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Press Conference: For Greener Cities, NOW!

On Press Day, 14 September, JAC Motors held a press conference at its booth under the theme “For Greener Cities, NOW!,” presenting four electrified models to the European market. Partners, fleet operators, and trade media from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and other countries attended.

At the press conference, Oscar Yu, General Manager of JAC International, stated that Europe is a key market in the company’s global expansion. JAC commercial vehicles are already present in Germany, Spain, France, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland, with a target of full European coverage by 2028. Since IAA Transportation 2024, JAC has established one subsidiary in Europe and built a localised marketing and service system covering 13 countries, including 8 regional strategic partners, over 50 authorised sales outlets, and more than 100 after-sales service outlets. In Spain, JAC holds a 41% market share in the medium-duty electric truck segment, ranking first. (Source: Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) registration data, Jan–Jun 2026.)

The solutions JAC offers European customers go beyond the vehicles themselves. JAC’s subsidiary in Italy serves as a regional parts centre, covering warehousing, service and technical support, customer operations, and marketing. On financing, JAC has partnered with Santander and others to offer finance leasing, operating leasing, PCP (Personal Contract Purchase)/TCM (Trade Cycle Management), and flexible instalment plans, covering needs from fleets to individual users. On complete vehicle solutions, JAC works with bodybuilder partners such as Infore Environment to cover refrigerated transport, municipal sanitation, rescue, and other specialist applications.

The press conference also showcased JAC’s progress in Europe: JAC Motors Italy is now operational, the German dealer network is taking shape, and the parts logistics system already covers all of Germany. As JAC’s European business gradually moves from building its footprint to day-to-day operations, the atmosphere of conversations at this year’s booth has changed noticeably compared with 2024. Conversations at the booth now go straight to operations: Is the range enough? How long does charging take? Can this vehicle save the fleet money?

Looking ahead, JAC will continue to advance product introduction and channel expansion, targeting full coverage of the European market by 2028, participating in Europe’s urban green logistics transition with a complete electrified product portfolio and localised service capabilities.

Hashtag: #JACMOTORS

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

The Ministry of External Affairs said Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires was called in and a strong protest lodged over what it described as “unacceptable and unprofessional conduct” by Pakistani naval units. The ministry said the conduct led to a collision with a unit of the Indian Navy and urged Pakistan’s authorities to ensure that military units exercise due care and observe existing bilateral agreements.

The collision occurred on Tuesday while a frontline warship from India was conducting what officials described as a routine surveillance mission. Officials from India said a Pakistan Navy vessel approached at high speed before the vessels collided. No major damage was reported, and there was no immediate public statement from Pakistan’s government or military responding to New Delhi’s account.

India also instructed its top diplomat in Islamabad to lodge a similar protest with Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry. The exchange elevated what could otherwise have remained a maritime safety incident into a formal diplomatic dispute between two nuclear-armed neighbours whose military contacts are governed by a series of confidence-building arrangements.

New Delhi said the episode breached a 1991 bilateral agreement covering military exercises, manoeuvres and troop movements. Under that agreement, naval ships and submarines of the two countries are required to remain at least three nautical miles apart in international waters to reduce the risk of accidents. India’s foreign ministry said the Charge d’Affaires had been asked to convey the need for all military units to respect those provisions and prevent a recurrence.

Pakistan had not, as of Wednesday afternoon, issued its own description of the encounter, leaving key operational details — including the precise movements of the vessels before impact — based on India’s official account. No ship names, casualty reports or detailed damage assessments were released publicly by either side.

The incident is the clearest publicly acknowledged military encounter between the neighbours since four days of hostilities in May 2025. That fighting followed an April 22 attack on tourists in Pahalgam, in Jammu and Kashmir, that killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for supporting cross-border terrorism, an allegation Islamabad rejected, and the crisis developed into missile, drone and artillery exchanges before both sides announced an understanding to halt the fighting.

Relations have remained strained since then despite the cessation of large-scale hostilities. Diplomatic ties had already been downgraded in 2019 amid disagreements over Kashmir, and neither country currently posts an ambassador in the other’s capital, with missions headed by Charges d’Affaires.

The latest protest focused narrowly on maritime conduct rather than broader political disputes. India’s statement did not announce retaliatory military measures or new diplomatic restrictions, and it called instead for compliance with the bilateral framework designed to prevent accidents between armed forces operating near one another.

