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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – At a time when Asian universities are competing globally for top talent, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is emerging as a destination of choice for high-achieving students across Southeast Asia. Among them is Vo Xuan Dat, a Vietnamese scholar now in his second year studying Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (SEEM). His journey reflects a broader shift toward a new generation of internationally minded engineers equipped with interdisciplinary skills to navigate increasingly complex, data-driven industries.

For Dat, CUHK is defined by the balance of academic rigour and inspiring community.
For Dat, CUHK is defined by the balance of academic rigour and inspiring community.

Strategic Selection: A Global Education Hub
For students planning to study abroad, choosing a university often means balancing academic reputation with a curriculum that aligns with current industry needs and global trends. Hong Kong’s blend of Eastern and Western cultures, strong academic institutions, and global career pathways makes it a natural draw. Through CUHK’s Scholarship Nomination Programme for Vietnamese students, Dat identified a programme that stood apart. “CUHK quickly became my top and only choice because of its strong reputation, supportive community, and the unique major I was passionate about,” he shared.

Bridging Technical Rigour and Holistic Education
Since joining the Faculty of Engineering, Dat’s academic experience reflects a broader transformation in engineering education. The SEEM curriculum continuously challenges students to think critically and solve complex operational problems. Its unique blend of engineering principles and economic theory equips students to tackle real-world business challenges. Dat has especially valued courses that combine quantitative problem-solving with practical business applications.

Beyond his major, CUHK’s University General Education courses has allowed Dat to explore interdisciplinary fields beyond engineering, reinforcing a holistic perspective that is increasingly valued by global employers.

A Vibrant Campus Environment and Cross-Cultural Connection
Outside the lecture hall, Dat has built a rich university life. He participates in cultural exchange workshops, joins language exchanges with international students, volunteers at campus events, and explores Hong Kong through hiking trips.

One memory stands out in particular: celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival on campus with close Vietnamese friends. “Sharing these special cultural moments made me feel truly at home and gave me more confidence adapting to university life,” he noted. For Dat, CUHK is defined by the balance of academic rigour and inspiring community.

CUHK’s Systems Engineering and Engineering Management Programme
The SEEM programme prepares graduates to manage complex, data-driven systems across modern industries by integrating engineering technology with management. Key highlights include:

  • Specialised Streams: Offers focused specialisation streams in Business Information Systems and Decision Analytics.
  • Analytical Toolkit: Trains students in advanced mathematical tools including optimisation, stochastic modelling, and computer simulation.
  • Technology at the Core: Infuses core engineering studies with cutting-edge expertise in machine learning, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence.
  • Global Career Paths: Equips competitive graduates for prominent positions in asset management, information technology consulting, and e-commerce supply chain management.

For more information about CUHK’s undergraduate programmes, visit https://admission.cuhk.edu.hk/.

Hashtag: #CUHK

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

Navigating Market Cycles with Operational Resilience, Core Business Stabilizes and Rebounds, Marking a Strategic Turnaround and New Growth Phase

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – ZJLD Group Inc. (“ZJLD” or the “Company”, together with the Company’s subsidiaries, collectively the “Group”) (SEHK stock code: 06979.HK), a flagship enterprise in China’s baijiu industry and the first baijiu company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is pleased to announce its interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (“FY 2026 1H” or the “Period”)

In the first half of 2026, the broader baijiu industry operated within a demanding macroeconomic environment characterized by structural adjustments and sluggish consumer demand. In response to cyclical headwinds during the Period, the Group proactively optimized its operational strategies, strengthened healthy channel management, and accelerated digital innovation, resulting in comprehensive stabilization and an operational rebound. The year 2026 marks a pivotal strategic inflection point for ZJLD, signaling the completion of a two-year industry-driven consolidation and the onset of a new high-quality growth cycle.

The key financial and business highlights are as follows:

FY 2026 1H

(for the six months ended June 30, 2026)

(RMB‘000)

FY 2025 1H

(for the six months ended June 30, 2025)

(RMB‘000)

Changed by
Revenue 2,546,069 2,497,106 +2.0%
Gross profit 1,520,856 1,474,284 +3.2%
Gross profit margin 59.7% 59.0% +0.7percentagepoints
Profit attributable to equity holders of the Company 580,717 574,771 +1.0%
Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities (234,035) (322,274) –27.4%
Adjusted net profit (non-IFRS measure) 626,064 613,202 +2.1%
Adjusted net profit margin (non-IFRS measure) 24.6% 24.6% —


Optimized Product Mix Drives Profitability; Multi-Brand Synergy Amplifies Resilience

  • During the Period, the Group recorded revenue of RMB 2,546.1 million, representing a 2.0% year-on-year increase. Gross profit increased by 3.2% to RMB 1,520.9 million, while Adjusted Net Profit reached RMB 626.1 million, up 2.1% year-on-year. Benefiting from an expanded revenue contribution of Sub-premium products and the Li Du brand, alongside streamlined production efficiencies, the Group’s gross margin expanded by 0.7 percentage points to 59.7%. Net cash operation cash outflow narrowed significantly by 27.4%, underscoring rigorous cash flow management and prudent risk control.
  • Zhenjiu (Flagship Brand): Generated RMB 1,342.4 million in revenue during the Period, accounting for 52.7% of total revenue. The Group exercised disciplined control over channel fulfilment ahead of the launch of the next-generation Zhen 15 to safeguard channel pricing integrity. Meanwhile, the strategic flagship product “Da Zhen” achieved strong growth and explosive nationwide expansion across 31 provinces and 280 cities, driving Zhenjiu’s gross margin up to 59.8%.
  • Li Du (Second Growth Engine): Accelerated its growth momentum, recording revenue of RMB 788.0 million, sharply up 28.9% year-on-year. Driven by the national expansion of its Sub-premium and Mid-tier product portfolio, such as Li Du Sorghum 1975 (李渡高粱 1975), Li Du Sorghum * Changyin Collection Series (李渡高粱酒 · 暢飲珍藏版), and the Li Du King Series (李渡王系列), Li Du demonstrated formidable, explosive market penetration and volume growth.
  • Xiangjiao & Kaikouxiao (Regional Powerhouse): Maintained solid market share within Hunan Province, generating RMB 282.8 million, up 2.0% year-on-year, and RMB 81.8 million, up 1.0% year-on-year, respectively in revenue, both delivering sustained market stabilization and modest growth.
  • Sub-Premium Baijiu Segment: Delivered exceptional performance, achieving revenue of RMB 1,366.1 million, up 39.1% year-on-year. The segment’s contribution to overall revenue surged from 39.3% to 53.7%, reflecting the Group’s agile realignment with evolving consumer shifts toward rational spending and banquet occasions (e.g., weddings and celebrations), successfully capturing growth opportunities in the sub-premium segment.
  • The Board of Directors does not recommend the declaration of an interim dividend for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (FY 2025 1H: nil).


