Category: What’s News Asia

Aventra Group secures the international ISO/IEC 42001 standard across its operations, technology infrastructure, and core business applications—unifying AI governance with existing ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II frameworks to eliminate vendor procurement friction and empower APAC enterprises to scale seamlessly into international markets.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 October 2026 – Aventra Group today achieved the world’s first international AI standard, securing the prestigious ISO/IEC 42001 certification for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS). This milestone positions the technology provider within an elite tier of single-digit early adopters leading AI governance within Malaysia, and among fewer than 400 organizations worldwide holding this certification.

By embedding the framework natively across its entire operational footprint, Aventra Group has unified its existing ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II frameworks into a unified governance baseline, directly addressing the deep anxieties surrounding data liability and shifting regulatory gray areas that frequently gridlock modern enterprise growth.

Historically, corporate procurement, legal, and risk teams have routinely stalled technological rollouts for months to perform exhaustive, custom risk evaluations on unvetted software. Aventra Group’s certified framework allows enterprise clients to entirely bypass these multi-month vendor review cycles on day one. By providing an instantly procurable compliance foundation, the framework clears the path through traditional corporate risk holdups, stripping away the operational barriers that typically limit APAC organizations from expanding into tightly governed international markets.

“The primary barrier to enterprise AI scaling across the Asia-Pacific region isn’t a lack of technological innovation; it is a profound trust deficit,” said Mohan Vasudevan, Group Chairman at Aventra Group. “Corporate leaders want the efficiency gains of automation and AI but cannot compromise on institutional risk or data safety. By anchoring our foundational operations to the world’s most rigorous AI operational framework, we have institutionalized trust, giving regional enterprises a pre-vetted runway for rapid cross-border scale globally.”

This certified AI governance framework serves as the foundation for Aventra Group’s transition into a borderless digital ecosystem, enabling AI-ready solutions for enterprise clients worldwide through the AG ONE Marketplace:

• AG ONE Intelligent Workforce Management (IWM) Suite: An AI-native enterprise platform that unifies end-to-end workforce processes and talent management into a single intelligent ecosystem. The suite comprehensively automates operations while ensuring rigorous governance, data privacy, and fully compliant AI adoption.
• AG ONE Safe: An advanced enterprise GRC solution engineered as an “Agentic OS for Cyber Resilience” to deliver autonomous risk protection and continuous security compliance.

For more information, visit AG ONE Marketplace: https://www.ag-one.aventragroup.com/

Hashtag: #AventraGroup #ISO42001 #AIGovernance #ArtificialIntelligence #EnterpriseAI #ResponsibleAI #AICompliance #CyberSecurity #DigitalTransformation #AGONE

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

Aventra Group Sdn Bhd

Aventra Group is a leading global technology provider specializing in enterprise digital transformation across Cloud, Enterprise Applications, Smart City solutions, and the AG ONE AI-native SaaS series. Through its enterprise-grade AG ONE Marketplace, the company delivers trusted, compliant, and highly scalable digital architectures engineered to advance institutional capabilities, secure data infrastructure, and protect organizational integrity worldwide.

Grade A Office Availability Rate Drops Further, High Street Leasing Activities Focus on Kowloon

• Residential Market: Market sentiment turned more cautious in Q3, with total residential transaction numbers slipping by 40% q-o-q and 21% y-o-y to record around 13,240 cases. Home prices softened by 0.8% between July and August, yet, supported by stronger 1H performance, still recorded a cumulative rise of 7% in the first eight months of 2026.
• Grade A Office Market: Citywide net absorption reached 412,400 sq ft in Q3, mainly driven by expansion activities by the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector. Rents in Greater Central continued to pick up, while rental level declines in non-core submarkets narrowed. The overall office market rental level is expected to rise by +5% to +7% in 2026.
• Retail Market: Overall retail sales growth remained resilient on the back of growing tourist arrivals and stronger economic fundamentals supporting local consumption sentiment. The overall high street vacancy rate remained broadly stable in Q3, with leasing activities concentrated in Mongkok and Tsimshatsui.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 October 2026 – Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield today held its Hong Kong Property Markets Q3 2026 Review andOutlook press conference. The Hong Kong residential market entered a consolidation phase in Q3 amid a shift in the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook, increased stock market volatility, and tighter cross-border capital controls in the Chinese mainland. Against this backdrop, residential transaction numbers dropped by 40% q-o-q to record around 13,240 cases in Q3, while home prices declined by 0.8% during July and August. In the Grade A office market, the total new leased area for Q3 reached 1.4 million sq ft, the highest quarterly level since 2019, supported by expansion activities from the BFSI sector. Citywide net absorption reached +412,400 sq ft for the quarter, bringing the overall availability rate to trend further downward, while YTD rental growth recorded +6.1%. In the retail sector, total retail sales remained resilient in Q3. The overall high street vacancy rate remained broadly stable during the quarter, chiefly supported by more active leasing commitments in Mongkok. Leasing activity in Hong Kong Island districts moderated somewhat.

Grade A office leasing market:BSFI expansion demand fuels leasing momentum

The Q3 2026 period marked another active quarter for Hong Kong’s Grade A office market. Total new leased area reached 1.4 million sq ft in Q3, the highest quarterly level since 2019. The banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector, and consumer products / manufacturing sectors, were the key demand drivers, with BFSI occupiers largely expansion-led. Citywide net absorption reached +412,400 sq ft in the quarter. This performance helped pull down the overall availability rate 0.4 percentage point q-o-q to 19.1%. Core district rents continued to outperform non-core areas. Greater Central rents continued to climb by a further 3.0% q-o-q in Q3, while non-core area rental level declines further narrowed. Rents in Hong Kong East and Hong Kong South edged up slightly in Q3. The overall citywide rental level rose by 1.7% q-o-q in Q3, bringing YTD rental growth to +6.1%.

