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The competition drew over 40 global submissions to decarbonise beef and dairy supply chains, with winning solution set to scale across one of Asia’s leading retail networks

HONG KONG SAR- Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – DFI Retail Group (DFI or the Group), a leading Asian retailer, and The Mills Fabrica, a global collaborative hub propelling sustainability-focused innovations in the techstyle and agrifood sectors, named Number 8 Bio as the winner of the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge 2026. This announcement follows the Final Pitching event, which was held on 5 June, World Environment Day. The Australia-based innovator was recognised for BetterFeed™, a range of proprietary feed additives that cut enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep while improving the productivity of every animal that uses it. The team takes home a HK$120,000 grant and the opportunity to partner with DFI to scale its solution across the Group’s regional beef and dairy supply chains.

Scott Price, Group Chief Executive, DFI Retail Group said: “Tackling Scope 3 emissions requires collaboration across the value chain, and we are pleased that the Challenge has created opportunities for innovators to test and scale practical solutions within real operating environments. We look forward to seeing how they support our progress towards more sustainable and resilient food systems.”

Number 8 Bio has built a feed additive that does two jobs at once. BetterFeed™, a family of proprietary organic small molecules, free of bromoform, reduces enteric methane from grazing cattle and sheep, which is responsible for both the majority of livestock emissions and a 12% loss of nutritional energy from every pasture. By stopping that methane from forming, BetterFeed™ redirects the recovered energy straight back into animal growth and production, a genuine win for farmers’ bottom lines as much as for the climate. Winning the DFI Sustainability Innovation Challenge opens a pilot pathway across DFI’s beef and dairy supply chains, including with Mengniu Dairy and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF).

Hashtag: #DFIretailGroup #TheMillsFabrica #Sustainability

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

DFI Retail Group

DFI Retail Group is a leading Asian retailer driven by its purpose to “Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments”. At 31 December 2025, the Group and Maxim’s operated 7,580 outlets and employed more than 79,000 people across 12 markets. The Group is committed to delivering quality, value and service to consumers across the region through trusted brands, strong local market positions, and a broad retail ecosystem supported by extensive store networks, digital capabilities and efficient supply chains. The Group operates a portfolio of well-known brands across five key divisions: health and beauty, convenience, food, home furnishings and restaurants under Maxim’s.

From the spectacular underwater suites at Atlantis Sanya, to the colorful street-art alleys of Tianya Town, and the rooftop infinity pool at Sanya Conifer Resort, each stop gave the visitors a fresh impression of Hainan. Many visitors paused to capture the scenery, remarking with delight: “Sanya is full of surprises!”

Exploring Luxury Resorts and Applauding World-Class Service

At 10 a.m. on June 4, the tour operators arrived at Atlantis Sanya. Upon entering the lobby, they were immediately captivated by the resort’s massive aquarium, where sharks, rays, and other marine creatures glided gracefully through the water. The group was visibly amazed.

The group toured both the ocean-view suites and the resort’s signature underwater suites. In the latter, floor-to-ceiling windows offer direct views into the aquarium, allowing guests to lie in bed and watch marine life drift by as if they were beneath the sea.

“The underwater suite concept is truly unique. Very few hotels in the world can offer an experience like this,” said tour operator Vivian He from Hong Kong. “The dreamlike setting would make an outstanding feature for honeymoon packages and would appeal strongly to younger travelers. I’ve already taken plenty of photos and videos on my phone and plan to use them for promotion when I return.”

The group then traveled to Hyatt Regency Sanya Tianli Bay in Tianya District. Strolling through palm-lined gardens, they were greeted by breathtaking views where the infinity pool seemed to merge with the sea and sky beyond. Many guests stopped to take photos, fascinated by the striking visual effect, which made it look as though water flowed directly into the ocean.

“The design is incredibly clever. It gives you the urge to dive right in and swim toward the sea,” said Julia, a tour operator from Germany, while taking photos of the stunning view. Having worked in the European outbound travel market for many years, she was visiting Sanya for the first time. “In Europe, hotels with sea views like this often come with a very high price tag. Hainan offers excellent value for money. Combined with China’s visa-free policy for travelers from 86 countries, it has tremendous appeal for European visitors.”

