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Huawei Cloud Rolls Out Enterprise AI Products Across the Board, Building an Open Agentic Cloud


SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2026 – On September 18, Dr. Peter Zhou, Director of the Board at Huawei and CEO of Huawei Cloud, delivered a keynote titled “The Agentic Cloud for the Agentic World: Build Together, Grow Together” at HUAWEI CONNECT 2026. He shared Huawei Cloud’s latest progress. He announced the global launch of the latest AI Cluster Service (AICS), a key step in Huawei Cloud’s strategy to strengthen the silicon bedrock on the cloud and reinforce the foundation for agentic AI. The keynote also highlighted the Agentic Model as a Service (MaaS) platform, which brings together diverse models to accelerate model capabilities as services at scale. The AgentArts enterprise-grade agent platform already serves over 100 enterprises. The Industry AI Foundry has accumulated more than 1,000 industry assets, with over 1,000 projects deployed. The Industry AI Foundry now includes two new zones, Smart Government Zone and AI Hardware Zone, to drive agents toward large-scale adoption. These efforts, taken together, are building a thriving AI ecosystem on the cloud.

Dr. Peter Zhou, Director of the Board at Huawei and CEO of Huawei Cloud, delivering the keynote
Dr. Peter Zhou, Director of the Board at Huawei and CEO of Huawei Cloud, delivering the keynote

Building Agentic Infra for agents
Dr. Peter Zhou also highlighted that in the agentic era, infrastructure no longer simply exists to provide compute. Instead, its purpose has expanded to making every token more efficient, coordinating general and AI compute, enabling models to keep learning, and, more importantly, running agents securely and reliably within real production environments. Huawei Cloud has defined Agentic Infra, a new paradigm around efficient tokens, enhanced memory, unified general & AI scheduling, and secure autonomy. To date, Agentic Infra has served over 3,500 customers.

  • The latest AICS is built on a five-level fast recovery mechanism with full-chain observability. It supports over 40 days of stable training on cloud and is capable of fault recovery within 10 minutes. Furthermore, supported by coordinated optimization across scheduling, cache, and algorithms, it delivers 20% higher token throughput than the previous generation of compute service. The latest AICS will be commercially available in China on September 30 and in markets outside China on November 30.
  • The Context Memory Storage (CMS) solution addresses the needs of long-horizon agent tasks for memory capacity and access efficiency. It provides a petabyte-scale memory space, twice the storage capacity of comparable industry products, and supports high-speed terabyte-scale memory reads with 50% higher performance than industry peers.
  • Agentic MaaS brings together diverse models, enabling developers to invoke state-of-the-art (SOTA) models from leading providers with just one click and no deployment required. At the event, MiniMax demonstrated its advanced multimodal model, which, combined with Huawei Cloud, delivers open, cutting-edge multimodal capabilities.


Building an enterprise-grade agent platform to help enterprises
develop and use agents effectively
Huawei Cloud is advancing its enterprise-grade agent platform through a dual approach: commercial and open source. Built on AgentArts and its open-source edition openJiuwen, the platform opens up more than 5,000 general Model Context Protocol (MCP) assets and over 1,000 industry-specific MCP assets, making it easier for enterprises to develop, use, and manage agents. To date, the platform has served more than 100 customers, including the Shenzhen Longgang District Government, China Southern Power Grid, Guangzhou Laboratory, the University of Science and Technology of China, Kingsoft Office, Sichuan Yingu Carbon Sink Renewable Resources Co., Ltd., Changsha Thunder Cloud Network Technology Co., Ltd., and KingMed Diagnostics. At the event, Kingsoft Office shared its implementation practices based on Huawei Cloud’s agent platform. By deeply integrating the agent platform with the WPS 365 Document Center and WPS Comate, Kingsoft Office has built vertical office agents that are now deployed across multiple industries, including finance and government.

Huawei Cloud has announced that AgentArts will be commercially available in markets outside China on December 30. To date, the openJiuwen open-source community has surpassed 50,000 stars and 3.29 million downloads. Together with Chinasoft International, iSoftStone Group, and Beiming Software, Huawei Cloud has launched partner commercial editions and shared a broad market space, helping partners thrive on Huawei Cloud’s silicon bedrock.

