Yesterday (October 21), the FMM issued the 2026 APEC Finance Ministers’ Joint Statement, reaffirming the commitment to building an open, dynamic, resilient, and peaceful Asia-Pacific community by 2040 for the prosperity of all our people and future generations.
Minister of Finance and chair of the 2026 FMM, Lan Fo’an, said that all parties should firmly implement the consensus reached at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, uphold multilateralism, and deepen practical co-operation in fiscal and financial affairs, with a view to contributing to regional economic and financial stability and long-term sustainable growth.
Earlier, John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, welcomed participants to the FMM.
“This is a historic occasion for Hong Kong. The APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting – part of APEC China 2026 – is taking place in our city for the very first time. We are honoured to support this significant international event, which brings together the member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, representing some three billion people and accounting for over 60 per cent of global GDP,” Mr Lee said.
“Under the unique ‘one country, two systems’ principle, Hong Kong enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. We are the only common law jurisdiction in China, our country, and have a legal and regulatory regime similar to most of the world’s top financial hubs.”
Speaking during the discussion sessions, Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR, said that amid geopolitical tensions and uncertainties over trade policies, Asia-Pacific economies should strengthen co-operation to maintain the smooth flow of trade and investment, while guarding against financial risks and nurturing long-term growth drivers.
He said that Hong Kong would leverage its unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle, and make full use of its diverse financing channels and professional services as an international financial centre to serve as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.
“Regionally, we need open channels for trade and investment, not new barriers. Connected markets allow capital to reach productive uses and technologies be adopted across borders,” Mr Chan said during a plenary session on Global and Regional Economic and Financial Outlook (October 20).
“Our collective task is to safeguard stability while strengthening the foundations for lasting prosperity. Hong Kong, China stands ready to work with fellow economies to seize opportunities, manage risks and support more resilient, sustainable and inclusive growth across the Asia Pacific.”
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) held two thematic seminars (October 20) on “Fostering a digitalised, inclusive and sustainable supply chain ecosystem through finance” and “Mobilising capital for nature: scaling finance and regional cooperation across APEC” respectively.
In his welcoming remarks at the seminars, Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR, said: “In an era of profound economic transformation and evolving global challenges, prosperity will not be secured by any economy acting alone. It will be built through partnership, innovation and resilience. I am therefore delighted that this seminar brings together regulators, business leaders and experts from across the Asia-Pacific region for meaningful exchanges on how we can unlock new opportunities, strengthen financial resilience, and drive sustainable growth for all.”
Following the conclusion of the FMM, Mr Lee and other officials met Mr Lan at Government House to exchange views on economic and financial development of the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. Mr Lee expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the country for its trust in and support for Hong Kong, as well as its strong affirmation of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre.
During the FMM, a diverse range of tours and visits were arranged for members of delegations from participating economies and international organisations to enjoy the city’s cultural heritage and unique charm as an international metropolis.
The itineraries included visits to the Peak, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong Palace Museum, Xiqu Centre, Chinese Culinary Institute and Ocean Park as well as a boat tour to enjoy the renowned views of Victoria Harbour.