The northern Arabian Sea is routinely used by both navies for patrols, exercises and surveillance. The 1991 agreement was intended to create practical safeguards at times of tension, alongside notification procedures for certain military activities. Its distance requirement gives commanders a defined separation standard when vessels or submarines from the two countries encounter each other beyond territorial waters.

The military relationship remains sensitive because both countries maintain forces across the Line of Control in Kashmir and continue to accuse each other of hostile activity. Their 2025 confrontation demonstrated how quickly a security incident can widen across domains, although neither government indicated on Wednesday that the naval collision had triggered wider force movements or changes in military posture.

Tuesday’s collision did not produce the kind of damage that would normally force a ship out of service, according to India’s account. The absence of reported casualties limited the immediate operational consequences, but the diplomatic summons ensured the episode received attention at the highest working level between the two foreign ministries.

The 2026-2030 plan, released on Wednesday, calls for an integrated gold ecosystem covering storage, trading, clearing, refining and related financial services, while encouraging more renminbi-denominated commodity products. The government said it would strengthen links with mainland exchanges and attract international investors as it develops the city’s role as a global offshore renminbi centre.

It describes gold as an asset and envisages a one-stop storage, trading and clearing centre.

The strategy gives formal five-year backing to a gold-market expansion already under way. Hong Kong began trial operations of a central clearing and settlement system for gold in July and plans to launch the system formally in the first quarter of 2027. The administration is also seeking to expand storage capacity, improve refining capability and support more gold dealers and financial institutions in establishing operations in the city.

The plan says Hong Kong will explore renminbi-denominated gold and commodity markets and deepen co-operation with the Shanghai Gold Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange. It also aims to increase the range of products priced in the Chinese currency and encourage the use of renminbi for pricing and settlement in spot commodity transactions.

Chief Executive John Lee’s administration has framed the programme as part of a broader effort to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre while aligning more closely with China’s national development priorities. The five-year plan also seeks to enlarge the city’s offshore renminbi business, improve liquidity support and expand the range of renminbi bonds and other financial products.

Hong Kong remains the world’s largest offshore renminbi market. The government said offshore renminbi lending reached a record 935 billion yuan in 2025, while renminbi bond issuance reached 1 trillion yuan for a second consecutive year. The new plan proposes a dedicated offshore renminbi liquidity provision mechanism and wider use of the currency in trade, investment, financing and government expenditure.

Gold is intended to provide the first platform for a wider commodities push. The government said Hong Kong would use its status as an approved delivery point in the London Metal Exchange’s global warehousing network to develop trading, risk-management and financing services across additional commodities.

Since Hong Kong joined the LME warehousing network in 2025, approved storage space has exceeded 60,000 square metres and metal inventories have risen above 20,000 tonnes, according to the government. Authorities plan to facilitate more LME-approved warehouses in the Northern Metropolis and introduce a half-rate tax concession for physical commodity trading to attract additional market participants.

The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing group also plans to announce details this year for new renminbi-denominated, physically settled gold futures contracts. The government said the contracts are intended to strengthen the currency’s role in precious-metal pricing and provide another channel for international investors to gain renminbi exposure.

Other measures include possible tax concessions for qualifying gold and commodity activities, additional insurance capacity for gold storage and trading, and support for an industry-led trade association. Officials are also examining tokenised warehouse-receipt financing and blockchain-based systems that would allow commodity inventories to be used more flexibly as collateral.

The administration has set a target of lifting Hong Kong’s gold storage capacity to more than 2,000 tonnes within three years. It is also encouraging internationally qualified refiners to establish or expand local operations, with government agencies assisting interested companies in identifying sites and navigating regulatory requirements.

Closer integration with mainland markets is another element of the strategy. The plan calls for wider market access between Hong Kong and mainland gold markets and further collaboration with the Qianhai Mercantile Exchange, including development of renminbi-settled commodity futures, options and spot products.

The regulatory relaxation allows fund managers more room to adjust the cash and futures legs of arbitrage trades while participating in the Closing Auction Session, people familiar with the change said. The move is intended to encourage funds that collectively manage a large pool of equity-linked assets to place orders in the auction rather than largely completing transactions beforehand.

The change addresses a central weakness that has emerged since the auction system was introduced on August 3 for shares with futures and options contracts. Trading during the closing window has at times been thin, leaving prices vulnerable to sharp moves when large buy or sell orders enter a relatively shallow order book.

