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Under the theme “A Season of World-Class Landscapes,” the new season focuses on the development of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area. Host Wang Han leads the program’s food exploration team through Zhangjiajie, Cili, Jishou, Fenghuang, Changde, Shaoyang and Huaihua, presenting a cultural tourism journey that connects local cuisine with spectacular landscapes and the stories of the people who call these places home.

Connecting Landscapes Through Food

The opening episode takes viewers to Zhangjiajie, beginning with the towering Bailong Elevator before following the hiking trails along Golden Whip Stream. International tourists encountered along the way share that Zhangjiajie was their planned first stop in China. Zhangjiajie welcomes more than one million international visitors annually from over 190 countries.

Yet the destination’s international appeal extends beyond its extraordinary scenery. It also lies in the flavors nurtured by the land and the people whose lives are rooted in it.

In Longweiba Village, young entrepreneurs who have returned to their hometowns are rediscovering local ingredients such as kudzu root and vine tea, incorporating them into coffee and bingfen, a traditional chilled jelly dessert. Their creations bring new life to familiar mountain flavors and introduce them to younger generations.

In Cili, local cuisine reveals stories passed down through generations. The dish known as Yanghe Dumi carries a history of mutual support dating back to 1935. After receiving help from their neighbors during difficult times, local residents cut pork tripe into rice-sized pieces to prepare a dish that could be shared among more people. The recipe became a lasting reminder of community solidarity.

The team also visits a centuries-old tree associated with the Red Army and samples Xikou beef. Revolutionary commanders He Long and Xiao Ke once held a pre-battle mobilization meeting at the site. The ancient tree, which survived a lightning strike, embodies the resilience of the local community, a quality echoed in the firm, chewy texture of Xikou beef. Together, the stories and flavors reveal the enduring spirit of the mountains.

Discovering the People Behind the Flavors

At Jixiang Rice Noodle Shop in Jishou, owner Wang Jixiang has been running her business for 35 years. The shop serves four varieties of rice noodles with a selection of toppings. Among them, rice noodles topped with stir-fried pork and fermented chili offer a distinctive combination of sour and spicy flavors characteristic of western Hunan.

The journey continues along the Wanrong River and across Xinnü Bridge, adorned with wish plaques, before reaching the creative home of the Miao folk band Miao Ren San Man.

The band members moved from their mountain village to town to support their children’s education and earn a living by running a business, but they never abandoned their musical aspirations. Performing their original song Calling to the Mountains in a Miao village, they express a longing to reach a mountaintop together and release their deepest frustrations through a collective shout.

In Fenghuang, restaurant owner Xiao Yang offers another example of how local culinary traditions are finding new audiences. After leaving military service, he worked as a tour guide and discovered that many visitors knew little about Fenghuang’s distinctive local cuisine.

He subsequently introduced Miao-style smoked pork trotters in sour soup, a specialty of the La’ershan area, to a wider market, making modest adjustments to suit broader tastes while preserving its traditional character.

Wang Han also shares the history of Miao sour soup, which he learned about when first tasting the dish. During the migrations of their ancestors, the Miao people often faced shortages of supplies, including salt. They fermented green vegetables and relied on sour flavors for seasoning. Over time, sour soup became a culinary reminder of those journeys.

Today, the distinctive fermented flavor continues to evolve as it is paired with an increasingly diverse range of ingredients. Rather than remaining unchanged, traditional recipes continue to thrive through new interpretations, connecting generations of people to the land and its history.

Connecting Local Journeys with the World

One distinctive feature of the fourth season is the introduction of a food-tasting panel at each destination, bringing together local residents, visitors from other regions and international guests.

After sampling the dishes, panel members vote to select the “Hunan Flavor Signature Dishes.”

Among the selected specialties are claypot rice with farm-raised Chinese giant salamander and Tujia-style Sangun Wawa from Zhangjiajie; Xikou beef and Lao Sizhong rice noodles from Cili; and Fangyuan rice noodles and smoked pork trotters in sour soup from Fenghuang.

This interactive format demonstrates how people from different cultural backgrounds can experience and interpret the same dish in their own ways.