The hotel’s representative introduced the group to the property’s all-ocean-view suites, children’s amusement facilities, and its distinctive pink-sand beach. Natthapat, a tour operator from Thailand, showed particular interest in these features. “The children’s facilities and the pink-sand beach are perfect for family travel products. When I return home, I’ll discuss with my team how we can incorporate this destination into our product offerings.”

The delegation then proceeded to Rosewood Sanya. The hotel’s sky lobby, located on the 14th floor, offers sweeping 270-degree ocean views. Equally impressive was the elevated infinity pool on the 13th floor. Suspended between sea and sky, the pool’s edge appears to merge with the horizon, creating a spectacular setting from every angle.

“This is one of the most visually stunning hotel pools I’ve ever seen,” said Amy, a tour operator from Australia, while admiring the view from the poolside. She noted that Australian travelers also have a strong preference for luxury resort experiences, and the design aesthetic and sense of privacy here align perfectly with the expectations of the high-end market.

Throughout the visit, many tour operators actively exchanged business cards with hotel sales representatives, inquiring about partnership opportunities, group rates, and capacity for group reception. A tour operator from Southeast Asia said that he hopes to bring a group of high-end family travelers to experience Sanya’s luxury resort offerings.

Tianya Town’s Artistic Transformation Resonates with Tour Operators

The delegation also visited Tianya Town, where they experienced the unique charm of this “seaside arts village.” From the colorful mural-covered walls at the entrance of Huanglong Street, to the pure-white architecture of Sanya Guanxia Seaview B&B, and the cave-inspired interiors of Malt Cave Seaview Café, every corner became a favorite photo stop.

“This is completely different from the fishing village I imagined,” said Eter, a tour operator from Georgia, pausing at the iconic “18° North Latitude” landmark to examine the coordinates displayed on the wall. She noted that the destination could be easily integrated with the coastal tourism resources of Sanya, Lingshui, and Wanning. “Visitors are drawn to places with distinct geographic markers, which give the destination a sense of occasion.”

A local guide accompanying the group explained that in recent years, Tianya Town has undergone a series of small-scale renovations and refined upgrades. While retaining the original layout and character of a traditional fishing village, it has incorporated contemporary artistic elements, evolving into a popular photo-friendly destination. Today, Tianya Town is home to dozens of seaview guesthouses, cafés, and cultural and creative shops, making it especially popular among younger travelers.

“These small but beautifully designed destinations are exactly what many European travelers are looking for,” said Zhang Jing, a tour operator from Ireland. “Many European visitors are keen to experience local culture and everyday life when they travel. Tianya Town combines fishing village stories, artistic ambiance, and seaside accommodations. It has tremendous appeal.”

Inside one of the town’s cultural and creative stores, the visitors showed great interest in souvenir products featuring traditional Li ethnic totems. France, a tour operator from the United States, even inquired on the spot about purchasing the products in bulk as gifts for clients.

Meanwhile, Korean tour operator Lee Jae-hyun was particularly impressed by the town’s photogenic appeal. “Every corner is picture-perfect. Young people in Korea love destinations that look great in photos. If Tianya Town were included in independent travel packages, I’m sure it would be very popular.”

Duty-Free Shopping Drives Strong Interest and New Cooperation Opportunities

On the afternoon of June 4, the tour operators continued their familiarization tour with visits to Sanya Conifer Resort and Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa.

At Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa, the group was introduced to the hotel’s comprehensive conference facilities and family-oriented amenities. Guests were particularly intrigued by the hotel’s exclusive underground passageway, which provides direct access to Sanya Bay Beach.

Sanya Conifer Resort, meanwhile, impressed visitors with its iconic 70-meter-high rooftop infinity pool. Offering panoramic views of the Sanya Bay coastline, the elevated waterscape has become one of the hotel’s signature attractions. Its distinctive architectural design also earned high praise from the international tour operators.

