through her return to PTS Singapore, Chen presents a mature yet youthful and pioneering visual language to audiences of art toys and contemporary art around the world, offering a distinct perspective on the creative energy and independent artistic voice of China’s emerging generation of artists.

About the Artist

Yanran Chen, born in Beijing in 2005, is one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her multidisciplinary practice, spanning painting, sculpture and video, centers around the iconic image of the “girl.”Working across painting, sculpture, video and character design, Chen blends mechanical, organic and cyber-inspired elements to explore the boundaries between dreams and reality, identity and transformation.

Her work has been exhibited at major international art fairs and cultural platforms, including Art Basel Hong Kong and ComplexCon, as well as exhibitions across Asia, Europe and the United States.

Beyond the art world, Chen has collaborated with internationally recognized brands including GUCCI, CASETiFY and LEUCHTTURM1917, extending her artistic language into fashion, design and popular culture. She has also worked with brands including Balenciaga, Givenchy and R13 as a creative collaborator and model, and has been featured in publications such as Numéro, Wonderland, V China and L’Officiel.

In 2026, Chen was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, further recognizing her growing influence as one of Asia’s emerging young creative voices.

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

OPATRA London confirms mutual suspension of Hong Kong distribution agreement

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – OPATRA London confirms that, by mutual agreement with its local distributor, the Hong Kong distribution agreement has been suspended.

The OPATRA-branded stores in Hong Kong are independently owned and operated by a local distributor.

OPATRA London HQ will cooperate fully with any enquiries from the relevant authorities and will not comment on matters that are the subject of an ongoing investigation. The position will remain under review as further information becomes available.

Hong Kong remains an important market for OPATRA London, and our commitment to our customers and consumers in Hong Kong remains unchanged.

Customers in Hong Kong who wish to contact OPATRA London HQ directly may do so at hongkong@opatra.com.

Hashtag: #OPATRALondon

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

About OPATRA London

OPATRA London is a UK-based skincare and beauty technology brand specialising in innovative skincare devices and professional beauty solutions. Founded in London, OPATRA operates internationally through a network of independent distributors, retail partners and authorised locations across multiple markets.

New Meenakshi Eco Park campus supports a more than 600% increase in TDCX’s India headcount over three years, reinforcing the country’s role in serving global technology and digital economy clients

HYDERABAD, INDIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – TDCX, a leading global customer experience solutions firm, today opened its second campus in India at Meenakshi Eco Park in Hyderabad. The new site reinforces India’s position as the company’s fourth-largest operations base and follows a more than 600% increase in TDCX’s India headcount over the past three years.

Hyderabad is one of TDCX’s fastest-growing locations, supported by the city’s strong technology ecosystem, deep talent pool, and growing reputation as a center for customer experience, sales, digital support, and technology-enabled services.

Hashtag: #TDCX #CX #Outsourcing #EnableTheFuture

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

About TDCX

For more information, please visit www.tdcx.com.

Built by a Singapore parent, the platform uses real-time AI conversation and parent-shared prelim themes to help students practise before the PSLE oral examinations.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – Articulate Intelligence has launched updated PSLE English and Chinese oral examination practice tools on its AI learning platform, giving students a way to rehearse live oral conversations at home before the national examinations.

The launch comes as AI use becomes increasingly common among primary-school-aged children. National studies found that 82.6 per cent of Singaporean children aged 10 to 13 had used AI tools. With many PSLE candidates already familiar with the technology, the more relevant question is how it supports their learning—whether it simply supplies answers or helps them think and respond independently. This distinction is particularly important in oral examinations, where students must listen, formulate their own responses, elaborate and handle follow-up questions in real time.

Articulate Intelligence’s AI Oral Examiner is designed around that real-time pressure. Students first choose English or Chinese, then select a topic from a dropdown menu. The AI examiner then speaks with the student, listens to the answer, and asks follow-up questions based on what was said. If a student freezes, the system can prompt them to expand their answer, but it does not simply hand over a model response.

Ahead of the PSLE oral examinations, the platform has also added practice topics shaped by parent-shared prelim experiences. Parents shared topics their children had encountered, which Articulate Intelligence distilled into broader themes with generated images and questions for students to practise on the platform.

The platform was created by Meng Aun Tan, Founder of Articulate Intelligence, after he struggled to help his own daughter prepare for PSLE oral examinations in 2024. He later shared an early version with parents from a school volunteer group and found that many faced the same difficulty. Today, Articulate Intelligence has close to 500 users, according to company figures, with usage rising around major examination periods.

