Over 10,000 financial insurance elites from around the world gathered in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Aug. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From August 7 to 10, 2026, the 16th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and the 2026 International Dragon Award (IDA) Annual Conference were grandly held in Hong Kong, the “Pearl of the Orient.” At this joint event, over 10,000 financial insurance professionals from around the world—including senior executives of insurance companies, industry experts, and scholars—gathered together to discuss and exchange insights on new trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the insurance industry.

Three Decades of Driving Growth and Prosperity in the Insurance Industry

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress. Since its inception, the Congress has remained unwavering in its founding mission: to unite the world’s elite Chinese financial insurance professionals, demonstrate their professional value, and pursue a higher plane of business excellence. Over the past three decades, it has consolidated the collective wisdom of Chinese insurance management, perpetuated its culture of excellence, championed its progressive spirit, broadened the strategic vision of participants, and demonstrated the exemplary conduct of outstanding practitioners. Throughout these thirty years, the Congress has stood guardian to the perseverance and aspirations of countless insurance professionals around the world, borne witness as the insurance industry steadily matured, and carried forward the legacy of its growth and honor.

The 16th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and the 2026 International Dragon Award (IDA) Annual Conference, held under the theme “Professional Epoch,” extended special invitations to 125 distinguished speakers from around the world—including senior executives of leading insurers, outstanding agency leaders, top‑performing agents, and experts from multiple disciplines beyond the insurance sector. Through this multifaceted program, the Congress built a diverse, open, and cross‑sector platform for in-depth exchange, advancing the growth and prosperity of the industry. A special highlight was the “WCLIC 30th Anniversary Tribute,” a milestone celebration joined by nearly 10,000 participants in commemoration of three decades of shared journey.

The Congress received strong support and invaluable guidance from the Insurance Authority, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, and government officials at various levels, along with the generous backing of its corporate sponsors.

Congress Highlight: Official Release of Global Rankings for IDA Member Companies

In 2024, the International Dragon Award (IDA) Executive Committee released the inaugural Official Announcement of Global Rankings for IDA Member Companies in Hong Kong, China, unveiling key trends and benchmarks shaping the global financial insurance industry. The data offers valuable guidance and strategic reference for financial institutions and agency teams in their business operations. For insurers, the number of IDA members serves as a powerful indicator of both productivity and professional caliber. The greater the number of IDA members an institution holds, the stronger its performance in overall productivity, recruitment and training, and talent retention—signaling a trajectory of sustainable, long-term growth.

At this year’s Congress, the IDA Executive Committee will release the Official Announcement of 2026 Global Rankings for IDA Member Companies. Informed by the collective insights and recommendations of the Expert Committee on International Dragon Award Data Analytics—a panel comprising distinguished experts from industry, government, and academia—the 2026 data analysis has advanced further in both depth and breadth.

IDA Honor Celebration: Thousands of IDA Elite Professionals Converge at the Summit

In 2026, the global insurance industry confronts new challenges amid a volatile and turbulent economic landscape. Yet, even in the face of such headwinds, an exceptional group of insurance professionals has thrived against the odds—earning the prestigious International Dragon Award through extraordinary performance and unwavering resilience.

To pay the highest tribute to these pillars of the industry, the Congress specially designed the “Honor Salute” and the “Dragon Night”—inviting over 4,800 IDA members to walk the “Star of Distinction,” a pathway embodying the philosophy of “Paragon, Perfection, and Nobility”—and ascend the awards stage to share in a moment of glory reserved for the most dedicated professionals.

Among all IDA honors, the following distinctions shine most brightly:

In 2026, a total of 142 new IDA Life Members were recognized, bringing the cumulative total to 727. Through more than a decade of unwavering professional dedication and sustained achievement, they have set the exemplar for long‑term performance excellence across the insurance industry worldwide.

In the same year, 5 new IDA Hall of Fame inductees joined the ranks, bringing the cumulative total to 21. With over two decades of unwavering commitment to their original vision and sustained dedication, these honorees have not only achieved personal excellence but have also set a lasting benchmark for generational succession across the global insurance industry.

In team honors, 14 teams achieved the IDA Hundred‑Elite Team distinction in 2026, bringing the cumulative total to 34. Their extraordinary organizational management, talent development, and capacity for sustainable growth have established them as exemplary benchmarks for insurance teams worldwide.

