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Phancy’s Token Factory Shines at WAIC 2026, Accelerating AI 2.0 from Technology to Real-World Industrial Applications

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 20:00:28 +0700

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - The four-day World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 (WAIC 2026) concluded successfully in Shanghai. During the event, Phancy showcased its full-stack AI cloud service platform and real-world industry applications, highlighting its AI infrastructure, model platforms, and commercialization cases across multiple sectors.

At the heart of the showcase was Phancy's "Token Factory", which demonstrated a complete closed-loop from technological innovation and engineering implementation to industrial empowerment. The exhibit received widespread acclaim from industry leaders, government and enterprise representatives, international guests, and major media outlets. A number of high-profile guests visited the booth, sparking in-depth discussions on innovation opportunities and development trends in the AI 2.0 era.

Building the "Token Factory": Full-Stack Capabilities Driving Scalable Industrial Adoption

At WAIC 2026, Phancy centered its presentation on its full-stack AI cloud service platform, demonstrating the "Token Factory" and turning the vision of scalable, reusable and deployable AI productivity into tangible industrial capabilities.

At the infrastructure and foundational layer, Phancy's HAMi (virtual heterogeneous GPU management and orchestration platform) and ModelHub XC (opensource model adaption and optimization platform) effectively addresses key industry pain points — including localized deployment of large models, efficient computing resource scheduling and large?scale implementation. These solutions provide a solid foundation for industrialized AI production and strengthen the Token Factory's core advantages in efficiency, stability, and scalability. Both technologies attracted significant attention at the event, drawing government officials, industry experts, and enterprise clients for demonstrations, consultations, and partnership discussions.

Core Production and Intelligent Applications

At the core production and application layer, Phancy highlighted its AGI platform Phanthy Pantheon and the self-evolving AI modeling tool PhanthyModel, both of which significantly lower the barriers to building advanced models. On the delivery side, the company introduced its cross-platform embodied agent framework PhanthyMotus, the AI coding agent PhanthyCode, and the AI-powered film production platform PhanthyMovie. These solutions enable seamless integration of AI capabilities into real-world operations across a wide range of industries.

From computing orchestration and model development to intelligent agent deployment, Phancy continues to connect computing resources, AI models, developers, and industry ecosystems, driving the stable and efficient transformation of AI technologies into practical, scalable industrial productivity.

Internationally Recognized as a Trusted Global Industrial AI Solution

In addition to its technology showcase, Phancy received significant international recognition at WAIC 2026. At the Global Industrial AI Cooperation Forum, in the presence of high-level guests including the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Brazil's Minister of Public Service Management and Innovation, and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Phancy was selected as a "Global Flagship Case in Industrial AI" and named among the first batch of "Trusted Global Industrial AI Solutions."

This prestigious honor validates Phancy's technological reliability, compliance and real?world implementation capabilities in industrial AI, and marks strong international endorsement of the company's AI engineering and commercialization strengths.

Building an Open Industry Ecosystem and Entering a New Era of AI 2.0

The successful conclusion of WAIC 2026 was not only a celebration of technological achievements but also a powerful platform for deep industry collaboration. As AI moves into the era of large-scale application, Phancy will continue to pursue technological innovation and open collaboration, further strengthening its full-stack AI cloud service system.

Looking ahead, Phancy will work closely with global developers, industry partners, and clients to bring the "Token Factory" into more real-world scenarios, making AI a true driver of industrial upgrading and high?quality productivity.

Hashtag: #PhancyGroup

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

7-Eleven Hits 1,000 CAFé Stores, Expands Airport Convenience Experience at KLIA

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:00:27 +0700

Milestone reflects Malaysians' growing demand for quality grab-and-go food and coffee, with KLIA café bringing greater convenience to millions of travellers

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - As Malaysians increasingly embrace grab-and-go lifestyles and quality coffee on the move, 7-Eleven Malaysia today marked a major milestone with the opening of its 1,000th CAFé by 7-Eleven outlet at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1, reinforcing its commitment to making quality food and beverages more accessible wherever customers are.

From left to right: Mr. Wong Wai Keong, Co-CEOs of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Ms. Hani Ezra Hussin, Senior General Manager – Commercial Services of Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad, Mr. Tan U-Ming, Co-CEOs of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Mr. Zulhikam Ahmad, General Manager – Commercial (Business Performance & Growth) of Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad, Jim Girard - Senior Regional Director of 7-Eleven International and Estaban Velasquez, Senior Director and Controller of 7-Eleven International officiating the opening of the 1,000th CAFé by 7-Eleven store at KLIA Terminal 1.

Located at Level 5, next to the Domestic Departure Gate at KLIA Terminal 1, the milestone café places freshly brewed coffee, hot meals and ready-to-eat favourites within easy reach of one of Malaysia's busiest transport hubs. KLIA Terminal 1 serves approximately 28 to 30 million passengers annually, with around 13,000 to 14,000 departing and arriving travellers each day. During peak operating hours, the terminal can accommodate nearly 6,800 passengers per hour, while festive travel periods see passenger volumes surge significantly.

More than just another store opening, the milestone reflects how CAFé by 7-Eleven has evolved into an integral part of Malaysians' daily routines, serving everyone from busy professionals grabbing their morning coffee to students on the go, families travelling home, and holidaymakers beginning their next adventure.

With more Malaysians seeking convenient, quality food and coffee throughout the day, CAFé by 7-Eleven has steadily expanded to meet evolving consumer lifestyles. The opening of its 1,000th outlet at KLIA marks another milestone in bringing that convenience to one of Malaysia's busiest travel gateways.

The choice of KLIA for this milestone reflects 7-Eleven Malaysia's strategy of expanding into high-traffic locations where convenience matters most. As consumer lifestyles become increasingly mobile, transport hubs have become key destinations for quick, quality food and beverage solutions, allowing CAFé by 7-Eleven to better serve travellers at every stage of their journey.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Wong Wai Keong, Co-CEO of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., said the opening of the company's 1,000th CAFé by 7-Eleven represents more than a numerical milestone. It reflects how consumer expectations and lifestyles have evolved over the years.

"Today's customers expect quality coffee, fresh meals and convenience wherever they are, whether they're heading to work, commuting across town or catching a flight. Over the years, we've transformed CAFé by 7-Eleven into a destination that fits naturally into those everyday moments. Convenience today is no longer just about being nearby. It's about being exactly where customers need us most, whether that's in neighbourhoods, commercial districts or one of the country's busiest airports."

"There is no better place to celebrate this milestone than KLIA, one of Malaysia's busiest travel gateways. Millions of passengers pass through the airport every year, making it the ideal location for us to demonstrate how convenience retail can better serve today's increasingly mobile consumers. Whether they're catching an early morning flight, returning home or travelling for business, we want CAFé by 7-Eleven to be part of that journey."

As one of Malaysia's largest convenience retailers, 7-Eleven continues to evolve beyond traditional retail by expanding CAFé by 7-Eleven across neighbourhoods, commercial districts, hospitals, transport hubs and major travel gateways. Offering an expanding range of food, beverages and ready-to-enjoy meal options, the growing network reflects the company's commitment to making quality food and beverages more accessible wherever customers need them.

The KLIA outlet represents another step in that strategy, enhancing the travel experience by ensuring customers can conveniently enjoy fresh food and beverages before departure without compromising on quality or speed.

Today, with more than 2,700 stores nationwide and 1,000 CAFé by 7-Eleven outlets, the company continues to strengthen its position as Malaysia's leading convenience retailer by adapting to evolving consumer expectations through innovation, accessibility and everyday convenience.

As Malaysians continue to embrace increasingly mobile lifestyles and seek greater convenience in their daily routines, 7-Eleven Malaysia remains committed to expanding CAFé by 7-Eleven into locations where quality food and beverages are needed most. Guided by its promise of "Always There For You", the company will continue bringing greater convenience to customers wherever life takes them.

Hashtag: #7eleven

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

About 7-Eleven Malaysia

7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad through its subsidiary 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is the owner and operator of 7-Eleven stores in Malaysia. Incorporated on 4 June 1984, 7-Eleven Malaysia has made its mark in the retailing scene and has been a prominent icon for over 40 years. 7-Eleven Malaysia is the pioneer and largest 24-hour standalone convenience store operator in Malaysia with over 2,700 outlets nationwide and serves more than 1 million customers daily. 7-Eleven stores can be found across bustling commercial districts to serene suburban residential compounds throughout Malaysia, from petrol stations and LRT stations to shopping malls and medical institutions. My7E loyalty app boasted an impressive membership of 3.7 million users. As we forge ahead, our commitment remains steadfast in enriching the experience for our valued members, offering an array of rewards that enhance their journey as My7E enthusiasts. 7-Eleven is Always There For You. To learn more, please visit our website at www.7eleven.com.my

Media OutReach Newswire Strengthens USA Distribution Network

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:00:27 +0700

The newswire guarantees online postings on USA Today and increases its guaranteed distribution on high-domain-rating local US news sites to empower AI visibility

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Media OutReach Newswire, the first global newswire founded in Asia Pacific, has expanded its USA distribution network with additional guaranteed news postings.

Guaranteed news postings on USA Today

Through new strategic agreements, Media OutReach Newswire now provides clients with guaranteed online postings in flagship American media outlets like USA Today, Yahoo Finance, and The Associated Press, alongside more than 650 trusted news sites with domain authority. This latest service upgrade specifically targets guaranteed online news postings in media with domain authority to empower AI visibility. By combining distribution with JSON-LD Schema Markup that provides context and meaning to the press release for search engines and AI models to interpret its content accurately, Media OutReach Newswire's press release distribution structures answers for AI discoverability and AI citation. Media OutReach Newswire's press release distribution service has been helping companies and government agencies to actively build their AI visibility.

Media OutReach Newswire guarantees news release placements in the official, public-facing press release section of USA Today. With a Domain Authority (DA) rated between 92 and 94 out of 100, USA Today ranks as one of the most trusted news sources for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Attracting more than 120.5 million unique monthly visitors, this integration delivers the public visibility necessary to build client brand credibility and trust on a national stage. Additionally, the newswire has secured guaranteed news postings on real local and regional news websites, including The Arizona Republic, Detroit Free Press, Indianapolis Star, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Tennessean, and The Oklahoman.

"By improving the quality of our guaranteed news postings on trusted, Google-indexed news sites with domain authority, coupled with the direct delivery of press releases to journalists' inboxes, Media OutReach Newswire has successfully helped many Asian corporations to build their brand reputation in the US market," said Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire.

"We are pleased to have built a USA press release distribution network that focuses exactly on what PR professionals need, a distribution that reaches journalists and provides quality news postings on real media. Our comprehensive journalist database built by in-house media researchers covers more than 500 trade news categories and 65,000 journalists and editors across quality media titles. This has helped our clients secure earned media coverage and journalist inquiries from business, technology, ESG, automotive, travel, and many other media sectors in the USA. In addition, Media OutReach Newswire's partnership with The Associated Press delivers clients' news releases directly into newsrooms across the United States," added Jennifer.

Earned media coverage

Over the years, the newswire has cultivated brand trust with journalists at USA media outlets who actively engage with its client releases. Through its Media and Journalist Insights, Media OutReach Newswire is able to report on how many journalists by publication in the USA have opened its clients' press releases and the earned media write ups achieved.

Media and Journalist Insights per release

PR Intelligence Report for all releases

Through its Total PR and Communications Solution, Media OutReach Newswire's global distribution network delivers client press releases directly to journalists, guarantees verbatim news postings on trusted news sites with domain authority to empower SEO and GEO, and provides post-release reports packed with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time.

This total solution addresses the needs of PR and communication professionals from press release distribution through to reporting with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence across both in-country and global PR campaigns. It has been entrusted by hundreds of clients in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and across APAC to expand their business and brand awareness overseas to markets in Canada, USA, UK & Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Gulf States and Africa.
Hashtag: #MediaOutReachNewswire #pressrelease #USA

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

About Media OutReach Newswire

Media OutReach Newswire is Asia Pacific's first global newswire, serving as a trusted partner to media, corporations, agencies and governments across the region and the globe.

Founded in 2009 as a champion of the PR industry, Media OutReach Newswire leverages AI and SaaS technology to redefine press release distribution with a Total PR and Communications Solution. The newswire is focused on its core service of delivering press releases to journalists and editors in targeted media, posting client news releases on real media sites with domain authority (DA), and providing post release reports with data insights along with PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time. In March 2026, the newswire integrated JSON-LD Schema Markup into its online news postings to empower AI visibility for its clients.

With a global network of over 200,000 journalists and editors, 70,000+ media titles, 1,500+ media partners, and more than 40 languages, Media OutReach Newswire's focus on providing guaranteed verbatim posting on real media sites powers SEO and GEO for building brand trust and AI visibility, as press releases published on authentic media with domain authority are trusted by search engines and AI models.

Headquartered in Hong Kong SAR with global press release distribution network spanning USA & Canada, Latin America, UK & Europe, the Middle East, Gulf States, Africa, Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

For more information about our services, solutions, and network, please visit www.media-outreach.com

Lampu Menyala, Palu Berbunyi: Satgas TMMD 129 Bojonegoro Kebut Renovasi Rumah Warga di Malam Hari

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:43:58 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) – Semangat pengabdian tanpa mengenal waktu terus ditunjukkan personel Satgas TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke-129 Kodim 0813/Bojonegoro.

Dalam rangka mempercepat penyelesaian program peningkatan kualitas Rumah Tinggal Layak Huni (RTLH), anggota Satgas tetap melanjutkan pembangunan rumah milik Bu Tini, warga RT.021 RW.009 Dusun Kedungpandan, Desa Kesongo, Kecamatan Kedungadem, hingga malam hari, Minggu (19/7/2026).

Di bawah cahaya lampu penerangan, personel TNI bersama warga bergotong royong menyelesaikan berbagai tahapan pembangunan.

Meski malam telah larut, semangat para prajurit dan masyarakat tidak surut. Mereka terus bekerja agar rumah Bu Tini segera selesai dan dapat ditempati dengan nyaman.

Pembangunan rumah Bu Tini merupakan salah satu sasaran fisik TMMD ke-129 Kodim 0813/Bojonegoro yang dilaksanakan di Desa Kesongo.