The towering sandstone peaks of Zhangjiajie, the Loushui River in Cili, the Wanrong River in Jishou, and the Tuojiang River, Hongqiao Bridge and traditional stilt houses of Fenghuang together form the scenic landscape of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area.

Meanwhile, rice noodles, cured meats, sour soup and distinctive local delicacies bring warmth, flavor and everyday life to these natural and cultural landscapes.

About Season 4 of Go Where Flavors of Hunan Abound

Under the theme “A Season of World-Class Landscapes,” Season 4 of Go Where Flavors of Hunan Abound focuses on the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area and adopts a two-episode format for each destination.

The first episode, focusing on rural and mountain flavors, takes viewers hiking, exploring lesser-known destinations and participating in local challenges while visiting ordinary households to discover traditional home-cooked dishes.

The second episode explores the culinary life of urban neighborhoods, visiting long-established restaurants, discovering local food traditions and featuring signature dishes prepared by experienced chefs.

Landscapes provide the setting, while local flavors bring the stories to life. By bringing together China’s distinctive natural scenery and authentic regional cuisine, Go Where Flavors of Hunan Abound presents the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area to international audiences as a vibrant destination rich in culture, character and culinary heritage.

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

The proposed arrangement would require unanimous approval from participating lenders and could facilitate a rights issue intended to strengthen the heavily indebted company’s finances, according to people familiar with the private negotiations.

New World is considering repaying approximately 10% of the loan principal as part of the extension, with a target of completing the arrangement before January. That would represent roughly HK$8.8 billion in repayments, although the proposed terms remain subject to negotiations.

Discussions are at an early stage, and the conditions could change before any agreement is reached. There is no certainty that the banks will approve the extension or that the company will proceed with a subsequent equity fundraising.

The negotiations follow months of efforts by the Cheng family, New World’s controlling shareholder, to develop a financial support package for the property group. A potential rights issue or share placement could be announced as early as November, provided the necessary arrangements are finalised.

A rights issue would allow existing shareholders to purchase additional shares, usually in proportion to their holdings. Such a transaction could provide fresh capital without immediately increasing the company’s borrowing, although shareholders declining to participate would face dilution.

The proposed loan extension concerns financing arranged in 2025 through one of Hong Kong’s largest corporate refinancing transactions. That agreement followed prolonged negotiations with creditors as New World sought to avert a potential default and manage substantial repayment obligations.

Under the earlier restructuring, lenders agreed to extend the maturity of approximately HK$63.4 billion in borrowings originally due in 2025 and 2026 by three years. Loans maturing from 2027 onwards retained their original repayment dates, subject to additional credit protection and collateral requirements.

A further two-year extension would give the developer additional time to manage repayments while pursuing equity financing and asset disposals. The precise maturity schedule and interest terms of any revised arrangement have not been publicly established.

New World’s latest financial disclosures underline the importance of securing lender support. Total debt stood at approximately HK$143.3 billion at the end of June 2026, down HK$2.7 billion from the previous financial year.

Net debt nevertheless increased by HK$6.2 billion to HK$126.3 billion, while the company’s net gearing ratio rose to 68.3% from 58.1%. The figures indicate that its balance sheet remains under pressure despite efforts to reduce gross borrowings.

The group reported approximately HK$17 billion in cash and bank balances and HK$15.8 billion in undrawn banking facilities at the financial year-end, giving it total capital resources of about HK$33 billion.

Those resources provide liquidity for operations and financial commitments, but they are considerably smaller than the outstanding debt burden. Access to banking facilities also remains subject to their contractual conditions.

New World’s annual revenue declined to approximately HK$20 billion from HK$27.7 billion a year earlier. However, core operating profit increased to HK$7.7 billion from approximately HK$6 billion, reflecting an improvement in underlying operating performance.

The company reported HK$2.23 billion in net profit from recurring operations, compared with a HK$1.23 billion loss in the preceding year. Gross financing costs fell 15% to HK$6.3 billion.

Its board decided against paying a final dividend for the financial year ended June 30, preserving resources as management continued its financial restructuring programme.

