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Nepal Protesters Set Parliament Ablaze as PM Quits Kathmandu, Nepal

Protesters gather at the Singha Durbar, the main administrative building for the Nepal government, in Kathmandu on September 9, 2025, a day after a police crackdown on demonstrations over social media prohibitions and corruption by the government. Nepali youth protesters set fire to parliament on September 9 as the veteran prime minister obeyed furious crowds to quit, a day after one of the deadliest crackdowns in years in which at least 19 people were killed.(Photo credit: Prabin RANABHAT / AFP)

By Paavan MATHEMA/AFP – Nepali demonstrators set parliament ablaze on Tuesday while the veteran prime minister quit, as a “Gen Z” protest movement sparked by a ban on social media overtook the Himalayan nation.

At least 19 people were killed during rallies a day earlier, one of the deadliest crackdowns in years which fuelled public anger.

Protesters flooded the streets of the capital Kathmandu on Tuesday, some jubilant and celebrating, others setting fire to government buildings and brandishing automatic rifles.

The rapid descent into chaos shocked many, and Nepal’s military warned against “activities that could lead the country into unrest and instability” in the country of 30 million people.

Protests began on Monday with demands that the government lift a ban on social media and tackle corruption, with police trying to crush the rallies — including using live ammunition, according to Amnesty International.

On Tuesday, despite the government rolling back its order and the apps returning online, protests reignited, spreading from the capital to multiple cities nationwide.

“The Nepal government has fallen, the youth have won the protest,” said key protest figure Sudan Gurung, in a post on newly-restored Instagram. “The future is ours.”

President calls for ‘restraint’

Gangs on Tuesday attacked and set fire to KP Sharma Oli’s house, the 73-year-old, four-time prime minister and leader of the Communist Party. His whereabouts are not known.

Plumes of smoke also covered Nepal’s parliament as demonstrators breached the fence and “torched the main building,” Ekram Giri, spokesman for the Parliament Secretariat, told AFP.

President Ramchandra Paudel, whose offices were also set on fire by mobs, pleaded for “all parties to exercise restraint, to not allow further damage”.

The call was echoed by neighbouring India, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that the “stability, peace and prosperity of Nepal are of utmost importance to us”.

The United Nations rights chief, Volker Turk, said he was “appalled” by the violence and called for talks.

Those appeals did not seem to be heeded.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the headquarters of a major publisher — the Kantipur Media Group — was burning, and called on “protesters not to target journalists”.

Protesters, mostly young men, were seen waving the country’s national flag as they dodged water cannons.

The International Crisis Group called it a “major inflection point in the country’s uneasy experience with democratic rule”.

Kathmandu’s airport remains open, but some flights were cancelled after smoke from fires affected visibility, airport spokesman Rinji Sherpa said.

‘Gen Z movement’

Oli in his resignation letter said that he had stepped down to allow “steps towards a political solution”.

His political career stretched nearly six decades, a period that saw a decade-long civil war, with Nepal abolishing its absolute monarchy in 2008 to become a republic.

First elected as prime minister in 2015, he was re-elected in 2018, reappointed briefly in 2021, and then took power in 2024 after his Communist Party forged a coalition government with the centre-left Nepali Congress in the often-volatile parliament.

What happens next is unclear.

“The protesters, leaders who are trusted by them and the army should come together to pave the way for a caretaker government,” constitutional lawyer Dipendra Jha told AFP.

Crisis Group analyst Ashish Pradhan echoed that, saying a “transitional arrangement will now need to be charted out swiftly and include figures who still retain credibility with Nepalis, especially the country’s youth”.

Balendra Shah, the 35-year-old engineer-turned-rapper who was elected as Kathmandu’s mayor in 2022, and who is seen as a popular figure in the transition ahead, used Facebook to call on people to “be restrained”.

“We had made it clear: this is purely a Gen Z movement,” Shah wrote after Oli’s resignation, referring to young people aged largely in their 20s.

“Your generation must take the lead in running the country. Be ready!”

People aged 15-40 make up nearly 43 percent of the population, according to government statistics — while unemployment hovers around 10 percent and GDP per capita is just $1,447, according to the World Bank.

Several social media sites — including Facebook, YouTube and X — were blocked on Friday, after the government cut access to 26 unregistered platforms.

Since then, videos contrasting the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the children of politicians flaunting luxury goods and expensive vacations have gone viral on TikTok, which was not blocked.

“This frustration has been building for over two decades, fuelled by corruption,” said a 26-year-old protester, who did not want to be named.

