News related to
First

Katherine Ryan returns to Dubai Opera on October 12 as part of the Dubai Comedy Festival, bringing her sharp observational stand-up back to the city for a 9.30pm performance. The award-winning comedian, writer, actor and presenter will appear in the Main Auditorium, with tickets starting at Dh195. The show is open to audiences aged 16 and above and is presented by GME Events as part of the […]

Slovenia’s. si internet domain has recorded an extraordinary registration surge after US President Donald Trump moved to replace “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence”, turning the country-code suffix into a sought-after shorthand for the technology sector. Register. si, Slovenia’s national domain registry, recorded 46,066 new. si domains in September, compared with 3,515 in August. Its published statistics showed more than 250,000. si domains registered by early October, a […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Israel’s Supreme Court has unanimously restored the country’s two main Arab electoral lists to the October 27 parliamentary ballot, overturning disqualifications imposed by the Central Elections Committee before voting this month. The court ruled that neither Ra’am nor the Joint List met the stringent legal threshold required to exclude a political list from a Knesset election. The decision preserves the principal electoral vehicles […]

Cloudflare has released two open-source artificial intelligence decision models, Clef and Clef-flash, mounting a direct challenge to TypeSafe AI’s Jev in the emerging market for fast, structured decisions inside software and autonomous-agent workflows. The company made both models available through Workers AI on October 1 and released their weights on Hugging Face under the Apache 2.0 licence. Clef has 27 billion parameters, while the latency-focused Clef-flash has […]

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team ended its Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games campaign with a record five gold medals, completing an eight-medal haul that marked its strongest performance at the continental event. The team collected five golds, two silvers and one bronze across the jiu-jitsu competition, improving on the four gold medals won at Hangzhou 2023 and the two secured at Jakarta 2018. Gold medals went to Balqees […]

X Internet Unlimited Company and X Corp have launched High Court proceedings against two Bitcoin-focused content creators and unidentified account operators, alleging they fraudulently obtained at least £207,384 through the social platform’s former Creator Revenue Sharing programme. The claim, filed on September 17 in the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, names Vivek Kumar Sen and Zamyang Sherpa, both described in court papers as residents […]

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has published independent findings from Mandiant and SlowMist into its September 24 security breach, with both investigations tracing the intrusion to compromised third-party security products that enabled unauthorised access to the exchange’s wallet environment. The disclosure sharpens the explanation of an incident initially valued at about $351.6 million and later revised to approximately $387.5 million after additional on-chain tracing identified affected transactions involving Zcash […]

Advertisements

Transforming QS Practice in a New Era: Integrating Digital Construction, Collaborative Contracting and Payment Security

HONG KONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 October 2026 – The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) Quantity Surveying Division hosted the HKIS Quantity Surveying Division Conference 2026 (the Conference) today at the CIC-Zero Carbon Park.

This year’s theme, “Transforming QS Practice in a New Era: Integrating Digital Construction, Collaborative Contracting and Payment Security”, reflects the evolving role of Quantity Surveyors during a time of economic restructuring.

The Conference brought together around 200 participants both in person and online, including government officials, industry leaders, professionals, academics, and young practitioners.

Mr LAU Chun Kit, Ricky, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) for Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government, attended as the Guest of Honour and delivered a keynote speech.

Quantity Surveyors are trained professionals with expert knowledge of construction costs and contracts who play a crucial role throughout the project development cycle, from investment feasibility studies and procurement strategy to commercial governance, contract administration, and dispute management. The seminar aims to explore how, amidst the ever-changing landscape of the digital revolution and the implementation of new legislation, quantity surveyors can evolve from their traditional roles in contract and cost management into enablers who drive successful value creation in construction projects.

Mr. LAU Chun Kit, Ricky, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Development Bureau, said: “The theme of this year’s conference is both timely and visionary. The Conference serves as a strategic platform for surveying practitioners and professionals to exchange insights, explore best practices, and formulate a collective vision for the future of the surveying profession. The insights and best practices generated will not only contribute in advancing the role of surveying profession in the new era, but also reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a leader in construction excellence.”

The conference featured 20 distinguished speakers from Hong Kong Government bureaux and departments, the private sector, academia, professional institutions, and law firms to share their insights and best practices in the quantity surveying field. Through thought-provoking discussions, the event not only enhanced participants’ technical knowledge but also catalyzed long-term cross-sector collaboration, empowering the industry to continuously deliver highly efficient and resilient built assets in the future.”

