Higher blood concentrations of tyrosine, an amino acid commonly sold in supplements marketed for focus and mental performance, have been associated with a shorter lifespan in men in a large UK Biobank analysis, although the study does not show that taking tyrosine supplements shortens life. Researchers examining 272,475 participants found that elevated circulating tyrosine was associated with increased all-cause mortality among men and, in genetic analyses designed […]
Hong Kong-based New Sparkle Roll International Group is considering selling its holding in Bang & Olufsen, potentially reshaping the ownership of the Danish luxury audio maker, people familiar with the matter said. The deliberations concern a stake of more than 10 per cent in the Copenhagen-listed company, making New Sparkle Roll one of Bang & Olufsen’s two largest disclosed shareholders. The process remains under consideration and no […]
The yen could surrender part of its sharp September advance and move back towards the upper 150s per dollar if expectations for faster Bank of Japan tightening and large-scale pension-fund repatriation fail to materialise, Barclays has warned.
The caution comes after the Japanese currency surged to its strongest levels since February, helped by mounting conviction that the central bank will lift its policy rate at its September 17-18 meeting and by speculation that major domestic investors will shift more money out of overseas assets. The dollar fell below 153 yen this week before recovering some ground.
Barclays’ assessment challenges the increasingly bullish market view that the yen has entered a durable appreciation phase. The bank said the latest move has been driven by powerful expectations rather than a fully established change in capital flows or monetary policy, leaving the currency vulnerable if either catalyst disappoints.
Markets have moved close to fully pricing a quarter-point Bank of Japan increase to 1.25 per cent this month. Expectations strengthened after policymakers signalled greater concern over inflation and currency weakness. Board member Kazuyuki Masu said on Thursday that the central bank could be forced to raise rates more rapidly if underlying inflation accelerates, while stressing that decisions would depend on incoming data.
A survey of economists published this week also showed a broad expectation that the Bank of Japan will raise rates to 1.25 per cent in September, with further tightening projected during 2027. That outlook has encouraged investors to unwind positions built around Japan’s comparatively low borrowing costs and has increased demand for the yen.
The second pillar of the rally is the prospect that Japanese pension funds and other large institutions will direct more capital into domestic bonds and equities. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said in July that the government wanted pension funds, including the Government Pension Investment Fund, to make substantially greater investments in Japanese financial assets.
That statement triggered speculation that the GPIF, one of the world’s largest pension managers, could reduce its foreign exposure. Its portfolio stood at about 320.4 trillion yen at the end of June, with 25.59 per cent in domestic bonds, 24.48 per cent in domestic equities, 24.60 per cent in foreign bonds and 25.33 per cent in foreign equities, official data show.
A major change in those allocations could generate significant yen buying because foreign assets would have to be sold or currency exposure reduced. Rising Japanese government bond yields have strengthened the argument for keeping more capital at home. The 10-year government bond yield has reached levels not seen for decades, increasing the relative attraction of domestic fixed-income holdings.
Fitch Ratings said this week that higher Japanese yields could encourage banks, insurers and other institutional investors to retain more funds domestically. It also expects Bank of Japan policy rates to rise faster than markets had previously assumed, though it has not projected a wholesale withdrawal from overseas markets.
Evidence of repatriation has nevertheless remained mixed. The GPIF’s June-quarter figures showed domestic bond holdings rising in value while their portfolio share remained close to the fund’s 25 per cent strategic target. Foreign assets still accounted for roughly half of the portfolio, underscoring the scale of adjustment that would be required for pension flows to become a sustained source of yen demand.
The currency’s rise has also been reinforced by the unwinding of yen-funded carry trades, in which investors borrow cheaply in Japan to purchase higher-yielding assets elsewhere. Cross-border yen borrowing reached about 360 trillion yen in March, making abrupt changes in exchange-rate expectations capable of producing sizeable market moves.
The yen had fallen to around 164 per dollar in July before authorities in Japan and the United States intervened jointly in the foreign-exchange market. Its subsequent recovery accelerated this month as traders attached greater weight to tighter monetary policy and domestic capital repatriation.