John Siu, Managing Director, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield,said, “Rents in Greater Central grew by 13% YTD, reflecting strong demand for prime offices. However, mid-priced Grade A offices, particularly those with net effective rents of around HK$45-60 psf, are expected to continue facing headwinds, as abundant existing space and forthcoming supply across multiple submarkets within this price range is likely to sustain intense competition.”

Siu added, “Looking ahead, positive market momentum is likely to partly offset the scheduled 1.2 million sq ft of new supply in Q4, keeping the availability rate broadly stable at 19% to 20% at the year-end. With a decelerating supply pipeline beyond 2026, availability may have passed its cyclical peak in 2025, but non-core areas will continue to face absorption pressure. Full-year rental growth in Greater Central is now projected to grow by +12% to +14%, supporting the citywide Grade A office rental level to rise by +5% to +7% in 2026.”

Retail leasing market: Retail sales growth remains resilient, with Mongkok leading high street leasing activities

Hong Kong retail sales growth remained resilient in Q3, driven by growing tourist arrivals and stronger economic fundamentals supporting local consumption sentiment. The city’s overall retail sales for the January to August 2026 period reached HK$266 billion, up 8.5% y-o-y. Among key retail categories, the Jewellery & Watches sector recorded the strongest performance, recording y-o-y sales growth of 22.6%. Other sectors, such as Medicines & Cosmetics (+5.0%) and Fashion & Accessories (+3.2%), recorded more modest low single-digit growth.

The overall high street vacancy rate remained broadly stable at 5.4% in Q3, chiefly supported by more active leasing commitments in Mongkok, with the district’s vacancy rate dropping to 4.8% from 8.6% in Q2. In Tsimshatsui, although the vacancy rate moved up to 9.5%, notable new transactions were also recorded during the quarter. On Hong Kong Island, vacancy rates in Causeway Bay and Central increased in Q3, rising to 5.1% and 1.4%, respectively, after remaining at 0% for two consecutive quarters. With prime retail spaces in both districts fully occupied in previous quarters, leasing activity moderated in Q3.

High street retail rents in both Causeway Bay and Tsimshatsui remained unchanged in the quarter. In Mongkok, stronger leasing momentum supported a 0.4% q-o-q rise in rental levels. As for Tsimshatsui, a slowdown in the luxury segment combined with relatively high vacancy weighed on the district’s rental performance, resulting in a fall of 1.1% q-o-q. In the F&B sector, rents remained under pressure amid high availability, dropping within a 1% range q-o-q across the four key districts.

John Siu commented, “We have observed stronger leasing demand from Japanese, South Korean and Thai brands in recent months. Looking at the first-stores recorded so far this year, approximately 36% originated from Japan, South Korea and Thailand, similar to the share accounted for by Chinese mainland brands, while exceeding the 29% recorded for 2025 full-year. We expect this trend to continue through the remainder of the year. Looking ahead, the Hong Kong retail market is expected to remain supported by resilient local consumption resulting from stronger economic fundamentals, together with greater tourist spending underpinned by a stronger RMB, and a pipeline of planned mega-events. These factors will bring continued momentum to the city’s retail market. We also expect local and non-local retailers to remain selective, with demand focused on well-located retail spaces in core districts offering attractive rental packages. In turn, the city’s retail market is likely to maintain a gradual recovery trajectory. We forecast high street retail rents in Causeway Bay and Central to pick up by 2% to 3% y-o-y in 2026, with Tsimshatsui and Mongkok recording modest rental growth of 1% to 2% y-o-y.”

Residential Market: Home prices consolidate as transaction numbers cool in Q3, rate hikes remain key

The Hong Kong residential market consolidated somewhat in Q3 following the strong momentum recorded in 1H. After the sustained release of purchasing power over the past year, coupled with the shift of the U.S. Federal Reserve rate direction, increased stock market volatility and heightened uncertainties, some prospective buyers reverted to a wait-and-see stance. This resulted in a noticeable slowdown in transaction activity from July onwards. The monthly transaction number, which averaged more than 7,000 cases in Q2, fell back to around 4,000 deals between July and September. A total of 13,242 residential transactions were recorded in Q3, down 40% q-o-q, bringing cumulative transactions to reach 54,052 cases for the first nine months of the year, representing an 18% increase y-o-y.

Edgar Lai, Senior Director, Valuation and Consultancy Services, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, commented, “Housing price growth momentum decelerated in Q3 2026. Rating and Valuation Department data suggests that the overall residential price index softened by 0.8% in the two months from July to August, yet still achieved 7.0% growth for the first eight months of 2026. Meanwhile, our Cushman & Wakefield mid-and-small size units price index shows that home prices mildly dropped 0.1% q-o-q, yet still registering a cumulative increase of 7.7% year to date. Our tracking of popular housing estates shows that prices softened in Q3 across different market segments. Prices at City One Shatin, representing the mass market, declined by 5.7% q-o-q, while prices at Taikoo Shing, representing the mid-market, dropped by 0.6% q-o-q. Residence Bel-Air, representing the luxury segment, retreated by 3.8% q-o-q. Following the sustained release of purchasing power over the past year, coupled with tighter cross-border capital controls from the Chinese mainland, and the U.S. Fed rate hike of 0.25% in September, our September Verbal Enquiry Index declined by 35% compared with the peak seen in May.”

