Binance has named Justin Yek as its new chief financial officer after Kaiser Ng decided to leave the cryptocurrency exchange, a leadership change announced just over a week after hackers stole approximately $6.3 billion in digital assets. Co-chief executive Yi He announced the appointment on Saturday, saying Ng was departing to pursue another venture. She said arrangements for the handover had been under way for six months, […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 November 2026 – Prof. Nancy IP, President and The Morningside Professor of Life Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has been awarded the 2026 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences in recognition of her pioneering contributions to neuroscience and Alzheimer’s disease research. The award ceremony was held on November 6 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
Prof. Nancy Ip, President and Morningside Professor of Life Science at HKUST, has been awarded the 2026 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences in recognition of her pioneering contributions to neuroscience and Alzheimer’s disease research. Prof. Ip accepts the award at a ceremony held on November 6 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
In announcing the award, UNESCO recognized Prof. Ip as an internationally renowned neuroscientist whose research has significantly advanced the understanding of brain function and neurodegenerative diseases. It highlighted her team’s discoveries of novel biomarkers and genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, the development of an innovative blood-based diagnostic technology that enables earlier detection and monitoring of the disease, and her pioneering advances in gene therapy research that have opened new avenues for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
President Prof. Nancy Ip first received the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award in 2004, becoming the first Chinese scientist in the life sciences and the first scientist from Hong Kong to receive the honor. Her latest recognition, the 2026 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences, marks a second major accolade from UNESCO and makes her the first Hong Kong scientist to have received both prestigious UNESCO awards.
Receiving the award in Paris, Prof. Ip expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her research team, collaborators and colleagues, and thanked HKUST for its steadfast support throughout her scientific journey.
Prof. Nancy Ip (middle) joins the 2026 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize laureates and Fellowship Programme for Young Women Scientists in Africa recipients for a group photo.
Prof. Ip said: “I am deeply honored to receive the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences. This recognition belongs not only to me, but also to the many talented and dedicated team members, collaborators and colleagues who have contributed to these achievements. It reflects our shared commitment to advancing knowledge, deepening our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, and translating scientific discoveries into meaningful benefits for patients and society.“
She added: “Alzheimer’s disease is not just a scientific and medical challenge. It is also a deeply human one, profoundly affecting the lives of those living with the disease and their families. Their courage reminds us why our work matters and inspires us to reach higher.”
Prof. Ip also emphasized the importance of global scientific collaboration and nurturing future generations of researchers. “Science is a collective endeavor,” she said. “Every breakthrough is built on collaboration across disciplines, institutions and borders. As a scientist and university president, I believe we must also empower young researchers by giving them the freedom to pursue their curiosity, the confidence to take intellectual risks, and the support they need to tackle the grand challenges facing humanity.”
Prof. Nancy Ip expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her research team, collaborators and colleagues, and thanked HKUST for its steadfast support throughout her scientific journey.
Breakthrough Contributions to Neuroscience and Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Prof. Ip has devoted more than three decades to advancing research on neurodegenerative diseases. To date, she has published over 350 scholarly papers and holds 144 patents. Her pioneering work has significantly deepened scientific understanding of intercellular communication in the nervous system, synaptic signaling, and the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. Her research team has also achieved a series of breakthroughs in identifying protein targets associated with these disorders, opening new avenues for their diagnosis and treatment.
Recognizing that Alzheimer’s disease research has historically relied heavily on data from Western populations, with Asian populations being relatively underrepresented, Prof. Ip led her team in establishing a large-scale Chinese Alzheimer’s disease biobank. By integrating clinical data, neuroimaging information, and multi-omics datasets from Chinese populations, the team successfully identified multiple genetic risk factors prevalent among Chinese individuals. These findings have provided important scientific insights into disease mechanisms and laid a foundation for the development of precision diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
In recent years, Prof. Ip and her team have made significant advances in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and the clinical translation of related research. They co-developed a highly accurate, minimally invasive, and efficient blood-based diagnostic test that can aid early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and help identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment, thereby supporting timely clinical assessment and intervention planning, as well as the identification of suitable participants for clinical trials. The technology has been adopted by multiple healthcare institutions in Hong Kong and has since been expanded into community settings, helping to inform more effective disease management and risk-reduction strategies. Meanwhile, the team is actively exploring novel gene therapy approaches for familial Alzheimer’s disease through gene-editing technologies, with the goal of developing an integrated innovation pipeline spanning early diagnosis to next-generation therapeutics.
An Internationally Acclaimed Scientist
Prof. Ip is President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and concurrently serves as Director of the State Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders and Director of the Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Prior to joining HKUST, she was a Senior Staff Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in the United States. Since joining HKUST, she has held a number of key leadership positions, including Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Dean of Science, and Vice-President for Research and Development, before assuming the presidency of the University in 2022.
Renowned internationally for her scientific achievements and academic leadership, Prof. Ip is an elected member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Academia Europaea, and the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences. Her many honors include the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award, the State Natural Science Award of China (twice), and recognition by Nature as one of China’s “Ten Science Stars”. She was also appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite by the French Government and awarded both the Silver Bauhinia Star and Bronze Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government.
The UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences was established by UNESCO to recognize outstanding scientific achievements that advance human health and improve quality of life. The Prize promotes scientific excellence, international collaboration, and the development of research networks worldwide. This year’s prize is shared by three laureates, who jointly receive US$300,000 and an Integración Tribal statuette created by Equatorial Guinean artist Leandro Mbomio Nsue.
Hashtag: #HKUST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university renowned for its excellence in innovative education, research, and impactful knowledge transfer. Adopting a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to education, HKUST was ranked 33rd globally and 6th in Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and QS Asia University Rankings 2026, respectively. It was also ranked 20th worldwide in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, placing first among universities in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland for the third consecutive year. Eleven HKUST subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. In addition, HKUSTs Computer Science discipline, which encompasses areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, was ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong for the tenth consecutive year in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Its graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In research and entrepreneurship, more than 80% of HKUST’s research was rated “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” in the University Grants Committee’s Research Assessment Exercise 2020. As of September 2026, HKUST members have founded more than 2,000 active start-ups, including 11 unicorns and 23 successful exits through initial public offerings (IPOs) or mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
By Dr. Gyan Pathak Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) will soon be placed in a foreign hand, which the nationalist prime minister Narendra Modi’s BJP led NDA government said doing it in the national interest of the country. Employees and officers of IDBI on the other hand went on two days nationwide strike on […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a 10-year agreement to supply Gujarat Energy Ltd with up to four million tonnes of liquefied natural gas, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. The agreement, announced on Friday, marks the first sale of gas from the international portfolio of XRG, ADNOC’s international investment company. It is also ADNOC’s fifth LNG supply agreement with […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 November 2026 – Prof. Nancy IP, President and The Morningside Professor of Life Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has been awarded the 2026 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences in recognition of her pioneering contributions to neuroscience and Alzheimer’s disease research. The award ceremony was held on November 6 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
Prof. Nancy Ip, President and Morningside Professor of Life Science at HKUST, has been awarded the 2026 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences in recognition of her pioneering contributions to neuroscience and Alzheimer’s disease research. Prof. Ip accepts the award at a ceremony held on November 6 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
In announcing the award, UNESCO recognized Prof. Ip as an internationally renowned neuroscientist whose research has significantly advanced the understanding of brain function and neurodegenerative diseases. It highlighted her team’s discoveries of novel biomarkers and genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, the development of an innovative blood-based diagnostic technology that enables earlier detection and monitoring of the disease, and her pioneering advances in gene therapy research that have opened new avenues for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Receiving the award in Paris, Prof. Ip expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her research team, collaborators and colleagues, and thanked HKUST for its steadfast support throughout her scientific journey.
Prof. Nancy Ip (middle) joins the 2026 UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize laureates and Fellowship Programme for Young Women Scientists in Africa recipients for a group photo.
Prof. Ip said: “I am deeply honored to receive the UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences. This recognition belongs not only to me, but also to the many talented and dedicated team members, collaborators and colleagues who have contributed to these achievements. It reflects our shared commitment to advancing knowledge, deepening our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, and translating scientific discoveries into meaningful benefits for patients and society.“
She added: “Alzheimer’s disease is not just a scientific and medical challenge. It is also a deeply human one, profoundly affecting the lives of those living with the disease and their families. Their courage reminds us why our work matters and inspires us to reach higher.”
Prof. Ip also emphasized the importance of global scientific collaboration and nurturing future generations of researchers. “Science is a collective endeavor,” she said. “Every breakthrough is built on collaboration across disciplines, institutions and borders. As a scientist and university president, I believe we must also empower young researchers by giving them the freedom to pursue their curiosity, the confidence to take intellectual risks, and the support they need to tackle the grand challenges facing humanity.”
Prof. Nancy Ip expressed her heartfelt gratitude to her research team, collaborators and colleagues, and thanked HKUST for its steadfast support throughout her scientific journey.
Breakthrough Contributions to Neuroscience and Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Prof. Ip has devoted more than three decades to advancing research on neurodegenerative diseases. To date, she has published over 350 scholarly papers and holds 144 patents. Her pioneering work has significantly deepened scientific understanding of intercellular communication in the nervous system, synaptic signaling, and the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases. Her research team has also achieved a series of breakthroughs in identifying protein targets associated with these disorders, opening new avenues for their diagnosis and treatment.
Recognizing that Alzheimer’s disease research has historically relied heavily on data from Western populations, with Asian populations being relatively underrepresented, Prof. Ip led her team in establishing a large-scale Chinese Alzheimer’s disease biobank. By integrating clinical data, neuroimaging information, and multi-omics datasets from Chinese populations, the team successfully identified multiple genetic risk factors prevalent among Chinese individuals. These findings have provided important scientific insights into disease mechanisms and laid a foundation for the development of precision diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
In recent years, Prof. Ip and her team have made significant advances in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and the clinical translation of related research. They co-developed a highly accurate, minimally invasive, and efficient blood-based diagnostic test that can aid early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and help identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment, thereby supporting timely clinical assessment and intervention planning, as well as the identification of suitable participants for clinical trials. The technology has been adopted by multiple healthcare institutions in Hong Kong and has since been expanded into community settings, helping to inform more effective disease management and risk-reduction strategies. Meanwhile, the team is actively exploring novel gene therapy approaches for familial Alzheimer’s disease through gene-editing technologies, with the goal of developing an integrated innovation pipeline spanning early diagnosis to next-generation therapeutics.