In addition, 7 new “IDA World Records” were unveiled in 2026, bringing the cumulative total to 21. These records chronicle the highest achievements and historic milestones attained by IDA members over the past 27 years.

After three decades of weathering storms and navigating change, the Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress remains steadfast in its mission to contribute to the prosperity, progress, and growth of the global financial insurance industry. Together with financial institutions and outstanding practitioners worldwide, the Congress continues to walk alongside them on their journey toward excellence—every step of the way.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The ‘glow-cation’ trend is captivating travelers worldwide, offering a journey focused on beauty treatments and wellness experiences. Asia, with its unique style offerings and cutting-edge beauty innovations, stands out as a premier destination for those seeking to enhance their personal style and rejuvenate their appearance. Digital travel platform Agoda showcases some of Asia’s most alluring style and wellness destinations, each promising a distinct beauty journey worth the trip.

A ‘glow-cation’ is the perfect opportunity for travelers to not only experience the destination but also pamper and rejuvenate themselves through a variety of beauty-focused experiences, from transformative haircuts and personal style analyses to advanced skincare treatments and wellness rituals. Discover Agoda’s curated guide to five must-visit destinations in Asia offering iconic beauty experiences for every traveler:

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City is making waves with its Toc Tầng (Layered Wolf Cut), a Vietnamese take on shaggy, layered hairstyles. The city is also known for affordable nail art, offering intricate 3D designs for a glamorous manicure. Travelers can also add on a Vietnamese head spa session for a relaxing and rejuvenating experience, making it a must-visit for beauty seekers.

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul stands out as a beauty mecca, offering sought-after K-beauty treatments like Glass Skin Facials and Aqua Peeling. These multi-step hydration treatments use galvanic ions and essences to achieve the coveted translucent “glass skin” look. The city is also famous for semi-permanent makeup, with world-class clinics providing brow embroidery and lip blushing. Additionally, innovative scalp spas offer treatments that are both relaxing and revitalizing, making Seoul a top destination for beauty enthusiasts.

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is where tradition meets trendsetting style. The Kobido Facial Massage, an ancient Japanese practice known as the “art of eternal youth,” employs a manual technique that combines rapid tapping, kneading, and lymphatic drainage to naturally lift and sculpt facial contours. For those looking for a stylish transformation, the Hime cut, with its sharp, geometric layers, is a must-try. Travelers can also try onsen-inspired facial treatments using volcanic ash and mineral-rich hot spring ingredients, for a unique and luxurious skincare experience.

Taipei, Taiwan

Taipei is emerging as a hotspot in Asia for beauty lovers. Travelers can enjoy Gua Sha facials, where traditional techniques are enhanced with modern serums to offer a transformative lifting effect. Eyelash perms are another popular choice, providing a semi-permanent lift that adds allure to any look. For those seeking a playful twist, Bubble Tea Spa Treatments use tea extracts and tapioca-inspired products to create a unique skincare experience that delights the senses.

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok is a thriving hub in Southeast Asia for innovative beauty therapies. Visitors can indulge in IV Drip Beauty Therapy, featuring skin-brightening glutathione and vitamin C, widely available across the city. For a touch of opulence, Gold Leaf Facials offer a luxurious experience with 24k gold. Meanwhile, Thai Herbal Compress Treatments provide a holistic approach to beauty and wellness, combining traditional techniques with aromatic herbs for a soothing escape.

Jay Lee, Regional Director, North Asia at Agoda shared, “Asia offers a treasure trove of beauty and wellness experiences that are perfect for a ‘glow-cation’. Travelers can try everything from unique traditional treatments to the latest, cutting-edge innovations. Agoda makes it easier than ever to book these experiences, with a wide range of beauty and style-focused activities to choose from, alongside flights, and accommodations all in one place.”

Travelers seeking a ‘glow-cation’ can browse over 6 million holiday properties, along with more than 300,000 activities and over 130,000 flight routes, all of which can be combined in the same booking. Discover the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app or visit Agoda.com for more.

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On August 7, 2026, Changhong announced Indonesian pop icon Rossa (Sri Rossa Roslaina Handiyani) as its new Brand Ambassador. The collaboration marks another milestone in Changhong’s efforts to expand its global brand presence while strengthening its localized operations in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia.