Rosanna Tang, Deputy Managing Director, Head of Research, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield, added, “The city’s residential market consolidated in Q3, with monthly transactions retreating to around 4,000 cases. The slowdown reflects a more cautious stance among homebuyers amid shifting interest rate expectations and heightened external uncertainties. Looking ahead, the frequency and pace of rate hikes, together with whether local banks will follow suit, will be the key factors affecting homebuyers’ purchasing decisions and affordability. Given the slower pace of transactions in Q3, we have revised our full-year residential transaction forecast to around 67,000 to 68,000 cases.

“As for pricing, should the U.S. Fed rate further increase in Q4, the residential market is expected to remain in a consolidation phase, with 2026 annual home prices likely to fluctuate in a narrow range near +7%. The rental market, however, will be more resilient underpinned by rental demand brought by the inflow of talent, non-local students, and new entrants to the city. With rental growth of 4.9% recorded in the first eight months of the year, we project a 5% to 7% y-o-y increase for the full year of 2026.”

Hashtag: #CWK

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About Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm for property owners and occupiers with approximately 53,000 employees in nearly 350 offices and 60 countries. In Greater China, a network of 23 offices serves local markets across the region. In 2025, the firm reported revenue of $10.3 billion across its core services of Valuation, Consulting, Project & Development Services, Capital Markets, Project & Occupier Services, Industrial & Logistics, Retail, and others. Built around the belief that Better never settles, the firm receives numerous industry and business accolades for its award-winning culture. For additional information, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.hk or follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cushman-&-wakefield-greater-china).

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 October 2026 – On October 3, 2026, local time, a Shanghai-themed cultural exchange event was held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., bringing a taste of Shanghai to the U.S. Titled “Future Resonance — ShanghaiEye Night,” the event was also part of the “Shanghai Let’s Meet” city promotion initiative and a broader series of China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges. Through a variety of cultural activities and interactions, the event built bridges between people across the Pacific and offered a glimpse of Shanghai as an open, inclusive and dynamic international metropolis.

The event, held by Shanghai Media Group, brought together nearly 100 prominent figures from China and the United States across the political, business, technology, cultural and arts sectors. Song Jiongming, President of Shanghai Media Group, and Susan Lee, Secretary of State of Maryland, attended the event and delivered remarks. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng was also in attendance.

In the afternoon, the National Mall was transformed into a “mini Shanghai” carnival. The carnival featured 50 stalls showcasing international cuisine, a “Shanghai Charm” themed exhibition area and displays of China’s intangible cultural heritage.

Visitors got a glimpse of Shanghai’s cutting-edge technological innovation through a model of the C919 passenger jet, explored the city’s latest trends through a model of the Oriental Pearl Tower and popular Chinese cultural and creative IPs, and took a virtual journey through Shanghai’s past and present with VR headsets provided by the Shanghai Museum. Time-honored brands such as White Rabbit candy, Hero fountain pens and Lao Feng Xiang Jewelry offered visitors a taste of Shanghai’s iconic homegrown brands. Meanwhile, an IP SHANGHAI lenticular art exhibition brought the city to life through dynamic images that changed as visitors moved around the displays.

From such an immersive experience showcasing Shanghai as a first stop for international visitors entering China to distinctive IPs spanning culture, commerce, tourism, sports and exhibitions, the carnival offered Americans and international visitors a glimpse of the city and a chance to experience Shanghai firsthand at one of Washington’s most iconic landmarks. Many visitors said they hoped to visit Shanghai in person and explore the city on foot through a “city walk.”

As the sun began to set, its golden glow fell over the Capitol dome. Against an iconic backdrop featuring the two cities, the “Future Resonance” outdoor concert got underway.

Young performers from China and the United States took the stage alongside renowned artists from both countries. The One Voice Children’s Choir from the United States and the Manhattan Philharmonic joined forces to perform “We Are Together,” a song created in Shanghai to celebrate friendship between the two countries.

The program featured a rich mix of symphonic works, traditional Chinese music, Chinese opera and anime music. Footage from Shanghai’s city image film “UP! SHANGHAI” played on the large screen behind the stage throughout the concert.

Later that evening, nearly 100 guests from China and the United States, including prominent figures from politics, business, technology, culture and the arts, took part in the ShanghaiEye Night dialogue session.

Themed “Invest in China for a Win-Win Future,” the dialogue highlighted the China International Import Expo and Shanghai’s development as an international economic, financial, trade, shipping and technological innovation center. It also showcased the city’s world-class business environment and provided a platform for high-level dialogue and practical cooperation between Chinese and U.S. companies.

The dialogue also featured a “Shanghai Charm” city image reception area. On one side, twenty selected historical photographs capturing key “Shanghai moments” in China-U.S. relations were displayed, including the signing of the Shanghai Communiqué, the launch of the first China-U.S. air route, the opening of Apple’s first store in China, the Tesla Gigafactory and the 10th anniversary of Shanghai Disney Resort.

On the other side, 20 photographs from the IP SHANGHAI platform, under the theme “Chasing Dreams in Shanghai,” showcased Lujiazui Financial City, Yangshan Deep-Water Port, Shanghai Grand Opera House, the North Bund shipping hub, and the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek. Together, the displays offered guests a visual introduction to the city and created lasting memories of Shanghai.

With the support of the Information Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government and co-hosted by Shanghai Media Group, the World Intangible Cultural Heritage Conservation Center and the Washington Chinese Community Alliance, the event brought together guests from a range of sectors in China and the United States.

