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Matein Khalid Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein is set to list in Hong Kong on September 1 at a valuation of up to $27 billion. That is less than half the $64 billion valuation at which Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala invested in 2023. It is a brutal comedown for a retailer once expected to be worth $100 billion. My knowledge of sartorial retailing is admittedly less than encyclopaedic. Yet I […]

  • Jungheinrich marks 25 years of presence in Singapore, as country’s backbone for material flow of goods and a driver of sustainable intralogistics solutions, with more than 7,000 machines in the market and over 100 warehouse solutions implemented
  • Jungheinrich Singapore established itself as one of the few full-liner suppliers of material handling equipment and solutions in the country, and the pioneer of electrification, with an estimate market share of 25% in electrified machines
  • Milestone marked with an anniversary dinner on 28 August 2026, attended by Guests of Honour: Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to Singapore, and Nadine Despineux, Member of the Board of Management, Chief Sales Officer, Jungheinrich

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – Jungheinrich, a global leader in sustainable material handling solutions, celebrated 25 years of presence in Singapore as country’s backbone for material flow of goods and a driver of sustainable intralogistics solutions, with more than 7,000 machines in the market and over 100 total warehouse solutions implemented.

Jungheinrich Singapore celebrates 25 years of material flow excellence, marking the milestone with Managing Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Benedict Kothe; Guest of Honour Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to Singapore; Jungheinrich Chief Sales Officer Nadine Despineux; and key industry leaders and guests.
Jungheinrich Singapore celebrates 25 years of material flow excellence, marking the milestone with Managing Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Benedict Kothe; Guest of Honour Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to Singapore; Jungheinrich Chief Sales Officer Nadine Despineux; and key industry leaders and guests.

On 28 August 2026, Jungheinrich celebrated this silver jubilee with an anniversary gala dinner at Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore, graced by Guests of Honour: Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to Singapore, and Nadine Despineux, Member of the Board of Management, Chief Sales Officer, Jungheinrich, alongside key attendees such as, Manojit Acharya, Vice President – Asia Pacific & Managing Director, India, Benedict Kothe, Managing Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Jungheinrich, Jens Rübbert, President of the European Chamber of Commerce, Singapore, Soo Haw Yun, Vice President, Global Enterprises, Singapore Economic Development Board, and the various Jungheinrich teams, customers and partners in the APAC region.

A special toast was raised to mark Jungheinrich Singapore’s 25-year journey and its evolution into a strategic hub for Asia-Pacific (APAC). Established on 21 February 2001 as the first country unit in APAC, Jungheinrich Singapore is now part of a regional network spanning eight country units and 14 partner companies, supported by over 1,500 employees. The Singapore operation oversees key regional functions including training, automation, dealer management, sales, customer service and human resources, with the APAC spare parts distribution centre also based here.

Jungheinrich has also established itself as one of the few full-liner suppliers of material handling equipment and solutions in Singapore, offering warehouse trucks, racking, automation, digital solutions and customer service all under one roof. The Singapore team, comprising of 150 employees, works closely with Jungheinrich’s partners across APAC, supporting the company’s regional reach and market development.

Over the past 25 years, Jungheinrich Singapore has pioneered the adoption of electric material handling equipment in the country, with an estimated 25% share of the electrified machines market. Its team of 50 technicians strive to provide industry-benchmark service, supporting the logistics sector’s shift towards more efficient and professional operations. In recognition of its innovation and education initiatives, Jungheinrich Singapore was named Supply Chain Innovator of the Year (CSR) at the prestigious Supply Chain Asia Awards 2025, and has also achieved Great Place To Work® Certified™ status.

Notably, Jungheinrich Singapore was the first in APAC to open a Jungheinrich Experience Centre, established in May 2024, to showcase product innovation and illustrate how material flow interacts within a warehouse setting. The centre has since welcomed visitors including Kuehne & Nagel, Supply Chain Asia, the German Embassy in Singapore, and a slew of students from Republic Polytechnic (Singapore) and the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland).

Jungheinrich Singapore has also played an active role in supporting the local community, serving as the official logistics sponsor for the annual National Day Parade for 2 consecutive years in 2025 and 2026, deploying electric forklifts, pallet trucks and reach trucks to help distribute close to 250,000 fun packs to spectators. The organisation also donated warehouse trucks to support Willing Hearts and Food Bank Singapore in their operations, and provided pallet jacks and forklifts for the United Buddy Bears Exhibition at Gardens by the Bay in September 2025, which marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Germany.

Since 2024, Jungheinrich Singapore and Malaysia have jointly run the “The Environment Wins Twice” campaign with Animal Projects & Environmental Education (APE) Malaysia, planting a tree for every electric forklift sold, and as of 2025, 455 trees have been planted, turning each sale into a tangible contribution to reforestation while supporting Jungheinrich’s global sustainability commitments.

While Southeast Asia’s warehouse automation market is projected to nearly double from US$0.87 billion in 2025 to US$1.95 billion by 2032, and Singapore’s land and labour constraints driving to demand for smarter, space-efficient solutions, Jungheinrich sees significant opportunities for further growth in the region.

Looking ahead, Jungheinrich Singapore will focus on developing localised automation solutions, expanding the rollout of AntOn by Jungheinrich, and introducing sustainable material handling solutions tailored to customers across APAC. Building on the launch of its first electric van in July 2025, the organisation is also targeting a fully green-energy service fleet by 2030, supporting its commitment to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 for Scope 1 emissions.