Hashtag: #hongkong #brandhongkong #asiasworldcity #APEC #FMM
https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-hong-kong/
https://x.com/Brand_HK/
https://www.facebook.com/brandhk.isd
https://www.instagram.com/brandhongkong
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
By Nitya Chakraborty U.S. Secretary of state Marco Rubio’s visit to India this week and talks with the Indian corporate leaders including Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani have roused unusual interest in the country’s business circles as also among diplomats globally. There are two aspects. First, Rubio gave priority to his visit to Jamnagar and […]
The article Marco Rubio, Mukesh Ambani, Elon Musk And Gautam Adani appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Government websites across Europe were temporarily shut down on Wednesday as authorities rushed to contain two critical vulnerabilities in PHP, the programming language supporting a substantial share of the world’s websites. The emergency prompted precautionary outages affecting public services in the Netherlands, Finland, France and Germany, while PHP developers released security updates and urged operators to install them immediately. Cybersecurity authorities warned that vulnerable servers could allow […]
Abu Dhabi emerged as the leading centre of sovereign investment activity in the Middle East during the first nine months of 2026, with state-backed funds accelerating acquisitions, consolidating strategic assets and expanding international investments despite geopolitical uncertainty. New figures from investment research firm Global SWF show that Mubadala Investment Company deployed $26.2 billion between January and September, making it the most active sovereign investor in the Gulf. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai A unit of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has secured shares in Paras Healthcare’s Rs 14.5 billion initial public offering, placing the emirate’s sovereign wealth capital among the hospital operator’s institutional backers. The Gurugram-based company opened its public subscription on Wednesday, October 21, with bidding scheduled to close on Friday. Its anchor placement, completed on October 19, raised Rs 6.525 billion from domestic and […]
By K Raveendran The humble cockroach has entered Indian politics, and the establishment seems uncertain whether to arrest it, ridicule it or burn it. After years of projecting muscular leadership, electoral invincibility and civilisational confidence, the BJP now finds itself confronting an adversary that survives without television studios, corporate donations, elaborate manifestos or permission from […]
The article Cockroaches Survive BJP Extermination Strategies, Overwhelm Exorcist appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
By Jag Mohan Thaken CHANDIGARH: Drug issue has boiled up the political and social atmosphere in the state of Punjab. Seeing the assembly elections on the head, all political parties are trying to get the waves in their own favour and targeting each other for the current deteriorated condition due to root level web of […]
The article Drug Issue Is Now A Potential Electoral Weapon Of BJP In Punjab Before 2027 State Polls appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Britain has approved drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, seeking to strengthen domestic energy supplies and reduce dependence on imports despite objections from environmental campaigners. The government announced the decision on Wednesday, clearing a major obstacle to developing the offshore field approximately 150 miles east of Aberdeen. The project, operated by Adura, a joint venture between Shell and Norway’s Equinor, had faced prolonged […]
Jio Platforms opens its $3.2 billion initial public offering to public investors on Wednesday, launching India’s biggest share sale and the first flotation from Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance group in two decades. The telecom and digital services company has priced its shares between Rs 1,065 and Rs 1,119, with subscriptions running until Friday. At the upper end, the offering of 270 million new shares would raise approximately Rs […]
Cryptocurrency trading platform Bitget has announced plans to acquire a licensed digital asset exchange in Thailand, seeking a regulated operating base in the country through a transaction that remains subject to official approval. The proposed acquisition involves Bangkok-based GMO-Z. com Cryptonomics (Thailand) Co., Ltd., which operates a digital asset exchange and brokerage. Bitget said on Tuesday that the purchase would be undertaken through its interest in BTGT […]
Town, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup developing workplace assistants, has raised $108 million in Series B financing, securing a $1 billion valuation just four months after its public launch. The funding round, announced on October 19, was co-led by Forerunner Ventures and Menlo Ventures, with participation from existing investors Andreessen Horowitz and First Round Capital. Other participants included Better Tomorrow Ventures, Precedent. vc, Scribble Ventures, Serena […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has launched a dual-tranche US dollar bond offering, targeting international investors as the utility group seeks financing for eligible green projects and other corporate requirements. The transaction, launched on Monday, October 19, comprises a long five-year tranche and a 10-year tranche of senior unsecured notes. Initial pricing discussions placed the shorter maturity at approximately 130 basis points […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirates NBD has agreed to deploy OpenAI’s GPT models through computing infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first Middle East and North Africa bank to adopt the arrangement, according to the two companies. The enterprise collaboration, announced on Monday, will allow the Dubai-based lender to use advanced artificial intelligence for customer services, compliance, risk monitoring and internal operations while processing model […]
ConnectWise has kept three cloud services offline after attackers exploited compromised application credentials to access Microsoft 365 customer environments, leaving technology providers unable to perform essential backup and security operations. The software company confirmed on Monday that Cloud Backup, SaaS Security and Cloud Management remained suspended while investigators assessed the intrusion and tested measures intended to prevent further unauthorised access. It has not announced when the services […]
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has asserted that its military strength has increased by at least 50 per cent, citing improved missiles, drones and additional weapons, although the scale of the claimed expansion has not been independently established. The assertion follows statements by IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebbi that Iran has acquired more advanced weaponry since its confrontation with the United States and Israel earlier this […]
Walt Disney has agreed to offer jobs to most employees of bankrupt artificial intelligence chatbot developer Character. AI, expanding a proposed $20 million technology deal as the startup struggles with mounting legal liabilities and heavy operating losses. Bankruptcy court filings show that Disney has committed to making employment offers to at least 60 Character. AI employees, representing a majority of its workforce. Their estimated annual compensation totals […]
Voters across Canada’s oil-rich Alberta province went to the polls on Monday in a referendum that could initiate a constitutional process towards independence, amid warnings of economic disruption and deepening political divisions. The non-binding vote asks residents whether Alberta should remain within Canada or whether its government should begin the legal steps necessary to hold a binding referendum on separation. A victory for the independence option would […]
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 October 2026 – Brazilian athlete Yasmin Yukare, representing Indonesia, and Malaysia’s Saddam Pittli were crowned the inaugural Red Bull Power Race International Champions in Bangkok, while Malaysia claimed the Nations’ Trophy. Yukare and Pittli secured their historic victories with winning times of 8:26 and 7:16, respectively, becoming the first international titleholders in the new competition.
