Houston-based Alpha Energy forms Alpha Energy International to acquire and modernise mature oil fields; Tennor provides $500 million funding facility

HOUSTON, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 October 2026 – Alpha Energy, the Houston-based oil and gas upstream company, has formed Alpha Energy International to lead its expansion outside the United States and has sold a 65% stake in the new company to Tennor Global LLC.

Tennor has agreed to arrange Alpha Energy International with a $500 million funding facility, allowing the venture to move quickly on acquisitions in selected countries, including Venezuela. Alpha Energy International will be responsible for all of Alpha Energy’s future activities and investments outside the USA.

The new company will initially target mature producing fields and difficult-to-recover reserves. Alpha’s leadership team will develop the assets and run operations, while Tennor, as majority shareholder, will support the venture through its network of relationships in the target countries.

Lars Windhorst, Founder of Tennor Global, said: “Alpha’s team has a rare track record of turning around mature fields at scale, and we believe that expertise is exactly what many producing countries need today. Tennor’s role is to open doors and provide the capital to move quickly. Together, we intend to build an international oil company focused on getting more from existing fields, working in partnership with host governments and national oil companies.”

Thomas Reed, CEO of Alpha Energy International and founder of Alpha Energy, said: “The combination of Alpha’s technical and operating expertise with Tennor’s financial support and deep knowledge of key international markets provides the basis for a new type of international oil company.

“Our strategy is simple. More oil remains in existing conventional fields than has ever been produced, and since the late 1980s, improvements in technology and engineering have added more recoverable barrels from existing fields than the industry’s total greenfield exploration success. Alpha is on a mission to acquire and modernise these legacy fields. Better recovery of the world’s existing oil and gas resources is Alpha’s fundamental value proposition, and with Tennor we have the reach and resources to act.”

A team built on the Yukos turnaround

Alpha Energy has a thirty-year history of conventional reservoir development and operations across more than sixty fields, primarily on the US Gulf Coast and the shallow-water shelf of the Gulf of America. Its principals have also operated at scale internationally. The company’s COO spent more than a decade in Venezuela, including operatorship of a producing joint venture on Lake Maracaibo at over 100,000 barrels of oil per day.

Mr Reed, who will run Alpha Energy International from Houston, has 35 years of oil and gas experience with Yukos, RusPetro, JKX and Texas Petroleum Investment Company. The COO has 35 years of operations experience with Yukos and Gazprom, among others, most recently with the Venezuelan joint venture. Chris Hopkinson, CTO, has 38 years in the upstream business, including senior positions at Shell, Yukos, BG Group and KazMunayGas.

All three built Alpha’s proprietary Alpha Technical Center on their experience at Yukos, where the same performance engineering techniques added nearly one million barrels per day of production in four years with a net reduction in the total well count. The Technical Center covers subsurface evaluation, reservoir engineering, well design and facilities design.

Alpha Energy International will recover production by optimising asset performance from the wells up, using a value-driven technical limit approach and current technologies. The company works alongside national oil companies, training and handing over to local engineers as it goes.

Hashtag: #AlphaEnergy

About Alpha Energy

Alpha Energy is a Houston, Texas based oil and gas upstream company specialising in conventional reservoir development and operations. Over thirty years it has operated in more than sixty fields, primarily on the US Gulf Coast and the shallow-water shelf of the Gulf of America. Alpha Energy International, its majority-owned international arm, is responsible for all of the company’s activities and investments outside the USA.

About Tennor Global

Tennor Global is a holding and private equity company focused on energy, energy technology and artificial intelligence. It takes majority and minority stakes in public and private companies and invests in public and private debt, targeting special situations where its entrepreneurial approach and sector expertise can create value quickly. Its diversified portfolio also spans technology, industrials, natural resources, media, entertainment and sports, retail and real estate.

“The hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, and its future lies in the youth,” Xi said.

This new initiative builds on an earlier announcement Xi made in San Francisco in November 2023, where China committed to inviting 50,000 young Americans to participate in exchange programs over five years. Two and a half years later, that target was achieved ahead of schedule, with the total number of participants exceeding the initial goal.

To coincide with the state visit, People’s Daily released a video titled “Through Xi’s eyes: Where youth bridges the Pacific.” The video highlights young people from China and the United States who formed lasting connections through their shared passion for pickleball—a dynamic fostered by the “50,000 in Five Years” initiative.

In the feature, students from both nations recall meeting six months ago at the 2026 China-US Youth Pickleball Friendship Tournament in Beijing and say they hope to meet again. Pickleball has emerged as a new bond of friendship, bringing young people closer through teamwork, high-fives and shared laughter.

The video also highlights a personal exchange. Following a 2025 exchange trip to China, delegation leader Jeffrey Sullivan and his students wrote to President Xi to express their gratitude for the experience. About a month later, President Xi replied—arriving on Sullivan’s birthday. In his letter, Xi expressed delight in seeing pickleball serve as a bridge for youth exchanges between the two nations.

“It’s a great initiative in that it provides opportunities for friendships to form and for bonds to deepen, while setting the stage for intentional learning among our youth,” Sullivan said.

Just as “ping-pong diplomacy” famously opened doors to China-US relations decades ago, pickleball is building a modern bridge of friendship. Exchange and cooperation continue to reflect the shared aspirations of both peoples, with young goodwill ambassadors injecting fresh momentum into long-term bilateral ties.

Markets, not savings, powering the gain

Global financial assets increased by 8.6% in 2025 to a record EUR268.4trn, despite a challenging geopolitical and economic backdrop. Markets did the heavy lifting in 2025, as rising asset prices accounted for roughly 4 out of every 5 euros of new household wealth. Fresh savings fell 5.4% to EUR4.1trn. “Global wealth set another record in 2025, but that only tells half of the story,” said Ludovic Subran, Chief Economist and Chief Investment Officer at Allianz. “Since 2019, nominal financial assets are up 50%, but in real terms, stripped of inflation, they only grew 23%. The situation is worse in Western Europe where financial assets in real terms are up 0.5% compared to 2019. It is 21% in North America and 70% in China.”

Portfolios set the tone

Portfolio composition increasingly determines who captures the gains from wealth creation. Securities increased by 12.4% in 2025, more than twice as fast as deposits (5.7%) or insurance and pensions (5.0%), pushing their share of global financial assets to a record 46.9%. North American households, with 60.7% of their portfolios invested in securities, benefited particularly strongly from rising markets; their region generated 51.4% of the global increase in financial assets. Over the past decade, valuation gains accounted for 71% of North American financial-asset growth, compared with only 36% in Western Europe, reflecting the importance of investing savings over holding them in low-earning accounts.

2026-27: AI as a swing factor amid slowing GDP growth

We estimate that global financial assets could grow by a solid 9% in 2026, but the medium-term backdrop is turning tougher as slower growth, persistent inflation, fragmentation and high public debt weigh on returns. Going forward, AI is therefore the key swing factor: stronger productivity and earnings could sustain asset returns, but the growing reliance on AI-powered markets to drive household wealth also creates vulnerability. With the S&P 500 up around 95% since end-2022, much of the recent wealth boost rests on elevated market valuations and AI expectations. We find that a 25% correction in the S&P 500 would erase around USD27trn of US household wealth in the year of the shock, equivalent to almost 14% of total net worth, weighing on confidence and consumption, and pushing the US economy into recession.

But the AI wealth story is not only about how much wealth is created, it is also about who captures the gains. “AI could become the next great wealth engine, but the key question is who gets a stake in it,” said Katharina Utermöhl, Head of Thematic & Policy Research at Allianz Research. “As AI potentially shifts more value creation towards capital, broader participation in capital returns and policies that help workers adjust will be key to making the AI wealth dividend more widely shared.”

Singapore: The world’s 4th-richest country by net wealth per capita

Gross financial assets of Singapore’s private households increased by 9.1% in 2025 to EUR1.4trn, up from 8.5% growth in 2024, modestly above the global average (8.6%) though just below the average for the surveyed Asian countries excluding Japan and China (9.8%).

Securities grew fastest among all asset classes, up 12.7%, ahead of insurance and pensions (9.3%) and deposits (6.8%). However, due to Singapore’s strong capital-funded pension system, insurance and pension remained the dominant asset class in the average private household’s portfolio, with a share of 47.2%, followed by deposits with 33.2%. Securities accounted for just 19.6% of Singaporean portfolios – well below both the regional average of 30.8% and the global figure of 46.9%.

Adjusted for inflation, Singaporean financial assets grew by 8.1% in real terms in 2025, up from 6.0% in 2024. They have increased by a cumulative 33.3% since 2019 – below the regional average of 39.6%, though well above the global average of 22.9%.

Private households’ liabilities rose by 7.4% to EUR269.9bn, growing more slowly than gross financial assets. As a result, net financial assets increased by 9.5% to EUR1.1trn. With net financial assets of EUR192,840 per capita, Singapore ranked 4th among the world’s richest countries in 2025.

