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Following a dramatic confinement trial with Joe Wicks MBE, psychiatrist warns that trying to forcibly suppress stress may fuel physical burnout

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 October 2026 – For millions of busy Hong Kong professionals, daily stress and anxiety are often internalised as personal weaknesses or frustrating obstacles to career performance. Following World Mental Health Day, Bupa Group’s new global health experiment video series, Health or Hype, challenges this perspective by exploring a counter-intuitive question: What if anxiety is not our enemy, but a biological signal meant to protect us?

The video series features British fitness coach and best-selling author Joe Wicks MBE taking part in a confinement challenge designed to trigger feelings of stress and anxiety. To demonstrate some of the ways acute anxiety can affect human physiology in real-time, Wicks took part in a monitored challenge inside a purpose-built, pitch-black wooden box. As the door was fastened shut, Wick experienced an immediate physical respond—his heart rate surged, his breathing turned rapid and shallow, and he described a knot and cramping sensation in his stomach.

Psychotherapist Owen O’Kane, who supported Wicks during the challenge, explained that these involuntary physical reactions are primal survival mechanisms. In modern high-pressure environments, however, individuals routinely fall into the trap of trying to suppress, numb, or mentally fight these uncomfortable sensations. O’Kane highlights that attempting to eradicate anxiety may paradoxically reinforce the brain’s perception of threat; instead, learning to acknowledge anxiety without judgment allows the mind to regain emotional equilibrium. In the episode, breathwork specialist Liza Al Sady guides Wicks and international rugby legend Ruby Tui through targeted nasal diaphragmatic breathing, demonstrating how extending exhalations directly stimulates the vagus nerve to calm the nervous system.

To help Hong Kong’s busy professionals find a realistic balance and navigate intense corporate pressure, Dr. Oliver Chan, Specialist in Psychiatry, shares his medical perspective on the brain’s stress response, “Many professionals in Hong Kong view anxiety as a personal failing, trying to force themselves to ‘stop worrying’ through sheer willpower. But from a brain-science perspective, during intense panic or acute anxiety, the brain’s threat-response system can temporarily overpower logical reasoning. Think of anxiety as your body’s internal smoke alarm. When you face enormous stress or overwhelming workloads, this alarm goes off, flooding your body with stress hormones that could impair the functioning of brain regions involved in attention, planning and rational decision-making. Your heart races, your breathing gets shallow, and your body enters survival mode.

The biggest mistake people make is trying to argue with the alarm. If you try to fight, ignore, or feel ashamed of the anxiety, your brain assumes the danger is escalating, making the alarm ring even louder and eventually leading to prolonged psychological distress and fatigue. Instead, we must learn to shut off the alarm physically before we can calm down mentally. Simple breathing techniques, specifically making your out-breath significantly longer than your in-breath, act as a physical brake pedal. It may help shift the body towards a calmer physiological state and reduce the intensity of the stress response. Treating anxiety not as an enemy, but as an internal alert system we can actively manage, is essential for long-term health in a high-pressure city like Hong Kong.”

Your 60-Second Desktop Reset: Calming the Nervous System
Instead of trying to fight or suppress the physical feelings of stress, try this simple, clinically backed reset to soothe your nervous system during your workday:

• Unclench and Ground: Place both feet flat on the floor, drop your shoulders away from your ears, and consciously unclamp your jaw.
• Nasal Diaphragmatic Breath: Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of 3, allowing your abdomen to expand rather than your chest.
• Extended Exhale: Slowly exhale through your nose for a count of 5 or 6. Making the exhale visibly longer than the inhale increases parasympathetic activity and may naturally modulate your heart rate

Caring for mental wellbeing is not about eliminating stress entirely. By recognising anxiety as a natural signal and learning simple tools to reset our nervous system, every Hong Kong professional can cultivate sustainable resilience.

