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VinoBuzz closed angel round at US$10M valuation, gained 1,000+ registered users in two weeks of beta, and redefines wine discovery with 10‑second matching, 1‑minute event planning, and hour‑delivery of over 4,000 wines.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 April 2026 – VinoBuzz, the Hong Kong’s first AI‑agent and marketplace for wine, today announced it has raised an angel investment round at a US$10 million valuation. In just two weeks since its beta launch, the platform has already attracted over 1,000 registered users – a feat rarely seen in Hong Kong’s traditional, offline‑first wine industry. VinoBuzz is rapidly becoming the go‑to solution for busy professionals who demand speed, transparency, and personalization.

A technology revolution is sweeping Hong Kong. For food and dining, the city has Foodpanda and Keeta. For transportation, it has Uber. But for drinks – specifically wine – less than 10% of purchases are made online. The wine market remains one of the least digitized sectors in Hong Kong. VinoBuzz is changing that. As the leading tech platform for wine, the company is delivering a brand‑new experience built for the smart living era. Its tagline: “Drink Different.”

By combining AI agents with a unified multi‑merchant marketplace, VinoBuzz eliminates the three biggest pain points of wine buying: lack of knowledge, time-consuming, and opaque pricing. The platform offers three industry‑first features:

  • 10‑Second Wine Matching – Users simply tell the AI their taste, occasion, and budget. In 10 seconds, VinoBuzz recommends the perfect bottle – no wine knowledge required.
  • 1‑Minute Event Planning – For parties, corporate gatherings, or private dinners, input pax, theme, budget, and preferences. The AI instantly curates a complete beverage list and places the order.
  • Direct Wine Research (No Filter) – The fastest, smartest way to search any bottle available in Hong Kong. Users get unbiased, transparent information – no sales pressure, no hidden agenda.

“Hong Kong’s wine market is world‑class, but the buying experience has remained stuck in the last century – overwhelming, time‑consuming, and often intimidating,” said Zack Chen, CEO and Founder of VinoBuzz. “We built VinoBuzz to be the first true AI agent for wine: a personal sommelier that learns your taste, finds the perfect bottle in seconds, and delivers it within hours. This US$10 million valuation validates our vision and proves that the market is ready for a disruptor.”

VinoBuzz already lists over 4,000 unique wine SKUs from Hong Kong’s top importers and merchants, as one of Hong Kong’s top wine marketplaces. Orders are delivered via temperature‑controlled logistics as fast as 4 hours – making it one of the fastest and most convenient online wine purchasing options in the city. The platform’s rapid user acquisition, with 1,000+ registered users in only two weeks, expending its SKU to over 4000 wine bottles, signals a pent‑up demand for a modern, AI‑native wine marketplace in Hong Kong.

Hashtag: #VinoBuzz #AIwine #Technolgy



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

VinoBuzz Limited

It combines a conversational AI sommelier with a unified multi‑merchant checkout and fast, temperature‑controlled delivery, making wine discovery and purchasing effortless for everyone – from complete beginners to seasoned collectors.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 April 2026 – The first 30 days of university can shape everything that follows, from academic confidence and friendships to a student’s overall sense of belonging. Recognising this pivotal transition, SIM Global Education (SIM GE) has introduced a “First 30 Days” guide designed to help new students settle in quickly, build strong habits, and make the most of their university experience from day one.

Starting university is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with new expectations, from independent learning to navigating a new social environment. With early access to academic support, peer networks and wellbeing resources, SIM GE aims to ensure that students do not have to navigate this transition alone.

A “First 30 Days” Guide for New Students

To help students hit the ground running, the guide focuses on four key pillars: administration, academics, community and wellbeing, offering a clear roadmap for a confident and well-rounded start to university life.

Getting setup from Day One

The first week is all about laying the groundwork. Students are encouraged to attend orientation, activate essential academic systems and familiarise themselves with campus resources that will support their journey ahead. For international students arriving in Singapore, SIM GE provides dedicated onboarding through its International Student Office (ISO). From pre-departure preparation and Student’s Pass guidance to accommodation support and buddy programmes, students are guided every step of the way. Welcome receptions and orientation activities also offer early opportunities to build connections, helping students feel at home even before classes begin.