Net financial assets per capita in 2025

The interactive “Allianz Global Wealth Map” can be found here on our homepage:
https://www.allianz.com/en/economic_research/research-data/interactive-wealth-map.html

You can find the study here on our homepage:
https://www.allianz.com/en/economic_research/insights/publications/global-wealth-report-2026.html

Hashtag: #AllianzResearch

About Allianz

PTC System works closely with Palo Alto Networks to help organizations strengthen cybersecurity resilience as part of broader digital transformation initiatives. By combining Palo Alto Networks’ industry-leading security platform with PTC’s expertise in AI infrastructure, enterprise infrastructure, and IT modernization, the company helps customers securely adopt emerging technologies while addressing evolving security challenges.

“As organizations accelerate investments in AI platforms and next-generation digital infrastructure, ensuring security and governance from the outset has become critical,” said SS Lim, Managing Director at PTC System.

“AI transformation and cybersecurity must go hand in hand. Through our collaboration with Palo Alto Networks, we help customers build secure, governed, and AI-ready environments that enable innovation while maintaining resilience, visibility, and control.”

“NextWave partners play a critical role throughout the customer lifecycle, from the initial qualifying stage to ultimately ensuring successful deployment and adoption of our technology,” said Michael Khoury, VP of Global Channel Programs, Palo Alto Networks. “As a NextWave Theatre Diamond Innovator, PTC System is a cybersecurity advisor our customers can trust.”

“Our customers need cyber experts that can help them achieve better security outcomes, protecting them from today’s sophisticated threats,” said Michelle Saw, VP for GTM Shared Services in JAPAC at Palo Alto Networks. “Our Theatre Diamond Innovator NextWave partners have deep Palo Alto Networks expertise to help solve complex security challenges with robust solutions and services. As a NextWave Theatre Diamond Innovator, PTC System is helping redefine what it means to be secure.”

Palo Alto Networks is a registered trademark of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. in the United States and in jurisdictions throughout the world. All other trademarks, trade names or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners

Hashtag: #PTCSystem

About the NextWave Partner Program

About PTC System (S) Pte Ltd

PTC System (S) Pte Ltd is a leading information and communications technology (ICT) System integrator in Singapore. The company delivers end-to-end solutions spanning AI infrastructure, enterprise infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, and managed services. Through strong partnerships with global technology leaders, PTC helps organizations accelerate digital transformation and achieve sustainable business outcomes.

As the first listed ETF to track the HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index*, the product provides investors with a new allocation tool across the Hong Kong and South Korean semiconductor markets, marking a strategic milestone in technology-focused investing and cross-border financial innovation.

Amid the acceleration of global AI and emerging technologies, demand for semiconductors continues to surge, driving robust industry momentum. On March 31, HKEX and the Korea Exchange (“KRX”) officially introduced the HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index. As the first co-branded index between HKEX and KRX, it provides cross-market exposure to Hong Kong-listed semiconductor companies eligible for Southbound Stock Connect and leading South Korean semiconductor names represented by all constituents of the KRX Semiconductor Top 15 Index.

Peng Zeng, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer, Bosera Asset Management (International) Co., Limited, stated: “We are honored to be the first asset manager to launch the ETF tracking the HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index. The Bosera HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index ETF offers global investors efficient and one-click access to key semiconductor leaders across Hong Kong and South Korea. The launch of this ETF, which tracks the first co-branded index of the two exchanges, marks a major milestone in cross-border financial innovation within Asian capital markets, and highlights Bosera International’s expertise in cross-border asset management. Looking ahead, Bosera International will continue leveraging our strengths to deliver high-quality, differentiated global allocation solutions for investors worldwide.”

HKEX Chief Executive Officer, Bonnie Y Chan, said: “We are delighted to welcome the first ETFs tracking HKEX’s cross-market index series. Their launch marks an important step in our efforts to connect Hong Kong with international markets by working with exchanges and partners across Asia and beyond to broaden investor choice. By bringing together opportunities across different markets and sectors, these benchmarks respond to investors’ growing demand for diversification and reinforce Hong Kong’s role as a gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world.”

Buyeon Yi, President of KRX Future Strategy Division, Korea Exchange, Inc, stated: “KRX congratulates Bosera Asset Management (International) on the listing of the Bosera HKEX KRX Semiconductor Index ETF. Korean market has contributed 15 leading companies across Korea’s Semiconductor value chain to this first co-index between HKEX and KRX. We hope the ETF will help broaden opportunities for Hong Kong investors to gain exposure to major leading semiconductor companies listed in Hong Kong and Korea.”

This launch further expands Bosera International’s ETF suite across regional strategies, thematic sectors, and cross-border connectivity products. Looking ahead, Bosera International remains dedicated to product innovation and strengthening global exchange partnerships to deliver forward-looking investment solutions aligned with evolving market trends.

Source: HKEX website, as at 24 September 2026

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Hashtag: #Bosera

Bosera Asset Management (International) Co., Limited

As a global player in lotus root and aquatic vegetables, Huagui has established an international commercial network. The Honghu Lotus Root brand was valued at RMB 25.861 billion in 2025, reflecting its market position. Related products reach more than 50 countries and markets and are present in retail and food conglomerates channels including Costco and Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC and Pizza Hut. Co-headquartered in Beijing and Hubei, Huagui continues to expand sourcing, international distribution, private-label programs and cross-border supply-chain partnerships. The conference brought together the China Vegetables Association, representatives from Europe, the United States and South Korea, and international guests including a representative member from the Saudi royal family.

Alongside its commercial expansion, Huagui is strengthening its position in the biotech and superfood market. Honghu lotus root naturally contains dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium and polyphenols. According to a report by China Merchants Securities (CMS), Honghu lotus root ranks first among major lotus-root-producing regions in antioxidant content. The report also notes that the output value of Honghu’s lotus root industry is approximately five to six times that of Jiangsu, highlighting its nutritional profile and the scale of its commercial potential across plant-based nutrition, functional foods and health applications. Huagui is also establishing bio-extraction, functional ingredients and wellness products through its biotech business.

“Our strategy is creating a global ecosystem connecting aquatic plants, aquatic animals, food, biotech and longevity,” said Melody Zhao, Executive Vice President of Huagui Group. “From natural resources to R&D, and from brand building to global shelves, Huagui is connecting China’s aquatic industries with global consumers through products, supply chains and international channels.”

Supporting this strategy is a diversified business platform built around four core sectors. Huagui Food anchors food manufacturing and supply, while Huagui Health develops functional foods, wellness products and higher-value ingredients. Huagui’s e-commerce, commodities supply-chain finance and import-export operations connect digital channels, financing, global sourcing, international trade and private-label programs under its “Buy Global, Sell Global” approach. On the aquatic-animal side, Huagui’s Fishery Joint Venture with Hubei Agricultural Development Group, a China Top 500 enterprise group, extends the platform into fisheries and large-scale open-water operations, covering approximately 666.7 million square meters of fishing and aquaculture waters.

From global food channels to superfoods, Huagui is building an integrated platform across aquatic plants and animals, creating opportunities in international food, biotech and commerce.

Hashtag: #HuaguiGroup

Three Pillars of a Distinctive Candidate

The recognition highlights a vision of urban development that future generations can inherit and build upon. With expansive green spaces, nature-integrated landscapes and environmentally responsible solutions, Vinhomes Green Paradise is setting a new benchmark for communities that live in harmony with nature.

As the first project New7Wonders has recognized as an Official Participant, Vinhomes Green Paradise also underscores the international scale and ambition of a development conceived as a blueprint for 21st-century cities.

Under the New7Wonders evaluation framework, Vietnam’s representative stands out across three core pillars: Environment & Nature, Smart Cities and People-Centered Development.

On Environment & Nature, the project draws on a rare coastal setting: it fronts the sea in Can Gio and borders the 75,000-hectare Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO. Spanning 2,870 hectares with a building density of just 16%, the development devotes a substantial share of its land to greenery and water, anchored by the 800-hectare natural saltwater Lagoon Lake at the heart of the urban area.

On Smart Cities, Vinhomes Green Paradise integrates the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and artificial intelligence into urban management, operations and environmental monitoring, creating a modern, safe and well-run urban environment.

The third pillar, People-Centered Development, reflects the project’s philosophy of placing people at the heart of urban development. It takes shape in an integrated ecosystem of internationally oriented healthcare, education, senior living, culture, sports and entertainment.

Future residents will have access to world-class healthcare through Vinmec’s collaboration with Cleveland Clinic of the United States; international-standard education through Vinschool and the U.K.’s Brighton College; premium senior living through Vin New Horizon; and a diverse range of cultural and leisure amenities, including the 7-hectare Blue Waves Theatre, two 18-hole golf courses designed by firms associated with Tiger Woods and Robert Trent Jones II, the 122-hectare seaside VinWonders complex and Cosmo Bay, an integrated dining, shopping and nightlife destination.

Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders and Chairman of the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign, said Vinhomes Green Paradise fulfills the campaign’s key criteria and reflects the pioneering mission of a leading Asian corporation that is proactively delivering on its ESG commitments, and going beyond them, across many areas of its operations.

He described the award of the first Official Participant certification as a symbolic moment for the campaign as a whole, and an opportunity to witness an exceptional urban environment taking shape, where nature, people and technology are integrated and elevated in harmony.

