HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 August 2025 – EPIC 2025Presented by Cathay and HSBC has successfully concluded its transcontinental pitching sessions, narrowing down 1,200 applications to the top 100 startups. These finalists, rigorously evaluated by a panel of industry-savvy judges with deep market expertise, will advance to the grand finals this November. The semi-finalists will be heading to Hong Kong for a chance to grasp the unprecedented USD 105M of targeted investment funding and USD 240,000 cash prizes.
Top 100 Semi-Finalists Set Sail for EPIC 2025 Grand Finale in Hong Kong
Organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), EPIC 2025 is HKSTP’s annual flagship startup event and an upscaled iteration of the I&T mega event in Asia. In July, four regional pitching sessions were held in both on- and offline arenas across July, for startups from around the world, to present the latest solutions in Digital Health Tech, FinTech, and GreenTech tracks with entrepreneurism on display. The top 100 semi-finalists have been selected — 85% of which are non-local startups, making this the most globally diverse edition of EPIC yet.
The 9th edition has not only drawn participation from startups but also garnered strong support from heavyweight corporate partners, including: Co-Title Sponsors Cathay – Hong Kong’s world-leading airline and premium lifestyle brand, and HSBC – the global bank for innovators, and Digital Health Tech Sponsor Takeda – the multinational pharmaceutical company. Together with other strategic partners, they will further illustrate an extensive reach of opportunities in terms of business investment, industry collaboration, and market exposure that sees no limits.
Spanning over days in early November, semi-finalists will be sponsored (*T&C applies for complimentary flight and accommodation) and welcomed into Hong Kong for an EPIC Week that consists of a Tech Spotlight showcase, a Greater Bay Area Exploration tour, and ends with the Grand Finale taking place at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on 7 November, the iconic symbol of Hong Kong’s economy glorious past, will soon be making new history.
Please visit here for the full list of Top 100 semi-finalists entering the Grand Finale of EPIC 2025.
Hashtag: #HKSTP
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SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 August 2025 – August 26 is the 45th anniversary of the establishment of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. In Qianhai, Shenzhen, a collaboration model dubbed “Hong Kong’s Brains, Qianhai’s Muscle” by numerous entrepreneurs is continuously fueling the innovation wave in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Cutting-edge academic ideas and international frontier research are nurtured in Hong Kong’s laboratories, while Qianhai, just across the river, serves as the core engine that ignites, amplifies, and commercializes these intellectual sparks. With its robust industrial transformation capabilities, open policy environment, and mature industrial chain, Qianhai has bridged the gap between research and market application.
Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub
In 2024, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub (hereinafter referred to as the “E-hub”), Qianhai introduced the innovative “1510 Development Model”, which includes measures such as “HKD 1 for entry and incubation, a HKD 500 million fund, and 100,000 square meters of industrial space”. As of July 31, 2025, the E-hub has hosted 535 teams, incubated a total of 79 national high-tech enterprises, and held the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition for nine consecutive years. Qianhai has become a magnet for Hong Kong’s young entrepreneurial teams, whose success stories go beyond physical incubation spaces. They embody a cross-border innovation ecosystem where Hong Kong’s cutting-edge intellect merges with Qianhai’s dynamic execution power. This is underpinned by a series of pioneering policies and measures, such as China’s first fast-track grant program for cross-border patents and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao International Technology Transfer Center.
Among these success stories is INSPRO, founded by Hong Kong youth Elvis Yu. His entrepreneurial vision，which began in a Hong Kong laboratory, aims to address global protein shortages and waste disposal challenges through an industrialized insect bioconversion system that transforms organic waste into high-value protein. After establishing its base in the E-hub in 2020, the company fully leveraged Qianhai’s support in talent introduction, startup costs, and tax incentives. Today, it is running a 40,000-square-meter smart factory that processes 30 metric tons of organic waste daily, with its protein feed products exported to North American markets.
Another beneficiary of this innovation hub is i2Cool, which originated from a team at City University of Hong Kong. Amidst deepening Shenzhen-Hong Kong connectivity, the company adopted a distinctive development model of “R&D in Hong Kong and commercialization in Shenzhen” to fully leverage the strengths of both regions. Within three years, the company transformed its technology into multi-dimensional green cooling solutions covering coatings, window films, rolled materials, and textiles, with a cumulative application area exceeding 400,000 square meters.
Prevision, a company specializing in AI-powered visual inspection, was founded by a team from the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited (ASTRI). This March, attracted by Qianhai’s innovative “1510 Development Model”, the company relocated to the E-hub. By leveraging the office space and customized renovation support under the “HKD 1 for entry and incubation” mechanism, the company has managed to reduce operational costs, intensify R&D efforts, and accelerate technology application. This case vividly demonstrates the positive impact of Qianhai’s policies on sci-tech innovation development in the GBA.