“As we celebrate 25 years in Singapore, we are proud of the strong foundation we have built with 150 intralogistics experts who support our customers across industries. Our journey has been defined by innovation, partnership, and a commitment to improving material flow efficiency. Looking ahead, we remain focused on helping businesses enhance productivity, increase warehouse safety and quality, and achieve sustainable growth through advanced material handling solutions,” said Benedict Kothe, Managing Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Jungheinrich.

“We congratulate Jungheinrich on 25 years in Singapore. Over the years, Jungheinrich has grown its Singapore operations into a strategic APAC hub, driving initiatives such as automation, innovation, and sustainability. We look forward to deepening our partnership with Jungheinrich as it contributes to Singapore’s logistics sector and develops solutions for the region,” said Soo Haw Yun, Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board.

As Jungheinrich Singapore enters its next chapter, the organisation remains committed to supporting customers’ growth with innovative, sustainable and increasingly automated material handling solutions.Hashtag: #Jungheinrich #Manufacturing #Logistics




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

Jungheinrich Singapore

As one of the world’s leading providers of material handling solutions, Jungheinrich has advanced the development of innovative, sustainable products and solutions for material flows for more than 70 years. The family-owned, listed business generated revenue of €5.5 billion in the 2025 financial year with a workforce of over 21,000, and service and sales companies across 42 countries. In APAC, the company has established eight country units and over 14 partner companies, supported by over 1,500 employees. Established in Singapore in 2001, Jungheinrich Singapore marks its 25th anniversary in 2026 as the company’s strategic hub for the region.

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Artificial intelligence adoption has spread across Gulf businesses, but only a small minority are converting deployments into measurable financial gains, exposing a gap between experimentation and value creation. About 84 per cent of organisations in the Gulf Cooperation Council use AI in at least one business function, up from 62 per cent in 2023, according to a McKinsey survey conducted with the GCC Board Directors Institute. Yet […]

Mistral AI and Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN have agreed a strategic collaboration worth hundreds of millions of euros, linking local computing infrastructure with model development and enterprise deployments across the kingdom and the wider Middle East. The agreement, announced on August 24, will see Paris-based Mistral explore using HUMAIN’s data centre infrastructure to meet growing local computing demand while the companies jointly develop and localise advanced artificial intelligence […]

Abu Dhabi’s Warner Bros. World is moving ahead with its long-planned Harry Potter-themed land on Yas Island, with construction under way and new project details pointing to Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley and at least three rides and attractions. The development, announced by Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022 as the Middle East’s first Harry Potter-themed land, is being built as part of a substantial expansion of […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gulf companies are pouring money into artificial intelligence, but many are finding that rapid adoption is not translating into measurable financial returns as weak data foundations, fragmented technology systems and governance gaps constrain deployment at scale. Around 84% of organisations across the Gulf are using AI in some form, yet only about 11% have reached a level where scaled deployments are producing clearly […]

Egyptian writer, DJ and radio host Nihal El Aasar is challenging narrow definitions of Arab music by using radio, live performances and artistic collaborations to showcase underground sounds spanning electronic music, experimental composition, hip-hop, drill and regional club culture. Raised in Cairo and now based in London, El Aasar has built a multidisciplinary career that connects music with writing, politics and cultural analysis. Her approach rejects the […]

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Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Americana Restaurants International Plc has signed an exclusive development agreement to bring Taco Bell back to the UAE, opening the way for a phased expansion of the Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant brand into additional GCC markets. The UAE will be the first market developed under the agreement with Taco Bell UK and Europe Ltd, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc. The partners have not […]

Venezuela is considering leaving OPEC as its energy relationship with the United States deepens, raising fresh questions over the producer group’s cohesion only months after the United Arab Emirates ended nearly six decades of membership. No final decision has been taken in Caracas, but the possibility of withdrawing from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has figured in discussions involving Venezuelan and US officials. Such a […]

Strengthening Competitiveness via Online-to-Offline Integration and Supply Chain Agility

Results Highlights

  • Revenue reached US$301.51 million, representing a strong increase of 23.2%.
  • Gross profit grew by 28.2% to US$93.98 million, with gross profit margin expanding to 31.2%.
  • Operating profit increased by 30.1% to US$24.29 million.
  • Net profit surged by 30.0% to US$18.30 million, with net profit margin improving to 6.1%.
  • Business-to-consumer (B2C) platform YesStyle recorded revenue of US$215.07 million, up 30.5%, accounting for 71.3% of the Group’s total revenue. Offline expansion was enhanced with the opening of its first physical concept store in the US.
  • Business-to-business (B2B) platform AsianBeautyWholesale (ABW) recorded revenue of US$82.75 million, up 6.2%, accounting for 27.4% of the Group’s total revenue.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – YesAsia Holdings Limited (“YesAsia Holdings”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) (2209.HK), a leading e-commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in curating Asian beauty and lifestyle products, announced today its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (the “Reporting Period”).

The Group continued to capture strong global demand for Korean Beauty (“K-Beauty”) products, driving revenue up by 23.2% year-on-year to US$301.51 million. Gross profit increased by 28.2% to US$93.98 million, with gross profit margin expanding by 1.2 percentage points to 31.2%. Operating profit grew by 30.1% to US$24.29 million. Benefiting from forward-looking investments in localized and tech-driven logistics infrastructure, which successfully mitigated geopolitical and freight cost pressures, profit for the period surged by 30.0% to US$18.30 million, after recognition of an one-off expense of approximately US$1.24 million in termination benefits arising from the organizational streamlining. Net profit margin improved to 6.1%. Basic earnings per share were US4.39 cents (1H 2025: US3.43 cents).