The International Final in Bangkok rounded off a world premiere season that began in Kuala Lumpur and moved on to Yangon and Jakarta before reaching the Thai capital for the Thailand National Final on 17 October. The following day, the 12 fastest men and 12 fastest women representing each of the four countries competed in the International Final, with 96 athletes vying for the inaugural titles. Across the four national events held in 2026, Red Bull Power Race attracted participants from 33 different countries and territories, from Brazil to South Korea, highlighting its appeal well beyond the four host nations.
The competition delivered fiercely contested racing throughout the day, including a dramatic photo finish in the men’s semi-finals, where three athletes were separated by just four hundredths of a second.
Brazilian athlete Yasmin Yukare, representing Indonesia, was crowned the first women’s Red Bull Power Race International Champion after a commanding performance in Bangkok. Having set the pace throughout qualifying and the semi-finals, Yukare delivered her fastest time of the competition in the final, crossing the finish line in 8:26. Malaysia’s Hui Teng Tobee Yip claimed second place in 8:51, narrowly ahead of compatriot Natasha Nazamil, who completed the podium in 8:52.
Malaysia’s Saddam Pittli claimed the inaugural men’s Red Bull Power Race International Championship with a winning time of 7:16, producing his fastest performance of the day in the decisive race. Having finished second in the semi-final standings, Pittli found another level in the championship final, improving his time by more than 21 seconds to secure victory. Indonesia completed the podium, with Damar Prasetyo taking second place in 7:30 and Ghian Herdiyana third in 7:31.
Beyond the individual titles, athletes also competed for national pride in the Nations’ Trophy, earning points for the country they represented based on their finishing positions. Malaysia emerged victorious with the highest combined points total, claiming the inaugural trophy and rounding off a day of intense competition and friendly international rivalry.
Ms Supasita Kraisri, Chief Global Marketing Officer of TCP Group, said: “Red Bull Power Race brings our international sporting spirit to a new generation. Young adults across Asia are choosing more variety in the ways they exercise that fit around busy modern lives, and this format speaks directly to that. Beyond the competition, it’s also about bringing people together, building communities and creating shared experiences through sport. We want to inspire young adults to pursue their own goals and strengthen Red Bull’s connection with their active lifestyles.”
Billed as “The Fastest Race, The Greatest Rush”, Red Bull Power Race is built around familiar bodyweight exercises in a short high-intensity format that requires no specialist exercise equipment. That makes it accessible to anyone with the determination to take it on. Athletes complete four 400m runs separated by three stations of push-ups, sit-ups and squats, with men performing 40 repetitions at each station and women 30.
Yasmin Yukare said: “I still can’t believe I’ve won! The other women from Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand were so strong, and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I just kept pushing and never gave up. The atmosphere was incredible, and hearing my friends cheering me on around the course gave me so much energy. Crossing that finish line was such a special moment. To anyone thinking about trying Red Bull Power Race, don’t be afraid to give it a go. The energy here is amazing, and you can do it!”
The short, high-intensity format leaves little margin for error, with success demanding more than just speed and strength. Athletes must balance explosive effort with smart pacing, knowing when to push and when to conserve energy. With every second counting, strategy and composure can make the difference between winning and losing.