The event brought Shanghai closer to American audiences and the international community through city promotion, cultural performances, interactive experiences and high-level dialogue. It also provided a platform for people-to-people and cultural exchange between China and the United States.

Hashtag: #ShanghaiEye

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

Jen Zhou to Represent Hong Kong in Puerto Rico at the 75th Miss Universe World Final

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 October 2026 – The Miss Universe Hong Kong 2026 final, title-sponsored by Zetrix, concluded successfully on 18 September at the Ritz Carlton Hotel ballroom in Hong Kong. Fifteen finalists competed across talent, catwalk, and swimsuit segments, with contestant No. 1, Jen Zhou, emerging as the winner – taking home both the Miss Universe Hong Kong 2026 title and the Most Favourite Contestant Award. She will now represent Hong Kong at the 75th Miss Universe World Final in Puerto Rico (US).

The Hong Kong final was organised by the Miss Universe Hong Kong Organisation, with stage design, competition format, and judging panel all reflecting the high standards of an international pageant. The ballroom was filled with energy as audiences witnessed a standout moment for Hong Kong’s pageant stage.

As Miss Universe Hong Kong 2026, Jen Zhou will travel to Puerto Rico to compete at the 75th Miss Universe World Final on 24 November 2026 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan. Delegates from over 120 countries and regions will compete on the same stage, with major television networks broadcasting the event live worldwide — an event widely regarded as the “Olympics of beauty pageants.”

The Winner: Jen Zhou — From Finance to the Stage, A Path That Was Never a Straight Line

Jen Zhou (@jen.zhou), 27, holds a master’s degree and works as a TV features host on Hong Kong’s English Channel, a social media content creator (KOL), and a model. She attended Hong Kong International School (HKIS) and acted in television dramas. Upon graduation, she was admitted to both the Beijing Film Academy’s Acting Department and the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Cinematic Arts. She went on to earn degrees from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and Marshall School of Business. After graduating, she entered the financial industry, joining a major global investment bank for nearly three years, before pursuing a master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University in New York. At the same time, she built a social media community of over 300,000 followers, sharing content around fashion, lifestyle, and her life in Hong Kong.

This was not Jen’s first pageant. At seventeen, she entered the Miss Asia pageant and reached the final. In 2023, she competed in Miss Hong Kong and again reached the final. This time, after three years away from the pageant stage, she returned and took the crown. Speaking after the competition, she said she was delighted to finally have the time to participate fully and to see the final result.

Jen Zhou’s win is not only a personal honour — it represents a modern Hong Kong woman: internationally minded, professionally accomplished, and captivating on stage. She will carry that image to the Miss Universe world stage.

About Miss Universe Hong Kong Organisation
Miss Universe is the world’s longest-running and most influential international beauty pageant, attracting delegates from over 120 countries and regions each year. The Miss Universe Hong Kong pageant selects a representative to carry Hong Kong’s unique cultural identity and international image onto the global stage. 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of Miss Universe, with the organisation adopting a “Diamond Edition” theme to mark this important milestone.

About the 75th Miss Universe World Final
The 75th Miss Universe World Final will take place on 24 November 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico (US). The event comprises three main activities: the National Costume Show (21 November), the Preliminary Competition (22 November), and the Final Competition (24 November). Beyond the competition, a series of cultural exchange and community activities will be held, including “Luz de Esperanza,” a charitable initiative led by the Puerto Rico Tourism Board, which connects delegates with cancer patients to share hope and support.

Hashtag: #MissUniverse

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 October 2026 – Chubb Wealth released its Q4 2026 Investment Outlook, A Less Synchronized World, highlighting a resilient but increasingly uneven global economy and a broader opportunity set across equities, fixed income, alternatives and Asian markets.

According to Chubb Wealth, the global economy remains resilient despite ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East, but that resilience is not uniform. The U.S., Europe, Japan and China are each facing different growth drivers and constraints. Energy uncertainty, trade restrictions, fiscal spending and large infrastructure requirements may keep inflation more volatile than in the decade before the pandemic.

Ben Rudd, General Manager of Chubb Wealth, says: “As investors assess their portfolios going into 2027, the answer is not to retreat to cash in the face of uneven growth and continued investment uncertainty. The opportunity set is broader than it has been for years, so the focus should be on building portfolios that can earn returns from multiple sources, including alternatives.”

Chubb Wealth remains generally constructive on risk assets and highlights four investment priorities for Q4 2026:

• Income matters again: Starting bond yields allow fixed income to contribute meaningfully to total portfolio returns.
• Follow the artificial intelligence (AI) investment dollar: The opportunity is moving from chips into data centers, cooling, power, grids, software and ultimately productivity.
• Tap into Asia’s diversified investment cycles: China, Japan, Korea/Taiwan, India and Southeast Asia offer different policy, valuation, earnings and currency drivers.
• Give alternatives a portfolio role: Private credit, infrastructure, hedge funds and private equity should each address a specific portfolio objective.

Chubb Wealth remains neutral on global equities and bonds. In fixed income, we prefer higher starting yields, including high-yield, Asian and USD emerging market bonds, and believe bonds can once again be owned primarily for income. We believe a weaker U.S. dollar will remain a key theme, supporting greater geographic and currency diversification.

In alternatives, infrastructure remains the favored allocation, supported by electrification, energy security, renewable generation, grid modernization and digital infrastructure.

