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Xaysomboun Authorities Bust Illegal Gold Mining Operation

By
Thongsavanh Souvannasane
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Authorities seized heavy equipment and arrested a Chinese company president and six workers over unlicensed river mining.

On 8 June, authorities in Xaysomboun Province shut down an illegal gold mining operation, seizing heavy equipment and detaining seven people,  including a Chinese company president, in the latest enforcement action against persistent illegal mining in the province.

Officers raided a stone and sand processing plant in Nam Mo village, Anouvong district, where the Kesana Herchalern company was extracting alluvial gold along the Nam Mo river without a mineral permit, causing what officials described as serious environmental damage.

Authorities seized two excavators, two trucks, and related equipment. They arrested seven individuals, the company’s Chinese president and six Lao laborers, and transferred them to Xaysomboun Provincial authorities, where they remain in temporary custody as legal proceedings move forward.

Days earlier on 5 June, authorities in Thathom district destroyed gold panning sieves seized in previous crackdowns on unregulated mineral extraction.

The enforcement actions follow a broader tragedy linked to illegal mining in the area. 

On 20 May, flash floods trapped seven men inside a cave in Longchaeng district. Rescue teams extracted five survivors between 29 and 30 May, but two remain missing. Teams suspended rescue operations on 6 June after detecting signs of a possible collapse at the cave entrance, leaving emergency supplies inside in case the missing men were still alive.

The cluster of incidents has cast a harsh light on illegal gold mining operations still active across Xaysomboun Province and beyond.

“Sanya Is Full of Surprises!” International Tour Operators Praise Sanya’s Diverse Charm

By
Advertorial Desk
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SANYA, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – As the morning sun bathed Sanya Bay in golden light, a group of international tour operators began their exploration of the city. From June 4 to 5, delegates participating in the Overseas Tour Operators Hainan Tour 2026 visited Sanya for an in-depth familiarization tour of its luxury resort hotels, coastal cultural and tourism destinations, and duty-free shopping complexes.

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From the spectacular underwater suites at Atlantis Sanya, to the colorful street-art alleys of Tianya Town, and the rooftop infinity pool at Sanya Conifer Resort, each stop gave the visitors a fresh impression of Hainan. Many visitors paused to capture the scenery, remarking with delight: “Sanya is full of surprises!”

Exploring Luxury Resorts and Applauding World-Class Service

At 10 a.m. on June 4, the tour operators arrived at Atlantis Sanya. Upon entering the lobby, they were immediately captivated by the resort’s massive aquarium, where sharks, rays, and other marine creatures glided gracefully through the water. The group was visibly amazed.

The group toured both the ocean-view suites and the resort’s signature underwater suites. In the latter, floor-to-ceiling windows offer direct views into the aquarium, allowing guests to lie in bed and watch marine life drift by as if they were beneath the sea.

“The underwater suite concept is truly unique. Very few hotels in the world can offer an experience like this,” said tour operator Vivian He from Hong Kong. “The dreamlike setting would make an outstanding feature for honeymoon packages and would appeal strongly to younger travelers. I’ve already taken plenty of photos and videos on my phone and plan to use them for promotion when I return.”

The group then traveled to Hyatt Regency Sanya Tianli Bay in Tianya District. Strolling through palm-lined gardens, they were greeted by breathtaking views where the infinity pool seemed to merge with the sea and sky beyond. Many guests stopped to take photos, fascinated by the striking visual effect, which made it look as though water flowed directly into the ocean.

“The design is incredibly clever. It gives you the urge to dive right in and swim toward the sea,” said Julia, a tour operator from Germany, while taking photos of the stunning view. Having worked in the European outbound travel market for many years, she was visiting Sanya for the first time. “In Europe, hotels with sea views like this often come with a very high price tag. Hainan offers excellent value for money. Combined with China’s visa-free policy for travelers from 86 countries, it has tremendous appeal for European visitors.”

The hotel’s representative introduced the group to the property’s all-ocean-view suites, children’s amusement facilities, and its distinctive pink-sand beach. Natthapat, a tour operator from Thailand, showed particular interest in these features. “The children’s facilities and the pink-sand beach are perfect for family travel products. When I return home, I’ll discuss with my team how we can incorporate this destination into our product offerings.”

The delegation then proceeded to Rosewood Sanya. The hotel’s sky lobby, located on the 14th floor, offers sweeping 270-degree ocean views. Equally impressive was the elevated infinity pool on the 13th floor. Suspended between sea and sky, the pool’s edge appears to merge with the horizon, creating a spectacular setting from every angle.