Sr WAN Wai Ming, Tony, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, noted in his welcome speech, “As the construction landscape undergoes profound shifts, quantity surveyors are evolving from traditional cost guardians into strategic value architects. Under this year’s theme, we gather to explore emerging challenges, tackle critical issues, and seize new opportunities. Together, we redefine our professional identity, share actionable insights, and shape a forward-looking roadmap for the quantity surveying industry in Hong Kong.”

Sr TING Yuen Chun, Eric, Chairman of the HKIS Quantity Surveying Division, acknowledged that the built environment is facing increasingly complex social and economic pressures. He emphasised that these challenges serve as an important reminder that, while technology is a vital enabler of progress, built-environment professionals must continue to apply their expertise and professional judgement, while strengthening collaboration across disciplines, to navigate change and deliver sustainable value to society.

Sr WONG Kin Yan, Winnie, Organising Committee Chair of the Conference stated in her closing remarks, “Developments in Collaborative Contracting, Digital Construction, and Payment Security present an opportunity for our profession to evolve beyond traditional cost management.

Today’s quantity surveyors are increasingly called upon to serve as trusted advisers, driving collaboration, leading digital transformation, and championing transparency and fairness across the entire project lifecycle. By embracing these changes, we can continue to play a pivotal role in delivering sustainable, resilient and high-performing built assets for our community.”

List of Speakers (in order of presentation delivery)

Keynote Speech by Guest of Honour

  1. Mr LAU Chun Kit, Ricky, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Development Bureau, HKSARG

Session 1: Collaborative Contracting

  1. Mr LEUNG Lap Ki, Francis, Team Leader (Trade & Procurement), Development Bureau, HKSARG
  2. Sr CHOI Wing Chung, Hayman, Project Strategy and Delivery Leader (Asia), Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited
  3. Ir LEUNG Cheuk Lun, NEC Strategic Advisor, Civil Engineering and Development Department, HKSARG
  4. Ir WANG Yan Hua, Chairman and Managing Director, China Road and Bridge Corporation (Hong Kong)
  5. Sr Yau Wan Fong, Deputy Director, WT Partnership (HK) Limited

Session 2: Digital Construction

  1. Mr WU Jin Ying, Technical Officer, Glodon (Hong Kong) Software Limited
  2. Mr Elvis LI, CEO, isBIM Limited
  3. Ir NG Chun Keung, CEO, dRoW Limited
  4. Mr Put HUI, Senior Digital Transformation Lead, Innovative Technology, Gammon Construction Limited
  5. Mr Ronald CHAN, Head of Sustainability for APAC, Currie & Brown
  6. Sr Sunny CHOI, Chairman of Digitalisation Sub-committee, Quantity Surveying Division, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors; Past Chairman of Quantity Surveying Division, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (2021-2023)
  7. Sr Dr Paul HO, Past Chairman of Quantity Surveying Division, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (2005-2006)

Session 3: Payment Security

  1. Sr Tommy CHAN, Executive Director, Arcadis Hong Kong Limited
  2. Cr Sr Ir ZA Wai Gin, Tony, Executive Director, Hip Hing Construction Co., Ltd.
  3. Sr Hinson CHEUNG, Partner, Pinsent Masons
  4. Sr Terry CHAK, Director of North Asia Region, Rider Levett Bucknall Limited
  5. Sr TT CHEUNG, BBS, JP, Past President, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors
  6. Sr CHONG Lui Chuen, Executive Committee Member, CSHK Professional Committee
  7. Mr Eric CHUNG, Barrister-at-Law, Pacific Chambers
  8. Sr Prof LEUNG Hing Fung, Professor and Head, Department of Law and Business, Hong Kong Shue Yan University; Adjunct Professor, Department of Real Estate and Construction, University of Hong Kong; Barrister-at-law, Arbitrator and Mediator

List of speakers and topics are downloadable here

Conference booklet is downloadable here

High-resolution event photos are downloadable here

Photo Caption:

001 Mr Ricky LAU, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Development Bureau, HKSARG, was invited as the Guest of Honour.
002 Sr Tony WAN, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, delivered the welcome speech.
003 Sr Eric TING, Chairman of the HKIS Quantity Surveying Division, delivered the opening speech.
004 Mr LEUNG Lap Ki, Francis, Team Leader (Trade & Procurement), Development Bureau, HKSARG, delivered a keynote speech.
005 Ir LEUNG Cheuk Lun, NEC Strategic Advisor, Civil Engineering and Development Department, HKSARG, delivered a speech.
006 The event received extensive support from the government and industry.