Behind the success of these companies is the robust support of Qianhai’s cross-border innovation ecosystem. Specifically, a full-chain legal service system has been established to assist companies in accessing intellectual property services for rights confirmation, protection, and commercialization. A cross-border data verification platform has been created to ensure compliant data flow between Shenzhen and Hong Kong and serve as a digital bridge connecting domestic and international markets.
Qianhai Avenue
As these ecological advantages continue to deepen, Qianhai is presenting an increasingly clear and compelling blueprint to global innovators. As the “bridgehead” of Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation, Qianhai has built a cross-border data verification platform to facilitate data flow in sectors such as healthcare and finance. 26 categories of professionals from Hong Kong and Macao, including registered architects, tax consultants, and tour guides, are allowed to practice in Qianhai upon registration without taking qualification exams in the Chinese mainland. Considerable support has been offered to Hong Kong and Macao universities in establishing incubation institutions and funds to accelerate the commercialization of research results. Supported by equity trading platforms and empowerment centers, a number of professional institutions in accounting, consulting, and other fields have gathered here to help Hong Kong enterprises integrate into the mainland market. The Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong International Legal Services District has been established to ensure alignment with relevant regulations and safeguard cross-border rights and interests. All these measures have perfectly bridged regulatory differences, thereby enabling the seamless integration of “Hong Kong’s Brains” and “Qianhai’s Muscle”.
Qianhai isn’t just a land of opportunity—it’s a stage where global innovators shine. The district is forging its distinct characters of “Hong Kong flair, an international vibe, coastal charm, modernity, and futurism”. The future of cross-border innovation is gradually turning into a tangible reality through every connection, every policy, and every entrepreneurial story in Qianhai.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 August 2025 – The Shougang Park, a former industrial site transformed into an “urban showcase,” will welcome the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (2025 CIFTIS) this September. The annual theme of this year’s event is “Embrace Intelligent Technologies, Empower Trade in Services,” with over 800 companies already expressing interest in participating offline.
The Shougang Park, photographed on August 11 by Zhang Chenlin, Xinhua News Agency.
With less than a month remaining before the opening of CIFTIS, how are preparations progressing, and what new highlights can be expected from the exhibitions? Reporters conducted on-site visits for a closer look.
More Open: New Entry Policies to Facilitate International Engagement
It was learned that exhibitor recruitment for both the thematic and specialized exhibitions has been largely completed. Nearly 70 countries and international organizations have indicated their intention to participate by setting up booths or hosting events. The nine major specialized exhibitions have attracted interest from more than 800 companies to exhibit offline, including over 330 Fortune Global 500 companies and leading industry enterprises. The overall internationalization rate of the exhibition exceeds 20%, covering 24 of the top 30 countries and regions in global service trade.
Yang Huasen, Spokesperson of Beichen Group, stated that over 170 forums, conferences, and promotional events have already been scheduled. More than 70 companies, including Schneider Electric, have applied to release over 130 new products and achievements during the event.
To further facilitate international engagement, this year’s CIFTIS continues to expand on entry facilitation measures initiated last year, such as setting up immigration service counters at the venue. This year, seven new convenience measures will be implemented, including: allowing foreign participants with official invitations to apply for port visas at Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport; offering online accommodation registration services for foreign visitors; and streamlining the business travel filing process for Chinese enterprises attending events in Hong Kong and Macau.
Australia, as the guest of honor country, will have an unprecedented exhibition scale at this year’s event. Nearly 60 institutions and enterprises will form the Australian National Pavilion. Daniela Assis, the Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Australian Embassy in China, expressed: “The bilateral trade relationship between Australia and China is marked by strong complementarity, with stable cultural ties and significant achievements in cooperation across various fields. Australia is honored to be the guest of honor at the 2025 CIFTIS and looks forward to more communication and exchanges with attendees and visitors.”
Dale Pinto, the Global President and Chairman of the Board of CPA Australia, remarked, “CIFTIS provides a platform for us to enhance our brand recognition, engage with other organizations, and explore new cooperation opportunities. Participation in the fair not only raises the visibility of CPA Australia but also strengthens our relationship with Chinese partners, laying a solid foundation for future development.”
More Focused: From “Two Venues” to “One Unified Venue”
In contrast to previous CIFTIS events, which were held at both the National Convention Center and Shougang Park, this year’s event will be held entirely at Shougang Park in Shijingshan District, Beijing. Since CIFTIS moved to Shougang Park in 2021, the venue has fostered a new ecosystem for integrated consumption across culture, business, sports, tourism, and entertainment, covering the full spectrum of “eat, stay, travel, shop, and enjoy.”