“This is one of the most visually stunning hotel pools I’ve ever seen,” said Amy, a tour operator from Australia, while admiring the view from the poolside. She noted that Australian travelers also have a strong preference for luxury resort experiences, and the design aesthetic and sense of privacy here align perfectly with the expectations of the high-end market.

Throughout the visit, many tour operators actively exchanged business cards with hotel sales representatives, inquiring about partnership opportunities, group rates, and capacity for group reception. A tour operator from Southeast Asia said that he hopes to bring a group of high-end family travelers to experience Sanya’s luxury resort offerings.

Tianya Town’s Artistic Transformation Resonates with Tour Operators

The delegation also visited Tianya Town, where they experienced the unique charm of this “seaside arts village.” From the colorful mural-covered walls at the entrance of Huanglong Street, to the pure-white architecture of Sanya Guanxia Seaview B&B, and the cave-inspired interiors of Malt Cave Seaview Café, every corner became a favorite photo stop.

“This is completely different from the fishing village I imagined,” said Eter, a tour operator from Georgia, pausing at the iconic “18° North Latitude” landmark to examine the coordinates displayed on the wall. She noted that the destination could be easily integrated with the coastal tourism resources of Sanya, Lingshui, and Wanning. “Visitors are drawn to places with distinct geographic markers, which give the destination a sense of occasion.”

A local guide accompanying the group explained that in recent years, Tianya Town has undergone a series of small-scale renovations and refined upgrades. While retaining the original layout and character of a traditional fishing village, it has incorporated contemporary artistic elements, evolving into a popular photo-friendly destination. Today, Tianya Town is home to dozens of seaview guesthouses, cafés, and cultural and creative shops, making it especially popular among younger travelers.

“These small but beautifully designed destinations are exactly what many European travelers are looking for,” said Zhang Jing, a tour operator from Ireland. “Many European visitors are keen to experience local culture and everyday life when they travel. Tianya Town combines fishing village stories, artistic ambiance, and seaside accommodations. It has tremendous appeal.”

Inside one of the town’s cultural and creative stores, the visitors showed great interest in souvenir products featuring traditional Li ethnic totems. France, a tour operator from the United States, even inquired on the spot about purchasing the products in bulk as gifts for clients.

Meanwhile, Korean tour operator Lee Jae-hyun was particularly impressed by the town’s photogenic appeal. “Every corner is picture-perfect. Young people in Korea love destinations that look great in photos. If Tianya Town were included in independent travel packages, I’m sure it would be very popular.”

Duty-Free Shopping Drives Strong Interest and New Cooperation Opportunities

On the afternoon of June 4, the tour operators continued their familiarization tour with visits to Sanya Conifer Resort and Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa.

At Pullman Oceanview Sanya Bay Resort & Spa, the group was introduced to the hotel’s comprehensive conference facilities and family-oriented amenities. Guests were particularly intrigued by the hotel’s exclusive underground passageway, which provides direct access to Sanya Bay Beach.

Sanya Conifer Resort, meanwhile, impressed visitors with its iconic 70-meter-high rooftop infinity pool. Offering panoramic views of the Sanya Bay coastline, the elevated waterscape has become one of the hotel’s signature attractions. Its distinctive architectural design also earned high praise from the international tour operators.

Later that day, the delegation arrived at the final highlight of their Sanya tour—a self-guided visit to the CDF Sanya International Duty Free City. As the world’s largest single-building duty-free shopping destination, the complex brings together more than 800 international brands.

Aziz, a tour operator from Malaysia, found himself spoiled for choice in the cosmetics and fragrance section. “Malaysian travelers love duty-free shopping. The selection of brands here is impressive, and the pricing is highly competitive. If duty-free shopping can be combined with resort stays as part of a travel package, I believe it would be extremely well received by the market.”

Julia, a tour operator from Germany, was equally impressed by the scale and variety of the shopping complex. “European travelers enjoy purchasing luxury goods and cosmetics, and Sanya’s duty-free advantages are very clear. I believe Sanya has the potential to become a new favorite destination among European visitors.”