Second Row: From left to right:

Dr Ada TSANG, Lecturer, Department of Construction and Quality Management, Hong Kong Metropolitan University;

Cr Amanda WONG, Council Member, Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers;

Ar Stephen HO, Honorary Secretary, The Hong Kong Institute of Architects;

Prof Ling Kar-kan, SBS, Chairman, Hong Kong Housing Society;

Mr Kelvin NG, Assistant Director/Technical, Highways Department;

Sr Andrew LAM, Assistant Director (Project) 2, Housing Department, HKSARG;

Sr Winnie WONG, Organising Committee Chair of the HKIS Quantity Surveying Division Conference 2026;

Sr Tony WAN, President of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors;

Mr Ricky LAU, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Development Bureau, HKSARG;

Sr Eric TING, Chairman of the HKIS Quantity Surveying Division;

Mr Arthur LEE, Deputy Director/Regulatory Services, Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, HKSARG;

Mr Samson LAM, Assistant Director/Sewage Services, Drainage Services Department, HKSARG;

Ir Prof Thomas HO, JP, Chairman, Construction Industry Council;

Sr Amelia FOK, Chairman, The Association of Consultant Quantity Surveyors;

Ir Prof Michael YAM, Head of Department and Professor, Department of Construction Management and Intelligence, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University;

Sr Renee CHAN, Senior Lecturer, Department of Design and Architecture, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong

First Row: Past Presidents of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, and Council Member of the Quantity Surveying Division, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors

007 Sr Winnie WONG, Organising Committee Chair of the HKIS Quantity Surveying Division Conference 2026, delivered closing remarks.
008 The Conference gathered around 200 industry professionals, participating in person and online.

Hashtag: #surveyor #QS #quantitysurveying



Wechat: HKIS-Official

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

About the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors

Established in 1984, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) is the only surveying professional body incorporated by ordinance in Hong Kong. As of 30 September 2026, the number of members reached 11248, of which 8301 (FHKIS: 579, MHKIS: 7722) were corporate members, 49 were associate members and 2898 were probationers and students.

HKIS work includes setting standards for professional services and performance, establishing codes of ethics, determining requirements for admission as professional surveyors, and encouraging members to upgrade skills through continuing professional development.

The Institute has an important consultative role in government policy making and on issues affecting the profession. We have advised the government on issues such as building safety and unauthorized building works, problems of property management, town planning and development strategies, construction quality, construction costs and housing problems. We have also issued guidance notes on floor area measurement, real estates valuation and land boundary survey, etc.

We have an established presence in the international arenas, have overseas connections, and have entered into reciprocal agreements with professional surveying and valuation institutes in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Mainland China recognizing the counterpart’s member’s qualifications. In addition, HKIS is a member of various leading international surveying organisations.

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 October 2026 – Huawei hosted an international media roundtable today featuring Richard Yu, Executive Director, Chairman of the Investment Review Board, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Consumer BG. Yu shared comprehensive insights into Huawei’s consumer business and HarmonyOS ecosystem.

IMG 8638

Richard Yu joined Huawei in 1993, working on early developments like the first-generation program-controlled switch and participating in the establishment of Huawei’s wireless communications business, which started with GSM. Over the past decade, Yu has led Huawei’s consumer business with the vision to deliver a seamless AI life experience to all consumers across five key scenarios: HIMA-powered Smart Travel, HarmonyOS Office, Smart Home, Fitness & Health, and Entertainment, which he said is also the long-term strategy for Huawei’s consumer business over the next 10 years.

Between 2007 and 2025, Huawei invested more than CNY1.8 trillion into R&D shifting from roughly 10% of annual revenue in early years to over 20% recently. Huawei has continued to increase investment into the core technologies of the ICT domain and basic research, which has translated into robust core capabilities, extensive intellectual property, and a vast patent portfolio, and helped with achieving a series of breakthroughs in technological innovation.

The Mate 90 series smartphones Huawei just launched come with the latest Kirin 9050 Pro chip. The overall device performance is 31% higher than the previous generation. The Balong modem, image sensor processor (ISP), mobile security processor (MSP), Lingxi CPU, Maleoon GPU, and the NPU that adopts Huawei’s Da Vinci architecture for AI processing are all designed by Huawei. They offer higher energy efficiency and deliver much-improved overall system-level performance.

