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The young chefs also showcased their skills at an exclusive VIP lunch and the Bhutan Flavour Fair, attended by DSP officials and Lee Kum Kee Sauce representatives.

Dasho Tashi Wangyal, an Eminent Member of the National Council of Bhutan and a member of the DSP Steering Committee, said, “Our young chefs are receiving valuable exposure at the Chinese Culinary Institute through immersion in professional Asian cuisine, modern culinary techniques and global kitchen standards. I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Lee Kum Kee for the vision, partnership and commitment to nurturing the next generation of culinary professionals.”

Hashtag: #LeeKumKee #LKK

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About Lee Kum Kee

Lee Kum Kee is the global gateway to Asian culinary culture, dedicated to promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide. Since 1888, it has brought people together over joyful reunions, shared traditions and memorable meals. Beloved by consumers and chefs alike, Lee Kum Kee’s range of more than 300 sauces and condiments sparks creativity in kitchens everywhere, inspiring professional and home chefs to experiment, create and delight. Headquartered in Hong Kong, China and serving over 100 countries and regions, Lee Kum Kee’s rich heritage, unwavering commitment to quality, sustainable practices and “Constant Entrepreneurship” combine to enable superior experiences through Asian cuisine for people worldwide. For more information, please visit www.LKK.com.

About De-suung Skilling Programme

The De-suung Skilling Programme (DSP) is a Royal Project initiated by His Majesty The King of Bhutan in 2021. As envisioned by His Majesty, DSP imparts a series of short-term high-quality trainings to unemployed Bhutanese youths who have mostly completed high school and are in their early or mid-20s. These youths have all undergone the De-suung training, which is a valued-based personal development programme intended to encourage active citizenry in the process of nation-building. DSP provides short-term training in various fields to Bhutanese youths entering the job market with varying degrees of educational qualification. For more information, please visit www.dsp.org.bt.

About Chinese Culinary Institute

The Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI) is one of the 14 member institutions of Vocational Training Council (VTC). It was established in 2000 as one of the Millennium Projects of the HKSAR Government. CCI endeavours to provide systematic training in Chinese cuisine for beginners and practicing chefs who wish to obtain or upgrade their professional qualifications. It also aims to elevate the professional standard and status of Chinese Chefs in order to strengthen Hong Kong’s reputation as the “Culinary Capital of Asia”. Furthermore, CCI strives to establish Hong Kong as a regional training and accreditation centre in Chinese cuisine by introducing “One Trade Test Two Certificates” system. To promote the deep-rooted heritage of the Chinese culinary art, CCI offers culinary interest courses for locals and tourists alike. For more information, please visit cci.edu.hk/en.

Complementing an orchard-themed dreamy tea set by two master pâtissiers, a series of fascinating delicacies is presented by Galaxy Macau in April

MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 April 2026 -In celebration of its ascent to One Diamond status in China’s prestigious Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, Galaxy Macau’s Japanese fine‑dining destination Yamazato proudly unveils the Black Pearl Tasting Kaiseki — a refined and contemplative culinary expression that honours seasonality, precision and the quiet elegance intrinsic to Japanese haute cuisine. Framed by sweeping panoramic views across Galaxy Macau landscape, the experience captures the fleeting beauty of nature through an artful and disciplined gastronomic lens.

At the helm, Executive Chef Hideaki Hayashi and his culinary team invite guests on a pristine gastronomic journey shaped by meticulous craftsmanship and profound reverence for ingredients. Each kaiseki course is composed with thoughtful intentions, drawing upon the season’s finest offerings, be it produce from the sky, the sea and the land. Every detail — subtle aroma, layered texture, nuanced flavours, and elegant presentation — is harmoniously orchestrated to awaken the senses and express the restrained poetry at the heart of Japanese culinary artistry.

The Black Pearl Tasting Kaiseki is priced at MOP 1,980+ per guest and is available Tuesday to Sunday, from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

Floral Tea Set in the Orchard Setting of CHA BEI

This spring and summer, Galaxy Macau unveils an enchanting new afternoon tea experience at CHA BEI, co‑created by Executive Pastry Chef Yam Lok Hin and internationally revered Meilleur Ouvrier de France Pâtissier 2023 Pierre‑Henri Roullard. Inspired by a radiant garden in full bloom, the Orchard in Bloom afternoon tea invites guests on a refined journey through delicately balanced savoury and sweet creations, infused with flowers, fruits and tea leaves. Within the serene surroundings of CHA BEI, the brilliance of the spring and summer season is reimagined as a tranquil, storybook orchard, where flavour and artistry flourish in harmony.

The experience opens with Lavender Breeze, a graceful floral welcome that sets the tone for a series of garden‑inspired delights, where seasonal ingredients are transformed into elegant edible jewels. Bright citrus notes, sun‑ripened fruits and fragrant botanicals come together across exquisite pastries and artfully crafted savouries, each reflecting meticulous craftsmanship and creative imagination. Available throughout spring and summer, this inspired collaboration blossoms as a celebration of colour, texture and taste — where two distinct pastry visions unite in a symphony of refined indulgence.

Priced at MOP598+ for two, “Orchard in Bloom” afternoon tea will be available between 2:30pm and 5:30pm every day, from now until August 31.