Program tersebut menjadi bukti nyata kepedulian TNI terhadap masyarakat melalui penyediaan hunian yang lebih layak, sehat, dan aman.

Di lokasi kegiatan, Komandan SST-1 SSK Satgas TMMD ke-129 Kodim 0813/Bojonegoro, Letda Inf Ady Yuniarto, mengatakan, lembur dilakukan sebagai bentuk komitmen TNI dalam mempercepat penyelesaian seluruh sasaran fisik TMMD tanpa mengurangi kualitas pekerjaan.

"Kami memanfaatkan waktu sebaik mungkin, agar proses rehabilitasi rumah Bu Tini dapat selesai sesuai target. Meski harus bekerja hingga malam, semangat anggota Satgas bersama warga tetap tinggi. Inilah wujud kemanunggalan TNI dengan rakyat, saling bahu-membahu demi membantu masyarakat memperoleh rumah yang layak huni," ujarnya.

Kebersamaan TNI dan warga tampak begitu kuat. Mereka bahu-membahu mengangkut material, memasang dinding, hingga merapikan bagian bangunan.

Semangat gotong royong yang menjadi ciri khas dalam pelaksanaan program TMMD terus terlihat dalam setiap proses pengerjaan.

Bu Tini mengaku sangat terharu, dan bersyukur atas perhatian serta bantuan yang diberikan melalui program TMMD ke- 129 tahun ini.

"Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada bapak-bapak TNI, Pemkab Bojonegoro, Pemerintah Desa Kesongo, dan seluruh warga yang telah membantu membangun rumah saya. Saya sangat terharu melihat mereka tetap bekerja sampai malam agar rumah ini cepat selesai. Semoga semua yang membantu selalu diberi kesehatan, keselamatan, dan dibalas segala kebaikannya oleh Allah SWT," tuturnya.

Kerja keras Satgas TMMD Ke- 129 Kodim 0813/Bojonegoeo hingga malam hari ini menjadi bukti komitmen TNI dalam mengabdi kepada rakyat.

Dengan semangat kebersamaan dan gotong royong, seluruh sasaran fisik TMMD ke-129 di Desa Kesongo diharapkan dapat selesai tepat waktu sehingga manfaatnya segera dirasakan masyarakat.

Program TMMD ke- 129 tahun 2026 ini tidak hanya membangun infrastruktur desa, tetapi juga memperkuat kemanunggalan TNI dengan rakyat melalui kerja nyata yang menyentuh langsung kebutuhan masyarakat.

Di Desa Kesongo, program terpadu dan lintas sektoral ini akan berlangsung selama 30 hari, dari tanggal 15 Juli hingga 13 Agustus 2026 mendatang.

Jejak Bakti Satgas TMMD 129 Bojonegoro: Jadikan Halaman Masjid Dusun Krebet Bersih dan Nyaman untuk Ibadah

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:42:37 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) - Semangat kebersamaan mewarnai kegiatan nonfisik TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke-129 Kodim 0813/Bojonegoro di Desa Kesongo, Kecamatan Kedungadem, Minggu (19/7/2026).

Beberapa personel Satgas TMMD ke- 129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro bersama warga melaksanakan kegiatan kerja bakti membersihkan Masjid Krebet Desa Kesongo.

Kegiatan dipimpin langsung oleh Komandan SSK Satgas TMMD ke- 129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro, Lettu Ckm Purnomo, dan didampingi Babinsa Desa Kesongo Serka Lasmidi.

Seluruh peserta bergotong royong membersihkan bagian dalam masjid, halaman, serta lingkungan sekitar agar tempat ibadah menjadi lebih bersih, nyaman, dan asri.

Hadir dalan gotong royong ini Ketua RT.013 RW.006 Dusun Krebet, Sukadi, bersama warga setempat. Ia mengapresiasi kepedulian Satgas TMMD yang tidak hanya fokus pada pembangunan fisik, tetapi juga aktif dalam kegiatan sosial kemasyarakatan.

"Kami mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Satgas TMMD yang telah mengajak warga bergotong royong membersihkan masjid. Kegiatan ini membuat lingkungan tempat ibadah menjadi lebih bersih sekaligus mempererat kebersamaan antara TNI dan masyarakat," ujar Sukadi.

Sementara itu, Lettu Ckm Purnomo mengatakan, kerja bakti merupakan salah satu upaya menumbuhkan kembali semangat gotong royong serta meningkatkan kepedulian masyarakat terhadap kebersihan fasilitas umum, khususnya tempat ibadah.

"TMMD bukan hanya membangun infrastruktur, tetapi juga membangun kebersamaan dan kepedulian sosial. Kami berharap budaya gotong royong seperti ini terus terjaga di tengah masyarakat," tuturnya.

Melalui kegiatan nonfisik TMMD ke-129 Kodim 0813/Bojonegoro terus menunjukkan komitmennya dalam memperkuat kemanunggalan TNI dengan rakyat.

Harapannya, manfaat program TMMD tidak hanya dirasakan melalui pembangunan fisik, tetapi juga dalam mempererat persaudaraan dan semangat kebersamaan di Desa Kesongo.

TMMD 129 Bojonegoro: Hadirkan Senyum Sehat Warga Lewat Layanan Kesehatan Gratis

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:41:27 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) - Pelayanan kesehatan yang menjadi bagian dari kegiatan nonfisik TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke-129 Kodim 0813/Bojonegoro terus dirasakan manfaatnya oleh masyarakat.

Kali ini, Tim Kesehatan Pos 1 Satgas TMMD ke- 129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro yang berada di Dusun Krebet, Desa Kesongo, Kecamatan Kedungadem, memberikan pelayanan pemeriksaan kesehatan dan pelayanan medis kepada warga, Minggu (19/7/2026).

Tim kesehatan Pos I Satgas TMMD ke- 129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro yang dipimpin langsung Komandan SSK Lettu Ckm Purnomo ini memberikan berbagai layanan mulai dari pemeriksaan tekanan darah (tensi), konsultasi kesehatan, hingga pemberian suntik vitamin sesuai kebutuhan untuk menjaga kebugaran masyarakat.

Salah satu warga setempat, Hadi Fatekun, memanfaatkan layanan ini dengan melakukan pemeriksaan tekanan darah dan mendapatkan suntik vitamin.

Menurutnya, pelayanan kesehatan dari Satgas TMMD ini sangat membantu karena dirinya setiap hari bekerja di sawah sehingga membutuhkan kondisi tubuh yang tetap prima.

"Setiap hari saya bekerja di sawah. Alhamdulillah, setelah diperiksa tensi dan diberi suntik vitamin, badan terasa lebih segar. Terima kasih bapak-bapak TNI yang telah memberikan pelayanan kesehatan gratis kepada masyarakat," ujar Hadi Fatekun.

Sementara itu, Lettu Ckm Purnomo menjelaskan bahwa pelayanan kesehatan merupakan salah satu sasaran nonfisik program TMMD yang bertujuan meningkatkan derajat kesehatan masyarakat sekaligus memberikan kemudahan akses layanan kesehatan di lokasi kegiatan.

"Kami ingin memastikan masyarakat tetap sehat dan dapat menjalankan aktivitas sehari-hari dengan baik. Selain pemeriksaan kesehatan, kami juga memberikan edukasi agar warga selalu menerapkan pola hidup sehat," jelasnya.

Melalui pelayanan kesehatan di Pos 1 Dusun Krebet, TMMD ke-129 tidak hanya menghadirkan pembangunan fisik, tetapi juga menunjukkan kepedulian TNI terhadap kesehatan masyarakat, sehingga manfaat program benar-benar dirasakan langsung oleh warga.

Menyapa dengan Hati di Tengah Ladang: Satgas TMMD 129 Bojonegoro Rajut Kemanunggalan TNI dan Rakyat

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:40:12 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) - Di bawah hangatnya sinar matahari sore yang menyapa ladang tembakau di Desa Kesongo, sebuah momen sederhana namun penuh makna terekam.

Bukan tentang deru mesin konstruksi atau tumpukan material bangunan, melainkan tentang ketulusan sebuah jabat tangan antara seorang prajurit dan seorang warga sepuh.

Ia adalah Serda Risky, personel Satgas TMMD ke- 129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro. Di tengah kesibukannya menuntaskan berbagai sasaran fisik program TMMD.

Serda Risky tak melupakan esensi sejati, dari kehadirannya di tengah masyarakat yakni Kemanunggalan TNI dan Rakyat.

Sambil mengenakan seragam loreng kebanggaannya lengkap dengan sepatu boots perkebunan, Serda Risky tampak membungkukkan badan.

Sikapnya penuh rasa hormat saat menyalami, dan berbincang dengan Mbah Zaeni, yang sedang beristirahat di sela-sela merawat tanaman tembakaunya.

Guratan usia di wajah Mbah Zaeni seketika mencair, berganti dengan senyuman hangat saat menyambut uluran tangan sang prajurit.

Komunikasi sosial (Komsos) yang dibangun Serda Risky ini mengalir begitu saja, tanpa sekat, tanpa formalitas, jujur dan apa adanya.

"TMMD ini bukan sekadar membangun jalan, drainase atau rumah secara fisik. Jauh lebih penting dari itu, kami hadir di Desa Kesongo untuk membangun ikatan emosional dan kekeluargaan yang kuat dengan warga,” ungkap Serda Risky, Minggu (19/7/2026).

Menurutnya, mengetahui apa yang mereka rasakan dan mendengarkan cerita mereka adalah kebahagiaan tersendiri bagi kami.

Program TMMD ke- 129 di Kabupaten Bojonegoro ini memang dirancang untuk mempercepat roda pembangunan Desa Kesongo.

Namun, pendekatan persuasif dan humanis seperti yang dilakukan Serda Risky, membuktikan bahwa TNI senantiasa menempatkan rakyat sebagai ruh utama perjuangan.

Melalui obrolan ringan di ladang tembakau ini, personel Satgas TMMD dapat menyerap aspirasi warga, mendengar keluh kesah pertanian, sekaligus memberikan motivasi moral kepada masyarakat agar tetap semangat beraktivitas.

Bagi warga Desa Kesongo, kehadiran para prajurit yang ramah dan ringan tangan memberikan warna baru di desa mereka.

Mereka tidak lagi melihat TNI sebagai sosok yang kaku, melainkan sebagai anak, saudara, dan pelindung yang siap membantu kapan saja.

Sejak dimulai pada 15 Juli yang lalu, kegiatan program di Desa Kesongo ini akan ditutup 13 Agustus 2026 mendatang.

Kegiatan program tersebut mengusung tema "TMMD Satukan Langkah Membangun Negeri dari Desa".

Ada tujuh sasaran fisik yang dikerjakan program ini, pembangunan jalan cor beton di Dusun Mundu dan Kedungpandan.

Kemudian ada pembangunan sumur bor dan drainase, rehab sekolah, normalisasi sungai, serta peningkatan kualitas rumah tinggal layak huni.

TMMD 129 Bojonegoro: Keringat Bersama di Balik Kokohnya Jalan Cor Beton Kedungpandan

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:38:59 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) – Pembangunan jalan rigid beton melalui Program TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke-129 Tahun Anggaran 2026 di Dusun Kedungpandan, Desa Kesongo, Kecamatan Kedungadem, Kabupaten Bojonegoro, terus menunjukkan perkembangan yang menggembirakan.

Memasuki tahap pengecoran dasar, hasil pekerjaan mulai tampak dan membawa harapan baru bagi masyarakat setempat.

Pembangunan infrastruktur yang menjadi salah satu sasaran fisik TMMD tersebut dikerjakan secara bertahap dengan melibatkan personel Satgas TMMD bersama warga.

Kehadiran jalan beton ini diharapkan mampu meningkatkan konektivitas antar wilayah, memperlancar aktivitas ekonomi, hingga memudahkan akses masyarakat dalam menjalankan berbagai kegiatan sehari-hari.

Salah seorang warga Dusun Kedungpandan, Sutrisno, mengaku bersyukur melihat progres pembangunan yang terus berjalan sesuai harapan.

Menurutnya, jalan yang selama ini menjadi keluhan masyarakat kini mulai berubah menjadi akses yang lebih layak.

"Kami sangat bersyukur karena pembangunan jalan ini benar-benar dirasakan manfaatnya. Semoga setelah selesai nanti, aktivitas warga menjadi lebih mudah, aman, dan nyaman, terutama saat musim hujan," ujarnya, Senin (20/7/2026).

Ia juga mengapresiasi semangat gotong royong antara Satgas TMMD dan masyarakat yang setiap hari bahu-membahu menyelesaikan pembangunan tersebut.

Sementara itu, Kepala Dusun Kedungpandan Ahmad Alfan Alfarizi menyampaikan bahwa progres pengecoran jalan menjadi bukti nyata komitmen TMMD dalam menghadirkan pembangunan yang dibutuhkan masyarakat desa.

Menurutnya, keberadaan jalan rigid beton akan memberikan dampak jangka panjang bagi warga, mulai dari memperlancar distribusi hasil pertanian, meningkatkan mobilitas masyarakat, hingga mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi desa.

"Kami mengucapkan terima kasih kepada TNI melalui Program TMMD ke-129. Pembangunan ini merupakan harapan masyarakat sejak lama dan kini mulai menjadi kenyataan. Kami juga mengajak seluruh warga untuk ikut menjaga dan merawat hasil pembangunan agar manfaatnya dapat dirasakan dalam jangka panjang," ungkapnya.

Dengan progres pengecoran yang terus menunjukkan hasil positif, masyarakat Dusun Kedungpandan semakin optimistis Program TMMD ke-129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro akan meninggalkan warisan infrastruktur yang berkualitas.

Semangat kebersamaan antara TNI dan warga pun terus menjadi kekuatan utama dalam mempercepat pembangunan desa demi meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat.

Infrastruktur Maju, Ekonomi Melaju: Menengok Efek Domino TMMD 129 Bojonegoro bagi UMKM Lokal

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:37:12 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) – Kehadiran Program TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke-129 Tahun 2026 di Desa Kesongo, Kecamatan Kedungadem, Kabupaten Bojonegoro, tidak hanya menghadirkan pembangunan infrastruktur dan pemberdayaan masyarakat.

Program ini juga membawa dampak positif terhadap roda perekonomian warga, khususnya para pelaku usaha kecil.