After several days of exploration across Hainan, tour operators from around the world expressed strong interest in developing partnerships in sectors ranging from sports tourism and wellness travel to cultural and leisure tourism. Shirley, a tour operator from Australia, paid particular attention to Hainan’s sports tourism resources. “Hainan has outstanding assets for sports tourism, especially golf and coastal outdoor activities. These resources are ideal for developing sports-focused holiday products. Australian consumers are passionate about sports travel, and I plan to introduce Hainan’s sports tourism offerings to the Australian market.”

According to officials from the Sanya Municipal Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, the city has launched several new international air routes since the beginning of this year, contributing to steady growth in inbound visitor arrivals. Looking ahead, Sanya will continue to improve its inbound tourism services and strengthen international market outreach, encouraging more global tour operators to include the city in their product portfolios.

Sunny Hainan, heart’s desire. Although the two-and-a-half-day familiarization tour was brief, it provided tour operators from around the world with a firsthand look at Sanya’s diverse tourism offerings and strong hospitality capacity. More importantly, it allowed visiting industry professionals to identify tangible opportunities for future cooperation. With the continued expansion of international flight connections and the ongoing optimization of inbound travel policies, Sanya is embracing the world with an increasingly open and welcoming outlook, ready to receive more visitors from across the globe.

Hashtag: #SanyaTourismBoard

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

Washington Blueberries Strengthens Market Confidence in Thailand and Indonesia

By
Advertorial Desk
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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – The Washington Blueberry Commission has solidified its market presence in Southeast Asia through the successful completion of trade seminars in Thailand and Indonesia, marking an important step in building awareness, trade confidence, and long-term market engagement across the region.

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Held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 27 April 2026, and Jakarta, Indonesia, on 29 April 2026, the seminars brought together importers, distributors, retailers, foodservice professionals, media, and industry stakeholders for a focused introduction to Washington Blueberries and their market potential in Southeast Asia. Together, the Thailand and Indonesia seminars welcomed close to 100 attendees, underscoring the region’s robust appetite for premium imported blueberries and the growing depth of trade opportunity.

The seminars were designed to advance market education and deepen understanding of Washington Blueberries among key trade audiences. Alan Schreiber, Executive Director of the Washington Blueberry Commission, attended as a principal representative of Washington Blueberries and delivered insights on their export potential, spotlighting opportunities for deeper and more sustained trade engagement throughout Southeast Asia.

Washington State offers a premium product that aligns well with growing consumer demand in the region for healthy, high-quality, and great-tasting foods,” said Alan Schreiber.

Bryan Sakuma of Sakuma Brothers Farms also provided first-hand perspectives from a grower and exporter standpoint, giving attendees a greater understanding of Washington’s blueberry supply capabilities, and the market opportunities available to regional partners.

Through product presentations, market insights, culinary applications, and networking sessions, attendees gained a comprehensive appreciation of the outstanding quality, versatility, and commercial potential of Washington Blueberries across fresh, frozen, and dried formats.

A key highlight of both events was the live culinary demonstration, which showcased the application of Washington Blueberries across foodservice, dessert, and menu innovation. In Thailand, the demonstration was led by Chef Arttasit Pattanasatienkul, widely known as Chef Big, winner of Top Chef Thailand 2023. In Indonesia, the demonstration was led by Chef Degan Septoadji, a respected chef and television personality best known as a judge on MasterChef Indonesia.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of Washington frozen blueberries compared to other frozen blueberries available in the Indonesian market. They are able to hold their shape and texture very well, making them suitable for a wide range of culinary applications,” said Chef Degan Septoadji.

Their demonstrations brought the product experience to life, showing trade audiences how Washington Blueberries can be used creatively across both Western and Asian-inspired applications.

In Thailand, the seminar at The Athenee Hotel, Bangkok, attracted a distinguished group of importers, retailers, foodservice representatives, culinary professionals, media, and influencers. The event firmly positioned Washington Blueberries as a premium fruit of choice with potential across retail, bakery, beverage, dessert, breakfast, and health-focused product categories. The Thailand seminar further extended its reach beyond the venue through targeted media and influencer engagement, amplifying awareness among a broad consumer audience.

In Indonesia, the seminar at Park Hyatt Jakarta established a high-impact B2B platform for direct engagement with importers, traders, retailers, foodservice operators, and industry leaders. The event introduced Washington Blueberries to a dynamic market with rapidly growing interest in premium imported fruits, superior ingredient quality, and foodservice innovation. Through hands-on product education, guided tastings, and substantive trade discussions, the seminar built strong familiarity with Washington Blueberries and catalyzed conversations about future collaboration.

