Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Turkish Airlines has finalised an agreement with Boeing for up to 150 737 MAX aircraft, securing 100 firm 737-8 orders and options for 50 more jets in its largest single-aisle purchase from the US manufacturer. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, concludes negotiations that began in 2025 and gives the carrier substitution rights allowing some of the additional aircraft to be converted to the […]
The United States and China have agreed to extend their trade truce by two months, keeping the arrangement in place until January 10 as President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington for a state visit and a new round of talks. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the extension after meeting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Washington on Wednesday, saying the extra time […]
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would not guarantee unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz while US sanctions and a naval blockade remain in force, hardening Iran’s position as diplomatic contacts with Washington resume in New York. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Pezeshkian said Iran could not accept a system in which other countries benefited from the strategic waterway while Tehran itself faced […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Microsoft plans to invest more than $10 billion across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait by 2030, extending its cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure while placing digital resilience at the centre of its Gulf strategy. The spending programme will cover continued infrastructure development and a broader expansion of Microsoft’s operations across the four countries, Vice Chair and President Brad Smith […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 September 2026 – Following the International Day of Charity on September 5 and ahead of World Tourism Day on September 27, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) announced a donation of HK$1.8 million to Po Leung Kuk to jointly nurture youth development in dance and performing arts in Hong Kong.
Through the initiative, more young people with a passion for dance will have opportunities to develop their talent and pursue their dreams, while injecting new momentum into Hong Kong’s cultural tourism development.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment of HKDL and Po Leung Kuk to support youth development. The donation will support dance training program and enhance training facilities, creating more opportunities for young people to access professional training, unlock their potential, build confidence, and pursue their dreams through performing arts.
A Stage Where Young Dreams Take Flight
Hong Kong Disneyland’s Dance-Off program has provided young local dancers with a professional platform to perform and inspire one another. Rockz Elements, trained by Po Leung Kuk Fong Shu Fook Tong Children and Youth Development Centre, won the championship at last year’s “Hong Kong Disneyland Dance-Off Party” held on the Tomorrowland stage at Hong Kong Disneyland. The team’s success is a testament to what can happen when dreams meet opportunity.
From a community dance studio to the spotlight of a Hong Kong Disneyland stage, the team showcased its talent and passion before earning an invitation to perform at the Hong Kong Coliseum, bringing its dreams to an even bigger stage.
Member of Rockz Elements, River said, “The ‘Hong Kong Disneyland Dance-Off Party’ is not just a competition, but also a platform where we can be seen, challenge ourselves and pursue our dreams. Having the opportunity to perform on a professional stage reinforced my belief that dreams really can come true with hard work and perseverance. I hope this will inspire more young people with a passion for dance to pursue their dreams.”
Chris, tutor of Rockz Elements and project coordinator of Po Leung Kuk Fong Shu Fook Tong Children and Youth Development Centre, said, “To many young people, the most important thing is not the competition result itself, but having someone who believes in them and gives them an opportunity to shine.
Hong Kong Disneyland has provided young dancers with an encouraging and inspiring platform, helping them build confidence, broaden their horizons, and explore new pathways for their future. These experiences play an important role in their growth and development.”
Cultivating Talent Together, Empowering More Dreams
Anita Lai, vice president of Communications and Public Affairs, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, said, “Every young person deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams and shine. As Hong Kong’s leading tourism and entertainment brand, HKDL believes that culture, creativity and talent are powerful drivers of the city’s continuous development.
We are delighted to collaborate with Po Leung Kuk, leveraging HKDL’s unique stage, to support more young people to unleash their potential and pursue their dreams. When their stories are seen and their talents are cultivated, we are not only creating a brighter future for them, but also injecting more energy and possibilities into Hong Kong’s cultural landscape.”
Dr. Jenny Tam, chairman of Po Leung Kuk said: ” Po Leung Kuk and Hong Kong Disneyland share a common vision and a strong belief that every young person has limitless potential, and we are committed to creating more opportunities for youth to grow and thrive. We are sincerely grateful for Hong Kong Disneyland’s support, which not only provides valuable resources, but also leverages its inspiring stage to provide an opportunity for more young people to showcase their talents, build confidence, and pursue their dreams with courage.”
Helping More Dreams Be Seen
The donation will support Po Leung Kuk’s youth dance training program and enhance training facilities, providing an enhanced learning environment for youth to develop their talents.
Looking forward, HKDL will continue to join hands with Po Leung Kuk to foster youth development. HKDL will also continue to host the beloved “Hong Kong Disneyland Dance-Off Program”, providing a professional platform for young dancers to showcase their talents, inspire one another, and thrive through arts and culture.
Details about the next “Hong Kong Disneyland Dance-Off Program” will be announced later. Aspiring dancers can look forward to the future program to further develop their talents.
Hashtag: #HongKongDisneyland
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 September 2026 – The Hongkong Land Foundation (“the Foundation”) today announced the launch of “The Central Spark Series” with three winning projects selected from its “AI for Good” Hackathon. Together with its other ongoing initiatives, these projects form part of Hongkong Land’s HK$14 million commitment over the next two years to benefit more than 38,000 people across Hong Kong. The Central Spark Series also aligns with the HKSAR Government’s 2026 Policy Address, supporting its strategic vision for the renewal of Central as well as its agenda to strengthen people’s livelihood and foster a more inclusive society.