Alongside these sumptuous delicacies, Galaxy Macau has prepared a series of fascinating dining promotions this April and beyond:

A Month of Global Mixology Encounters at Galaxy Macau

International symphonies of mixology continue at Galaxy Macau’s three acclaimed venues – Pony & Plume, Long Bar and Ritz-Carlton Bar & Lounge.

On April 9, Capella at Galaxy Macau’s Pony & Plume will welcome star mixologist KT Lam for the second chapter of “The Finest Pour” series. Leader of the bars at Rosewood Bangkok and having led DarkSide at Rosewood Hong Kong to No. 9 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2023, KT will present four cocktails at Macau’s newest must-visit bar—each a distillation of his decade-long journey in mixology, inspired by the cities that have shaped him, capturing their energy, harmony, and contrasts.

On April 11, the Ritz-Carlton Bar and Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Macau anticipates guests to savour an evening of “The Alchemist Flair: A Global Mixology Experience with Chase White”, as founder of Bar Blanc in Shanghai, and botanical spirits label OFBT, mixologist Chase White instils his passion and adventurous spirit into his creations, which champion a philosophy of “restrained creativity” and celebrate balance, quality, and simplicity—without sacrificing intrigue.

Long Bar at Raffles at Galaxy Macau welcomes Jo Lo and Birstacla Wong, co‑owners of Hong Kong’s acclaimed cocktail bar Bar Mind, for the April edition of Adventures in the Cavern. The award‑winning mixology duo—both past recipients of Diageo World Class Hong Kong & Macau Bartender of the Year—will present an evening of innovative cocktails that blend heritage flavours with contemporary techniques. The guest shift takes place on April 25, offering guests an inspired journey into modern mixology.

For more information about Galaxy Macau, please visit www.galaxymacau.com.

Hashtag: #GalaxyMacau

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

ABOUT GALAXY MACAU INTEGRATED RESORT

Galaxy Macau, The World-class Luxury Integrated Resort delivers the “Most Spectacular Entertainment and Leisure Destination in the World”. Developed at an investment of HK$43 billion, the property covers 1.1 million-square-meter of unique entertainment and leisure attractions that are unlike anything else in Macau. Nine award-winning world-class luxury hotels provide close to 5,000 rooms, suites and villas. They include Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel, Hotel Okura Macau, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Broadway Hotel, Raffles at Galaxy Macau, Andaz Macau, and Capella at Galaxy Macau. Unique to Galaxy Macau, the 75,000-square-meter Grand Resort Deck features the world’s longest Skytop Adventure Rapids at 575-meters, the largest Skytop Wave Pool with waves up to 1.5-meters high and 150-meters pristine white sand beach. Two five-star spas from Banyan Tree Spa Macau and The Ritz- Carlton Spa, Macau help guests relax and rejuvenate.

As the dining destination in Asia, Galaxy Macau offers a wide variety of gastronomic delights, exquisite experiences and ingredients of the finest quality with over 120 dining options from Michelin dining to authentic delicacies.

Embark on a delightful and rewarding journey at Galaxy Promenade, the one-stop shopping destination boasting some of the world’s most iconic luxury brands. Be the first to get the latest limited-edition items; explore fascinating pop-ups by coveted labels and revel in fabulous shopping rewards and privileges. Our VIPs are entitled to a highly-curated experience with dedicated personal shoppers at guests’ service, and be invited to exclusive luxury brand events. A different caliber of privileges and rewards also await. Discover the joys of fashion and stand at the forefront of style and sophistication—Galaxy Promenade has everything guests need to stay ahead of the style game.

Galaxy Cinemas takes immersive movie experiences to the next level with the latest audio-visual technology, ultra-luxurious facilities and bespoke services; CHINA ROUGE, one-of-a-kind cabaret lounge that evokes the glamor of Shanghai’s golden era with stylish entertainment and customizable surrounds; and Foot Hub, which presents the traditional art of reflexology for authentic relaxation and revitalization. For Authentic Macau Flavours and Vibrant Asian Experiences, Broadway Macau – just a 90-second walk via a bridge from Galaxy Macau, has over 35 Authentic Macau & Asian Flavours at Broadway Food Street. The 2,500-seat Broadway Theatre plays host to world-class entertainers and a diverse array of cultural events.

Meeting, incentive and banquet groups are also catered to with a portfolio of unique venues in Galaxy Macau and an expert service team. Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) is the latest addition to the Group’s ever-expanding integrated resort precinct and will usher in a new era for the MICE industry in Macau. GICC is a world-class event venue featuring 40,000-square-meters of total flexible MICE, and the 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena – the largest indoor arena in Macau.

For more details, please visit www.galaxymacau.com, www.broadwaymacau.com.mo and www.galaxyicc.com.

Strong earnings, expanding EV infrastructure and a growing digital user base reflect OR’s ongoing transformation from traditional fuel retail to integrated mobility and lifestyle services — with OR positioning itself as a scalable platform for regional partnership across Asia.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 April 2026 – PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), Thailand’s largest energy and lifestyle retail operator, reported 2025 EBITDA of 20,357million baht (approximately USD 645 million), a 15.2% increase year-on-year, as net profit rose 47.8% to 11,304 million baht (approximately USD 357 million) despite a 9.0% decline in total revenue. The results reflect stronger cost management and a continued shift in the company’s growth strategy toward ecosystem-led expansion across mobility, retail and digital services.