Establishing academic habits early

As classes begin, students quickly discover that understanding expectations early can make all the difference. The guide encourages students to review module outlines, plan ahead for assessments and actively seek support when needed. SIM GE offers a range of academic resources, including workshops and consultations focused on writing, research, presentations and effective study strategies. These resources are designed not just to support learning, but to help students develop the confidence and skills needed to thrive in a university environment.

Finding community beyond the classroom

Unversity life extends far beyond lectures. In their first month, students are encouraged to explore co-curricular activities (CCAs), student clubs and peer networks that enrich their overall experience. Programmes such as student ambassador initiatives and peer mentoring provide valuable opportunities for students to learn from seniors, gain practical insights and form meaningful friendships. By getting involved early, students can build a strong sense of belonging and become part of a vibrant campus community.

Prioritising wellbeing during the transition

Adjusting to university life can be both exciting and challenging. Recognising this, SIM GE places strong emphasis on student wellbeing, providing access to counselling and wellness services that support mental health and personal development. These services help students manage academic pressures, build resilience and maintain balance, ensuring they are well equipped to navigate both the highs and challenges of university life.

Supporting students every step of the way

SIM Global Education believes that a strong start can make a lasting difference. By encouraging students to actively engage with academic resources, peer support and wellbeing services from the outset, the institution aims to create an environment where students can grow with confidence, both academically and personally.

References:

  1. SIM – International Students Onboarding – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/admissions/international-students-onboarding
  2. SIM Global Education – International Student Office – https://regional.simge.edu.sg/en/international-student-office/
  3. SIM GE – International student support and buddy programmes – https://regional.simge.edu.sg/en/navigating-the-transition-to-studying-abroad/
  4. SIM GE CCA – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/co-curricular-activities
  5. SIM GE Student Ambassadors – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/student-ambassadors
  6. SIM Student Care – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/student-care

Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

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

About SIM Global Education

SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is a leading private education institution in Singapore and the region. We offer more than 140 academic programmes ranging from diplomas and graduate diploma programmes to bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes with some of the world’s most reputable universities from Australia, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 17,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners, of which approximately 41% are international students hailing from over 50 countries.

SIM GE’s holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with knowledge, industry skills and employability competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed as future leaders in a fast-changing, technologically driven world.

For more information on SIM Global Education, visit .

  • Hongkong Land and Gammon Construction introduce CarbonCure’s CO₂ mineralisation technology in Tomorrow’s CENTRAL project, a first for Hong Kong.
  • Injecting captured CO₂ into concrete reduces cement use by up to 7%.
  • Supporting Hongkong Land’s goal of cutting Scope 3 carbon intensity 22% by 2030, positioning Tomorrow’s CENTRAL as a sustainability leader.
  • Buildings Department approval of the CarbonCure concrete mix sets the stage for wider industry adoption.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 April 2026 – Hongkong Land and Gammon Construction have partnered to introduce CarbonCure to Hong Kong. Through this strategic collaboration, the companies are deploying the patented CO₂ mineralisation technology in Tomorrow’s CENTRAL project, marking its first use in Hong Kong. This alliance pioneers low-carbon building materials in the city and accelerates the wider industry’s transition.

(From left to right) Mr. Eddie Tse, Group Sustainability Manager, Gammon Construction; Ms. Ka Yan Chu, Assistant Technical Manager, Concrete Technology Services, Gammon Construction; Ms. Grace Lam, Senior Sustainability Manager, Hongko
(From left to right) Mr. Eddie Tse, Group Sustainability Manager, Gammon Construction; Ms. Ka Yan Chu, Assistant Technical Manager, Concrete Technology Services, Gammon Construction; Ms. Grace Lam, Senior Sustainability Manager, Hongko

Reducing cement‑related emissions without compromising performance

Embodied carbon accounted for 70% of Hongkong Land’s total carbon emissions in 2025, with industry research indicating that more than 80% of the embodied carbon in a typical new commercial building is associated with concrete, brick and steel. Cement production generates about 7% of global CO₂ emissions, more than three times that of civil aviation, making it a critical decarbonisation priority.
CarbonCure offers one of the most effective solutions, reducing cement content by 4–7% without compromising concrete quality or performance. The new technology injects captured CO₂ into fresh concrete during mixing, where it undergoes a chemical reaction to form a mineral, permanently trapping carbon within the material. When combined with a low-carbon concrete mix containing approximately 40% Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag (GGBS), a 34% carbon emissions reduction is achieved compared to traditional non-green concrete.