The Central Spark Series’ official launch ceremony brought together leaders from across government and the public sector, academia, social enterprise, and commerce. Officiating and attending guests demonstrating this cross-sector collaboration included Mr Ho Kai Ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare; Ms Grace Chan Man-yee, Member of the 8th Legislative Council (Social Welfare Functional Constituency); Ms Jeanne Cheng, JP, District Officer (Central and Western District); Mr Ivan Ho, Harbourfront Commission Chairman; Ms Sam Lam, Interim Director of the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Prof Esterina Nervino, Associate Director of Global Governance & Innovation for a Shared Future at City University of Hong Kong; and Prof Howard Ling, Chief Consultant of Impact Incubator.
In March 2026, the Foundation organised the “AI for Good” Hackathon, a collaborative social innovation programme developed in partnership with The Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Ten NGOs and educational institutions pitched proposals to a panel of industry and community leaders. Three winning projects were selected: Central Connect by the Hong Kong Design Institute, Central as Canvas by Caritas Hong Kong, and Central POP! by the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation. These three projects form the foundation of The Central Spark Series, with further details outlined in the appendix.
The Central Spark Series leverages Hongkong Land’s Central portfolio in the heart of Hong Kong as a dynamic platform for learning, public participation and community engagement. By bringing young people, NGOs, tenants, employees and the wider public into the district, it translates the Foundation’s People, Place and Culture pillars into visible, on-the-ground experiences. Together, these projects demonstrate how different sectors can collaborate to build longer-term partnerships and create measurable social impact by creating more inclusive and resilient communities. They also nurture the next generation in art and culture, heritage and creativity, building a talent pipeline for Hong Kong’s creative industries.
Beyond Hong Kong, the Foundation extends its reach into other communities where Hongkong Land operates. The Foundation recently backed the Cultural Legacy Innovation Challenge in Beijing, supporting local young people to reimagine the travel route along the Beijing Central Axis. The project promotes the city’s heritage and history to residents and visitors from around the world. In addition to monetary support, Hongkong Land volunteers also give back to the community by offering their time and effort. This year, volunteers across Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Singapore and South Asia have contributed more than 3,000 hours to various projects.
Michael T. Smith, Group Chief Executive of Hongkong Land, and Director of Hongkong Land Foundation, said “Businesses thrive only when their communities flourish. Through our Hongkong Land Foundation, we are committed to unlocking upward social mobility for the next generation through meaningful mentorship, networks, and opportunities. Central, Hong Kong has long stood as the preeminent financial district. Through the Central Spark Series, we will bring together non-profit, academia, talent, commercial partners, tenants, and the wider community to broaden that identity to help make it a vibrant hub for creativity, collaboration, and community.”
Hongkong Land has a longstanding commitment to corporate social responsibility. Since its establishment in November 2020, the Foundation (formerly Hongkong Land HOME FUND) has committed more than HK$133 million in community initiatives benefiting more than 760,000 people. Working alongside its partners over the long term, Hongkong Land remains committed to creating lasting impact for the communities of Hong Kong and beyond.
Appendix: Winning projects of the Central Spark Series
| Project | Details |
| Central Connect by the Hong Kong Design Institute | The project will activate Central as a living classroom, empowering the next generation to reimagine its rich history as a visionary blueprint for the future.
Over 2,400 students will come to Central to get involved in learning activities such as urban sketching, film making and learning the history of the CBD. |
| Central as Canvas by Caritas Hong Kong | This project supports 300 young people with special needs to build confidence and practical art skills through guided art training and collaboration with local artists, tenants, Basehall and tramplus. Their creative work will be transformed into a moving tram gallery, bringing inclusive art into Central and enabling the wider public to experience the district’s heritage and diverse community talent. |
| Central POP! by the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation | The project engages around 1,600 young people, working alongside tenants and local artists to activate Hongkong Land’s Central portfolio through art education, exhibitions, art stations, guided tours and live performances. Inspired by Central’s history, architecture and public spaces, the project will create accessible cultural experiences for tenants, visitors and the wider community, enriching daily life in the district while nurturing young creative talent. |
Hashtag: #HongkongLand
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hongkong Land is a major listed property development, investment and management group. It focuses on developing, owning and managing ultra-premium mixed-use real estate in Asian gateway cities, featuring Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products. With over US$50 billion in assets under management, Hongkong Land’s premium and ultra-premium mixed-use real estate footprint spans over 1.82 million sq. m. lettable area in operation and 1.57 million sq. m. lettable area under development, with flagship mixed-use projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Its properties hold industry leading green building certifications and attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands. Established in 1889, Hongkong Land takes a long-term view, investing significantly alongside its capital partners and concentrating its portfolio where it can create the most value for tenants, customers and investors. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Singapore and Bermuda. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.
The Hongkong Land Foundation was established in November 2020 (formerly the Hongkong Land HOME FUND) to underscore our long-term commitment to liveable cities and vibrant communities. Building on our legacy of innovation, placemaking, and sustainability, the Foundation focuses on three interconnected pillars: People, Place, and Culture. Through these pillars, we drive social engagement and community development, acting as a catalyst for meaningful social impact. We address long-term socio-economic challenges and enrich lives across the communities we serve – creating lasting positive change, enhancing well-being, and fostering shared prosperity and resilience wherever Hongkong Land operates.