Across both markets, the enthusiastic response from trade audiences affirmed the outstanding relevance and commercial appeal of Washington Blueberries in Southeast Asia’s evolving food and beverage landscape. As consumers and businesses alike continue to seek out premium imported fruits, healthier snacking options, and versatile ingredients, Washington Blueberries is uniquely positioned to lead retail and foodservice growth in Thailand, Indonesia, and across the wider region.

The success of the Thailand and Indonesia seminars reflects the Washington Blueberry Commission’s unwavering commitment to investing in market education, partnership-building, and long-term trade development in Southeast Asia.

Hashtag: #WashingtonBlueberries

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

DFRobot Introduces seeMote Cap and seeMote Cube for Apple Vision Pro Developers

By
Advertorial Desk
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SHANGHAI, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As spatial computing moves further into professional, enterprise, educational, and creative workflows, DFRobot today introduced the seeMote series for Apple Vision Pro developers, including seeMote Cap and seeMote Cube. The new series is designed to help developers integrate physical tools, handheld controls, and real-world actions into visionOS applications.

DFRobot Introduces seeMote Cap and seeMote Cube for Apple Vision Pro Developers
DFRobot Introduces seeMote Cap and seeMote Cube for Apple Vision Pro Developers

The seeMote series brings physical spatial input to visionOS applications, ranging from 6DoF tracking for real-world tools to handheld controls with buttons and haptics.

seeMote Cap is a mountable spatial accessory tracking module that brings 6DoF motion detection from real-world objects into visionOS apps. seeMote Cube is a handheld spatial device with buttons and haptics, enabling developers to build more interactive and immersive visionOS apps.

As developers explore more professional and task-specific visionOS applications, physical input is becoming an important part of the experience. For applications such as training, guided repair, design review, medical and laboratory education, and spatial content creation, the next step is not only what users see in space, but how real-world actions can become part of the app experience.

seeMote is designed for this emerging layer of physical spatial input.

Introducing Physical Tools and Handheld Controls to visionOS Apps

seeMote Cap is built for real-world tools. The compact module can be mounted to objects such as pens, screwdrivers, training instruments, laboratory tools, education props, and other custom handheld objects. Once attached, it enables the object to provide 6DoF motion input, including position, orientation, and motion-state data. Developers can use this data to map real tool movement into visionOS apps while preserving the grip, feel, and operating habits of physical tools.

seeMote Cube is built for developers who need a more flexible handheld input device. With buttons and haptics, Cube gives teams a compact way to prototype spatial controls, object-based interactions, and custom workflows for visionOS apps. Where Cap brings existing tools into spatial applications, Cube gives developers a developer-friendly device for building new interaction patterns.

Together, seeMote Cap and seeMote Cube offer two complementary ways to connect physical input with Apple Vision Pro applications: attach spatial tracking to the objects people already use, or prototype new handheld controls for experiences that need more direct interaction.

Use Cases

The seeMote series can support developers working on professional, enterprise, educational, and creative visionOS applications.

Industrial training and guided repair: Track real tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and other training equipment as users follow spatial instructions.

Medical and laboratory education: Bring physical training tools, lab instruments, and procedural objects into interactive learning experiences.

Design review and simulation: Use handheld spatial input to inspect, annotate, or manipulate 3D content with more physical context.

Spatial content creation: Give creators new ways to control, draw, trigger, or interact with spatial scenes using real-world objects and handheld inputs.

“As developers explore more professional and task-specific visionOS applications, physical input becomes an important part of the experience,” said Ricky Ye, CEO of DFRobot. “With seeMote Cap and seeMote Cube, we are excited to support visionOS developers and give them more ways to connect real-world tools, handheld controls, and physical actions with spatial applications. We see strong potential in use cases such as industrial training, guided work, medical education, design review, and spatial content creation.”

Availability

seeMote Cap and seeMote Cube are planned to be available on DFRobot.com in Fall 2026. Developers can learn more and sign up for launch updates at https://www.dfrobot.com/seemote.

Developers can also learn more about building for visionOS through the Apple Developer website.

Global Football Tournament Drives Travel Surge, with Group Stage Booking Growth Nearly Double Knockout Round’s: Trip.com Data

By
Advertorial Desk
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  • International bookings to 16 North American host cities surge nearly 70% year-on-year
  • Japan’s travel demand explodes +250%, more than double the growth rate of any European nation
  • Mexican hotel bookings for Monterrey up 40X, Guadalajara up 12X, Mexico City up +150%.