Implementing this innovative technology supports Hongkong Land’s target of achieving a 22% reduction in Scope 3 carbon intensity by 2030. It also aligns with Tomorrow’s CENTRAL project’s sustainability objectives, including using 100% low carbon concrete, 100% green rebar, and 100% sustainable timber during construction, and to divert 75% of construction waste.

Tomorrow’s CENTRAL: a project with sustainability at its core

Tomorrow’s CENTRAL is Hongkong Land’s bold three-year plan to transform the LANDMARK retail portfolio. Announced in June 2024, the project is ambitious in its scope, encompassing extensive façade enhancements, retail renovations and office lift-lobby relocations From inception, sustainability has been the project’s guiding principle.
The CarbonCure concrete mix technology was deployed by Hongkong Land and Gammon in November 2025 after it was approved by the Buildings Department in September 2025 following a rigorous 18-month testing and preparation period.

Michael T. Smith, Group Chief Executive of Hongkong Land, said: “Sustainability is a key business priority for Hongkong Land. Using lower carbon concrete on Tomorrow’s CENTRAL helps to advance the goals of our Sustainability Framework 2030. As the first developer to apply this technology in Hong Kong’s premium commercial sector, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to innovation and encourage wider industry uptake.”

Eddie Tse, Group Sustainability Manager, Gammon Construction, said: “We are delighted to partner with Hongkong Land on Hong Kong’s first application of CarbonCure concrete. Their strong commitment to sustainability and openness to pioneering solutions have been instrumental in making this milestone possible. By permanently mineralising carbon within building materials and reducing cement use, lower carbon concrete represents a meaningful step forward in embodied‑carbon reduction. With this successful deployment, we look forward to extending similar innovations across the industry and collaborating with more clients to drive low‑carbon construction in Hong Kong.”

Hashtag: #HongkongLand

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

Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is a major listed property development, investment and management group. It focuses on developing, owning and managing premium and ultra-premium mixed-use real estate in Asian gateway cities, featuring Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products. With over US$50 billion in assets under management, Hongkong Land’s ultra-premium mixed-use real estate footprint spans over 1.97 million sq. m. lettable area in operation and 1.43 million sq. m. lettable area under development, with flagship mixed-use projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Its properties hold industry leading green building certifications and attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands. Established in 1889, Hongkong Land takes a long-term view, investing significantly alongside its capital partners and concentrating its portfolio where it can create the most value for tenants, customers and investors. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Singapore and Bermuda. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

UAE authorities have rolled out a nationwide school nutrition guide that bans sugary drinks, fried foods, sweets, chocolate products, processed meats, tea and coffee across educational institutions, widening a health drive that officials say is aimed at improving children’s diets, sharpening concentration in class and cutting obesity. The framework applies across public, private, independent and vocational schools, as well as centres for People of Determination, and sets […]

A new study by Pearson and Amazon Web Services has sharpened concerns over whether universities are keeping pace with the demands of an AI-driven labour market, finding that 53% of employers say their main difficulty is hiring graduates with the right AI skills. The report, released on April 13, surveyed 2,711 learners, higher-education leaders and employers across the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Apple is testing four design directions for smart glasses as it weighs a more fashion-led push into wearable computing, with premium materials and a 2027 target emerging as central themes in the company’s plans to challenge Meta in a market that is moving from novelty towards a more serious consumer category. The designs under consideration are said to include two rectangular frames and […]

OpenAI has told users of its Mac software to update their applications after a third-party supply-chain incident touched the company’s app-signing workflow, prompting a wider effort to replace security certificates and tighten the process that proves its desktop software is authentic. The company said there is no evidence that user data was accessed, that passwords or API keys were exposed, or that its systems, intellectual property or […]

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MSBuild, a legitimate Microsoft build tool embedded in many Windows and developer environments, is drawing renewed scrutiny after fresh threat research showed how attackers are using it to run malicious code in memory, evade signature-based defences and blend into normal system activity. Security researchers and defenders say the technique is not new, but its continued effectiveness underlines how cyber intrusions are shifting away from obvious malware files […]