Strategic Agility: Pioneering Channel Innovation & Digital Synergy as Dual-Engine

The Group’s proprietary “Premier Retailers Alliance” model and the Monthly Profit-sharing Model (“月月分利模式”) designed for the 5th Generation Zhen 15 have effectively resolved long-standing industry pain points, such as price inversion and distributor margin compression. By establishing competitive monthly margins, automating online ordering, and offering a share-linked sales incentive plan with certain distributors, the Group successfully attracted and retained high-calibre distributors with strong group-selling capabilities and direct access to end consumers. As of 30 June 2026, the Group’s distributor network expanded to 8,993 partners, an increase of 710 from the end of 2025.

Complementing this channel evolution, the Group adopted an omnichannel marketing framework combining “Community Penetration + Digital Empowerment”. Chairman Wu Xiangdong’s executive video channel (“Wu Jindong – ZJLD, 吳金東-珍酒李渡“) and regional cultural livestreams topped the “Entrepreneur Video IP 100 List” (企業家視頻IP100榜單) for seven consecutive months, averaging over one million views per broadcast. This sparked widespread co-created content with members of the Premier Retailers Alliance (萬商聯盟), creating a powerful online-to-offline traffic funnel. Simultaneously, Zhenjiu’s brand value rose to RMB 34.685 billion, a 103% gain over five years, solidifying among China’s top three sauce-aroma baijiu brands.

Forward-Looking AI Integration and Enterprise Digitization
The Group anchors its digital transformation strategy on operational capability and sustainable value creation. During the Period, in partnership with China Unicom, the Group developed an “AI + Expert Blending” framework powered by Large Language Models (LLMs). This synthesis of traditional heritage and advanced AI enables intelligent blending, elevating consistency, efficiency and craft precision. Furthermore, the Group upgraded Da Zhen‘s digital coding system to a “Six-Code” integration architecture, incorporating NFC anti-counterfeiting and ceramic jar storage metrics, as well as an RFID smart case labelling system to track and ensure precise volumetric measurement and end-to-end lifecycle traceability for every Da Zhen product. Zhenjiu was also awarded the national Data Management Capability Maturity Model (DCMM) Level 3 (Robust) accreditation, further validating its AI deployment and digital leadership.

Deepening Operational Foundations to Drive the New High-Quality Growth Cycle
Looking ahead to the second half of 2026 and beyond, ZJLD will maintain strategic poise by extending proven operational frameworks, such as the “Premier Retailers Alliance” and “Monthly Profit-sharing Model” to Zhen 30 and other core product lines. This initiative will precisely activate high-end and mid-tier markets while strengthening portfolio synergies across all price ranges. Concurrently, the Group will deepen its operation-sales decoupling (營銷分離) mechanism, rigorously monitor channel pricing, protect distributor profitability, and prioritize storage facility construction across its five major production facilities, namely Zhen Jiu Mao Tai Shuang Long (茅台鎮雙龍), Zhen Jiu Bai Yan Gou (白岩溝), Zhen Jiu Zhao Jia Gou (趙家溝), Li Du Zheng Jia Shan (鄭家山) and Xiang Jiao Jiang Bei (江北) to reinforce its long-term competitive moat.

Mr. Wu Xiangdong, Founder and Chairman of ZJLD Group, remarked, “Baijiu is a business that demands patience and reverence—time speaks through quality, and authentic fragrance endures. Over two years of industry rebalancing, our distributor partners and we have navigated genuine challenges and hardships; yet this period offered an invaluable window for reflection, consolidation, and self-reinvention. The deeper the valley, the more vital it is to stay grounded and focus on disciplined execution. Our stabilization in the first half of 2026 is the natural reward of diligent work and marks the dawn of a new growth phase. There are no shortcuts in business—only an uncompromising pursuit of quality, continuous market exploration, and adaptability in the face of change. In times of adversity, we chose to brew finer liquor, preserve channel profitability, and deliver utmost sincerity to our consumers. The launch of the ‘Premier Retailers Alliance’ and ‘Monthly Profit-sharing Model’ models ensures that every partner who trusts ZJLD enjoys security, clarity, and equitable rewards amid challenging conditions.

Engaging directly with consumers and merchants through digital broadcasts has reinvigorated my entrepreneurial passion and joy, which I felt when I first entered the baijiu industry. The consumers’ appreciation for fine baijiu remains undiminished, and their yearning for a better life remains passionate. 2026 serves as ZJLD’s springboard for a renewed journey. We remain a dedicated team of idealistic distillers, honoring nature’s harvest, grateful for the passage of time, and optimistic about the industry’s future. ZJLD will move forward with resilience, innovation, and an open heart alongside all our companions—cheers to bright moments and the journey ahead.”

Hashtag: #ZJLDGroup

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

About ZJLD Group Inc.

Zhen Jiu was established in 1975 in Zunyi, Kweichow, China’s primary production area of sauce-aroma baijiu. In 1988, it was honored with the National Quality Award at the 5th National Wine Appreciation Conference. In the same year, it was announced by the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Communication Department of the Ministry of Economy and Trade, and the Great Hall of the People Management Bureau to become one of the two sauce-aroma baijiu served at state banquets. It is also known as one of the “Three Representative Baijiu Brands in Kweichow”.

ZJLD Group Inc. is a leading baijiu group in China devoted to offering premium baijiu products, including sauce-aroma, mixed-aroma, and strong-aroma varieties. According to Frost & Sullivan statistics, the flagship brand Zhenjiu has maintained its position for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024) as the fourth-largest sauce-aroma baijiu brand in China and the third-largest in Guizhou Province, by revenue. The Company operates four baijiu brands in China, including two national baijiu brands, Zhen Jiu and Li Du, and two regional brands, Xiangjiao and Kaikouxiao. ZJLD prides itself on inheriting the time-honored baijiu-brewing techniques and reinvigorating them to develop iconic products. It strives to create a wide variety of aromatic and mellow baijiu products to meet consumers’ diverse preferences, seize broader market opportunities, and promote traditional Chinese baijiu culture.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 August 2026 – Tesson Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 01201.HK) recently hosted the “Tesson Smart Energy: Recharged & Ready” 2026 Brand Evolution & Strategic Partnership Signing” at Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong. At the event, Tesson Holdings Limited formally announced its strategic upgrade from lithium-ion motive battery manufacturing business toward new energy smart electricity platform-based operation. The company also entered into strategic and industrial partnership agreements with Logistics Planning Research Institute of China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing (CFLP), Zhongke Lianli (中科连理) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University Anlaseo Technology respectively.