Alongside discussions with banks, New World has pursued exchanges of outstanding securities to lengthen its repayment profile. On October 14, the company indicated that it expected to issue approximately $189.1 million in new secured notes maturing in 2032 following the early results of a debt exchange offer.

The developer has also been restructuring property commitments. At the end of September, it announced arrangements to surrender its operating rights for the 11 SKIES commercial development near Hong Kong International Airport.

The agreement involves a HK$2.3 billion termination payment to the Airport Authority and additional works and services obligations, with the latter subject to a specified cost ceiling.

For the financial year ended June, New World recorded approximately HK$29.6 billion in attributable contracted sales from property developments and asset disposals. Hong Kong accounted for approximately HK$22.1 billion, with mainland China contributing the remaining sales.

The company also reduced capital expenditure by 6% to HK$11.8 billion during the financial year.

The Nifty IT index climbed 11.7% during the week ended Friday, October 16, its biggest weekly advance since 2008. Meanwhile, an MSCI index tracking global semiconductor companies had fallen approximately 7.4% during the week, putting software exporters on course for their widest relative outperformance since 2004.

The divergence reflects a significant change in investor sentiment towards technology businesses. Semiconductor manufacturers, previously among the biggest beneficiaries of enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence, have faced selling pressure amid concerns about infrastructure spending, financing costs and the sustainability of earnings growth.

Software services companies, meanwhile, have attracted renewed interest following quarterly results that suggested corporate technology expenditure was stabilising. Investors have also responded to comparatively modest valuations after a prolonged period of weakness in the sector.

HCL Technologies helped initiate the recovery after reporting stronger quarterly performance and raising its full-year revenue growth guidance. Its shares surged 8.4% on Tuesday, their biggest single-session advance in more than six years, while the broader technology index gained 5.2%.

The company reported quarterly net profit of approximately Rs51.32 billion, representing growth of 10.9%. Revenue increased 2.3% sequentially to Rs356.2 billion, supported partly by demand for engineering and research services.

HCL Technologies also disclosed advanced artificial intelligence revenue of $219 million, indicating that established outsourcing companies are beginning to generate identifiable income from technology that investors had previously viewed principally as a competitive threat.

Tech Mahindra reinforced the positive sentiment with quarterly revenue growth of 2.4%, reaching approximately Rs161.8 billion. Net profit rose 8.3% to Rs16.1 billion, supported by improvements in its communications business.

Wipro shares also advanced after the company reported quarterly revenue of Rs247.53 billion, exceeding market expectations. However, its deal bookings declined 45% from a year earlier to $2.6 billion, highlighting continued uncertainty surrounding demand for outsourcing contracts.

Wipro projected constant-currency revenue growth ranging from a decline of 1.5% to an increase of 0.5% for the following quarter. Management indicated that two delayed large contracts could be finalised, although their completion remains uncertain.

The contrasting figures illustrate why analysts remain cautious about treating the market recovery as evidence of a sustained improvement across the entire technology services industry.

Investors have nevertheless become increasingly sensitive to the valuation differences between software exporters and semiconductor manufacturers. Shares linked to artificial intelligence infrastructure had commanded substantial premiums based on expectations of expanding demand for processors, memory and computing capacity.

Those assumptions have come under pressure as investors question whether technology companies can generate sufficient returns from enormous commitments to data centres and related infrastructure.

Higher bond yields have compounded those concerns by increasing financing costs for capital-intensive businesses. Inflation pressures in the United States have also revived expectations that monetary policy could remain restrictive, reducing enthusiasm for highly valued growth stocks.

Semiconductor companies including Nvidia, Broadcom and Advanced Micro Devices have faced broader selling pressure, alongside memory manufacturers and businesses supplying artificial intelligence infrastructure.

However, the reversal does not necessarily indicate deteriorating demand for computing hardware. Analysts distinguish between concerns about share valuations and the underlying commercial requirements for advanced processors.

Software exporters face different challenges. Generative artificial intelligence could automate programming, testing and customer support functions, potentially reducing the labour-intensive contracts underpinning traditional outsourcing revenues.