Advancing the Industry AI Foundry to accelerate AI adoption at scale across industries
Through the Industry AI Foundry, Huawei Cloud brings together assets such as industry scenarios, models, data, knowledge, and agents, turning industry know-how from isolated project experience into reusable industry capabilities. It has built five industry-specific zones — Smart Healthcare Zone, Embodied AI Zone, AI for Science (AI4S) Zone, Smart Manufacturing Zone, and Smart Finance Zone — with over 1,000 industry-specific assets and more than 1,000 deployed projects.

Two new zones have been launched within the Industry AI Foundry: Smart Government Zone and AI Hardware Zone. The Smart Government Zone has already brought together 24 founding partners, covering a range of scenarios such as government office operations, public services, urban governance, and industry development. The AI Hardware Zone has onboarded 15 core partners, covering more than 20 device types, including AI glasses, AI toys, and AI recording cards, along with over 10 scenario templates and more than 110 scenario skills.

From infrastructure and enterprise-grade agent platforms to industry ecosystems, Huawei Cloud is committed to building an open agentic cloud, with open infrastructure to power AI, an open platform to support enterprises in effectively developing and using agents, and an open industry ecosystem to accelerate AI adoption at scale. Ultimately, Huawei Cloud looks to move forward with customers and partners to build and grow together in the agentic era.

Themed Advancing the Agentic World, HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 will delve into AI across three dimensions: strategy, technology, and ecosystems. You can expect an in-depth look at our latest strategic initiatives, and we’ll also be unveiling our all-new digital and intelligent infrastructure products, scenario-specific solutions for industries, and development tools. The event will run from September 17 to 19 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center and Shanghai Expo Center. For more information, please visit HUAWEI CONNECT 2026 online at www.huawei.com/en/events/huaweiconnect

Hashtag: #Huawei

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“CHIIKAWA DAYS” Exhibition Makes Its Chinese Mainland Debut at JingAn Kerry Centre, as JAKC and AllRightsReserved Join Forces Again to Create a New Urban Hotspot

Exhibition officially opens to the public on September 12; tickets now on sale


SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2026 – On September 10, JingAn Kerry Centre (JAKC) and AllRightsReserved (ARR), in collaboration with Spiralcute International, officially launched the Chinese mainland debut of “CHIIKAWA DAYS” Exhibition (Shanghai).

Image: Key visual for
Image: Key visual for “CHIIKAWA DAYS” Exhibition (Shanghai)

From September 12 to November 1, JAKC will be transformed into a CHIIKAWA-themed world for a 51-day exhibition. Multiple experience zones across the South Plaza and Nanjing West Road will feature Shanghai-exclusive exhibits making their global debut and inspired by local food culture, alongside a limited-time merchandise pop-up store and co-branded food offerings from JAKC tenants, creating an immersive CHIIKAWA experience for visitors.

Chinese Mainland Debut Brings Shanghai Longtang Eats to Life: “CHIIKAWA DAYS” Exhibition (Shanghai) Takes Centre Stage at JAKC

On September 10, “CHIIKAWA DAYS” Exhibition (Shanghai) marked its official launch. Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi made a surprise appearance at the event, meeting attending media up close and setting the stage for the exhibition. The exhibition had already made an early appearance on Anyi Road on September 5 with a preheat celebration featuring a series of giant CHIIKAWA sculptures. The installation drew strong footfall on its first day and widespread attention across social media, rapidly building nationwide awareness of the exhibition.

Opening to the public on September 12, the Chinese mainland debut of “CHIIKAWA DAYS” Exhibition (Shanghai) comprises two ticketed exhibition zones, a free exhibition zone and a limited-time pop-up store available exclusively to ticket holders. At the Piazza, the main ticketed zone, “CHIIKAWA’s Everyday Life,” takes visitors through nine themed rooms spanning Clothing, Food, Shelter and Action, and extending into everyday mini-adventures — from stepping into Chiikawa’s home to taking on hunting missions. More than 100 3D sculptures recreate memorable scenes from the manga, including the rice cooker filled with white rice, the internet café, “Ramen Rō”, the prison, the 3-star restaurant and iconic hunting scenes. Each room offers its own details and discoveries for fans to explore.