“What you see now is just a spark ignited by social media.”


© Agence France-Presse

Quality Over Quantity: Ampace Reinforces Safety in Mass-Scale Production at RE+ 2025

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ampace, a company dedicated to the research and innovation of advanced lithium-ion batteries, showcased the industry’s first mass-produced 10C semi-solid LFP battery cells at RE+ 2025 (September 9–11). This milestone demonstrates Ampace’s scalable manufacturing strength and proven zero-incident safety record, engineered to meet local market needs.


Based on U.S. market requirements, Ampace has addressed critical challenges such as grid instability, space-constrained data centers, and the demand for EV-compatible home storage. In August 2025, Ampace earned the EcoVadis Silver Medal, further validating its commitment to safety, innovation, and sustainability. This accolade places Ampace among the top 10% of companies worldwide for sustainability performance and elevates its carbon management practices from intermediate to advanced—underscoring its ability to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable solutions tailored for the North American market.

Adaptive Performance: Semi-Solid LFP Cells Redefining LFP Standards

Building on its technological breakthroughs, Ampace delivers performance that adapts to real-world energy demands. With a 10C continuous discharge rate—twice the industry standard—and 20% higher energy density, Ampace’s semi-solid LFP cells set a new benchmark for performance. This enables energy systems to respond faster to grid fluctuations, improving stability and efficiency for renewable energy integration.

This new generation of batteries not only provides longer lifespans but also enhances thermal stability to eliminate risks of leakage or thermal runaway, and ensures unmatched resilience in extreme conditions (–20ºC to 55ºC). 

Together, these advancements ensure superior performance, reliability, and safety—powering applications from Behind-the-Meter Energy Storage to remote off-grid operations.

Advanced Technology: Semi-Solid LFP Cells Now in Scaled Mass Production

At the exhibition, Ampace showcased its PU200 data center powerhouse and PR-S4 systems, both already integrated with its semi-solid LFP cells. From residential stabilization to mission critical backup power, these systems deliver exceptional reliability and endurance.

“We’ve moved beyond R&D papers,” said Dr. Yuan, the CTO of Ampace. “These battery cells and systems are in field deployment – that’s how innovation creates real impact.”

Uncompromised Safety: Zero Thermal Runaway Propagation at Pack Level

Safety has always been central to Ampace’s innovation. Its semi-solid-state technology—engineered to eliminate leakage risks and prevent thermal runaway—has successfully passed UL 9540A testing, earning recognition as one of the industry’s safest solutions. Backed by real-time leakage monitoring and cell-level fire safety certification, Ampace delivers robust system protection for mission-critical applications.

Proven under real-world conditions, including a simulated 9.0-magnitude earthquake in Chile that secured stable electricity for more than 200,000 residents, Ampace translates laboratory breakthroughs into field-proven reliability. To date, with over 69 million cells produced without a single incident or recall, the company maintains an uncompromised safety record that strengthens its pathway to global expansion.

Looking ahead, Ampace aims to to build lasting trust in North America by upholding the highest standards of safety and performance. By advancing reliability, operational excellence, and user-focused innovation, the company remains committed to supporting the region’s clean energy transition—delivering more efficient and resilient energy solutions.

CLOU Aqua-C3.0 Pro Energy Storage System Debuts at RE+, Unlocking Industry Revenue Growth

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CLOU, a BNEF Tier 1 energy storage system provider, unveiled its next-generation Aqua-C3.0 Pro liquid-cooled energy storage system at RE+ 2025, North America’s largest energy event. The company also showcased multiple integrated energy storage systems and comprehensive multi-scenario solutions covering the full lifecycle.

CLOU Aqua-C3.0 Pro Liquid-Cooled Energy Storage System
CLOU Aqua-C3.0 Pro Liquid-Cooled Energy Storage System

Building upon its well-known predecessor, the Aqua-C2.5, the Aqua-C3.0 Pro features a 600Ah+ capacity cell and up to 6.88MWh energy storage capacity. It achieves a significant leap in system efficiency, safety, and O&M convenience, reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) by 10.63% to drive further revenue growth across the industry.

Efficiency leap: Breaking through energy conversion bottlenecks with multiple innovations

Under demanding high-energy-density conditions, the Aqua-C3.0 Pro reliably delivers performance that closely matches its rated capacity, thanks to several core innovations. Its direct-cooling technology sends refrigerant straight to battery cells, minimizing heat transfer stages and shortening thermal pathways. This translates into smaller temperature variations between cells, a smoother efficiency curve, and a 10% reduction in operational costs.