Even though Yu admitted that Huawei has limited access to advanced semiconductor processes, Huawei recently made a new breakthrough in the semiconductor domain – the LogicFolding technology under the Tau Scaling Law. Unveiled by He Tingbo, head of Huawei’s Semiconductor Business Department this May, this technology vertically stacks the logic layers of chips and restructures the circuit layout through inter-layer high-density interconnect to shorten critical paths and reduce latency. This technology was adopted on Kirin 9050 Pro chip, which shows very strong AI processing power. The Mate 90 series powered by this chip can run a 30B MoE on-device AI model.

In the AI domain, Yu talked about the Ascend compute foundation that Huawei provides, by remarking Huawei’s large models called openPangu, AI capabilities for intelligent driving, and HarmonyOS Celia, which is similar to Gemini in the Google Android ecosystem. Huawei is also using AI to improve the O&M of communications network equipment. By combining AI computing power with domestic open-source large models, Huawei’s vision is to help enterprises and industries around the world to become more productive and bringing more convenience to everyone.

In the past years, Huawei has launched a broad series of products and solutions, including smartphones, PCs, tablets, wearables, TWS audio products, Smart TVs, home routers, smart home control solutions, as well as intelligent electric vehicles together with partners. Underlying these products and solutions are Huawei’s chip hardware platform and HarmonyOS – another OS ecosystem after iOS from Apple and Android from Google that Huawei developed to support all the smart devices and smart hardware across all scenarios.

Development of HarmonyOS began in 2019. Before that, Huawei was a major contributor to the Android community as well as the entire Android ecosystem. Now, more than 90 million devices, including smartphones, PCs, and tablets, currently run on HarmonyOS 6 and HarmonyOS 7. This figure is expected to hit the 100 million mark by the end of this year. The number of apps and services in the HarmonyOS ecosystem has already exceeded 450,000. Its global registered developer count has reached 11 million, and Huawei now has over 23,000 app innovation partners. Expressing his special thanks to all partners and developers for their trust and support, Yu also pointed out that Huawei is considering gradually bringing HarmonyOS to the global market in the future.

Globalization is another topic of the conversation. Yu mentioned that Huawei had very good collaboration with many companies from the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, delivering huge business value and benefits to those partners. When it comes to the difficulties that Huawei overcame since 2019, Yu said that relying on homegrown technologies and capabilities, Huawei gradually designed its own operating system and developed basic tools and software by themselves, putting a domestic supply chain in place. In 2023, Huawei started to manufacture the chips used by smartphones domestically again. With these chips and HarmonyOS, and by relying on China’s domestic supply chain, materials, and process nodes, Huawei has basically gotten rid of the dependence on US technologies.

While Huawei’s global market share was once No. 1, nowadays it only sells several million units of smartphones outside China every year. However, Yu revealed that Huawei is trying to return to the overseas market step by step.

Taking wearables as an example, Huawei is No. 1 in terms of the market share both in China and globally. Other innovative products such as TWS earphones, are also growing fast and have reached No. 1 in many countries. While Huawei’s tablet and PC business was greatly affected after it was denied access to Windows and Intel x86 chips, the HarmonyOS-based tablets are now performing strongly. Another example would be CPE, which is a mobile router that provides connectivity to the unconnected in remote and rural areas. These products are also very well received across many regions outside China, helping more people connect to the rest of the world and live better lives.

Question: Both the Huawei XT 2 and the two most advanced models of the Mate 90 series use a LogicFolding chip. Will LogicFolding chips be used for more phones in the future? We understand that Huawei’s chip production capacity is still limited. Huawei has launched SuperPoDs, and AI infrastructure is a huge business. They are both very important in China. How do you secure a larger share of the chip supply internally?

Richard Yu: We started introducing the chip that adopts the LogicFolding technology powered by the Tau Scaling Law to the Mate XT 2 tri-fold phone. To answer your question, yes, more of our phones will definitely use these LogicFolding chips in the future.

Currently, the production capacity for advanced semiconductors in China still cannot meet the rapidly growing demand. Huawei’s Ascend chips for the AI domain also use such capacity. But we have developed a requirement plan, which also covers the chip requirements of smartphones.

The sharp price increase for memory components over the past two years has somewhat limited the smartphone sales volume. Even though the production capacity remains tight right now, generally it is sufficient to meet our market shipment needs.

We hope that production capacity will ramp up in China’s semiconductor industry so that we can manufacture more advanced products for consumers in the Chinese market as well as the overseas market in the future.