Images:
Images: “CHIIKAWA’s Everyday Life” in the main ticketed exhibition zone at the Piazza

Among the highlights is the new Shanghai-exclusive “CHIIKAWA Longtang Eats” zone, created specifically for the city and presented as a dedicated exhibition area. Continuing the creative concept of incorporating local food culture into the world of CHIIKAWA, Chiikawa and friends wander through a traditional longtang setting inspired by old Shanghai before transforming into playful interpretations of some of Shanghai and the Jiangnan region’s most recognisable delicacies, including pan-fried buns, savoury pork mooncakes, crab roe soup dumplings, butterfly pastries, braised pork, lion’s head meatballs, eight-treasure rice pudding and almond tofu. The experience brings Shanghai fans a fresh sense of discovery while celebrating familiar local flavours.

Also making its Chinese mainland debut is a nine-metre-tall giant inflatable sculpture featuring Chiikawa, Hachiware and Usagi at the prominent junction of Nanjing West Road and Changde Road. The installation has become a gathering point for fans and residents from across the city, inviting visitors to step further into the everyday world of Chiikawa and friends.

The limited-time pop-up store is located on Level 2 of JAKC, where more than 50 licensed merchandise items will be introduced throughout the exhibition period. Shanghai-exclusive “CHIIKAWA Longtang Eats” themed souvenirs make their global debut, offering fans a broad selection of collectibles. Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, the pop-up store will also launch a range of “Moon-Lantern Fest” themed merchandise. During the exhibition, participating food tenants at JAKC will introduce official CHIIKAWA collaborations. PAPER STONE BAKERY, for example, will offer freshly baked savoury pork mooncakes stamped with Chiikawa, bringing together Shanghai longtang food culture and IP creativity.

Images: Limited-time pop-up store on Level 2 of JAKC
Images: Limited-time pop-up store on Level 2 of JAKC

Admission includes access to both ticketed exhibition zones and eligibility to shop at the pop-up store. Throughout the exhibition, ticket holders will receive themed gifts at different stages and will also have opportunities to purchase limited-edition collaboration food items. Together, the exhibition, shopping and dining experiences create an immersive full-day itinerary, giving visitors a uniquely Shanghai CHIIKAWA memory to take home.

JAKC’s collaboration with ARR to bring the Chinese mainland debut of “CHIIKAWA DAYS” Exhibition (Shanghai) to the city represents a significant evolution of its experiential consumption model. By drawing urban footfall and stimulating commercial activity, the exhibition further connects retail with culture and tourism. It reflects JAKC’s responsiveness to consumer trends and contemporary cultural moments, while also aligning with the continued growth of inbound tourism and adding a new touchpoint for cultural exchange in Shanghai. As a core landmark of the Jing’an commercial district, JAKC continues to inject creative energy into the Nanjing West Road area through collaborations with leading cultural IPs, supporting its development as a hub where urban culture and new consumption converge. Looking ahead, JAKC will continue to integrate culture, commerce, tourism and exhibitions, contributing to Shanghai’s development as a world-renowned tourism city while creating sustained momentum for the city through compelling cultural experiences.

*Special Notice: Display and opening arrangements for certain exhibits, particularly those in outdoor areas, may be adjusted due to weather conditions or other circumstances beyond the organisers’ control. Please refer to actual on-site arrangements.
Hashtag: #JAKC #JingAnKerryCentre #CHIIKAWADAYS

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About JingAn Kerry Centre

JingAn Kerry Centre is one of Kerry Properties’ most representative mixed-use developments. Located in the heart of West Nanjing Road (one of the most luxurious and flourishing commercial avenues in Shanghai), this 456,000 sqm GFA complex comprises 94,000 sqm of retail space, three Grade-A office towers, one serviced apartment tower, and one luxury hotel.

Housing 200+ top-ranking brands of all categories, from luxury and fashion, premium sports and lifestyle, beauty and accessories, commercial and casual dining, high-end supermarket to cinema, JAKC has been attracting a traffic flow of more than 22millions per year, persistently introduces the most prestigious brands and intriguing social experience to the city.

The icon among icons in Shanghai and even China, JingAn Kerry Centre takes up the leading role of luxury and exquisite lifestyle, gives a much-needed boost to the city culture and economy.