Canada has used its lead-nation role at Poland’s MSPO arms fair to push its defence industry more forcefully into European markets, pairing a large trade mission with a renewed defence agreement with Warsaw. Defence Minister David McGuinty and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu led Ottawa’s presence at the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, where Canada was designated the 2026 lead nation. The government said its mission […]
India is preparing to press BRICS partners to deepen the use of central bank digital currencies for cross-border payments while avoiding support for a single bloc-wide payments network that could be portrayed as an alternative to the dollar-dominated financial system.
The proposal is expected to feature at the BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, where India, as this year’s chair, is seeking agreement on ways to lower the cost and speed up the settlement of trade, tourism and remittance payments among member states.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said last month that BRICS members were examining links between their fast-payment systems and central bank digital currencies, with a payments task force considering several options. He stressed that discussions remained at an exploratory stage and that no model had been agreed.
India’s preference is for interoperable national systems rather than either a common currency or centrally controlled BRICS payments architecture. Officials have framed the initiative around efficiency, cheaper transactions and use of sovereign currencies, distancing it from proposals that could be interpreted as an organised campaign to displace the US dollar.
That distinction has become politically important as BRICS members debate how far financial cooperation should go. Russia and some other members have advocated stronger alternatives to Western-dominated payment channels, while India has repeatedly ruled out backing a common BRICS currency and has resisted presenting financial initiatives as a de-dollarisation project.
The RBI earlier recommended that linking BRICS members’ digital currencies be placed on the summit agenda. Such an arrangement could allow transactions to be settled directly through participating central banks or financial institutions, reducing dependence on multiple correspondent banks and potentially cutting foreign-exchange and processing costs.
Central bank digital currencies are electronic forms of sovereign money issued by monetary authorities. Unlike privately issued stablecoins, their value and settlement are backed by central banks. India has been testing the digital rupee since 2022 and has added features including programmability and offline functionality as the RBI studies how it can complement payment methods.
Malhotra has said cross-border payments offer scope for lower costs, particularly in retail transactions. He has also said the RBI will continue efforts to promote greater international use of the rupee and encourage settlement in local currencies where commercially viable.
India is pursuing payment connectivity on a parallel track through the Unified Payments Interface, its instant retail payments platform. Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week called for UPI to be connected with payment systems in more countries. UPI is already available or linked with services in several overseas markets, including Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
The BRICS discussions nevertheless extend beyond retail payment links. Officials have also been examining whether digital currencies issued by central banks can provide a secure settlement layer for transactions between member economies without requiring the creation of a shared currency or new supranational monetary authority.
Technical and policy obstacles remain. CBDC systems across BRICS countries are at different stages of development, and any cross-border arrangement would require agreement on interoperability, cybersecurity, data standards, foreign-exchange conversion, liquidity, governance and legal responsibility when transactions fail or disputes arise.
Trade imbalances pose another complication because a country receiving more of another member’s currency than it can use may be reluctant to accumulate balances. Policymakers have therefore also discussed mechanisms involving currency swaps and other settlement arrangements to deal with mismatches in bilateral trade.
The BRICS grouping now comprises 11 members, making consensus more difficult than when it consisted only of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The expanded membership includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, while Saudi Arabia has participated in BRICS meetings as its membership status has remained subject to clarification.
Consensys Software Inc. will split into two independently operated companies, turning its MetaMask business into a standalone consumer finance firm while creating a separate company for Ethereum protocols and institutional blockchain infrastructure. The existing legal entity will continue under the MetaMask name, with Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin serving as chairman and chief executive. Its protocols group and institutional infrastructure operations will move into a newly formed company […]
Artificial intelligence is widening the investment divide between the United States and Europe, with American companies absorbing the overwhelming majority of global AI venture capital while European firms continue to face shortages of large, late-stage funding. OECD data show US-based AI companies attracted about $194 billion in venture capital in 2025, roughly 75% of worldwide AI deal value. Companies across the EU27 drew $15.8 billion, or 6%, […]
Uber and Wayve have begun offering supervised autonomous rides to London passengers, deploying 15 electric vehicles in the first public robotaxi service of its kind in the UK. The service, launched on September 3, allows customers booking UberX, Uber Electric or Uber Comfort to be matched with a Ford Mustang Mach-E fitted with Wayve’s autonomous-driving system. A trained, Transport for London-licensed private hire driver remains behind the […]
The Philippines has finalised a $34.4 billion artificial intelligence infrastructure masterplan targeting a thirtyfold increase in AI-ready data centre capacity to 1.5 gigawatts by 2033, while two US-headquartered hyperscalers assess potential sites in Luzon.