An Internationally Acclaimed Scientist
Prof. Ip is President of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and concurrently serves as Director of the State Key Laboratory of Nervous System Disorders and Director of the Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Prior to joining HKUST, she was a Senior Staff Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in the United States. Since joining HKUST, she has held a number of key leadership positions, including Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Dean of Science, and Vice-President for Research and Development, before assuming the presidency of the University in 2022.
Renowned internationally for her scientific achievements and academic leadership, Prof. Ip is an elected member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the US National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Academia Europaea, and the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences. Her many honors include the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award, the State Natural Science Award of China (twice), and recognition by Nature as one of China’s “Ten Science Stars”. She was also appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite by the French Government and awarded both the Silver Bauhinia Star and Bronze Bauhinia Star by the HKSAR Government.
The UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences was established by UNESCO to recognize outstanding scientific achievements that advance human health and improve quality of life. The Prize promotes scientific excellence, international collaboration, and the development of research networks worldwide. This year’s prize is shared by three laureates, who jointly receive US$300,000 and an Integración Tribal statuette created by Equatorial Guinean artist Leandro Mbomio Nsue.
Hashtag: #HKUST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (https://hkust.edu.hk/) is a world-class university renowned for its excellence in innovative education, research, and impactful knowledge transfer. Adopting a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to education, HKUST was ranked 33rd globally and 6th in Asia in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and QS Asia University Rankings 2026, respectively. It was also ranked 20th worldwide in the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, placing first among universities in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland for the third consecutive year. Eleven HKUST subjects were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. In addition, HKUSTs Computer Science discipline, which encompasses areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, was ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong for the tenth consecutive year in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Its graduates are highly competitive, consistently ranking among the world’s top 30 most sought-after employees. In research and entrepreneurship, more than 80% of HKUST’s research was rated “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” in the University Grants Committee’s Research Assessment Exercise 2020. As of September 2026, HKUST members have founded more than 2,000 active start-ups, including 11 unicorns and 23 successful exits through initial public offerings (IPOs) or mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Motorola has unveiled its Signature 27 smartphone with a $1,599 price tag, a 200-megapixel telephoto camera and a 7,000mAh battery, marking a major expansion of its conventional premium handset range. The Lenovo-owned company announced the device on Thursday, confirming that US pre-orders will open on 19 November ahead of general sales on 26 November. Its official recommended US price is $1,599.99 for a […]
By Nitya Chakraborty On the eve of the ASEAN Summit in Manila scheduled on November 15 to 17, a big pressure has been mounted on India by the member countries of RCEP including China and New Zealand to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which was formalized in November 2020 and emerged as the […]
TONGXIANG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 November 2026 – A robot makes coffee. Others dance, patrol exhibition halls or trade mock blows in choreographed demonstrations. Scenes like these were on full display at this year’s World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, which concluded on Nov 5 in the canal town of Wuzhen in eastern China.
American content creator Evan Kail poses for a photo with Unitree Robotics’ GD01, a robot designed for emergency-response scenarios, at the summit.
Companies including Unitree Robotics, AgiBot and UBTECH used the “Light of Internet” Expo to show how far robots have come — and how close they may be to becoming part of everyday life.
But the expo was not only about spectacle. Many of the machines on display were being developed for tasks beyond the exhibition hall.
Evan Kail, an American content creator visiting the expo, paused in front of Unitree Robotics’ GD01, a robot designed for emergency-response scenarios.
Kail said the machine captured the pace of China’s progress in robotics. A few years ago, he said, Unitree robots were widely known for dancing in televised gala performances. Now, machines such as the GD01 pointed to more practical roles, including disaster response and search-and-rescue operations.
“The leaps of technology in China are very impressive,” Kail said. “As climate change gets worse and worse, robots like this can make a difference if they are used to save lives.”
The shift from eye-catching demonstrations to practical deployment was a recurring theme across the expo. But for robots to work reliably in crowded streets, disaster zones or industrial sites, the machine itself is only part of the equation. It also needs a network capable of carrying huge amounts of data, responding almost instantly and supporting AI decisions close to where they are needed.
At China Mobile’s booth, a display highlighted one example: traffic-management robots deployed in Hangzhou, the eastern Chinese city that hosted the 2023 Asian Games.
Earlier this year, during a peak holiday travel period, Hangzhou deployed 15 robots at major intersections in tourist areas and downtown districts. Part of the Hangzhou Police Smart Mobility program, they can answer questions, guide pedestrians and vehicles, and warn people about traffic violations.
The deployment illustrates how connectivity is becoming central to the usefulness of intelligent machines. The current system uses 5G and 5G-Advanced connections and typically supports one camera on each robot. Future versions are expected to carry as many as six cameras and operate more independently within defined areas.