CLOU’s proprietary Smart Scales technology actively balances cell energy in real-time during charging and discharging. By continuously transferring energy between cells, it quickly minimizes performance gaps, reduces power derating, and prevents premature shutdowns, ultimately boosting total lifetime energy output by 4%.

Further enhancing efficiency, the system’s SiC String PCS operates with reduced electrical losses and maintains stable performance even under partial loads. By cutting internal energy waste and easing cooling demands, this approach achieves an exceptional system RTE of up to 92.3%.

Working seamlessly with these, the CTR architecture eliminates redundant modules and connection points. This significantly improves consistency across battery clusters.

Ultimate safety: Systematic design ensuring safety for the high-capacity cell era

Safety originates from systematic design. The CTR architecture isolates thermal and electrical pathways while enabling controlled venting, thereby localizing and containing abnormal conditions more effectively. Real-time active cell balancing minimizes weak cell deviations and prevents abrupt temperature surges, expanding the safety margin. Utilizing the SiC String PCS ensures smoother transient responses during grid disturbances and operational switching, significantly reducing power-stage stress and thermal/electrical impact on battery cells. These integrated, multi-layered safeguards work together across the system, creating a robust safety foundation for the era of high-capacity ESS cells.

In addition, in view of safety challenges brought by larger capacity cells, the Aqua-C3.0 Pro introduces the 2.0 ThermoFlux active ventilation explosion-proof system. Developed by CLOU together with the Corporate Research Center of the Midea Group under the safety standards framework of the National Fire Protection Association in North America, the system has engineered an end-to-end protection chain spanning the entire disaster lifecycle through the multi-tiered integrated design of thermal runaway detection, water-based suppression, explosion venting, and active ventilation.

O&M simplicity: Accelerating project implementation and payback

The Aqua-C3.0 Pro simplifies every step, from deployment to operation, targeting key project implementation pain points. A standard 20-foot container is applied for greater transport convenience. The CTR architecture is characterized by fewer components and interfaces, shorter harnesses, more direct bus bars with shorter assembly times, a lower MTTR, and further streamlined spare parts; effective active balancing reduces the frequency of manual intervention and onsite balancing; moreover, the self-powered aux moves the boundary of power supply and distribution forward to the near side of the equipment, and further simplifies the in-station low-voltage range and wiring to facilitate parallel construction and pre-commissioning. This results in shorter lead times, lower lifecycle costs, and more stable long-term operational performance, providing critical support for customers to accelerate project implementation and payback.

“The Aqua-C3.0 Pro is the result of our efforts to delve into energy storage technology and respond to customer needs directly. We believe that only through real technological innovation can we create extra value for customers in the three dimensions of efficiency, safety and convenience, and promote the healthy development of the industry. The Aqua-C3.0 Pro will become powerful support for worldwide customers to develop high-quality energy storage projects,” said Wang Kai, Product Director of CLOU Energy Storage Company.

CLOU booth at RE+2025
CLOU booth at RE+2025

In addition to releasing the Aqua-C3.0 Pro, CLOU also showcased its advanced energy storage technology matrix covering all scenarios, including the Aqua-C2.5 liquid-cooled energy storage system, and Aqua-E233 C&I energy storage system, and CLOU EMS.

CLOU has made remarkable achievements in the U.S. market such as the first large-scale lithium-ion ESS project in Indiana, the largest energy storage power station in Mississippi, and the lithium energy storage project with the highest compliance level in California. In order to serve the North American market better, CLOU has also built a localized team to create localized products, , and strengthened the coordinated application of international standards in product R&D.

HKGSEO Launches New SEO+GEO Optimization Service to Help Businesses Seize Traffic Opportunities in the AI Search Era


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 September 2025 – HKGSEO, a leading SEO company in Hong Kong, today announced the launch of its revolutionary “SEO+GEO” dual-engine optimization service. This new offering aims to help businesses adapt to the AI-driven search revolution by not only improving traditional search engine rankings but also actively implementing Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). This ensures that their content is proactively recommended and referenced by AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek, allowing businesses to capture next-generation traffic opportunities.

With the increasing popularity of AI chatbots, user search behavior has undergone a fundamental shift. More and more users are no longer simply typing keywords but are instead using natural language to ask questions, expecting immediate, clear, and context-rich answers. This means that in addition to traditional SEO, businesses now need to focus on GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) to ensure that AI actively “speaks” their brand content when answering questions.