To read the full Q&A session:
https://www.apmultimedianewsroom.com/multimedia-newsroom/continuous-innovation-securing-our-competitive-edge-through-technological-breakthroughs

Hashtag: #Huawei

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

Etihad Rail has added six passenger train services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai this weekend after exceptionally strong early demand, releasing more than 2,000 additional seats on the newly opened route. The operator said more than 1,000 extra seats were made available across three services on Saturday, October 3, with a further 1,000-plus seats offered on three additional services on Sunday, October 4. The move follows the […]

By K Raveendran India’s electoral system has entered a territory where the argument is no longer merely about errors in voters’ lists. The deeper question is whether citizens can continue to repose confidence in the constitutional institution entrusted with deciding who gets on those lists, how names are removed and whether the rules governing that […]

The article India’s Electoral Crisis Now Tests How Far Supreme Court Is Willing To Go appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

By Dr. Gyan Pathak On the very first day of the protests on October 2, by INDIA bloc and other opposition political parties, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), Civil societies, and common people against CEC demanding his resignation across the country, particularly in Delhi and Mumbai, the campaign entered a consequential phase and at a political […]

The article Battle Over CEC Enters Consequential Phase, A Political Flashpoint appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

By Ashok Nilakantan Ayers NEW YORK: As the United States enters the final month before the November 3 midterm elections, both parties are confronting an increasingly fluid political landscape. Republicans hold the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives, but history has rarely been kind to governing parties in midterm years. Democrats, meanwhile, […]

The article Midterm 2026: An Election Shaped By Uncertainty, Power And Political Headwinds appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Anthropic has introduced Mods for Claude Code, giving developers a way to alter the coding agent’s behaviour, interface and internal event handling through JavaScript or TypeScript functions running inside the product. The system, released on October 1 with Claude Code version 2.1.287, extends the tool’s existing plugin framework. Mods can rewrite prompts before they reach the model, block or modify tool calls, approve or reject permission requests, […]

AD Ports Group has completed its Dhs3.1 billion acquisition of Brazilian agri-bulk terminal operator Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura, marking the Abu Dhabi group’s largest takeover and its first strategic entry into South America. The financial closing follows regulatory and antitrust clearances in Brazil, including approvals from the National Waterway Transportation Agency, known as ANTAQ, and the Administrative Council for Economic Defense, or CADE. The transaction was first […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE Ministry of Finance has listed its second five-year Sovereign Retail T-Sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai, opening the government-backed Islamic instrument to secondary-market trading after subscription, allocation and settlement were completed. The offering drew subscription orders of AED285 million, about 5.7 times its AED50 million target, underscoring demand among individual investors for the second issuance under the sovereign retail programme. The sukuk carries […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company was the most active sovereign wealth fund among the Gulf’s leading state investors during the first nine months of 2026, deploying $26.2 billion, according to data released by Global SWF. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund ranked second with $14 billion of investments between January and September, followed by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority at $12.2 billion, Abu Dhabi’s L’imad […]

A newly public PlayStation 5 jailbreak called Relapse has opened kernel-level access on consoles running system software 7.00 through 13.60, including the PS5 Pro, while Sony’s newer 14.00 firmware falls outside the exploit’s stated range. The open-source project, published by developer ntfargo with credits to a wider group of console-security researchers, combines a browser-stage JavaScriptCore memory-corruption technique with a kernel use-after-free race. Its documentation says the chain […]

US aviation regulators have determined that a software glitch affecting some Boeing 737 Max aircraft does not constitute a flight-safety issue, removing an immediate regulatory concern surrounding the programme. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that its Corrective Action Review Board had completed an assessment of the problem and concluded that pilots retain full control of the aircraft if the anomaly occurs. The agency said flight […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The two pilots involved in a violent cockpit altercation aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 have been transferred from Saudi Arabia to Abu Dhabi, placing them directly within a UAE investigation seeking to establish what triggered the mid-air emergency. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior said the captain and co-pilot left for Abu Dhabi on Thursday after receiving medical clearance, accompanied by a UAE security team. […]

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 October 2026 – People’s Daily’s video series Decoding Rural China’s Governance, which explores grassroots governance and rural development in different parts of China, follows this six-village tourism cluster in its latest episode One Green Haven, Six Linked Villages, exploring how the six villages are turning online attention into a shared opportunity for rural development.

image-1.jpeg

Xixinan village first went viral in 2023, when photos of its fairy-tale greenery spread on Chinese platforms. But the tourism boom also raised new questions: How could the village generate revenue without charging an entrance fee? And how could it share the benefits with neighboring villages rather than compete with them?