The event was attended by core management of Tesson Holdings : Chairman and Executive Director, Mr. Wei Mingren; Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Li Jingquan; Executive Director, Mr. Li Yang; as well as distinguished guests including Ms. Li Jinying (李錦瑩), President of Logistics Planning Research Institute of CFLP; Mr. Yan An (閆安), President of the Digital Lianli Research Institute of the Jiangxi Centre of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (中科院江西中心數字連理研究院); Professor Yu Changyuan, Chairman of Anlaseo Technology; and Dr. Cheng Zhi, Chief Executive Officer of Anlaseo Technology.

Strategic Evolution: From “Battery Manufacturing” to “Smart Energy Operation”

Tesson Holdings has long been engaged in the research, manufacturing and sales of lithium-ion motive batteries. In 2025, the Company launched its Hong Kong-based “photovoltaic storage charging and checking” AI-inspected ultra-fast charging and zero-carbon microgrid asset operation business, completing the acquisition of the assets of seven new energy integrated service stations and marking its first step towards strategic recharge.

Mr. Wei Mingren said that the recharge does not represent a departure from the Company’s existing industrial foundation, but rather based on the company’s past decade of industrial foundation of the system of motive battery manufacturing business, the experience of the operation of charging network in Hong Kong and the capabilties of industrial integration and capital management.”Based on our manufacturing foundation, Tesson Holdings is accelerating its transformation into a smart energy platform operator, enabling every unit of electricity to unleash greater value.”

Mr. Li Jingquan outlined development pathway of the company:”Battery manufacturing → zero-carbon microgrid and energy storage operations → AI-powered electricity trading and carbon-energy asset management platform.”

He noted that Tesson will leverage its “photovoltaic storage charging and checking” microgrid operations as an entry point, collaborate with supply chain partners to develop zero-carbon microgrids and virtual power plants, while strategic upgrade gradually from an energy equipments manufacturer into a smart energy platform operator.

Mr. Li Yang further elaborated on the company’s core competitiveness built around “Data, Intelligence and Electricity”:”Data” represents the credible data base; “Intelligence” represents the AI-driven capabilities of electricity trading; “Electricity” represents capabilities of electrical assets operation.

The Company will expand its regional market presence actively, aim to secure over 10% of regional market share in multiple cities, and building an operating ecosystem servicing up to 10 billion kWh of electricity consumption.

Industrial Opportunities: Policy Support Driving New Energy Infrastructure Development in Mainland China and Hong Kong

Ms. Li Jinying (李錦瑩) noted that China is simultaneously advancing the upgrading and restructure of two major infrastructure networks — the new power system and modern logistics network.

She highlighted that logistics facilities are evolving beyond traditional transportation hubs into important industrial platforms for energy consumption, green transformation and electrical data collection. The cooperative operation of energy flows, logistics flows and data flows is reshaping the pattern of national infrastructure. Tesson Smart Energy timely deploy related industries

Since 2026, the company has entered into strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding with DST Sustainable Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (地上鐵綠色科技(深圳)股份有限公司) (DST) and China Railway First Group Co., Ltd respectively. The first pilot project of China Railway First Group, located at car park of Hoi Wang Road in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, and will be developed into a zero-carbon integrated facility combining parking, charging and vehicle inspection functions.

Meanwhile, the joint venture company established with DST plans to build 10 more multi-functional battery swapping stations.

The launch event follows the completion of the Company’s financing activity of placing of new shares. With the completion financing activity of placing, strategic launching and industrial partnership signings simultaneously, signaling the new energy strategic of”Tesson Smart Energy”which is driven by “Technology + Industry + Capital” formally set sail.

Strategic Partnerships Covering the Full “Industry–Research–Application” Value Chain

The three strategic partnership signings at the event covering national think tank, research institutions and university spin-offs, surrounding modern power and development of new energy ecosystem, forming a complete layout from strategic planning, technology development and commercial application.

Mr. Wei Mingren said the significance of these signings is not only “plans announcing”, but rather is “in progress and amplifying the outcomes through ecological cooperation”.

The cooperation between Tesson Holdings and Logistics Planning Research Institute of CFLP is particularly crucial. Both parties will establish a joint venture big data operation company in Beijing to formally advance to transport logistics, important scenario of power consumption.

As a national logistics think tank and the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) publishing organization, the Logistics Planning Research Institute of CFLP, both parties will work together to explore the integration path of new and renewable energy power and green logistics, pushing logistics industry to upgrade in the direction of low-carbonization and intelligentization.

Afterwards, Tesson Holdings also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Zhongke Lianli (中科连理) focusing on development of industrial brain data resource, digitization of logistics hub energy and scenario collaboration of modernized power grid, further improving the capabilities of digitization and intelligentization of new energy industry

Finally, Tesson Holdings entered into a strategic partnership with Hong Kong Polytechnic University Anlaseo Technolgy, which is a startup incubator of Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Anlaseo Technology was also subsidized by the Hong Kong Government’s “Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+)”.Its intelligent battery sensor system enabling intelligent lifecycle monitoring of batteries through edge computing and AI algorithm, providing the core technological support in the of field of such as electrical safety awareness and smart management. .

Future Outlook: Anchoring the Strategic Position of Smart Energy Platform Operator

With the upgrade of strategy of “Tesson Smart Energy” and the implementation of significant industrial cooperation partnership signings, Tesson Holdings is in the stage of systematically advancing the deployment of new energy ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Tesson Holdings will continue advancing systematic deployment across energy generation, distribution and consumption sectors with core strategic brand of “Tesson Smart Energy”.

Through a dual strategy combining strategic acquisitions and organic development, Tesson Holdings aims to build an integrated new energy ecosystem covering renewable energy generation, energy storage, charging infrastructure, electricity trading and carbon-energy asset management.

Hashtag: #Tesson

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

About Tesson Holdings

Tesson Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 01201.HK) is a company listed on Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited principally engaged in the research, manufacturing and sale of lithium ion motive battery and investment and operation of new energy electric vehicles ultra-fast charging stations

On 10 August 2026, the company formally launches the newest strategic brand “Tesson Smart Energy” accelerate new business innovation such as the deployment of photovoltaic storage charging and checking zero-carbon microgrid, AI-powered electricity trading, operation of carbon-energy assets, transforming into a premier new energy smart electricity platform operator.

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2026 – The annual Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum 2026 (DELF 2026), organised by Cyberport, will be held from 28 to 30 August 2026 at Cyberport. Under the theme “The Dreamatic Circus” DELF 2026 brings together creators, experts and industry leaders to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is unleashing boundless creativity and redefining digital entertainment and content creation experiences.