Navigating Uncertainties through Market Diversification and Logistics Agility

A global market footprint remains pivotal in mitigating geopolitical risks. The US, the Group’s largest market, has absorbed the tariff shock and delivered progressive improvement during the Reporting Period, with revenue exceeding 2H 2025 even outside the typical holiday peak season. Among non-core markets (excluding the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia), robust demand across Europe and Latin America, unlocked new growth momentum, with revenue from Europe and associated countries and Latin America growing by 22.1% and 178.4%, respectively. In the Middle East, the Group navigated the regional tensions to achieve steady revenue growth of 33.4%.

Complementing market diversification, strategic investments in logistics infrastructure spanning Hong Kong, South Korea, the US, and Europe, alongside the adoption of automation technologies like AMRs, have built a highly resilient and scalable supply chain. These capabilities enabled the Group to maintain a stable baseline for business costs and absorb freight and fuel price spikes stemming from Middle East conflicts during the Reporting Period. Consequently, the increase in operating costs remained well below revenue growth, with freight cost as a percentage of revenue dropping to 19.0%, demonstrating the Group’s robust cost control and operational agility.

Integrating O2O Experiences to Drive B2C-B2B Dual-Engine Synergy

Social media marketing remained one of the Group’s core strengths during the Reporting Period, supported by an ecosystem of over 557,000 unique influencers that generated US$85.70 million and contributed nearly 40% of YesStyle‘s revenue. To amplify this online impact, the Group strategically expanded its global offline presence to seamlessly bridge online and offline customer experiences. YesStyle debuted a 1,500 sq. ft. concept store in the San Francisco Bay Area. At the same time, the Group staged high-profile activations, including a Madrid café pop-up that generated over 2 million impressions and brand events at Seoul’s Yesful Land that accumulated over 3 million impressions. Together, these physical and digital touchpoints successfully converted customer engagement into sustained loyalty.

This heightened brand exposure across end-consumer markets directly catalyzed overseas B2B purchasing demand. During the Reporting Period, ABW consolidated its newly built partnerships with retailers in the US and Latin America. Notably, ABW Online’s average order size surged 38.6% year-on-year to US$3,590.60. This uptick reflects substantially stronger purchasing appetite and inventory confidence for K-Beauty products among retailers, underscoring the powerful synergy of the Group’s B2C-B2B dual-engine model.

Mr. Joshua Lau, Founder, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of YesAsia Holdings, said: “K-Beauty remains on an upward trajectory as it becomes a mainstream player in the global beauty business. Looking ahead, we believe that there is ample room for growth for YesAsia Holdings in both the retail and wholesale spheres worldwide. Amid geopolitical and supply chain uncertainties, we are continuously reinforcing our competitive moat and market leadership through AI-empowered customer services, a highly agile supply chain, and a strategy that seamlessly converts online traffic into immersive physical experiences, thereby driving long-term value for our shareholders in a fast-evolving market landscape.”

Hashtag: #YesAsia

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

About YesAsia Holdings Limited (02209.HK)

Established in 1997, YesAsia Holdings is a leading e‑commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in identifying and procuring quality Asian beauty products. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group delivers products promptly and efficiently to a global audience through its strong ties with over 400 leading Asian beauty brand and supplier partners. The Group operates two major channels: YesStyle, a B2C e‑commerce platform serving the growing demand for Asian beauty, fashion and lifestyle products, particularly Korean beauty products; and AsianBeautyWholesale, a B2B‑oriented business for Asian beauty products via online and offline channels. YesAsia Holdings is a constituent of the MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index.

For more information, please visit the Group’s official website:

Kuwait and Pakistan have signed a new defence co-operation agreement expanding military training, operational co-ordination and security assistance as Gulf states reassess their strategic relationships during the prolonged Iran war. The Protocol Agreement-2026 was signed on Thursday, August 27, during Kuwaiti Defence Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Saleem Al-Sabah’s visit to Pakistan. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif signed for Pakistan after talks focused on bilateral security ties […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has granted Starlink Satellite Communications a 10-year licence to establish and operate a public satellite communications network, strengthening the country’s push to integrate space-based connectivity with its advanced terrestrial telecom infrastructure. The General Space Services Licence issued by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority authorises Starlink to operate and manage its satellite network and provide broadband satellite internet services across […]

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – Aolani, a Singapore-founded neocloud powering AI growth, today announced the launch of the Aolani Token Factory, a managed inference platform that enables organisations to deploy and scale AI models on a pay-per-token basis without provisioning or managing the underlying GPU infrastructure. The launch of the token factory will make Aolani the first Singapore-founded neocloud to offer production-grade, managed inference at scale.

As global AI companies expand their operations in Singapore, and companies around the world invest in AI to drive real business outcomes, the demand for production-grade inference infrastructure is quickly accelerating. Aolani Token Factory is designed to close the accessibility gap, giving AI-native companies and companies a highly compliant and high-performance path from AI experimentation to production-scale deployment.

The Aolani Token Factory will be offered as a per-token metering, where customers can pre-purchase credits and pay based on token consumption, rather than investing in capital-intensive GPU infrastructure. Aolani manages the full inference stack, including GPU capacity allocation, model serving, orchestration, scheduling, and workload optimisation, which allows customers to scale consumption without continuously provisioning additional infrastructure.