SoftBank Group has begun marketing more than $11 billion of dollar and euro bonds at record prospective yields for comparable company maturities, as Masayoshi Son’s investment group turns again to debt markets to finance its expanding artificial intelligence commitments. The Tokyo-based group is seeking $10 billion through three dollar tranches and €1 billion through two euro tranches. Price discussions for the dollar bonds point to yields of […]
HUALIEN, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 September 2026 – Hualien, a destination on Taiwan’s east coast known internationally for its mountain and ocean scenery, will host its major annual music event, the 2026 Hualien Moon-Met Indigenous Voices Concert, on September 26 and 27. This year’s performers include NIEL, lead vocalist of the popular Korean boy band TEEN TOP; Aisa Senda, a Ryukyuan singer from Okinawa, Japan; Sheron Tan, an Indigenous singer from Sabah, Malaysia; and William So, Hong Kong’s “King of Love Songs.” Spanning K-pop, Austronesian culture and Mandopop, the concert will be held at Hualien’s well-known Dongdamen Square and reflects Hualien’s long-standing openness to diverse cultures.
A Gift from Nature: Hualien’s Mountains, Coastline and Indigenous Culture
With the towering gorges of Taroko National Park, the blue Pacific coastline and a pleasant climate throughout the year, Hualien has long been a first choice for international travelers exploring Taiwan’s natural scenery. In addition to its natural landscapes, Hualien has a rich Taiwanese Indigenous cultural heritage. This year’s concert is combined with an Indigenous-themed market, allowing visitors from abroad to explore the mountains, coastline and Indigenous communities during the day, then walk in the moonlight in the evening, sample local night market food and try Indigenous handicrafts, with music and nature as the backdrop.
A Full Second Half of the Year: A Different Theme Each Month
As autumn sets in, Hualien is presenting a series of international themed events in the second half of the year, inviting travelers from around the world to experience Hualien in every season:
An Ideal Destination for International Travelers: Countdown Celebrations and Relaxing Travel
In addition to well-developed tourism facilities and abundant natural and cultural resources, Hualien offers subsidy programs specifically for international travelers, and its range of themed events in the second half of the year provides an excellent opportunity to experience Taiwanese culture in depth. The New Year’s Eve celebration in December is particularly well suited to travelers planning a year-end holiday abroad, offering the chance to welcome the new year amid Hualien’s mountain and ocean scenery and festive atmosphere.
Hualien warmly invites travelers from around the world to take advantage of the peak travel season in the second half of the year and plan a trip to experience its natural scenery, rich culture and international performances.
EVENT INFORMATION
Hashtag: #Hualien #MoonMetIndigenousVoicesConcert #SustainableTourism
https://hualien.travel/zh-tw/events/2026/?utm_source=geminihttps://reurl.cc/7YnRdbhttps://concert.hl.gov.tw/https://iapc.hl.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=30681&sms=24976&s=205755
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
A fresh outage on the C2C submarine cable system is contributing to packet loss and higher latency across parts of Asia, website security provider Sucuri said on Tuesday. Sucuri identified the disruption at 15:00 UTC on September 22, saying multiple simultaneous subsea cable outages were reducing backbone capacity available to its upstream network provider. Traffic was being rerouted over remaining paths, creating intermittent packet loss, slower responses […]
By Ashok Nilakakntan Ayers WASHINGTON: The confrontation between Donald Trump and the American press has entered a new phase. What began on Friday as a presidential declaration against three news organizations — CNN, MS NOW and Politico — became a physical ban on Saturday, when reporters from the three organizations were stopped at the White […]
The article Trump’s White House Media Ban: Fourth Estate Under Attack In USA appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
By Ashok Nilakantan Ayers NEW YORK: After months of courtroom confrontation, political pressure, Hollywood lobbying and increasingly tense negotiations, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery have finally found a settlement with California and 11 other states that removes the biggest obstacle to their proposed $110 billion merger. It is not quite the closing of the […]
The article Paramount-Warner: Hollywood’s $110 Billion Mega Merger appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 September 2026 – The Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy (HKAWL) brought the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival to Hong Kong for the first time as Regional Lead Partner, and recognised three winning entries at the inaugural Hong Kong regional awards. The festival culminated in a Screening and Award Ceremony on 21 September 2026 at The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex | The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong, and was supported by Lee Hysan Foundation as Strategic Partner and Sponsor.
Guided by the theme “Community Empowerment” and the tagline “Belonging, Resilience, and Thriving”, participating filmmakers, students and community changemakers shared stories that explored inclusion, connection and resilience. The Festival encourages creators and community organisations to document community stories through micro films, fostering dialogue and greater social participation.
Award-Winning Films Spotlight Inclusion, Resilience and Community Connection
The three winning entries reflected these aspirations through stories of cross-cultural friendship, ageing with purpose and disability inclusion, offering perspectives on experiences that are often overlooked in everyday conversations.
A chance encounter lies at the heart of Between the Unsaid, the winner of the Best Micro Film Award, as an unexpected friendship blossoms between a Pakistani tailor and a local florist. Directed by Qasim Khan and produced by Kaneeta Arshad, the Hong Kong drama shows how kindness can cross linguistic and cultural boundaries, bringing comfort amid grief and isolation.
The Story Hunter, winner of the Best AI Film Award, follows an 80-year-old Hong Kong resident who finds renewed purpose by sharing lived experiences. Created by Yimin Chen and Ethan Wong, the drama combines human-written script with AI-assisted production to amplify older adults’ voices and value as storytellers, mentors and active contributors to the community.