From Global ESG Standards to Regenerating Forests

What sets Vinhomes Green Paradise apart at its core is a development strategy that reaches beyond conventional sustainability frameworks. Rather than stopping at compliance with global ESG standards, the project is pioneering an enhanced ESG++ framework built on five pillars: Environmental, Social, Governance, Regeneration and Climate Adaptation.

This green vision is embedded from the construction stage onward. One example is K-DPM, a technology that transforms soft soil and dredged sediment into durable fill material, helping reduce indirect emissions and pollution while curbing reliance on natural sand extraction.

Once operational, the urban system is designed for comprehensive decarbonization, with a target of sourcing 100% of its electricity from clean energy, including offshore wind farms located 20 kilometers off the coast, complemented by solar power and battery energy storage systems.

Internal mobility is also designed around a net-zero-emission model, combining electric cars, motorcycles, buses and bicycles with electric boats, alongside a high-speed rail connection linking the development directly to central Ho Chi Minh City.

Beyond environmental compliance, Vinhomes Green Paradise places strong emphasis on conserving and regenerating native ecosystems while supporting Ho Chi Minh City’s broader climate-adaptation strategy. A Forest Regeneration and Climate Adaptation Fund has been established to support long-term research, restoration and climate-response initiatives, with a particular focus on regenerating the Can Gio mangrove forest and strengthening its role as a green shield for the entire urban development.

To meet these objectives, Vinhomes Green Paradise is pursuing BREEAM and ISO 37122 certifications, two internationally recognized frameworks for sustainable buildings and smart cities. Through these efforts, the project aims to become a global ESG++ reference point and a new benchmark for the next generation of coastal cities.

Nguyen Thu Hang, CEO of Vinhomes, said Environment & Nature, Smart Cities and People-Centered Development are not only key strengths of Vinhomes Green Paradise on its journey toward the “7 Wonders of Future Cities,” but also guiding principles for Vinhomes in creating a world-class urban landmark and a truly distinctive living environment for global citizens.

A Vote for Vinhomes Green Paradise, a Commitment to the Future of All Life

The vision embodied by Vinhomes Green Paradise reflects a broader shift in how the cities of tomorrow are being conceived. As urbanization accelerates and climate pressures mount, the future of cities will depend increasingly on their ability to coexist with, and regenerate, the natural systems that sustain life.

In this light, a vote for Vinhomes Green Paradise in the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign is more than support for a single urban development. It can be seen as a vote for a future in which people and nature thrive together, one that extends beyond humanity to the countless other forms of life that share the planet with us.

A report by the One Ocean Foundation’s Ocean Impact Initiative, Coastal Cities and the Ocean: Risks, Impacts, and the Path to Resilience, notes that approximately 70% of the world’s largest megacities lie within 60 kilometers of the coast and together generate nearly half of global GDP, while facing growing exposure to climate-related risks. The report also highlights the significant potential of coastal cities to lead climate action through sustainable planning, stronger governance and nature-based solutions, an approach reflected in Vinhomes Green Paradise’s strategy to conserve and regenerate the Can Gio mangrove ecosystem.

Recognition as the first Official Participant in the “7 Wonders of Future Cities” campaign marks an important milestone for Vinhomes Green Paradise, highlighting its vision, capabilities and international ambition. On this foundation, the project is emerging as an Asian representative on a global journey to explore what the cities of the future can become. The global voting phase is scheduled to open on October 31, 2026.

For Vinhomes Green Paradise, the journey has already begun, guided by a vision of a future in which a city is not built apart from nature but as part of a living ecosystem, where people, technology and all forms of life can flourish together.

https://vinhomes.vn/en

Hashtag: #VinhomesGreenParadise #7WondersOfFutureCities #Vinhomes

• Under the renewed agreement, SIA pilots will continue to operate five Boeing 777 freighters based at Singapore Changi Airport for DHL Express
• SIA will also oversee the maintenance of the aircraft, supporting reliable, time-definite express and e-commerce shipments
• The aircraft connect DHL’s South Asia Hub in Singapore with key destinations in the United States, strengthening air cargo links between the Asia-Pacific and global markets

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 September 2026 – DHL Express and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have renewed their crew and maintenance agreement for five Boeing 777 freighters based at Singapore Changi Airport.

Under the agreement, SIA pilots will continue to operate the five freighters, while SIA engineers will oversee their maintenance. These five freighters support DHL’s intercontinental air network, connecting its South Asia Hub in Singapore with key destinations in the United States.

“The renewal of this agreement underlines our commitment to building and investing in the network capacity that keeps global trade moving,” said Travis Cobb, Executive Vice President for Network Operations & Aviation, DHL Express. “These five Boeing 777 freighters have become an integral part of our intercontinental operations, helping our customers move time-definite shipments with speed and reliability. Singapore remains one of the world’s leading air logistics hubs, and together with Singapore Airlines’ proven operational expertise, gives us the strong foundation for enabling international trade and connecting businesses to global markets.”

“The renewal of our agreement with DHL Express reflects the strength and continuity of our partnership, which has supported the movement of express air freight between the Asia-Pacific region and key global markets via Singapore since 2022. This partnership leverages SIA’s operational expertise and DHL Express’ global logistics network to reinforce Singapore’s role as a leading air freight hub, particularly in the e-commerce segment,” said Lee Lik Hsin, Chief Commercial Officer, Singapore Airlines.

The five Boeing 777 freighters, which entered service progressively from 2022, provide reliable air capacity needed to support time-sensitive cross-border trade. Each aircraft can carry up to 102 tons of cargo and is among the world’s largest, longest range, and most capable twin-engine freighters.

With Singapore as the home base for the dual-liveried Boeing 777 freighters, the partnership deepens DHL’s global aviation capabilities while anchoring more long-haul cargo capacity at Changi. It reflects both companies’ confidence in the long-term growth of international trade and the central role of reliable air connectivity in supporting global supply chains.

https://group.dhl.com/press

Hashtag: #DHLExpress #SingaporeAirlines

DHL – The logistics company for the world

About Singapore Airlines

The students were excited to receive a personal reply from President Xi Jinping after sharing in a letter what their week in China had meant to them, reinforcing the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation’s belief in the power of youth exchanges to foster lasting people-to-people ties between the two nations

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 September 2026 – With U.S. and Chinese leaders preparing to meet in Washington D.C. this week, nearly 100 American college students from 10 universities were making a statement of their own. Writing to President Xi Jinping at the close of a week-long exchange program in China, the students shared how the experience had shaped their understanding of both nations — and expressed their hope of serving as “ambassadors of friendship across the Pacific” by carrying their stories, new friendships, and insights home. On September 21, President Xi replied personally, encouraging young people from both countries to carry forward friendship and work toward a better shared future.

The students were participants in the Future Makers 2026 China-U.S. Youth Tour for a Shared Asia-Pacific Future, organized by the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges. From September 1–7, the program brought together 170 young people from China and the United States for seven days of cultural exploration, direct dialogue, and technology visits across Jinan, Qufu, and Beijing. Participating institutions included American University, Central Michigan University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Kentucky State University, Saint Peter’s University, the University of California Davis, the University of California Riverside, the University of Chicago, and the University of Washington.

Jackson Kreisner, a student from American University, said: “I can say, with firsthand experience, that American and Chinese youth are much more similar than we are different – we listen to the same music, eat the same food, feel the same emotions, share the same dreams.”

Ainsley Reigler, a student from Central Michigan University, said: “Being able to sit across from students from different universities and backgrounds and discuss our perspectives on the future of U.S.-China relations, global cooperation, and the role our generation can play in building bridges was an experience I could never have replicated in a classroom.”

Before the trip, many of the participants said they knew China primarily through headlines and social media. What they found was, in their own words, “the real China” — young people who laugh at the same jokes, carry the same pressures, and dream the same dreams. In Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, American and Chinese students explored together how the Confucian concept of “harmony in diversity” remains relevant in today’s cross-cultural exchanges. At Tsinghua University in Beijing, participants exchanged views on youth responsibility, technological innovation, and Asia-Pacific cooperation, building mutual understanding through open and candid conversations. The program also offered participants a close look at China’s advances in technology and innovation. Visits to Beijing E-Town Robot World, the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area, and the Xiaomi Auto Factory provided firsthand insights into humanoid robotics, autonomous driving technologies, and advanced manufacturing.

A highlight of the program was the establishment of the “Forest for Tomorrow” at Yanqi Lake in Beijing, where American and Chinese youth planted white-bark pine trees together, symbolizing enduring friendship between the younger generations of the two countries.

The Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation fully funded the program for all American participants, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to experience China firsthand. In partnership with the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges, the initiative seeks to enable students from diverse backgrounds to experience China firsthand.

Mr. Daryl Ng, Director of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and Chairman of Sino Group, said: “During the program, I had the opportunity to join the American participants on a visit to the Temple of Heaven and spend time speaking with them directly. I was deeply impressed by their curiosity about Chinese culture and their interest in the country’s development. Inspired by President Xi’s message, we will continue to support international youth exchanges and dialogue, and do our part to foster greater understanding, friendship, and people-to-people connections across borders. We will also leverage Hong Kong’s unique role as a ‘super-connector’ to further strengthen exchanges between China and the rest of the world.”