As one of Southeast Asia’s largest consumer markets, Indonesia has become a strategic market for Changhong, driven by its large population and long-term growth potential. Partnering with Rossa is a natural extension of the company’s localized brand strategy. Together, Changhong and Rossa will engage local audiences through campaigns that reflect Indonesian culture, raising brand awareness and building stronger connections with consumers.

Vaclav Lian, General Manager of Changhong Indonesia, said: “Indonesia is one of Changhong’s key international markets, and our partnership with Rossa exemplifies our long-term commitment to local consumers. We will continue to deliver innovative products and reliable services that make everyday home life smarter and more enjoyable.”

The partnership with Rossa is part of Changhong’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia and engage a new generation of consumers. Alongside the collaboration, Changhong has expanded its after-sales support in Indonesia by introducing extended warranty coverage for key product categories—including televisions, air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines—backed by 24-hour customer support. Through continuous innovation, Changhong delivers smarter products and better experiences, building stronger connections with local consumers.

The enhanced warranty and expanded service support demonstrate Changhong’s confidence in its products and long-term commitment to the Indonesian market. Looking ahead, Changhong Indonesia will continue to enhance its products and services to better meet evolving customer needs, delivering smarter and more reliable home experiences for families across Indonesia.

About Changhong

Founded in 1958, Changhong is a leading global consumer electronics and smart home appliance company. Its portfolio includes televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and smart home solutions, with products and services available in more than 160 countries and regions. Driven by innovation, Changhong develops technologies and products designed to make everyday living smarter, more convenient and more enjoyable for consumers around the world.

Visit Changhong Indonesia: https://changhong.co.id/

– Goyang, Daejeon, Jeongseon, Suwon, and Seoul emerge as the most popular bakery tourism destinations in South Korea, driven by growing search interest

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Driven by South Korea’s vibrant cafe culture and the growing popularity of bakery-themed events, “bread pilgrimages” have emerged as one of the latest travel trends. Today, South Koreans are willing to travel in search of the perfect loaf, visiting renowned bakeries and bread festivals across the country. The phenomenon gained even greater momentum after actor Beomjun Seo embarked on a bread pilgrimage in the entertainment show “I Live Alone,” inspiring viewers to explore famous bakeries. Reflecting this growing appetite for bakery tourism, digital travel platform Agoda has revealed the top domestic “bread pilgrimage” destinations for travelers to explore in the second half of the year.

Based on accommodation searches made by South Korean travelers between 1 January and 15 June this year, Goyang recorded the largest increase in travel interest among destinations hosting upcoming bakery-related events. Daejeon, Jeongseon, Suwon, and Seoul followed, rounding out the top five destinations for bakery tourism.

Goyang topped the list with a 22% increase in accommodation searches, likely driven by the “2026 Cafe & Bakery Fair Season 2” taking place from 29 October – 1 November this year. The event showcases not only coffee, desserts, and bakery products, but also coffee equipment, packaging solutions, related services, and the latest industry trends. Season 1, held from 4–7 June, attracted more than 200 participating brands and an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 visitors.

Ranking second, Daejeon recorded an 18% increase in accommodation searches. Long regarded as one of South Korea’s iconic “bread pilgrimage” destinations thanks to the legendary bakery Sungsimdang, the city has continued to strengthen its reputation through unique local experiences such as the “Bread Taxi,” where taxi driver Seongwoo Ahn offers visitors exclusive tours of the city’s best bakeries. Interest is also expected to be fueled by two major upcoming events, “Bbangbbangrun 2026 in Daejeon,” taking place on 9–10 October, and the “2026 Daejeon Bread Festival,” scheduled for 17–18 October.

Jeongseon ranked third with a 17% increase in accommodation searches, likely driven by the “Bread Trail Run 2026” taking place from 12–13 September. First launched last year, the event combines running with a unique bakery experience, featuring refreshment checkpoints where participants can enjoy treats, including bread, beverages, snacks, ice cream, and chocolate. Beyond the race itself, participants can enjoy a variety of activities, including a running clinic led by a national team athlete, warm-up sessions, and photo zones.