Arbitrage funds are viewed as a potentially important source of balancing liquidity because they hold shares in the cash market while maintaining offsetting short positions in futures. That structure can enable them to sell stock when the closing auction is dominated by buyers, or buy when supply is heavy, without necessarily taking a directional market view.

SEBI has not issued a public circular detailing the latest operational flexibility. Existing mutual-fund rules require arbitrage schemes to maintain at least 65% of assets in equity and equity-related instruments, while their strategy is built around offsetting positions designed to capture differences between cash and derivatives prices.

The regulator’s intervention comes as it separately reviews the mechanics of the Closing Auction Session after volatile expiry-day moves raised concerns over price discovery and derivatives settlement. A consultation paper issued on September 12 proposed changes to the way settlement prices are determined when futures and options expire.

One option under consideration would blend the volume-weighted average price from the final 30 minutes of continuous trading with prices established in the closing auction. Another would temporarily retain the earlier 30-minute volume-weighted average methodology for derivatives settlement while the auction develops deeper liquidity.

SEBI has also proposed restrictions on order cancellations outside a specified range around the reference price, a shorter post-auction derivatives trading window and changes to the publication of indicative index closing levels during the auction. Public comments on those proposals are open until October 3.

The Closing Auction Session replaced the previous method of setting closing prices for eligible stocks through the volume-weighted average of trades during the last 30 minutes of normal trading. Under the new framework, eligible cash-market stocks move into an auction process late in the session, while equity derivatives continue trading until 3.40 pm.

The auction is intended to concentrate end-of-day orders and produce a closing price based on the level at which the greatest quantity of shares can be matched. Similar mechanisms are used in several major global markets, particularly for large institutional orders and benchmark-tracking flows.

Early trading under the system, however, produced unusually wide gaps between cash-market closing prices and futures values on some days. Those differences caused sharp one-day movements in the net asset values of arbitrage funds because the cash and derivatives legs of their portfolios were marked using prices generated under different trading conditions.

Fund managers and market participants have argued that broader institutional participation is essential if the auction is to deliver stable price discovery. Arbitrage funds, with assets of roughly ₹3.5 trillion according to industry estimates, represent one of the largest pools capable of supplying two-way liquidity without relying on outright directional bets.

The mutual-fund industry has also examined changes to futures valuation that would better align derivatives prices with the auction-determined cash close. One proposal would derive a theoretical futures closing value from the final cash-market price and the prevailing cash-futures spread, reducing temporary valuation mismatches in arbitrage portfolios.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday that artificial intelligence was a consequential technology for humanity and should be developed openly and inclusively. Asked about calls from Dario Amodei, Sam Altman and Elon Musk for companies to slow frontier development, Guo warned that “fear-mongering, confrontation and vicious competition” would hinder sound global AI governance.

The response came as Washington’s debate over AI safety widened into a strategic argument about China. Anthropic chief executive Amodei has urged tougher safeguards for advanced systems and has argued that a Chinese lead in frontier AI could create national security risks for the United States. OpenAI chief executive Altman and Musk have also called for stronger precautions as systems become more capable.

Trump, however, has resisted proposals that could materially slow US development. He said this week that America already had tools to police the industry and stressed the importance of maintaining leadership over China. House Speaker Mike Johnson similarly rejected a moratorium, saying any pause could hand Beijing a competitive advantage and create national security risks.

The dispute places AI governance among the issues likely to shadow the Trump-Xi meeting scheduled for September 24 in Washington. The leaders are also expected to confront trade disputes, semiconductor restrictions and China’s controls on rare-earth exports, all of which affect the broader contest over computing capacity and advanced manufacturing.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is due to meet Vice-Premier He Lifeng before the summit.

China has presented a different framework for AI governance, emphasising access, development and multilateral rules while opposing measures it regards as technological containment. At the BRICS summit this month, Xi proposed an open-source and inclusive AI initiative and said China would help establish a BRICS AI open-source community and digital ecosystem platform.

Beijing has nevertheless acknowledged the risks posed by increasingly powerful systems. Chinese officials have called for stronger global governance and risk awareness, while arguing that safety should not become a justification for blocking technological diffusion. The government has also supported the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, whose founding agreement was signed in Shanghai in July by 29 countries.