HKGSEO stated, “AI Overview has become a critical component of Google search results. Even the best SEO rankings may appear below AI-generated summaries. In the future, a business’s visibility will not only depend on keyword rankings but also on whether AI understands, trusts, and is willing to reference them.”

HKGSEO’s new SEO+GEO service leverages AI technology to provide the following key optimization strategies:

Content Structure Optimization: Deploy FAQ-style content on websites with Schema markup to make it easier for AI to understand and reference.

Authority and Trust Building: Use authoritative data, customer case studies, and industry certifications to enhance E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) signals.

Brand Reputation Development: Increase opportunities for AI referencing and recommendations through industry directories, media coverage, and multi-channel content exposure.

Technical Architecture Optimization: Ensure websites are effectively crawled and indexed by AI bots, improving multimedia recognition and loading performance.

HKGSEO added, “AI needs to learn from high-quality content to provide good answers. If businesses fail to optimize their content and technical infrastructure, they will be absent from AI’s knowledge base, missing out on the next wave of traffic opportunities.”

With HKGSEO’s new SEO+GEO optimization service, businesses can benefit from a single monthly fee that not only ensures effectiveness across Google, Google Mobile, Yahoo, and Bing SEO but also enhances visibility on major AI Q&A platforms (such as Google AI Overview and Bing Copilot Answer). This helps businesses capture traffic from both search engines and AI platforms, improving their digital marketing ROI.

Hashtag: #HKGSEO

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

About HKGSEO

HKGSEO is a specializing in website SEO and GEO optimization services. Having optimized over 1,000 websites, it was founded and is operated by former Google employees. The company is committed to providing affordable, one-stop digital marketing solutions for SMEs, including SEO, GEO, SEM, and web design.

Website:

Asia’s largest sustainable gastronomy event launches in November 2025 – Philippines to host the first-ever Terra Madre Asia & Pacific

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Terra Madre, the global gathering created by Slow Food and known for its biennial Terra Madre Salone del Gusto event in Turin, Italy, will hold its first-ever regional edition in Asia and Pacific in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, from November 19 to 23, 2025.

Carbin Reef, Negros Occidental — a 32,000-hectare protected marine sanctuary and part of the Slow Food Community in Sagay
Carbin Reef, Negros Occidental — a 32,000-hectare protected marine sanctuary and part of the Slow Food Community in Sagay

Under the theme “From Soil to Sea: A Slow Food Journey Through Tastes and Traditions,” Terra Madre Asia & Pacific (TMAP) will bring together farmers, fishers, indigenous leaders, chefs, cooks, academics, youth, and cultural advocates to celebrate food biodiversity and advance sustainable food systems rooted in tradition, fairness, and care for the environment.

The five-day event will take place at the Provincial Capitol Lagoon and will feature 2,000 delegates from over 20 countries, including India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Pacific Island nations. With immersive exhibits, tastings, conferences, and community meals, TMAP 2025 is expected to attract thousands of visitors from across the region.

“This is a turning point not just for Slow Food in the Philippines, but for the entire region. Terra Madre Asia & Pacific is a space where grassroots wisdom can shape policy, tradition can spark innovation, and the lived experiences of communities take their rightful place in shaping our global food future,” said Ramon “Chin Chin” Uy Jr., Slow Food Councilor for Southeast Asia. “It’s time for Asia and the Pacific to take center stage in the global sustainable food conversation.”

“The first edition of Terra Madre Asia & Pacific marks an exciting new chapter for the global Slow Food movement,” said Paolo Di Croce, General Director of Slow Food. “This gathering celebrates the shared products and traditions that unite Asian and Pacific communities, while showing how food can connect people, pass on knowledge, inspire solutions, and help safeguard the planet for future generations. Starting with the next edition, the event will be held every two years, a milestone for our movement and for the Philippines. It also offers a unique opportunity to strengthen our global network through the creation of a new Slow Food Hub for Asia and the Pacific, and the launch of strategic initiatives such as Slow Food Travel.”

A regional hub for Slow Food

TMAP 2025 marks the designation of Bacolod City as the Center for Sustainable Gastronomy and Negros Occidental as the Organic Capital of the Philippines, an evolution of the Terra Madre Visayas events successfully hosted in 2023 and 2024. Modeled after the long-running Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Italy, this regional edition is designed to highlight the culinary traditions and food systems of Asia-Pacific while connecting them to the wider global movement.