Recipient of the Best Project Award, The Superpower of Little Hands challenges perceptions of congenital limb differences through stories co-created by children and parents from the Hand in Hand Association. The documentary shows how peer support, inclusion and understanding can build confidence, belonging and ambition.
Empowering Communities Beyond the Awards
As a flagship annual event of HKAWL’s Impact Link initiative, the Festival reflects its wider efforts to foster dialogue between philanthropy, the social sector and the creative community. As Regional Lead Partner, HKAWL worked with a diverse network of partners to support the Festival’s Hong Kong debut. Beyond the competition itself, Inspiring Asia serves as a platform for capacity building, community participation and collaborative philanthropy, bringing together filmmakers, NGOs, foundations, universities and other partners through activities such as workshops, mentorship, screenings and peer exchange.
“Seeing these powerful community stories come to life on screen was incredibly moving,” said Angel Chia, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy. “The winning films demonstrate how storytelling can help people better understand the realities and aspirations of different communities. As a flagship annual event of HKAWL’s Impact Link initiative, Inspiring Asia connects creators and social impact organisations with philanthropists and supporters, helping foster dialogue around strategic philanthropy.”
The journey continues as Hong Kong’s winning entries and selected finalists advance to the Main Phase of Inspiring Asia, bringing their Hong Kong stories to audiences across Asia.
The Screening and Award Ceremony marked the festival’s conclusion in the city, but its impact in creating lasting change continues well beyond the event. In particular, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Programme on Social Innovation (HKJCPSI), operated by The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, will provide capacity-building resources to the Best Project Award winner and shortlisted project teams, helping them strengthen their organisational capabilities and advance the community initiatives featured in their films.
Extending the impact further, the stories will continue to resonate across wider audiences through community screenings from October to December 2026, enabling more people to learn about the experiences and issues they bring to light. Screening details will be announced through HKAWL’s official channels.
Appendix: Hong Kong Regional Competition Award Winners
| Award Category | Film Title | Director / Producer | Film Synopsis |
| Best Micro Film | Between the Unsaid | Qasim Khan, Kaneeta Arshad | The film features Saira, a Pakistani shopkeeper in Hong Kong who is isolated by loneliness, homesickness, and a language barrier. After the sudden loss of her mother, an unexpected friendship with local florist Kim brings comfort, showing how kindness and empathy can bridge cultural and linguistic divides to create strong communities. |
| Best AI Film | The Story Hunter | Yimin Chen, Ethan Wong | The film follows Granny Fa, an 80-year-old widow living alone like an isolated island — until Story Hunters knocked on her door and walked with her through storytelling training. She brought her real-life experiences to university stages, and the warm applause from the younger generation rekindled her passion for life. In the end, she becomes a Story Hunter herself, knocking on the next closed door. |
| Best Project | The Superpower of Little Hands | Hand in Hand Association | Produced by Hand in Hand Association, Hong Kong’s first patient self-help organisation for congenital hand differences, this joyful documentary moves beyond traditional narratives of pity. It highlights four vibrant children with hand differences, celebrating their unique talents, creativity, and zest for life. By showcasing a strong peer-support network of families empowering one another, the film demonstrates how love, confidence, and supportive community allow every special hand to shine without limits. |
Hashtag: #HKAWL
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy (HKAWL) is committed to invigorating a vibrant ecosystem for family offices worldwide by fostering knowledge sharing, capacity building, peer connection, and collaboration. It equips business and wealth owners and inheritors with knowledge in building enduring family legacies, while mobilising family capital to drive measurable social impact and facilitating a strategic philanthropy platform via its Impact Link initiative. By bridging wealth with purpose, HKAWL reinforces Hong Kong’s status as a principal centre for managing family wealth legacies.
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About Under Production (UP)
Established in 2015, Under Production Ltd. (UP) is a dynamic social enterprise dedicated to empowering aspiring creative talents. By bridging the gap between youth and the creative industries, UP equips creators with production expertise and social awareness to transform complex issues into compelling narratives. UP’s expertise spans three core pillars: Film & Video Production, Multi-platform Publishing, and Integrated Campaign Management. Notable projects include social films Constellation and May It Rain, which have gained recognition for their intimate storytelling on social themes. Over the years, UP has built a sustainable creative ecosystem with NGO partners and community collaborators, consistently delivering innovative solutions that create lasting community impact.
About Lee Hysan Foundation (LHF)
Lee Hysan Foundation (LHF) is a private foundation incorporated in 1973 by the Lee Hysan Family to institutionalise the philanthropic work which the family had been doing for many decades. It currently operates as an endowment fund in perpetuity and does not fundraise. LHF’s mission is to advance the well-being of Hong Kong by catalysing policy and systemic change and scaling evidence-based models to transform Education, Social Welfare, Health, Arts and Culture, and the Environment. Through this work, LHF seeks to enable under-resourced people from diverse backgrounds to flourish.