MEXICO CITY, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A major football tournament spanning the United States, Canada and Mexico (11 June – 19 July) is set to drive a surge in international travel to North America this summer, with Trip.com booking data revealing year-on-year growth of nearly 70% across the 16 host cities.

As football fans across Asia-Pacific and Europe commit to their summer plans months in advance, the data paints a vivid picture of where travellers are going, how long they are staying, and exactly what sort of trip they are on.


The Football Effect: Demand Nearly Doubles in June Versus July

The scale of football-driven travel demand becomes clear when the two tournament windows are compared directly. During the Group Stage period, total international bookings to host cities are up almost 70% year-on-year. By the Knockout Rounds, that growth rate falls to around 40%, still substantial, but a sharp contrast that reflects the concentrated urgency of fans following their national teams during the opening weeks of competition.

The Group Stage is the must-travel moment. Fans are not waiting to see how their teams perform. They are booking early, decisively, and around the fixtures that matter most to them.

Japan Leads the World

No market tells the 2026 story more dramatically than Japan. Japanese fans are booking flights to host cities at a rate +250% year-on-year for the Group Stage, more than two and a half times the volume of the previous year and more than double the growth rate of any European nation in the same period. Even for the Knockout Rounds, Japan records over +100% growth, the highest of any market analysed.


This is not a general holiday demand dressed up in football colours. It is fixture-following travel at its purest. Japan’s Group Stage matches are scheduled across Dallas and Monterrey, and the booking data mirrors this precisely. Dallas is Japan’s single most-booked host city for flights in the Group Stage, a city that barely registered on the Japanese outbound travel map twelve months ago. By the Knockout Rounds, when fixtures shift, Los Angeles becomes Japan’s top destination.

The Japan story does not stop at flight bookings. Japanese travellers are also the most adventurous when it comes to itinerary planning. Over 30% of Japanese Group Stage travellers book more than one host city, the highest multi-city rate of any market by a significant margin. Close to 10% cross two or more host countries during the Group Stage, a direct consequence of Japan’s fixtures being distributed across North America.

Japan’s top multi-city pairings during the Group Stage tell the story clearly: Dallas + Los Angeles, Dallas + Monterrey and Mexico City + Monterrey. These are not sightseeing routes but carefully planned travel itineraries around match schedules.

The Mexican Cities: The Less Talked About Accommodation Story

While US and Canadian host cities attract predictable attention, the Mexican venues Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey are generating some exciting booking results across the tournament.


Monterrey’s hotel bookings are up over 40X year-on-year during the Group Stage. Guadalajara is up over 10X. Mexico City is up over 150%. These are not incremental gains but represent a near-total transformation of international accommodation demand in cities that were barely on the inbound travel radar before.

The driver is fixture scheduling. Japan, South Korea, and Australia’s schedules are drawing fans into a North American travel corridor that extends deep into Mexico.

Dallas tells a complementary story from the US side. Hotel bookings in Dallas are up by more than 1400% during the Group Stage, driven overwhelmingly by Japanese and Korean demand.

The Football Road Trip Is a Myth

Despite the romance of a cross-continental football adventure, the data tells a more pragmatic story. The majority of fans book travel to just one host destination per trip.

Multi-market travel is highest among Japanese fans in the Group Stage and lowest among South Korean fans in the Knockout Rounds.


In every other market and period, single-market trips dominate, with travellers focusing on 1 or more cities within a single North American country.

Lead Times and Loyalty: The Forward Planners vs. The Late Deciders

The gap in booking behaviour between the Group Stage and the Knockout Round is fascinating. Travelling fans booking for July, the later, more uncertain tournament phase, are planning further in advance than those booking for June.


For the Group Stage, flight booking lead times across markets range from 80 to 95 days. For the Knockout Rounds, the same markets are booking 96 to 127 days out.

Germany leads both periods, booking hotels an average of 138 days before travel. That’s nearly five months in advance of a match whose participants are not yet confirmed.

This pattern suggests that Knockout Round travellers represent a highly committed segment, with fans hoping their team will advance. Attractions bookings tend to show the opposite trend, with shorter lead times across all markets, suggesting fans finalise their non-football plans on a wait-and-see basis.

Beyond the Stadiums: What Fans Are Doing When the Final Whistle Blows


The most-booked attraction is Universal Studios Hollywood, which tops the rankings. The Empire State Building, Rockefeller Centre, and the American Museum of Natural History dominate New York bookings, while Japanese travellers show a distinct appetite for Broadway, with Wicked and Aladdin the Musical both featuring in the top ten attractions overall.