That will require latency below 10 milliseconds, uplink speeds above 100 Mbps and positioning accurate to within centimeters — demands that are helping shape the development of 6G.
The next generation of mobile technology is still years from commercial deployment. But its ambitions extend beyond faster download speeds. Industry plans for 6G include combining communications with sensing, edge computing and satellite connectivity.
“With 6G, networks will effectively gain radar-like eyes — the ability to sense and understand their surroundings — while AI will give them a brain,” said Liang Zeshuai, a network optimization engineer at China Mobile Zhejiang.
In this vision, a base station would do more than transmit data. Equipped with radar-like sensing capabilities, it could detect a nearby drone, identify obstacles around a blind corner or provide an autonomous machine with a more detailed understanding of its surroundings. Edge computing, meanwhile, would allow AI tasks to be processed closer to the user, rather than sending every request to a distant data center.
That could matter especially in the kinds of situations Kail had in mind: complex and dangerous environments where time, connectivity and situational awareness can make a difference.
Satellite connectivity could provide another layer of resilience when typhoons, earthquakes or other disasters damage ground-based infrastructure. China Mobile has launched a direct-to-handset service using the Tiantong and BeiDou satellite systems.
For now, 5G-Advanced — a network that goes beyond 5G in speed and performance — has already been widely rolled out across China. In Wuzhen, a 5G-Advanced “super uplink” network with upload speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps covered the conference venue for the first time. Robot dogs used the network to patrol the area, transmitting 4K video and location data in real time.
A girl reaches out to shake hands with a robot dog used for patrol demonstrations at the summit.
The same combination of connectivity, computing and AI is moving into industries where the gains may be less visible than a dancing robot, but potentially more consequential.
China Mobile and Sinopharm, China’s state-owned pharmaceutical and healthcare conglomerate, for example, have developed an AI-enabled cold-chain logistics platform that has reduced delivery costs by 65% and cut delivery times by 70%. The system is designed to help manage the transport of temperature-sensitive products, where delays or poor monitoring can lead to waste.
At Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, China Mobile has built what it describes as the world’s largest 5G private network for port operations. Such networks can support real-time coordination among cranes, vehicles, cameras and control systems across a vast, fast-moving industrial site.
The company is also applying AI and connected systems to public safety and emergency management, including flood-control planning and drone inspections of buildings. The aim is not only to respond faster after an emergency, but to identify risks before they become crises.
At Wuzhen, the robots remained the most visible attraction. They made coffee, danced for visitors and posed for cameras. Yet the more consequential story was happening behind them — in the networks, computing systems and satellite links that could determine how quickly AI moves from a trade-show novelty into a tool for cities, industries and, potentially, lifesaving work.
Hashtag: #TongxiangNewsOffice
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
By T N Ashok NEW YORK: The November 3 midterm elections have given the Democrats an extraordinary opportunity to reclaim the political initiative in Washington. But the victory carries a warning of its own: the electorate may have voted against Donald Trump, but it has not necessarily handed the Democratic Party an unconditional mandate. Its […]
Dubai has outlined the eligibility rules and benefits of its invitation-only Access Club, offering selected repeat visitors a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa and privileges across hotels, shopping destinations and attractions. The programme, developed by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), will grant five-year memberships through nominations by participating companies and loyalty schemes. […]
Wall Street suffered a sweeping technology selloff on Thursday as fears over artificial intelligence spending and possible restrictions on data centres drove the Nasdaq Composite into correction territory. The technology-heavy index dropped 5.5 per cent to 24,315, closing nearly 12 per cent below its October peak. The S&P 500 lost 4.4 per cent to 7,353.73, its steepest daily decline since April 2025, while the Dow Jones Industrial […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 November 2026 – The 75th Miss Universe World Final will take place on 24 November 2026 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Marking the historic diamond anniversary of the pageant, this year’s edition brings together delegates from over 120 countries and territories. Crowned Miss Universe Hong Kong in September 2026, Jen Zhou has completed her domestic preparations and will depart for Puerto Rico next week to embark on three weeks of official competition events, preliminary evaluations, and cross-cultural exchanges.
A Multifaceted Background Spanning Film, Finance, and Broadcast Journalism
Raised in Hong Kong and an alumna of Hong Kong International School (HKIS), Zhou demonstrated creative and academic excellence early on, receiving concurrent admission offers from the Acting Department of Beijing Film Academy and the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California (USC). She went on to complete dual degrees from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and the Marshall School of Business.
Following graduation, Zhou entered international corporate finance, working at UBS for nearly three years before pursuing and earning a Master’s degree in Journalism from Columbia University in New York. She currently works as an English-language television feature host in Hong Kong, a bilingual content creator, and a commercial model. Having previously placed as a finalist in both Miss Asia and Miss Hong Kong, Zhou won the Miss Universe Hong Kong title in September 2026, securing her credential to represent the city on the global stage.
“The Miss Universe competition is not only one of the world’s preeminent pageants, but also a vital platform for spotlighting female leadership, cultural diversity, and global engagement,” Zhou stated. “Representing Hong Kong at this diamond anniversary edition is a tremendous privilege. I hope to present to the world the resilience, professionalism, and cultural confidence that define Hong Kong’s emerging generation.”