*Although established by the same family, Hysan Development Company Limited is operated separately from LHF and has its own independent management and board of directors.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Run will return to Sheikh Zayed Road on November 22, turning one of the UAE’s busiest highways into a car-free running course as part of the 2026 Dubai Fitness Challenge. The seventh edition of the mass participation event is scheduled to start at 6.30am and will again offer two distances, with organisers opening the run to people of all ages and fitness […]
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 September 2026 – Following its first anniversary on 3 September 2026, Suan Dusit Arun – the 11,200 sq m public rooftop park at Dusit Central Park in the heart of Bangkok – has released its first set of visitor, community, and environmental performance data. The figures demonstrate strong public demand for accessible green space in the Thai capital, with an average of 2,621 unique daily visitors during the 12-month reporting period.
The largest public rooftop park in Bangkok’s central business district, Suan Dusit Arun is a defining feature of Dusit Central Park and provides elevated views across Lumpini Park, one of the city’s most important green spaces. It was designed as a practical response to critical urban challenges facing Bangkok, including rising temperatures, limited access to green space, and declining biodiversity.
Open to all, the park offers the luxury of space, nature, and calm in the centre of Bangkok. Its public use and programming are thoughtfully managed to protect the landscape, preserve a comfortable atmosphere, and ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy the park without compromising the qualities it was designed to provide.
Combining beautiful views with a strong social and environmental purpose, the park serves as the unifying landscape connecting the principal elements of Dusit Central Park: the flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel, Central Park Offices, the Central Park shopping centre, and a 69-storey residential tower comprising the ultra-luxury Dusit Residences and contemporary Dusit Parkside.
The design of Suan Dusit Arun reflects the wider architectural philosophy of Dusit Central Park, responding to wind flow and solar orientation while drawing on Feng Shui principles to foster harmony, balance, and a positive flow of energy between people and their surroundings.
With approximately 98% of its layered landscape dedicated to green space, the park combines 184 plant varieties, including 48 Thai species, with accessible areas for recreation, learning, community gatherings, and quiet reflection. Its planting includes native shade trees, flowering varieties, and climate-adapted plants.
The planting includes nine tree species in the three threatened categories of the IUCN Red List – two Critically Endangered, two Endangered, and five Vulnerable. It also reflects Thailand’s cultural heritage through sacred spirit trees, species referenced in classical Thai literature, and jasmine, a symbol of Mother’s Day in Thailand. Pollinator-friendly species include mangrove apple and queen’s crape myrtle.
Water management is another important part of the park’s operation. Harvested or recycled water supplies approximately 25% of irrigation demand, supported by an automated, timer-controlled irrigation system. The planted landscape is estimated to reduce stormwater runoff entering the city’s drainage system by 30–50% compared with a conventional hard-surfaced roof.
While assessment of the park’s environmental performance is ongoing, monitoring conducted within and outside the project area on 13 and 14 March 2026 provided an initial snapshot of conditions. Air temperature within Suan Dusit Arun was recorded at 31°C, compared with 33°C outside the project area. Suspended particulate matter concentrations were also approximately 35% lower within the park during the monitoring period.
“When we conceived Suan Dusit Arun, we wanted it to become an active part of Bangkok’s daily life – a public landscape with a clear social and environmental purpose,” said Chanin Donavanik, Group CEO, Dusit International. “Welcoming more than 951,000 visitors in its first year shows how strongly people value accessible green spaces where they can exercise, learn, connect, and spend time in nature.
“For Dusit, this is how responsible hospitality reaches beyond hotel operations: by creating places that deliver meaningful value for the communities and environments around them. The initial data from Suan Dusit Arun indicates the potential of thoughtful design and responsible operation to improve everyday urban life. We will continue to monitor the park’s performance and report its contribution with care and transparency.”
Beyond its daily public use, Suan Dusit Arun hosted a thoughtfully curated programme of 43 recreational, wellness, and educational events and visits during its first year. Together, these activities engaged more than 9,500 people. They ranged from aerobics, Pilates, and city runs to Children’s Day celebrations, live music, design talks, and study visits by schools and universities.
Partners included Silpakorn University, SCG Packaging Public Company Limited (SCGP), and the Thai Red Cross, alongside schools, community groups, and commercial organisations.
Collaboration with SCGP also extends to waste reduction. Suan Dusit Arun participates in the company’s “Old for New” recycling initiative and separates around 100 kg of cardboard from its operational waste each month for recycling. Event organisers are also encouraged to reduce disposable plastics and choose reusable or recyclable materials wherever practical.
Tree Walk for Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026
To mark Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026, Suan Dusit Arun and Dusit International will collaborate with Big Trees Foundation to host Tree Walk: Discovering the Value of Urban Trees at Suan Dusit Arun on 9 October 2026. Led by landscape architect Touchapon Soontrajarn and professional arborists, the half-day programme will explore how thoughtful landscape design and tree care can support urban cooling, cleaner air, biodiversity, and public well-being.
Running from 9:00–11:30 hrs, the event is limited to 30 participants and costs THB 250 per person, with all proceeds to be donated to Big Trees Foundation to support urban tree conservation. Registration will be available through the Bangkok Climate Action Week platform.
More information is available at bangkokclimateactionweek.org/en/programme/325.
High-resolution images and a short video accompanying this media release are available here: Suan Dusit Arun
Hashtag: #Dusit
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Suan Dusit Arun is an 11,200 sq m public rooftop park at Dusit Central Park, a mixed-use development in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. Opened on 3 September 2025, the park was designed according to Universal Design principles and brings together Thai flora, shaded walkways, water features, cultural spaces, and panoramic views of Lumpini Park.