Hashtag: #NgTengFongCharitableFoundation

About Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation

A New Chapter in Toblerone Innovation

In 2024, Toblerone introduced its distinctive diamond-shaped truffles to the market, marking a bold step beyond the brand’s legendary triangular bar. The launch proved a resounding category success, redefining what consumers expect from premium boxed chocolates. Now, Toblerone takes this innovation further with a partnership that is set to captivate chocolate lovers worldwide: Toblerone Diamond Truffles with Biscoff^®.

Each diamond-shaped truffle is individually crafted from smooth Toblerone milk chocolate, filled with smooth Biscoff^® spread and finished with crunchy nougat pieces. The result: the unmistakable caramelised taste and crunchy texture of Biscoff^®, elevated by Toblerone’s signature chocolate craftsmanship.

When Two Global Icons Unite

Biscoff^® has become one of the world’s most sought-after biscuits, transcending categories and cultures. This collaboration between Toblerone and Biscoff^® represents a strategic partnership that unites two iconic brands to create something truly new in the premium chocolate category – a product that meets growing consumer demand for innovative, indulgent experiences.

Iain Livingston, President Toblerone & World Travel Retail at Mondelēz International, proudly says: “Toblerone has always stood for being never square, and celebrating unapologetic indulgence. With our diamond-shaped truffles already proving a category success, combining them with globally loved Biscoff^®, was a natural next step. People look for surprising combinations of familiar tastes, and this is a collaboration that only two icons could bring to life. We couldn’t be more excited to share it with the world.”

The excitement is shared by Lotus Bakeries as Isabelle Maes, Chief Marketing Officer at Lotus Bakeries, emphasizes: “Biscoff^®‘s unique caramelised taste and crunchy texture have become a global phenomenon, loved across cultures and age groups. Partnering with Toblerone – a brand synonymous with quality and indulgence – allows us to bring our iconic Biscoff ^® biscuit and spread experience to consumers in an entirely new and exciting format.”

The Perfect Treat – Available in Two Formats Across Key Global Markets

Toblerone Diamond Truffles with Biscoff^® are available in two pack sizes to meet different consumer occasions – perfect for gifting, sharing, or an indulgent treat:

• 495g premium box – an exclusive format launching with retailer Costco across the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Australia, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Sweden, Iceland as well as New Zealand.
• 180g sharing box – available in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, and Australia. More to follow.

The exclusive Costco deal represents a landmark moment for Mondelēz International and its Toblerone brand, marking the first time the company has partnered with Costco to launch a product range on a global scale. Another testament to the strength of both the Toblerone brand and the universal appeal of Biscoff^®.
https://www.mondelezinternational.com/our-brands/toblerone/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/mondelezinternational/
https://www.instagram.com/toblerone

Hashtag: #Toblerone #Biscoff #NeverSquare

Toblerone

Biscoff®

Since 1932, Biscoff® has been delighting consumers’ taste buds with its delicious caramelised taste and crunchy texture. Originally from Belgium but now loved all over the world, Lotus Biscoff® cookies were first brought to market by Jan Boone Sr., who created a caramelised cookie using only natural ingredients. This unique recipe and cookie remain the basis of our three hero products: the original Lotus® Biscoff® cookie, the Lotus® Biscoff® sandwich cookie and the Lotus® Biscoff spread. Whether they are enjoyed at home, on the go, at the office or on a flight, Biscoff® provides everyone around the world with a unique moment to truly enjoy!

While World Cleanup Day often brings attention to streets, parks and other public areas, Eureka used the occasion to highlight less visible spaces around us – from overlooked corners at home to shared environments that can easily escape regular cleaning.

The campaign brought together creators across four European markets – Germany, Italy, France and Spain – with each collaboration bringing a local perspective to the idea of “Find the Unseen.”

In Germany, @mit_den_jungz explored “Find the Unseen” through a familiar everyday habit: cleaning the spaces we see, while often missing the ones we do not. By combining personal interaction with a hands-on demonstration of Eureka FloorShine 880 Wet and Dry Vacuum, the content encouraged viewers to look at familiar surroundings more carefully and reconsider what may be left out of their usual routines. In this way, the campaign idea became less about simply cleaning more, and more about noticing what is usually overlooked.

Looking ahead, Eureka plans to continue working with creators across Europe to discover more of these “unseen” spaces. Through future collaborations, the brand aims to encourage people to pay greater attention to their surroundings, both in their own homes and in the shared spaces they use every day, and make cleaner environments part of everyday life.

Eureka also introduced the “Find the Unseen” social media challenge, which invited consumers to use Eureka cleaning products on overlooked areas in their homes and share videos of the process online for a chance to receive cashback.

As part of the World Cleanup Day campaign, Eureka is offering 6% off any Eureka product from now through September 30 with the promotional code eureka920 on its German website.

Learn more: https://de.eureka.com/pages/worldcleanday2026/

Hashtag: #Eureka

About Eureka

Founded in Detroit, USA, in 1909, Eureka is a century-old vacuum cleaner brand dedicated to making cleaning easier. The brand focuses on innovation, practical design and ease of use, developing cleaning solutions for everyday homes.

World Cleanup Day often draws attention to streets, parks and other public areas. Eureka extended that idea into everyday environments, asking people to look beyond the spaces they clean routinely and notice the corners and shared areas that may receive far less attention.

The wider campaign brought together creators across France, Germany, Italy and Spain, with each collaboration interpreting “Find the Unseen” through a local perspective.

In France, @Antoiz turned the campaign into a real-world challenge by offering €50 to anyone who could help him find the dirtiest place possible. After speaking with people about spaces that might fit the challenge, the search led to an entrance hall where dirt had built up away from everyday attention.

Rather than simply talking about overlooked spaces, the content went out to find one. @Antoiz then put the Eureka FloorShine 880 Wet and Dry Vacuum to work on the area, turning the discovery into a hands-on cleaning challenge and showing the result after cleaning. The format gave “Find the Unseen” a literal and relatable meaning, connecting curiosity, discovery and practical cleaning in one story.

Looking ahead, Eureka plans to continue working with creators across Europe to discover more of these “unseen” spaces. Through future collaborations, the brand aims to encourage people to pay greater attention to both their homes and the shared spaces they use every day, making cleaner environments a more natural part of everyday life.

Eureka also introduced the “Find the Unseen” social media challenge, inviting consumers to clean overlooked areas in their homes with Eureka products, share videos online and participate for a chance to receive cashback.

As part of the campaign, Eureka is offering 6% off any Eureka product from now through September 30 with the promotional code eureka920 on its French website.

Learn more:
https://fr.eureka.com/pages/worldcleanday2026/

Hashtag: #Eureka #WorldCleanupDay

About Eureka

Founded in Detroit, USA, in 1909, Eureka is a century-old vacuum cleaner brand dedicated to making cleaning easier. The brand focuses on innovation, practical design and ease of use, developing cleaning solutions for everyday homes.

Source: Whole Earth Farming

18 September 2026

At full maturity, regenerative “whole earth farming” practices could also offset CO2 emissions equal to the entire airline industry’s

NEW YORK – Hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers could play an outsized role in feeding humanity’s growing population while restoring nature, but a new book underlines that they are the least supported producers in global agriculture.

Whole Earth Farming: Smallholders and the Great Regenerative Transformation says there are roughly 475 million smallholder farms in the Global South, typically operating on less than two hectares (five acres). Together, these farmers already produce about 30% of the world’s food, despite severely limited access to finance, markets, technical and practical education support.

In his book, development expert Hugh Locke says helping just half of the smallholders farmers worldwide – about 240 million farming families – to adopt regenerative agriculture and agroforestry could yield all the additional food required by population growth through 2050 while improving rather than degrading nature.

And those farms would occupy only about 12% of the world’s arable land.

“The world’s smallholder farmers are too often treated as beneficiaries of development assistance when they should be recognized as architects of the next agricultural transformation,” says Locke, co-founder of the Smallholder Farmers Alliance in Haiti.

The world population is expected to increase by roughly 1.5 billion by 2050, he notes, with that growth concentrated in developing countries. Locke’s central proposition is that meeting that additional food does not have to come at the cost of further soil degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.

Instead, he argues, the same investment needed to increase smallholder productivity could help turn agriculture into a regenerative force.

Haiti: a working laboratory

Many of the insights in Whole Earth Farming are based on Locke’s experience with the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA), which he co-founded with Haitian agronomist Timote Georges in 2010.

The organization now works with roughly 10,000 member farmers in Haiti.

When participating smallholders receive basic agricultural support based on sustainable practices, their yields increase by an average of about 40%, he notes, while household incomes rise between 50 – 100%, depending on local conditions.

SFA members also plant an average of approximately 1 million trees a year.

With SFA’s leadership and help, Haiti’s farmers began transitioning production to a regenerative approach that combines agroforestry with what the SFA calls “tree currency”: farmers plant and care for trees in exchange for agricultural services, training, seeds and other inputs. The model connects increased farm productivity directly with environmental restoration.

The Haiti experience helped shape one of the book’s central conclusions: hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers are producing below their potential because agricultural policies, research, financing and extension systems have disproportionately supported large-scale agriculture for decades.