For the full report, please visit: https://www.chubbwealth.com/hk-en/wealth-insight/q4-2026-outlook.html

Hashtag: #Chubb #ChubbWealth

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

About Chubb Wealth

Chubb Wealth is a Hong Kong wealth management platform with a mission to empower high-net-worth investors to achieve their long-term wealth goals and aspirations with ease. As a global insurer-backed wealth management platform, Chubb Wealth offers clients seamless digital investing and wealth management capabilities, access to a carefully curated range of funds, and bespoke advisory services. Chubb Wealth is operated by Chubb Investment Management (HK) Limited, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Chubb Limited. Additional information can be found at www.chubbwealth.com.

About Chubb

Chubb is a world leader in insurance. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. The company is defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb employs approximately 45,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com.

Disclaimer

Chubb Wealth only conducts regulated activities in Hong Kong, and the information herein is only intended for distribution to and used by recipients located in territories where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable laws and regulations.

The views and opinions herein are current as of the date of this news release and are solely for general informational purposes only and do not consider any specific investment objectives, financial situation and/or particular needs of any specific person who may receive this document. Reliance upon information in this news release is at the sole discretion of the reader, and Chubb Wealth shall not be liable for any damages arising out of any person’s reliance upon this information. Please be cautioned that investment involves risks, and you may lose part or all of your investment. Please consult your own professional adviser and consider your own financial objectives, risk tolerance and circumstances before making any investment decisions. This news release discusses general market activity, industry or sector trends, or other broad-based economic, market, or political conditions and should not be construed as research or investment advice. This news release is not intended as a promotion, an offer, a solicitation of an offer, or a recommendation, to deal in any securities or any financial instruments or services.

This news release represents the views and opinions solely of Chubb Wealth and not of its indirect parent company, Chubb Limited, or any other subsidiary or representative of Chubb Limited.

Licensing information

Chubb Investment Management (HK) Limited (trading as “Chubb Wealth”) is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Chubb Limited, and is licensed (CE No. AVR438) under the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) to carry on business in Type 1 (Dealing in Securities), Type 4 (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 (Asset Management) regulated activities in Hong Kong.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 October 2026 – The Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa has attracted 12,010 high-potential foreigners to Thailand in four years, generating approximately USD 1.28 billion (THB 43 billion) in economic value, according to the Board of Investment (BOI). The visa is a key mechanism for attracting executives and highly skilled personnel for future industries while increasing purchasing power and stimulating domestic spending and economic activity. A new online system now links services from four government agencies in an integrated process.

Introduced in September 2022 to attract high-potential foreigners to reside and conduct economic activities in Thailand, the LTR visa program has generated an average economic value of more than USD 107,000 (THB 3.6 million) per recipient, according to BOI data. The calculation covers visa fees, spending in Thailand by visa holders, direct investment, and tax revenue from highly skilled professionals.

Amid intensifying global competition for highly skilled personnel, the LTR visa is an important mechanism for bringing global talent into Thailand. This is particularly relevant as the country prepares for a new wave of investment in advanced-technology industries, including semiconductors and advanced electronics, digital technology and AI, humanoid robotics, aviation, and biotechnology.

“The LTR visa is a strategic pillar to attract global talent as Thailand absorbs a new wave of advanced technology investments,” said Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Board of Investment. “Drawing top-tier executives and technical specialists from around the world is vital to strengthening our national competitiveness and securing technology transfers from international partners.”

Approved LTR visa recipients primarily come from leading economies. The United States accounts for the largest group, with more than 2,400 approvals, followed by Japan with more than 1,300 and the United Kingdom with more than 1,000. Japanese nationals comprise a notable share of the specialist bracket, aligning with Japan’s heavy footprint in Thailand’s automotive and precision-electronics supply networks.

The 12,010 approved LTR visa recipients fall into five categories: 1,779 Highly-Skilled Professionals; 1,043 Work-from-Thailand Professionals, who work from Thailand for overseas employers; 737 Wealthy Global Citizens; 4,561 Wealthy Pensioners; and 3,891 Dependents of recipients in the first four categories.

Among recipients in the Highly-Skilled Professionals and Work-from-Thailand Professionals categories, 54% hold executive-level positions and 36% are professionals in various fields; the remainder are at the technical level. Applicants in each category must meet specific criteria, such as requirements relating to assets, income, investment evidence, work experience, and health insurance, and undergo rigorous checks by the relevant agencies.

To handle rising application volumes and remove long-standing administrative bottlenecks, the BOI rolled out an integrated digital processing portal in September 2026. The platform centralizes review procedures across four primary state bodies: the Department of Consular Affairs, the Immigration Bureau, the Department of Employment, and the Revenue Department.

Complementing the portal, the Thailand Investment and Expat Services Center (TIESC), a one-stop service center, is located on floors 6-7 of the Parade Zone at One Bangkok. “The center is intended to strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness in continuously attracting high-potential talent from around the world,” said Mr. Narit.

In addition to attracting foreign talent through the LTR visa, BOI also facilitates visas and work permits for executives and personnel working in BOI-promoted businesses through the BOI Visa, and offers the Smart Visa for startups. BOI also supports the skills development of Thai personnel through the Skill Bridge measure, and helps Thai entrepreneurs adopt modern technology to enhance their competitiveness through the Business Transformation measure. These measures work hand in hand to attract international experts, develop Thai personnel, and upgrade Thai businesses, strengthening Thailand’s readiness for the transition to a new economy driven by technology and innovation.

Note: Currency conversions are based on the Bank of Thailand’s average selling rate of approximately 1 USD = 33.6 THB.