Its principal features include the Bird Nest Viewpoint, Cascade 2513 waterfall, and Dusitpini Amphitheatre. Suan Dusit Arun connects Dusit Thani Bangkok, Central Park Offices, Central Park shopping centre, and a 69-storey residential tower comprising Dusit Residences and Dusit Parkside. The park is open to the public free of charge.
For more information, please visit dusitcentralpark.com/roofpark
Established in 1949, Dusit International is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: Dusit Hotels and Resorts, Dusit Hospitality Education, Dusit Foods, Real Estate Development, and Hospitality-Related Services.
Dusit’s diversified investments in real estate development, hospitality-related services, and the food sector are part of its long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which focuses on three key areas: balance, expansion, and diversification.
For more information, please visit dusit-international.com
Microsoft will disable SMS as a primary sign-in method for Microsoft Entra ID workforce tenants from February 1, 2027, ending a passwordless flow that lets users authenticate with a registered phone number and a one-time text message code. The change applies to organisations that allow SMS first-factor authentication, known in Microsoft’s documentation as SignInNoPassword. Once the retirement takes effect, users will no longer be able to enter […]
The model supports text-to-image creation, image-to-image generation and multi-round editing, according to Tencent Cloud documentation published alongside the release. It can accept multimodal inputs combining text and reference images, preserve context across successive editing turns and produce images at resolutions of up to 4K.
Tencent said the model improves on Hy Image 3.0 in text rendering, realism, stylistic expression and editing consistency. The company said internal evaluations showed an overall capability improvement of about 30 per cent over the previous generation, though those performance claims have not been independently established.
The new system is being integrated into Tencent products including its Yuanbao chatbot and a range of design, productivity and creative tools, while developers can access it through Tencent Cloud’s TokenHub platform. Tencent’s cloud documentation lists the model under the identifier hy-image-v3.5-preview and says it can handle up to 100,000 input tokens for conversational image-generation and editing requests.
The release places greater emphasis on iterative visual production rather than single-prompt image creation. Users can provide reference pictures, request changes over several rounds and retain earlier context, allowing the model to perform tasks such as poster design, product-image editing and other workflows that require repeated adjustments.
Tencent also says the model can use external search enhancement and automatic prompt rewriting, while its application programming interface allows developers to specify image dimensions or let the system determine an appropriate format. The model supports output of up to 4,096 by 4,096 pixels under Tencent Cloud’s documented limits.
The launch comes as China’s largest technology groups broaden their AI offerings beyond large language models and compete more aggressively in image, video and agent-based systems. ByteDance has built a strong position in visual-generation tools through its Seedream family, while Alibaba has expanded its Qwen image models alongside a wider push into cloud infrastructure and AI chips.
Tencent said testing among hundreds of its in-house designers found Hy Image 3.5 Preview performed on a level comparable with ByteDance’s Seedream 5.0 Pro. It also claimed the model slightly exceeded Google’s Nano Banana Pro and Alibaba’s Qwen-Image-3.0 Pro in its own assessments. The company did not disclose full methodology or independent benchmark results for those comparisons.
The timing also coincided with Alibaba’s annual Apsara conference in Hangzhou, where the company outlined plans for a much larger next-generation AI model and introduced its Zhenwu V900 accelerator chip. Alibaba Chief Executive Eddie Wu said the planned model would contain between five trillion and 10 trillion parameters, potentially several times the size of its current flagship system.
Tencent has been accelerating investment in its Hunyuan model family while placing more emphasis on deployment across its existing products. Its Hy3 language model, released in July, was designed around a mixture-of-experts architecture and has since been integrated into services including WorkBuddy, Yuanbao and Tencent Cloud.
The company has also strengthened its AI research leadership. Former OpenAI researcher Yao Shunyu serves as Tencent’s chief AI scientist, while computer-vision specialist Tian Yonglong joined the company in July and leads vision-language model development within the Hunyuan team.
Tencent’s Hong Kong-listed shares climbed more than 6 per cent during Tuesday trading as investors reacted to the product launch and a broader rise in technology stocks. The stock had also advanced in the previous session.
For business users, Tencent Cloud is positioning Hy Image 3.5 Preview as a professional visual-production model rather than a consumer-only image generator. Its documentation says users can combine multiple reference images with text instructions, carry generated images forward into later editing rounds and receive synchronously generated results without submitting separate polling requests.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 September 2026 – To enhance public understanding and awareness of green buildings, the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) has launched “My Green Space” Student Competition since 2011. The Competition encourages students to unleash their creativity and integrate green building concepts into real life, thus creating ideal green spaces.
The 2026-2027 edition, solely sponsored by Chinachem Group, explores “The Ideal Nature-Positive Built Environment“. It seeks to inspire the younger generation to reimagine the relationship between cities and nature through creative thinking and to nurture future green building pioneers.
Aligning with Policy: Urban Transformation and Ecological Balance
Natural ecosystems and biodiversity are essential foundations of human well-being and sustainable development. Amid escalating climate challenges, transforming cities into more sustainable built environments is paramount to balancing human development with nature conservation.
The Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) updated by the Government of the HKSAR, underscores the urgency of protecting local biodiversity to foster the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, as well as between urban development and ecological conservation. The Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines (HKNbSDG) provides a localised framework in this regard for designing and implementing solutions to enhance climate resilience, promote biodiversity and coexistence of development and nature conservation.