To support that expansion, OR has committed 58,000 million baht (approximately USD 1.84 billion) under a five-year investment plan running from 2026 to 2030. The plan prioritizes mobility infrastructure development, lifestyle platform enhancement, EV charging network expansion, and innovation investment — with the aim of consolidating OR’s position as an integrated mobility and consumer ecosystem operator across the region.

OR’s existing infrastructure provides a significant base from which to execute that strategy. The company’s nationwide service station network currently serves 3.9 million users per day, one of the consumer touchpoint frequencies in Thailand, with a target to reach 5 million daily users by 2030. The network integrates fuel retail, EV charging under the EV Station PluZ brand, food and beverage, health and wellness, and lifestyle services. Café Amazon, OR’s coffee chain, operates more than 4,600 outlets in Thailand and international markets, contributing to sustained consumer traffic across the network. Most recently, OR announced a joint venture with Centara to develop budget hotels at PTT Stations, targeting 70 to 80 rooms per site alongside existing amenities — a move that extends the network’s role from daily convenience into overnight hospitality.

OR is expanding EV Station PluZ further in step with its existing fuel network as electric vehicle uptake accelerates across Southeast Asia. The move reflects both the region’s shifting policy landscape and growing infrastructure demand, with OR positioning the mobility transition as a long-term growth opportunity and a gateway for partnership-driven market entry across the region.

OR’s digital platform reinforces the physical network’s reach. The blueplus+ loyalty application has accumulated 9.3 million registered members, with a target of 14 million by 2030. Beyond driving repeat visits, the platform gives OR granular visibility into consumer behavior across its entire ecosystem — enabling personalized engagement, cross-selling across business lines, and new revenue streams that a purely physical network could not unlock. With membership scale still growing, OR sees the model as a strong foundation for data-led consumer engagement as it pursues regional expansion across Asia.

OR is also in discussions regarding cross-border expansion models that would allow regional dealers, investors and operators to access its ecosystem infrastructure. OR is positioning itself to potential partners not as a conventional energy retailer but as an integrated lifestyle and mobility platform with the operational scale and digital capabilities to support localized deployment across diverse Asian markets.

“Our strategy is simple: to integrate and create synergy through a scalable and sizable model. We’ve built a profitable digital-physical ecosystem and are now seeking strategic partners to unlock growth in Asia’s fast-moving mobility and consumer sectors.,” said M.L. Peekthong Thongyai, Chief Executive Officer of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited.

Hashtag: #OR

www.pttor.com

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

About OR

PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR) is a leading Thai energy and retail company with operations across 10 countries. OR operates through four core business groups: Mobility Business, providing energy solutions via PTT Station, PTT Lubricants, PTT LPG, and EV Station PluZ; Lifestyle Business, featuring Café Amazon, one of Asia’s largest coffee chains, along with convenience stores and space management; Global Business, driving international growth with over 400 PTT Stations and over 300 Café Amazon outlets; and OR Innovation Business, developing new ventures and sustainable solutions through technology and innovation.

While half of Malaysian small businesses report improved profitability from their technology investments over the past two years, the proportion generating more than 10 per cent of revenue from online sales declined from 74 per cent in 2024 to 62 per cent in 2025.

Digital payment usage has also declined in 2025 with 74 per cent of small businesses receiving more than 10 per cent of their sales through digital payment platforms such as GrabPay, Touch ‘n Go and Boost, compared to 78 per cent in 2024.

Priya Terumalay, CPA Australia’s Regional Head for Southeast Asia, said while government initiatives have helped support technology adoption, these efforts have yet to drive significant uptake of deeper productivity-enhancing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, process automation, data analytics and systems integration.

“Technology investment remains concentrated in computer hardware and customer-facing functions like mobile apps and payments, while structural constraints continue to limit more transformative approaches,” Priya said.

“With cost pressures remaining a persistent challenge compressing margins, policy priorities should focus on addressing structural constraints such as re-orienting digital support towards automation, systems integration, and data use along with support for productivity-enhancing responses rather than short-term relief.”

Businesses making technology investments must include adequate protection measures to minimise cyber risk exposure as 35 per cent of small businesses lost time or money due to a cyber-attack in 2025.

Only 39 per cent reviewed their cybersecurity protections over a six-month period, the second lowest result among the 11 markets surveyed.

Despite the challenges, business sentiment on the Malaysian economy remains positive with 75 percent of small businesses expecting the economy to grow in 2026.

A strong 77 per cent also anticipate business growth this year, although improved access to effective finance, especially for investment will be important to enable deeper digital transformation and build resilience.

“This is particularly crucial for outward-oriented small businesses navigating global supply chain pressures and trade policy uncertainty that could weigh on growth, especially firms integrated into regional supply chains.” Priya said.