Hashtag: #Thailandboardofinvestment #BOI #FDI #Investment

https://www.boi.go.th/en/index/

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

Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)

Established in 1966, the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) has played an important role for more than 60 years in promoting value-creating investment by both foreign and Thai investors, strengthening competitiveness and supporting Thailand’s sustainable economic restructuring toward the new economy.

Clinical PNOE testing on Joe Wicks MBE reveals sedentary lifestyles degrade fat-burning efficiency in just 72 hours

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 October 2026 – For millions of busy Hong Kong professionals, daily exercise often feels like another demanding item on an endless to-do list. After enduring back-to-back meetings, long commutes, and hours staring at screens, the idea of packing a gym bag or hitting 10,000 steps can feel exhausting rather than empowering.

Challenging the notion that fitness requires grueling workouts, Bupa’s new global health experiment video series, Health or Hype, designed to help audiences navigate everyday wellness fads and separate science from internet noise. Hosted by British fitness coach and best-selling author Joe Wicks MBE, who famously inspired millions during pandemic lockdowns as the UK’s “PE Teacher”, the five-part series sees Joe put his own body and mind through a series of intense experiences overseen by leading medical experts, examining five key pillars of health: movement, nature, nutrition, sleep, and mental well-being.

In the premiere episode on Movement, Wicks challenges the assumption that fitness demands exhausting routines by undergoing a three-day “movement fast,” capping his daily activity at just 2,000 steps to evaluate the real-world toll of a desk-bound office lifestyle. Our bodies show the strain of sitting still almost instantly. Under clinical metabolic breath testing (PNOE), Joe’s metabolic flexibility dropped sharply within 72 hours, meaning his body struggled to process fats efficiently, leaving excess glucose circulating in his bloodstream and dragging his mood into an irritable, unmotivated slump.

Yet, the episode’s breakthrough insight wasn’t about pushing harder; it was about making movement joyful, playful, and bite-sized. Featured movement coach Darryl Edwards, who walked away from a high-stress, 12-hour-a-day investment banking tech career after suffering chronic sedentary burnout, shares that human bodies are not wired for forced gym drills, but for natural, frequent bursts of activity. Edwards explains that even seconds of play or active movement trigger a “D.O.S.E.” of feel-good hormones in the brain: Dopamine (motivation), Oxytocin (connection), Serotonin (calm focus), and Endorphins (the body’s natural physical and mental pain relief).

To help Hong Kong’s busy professionals find a realistic balance, Dr Lau Yue Young Geoffrey, Specialist in Family Medicine shares practical insights on how simple habits can protect our long-term health, “Many patients tell me they feel guilty for not having the time or energy to do exercise after a long workday. However, from a medical perspective, maintaining good health does not always require lengthy or high-intensity workouts. One of the most important steps is simply to avoid prolonged periods of uninterrupted sitting. Extended sedentary time can adversely affect circulation, metabolic health and overall wellbeing.

Incorporating short movement snacks throughout the day, such as a few minutes of stretching in the workplace, standing during phone calls, or taking the stairs, can help stimulate muscle activity, improve post-meal glucose handling and enhance mental alertness. These small actions are easy to integrate into a busy schedule and can complement regular exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle.”

Your 60-Second “Movement Snack” Menu at the Desk
Instead of waiting for the weekend, try these three simple, zero-sweat micro-habits during your workday:

• The Tea Break Step: When waiting for your coffee to brew or water to boil, do 30 seconds of gentle heel-to-toe calf raises.
• The “Pacing” Call: Stand up and pace across your room or office floor whenever taking a non-video phone call.
• The Overhead Reach: Every hour, interlock your fingers, reach straight toward the ceiling for 10 seconds, and take two deep diaphragmatic breaths to open the chest and restore spinal alignment.

Wellness is not a punishment or an all-or-nothing task. By celebrating small, frequent moments of play and motion, every Hong Kong professional can reclaim their daily vitality – one movement snack at a time.

Watch the full clinical experiment and witness Joe Wick’s physical transformation in the YouTube episode: What did 2,000 steps a day do to Joe Wicks? – Health or Hype Episode 1: Movement – YouTube
Hashtag: #BupaHongKong #HealthorHype #HealthInsurance #HealthExperiment #HealthTips #FitnessAndWellness #WorkplaceHealth #EmployeeWellbeing

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

Bupa – A health insurance specialist

Established in 1947, Bupa’s purpose is helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We are an international healthcare company serving over 68 million customers worldwide. With no shareholders, we reinvest profits into providing more and better healthcare for the benefit of current and future customers. Bupa has businesses around the world, principally in Australia, the UK, Spain, Poland, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, India, Türkiye, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand. We also have associate businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Bupa has been a health insurance specialist in Hong Kong since 1976, offering one-stop solutions across domestic and international health insurance, and healthcare services. Our comprehensive medical insurance schemes are tailored to meet individual needs, and we provide health solutions for companies of all sizes. We also have a team of registered nurses, health management professionals, and doctors who provide various expert healthcare support.

Our healthcare provision arm, Quality HealthCare Medical Services (QHMS), became part of Bupa in October 2013. QHMS offers Western Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diagnostics & Imaging, Physiotherapy, Mental Health and Wellness services via a network of over 1,650 provider service points in Hong Kong.

For more information, visit www.bupa.com.hk/en/.

VIVI Cap Smart transforms injectable medication protection into a connected health-data layer, enabling patients, caregivers and digital-health platforms to capture medication-use, temperature and adherence signals.