The video looks beyond Xixinan to five nearby villages that, together with Xixinan, form a six-village tourism network. The villages have developed a range of experiences, including bamboo raft rides, a sightseeing train, homestays and nighttime fish-lantern tours. By connecting these attractions into a complete travel route, the network encourages visitors to stay longer and spend more time in the town, allowing more local businesses to benefit from growing tourist traffic.

Rather than competing for visitors, the villages have embraced a cluster development approach, developing complementary businesses, connecting tourism resources and sharing opportunities.

At the heart of this cooperation is the villages’ revenue-sharing model: 70 percent goes to the village where a business operates, 20 percent is distributed according to the original equity ratio (Xixinan village takes 5 percent and the other five villages take 3 percent each) and 10 percent is retained by the town’s operating company as working capital. The mechanism allows different villages to benefit from shared tourism resources while encouraging each to develop its own distinctive businesses.

More than 70 percent of residents in this town work in tourism. In 2025, each village generated more than 1 million yuan (about $140,000) in revenue, helping ensure that the benefits of tourism are shared across the town.

This video follows the journey from Xixinan’s viral rise to the broader transformation of the six villages, showing how natural scenery, connected tourism routes and a shared-interest mechanism can turn visitor traffic into broader rural development.

By linking six villages into a development cluster, the model offers a glimpse of how rural communities in China are exploring new ways to share opportunities and prosperity.

Hashtag: #PeoplesDaily #DecodingRuralChinasGovernance #RuralChina

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

Etihad Rail is staging laser shows at passenger stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah on Friday night as it marks this week’s expansion of the UAE’s national passenger rail network. The displays are scheduled to run from 7pm on October 2 until 1am, illuminating the Mohamed bin Zayed City station in Abu Dhabi, Al Yalayis station in Dubai and the passenger station at Al Hilal in […]

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 October 2026 – UstarPay announced that it will co-host “Token2049 Networking Event with BitGo, HashKey & UstarPay” with BitGo and HashKey Cloud during TOKEN2049 Singapore. The event will take place in Singapore and will be subject to registration approval. The exact venue address will be provided to approved participants after registration.

The event will bring together industry participants from digital assets, fintech, payments, Web3 infrastructure, institutional services, and cross-border finance. It aims to provide a face-to-face networking platform for institutions, project teams, infrastructure providers, investors, and professionals. Discussions will focus on digital asset infrastructure, compliant payments, stablecoin use cases, wallet and card services, and how digital assets can enter real-world payment scenarios.

Event Details

Event Name: Token2049 Networking Event with BitGo, HashKey & UstarPay
Date & Time: Wednesday, 7 October, 18:00–21:00 GMT+8
Event Partners: BitGo, HashKey Cloud, UstarPay
Registration: Submit an application through the official Luma event page
Registration Link: https://luma.com/qjgwthvg
Entry: Approved participants may enter with a valid QR code

Please note that this event requires registration approval. All participants must submit an application through the official Luma event page. The hosts will review applications based on applicant background, industry relevance, and event capacity. Once approved, participants will receive an event QR code. Only approved participants with a valid QR code will be admitted to the event. An invitation or shared event information does not constitute official admission credentials.

Stablecoins Enter the Next Stage: From On-Chain Assets to Real-World Payments

In recent years, stablecoins have evolved from a funding tool primarily used in crypto trading into a payment and settlement medium within the global digital economy. As cross-border work, global freelancing, online subscriptions, e-commerce, and international trade continue to grow, the market demand for faster, more flexible, and geographically accessible payment methods has continued to increase.

However, for digital assets to truly enter everyday life, one core question remains: how can the speed of on-chain transactions be connected with the trust, compliance, and settlement systems required by the real world?

In traditional financial and payment networks, every movement of funds must address fundamental questions: who the user is, where the funds come from, whether the transaction is compliant, whether risk can be identified, and whether the settlement trail can be audited. For digital asset payments, these questions do not disappear simply because technology becomes faster. Instead, they become essential conditions for digital assets to move toward broader, scalable adoption.

UstarPay’s role is to build the infrastructure that connects on-chain assets with real-world payment scenarios during this transition.