“Oral exams are not just about knowing a good answer. Students need to think while someone is waiting, respond clearly, and keep going when they are unsure,” said Meng Aun Tan, Founder, Articulate Intelligence. “I built this first for my own children because I realised that, as a parent, I could not always give useful oral exam feedback on the spot. The AI should not replace teachers or parents, but it should give students more chances to practise, so that when they meet a real examiner, the experience feels less frightening.”

The first topic is available free for users. Other topics require paid credits or a subscription. Beyond PSLE English and Chinese oral practice, Articulate Intelligence also offers AI tools for composition grading, situational writing feedback, O-Level English oral practice, and DSA interview preparation.

Parents, schools, and tuition centres can try the platform or make enquiries at (https://articulate.com.sg).

Hashtag: #articulateintelligence #PSLE #psletraining

https://articulate.com.sg/

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

About Articulate Intelligence

Articulate Intelligence develops AI-powered education tools for parents, students, schools, and tuition centres. Its platform includes a real-time AI Oral Examiner for English and Chinese oral practice, as well as AI graders for composition and situational writing. Founded by Singapore parent Meng Aun Tan, the company focuses on making personalised practice more accessible while supporting, not replacing, teachers and parents. Learn more at (https://articulate.com.sg).

First hub in APAC to create 150 high-value jobs till mid-2027 and position Malaysia as a regional base for AI-enabled logistics innovation

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – Global supply chain leader HAVI will open its TechHUB in Kuala Lumpur, one of only four such hubs worldwide and its first in Asia Pacific, cementing Malaysia’s role as a strategic centre for digital supply chain innovation across the region.

With its official opening scheduled for November, the Kuala Lumpur TechHUB will bring together regional market insight, digital expertise and local and international talent to develop solutions for Asia-Pacific supply chains, with a focus on AI-driven forecasting, data analytics, automation and IoT-enabled fleet management, supporting more responsive and resilient logistics operations across the region.

The TechHUB has already employed 50 Technology professionals since March 2026 and is expected to grow to 100 employees by year-end, with roles spanning demand forecasting, data analytics, product management, software engineering, cybersecurity, cloud operations and change management.

“Malaysia offers the right combination of technology ambition, multilingual talent and regional connectivity to support the next phase of HAVI’s growth in Asia Pacific,” said Reto Sahli, Chief Digital & Information Officer HAVI. “Through the Kuala Lumpur TechHUB, we are not only building digital solutions for our customers and operations, but we are also creating opportunities for Malaysian professionals to take on global roles and shape how supply chains evolve across the region.”

HAVI’s choice of Malaysia reflects the country’s digital readiness and the depth of its professional talent base. The hub creates pathways for Malaysian professionals to work on regional and global supply chain challenges, gaining exposure to global best practices while bringing APAC market insights to digital tools built for the realities of fast-moving logistics. Underpinning this, HAVI will establish a talent development programme covering technical upskilling in AI, analytics, automation and cloud-based supply chain systems; functional training in logistics operations; and leadership development for professionals taking on regional and global mandates from Kuala Lumpur.

“What makes the HAVI TechHUB network truly distinctive is how our hubs are designed to work as one seamlessly connected global team,” said Daniela Ribeiro, Director of Technology Transformation at HAVI.

“Our Follow the Sun model means that innovation never stops. As our colleagues in Lisbon complete their day, our team in Kuala Lumpur picks up the thread, ensuring continuous progress, uninterrupted delivery and a constant exchange of ideas and expertise across time zones. This is not just an operational model; it reflects who we are as an organisation.”

“Supply chain transformation is ultimately about people,” added Ribeiro. “Technology can unlock speed, visibility and efficiency, but it is the talent behind these systems that determines how far transformation can go. Our focus in Malaysia is to nurture teams that understand both the technology and the realities of Asia-Pacific markets, so they can build solutions that are relevant, scalable and impactful.”

Malaysia’s logistics and supply chain sector is entering a period of accelerated transformation. The market is projected to grow from USD29.70 billion in 2025 to USD31.23 billion in 2026, and to reach USD40.11 billion by 2031, driven by sustained e-commerce momentum, supply chain modernisation and rising demand for automation. At the same time, Malaysia’s digital economy continues to gain traction, with RM87.4 billion in approved digital investments recorded in 2025 and expected to create more than 31,000 high-value jobs.