Federal investigators in the United States, working with Indonesian police, have dismantled the W3LL phishing network, a cybercrime operation that authorities say enabled the theft of thousands of account credentials and supported more than $20 million in attempted fraud. The action, led by the FBI’s Atlanta field office, included the seizure of infrastructure linked to the service and the detention in Indonesia of an alleged developer identified […]

A newly disclosed security flaw in Axios, one of the most widely used HTTP client libraries in the JavaScript ecosystem, has raised concern across software and cloud security teams after official advisories warned it could be chained into remote code execution or a broader compromise of cloud infrastructure. The issue, tracked as CVE-2026-40175, affects Axios versions earlier than 1.15.0 and was published through GitHub’s advisory system on […]

KK Éclat, a France-founded luxury skincare label with Hong Kong ties, has staged an invitation-only gala in Central after its UV and Pollution Blocker Cream won “Best Everyday Sunscreen” at the 2026 Vogue Hong Kong Beauty Awards, giving the brand a fresh marketing lift in an increasingly crowded premium sun-care market. Vogue Hong Kong’s awards coverage lists the product among this year’s winners, while the company said the celebration was held in March at The Pin, a private club in Central.

The company said more than 30 guests attended the dinner, including business figures, tastemakers and industry personalities, as founders Karen and Katherine used the event to underline the brand’s positioning at the intersection of prestige beauty and science-led formulation. The award matters because it comes from a high-visibility fashion and beauty title in Hong Kong, where premium skincare remains a strong draw and brand differentiation is increasingly tied to product efficacy claims, texture, convenience and visible daily-use appeal.

Vogue Hong Kong published a dedicated winners’ article on 22 March naming KK Éclat’s UV and Pollution Blocker Cream as the new “Best Everyday Sunscreen”, and a broader recap of the 2026 awards ceremony on 19 March also listed the same product in that category. That dual confirmation helps anchor the company’s claim to a recognised editorial accolade rather than a self-created brand distinction.

KK Éclat has built much of its identity around what it calls Nano Frame Technology, which the brand says helps active ingredients disperse evenly, remain on the skin surface where needed and deliver hydration over an extended period. On its website, the company presents itself as a science-backed luxury line designed for consumers with irregular routines, frequent travel and high exposure to urban stress. The product page and brand materials place the sunscreen within a broader narrative of multifunctional skincare that promises protection, hydration and cosmetic elegance in a single formula.

That pitch aligns with a wider industry shift. Market researchers tracking sun-care cosmetics say Asia-Pacific is one of the strongest growth regions for the category, with demand increasingly favouring SPF products that merge protection with skincare benefits and easy everyday wear. Industry analysis has also pointed to a move toward lighter, less visible formulas and premium products that can slot into daily beauty routines rather than sit apart from them as purely functional beachwear items.

KK Éclat’s own messaging leans heavily on a long-running debate in sunscreen formulation. Founder Katherine, speaking in the company-issued announcement, contrasted the white cast often associated with mineral blockers with continuing consumer questions around the absorption of some chemical filters. That is a commercially potent argument, though one that requires careful reading. US regulators and medical literature have indeed examined systemic absorption of certain sunscreen ingredients, but dermatology guidance continues to stress that sunscreen use remains essential and that both mineral and chemical formats can play an important role depending on skin type, tolerance and formulation.

For KK Éclat, the commercial challenge now is scale and credibility. Awards can accelerate awareness, especially for younger labels, but the premium skincare segment is unforgiving and crowded with multinational incumbents, heritage luxury houses and a fast-growing pipeline of boutique science-led brands. Vogue Hong Kong’s 2026 awards list itself illustrates that competitive backdrop, with winners spanning names such as Chanel, Dior, La Mer, Clé de Peau Beauté and SkinCeuticals alongside smaller players.