Salah satu yang merasakan manfaat tersebut adalah Lasmi, pemilik warung bakso dan mie ayam "Subur Rejeki" di Desa Kesongo.

Sejak ratusan personel Satgas TMMD ini mulai bertugas di desa itu, warung miliknya menjadi lebih ramai dibanding hari-hari biasa.

Hampir setiap hari, anggota Satgas TMMD ini datang untuk menikmati semangkuk bakso atau mie ayam di warung sederhana tersebut.

Kondisi ini membuat omzet penjualan Lasmi mengalami peningkatan yang cukup signifikan.

Lasmi mengaku bersyukur karena kehadiran program TMMD tidak hanya membawa pembangunan bagi desa, tetapi juga memberikan tambahan penghasilan bagi para pedagang kecil.

"Alhamdulillah sejak ada TMMD, warung saya jadi lebih ramai. Banyak bapak-bapak TNI yang makan di sini, sehingga omzet ikut bertambah. Semoga kegiatan seperti ini membawa berkah bagi semua warga," ujar Lasmi, Minggu (19/7/2026).

Menurutnya, para prajurit yang datang dikenal ramah dan akrab dengan masyarakat.

Selain menjadi pelanggan tetap selama pelaksanaan TMMD, mereka juga kerap berbincang santai dengan warga sehingga tercipta suasana kekeluargaan.

Program TMMD ke-129 memang tidak hanya berfokus pada pembangunan fisik seperti jalan cor beton, jembatan, drainase, peningkatan kualitas Rumah Tinggal Layak Huni (RTLH), pembangunan sumur bor, dan rehabilitasi ruang kelas sekolah.

Kehadiran ratusan personel Satgas TMMD di Desa Kesongo juga memberikan efek berganda terhadap perekonomian lokal.

Warung makan, warung kopi, toko kelontong, hingga pelaku usaha mikro lainnya turut merasakan meningkatnya aktivitas ekonomi selama program berlangsung.

Perputaran uang di desa menjadi lebih hidup seiring meningkatnya jumlah pembeli.

Fenomena tersebut menunjukkan bahwa manfaat TMMD tidak hanya dirasakan melalui hasil pembangunan yang bersifat jangka panjang, tetapi juga memberikan dampak ekonomi langsung bagi masyarakat selama pelaksanaan kegiatan berlangsung.

Bagi Lasmi dan para pelaku UMKM lainnya, TMMD bukan hanya menghadirkan pembangunan desa, tetapi juga menjadi sumber rezeki yang membantu meningkatkan pendapatan keluarga.

Kehadiran para prajurit TNI di tengah masyarakat menjadi penggerak ekonomi lokal sekaligus mempererat hubungan harmonis antara TNI dan warga Desa Kesongo.

Kemanusiaan Tanpa Batas: Satgas TMMD 129 Bojonegoro Buktikan Kepedulian Lewat Aksi Sederhana

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:35:55 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) – Kepedulian tidak selalu diwujudkan dalam aksi besar, terkadang seteguk air minum yang diberikan dengan tulus mampu menghadirkan kehangatan sekaligus mempererat hubungan antara TNI dan masyarakat.

Hal itulah yang dilakukan Babinsa Desa Kesongo, Serka Lasmidi, saat berinteraksi dengan warga di Desa Kesongo, Kecamatan Kedungadem, Kabupaten Bojonegoro.

Di tengah aktivitas masyarakat dan cuaca yang cukup terik, Serka Lasmidi membagikan air minum kepada warga sebagai pelepas dahaga.

Momen sederhana tersebut menjadi gambaran nyata kedekatan aparat teritorial dengan masyarakat.

Tidak hanya membantu menghilangkan dahaga, Serka Lasmidi juga memanfaatkan kesempatan itu untuk menyampaikan sosialisasi mengenai pelaksanaan Program TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke-129 Tahun Anggaran 2026 yang tengah berlangsung di Desa Kesongo.

Dalam sosialisasinya, Babinsa Serka Lasmidi mengajak masyarakat untuk berpartisipasi aktif mendukung seluruh rangkaian kegiatan TMMD.

"Keberhasilan program tidak hanya ditentukan oleh kerja Satgas TMMD, tetapi juga membutuhkan semangat gotong royong dan keterlibatan warga," ungkapnya, Minggu (19/7/2026).

Program TMMD ke-129 di Desa Kesongo sendiri menghadirkan berbagai pembangunan fisik dan non fisik yang bertujuan meningkatkan kualitas infrastruktur sekaligus kesejahteraan masyarakat desa.

Karena itu, dukungan dan partisipasi warga menjadi salah satu kunci utama agar seluruh sasaran program dapat selesai tepat waktu dan memberikan manfaat jangka panjang.

Suasana sosialisasi berlangsung santai dan penuh keakraban, warga tampak antusias mendengarkan penjelasan yang disampaikan Serka Lasmidi.

Pendekatan humanis yang dilakukan melalui obrolan ringan sambil berbagi air minum membuat komunikasi terasa lebih dekat dan mudah diterima masyarakat.

Melalui cara sederhana namun penuh makna tersebut, Babinsa berharap masyarakat semakin memahami tujuan TMMD ke-129 serta bersama-sama menjaga semangat kebersamaan dalam membangun Desa Kesongo.

Aksi berbagi seteguk air ini menjadi bukti bahwa kemanunggalan TNI dan rakyat tidak hanya diwujudkan melalui pembangunan infrastruktur, tetapi juga melalui perhatian kecil yang mampu menumbuhkan rasa peduli, kebersamaan, dan semangat gotong royong demi kemajuan desa.

TMMD 129 Bojonegoro Sediakan Fasilitas Air Bersih, Wujudkan Akses Sanitasi Layak

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:34:42 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) - Program TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke-129 yang dilaksanakan Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro di Desa Kesongo terus menunjukkan progres nyata.

Salah satu sasaran fisik yang kini tengah dikerjakan adalah pembangunan sumur bor beserta jaringan perpipaan di Dusun Bekatul, Desa Kesongo, Kecamatan Kedungadem, Kabupaten Bojonegoro.

Pembangunan fasilitas air bersih tersebut menjadi salah satu upaya meningkatkan kualitas hidup masyarakat, khususnya dalam memenuhi kebutuhan air bersih yang selama ini menjadi persoalan saat musim kemarau.

Dengan adanya sumur bor dan, jaringan distribusi air, warga nantinya diharapkan dapat memperoleh akses air bersih yang lebih mudah, aman dan berkelanjutan untuk kebutuhan sehari-hari.

Komandan Satuan Setingkat Kompi (SSK) Satgas TMMD ke-129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro, Lettu Ckm Purnomo, mengatakan, pengerjaan sumur bor dilakukan secara bertahap agar hasilnya maksimal dan dapat segera dimanfaatkan masyarakat.

Menurutnya, pembangunan infrastruktur air bersih ini merupakan salah satu bentuk kepedulian TNI terhadap kebutuhan dasar masyarakat diwilayah pedesaan.

"Melalui program TMMD ini, kami berharap keberadaan sumur bor dan jaringan perpipaan mampu memberikan manfaat jangka panjang bagi warga Dusun Bekatul. Kami terus mengoptimalkan pekerjaan agar selesai tepat waktu dengan tetap mengutamakan kualitas," ujarnya, Senin (20/7/2026).

Ia menambahkan, seluruh personel Satgas TMMD bersama masyarakat terus bergotong royong menyelesaikan setiap sasaran fisik yang telah diprogramkan.

Semangat kebersamaan tersebut menjadi kunci percepatan pembangunan sekaligus mempererat kemanunggalan TNI dengan rakyat.

Program TMMD ke-129 tidak hanya menghadirkan pembangunan infrastruktur, tetapi juga menjadi solusi atas berbagai kebutuhan masyarakat desa.

Kehadiran sumur bor dan jaringan perpipaan di Dusun Bekatul diharapkan mampu meningkatkan kesehatan, mendukung aktivitas ekonomi warga, sekaligus memperkuat ketahanan desa dalam menghadapi musim kemarau.

Pembangunan ini menjadi bukti nyata komitmen Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro bersama Pemerintah Kabupaten Bojonegoro dalam menghadirkan pemerataan pembangunan hingga ke pelosok desa melalui Program TMMD ke-129.

TMMD 129 Bojonegoro di Kesongo Gelar Turnamen Voli Antar Desa

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:33:11 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) – Program TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke-129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro tidak hanya fokus pada pembangunan infrastruktur, tetapi juga menghadirkan kegiatan yang mampu mempererat kebersamaan masyarakat.

Salah satunya melalui turnamen bola voli antar desa se- Kecamatan Kedungadem yang digelar dilapangan Balai Desa Kesongo, Minggu (19/7/2026).

Kompetisi olahraga tersebut berlangsung meriah, dengan diikuti perwakilan desa dari berbagai wilayah di Kecamatan Kedungadem.

Kehadiran para pemain, suporter dan masyarakat menjadikan lapangan desa dipenuhi semangat sportivitas dan kekompakan.

Turnamen bola voli ini merupakan bagian dari rangkaian kegiatan non fisik TMMD ke- 129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro yang bertujuan membangun semangat persatuan, memperkuat silaturahmi, sekaligus mendorong lahirnya bibit-bibit atlet bola voli dari tingkat desa.

Komandan Satuan Setingkat Kompi (SSK) Satgas TMMD ke- 129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro, Lettu Ckm Purnomo, mengatakan bahwa kegiatan olahraga menjadi salah satu media efektif untuk mempererat hubungan antara TNI dan masyarakat.

"Melalui turnamen bola voli ini, kami ingin menghadirkan suasana kebersamaan dan kekeluargaan. Selain menjadi ajang kompetisi yang sehat, kegiatan ini juga memperkuat semangat gotong royong serta mempererat kemanunggalan TNI dengan rakyat," ujar Lettu Ckm Purnomo.

Ia menambahkan, TMMD bukan hanya tentang membangun jalan, rumah, maupun fasilitas umum, tetapi juga membangun karakter, kebersamaan dan semangat persatuan masyarakat melalui berbagai kegiatan sosial, budaya dan olahraga.

Antusiasme masyarakat terlihat sejak pertandingan dimulai.

Sorak sorai suporter memberikan dukungan kepada tim kebanggaan masing-masing desa, menciptakan atmosfer pertandingan yang meriah namun tetap menjunjung tinggi sportivitas.

Melalui kegiatan ini, Satgas TMMD ke-129 berharap semangat persaudaraan yang terbangun selama turnamen dapat terus terjaga, sehingga mampu memperkuat sinergi antara pemerintah, TNI dan masyarakat dalam mendukung pembangunan desa yang lebih maju, sehat dan harmonis di Kabupaten Bojonegoro.

Bikin Adem! Kehadiran Satgas TMMD 129 Bojonegoro Jadi ''Kakak Baru'' Anak Desa Kesongo

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:31:53 +0700

BOJONEGORO (MR) - Senyum ramah tak lepas dari wajah seorang prajurit berseragam loreng sore itu di Desa Kesongo Kecamatan Kedungadem Kabupaten Bojonegoro Jawa Timur, Minggu (20/7/2026).

Di bawah langit pedesaan yang teduh, langkah kaki prajurit TNI ini tidak lagi berderap formal layaknya di medan latihan. Melainkan beriringan santai, di atas jalanan kampung Kesongo.

Bukan pembangunan infrastruktur fisik yang menjadi sorotan kali ini, melainkan sebuah pemandangan hangat yang tertangkap oleh kamera.

Dengan penuh kasih, personel Satgas TNI Manunggal Membangun Desa (TMMD) ke- 129 Kodim 0813 Bojonegoro ini tampak menggandeng erat tangan seorang balita berpakaian loreng mini, yang berjalan dengan langkah-langkah kecilnya yang menggemaskan.

Di samping mereka, ada dua gadis remaja desa setempat, yang ikut berjalan beriringan, larut dalam obrolan santai yang diselingi tawa renyah.

Suasana kaku, antara prajurit Satgas TMMD dan warga masyarakat seketika luntur, berganti menjadi kedekatan layaknya sebuah keluarga besar.

Kegiatan yang dikenal sebagai 'Komsos' atau Komunikasi Sosial ini menjadi roh tersendiri dalam setiap pelaksanaan program terpadu dan lintas sektoral TMMD.

Prajurit TNI menyadari, membangun sebuah desa tidak melulu soal mencampur semen atau menyusun batu bata, tetapi juga tentang bagaimana menyentuh hati masyarakatnya.

"Kehadiran kami di sini bukan hanya sebagai pekerja proyek, tapi sebagai bagian dari keluarga mereka. Melalui obrolan ringan sore hari seperti ini, kami bisa mendengar langsung apa yang menjadi harapan dan keluh kesah warga," ujar Prada Wasikan.

Bagi warga desa, kehadiran para prajurit yang humanis, memberikan warna baru. Mereka tidak lagi melihat TNI sebagai sosok yang ditakuti, melainkan sebagai kakak, sahabat, bahkan anak angkat yang siap membantu kapan saja.

Kedekatan ini jugalah yang memicu semangat gotong-royong warga masyarakat untuk bersama-sama menyukseskan seluruh rangkaian kegiatan program TMMD di desa mereka.

Sedangkan Balita yang dengan bangga mengenakan baju loreng mini, sambil menggandeng tangan sang prajurit Satgas TMMD adalah simbol sederhana, namun mendalam.

Hal ini menjadi bukti nyata dari jargon "TNI Manunggal Rakyat" adalah benih-benih kecintaan terhadap tanah air yang telah tertanam sejak dini di sanubari generasi penerus bangsa.

Ketika kegiatan program TMMD ke- 129 di Desa Kesongo ini nantinya usai di pertengahan Agustus, dan para prajurit harus kembali ke kesatuan masing-masing, sejumlah sasaran fisik seperti jalanan cor beton yang baru, peningkatan kualitas rumah tinggal layak huni dan lainya, mungkin akan bertahan bertahun-tahun.

Namun, jejak kehangatan, canda tawa, dan ikatan kekeluargaan yang telah terukir di hati warga Desa Kesongo ini dipastikan akan tinggal dan abadi selamanya.