About the survey

CPA Australia’s 17th annual Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey was conducted among small business owners/senior managers during November and December 2025 to identify the characteristics of successful small businesses across the region. The findings for the survey come from 4,166 small businesses in 11 markets. From the commencement of the survey in 2009, we have surveyed over 50,000 small businesses across the region. These include Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Hashtag: #SmallBusiness #CPAAustralia #MalaysiaBusinesses

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About CPA Australia

CPA Australia is one of the world’s largest professional accounting bodies, with more than 175,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including more than 21,000 members in Southeast Asia. As we mark our 140th anniversary, we also celebrate 70 years of presence in Malaysia. With offices in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam, we are the largest Australian accounting body in the region providing education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on issues affecting the accounting profession and the public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. A CPA is a Certified Practising Accountant. More at cpaaustralia.com.au

Singapore’s parliament is set to turn its attention on Tuesday to the economic and security consequences of the war involving Iran, with lawmakers filing 62 questions and three ministers due to deliver statements on how the conflict could affect energy supplies, inflation, transport costs and broader national resilience. The questions, lodged by 32 members from both the ruling People’s Action Party and the opposition, underline growing concern in the trade-dependent city-state over the fallout from turmoil in the Middle East.

The scale of parliamentary scrutiny is notable even by Singapore’s standards. According to the order paper for the 7 April sitting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam, and Acting Transport Minister and Senior Minister of State for Finance Jeffrey Siow are scheduled to address the chamber. The questions range from the immediate effect of higher oil and gas prices to the security of liquefied natural gas supplies and the government’s plans to shield households and businesses from a prolonged external shock.

At the centre of concern is Singapore’s dependence on imported energy and its exposure to global shipping routes. The order paper shows MPs asking whether damage to Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facilities could materially affect short- and medium-term supply, whether alternative procurement arrangements would be enough to offset any shortfall, and whether disruption in the Middle East might accelerate efforts to diversify the energy mix, including greater investment in alternatives such as nuclear power. That line of questioning reflects a deeper vulnerability: Singapore generates most of its electricity from natural gas and has little room to escape sudden swings in international fuel markets.

Cost pressures are another major theme. Lawmakers have asked how rising fuel and electricity prices may feed through to household expenditure, transport operators and the wider cost of living. For a government already balancing inflation management with fiscal prudence, the debate offers an opportunity to show whether existing buffers are sufficient or whether targeted support may be needed if the conflict persists. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, in a video message on 2 April, had already warned Singaporeans that instability in the Middle East could affect the economy through higher energy prices, supply chain disruption and weaker global confidence, signalling that the government was preparing the public for a potentially difficult external environment.

Singapore’s predicament is shaped by geography as much as policy. The republic sits far from the conflict zone, yet its economy is tied tightly to global trade, imported food and imported fuel. Any threat to Gulf energy production or maritime passage through strategic chokepoints can ripple quickly into Asian benchmark prices, freight costs and business sentiment. Questions filed for parliament suggest MPs are not only concerned about immediate supply disruption, but also about second-round effects on manufacturers, logistics firms, electricity generation and consumers already sensitive to living costs.

The breadth of the questions also points to a broader political calculation. Singapore’s leaders have long framed resilience as a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort, particularly when external shocks threaten domestic stability. The debate now unfolding in parliament is likely to test how far that framework can stretch in the face of a conflict whose trajectory remains uncertain. Opposition members, including Workers’ Party figures, have pressed for details on fuel reserves, assistance for workers dependent on transport and the likely effect on household budgets, while ruling-party MPs have focused heavily on energy security, diversification and inflation spillovers.

Beyond energy, the parliamentary discussion may widen into questions of diplomacy, national security and public confidence. K. Shanmugam’s planned statement suggests the government sees the crisis as more than a commodity shock. Singapore has consistently sought to position itself as stable, rules-based and open to commerce, which means geopolitical conflict in a key producing region carries implications not only for prices but also for investor confidence and regional security calculations. Ministers will face pressure to reassure the public that contingency planning is in place, even as they acknowledge that a small open economy cannot fully insulate itself from a major war-driven disruption.

The timing reflects pressure building across the farm supply chain just before planting for rice, maize and soybean gathers pace in June. India is the world’s biggest urea importer and remains exposed not only to overseas fertiliser shipments but also to liquefied natural gas supplies from the Gulf, a key feedstock for domestic urea plants. Market disruption linked to the conflict has forced policymakers and import agencies to act earlier and at larger scale than usual to avoid a supply gap during the monsoon cropping cycle.

The tender itself underlines the urgency. Indian Potash’s notice, dated 4 April, shows the company is seeking granular or prilled urea in bulk for agriculture use, with separate pricing required for FOBT and C&FFO terms. The notice also sets the bid opening for 15 April and says offers must remain valid until 23 April. Those details matter because India’s tenders often serve as a benchmark for global trade, influencing price expectations far beyond its own market.

Supply stress has emerged on two fronts. First, disruption around the Gulf has affected fertiliser cargo movements through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most sensitive trade chokepoints for both natural gas and finished fertiliser. Second, tighter LNG availability has curtailed feedstock for urea manufacturing at home. Reuters reported that the conflict had cut domestic output by about 600,000 to 700,000 tonnes a month, while other reports in the domestic press said production in one month had slipped to about 18 lakh tonnes from around 24 lakh tonnes.

That drop is striking because domestic capacity had been strengthened over the past decade. Official figures released last month said urea production in 2024-25 stood at 306.67 lakh metric tonnes, after touching a record 314.07 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24. The broader policy effort has been to reduce import dependence through revived plants and brownfield additions, yet the present disruption shows that energy exposure still leaves the sector vulnerable when conflict hits upstream supply and freight corridors.