Over the three-day event, more than 60 distinguished leaders and professionals from the technology, entertainment and creative sectors in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and around the world will discuss how AI, immersive technologies and cutting-edge innovations are reshaping content creation and entertainment experiences. As AI continues to lower the barriers to creation, the content industry is rapidly evolving from content production toward the development of the IP economy. This year’s forum will focus on how AI empowers creators and enterprises to build globally competitive original intellectual properties (IPs), while examining how Cyberport’s AI infrastructure, innovation ecosystem and international network can help transform innovative ideas into commercialised products, brands and globally recognised IPs, further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a leading digital entertainment and IP innovation hub in Asia.

Dr Rocky Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Cyberport, said: “Artificial intelligence is reshaping the cultural and creative industries, opening up unprecedented opportunities for creators, businesses and society. DELF 2026 brings together technology, creativity and business to foster cross-sector collaboration, advance original content creation, support IP incubation and accelerate commercial applications. Leveraging its AI infrastructure, industry ecosystem and global partnership network, Cyberport will continue to support innovative enterprises and original IP creators in seizing the opportunities of the AI era and expanding into international markets.”

Today, Cyberport also hosted a special panel discussion titled “From AI Creation to Global IP: New Opportunities for the Entertainment Industry,” bringing together industry experts to explore emerging opportunities in content creation, IP incubation and commercialisation in the age of AI. Moderated by Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, the discussion featured Mr Frankie Tam, Creative Director of Ultra Instinct Limited; Ms Polly Yeung, Chief Executive Officer of Gudo Inc.; and Ms Louie Cheng, Director of AI Education and OPC Entrepreneurship Incubation at FizzDragon. Panellists agreed that AI is not only significantly enhancing content creation efficiency but is also accelerating the transition of the content industry into the era of the IP economy, creating broader commercial and international development opportunities for Hong Kong’s original IPs.

Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport, said: “AI is unlocking unprecedented creative possibilities and injecting fresh momentum into Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries. As the industry enters a new phase of transformation, our focus should go beyond encouraging the creation of original content. We must also help promising IP develop long-term value, progressing from creative ideas to practical applications, and from individual works to recognised brands. Cyberport will continue to advance its public mission by connecting technology, creativity, talent and industry resources, empowering more local creators and enterprises to harness AI and turn Hong Kong’s creativity into market-ready outcomes with international potential.”

Over the three days, the forum will feature discussions on a wide range of topics, including AI collaboration, IP ecosystem development, the cultural and creative economy, smart cities, and future living. Speakers and representatives from organisations such as the University of Southern California (USC), The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, TVB Plus, GGWP, Mei Ah Entertainment, and Xi’an XR Film Industry Base will share insights on how AI is driving innovation, commercialisation and globalisation across the creative industries.

In addition, the interactive experience zone will feature four themed areas and more than 35 experiential activities, showcasing diverse digital entertainment and smart living scenarios powered by AI, immersive technologies and other advanced innovations.

The four themed zones include:

  • Arts & Culture – featuring the immersive interactive art exhibition Another World: RADIANCE, Cyberport’s original immersive cultural exhibition The Reveries of Ancient Egypt, Hong Kong’s first XR 6D experience Harbour Dreams: Hong Kong XR Adventure, and the complete VR experience Versailles: The Lost Gardens of the Sun King VR experience.
  • Digital Entertainment – showcasing innovative projects including Nikopicto’s interactive skateboard experience SkateAway Circus, TVB Music Money Monster System, and the FizzDragon AI Short Drama Creation Platform.
  • Smart Living & Business – featuring products such as Genesis One’s 3D & AI Smart Fashion Platform, allowing visitors to experience how technology is transforming everyday life.
  • Robotics & Drones – presenting consumer robotics innovations such as combat robots and AI interactive smart vehicles developed by Jin Technology, alongside the “Charting the Future: eVTOL Inaugural Test Flight,” highlighting the latest developments in interactive technology, the low-altitude economy and smart mobility.

To encourage visitors to explore the diverse digital entertainment experiences, DELF 2026 will launch a special “Play-to-Earn” campaign that combines gamification and rewards. Participants can collect stamps by completing designated tasks across the four themed zones and redeem gifts, while those who complete all challenges will have a chance to receive limited-edition merchandise from the Hong Kong original animation IP Another Worlds.

The event will also feature AI interactive workshops under the Cyberport Academy: DELF 2026 – AI Cultural & Creative Micro-Academy, where participants can learn creative skills such as concept art design and video production. In addition, the event will feature a special movie screening programme showcasing a Mars-themed AIGC sci-fi short drama from Singapore, selected works from the 3rd AI-assisted animation production support scheme, and 2nd HKUST AI Film Festival. Complemented by a live performance from popular K-pop band XODIAC and an indoor drone cirque, the programme will deliver an immersive experience that brings together artificial intelligence, digital entertainment and creative technology.

For more information about DELF 2026 and the speaker lineup, please visit: https://delf.cyberport.hk.

Please click HERE to download the high-resolution press photos.

Photo 1: Dr Rocky Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Cyberport (centre); Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport (third from right); Mr Terence Leung, Curator of the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum at Cyberport (second from left); Mr Frankie Tam, Creative Director of Ultra Instinct Limited (second from right); Ms Polly Yeung, Chief Executive Officer of Gudo Inc. (first from right); and Ms Louie Cheng, Director of AI Education and OPC Entrepreneurship Incubation at FizzDragon (first from left), posed for a group photo at the DELF 2026 press conference, previewing the forum to be held at Cyberport from 28 to 30 August and highlighting a series of exciting upcoming programmes and activities.
Photo 2: Dr Rocky Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Cyberport, said that AI is reshaping the cultural and creative industries, opening up unprecedented opportunities for creators, businesses and society. Leveraging its AI infrastructure, industry ecosystem and global partnership network, Cyberport will continue to support innovative enterprises and original IP creators in seizing the opportunities of the AI era and expanding into international markets.
Photo 3: Ir Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport (first from left), moderates the panel discussion “From AI Creation to Global IP: New Opportunities for the Entertainment Industry,” joined by Mr Frankie Tam, Creative Director of Ultra Instinct Limited (second from left); Ms Polly Yeung, CEO of Gudo Inc. (second from right); and Ms Louie Cheng, Director of AI Education and OPC Entrepreneurship Incubation at FizzDragon (first from right), discussing how AI is reshaping content creation and driving the growth of the IP economy.
Photo 4: Mr Terence Leung, Project Curator, Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum,

Cyberport, introduces the key highlights of DELF 2026 to the media.

Photo 5: Mr Terence Leung, Curator of the Digital Entertainment Leadership Forum at Cyberport (second from left); Mr Frankie Tam, Creative Director of Ultra Instinct Limited (first from right); Ms Polly Yeung, Chief Executive Officer of Gudo Inc. (first from left); and Ms Louie Cheng, Director of AI Education and OPC Entrepreneurship Incubation at FizzDragon (second from right), posed for a group photo with “Gudo” (centre), a character from Another World, at the DELF 2026 press conference.
Photo 6 – 11: Multiple booths on display at the DELF 2026 press conference, including Genesis ONE (photo 6), HTC HK Limited (photo 7), Jin Technology Limited (photo 8), Gudo Inc (photo 9), FizzDragon (photo 10) and Hong Kong Blind Union (photo 11).