Toronto, Ontario – Newsfile Corp. – October 5, 2026 – TempraMed Technologies Ltd. (CSE: VIVI) (OTCQB: TMPTF) (FSE: 9DY) (“TempraMed” or the “Company”), a medical technology company transforming the storage, protection and management of temperature-sensitive medications, is pleased to announce that its VIVI Cap Smart™ platform now supports connectivity with Apple Health and Google Fit, advancing the Company’s strategy to make injectable medication use visible within leading health and wellness ecosystems.

VIVI Cap Smart™ is TempraMed’s connected temperature-protection device for insulin pens, GLP-1 therapies and other injectable medications. The product combines TempraMed’s validated passive thermal-shield technology with digital capabilities designed to help patients monitor medication exposure, track injections, receive reminders and share medication-use information with caregivers, healthcare professionals and remote patient management systems.

Management believes this connectivity represents an important strategic milestone for TempraMed as the healthcare market shifts toward home-based care, wearable devices, AI-enabled health platforms and patient-generated health data. While today’s wearable and health platforms commonly track activity, heart rate, glucose, sleep, app engagement and health records, injectable medication use remains a major missing signal. VIVI Cap Smart is designed to close this gap by capturing medication-use and temperature-integrity data from the injectable therapies patients use every day.

Highlights

• Connects injectable medication use to leading health platforms: VIVI Cap Smart connectivity with Apple Health and Google Fit is designed to allow patients to include injection-related information alongside broader personal health data.
• Creates a new data layer for injectables: The platform helps capture injection activity, medication reminders, temperature exposure and adherence-related signals from insulin, GLP-1 and other injectable medication use.
• Supports home-care and remote monitoring models: VIVI Cap Smart is designed to enable better visibility for patients, family members, caregivers and healthcare professionals as more chronic therapies move from clinics into the home.
• Pen-agnostic and platform-ready: Unlike smart-pen solutions tied to a single drug manufacturer or device format, VIVI Cap Smart is designed to work across multiple pen brands and therapy categories while adding temperature protection.
• Positions TempraMed for strategic partnerships: The Company believes injectable medication data is increasingly relevant to wearable, digital-health, AI, pharma, medical-device and payer platforms seeking new clinical signals and better patient engagement.
• Supports recurring digital-health revenue: VIVI Cap Smart is built around a connected-device and subscription model, creating the potential for software-enabled revenue in addition to hardware sales.

The Missing Signal in Digital Health: Injectable Medication Use

Hundreds of millions of patients worldwide now use injectable medications for diabetes, weight management, autoimmune conditions, fertility, allergies and other chronic or acute conditions¹. At the same time, wearable devices and health platforms are becoming central to how patients and healthcare providers monitor health trends, adherence and outcomes.

Despite this momentum, injectable medication behavior remains largely disconnected from the digital-health ecosystem. Wearables may track vital signs and biosensor data, but they generally do not know whether a patient actually used an injectable medication, when the injection occurred, or whether the medication was exposed to damaging temperatures before use.

VIVI Cap Smart was developed to address that gap. The platform is designed to provide a universal injectable-therapy layer that combines:

• Temperature protection for in-use medications;
• Automatic injection-event capture;
• Medication reminders;
• App connectivity;
• Voice dose recognition and manual dose entry;
• Real-time alerts and data analytics; and
• Integration potential for remote patient monitoring and health platforms.

“VIVI Cap Smart is about much more than protecting medication from heat and cold, it turns the injectable medication into a connected data point. For patients, that means better reminders, more confidence and better visibility. For caregivers and clinicians, it means access to information that is usually missing. For digital-health platforms, it adds one of the most important clinical signals they do not currently capture: injectable medication use,” said Ron Nagar, Chief Executive Officer of TempraMed. “Apple Health, Google Fit and other health platforms are becoming the operating systems of personal health, Our vision is that every injectable medication—whether insulin, GLP-1 therapy, biologic, epinephrine or other critical medication—should be both temperature protected and digitally visible. VIVI Cap Smart is pen agnostic, and designed to make that possible without requiring drug manufacturers, device makers or platforms to build a new solution for each pen or medication format.”

VIVI Cap Smart provides a practical way to connect injectable medication behavior to these ecosystems, while also solving the real-world challenge of medication temperature exposure. VIVI Cap Smart is strategically relevant to the next generation of health platforms because it brings a new layer of patient-generated data into the ecosystem.This creates a differentiated opportunity for TempraMed across several partner categories:

• Wearable and health platforms, which can add injectable medication behavior to existing health data streams;
• Pharmaceutical companies, which can better support patients using insulin, GLP-1 therapies, biologics and other injectables;
• Medical-device companies, which can strengthen connected-care offerings around injection therapy;
• Payors and health systems, which can support adherence, reduce waste and improve real-world visibility; and
• Remote patient monitoring platforms, which can incorporate medication-use signals into care-management workflows.

Making Every Injection Device Connected and Temperature Protected

TempraMed’s long-term strategy is to make every injection device connected and temperature protected. VIVI Cap Smart represents a key step in that strategy by combining the Company’s patented thermal-shield platform with smart connectivity and health-data integration.

The Company’s broader smart platform roadmap includes connected solutions for insulin pens, GLP-1 therapies, epinephrine auto-injectors, vials, biologics and multi-medication storage formats.

Management believes this approach positions TempraMed as a potential enabling technology layer for the rapidly expanding market of injectable therapies, home care, digital health, wearables and AI-driven health platforms.

About TempraMed Technologies Ltd.