At the same time, businesses adopting artificial intelligence require integration, cybersecurity, cloud management and technology consulting services, creating opportunities for established providers.

The balance between these competing forces remains important for revenue forecasts and profitability expectations.

Friday’s trading demonstrated the strength of the rotation. The Nifty IT index rose 3.9% to close around 31,924 points, while the broader Nifty 50 gained approximately 0.7% to 23,146.

The Sensex finished at 74,729, contributing to the benchmark indices’ strongest weekly performance in six months.

Despite the rebound, technology shares remain below their earlier peaks. Wipro had lost nearly 32% during the year before Friday’s close, compared with a decline of approximately 17% for the broader technology index before the week’s recovery.

Japan’s foreign ministry confirmed on Thursday that the initial project would cost approximately $10 billion, with construction scheduled to begin before the end of 2026. Expansion of production facilities could eventually raise the total investment to about $21 billion, although the second factory remains conditional.

The agreement forms part of a $550 billion Japanese investment commitment negotiated with President Donald Trump’s administration in 2025, alongside a reduction in American tariffs on Japanese vehicles and other imports to 15 per cent.

GlobalFoundries said the first manufacturing plant at its existing Malta campus would begin production in 2029. An additional investment of approximately $10 billion would finance a second facility, with a decision on that expansion expected before the end of 2028.

Japan will supply the investment capital, while GlobalFoundries will provide manufacturing technology, technical expertise and operational management. The factories will be jointly owned by American and Japanese interests under an arrangement intended to expand semiconductor output without requiring the company to finance construction itself.

The first plant is expected to produce approximately 900,000 silicon wafers measuring 300 millimetres annually when fully operational. A second plant would add comparable capacity, substantially increasing the company’s manufacturing footprint in upstate New York.

GlobalFoundries estimates that the initiative will support approximately 27,000 construction and associated supply-chain jobs, alongside more than 1,000 skilled manufacturing positions in New York’s Capital Region. Those figures are projections rather than employment already created.

The US Commerce Department will separately receive an equity interest of approximately four per cent in GlobalFoundries. Chief executive Tim Breen said the transaction would raise the government’s overall holding to about seven per cent. The company is majority owned by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company.

GlobalFoundries shares advanced after the announcement, reflecting investor interest in an expansion model that could increase manufacturing capacity while limiting construction expenditure.

The ownership arrangements distinguish the investment from conventional private-sector semiconductor expansion. Japanese financing will underpin the factories, while the American government will gain a larger financial interest in the operator and participate in the broader manufacturing initiative.

GlobalFoundries also agreed with the Commerce Department to revise an existing award under the CHIPS and Science Act, reallocating $955 million towards investments in silicon photonics, silicon-germanium technology and advanced packaging at facilities in Malta and Burlington, Vermont.

These technologies are used in communications systems and data centres, where manufacturers are seeking faster connections and more efficient processing of large volumes of information. The separate funding revision does not represent an additional Japanese commitment to the two factories.

Japan’s foreign ministry described the New York project as the first semiconductor investment under the bilateral Strategic Investment Initiative announced in September 2025. It said the initiative was intended to strengthen supplies of mature-node chips used in automobiles, industrial machinery, smartphones and artificial intelligence data centres.

Although attention has focused heavily on advanced processors for artificial intelligence, mature-node semiconductors remain essential components in vehicles, industrial equipment and connected devices. Their availability is important to manufacturers seeking more geographically diversified supply chains.

The first facility will be built at an established semiconductor manufacturing location, allowing the investment to draw on existing industrial infrastructure and a local workforce. However, the announced timetable does not mean projected production capacity will be available immediately when operations begin.

Breen said GlobalFoundries had been chosen because large fabrication projects required manufacturing expertise and operational capabilities alongside financing. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick welcomed the investment as a contribution to domestic manufacturing and employment.

The Japanese government expects the project to create commercial opportunities for its semiconductor equipment and materials suppliers. Tokyo Electron and SCREEN Holdings have expressed interest in supplying manufacturing equipment, while Tokyo Ohka Kogyo has indicated interest in materials and components.