The Philippines AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan 2026-2033, launched by the Department of Information and Communications Technology on September 8, sets an initial goal of deploying about 400 megawatts by 2030 from a baseline of roughly 50 MW. The programme is designed to combine public infrastructure spending with substantially larger private investment in computing capacity, power, connectivity, water systems and workforce development.
Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda said two unnamed US hyperscale cloud companies are conducting due diligence on locations within the Bataan-Clark and Batangas-Aurora corridors. Each is considering about 200 MW of capacity over five years, but officials have stressed that the figures represent projects under evaluation rather than committed investments.
Aguda said the corridor approach is intended to shorten a site-selection process that can take hyperscalers six to nine months by mapping available land, electricity, connectivity and other requirements before investors make final choices. He said the companies have so far focused on Luzon, and no timetable has been disclosed for investment decisions.
The masterplan estimates that $13.5 billion, or 39 per cent of total funding, would come from public sources and about $21 billion, or 61 per cent, from private capital. Government officials said roughly $18.2 billion is already linked to existing national programmes, mainly in connectivity and energy, leaving an additional requirement of about $16.3 billion. AI compute and data centres account for the largest component, estimated at about $14.6 billion. No project auction has started, and Aguda said the masterplan itself is not funded under the 2027 national budget, though enabling power and water infrastructure may already be covered by broader government programmes serving the grid.
Gemma Baysic, officer-in-charge director of the National ICT Planning, Policy and Standards Bureau, said the strategy is intended to enable the country to build, host, power and support a larger AI ecosystem rather than remain principally a consumer of the technology.
Energy supply is a central constraint. Department of Energy Undersecretary Maria Francesca Del Rosario said planners estimate the infrastructure could support about 152,000 graphics processing units. The department expects natural gas to meet immediate additional electricity needs while aiming for renewable sources, including solar and geothermal power, to provide 40 per cent of the energy used by AI infrastructure by 2033.
Officials said additional generation must be developed without diverting electricity from households. The government is also examining nuclear energy as a longer-term option under the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, although no nuclear capacity has been committed specifically to the data centre programme.
The roadmap identifies Clark-Bataan as the primary anchor for large-scale AI infrastructure, with Batangas-Aurora serving as a strategic international gateway. Subic and Calabarzon are designated supporting hubs, while Cebu, Iloilo, Davao and Cagayan de Oro are listed as future regional nodes as capacity expands beyond Luzon.
The plan also links infrastructure investment to labour-market objectives. It calls for reskilling 1.3 million workers in the information technology and business process management sector for AI-enabled services. Government projections envisage more than 500,000 AI-related jobs and a further 175,000 positions associated with AI infrastructure projects by 2033.
Those employment and economic estimates remain targets rather than assured outcomes. The masterplan projects that AI-linked productivity gains and new digital services could increase gross domestic product by 10 to 12 per cent by 2033, dependent on investment, infrastructure delivery, workforce adaptation and wider adoption.
The Asian Development Bank supported preparation of the masterplan. Winfried Wicklein, an ADB director general, described AI infrastructure as a national competitiveness and productivity priority, while emphasising that the launch marks the start of implementation rather than completion of the programme.