The argument over safety is closely linked to semiconductor controls. Washington has maintained restrictions on the export of advanced computing technology to China, although the Commerce Department in January shifted applications for Nvidia H200, AMD MI325X and comparable chips to case-by-case review under specified security conditions. Beijing has repeatedly criticised US technology restrictions as discriminatory and has threatened countermeasures when Chinese companies are targeted.

China’s Commerce Ministry last week also challenged a US cybersecurity advisory accusing China-based AI companies of using distillation campaigns against American models. The ministry said China was prepared for an intergovernmental AI dialogue with the United States but would respond if Washington used such allegations to suppress Chinese firms.

That exchange underscored the difficulty of separating AI safety from the strategic rivalry. US officials and technology executives increasingly frame advanced models as both commercial assets and national security capabilities, while China portrays broad restrictions as attempts to preserve US dominance.

There are areas of overlap. Both governments have said advanced AI presents risks requiring governance, and the two sides have agreed to launch an intergovernmental dialogue on the technology. Informal discussions among researchers and policy specialists have also continued, though official positions remain far apart on access to chips, model controls and the balance between safety and development.

The September 24 summit follows Trump’s May visit to China, when the two leaders agreed to pursue what the White House described as strategic stability and set up new bilateral trade and investment mechanisms. Artificial intelligence was not the centrepiece of those agreements, but it has since moved higher on the bilateral agenda as concerns over model capabilities, export controls and industrial competition have intensified.

SWISS REJU Introduces AI Algo Slimming and MedTech from Silicon Valley

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 – Premier Hong Kong body-sculpting and wellness boutique SWISS REJU has added another prestigious accolade to its portfolio, shining brightly at the HK01 Health Easy Awards ceremony. Hosted by leading media platform HK01, the landmark industry event—featuring the “Health Industry Trends Symposium and HK01 Healthy Easy Awards”—was successfully held at The Ritz-Carlton, ICC, Hong Kong, drawing industry leaders for an evening of high-level exchange and celebration. The event opened with a keynote address by Dr. Ko Wing-man, a widely respected member of the Executive Council. SWISS REJU was honored to attend and was officially named the winner of the HK01 “Exquisite Body-Sculpting Reputable Brand Award.” The event paid tribute to Hong Kong’s most exceptional wellness brands. SWISS REJU is deeply honored to receive authoritative recognition at this highly credible awards ceremony.

The rigorous and meticulous evaluation mechanism of the Healthy Easy Awards combines months of authentic user voting with expert panel reviews, reflecting genuine client feedback alongside professional evaluation. This year’s winner’s circle featured an elite lineup of premier brands and institutions, including St. Paul’s Hospital, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital East Kowloon Medical Centre, iHerb, Nestlé ThickenUp, and Yakult. Each winning brand demonstrated professional excellence, standing out as an industry leader. Through ethical business practices and exceptional QCAC management, SWISS REJU K-Lipolysis® was likewise awarded the “Exquisite Body-Sculpting Reputable Brand Award.”

SWISS REJU extends its sincere gratitude for the glowing user reviews and expert support, remaining steadfast in its mission to advance Hong Kong’s wellness industry. This marks SWISS REJU’s third consecutive year receiving a major annual award from HK01. Coupled with earlier honors—including the Cosmopolitan Best of the Best Award, the Sunday More Hong Kong No.1 Best Body Contouring Treatment, and the JESSICA Annual Best AI Slimming Award—this also represents the 15th major annual accolade SWISS REJU has earned from prominent organizations. Achieving excellence across numerous voting polls, backed by the endorsement of industry experts, stands as a testament to the exceptional reputation of SWISS REJU’s signature K-Lipolysis body contouring program.

Celebrating a Decade of Excellence: SWISS REJU Marks 10 Years of Unrivaled Brand Prestige
“The HK01 Reputable Brand Award is a tremendous encouragement,” stated the brand spokesperson. “To be recognized as a premier, high-reputation brand among over 8,000 beauty and wellness enterprises in Hong Kong is a major encouragement. We remain firmly committed to our core values, continuing to deliver reliable, trusted body contouring, and advanced wellness services.”