About AllRightsReserved

Established in 2003, creative brand AllRightsReserved (ARR) has remained committed to artistic creation, continuously pushing the boundaries of art and challenging conventional creative media to create inspiring artistic environments. Over the years, ARR has collaborated with outstanding artists from diverse backgrounds on a wide range of creative projects that enrich everyday life through art. Its collaborators include internationally renowned contemporary artists KAWS and Yayoi Kusama, luxury automobile brand Rolls-Royce, global streaming platform Netflix, and brands including Doraemon and Snoopy. ARR also operates its own art e-commerce platform, DDT Store.

Global Schools Group Marks 25th Anniversary with S$100,000 Multi-Organisation Community Support

The Group outlined ambitious global expansion with 20 new campuses by 2030 and next-generation student initiativesCaption


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2026 – Global Schools Group (GSG), recognised as the world’s most awarded network of K-12 schools, today officially commenced its 25th anniversary celebrations by committing S$100,000 in philanthropic donations to support community initiatives across Singapore. The announcement was made alongside strategic plans to expand its global footprint by opening 20 new international campuses by 2030, targeting high-growth education markets across Asia and the Middle East.

Global Schools Group Marks 25th Anniversary with S$100,000 Multi-Organisation Community Support

The flagship anniversary event was held in the presence of Guest of Honour Mr. Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Law Singapore, who witnessed representatives from key beneficiaries receive donation cheques from GSG. The donations will primarily enhance accessibility features in special education schools across East Coast GRC and support inclusive community spaces, including the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), President’s Challenge, and the People’s Association via the Siglap South Community Centre redevelopment.

GSG also announced new long-term community partnerships with the North East Community Development Council (CDC) and the Community Chest.

Centering on the theme “One Global Community. Shaping the Future,” the GSG event featured a student-led experiential exhibition and the official launch of a commemorative publication, unveiled by Minister Tong to mark the network’s quarter-century journey from a single local campus to a global system of 64 campuses across 11 countries.

Reflecting on the milestone, Atul Temurnikar, Chairman and Co-Founder of Global Schools Group, said: “Twenty-five years ago, we began our journey with just forty-eight students, driven by a commitment to establish an institution anchored in Singapore’s core principles of academic rigour, meritocracy, and continuous learning. Translating this home-grown educational model across sixty-four global campuses in eleven nations demonstrates the universal appeal of these foundational values. As we embark on introducing our next twenty international locations, our steadfast mission is to empower young leaders for future industries while instilling a profound sense of civic duty and social responsibility.”

Driving Academic Excellence and Real-World Innovation

GSG’s 25-year trajectory is backed by industry-leading academic achievements and global quality recognition. The network recently became the first education group globally to receive Japan’s prestigious Deming Prize for Total Quality Management, bringing its total to more than 650 international awards.

Recent academic and industry milestones across the network include:

  • Top Academic Outcomes: In recent International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations, over 150 GSG students achieved top scores of 44 and 45 points, earning the “IB World Topper” designation and securing placements at institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, NUS, and NTU.
  • Industry Impact: GSG alumni are actively leading advancements in critical sectors, including Kanika Gakhar, Launch Engineer for the SpaceX/NASA Falcon 9 rocket, and Samanyu Okade, Satellite Design Engineer.
  • Student-Led Innovation: Current 15-year-old GSG students recently developed LumaBand, an AI-powered wearable device designed to detect and mitigate fall risks among elderly citizens.
  • Next-Generation Curricula: To prepare its 45,000+ students for emerging technological shifts, GSG is establishing specialised research hubs, including the Centre for AI and Quantum Education, alongside a Silicon Valley Innovation Immersion programme for high-performing students.

Hashtag: #GlobalSchoolsGroup #OneGlobalCommunity #ShapingTheFuture

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About Global Schools Group

Global Schools Group has a network of 64 campuses across 11 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Malaysia, where 45,000 students from 70 nationalities study. GSG schools rank high in IB results, with over 100 students scoring World Topper (45/45) and Near Perfect Scores (44/45) in the IB Diploma exams. Over 1000 of its students have achieved A* and A in at least 7 or more subjects in the Cambridge IGCSE exams.