OpenAI has rolled out ChatGPT Images 2.5, adding sketch-based creation, image comments, templates and more reliable multi-turn editing while cutting generation latency by up to half compared with Images 2.0. The upgrade, announced on September 8, is being made available across ChatGPT, ChatGPT Work and Codex on desktop, mobile and web. OpenAI said the model produces sharper details, more natural lighting and richer textures, while preserving people, […]
Anthropic has disclosed a fourth cybersecurity testing incident in which a pre-release Claude model gained unauthorised access to a real third-party system, prompting the company to broaden its investigation and reassess earlier conclusions about the models’ behaviour. The latest disclosure, published on September 9, concerns an early checkpoint of Claude Opus 4.6 tested in January. Anthropic said the model was running a capture-the-flag exercise in an environment […]
Robinhood chief executive Vlad Tenev has rejected AMC Entertainment chief Adam Aron’s demand for control over stock tokens tied to AMC shares, arguing that public companies cannot veto third-party securities that reference their stock. Tenev said on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Wednesday that issuers retain control over the rights and obligations attached to shares they issue, but that authority does not extend to every financial instrument built […]
The rupee weakened 25 paise to 95.33 against the US dollar on Thursday as elevated crude oil prices increased concern over India’s import bill and kept demand for dollars firm.
The currency came under pressure after Brent crude held above $100 a barrel amid continuing tensions in West Asia, reinforcing worries about higher energy costs for a country that imports more than three-quarters of its crude oil requirements. The rupee had settled at 95.1050 against the dollar on Wednesday after touching 95.2250 during the session.
Dealers said demand for dollars from oil importers, corporate debt repayments and hedging activity added to the pressure. State-run banks were also seen supplying dollars during trading, an action market participants associated with efforts by the Reserve Bank of India to limit excessive volatility in the foreign-exchange market.
Brent crude traded around $101-$102 a barrel during Asian hours after crossing the $100 mark on Wednesday. The move followed renewed military tensions involving the United States and Iran and heightened concern about shipping and energy supply through the Gulf, including routes linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
Higher oil prices are particularly significant for the rupee because petroleum imports are paid largely in dollars. A sustained rise in crude can widen India’s trade deficit, increase demand for foreign currency from refiners and add to inflationary pressure, creating a less favourable backdrop for the local currency.
The rupee has lost roughly 0.7 per cent over the previous two sessions, with traders saying the effect of higher oil prices has become more visible after the currency had initially shown resilience. The movement has also coincided with caution across Asian markets and pressure on domestic equities.
Benchmark share indices were subdued on Thursday after suffering sharp losses in the previous session. The Sensex had dropped 813.35 points, or 1.08 per cent, on Wednesday to close at 74,764.23, while the Nifty 50 fell 203.60 points, or 0.86 per cent, to 23,431.50. The sell-off reflected concern that expensive crude could complicate the inflation and growth outlook.
The Reserve Bank has intervened intermittently in the currency market during periods of sharp rupee weakness. Traders said dollar sales by state-run banks helped the currency recover from Wednesday’s intraday low, although market participants expected central-bank support to restrain volatility rather than reverse pressure created by oil prices and capital flows.
Foreign-exchange dealers were also monitoring overseas portfolio movements. Expectations of capital outflows and demand linked to corporate payments have increased near-term dollar requirements, while the dollar index remained close to 99 against a basket of major currencies, offering only limited relief to emerging-market currencies.
The rise in crude has revived concern over India’s external balances. A higher oil import bill can feed into the current-account deficit if export earnings and other inflows do not offset the additional cost. It can also increase costs for transport, manufacturing and other energy-intensive sectors, depending on the extent to which international prices are passed through domestically.
Domestic fuel prices have so far remained comparatively insulated from the latest jump in international crude, but refiners and oil-marketing companies face greater pressure when global prices rise sharply while retail prices are unchanged. That gap can affect corporate margins and, if sustained, increase the broader fiscal and inflationary policy challenge.
Bond and equity markets are also watching the oil move for its implications for monetary policy. Higher imported energy costs can make inflation management more difficult, while weaker risk appetite may intensify foreign portfolio selling. Traders said those factors could keep the rupee volatile even if the central bank continues to provide dollar liquidity during periods of disorderly movement.