Renesas Electronics, a major Japanese chipmaker supplying automotive and industrial customers, has expressed interest in purchasing output from the proposed facilities. Its participation could provide an important customer relationship as production plans advance.

Japan’s foreign ministry also identified smaller suppliers, including Fujikin and Kusakawa Seiki, as potential participants in the equipment and materials supply chain. Their involvement remains prospective, rather than a confirmed allocation of orders.

The IMF forecast regional expansion of 4.8 per cent in 2026, compared with 5 per cent last year, followed by a further slowdown to 4.4 per cent in 2027. Its latest estimate for this year nevertheless represents a substantial upgrade from the 4.4 per cent projected in April.

The revised outlook reflects sharply contrasting pressures across Asia. Demand for semiconductors, data centres and other technology equipment has strengthened exports and investment, while higher energy costs linked to the Middle East conflict have squeezed economies dependent on imported fuel.

The fund warned that a reversal in AI investment or technology share valuations could undermine growth disproportionately because Asian manufacturers occupy central positions in global electronics supply chains. Higher sovereign borrowing costs and prolonged disruption to energy supplies present additional threats.

Emerging and developing Asian economies are projected to grow 5.1 per cent this year, down from 5.6 per cent in 2025, before slowing to 4.9 per cent next year. Advanced regional economies are expected to expand 3.2 per cent in 2026, compared with 2.5 per cent last year, then moderate to 2 per cent in 2027.

The IMF upgraded forecasts for South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, where demand linked to AI infrastructure has lifted manufacturing and exports. China and India also received upward revisions, although countries facing higher inflation without equivalent technology gains have experienced weaker growth projections.

Krishna Srinivasan, director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, said at the fund’s annual meetings in Bangkok that technology exports had accelerated sharply during the first half of 2026. Demand for chips and investment in data centres were important contributors, alongside stronger trade within the region.

He said economies had responded to energy disruptions by diversifying fuel suppliers, reducing consumption, increasing alternative energy use and drawing down inventories. Governments had also introduced measures intended to contain inflation, protect incomes and prevent supply shortages.

Those adjustments have not eliminated the unequal effects of the energy shock. Bangladesh, Cambodia and Laos are among the fuel-importing economies with limited direct exposure to the AI investment boom and comparatively restricted financial resources to absorb further pressure.

The IMF urged monetary authorities to maintain price stability as expensive energy threatens to push inflation expectations higher. It cautioned that central banks could face difficult decisions if weaker growth coincides with persistent price pressures, particularly where currencies and capital flows respond to changes in global interest rates.

Fiscal policy should focus on vulnerable households and businesses rather than costly blanket subsidies, the fund indicated. Elevated public debt and higher bond yields reduce governments’ ability to sustain broad support programmes without increasing financial risks.

The regional assessment comes as investors reassess the durability of spending on AI infrastructure. Asian technology shares suffered steep losses on Thursday, with South Korea’s benchmark stock index falling nearly 8 per cent and Japan’s Nikkei dropping about 5 per cent amid concerns over US inflation and borrowing costs.

The fund also identified concentrated stock market valuations and increased investor leverage as potential sources of instability. A sharp repricing could affect financing conditions and confidence even in economies where orders for technology products remain comparatively strong.

Separately, the IMF expects China’s growth to slow from 5 per cent in 2025 to 4.5 per cent this year and 4 per cent in 2027. It has called for stronger domestic demand and fiscal measures to counter deflationary pressures, rather than continued reliance on external sales.

Beyond financial markets, the fund highlighted employment challenges associated with technological change. Srinivasan said its research found employer demand for jobs more exposed to AI had declined by 10 per cent, although that effect appeared to have stabilised as employers sought workers with relevant skills.

The IMF recommended addressing youth unemployment and skills mismatches, strengthening social protection and improving energy security through diversification and renewable supplies. It also supported deeper regional trade integration as governments seek to preserve access to markets despite tariff barriers.