The platform supports leading open-source models at launch, including DeepSeek, GLM, Kimi, and Qwen. Aolani plans to further expand the model catalogue over time based on customer demand and availability. Customers can also deploy their own models through OpenAI-compatible APIs. Dedicated capacity and data isolation options are available for enterprise customers with strict compliance and data residency requirements.

The Aolani Token Factory will support three core production use cases:

  1. AI agents for high-volume inference and workflow automation
  1. Enterprise AI applications including internal copilots, knowledge assistants, and document intelligence
  1. Coding agents for code generation, completion, testing, and review

Sea Xu, Applied AI Research Lead at Aolani
said: “The Aolani Token Factory is built on a high-performance inference stack that supports the most in-demand open-source model families. We designed the platform for fast model adaptation and deployment, so our customers can get access quickly as new models emerge. As Southeast Asia’s AI ecosystem evolves and grows rapidly, it is our goal to ensure that the infrastructure serving it keeps pace.”

Nicholas Chia, Chief Executive Officer at Aolani said: “Fast-moving AI natives want to build and ship products flexibly and on-demand, without the need to manage GPU fleets. With our competitive per-token pricing and a fully managed stack, companies can go from model selection to production deployment without the capital outlay or operational complexity of self-managed infrastructure. This is a significant milestone for us and our customers as the Aolani Token Factory will fundamentally change how customers access AI compute.”

To register interest in the Aolani Token Factory, please visit: https://www.aolanicloud.com/services/token-factory.

Media Contact
H/Advisors on behalf of Aolani

Hashtag: #Aolani #AIInfrastructure #TokenFactory #Neocloud


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

Aolani

Where AI gets built in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore and founded in 2023, Aolani is backed by compliant and purpose-built infrastructure to deliver the performance capabilities for next-generation AI. Aolani’s AI factories enable organisations to build with confidence, scale ambitiously, and move at hyper-speed in the world’s fastest-growing AI market.

For more information, visit www.aolanicloud.com and follow on LinkedIn.

As more Middle East drivers move closer to their first EV purchase, familiar SUV proportions, strong performance and practical ownership support could matter as much as the electric powertrain itself.

DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 August 2026 – The Middle East’s EV market is growing quickly, but it remains far from saturated. Electric car sales in the region reached about 75,000 units in 2025, up more than 40% year on year, according to the International Energy Agency[1]. The UAE alone accounted for almost half of regional EV sales, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar together represented nearly 45% of regional demand.

Photo (28).jpg

With more buyers moving from curiosity to consideration, the next question is what makes an EV feel like a natural replacement for a conventional car. For the VinFast VF 8, the answer comes down to three things: SUV performance, a comfort-focused cabin and an ownership package that goes well beyond the showroom.

SUV performance that means business

The Middle East has a long-standing appetite for SUVs, and the VF 8 speaks that language in electric form. Its dual-motor all-wheel-drive system produces up to 402 horsepower and 620 Nm of torque in the Plus version, while the Eco delivers 349 horsepower and 500 Nm.

The numbers translate into brisk performance, with the VF 8 Plus targeting 0-100 km/h in less than 5.5 seconds and the Eco at 5.9 seconds. Both versions use an 87.7-kWh usable battery, with claimed NEDC ranges of up to 476 km for the Plus and 493 km for the Eco. DC fast charging from 10% to 70% takes a listed 31 minutes.

Going electric does not require giving up the urge to put your foot down. Actual range and performance will vary with driving style, passengers, load, tires, weather and road conditions.

A cabin that takes comfort seriously

Performance may get attention, but the cabin is where drivers spend most of their time. The VF 8 comes with a 15.6-inch infotainment display, two-zone automatic climate control, air-quality control and cabin filtration with an air ionizer.

The Plus adds 12-way powered driver’s seat adjustment with heating, ventilation and memory, alongside a heated and ventilated front passenger seat and heated, ventilated and reclining rear seats. A panoramic sunroof, heated power-adjustable steering wheel and 10-speaker audio system with a subwoofer round out the package.

The technology continues through the companion app, which supports remote vehicle controls, driver profiles, driving statistics and vehicle diagnostics. Over-the-air updates can also deliver software improvements without a workshop visit.

Ownership support that lasts beyond the test drive

A fast-growing EV market also means buyers are asking practical questions surrounding ownership: charging, servicing, repairs and battery longevity.

The VF 8 addresses those concerns with a 10-year or 200,000-km vehicle warranty and a 10-year unlimited-kilometer battery warranty. The package also includes five years or 100,000 km of free service, 24/7 mobile services and roadside assistance, access to DC fast charging and a parts supply target of 24 hours in key markets.

VinFast is also expanding the infrastructure behind that promise. At its 2026 Global Business Conference, the company signed MOUs with 29 aftersales partners, including partners serving the Middle East, and set a target of more than 1,100 service workshops globally in 2026.

For a region where EV adoption is accelerating, the VF 8 arrives with a familiar formula: SUV proportions, plenty of power and a cabin designed for comfort. The electric bit is new; the reasons to want the car are rather more familiar.