Trade data had already pointed to a more import-dependent year even before the latest escalation. Fertiliser Association of India data reported in January showed urea imports jumped 120.3 per cent year on year to 7.17 million tonnes in April-November 2024-25. That surge suggested domestic output and demand were already misaligned, leaving little buffer when the external shock arrived. The latest tender therefore looks less like a one-off emergency purchase and more like an attempt to rebuild a thinning pipeline before farm demand accelerates.

The price implications are equally important. Reuters said India’s previous tender had cleared at $418.40 a tonne, and traders now expect the new purchase to test higher levels because global availability has tightened. Argus reported that the war had effectively cut off exports from major Gulf producers including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, which together usually account for roughly 1 million tonnes a month, or about a fifth of global urea trade. It also cited Kpler data showing more than 900,000 tonnes on stranded vessels beyond Hormuz.

Officials have also been working on contingency planning outside the tender route. Domestic reports said a task group had been formed to assess global urea sources and prepare import options, while gas supply to fertiliser units has been partially restored through spot purchases and reallocation. That may soften the production hit, but it does not fully remove the risk because any prolonged interruption in Gulf shipping or LNG flows would keep pressure on both landed prices and physical availability.

That message reflects a wider shift in digital assets. After years dominated by token launches, trading cycles and proof-of-concept experiments, the emphasis across much of the industry has moved towards tokenised securities, cross-border settlement, digital identity, compliant custody and blockchain rails for mainstream financial institutions. Reuters has reported that major market infrastructure players are developing tokenised securities platforms, while analysts have projected strong growth in tokenised real-world assets, even as sceptics warn that much of the promise still sits in early-stage back-office applications rather than broad public adoption.

For Indonesia, that debate carries particular weight because the country has spent the past two years reshaping supervision of digital assets. Regulatory oversight of crypto assets and other digital financial assets was formally transferred from commodity futures regulator Bappebti to the Financial Services Authority, or OJK, under the wider financial sector reform framework. That has tightened the link between blockchain activity and mainstream finance, while signalling that the authorities want a more structured regime around licensing, compliance and consumer safeguards.

OJK’s own public updates show that digital financial assets and crypto supervision now sit within a broader integrity and resilience agenda for the financial system, alongside sandbox oversight and enforcement. That regulatory direction matters for a conference such as Indonesia Blockchain Week because institutional investors, banks and enterprises are less likely to engage seriously with Web3 infrastructure unless licensing, governance and disclosure standards are clearer than they were during the sector’s earlier growth phase.

Another strand of the Indonesian story is the state’s interest in sovereign digital infrastructure. Bank Indonesia’s Project Garuda, the central bank’s digital rupiah initiative, has been presented as part of a broader effort to safeguard monetary sovereignty in the digital era. Even though a retail or wholesale digital rupiah remains under development rather than fully launched, the project has become one of the clearest signs that distributed ledger technology is being examined not just by crypto-native firms but by the institutions that underpin payments and currency systems.

That backdrop helps explain why conference organisers are leaning into the language of “impact”. Across Asia, the conversation has become more institutional and more policy-aware. Reuters reported last year that wealthy Asian investors were increasing crypto exposure, while other reporting this year has shown how tokenisation is moving closer to exchanges and regulated financial venues. At the same time, risks remain central to the story: the IMF warned this month that tokenised finance could amplify market stress if regulatory guardrails and crisis-response mechanisms do not keep pace with technology.

That balance between promise and caution is likely to define the Jakarta event. Proponents of tokenisation argue that blockchain-based representations of bonds, funds, property interests and other assets can reduce settlement delays, widen market access and make ownership more divisible. Critics counter that many of these benefits are still more theoretical than proven at scale, and that fragmented standards, legal uncertainty and cybersecurity risks continue to hold the sector back. Reuters’ explainer on tokenisation captured that divide by noting both the liquidity and access arguments advanced by supporters and the unresolved questions over how fast real adoption will follow.

Indonesia Blockchain Week itself appears keen to place the country at the centre of that regional conversation. Organiser material describes the event as a gateway between local innovation and global capital, policy and technology networks. Yet the official website also shows some transitional messaging, with parts of the site still carrying 2025 branding even as other official channels and partner announcements point to the August 2026 summit. That inconsistency does not alter the announced dates, but it does suggest organisers are still in the process of consolidating the event’s next edition across platforms.

By Nantoo Banerjee The Reserve Bank of India and the government may officially deny or even pretend to ignore the adverse impact of the continuous downhill journey of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar on the economy, the disturbing trend, if not contained, is bound to lead the heavily import-reliant nation to high inflation […]

The article Indian Rupee’s Continuous Downtrend Is A Big Concern appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

This marks the first time an Asia-wide environmental hackathon exclusively for undergraduate and master’s students is held in Vietnam. The competition aims to identify and develop technology-driven solutions to pressing environmental challenges, while fostering innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration among the younger generation.

Participants will advance through three main stages: Registration & Preliminary (April 6 – May 17, 2026); Online Training Phase (June 2 – June 28, 2026); and Final Round & Hackathon at VinUniversity (July 2 – July 5, 2026, tentative).

During the Registration & Preliminary Round, participants register online in teams of up to four members. Eligible applicants must be current undergraduate or master’s students at universities across Asia.