Veegaland Developers has secured ₹63 crore from anchor investors ahead of its ₹210 crore initial public offering, giving the Kerala-focused property developer an institutional base before public bidding opened on Thursday.
The company allotted 45 lakh equity shares to anchor investors on September 9 at ₹140 apiece, the top end of the IPO price band. The allocation represented 30 per cent of the total 1.5 crore shares offered in the issue.
Public subscription opened on September 10 and will close on September 15. The price band has been set at ₹130 to ₹140 a share, with investors required to bid for a minimum lot of 107 shares and in multiples of 107 thereafter. At the upper end of the band, the minimum retail application amounts to ₹14,980.
The IPO is entirely a fresh issue of shares, with no offer-for-sale component. At the ceiling price, the issue will raise up to ₹210 crore. The company’s shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE, with the listing scheduled for September 18, subject to completion of the allotment process.
EQ India Fund received the largest share of the anchor allocation, taking about 10.71 lakh shares worth nearly ₹15 crore. Swyom India Alpha Fund was allotted about 7.14 lakh shares valued at ₹10 crore, while Tiger Strategies Fund-I took roughly 5.72 lakh shares for about ₹8 crore.
Other anchor participants included Taurus Mutual Fund schemes, Innovative Vision Fund, Visionary Value Fund, VBCUBE Ventures Trust, CP Capital and Navbharat Investment Trust. The anchor book comprised nine institutional investors across 10 fund accounts, reflecting the participation of more than one scheme under a single fund house.
Veegaland plans to deploy ₹119.82 crore of the net proceeds towards part-financing expenditure on its ongoing real estate projects. The remaining proceeds are earmarked for unidentified land acquisitions and general corporate purposes, according to the offer documents.
For the year ended March 2026, Veegaland reported total income of ₹254.16 crore, up from ₹196.22 crore a year earlier, while profit after tax rose to ₹26.61 crore from ₹20.43 crore. Revenue from operations was ₹250.98 crore and EBITDA stood at ₹42.64 crore. The company reported, in its restated accounts, assets of ₹483.81 crore and borrowings of ₹85.59 crore at the end of the financial year.
The company had earlier proposed a larger fresh issue of up to ₹250 crore in its draft prospectus before reducing the size to ₹210 crore in the final offer structure. The Securities and Exchange Board of India issued its final observation on the proposed public issue on June 1, and the red herring prospectus was filed on August 31.
Veegaland develops residential apartment projects across Kerala under the Veegaland Homes brand. Its portfolio spans mid-premium, premium, ultra-premium, luxe and ultra-luxury residential categories, with projects concentrated in key urban markets in the state.
As of June 2026, the developer had completed 10 projects with an aggregate saleable area of about 11.05 lakh square feet. It also had 12 ongoing projects and three upcoming developments, according to information disclosed for the issue.
The IPO timetable provides for the basis of allotment to be finalised on September 16. Refunds for unsuccessful bidders are expected to be initiated on September 17, with shares scheduled to be credited to successful investors’ demat accounts the same day.
The offer reserves 30 per cent of the total issue for anchor investors. Of the remaining shares, 20 per cent is allocated to qualified institutional buyers, 15 per cent to non-institutional investors and 35 per cent to retail individual investors, under the stated reservation structure.
The company’s issue documents identify Cumulative Capital as the book-running lead manager, while MUFG Intime India is the registrar. The face value of each equity share is ₹10, making the floor price 13 times face value and the cap price 14 times face value.