About UstarPay’s Role in Real-World Digital Asset Use

UstarPay is a PayFi-focused infrastructure platform connecting supported digital assets with real-world spending and transaction use cases. Its core vision is to help digital assets move beyond trading, holding, or investment and become more practical for everyday and commercial use, subject to applicable requirements.

By connecting wallet, card, and related technology infrastructure, UstarPay helps eligible individuals and businesses access card and transaction solutions using supported digital assets. In applicable markets, and subject to supported assets, product settings, and relevant requirements, users may explore stablecoins and other supported digital assets for online shopping, travel and hotel spending, subscription services, cross-border purchases, in-store purchases, and, where applicable, ATM withdrawals.

For enterprises, UstarPay explores modular technology support connected to card applications, risk management, and settlement workflows. Relevant use cases may be considered for eligible platforms and businesses, subject to applicable laws, partner requirements, product scope, and case-by-case assessment.

UstarPay believes the future of digital asset use is not only about whether a transaction can be completed, but also whether relevant activity can be verified, monitored, risk-assessed, reviewed, and settled. Based on this view, UstarPay is exploring “Proof-of-Spend” as part of its digital asset application narrative. By connecting identity verification, AML processes, asset custody, on-chain risk assessment, transaction records, and settlement workflows, UstarPay is exploring how digital asset applications can be supported by more verifiable, monitorable, and traceable process foundations.

From a risk management and traceability perspective, UstarPay considers identity verification, on-chain transaction monitoring, asset custody, and settlement records as relevant components where applicable. The company may work with relevant technical service providers in these areas. This registration does not mean that all products, services, or markets are authorized or available. Relevant services remain subject to applicable laws and regulations, user eligibility, supported assets, product settings, partner requirements, and jurisdictional restrictions.

Guided by “Real Crypto, Real Life,” UstarPay’s long-term direction is to help supported digital assets move from on-chain holdings toward card and transaction applications that can be used in everyday and commercial contexts, subject to product configuration, applicable requirements, supported assets, and regional availability.

Event Significance: Connecting PayFi, Stablecoin Payments, and Institutional Infrastructure

The co-hosts of this event span digital asset custody, institutional infrastructure, PayFi, stablecoin payments, and on-chain yield. This reflects the digital asset industry’s ongoing evolution from single-purpose trading scenarios toward more mature financial and payment infrastructure.

As stablecoins continue to become an important tool for value movement in the global digital economy, the market demand for compliant payment access, secure asset custody, risk control infrastructure, and cross-border settlement capabilities continues to grow. Through this event, UstarPay hopes to engage with more industry participants to discuss how digital assets can enter the real world in a safer, more compliant, and more practical way.

Hashtag: #UstarPay

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

About BitGo

BitGo (NYSE: BTGO) is the digital asset infrastructure company delivering custody, wallets, staking, trading, financing, stablecoins, and settlement services from regulated cold storage. Since 2013, BitGo has focused on accelerating the transition of the financial system to a digital asset economy. BitGo maintains a global presence and multiple regulated entities, including BitGo Bank & Trust, National Association, the first federally chartered digital asset trust bank owned by a publicly traded company. Today, BitGo serves thousands of institutions, including many of the industry’s top brands, financial institutions, exchanges, and platforms, and millions of investors worldwide. For more information, visit .

About UstarPay

UstarPay is a PayFi-focused infrastructure platform designed to connect digital assets with real-world spending and transaction use cases. By connecting wallet, card, and related technology infrastructure, UstarPay helps eligible users and businesses access convenient card and transaction solutions using supported digital assets.

With a focus on compliance, transparency, and risk management, UstarPay is developing digital asset experiences designed to support traceability and transparency in supported markets. Guided by “Real Crypto, Real Life,” the company is focused on making supported digital assets more practical and relevant to everyday life, subject to applicable requirements and availability. Relevant services remain subject to applicable laws and regulations, user eligibility, supported assets, product settings, and regional availability.

For more information, please visit .

About HashKey Cloud

HashKey Cloud is the institutional staking and yield infrastructure of HashKey Group (HKEX: 3887). It focuses on providing secure, auditable multi-chain staking and yield services for global institutions, asset managers, and professional investors. Our services include ETF/DAT staking, prime VIP staking, API staking, and prime yield, empowering institutions to manage on-chain assets and returns with efficiency and confidence.

Disclaimer: Relevant services are subject to applicable laws and regulations, user eligibility, supported assets, partner requirements, and geographic restrictions. Not all services are available in all markets.