Rigorous Competition Preparation and Community Philanthropy
To prepare for the global arena at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum—a venue accommodating up to 18,000 spectators—the Hong Kong delegation designed a rigorous training regimen for Zhou. The curriculum emphasized international runway technique, multi-camera staging, and simulated on-stage Q&A sessions to sharpen public speaking under pressure.
In tandem with performance coaching, Zhou prioritized community advocacy throughout her intensive preparation period. In late October, she volunteered at a community kitchen in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, joining local volunteer teams to prepare and distribute hot meals and essential supplies to elderly residents and unhoused individuals. Zhou and her team also provided direct funding for meal ingredients, integrating civic engagement into her pre-pageant journey.
Showcasing Local Design: Evening Gown Craftsmanship and Cultural Heritage
The official Miss Universe schedule features rigorous sartorial standards across welcome receptions, philanthropic galas, preliminary judging, the national costume presentation, and the grand final.
Bespoke Evening Gown: Tailored by an acclaimed Hong Kong fashion designer, Zhou’s competition gown integrates Hong Kong’s East-meets-West architectural silhouettes, urban dynamism, and traditional Lingnan textile craftsmanship into its fabric and tailoring.
Cultural Heritage Exchange: For the traditional gift-exchange ceremony involving over 120 participating delegations, the team selected handcrafted cultural keepsakes reflecting Hong Kong’s heritage, designed to share the city’s unique cultural narrative with global representatives.
Official Schedule for the 75th Miss Universe World Final
Key competition milestones at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum include:
National Costume Show: 21 November 2026
Preliminary Competition: 22 November 2026
Grand Final: 24 November 2026
Hashtag: #MissUniverseHongKong #MissUniverse
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Miss Universe Hong Kong
Miss Universe is among the world’s most enduring and widely followed international competitions, engaging delegates from more than 120 countries and territories annually. Miss Universe Hong Kong selects and mentors accomplished women with strong academic credentials, global communication skills, and social commitment to represent Hong Kong internationally, fostering intercultural dialogue and enhancing the city’s global profile.
About the 75th Miss Universe World Final
The 75th Miss Universe World Final will convene on 24 November 2026 at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Celebrating 75 years of leadership and international pageantry under the “Diamond Edition” banner, the event brings together global delegates demonstrating leadership, stage presentation, and public advocacy.
By Asad Mirza The 2026 midterms became a referendum on a presidency at war. Democrats captured both chambers, turning voter anger over costs and the Iran conflict into a sweeping rebuke of Republican rule. The result strengthens the opposition’s hand, unsettles Trump’s coalition and raises a stark question: can the president change course? The Democrats […]
Bureau’s Middle East hub in Dubai to mobilise Gulf partners in driving initiatives under the partnership
COMO, ITALY / DUBAI, UAE / ACCRA, GHANA – African Media Agency – 5 November 2026– e-Crime Bureau, an ISO/IEC 27001-certified cybersecurity consulting firm, and the Smart Africa Secretariat have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cybersecurity innovation and capacity development across Africa.
Signed on November 2, 2026, in Accra, on the sidelines of the 15th Africa Internet Governance Forum (AfIGF), the agreement establishes collaboration across three areas: people, processes and technology.
The firm’s Middle East hub will drive initiatives under the MoU by bringing Gulf partners into the partnership, leveraging the region’s fast-growing emerging technology and cybersecurity ecosystem, including technology companies, innovation centres, investors, government-led digital transformation and national cybersecurity initiatives. Through these partnerships, the firm aims to channel Gulf expertise, technologies and investment into programmes that strengthen Africa’s cybersecurity capabilities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Lacina Koné, Director General and CEO, Smart Africa, said: “Through our collaboration with e-Crime Bureau, we aim to strengthen cybersecurity expertise and advance the protection of critical digital infrastructure across the continent. ”
The partnership follows e-Crime Bureau’s global restructuring, anchored by hubs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, building on 15 years of experience to serve clients across international markets.
The Middle East hub leads business development and service delivery and anchors the firm’s engagement with Gulf partners; the Europe hub focuses on standards, certifications, regulatory best practices, research, innovation and technology partnerships, and coordinates development partner engagements; while the African hub focuses on talent & skills development and project execution.
Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Executive Chairman of e-Crime Bureau, said: “Our expansion, and our partnership with Smart Africa, marks a new era for the Bureau. With global hubs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, we serve as a bridge that connects expertise, talent, experience, insights and technology.”
This partnership brings together Smart Africa’s cybersecurity work, e-Crime Bureau’s expertise and the strengths of the Gulf’s technology and cybersecurity ecosystem to advance cybersecurity innovation and capability development across Africa.