Having operated in Central for nearly a decade, SWISS REJU has witnessed the rise of standardized, ethical business practices in Hong Kong, actively supporting the industry’s ongoing reform and optimization. Today’s consumers increasingly gravitate toward high-transparency, stable operations, and high-reputation brands offering flexible installment options. As public awareness grows, discerning clients prefer equipment and technologies backed by rigorous certifications, such as the U.S. FDA, EU MDR / Medical CE, and Hong Kong Department of Health MDACS. This is why SWISS REJU has consistently invested millions to introduce genuine, top-tier technologies, including BTL EXION, INDIBA, WINBACK, NeoCare Elite, ATP LIPO X, Lumenis Pollogen DMA, and VIORA Reaction. This strong technical advantage paired with nearly a decade of distinguished reputation, has established an extraordinary level of client trust.

Unveiling the All-New SWISS REJU AI Weight-Loss Algorithm X Silicon Valley Health Tech
This year’s seminar centered on advanced weight management and cross-border collaboration. SWISS REJU has long believed that the aesthetic and body-sculpting industry in Hong Kong can more proactively embrace its role as an international technological bridge. Consequently, the brand has taken the lead in introducing cutting-edge nutritional science and longevity research from Silicon Valley, combining advanced research with high-tech instrumentation to elevate the overall efficacy of K-Lipolysis program.

The pioneering AI Algo Slimming introduced by SWISS REJU utilizes artificial intelligence to automatically calculate energy output, dynamically mapping the optimal energy pathway every second to enhance efficacy and safety. By integrating Silicon Valley advanced health and nutritional management, SWISS REJU stands among the pioneering advanced body-sculpting brands in Hong Kong to champion Silicon Valley biohacking preventive medicine and longevity technology. This elevates the scientific standard of Hong Kong’s wellness sector, delivering a state-of-the-art body contouring and health experience for clients across Hong Kong and the the Greater Bay Area.

To learn more, visit: http://www.reju.hk

Hashtag: #swissreju #熱光溶脂

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

By TN Ashok The 18th BRICS Summit, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, was never going to escape Washington’s shadow — and it didn’t. Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi steered eleven member states toward a unanimously adopted New Delhi Declaration that pointedly avoided naming the United States, President Donald […]

The article India steers 18th BRICS summit deftly, keeps anti-West rhetoric at bay appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

WRISE Prestige records over300% revenue growth in HK since end-2024, expands to more than 400 IWCs and advances a new professional standard combining human expertise, independence and AI

• Assets under management increased by 927%, revenue grew by 301% and the number of clients increased by 382% compared with the end of 2024.
• WRISE Prestige’s network has expanded to more than 400 Independent Wealth Consultants (IWCs) in Hong Kong.
• The broader WRISE ecosystem has added capabilities spanning family office and wealth planning, corporate advisory, trust and legacy planning, structured products, international insurance and AI labs, while the IWC proposition evolves from Independent Wealth Consultant to Intelligent Wealth Consultant.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 September 2026 – WRISE Prestige, a core business of WRISE Group serving affluent and high-net-worth clients through a network of wealth consultants, is set to celebrate its second anniversary in Hong Kong on 16 September, marking two years of rapid growth and the next chapter in its approach to wealth advisory.

Since the end of 2024, WRISE Prestige in Hong Kong has recorded 927% growth in assets under management (AUM), 301% growth in revenue and a 382% increase in the number of clients. Its Hong Kong network has also grown to more than 400 IWCs, reflecting rising demand for independent, people-led advice and broader access to integrated wealth solutions.

Over the past two years, WRISE Prestige has broadened its role within the WRISE ecosystem, connecting clients with capabilities across different aspects of wealth and advisory. These include WRISE Capital for corporate finance and advisory services, WRISE Private for family office solutions and sophisticated wealth planning, and WRISE Master Trust for wealth structuring and legacy planning.

WRISE Prestige has broadened its solution capabilities in parallel, expanding its insurance spectrum from local offerings to Bermuda solutions and connecting clients with investment, banking, protection, trust and corporate advisory resources.

Client demand has become increasingly diverse, spanning liquidity, income, diversification, downside management, succession and cross-jurisdictional wealth planning. Structured products may be considered as part of client solutions where suitable, depending on risk tolerance and circumstances, illustrating the need for tailored risk-return outcomes rather than one-size-fits-all distribution.

The Group’s expanding regional footprint, including presences in Taipei, Shenzhen, Changsha, Chengdu, Wuxi and Vancouver, further strengthens WRISE Prestige’s ability to connect clients and wealth consultants with capabilities across markets.