Watch the full episode and see Joe Wicks take part in the confinement challenge on YouTube: What if anxiety isn’t the enemy? Joe Wicks finds out – Health or Hype Episode 5: Anxiety – YouTube

Hashtag: #BupaHongKong #HealthorHype #HealthInsurance #HealthTips #StressManagement #WorkplaceHealth #EmployeeWellbeing #BurnoutPrevention

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Bupa – A health insurance specialist

Established in 1947, Bupa’s purpose is helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We are an international healthcare company serving over 68 million customers worldwide. With no shareholders, we reinvest profits into providing more and better healthcare for the benefit of current and future customers. Bupa has businesses around the world, principally in Australia, the UK, Spain, Poland, Chile, Hong Kong SAR, India, Türkiye, Brazil, Mexico and New Zealand. We also have associate businesses in Saudi Arabia.

Bupa has been a health insurance specialist in Hong Kong since 1976, offering one-stop solutions across domestic and international health insurance, and healthcare services. Our comprehensive medical insurance schemes are tailored to meet individual needs, and we provide health solutions for companies of all sizes. We also have a team of registered nurses, health management professionals, and doctors who provide various expert healthcare support.

Our healthcare provision arm, Quality HealthCare Medical Services (QHMS), became part of Bupa in October 2013. QHMS offers Western Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Diagnostics & Imaging, Physiotherapy, Mental Health and Wellness services via a network of over 1,650 provider service points in Hong Kong.

For more information, visit www.bupa.com.hk/en/.

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The only vendor in the Pace Setters quadrant and the only Asia-based vendor in the report. CyCraft marks its third major international recognition of 2026

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 October 2026 – CyCraft Technology (TWSE: 7823), an AI-native cybersecurity company, today announced that it has been positioned in the Pace Setters quadrant of the Gartner Emerging Market Quadrant for AI Application Security, Startup Vendors, published on September 16, 2026. CyCraft Technology is the only vendor in the Pace Setters quadrant and the only Asia-based vendor in the report.

When AI Goes Off-Script, Defense Must Move at Machine Speed

Enterprises are handing AI agents real authority: reading email, querying databases, approving transactions, changing system configurations. Attackers are using AI too. They probe AI applications with thousands of prompt variations in minutes, adapt to every refusal, and look for the one input that turns a trusted agent into an insider. Prompt injection, sensitive data exposure, and agents exceeding their permissions are no longer edge cases. They are becoming everyday incidents.

Human-speed review cannot keep up with machine-speed attacks. Every organization deploying AI now faces two questions: has this system been tested against an adaptive attacker before launch, and can anything stop it in real time once it goes live?

“AI behaving outside its intended boundaries is fast becoming the norm, not the exception,” said Dr. Benson Wu, CEO and Co-Founder of CyCraft. “When agents act on their own and adversaries use AI to attack them, defense has to run at the same speed. Every decision an agent makes must be testable before launch, interceptable in production, and traceable afterward. That is why we built XecART and XecGuard on our own models from day one. We believe being named the only Pace Setter reflects both the strength of our technology and our ability to deliver it in real enterprise environments.”

Test Before Launch. Protect in Production.

CyCraft’s AI application security portfolio covers both pillars of AI defense.

XecART, CyCraft’s AI Red Teaming Security Assessment, attacks AI applications and agents the way a real adversary would. It runs multi-round adaptive tests, shifts tactics based on each response, and delivers resilience reports aligned with international standards, so teams know where their AI breaks before attackers find out.

XecGuard is a real-time guardrail for LLMs and AI agents. Instead of static keyword filters that attackers learn to evade, it is built around each enterprise’s own security context. It reads the intent behind every prompt and response, and blocks malicious or abnormal activity as it happens.

Both products draw on CyCraft’s native expertise in Chinese and Japanese and on regional threat intelligence, catching attack patterns that general-purpose models routinely miss.