Hashtag: #DELF #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 29 listed companies and 10 unicorns. One-third of onsite companies’ founders come from 28 countries and regions, while Cyberport companies have expanded to over 35 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.

For more information, please visit .

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s tourism sector is poised for a stronger final quarter of 2026 as international airlines restore services and additional capacity, providing a critical boost to hotel demand ahead of the winter travel season. The improvement in air connectivity is expected to lift hotel occupancy after a difficult first half marked by disruption to regional aviation and weaker international arrivals. Emirates has restored about […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai CodeRabbit has raised $143 million in Series C funding at a $1.5 billion valuation, giving the AI code-review company fresh capital to expand into software governance, security and international markets. The San Francisco-headquartered company is broadening its focus beyond reviewing individual code changes as businesses confront a sharp increase in software produced by artificial intelligence agents. Its newly introduced Agentic Change Management platform […]

Oil prices extended gains on Wednesday as fading prospects for a settlement in the Iran war intensified concerns over supplies moving through the Strait of Hormuz, keeping Brent crude above $91 a barrel. Brent crude futures rose 26 cents to $91.28 a barrel in early trading, marking a fourth consecutive session of gains, while US West Texas Intermediate crude advanced 37 cents to $85.31. Brent had settled […]

In a rapidly changing business environment where clients increasingly want, quick convenience, expertise, and reliability under one roof, Bin Turki Group has come up as a growing Emirati enterprise with plans that reach way beyond the old school business models. The company was founded in 2025 by entrepreneur Hamdan Bin Turki Al Mehairi, and from the start the idea was pretty clear yet flexible: to build an […]

Nationwide #AreYourKidneysOK+? initiative expands access to subsidised blood screening, public education, and pharmacist support for 12,550 Malaysians.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2026 – As chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease continue to affect Malaysians, early detection is becoming increasingly important in reducing complications and improving long-term health outcomes.

(From left: Dr. Cheng Yong Fatt (Consultant Nephrologist of KPJ Seremban Specialist Hospital); Dr. Svetlana Yanchuk (Country President of AstraZeneca Malaysia); Ph. Hiew Fei Tsong (Co-founder of Alpro Group); Dr. Ng Ming Lee (Medical Director of Alpro Clinic); Ms Jenny Poon (Business Unit Director of CVRM/R&I of AstraZeneca Malaysia); Dr. Yong Lit Sin (Consultant Endocrinologist of Columbia Asia Hospital Seremban)
(From left: Dr. Cheng Yong Fatt (Consultant Nephrologist of KPJ Seremban Specialist Hospital); Dr. Svetlana Yanchuk (Country President of AstraZeneca Malaysia); Ph. Hiew Fei Tsong (Co-founder of Alpro Group); Dr. Ng Ming Lee (Medical Director of Alpro Clinic); Ms Jenny Poon (Business Unit Director of CVRM/R&I of AstraZeneca Malaysia); Dr. Yong Lit Sin (Consultant Endocrinologist of Columbia Asia Hospital Seremban)

These conditions are closely interconnected across the Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic spectrum, meaning that a problem affecting one area of health may also increase the risks to other parts of the body. However, many individuals may not recognise these risks until their condition has progressed or complications have developed.

One such complication is hyperkalemia, a condition characterised by elevated potassium levels in the blood. Hyperkalemia is more common among people living with chronic kidney disease because impaired kidneys may have lower ability to remove excess potassium from the body. As the condition may not always present noticeable warning signs, it remains under-recognised by the public and may lead to serious complications affecting the heart’s rhythm if not appropriately identified and managed.

Recognising the need to strengthen early detection and public awareness across the Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) spectrum, Alpro Group, in collaboration with AstraZeneca Malaysia, announced the launch of #AreYourKidneysOK+?, a nationwide awareness campaign dedicated to encourage early detection, promoting kidney health, and raising awareness of hyperkalemia.

This nationwide initiative aims to empower Malaysians to better understand the connection between their heart, kidney and metabolic health, while bringing greater attention to hyperkalemia as an often-overlooked complication associated with chronic kidney disease.

At the heart of the campaign is a subsidised blood screening programme aimed at encouraging more Malaysians to take an earlier and more proactive approach to their health. Eligible individuals will receive subsidy on selected blood test packages, to reduce financial barriers in screening and to support the earlier identification of potential Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic and health risks.

The campaign aims to reach 12,550 individuals across Malaysia, a shared commitment by Alpro Group and AstraZeneca Malaysia to turn public health awareness into meaningful action.

Beyond providing financial support for screening, the campaign creates a more accessible pathway for Malaysians to learn about their potential health risks, undergo appropriate screening and speak to their healthcare professionals about the next steps they may need to undertake.

To extend the campaign’s reach beyond physical pharmacy locations, the initiative is supported by a dedicated digital health education platform containing trusted and easy-to-understand information about hyperkalemia, including its causes, risk factors, possible warning signs and relationship with chronic kidney disease.

The platform serves as a public health resource that Malaysians can access at any time, helping individuals and caregivers better understand hyperkalemia and prepare for more informed conversations with pharmacists, doctors and other healthcare professionals.

Through Alpro Group’s community healthcare network, members of the public will also have greater access to pharmacist support and guidance. Alpro pharmacists can help individuals better understand the importance of screening, recognise relevant risk factors and seek appropriate medical assessment or follow-up when necessary.

“Many chronic health risks develop quietly and may only be discovered after complications have occurred. Through this campaign, we want to make preventive healthcare more accessible by connecting public education, affordable screening and professional healthcare support. By targeting 12,550 Malaysians, we hope to encourage more people to take an earlier and more proactive step towards understanding their heart, kidney and metabolic health,” said Dr. Ng Ming Lee, Medical Director of Alpro Clinic.

“As chronic kidney disease remains a significant public health challenge in Malaysia, this collaboration reflects a shared commitment across the healthcare ecosystem to strengthen public awareness of kidney health and bring health education closer to the public. Through Alpro Group’s nationwide network, we aim to help more Malaysians learn about relevant risk factors and have informed conversations with healthcare professionals to support appropriate assessment and follow-up,” said Dr. Svetlana Yanchuk, Country President, AstraZeneca Malaysia.

Through this collaboration, Alpro Group and AstraZeneca Malaysia reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing preventive healthcare by combining greater public awareness, accessible screening and professional healthcare support.

The campaign also demonstrates the important role that community pharmacies can play in supporting wider public health efforts by providing Malaysians with convenient access to health education, early screening opportunities and trusted professional guidance within their communities.