Hashtag: #VinFast

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

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 August 2026 – Corporate buyers in Singapore are increasingly asking for gifting and packaging to come from the same supplier, and for that supplier to hold sourcing presence in the region rather than in a single procurement market. The Gift Empire Pte Ltd, a Singapore supplier of promotional gifts and customised corporate gifts, has responded to both within the same quarter, opening a Vietnam office supported by a local platform at giftempire.com.vn and launching Packaging Empire as a dedicated division for customised packaging solutions. Singapore remains the company’s primary market and the base from which it serves corporate gifting accounts across Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Packaging Empire was established in response to demand from businesses seeking one partner for both requirements. The Gift Empire has supplied customised corporate gifts and promotional gifts since 1999 to organisations including Amazon, Citibank, Maybank, Shopee, and Microsoft, and receives orders through GeBIZ, Ariba, and Coupa, the procurement systems used by Singapore government agencies and large corporate buyers. Accounts of that size have traditionally run separate vendors for promotional gifts and presentation packaging, which adds cost and complicates delivery schedules when both elements are tied to the same campaign date.

The division produces gift boxes, mailer boxes, retail packaging, product sleeves, and event packaging, covering product launches, corporate events, gift-with-purchase campaigns, festive gifting, roadshows, retail applications, and brand activations. Demand for everyday corporate gift items such as custom canvas tote bags and custom water bottles in Singapore has grown alongside the shift, and these are frequently ordered with matching boxes or sleeves timed to the same launch. Clients ordering both now work to a single production timeline under one supplier.

For buyers, consolidating the two functions changes how a project is run. A client briefs one team and works to a single production timeline, so the gift item and the packaging it ships in are scheduled against the same delivery date instead of being tracked as two jobs. Colour matching and print finishing are handled within one production process, which keeps branding consistent between the item and the box it arrives in. Quality control covers both components at the same stage, and any delay sits with a single point of accountability. Volumes across gifts and packaging can be quoted together instead of being priced by two vendors working to separate minimum order quantities. For procurement teams, a single supplier also means one vendor record to maintain and one invoice per campaign, which is a practical consideration for government agencies and large corporations buying through GeBIZ, Ariba, or Coupa.

The Vietnam operation serves a dual function. Alongside supplying Vietnamese businesses through its local platform, the office gives The Gift Empire direct presence in one of the region’s largest manufacturing bases, where a significant share of the product it already sources is made. Vietnam’s electronics sector contributed over 35 per cent of the country’s total exports in 2025, reaching a record US$165 billion, according to Vietnam Briefing. Working on the ground allows closer collaboration with manufacturing partners and tighter oversight of production and quality control. The company expects this to shorten lead times for its Singapore and Malaysia clients and reduce its exposure to disruption in any single supply market.

Vincent Lau, Sales Manager at The Gift Empire, said the changes came out of client requests and not a shift in the company’s focus.

“Most of our work is still corporate gifting for clients here in Singapore, and that has not changed. What has changed is that more of them want one team handling the gifting and the packaging instead of coordinating two suppliers against the same deadline, because when the packaging runs late, the whole campaign moves with it. Vietnam happened at the same time for a practical reason, which is that a lot of the manufacturing we already source from is there, and being on the ground changes how quickly we can sort things out.” – Vincent Lau, Sales Manager, The Gift Empire Pte Ltd

The two developments give The Gift Empire a broader service range and a wider sourcing base within the same quarter, with Singapore continuing as the primary market for its corporate gifting and packaging work. The direction Lau has set out for the company is to operate as a single-source provider for corporate gifting and packaging across Southeast Asia, where a client in any of its markets briefs one team and works to one production timeline supported by a regional sourcing network.

Hashtag: #TheGiftEmpire

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

About The Gift Empire

Founded in 1999, The Gift Empire Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based one-stop provider of customised corporate gifts, promotional gifts, and branded packaging. With more than 25 years of industry experience, the company supplies SMEs, multinational corporations, government agencies, educational institutions, banks, hotels, and event agencies, and is registered on GeBIZ, Ariba, and Coupa. Its services span sourcing, design, quality control, logistics, and fulfilment, with a catalogue of over 400 branded products available with custom logo application. The Gift Empire operates in Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and its packaging division, Packaging Empire, delivers bespoke packaging for corporate and retail applications.

By Subrata Majumder In the post Japanese Yen appreciation era, Japanese overseas investment shifted to China and ASEAN for low-cost manufacturing, leaving India behind. The trajectory is now witnessing movement in the reverse gear, owing to US President Trump’s high reciprocal tariff. Japanese investment has surged in India, leaving China and ASEAN behind. While Japanese […]

The article Trump’s high-tariff regime revives Japanese investment in India appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2026 – Redress, the Asia-focused environmental NGO dedicated to reducing clothing’s negative environmental impacts since 2007, is calling on consumers worldwide to vote online for their favourite Finalist in the Redress Design Award 2026, the world’s leading sustainable fashion design competition. Voting for the People’s Choice Award is open until 31 August 2026, with the winner to be announced at the Grand Final Fashion Show in Hong Kong on 2 September.

From textile waste to runway: Redress design award 2026 opens public vote for the next generation of sustainable fashion designers

The Finalists’ collections showcase innovative approaches to tackling textile waste, transforming discarded leather offcuts, secondhand hardware and industrial waste through reconstruction and upcycling techniques, while exploring next-generation materials such as biodegradable fruit leather and ethical non-livestock wool to reimagine raw materials for circular fashion.