Thematic areas and highlights

The event will be organized around a series of thematic spaces and activities that reflect the diversity of Asia-Pacific food cultures:

  • Foodways Exhibition: A centerpiece showcasing four iconic staples of the region — rice of Southeast Asia, spices of South Asia, soy of East Asia, and taro of Australia and the Pacific Islands. Through interactive displays and storytelling, visitors will see how these foods shape cultural identity and biodiversity.
  • Education Pavilion: Programs for children and adults centered on taste education and sensory experiences, helping participants understand biodiversity and make informed food choices.
  • Slow Food Coffee Coalition: An interactive journey from farm to cup, with tastings, workshops, and stories highlighting the region’s coffee traditions and the push for fair and transparent practices.
  • House of Slow Food: A central hub introducing the philosophy of Slow Food and its global and regional projects.
  • Public Talks and Conferences: Open forums where farmers, Indigenous leaders, cooks, youth, and policy makers discuss issues such as climate resilience, food justice, and sustainable agriculture.
  • Terra Madre Kitchen and Taste Workshops: Guided tastings, chef collaborations, and cooking demonstrations showcasing regional ingredients and techniques.
  • Slow Drinks, Market, and Street Food: Spaces dedicated to organic farmers, producers, sustainable drinks, and diverse regional street foods. These will highlight local ingredients while also featuring the Ark of Taste, Slow Food’s international online catalogue of endangered heritage ingredients that are sustainably produced, unique in taste, and rooted in distinct eco-regions. Sample Ark of Taste products from Negros Occidental and Western Visayas include batuan (Garcinia binucao), kadyos (pigeon pea), criollo cacao (such as Bago City’s heirloom cacao), artisanal muscovado sugar, and traditional salts like tultul and budbud.
  • Community Kitchen: A communal dining area where representatives from all 61 barangays of Bacolod will cook and share traditional dishes, turning the event into a living expression of local heritage.

An impressive line-up of international and local chefs and mixologists will be participating in Terra Madre 2025:

International Chefs – Johanne Siy (Asia’s Best Female Chef 2023 – Singapore / Philippines), Wes Kuo (Michelin Green Star Chef – Taipei), Hafizzul Hashim (Fiz & Green Michelin Star Chef – Singapore), Lordfer Lalicon (Kaya, Michelin Green Star Chef – USA), Christina Rasmussen (Fura – Singapore / Denmark / USA), Melissa Miranda (Musang – USA), Romy Dorotan (Purple Yam – USA / Philippines), William Wongso (Indonesia’s Culinary Ambassador), Chef Ross Serai (Serai – Australia), and Ardika Dwitama Tjandra (August – Jakarta).

Local Chefs – Jordy Navarra (Toyo & Panaderya Toyo – Manila), Thirdy Dolatre and John Kevin “Nav” Navoa (Hapag & Aya – Makati), Miko Calo (Taqueria FrancoManila), Chele González (Gallery by Chele and Asador Alfonso – Manila / Cavite), JP “Jepe” Cruz (Inatô – Makati), Stephan Duhesme (Metiz – Manila), Yuichi Ito – (Crosta Pizzeria – Makati), Don Patrick “Don” Baldosano (Linamnam – Parañaque), Antonio “Tony Boy” Escalante (Antonio’s Group – Tagaytay / Manila), Aaron Isip (Kasa PalmaManila), Patrick Go (Your Local – Makati), Angelo Comsti (Offbeat Bistro – Manila), Rhea Rizzo (Mrs. Saldo’s – Cavite), Bettina Arguelles (Manila), Tina Legarda (Bamba Bistro – Parañaque), Inés Castañeda and Filippo Turrini + Roots Team (Roots – Siargao), Charles Montañez (Mamacita – Taguig / BGC), Datu Shariff Pendatun III (Manila / Mindanao), David Amoros (El Born – Manila), David del Rosario (CEV – Siargao), Dedet de la Fuente (Lechon Diva – Manila), Erwan Heussaff + FEATR (Manila), Miguel “Cabel” Moreno (Palm Grill – Quezon City / Mindanao), Chef Waya Araos-Wijangco (Baguio, Manila), Gerald Montelibano (Cibo di Marghi – Manila), Andre Malarky (Wild Siargao – Siargao), Rhea Sycip (Cavite), and JayJay Sycip (Cavite).

Negrense-Based Chefs – Don Colmenares (SAUMA – Negros Occidental), Nico Millanes (Portiko Cafe –  Bacolod), and Mark Lobaton (Enting’s – Sagay, Negros Occidental).