  GitHub and Jira notification emails are being hijacked by threat actors who have found a way to turn trusted software alerts into convincing phishing lures, using the platforms’ own mail systems to slip past many of the checks that companies rely on to stop malicious messages. Security researchers say the tactic marks a notable shift in email abuse because the messages are not crudely spoofed copies […]

Mirax, an emerging Android banking trojan being marketed as a malware-as-a-service operation, is drawing attention from mobile security researchers after reports that it can do more than steal banking credentials. Analysts say the malware can remotely control infected phones and repurpose them as residential proxy nodes, giving cybercriminals a way to hide malicious traffic behind ordinary consumer devices while pursuing financial fraud across Europe. The threat stands […]

Kraken said on April 13 that it is being extorted by a criminal group threatening to publish videos showing parts of its internal systems and limited client data, as the cryptocurrency exchange sought to reassure users that its core platform had not been breached and customer funds remained safe. The company’s public statement said the threat followed unauthorised access tied to a small number of accounts rather […]

Basic-Fit has disclosed a cyber breach affecting about one million members across several European markets, with roughly 200,000 of those accounts in the Netherlands, exposing a wide range of personal and financial details and sharpening concerns over how consumer-facing digital platforms protect routine lifestyle data. The company said the unauthorised access was detected by internal monitoring systems and halted within minutes, but not before information had been […]

Iran-linked cyber operatives using the CyberAv3ngers banner are again in the spotlight after U. S. authorities warned on April 7 that Iranian-affiliated hackers have stepped up efforts to compromise programmable logic controllers and supervisory control systems used in water, energy and government facilities, with some intrusions already causing operational disruption and financial loss. The alert marks a sharper phase in a campaign that security officials say has […]

OpenAI has accused Elon Musk of staging a last-minute legal manoeuvre ahead of a jury trial due to begin on 27 April in Oakland, California, deepening a dispute that has grown from a fight over the company’s founding ideals into one of the most consequential courtroom battles in artificial intelligence. The latest exchange came after Musk amended his claims against OpenAI and Microsoft, widening the remedies he […]

Scientists have identified 37 active subglacial lakes beneath glaciers in the Canadian Arctic, with 35 of them not previously documented, adding a significant new layer to understanding how one of the planet’s fastest-changing cryospheric regions behaves as temperatures climb. The findings, published on 23 March 2026 in The Cryosphere, are based on satellite-derived elevation data collected between 2011 and 2021 and point to a far more dynamic […]

Adobe has issued an emergency update for Acrobat and Reader after confirming that a zero-day vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-34621 is being exploited in the wild, putting Windows and macOS users on notice to install the patch quickly. The company assigned the update a Priority 1 rating, its most urgent category for product security bulletins, and said successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution. The flaw affects […]

A critical security flaw in the User Registration & Membership plugin for WordPress has exposed thousands of websites to the risk of full administrative takeover, after researchers disclosed that versions up to and including 5.1.2 could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges without valid credentials. The issue, tracked as CVE-2026-1492, stems from improper privilege management during membership registration, creating a path for unauthorised users to register with […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai University of Sharjah has opened a conference on intellectual security and social media, placing the debate over online influence, youth vulnerability and responsible digital engagement at the centre of its academic agenda as governments, universities and religious scholars grapple with the speed at which harmful narratives can spread online. The event, organised by the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies through its Forum […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Qatar Islamic Bank has been named Qatar’s best private bank at the Euromoney Private Banking Awards 2026, handing the lender a prominent endorsement in a market where domestic banks and international wealth managers are competing more aggressively for high-net-worth clients seeking personalised advice, Shari’a-compliant products and stronger digital access. Euromoney’s national winners list for Qatar names QIB as the country’s best private bank […]

Hackers posing as trusted messaging and communications services have mounted a sustained surveillance campaign across the Middle East and North Africa, using fake app pages, phishing domains and a custom Android spyware known as ProSpy to target journalists, activists and political figures, according to a joint body of research published this week by Lookout, Access Now and SMEX. The operation, active since at least 2022 and documented […]

Wafacash and Money Fellows have signed a strategic partnership at GITEX Africa in Marrakech aimed at digitising Daret, the traditional savings circle widely used in Morocco, in a move both companies say could widen access to formal financial tools while preserving a long-standing social practice. The agreement marks Money Fellows’ formal push into Morocco and places Wafacash, a subsidiary of Attijariwafa Bank Group, at the centre of […]

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