Each year over 150 global universities engage with GSG students who are guided by specialised in-house career counselors. GSG students have been accepted by Ivy League universities such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale, other leading universities such as Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the G5 of UK such as Oxford & Cambridge Universities, London School of Economics, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). GSG schools are a recipient of over 600 education excellence awards from international quality organisations and UK-Based World Book of Records Recognises GSG Schools as.

GoGlobal Task Force to visit Canada to support Mainland enterprises in expanding their global business


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2026 – ​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), a member of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global (GoGlobal Task Force), will lead a delegation on a seven-day visit to Canada starting September 20 to support Mainland enterprises in expanding their global business.

As one of the outbound missions under the supervision of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Ms Loretta Lee will lead the delegation comprising Chinese Mainland companies in sustainability and life and health sciences on a visit to Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. The visit aims to help Chinese Mainland enterprises understand the local ecosystems and precisely align their go-global needs, while attracting Canadian businesses in these strategic sectors to invest in Hong Kong, thereby driving new growth impetus.

Ms Lee said, “Canada is globally recognised for its exceptional research talent, clean technology leadership, and established life sciences ecosystem. As more Mainland green technology and life and health sciences enterprises pursue international growth through Hong Kong, they bring not only capital and access to one of the world’s largest markets, but also serve as ideal partners for Canadian companies seeking to explore Asia and beyond. We are keen to build fresh synergies with Canadian businesses to strengthen innovation, collaboration, and investment flows.”

During the visit, the delegation will meet with local institutions, chambers of commerce, and industry associations. They will also hold targeted discussions with leading Canadian green tech and healthcare enterprises, visit universities and research parks, and take part in sector-specific roundtables and business networking sessions.

Hashtag: #InvestHK

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Miss Universe Dispute Leaves Six Southeast Asian Franchises in Limbo

Mr. Nawat Itsaragrisil. A dispute over Miss Universe franchises leaves contestants from Laos, Thailand and four Southeast Asian countries uncertain about competing in Puerto Rico. (Photo: Miss Universe)

The Miss Universe Organization is facing a major dispute just weeks before its 75th anniversary pageant, with contestants from six Southeast Asian countries caught in the middle.

Laos, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore could all be affected by a disagreement over who has the right to run their national Miss Universe competitions and send contestants to the international pageant.

The dispute involves JKN Universe LLC, which owns the Miss Universe brand, and Miss Universe Eastern, a regional group led by Thai pageant executive Nawat Itsaragrisil.

In a statement this week, JKN Universe LLC said Miss Universe Eastern did not have the authority to grant or manage national Miss Universe franchises. It said it did not recognise agreements covering Thailand from 2025 to 2029, or Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore for 2026.

JKN said contestants chosen through those agreements would not be eligible to compete in the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico in November.

That has left the six countries facing uncertainty, with national contestants already chosen or being selected for this year’s competition.

The Latest Dispute

Miss Universe Eastern has rejected JKN’s statement.

The group says it has the right to manage Miss Universe competitions in 95 countries and territories in the eastern region. It also says Nawat was officially appointed as its CEO and is authorised to manage the franchises in those territories.

The Miss Universe Organization announced Nawat’s appointment in August.

Miss Universe Eastern said it did not approve JKN’s latest statement and does not consider it the official position of the entire organization.

JKN says the agreements issued through Nawat are not valid. Miss Universe Eastern says they are and that contestants from the six countries should still be allowed to compete in Puerto Rico.

For now, both sides are standing by their positions.

Miss Universe Laos

For Laos, the dispute could determine whether its 2026 contestant can compete in Puerto Rico.

In May, Nawat announced that his Miss Grand International business had secured the Miss Universe franchises for Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Thailand’s franchise was already under his management.

JKN now says those agreements are not valid, while Miss Universe Eastern says they remain in place.

Thailand is facing the same question. Tharina Botes was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2026 just weeks ago and is expected to represent the country in Puerto Rico.

Earlier Drama

The dispute comes less than a year after Nawat was at the centre of another Miss Universe controversy in Thailand.

During the 2025 pageant, Nawat publicly reprimanded Miss Mexico Fátima Bosch during a meeting over promotional duties. Bosch later walked out, with several other contestants appearing to follow her in support.

Miss Universe President Raúl Rocha publicly criticized Nawat, saying his behaviour went against the organisation’s standards of respect and dignity. Nawat later apologised to the contestants.