Coin Center research director Laz Pieper has called for a shift away from identity-verification systems that routinely collect and retain full copies of personal documents, arguing that privacy-preserving technology could reduce the large stores of sensitive data now targeted by cybercriminals. The warning follows an FBI investigation into claims that a dark-web service offered access to more than 153 million US and Canadian driver’s-licence records, along with […]
Paris Saint-Germain began their Champions League title defence with a 6-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, powered by a Ferran Torres hat-trick and two goals from Ousmane Dembélé. The French side, seeking a third successive European crown, took control before the interval and never allowed the Slovak champions to settle. Dembélé struck twice inside six first-half minutes before Torres scored his […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Municipality has signed a cooperation agreement with Singapore’s BCA International after a high-level visit focused on modern building methods, green construction, digital technologies and regulatory practices that could support Dubai’s expanding built environment. The delegation, led by Director-General Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, concluded the official visit after meetings with government bodies, construction specialists and technology companies, alongside site inspections examining how Singapore […]
Iraq plans to lift pipeline oil exports through Syria and Türkiye’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan to more than one million barrels a day, as Baghdad accelerates efforts to diversify crude shipments away from vulnerable Gulf routes. Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair said Iraq was exporting about three million barrels per day in September and remained within its OPEC production ceiling, with current production capacity not exceeding 4.2 […]
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board has reported Iran to the UN Security Council over nuclear safeguards failures, marking the first such referral in two decades and widening the diplomatic confrontation between Tehran and Western governments. The 35-member Board of Governors adopted the resolution on Wednesday by 23 votes to three, with eight abstentions. China, Russia and Niger voted against the measure, while one member did not […]
Cybercriminals are combining fake Google CAPTCHA prompts, WebDAV-hosted DLLs, malicious Cloudflare Workers and BNB Smart Chain contracts in a multi-stage operation that deploys the Amatera information stealer and other payloads, according to new research from Cisco Talos. The investigation began after Talos identified unusual endpoint activity at a Ukrainian government organisation in April 2026. A remote file disguised as “verification. google” was executed from a WebDAV path […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Schools across the UAE have tightened student appearance, clothing and food rules for the 2026-27 academic year, barring certain shaved hairstyles, hoodies and energy drinks on campus. Circulars sent by a number of public and private schools to pupils and parents set out restrictions covering grooming, uniform standards and food brought onto school premises. The rules apply from the time students enter the […]
Growth reflects Prudential’s continued investment in adviser development and career progression
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 September 2026 – Prudential plc (“Prudential”) has retained its No. 2 position among multinational companies in the 2026 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) rankings. First-time qualifiers increased 14 per cent year-on-year, reflecting continued momentum in Prudential’s agency business and the impact of its strategy to build a more professional and productive agency force across Asia and Africa.
This momentum is reflected across Prudential’s markets:
Indonesia has held the No. 1 in-country ranking for more than a decade and continues to have the largest number of MDRT members in the market.
Hong Kong climbed three places in MDRT rankings to No. 3 globally and No. 2 in-country, with the second-highest number of Top of Table (TOT) and Court of Table (COT) qualifiers.
Singapore ranked No. 1 in-country for TOT qualifiers, with an 83.8 per cent MDRT member retention rate, and sits in the global top three. It also led the 2026 MDRT Culture of Excellence Awards, with 29 Agency Leader award recipients from a total of 68 winners worldwide.
In Africa, Prudential remains the only insurer represented in the MDRT Global Top 100 company rankings in the last three years, with Nigeria and Ghana each ranked No. 1 in-country.
In the Chinese Mainland, Prudential grew MDRT qualifiers 40 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2026.
Prudential’s base of quality producers is driving year-on-year double-digit growth in new business profit per MDRT agent, as reported in its 2026 Half Year Results.
Pankaj Banerjee, Group Chief Agency Officer, Prudential plc, said: “Our agency transformation is gathering pace, and our direction is clear: we are building a higher-quality, more professional and more productive agency force, equipped to deliver the trusted advice our customers increasingly need, at every stage of their lives. The continued growth in first-time MDRT qualifiers reflects the progress we are making and the commitment of our advisers, agency leaders and colleagues to raising professional standards across the industry.”
As customer needs become more complex, particularly in health, protection and wealth planning, the demand for trusted, high-quality advice is rising. For Prudential, upholding agency excellence is about providing advisers access to learning, role models, communities and opportunities that help them progress and deliver better outcomes for customers.
This commitment is reflected in Prudential’s long-standing partnership with MDRT, which gives advisers access to a global professional community, learning opportunities and standards of excellence. At every stage of the adviser journey, Prudential continues to invest in attracting high-quality talent, strengthening capabilities and productivity. This includes equipping advisers with deeper wealth planning capabilities, insights and AI-enabled tools to meet evolving customer needs and drive sustained MDRT growth.