Application materials include an idea proposal and an introductory video. Based on evaluation by the Technical Board, the Top 30 teams will be selected to advance to the next stage.

The competition encourages interdisciplinary ideas that integrate multiple fields—including technology, environmental sciences, economics, and social sciences—with the aim of creating solutions that are innovative, feasible, and socially impactful.

Proposed ideas should address one of three key challenge areas: Renewable Energy and Low-Carbon Mobility; Urban Air Quality and Climate Resilience; Water Resources and Climate-Resilient Agriculture.

During the Online Training Round, the Top 30 teams will participate in a series of intensive training sessions and expert consultations with multidisciplinary specialists. These sessions are designed to equip teams with deeper domain knowledge and up-to-date insights on sustainability trends and relevant technologies, enabling them to further refine and expand their proposed solutions.

During the Final Round and Award Ceremony, all travel and accommodation expenses for the Top 30 teams will be fully covered. The teams will take part in a 24-hour hackathon at VinUniversity (Hanoi), where they will further develop and refine their technology-driven solutions before presenting them to the Judging Panel. Based on this evaluation, the Top 9 teams will be selected to advance to the final assessment round, from which the winning team will be determined.

The Chair of the Judging Panel is Prof. Duong Nguyen Vu, Vice Provost of Graduate Education at VinUniversity and Chief Scientific Officer at the Center for AI Research. He had been a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore until July 2025, where he served as Scientific Director at the Air Traffic Management Research Institute (ATMRI). Under his leadership—as Executive Director until 2025—the institute has emerged as a global leader in air traffic management research, thanks in large part to the scientific foundation he helped establish. Before joining NTU, Prof. Vu was the founding Director of the John von Neumann Institute at Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, spearheading university-industry collaborations and championing innovation and entrepreneurship in education.

Prior to returning to Vietnam in 2010, he was Head of Innovative Research and Senior Scientific Advisor at the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL). He also advised Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment on innovation strategy, contributing to the establishment of the National Innovation Center.

The competition offers a total prize pool of USD 24,000, comprising one First Prize of USD 8,000, one Second Prize of USD 5,000, two Third Prizes of USD 3,000 each, and five Consolation Prizes of USD 1,000 each. Beyond the awards, participating teams will gain valuable opportunities to engage with leading experts from across the region, expand their professional networks, and strengthen their access to the broader innovation ecosystem.

Dr. Le Thai Ha, Managing Director of the “For Green Future” Foundation and Head of the Organizing Committee, shared: “We believe that ideas with the power to shape the future do not always emerge from large laboratories or well-established institutions; they often arise from the insight, initiative, and determination of young people to make a difference. Through the Asian Hackathon for Green Future, we seek to create a platform where students across the region can transform their environmental awareness into tangible, innovative solutions that deliver meaningful impact for communities and the future.”

The Asian Hackathon for Green Future is expected to foster innovation aligned with sustainable development, while contributing to the development of a new generation of young talents capable of cross-border collaboration to create solutions with lasting, positive impact across the region.

Interested candidates may register for the competition via: https://forms.gle/o3L5BVLExUYKQtGJA

For any inquiries, please contact the Organizing Committee at [email protected] for further assistance.
Hashtag: #ForGreenFutureFund

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

The awards reflect SPEED’s growing role in helping government and institutional organisations modernise procurement through more structured and transparent digital systems, in line with the MADANI agenda’s emphasis on integrity, accountability and good governance. Its adoption by organisations such as FAMA, RISDA, MARA and PERKESO further underscores the platform’s growing relevance across diverse public sector and institutional settings.

SPEED is a digital procurement ecosystem comprising SPEED Procurement, SPEED eWorks and integrated Supplier Management capabilities. Designed to support end-to-end procurement processes within a structured and auditable environment, the platform helps strengthen oversight, supports audit readiness and addresses longstanding procurement challenges such as fragmented systems, manual workflows and limited visibility across supplier engagement.

Through a centralised approach, SPEED enables organisations to manage sourcing, evaluation, contract administration and reporting in a more systematic manner. Its implementation across agencies and institutional bodies has contributed to stronger compliance, improved process efficiency and more consistent governance through standardised workflows and consolidated data management.

The ecosystem further supports wider supplier participation through structured onboarding and profiling, helping to create a fairer and more transparent procurement environment.

Chief Executive Officer of CDC International, Putri Nurul Ida Yahya, said the recognition reflected the growing importance of digital procurement in strengthening governance across organisations.

“SPEED was built to help organisations manage procurement with greater clarity, discipline and accountability. As procurement requirements continue to evolve, our priority is to ensure the platform remains practical, consistent and responsive to those needs,” she said.

She added that CDCi would continue strengthening the platform to meet a wider range of institutional procurement requirements.

These recognitions mark another milestone for SPEED as CDCi continues expanding its role in digital procurement across institutional and public sector environments.

For more information, please visit speed2u.my or contact [email protected] or +603 7885 4111.
Hashtag: #SPEED

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About SPEED

SPEED (Sistem Perolehan Elektronik Dinamik) is a governance-driven digital procurement platform designed to support the full procurement lifecycle within a secure and scalable environment. Deployed across statutory bodies and institutional organisations in Malaysia, it enables structured procurement execution, policy compliance and audit readiness, while connecting procuring entities to a nationwide supplier ecosystem. SPEED is developed, implemented and operated by CDC International Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian enterprise solutions provider specialising in system-led procurement governance.