Members of the public are encouraged to learn more about hyperkalemia by visiting www.alpropharmacy.com/pages/hyperkalemia or by speaking to an Alpro pharmacist.

References
1. KDIGO Controversies Conference. Potassium Homeostasis and Management of Dyskalemia in Kidney Diseases. Kidney International (2020). [kdigo.org]

2. National Kidney Foundation. High Potassium (Hyperkalemia): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment (updated 2025).
Hashtag: #AlproPharmacy #AlproGroup #AreYourKidneysOK+?

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

About Alpro Group

Founded in 2002, Alpro Group’s ecosystem has grown to include Alpro Pharmacy, Apotek Alpro, Alpro スギ (Sugi) Pharmacy, Alpro Physio, Alpro Clinic, Alpro Baby, Alpro OptiSaver, Alpro Audiology, Alpro Health, and Alpro Foundation. Supported by a team of more than 1,000 healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians, physiotherapists, optometrist and many others, Alpro serves over 5 million families in Malaysia and Indonesia through its extensive network of 500 physical outlets.

Alpro Pharmacy is the first and only community pharmacy in the region to offer product liability insurance of MYR 1 million in Malaysia and IDR 3 billion in Indonesia, ensuring the supply of genuine medications and enhancing consumer trust.

With the vision of a healthy and vibrant world, Alpro Group aims to become the No. 1 prescription pharmacy chain in Southeast Asia.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science led biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of innovative medicines that transform patient outcomes. Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, the company operates in more than 100 countries and plays a significant role in advancing modern healthcare through research driven innovation and strategic partnerships worldwide.

Guided by its purpose to push the boundaries of science to deliver life changing medicines, AstraZeneca prioritises long term investment in research and development. The company’s global strategy is built on deep scientific expertise, advanced technology platforms, and precision medicine approaches, including biologics, antibody drug conjugates, and data driven drug discovery. These capabilities enable AstraZeneca to address complex diseases and unmet medical needs with increasing accuracy and effectiveness.

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has halted all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice as escalating security tensions deepen economic disruption across the Gulf. Afra Al Hameli, Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the decision while rejecting allegations about the status of economic relations between the UAE and Iran. She said regional escalations were […]

New executive experience center helps business and technology leaders explore secure, connected AI workflows built around real business priorities.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 August 2026 – tridorian today announced the launch of its Gemini Enterprise Experience Center in Singapore, a new physical space designed to help enterprise leaders explore how AI can support measurable business outcomes across functions such as operations, customer service, sales, finance, and internal knowledge work.

tridorian Gemini Enterprise Experience Center
tridorian Gemini Enterprise Experience Center

Located in tridorian’s Singapore office, the Gemini Enterprise Experience Center is intended to move the conversation beyond one-off AI experiments and feature-led demos. Instead, the center is designed around the practical questions that many organizations are now asking: which business problems should we solve first, how can AI fit securely into our existing systems and data, and what would an enterprise-ready path from idea to implementation look like.

Powered by Gemini Enterprise, including the Gemini Enterprise App and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, the center showcases how enterprises can securely connect business data, support multi-step workflows, and apply governance and oversight as AI use matures across the organization. Google Cloud describes Gemini Enterprise as an end-to-end system that combines secure connectors, workflow automation, governance, and identity controls, while the Agent Platform provides the foundation to build, scale, govern, and optimize enterprise-grade agents grounded in enterprise data.

Visitors to the center are guided through business-outcome narratives tailored to their role and priorities. A customer service leader might explore how AI can help reduce handling time while improving consistency. An operations leader might examine how multi-step workflows can reduce manual overhead. A CIO or risk leader might focus on governance, visibility, data controls, and the appropriate level of human involvement required for a production setting.

The center currently includes a live demo environment, which serves as a working example of how complex orchestration can be presented as a business workflow rather than a standalone chatbot interaction. In Google’s current product language, that shift reflects a broader move from isolated AI tasks towards governed systems that can support complex, multi-step work processes.

Jimmy Jigmo, CEO of tridorian said, “Most AI demos look impressive. Very few connect to the work that actually matters. The Experience Center exists because enterprise leaders don’t need more features. They need clarity on where AI fits, what governance looks like, and how to move from experiment to outcome.”

The center also offers structured workshops that guide teams from mapping business priorities and exploring role-based use cases to planning next steps like a pilot or MVP. This practical format aligns with Google Cloud’s Singapore agenda, focusing on immediate, real-world business results.

“Organizations today are moving beyond the initial excitement of AI and are now seeking solutions that are secure, governed, and fundamentally aligned with their operational realities,” said Giri Babu Madathala, Head of SMB Partnerships, JAPAC, Google Cloud. “Security and governance are no longer optional; they are the foundation upon which effective AI must be built. tridorian’s Gemini Enterprise Experience Center addresses this by providing customers with a sophisticated, hands-on environment to move from high-level experimentation to tangible results. It allows them to experience firsthand exactly how Gemini Enterprise can be integrated into their specific, real-world business workflows to drive meaningful operational efficiency”

For Singapore enterprises, this matters because AI adoption is increasingly judged not by novelty alone but by whether it can support productivity, decision quality, operational efficiency, and governance simultaneously. Singapore’s own responsible AI guidance stresses explainability, transparency, fairness, and appropriate human oversight, while enterprise examples such as DBS show that measurable value comes from disciplined implementation rather than hype.

Evan Febrianto, CTO, tridorian added “This is a place for leadership teams to explore where AI can make a difference in their business, what the right controls look like, and how to move from experimentation to enterprise implementation with greater clarity.”
Hashtag: #tridorian #technology #business #google #AI #cloud


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

About tridorian

tridorian is a Google Cloud-focused services and solutions company helping organizations modernize platforms, AI, data, and applications. As a people-centric and an outcome-focused Google Cloud Premier Partner, tridorian specializes in building secure, governed AI systems designed for production. With operations spanning eight countries and customers across 14, tridorian ensures that technology only succeeds when the people using it do.

Reach out at to discuss your business challenges and schedule a visit to tridorian’s Gemini Enterprise Experience Center.