Thailand cuts 3.8 million tonnes of CO? through low-carbon cement, accelerating beyond NDC targets and advancing a collaborative Net Zero model

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 16:00:27 +0700

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 - Thailand has achieved a significant milestone in industrial greenhouse gas mitigation, reducing more than 3.8 million tonnes of CO? equivalent since 2019 through the implementation of clinker substitution under the Industrial Process and Product Use (IPPU) sector. This progress has been delivered ahead of the Thailand NDC Roadmap timeline, demonstrating the country's capacity to translate climate policy into measurable outcomes. Central to this transition is the rapid scale-up of "hydraulic cement," now serving as the primary structural cement nationwide and a key enabler of low-carbon construction.

The achievement was formally recognized at the "TCMA at 20: The Next Chapter to Net Zero" event, where H.E. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, presided over an award ceremony honoring 34 implementing partners, supported by six ministries, for their collective contribution in driving policy into practice.

H.E. Mr. Varawut stated that the success of clinker substitution reflects the strength of multi-stakeholder collaboration across government, industry, academia, and professional bodies, enabling Thailand to accelerate greenhouse gas reduction while advancing green industry transformation and competitiveness.

"Greenhouse gas reduction becomes possible when all sectors work together; from policy and technology to real-world implementation. The success of clinker substitution is a tangible example of collaboration delivering real impact, and marks an important step toward Thailand's Net Zero 2050 ambition." H.E. Mr. Varawut said.

Mr. Surachai Nimla-or, Chairman of Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA), highlighted that the results were made possible through close coordination across sectors, driving national policy into implementation through R&D, standards development, technological advancement, and market adoption mechanisms.

"The reduction of over 3.8 million tonnes of CO? equivalent reflects the collective effort of all sectors in operationalizing national measures. The cement industry remains committed to advancing the transition toward a low-carbon economy." Mr. Surachai said.

A key driver behind this success is the development and widespread adoption of hydraulic cement (low-carbon cement), which reduces the clinker content - the most carbon-intensive component in cement production - while maintaining performance and structural integrity in accordance with Thai Industrial Standard TIS 2594. Today, hydraulic cement is extensively used across the country in infrastructure projects, public buildings, industrial facilities, and residential construction, marking a systemic shift from alternative material to mainstream low-carbon construction solution.

Performance data underscores the pace of progress. In 2021, clinker substitution delivered over 300,000 tonnes of CO? reduction, achieving results nine years ahead of the NDC schedule. Between 2022–2023, an additional over 1 million tonnes of CO? reductions were realized. Cumulatively, from 2019 to present, emissions reductions have exceeded 3.8 million tonnes CO? equivalent.

This progress has been enabled by an integrated effort among 34 implementing partners, with policy and institutional support from six ministries, covering policy formulation, standards development, market promotion, and enabling mechanisms; underscoring the role of public–private partnership (PPP) in driving systemic transition.

Mr. Surachai further noted that the clinker substitution initiative represents a scalable model of translating national climate ambition into implementation, with potential for replication across other industrial sectors and expansion into regional collaboration frameworks.

"Hydraulic cement today is not only a low-carbon material; it is part of Thailand's broader transition toward sustainable growth. It demonstrates that with strong collaboration, emissions reduction is not only possible, but achievable at scale." Mr. Surachai said.

The success of clinker substitution reinforces Thailand's leadership in industry-led climate action, highlighting how coordinated public–private efforts can deliver tangible emissions reductions while strengthening industrial resilience. It marks a critical step toward achieving Net Zero 2050, and offers a replicable model for industrial decarbonization at both national and regional levels.

Hashtag: #TCMA #TCMAat20 #TCMAinAction #TCMAtoNetZero2050 #CementDecarbonization #IPPU #ClinkerSubstitution #ClimateSolutionPartner #HydraulicCement #LowCarbonCement #NetZero2050

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

Embracing an Intelligent Future: UnionPay Showcases AI Innovation at WAIC 2026

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 15:00:26 +0700

Release of Phased Achievements of the National Pilot Base for AI Application (Financial Sector) Held Alongside the Conference

SHANGHAI, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - On 17 July, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) officially opened in Shanghai. UnionPay unveiled three proprietary AI technologies developed for the financial sector at the Shanghai exhibition area: financial transaction time-series foundation model, the Agentic Payment Open Protocol (APOP) framework, and a privacy-preserving large language model inference solution. As the AI era unfolds, the showcase highlights UnionPay's continued commitment to accelerating the adoption of digital and intelligent technologies.

On 18 July, UnionPay hosted the Release of Phased Achievements of the National Pilot Base for AI Application (Financial Sector) at the UnionPay Center alongside WAIC 2026. The event brought together more than 100 representatives from commercial banks, Chinese and international partners, leading technology companies, academia, and research institutions. During the event, UnionPay released its "1+6+N" AI achievements framework, announced a series of industry partnerships, and launched a joint initiative calling for greater collaboration on the development and governance of the financial industry. These achievements demonstrate the progress of the National AI Application Pilot Base in building an open innovation platform that accelerates AI adoption across the industry.

Dong Junfeng, Chairman of China UnionPay and UnionPay International, attended the event and delivered a keynote speech. He noted that AI is rapidly reshaping the financial industry. Since the National AI Application Pilot Base was launched in 2025, it has delivered a number of meaningful outcomes through close collaboration across the industry. Mr. Dong elaborated on the vision for the development of the base from through three dimensions: sharing, collaborative governance, and mutual benefits. First, by pooling computing resources, data and models on a centralized public platform, the base helps address industry challenges such as the high cost of computing resources and data silos. This lowers barriers to AI adoption across the financial sector. Second, the base has strengthened AI security by building robust safeguards for large language models and applying AI to enhance transaction risk management and cybersecurity. Such efforts are made to support a safer and more resilient financial ecosystem. Third, the base is accelerating the AI adoption across real-world use cases. It has incubated a range of commercial AI solutions spanning agentic payments, credit risk management, consumption promotion and merchant digital transformation, turning technological innovation into tangible business value. Looking ahead, the future of AI + Finance holds enormous potential. UnionPay looks forward to working with partners across industries to build an open, shared, and well-governed financial AI ecosystem that supports the development of new productive forces through technological innovation.

A highlight of the event was the official launch of UnionPay's "1+6+N" AI achievements framework.

The "1" represents a unified portal—the National AI Application Pilot Base. Built on a "One Portal, Six Centers" structure, it integrates six specialized centers covering models, datasets, applications, talent development, supply-demand matching, and financial services. Together, the platform currently hosts 11 models, 14 datasets, 59 demonstration applications, and 61 service offerings, bringing together 145 core resources in total.

The "6" refers to six independent and controllable capabilities, including computing resources scheduling through a trusted intelligent computing sharing platform, high-quality financial datasets, finance-specific foundation models, AI-powered financial security services, financial AI standards, and a pilot testing sandbox that supports model training and evaluation. Together, these six capabilities form the base's shared technology foundation, providing ecosystem partners with the core technical infrastructure.

The "N" represents a portfolio of benchmark use cases, standardized AI solutions, and demonstration applications built on this technology foundation. These applications span five key areas—intelligent payments, inclusive finance, consumption growth, risk management and compliance, and operational excellence—building a multi-tier product portfolio serving consumers, merchants, local governments and financial institutions. This accelerates the application of AI capabilities across diverse use cases.

Together, the "1+6+N" framework of the base connects computing power, data, models, and use cases and forms an end-to-end value chain. By addressing common industry challenges—including limited computing resources, data silos and the high cost of AI deployment—it delivers standardized and widely accessible AI capabilities, providing the financial industry with reusable, highly secure and one-stop AI solutions for intelligent transformation. This also reflects UnionPay's commitment not only to driving its own business growth, but also to enabling the industry through foundational capabilities and reinforcing financial infrastructure for the AI era.

These achievements have already been made available to industry partners and are beginning to create value. For banks, acquirers and other financial institutions, UnionPay's shared infrastructure enables rapid access to mature financial AI capabilities without the need to build systems from scratch, significantly reducing both technical barriers and implementation costs. For merchants, UnionPay offers AI-powered marketing, digital analytics and intelligent risk management tools to support smarter operations, improve customer engagement and enhance operational efficiency, enabling even small and medium-sized businesses to benefit from AI innovation. For technology companies and other ecosystem partners, the base enables partners to rapidly adapt AI products for financial applications and complete compliance validation, accelerating the commercialization of technological innovations.

The event also featured six rounds of partnership signing ceremonies, covering areas including AI-themed card, cross-border agentic payment ecosystem development, AI-powered operational empowerment for merchants, joint commercialization of pilot base innovations, and broader ecosystem collaboration across the financial industry chain.

Following the signing ceremonies, UnionPay released the Initiative on the Collaborative Development and Governance of AI Applications in Financial Services, with representatives from participating organizations joining the stage to witness its launch. Building on the "1+6+N" framework, the initiative calls on industry stakeholders to collaborate in four areas: First, advancing trusted AI systems that serve the real economy by establishing governance mechanisms for traceable and explainable algorithms while safeguarding data privacy and security; Second, strengthening collaboration among industry, academia, research institutions and users, leveraging the base to jointly advance core technologies and develop independent and secure financial AI infrastructure; Third, promoting openness and inclusiveness by sharing mature AI models, testing services and implementation solutions to reduce the cost of intelligent transformation, particularly for SMEs; Fourth, improving lifecycle governance through tiered risk management, enhanced compliance standards and coordinated risk prevention. The initiative calls on all industry stakeholders to work together by jointly strengthening the foundation, unlocking greater value through shared capabilities, and reinforcing collaborative governance, with the goal of advancing the sound development of AI in the financial sector and driving digital finance through technological innovation.

Hashtag: #UnionPay

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

Prudential launches indexed universal life plan to meet demand for flexible legacy planning solutions

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:00:27 +0700

PRUApex Legacy Index II gives affluent and high-net-worth individuals greater flexibility to build, protect and transfer wealth to the next generation with premium allocation across multiple indices including a gold-equity index; it offers flexible payout options and choice of premium terms

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Prudential Singapore ("Prudential") has launched PRUApex Legacy Index II, an indexed universal life plan (IUL) designed for affluent and high-net-worth customers seeking more options to grow and preserve their legacy and structure wealth transfer for the next generation.

Customers can customise how their legacy grows and is passed on, with multiple index allocations, death benefit payout structures, and premium terms. They are also supported by an additional crediting rate of 0.25% p.a. for indices with uncapped returns^[1] (i.e. volatility-controlled indices), and a one-time bonus crediting rate of up to 6.50%^[2] on total account value after the end of premium term for a fully paid policy on multipay premium payment term.

Ms Toni Fung, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: "Affluent and high-net-worth individuals are increasingly looking for legacy planning solutions that will evolve with their changing life priorities, giving them greater certainty, control and confidence over how their legacy is passed on to the next generation. Today, when they want to make any changes, it means having to purchase new policies or restructure existing portfolios. PRUApex Legacy Index II addresses this need for flexibility, allowing customers to build a resilient legacy through diversified growth potential across multiple indices. It also helps to future-proof their plans with flexible death benefit payout structures."

Diversified growth potential across markets and asset classes
PRUApex Legacy Index II allows customers to diversify and allocate premiums across a mix of indices, offering broader market exposure across the United States (US), Europe, and emerging markets (e.g. China, South Korea and Brazil), as well as a gold-equity index. They have access to indices with both capped and uncapped returns (i.e. volatility-controlled indices that have no cap on potential gains^[1]) that meet their legacy planning needs, and the flexibility to balance stability and growth potential based on their risk appetite.

Ms Fung added: "We were the first insurer in Singapore to introduce a volatility-controlled index (i.e. index with uncapped returns^[1]) in an indexed universal life plan two years ago. With PRUApex Legacy Index II, we are expanding the range of index options available to customers, giving them more ways to grow and protect their legacy through familiar indices with capped returns, such as the S&P 500, and indices that provide higher stability through their volatility-controlled design while offering uncapped return^[1] potential."

Customers who prefer a standard market index can opt for indices such as the S&P 500^[3][8], MSCI Emerging Markets^[3][8], and EURO STOXX 50^[3][8]. If they are looking for indices with uncapped returns^[1] that provide a stable, pre-determined level of risk, they can choose from volatility-controlled indices including the S&P 500 FC^[4][8], UBS MASTR^[5][8], Barclays Shiller Allocator^[6][8] and MSCI World Golden Compass^[7][8].

Future-proofing legacy planning with flexible design
PRUApex Legacy Index II gives policyholders more flexibility over how death benefits are paid out. Instead of receiving the full amount as a single lump sum, beneficiaries can receive payouts in one lump sum, or in yearly instalments of 2 to 10 years to provide continued support for their loved ones.

Customers can choose from single-premium and multipay options for up to 20 years. This gives them more choices based on their liquidity needs, legacy planning priorities, and preferred pace of premium commitment.

For the Fixed Account, there is a first-year Crediting Rate of 4.20% p.a. & Guaranteed Minimum Crediting Rate of 2.00% p.a.

Affluent and high-net-worth customers can kickstart their legacy planning with PRUApex Legacy Index II with a sum assured as low as US$500,000.

For more information on PRUApex Legacy Index II, please visit: https://www.prudential.com.sg/products/legacy-planning/pruapex-legacy-index-ii

[1] Subject to prevailing Participation Rate. Please refer to Product Summary for details.

[2] The one-time Bonus Crediting Rate amount is based on the policy's multipay premium term.

[3] Subject to a Cap Rate of 9.0%, 10.5% and 11.0% for S&P 500 Index, Euro Stoxx 50 Index and MSCI Emerging Markets Index respectively which are not guaranteed. Guaranteed Minimum Cap Rate of 3.0% applies.

[4] Refers to the S&P 500 FC TCA 0.50% Decrement Index (USD) ER. Guaranteed Minimum Participation Rate of 40% applies.

[5] Refers to the UBS Multi Asset Strategy Tactical Rotation Index. Guaranteed Minimum Participation Rate of 70% applies

[6] Refers to the Shiller Barclays CAPE® Allocator 6 Dynamic Risk Control Index Guaranteed Minimum Participation Rate of 65% applies.

[7] Refers to the MSCI World Titans Golden Compass Select Index. Guaranteed Minimum Participation Rate of 35% applies

[8] Cap Rate, Participation Rate, Guaranteed Minimum Cap Rate and Guaranteed Minimum Participation Rate are subject to change.