The project is a collaboration between Wycombe Abbey, BE Education, and Rabbit Holdings, a subsidiary of BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited, reflecting the continued expansion of global education networks into Asia and Thailand’s growing relevance as a destination for international schooling.

Founded in 1896 in Buckinghamshire, Wycombe Abbey is widely recognised for its academic excellence and long-standing reputation for combining rigorous British curricula, including IGCSEs and A Levels, with a holistic approach to student development. The model emphasises intellectual curiosity, leadership, and a global perspective.

Wycombe Abbey also represents a rare example of a historic global institution that has successfully maintained its academic standards while expanding internationally. Its schools in Hong Kong and major cities across China have demonstrated the ability to uphold the same quality of education, driven by close collaboration and strict academic oversight from Wycombe Abbey UK. This approach ensures consistency in teaching standards, student outcomes, and the overall educational experience across its international network.

The school’s entry into Thailand comes amid sustained growth in the country’s international education sector. Thailand currently hosts more than 250 international schools serving approximately 70,000 to 80,000 students. The market is valued at over 80 billion baht and continues to expand at an annual rate of around 10%, driven by rising demand from both Thai and expatriate families seeking globally recognised education pathways.

Bangkok’s appeal as an education destination is supported by its quality of life, safety, regional connectivity, and relatively competitive cost of living, positioning the city as a potential regional hub for international families.

Wycombe Abbey’s international network already spans Hong Kong and multiple cities in China, including Changzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing. Bangkok will serve as one of its newest strategic locations, with further expansion planned in Singapore and South Korea, strengthening cross-border academic connections and student mobility within Asia.

William Vanbergen, Founder and Chairman of BE Education and Chairman of the Wycombe Abbey International Advisory Board, said the expansion represents more than a geographic extension.

“Wycombe Abbey isn’t just expanding. It is bringing one of the UK’s most respected educational traditions into Asia, while creating a multi-campus network that connects students across locations through shared experiences and collaboration,” he said.

Chotchawal Leetrairong, representing BTS Group Holdings and serving as financial advisor, said the investment aligns with a broader vision of urban development.

“World-class education is a fundamental component of a global city. Our investment reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening Bangkok’s position by supporting international education, talent attraction, and economic development,” he said.

Fiona Angel, Founding Executive Headteacher of Wycombe Abbey International School Bangkok, said the school will focus on developing well-rounded students equipped for a rapidly evolving global environment.

The school will offer a continuous 15-year education pathway from Nursery to Year 13 (ages 2–18), with both day and boarding options. Boarding will remain a central element of the educational model, designed to foster independence, responsibility, and leadership within a structured learning community.

Located near Thana City on Bangna-Trad Road, the campus will span over 66 acres, positioning it among the largest international school campuses in Bangkok. Facilities will include an Olympic-standard swimming pool, FIFA-standard football field, tennis and golf facilities, basketball courts, a full athletics track, and a 1,000-seat stadium, supporting both academic and co-curricular development.

The combination of Wycombe Abbey’s academic reputation and the school’s strategic location is expected to further strengthen Bangkok’s position as an emerging Asian education hub. Situated just 10 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport, the campus offers convenient regional access for international families, while its high-quality boarding facilities are designed to meet the needs of students and parents across Asia. This positioning is expected to attract a growing number of families seeking world-class education within the region.

Wycombe Abbey has consistently delivered strong academic outcomes. Over the past decade, 28% of its graduates have secured places at Oxford and Cambridge, with many progressing to leading universities worldwide. Across its international network, 38% of students in its Hong Kong and China campuses have been admitted to QS Top 10 universities, while 74% have gained entry to QS Top 50 institutions globally.

With its established academic track record, international network, and large-scale campus, Wycombe Abbey International School Bangkok aims to position itself as a leading provider of British-curriculum education in Southeast Asia, while contributing to Bangkok’s long-term development as a global education destination.

For more information, please visit https://wycombeabbeyinternational.com/schools/bangkok/

Hashtag: #WycombeAbbey

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While High-Net-Worth Individuals have long relied on family offices, the rapidly growing mass-affluent market remains critically underserved due to manual, fragmented, and prohibitive legacy planning processes. Financial advisors—the primary relationship holders—often lack the modern tools required to execute legacy plans, leading to fragmented advice where investment and insurance strategies are disconnected.

The newly released whitepaper outlines how TrustPal bridges this gap through a secure, end-to-end platform that transforms AI from a disruptive threat into a powerful digital co-pilot.

The AI Paraplanner: A Workflow-Bound Digital Co-Pilot

Unlike autonomous “robo-advisors,” TrustPal’s AI Paraplanner operates as a strictly regulated assistive layer” It is built to instantly ingest complex client data sets, cross-reference current assets against future objectives, and identify critical legacy gaps.

By processing these heavy analytical workloads instantly, the AI Paraplanner drafts tailored recommendation narratives, allowing financial advisors to shift their focus from administrative data-crunching to what truly matters: relationship building and strategic counsel.