The TechHUB was established at an opportune time, reinforcing Kuala Lumpur’s standing as a strategic centre for digital supply chain transformation in Asia Pacific and deepening its contribution to Malaysia’s broader innovation ecosystem.

Malaysian professionals in software engineering, data analytics, AI, cloud operations, cybersecurity, IoT-enabled systems and product management are invited to join this growing global team, working on real, large-scale challenges from Kuala Lumpur, with access to international projects, world-class peers and meaningful career growth.

Explore current opportunities at HAVI | LinkedIn.

Hashtag: #HAVI

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

About HAVI

HAVI is a global, privately owned company that makes connections that matter — linking ideas with data, supply with demand, and brands with the people who love them. We deliver end-to-end supply chain excellence through our expertise in freight management, distribution and warehousing, planning and analytics, and waste and recycling. With around 8000 employees across more than 30 markets, HAVI combines deep operational know-how with powerful digital insights to help leading global brands manage their supply chains safely, sustainably, and efficiently. Founded in 1974, HAVI today supports customers across Europe, Asia, and North America, delivering more than two million orders each year. For more information, visit havi.com

About HAVI TechHUB

The HAVI TechHUB is a global innovation network focused on building the digital capabilities that power modern supply chains. With HUBs in Chicago, Krakow, Lisbon and now in Kuala Lumpur, we develop solutions in data analytics, digital engineering, automation and AI to support HAVI and its customers worldwide. HAVI TechHUBs operate as a connected global ecosystem of technology centers, enabling continuous collaboration across time zones. This network accelerates innovation, strengthens resilience and ensures consistent delivery of high-impact solutions around the world.

Preferred Hydro-Quebec connection strategy advances federally supported infrastructure planning and could reduce future Lac Knife capex requirements

Ottawa, Ontario – Newsfile Corp. – August 21, 2026 – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) (“Focus” or the “Company“), a Canadian developer of high-grade flake graphite deposits and advanced graphite materials for battery, defence and industrial applications, is pleased to highlight the Government of Canada’s recognition of infrastructure supporting the Company’s 100%-owned Lac Knife Graphite Project (“Lac Knife” or the “Project“) in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s August 17, 2026 announcement advancing clean-energy and critical-minerals infrastructure across the Labrador Trough¹.

The Government of Canada identified Focus Graphite’s Lac Knife infrastructure initiative among four strategic pre-development projects supported and funded through Natural Resources Canada’s (“NRCan“) First and Last Mile Fund (“FLMF“), describing the planned road and electrical connection as supporting the development of battery and energy-storage technologies required by Canada and its allies.

The recognition follows Focus’s June 3, 2026 announcement that it secured C$1,378,700 in non-repayable federal funding to advance engineering, environmental, permitting, Indigenous engagement and feasibility activities for Lac Knife’s road and electrical infrastructure². The funding represents approximately 50% of eligible project costs.

Focus has now completed an independent electrical infrastructure desktop study (the “Study“) prepared by Norda Stelo Inc. (“Norda Stelo“), identifying a preferred pathway for connecting Lac Knife to Quebec’s hydroelectric grid.

“Lac Knife’s recognition within the Prime Minister’s announcement reinforces the strategic importance of bringing Canadian critical mineral projects and their enabling infrastructure forward,” said Dean Hanisch, Chief Executive Officer of Focus Graphite. “We are already turning that support into tangible progress. With both our access-road and electrical desktop studies now complete, we are identifying meaningful infrastructure efficiencies relative to the 2023 Feasibility Study. The preferred electrical strategy provides a pathway to significantly reduce power-related capital requirements while connecting Lac Knife to Quebec’s clean hydroelectric grid. We are grateful for Canada’s continued support.”

“Infrastructure and access to power remain key constraints for mine development, with direct implications for capital, execution and timelines,” said Jason Latkowcer, Vice President, Corporate Development of Focus Graphite. “Canada’s investment in energy and critical-mineral infrastructure is helping define a clearer development pathway for Lac Knife. Advancing that work reduces development uncertainty and provides a stronger basis for future capital allocation and evaluation by potential strategic, financing and other investment partners.”

“Critical minerals are essential to Canada’s economic prosperity, security, and sustainability, and we are proud to advance Canadian mineral supply chains as a part of the historic Churchill Falls and Labrador Trough announcement,” said the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. “As a part of this nation-building initiative, through our First and Last Mile Fund, Canada is advancing the infrastructure we need to unlock projects like Lac Knife and strengthen Canada’s critical minerals value chain. This is how your federal government is working with industry to build a stronger, more competitive critical minerals sector; create opportunities for Indigenous and local communities; and deliver minerals Canada and our allies need for clean technologies, advanced manufacturing and defence applications.”