Jiang Nan, Deputy General Manager of Shougang Group Co., Ltd., explained that Shougang Park will fully host CIFTIS activities this year. The core exhibition area will exceed 100,000 square meters, with green spaces and public areas also open to the public. These spaces are designed to foster human-to-human and human-to-scene interactions, enhancing the overall attendee experience. “We are upgrading Shougang Park to version 5.0 for the fair, planning a convention town, and creating a new exhibition ecosystem by integrating the ‘Two Parks and One River’.”
The CIFTIS mascot “Fu Yan,” photographed on August 11 by Zhang Chenlin, Xinhua News Agency, at the 2025 CIFTIS media briefing.
In addition to optimizing and upgrading the spatial layout, Shougang Park has also introduced a double-decker sightseeing bus and enhanced the night view framework of “Two Axes—Two Zones—Two Lakes—Multiple Centers.” Scenic viewpoints will be established to meet the quick transfer and sightseeing needs of visitors. The Shougang Park Operations Service Center has integrated data on foot traffic, vehicle flow, and other aspects of the exhibition area, enabling centralized scheduling and further improving service quality.
Hu Hao, Deputy District Governor of Shijingshan District, explained that the district has fully coordinated local resources, driving improvements with a dual approach of technology and services. Focus is being placed on key areas such as transportation, accommodation, and dining to enhance support capabilities. “There are currently 72 specialty restaurants around Shougang Park. During CIFTIS, temporary commercial facilities will be added in areas like Gaoxian Park and the Ski Jump site to meet the diverse dining needs of attendees.”
More Integrated: Multi-faceted Integration of Culture, Business, Tourism, and Sports Creates Diverse Consumption Scenarios
Beijing is also leveraging the CIFTIS platform to create diverse service consumption scenarios. Wan Weiwei, Deputy Director of the Beijing International Trade in Services Affairs Center, noted: “By emphasizing interactive experiences, CIFTIS will integrate service consumption with culture, business, and tourism, using unique venues such as blast furnaces to host engaging activities.”
Lin Zengwei, Second-Level Inspector at the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, added that over 40 supporting events will be held across Beijing, including cultural tourism and sports activities. At the heart of this is Shougang Park, which will host 11 unique activities, such as events at Big Air Shougang, to further enrich sectors like “ticket-stub economy” and “night economy.”
During CIFTIS, business negotiations, exploring the history of the Beijing West Ancient Path, and enjoying the Olympic spirit at Big Air Shougang… The “Big Air Shougang—Moshikou Camel Caravan Road—Shougang Industrial Heritage” Themed Tourism Route in Western Beijing is being planned to integrate culture, tourism, and consumption. During the event, Beijing will organize business inspection tours for exhibitors and visitors, focusing on areas such as technological empowerment, investment promotion, industrial tourism, cultural heritage, and the night economy. Around 10 business inspection routes will be designed and launched.
To strengthen the interconnection between CIFTIS and the surrounding areas, Shijingshan District will also open a special driverless transport service, connecting the exhibition area with the Yongding River waterfront. This initiative is part of a broader effort to connect the fair with surrounding cultural and ecological attractions. Projects like the Xishan Yongding River Cultural Belt Greenway in Shijingshan will be showcased before the fair opens, providing an enhanced visitor experience and easier access to cultural and natural attractions.
Hashtag: #CIFTIS
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Retail activity up in the June 2025 quarter – media release
25 August 2025
The total volume of retail sales in New Zealand increased by 0.5 percent in the June 2025 quarter compared with the March 2025 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.
Figures are adjusted for price inflation and seasonal effects.
“Retail activity recorded a modest increase in the June quarter, with growth seen in most industries,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.
“Electrical and electronic goods, supermarkets and grocery stores, and pharmaceutical retailing saw the largest increases this quarter.”
Eight of the 15 retail industries had higher retail sales volumes in the June 2025 quarter compared with the March 2025 quarter, after adjusting for price and seasonal effects.
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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 August 2025 – Never worry about leaving your pet at home again. The Arlo Essential Indoor 2K Security Camera empowers pet owners to stay connected anytime, anywhere, with crystal-clear video, a wide field of view, night vision, and noise-canceling two-way audio. Whether you’re at work or across the globe, you can see, talk to, and comfort your furry friend with ease.
Arlo Essential Indoor 2K Security Camera
Monitor your pet 24/7 through live video, use two-way audio to guide or soothe them, and ensure their safety with real-time interaction. When you’re home, the Automated Privacy Shield, easily activated via the Arlo Secure app, protects your privacy and keeps your downtime off-camera.