Later that day, the delegation arrived at the final highlight of their Sanya tour—a self-guided visit to the CDF Sanya International Duty Free City. As the world’s largest single-building duty-free shopping destination, the complex brings together more than 800 international brands.

Aziz, a tour operator from Malaysia, found himself spoiled for choice in the cosmetics and fragrance section. “Malaysian travelers love duty-free shopping. The selection of brands here is impressive, and the pricing is highly competitive. If duty-free shopping can be combined with resort stays as part of a travel package, I believe it would be extremely well received by the market.”

Julia, a tour operator from Germany, was equally impressed by the scale and variety of the shopping complex. “European travelers enjoy purchasing luxury goods and cosmetics, and Sanya’s duty-free advantages are very clear. I believe Sanya has the potential to become a new favorite destination among European visitors.”

After several days of exploration across Hainan, tour operators from around the world expressed strong interest in developing partnerships in sectors ranging from sports tourism and wellness travel to cultural and leisure tourism. Shirley, a tour operator from Australia, paid particular attention to Hainan’s sports tourism resources. “Hainan has outstanding assets for sports tourism, especially golf and coastal outdoor activities. These resources are ideal for developing sports-focused holiday products. Australian consumers are passionate about sports travel, and I plan to introduce Hainan’s sports tourism offerings to the Australian market.”

According to officials from the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, the city has launched several new international air routes since the beginning of this year, contributing to steady growth in inbound visitor arrivals. Looking ahead, Sanya will continue to improve its inbound tourism services and strengthen international market outreach, encouraging more global tour operators to include the city in their product portfolios.

Sunny Hainan, heart’s desire. Although the two-and-a-half-day familiarization tour was brief, it provided tour operators from around the world with a firsthand look at Sanya’s diverse tourism offerings and strong hospitality capacity. More importantly, it allowed visiting industry professionals to identify tangible opportunities for future cooperation. With the continued expansion of international flight connections and the ongoing optimization of inbound travel policies, Sanya is embracing the world with an increasingly open and welcoming outlook, ready to receive more visitors from across the globe.

Hashtag: #SanyaTourismBoard

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Spearheads Cross-border Tech Collaboration Leveraging Hong Kong’s Role as Superconnector

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 June 2026 – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is set to make its debut at Paris-based Viva Technology 2026 (VivaTech), Europe’s flagship premier event dedicated to technological innovation and startup collaboration. PolyU’s first-ever participation at the prestigious tech summit which is composed of a startup exhibition and two insight-packed seminars, will be led by Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU’s Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), and Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer). This milestone underscores the University’s expanded global outreach and strengthened engagement with European markets.

During this year’s event scheduled from 17 to 20 June 2026 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, PolyU will showcase its achievements at the Hong Kong Tech Pavilion organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Located at Booth 1C11, Hall 7.1, the University will present five outstanding PolyU-nurtured startups across high-growth tech domains, including AI and Robotics, Health Tech, Sustainable and Climate Tech, and FinTech. For more information about these innovative ventures, please check out the event’s online leaflet.

Hashtag: #PolyU

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

Under the MOU, the collaboration will focus on embodied AI research, robot manipulation, sim-to-real transfer, edge AI deployment, and validation of humanoid systems in real-world environments. Both companies will also explore opportunities to integrate The Skild Brain, Skild AI’s omnibodied AI software, into VinDynamics’ humanoid robots. The Skild Brain runs directly on robotic hardware and enhances the adaptability, efficiency, and reliability of humanoid systems in practical applications.

Additional areas under discussion may include knowledge exchange related to robot intelligence and real-world deployment, as well as potential cooperation in software, model, and hardware development, alongside the potential manufacturing of humanoid robots at scale.

The partnership brings together VinDynamics’ robotics engineering, manufacturing capabilities, and real-world deployment ecosystem with Skild AI’s foundation model technology. Together, the companies aim to accelerate the development and deployment of humanoid robots capable of operating in complex and dynamic environments, while supporting growing demand for intelligent robotic systems across industries including manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, and commercial services.