“This is not about nostalgia or returning agriculture to the past,” Locke says. “It is about recognizing where one of the greatest opportunities for the future now exists.”

Farming that restores instead of extracting from nature

Rather than simply reduce the damage farming causes, regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach to farming that aims to improve the natural systems on which agriculture depends.

It draws on three streams of knowledge: Indigenous and ancestral farming traditions; decades of experience with organic farming, agroecology, permaculture and other sustainable approaches; and contemporary science, including advances in soil biology, ecosystem science and impact measurement.

Depending on local conditions, regenerative farmers can employ techniques including crop rotation, cover crops, intercropping and diverse cropping systems, composting and other methods of building soil organic matter, reduced tillage, agroforestry and integration of livestock.

The objective is not adherence to a universal checklist. It is measurable improvement in outcomes such as soil health, biodiversity, water quality and availability, carbon storage, food production, farmer livelihoods and community resilience.

Locke describes this as regenerative agriculture’s “dual revolution”: a farming methodology and a framework for determining whether farming is actually producing regenerative results.

This distinction is important because practices appropriate to a smallholder in Haiti, India or Kenya may be very different from those suitable for a farm in Canada or the United States.

“The question is not simply, ‘Are you using regenerative practices?’” says Locke. “The more important question is, ‘Is the land, the ecosystem and the farming community measurably better as a result?’”

The approach represents a shift, he says, from shifting agricultural practices to “do less harm” to practices designed to produce net positive outcomes.

Climate dividend

The book also examines how such a transformation could affect climate change.

Healthy soils and growing plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon in soil and biomass. Regenerative systems can also reduce emissions associated with the manufacture and transportation of synthetic fertilizers.

Drawing on peer-reviewed research, Locke says approximately 240 million smallholder farms making the transition to regenerative agriculture across an estimated 480 million hectares could eventually remove every year up to 0.72 gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually during the period in which soil carbon is actively accumulating.

Furthermore, reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizer could provide an additional climate benefit of roughly 0.1 gigaton of CO2 equivalent annually, bringing the estimated combined benefit to approximately 0.6 to 0.85 gigatons per year at mature adoption.

That is roughly comparable in scale to the annual CO2 emissions of global aviation.

Locke stresses that soils cannot absorb carbon indefinitely. Soil carbon generally accumulates over one to three decades before approaching a new equilibrium, and outcomes vary substantially with soils, climate, farming practices and farmers’ starting conditions.

“Regenerative agriculture is not a license to keep emitting carbon elsewhere,” says Locke. “Its climate potential is important precisely because it comes alongside other benefits we urgently need anyway: healthier soil, greater biodiversity, more resilient farms, increased food production and stronger rural communities.”

Measuring what “regenerative” actually means

The book arrives as regenerative agriculture is moving rapidly into the mainstream but still lacks a universally agreed definition.

Locke argues that this makes credible measurement especially important.

Rather than allowing a farm or company to be considered regenerative because it has adopted one favoured technique, Whole Earth Farming advocates assessing a broad range of environmental and social outcomes.

The book highlights the emerging “Regen10 Outcomes Framework,” developed through more than two years of global consultation, as an important step toward establishing a common reference for assessing regenerative agriculture while allowing farmers to choose methods appropriate to local circumstances.

The framework encompasses ecological health, farmer livelihoods, food quality, community resilience and other outcomes.

The distinction also guards against reducing regenerative agriculture to carbon alone.

A farming system that sequesters carbon while degrading biodiversity, water resources or farmer livelihoods, Locke argues, cannot meaningfully be called regenerative.

A great regenerative transformation

Locke calls the opportunity a “Great Regenerative Transformation,” comparable in ambition to the Green Revolution that dramatically increased agricultural production during the second half of the 20th century.

But there is a fundamental difference. Where the Green Revolution relied heavily on improved crop varieties, irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and increasing standardization, Locke envisions a transformation that combines traditional agricultural knowledge with ecological science, locally adapted practices and modern systems for measuring outcomes.

The goal is not simply more food per hectare. Success would instead be measured by what agriculture produces and what it leaves behind: healthier soils, restored ecosystems, greater biodiversity, improved water systems, climate resilience and viable farming communities.

Locke argues that smallholders are particularly well positioned to lead such a transformation because many retain traditional agricultural knowledge, operate diversified farms and have not adopted industrial farming systems as extensively as producers in wealthier countries.

The challenge is giving them access to the training, finance, research, markets, data and extension services needed to make that potential real.

Alongside its practical exploration of smallholder farming and regenerative agriculture, Whole Earth Farming makes a less expected case: that the Bahá’í Faith offers principles relevant to agriculture’s future; its teachings connect farming with humanity’s spiritual, social and economic development.

Locke focuses particularly on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who from 1901 to 1921 directed the farming community of ‘Adasíyyih in the Jordan Valley. He argues that practices used there anticipated many now associated with regenerative agriculture, including crop rotation, agroforestry, integrated livestock and soil-building, while applying broader principles of equality, consultation and justice.

Locke extends these ideas globally, arguing that the faith’s principle that “the earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens” provides a framework for treating farmers, governments, companies and international institutions as parts of an interdependent agricultural system. He stresses that the principles require no religious belief, describing them as “open-source foundational truths” that could help regenerative agriculture scale across cultures, continents and generations without fragmenting into competing definitions.

“Not a measure of the problem, but a measure of the possibility”

The book carries a foreword by Roy Steiner, Senior Vice President, Food Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation, who describes the world’s 475 million smallholder farming households as “not a measure of the problem, but as a measure of the possibility.”

Steiner writes that regenerative transformation cannot be reduced to carbon or measured by crop yield alone, and that it cannot succeed without farmers themselves being active agents of change.

The book has also drawn endorsements from leaders spanning agriculture, humanitarian action, conservation, development and public policy.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton says Locke shares lessons from his work with smallholders “with both rigorous evidence and genuine humanity.”

Chef and humanitarian José Andrés writes that farmers have the power not only to produce food but to strengthen local economies and nourish the future, concluding: “Read this book. Then do something.”

Other contributions and endorsements have been provided by

• Elizabeth Dowdeswell, former UN Environment Programme Executive Director and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario;
• Danielle Nierenberg, Food Tank President;
• Rainn Wilson, actor and environmental advocate, who wrote the introduction;
• Paula Caldwell St-Onge, former Canadian Ambassador to Haiti;
• Tara Shyam, Executive Director of Regen10; and
• Leaders from organizations working in agriculture, food security, reforestation and international development.

The book includes 21 stories from 18 countries illustrating regenerative agriculture through the experiences of farmers and farming communities rather than presenting it solely as an abstract global model.

Its examples range from Colombia and Thailand to Canada, the Netherlands and farming communities across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Launched during Climate Week NYC, Whole Earth Farming offers a deceptively simple proposition: The world need not choose between feeding more people and restoring the planet. It’s possible to do both if hundreds of millions of farmers who have long operated at the margins of agricultural policy are finally given the means.

By the numbers

• 570 million – Approximate number of farms worldwide.
• 475 million – Smallholder farms in the Global South with less than two hectares (five acres).
• ~2 billion – People living and working on those smallholder farms, approximately one-quarter of humanity.
• 30% – Approximate share of the world’s food already produced by smallholders.
• 1.5 billion – Approximate increase in world population expected by 2050, concentrated in developing countries.
• 240 million – Smallholder farming families the book proposes supporting in a global regenerative transition.
• 12% – Approximate share of global arable land those farms would cultivate.
• 0.48–0.72 gigatons CO2/year – Estimated potential annual soil carbon removal at mature adoption during the active accumulation period.
• 0.6–0.85 gigatons CO2e/year – Estimated combined mature annual climate benefit when avoided emissions associated with reduced synthetic fertilizer use are included.
• 10,000 – Approximate number of Smallholder Farmers Alliance members in Haiti.
• 1 million – Approximate number of trees planted annually by SFA members.
• 21 stories / 18 countries – Farmer and regenerative agriculture stories featured in Whole Earth Farming .

About the author

Hugh Locke has spent his career working at the intersection of environmental conservation, international development, humanitarian service and interfaith collaboration. Since co-founding the Smallholder Farmers Alliance in Haiti in 2010, he has focused much of his work on smallholder agriculture and regenerative farming. He is President of the Impact Farming Foundation and serves on the board of the global reforestation nonprofit One Tree Planted.

Whole Earth Farming: Smallholders and the Great Regenerative Transformation

September 2026

George Ronald Publisher

ISBN 978-0-85398-688-1

Official release

Following strong turnouts in Malaysia and Taiwan, tantan brings its fitness-led community experiences to Bangkok and Taichung in the coming months

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 September 2026 – tantan, one of APAC’s largest dating platforms, is taking its fitness, fun and dating offline across the region with its community fitness initiative, bringing singles together through running, workouts and lifestyle experiences designed to spark genuine connections beyond the screen.

Since launching its fitness and lifestyle event series in Q3 2025, tantan has seen consistent demand for offline experiences. Across recent events, including its Singapore Halloween activation and the fitness gatherings that followed, approximately 80 per cent of available spots were filled within the first two days of registration, with the latest events reaching capacity within a day. Turnout has also remained high, with close to 90 per cent of registered participants attending.