The evolution comes as Hong Kong’s wealth management industry reaches a new scale. According to the Securities and Futures Commission, AUM in Hong Kong’s private banking and private wealth management business rose 24% year-on-year to HK$12.9 trillion at the end of 2025.^[1]

As wealth grows, the needs behind it are becoming increasingly complex. Clients require holistic advice connecting investments and protection with family governance, business interests, succession and intergenerational planning. They increasingly value sound judgement, independence, expertise, trust and connectivity to a wider wealth ecosystem.

WRISE Prestige believes this is expanding the role of the wealth consultant. Building on the foundations of independent wealth advisory, the IWC approach puts the individual at the centre, considering their family, business, aspirations, risks and legacy, while drawing on a broader ecosystem to address wealth more holistically. Within this approach, independence refers to an open-architecture model that gives wealth consultants the flexibility to consider solutions from a broad range of financial institutions and providers, rather than being tied to a single institution or product. This approach does not imply the absence of conflicts of interest; any applicable conflicts are managed and disclosed in accordance with relevant policies and regulatory requirements.

IWC is now entering its next chapter, evolving from Independent Wealth Consultant to Intelligent Wealth Consultant. The new proposition builds on the open-architecture approach, trusted human relationships and professional expertise that have defined IWC, while bringing together the research, analytical and efficiency capabilities of AI.

Technology can enhance how wealth consultants analyse information, generate insights and serve clients, while human judgement, accountability and relationships remain at the heart of wealth advice. The goal is not to replace wealth consultants with AI, but to empower them with greater capabilities to support better-informed, more holistic wealth decisions.

As part of this evolution, WRISE Prestige is also strengthening the professional development pathway for its IWC network through QLC, a structured professional assessment covering four specialist areas relevant to the evolving needs of high-net-worth clients: Family Office, Trust, Offshore Insurance and Advanced Investment. IWCs who complete the QLC examination will earn the designation of IWC-Certified, establishing a common foundation of professional knowledge and standards across the network. Following certification, IWCs can continue to develop through pathways recognising both professional expertise and business performance.

Henry Shin, CEO of WRISE Prestige Hong Kong, said: “The wealth management industry has continuously evolved, from traditional institution-led models, to the emergence of independent financial advice, and now towards a new generation of wealth advisory. We believe the next stage of this evolution is intelligence.

Intelligent Wealth Consultant brings together the independence and trust that have always been fundamental to wealth advice with professional expertise, human judgement, and the insights and analytical capabilities of artificial intelligence. This is not about replacing the human element with technology, but about empowering our consultants with technology to deliver deeper insights and help clients make more informed and holistic wealth decisions.

At WRISE Prestige, we aspire to take this evolution one step further, not simply to witness the transformation of our industry, but to work alongside the industry in helping shape best practices for the next generation of wealth advisory.”

Looking ahead, WRISE Prestige expects wealth management to become more connected, technology-enabled and accessible. Its focus will remain on combining technology with human judgement and relationships, using technology to improve connectivity, insight and scalability while maintaining appropriate professional and regulatory standards.

Over the next two to three years, WRISE Prestige plans to expand its business-to-business capabilities and advance an Open-EAM architecture that connects IWCs, external asset manager partners and clients through the broader WRISE ecosystem. The architecture is intended to make it easier for wealth consultants and partners to access specialist capabilities across wealth management, banking, investments, protection, trust and corporate advisory services, supported by technology and the WRISE platform.

Through this approach, WRISE Prestige aims to create greater connectivity and scale for wealth consultants, more integrated choices for clients, and a stronger professional ecosystem for Hong Kong and the region. Its ambition for the next chapter is not only to grow its own platform, but also to contribute to the continued development of wealth advisory across the industry.

Hashtag: #WRISEGroup

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

About WRISE

WRISE is one of Asia’s fastest-growing financial firms, driven by strategic acquisitions of companies with deep expertise and solid foundations. With a strong presence across key financial hubs including Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Changsha, Chengdu, Wuxi, Taipei and Vancouver, WRISE is home to one of the largest networks of independent qualified advisors. With over 600 employees located globally, supported by an ecosystem of over 200 financial intermediaries and access to eight booking centres worldwide, WRISE ensures unparalleled service and expertise in navigating today’s financial landscape.