Trip Duration: From Short Breaks to Extended Holidays

Average trip lengths vary dramatically by market. Japanese travellers take the shortest trips, averaging just 8 days in the Group Stage and 11 days in the Knockout Rounds, reflecting a fixture-focused, time-efficient approach. Spanish fans take the longest, averaging 24 days in the Group Stage and 17 days in July.


Australian fans average 23 days in the Group Stage before falling to 18 days in July. French fans remain consistent at 18 days across both periods. The relative stability of European trip durations across both windows suggests that these travellers are building fixed-length North American itineraries centred on football.

Hotel Preferences: Budget Dominates, But Premium Emerges in July

Across most markets, 3-star and 4-star hotels account for the vast majority of bookings, with 5-star demand showing single-digit growth. Japan is the most budget-conscious, with over 61% of Group Stage hotel bookings at the 3-star level. South Korea is the most luxury-oriented in the Group Stage.


In the Knockout Rounds, 5-star demand increases across almost every market compared to the Group Stage. France leads the way with the largest increase in 5-star hotel bookings.

New York dominates as the preferred city for 4-star and 5-star bookings across the majority of markets in both periods, cementing its status as the tournament’s prestige destination.

About Trip.com

Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 27 languages across 48 countries and regions in 44 local currencies. Offering an extensive hotel and flight network of more than 1.7 million hotels and flights from over 680 airlines, along with over 350,000 in-destination activities, Trip.com covers 3,500 airports in 220 countries and regions. Trip.com‘s world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service helps to ‘create the best travel experience’ for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit Trip.com.

MegazoneCloud Wins 2026 APJ Snowflake Resale Partner of the Year

By
Advertorial Desk
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Recognized for driving customer success through tailored data cloud adoption and business value creation

SEOUL, South Korea, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MegazoneCloud (CEO: Doug Yeum), a leading AI-native digital transformation company, has been named 2026 Snowflake Resale Partner of the Year for the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region.

The award was presented at Snowflake’s annual user conference, Snowflake Summit 26, held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The Reseller Partner of the Year Award recognizes partners that have demonstrated exceptional business performance and contribution to Snowflake’s growth. Only one partner is selected from each major region, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific and Japan.

MegazoneCloud received the award in recognition of its ability to help customers achieve tangible business outcomes with Snowflake through tailored consulting, implementation support, and adoption strategies aligned with each organization’s business environment and data maturity. The company was particularly recognized for ensuring that Snowflake deployments translate into measurable operational and business results.

MegazoneCloud has supported customers across a wide range of industries, including gaming, manufacturing, and commerce, in building data-driven environments powered by Snowflake. The company has expanded customer use cases by applying Snowflake technologies such as Cortex AI, Snowpark, and Snowflake Marketplace to address specific business requirements. Through these initiatives, MegazoneCloud has helped organizations improve data analysis capabilities, enhance operational efficiency, strengthen decision-making processes, and unlock new business value.

In April 2026, MegazoneCloud also achieved Snowflake’s highest partner designation, Elite Partner, for the second consecutive year. The Elite designation is awarded based on comprehensive evaluations of technical certifications, sales capabilities, and customer success achievements. This latest recognition further reinforces MegazoneCloud’s position as a strategic partner within the Snowflake ecosystem and highlights its expertise in delivering enterprise data and AI transformation initiatives.

“Receiving Snowflake’s Reseller Partner of the Year Award, following our achievement of Snowflake’s highest partner designation, Elite Partner, demonstrates that MegazoneCloud is one of the most trusted partners in the market,” said Chris Hwang, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of MegazoneCloud. “For enterprise customers considering Snowflake adoption or seeking to advance their data utilization capabilities, we will continue to provide tailored data cloud strategies and implementation support aligned with their real-world business environments.”

About MegazoneCloud

Headquartered in Seoul, Korea, MegazoneCloud is a leading AI-native cloud company with more than 2,000 cloud and AI experts, serving over 8,000 customers worldwide as a trusted digital transformation partner. Through strategic partnerships with major global and domestic cloud service providers (CSPs), as well as collaboration with over 200 ISV partners and proprietary cloud, AI, and security solutions, MegazoneCloud continues to drive innovation and growth for its customers.