The regional outlook additionally identified a severe El Niño episode as a potential disruption to agriculture, fisheries and hydropower generation, with possible consequences for food and electricity prices across vulnerable economies, particularly in countries heavily reliant on imported energy.

The regulator on Tuesday imposed restrictions covering approximately HK$4.7 billion ($599 million) in assets held through 31 brokerages, while suspending trading in Sichuan Baicha Baidao Industrial Co over concerns that its share offering may have been rigged.

The enforcement action targets two suspected syndicates linked to three listings. Investigators are examining arrangements allegedly designed to create misleading impressions of investor demand and potentially divert proceeds from companies entering the stock market.

The SFC simultaneously issued detailed guidance identifying warning signs, including substantial loans to investors, undisclosed agreements, unusual last-minute subscriptions and concentrated share allocations involving parties connected to listing applicants.

Julia Leung, the commission’s chief executive officer, warned that financial intermediaries must challenge suspicious transactions rather than accept explanations that fail to withstand scrutiny.

The regulator said most market participants complied with applicable rules but stressed that misconduct by a minority could undermine confidence in Hong Kong’s capital markets.

The largest restriction concerns assets worth approximately HK$4.4 billion held through six brokerages and linked to suspected activities surrounding the listings of Baicha and Cloudbreak Pharma.

A separate restriction covers approximately HK$285 million associated with the listing of Tianju Dihe (Suzhou) Technology, involving accounts maintained through 29 brokerages.

Some brokerages received notices covering more than one investigation. The commission emphasised that the brokers themselves were not investigation targets and that restrictions did not affect their other clients.

Michael Duignan, the SFC’s executive director of enforcement, said the measures had significantly disrupted two suspected syndicates potentially involved in IPO manipulation.

The commission has not established criminal wrongdoing in the cases, and investigations remain under way.

Among the practices attracting scrutiny are substantial payments, loans or investments made by newly listed companies to investors or related parties shortly after prospectuses are finalised.

Such transactions can raise questions about whether investors genuinely committed their own capital or received financial support linked to their participation.

The regulator expects sponsoring banks to ensure that prospectuses disclose material financial developments and provide investors with complete, accurate information.

Another warning concerns investors whose subscription commitments appear connected to business cooperation, investment agreements or continuing commercial relationships with company executives.

Bankers have been instructed to investigate unusual orders and determine whether apparent independent investors have undisclosed relationships with issuers.

The commission also identified excessive involvement by listing applicants in selecting investors or directing share allocations as potentially suspicious.

Particular attention should be paid when allocations depart from agreed marketing strategies or favour investors who opened brokerage accounts shortly before an offering.

Large subscription orders submitted immediately before bookbuilding closes represent another warning, especially when their size appears inconsistent with an investor’s financial resources.

The watchdog highlighted arrangements involving derivatives or guaranteed returns that conceal the identities of investors ultimately benefiting from allocated shares.

Multiple accounts controlled by a single party can similarly disguise concentrated ownership and create an exaggerated impression of broad market participation.

Undisclosed commitments negotiated before an IPO are another concern, particularly where companies maintain offering sizes and timetables despite insufficient genuine investor demand.

The commission warned that questionable arrangements could extend beyond flotation dates into trading activities intended to support share prices, maintain market capitalisation or generate artificial turnover.

Such practices could involve concentrated holdings among designated investors and undisclosed understandings governing subsequent transactions.

The intervention comes during a strong year for Hong Kong fundraising, supported by listings from mainland Chinese technology companies, including businesses associated with artificial intelligence.

Regulatory concerns have also extended to the quality of listing applications. The SFC disclosed that 65 applications had been suspended during the first nine months of 2026 because of deficiencies in sponsors’ work.

Hong Kong authorities have been tightening scrutiny of disclosure standards and the resources investment banks devote to preparing flotation documents.

The shorter interval between IPO pricing and trading has added pressure on banks to verify investor identities and investigate questionable orders before allocations are completed.

The SFC nevertheless expects intermediaries to undertake reasonable verification procedures and reject subscriptions that fail regulatory requirements.

The commission has separately proposed stronger enforcement mechanisms targeting corporate misconduct, including additional measures addressing problematic listing transactions.