The 75th Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico in November, but the six Southeast Asian contestants now face uncertainty over whether their national franchises will be recognised.

Usmile Malaysia Strengthens Brand Presence with Puteri Balqis as New Brand Muse

The global oral care brand partners with Malaysian actress Puteri Balqis to bring innovative oral care closer to local consumers.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2026 – Global oral care brand usmile, trusted by more than 86 million users across over 30 countries, continues to strengthen its presence in Malaysia with a focus on innovation, technology, contemporary design and consumer engagement.

usmile Brand Muse Puteri Balqis Showcases the Brand's Latest Oral Care Range, Now Available in Malaysia
usmile Brand Muse Puteri Balqis Showcases the Brand’s Latest Oral Care Range, Now Available in Malaysia

As part of its continued brand-building efforts, usmile Malaysia has appointed Malaysian actress Puteri Balqis as its new brand muse.
Built around the integration of dental science, proprietary technology and modern design, usmile develops oral care solutions that combine functionality, innovation and user experience.
The brand continues to expand its international presence while bringing technology-driven oral care closer to consumers across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia.
Innovation at the Heart of usmile
Innovation remains central to usmile’s brand philosophy. The brand’s research and product development capabilities are supported by four dental laboratories and more than 750 technology patents, reflecting its continued investment in dental science, technology and product development.
usmile’s portfolio includes sonic electric toothbrushes, whitening toothpaste and everyday oral hygiene solutions, designed to support consumers’ different oral care needs and daily routines.
Beyond technology, usmile also places strong emphasis on design, functionality and user experience. By combining advanced technology with contemporary aesthetics, the brand aims to make oral care more accessible, engaging and relevant to modern lifestyles.
“Our focus is not only on developing innovative oral care products, but also on building a brand that consumers can understand, trust and connect with,” said Michelle Chen, Country Manager of usmile Indonesia and Malaysia. “Malaysia is an important market for us, and we are committed to strengthening our presence through innovation, consumer education and meaningful brand experiences.”
Puteri Balqis Joins Usmile Malaysia
The appointment of Puteri Balqis as usmile Malaysia’s new brand muse marks the brand’s first local brand muse partnership since entering the Malaysian market.
With her strong connection with Malaysian audiences, Puteri Balqis will help usmile share its brand story, product innovation and oral care message with local consumers in a more relatable way.
Puteri Balqis will also be part of usmile Malaysia’s MY Brand Day campaign on TikTok Shop from 18–20 September 2026, with exclusive livestream sessions from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.
Through innovation, engaging content and consumer-focused campaigns, usmile Malaysia aims to build stronger connections with local consumers and encourage better awareness of everyday oral care.
As usmile continues to grow globally, the brand remains focused on combining science, technology and design to create innovative oral care solutions for modern lifestyles.
For more information, consumers can visit usmile Malaysia’s official TikTok Shop and social media channels.

Hashtag: #usmile #usmilemalaysia #usmile #puteribalqisxusmile #MYBrandDayusmileMY #TikTokShopMYBrandDayMY




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

About Usmile

usmile is a professional oral care brand. Serving over 86 million users across 30+ countries, usmile integrates dental science, proprietary technologies, and modern design to deliver professional and effective oral care solutions. Backed by four dental laboratories, 750+ patents, and approval from the American Dental Association, usmile continues to make professional oral care more accessible worldwide.

usmile is a global oral care brand dedicated to redefining everyday oral care through the integration of dental science, proprietary technology and contemporary design. The brand develops innovative, effective and user-focused solutions that combine advanced oral care technology with modern lifestyles.

Driven by continuous research and product innovation, usmile offers a comprehensive range of oral care solutions, including sonic electric toothbrushes, whitening toothpaste and daily oral hygiene products.

With a growing presence across more than 30 countries and a strong focus on technology, functionality and user experience, usmile is committed to making professional-inspired oral care more accessible, engaging and relevant to consumers worldwide.

Laos, Thailand Move Forward With Plans for New Friendship Bridge Linking Vientiane, Loei

A picture of Mekong river in between the Banvang International Border Checkpoint in Muen District, Vientiane Province and the Ban Khok Phai Border Checkpoint in Pak Chom District, Loei Province.