Elevate your experience with an Arlo Secure subscription for cloud recording, smart notifications, and AI-powered detection. These features deliver enhanced control, sharper insights, and unmatched peace of mind for pet lovers and families.
Top Tips for Keeping Pets Safe When You’re Away:
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Engage with Two-Way Audio: Comfort or redirect your pet with your voice, reinforcing commands like “stay” or “down.”
Stay Alert with AI Notifications: Get instant alerts for unusual activity, excessive barking, or prolonged silence to act quickly.
Protect Privacy: Activate the Automated Privacy Shield when you’re home to keep your pet’s (and your) downtime private.
Review Behavior Patterns: Access cloud recordings to spot trends or potential hazards in your pet’s routine.
With the Arlo Essential Indoor 2K Security Camera, you’re always close enough to keep your pet safe, reassured, and loved—no matter where life takes you.
Hashtag: #Arlo
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Patients and families visiting Whangārei Hospital are one step closer to easier access, as a procurement process begins for additional and upgraded carparks to support the hospital’s ongoing redevelopment, Acting Health Minister Matt Doocey says.
“We know carparks are an important part of hospital infrastructure, and making it easier for patients, staff, and visitors to access health services is a priority for our Government,” Mr Doocey says.
“The carparks at Whangārei Hospital are already at capacity, and the construction of the new Child Health Centre, limited street parking nearby, and growing demand is adding further pressure.”
“As we deliver the much-needed redevelopment of Whangārei Hospital, it’s essential that people can access services easily. Parking is a key part of that.”
Health New Zealand is seeking a civil contractor to build a major new carpark extension ahead of construction of the Acute Services Building.
“This will replace those carparks lost due to construction on the wider campus as well as adding to the current capacity.
“This project will not only replace the carparks lost due to construction across the campus, it will also boost overall capacity. The tender covers an on-grade carpark extension of an existing facility, providing 552 spaces along with new infrastructure and clear wayfinding at Whangārei Hospital.”
The tender is of a scale suitable to many local contractors and suppliers.
“We are committed to delivering a modern hospital for the people of Whangārei and Northland. We know carparking is a real issue for the community, and this is another step forward in ensuring people can get the care they need when they need it. I look forward to seeing further progress on the redevelopment of Whangārei Hospital,” Mr Doocey says.
Attributable to Acting Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ash Gurney:
Police investigating recent gang-related offending in Levin have continued to conduct searches overnight and throughout the day under the Gang Conflict Warrant.
Overnight a vehicle allegedly drove towards a police vehicle that was completing patrols, and then failed to stop in Levin.
The vehicle was later stopped and impounded at Levin with enquiries continuing to identify the driver at the time the vehicle was driven towards the police vehicle.
Police are also investigating an incident in the early hours of Saturday 23 August, in which shots were reportedly fired towards a house in Vincent Street.
A Gang Conflict Warrant was put in place on Thursday 21 August, following four firearms incidents in as many days.
The Gang Conflict Warrant gives Police additional powers to deal with those threats, and we will use the law to its full extent.
I want to reassure our local community that we are continuing to have a visible Police presence in Levin while we conduct our enquiries.
Investigations are ongoing in relation to recent activity and Police continue to appeal for information.
Anyone with information that can assist in our investigations is urged to contact Police.
You can provide information through our 105 services, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
1,500 deaths already reported – Number of deaths projected to rise due to extreme food shortages caused by funding cuts, which have stripped away essential services
Millions of vulnerable children at risk as the outbreak accelerates at an alarming rate
World Vision has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to raise US $500,000 to scale up response efforts
More than 40,000 children—half under five—are now affected by a deadly cholera outbreak sweeping across South Sudan, with more than 88,000 cases and 1,500 deaths already reported.
The outbreak is accelerating dangerously, placing millions more at risk – especially in overcrowded camps and flood-hit communities where clean water and healthcare are scarce.
World Vision is on the ground responding, but urgent support is needed. Malnourished children are dying from preventable causes—trapped in a deadly mix of disease, hunger, and displacement. In the hardest-hit areas, conditions are deteriorating rapidly, and the threat is rising daily.
“This is an extremely dangerous situation for children,” says TJ Grant, Acting National Director, World Vision New Zealand. “Cholera is taking children’s lives. They are weakened by hunger, vulnerable to infection, and dying without access to clean water or basic medical care, something no child should have to experience.’