Initiative combines housing support with fire insurance protection to provide greater financial security for Orang Asli families

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 October 2026 – MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd (“MSIG Malaysia”), the country’s third largest fire insurer, has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to strengthening community resilience through its continued collaboration with EPIC Homes. The initiative reflects the joint effort of MSIG Malaysia and EPIC Homes to support Orang Asli families through housing initiatives and fire insurance protection.

As part of this long-standing collaboration, MSIG Malaysia continues to provide fire insurance protection for homes built by EPIC Homes for the Orang Asli families. This insurance coverage helps families manage the financial impact of unforeseen incidents while reinforcing the long-term resilience of the Orang Asli community, reflecting the company’s continued efforts to protecting communities beyond traditional insurance solutions.

This year, MSIG Malaysia supported Orang Asli families in Simpang Pulai with the completion of two new homes. In July, 31 employees, including Chief Executive Officer Ms. Ang Yien Chia, worked alongside EPIC Homes volunteers over three days to complete the first home. In September, another 25 employees came together for the second build. Through these efforts, MSIG Malaysia helped provide beneficiary families with improved living conditions and a stronger sense of stability.

Chief Executive Officer of MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd, Ms. Ang Yien Chia, said:

“We aim to give Orang Asli homeowners greater confidence that they have financial support, should unforeseen events occur. The value of this protection has already been demonstrated, such as in 2025, a home covered under the programme was damaged during a storm, and the insurance claim helped fund the necessary repairs.”

“This reinforces the important role insurance can play in helping families recover more quickly and protecting the homes they have worked so hard to build. Through our continued collaboration with EPIC Homes, we remain committed to strengthening the resilience of underserved communities.”

As of August 2026, MSIG Malaysia has contributed towards the protection of over 300 homessince partnering with EPIC Homes in 2018. The collaboration supports Orang Asli families by pairing sustainable housing initiatives with fire insurance protection, reinforcing the long-term resilience of these communities.

Mr. John-Son Oei, Founder and CEO of EPIC Homes, said:

“We are grateful to continue our partnership with MSIG Malaysia, whose unwavering commitment has helped transform the lives of families through safe and dignified housing. Building a home is about much more than constructing walls and a roof—it creates the foundation for families to live with security, stability and hope for the future.

What makes this collaboration especially meaningful is MSIG Malaysia’s commitment to extending insurance protection beyond the build itself through its fire insurance coverage. This thoughtful addition provides beneficiary families with greater financial security while highlighting the importance of long-term resilience and financial preparedness. Together, we are creating sustainable impact that will benefit not only individual families but the wider community.”

The continued collaboration with EPIC Homes translates MSIG Malaysia’s commitment to championing inclusive and community-empowering initiatives into meaningful action through funding, employee volunteerism and insurance protection for the Orang Asli communities.

Hashtag: #MSIG

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

About MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd

MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd (“MSIG Malaysia”) is one of the leading general insurers in Malaysia, providing a comprehensive range of insurance protection for both personal and business needs. With over 100 years of general insurance experience and a nationwide network of 20 branches, MSIG Malaysia offers strong capabilities across key classes including Fire, Engineering, and Motor, and is the No.1* in Marine Cargo.

The company continues to strengthen its market presence through ongoing investment in digital innovation, customer focused service enhancements, and the development of insurance solutions that meet the evolving needs of Malaysians. It has also developed exclusive B2B business tools for its business partners to support more efficient collaboration and service delivery. As part of its ongoing sustainability journey, MSIG Malaysia remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen community resilience.

MSIG Malaysia is a subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited and a member of the MS&AD Insurance Group, Inc. (MS&AD), an insurance group with operations across Asia and various international markets. The Group manages a diverse portfolio of insurance companies worldwide and is recognised for its longstanding presence in the industry.

For more information on MSIG Malaysia, visit www.msig.com.my or facebook.com/MSIGmy.

*As of Dec 2025

About EPIC Homes

EPIC (Extraordinary People Impacting Communities) is a multiple award-winning social enterprise. Its flagship movement, EPIC Homes, builds relationships across the urban-rural divide through the act of building homes for underprivileged communities, with a current focus on the indigenous Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia.

Since 2010, EPIC Homes has mobilised 9,000+ individuals and 200+ organisations to provide safe homes for over 350 families in need. EPIC Homes team building programmes foster empathy, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration – enabling companies and organisations to forge stronger teams while contributing to long-term community development.

VISHNU RAJA
RYO YAMADA
HITORI GOTOH
IKUYO KITA