Suwon placed fourth, with accommodation searches rising 15%. The increase is likely driven by the “Korea Coffee & Dessert Festival Season 2,” scheduled for 11–13 December. As Suwon’s only exhibition dedicated exclusively to coffee and desserts, the festival brings together coffee lovers, home baristas, and bakery enthusiasts to discover the latest dessert trends.

Rounding out the top five, Seoul recorded an 11% increase in accommodation searches, likely driven by the “2026 Cafe & Bakery Fair Season 2” taking place from 27–30 August. The capital also hosted Season 1 earlier this year from 25–28 February, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s leading destinations for bakery enthusiasts and cafe culture.

Alex Park, Country Director, South Korea at Agoda shared, “Food has always been an important part of the travel experience, and we’re seeing more opportunities for travelers who want to plan trips around finding the best bakeries, with bread evolving from a simple dessert into a destination and experience in itself. From iconic bakeries to bread festivals, Agoda is delighted to help travelers discover local culture through food while making it easy to find great-value accommodation for every journey.”

With over 130,000 flight routes, more than 6 million holiday properties, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda ensures bread enthusiasts can seamlessly combine their bookings in one convenient platform throughout their journey. Discover the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app and visit Agoda.com to plan the perfect summer getaway.

HEZE, China, Aug. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Production Rollout Ceremony of Shandong HiTHIUM’s world’s first long-duration energy storage (LDES) integrated industrial park (Heze Base) was held on August 7 in Heze Luxi New Area. As the world’s first intelligent manufacturing base purpose-built for LDES, the Heze Base exemplifies its commitment to “benchmark from day one, leadership from production rollout.” It marks a strategic milestone for HiTHIUM in its unwavering LDES commitment and deepening global integrated industrial layout, propelling the company into a new era of worldwide LDES integrated intelligent manufacturing and scaled delivery.

Spanning a planned total area of approximately 80 hectares and representing a total investment of over RMB 13 billion across the entire industrial chain, the Shandong Heze project is the world’s first integrated industrial park dedicated exclusively to LDES. The project has been designated as a key national private investment initiative and a flagship project in Shandong Province’s new energy system development.

Built on a whole-industry-chain approach, the facility encompasses intelligent manufacturing of LFP battery cells, module and system integration, new material production, and upstream raw material processing – achieving end-to-end integration from materials to cells and systems.

Wang Pengcheng, Co-founder and CEO of HiTHIUM and Chairman of Shandong HiTHIUM, stated: “The production rollout marks a new phase for the Heze Base in scalable manufacturing, market-oriented delivery, and ecosystem development. Building on this new foundation, HiTHIUM will continue to advance our ‘three pillars of leadership’:

Industrial leadership – building a national benchmark industrial cluster for LDES. With the Heze LDES integrated industrial park as the ‘core engine’, HiTHIUM will gather upstream and downstream partners to cover the full ‘generation-transmission-distribution-consumption’ application ecosystem.

Product leadership – defining full-scenario LDES solutions. HiTHIUM has taken the lead in defining and deploying LDES solutions. Leveraging the Base’s scaled capacity, HiTHIUM will fully unleash the manufacturing potential of thousand-ampere-hour large-capacity products, ushering the global lithium-based LDES industry into an era of large-scale delivery.

Production efficiency leadership – building global competitiveness through integrated intelligent manufacturing. Fully equipped with independently developed fifth-generation intelligent manufacturing lines, the Base enables end-to-end synergistic integration across core materials, cell manufacturing, system integration, and global delivery, ensuring our ability to deliver large-scale, high-efficiency, and high-quality products to markets worldwide.”

The Heze Base’s integrated intelligent manufacturing system covers the entire process from raw materials to prefabricated container delivery. Powered by the fifth-generation production lines – the industry’s first to exceed 15 GWh in single-line capacity – the new generation delivers a 50% reduction in floor space per GWh, 58% reduction in production manpower, 13% reduction in manufacturing energy consumption, and 200% efficiency improvement compared to the previous generation. With an automation rate exceeding 95%, over 1,000 quality control checkpoints reinforced by AI-powered visual inspection, the Heze Base establishes low-cost operational capabilities, high-efficiency delivery, and premium product quality, offering globally competitive LDES solutions to customers worldwide.