To accelerate this progress, Prudential recently established the MDRT Advisory Council, a Group-wide platform bringing together leading producers in 11 agency markets to share best practices, accelerate adviser growth and support advisers in their professional progression across the force.
Prudential’s commitment to adviser development was also reflected at the 2026 MDRT Global Conference in Sydney, where it was recognised as MDRT Premier Sponsor and joined by 400 of its advisers and agency leaders from across different markets.
As MDRT approaches its 100th anniversary, Prudential looks forward to continuing its partnership with MDRT with a focus on expanding development pathways, raising professional standards, and supporting the next generation of advisers to achieve their full potential.
Hashtag: #Prudentialplc
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Prudential plc
Prudential provides life and health insurance and asset management in Greater China, ASEAN, India and Africa. Prudential’s mission is to be the most trusted partner and protector for this generation and generations to come, by providing simple and accessible financial and health solutions. The business has dual primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (HKEX: 2378) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: PRU). It also has a secondary listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX: K6S) and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: PUK) in the form of American Depositary Receipts. It is a constituent of the Hang Seng Composite Index and is also included for trading in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme and the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme.
Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Several US combat aircraft were damaged when Iranian ballistic missiles struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, with about eight F-15 fighters sustaining light damage and returning to service, according to people familiar with the damage assessment. An A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was hit severely and left with major wing damage, the assessment indicated. The extent of repairs required for that aircraft […]
Snow Suen, 6 Wing, Tracy Chu and Karen Cheng join forces to support students
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 September 2026 – As the new school year begins, children are meeting new teachers, making new friends and taking on new challenges. They may feel excited about what lies ahead, but they may also experience nervousness and uncertainty. Save the Children Hong Kong has launched Every Moment Matters, a public awareness campaign on children’s mental health. The campaign brings together Children’s Mental Wellness Ambassador Snow Suen, celebrities 6 Wing, Tracy Chu, Karen Cheng and a group of child stars in a series of back-to-school cheer-up videos. The celebrity parents also share their parenting experiences to encourage the community to pay closer attention to children’s emotional needs during times of change, adjustment and growth.
Every Moment Matters brings together Children’s Mental Wellness Ambassador Snow Suen, celebrities 6 Wing, Tracy Chu, and Karen Cheng to support students and share tips for navigating the return to school
Every Moment Matters reminds the public that emotional distress does not have a single, fixed appearance, and children may not always express their struggles in words. A quiet response, avoiding eye contact, or a closed door may point to pressure and distress that a child does not yet know how to communicate. With the campaign line “Before the moment is gone, start with a knock”, the campaign calls on parents, caregivers and the wider community to pay closer attention to children’s emotional needs. A simple knock represents respect, companionship and a readiness to listen. It can also create a moment in which a child feels safe enough to express themselves.
Celebrities join to help children navigate a new school year
Every Moment Matters brings together Snow Suen, 6 Wing, Tracy Chu, Karen Cheng and a group of child stars in the Starting the School Year Together video series. In addition to offering encouragement to students, the celebrity parents share practical ways to support children as they return to school.
Preparing for school begins with building a sense of security
A new school year may bring new teachers, classmates, school environments and more challenging schoolwork. Children may feel excited about these changes, but nervousness and uncertainty may also arise. Instead of repeatedly reminding children about the challenges ahead, parents can help them understand what to expect, give them time to adjust and offer positive yet practical support.
Children’s Mental Wellness Ambassador Snow Suen shared that when her younger child started kindergarten, she explained in advance that there would be teachers and classmates at school. She also reassured her child that she would be there to pick him up at the end of each school day, helping him develop a greater sense of security.
Actress Tracy Chu’s son also began pre-nursery at a new school. Before the term started, she took him to the area surrounding the school so that he could become familiar with the new environment and feel less unfamiliar or afraid on his first day.