Three International Recognitions in 2026

In April, XecART and XecGuard were included in the OWASP AI Security Solutions Landscape. In July, CyCraft was named a Sample Provider in the Gartner report “Emerging Tech: AI Vendor Race: Reasoning Models Reshape Providers’ Approaches to AI Pricing.” In September, CyCraft Technology was positioned in the Pace Setters quadrant of the Gartner Emerging Market Quadrant for AI Application Security, Startup Vendors.

CyCraft believes security is not a brake on AI innovation; it is what lets AI move fast without losing control. Organizations deploying AI applications or agents can request an XecART assessment or a XecGuard evaluation at https://www.cycraft.com/en/contact-us.

Related Articles

• XecGuard LLM Firewall
• XecART AI Red Teaming Security Assessment
• CyCraft Named a Sample Provider in the Gartner® Latest AI Reasoning Models Report—The Only Taiwan-Based Cybersecurity Provider Listed
• CyCraft XecART and XecGuard Recognized in OWASP AI Security Solutions Landscape

Report

Gartner®, Emerging Market Quadrant for AI Application Security — Startup Vendors, Meghan Hollis et al., 16 September 2026.

Gartner®, Emerging Tech: AI Vendor Race: Reasoning Models Reshape Providers’ Approaches to AI Pricing, Aapo Markkanen et al., 5 June 2026.

Disclaimer

Gartner does not endorse any company, vendor, product or service depicted in its publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s business and technology insights organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this publication, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. GARTNER is a trademark of Gartner, Inc. and its affiliates.

Hashtag: #CyCraftTechnology

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Yanliang Miao, Chief Economist and Senior Managing Director of CICC, shared his insights on China’s economic transformation and the evolving international monetary order in his opening remarks and keynote speech. He noted that understanding China requires a global rebalancing perspective, considering both the dynamism of emerging industries and the implications of the transition from old to new growth engines for jobs, incomes and demand. Alongside its green and digital transitions, China is also working toward a growth model supported by higher household incomes and services-led consumption. Turning to the international monetary order, he observed that shifts in the global economy, trade networks and financial technology are driving the evolution toward a more diversified international monetary system. Economic and trade strength do not automatically translate into international currency status: institutional credibility and the depth and breadth of financial markets remain central to understanding this evolution and the internationalization of the renminbi.

Huimin Wu, Executive Dean of CICC Global Institute and Deputy Head of Research Department at CICC, noted that, as discussed in The New Pattern of Dual Circulation, a book jointly published this year by CICC Global Institute and CICC Research Department, China’s economy is entering a new stage of development. Its trade and outward investment are undergoing a paradigm shift, while emerging industries are becoming increasingly important drivers of growth in the global economy. These changes are both part of the broader process of global economic rebalancing and deeply shaped by it, giving rise to a new pattern of interaction between China and the global economy.

The forum brought together experts and industry representatives from institutions including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National University of Singapore, ICBC Standard Bank, Wood Mackenzie, and NSQ Capital. Discussions focused on the transformations of China’s trade and outward investment and their global implications, as well as the prospects for emerging industries such as innovative pharmaceuticals, green energy, and artificial intelligence.

This marked the first time the CGI Quarterly Macro Forum was held in Southeast Asia. Taking place during the week of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings, amid international discussions on global economic opportunities and challenges, the event brought Chinese perspectives to the global conversation and offered Chinese insights into key issues concerning China’s economy that are of broad international interest.

As an important part of CGI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international exchanges, present China’s perspective, and foster a deeper understanding of China’s economic transformation process, the event was an innovative exploration. Looking ahead, CGI will continue to deepen its international engagement and work toward building an international dialogue platform focused on China’s economy, contributing to greater mutual trust and consensus, and playing a positive role in this cause.