The events have drawn a broad mix of participants, with recent registrations comprising approximately 60 per cent men and 40 per cent women. Female participation continues to climb, with female app sign-ups rising by around five per cent in the seven days following each offline event.

“We have always believed that meaningful connections can start online, but what we are seeing now is that offline can be a powerful driver of community growth. Our events are not only attracting strong participation, they are bringing new people into the tantan community, with female app sign-ups rising after each event. For us, the numbers show that giving people a reason to meet in real life can create momentum that lasts beyond the event itself. Offline is becoming an important part of how we build our communities, not simply an extension of what happens on the app,” said Willynn Ng, Regional Head of International Markets at tantan.

The growing appetite for interest-led social experiences also reflects a wider shift in how people are looking to meet. According to Eventbrite data, experiences using “meet-cute” language grew by 117 per cent in the first half of 2026, while hobby-based events centred around meeting people, going solo and finding a community are gaining momentum across wellness, nature, crafting and other lifestyle categories.

For tantan, the appeal of offline fitness lies in giving people a natural reason to connect. Rather than meeting with the sole intention of dating, participants bond over a shared activity, challenge or interest, making interactions feel more organic and less transactional.

Bringing the Initiative to More Communities across APAC

tantan is adapting the format to local communities and interests as it rolls out across the region.

In Malaysia, tantan hosted Run & Mingle on 6 September in collaboration with RSS Run Club, a Malaysian community-driven running and fitness group, bringing together 43 participants. Women made up 80 per cent of attendees, while around 80 per cent of participants were single. The strong female turnout is particularly notable given that female participation has traditionally been harder to drive at offline dating events, highlighting the growing appeal of fitness-led social experiences as a more approachable way to meet.

In Thailand, tantan will be the Official Dating App Partner of the BREW Vertical Fun Run on 20 September at ICONSIAM in Bangkok, held as part of the Iconic Coffee Festival. Organised with ICONSIAM and Brew Run Club, the event transforms the destination into a vertical running experience across seven levels, with each floor offering a different coffee, pastry, brand or social moment. Around 300 participants are expected to take part, with games and challenges planned at the end of the run to create natural opportunities to interact.

In Taiwan, tantan is taking its fitness community beyond Taipeiwith Taichung’s first ever “Bar Run” from 23 to 24 October. Organised in collaboration with a local pub 龍蛇酒雜 (LONG SER 9 ZA), the event is expected to attract approximately 3,000 to 3,500 participants, combining fitness, socialising and nightlife in a city-wide experience. Participants can roam the neighbourhood, visit partner bars for exclusive drinks, collect stamps and play games, turning the city into a social playground to explore, connect and have fun.

Across these markets, tantan’s approach is simple: fitness creates the common ground, while connections happen naturally along the way.

With more fitness and lifestyle experiences planned across APAC, tantan aims to build a community where digital discovery and real-world experiences work together, turning shared interests into shared experiences and, ultimately, more opportunities for meaningful connections offline.

https://thetantanapp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tantanapp/

Hashtag: #tantan

tantan

Source: Southpac Group

New Zealand lawyers, accountants and compliance specialists are set to benefit from rapid growth in the Cook Islands financial services export sector, where new international trust registrations have risen almost 90 percent in two years, creating a growing shortage of skilled workers.

Industry experts say the expansion could also create opportunities for New Zealand fintech and regulatory-technology firms providing trust administration, compliance, identity verification, cybersecurity and international payment solutions.

A new Cook Islands Government report shows financial and insurance services contributed more than NZ$48 million to the economy in 2024/25, up around 27 percent from NZ$38 million in 2019/20.1

The sector now accounts for 8.54 percent of real GDP, up from 8.32 percent the previous year.

New international trust registrations rose 42 percent in the past year to a record 433, almost 90 percent above the level recorded two years earlier.

The surging sector is helping diversify the tourism-reliant nation through higher-value, low-environmental-impact services that can operate remotely during disruptions to international travel.

The growth is being driven in part by international demand for Cook Islands asset protection trusts. The jurisdiction has developed a global reputation for its asset protection legislation, which has been in place for more than four decades.

Individual providers administer billions of dollars in client assets through international trust structures, much of it for North American clients, with the Government report showing approximately 85 percent of licensed trustee company revenue comes from US clients, primarily through asset protection structures.

Tauranga-based financial services firm Southpac Group, which specialises in international asset protection and trust administration, reports approximately US$4 billion under administration across its international operations.

Southpac Group CEO Mike Arand says demand is being supported by heightened concern about litigation and professional and business risks in North America.

The number of established roles across the wider financial sector increased from 257 in 2020 to 325 in 2025, a rise of 68 roles or approximately 26 percent.

The sector currently has 299 filled positions, with dozens of roles remaining vacant across legal, accounting, trust administration, compliance and technology functions.

Arand says New Zealand is well placed to help meet the demand.

“The jurisdiction has developed a global reputation for its asset protection trust legislation and is now administering billions of dollars in assets for international clients.

“Financial services contribute more than twice as much to the Cook Islands economy as agriculture, fishing and construction combined.

“Continued growth will depend on access to highly skilled professionals. New Zealand is an obvious source of that expertise because of the close legal, economic and constitutional relationship between the two countries.”

Arand says the opportunity extends beyond supplying professional expertise.

“As the Cook Islands industry expands, it will require more sophisticated systems for trust administration, regulatory compliance, identity verification, cybersecurity, payments and international client servicing.”

Southpac Group lawyer and director of business development Matthew Smith says the rise in trust registrations reflects growing international awareness of the need to protect personal wealth before disputes arise.

“We are seeing more business owners and professionals consider asset protection as part of their broader risk-management and succession planning rather than waiting until a legal claim emerges.

“The Cook Islands has a long-established legal framework, but the industry supporting it must continue investing in specialist people, compliance systems and technology as the number and complexity of international structures grow.”

The Cook Islands is self-governing in free association with New Zealand, uses the New Zealand dollar and its people hold New Zealand citizenship.

New Zealand is also home to a substantially larger Cook Islands population than the islands themselves, providing a potential pool of professionals who could return home, work remotely or support Cook Islands firms from New Zealand.

Smith says the concentration of trustee company revenue in the United States has made North American wealth an important driver of the Cook Islands financial services economy.

He says the jurisdiction’s established legal framework and four-decade track record have helped it build credibility among US lawyers, wealth advisers, business owners and professionals.

“The United States has driven much of the sector’s recent growth and will remain its most important market.

“As demand increases, the Cook Islands will need to ensure its legal, regulatory and technology infrastructure continues to meet the expectations of increasingly sophisticated international clients.”

Arand says attracting more international financial services and technology businesses could further expand local employment.

“The next phase is not only about registering more trusts. It is about attracting technology, expertise and investment that deepen the industry’s presence in the Cook Islands.

“The opportunity now is to strengthen its links with New Zealand and ensure its workforce, training systems, regulation and technology develop at the same pace as international demand.”

Asset protection trusts are intended for lawful planning before claims or disputes arise and do not override tax, criminal, insolvency or disclosure obligations.

Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority, Annual Report 2024-2025, published online in May 2026.

https://cookislandsfinance.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2024-2025-Annual-Report-_online2.pdf

• Jarinyagon Chantawannakul and Wai Yan Phyo Oo from the Chinese University of Hong Kong has been named the Hong Kong winner of the James Dyson Award 2026 for DUALVein, a portable Intravenous insertion learning system. By leveraging AI, the HK$3,000 device drastically undercuts expensive market alternatives to solve a global healthcare crisis, tackling the 40% failure rate of first-time IV injections [1].
• This year’s runners-up include Stairio, a stairwell inspection robot, and Musec, a wearable music interaction device.
• All three inventions will progress to the international stage of the James Dyson Award, for a chance to win £30,000

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 – Intravenous (IV) insertion is one of the most commonly performed clinical procedures, yet its global failure rates remain alarmingly high. Nearly 40% of first IV attempts fail, causing unnecessary bruising, pain, and repeated needle sticks for millions of patients globally. Today, Jarinyagon Chantawannakul and Wai Yan Phyo Oo from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have been crowned the national winners of the James Dyson Award 2026 for a solution that aims to end this trial-and-error approach: DUALVein, a low-cost, AI-guided near-infrared (NIR) vein-imaging device that helps nursing and medical students accurately find veins across all skin tones, even without expert supervision.

Recognising the urgent need for accessible medical innovation, the James Dyson Award—which forms part of a wider commitment by Sir James Dyson to demonstrate the power of engineers to solve the world’s problems—champions accessible solutions like DUALVein.

The Invention

DUALVein
Newly-trained nurses operating without guidance achieve only a 56.28% accuracy rate in IV insertions[1]. Existing vein finders on the market have largely failed to bridge this training gap; they either offer a limited field of view with no direct guidance, or they rely on expensive optics that cost upwards of HK$15,000.