Preferred Hydro-Quebec Connection Strategy

Norda Stelo evaluated seven potential electrical supply scenarios against technical feasibility, constructability, cost, environmental considerations and execution requirements. The Study identified a direct connection to Hydro-Quebec’s three-phase, 34.5-kV distribution grid as the preferred solution, with the connection extending across public lands to the Lac Knife property.

The preferred configuration would require approximately 30.7 kilometres of electrical infrastructure, consisting of the upgrade of approximately 3.17 kilometres of existing single-phase line to three-phase service and the construction of approximately 27.5 kilometres of new three-phase distribution line extending to the Project. The new distribution line would largely follow established corridors, including the Hydro-Quebec transmission corridor, Highway 389 and the Project’s planned access-road corridor.

Under this approach, Hydro-Quebec would construct the principal distribution infrastructure on behalf of Focus, reducing the Company’s direct construction and coordination requirements while also placing responsibility for associated environmental permitting and long-term maintenance of the distribution line with Hydro-Quebec.

Potential Capital Savings Relative to 2023 Feasibility Study

The preferred strategy also creates an opportunity to significantly reduce the power-related capital requirements contemplated in Lac Knife’s 2023 Feasibility Study Update (“FSU“).

The 2023 FSU included C$19.9 million in initial capital for Power and Communications infrastructure, within total estimated pre-production capital of approximately C$236.9 million. The Norda Stelo Study identified several factors that could reduce these requirements. These include reducing the anticipated length of new power-line construction from approximately 50 kilometres to approximately 27.5 kilometres, eliminating the need for additional infrastructure at Hydro-Quebec’s Normand substation, and identifying that certain power-line construction costs contemplated in the FSU may have been overestimated. The Study also identified the potential for Hydro-Quebec to construct the distribution line at its standard per-kilometre cost.

Based on the assumptions evaluated in the Norda Stelo Study, the preferred strategy is estimated to have the potential to reduce Focus’s direct power-related capital requirements by more than 50% relative to the power infrastructure assumptions contained in the 2023 FSU. This estimate is preliminary, is based on a desktop-level assessment and should not be interpreted as an updated capital cost estimate for the Project. Any actual reduction will depend on Hydro-Quebec’s final connection requirements and cost responsibilities, detailed engineering and the scope of remaining on-site electrical infrastructure. There can be no assurance that the estimated reduction will be realized.

Next Steps

Focus intends to continue working with Hydro-Quebec and its engineering consultants to advance the preferred connection strategy, confirm technical requirements and define future cost responsibilities.

The electrical work is being advanced alongside the Company’s access-road planning, environmental permitting, engineering and Indigenous engagement programs under the federally supported FLMF initiative.

Natural graphite is designated as a critical mineral in Canada and is used across battery, energy-storage, defence and advanced-material applications. Focus continues to advance Lac Knife through engineering, environmental, permitting and Indigenous engagement activities.

Figure 1: Proposed Access Road, Lac Knife (Norda Stelo / IOS Geosciences, 2026)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1963/310686_0b06cfb494dcf9cf_001full.jpg

Qualified Person

The technical content disclosed in this news release was reviewed and approved by Rejean Girard, P.Geo (Qc), President of IOS Geosciences Inc., a consultant to the Company, and a qualified person as defined under National Instrument NI 43-101.

About Focus Graphite Advanced Materials Inc.

Focus Graphite is building an integrated graphite platform to supply the industries shaping the future. Through the development of world-class graphite resources, advanced processing technologies and higher-value advanced materials, the Company is positioning itself to support battery, defence, advanced manufacturing and other strategic industries across North America and allied markets.

The platform is anchored by the Company’s two 100%-owned graphite assets in Quebec. Lac Knife is one of North America’s highest-grade feasibility-stage graphite deposits, while Lac Tetepisca is one of the largest identified graphite resources globally. Together with strategic technology partnerships and government-supported innovation initiatives, these assets provide the foundation for a secure, scalable and increasingly integrated graphite supply chain.