With its vision, “Transform Tomorrow, Together,” MegazoneCloud is committed to building future competitiveness for its customers through technology, data, and people. The company operates in 10 countries, including Korea, North America, Japan, Southeast Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East, growing alongside its global partners and customers.

 

LUMOS Launches S$149 EVOKE Digital Camera

By
Advertorial Desk
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An affordable, compact camera for everyday photography, with 64MP photos, 4K video, built-in filters and a soft, natural image style.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 June 2026 – LUMOS, the award-winning Singapore lifestyle technology brand best known for its home cinema projectors, today announced the launch of the LUMOS EVOKE Digital Camera, a compact digital camera designed for everyday users, students, travellers and casual creators.

LUMOS EVOKE is an affordable S$149 digital camera designed for everyday photography, featuring 64MP photos, 4K video and built-in creative filters.
LUMOS EVOKE is an affordable S$149 digital camera designed for everyday photography, featuring 64MP photos, 4K video and built-in creative filters.

Priced at S$149, EVOKE marks LUMOS’ expansion beyond home cinema projectors into everyday photography and broader lifestyle electronics. The camera is designed for consumers who want the feel of a dedicated camera without the cost, complexity or learning curve of professional camera systems.

While smartphone cameras have become increasingly powerful, many users still want an easy-to-use, single-purpose device that allows them to capture memories without notifications, apps, or distractions. EVOKE is designed to sit between smartphones and professional cameras, offering a fun photography experience at an accessible price point.

“Smartphones are convenient, but photography is also about the experience of capturing a moment,” said Zac Tan, Co-Founder of LUMOS. “With EVOKE, we wanted to create a simple, well-built digital camera that helps users feel more present when taking photos, while keeping it accessible for everyday users.”

LUMOS EVOKE at a Glance

  • S$149 price point: An affordable compact digital camera for everyday photography, travel and casual creators.
  • 64MP photos: Captures detailed images for daily memories, family moments, social outings and trips.
  • 4K video at 30fps: Records clear video clips for travel highlights, casual content and everyday moments.
  • 16 built-in filters: Lets users create different photo styles directly in-camera, without relying on editing apps.
  • Flip screen: Makes it easier to frame selfies, group photos and creative angles.
  • 16x zoom: Brings distant subjects closer for travel, events and everyday scenes.
  • Built-in flashlight: Supports shooting in dim indoor settings, parties and low-light moments.
  • Compact design with USB-C charging: Easy to carry daily and convenient to charge through a laptop, power bank or car.


An Affordable Digital Camera

At S$149, EVOKE is designed to offer a digital camera at an accessible price, pairing advanced features with a unique image style that feels different from using a phone.

The camera captures 64MP photos and records 4K video at 30 frames per second, making it suitable for travel memories, family gatherings, social outings, casual content and everyday snapshots.

Its image style is designed to deliver a softer and more natural aesthetic, avoiding the overly sharpened or heavily processed feel often associated with smartphone photography. For users who care about mood, feeling and character, EVOKE offers a more intentional way to capture every moment.

Designed for Ease Of Use

EVOKE comes with 16 built-in filters, including styles such as Retro Fade, Warm Vintage, High Contrast Black and White, and Cinematic Cool. These filters allow users to create different moods directly in-camera, without needing third-party editing apps.

The camera also includes a flip screen for selfies, group shots and flexible angles, while its 16x zoom gives users added reach during travel, events and everyday scenes. A built-in flashlight supports shooting in dim indoor settings, parties and night scenes.

Together with autofocus and anti-shake support, these features are designed to make handheld shooting easier, particularly for casual users and first-time camera buyers.

A Natural Extension of the LUMOS Brand

The launch of EVOKE reflects LUMOS’ broader direction as a lifestyle technology brand. While the company remains strongly associated with home cinema projectors, it is increasingly focused on products that fit how Singaporeans live, work, travel and enjoy – and a camera like EVOKE fits naturally into this.

The company’s direct-to-consumer model also plays a key role in EVOKE’s pricing. By selling directly to customers, LUMOS aims to reduce traditional retail markups and deliver a well-built camera at a more accessible price point.

Rather than a professional camera system, EVOKE is positioned as a practical camera for users who want the joy of a dedicated photography device without the cost or complexity of advanced camera gear.

Pricing and Availability

The LUMOS EVOKE Digital Camera is available now through LUMOS’ official online store at S$149 for 32GB and S$199 for 128GB.