Hashtag: #PrudentialSingapore #Prudential #PRUApexLegacyIndexII #Product #Insurance #LegacyPlanning #Affluent #HNW

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

About Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd (Prudential Singapore)

Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd is one of the top life and health insurance companies in Singapore, serving the financial and protection needs of the country's citizens for 95 years. As at 31 December 2025, it has S$66.3 billion funds under management. The company has an AA Financial Strength Rating from leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor's and delivers a suite of well-rounded product offerings in Protection, Savings and Investment through multiple distribution channels including a network of 5,400 financial representatives.

Matrix Robotics Showcases MATRIX-3 at WAIC 2026, Announces WAVE Physical World Foundation Model Upgrade and Launches Global Partner Program

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:00:26 +0700

SHANGHAI, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2026) opened in Shanghai on July 17 and runs through July 20 under the theme "Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future," covering three major exhibition areas: the Expo area, Zhangjiang area, and West Bund area. Matrix Robotics, a technology company focused on general-purpose humanoid robots and Physical AI, presented four third-generation general-purpose humanoid robots, MATRIX-3, at the event. The company showcased the core capabilities of its self-developed WAVE Physical World Foundation Model, its full-stack technology system and multi-scenario deployment achievements, demonstrating the general-purpose capabilities and scalable commercial potential of China-developed Physical AI and humanoid robotics.

During WAIC 2026, Matrix Robotics moved beyond conventional static displays by creating four live demonstration zones. The four hardware-identical MATRIX-3 units, supported by a unified general-purpose Physical AI foundation, flexibly switched between diverse and complex tasks, directly demonstrating the core commercial value of general-purpose Physical AI: low cost, high adaptability and rapid transferability. The company delivered continuous multidimensional live robot demonstrations, announced the latest technical upgrade to the WAVE model, shared updates on its RAAS ecosystem partner program, and officially launched the MATRIX Global Partner Program for regional market expansion, presenting its progress in technology iteration, commercialization and global ecosystem development.

WAVE Physical World Foundation Model Lays the Core AI Foundation for General-Purpose Humanoid Robots

Unlike large language models trained primarily on internet text, Matrix Robotics' self-developed WAVE Physical World Foundation Model is purpose-built for physical robots operating in real-world environments. It serves as the core "brain" that enables MATRIX-3 to perform intelligent tasks and human-like interactions. Trained on large-scale real-world and simulated interaction data, the model has learned patterns of physical dynamics, allowing it to adapt precisely to complex real-world task scenarios and move beyond traditional robots' reliance on fixed scripts and single-scenario constraints.

Architecturally, WAVE uses a proprietary "brain–cerebellum" collaborative architecture: the WAVE model, as the "brain," is responsible for global scene understanding, logical reasoning, task planning and generalized operations; the general-purpose motion control model, as the "cerebellum," generates natural and smooth full-body motion. Together, they enable the robot to "think clearly and move naturally," delivering human-like intelligent performance.

Relying on training infrastructure and an end-to-end data toolchain that it has fully developed and built in-house, Matrix Robotics can independently manage the full end-to-end process, from model iteration and data acquisition to data annotation and governance. Through large-scale real-robot deployment and continuous feedback of real-world scenario data, the company is building a technical flywheel in which "more data leads to stronger models and broader scenario adaptability," continuously improving cross-scenario generalization and providing core intelligent support for multi-scenario robot deployment.

Full-Scenario Live Demonstrations Validate Commercialization Readiness of General-Purpose AI

Empowered by the WAVE Physical World Foundation Model, MATRIX-3 completed multiple standardized live task demonstrations at the event, covering four core scenarios: commercial service, empathetic human-robot interaction, fine manipulation and humanoid motion. The demonstrations validated the deployment value of general-purpose Physical AI in commercial services, daily-life assistance, cultural tourism and science education, public services and other fields.

1. Live Consumer Service Demonstration: End-to-End Autonomous AI Barista Operations

The exhibition featured a live coffee service experience area, where MATRIX-3 served as an AI barista. With multimodal perception and precise force-control capabilities, the robot autonomously operated coffee machine buttons, picked up cups and collected prepared beverages. The stable and coherent workflow recreated a commercial reception service scenario and validated its deployment feasibility in retail service, exhibition reception and commercial service settings.

2. Empathetic Human-Robot Interaction: Creating Warm, Human-Like Intelligent Experiences

Matrix Robotics also demonstrated flexible, human-like interaction capabilities. Supported by visual recognition and advanced speech and semantic understanding, MATRIX-3 can move beyond fixed scripts for natural interaction and perform a range of interactions such as musical finger dances, rock-paper-scissors games with audiences, biomimetic handshakes and all-day voice Q&A. With differentiated emotional response capabilities, it enables warmer human-robot collaboration and is suited to science education exhibitions, public services and cultural tourism interactions.

3. Fine Manipulation for Everyday Tasks: Generalized Handling Capabilities for Diverse Objects

In the everyday fine manipulation demonstration, MATRIX-3 showcased its ability to handle objects across different categories and forms, autonomously completing compound tasks such as grasping fruit and bottled water and delivering items. The robot can adapt to objects of different sizes, weights and materials, reflecting the generalized operation capabilities of general-purpose Physical AI and broad applicability across household assistance, retail sorting, warehouse support and other use cases.

4. Humanoid Gait and Intelligent Interaction: Recreating Natural Human-Like Motion

The on-site gait demonstration area showcased MATRIX-3's humanoid motion capabilities. The robot walked with coordinated, natural and stable movements, autonomously identified visitors in the exhibition crowd, proactively paused, and delivered standardized brand and product introductions, fully demonstrating its whole-body motion control performance and real-time human-robot interaction capabilities.

MATRIX-3 Hardware Advantages Strengthen the Foundation for Commercial Deployment

As Matrix Robotics' third-generation general-purpose humanoid robot designed for real-world commercial scenarios, MATRIX-3 was developed around the three core concepts of "safety, dexterity and generality." Its hardware platform is designed to fit human living and working environments and serves as the core carrier for the deployment of general-purpose Physical AI. The robot is 1.70 meters tall and weighs 65 kilograms, matching adult human proportions and enabling seamless adaptation to spaces and workstations designed for people.

In terms of core performance, MATRIX-3 is equipped with a 27-DOF tendon-driven dexterous hand that replicates human hand anatomy and offers lightweight, high-speed and high-precision characteristics, enabling it to use standard human tools, operate precision components and handle flexible fabrics. It is also equipped with 3D-knitted biomimetic safety skin and whole-body distributed tactile sensing, with fingertip sensing precision as low as 0.1 Newton, enabling safe close-proximity human-robot coexistence. Through Matrix Robotics' self-developed integrated linear joint control algorithm and general-purpose motion control model, the robot achieves near-human natural gait and whole-body coordinated movement. It also supports 4 hours of continuous stable operation in a single session, fully matching the rhythm of real-world commercial operations.

In terms of commercial accessibility, MATRIX-3 is priced from RMB 580,000 per unit. Leveraging its scaled smart manufacturing system, the company continues to reduce production costs and is driving humanoid robots from high-end demonstration scenarios toward broader industry and household applications.

Vertically Integrated Full-Stack System Drives Scalable Industrial Deployment and Ecosystem Collaboration

Matrix Robotics is one of the industry's most vertically integrated companies, with all nine layers of its technology stack, from data to deployment, independently developed and built in-house. This creates a hard-to-replicate technological and industrial compounding effect and provides strong support for scaled product deployment. The company has built its own full-chain data engine and toolchain, model training infrastructure, core components and end-to-end smart manufacturing system, creating a closed loop from technology R&D to mass production.

On the industrialization front, Matrix Robotics' Zhangjiang MFH Smart Manufacturing Base in Shanghai has established independent end-to-end production capabilities, with a planned annual capacity of 5,000 units in 2026 and a target annual capacity of 10,000 units in 2027. To date, the company has accumulated approximately 1,000 robot orders across diverse scenarios, including chain restaurant services, hotel services, research, culture and entertainment. In mid-2026, Matrix Robotics launched initial partner pilot deployments, laying the foundation for the product's transition from demonstration verification to scaled application. The company is also continuing to advance its RAAS (Robot-as-a-Service) ecosystem partner program, opening interfaces to the industry ecosystem and working with partners to build an embodied intelligence ecosystem.

Continuous Technology Iteration Broadens Applications for China-Developed Humanoid Robots

The multidimensional live demonstrations at WAIC 2026 provide a focused validation of Matrix Robotics' general-purpose Physical AI technologies and industrialization capabilities. Guided by real-world scenario needs, the company continues to iterate core technologies such as WAVE model intelligence, fine robotic manipulation, stable long-duration operation and human-like interaction, broadening applications for humanoid robots. Its technology solutions can be widely adapted to summit receptions, commercial retail, household assistance, exhibitions and cultural tourism, smart warehousing and other scenarios.

Looking ahead, Matrix Robotics will continue to focus on Physical AI, iterate and upgrade its full-stack technology system and MATRIX-3 product capabilities, and deliver standardized, replicable integrated humanoid robot solutions. The company aims to accelerate the accessible, large-scale deployment of China-developed general-purpose humanoid robots, empowering intelligent upgrades across real-economy industries through advanced Physical AI technologies.

MATRIX Global Partner Program Launched to Recruit Regional Partners in China and Overseas

As its technology, product capabilities and production capacity continue to mature, Matrix Robotics has officially launched the MATRIX Global Partner Program, openly recruiting regional partners in China and overseas markets to jointly expand the global commercial footprint of humanoid robots.

The program focuses on recruiting enterprises and institutions with regional customer networks, government, enterprise and industry resources, scenario development capabilities, and local sales, delivery and after-sales service capabilities. Partners will participate in local customer expansion, project implementation, scenario operations and service system development for MATRIX, helping accelerate the application of humanoid robots in commercial services, cultural tourism and exhibitions, public services, industrial manufacturing and other key sectors.

Matrix Robotics will open key regional cooperation opportunities and provide systematic support across products, technology, branding, marketing, training and delivery. Together with its partners, the company aims to create regional benchmark projects and develop, refine and replicate mature industry solutions.

As the program moves forward, Matrix Robotics will accelerate the construction of a global commercial and service network, driving MATRIX from exhibition stands into real-world scenarios and from single-point demonstrations toward scaled applications.
Hashtag: #MatrixRobotics

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

About Matrix Robotics

Matrix Robotics is dedicated to researching, developing and manufacturing world-leading, practical general-purpose humanoid robots. The company aims to create a future where artificial intelligence robots take on demanding, dangerous and repetitive work, freeing human creativity and enabling people to focus on more meaningful pursuits. The team has backgrounds at leading global companies in AI, humanoid robotics and autonomous driving.

Tekuk PCSS 4-2, Persemai U-13 Lolos ke Babak 8 Besar

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:45:15 +0700

PEKANBARU (MR) - Persemai Kota Dumai memastikan satu tempat di babak delapan besar Soeratin Cup U-13 Zona Riau tahun 2026 usai menekuk PCSS 4-2 di Stadion Utama Riau, Senin (20/7) pagi.

Dengan hasil ini Persemai Kota Dumai menjadi runner-up di grup B dengan perolehan 9 poin dari hasil 3 kemenangan dan sekali kalah. Sedangkan juara grup diraih Sinar Sakti dengan 10 poin.

Persemai Kota Dumai mengawali pertandingan dengan penampilan kurang baik. Beberapa menit pertandingan di mulai pasukan Harimau Pesisir muda harus tertinggal lebih dulu.

Namun Persemai langsung bereaksi memperbaiki organisasi permainan. Hasilnya di menit 17, Gelandang andalan Fathan Albani Nasution berhasil menyamakan kedudukan. 35 menit di babak pertama skor imbang 1-1.

Babak kedua tim pelatih Persemai Kota Dumai melakukan sejumlah pergantian. Hasilnya langsung terasa saat Hafiz Al Husen yang dimasukkan usai jeda berhasil membawa Persemai unggul 2-1.

Setelah itu Persemai tampak menguasai pertandingan dan mampu menambah dua gol lagi lewat Striker tajamnya Haikal Lazir menit ke 23 dan saat injury time babak kedua. Sementara PCSS hanya mampu menciptakan 1 gol dan Persemai Kota Dumai menang 4-2.

"Alhamdulillah kita mampu lolos ke delapan besar. Kita akan fokus menghadapi pertandingan berikutnya," kata Isman Taher, Head Coach Persemai, Didampingi Coach Wihendri, Coach Warman dan Coach Rudi.

Di babak delapan besar Soeratin U-13 Zoena Riau, Persemai Kota Dumai akan menghadapi juara grup A. EBR United. Laga ini akan berlangsung di Stadion Utama Riau, Rabu 22 Juli 2026 mendatang.

"Kami mohon doa dari orang tua pemain, keluarga dan seluruh masyarakat Kota Dumai agar Persemai bisa memenangkan pertandingan dan lolos ke semifinal," tutup Isman Taher. ***

Malaysians Say Being Good Neighbours When Travelling Is "Common Sense Je", New Airbnb Survey Shows

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:27 +0700

Nine in ten Malaysians say they're good homestay guests and the data backs them up

Key takeaways:

85% of Malaysians say being a respectful homestay guest is highly important - and 4 in 5 feel a sense of responsibility to surrounding communities
Many say good guest behaviour is common sense and rooted in Malaysian values of respect and consideration
Two thirds (66%) treat homestays as their own: washing dishes, taking out rubbish - with some even going the extra mile and leaving thank-you messages for hosts
Since It's Durian Season: Nearly 8 in 10 would ask first, step outside, or skip it entirely rather than bring durian into a shared space without permission
Over 97% of stays made in Malaysia on Airbnb in the past year completed without any complaints or reported issues

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Most Malaysians practice the same unspoken rules: take off your shoes at the door, keep the noise down after 10pm, ask for permission if you are bringing durian into someone else's house, and whatever you do, don't be the reason the neighbour complains. A new survey by YouGov, commissioned by Airbnb, suggests these habits don't stay home. For most Malaysians, they travel.