Hashtag: #e-CrimeBureau
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About e-Crime Bureau
e-Crime Bureau is a global cybersecurity consulting firm operating across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, combining technical expertise and practical experience to help clients anticipate threats, respond proactively and build lasting resilience. https://www.e-crimebureau.com/
A software failure at Britain’s air traffic control provider NATS inflicted an estimated £33 million in losses on UK organisations, with airlines bearing most of the cost, a new assessment has found. The Cyber Monitoring Centre (CMC) said on Wednesday that the disruption on 8 September affected more than 70 UK organisations and generated losses ranging from £24 million to £42 million under its modelling. The estimate […]
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 November 2026 – Skyro, a high-growth digital finance group that reached operational break-even in the Philippines just over three years after launching there, has introduced its first lending product in Malaysia. The company is starting with digital cash loans and hopes to expand its offering by introducing a product with an approved credit limit, potentially before the end of 2026.
Skyro has operated in the Philippines since 2022, building a registered user base of more than 7 million and an active loan portfolio exceeding US$200 million. In September 2026, the company announced that it had secured approval from Malaysia’s Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to provide online moneylending services. Malaysia is Skyro’s second market in Southeast Asia.
Skyro’s first Malaysian product offers new customers cash loans of up to RM1,000 (approximately US$250), with repayment terms of up to four months. The company plans to gradually increase borrowing limits for eligible customers, potentially reaching RM10,000 (approximately US$2,500), as it builds its local lending portfolio.
The application process takes place entirely in the Skyro mobile app, without requiring a branch visit. Malaysian citizens with a valid MyKad and regular income can apply by verifying their identity and providing supporting income documents. Skyro assesses each application individually, taking into account the applicant’s income, existing financial commitments and credit history. Most applicants receive a decision within minutes, with approved funds transferred directly to their bank accounts.
Transparency is a central feature of the new product. Before signing the loan agreement, customers can review their approved loan amount, monthly installments, applicable fees and total repayment obligation, based on a fixed interest rate of 1.5% per month.
Arsen Liametov, co-founder and co-CEO of Skyro, said:
“For many people, financial needs don’t always arise at a convenient time. Whether someone needs to pay for home repairs or an unexpected expense, we want Malaysians to have another option to consider when they need short-term financing. But making credit available is only one part of our service. It’s equally important that customers understand what they’re borrowing, what it will cost and how they’ll repay it before making that decision.”
As its Malaysian business evolves, Skyro hopes to introduce a product with an approved credit limit by the end of 2026 that would enable customers to apply for subsequent loans more easily once they have established a repayment record with the lender. Skyro will use insights from its initial cash-loan offering to adapt future products to Malaysian consumers’ needs and borrowing habits as it works towards building a financial ecosystem.
The launch comes as Malaysia steps up efforts to tackle illegal moneylending, including unlicensed Ah Long lenders and fraudulent loan apps. For consumers with limited access to traditional bank credit, licensed digital cash loans and revolving credit lines can provide a safer, more transparent alternative, combining convenient access to financing with clear repayment terms and responsible lending practices.
Hashtag: #Skyro
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Skyro
Skyro is a high-growth, digital-first fintech group delivering scalable, responsible financial access across high-potential emerging markets. Launched in the Philippines in 2022, the group now has more than 7 million registered users and a credit portfolio exceeding US$200 million.
Powered by proprietary data science, AI-driven credit decisioning and alternative-data scoring, Skyro combines a mobile-native experience with modular fintech architecture to serve underserved customer segments at scale.
Founded by Arsen Liametov and Nasim Aliev through a management buyout, Skyro is financed through a balanced combination of private capital, debt facilities and strategic equity investment from GCC-based investors. The company is expanding into new markets as it seeks to build a diversified financial services business across emerging economies.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has joined I Squared Capital and aircraft lessor Avolon to establish Constellation Aviation, a leasing investment platform expected to acquire 22 aircraft valued at $1.4 billion. The agreement, announced on 2 November, brings together a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, the Miami-based infrastructure investor and Dublin-based Avolon. The initial aircraft portfolio is already leased […]
US Vice-President JD Vance blamed the war with Iran for Republicans’ sweeping midterm election defeats on Wednesday, challenging attempts to explain away a Democratic takeover of both chambers of Congress. “The reason we lost is the war,” Vance wrote on X, arguing that the party must acknowledge the political cost of President Donald Trump’s military campaign before deciding how to recover. His intervention came as Democrats celebrated […]
Cyberport Community Cumulative Funding Surpasses HK$74.5 Billion, Welcoming 19 Listed Companies and 2 Unicorns over the Past Year
Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) Celebrates 9th Anniversary, Facilitating Over HK$6 Billion in Cumulative Funding
Cyberport Signs MoUs with Gobi Partners and Thailand’s National Innovation Agency to Unlock Global Growth Corridors
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 November 2026 – The annual flagship event Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum 2026 (CVCF) officially opened today at Hong Kong Cyberport. The two-day forum, themed “Scaling in a Changing World: Winning the Next Competitive Cycle”, brings together over 80 influential global venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to explore new frontiers in global venture trends, capital rerouting, Enterprise and Agentic AI, One-Person Companies (OPCs), digital assets, frontier technologies, and tokenisation economy, aiming to spotlight Hong Kong’s unique position as a strategic gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland, ASEAN, the Middle East, Central Asia and global innovation and funding networks. The forum also showcases the latest fundraising achievements of Cyberport start-ups.