This year’s Competition invites students to present their vision of a liveable, regenerative, zero-waste and circular built environment through the lenses of design, planning, engineering, climate-resilient strategies and nature-based solution, to help drive society toward a carbon-neutral and nature-positive future.
Open to Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Students with Comprehensive Support and Learning Experiences
The Competition features five divisions covering different learning stages: Junior Primary, Senior Primary, Junior Secondary, Senior Secondary, and Tertiary. To foster cross-regional collaboration, the Tertiary category welcomes student teams from across the Greater Bay Area.
Participants may submit entries in the form of 2D artworks (for the Junior Primary and Senior Primary Divisions only), 3D models, multimedia works, or proposals. Each entry must include at least one building of any type, allowing participants to explore the possibilities of green building through different creative formats.
To equip participants with fundamental knowledge of green building, HKGBC will organise “Green Building Tour and Training Workshop” to impart relevant knowledge. “The Companion Scheme” will also be launched, under which young green building practitioners from the “Green Building Young Leaders (GBYLs)” Programme will answer participants’ technical questions on a voluntary basis and provide professional advice throughout the Competition.
Entries will be assessed on four criteria: application of sustainability from the environment, economics and social aspects or green building concepts, originality, creativity and innovation, effectiveness of presentation, and feasibility of implementation. Participants who join the “Green Building Tour and Training Workshop” and complete the designated questionnaires will receive bonus marks.
Attractive Prizes and Development Opportunities to Help Students Build Careers
Each category offers Champion, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up and Merit awards, with cash prizes of up to HK$8,000, trophies and certificates. As the sole sponsor, Chinachem Group will also offer special awards to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to nurturing future talent. Full award details will be announced later.
Beyond cash prizes and certificates, HKGBC offers diverse extra recognition and development opportunities. Winning entries will be exhibited at D．PARK , further showcasing participants’ creativity and achievements and enriching their personal portfolios.
Tertiary winners may also be invited to internship interviews with Chinachem Group, Arup, and other leading green building organisations, thereby laying a solid foundation for future careers in green building and sustainable development.
Details of “My Green Space” Student Competition 2026-2027：
| Registration Period: | From now until 31 December 2026 | ||||||
| Entry Submission Deadline: | 31 March 2027 6:00pm | ||||||
| Online Registration: | https://forms.gle/2gLsgvCq51VrCH7J8
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For details of the Competition, please visit the Competition website:
www.hkgbc.org.hk/studentcompetition
Hashtag: #HKGBC
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) is a non-profit, member-led organisation established in 2009 and has become a public body under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance since 2016. The HKGBC strives to promote the standard and development of sustainable buildings in Hong Kong. The HKGBC also aims to raise green building awareness by engaging the government, the industry and the public, and to develop practical solutions for Hong Kong’s unique, subtropical built environment of high-rise, high density urban area, leading Hong Kong to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and to become a world’s exemplar of green building development. The Founding Members of the HKGBC include the Construction Industry Council (CIC), the Business Environment Council (BEC), the BEAM Society Limited (BSL) and the Professional Green Building Council (PGBC).
To learn more about the HKGBC, please visit www.hkgbc.org.hk.
G7 foreign ministers have called on Iran to stop arming and supporting Yemen’s Houthis, warning that the group’s military operations risk widening instability across the Middle East and disrupting international trade. The ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States issued the demand after meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. They condemned continuing Houthi […]
South African businesses are treating water security as a core continuity risk as unreliable municipal supply, ageing infrastructure increase operational risk across affected municipal networks and major cities. Companies are responding by expanding on-site storage, drilling boreholes where viable, installing treatment systems, recycling wastewater and improving consumption monitoring. The shift resembles the earlier move towards private power resilience, with businesses seeking alternatives to dependence on a single […]
Meta has announced Petal, a new transatlantic undersea cable linking the United States and France that is designed to carry 1 petabit of data per second when it enters service in 2029. The roughly 7,000-kilometre system will be the first transoceanic subsea cable built for petabit-class capacity and the first to deploy multi-core fibre technology at scale, according to Meta. The company said the system would carry […]
By Dr Arun Mitra Forest fires across different parts of Europe, devastating heat waves in many western countries, growing concern over El Niño & similar phenomena and the rapid melting of glaciers are alarming indicators of a planet under severe stress. The formation of large glacial lakes poses an additional danger, as the breaching of […]
The article Triple Whammy: Ongoing Wars, Nuclear Threats Worsen Climate Crisis appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Greenlogue/AP Qatar’s greenhouse industry is projected to more than double in value by 2034 as investment in controlled-environment farming accelerates efforts to raise domestic food production and conserve water resources. Market research firm IMARC Group estimates the sector will expand from $226.9 million in 2025 to $600.1 million by 2034, equivalent to about QR2.18 billion at Qatar’s fixed exchange rate. The forecast implies compound annual growth of […]
The Bank of Korea said the Bank of Korea Won International Wire Network started trial operations at 9am local time with KB Kookmin Bank, Woori Bank, Hana Bank and Shinhan Bank participating. Two of the banks completed transactions worth about 1.4 billion won during the initial test, according to the central bank.
Full operation is scheduled for January 2027, when foreign financial institutions are expected to gain wider access to the network. The system is designed to allow won payments and settlement during the business hours of major overseas financial centres rather than limiting activity to South Korea’s domestic banking day.