The cholera outbreak, which began in late 2024, has intensified with the rainy season and now affects 55 of South Sudan’s 79 counties, with the worst-hit areas including Central Equatoria, Upper Nile, Warrap, Jonglei, and Unity states. Although the Government of South Sudan has not officially declared a national emergency, humanitarian access remains challenging in several areas of the country.
Children in overcrowded camps, informal settlements, and flood-hit areas face the greatest risk. In March, UNICEF reported that one in three deaths were children under 14. In conflict zones like Aweil, Renk, Ulang, and Nasir, poor access and weak surveillance likely mean the crisis is even worse than reported.
A communiqué issued by the Extraordinary Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Cholera warns that the situation is reaching a critical stage. “This is not merely a public health crisis, but a multi-sectoral emergency, exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services,” the statement noted.
Amid soaring needs and funding cuts, World Vision is urgently appealing for US $500,000 to launch a six-month emergency response, which will enable them to deliver clean water, healthcare, food, and protection to 500,000 people.
Grant says, “We urgently call on donors, governments, and partners to act now— before more innocent children’s lives are tragically lost. Every donation is a lifeline, protecting South Sudan’s most vulnerable and bringing hope to those who need it most.”
Federated Farmers says the Reserve Bank’s decision to review bank capital rules is the first step towards lower interest rates and fairer access to finance for farmers.
“These capital rules have a direct impact on rural livelihoods,” Federated Farmers banking spokesperson Mark Hooper says.
“The stricter the rules, the more capital banks need to hold – making lending more expensive for borrowers like farmers.
“We welcome the Reserve Bank’s decision to consult on a number of changes to its capital settings.”
Capital rules determine how much money a bank needs to set aside in case a loan goes bad.
The current setting requires banks to hold enough capital to withstand a one-in-200-year shock, which Hooper says is overly conservative.
“That setting is one of the strictest in the world and it’s costing farmers an absolute fortune.
“Farming is an incredibly capital-intensive business, with most farming families relying on bank lending to pay for things like land, animals and machinery.
“When capital rules are set at such conservative levels, the banks pass on those extra costs and, ultimately, it’s farming families and smaller businesses that take the hit.”
Federated Farmers says higher capital requirements increase the cost of borrowing across the economy but that farmers, who carry higher debt levels, are disproportionately affected.
As it stands, the current capital rules are costing farmers up to $714 million each year in unnecessary interest charges.
“Every extra fraction of a percent on interest rates means tens of thousands of dollars more in interest payments for a farmer each year,” Hooper says.
“Farming businesses are collectively paying hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary interest costs, simply because of restrictive and overly conservative capital settings.
“Each extra dollar being spent on unnecessary interest is a dollar not being spent to grow the business, improve productivity, or make environmental improvements on the farm.
“It’s also a dollar not being spent in our rural communities, as that money gets sucked directly out of the local economy.”
Federated Farmers stresses that a strong banking system is important for the stability of New Zealand’s financial system – but the balance needs to be right.
“We absolutely support the need for stable and well-capitalised banks, but the pendulum has swung too far in the wrong direction and it’s now holding back economic growth,” Hooper says.
“New Zealand’s capital requirements are now well out of step with international standards, and that’s unfairly penalising our farmers and putting a real drag on the economy.
“This review is a real opportunity to reset the rules, so they protect financial stability without unnecessarily restricting credit or inflating borrowing costs.
“Farmers need fair and affordable access to capital if they are to continue driving New Zealand’s export economy.”
Infrastructure, RMA Reform, Housing and Transport Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Sydney and Canberra this week to for a series of engagements with the infrastructure industry and Australian political leaders.
“Our Government is working hard to show the world that New Zealand is open for business. Attracting investment, particularly into our infrastructure sector, is a priority for growing our economy and creating jobs for New Zealanders, as is improving the way we deliver and maintain large infrastructure projects across the country,” Mr Bishop says.
“While in Sydney this week, I will speak at the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) International Public Works Conference (IPWC 2025) about my priorities for New Zealand’s infrastructure and our National Infrastructure Plan,” says Mr Bishop.
“IPWEA provides an opportunity for me to engage with infrastructure industry experts from Australia and beyond.
“I will also speak about our housing reforms alongside New South Wales Premier Chris Minns at the Centre for Independent Studies, and meet with NSW State Treasurer Daniel Mookhey to discuss the actions NSW is taking to reduce approval times for consenting and their approach to infrastructure planning.
“In Canberra I am looking forward to engagements with a range of federal counterparts including Leader of the House Hon Tony Burke, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Hon Catherine King, Housing Minister Hon Clare O’Neil and Environment Minister Hon Murray Watt.”
Mr Bishop leaves for Australia tomorrow and will conclude his visit on Thursday.