Regulated-by-Design: The Human-in-the-Loop Safeguard

“With the AI Paraplanner, we are proving that efficiency and compliance can coexist. Our technology does the heavy analytical lifting, but the Licensed Advisor remains the sole decision-maker. We are scaling the advisor’s impact, not automating away their empathy” said Lee Tuck Wai, Managing Director of TrustPal.

To guarantee absolute security, the AI Paraplanner is built with strict safety boundaries. The system is explicitly blocked from executing any actions on its own. Furthermore, it never invents or guesses solutions; it can only recommend strategies that exist within TrustPal’s approved logic library. Every insight is generated purely in a draft state , requiring mandatory review and approval by the advisor through a strict human gate before it can be presented to the client.

Empowering the Future of Advisory

TrustPal’s whitepaper serves as a vital blueprint for financial institutions, SME owners, and independent advisors seeking to navigate the future of legacy planning. The report provides an exclusive, in-depth look at the internal mechanics of the AI Paraplanner, including its 5-step validation gate and data ingestion engine.

Curious about how the AI Paraplanner accelerates financial analysis without crossing the line into automated advice? Discover the exact mechanisms, including the 5-step validation gate and data ingestion engine.

Read the Executive Summary and download the full whitepaper here: https://www.trustpal.co/whitepaper
Hashtag: #TrustPal #AIParaplanner #AdvisoryTech #LegacyPlanning #FinancialPlanning

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About Simplyfi TrustPal

Simplyfi TrustPal is a pioneering FinTech OS provider dedicated to transforming the landscape of financial and legacy management. Our core mission is to provide financial advisory firms and professional consultants with cutting-edge, automated solutions for Estate Planning and Trust setup. By seamlessly automating complex workflows, TrustPal enables partners to achieve unprecedented levels of efficiency, scale their service offerings, and deliver a superior, reliable customer experience in the sensitive area of intergenerational financial transfer.

If you’d like to explore how TrustPal can support your firm’s roadmap or experience a closer walkthrough, you can book a 1-to-1 demo here: Book a Demo.

Let’s connect with us for updates and collaboration:
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Dentsu has appointed Yusuke Kagohara as chief financial officer for Southeast Asia, handing him a mandate that goes beyond traditional finance oversight as the advertising and marketing group tightens governance and prepares for a more disciplined phase of expansion across one of Asia’s most competitive markets. The appointment took effect immediately, and Kagohara will report to Sanjay Bhasin, chief executive for Southeast Asia.

The move lands at a sensitive point for global agency networks. Growth remains available across Southeast Asia, but margins, client expectations and regulatory scrutiny are all sharpening. Dentsu’s own framing makes clear that this is not merely a replacement hire. Company statements and industry reports describe the post as part of a wider effort to deepen strategic and financial discipline and strengthen governance across the regional cluster, which covers Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The business employs more than 4,000 people in the region under what Dentsu describes as a borderless operating model formed in 2023.

Kagohara arrives with a profile that fits that brief. Before this appointment, he served as group head of risks and controls at Dentsu Group Inc., where he worked on internal controls, enterprise risk management and broader governance and remediation efforts. Earlier assignments included chief financial officer and deputy chief financial officer roles in Beijing and at Dentsu Creative China, experience that gave him exposure to large and complex operating environments in Asia. Industry coverage of the appointment has also highlighted his background in corporate strategy, transformation and all-round finance, suggesting the company wanted someone comfortable with both compliance architecture and commercial execution.

That background matters because agency finance chiefs are no longer judged only on forecasting, cost control and reporting. They are increasingly central to how networks integrate acquisitions, police internal controls, price AI-enabled services and defend profitability while clients demand more measurable returns. Dentsu has been signalling this shift at group level for months. Its global management overhaul announced in February was pitched around stronger execution, while its 2025 integrated report and governance materials emphasised capital discipline, internal investment, productivity and the strengthening of leadership and controls.

Southeast Asia gives that challenge extra complexity. The cluster spans fast-growing but highly uneven markets, each with different media structures, regulatory standards, client mixes and digital maturity. Dentsu has described the region as one of the world’s fastest-growing, and its own ad spend outlook has projected Asia Pacific growth ahead of the wider global economy. In December, the company forecast that global advertising spend would rise 5.1 per cent in 2026 to more than $1 trillion, with Asia Pacific remaining the fastest-growing region. For a network trying to convert that momentum into durable earnings, stronger financial control becomes a strategic tool rather than a back-office function.

Bhasin’s comments underline that point. In remarks carried by multiple reports and company-linked posts, he said growth on its own was not enough and that the business needed expansion that was “accountable, resilient, and built to last”. He described Kagohara’s experience in governance, transformation and complex markets as critical to the next stage of Southeast Asia’s development. Kagohara, for his part, said the region stood out for its scale, complexity and ambition, adding that strong fundamentals were universal even when market conditions varied widely. Those comments indicate a leadership view that the next test for Dentsu is not whether Southeast Asia can grow, but whether it can do so with tighter controls and greater consistency across markets.

The timing also follows a change in the seat Kagohara is filling. Trade reports late last month said Bharti Agrawal, who had served as CFO for Southeast Asia at Dentsu, had moved to Monks as chief financial officer for APAC marketing services. That succession gives the new appointment a sharper operational significance, because it suggests Dentsu moved quickly to avoid drift in a role that sits at the centre of planning, compliance and regional coordination.