Prof. La Manh Hung, President, VinDynamics, said: “This partnership represents an important step for VinDynamics as we continue building scalable humanoid robotics platforms for real-world deployment. Skild AI brings the most exciting advances in embodied AI today. Combined with our robotics platform and manufacturing capabilities, we believe this partnership can accelerate the deployment of humanoid robots in complex environments.”

Mr. Deepak Pathak, Co-Founder and CEO of Skild AI, said: “The future of robotics depends on combining scalable physical systems with adaptable, general-purpose intelligence. VinDynamics brings strong engineering capabilities, manufacturing scale, and access to real-world deployment environments through the Vingroup ecosystem. We are excited to work together to advance embodied AI for practical applications.”

Established in September 2025, VinDynamics is a pioneering company in the field of humanoid robotics within Vingroup. The company is dedicated to developing versatile, human-centric robots capable of seamless integration into everyday life, with the scalability to support global deployment.

Hashtag: #VinDynamics

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

About VinDynamics

VinDynamics is a technology company under Vingroup, dedicated to the research, development, and manufacturing of advanced robotics and automation solutions, particularly in the field of humanoid robots. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, mechatronics, and motion control, VinDynamics aims to deliver intelligent, safe, and cost-effective robotic products that enhance productivity and improve quality of life.

Learn more at: https://vindynamics.net/en

About Skild AI

Founded in 2023, Skild AI builds a general-purpose foundation model for robotics. Backed by SoftBank Group, NVIDIA Ventures, Jeff Bezos, Lightspeed, Coatue, Sequoia Capital, Felicis, and others, the company is valued at over $14 billion. Offices in Pittsburgh, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Bengaluru.

Learn more at: https://www.skild.ai/

The demand has gathered pace across student networks, parent groups and coaching circles after candidates reported unusually low marks, unchecked answers, blurred scanned copies, payment failures and difficulty accessing the board’s post-result services. Many students say the burden of paying for verification and re-evaluation should not fall on candidates if the discrepancies arose within the evaluation system.

The dispute is centred on the board’s On-Screen Marking system, introduced for Class 12 answer books in the 2026 main examinations. CBSE has described the system as a technology-led reform intended to improve standardisation, accuracy, confidentiality and speed in evaluation. Students and parents, however, argue that the transition has exposed gaps in implementation at a time when even small changes in marks can affect eligibility, merit lists, counselling and scholarship decisions.

By June 5, CBSE had received more than 60,000 applications for verification and re-evaluation from Class 12 students across the country. The volume of requests has underlined the scale of unease after the declaration of results, particularly among students applying for engineering, medicine, commerce programmes and overseas universities, where documentation deadlines can be tight.

CBSE reduced the cost of post-result services after concerns were raised over access and affordability. The fee for obtaining a scanned copy of an evaluated answer book was cut from ₹700 to ₹100. The verification fee was lowered from ₹500 to ₹100, while the re-evaluation charge was reduced from ₹100 to ₹25 per question. The board has also said the fee will be refunded if marks increase after re-evaluation.

Students seeking redress must first obtain their scanned answer sheets before applying for verification or re-evaluation in the relevant subject. Applications are being handled through the official post-result portal, with Aadhaar-based verification added for security. CBSE has said answer sheets are available in candidate accounts and may also be sent to registered email addresses.

The fee reduction has not ended the dispute. Students argue that a refund after marks increase does not address the wider issue of upfront cost, uncertainty and loss of admission time. Families applying in multiple subjects may still have to pay for several stages of the process, while those waiting for revised marks risk missing cut-off dates at universities and professional institutions.

Technical concerns have widened the controversy beyond marks alone. CBSE acknowledged vulnerabilities linked to a portal used for scanned answer sheets after claims that answer booklets and examination papers had been exposed through an unsecured cloud storage route. The board said cybersecurity professionals from government agencies and IITs were being deployed to strengthen digital assets and move systems to a safer infrastructure.