TempraMed Technologies Ltd. is a global medical-device company with a portfolio of innovative, temperature-controlled medication-storage solutions. Founded with the mission to safeguard the effectiveness of life-saving medications, TempraMed develops patented, FDA-registered thermal-insulation devices that operate continuously without batteries or external power. Its commercial product portfolio includes VIVI Cap™, VIVI Cap Smart™, VIVI Epi™, and VIVI Med™. TempraMed enables patients and healthcare providers to confidently manage temperature-sensitive medications anywhere, anytime.

Investors interested in learning more about TempraMed are encouraged to contact the Company at:
ir@tempramed.com
www.tempramed.com

Contact:
Julia Becker
Vice President, Capital Markets
T: +1 (604) 785-0850
E: julia@tempramed.com

Media:
Brenda Zeitlin
Vice President, Marketing
E: brenda@tempramed.com

Cautionary Statements

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSE’S REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “strategy,” “future,” “potential,” and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s VIVI Cap Smart platform, its connectivity with Apple Health and Google Fit, the expected benefits of such connectivity, the Company’s strategy to integrate injectable medication data into digital-health platforms, future partnerships, recurring digital-health revenue, market adoption, patient engagement, remote patient monitoring opportunities, and the Company’s broader connected-product roadmap.

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, assumptions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such risks include, among others, changes in customer demand, timing of product development and commercialization, technical integration risks, third-party platform requirements, regulatory developments, data-privacy requirements, market acceptance, competitive factors, availability of financing, supply-chain constraints and general economic and business conditions.

Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

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¹ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/injectable-drug-delivery-market-150.html

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

Four fruit-themed Quby coin banks are being released two weeks apart at all 24 Prime Supermarket outlets until 31 December 2026. Singapore-headquartered creative merchandise company DTC World handled the Quby licensing, character design, production and fulfilment.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 October 2026 – Prime Supermarket has launched the Fresh Quby Fruity Coin Banks, a purchase-with-purchase (PWP) collection of four collectible Quby coin banks. DTC World Corporation developed the merchandise and managed the project from licensing through to fulfilment.

The PWP runs from 1 October to 31 December 2026 at all Prime Supermarket outlets in Singapore. Shoppers earn one point for every S$10 spent and can redeem a Quby coin bank with five points plus a S$15 top-up, while stocks last. Terms and conditions apply.

The Fresh Quby Fruity Coin Banks are released in four drops:

• Cheery Apple — from 1 October
• Smarty Melon — from 15 October
• Happy Berry — from 29 October
• Lucky Banana — from 12 November

The release schedule was designed to bring shoppers back. Instead of launching the full set at once, a new character arrives every two weeks, giving shoppers a fresh reason to return to Prime Supermarket throughout the three-month campaign and keep earning points towards the complete collection.

The fruit theme ties the collectible to what Prime Supermarket stands for. Quby began as a set of messaging stickers and has since built a following across Asia. For this campaign, the character has been reimagined as an apple, a watermelon, a strawberry and a banana, linking the coin banks to the supermarket’s fresh-produce focus and its tagline, “Everything Fresh, Everyday Prime.” As coin banks, the collectibles also have an everyday use at home, on a desk or on a child’s shelf.

“A good PWP gives shoppers a reason to come back, not just a reason to buy once,” said Jason Cheng, Managing Director of DTC World. “By turning Quby into four fruit characters that arrive one at a time, we gave Prime’s shoppers something to look forward to on every grocery run.”

DTC World worked with Prime Supermarket from the early planning stage, starting with the campaign proposal and merchandise concept, the same end-to-end approach it takes on gift-with-purchase and PWP campaigns for brands across Asia. It then managed the Quby licensing, adapted and designed the four characters, and oversaw production and fulfilment.

DTC World has produced licensed Quby merchandise for several brands, including a licensed Quby blind box series for 4Fingers, which was fully redeemed across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.Hashtag: #PrimeSupermarket

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

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

About DTC World

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 October 2026 – Huawei and Qualcomm today announced a multi-year, broad patent license agreement that includes cross licenses to the companies’ patent portfolios across a range of technology fields, including 5G, compute, AI, and networking, together with Qualcomm’s purchase of certain Huawei U.S. patents in the areas of compute, AI, networking, and other technologies. This transaction will close following receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals. The agreement reflects the companies’ shared commitment to intellectual property rights and to licensing practices consistent with fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) principles.

“Huawei’s decades of sustained investment in fundamental R&D have driven innovation and progress in mobile communications and other technology fields. Huawei’s broad contributions to the 4G/5G standards, such as the near-physical-limit signal transmission technology using polar codes, have established Huawei’s leadership in the mobile communications industry, and continuously transformed the way people communicate and live,” said Alan Fan, Huawei’s Chief Intellectual Property Officer. “This agreement not only demonstrates the value of Huawei’s innovations, but also recognizes Qualcomm’s foundational contributions to modern communication technologies.”

“Qualcomm has invested in foundational wireless technologies that have enabled successive generations of mobile innovation and earned broad recognition across the global wireless industry. This agreement reaffirms industry recognition of Qualcomm’s 5G technology leadership and the success of Qualcomm’s 5G SEP licensing program,” said John Han, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm Technology Licensing. “This agreement likewise reflects Qualcomm’s recognition of Huawei’s continued innovation and intellectual property in 5G and other technology fields.”

Hashtag: #Huawei

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

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm is a global computing leader at the center of the AI era, enabling intelligence to scale from the most personal devices to large‑scale infrastructure. Building on more than four decades of innovation, we develop platforms and solutions that bring together advanced AI, high‑performance low power computing, and industry‑leading connectivity—powering products and services used around the world. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress.

Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patents are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm, Snapdragon, Qualcomm Dragonwing and Qualcomm Dragonfly are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.