Under the planned framework, offshore investors will be able to trade the won with other foreign participants using accounts opened with Registered Foreign Institutions for KRW Business, known as RFI-Ks, in their home markets. This is intended to reduce the need for investors to open and operate separate accounts directly with financial institutions in South Korea.
The network will function continuously from 9am on each business day until 9am the following day, effectively providing round-the-clock settlement on weekdays. It will remain closed on weekends and public holidays. Foreign banks are also due to participate in the trial, although the Bank of Korea has not specified when they will enter the testing phase.
The central bank said it would monitor the pilot, refine operating arrangements and expand participation before the system moves into full service. It expects the new infrastructure to improve foreign investors’ access to won settlement and support wider international use of the currency.
The trial follows South Korea’s move in July to extend onshore dollar-won trading to a 24-hour schedule. That change removed the previous gap between Seoul trading hours and active periods in major centres such as London and New York, allowing transactions to continue through the global trading day.
Authorities have paired the longer trading window with changes to settlement arrangements because extended dealing hours alone do not remove operational barriers if investors cannot complete payments outside domestic banking hours. The new network is intended to address that mismatch by keeping settlement infrastructure available while overseas markets are active.
The initiative forms part of a broader programme to open South Korea’s foreign-exchange market and make local assets easier for global institutions to access. Seoul has also been seeking improvements in market infrastructure as it pursues developed-market classification for its equities from MSCI, whose accessibility assessments examine areas including foreign-exchange convertibility, investment flows and operational arrangements.
South Korea has already introduced the RFI framework to permit eligible overseas financial institutions to participate directly in the domestic foreign-exchange market. The settlement network extends that approach by enabling those institutions to hold and transfer won through designated accounts linked to the central bank’s payment infrastructure.
The Bank of Korea has also been modernising its core settlement systems. Its 2025 payment and settlement systems report, released last week, said operating hours for BOK-Wire+ were extended in March and that work continued on the international won network and the adoption of the ISO 20022 financial messaging standard.
The central bank has said the international network will use real-time gross settlement, a structure in which transactions are settled individually and continuously rather than being netted for later settlement. That approach is intended to limit credit risk during the payment process while supporting cross-border compatibility.
Preparations have included linked-system testing and business-continuity planning before the scheduled commercial launch. The authorities have also revised foreign-exchange regulations to accommodate the wider use of overseas won accounts and settlement channels.
The Hyderabad region operates across three availability zones and is designed to provide resilience for organisations running critical applications. Microsoft said the architecture is aligned with applicable regulatory and seismic requirements in India, while giving customers additional options for data residency, continuity and governance.
The company said the region is now live with a broad set of Azure services, with more cloud and AI capabilities scheduled to be added over the coming months. It is also intended to support Microsoft Foundry and other advanced AI services as capacity expands.
Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia, said at the Microsoft AI Infrastructure Summit in New Delhi that the Hyderabad facility was built for advanced AI workloads and would serve as a strategic hub for Asia and the Global South. Microsoft also said its data centre regions across the country are now AI-enabled, combining specialised hardware, cooling systems and the platform infrastructure needed to run advanced models.
India South Central joins Microsoft’s Central India region in Pune, South India region in Chennai and West India region in Mumbai. Microsoft’s Azure region list identifies Hyderabad as India South Central and shows Central India as its paired region for disaster-recovery planning.
The Hyderabad expansion forms part of Microsoft’s $20.5 billion investment commitment to India, comprising a $3 billion investment announced in January 2025 and a further $17.5 billion commitment announced in December 2025. The company has linked that spending to cloud capacity, AI infrastructure and skills development.
The launch comes as data-centre investment accelerates across the country alongside demand for computing capacity needed to train and run AI systems. A Boston Consulting Group study cited by Microsoft estimates that India’s data-centre build-out could generate $140 billion to $200 billion in economic output through 2030. Microsoft said its infrastructure is intended to serve enterprises, start-ups and public-sector organisations.
Microsoft said Adani Group, Bajaj Finserv, HDFC Bank and PB Pay have signed up to use the new region. The company said local capacity would allow eligible cloud and AI workloads to be deployed closer to users and operations while supporting security, compliance and sovereignty requirements.
The region expands Microsoft’s Sovereign Public Cloud foundation in India. The company said its cloud regions provide capabilities aligned with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology guidelines and are designed to help customers address requirements under the Digital Personal Data Protection framework, as well as sector-specific expectations from the Reserve Bank of India and CERT-In. Microsoft stressed that customers remain responsible for determining which rules apply to their workloads.
Capabilities expected to become available as services are rolled out include Azure confidential computing, Customer Lockbox and Azure Key Vault. These are intended to give organisations additional controls over data protection, encryption keys and Microsoft’s operational access, particularly for sensitive workloads.
Microsoft also highlighted the cooling design of the Hyderabad region, saying high-efficiency mechanical systems enable effectively zero water use for cooling. The company has tied the design to its broader 2030 sustainability goals, which include becoming carbon negative, water positive and zero waste.
Alongside the infrastructure launch, Microsoft said its AI-skilling programmes have reached more than 10 million people in India, halfway towards a target of 20 million by 2030. It also operates a 600-hour data centre training programme with Young India Skills University in Telangana aimed at preparing students for infrastructure and operations roles.
Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, said the new region would strengthen the digital infrastructure required to support the IndiaAI Mission and expand the capacity available to developers, enterprises and public institutions.