WRISE Group of companies include WRISE Wealth Management (Singapore), WRISE Wealth Management (Hong Kong), WRISE Wealth Management Middle East Ltd (DIFC, regulated by the DFSA), WRISE Prestige (Hong Kong), WRISE Prestige Securities (Hong Kong), WRISE Prestige Asset Management (Hong Kong), WRISE Capital (Hong Kong), WRISE Financial Services (Hong Kong), and affiliates including WeWrise Services.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom awards its Freedom Prize 2026 to the courageous people of Iran who are fighting for freedom, civil rights and democracy.

POTSDAM, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 15 September 2026 -The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom honors the Iranian people with its Freedom Prize 2026 on 7 November 2026 at St. Paul’s Church in Frankfurt. Reza Pahlavi will accept the award in a fiduciary capacity. Bijan Djir-Sarai, foreign policy spokesperson the Free Democratic Party (FDP), will deliver the laudatory address.

Since 2006, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has awarded the Freedom Prize every two years in recognition of outstanding commitment to the development of a liberal civil society, thereby contributing to strengthening values and goals of freedom around the world.

Steffen Saebisch, Chairman of the Board of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, comments: “The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom is deliberately awarding the Freedom Prize to the Iranian people rather than to an individual. We seek to honor the desire for freedom of the many hundreds of thousands of people who have risked their lives to overthrow the criminal mullah regime. We are pleased that Reza Pahlavi is accepting to receive the award in trust on behalf of the Iranian people until the day the prize can be presented to the freely elected representatives of Iran.”

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has asked Reza Pahlavi to receive the award in trust on behalf of the Iranian people, as he is the best-known personality of the Iranian opposition and is committed to the return to freedom and democracy in Iran. According to his own statements, he does not advocate one form of government over another, as long as it is democratic. He repeatedly emphasizes that the future political order of Iran must be decided by the Iranian people. According to many, he is currently also the most important political figure of identification for many Iranians (probably the majority) in Iran. In addition, Reza Pahlavi is committed to an end to Iranian-fueled conflicts in the Middle East, the normalization of Iran’s relations with its neighboring countries and, in particular, reconciliation with Israel.

The award goes to all those who stand up for their rights, for their own freedom and for a free and democratic society. It is dedicated in particular to those who lost their lives in the fight against a murderous regime and to those who were or are currently persecuted and imprisoned because of their commitment to freedom and democracy.

The award honors the courage of countless people who resist in their everyday lives: women who stand up for their right to self-determination; students who demand freedom of thought and learning; journalists who, despite intimidation and threats, stand up for press freedom; workers who fight for fair conditions and dignity; families who resist paternalism and the denial of individual choices in their conduct of life. Their strength lies not in individual actions, but in the perseverance of a society that refuses to be silenced.

For decades, the theocratic regime has ruled brutally and with great contempt for basic human rights. That is why it is all the more admirable that so many people in Iran are speaking out in various ways against the regime and in support of their freedom and fundamental rights, taking to the streets to make their voices heard. These extraordinarily courageous people deserve the full support of everyone for whom freedom, self-determination and democracy are the highest ideals.

By conferring the Freedom Prize on the Iranian people, the Foundation is deliberately drawing attention to the many unnamed people whose civic courage often remains unseen, but who form the basis of any peaceful change. The Freedom Prize is an expression of respect and solidarity – and at the same time an appeal to the international community to consistently protect the rights of all Iranians and to support their demands for freedom effectively.

The Iranian people stand for the hope that an open society can also emerge where freedom is suppressed. Their commitment reminds us: freedom is indivisible – and it begins with people who have the courage to stand up.

That is why our Foundation is committed to honoring freedom-loving people in Iran. By conferring the Freedom Prize on the Iranian people, the Foundation is sending a clear message to the public: The struggle for freedom and democracy has the full support of all liberals.

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

Founded in 2019 by Jaylon Lim and Joshua Luah, both of whom cut their teeth working part-time at an events rental company, The Carnival Fair was built on a simple observation: Singapore’s events scene had genuine appetite for a specialist who took carnival experiences seriously, from properly maintained equipment to staff who know how to run a booth and hold a crowd.

That foundation has since grown into a catalogue spanning carnival classics such as ring toss and bouncy castle rental, themed booth setups with custom props and backdrops, and a tech-forward lineup including claw machine rental, racing simulators and VR/AR stations. Clients looking to rent carnival games for a single booth or an entire event footprint can now draw from one of the broadest catalogues in the local market, with carnival food rental options available to round out the experience for guests. The breadth was on full display at flagship events such as the City Harvest Church Christmas Carnival at Suntec City, which drew around 10,000 attendees across a multi-day operation, and the Biotronik “Carnival Around the World” celebration, which paired globally themed food stations with bespoke branding to mark a genuine company milestone.