For more information on Focus Graphite Inc. please visit http://www.focusgraphite.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-graphite/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusgraphite
X: https://x.com/focusgraphite

Investors Contact:
Dean Hanisch
CEO, Focus Graphite Inc.
dhanisch@focusgraphite.com
+1 (613) 612-6060

Jason Latkowcer
VP Corporate Development
jlatkowcer@focusgraphite.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words “could,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “projected,” “estimated,” and similar expressions, as well as statements relating to matters that are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company’s current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the preferred electrical connection strategy identified for the Lac Knife Graphite Project; the potential connection of Lac Knife to Hydro-Quebec’s three-phase, 34.5-kV distribution grid; the anticipated configuration, routing and length of the proposed electrical infrastructure, including the upgrade of existing distribution infrastructure and construction of new three-phase distribution line; the potential construction, permitting, ownership, operation and long-term maintenance of the principal distribution infrastructure by Hydro-Quebec; the potential reduction in Focus’s direct construction, coordination, permitting and maintenance responsibilities under the preferred strategy; the potential for the preferred electrical strategy to reduce Focus’s direct power-related capital requirements by more than 50% relative to the power infrastructure assumptions contained in the 2023 Feasibility Study Update; the assumptions underlying that preliminary estimate and the extent to which any anticipated reduction may ultimately be realized; the nature and extent of Hydro-Quebec’s final connection requirements, cost responsibilities and applicable construction costs; the results of future detailed engineering and the scope and cost of remaining on-site electrical infrastructure; the potential elimination of infrastructure previously contemplated at Hydro-Quebec’s Normand substation; the continued advancement of the preferred electrical connection strategy and related discussions and engineering work with Hydro-Quebec and the Company’s engineering consultants; the continued advancement of road and electrical infrastructure planning, environmental and permitting activities, engineering and Indigenous engagement under Natural Resources Canada’s First and Last Mile Fund; the continued availability of federal funding and the Company’s ability to satisfy applicable funding conditions and project requirements; the potential benefits of government-supported infrastructure initiatives to the advancement of Lac Knife; the potential for increasingly defined infrastructure planning to reduce development uncertainty and support future capital allocation, financing and evaluation by potential strategic or other investment partners; the continued advancement and future development of the Lac Knife Graphite Project; and the timing, scope, cost and results of future engineering, permitting, infrastructure development and other project-development activities.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to market conditions, regulatory approvals, changes in economic conditions, the ability to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms or at all, operational risks associated with mineral exploration and development, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

¹ https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2026/08/17/prime-minister-carney-announces-largest-clean-energy-investment-north
² https://focusgraphite.com/focus-graphite-secures-up-to-c1-38-million-under-natural-resource-canadas-first-and-last-mile-fund/

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

HENGQIN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – Recently, the Macao-Hengqin MICE Enterprises & ICCA Bay Area Members Seminar 2026 was held at Tianmu Qintai in Hengqin. With the theme “Global Bidding and Breakthrough Strategies for Emerging Destinations,” the event was hosted by the MICE Industry Association of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and brought together more than 100 industry representatives.

During the event, Mr. Lin Yanjie, Head of the Culture, Tourism, Exhibition, and Trade Division, and Dr. Sherry Tan, Associate Professor at the Macao University of Tourism, shared their insights into the development opportunities brought about by this milestone.

It is noted that Macao-Hengqin MICE cooperation has entered a stage of regularized and sustainable development, supported by an increasingly well-established framework spanning policy, operational models, and talent development.

The revised Measures for Supporting the Development of the MICE Industry in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, issued in January 2026, provide subsidies of RMB 800 per participant for international conferences included in ICCA statistics, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 1 million per event, together with additional special incentives. Enterprises obtaining ICCA accreditation for the first time will also receive a one-off reward of RMB 200,000, further strengthening support for the growth of MICE market players.

At the same time, the collaborative model between Macao and Hengqin continues to evolve, while efforts to develop a strong talent pipeline are advancing in parallel.

Over the next two years, Hengqin plans to attract more than ten international conferences eligible for inclusion in ICCA statistics. Applications for 2027 conferences in key fields such as artificial intelligence and materials science have already entered the bidding process. These initiatives will further enhance Macao-Hengqin’s international visibility and influence, while strengthening its voice in the global MICE industry.

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

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MyRepublic Broadband Pte Ltd

MyRepublic Broadband Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based telecommunications provider delivering high-speed broadband, managed services, and connectivity solutions to consumers and businesses. MyRepublic serves the SME segment with business internet plans, managed IT services, and cybersecurity solutions designed for growing companies. For more information, visit https://myrepublic.net/sg/