To address this, the CUHK team designed DUALVein to project patients’ veins directly onto the skin in real time using AI segmentation and an 850nm NIR LED array. The device illuminates the hand using two combined methods: transillumination (light passing through tissue) and reflectance (light bouncing off it). Because each mode is independently adjustable, DUALVein is uniquely equipped to work reliably across diverse anatomies and light, medium, and dark skin tones.

Crucially, by utilizing AI instead of expensive optical hardware, DUALVein costs roughly HK$3,000—a fraction of the cost of current market alternatives. Furthermore, it is the only option that pairs its hardware with a built-in software platform, acting as a comprehensive self-learning tool to guide students from beginner theory straight through to physical IV practice.

The inspiration for the project struck after a medical professional revealed to Jarinyagon that standard vein finders are simply too expensive for many hospitals to adopt, leaving staff to rely purely on skill built through repeated practice. In under-resourced clinics lacking enough senior nurses to supervise trainees, students receive little hands-on guidance, leading to painful trial-and-error learning directly on real patients.

This sparked a rigorous two-year iterative design process to create a viable, affordable alternative. The team built four main functional prototypes, crafting non-functional testing models before finalizing each major version. These iterations underwent extensive real-world evaluation: early models were tested on 15 volunteers to validate the near-infrared principles, while later versions were evaluated by around 60 medical and nursing students from Thailand and Hong Kong.

Jarinyagon said: “Winning the James Dyson Award is a powerful validation that this is a problem worth solving. This recognition gives us the crucial momentum to push DUALVein out of the lab and into the hands of the frontline nurses and under-resourced hospitals who need it most.”

Brian Hu, Judge for the 2026 James Dyson Award and Head of Electronics at Dyson said, “DUALVein stands out because it is a brilliant idea to leverage near-infrared technology and AI to solve a genuine, real-life clinical issue. By building multiple prototypes and continuously refining their device based on user feedback, they perfectly showcase Dyson’s core engineering mindset of problem-solving through relentless design, testing, and iteration. This accessible solution has the potential to make a positive impact on the healthcare industry by improving training standards and reducing patient discomfort.”

DUALVein takes home £5,000 (approx. HK$53,000) from the James Dyson Award national prize to support these next steps in commercialisation, which include shifting from 3D-printed PLA to injection-molded housing to further reduce costs for mass scaling.

The Runners-Up

Stairio
The first runner-up, Stairio, modernizes costly and tiring high-rise stairwell patrols. Instead of relying on manual checks that lack visual evidence of hazards, Stairio introduces a compact robot that clips to and travels along existing handrails. Equipped with cameras and AI-assisted cloud software, it automatically flags cleanliness issues, physical obstructions, and maintenance defects, making building operations significantly safer and more accountable.

Musec
The second runner-up, Musec, reimagines the modern music listening experience. To transform passive listening into a deeply interactive and immersive journey, the team developed an innovative wearable sleeve. By seamlessly blending gesture recognition, touch controls, and haptic feedback, Musec empowers users to interact with music through physical movement. Users can trigger sounds and feel real-time vibrations, effectively turning their own bodies into part of the musical performance. This breakthrough design offers music lovers and dancers a profoundly active and physical way to experience sound.

All three inventions will progress to the next stage of the James Dyson Award, with the international Top 20 shortlist to be announced in October, selected by a global team of Dyson engineers, and the global winners in November, chosen by Sir James Dyson.

James Dyson Award
The James Dyson Award is an international design competition which inspires and celebrates the next generation of design engineers. Now in its 21^st year, the Award has supported more than 400 problem-solving inventions with over £1.5m in prize money. It operates across 28 countries and regions and is run by the James Dyson Foundation, Sir James Dyson’s engineering-education charity.

James Dyson Foundation
The James Dyson Foundation, established in the UK in 2002, now supports design, technology and engineering education programmes not only in the UK but also in countries around the world, including the United States, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia. To date, James Dyson and the James Dyson Foundation have donated more than £155 million to charitable causes. This includes a £12 million donation to establish the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London, an £8 million donation to support the creation of the Dyson Centre for Engineering Design and the James Dyson Building at the University of Cambridge and finally, a £7.8 million donation to fund Malmesbury Primary School’s STEAM Centre and expansion project.

James Dyson Award

Claypond Capital, Martin Chavez, Olivier Pomel, Venky Harinarayan, and Shah Rukh Khan joined the round, with existing investors RTP Global and Dovetail doubling down.

Flam has signed more than 100 enterprise customers in six quarters, including Google, Grab, and KFC. They use Flam’s suite of products for marketing, product visualization, learning and development, entertainment, fan engagement, customer support, and sales. Flam has partnered with Elang Mahkota Teknologi Emtek in Indonesia to bring its technology to brands across Southeast Asia.

“Flam is built on a simple observation. Content has moved in waves, from text to images to video, and every wave flowed one way, creator to viewer. We think interactive is the next default for the internet,” said Shourya Agarwal, Founder of Flam. “The demand was always there. The technology wasn’t. We have made interactivity effortless to build and deploy at enterprise scale.”

Flam holds more than 15 patents and ships three formats.

Flicks are interactive videos that switch person, product, or scene mid-playback, using a patented compression algorithm, delivered programmatically at 50ms time-to-first-buffer. Forge, Flam’s editing model, takes image references and changes only the specified element.

Airboards are high-fidelity 3D content on a camera interface, with touch, voice interactions, and haptic feedback. Flam’s 3D streaming loads them in 300ms, with no app to install. Fable, an image-to-video model, generates the assets as native alpha channel videos.

Visual Agents are human-like characters that hold conversations and take agentic actions. A video call rather than a chat window. Fantom handles facial expression through identity preservation and motion transfer, Finesse handles voice in any language, and Falcon, a 26B-parameter MoE LLM, delivers responses at 30ms time-to-first-token. The pipeline returns an answer in under two seconds.

Nigel Morris, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at QED Investors, said: “Almost every frontier AI content company we see is optimizing what already exists. Flam pointed at something else: how much of the content ecosystem is still untouched. That gap is bigger than most people think, and Flam is the first team we’ve seen with the infrastructure to go after it.”

“The traction was too exceptional to ignore,” said Sandeep Patil, Partner at QED Investors. “Every major shift in internet content has created new platforms and new winners. What tells us Flam will be one is not just the growth rate but also the pace of their AI research and the partners choosing to build on it.”

The capital goes to R&D on Flam’s AI models, expanding the product suite, and scaling enterprise sales globally.

https://flamapp.ai/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/flamappofficial/

Hashtag: #Flam

This latest season takes viewers beyond the city‘s famous landmarks and into the countryside, where international travelers get their hands in the soil, learn traditional crafts and share everyday meals with local residents. Through these experiences, they discover a different side of rural China and the people who are helping shape its future.

Mountain pulse: A year-round outdoor playground

The mountains of Chongli in Zhangjiakou are more than the backdrop for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Once best known for their snow-covered slopes, they are increasingly becoming a year-round destination for outdoor activities.

“Winter is for skiing, but summer opens up a whole new world,” said a local outdoor guide.

Since the Winter Olympics, residents have been steadily unlocking the hills’ year-round potential: from mountain biking and trail running to hiking and camping. The mountains no longer fall dormant when the snow melts.

Julian and Juan pedal along forest trails, surrounded by mountain air and the scent of damp earth. At the Chongli 168 Ultra-Trail Race, they stand at the starting line as thousands of runners surge forward – a river of energy that sweeps up everyone watching.

For Juan, the scene strikes a familiar chord. “Mountains don’t have borders,” he said. “The urge to run and challenge yourself in the wild is something we share, whether in Latin America or here.”

Field-rooted well-being: Yoga that grew from the soil

Surrounded by farmland and an open sky, Yugouliang Village sits on a high plateau in northern Zhangjiakou. The village has gained attention for a distinctive form of outdoor yoga practiced among its fields. Unlike the wellness trends often associated with urban gyms and resorts, yoga here has grown naturally out of village life.

“Our yoga comes from farm work,” one villager explained. “It is part of how we live.” Between planting and harvesting, they stretch and breathe, finding stillness in the middle of open fields.

Julian and Juan first experienced another part of village life by making youmian, a local staple made from oats. They kneaded the dough and shaped it by hand, then headed into the fields, where they spread their mats on the earth and practiced yoga alongside local residents.

“This feels familiar,” Juan reflected. “No matter where we are, people want the same things – health, peace, security and a life that feels full.”

Yugouliang offers a different picture of rural China: not a place frozen in the past, but a community that has found its own rhythm and a new sense of well-being amid the fields.

Living heritage remains part of daily life

Located in the southern part of Zhangjiakou, Yuxian is known for its historic settlements, traditional architecture and folk arts. Its ancient buildings have also reached new audiences through popular culture. Some of its architecture has inspired locations in Black Myth: Wukong, the hit Chinese action role-playing game.

Yuxian paper-cutting is one of its best-known folk traditions. “Paper-cutting came from everyday people,” said a master of the craft. “It used to decorate farmhouse windows. Now it reaches the wider world.”

With that spirit in mind, Julian and Juan tried their hand at paper-cutting, fumbling with scissors to produce something far from perfect – but they feel, briefly, what it means to make art out of ordinary life. Here, heritage isn’t sealed behind glass. It’s passed from hand to hand, cut into paper and woven into the fabric of daily existence.