Organised by Redress and supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as Lead Sponsor, the Redress Design Award invites the public to discover the tactile beauty of circular fashion through its latest photoshoot and cast their votes to champion sustainable fashion while empowering the next generation of circular design talents.

The photoshoot: sensory storytelling

Photographed by acclaimed Hong Kong creative Paul Sunga with hair by Davines and makeup by MakeupBees, the photoshoot celebrates the creative decisions behind each Finalist’s collection, highlighting the unique textures, craftsmanship and natural imperfections of their materials while underscoring why design matters: 80% of a garment’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage[1].

“The Finalists of the Redress Design Award are proving that thoughtful design can transform textile waste into something beautiful. Getting up close to these garments, you see how every material choice, texture and technique tells a story, reminding us that the biggest opportunity to reduce fashion’s environmental impact begins at the design stage. I can’t wait for people to discover these collections through the photoshoot and vote for their favourite,” says photoshoot photographer Paul Sunga.

The Finalists’ collections are transported from overseas to Hong Kong for the photoshoot and upcoming Grand Final using DHL Express’ GoGreen Plus service. This service helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a Book & Claim mechanism, where the environmental attributes of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are allocated to participating shipments. Made from alternative raw materials with a lower-emission energy profile, such as used cooking oil, waste and hydrogen, SAF can reduce the air transport shipments’ lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by around 80 percent compared with conventional jet fuel.

Find out who wins at the grand final show

The People’s Choice Award winner will be announced at the Redress Design Award 2026 Grand Final Fashion Show, along with the coveted first prize including a week-long trip to the UK to connect with leading voices in sustainable fashion through a visit to Simple Approach’s Manchester operations to gain insight into responsible fashion design, development, and manufacturing, and an intensive experience with the team at luxury womenswear brand Roksanda to work on an upcycling design project.

The Redress Design Award 2026 Grand Final Fashion Show is open to an exclusive in-person audience and will be livestreamed globally on 2 September 2026 (Wednesday), at 5pm HKT / 11am CET via Facebook and WeChat. Save the date here.

Alumni showcase at centrestage open to public

Redress will also present a total of six Redress Alumni brands as part of both the Grand Final Fashion Show, and at a showcase of Alumni brands at CENTRESTAGE in Hong Kong from 2–5 September 2026 (Wednesday–Saturday, 11am–7pm) supported by DHL. Industry professionals and the public alike are all welcome to come, meet designers, and see up close their sustainable, waste-reducing collections.

The Redress Design Award 2026 Photoshoot Credits

  • Photographer: Paul Sunga
  • Models: Pak Yan Wong (Self Management Hong Kong), Max Holmström (Primo Management Ltd)
  • Creative Stylist: Matthieu Amelin
  • Hair: Henry Tse for Davines
  • Make-up: Cindy Lai for MakeupBees
  • Production: Katt Bidegain, Charly Cheung, Nancy Liu
  • Studio: Soho House Hong Kong
  • Lighting: Ming Suet
  • BTS videographer: Jimmy Yu
  • BTS photographer: Nicky Chan


[1] European Commission: Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry and Directorate-General for Energy, Ecodesign your future – How ecodesign can help the environment by making products smarter, European Commission, 2012

Hashtag: #Redress

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

Redress

Redress () is a Hong Kong-based, Asia-focused environmental NGO with a mission to accelerate the change to a circular fashion industry by educating and empowering designers and consumers so as to reduce clothing’s negative environmental impacts.

The Redress Design Award

The Redress Design Award () is the world’s leading sustainable fashion design competition that educates and empowers emerging fashion designers about circular design techniques to reduce fashion’s negative environmental impacts. Organised by Hong Kong-based, Asia-focused environmental NGO Redress since 2011, the competition partners with academic institutions globally and attracts designer applicants from over 50 countries and regions to win prizes that connect them with global-leading fashion businesses to accelerate the change to a circular fashion industry.

Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) (), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024. CCIDA is a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectors with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. CCIDA’s strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.


Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organisers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.

Washington’s expanding economic offensive against Tehran is threatening to squeeze China’s access to discounted Iranian crude after war, blockades and maritime attacks sharply reduced flows through the Middle East’s main energy chokepoints. Chinese imports of Iranian crude moving through the Strait of Hormuz averaged about 530,000 barrels a day in July and August, down roughly 36 per cent from the first half of 2026 and 72 per […]

Matein Khalid I am so honoured that my peers, who are the creme de la creme of financial journalism in the global and GCC media have nominated me for Gulf Intelligence’s annual Energy Journalist of the year (Middle East) Award. Gulf Intelligence is a Dubai based energy market publisher and think tank, whose research is a must read for even ministers in OPEC and the world’s major […]

Arjavi Indraneesh Iraq’s proposal for a joint security council bringing Saudi Arabia and Iran into a formal mechanism is more than another attempt at regional mediation. It reflects Baghdad’s growing conviction that diplomatic contact between the two powers, while valuable, is no longer sufficient to prevent security crises from spilling across borders. National Security Adviser […]

The article Iraq tests new security formula for Saudi-Iran rivalry appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

From surging sports interest to last-minute purchase, Hong Kong users are eager for greater access to live entertainment experiences

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 August 2026 – With the excitement of football events and chart-topping concerts still reverberating across the city, Hong Kong is carrying the momentum into a vibrant summer of live entertainment. Capturing the pulse of the moment, MoreTickets, Asia’s No.1* live event ticket resale platform, releases Hong Kong’s top international and local live events[1] scheduled for the summer period (July and August), alongside consumer insights into platform users’ ticket-buying behavior.