Laos and Thailand are studying a possible new Friendship Bridge linking Vientiane Province with Loei Province. The proposed crossing is now in the feasibility and planning stage.

A picture of the Banvang International Border Checkpoint in Muen District, Vientiane Province and the Ban Khok Phai Border Checkpoint in Pak Chom District, Loei Province locations in Google maps.

The bridge would connect the Banvang International Border Checkpoint in Muen District, Vientiane Province, with the Ban Khok Phai Border Checkpoint in Pak Chom District, Loei Province, according to discussions held during the 21st Laos-Thailand Joint Committee on Border Security and Order meeting in Chiang Khan on 17 September.

If approved, the crossing would give people and businesses another route between the two countries and improve connections between Vientiane Province and northeastern Thailand.

The two sides still need to carry out further feasibility and environmental studies before they can begin formal negotiations, seek cabinet approval and arrange funding. No final construction site or construction schedule has been approved.

Thai authorities examined potential locations for the crossing during a preliminary meeting in Loei on 3 September.

One proposed site is near Khok Phai Village along Thailand’s Highway 211 in Pak Chom district. The proposed bridge would span about 400 meters across the Mekong River.

More Lao-Thai Bridges Planned

The Vientiane-Loei proposal is one of several new Mekong crossings under discussion between the two countries.

On 8 September, Thailand approved THB 1.78 billion (USD 55.4 million) in financial assistance for the Xiengman-Luang Prabang Mekong Bridge. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the bridge targeted to open in 2031.

Laos and Thailand are also discussing a sixth Friendship Bridge linking Salavanh Province with Ubon Ratchathani. The USD 165 million project could begin construction in 2029 and open in 2031.

The plans follow the opening of the fifth Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge between Bolikhamxay and Bueng Kan in late 2025, adding another road crossing to the transport network between the two countries.

African Swine Fever Spreads Across Laos, Leaves Thousands of Pigs Dead or Culled

Pig Farm (Photo: Vincent ter Beek - Pig Progress)

African swine fever has spread across Laos, with 11,369 pigs dead or culled since the outbreak began in Xayabouly Province in June.

The virus has since reached Phongsaly, Houaphanh, Xaysomboun, Luang Prabang and Vientiane Capital, prompting authorities to impose tighter controls on the movement of pigs and pork products.

Vehicles carrying pigs or pork products must undergo disinfection to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

People who violate the restrictions could face fines or legal action.

As of 15 September, African swine fever had spread across six districts in Xayabouly, killing or forcing the culling of more than 5,400 pigs and causing an estimated LAK 14.9 billion (about USD 665,000) in losses. Authorities have banned pig movements and sales, set up 19 checkpoints, and warned that illegal smuggling and the sale of meat from dead pigs could fuel further spread.

By the following day, the virus had killed nearly 1,000 pigs across four districts in Luang Prabang, causing more than LAK 1.13 billion (USD 50,700) in losses, according to local media reports.

The disease has affected farms across multiple districts and villages, with officials warning that further spread could cause significant economic losses and contribute to local pork shortages.

Containing the Outbreak

Authorities have ordered closer monitoring of pig health.

If farmers find sick or dead pigs, they must immediately report them and send blood samples to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Center for testing by veterinary specialists.

Authorities have also ordered farmers to isolate sick animals and keep them on affected farms rather than moving them elsewhere. Carcasses must be disposed of according to technical procedures to prevent the virus from spreading.

Officials are using disinfectants and other disease-control products, including dewormers, insecticides and deltamethrin, where necessary.

Farmers and traders must now strengthen biosecurity on farms. Advised measures include putting up fences around farms, preventing potentially infected animals from entering, setting up disinfection points at entrances and limiting visitors.

African Swine Fever

African swine fever is a highly contagious viral disease that affects domestic and wild pigs. It can cause mortality rates close to 100 percent in infected pigs, although it does not infect humans.

Common signs include high fever, weakness, loss of appetite and red, inflamed or bruised skin. In severe cases, infected pigs can die suddenly.

The disease does not pose a direct health risk to people, but outbreaks can cause major losses for farmers and disrupt local pork supplies.

Authorities are continuing to monitor the affected provinces and strengthen measures to prevent the virus from spreading to more farms.