Where clean energy meets modern farming

If Yuxian’s ancient villages preserve the memories of the past, Desheng Village shows how rural communities are looking toward the future. Located in the highland farming region of northern Zhangjiakou, Desheng has embraced modern agriculture and solar power as part of its rural development.

Rows of solar panels stretch across the land, capturing sunlight that once only fed crops. Beneath them, modern greenhouses hum with temperature-controlled precision. It’s agriculture reimagined – and the benefits are tangible.

“We used to depend heavily on the weather,” one villager said “Now technology and sunlight give us new hope.”

Julian and Juan stepped into the greenhouses, picking ripe tomatoes and crisp cucumbers, tasting the sweetness of a harvest that no longer depends on luck. They saw how clean energy revenue flows back into the community – funding schools, roads and public spaces.

As night fell, they joined a bonfire gathering in the village square. Music, laughter and conversation filled the evening air. Around the fire, the visitors saw another side of rural development: a village changing with the times while maintaining the close-knit community spirit that has long defined local life.

More than a journey: Stories shaped by the land

For a new generation of travelers, immersive experiences are offering a more complete picture of rural China. In Zhangjiakou, the countryside is not defined by a single landscape or a single way of life. Chongli’s mountains pulse with year-round energy; Yugouliang’s fields offer a slower rhythm of life; Yuxian’s ancient villages keep traditional architecture and folk crafts alive; and Desheng shows how clean energy and modern agriculture can create new opportunities for rural communities.

Here, tradition and innovation coexist in the same villages, where ancient skills can find new audiences and modern technology can take root in centuries-old communities.

Every village has its own story. From mountain trails and open farmland to historic villages and modern greenhouses, Zhangjiakou reveals a northern Chinese countryside that is more diverse, dynamic and full of possibility than any single image can capture.

Visitors may come for the scenery. But by stepping into village life, they leave with something more lasting: a closer understanding of the people who live on this land, the traditions they carry forward and the future they are building together.

Hashtag: #CGTN

The World’s Best Companies 2026 ranking is jointly conducted by TIME, a globally recognized magazine, and Statista, a leading global data and market research company.

Companies are evaluated across three comprehensive dimensions: revenue growth, employee satisfaction, and sustainability transparency, supported by in-depth analysis of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors.

As the first and only Vietnamese company to be included in the ranking for two consecutive years, Vingroup achieved positive results across all three dimensions, receiving an overall score of 81 and ranking 340th among the Top 1,000 companies worldwide, up 477 places from its 817th ranking last year.

In terms of Revenue Growth, Vingroup received an “Outstanding” rating. In the first half of 2026, the Group recorded consolidated net revenue of VND 222.9 trillion, up 72% year on year from the same period in 2025, driven by strong growth in industrial manufacturing and real estate businesses. Consolidated profit after tax reached VND 20.904 trillion, 4.6 times higher than the same period last year and equivalent to 60% of the full-year target.

In terms of Employee Satisfaction, Vingroup ranked 398th globally, up 496 places from 2025. The Group has developed a dynamic working environment that encourages dedication, innovation and employee engagement, while placing a strong focus on individual development.

Over more than three decades of development, Vingroup has continuously expanded into new areas, established new growth drivers and progressively expanded its ecosystem into international markets. Today, companies across the Vingroup ecosystem operate in 12 countries, creating employment for approximately 400,000 people worldwide.

In terms of Sustainability Transparency, Vingroup continues to make important contributions through green transition initiatives, infrastructure development and the development of sustainable urban and living ecosystems. Alongside economic growth, the Group focuses on creating long-term value for society.

VinFast, the all-electric vehicle brand within the Vingroup ecosystem, has become the leading automotive brand by sales volume in Vietnam, while setting a target of delivering 300,000 cars and 1 million electric motorcycles globally in 2026. Meanwhile, Vinhomes has pioneered the development of the ESG++ urban model, adding Regeneration and Resilience to the three core ESG pillars of E – Environment, S – Social and G – Governance, thereby raising the standard for sustainable development across large-scale urban developments spanning thousands of hectares.

In particular, in 2025, Vingroup officially expanded into two new strategic areas: Infrastructure and Green Energy. Through VinSpeed, with the Ben Thanh – Can Gio (Ho Chi Minh City) and Hanoi – Quang Ninh high-speed railway projects now under construction, as well as energy projects developed by VinEnergo across multiple localities, Vingroup is progressively contributing to stronger regional connectivity, the expansion of economic space and the acceleration of the green transition.

Previously, Vingroup became the first and only Vietnamese company to qualify for and be included in the World’s Best Companies 2025 ranking. Brands across the Vingroup ecosystem have also received recognition from numerous international organizations. VinFast was previously recognized by TIME in two prestigious rankings: the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2024 and Asia-Pacific’s Best Companies of 2025. In the latter ranking, VinFast was recognized among the companies shaping the region’s position on the global economic map.

TIME is a leading global magazine headquartered in New York, the United States, with a history spanning 101 years. With a global presence and in-depth, independent analysis of political, economic, cultural and scientific developments, TIME has established a strong voice and influence capable of shaping public discourse. Its rankings are widely recognized for their value and credibility worldwide.

Hashtag: #Vingroup

Marking its 30th anniversary this year, iHerb offers a broad selection of health, beauty and everyday essentials to customers around the world.

For consumers ready to turn their Health Reset intentions into action, now is an ideal time to explore iHerb’s selection of more than 50,000 products and discover the items that best suit their individual routines. As part of its 30th Anniversary Spotlight promotion, more than 600 participating brands are offering savings of up to 30% with promo code “IH30YRS” until 17 September at 1:00 a.m Singapore time. New customers worldwide can also enjoy 25% off with code “NEW25”. In addition, up to 200 limited-time product deals will be added daily through 16 September, with selected items available at 40% off or more—giving shoppers even more opportunities to find new favourites for their personal reset.

Reset everyday habits and build a more consistent wellness routine

A refreshed routine can begin with simple, consistent nutritional habits. Alongside a balanced diet, supplements can help individuals meet their nutritional needs. Doctor’s Best Vitamin C, 500 mg provides 500 mg of vitamin C per serving in a vegetarian capsule, making it easy to incorporate into a daily supplement routine for consumers who want to support their everyday nutrition.

Another popular option is California Gold Nutrition Antarctic Krill Oil, which combines omega-3 phospholipids with naturally occurring astaxanthin. It comes in fish-gelatine softgels with natural strawberry and lemon flavour. From vitamin C to omega-3 supplementation, small and consistent daily habits can provide a practical foundation for a September wellness reset.

Refresh the family routine, from children’s nutrition to personal care

A Health Reset does not need to involve dramatic lifestyle changes. For families, it can start with small habits that are easy to maintain. Nature’s Way Alive! Kids Premium Gummy Multivitamin offers a convenient everyday supplement option for children aged two and above.* Available in cherry, grape and orange flavours, these gummies provide a range of vitamins and minerals and are easy to incorporate into a family’s daily routine. Children aged 2–3 years should chew two gummies daily, while children aged 4 years and above should chew three, preferably with food. (*Not suitable for children under 2 years of age due to the risk of choking.)

For those looking to refresh their hair-care routine, Force Factor Hair Growth Accelerator comes in mixed berry-flavoured soft chews designed for convenient daily use. It is formulated to support fuller-looking hair and can be incorporated into a consistent hair-care routine. Together, these options give families simple ways to identify the everyday habits that work best for them.

Reset the home, from laundry care to the bathroom

A reset can extend beyond personal routines to the home. Nellie’s Wow Stick Stain Remover offers a solid stain-treatment option for everyday marks on clothing and fabrics, while Seventh Generation Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner is formulated for hard, non-porous surfaces and features a lemongrass citrus scent. Together, the two products offer practical options for refreshing everyday household routines.

iHerb expands its 30th anniversary offers with daily limited-time deals

To celebrate iHerb’s 30th anniversary, the Spotlight promotion will run from 3 September at 1:00 a.m. to 17 September at 1:00 a.m. Singapore time. More than 600 participating brands will be featured, and shoppers can enjoy savings of up to 30% with promo code ‘IH30YRS’. New customers worldwide can also receive 25% off with promo code ‘NEW25’, making it easier to discover health and everyday essentials on iHerb for the first time.

Alongside the Spotlight promotion, iHerb will have up to 200 limited-time product deals each day through 16 September, with selected items available at 40% off or more across supplements, beauty, personal care and household categories. Products, discounts and promotion terms may change; the latest information on the official iHerb website will apply. Consumers in Singapore can also follow the official iHerb WhatsApp account for the latest updates and get access to an exclusive 25% off promo code.

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 United States and Asia, alongside the following delivery and shipping options:

• Fast delivery: Orders can arrive in as fast as three days.
• Free shipping: Available on orders over SGD 60. Final availability is subject to the options shown at checkout.
• Authentic products: Choose from more than 50,000 authentic products across health, wellness, beauty and daily essentials.

The featured products and anniversary preview offers are available through iHerb Singapore at https://sg.iherb.com/.

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Hashtag: #iHerb

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