Telegram has applied to operate the. gram top-level internet domain, setting up a potentially significant expansion of the messaging platform into personal web identities and AI-generated websites for its billion-plus user base. The application, if approved through the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ 2026 programme for new generic top-level domains, could allow Telegram usernames to function as internet addresses. A user with the handle @durov, […]

A critical authentication flaw in NASA’s open-source ground-control software could allow network attackers to obtain a valid session and transmit arbitrary spacecraft or instrument commands without supplying credentials. The vulnerability affects versions of the AMMOS Instrument Toolkit GUI released before version 2.5.1 and has been assigned CVE-2026-60112. The weakness carries a CVSS 4.0 severity score of 9.3 out of 10 and a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8, […]

An autonomous security agent developed by Wiz uncovered and exploited a serious vulnerability in a Snowflake GitHub Actions workflow that had passed GitHub Advanced Security checks, highlighting emerging risks as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in software development and cyber defence. The flaw affected the public snowflakedb/snowflake-connector-net repository and allowed an unauthenticated GitHub user to execute arbitrary commands simply by opening an issue containing a specially crafted […]

By Suryamurthy Energy security often becomes a national priority only when a crisis erupts. The current conflict spreading across West Asia has once again reminded India how fragile global energy supply chains can be — and how deeply its own economy remains tied to them. The disruption of tanker routes through the Strait of Hormuz, […]

The article India pushes coal gasification to reduce import risks appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

  • allnex is the global market and technology leader for Sag Control Agent (SCA) resin, a unique technology enabling excellent appearance of Automotive OEM coatings.
  • Today allnex announced to build its first SCA production facility in APAC, the largest global Automotive market.
  • This investment will significantly improve regional supply resilience, reduce lead times, and enhance service for our customers based in the APAC region
  • And it will support faster adaptation of the next-generation of SCA’s including high-solid, low-bake, and sustainable “green SCA” solutions.

FRANKFURT, GERMANY – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – allnex, a leading global manufacturer and solution provider of coating resins and additives, today announced plans to expand its manufacturing footprint in Asia-Pacific with a strategic investment in Sag Control Agent (SCA) capacity at its Rayong site in Thailand.

Scheduled to begin operations in January 2028, this new SCA capacity investment, signifies allnex’s commitment to support its customers in the world’s fastest-growing automotive coatings markets.

By bringing SCA production into the APAC region, and importantly closer to customers, allnex will strengthen supply reliability, shorten lead times, and provide greater responsiveness to evolving market needs.

SCAs are a unique and cornerstone technology of allnex’s Automotive OEM product portfolio and they define its market leadership position in this application. allnex SCA resins have superior sag control functionality, enabling exceptional appearance in premium high-gloss clearcoats. These specialty resins ensure that coating manufacturers are able to meet the ever increasing demands of car producers for performance, efficiency, and sustainability.

Since allnex invented SCA resins four decades ago, all allnex SCA production was concentrated in its Bergen op Zoom facility in The Netherlands. In the last few years, APAC has become the largest SCA market globally with strong future growth projections driven by increased car production and requirements for better appearance. By making this investment in APAC, allnex will not only provide customers with proximity of supply and greater assurance, it will also ensure to have enough capacity available in time, to meet future growth.

“This strategic capacity investment for a unique technology, is driven by our commitment to our customers and their growth ambitions in Asia-Pacific. By localizing SCA production in Thailand, we are responding directly to customer needs for greater supply security, shorter lead times, and faster access to innovation. The new facility will strengthen our ability and agility to support both global and regional customers in APAC and allows us to meet future market demand.” said Ruben Mannien, Senior Executive Vice President APAC.

The Rayong site was selected following a comprehensive evaluation of multiple locations across the region. The site offers existing infrastructure, strong technical capabilities, and strategic proximity to key automotive manufacturing hubs, including China, India, Korea, and Southeast Asia.

The investment will include dedicated reactors for the production of SCA resins for plastic automotive parts and metal car bodies.

Beyond improving supply resilience, the new facility will support allnex’s latest SCA innovations designed for next-generation clearcoat systems, including high-solid, low-bake, and more sustainable coating technologies. These solutions help customers improve productivity, reduce energy consumption, and differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, ensuring production readiness ahead of anticipated market growth.

Hashtag: #allnex

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

With 1.93 million tertiary-educated workers in roles below their qualification level, employment alone may no longer be an adequate measure of career progress.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – Malaysia’s labour market has remained resilient, with overall unemployment falling to 2.9% in the first quarter of 2026. However, the figures may conceal a deeper challenge faced by qualified workers who may be employed without meaningfully progressing in their careers. During the same period, 1.93 million tertiary-educated workers, or 35.2%, were employed in semi-skilled or low-skilled roles.

This points to a gap between employment and career progression, particularly whether the workers’ qualifications and experience are helping them move into more skilled, complex and higher-values roles.

“We need to shift the conversation from employability to career mobility. Being employed is not the same as progressing,” said Lim Bee Ing, Centre Director of The University of Manchester South East Asia Centre. “For experienced professionals in Malaysia, progression increasingly requires the ability to lead across functions, make strategic decisions and navigate change. Purposeful postgraduate education can help build those capabilities.”

Evidence across Manchester’s MBA programmes also points to rising cross-field mobility rather than individual employment factors like qualification alone. Its latest MBA employment report found that 59% of the 2024 class changed sector, while 27% changed country, industry and job function.

Experience alone does not guarantee progress

For working professionals, career mobility depends on more than time spent in a role. Both workplace experience and postgraduate education can support progression when they help build broader capabilities, prepare professionals for more complex work and lead to greater responsibility.

Experience builds capability when professionals encounter new problems, assume higher responsibilities and make increasingly complex decisions. Years spent performing largely the same scope of work, however, may not translate into equivalent professional growth.

Similarly, a Master’s can support progression when it is linked to a clear career transition, such as moving from a specialist to a managerial role, changing functions or industries, taking on regional responsibilities, or leading digital and organisational transformation. It is less likely to deliver meaningful results when pursued as a standalone credential or with the expectation of an automatic promotion or salary increase.

“For experienced professionals, the value of an MBA is not simply in acquiring more knowledge, but in seeing their experience through a broader business lens,” said Xavier Duran, Global MBA Programme Director at Alliance Manchester Business School. “That broader perspective can help prepare them for the next stage of their career, whether that means moving into leadership, changing function or industry, or even taking on greater international responsibility.”

Preparing professionals for changing employer needs

Employer expectations are also evolving. Communication, problem-solving and strategic thinking remain important, while organisations increasingly require professionals who can interpret data, understand technology and navigate the impact of artificial intelligence.

As these demands reshape the workplace, an individual can remain technically qualified and continuously employed while becoming less prepared for their next role.

Studying while working can help bridge this gap by allowing professionals to apply new concepts directly to live organisational challenges. It also enables them to examine their experience critically and connect their existing expertise with wider areas such as strategy, finance, people and technology.

The Manchester Global Part-time MBA follows this model through flexible learning, interactive workshops and practical business projects for experienced professionals. Their applicants enter with an average of 12 years of professional experience, including six years in management, underscoring that the programme is designed to build on established careers rather than replace workplace experience.

Postgraduate education is not for salary increase alone

Career progression should be looked at beyond just salary benchmarking. More meaningful indicators include movement into higher-skilled work, broader decision-making responsibility, access to regional or international opportunities and the ability to lead more complex projects.