MoreTickets_App Usage.png

Concerts Top Summer Searches as Sports Interest Surges

MoreTickets offers a wide range of live entertainment events worldwide, including popular concerts, sporting events, theatre performances and many more. Concerts continue to drive the summer entertainment landscape, capturing the majority of user interests. According to MoreTickets data1, the “Concert” category accounts for nearly two-thirds of all searches for live events or shows scheduled in July and August, reinforcing the city’s demand for major headline acts. Interest in “Sports” category is also rising, with searches up about 150% year on year, reflecting heightened appetite for major matches and global tournament moments this summer.

Top 10 Most–Searched Live Events Scheduled for July and August[1]:

Rank Event Name Category Location Show Date
1 AXA Presents: You & Mi Sammi Cheng Live at Hong Kong Kai Tak Stadium 2026 Concert Hong Kong July 10-12, 2026
2 MC Cheung E=MC² Concert 2026 Concert Hong Kong July 7-11, 2026
3 Hong Kong Football Festival (HKFF) 2026 Sports Hong Kong July 31-August 5, 2026
4 FIFA World Cup 2026 Sports Overseas June 11-July 19, 2026
5 CTF Life Title-sponsors: 2026 TMElive International Music Awards Award Ceremony Hong Kong August 22-23, 2026
6 NMIXX 1ST WORLD TOUR <EPISODE 1: ZERO FRONTIER> IN HONG KONG Concert Hong Kong July 25-26, 2026
7 The Music of Chan Fai Young: King of Pop Concert Macau July 24-26, 2026
8 Hins Cheung UNPLUGGED 2 Second Movement Concert Concert Macau July 24-26, 2026
9 LiSA – LiVE is Smile Always~15~ in Hong Kong Concert Hong Kong July 18, 2026
10 ILLIT LIVE ‘PRESS START’ in HONG KONG Concert Hong Kong August 22-23, 2026

Local Hong Kong artists and city-based performances remain highly searched, representing more than 70% of total searches, led by Sammi Cheng and MC Cheung, two renowned local singers who appeal spans generations. Fueled by global FIFA World Cup fever, the Hong Kong Football Festival emerged as a breakout hit, ranking the third among the top searches.

Hong Kong Live Event Goers Made Last-Minute Purchase, and Rise in Single-Ticket Purchases

In Hong Kong, MoreTickets users are deciding closer to the event date. MoreTickets purchase data[2] shows that nearly two out of five ticket transactions were made within seven days of the show (37%), signaling a more spontaneous approach to live entertainment planning. This last-minute pattern is strongest in event categories such as pop music concerts (55%) and fan meetings (40%). Among those last-minute buyers, 60% of the purchases opted for single-seat tickets, underscoring strong eagerness to attend live shows, supported by the platform’s real-time availability andtransparent pricing. MoreTickets helps users compare across the spectrum and secure the best fit with confidence.

Top 10 Events Purchased Within 7-Days of Event Date in May 2:

Rank Event Name Category Location Show Date
1 FAMA (Nongfu): The Funniest Concert in All Hong Kong Concert Hong Kong May 8-10, 2026
2 Sun Life Presents: SANDY LAM RESONANCE Concert Hong Kong May 16-17, 2026
3 Laufey: A Matter of Time Tour in Hong Kong Concert Hong Kong May 12, 2026
4 Hang Seng Insurance Presents: 25+ EEG Family Concert Concert Hong Kong May 3-4, 2026
5 b.balance Presents Live Band Concert|<3 symbol of love | MC Cheung x CONSTANCE x Gareth.T Concert Hong Kong May 16, 2026
6 K-SPARK in MACAU Music Festival Macau May 2, 2026
7 EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon in MACAU Concert Macau May 22-23, 2026
8 IVE WORLD TOUR <SHOW WHAT I AM> IN MACAO Concert Macau May 23-24, 2026
9 2025-26 TREASURE TOUR [PULSE ON] in Hong Kong Concert Hong Kong May 9, 2026
10 UFC Fight Night Macau and Road to UFC Sports Macau May 28-30, 2026

A Safer Way to Find Tickets with MoreTickets

As live entertainment demand becomes more immediate and fragmented, many consumers still struggle when trying to secure tickets through various channels. MoreTickets offers an alternative as a safer platform with real-time availability, transparent-priced listing, and a secure refund guarantee, making it a reliable choice for live-event goers. It operates with two core safeguards – vetted sellers supported by a verified ticket-sourcing network, and escrow-based payment held until successful event entry.

Trusted by millions of users, MoreTickets helps users secure ticket access safely, ensuring they can enjoy the live entertainment moments that matter.


[1] The analysis is based on H1 2026 search activity on MoreTickets platform, filtered to events scheduled in July and August 2026.

[2] The analysis is based on purchase activity during 1 to 31 May 2026 on MoreTickets platform.

Hashtag: #MoreTickets

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

About MoreTickets

MoreTickets is Asia’s No.1* live event ticket resale platform, dedicated to providing convenient, secure, and hassle-free ticketing services. The platform covers a wide range of live entertainment, including popular concerts, sporting events, theatre performances, and more. To date, MoreTickets is trusted by millions of users in Hong Kong and Macau, with its ticket sourcing network spanning major global live events across Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, as well as Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas.