The survey of 1,000 Malaysians who had stayed in a homestay in Malaysia within the past year found that 85% consider being a respectful homestay guest to be highly important, and 9 in 10 describe themselves as good or excellent guests*. But what sets Malaysian travellers apart isn't just their attitude - it's the reason behind it. The top motivators for good behaviour are common sense (61%), respect for the host (60%), and personal values (59%)*.

Malaysians also link their behaviour to something larger - seeing considerate guesting as a natural extension of Malaysian values of respect and consideration for others*. 82% say they would genuinely feel bad if their behaviour disturbed a neighbour during a stay, and 4 in 5 feel a sense of responsibility towards the surrounding community*.

Malaysians are not just polite, they go above and beyond

Good intentions, it turns out, translate into action. Around 60% of respondents surveyed stated that they consistently exhibit considerate behaviours during stays - keeping noise down after dark, parking without blocking others, following house rules, and disposing of rubbish properly. Two-thirds of those surveyed treat homestays like how they would treat their own homes, doing things beyond basic house rules. During their recent homestays, the majority of guests surveyed reported that they washed all the dishes before checking out, took out the rubbish, and tidied up the space — with some going even further to leave thank-you notes, water plants, or tidy beyond anything they'd touched. And 77% say they regularly check house rules before or at the start of a stay, not because they have to, but because they want to get it right.

Together, these everyday actions show that many Malaysians see short-term rentals and homestays as more than just one-off accommodations but an invitation into someone else's home and community.

The durian dilemma

That same care also shows up in sticky, durian-sized situations. Durian season is here, prices are at an all-time low, and so is the age-old question of how to enjoy it without upsetting the neighbours in shared spaces. The report shows that Malaysians are mindful about strong-smelling food in shared buildings. Notably, rather than risk inconveniencing their host, 8 in 10 respondents say they would either ask the host first, eat durian outside or in the car park, or avoid bringing it altogether*. It's a small gesture, but it captures something real: Malaysians don't need a rule for every situation. They already know how to read the room.

A familiar way for Malaysians to travel

Short-term rentals are now part of the fabric of how Malaysians travel and of the neighbourhoods they travel through.

Among respondents, 60% say they choose short-term rentals or homestays for better value for money, 46% cited home-like amenities such as kitchens and laundry facilities, and 44% the ability to stay together as a group*. The survey also suggests that home-sharing has become a familiar part of many Malaysian neighborhoods. Among respondents who say that there are short-term rentals or homestays in their neighbourhoods, 96% have no objections - with 71% even expressing that they're comfortable having one next door - reflecting growing familiarity with home-sharing across communities.

Where host standards meet guest expectations

Airbnb's internal data reflects the same picture. From March 2025 to March 2026, over 97% of stays made in Malaysia on Airbnb were completed without any complaints or reported issues**. Guest Favourite listings in Malaysia - homes recognised for consistently delivering outstanding guest experiences - grew by over 40% between March 2024 to March 2026***. When guests arrive as good neighbours, the whole ecosystem benefits.

For Airbnb, the data tells a consistent story: a community that takes pride in the experience, on both sides of the door.

Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb's Country Head for Southeast Asia and India, said, "At Airbnb, the most meaningful travel experiences happen when guests feel connected not just to a place, but to the people and communities around them. That comes down to small acts of consideration and kindness — neighbourly traits that come naturally to many Malaysians. As more people choose home-sharing for group trips and shared experiences, we want to continue fostering a culture of respectful travel, helping domestic and inbound travellers understand local customs, community expectations, and what it means to be a thoughtful guest. Together, we can ensure the benefits of travel are felt not just by guests and hosts, but by the neighbourhoods that welcome them."

Helping travellers stay like good neighbours

As part of its commitment to responsible travel, Airbnb has launched the Good Guest Guide - a practical resource offering tips on how to enjoy Malaysia like a local while being a respectful guest and neighbour. The guide builds on Airbnb's existing platform measures, including reservation screening technology, a global disruptive party ban, and the Guide to Responsible Hosting in Buildings, which provides hosts, guests, and strata communities with a Code of Conduct, a Neighbourhood Support Line, and reference by-laws for short-term rental activity in Malaysian buildings. From August 2026, the guide will be available for hosts to feature in their listings and will be emailed to all first-time guests booking in Malaysia.

*Based on a survey conducted by YouGov between 22 May - 8 June 2026, commissioned by Airbnb, of 1,000 Malaysian citizens aged 18–45 who had travelled domestically and stayed in a short-term rental or homestay within the past 12 months.

**Based on internal Airbnb data for stays booked in Malaysia from March 2025 to March 2026

***Based on internal Airbnb data for listings in Malaysia from March 2024 to March 2026
Hashtag: #Airbnb

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

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5.5 million hosts who have welcomed 2.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

iHerb Launches "718 Summer Limited-Time Offer" in Singapore

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:00:28 +0700

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Global health and wellness platform iHerb has launched its "718 Summer Limited-Time Offer" alongside a curated selection of products designed to support summer skincare needs in Singapore. The initiative reflects growing consumer interest in combining topical skincare with nutritional supplements as part of an inside-out approach to beauty and wellness.

The iHerb 718 Summer Limited-Time Offer includes a 25% discount for existing customers and a 30% discount for new customers

Organised around the three core needs of hydration, protection and repair, the selection spans inner care, sun protection, after-sun care and daily nutritional supplements, supporting a comprehensive approach to summer skincare.

As part of its summer campaign, iHerb is running a "718 Summer Limited-Time Offer" promotion until July 25 (11:59 PM). New customers can enter the promo code "26PRN7" at checkout to receive 30% off, while existing customers can use "26SUM77" to receive 25% off eligible purchases (terms & conditions apply).

Supporting Hydrated, Healthy-Looking Summer Skin from the Inside Out

To support skin hydration from within, iHerb's in-house brand, California Gold Nutrition's "Hyaluronic Acid Complex," combines hyaluronic acid, L-Proline, French grape seed extract and French maritime pine bark extract. The formula is a great choice for consumers seeking daily hydration and healthy-looking skin.
For Vitamin C supplementation, Doctor's Best offers a daily source of Vitamin C with "Vitamin C with Q-C." While Life Extension's "BioActive Complete B-Complex" provides a comprehensive blend of B vitamins to support the nutritional needs of consumers with busy and active lifestyles.

For a more enjoyable way to supplement daily nutrition, Nature's Way "Alive! Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies" comes in a strawberry-flavoured chewable format that makes supplementation easy.

Sun Protection and After-Sun Care for Summer

Sun protection and after-sun care are essential for maintaining healthy skin during the summer. think (Thinkbaby®) "Zinc Oxide Sunscreen, SPF 50" is formulated with zinc oxide and features a comfortable texture suitable for daily commutes, outdoor activities and family trips.

After sun exposure, Lily of the Desert's "99% Aloe Vera Gelly", made primarily with organic aloe vera, provides lightweight hydration and soothing care with a refreshing texture.

718 Summer Limited-Time Offer Details

Discover iHerb's summer skincare essentials with exclusive savings available until July 25 (11:59 PM). New customers can enjoy 30% off eligible purchases with the promo code "26PRN7", while existing customers can receive 25% off using "26SUM77". Terms and conditions apply.

iHerb: A One-Stop Global Health and Wellness Platform

Headquartered in California, USA, iHerb is a global online retailer of health and wellness products. The platform provides Singapore consumers with access to authentic products through a safe and reliable cross-border shopping experience. Products are shipped directly from logistics centres in the US and Asia, alongside the following delivery and shipping options:

Fast Delivery: Orders can arrive in as fast as 3 days.
Free Shipping: Available on orders over SGD 30.

The 718 promotion and curated summer selection are available on iHerb Singapore.

Hashtag: #iHerb

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

About iHerb

iHerb is a globally renowned US-based cross-border e-commerce platform specializing in high-quality health supplements, nutritional products, beauty and personal care, and daily essentials. Offering a curated selection of over 50,000 items and serving more than 180 countries and regions, iHerb is dedicated to helping global consumers access health and beauty options at reasonable prices. All products are shipped directly from multiple advanced logistics centers in the US and Asia, maintaining product freshness through rigorous cold-chain and temperature-controlled warehousing management. iHerb also continuously enhances its multi-language customer service and localized payment methods to ensure a safe, transparent, and convenient shopping experience for users worldwide

NIA Spotlights Thailand’s Wellness Boom as Global Consumers Spend Boundlessly on Longevity

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:27 +0700

Deep dive into the DNA of Thailand's wellness giants—BDMS Wellness Clinic and Chiva-Som—and their strategic blueprints to transform the kingdom into the ultimate global wellness destination.

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - In the modern era, "good health" has redefined the meaning of true wealth. Consumers worldwide are now heavily investing in innovations that promote longevity and extend healthspan—the period of life spent in good health. Even amid economic uncertainty, health and well-being remain top priorities for consumers. This behavioral shift helping drive the global wellness economy to a reached USD 6.8 trillion in 2024, representing a 7.9% growth from the previous year. Furthermore, the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) projects the market to surge to USD 9.8 trillion by 2029, maintaining an average annual growth rate of 7.6%. Driven by this exponential growth, nations worldwide, including Thailand, are aggressively developing wellness services and innovations to serve as a "New Growth Engine" and a key indicator of long-term national competitiveness.

NIA Spotlights Thailand's Wellness Boom

Where Does Thailand Stand in the Global Health & Wellness Industry?

When evaluating Thailand's potential, Thailand ranks among the world's leading healthcare destinations. According to the Numbeo Health Care Index 2026, Thailand's healthcare system is ranked 8th globally, making it the sole ASEAN nation to secure a spot in the Top 10. Focusing specifically on the health and wellness sector, Thailand achieved the highest growth rate globally in 2023, with the market value soaring past USD 40 billion—a remarkable 28.4% increase. The "Wellness Tourism" segment alone skyrocketed by 36.4%, outperforming the global average by threefold.

These figures reflect much more than financial profits; they underscore Thailand's robust readiness and distinct advantages. The country boasts world-class medical infrastructure, accredited hospitals, highly skilled medical professionals, reasonable treatment costs, and an established reputation as a top wellness destination. Additionally, Thailand possesses unique cultural assets—such as traditional Thai herbs, Thai massage, healthy cuisine, and medical tourism—that can be strategically leveraged into a high-value economy.

Driving a High-Income Economy with Deep Tech in the Wellness Market

Prof. Dr. Yodchanan Wongsawat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), announced a strategic vision to transform Thailand's wellness industry from traditional services into a high-value, globally competitive innovation sector. The strategy aims to unlock the potential of Thai culture, local wisdom, and rich biodiversity by implementing modern science and technology to establish evidence-based efficacy. Furthermore, cutting-edge innovations such as Health Tech, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) will be deployed to analyze deep health data. Equipping the sector with Deep Tech will significantly elevate international credibility.

Prof. Dr. Yodchanan emphasized: "MHESI is fully prepared to act as a vital gear in mitigating R&D investment risks for the private sector through an end-to-end support system. We aim to accelerate the commercialization of Thai innovations by systematically connecting the innovation ecosystem. This includes matchmaking entrepreneurs, startups, researchers, and universities, alongside injecting comprehensive financial and resource support. Our assistance spans R&D grants, advanced laboratory access, clinical trials, global production standard upgrades, and intellectual property protection. Collectively, these mechanisms will propel wellness into a New Growth Engine, boosting national competitiveness and establishing Thailand as a true global wellness hub."

NIA's Four Strategic Pillars to Propel the Thai Wellness Economy Globally

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), stated that driving the wellness industry sustainably cannot be achieved by the private sector alone. It requires cross-sector collaboration to foster an innovation ecosystem conducive to research, technological development, standard testing, and global market expansion. The NIA has continuously supported entrepreneurs in health, wellness, and medical technology through capacity-building initiatives like the Wellness Academy, startup incubation, university network integration, and innovation competitions to translate ideas into market-ready businesses.

The NIA prioritizes data, research, and scientific evidence to build trust and add value to Thai wellness products and services. Simultaneously, the agency connects entrepreneurs to vital resources and innovation networks to stimulate the healthcare economy, creating jobs and new revenue streams through four key strategies:

Connecting Innovative Businesses: Fostering synergies across the ecosystem.
Upgrading Wellness Establishments and Labor Skills: Elevating service standards and workforce capabilities to international levels.
Driving Progress via Thailand Innovation Hubs: Utilizing regional hubs to stimulate localized innovation.
Scaling Up and Building International Recognition: Enhancing global awareness of Thai wellness as credible, safe, verifiable, and uniquely high-value.

The NIA's ultimate goal is not merely to create new innovative businesses, but to build a sustainable ecosystem that empowers Thai entrepreneurs to grow robustly and integrate seamlessly into the global health and wellness supply chain.

BDMS Champions "Healthspan" and Preventive Medicine to Secure a Competitive Edge

As longevity becomes a primary aspiration for the global population, BDMS Wellness Clinic—a premier wellness leader in Thailand—is accelerating the preventive healthcare industry. By utilizing health science and personalized medicine, the clinic designs deep-level bodily care to firmly establish Thailand as a pioneer in modern health trends.

Dr. Tanupol Virunhagarun, Chief Executive Officer of BDMS Wellness Group, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services Public Company Limited (BDMS), highlighted that transitioning from treating illnesses to preventing them is an undeniable global megatrend. This aligns with World Health Organization (WHO) data indicating that every 1 Baht invested in wellness yields up to a 35-fold return by reducing public healthcare expenditures and enhancing citizen quality of life. This expertise has positioned BDMS Wellness Clinic as a major private-sector anchor, attracting high-spending global consumers to Thailand through its concept of "Scientific Wellness." This approach features evidence-based healthcare, ranging from advanced genetic testing and personalized nutrition and vitamin formulations to blending modern medical innovations with traditional Thai medicine for verifiable results. Upgrading these standards shifts Thailand's image from a leisure destination to a highly credible, advanced medical hub, serving as a crucial mechanism in partnering with the government to promote the nation as "Wellness Hub Thailand, The Land of Life" and a top-of-mind Global Wellness Destination.