The episode has also triggered questions about the service provider handling the digital evaluation process. Coempt Edutek Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based company associated with the On-Screen Marking framework, has come under scrutiny as students, parents and political figures call for greater transparency in the tendering, scanning, storage and review process. CBSE has maintained that the digital system includes quality checks and is meant to make evaluation more consistent.

Admission-related pressure has sharpened the demand for swift relief. Engineering aspirants are especially concerned because Class 12 marks remain relevant for eligibility in several routes. IIT Roorkee, which is handling JEE Advanced admissions, has allowed candidates below the 75 per cent Class 12 threshold to participate in the seat allocation process, provided they submit a revised qualifying scorecard by July 15 if their marks change after re-evaluation.

Parents’ associations have sought a one-time package covering grace marks for affected students, fee waiver for post-result services and flexibility in admission documentation deadlines. Teachers and education consultants have urged CBSE to publish clearer data on how many answer sheets are revised after verification and re-evaluation, arguing that transparency would help restore confidence in the system.

The response came after the won slipped past psychologically important levels against the dollar, intensifying concern among policymakers over inflation, capital flows and financial stability. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol convened senior economic officials and signalled that Seoul would act quickly if market moves became excessive, while the Bank of Korea and financial regulators kept watch on trading patterns across currency, bond and equity markets.

The won traded around the 1,520 range against the dollar after touching levels not seen for years, reflecting a mix of domestic and external pressures. Higher energy import costs, a strong dollar, portfolio outflows and demand for overseas investments have combined to weaken the currency despite South Korea’s current account surplus and continued strength in key export sectors.

Authorities are seeking to draw a line between normal market adjustment and disorderly moves that could spill into inflation expectations or funding conditions. Their measures are focused on sharper surveillance of foreign exchange transactions, closer coordination among financial agencies and readiness to respond to speculative flows that amplify one-way bets against the currency.

Seoul has avoided announcing broad capital controls, mindful of its ambition to deepen market access and secure developed-market recognition from global index providers. Instead, officials are relying on targeted stabilisation tools, verbal intervention and coordination with major institutional investors to smooth dollar demand. The National Pension Service remains central to those efforts because of the scale of its overseas investment activity and its potential impact on dollar-won liquidity.

The currency’s slide has complicated the Bank of Korea’s policy choices. Inflation rose to 3.1 per cent in May, the highest level in more than two years, pushed up by petroleum products and international travel costs. A weaker won increases the local-currency cost of imported fuel, food and raw materials, raising the risk that price pressures remain above the central bank’s 2 per cent target for longer than expected.

Rate policy now sits at the intersection of slowing growth, currency stability and household debt risks. A rate increase could support the won and restrain inflation, but it would add pressure on consumers and businesses already facing tighter financing conditions. Holding rates steady could protect domestic demand, but might leave the currency exposed if dollar strength persists or foreign investors continue to rebalance away from won assets.

Market pressure has also been shaped by South Korea’s stock market boom and its role in global technology supply chains. The country’s chipmakers and artificial intelligence-linked companies drew heavy investor interest, but sharp gains have also encouraged profit-taking and portfolio reallocation. When offshore investors sell equities or hedge exposure, demand for dollars can rise, adding to currency volatility.

Exporters have not provided the same level of support to the won that authorities might have expected during previous cycles. Companies with large overseas revenues have been cautious about converting dollar earnings, partly because of expectations of further currency weakness and partly because global investment plans require foreign currency holdings. That has deepened the imbalance between dollar demand and supply.

South Korea’s external position remains stronger than the currency’s movement alone suggests. The economy continues to benefit from semiconductor exports, sizeable foreign reserves and a sophisticated financial system. Yet the won has become more sensitive to swings in global risk appetite, partly because households, pension funds and institutional investors have increased overseas securities purchases over the past several years.

The government’s challenge is to calm markets without appearing to defend a fixed exchange-rate level. Officials have framed their intervention as an effort to prevent excessive volatility rather than reverse market fundamentals. That distinction matters because heavy-handed action could invite criticism from trading partners and undermine Seoul’s commitment to market liberalisation.