For more information, visit the LUMOS EVOKE Digital Camera product page.
Hashtag: #LUMOS #LUMOSEVOKE #DigitalCamera #AffordableCamera #Photography




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

About LUMOS

is an award-winning Singapore-born lifestyle technology brand focused on creating affordable, well-designed products that fit naturally into everyday lifestyles. Best known for its home cinema projectors, LUMOS was voted Best Mini Projector Brand at the HardwareZone Tech Awards Readers’ Choice in both 2024 and 2025.

The brand has built a strong local following by delivering value-driven technology with reliable customer support, and is now expanding into broader lifestyle technology categories, including digital cameras.

UQPAY Integrates with Circle Payments Network to Advance Its Global Account Infrastructure

By
Advertorial Desk
-

SYDNEY, June 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UQPAY (AU) has integrated with Circle Payments Network (CPN), a coordination layer operated by Circle Technology Services, LLC, an affiliate of Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL) that enables cross-border stablecoin transactions.

At UQPAY, our Global Account infrastructure supports end-to-end cross-border fund management — from global collection to multi-market payouts and FX execution. Through integration with CPN, UQPAY will enhance how these capabilities are coordinated across markets.

CPN is a coordination layer that connects financial institutions to support the orchestration of cross-border payments using regulated stablecoins such as USDC and EURC. It enables participants to coordinate settlement and payment flows across existing financial infrastructure, including local payment systems and banking rails.

By connecting to CPN, UQPAY supports more efficient routing of cross-border payment flows and improved interoperability between originating and beneficiary financial institutions. The integration also enables greater flexibility in coordinating transactions across multiple currencies and payment systems.

Strengthening a Global Payment Infrastructure

UQPAY’s Global Account enables businesses to:

  • Collect funds across multiple regions and currencies
  • Execute cross-border payouts through established banking and local payment networks
  • Manage FX and treasury flows within a unified account structure

This provides a strong foundation for global payment operations.

Enhancing Cross-Border Payment Coordination with CPN

With this integration, UQPAY enhances how cross-border payouts are coordinated across its existing infrastructure. CPN complements UQPAY’s Global Account by:

  • Improving interoperability between originating financial institutions (OFIs) and beneficiary financial institutions (BFIs)
  • Supporting more efficient routing of cross-border payment flows
  • Enabling coordination across multiple payment systems and currencies
  • Providing greater flexibility in cross-border transaction execution

What This Means for Businesses

For businesses operating across markets, this integration brings:

  • Improved coordination across payment corridors and counterparties
  • Greater flexibility in managing cross-border fund flows
  • More efficient execution of cross-border payments
  • Expanded support for global payment use cases

Bridging Fiat Infrastructure and Digital Settlement

Businesses continue to operate within familiar fiat account structures. Behind the scenes, this integration supports:

  • More efficient coordination across financial institutions
  • Support for stablecoin-enabled settlement flows where applicable
  • More scalable and flexible payment execution models

“UQPAY’s integration with Circle Payments Network supports more efficient coordination of cross-border payment flows across global markets,” said Irfan Ganchi, SVP of Product Management, Payments at Circle.

“This integration with Circle Payments Network allows us to further strengthen our global payout capabilities and enhance how cross-border payments are coordinated across markets,” said Jack Li, Founder and CEO at UQPAY.

About UQPAY

UQPAY Group is a global fintech innovation group headquartered in Singapore, with operations spanning digital payments, Payment Software-as-a-Service, and fintech venture capital. Since its founding in 2016, UQPAY has leveraged payment innovation to build an end-to-end, secure, and compliant full-stack payment infrastructure, empowering businesses to achieve borderless growth in the digital and intelligent economy.

Amid the new economic wave driven by AI and Web3, UQPAY is positioned to deliver next-generation payment infrastructure for the digital economy — building a real-time, scalable, and intelligently orchestrated global payment network that enables new growth models for enterprises, digital-native ecosystems, and future autonomous agents worldwide.

UQPAY holds key payment and financial licenses across Asia, Oceania, Europe, and North America, and serves as a principal member of Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay International — the world’s three major card networks — deeply embedded in the global payment and clearing ecosystem. We connect not just transactions, but the future of global commerce and value flow.

Contact UQPAY

Website: www.uqpay.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/uqpaytechnology
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/uqpay
Twitter: www.x.com/uqpaysg

UQPAY Group
55 AYER RAJAH CRESCENT, #04-06, SINGAPORE 139949

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