Chiva-Som Showcases the "Thai Spirit" to Redefine the Health Economy

Complementing advanced medical dimensions, Thailand possesses iconic brands in health tourism marketing, such as Chiva-Som—the country's first wellness resort and a pioneer in Asia. Spanning over three decades, Chiva-Som evolved from a modest beachfront holiday home in Hua Hin into one of the world's top wellness resorts, capturing the loyalty of high-net-worth consumers from the West. What sets Chiva-Som apart is not just its world-class international treatments, but the "Thai spirit of hospitality"—characterized by humility, gentleness, and sincerity—seamlessly integrated with a profound understanding of holistic wellness.

Drawing from this tangible success, Mr. Krod Rojanastien, Consultant to President of Chiva-Som International Health Resort Co., Ltd., shared a pivotal insight: In a digital era where people face chronic stress and burnout, wellness has become mainstream. Thailand holds a distinct competitive advantage through its innate service spirit, gentle culture, and centuries-old traditional Thai medical wisdom. Moving forward, the priority must be backing this traditional wisdom with scientific research to secure international trust. Thailand's future marketing goal must transcend being a temporary vacation spot; it must elevate into a global "Sanctuary" where people intentionally travel to restore their body, mind, and overall quality of life.

When science, technology, innovation, and Thai wisdom are systematically woven together, the wellness economy will transform from a mere service sector into a powerful economic engine. It will lead Thailand toward becoming a definitive Global Wellness Destination, generating economic wealth and holistic well-being simultaneously.
Hashtag: #NIA #NationalInnovationAgency

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

International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM) gathers global experts in Chinese Medicine

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:26 +0700

Concurrent Food Expo features “Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine” exhibition

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - The 25^th International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) together with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions, will be held from 13 to 15 August at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), offering industry professionals the latest insights into Chinese medicine. This year's conference is funded by the Chinese Medicine Development Fund of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is dedicated to strengthening the ties between Hong Kong's Chinese medicine industry and the international market, while promoting Hong Kong's leading role in the global field of Chinese medicine.

Register for the conference to stay updated with the latest industry information on Chinese medicine: https://tinyurl.com/tmvryr38

Aligning with the strategic Blueprint with a focus on "Bringing In and Going Global"

The Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint of Hong Kong (the Blueprint) released in 2025 positions Hong Kong as a bridgehead for the global internationalisation of Chinese medicine and a key highland within the national framework for Chinese medicine development. To actively support the strategic direction of the Blueprint, this year's conference adopts the theme Clinical Translation, Regulatory Policies and Global Innovative Pathways of Traditional Medicine, focusing on two core elements: bringing in and going global. It introduces Hong Kong's Chinese medicine regulations and resource support to participants from Chinese Mainland and overseas, while inviting overseas regulatory authorities to share their local traditional medicine regulations. This year, some 30 experts and scholars from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and overseas have been invited to comprehensively explore the latest research and development trends, regulatory interpretations, and success cases in Chinese medicine.

The three-day conference is divided into five major thematic sessions, covering policy blueprints, international regulations, clinical research, success case sharing, and talent cultivation:

The Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint of Hong Kong, development trends, and government support for the industry

To help enterprises from Chinese Mainland and abroad understand Hong Kong's Chinese medicine regulation and support, Dr. Vincent Chung Chi-ho, Commissioner for Chinese Medicine Development, Chinese Medicine Unit, Health Bureau, will elaborate on the Blueprint, while Law Kwok-wai, Robert, Chief Pharmacist (Chinese Medicine), Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office, Department of Health, Dr. Yeung Kin Wai, Senior Chemist, Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, Department of Health, and Prof. Bian Zhaoxiang, Hospital Chief Executive, The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) , will share in-depth insights into the latest progress in Chinese medicine regulation, quality standards testing, and clinical practice and research at the Chinese Medicine Hospital. Furthermore, Arnold Lau, Associate Director-General, Invest Hong Kong, Dr. William Cheung, Deputy Chief Manager (Life and Health Technology), Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Angela Yu, Deputy Head of Health Tech and TCM, Hong Kong Productivity Council and Wing Chu, Deputy Director of Research, HKTDC, will participate in a panel discussion to analyse the Hong Kong government's resource support for the development of Chinese medicine.

International regulations and standards for Chinese medicine and traditional medicine

To provide attendees with a comprehensive analysis of market trends, Prof. Zheng Linyun, Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Academy of International Standardization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, will share reflections and prospects on the transformation of ISO/TC249. Furthermore, Prof. Taruna Ikrar, Chairperson of the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), Indonesia, Nurul Anisah Binti Shahri from National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), Ministry of Health, Malaysia and Thawatchai Nakkaratniyom, Senior Professional Level Pharmacist, Head of Pre-marketing Control Group, Herbal Products Division at Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand will jointly analyse the regulations and standards of the Southeast Asian market.

Traditional medicine and Chinese medicine development and clinical research

Scientific and clinical experts will share the latest progress in the scientific research and clinical application of Chinese medicine, as well as experiences regarding the R&D application and clinical efficacy of hospital-made Chinese medicine preparations. Prof. Zhang Zhongde, Deputy President of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine & President of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine will share Chinese Mainland's practices in the research and development of Chinese medicine. Prof. Lee Sanghoon, Dean, International Education Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University will discuss the development of new natural product drugs in Korea. Prof. Pei Xiaohua, Dean of Changping Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Director of the Institute of Traditional Chinese Surgery will discuss clinical needs in developing new Chinese herbal medicines for TCM-advantageous breast diseases. Locally, Prof. Zhang Ge from Hong Kong Baptist University will present innovative achievements in utilising traditional Chinese medicine to drive target discovery for triple-negative breast cancer, while Prof. Xian Yanfang Lisa, Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong will share pre-clinical and clinical studies of novel Chinese medicine formula for treating gout.

Sharing of success cases and experience in international Chinese medicine practitioner training

Focusing on successful industry practices, ICMCM provides an interactive platform for the industry, helping to ensure the continuous development and growth of the traditional Chinese medicine sector. Yan Han, Chairman, Beijing Tong Ren Tang Chinese Medicine Company Limited will share the cultural heritage and internationalised development of Chinese medicine, and Dr. Celine Cheng, Chief Compliance & Technology Officer of Jacobson Pharma Corporation Limited will share GMP applications in the industry. Several professors from Chinese Mainland, Australia, Canada, Macao, and Singapore—including Prof. Li Min, Dean and Chair Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University; Prof. Xu Hongxi, Chairman, Belt and Road Alliance for Traditional Medicine, Honorary Dean & Distinguished Professor, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Prof. Zhu Xiaoshu, Co-Director, Australia-China Chinese Medicine Centre, Western Sydney University, Australia; and Prof. Linda Zhong, Director, Biomedical Sciences and Chinese Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore —will explore training models for Chinese medicine talent at home and abroad, alongside market demands for Chinese medicine products in potential markets.

Talent cultivation: The 22^nd International Postgraduate Symposium on Chinese Medicine

The Symposium will be held on the morning of 15 August. This year, it is jointly organized by eight institutions, including four Hong Kong universities—The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology—alongside Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the University of Macau, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. The Symposium will kick off with Vincent & Lily Woo Fellowship in Memory of Dr Albert Wong endowed by Vincent & Lily Woo Foundation Award Presentation Ceremony, hosted by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Foundation. This year's Symposium will feature nearly 100 research presentations, including oral research presentations by 10 postgraduate students from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, and Serbia, and nearly 90 poster displays. The judging panel will select 10 winners for the Tianjiang Cup Li Shizhen Youth Outstanding Thesis Award. The Symposium not only provides a platform for postgraduate students in Chinese medicine to share their research progress and achievements but also promotes student collaboration and exchange, laying an important cornerstone for cultivating a new generation of scientific research professionals and driving the development of Chinese medicine.

This year's conference continues to operate under the hybrid model, with simultaneous interpretation in both English and Putonghua offered to enable wider industry participation.

Concurrent Food Expo features "Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine" exhibition and ICMCM Public Forum to promote public education

In addition to the professional conference tailored for industry practitioners, ICMCM is committed to promoting the popularisation and implementation of Chinese medicine in the community through a public education display area titled "Multi-Facets of Chinese Medicine" at the concurrent Food Expo. In response to the directives of the Blueprint, this interactive and educational display aims to significantly enhance the public's correct understanding of and confidence in Chinese medicine.

The design of the exhibition is closely aligned with the development direction set out in the Blueprint, providing a comprehensive overview of the new chapter in Hong Kong's Chinese medicine sector. It covers four main themes including the latest development trends of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, the service features of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority's Chinese medicine outpatient services, Chinese medicine regulation framework and Chinese medicine practitioner registration system, alongside knowledge on Chinese medicine wellness practices.

A half-day ICMCM Public Forum will be held on Saturday, 15, August 2026, to promote the advantages of Chinese medicine services, interesting Chinese medicine wellness tips and preventive healthcare. By running industry conferences alongside public exhibitions and forums in parallel, the event aims, on the one hand, to foster academic and industrial innovation exchanges among global Chinese medicine experts, and on the other, to embed Chinese medicine culture deeply into the daily lives of the public, thereby jointly promoting Hong Kong's development as an international centre for Chinese medicine.

Conference programme: icmcm.hktdc.com/pdf/2026/programme.pdf
Website: hktdc.com/icmcm

Concurrent Exhibitions:
HKTDC Food Expo PRO foodexpopro.hktdc.com
HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair hkteafair.hktdc.com
HKTDC Food Expo hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Home Delights Expo homedelights.hktdc.com

Hashtag: #HKTDC #ICMCM

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Imperial Harvest Unveils US$1.888 Million Mahjong Set in Singapore, With All Proceeds Pledged to Childhood Brain Cancer Research

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:26 +0700

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Imperial Harvest, an Imperial Feng Shui consultancy in Singapore, has unveiled a one-of-one bespoke mahjong set valued at US$1.888 million (approximately S$2.4 million) — placing it among the world's most valuable mahjong sets ever created — with all proceeds from its sale pledged to DIPG Foundation Singapore, funding research into one of the deadliest childhood brain cancers.

Imperial Feng Shui Mahjong Set

For generations, mahjong has been far more than a pastime. Rich in symbolism, strategy and tradition, the centuries-old game has long brought families and friends together around a table, and today it is enjoying a global resurgence, winning new audiences across the United States and beyond.

Against this backdrop, the one-of-one creation brings together exceptional materials, artisanal craftsmanship and Imperial Feng Shui principles into a collector's piece that channels cultural heritage into meaningful change.

Turning Prosperity Into Hope for Children

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a rare and aggressive brain tumour that primarily affects children between the ages of five and 11, and has long been considered incurable. In 2024, doctors reported the world's first case of a child effectively cured of DIPG, renewing global momentum in the field — yet research into the disease remains critically underfunded.

All proceeds from the sale of the mahjong set will be donated to DIPG Foundation Singapore, Singapore's first foundation dedicated to advancing research into DIPG and other paediatric brain cancers. Founded by families who each experienced the loss of a child to the disease, the foundation supports research, advocates for greater access to innovative therapies and clinical trials, and provides resources for affected children and their families.

For Grand Master David Goh, founder of Imperial Harvest, donating the proceeds reflects a belief that prosperity carries its greatest meaning when it can be shared. The mahjong set celebrates abundance through symbolism and craftsmanship while channelling that value into research that brings hope to affected children and their families.

A Fading Craft, Reimagined

The set arrives at a time when the traditional art of mahjong tile carving is fading worldwide, lending its craftsmanship a significance beyond luxury alone. At the heart of the set are 156 playing tiles, including Animal, Fei and Joker tiles, individually crafted in untreated Burmese Grade A Black Jadeite. Revered for its rarity and cultural significance, the stone has long been associated with protection, resilience and prosperity, with every tile retaining its natural individuality.

The tiles are housed in a bespoke trunk wrapped in exceptionally rare Himalayan Niloticus crocodile leather, prized for its naturally occurring gradient reminiscent of snow-capped mountain peaks and sourced from a tannery that supplies some of the world's most prestigious luxury maisons. Inside, aerospace-grade Alcantara — the same premium material found in the interiors of Ferrari and Lamborghini supercars — creates a soft, durable lining that protects every tile.

Where Feng Shui Meets Design

Guided by third-generation feng shui master Grand Master David Goh, every detail has been considered not only for its visual appeal but also for its symbolic significance, resulting in a collector's piece that seeks to harmonise Heaven, Earth and humanity.

The conventional Singapore animal tiles have been replaced by the Four Celestial Guardians — the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Phoenix, White Tiger and Black Tortoise — mythical creatures deeply rooted in Chinese cosmology that traditionally represent protection, balance and harmony. Likewise, the flower tiles have been redesigned to depict four auspicious creatures: the bat, deer, crane and magpie, collectively symbolising fortune, prosperity, longevity and happiness.

Even one of mahjong's most recognisable tiles, the Seven Dots, has been reimagined. Instead of following its conventional arrangement, the seven circles are positioned according to the "Seven Star Lighting" formation, an Imperial Feng Shui configuration believed to represent stability, clarity and strategic balance. The Character suit, meanwhile, features English transliterations such as "Yi Wan", "Er Wan" and "San Wan", making the set accessible to an international audience while preserving its cultural identity.

As Grand Master David Goh describes it, the set is "far beyond a Mahjong set. Every detail has been calibrated to harmonise Heaven, Earth and Man, ensuring that its owner engages not just in a game, but in a field of aligned opportunity, protection and infinite prosperity."

A New Definition of Luxury

Whether viewed as a collector's piece, a work of design or cultural heritage, the Imperial Feng Shui Mahjong Set occupies a category of its own — a reminder that the greatest luxury may ultimately be the opportunity to create meaningful change. It is a philosophy that Imperial Harvest carries through its bespoke Feng Shui consultation services in Singapore, where prosperity is understood as something to be built, and shared.

Hashtag: #ImperialHarvest #GrandMasterDavidGoh #ImperialHarvestMahjongSet #ImperialFengShui

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

About Imperial Harvest

Imperial Harvest is a Singapore-based luxury Imperial Feng Shui maison dedicated to empowering individuals with clarity, breakthroughs, and prosperity. Founded by Grand Master David Goh, Imperial Harvest upholds the royal Feng Shui traditions once reserved for Chinese emperors, making them accessible to modern professionals, business leaders, and families worldwide.

At the heart of Imperial Harvest is a unique blend of time-honoured metaphysics and contemporary craftsmanship. Every treasure - from fine jadeite and rare agarwood to bespoke jewellery collections - is carefully matched to each client's Bazi chart and personally blessed by Grand Master David to activate favourable elements for wealth, benefactors, and opportunities.