By integrating comprehensive event information and ticket sources, MoreTickets helps users quickly search and compare options while offering end-to-end services, including secure payment, order protection, and post-sale support. The platform is committed to delivering a seamless, intuitive, and reliable ticketing experience, ensuring users never miss out on their most anticipated shows.

*Measured by GMV of live event ticket resale platform in Asia in 2025 (According to Frost & Sullivan’s research on the live event resale platform industry in Asia, as of May 2026

For more information, please visit .

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 August 2026 – A Vietnamese men’s grooming brand is preparing to enter the U.S. market with a business model that has been developed and scaled across Asia. The move will be an important test of East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop)’s ability to expand internationally, taking one of Asia’s leading men’s grooming chains into the world’s most competitive barbershop market.

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has established a presence in several overseas markets, including Thailand, China, Uzbekistan and Europe.
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has established a presence in several overseas markets, including Thailand, China, Uzbekistan and Europe.

From a Vietnamese barbershop to an international network of more than 130 locations

In the global men’s grooming industry, building an international brand requires barbershop chains to solve a fundamental challenge: How can they standardize services, train staff, maintain a consistent customer experience and scale their model without losing their identity?

This is the formula behind many of the world’s leading names in the hair and grooming industry, including Great Clips, Supercuts, Sport Clips Haircuts, TONI&GUY, QB House and Jawed Habib Hair & Beauty. These brands have transformed a service industry traditionally dependent on individual craftsmanship into scalable business systems.

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) is pursuing a similar path. Founded in Vietnam in 2018, the company has grown into a network of more than 130 locations, with over 1,000 barbers, while gradually expanding into international markets. At this scale, East West operates in a different league from independent barbershops.

The value of a barbershop chain with hundreds of locations lies in its ability to deliver a consistent experience across the entire network. This is also why East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has been ranked among the Top 10 large-scale grooming brands in the world.

But as it prepares to enter the U.S. market, the key question is whether this model can be successfully transferred and operated in a completely different market.

Beyond the haircut: When a barbershop becomes an experience

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) seeks to differentiate itself by developing an “Experiential Barbershop” concept, combining grooming with relaxation and entertainment.

From the moment customers walk through the door, they are greeted by a space filled with greenery, along with relaxation areas featuring pool tables, chess, a piano, a bar and bookshelves. The chain, which caters exclusively to men and boys, also features car-themed barber chairs and dedicated play areas for its younger customers.

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) — The ultimate destination for men to relax and unwind
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) — The ultimate destination for men to relax and unwind

Its services extend well beyond a haircut, including hair washing, ear cleaning, massage, hair restoration treatments, perming, coloring, nail care, shoe cleaning and phone sanitization.

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) aims to change the way customers perceive a barbershop. Rather than simply purchasing a grooming service, customers can take time to relax, look after themselves or bring their children along to a space designed around the overall experience.

As consumers increasingly value the overall experience alongside service quality, this approach reflects the changing dynamics of the men’s grooming market.

The United States: East West Barbershop’s next major test

The United States is no random choice. It represents the next step in East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop)’s international strategy, building on a business model that has already been tested in Vietnam and several overseas markets.

Mr. Nguyen Hoai Thanh, Chairman of Dong Tay Barbershop Vietnam Joint Stock Company, said: “We chose the United States not because it is the easiest market to enter, but because it is one of the most demanding and competitive barbershop markets in the world. If a model built in Vietnam can succeed in the U.S., it would be the clearest testament to East West Barbershop’s ability to take its brand and business model to the international stage.”

The U.S. is home to many major barbershop and salon brands and is one of the world’s most mature markets for franchising in the service sector.

Great Clips is a prime example. With thousands of salons across the United States and Canada, the brand demonstrates the scale a haircut business can achieve when its model is standardized and successfully replicated.

Supercuts, Sport Clips and many other chains have likewise spent years building strong brand recognition and extensive customer networks.

Against this backdrop, the Vietnamese brand must answer a fundamental question: Why would American consumers choose a brand from Vietnam over names they already know and recognize?

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop)’s answer is not simply to compete on price. Its goal is to “export” a business model that combines customer experience, workforce training, operating standards and franchising.

This requires the company to turn its operational experience into a transferable system while addressing the many differences between Vietnam and the United States.

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) identifies barber training, skills standardization and the ability to adapt to a new environment as key foundations of this process. International expansion also creates opportunities for Vietnamese barbers to gain exposure to international working environments.

East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has also linked its development with social initiatives, including free vocational training for young people, mobile haircut programs offering free services, and contributions to charitable activities. These efforts contribute to a distinctive brand story: a service business seeking to develop its brand, its profession and its community at the same time.

After nearly a decade of establishment and development, East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) is gradually proving that a business model built in Vietnam can be standardized, franchised, and compete on the same playing field as the major players in the global hair industry.

If successful in the U.S., East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop)’s story will go beyond being a Top 10 brand or a network of more than 130 locations. It will be the story of how a Vietnamese service business transformed capabilities built at home into a model capable of reaching the global stage.

Hashtag: #EastWestBarbershop #Dongtaybarbershop

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

East West Barbershop Vietnam Joint Stock Company

Established: 2018

Country: Vietnam

Number of locations: 130+ across Vietnam, Thailand, China, Uzbekistan and Hungary

Head Office: 23rd Floor, Landmark 81, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Email:

Website: dongtaybarbershop.com

Hotline: +84 1900 4737

Mobile: +84 901 602 902

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