The United States and South Korea have already discussed currency stability, with both sides describing excessive volatility in the won as undesirable. Those consultations add a diplomatic layer to Seoul’s response, especially as South Korea balances foreign exchange concerns with large investment commitments abroad and shifting trade policy under Washington’s current tariff regime.

Wing Kai New Energy X QIJI Energy X C&D Hi-Tech

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 June 2026 – The 19th (2026) International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Exhibition & Conference (SNEC 2026) was grandly held from June 3 to 5, 2026, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). Attracting over 3,000 exhibitors from 95 countries worldwide, the event stands as the largest and most influential professional grand gathering for the photovoltaic and energy storage sectors across Asia and globally.

During the exhibition, Mr. Yiu Wang Lee, Chairman of the Board of Wing Lee Development Construction Holdings Limited (“Wing Lee” or the “Group”, stock code: 9639.HK); Mr. Cai Huihui, General Manager of Wing Kai New Energy Technology Co., Limited (“Wing Kai New Energy”); Mr. Wang Yi, Key Account Manager of QIJI Energy; Mr. Xu Jun, Overseas Energy Storage Commercial Director of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL); and Mr. You Yuxian, ASEAN Regional Energy Storage Sales Director of CATL, jointly visited the exhibition booth of C&D Hi-Tech. The delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with the team led by General Manager Mr. Zhan Shengli, focusing on battery swapping station projects in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. By integrating multi-party resources, the teams successfully finalized and signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement.

Through this signing, the three parties will join forces to address and resolve the industry pain points of overseas markets regarding regulatory compliance, engineering infrastructure, and supply chain coordination. The collaboration represents a deep integration of QIJI Energy’s cutting-edge battery swapping solutions, Wing Kai New Energy’s localized infrastructure and operational capabilities across Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and C&D Hi-Tech’s robust global resource allocation strengths. Moving from single-project development to an ecosystem of mutual win-win, this partnership will significantly enhance the delivery efficiency of green energy across Hong Kong, Macau, and the Southeast Asian region, setting a brand-new benchmark for regional zero-carbon smart transportation.

As a subsidiary of Wing Lee, Wing Kai New Energy has been rooted in Hong Kong since its inception while radiating its presence globally, deeply cultivating sustainable clean energy solutions. Addressing the acute pain points in the Greater Bay Area and Southeast Asian markets, where rapid fluctuations in energy prices have led to surging cost pressures for logistics distribution enterprises, Wing Kai New Energy will focus on urban distribution logistics battery swapping businesses in the future. The company plans to integrate site resources, infrastructure, and operations to fill the gap in regional infrastructure. We firmly believe that this cooperation will effectively bridge the cross-border green energy eco-link, accelerate the construction of a green energy service network, and contribute solidly to the realization of the “dual carbon” goals. Meanwhile, we sincerely invite more partners to join the Zero-Carbon Smart Alliance to jointly advance sustainable development.

Hashtag: #WingLee

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

About Wing Lee Development Construction Holdings Limited

Deeply rooted in Hong Kong, Wing Lee is an established contractor engaged in civil engineering, electrical and mechanical engineering, and new energy businesses, and has participated in various large-scale landmark projects in Hong Kong. The Group’s civil engineering business specialized in site formation waterworks as well as road and drainage works, while its electrical and mechanical engineering business specializes in power system-related projects and emergency maintenance works. In recent years, the Group has actively expanded into the new energy sector, undertaking solar photovoltaic projects, distributing various electric commercial vehicles and electric construction machinery, and engaging in the construction and subsequent maintenance of charging piles, battery swapping, recycling, and energy storage businesses. In 2025, Wing Lee Construction, together with SANY Group Co., Ltd. and CATL, among other industry giants, founded the “Zero-Carbon Smart Alliance” to develop full-industry-chain solutions for photovoltaics, energy storage, charging and battery swapping, and smart applications in green transportation.