With a proven track record of guiding thousands of clients to achieve career milestones, business growth, and lasting harmony, Imperial Harvest continues to set the benchmark for authentic, results-driven Imperial Feng Shui. The maison is committed to building lifelong partnerships grounded in trust, expertise, and transformational success.

Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:00:28 +0700

Vietnam's leading international F&B exhibition - 30 years of partnering with businesses to create sustainable value

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026 is an annual international exhibition integrating two major sectors: Food & Beverage and Processing Equipment & Technology, Packaging - held continuously in Vietnam since 1996. The exhibition will take place over three days, from August 6-8, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), organised by VINEXAD in cooperation with the Ho Chi Minh City Food & Foodstuff Association (FFA) and the Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association (VBA), continuing to affirm its role as one of the leading and most trusted trade promotion events for Vietnam's Food and Beverage (F&B) industry.

Beyond bringing together advanced products, technologies and solutions, Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 continues to serve as an important trade promotion platform, helping connect businesses, expand supply chains and drive sustainable growth for Vietnam's food and beverage industry during this period of deep international integration.

F&B industry undergoing a strong transformation amid new trends

The food and beverage industry is entering a new phase of development as consumer demand moves beyond product quality alone toward more comprehensive values such as nutrition, health, sustainability and brand experience.

Alongside the growth of artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, e-commerce and ESG standards, F&B businesses are ramping up investment in modern production technology, automated production lines, eco-friendly packaging, traceability and supply chain optimisation to strengthen their competitiveness in the international market.

In addition, new-generation free trade agreements continue to open up export opportunities for Vietnam's food industry, while also attracting international brands seeking to expand into a market of nearly 100 million people with growing purchasing power.

Against this backdrop, the need for trade connections, technology updates and strategic partnerships is becoming increasingly urgent, making specialised exhibitions one of the most effective trade promotion channels for businesses.

Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026: a comprehensive networking platform for the F&B industry

Building on the success of previous editions, Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026 continues to affirm its position as one of Vietnam's largest international exhibitions for the Food & Beverage, Food Processing Technology and Packaging industries, and is also the first exhibition in this industry in Vietnam to be certified under the standards of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) - a guarantee of the event's quality, scale and international standing.

Notably, 2026 marks the 30th edition of the exhibition held in Ho Chi Minh City, affirming its journey of sustainable development and its pioneering role over three decades of connecting the domestic and international F&B business community. This year's exhibition reaches an impressive scale with more than 1,400 booths from over 1,000 companies across 20+ countries and territories, and is expected to attract more than 40,000 visitors, further confirming the event's outstanding appeal and influence within the industry.

Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 brings together every link in the food and beverage value chain, from raw materials, production and processing to packaging, logistics, and distribution and retail systems. Within the exhibition space, thousands of products, technologies, and advanced solutions will be showcased, covering the entire F&B ecosystem - from processed foods, premium foods, beverages, coffee and tea, confectionery, seafood and meat products, to food ingredients and additives, as well as processing machinery and equipment, packaging technology and modern technology solutions. This is an opportunity for businesses to find partners, keep up with market trends, access new technology and expand their domestic and international business networks.

More than a venue for launching new products, Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam also serves as a forum for businesses to grasp consumer trends, find partners, expand distribution systems and access solutions that enhance competitiveness in an ever-changing market.

For international businesses, the exhibition is an effective gateway into the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian markets. Meanwhile, domestic businesses have the opportunity to access new technology, find suppliers, expand exports, and participate more deeply in the global value chain.

Adding value - bringing together thousands of domestic and international businesses

Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 brings together thousands of domestic and international brands from more than 20 countries and territories, including China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand and Vietnam.

At the event, the Diamond Sponsor – Masan Group Corporation ('Masan Group, HOSE: MSN') – will showcase its portfolio of leading brands, including CHIN-SU, Omachi, Vinacafé, Nam Ng? and WinEco, reaffirming its leadership in Vietnam's branded food and beverage industry as well as high-tech agriculture. Guided by a consumer-centric strategy, Masan is committed to creating products that enrich the everyday lives of Vietnamese consumers while advancing the company's vision to 'Make Vietnamese Foods Global Foods'. At this year's event, Vinacafé will introduce its premium Fine Robusta collection, crafted from specialty Robusta beans cultivated at altitudes above 1,000 metres. Naturally fermented and slow-dried for up to 720 hours, Fine Robusta delivers a refined coffee experience with rich, multi-layered flavour profiles and versatile brewing options.

The Beverage Pavilion continues to bring together leading brands in the industry, showcasing a diverse range of beverage products and emerging consumer trends. Supporting this dedicated exhibition area are Saigon Beer as the Gold Sponsor of the Beverage Pavilion, Hanoi Beer as the Silver Advertising Sponsor of the Beverage Pavilion, and Carlsberg Vietnam as the Bronze Sponsor of the Beverage Pavilion. Their participation contributes to promoting outstanding beverage brands while creating valuable networking opportunities between exhibitors, buyers, distributors and business partners.

The exhibition also continues to welcome the participation of many reputable domestic and international brands in the food and beverage industry, including Golden Farm, Tan Nhat Huong, Fancy Foods, Dan On, Vedan, Bibica, Huu Nghi, TH true FOOD, Khanh Hoa Bird's Nest, Vietcoco, Rita, Miocen, Wonderful and Nam Viet, alongside international companies such as Allanasons, Al-Nasir, APK TRADING, Agroeco, Amos Food, Al-ammar Frozen Foods, Rustam Foods, Wellstand, Want Want, Learth, Kingmao and Cobi.

In the field of processing technology and packaging, the exhibition brings together companies offering advanced solutions such as Eulsung Auto Pack, Eastern Dragon, EIP, Han Viet Star, MMP Corporation, Shininghwa, QCM, Mutto Vietnam, Hao Tuan, Song Hiep Loi, Tan Phuong Vinh and Hoa Binh, showcasing modern technologies in automation, smart packaging, and production optimisation.

In addition to featuring leading domestic and international brands, Vietfood & Beverage - Propack Vietnam 2026 also reflects diverse participation from businesses across key markets around the world, including Australia, Bangladesh, China, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and Vietnam. The presence of these countries not only reflects the exhibition's increasing level of internationalisation but also presents a comprehensive overview of the global F&B supply chain - from raw materials and processed products to manufacturing technologies and modern packaging solutions.

Further affirming its international appeal, the exhibition welcomes national and territorial pavilions with participation from businesses in China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand and Vietnam. These pavilions are organized on a large, cohesive scale, showcasing each country's signature products, export strengths, and advanced technology solutions, thereby creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to directly access quality supply sources, expand trade cooperation, and strengthen connections across the global Food & Beverage value chain.

One of the standout highlights of Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 is the continued participation of international trade promotion programs, affirming the exhibition's appeal and credibility among foreign organizations and businesses. A prime example is The Taste Europe!, a program promoting high-quality European food products. This marks the fifth consecutive year the project has chosen the exhibition as its destination for brand promotion and trade connections in the Vietnamese market, introducing visitors to pork, beef, and processed products made from these two meats, as well as promoting apples and apple-based products.

In addition, The Drop of Excellence continues its participation in the exhibition for the second year of a promotional program spanning at least three years in the Asian market. The program focuses on introducing high-quality European dairy products, including many products from Poland, helping to expand trade cooperation opportunities and bring European agricultural products closer to Vietnamese consumers and businesses.

Notably, a delegation of Polish businesses continues to attend Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam with support from Poland's National Support Centre for Agriculture, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Poland. The consistent presence of Polish business delegations over the years reflects the growing interest of European businesses in the Vietnamese market and further affirms the exhibition's role as an effective trade promotion bridge between Vietnamese businesses and international partners.

For many consecutive years, the Russian Trade Promotion Centre in Vietnam has supported Russian businesses in participating in Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam, viewing the exhibition as one of the most effective trade promotion channels for showcasing products, finding partners, and expanding into the Vietnamese market. This continues to affirm the exhibition's credibility and standing as an important destination for international trade promotion programs in the food and beverage sector.

A series of specialised activities: connecting businesses - driving innovation - expanding cooperation

Beyond serving as an exhibition and trade space, Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 continues to affirm its role as a forum connecting the F&B community through a series of seminars, workshops, business-matching programs and engaging experiential activities.

The activity series opens with the international seminar 'Building Premium Value in F&B: From Brand Identity to Distribution Channels and Packaging' (on August 6, 2026), co-organised by VINEXAD, Italian Atelier, and CJC Marketing Agency. The seminar focuses on brand-building strategy, distribution channel development, and packaging design for F&B businesses to enhance product value and competitiveness.

Next, the specialized seminar "Green Transformation, Digital Technology, and Sustainable Nutrition" (on August 7, 2026), co-organized by VINEXAD and the Vietnam Association of Food Science and Technology (VAFOST), will provide updates on key trends in digital transformation, AI applications, sustainable product development, and supply chain optimization.

Also in the afternoon of August 7, 2026, the seminar 'Food Packaging Compliance Management in the New Context' organised by VINEXAD and the Vietnam Packaging Association (VINPAS), will provide new information on regulations, packaging standards, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and solutions to help businesses meet domestic and international market requirements.

At the same time, the Young Chefs Challenge: Culinary Arena, a cooking competition for young talent now in its second edition, organized in cooperation with the A Au Vocational Training Academy and the Ho Chi Minh City College of Economics and Tourism (CET), will give young chefs a platform to showcase their skills and creativity in food preparation while connecting with businesses and experts in the food and culinary service industry.

In addition, the F&B Spotlight - Business Presentations segment will allow companies to introduce their own products, technologies, and new solutions, helping them promote their brands and connect directly with customers and partners.

Notably, the VIP Buyer Program remains a key highlight, featuring scheduled B2B trade-matching activities that help improve trade promotion efficiency between businesses and domestic and international buyers, as well as major corporations (Big Corps) in the industry, opening up numerous opportunities for cooperation and business growth.

Alongside this, a check-in gift and lucky draw program, together with various interactive activities at the exhibition, will offer an engaging experience and help create a lively atmosphere throughout the three-day event.

Affirming its position as Vietnam's leading F&B exhibition

The convergence of numerous domestic and international brands together with a high-quality series of specialised activities has established Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 as one of the most important trade promotion events in the F&B industry, helping to drive supply-demand connections, innovation, and expanded cooperation opportunities across the region.

Beyond bringing together advanced products, technologies, and solutions, the exhibition also serves as a bridge between businesses, buyers, associations, and domestic and international organizations, helping to drive innovation, technology transfer, market expansion and the enhanced competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses within the global value chain.

As the food and beverage industry moves toward a greener, smarter, and more sustainable future, Vietfood & Beverage - ProPack Vietnam 2026 is expected to continue driving cooperation, investment, and development, accompanying businesses on their journey to elevate Vietnamese brands and conquer new markets.

Contact Information:
VINEXAD - No. 09 Dinh Le Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Ms. Dao Thu Ha - Project Director
Mobile: (+84) 912 000 406 - Email: daoha@vinexad.com.vn

Hashtag: #Vinexad

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

St. Francis Methodist School International Commemorates 65th Anniversary with Carnival and Gala Dinner

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:00:27 +0700

SINGAPORE- Media OutReach Newswire - 20 July 2026 - St Francis Methodist School International (SFMS), an international school in Singapore, is commemorating its 65th school anniversary in 2025 with a series of events reflecting on its history, present-day initiatives, and future direction.

St. Francis Methodist School International school anniversary singapore

A Look Back at the Evolution of SFMS International

From its founding in 1960 with just 27 students, SFMS International has developed into a well-established private institution, offering primary, secondary, and pre-tertiary education in an international school environment. Over the past six decades, the school has provided pathways for students from diverse backgrounds to pursue internationally recognised academic qualifications, including the IGCSE, GCE O-Levels, IB Programme, and more. At the same time, the curriculum fosters holistic growth and character education grounded in Christian values. The school's anniversary celebrations will honour this legacy while looking ahead to its future.

Anniversary Service & Carnival: A Day of Reflection and Community

On 22 May 2025, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm, St. Francis Methodist School International holded a school anniversary service and carnival at its campus as part of its 65th-anniversary commemorations.

Held at The Sanctuary Hall, the morning's activities began with a dedication ceremony featuring a school introduction video, messages from school leadership, and the official opening of the renovated school building. A guided tour was followed, allowing attendees to view the upgraded facilities. The programme includes a Tree Planting Ceremony, intended to mark the occasion and acknowledge ongoing development at the school.

Following the formal proceedings, the Anniversary Carnival will take place, featuring 22 interactive stalls run by students, partner organisations, and community groups. Coupons valued at $10 ($5 for food and $5 for games) will be available for attendees. The event is expected to draw approximately 600 participants, including members of the school community and guests.

Thanksgiving Dinner at CHIJMES Hall

On 3 October 2025, SFMS International will host a Thanksgiving Dinner at CHIJMES Hall as part of its school anniversary celebrations. The evening will begin with a reception and networking hour from 5:30 pm, with photo opportunities under the event's theme, "The Starry Journey".

Guests will be treated to a celebration highlights video, featuring moments from various school events held throughout the year. A primary school performance, titled Starry Journey, will showcase the talents and efforts of the school's younger students. The dinner programme will also include the Awards of Excellence, recognising students who have excelled in school-wide contests, as well as the contributions of parent volunteers through the Parent Volunteer Group (PVG). A special performance by the PVG will be planned for the evening as well.

The dinner will include games, quizzes, and giveaways, along with a four-course fusion meal and live performances by high school students and other members of the school community.

A Legacy of Purpose and Growth

As SFMS International marks its 65th school anniversary in Singapore, this milestone serves as both a moment of reflection and renewal. Moving forward, SFMS aims to maintain its focus on holistic education, emphasising not only academic development but also personal growth. Its approach continues to integrate values-based learning to equip students to engage with the world in thoughtful and responsible ways.
Hashtag: #StFrancisMethodistSchool

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About St. Francis Methodist School International

St Francis Methodist School International (SFMS) is an educational institution in Singapore offering primary, secondary, and pre-tertiary programmes. Established in 1960, SFMS International provides a local, faith-based approach to learning within an international school environment.