The forum was inaugurated by Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry and Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport, and other distinguished guests at the opening ceremony, marking the official start of this global forum.
Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, said “Turning AI potential into sustainable growth requires more than technology. It also requires investment, business expertise and access to markets. This is where today’s forum can make a difference – bringing innovators and investors together to explore emerging technologies, support promising ventures and open doors to new opportunities. The HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen the support that helps promising ventures grow as well its investment to mobilise more private capital, consolidating Hong Kong’s position as an international innovation and technology centre, and as a premier hub for AI.”
Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport, said: “In a shifting global capital landscape, Hong Kong’s role as a ‘super-connector’ and ‘super value-adder’ between the Chinese Mainland and the world is more valuable than ever. The cross-border dialogue and partnerships forged here will create fresh opportunities for innovation, investment and collaboration.”
Cyberport Start-ups Show Robust Fundraising as AI and the Agentic Economy Take Centre Stage
Cyberport’s start-ups have demonstrated robust fundraising performance over the past year. Cyberport gathers over 2,400 companies, Cyberport start-ups have raised over HK$74.5 billion in funding. During the year, Cyberport proudly welcomed 19 listed companies and 2 unicorns to its community. Recent high-value fundraising rounds include Finloop, Qupital and Premialab, leverage AI, blockchain and digital assets — reflecting sustained market confidence in these emerging technologies and underscoring Cyberport’s success in fostering their development.
CIN Celebrates 9th Anniversary, Connecting Global Capital with High-Potential Start-ups
As Hong Kong’s digital tech hub, AI accelerator and key incubator, Cyberport actively connects global investors with start-ups through diverse funding channels.
The CIN 9th Anniversary Celebration commemorated a successful nine-year milestone while ushering in a new chapter of leadership, as the chairmanship passed from Hendrick Sin to John Ng. To honour this pivotal handover, Hendrick Sin, Hon. Duncan Chiu, and Cindy Chow were officially designated as Honorary Chairs of CIN in recognition of their distinguished contributions to the ecosystem.
Hendrick Sin, Honorary Chair of CIN; Co-Founder of CMGE Technology Group Limited; Chairman of China Prosperity Capital, stated in his video speech, “CIN has facilitated over HK$6 billion in investments across more than 130 projects since its inception, reflecting strong investor confidence in Cyberport companies. Looking ahead, we will strengthen the quality and depth of our deal flow, enhance structured capital partnerships to broaden access to funding at different growth stages, and deepen our relationships with CVCs, PE firms, family offices and LPs, further diversifying CIN’s investor network. Through these efforts, CIN will continue to connect promising companies with the right capital, expertise and networks needed to scale and succeed.
John Ng, Chairman of CIN, added in his speech, “I’m honoured to be appointed Chairman of CIN. The network has grown to nearly 250 investment firms, an achievement that reflects the tremendous efforts of Hendrick and the CIN team over the past years. Drawing on my background in corporate venture capital and family offices, one of my priorities will be to expand CIN’s network within these communities and take CIN into its next chapter.”
Another key financing channel, CMF, has invested in 30 start-up projects as of September 2026, with total investment including co-investments exceeding HK$2.7 billion and a co-investment ratio of over 1:9.3. Further augmenting ecosystem liquidity, Cyberport, BOCHK Asset Management and BOC Group Investment formed a strategic partnership in May 2026, as well as with Taiping Financial Holdings in Aug 2026 on venture capital funds to back promising Hong Kong I&T start-ups.
Strategic Partnerships to Unlock Global Growth Corridors
At the Forum, Cyberport signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), with Gobi Partners and with Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA), to solidify global corridors for cross-border expansion.
Cyberport and Gobi Partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in nurturing innovation and technology enterprises, facilitating market expansion and investment opportunities, and strengthening the innovation ecosystems of Hong Kong, Asia and the Middle East.
Building on a longstanding partnership, Gobi has invested in more than 24 Cyberport companies, including CMF co-investments. Witnessed by Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport, and Chibo Tang, Managing Partner, GBA Team of Gobi Partners, the MoU was signed by Dr Rocky Cheng, CEO of Cyberport, and Fred Li, Managing Director, GBA Team of Gobi Partners.
Meanwhile, Cyberport and Thailand’s National Innovation Agency (NIA) signed an MoU to promote cross-border innovation collaboration, startup development and knowledge exchange in AI, smart city and other digital technologies. It will cover soft-landing and market expansion, business matching, innovation programmes and community engagement, joint events, and proof-of-concept and pilot opportunities. The MoU was witnessed by Lillian Cheong, Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Simon Chan, Chairman of Cyberport, and Preechaya Panyakrua, Innovation Counsellor of NIA, and signed by Dr Rocky Cheng, CEO of Cyberport, and Dr Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of NIA.
Decoding the New Playbook for Scaling in the Age of AI
This year’s CVCF programme is organised around three umbrella themes: Mega Trends & AI Frontiers, Regional Market Focus & Global Corridors, and Market Focus & Strategic Capital Dynamics.