Saddam Pittli said: “Representing Malaysia was my biggest motivation. Every lap, every station, I kept thinking about my country, and that pushed me to give everything I had. To become the first Red Bull Power Race International Champion makes me incredibly happy and proud. I really enjoyed the competition, and I hope my victory encourages more people to give it a try. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Just come and experience it!”
Official Results: Red Bull Power Race International Final 2026
Women’s Individual Championship
Men’s Individual Championship
Nations’ Trophy Winner: Malaysia
For more information, visit redbullsport.com
Hashtag: #RedBullPowerRace2026 #TheFastestRaceTheGreatestRush
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
By Dr. Nilanjan Banik The Union Cabinet’s approval, on 14 October 2026, to sell the government’s and LIC’s combined 60.72% stake in IDBI Bank to a Fairfax Financial Holdings subsidiary for about ₹52,878 crore is more than another entry in India’s disinvestment ledger. At roughly $5.6 billion, it is the largest foreign investment yet in […]
The article IDBI Bank-Fairfax Deal Has Some Lessons For Modi Govt’s Disinvestment Strategy appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Google has warned that a suspected China-linked espionage group exploited a critical vulnerability in BeyondTrust remote support systems, gaining privileged access and establishing mechanisms to remain inside compromised networks. The vulnerability, designated CVE-2026-102764, was disclosed on 15 October after investigators identified attacks dating to 29 August. Google’s Threat Intelligence Group and its Mandiant division attributed the activity to Armory Castle, previously tracked as UNC5221, and warned that […]
The partnership aims to connect healthcare brands with consumers seeking everyday tools to monitor and manage their health. In Singapore, 21.4% of citizens were aged 65 and above in June 2026, underscoring the need for accessible health and wellness solutions. The global wellness economy reached US$6.8 trillion in 2024 and is projected to approach US$9.8 trillion by 2029.
SACH brings experience in technology, e-commerce, retail, consumer engagement and live events, helping brands reach consumers through online and offline channels. Solomon, an independent business financing firm, will serve as Capital Partner, contributing capital and commercial and financial expertise to support distribution and expansion.
The companies intend to develop the partnership in stages: Solomon first supports SACH’s distribution of BUZUD as Capital Partner, then joins the distributorship, before both parties establish a dedicated business unit to secure distribution rights and distribute brands across multiple territories. Key terms and responsibilities are being finalised.
BUZUD focuses on accessible healthcare through medical devices and digital health technologies. It has a research collaboration with Tan Tock Seng Hospital to develop AI-supported diabetes management solutions combining carbohydrate estimation with continuous glucose monitoring. BUZUD also operates retail outlets at Raffles Hospital and Novena Square 2, alongside a retail partnership with Guardian Singapore.
Distribution will begin in Singapore, with expansion into other Southeast Asian markets as rights are secured, through e-commerce, retail, live events and partnerships with businesses, hospitals and research bodies.
“We strongly believe capital should do more than support business growth — it should create opportunities and meaningful impact. Our partnership with SACH represents a strategic step into the fast-growing healthcare and wellness sector, where we see tremendous long-term potential. By combining our financial expertise with SACH’s distribution capabilities, we aim to help promising brands like BUZUD expand their reach, scale sustainably and bring innovative healthcare solutions closer to the people who need them,” said Liong Qin Kai, Partner, Solomon Credit Management.
“Great healthcare products only create impact when they reach the people who need them. Our partnership with Solomon marks an important step for SACH into the healthcare and wellness sector, combining their financial strength with our distribution and consumer engagement capabilities. BUZUD is the first of many brands we hope to bring to market, helping them expand their reach, build lasting relationships with customers and make innovative healthcare solutions more accessible across Southeast Asia,” said Jonathan Zhang, CEO, SACH.
The partners are targeting completion of the proposed arrangement in December 2026, with further details to be announced once terms are finalised.
Hashtag: #SACH
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Solomon Credit Management is an independent business financing firm lending its own capital to small and medium-sized companies and larger corporates. Its financing approach is grounded in disciplined credit assessment and a clear understanding of each borrower’s business, cash flows and assets.
SACH develops products and services across technology, e-commerce, retail, consumer engagement and live events.