Singer 6 Wing believes that ordering textbooks and completing summer homework are important back-to-school preparations, but helping children approach new challenges with a positive mindset matters even more. He said, “For a child, returning to school may mean entering a completely new environment. Parents can first give children time to experience the new environment and adjust at their own pace. Rather than focusing only on how difficult the new school year will be or how hard they must work, we can let them take things one step at a time.”
Begin with what matters to the child
When children return home from school, parents may be eager to ask what they have learnt or whether they are keeping up with their work. However, the celebrity parents featured in the videos believe that conversations can begin with the school experiences and feelings that matter most to the child.
Snow Suen shared that she usually begins by asking her children: “How was your day?”, “Did you have fun?” or “Did anything new or interesting happen today?” She noted that adults also want someone to care about how they feel after a day at work, and children need the same kind of attention. She also encourages parents to share their own experiences and feelings from the day, making communication a two-way exchange rather than a series of questions directed at the child. When daily sharing becomes a habit, children may become more willing to talk not only about interesting things that happen at school, but also about experiences that have made them unhappy. Snow Suen said, “Young children may not yet have enough experience to manage their emotions, so they need parents to talk with them and show that they care. Most importantly, children should know that, whatever happens, someone will support them and their parents will be there for them.”
6 Wing shared that when his children return home after the first day of school, he asks whether they were happy, whether school was fun and whether they made any new friends. He believes parents can first ask how children are adapting to the new school environment and social relationships, instead of immediately asking whether they are keeping up with the curriculum. Radio presenter Karen Cheng likewise believes that parents can begin with the matters children care about most. These might include who their class teacher is, which classmate sits beside them, and what they did with their friends during recess. Specific questions can help children recall and share their experiences, making it easier for the conversation to continue.
Karen Cheng believes parents can approach conversations from their child’s perspective by asking first about the people and experiences that matter most to them.
Adults may not be able to solve every problem a child encounters immediately, but they can pause, understand and respond to the child’s emotional needs in that moment. Continued presence and attentive listening can help children feel that they are not facing challenges alone and support them in developing a stronger sense of security.
Expert insights and thematic videos help caregivers respond to children’s mental health needs
Save the Children Hong Kong is rolling out a series of public education content and support resources on the campaign website. These include celebrity sharing, expert insights, public education videos and the thematic short film No Regrets. Together, these resources help parents, caregivers, and the public better understand the emotional distress children may experience, as well as how adults can respond.
Every Moment Matters is launching a series of public education content and support resources through the campaign website.
The thematic short film No Regrets, starring child actor Ariel So from Warriors of Future, calls on parents and caregivers to make the most of every opportunity to care for children’s emotional needs.
Kalina Tsang, CEO of Save the Children Hong Kong, said, “Every child deserves to be heard, and every adult has an important role to play. Adults may not be able to solve every problem a child faces immediately, but every seemingly ordinary moment can become an opportunity to make a difference.” She added, “Parents and caregivers can begin with everyday observation, patient presence and attentive listening. When a child is not yet ready to express themselves, adults can first offer respect and space. By noticing more and missing fewer moments, we have a greater chance of responding to children’s needs early.”
Save the Children Hong Kong calls on parents, caregivers, schools, child-facing organisations and the wider community to begin from this moment and continue paying attention to children’s emotional needs. Every Moment Matters will raise public awareness of children’s mental health in phases. The first phase focuses on recognising the signs, reminding adults that a child’s struggles may not always be visible. The campaign will then introduce a series of activities encouraging adults to create safe opportunities and spaces for children to express themselves, and to make respect and listening part of everyday family and community life: smallest knock, biggest talk.
Notes to Editors
Public education and support resources, including:
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Save the Children Hong Kong
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Hong Kong and around the world, we do whatever it takes – every day and in times of crisis – so children can fulfil their rights to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. With over 100 years of expertise, we are the world’s first and leading independent children’s organisation – transforming lives and future.
Established in 2009, Save the Children Hong Kong is part of the global movement which operates in around 100 countries. We work with children, families, schools, communities and our supporters to deliver lasting change for children in Hong Kong and around the world.
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