Opening the main stage, Mahesh Krishnaswamy, Founder and CEO of Taara, delivered the keynote “The Innovation Playbook: Capitalizing on Moonshots and Faster Cycles in the Age of AI”, sharing how Taara evolved from a radical moonshot into a real-world high-speed optical communications solution — a timely lens on compressed innovation cycles and how breakthrough technology scales.
The forum also brought together venture capital leaders from Gobi Partners, Alumni Ventures, Rasmal Ventures, Primavera Capital, Draper Dragon, Pegasus Tech Ventures, Plug & Play and more to examine AI-driven capital shifts, high-growth corridors across the Middle East, ASEAN and the Greater Bay Area, and how public-private and corporate strategic capital can accelerate tech scale-ups.
Beyond the thought leadership sessions, the event further reinforced Cyberport’s role in connecting capital, innovation and global market opportunities. It also provided a dynamic platform for business matching and startup empowerment. This year’s Founder Pitch attracted strong interest from local and international venture capital firms, enabling startups from early-stage innovators to high-growth scale-ups to present their cutting-edge solutions to investors and ecosystem partners.
Throughout the first day, the event floor featured tailored Investor Matching sessions, dynamic Innovator Showcases featuring elite, high-potential startups across key tech sectors from local and global partner networks, and dedicated Startup Clinics offering practical strategic guidance. Coupled with engaging networking exchanges, Day one concluded on a positive note, reinforcing Cyberport’s ongoing role in connecting capital, innovation, and global market opportunities.
Day two will feature the CVCF’s spotlight event “Agentic Economy Summit”, themed “Intelligent Frontiers, Tokenised Horizons”, featuring a keynote address by Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, and will explore how agentic AI is reshaping business and how digital assets are redefining the way value moves. The summit will examine digital identity, institutional tokenisation, HKD stablecoins, programmable payments and machine-to-machine commerce, alongside the rise of OPCs. Day two also features hands-on startup workshops designed to equip founders with practical playbooks for pitch mastery and market scaling.
For more information on Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum 2026 and the speaker line-up, please visit http://cvcf.cyberport.hk/.
Hashtag: #Cyberport
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Hong Kong Cyberport
Wholly owned by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, Cyberport is Hong Kong’s digital tech hub and AI accelerator, with a vision to empower industry digitalisation and intelligent transformation, to promote digital economy and AI development, and to foster Hong Kong to be an international AI, innovation and technology (I&T) hub. Cyberport gathers over 2,400 companies, including 30 listed companies and 10 unicorns. 40% of onsite companies’ founders come from 28 countries and regions, while Cyberport companies have expanded to over 36 global markets.
Cyberport, with Hong Kong’s largest AI Supercomputing Centre and AI Lab as the engine, has been building the AI ecosystem with industry-leading AI companies and over 500 AI and data science start-ups. Through development of tech clusters, namely AI, data science, blockchain and cybersecurity, Cyberport empowers industries across smart city and government, banking and finance, digital entertainment, culture and tourism, healthcare, education and training, property management, construction, transportation and logistics, green environment and more, while hosting Hong Kong’s largest FinTech community. Commissioned by the HKSAR Government, Cyberport has implemented proof-of-concept and sandbox schemes, subsidisation for digital tech adoption, industry tech training and start-up incubation, to drive technology R&D, translation and commercialisation, thus propelling digital transformation and intelligent upgrade across industry and society.
Also as “State-level Scientific and Technological Enterprise Incubator” and Hong Kong’s key incubator, Cyberport supports entrepreneurs with funding and office space, extensive networks of enterprises, investors, technology corporations and professional services for business growth and expansion to Chinese Mainland and overseas markets, all-round facilitation for landing in Hong Kong, talent attraction and cultivation, ready as a launchpad to take start-ups in any stages of development to the next level.
Kerala’s electricity and water utilities face combined unpaid consumer bills of ₹1,992.30 crore, with private establishments, households and government institutions among the defaulters. The outstanding sums place renewed attention on collections at two essential public service providers. The Kerala State Electricity…
Democrats have regained control of the United States Senate after sweeping Republican-held seats across the country in Tuesday’s midterm elections, delivering a major setback to President Donald Trump. Projections on Wednesday gave Democrats at least 54 seats in the 100-member chamber, compared with the 47 seats held by Democrats and allied independents before the vote. The party captured seven Republican seats, including victories in Texas, Kansas and […]
By Dr. Gyan Pathak India made “remarkable progress” in reducing poverty, World Bank said in October 2026 report, adding extreme poverty fell to 2.6 per cent who were living on less than $3 a day in 2021 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms. Let Prime Minister Narendra Modi applaud himself, his government, and the Word Bank […]
By Nitya Chakraborty The results of the U.S. midterm elections are going to have big impact not only on the current administration of President Donald Trump, but also on the latest political situation in Latin America, Europe and even in India. At global level, Trump’s big defeat is a boost to the forces in different […]
Democrats have regained control of the United States Senate after victories across Republican-held states in Tuesday’s midterm elections, delivering a major setback to President Donald Trump and threatening his party’s hold on the House of Representatives. The November 3 vote overturned expectations that Republicans would retain the Senate, with Democratic candidates winning seats in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio. The party also made gains […]