Hashtag: #CICC

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About CICC

China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC, 601995.SH, 3908.HK) was founded in 1995. Our experience in professional services includes leading several prominent transactions, reflecting our close involvement in China’s economic reform and development. Our vision is to become a first-class investment bank with international competitiveness. Our extensive network and cross-border business practices have enabled us to offer high-quality, value-added financial services to a diversified client base. This includes a full-service and balanced business model that offers investment banking, equities, FICC (Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities), asset management, private equity and wealth management services, all of which draw on our comprehensive research and technology capability. Headquartered in Beijing, the Group has over 200 securities business offices in China, and established subsidiaries or branches in places including Hong Kong SAR, New York, London, Singapore, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City and Dubai. As an investment bank with Chinese roots and an international reach, we are committed to providing first-rate financial services to both our Chinese and global clients to help them achieve their goals.

By T N Ashok NEW YORK: With three weeks to go before America’s November 3 midterm elections, President Donald Trump faces a political test that could reshape the final two years of his presidency. Falling approval ratings, persistent economic anxiety, an increasingly unpopular war with Iran and uncertainty over Republican candidates have created a difficult […]

The article 68 Per Cent Of Americans Disapprove Trump, Says Latest Pew Research Survey appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

By Ashok Nilakantan Ayers WASHINGTON: In the volatile intersection of energy economics, electoral politics and international diplomacy, Donald Trump has once again demonstrated his preference for dramatic declarations over painstaking negotiation. His latest initiative—to facilitate Russian diesel supplies, relax sanctions on Russian fuel and announce an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine—may offer a […]

The article Trump-Putin Energy Deal Raises Uncomfortable Questions Before Mid Term Poll appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Under the program, dealer partners that open new VinFast electric motorcycle showrooms in the Philippines and Indonesia by December 31, 2026, will receive basic support of up to US$40,000 per location, depending on the showroom’s size, floor area, and dealership standards. Showrooms that open by October 31, 2026, will qualify for an additional incentive of up to US$5,000 per location. Finally, partners that open three or more stores will also receive an additional incentive of up to US$15,000 per location.

The program is designed not only to create new business opportunities for dealer partners, but also to encourage more consumers to switch to greener transportation and help protect the environment. Through this initiative, VinFast continues to advance its goal of accelerating the shift toward greener, cleaner, and quieter mobility.

VinFast is committed to providing dealer partners with comprehensive support, from business consulting and marketing strategies to professional training, helping them get their operations up and running quickly. This support will also ensure that dealerships across the network follow VinFast’s standards for brand identity, showroom design, operating procedures, and customer service.

By joining the VinFast network, partners will have the opportunity to offer high-quality battery-swapping electric motorcycles that are safe, reliable, environmentally friendly, and suited to a wide range of customer needs, initially including the Evo, Feliz II, and Viper. Partners can also benefit from VinFast’s supporting infrastructure, including its continuously expanding service and warranty facilities, as well as support policies for service workshops. This will provide a solid foundation for dealer partners to confidently deploy services, enhance the customer experience, and strengthen the competitiveness of their products in the market.

Ms. Vo Thi Cam Tu, Managing Director of VinFast E-scooter Overseas Markets, said: “Expanding our dealer network is an important part of VinFast’s strategy to build an electric motorcycle ecosystem in international markets. We are looking to partner with businesses that share our long-term vision for green mobility, while giving dealers the support they need to make the most of their strengths within the VinFast network. From developing showrooms to running day-to-day operations and serving customers, VinFast will continue to work closely with our partners to build a stronger electric motorcycle network.”

The expansion of the electric motorcycle dealer network is part of VinFast’s broader plan to expand its distribution network in the Philippines and Indonesia, with the company targeting hundreds of stores in the two markets, respectively, by the end of 2026. As of September 2026, VinFast has 63 electric motorcycle dealerships operating in Indonesia and the Philippines. Going forward, VinFast will continue to expand its presence and bring its electric vehicle products and services closer to consumers across Southeast Asia, supporting the region’s transition to greener, smarter, and more modern mobility./.

Hashtag: #VinFast

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