Underpinning the growth is a price-match guarantee, ensuring clients who find a comparable like-for-like quote from another Singapore provider are never short-changed on price or quality.

Reaching 1,200 events reflects sustained demand from Singapore’s businesses, schools and families for carnival experiences done properly, and marks just the beginning as the company moves further into full event planning rather than rentals alone.

With demand continuing to grow across corporate, education and private segments, The Carnival Fair is expanding its interactive and technology-driven offerings, including holographic claw machines, racing simulators, VR/AR stations and interactive digital games, while deepening partnerships with venues and recurring corporate clients.

Hashtag: #TheCarnivalFair

https://www.thecarnivalfair.com.sg/
https://www.facebook.com/TheCarnivalFairSG/
https://www.instagram.com/thecarnivalfairsg/?hl=en

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

About The Carnival Fair

The Carnival Fair is a Singapore-based carnival event and rental company offering bouncy castle rental, carnival games, inflatables, food stations, photo experiences and interactive tech installations for corporate, school and private events. Businesses and families can rent carnival games and equipment individually or as part of a full carnival package, backed by a price-match guarantee. The company has served more than 700 clients since 2019.

The leaders met on Sunday as Egypt pressed for faster progress on a trade goal first set during El-Sisi’s state visit to New Delhi in January 2023. Egypt’s presidency said the discussions covered measures to strengthen the strategic partnership, increase commerce and encourage more investment from India in sectors including manufacturing, technology, clean energy and the automotive industry.

El-Sisi stressed the importance of translating the economic relationship into projects and commercial flows capable of taking trade to the $12 billion target. The two sides also reviewed opportunities for companies from India to expand their presence in Egypt, which Cairo has promoted as a production and export base serving markets in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

Bilateral merchandise trade stood at about $6.5 billion in the 2025-26 financial year, according to figures cited by India’s embassy in Cairo. That leaves the two countries seeking almost to double the current level if they are to reach the objective discussed by their leaders.

Investment formed a central part of the meeting. Egypt highlighted manufacturing, information technology, renewable and clean energy, and vehicle production as areas where it wants to attract additional capital. Cairo has also sought greater participation by overseas companies in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and other industrial centres as it works to raise exports and secure more foreign currency.

Modi and El-Sisi reviewed the broader strategic partnership and discussed cooperation in economic and commercial fields, along with regional and international developments. Their meeting came as New Delhi hosted the September 12-13 BRICS summit under the theme of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.

Egypt joined BRICS at the start of 2024 and has since used the grouping to widen economic links with major emerging economies. The New Delhi summit brought together an expanded bloc whose agenda included trade, finance, technology, energy, climate issues and greater use of national currencies in cross-border transactions.

The trade push also builds on institutional contacts between Cairo and New Delhi. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said during BRICS ministerial meetings in May that the two countries wanted to raise bilateral trade to $12 billion over five years and strengthen cooperation in investment, technology and other economic sectors.

El-Sisi and Modi upgraded relations to a strategic partnership in 2023, creating a framework for closer coordination across trade, investment, defence, energy and political consultation. The latest talks focused more narrowly on turning the economic component of that partnership into measurable gains, particularly through private-sector investment and expanded market access.

Egypt has been courting manufacturers as it seeks to increase domestic production and exports, while companies from India already operate in industries including chemicals, textiles, food processing and manufacturing. Cairo’s investment campaign has emphasised projects that can supply the domestic market while using Egypt’s trade agreements and transport links to reach neighbouring regions.

The two leaders also discussed international and regional issues, according to Egypt’s presidency, without announcing a separate bilateral agreement during the meeting. Their talks were among a series of leader-level engagements held around the BRICS gathering as member states sought to advance economic cooperation alongside the summit’s wider diplomatic agenda.

For Egypt, the $12 billion goal provides a benchmark for a relationship that has expanded beyond traditional merchandise trade into investment-led cooperation. For India, stronger commercial ties with Egypt offer access to a major Arab and African market and to production locations close to the Suez Canal, one of the world’s principal shipping routes.