Baicha, whose trading was suspended on October 13, raised approximately $330 million through its April 2024 flotation. Its shares fell 27 per cent on their trading debut.

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

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

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/.

• As sole supplier, KONE provides all 184 units to Huanggang Port, enabling vertical flow design for 300,000 daily passengers
• One-year execution under dual Hong Kong-Shenzhen standards delivers fully integrated cross-border project execution
• Introduces 24/7 connected services to enable predictive maintenance, leveraging real-time data and AI for seamless, 24-hour port operations

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 October 2026 – The Huanggang Port—the world’s largest land port and the only 24-hour passenger link between Hong Kong and Shenzhen—is officially opened. Unlike the traditional horizontal border-crossing layouts, the port adopts an innovative vertical passenger flow design fully equipped with all 184 elevators and escalators exclusively provided by Finnish’s KONE. Spanning the 9-story complex, this people flow solution is expected to slash transit times from 30 minutes to just 5 minutes for up to 300,000 daily passengers.

184 elevators and escalators across 9 levels deliver seamless vertical passenger flow
Breaking away from traditional clearance layouts, the Huanggang Port utilizes the height of its nine-story complex to create a vertical passenger flow arrangement, with immigration facilities on different levels to free up ground-level space for public transit. To bring this seamless experience to life, KONE supplied all 184 elevators and escalators, including 102 elevators equipped with regenerative drive technology and 82 escalators. Notably, the escalators feature a maximum rise of 19.2 meters, while the elevators can accommodate loads of up to 12 tons. This solution is designed to support the port’s daily capacity of 300,000 passengers, significantly reducing walking distances and waiting times, while relieving traffic congestion especially during peak periods after large-scale events.

Digital predictive maintenance supports 24-Hour operations
As the only 24-hour land checkpoint between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the port demands utmost equipment reliability. KONE 24/7 connected services continuously monitors all units, leveraging real-time data and AI technology to identify potential risks in advance. By shifting from reactive to predictive maintenance, this digital solution enables seamless, round-the-clock operations. During over a hundred pre-opening drills, all KONE equipment successfully passed the 20,000-person Shenzhen-Hong Kong boundary-crossing pressure test. This not only validates its ultimate stability but also underscores our strong capacity to handle massive passenger surges. Looking ahead, KONE aims to integrate elevator and escalator data with building systems to drive passenger flow analysis, operational planning, and resource optimization.

Cross-border collaboration elevates service integration across GBA
Navigating the different regulations of Hong Kong and Shenzhen within a complex cross-border environment, KONE completed the installation and commissioning of all 184 units in just one year. Reflecting on KONE’s capabilities in cross-border project execution, Mr. Eric Xie, Senior Vice President of KONE Bay Region and Managing Director of KONE Hong Kong, said, “To meet the growing infrastructure demands of the Greater Bay Area, KONE has optimized its strategic setup in the region by closely integrating our Hong Kong and Shenzhen services. This investment not only strengthens our supply chain but also accelerates the delivery speed of elevator and escalator parts. By pairing Hong Kong’s world-class service standards with Shenzhen’s local technical talent and strategic location, we have built a powerful regional support network to fuel the future development of the GBA.”

From Luohu and Liantang to the Huanggang Port, KONE is one of the few companies capable of delivering complex cross-border projects. Driven by our seamless cross-border synergy, KONE remains committed to supporting public infrastructure, commercial developments, and rail transit projects, contributing to the region’s ongoing development.

Hashtag: #KONE

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

About KONE

At KONE, our purpose is to shape the future of cities. As a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, we move two billion people every day, making their journeys safe, convenient, and reliable with smart and sustainable People Flow®. In 2025, KONE had annual sales of EUR 11.2 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000 employees in close to 70 countries. KONE class B shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in Finland.
www.kone.com

By Dr. Nilanjan Banik The public argument over Tata Sons has been told as a story of power: a board and a set of trusts pulling in different directions, a regulator applying pressure from outside. Lost in that framing is the party with the least say and the most at stake, the ordinary investor. This […]

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