Malaysia has made progress in helping graduates enter and remain in the workforce. The next priority should be to turn employment into sustained progression, ensuring that talent continues to develop and move into work that makes fuller use of its capabilities.

More information on the MA in Educational Leadership in Practice (ELiP) is available at www.manchester.com.my/ma-educational-leadership-in-practice/.

Hashtag: #UniversityofManchester

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

About The University of Manchester & Alliance Manchester Business School

The University of Manchester is ranked 35th in the world by QS World University Rankings 2026, 5th in the UK research powerhouse in REF 2021 and 2nd in THE Impact ranking 2025. With as many as 26 Nobel Prize winners, the University’s academic pedigree is among the best globally.

Alliance Manchester Business School, part of the University of Manchester, is one of the UK’s leading business schools and holds triple accreditation from AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS. The university has a global alumni network and more than 60,000 graduates across 176 countries.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained severely restricted on Tuesday as vessel movements stayed in single digits, while another ship was struck by an unidentified projectile and diplomatic efforts to ease the US-Iran confrontation remained deadlocked. Preliminary ship-tracking data showed six commodity vessels crossed the waterway on Monday, three entering the Gulf and three leaving. That was only a modest increase from the weekend and remained […]

Driving the Thai Economy and Charting New Strategic Pathways for the Future of ASEAN

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB), comprising the Thai Bankers’ Association, the Board of Trade of Thailand, and the Federation of Thai Industries, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Thailand, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), and the World Bank, has announced its readiness to convene a high-level leadership conference, ‘The Bangkok Business Summit 2026,’ under the theme ‘Reinvent Thailand, Resilient ASEAN.’

Picture1

To be held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), the summit will showcase the vision of public-private sector collaboration aimed at restructuring Thailand’s economy. This event serves as a milestone paving the way toward the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings 2026, which Thailand will proudly host in Bangkok in October 2026, as well as Thailand’s upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship in 2028.

A key highlight of The Bangkok Business Summit 2026 includes a keynote address entitled ‘Thailand’s Offer to the World’ by Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister of Thailand. The address will declare Thailand’s readiness as a global investment hub, shifting the nation from cost-based competition to enhancing capabilities, innovation, and digital infrastructure. Furthermore, Dr. Ekniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, will deliver a policy address on ‘Unlocking the Next Growth Engines for Thailand & ASEAN,’ revealing policy reform steps designed to unlock private sector investment and drive the country’s new economic engines. Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, will address positioning Thailand as a regional investment platform for high-tech industries.

Picture2

Mr. Payong Srivanich, Chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB), stated that this event aims to answer a critical question: How can Thailand transform global shifts and its central location in ASEAN into new opportunities for investment, job creation, and sustainable growth?

“The Bangkok Business Summit 2026 is not merely a platform for exchanging perspectives, but a venue where Thailand presents its concrete strengths, opportunities, and development directions to the global business community—bridging the government’s vision, recommendations from international organizations, and the practical expertise of the private sector,” Mr. Payong stated.”Thailand’s challenge today is not just growth, but building competitive growth in a rapidly changing world. We need a platform for collaborative efforts to ‘Reinvent Thailand’ by creating new economic engines and elevating our competitiveness so Thailand can capture new opportunities and become an integral part of a ‘Resilient ASEAN’ capable of adapting to global dynamics.”

Key Highlights & Session Overview

  • Special Keynote: Mr. Vitai Ratanakorn, Governor of the Bank of Thailand, will present on ‘Thailand’s New Horizons: From Ambition to Delivery.’
  • Global Insights Panel: Featuring in-depth discussions with Mr. Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Mr. Sarvesh Suri, Regional Vice President for Asia and Pacific, The International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Mr. John W.H. Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) exchanging views on economic trends, investments, and business opportunities.
  • Report Launch: Launch of the World Bank’s latest report, ‘Building Thailand’s Future Today: The Investment and Growth Playbook.’ The report proposes a roadmap for Thailand to achieve high-income country status through investment and reforms that create jobs, boost productivity, and lay the foundation for long-term growth, highlighting potential industries such as advanced manufacturing, sustainable & wellness tourism, digital services, agriculture & food, and the creative economy.
  • Luncheon Discussion: Thai Beverage Public Company Limited will host a special session entitled ‘Growth Reaches Communities: Sufficiency Economy Philosophy,’ presenting the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy as a framework that creates balance, strength, and sustainability from local communities to the business sector and macroeconomy.

Afternoon Tracks

  • Track 1: Building Resilience (Infrastructure, Energy, and Digital Finance): Led by Mr. Piti Disyatat, Deputy Governor for Monetary Stability, Bank of Thailand, in building competitiveness and the ability to attract future industries to the country. The session will include discussions on the topics of ‘Efficient Energy & Low-Carbon Infrastructure’ and ‘Policy Architecture and Low-Carbon Cities in Action’ focusing on investing in key infrastructure that will drive the industrial transition to a low-carbon society, with leaders from various sectors, including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, PTT Public Company Limited, Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited, Siam Cement Public Company Limited, Thai Airways Public Company Limited, and Google LLC and the topic of ‘Building Thailand’s Trusted Economy: Digital Public Infrastructure for Inclusive Growth,’ focusing on digital public infrastructure in the financial sector for sustainable growth, and safe and inclusive digital finance, with senior executives from Bangkok Bank, Krungsri Bank, TMBThanachart Bank, and Ascend Money.
  • Track 2: New Horizons (Future Industries, Agri-Food, and Human-Centric Economy): Led by Professor Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, focusing on developing high-potential talent within organizations and positioning Thailand as a regional investment platform for high-tech industries, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and advanced R&D.

Additionally, the Bangkok Business Summit 2026 will feature a panel discussion titled ‘The Future of Agrifood Business.’ Under the concept of Elevating to a Regional Strategic Asset, leaders from top companies including Sea Value PCL and Olam Agri (Singapore) will share their perspectives on how Thailand’s agrifood industry is evolving beyond its traditional role as the ‘Kitchen of the World’ to become a vital strategic asset for regional food security, and another discussion on ‘The Future of the Human-Centric Economy,’ integrating health, wellness, tourism, and the creative economy centered around people rather than isolated sectors. Panelists include Minor International, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), and Cerecin.

Closing & Actions

To conclude the summit, leaders from the three JSCCIB member organizations will summarize actionable proposals to transform insights into concrete practices. These encompass enhancing competitiveness, building investment ecosystems, and developing future industries. The event will culminate in the signing of a Letter of Intent for Cooperation on the Digital & AI Compact between Thailand’s economic agencies and the World Bank.

Note: Speakers and the event program are subject to change without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Hashtag: #JSCCIB

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

VISHNU RAJA
RYO YAMADA
HITORI GOTOH
IKUYO KITA