International Mixologists – Danny Childs (Slow Drinks – USA), Danny Park (Zest – South Korea), Agung Prabowo (The Old Man & PENICILLIN – Hong Kong / Indonesia), Sasha Wijidessa (FURA – Singapore / Denmark), Daniel Nguyen (Sông Cái Distillery – Vietnam / USA), Renate Spurlock (Kaya & Bayani BarUSA), Anna Ye (Anna Ye TeaVietnam / USA), and Rishot Laloo / Sagar Neve (Shad SkyeIndia).

Local Mixologists – Niko Tiutan (Ito – Manila), Ron Cruz  (Fat Cat – Manila), Jessie Qi (Last Chance -Siargao), Kalel “Liquido Maestro” Demetrio (Agimat & Alamat – Manila), Ken Alonso  (Proudly Promdi – Ilocos Norte / Manila), Frances “Janelle Frances” Ang (Manila), Alyssa “Aly” Lorenzo (Xi by Cafe Guilt- Manila) and Arcadius Rybak (Pampanga).

The program includes events such as the Opening Ceremony, Mayor’s Lunch, Governor’s Night, and a Department of Tourism Welcome Dinner, as well as curated, ticketed dining experiences.

Collaboration across sectors

TMAP 2025 is made possible through collaboration between Slow Food, the City Government of Bacolod led by Mayor Greg Gasataya, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental led by Governor Eugenio Lacson, the Department of Tourism led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, the Department of Agriculture led by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the Department of Trade and Industry led by Secretary Cristina Roque, TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez, Congressman Albee Benitez, Congressman Javi Benitez, and Senator Loren Legarda. Partners include Plus63 Design Co., FEATR, and the Slow Food Community in Negros.

The event also introduces a distinct visual identity inspired by archipelagic landscapes and handcrafted clay forms, reflecting resilience, biodiversity, and cultural interconnectedness designed and created by illustrator Dan Matutina.

About Terra Madre

Founded by Slow Food in Italy, Terra Madre is a global network of food communities working to defend biodiversity, promote food sovereignty, and create sustainable food systems rooted in local traditions. Its biennial gathering, Terra Madre Salone del Gusto in Turin, is recognized as one of the most important events on food policies in the world.

Media contacts:
FINN Partners Greater China
Allison Tong, Director
Allison.tong@finnpartners.com

Stephanie Sin, Account Manager
Stephanie.sin@finnpartners.com

Bizcap boosts lending power: $7.5m for Aussie SMEs, $4m for Kiwi businesses

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Australia and New Zealand will now have access to increased funding, as non-bank lender Bizcap raises its lending limit in both regions.

Bizcap Australia has increased its lending limit to AUD$7.5 million, further strengthening the company’s ability to support larger, established businesses.

The expanded lending capacity in Australia comes on the back of another large deal, valued at more than $6.4 million, which was finalised within just a few days and involved a six-week bridging loan to support a hotel settlement. This reiterates the market demand and Bizcap’s ability to provide substantial funding to SMEs with speed and efficiency.

Bizcap New Zealand has doubled its maximum loan size from NZD$2 million to NZD$4 million. This shift is in response to the increase in demand for both direct-to-customer and adviser-referred deals at a considerable size.

Bizcap’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO Zalman Blachman said the decision to raise lending limits across Australia and New Zealand was driven by strong demand from customers and referral partners for larger, more flexible funding options.

“We’re seeing growing demand from brokers who are looking for solutions for clients with more complex structures, larger loan requirements and tighter deadlines. By lifting our funding limits, we’re not only supporting SMEs directly, but also providing brokers with a powerful option to get challenging deals across the line,” Blachman said.

“Our team knows how to assess complex deals with simplicity – working closely with credit, external parties, brokers and the SME – to deliver outcomes that traditional lenders often can’t.”

Bizcap’s Co-Founder Abraham White said boosting the funding limit will give many businesses reliable, ongoing access to the capital they need to grow.

“This is exactly why we started Bizcap: to back businesses with bespoke, outside-the-box lending requirements when traditional providers won’t,” White said.

Bizcap partners with advisers and brokers to help deliver funding solutions to a broader range of clients. Local credit specialists assess the overall financial health of a business — not just credit scores — and support partners throughout the referral process.

About Bizcap

Bizcap is a global non-bank business lender offering fast, flexible funding to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, the UK, and Europe. Founded in 2019, Bizcap empowers SMEs by offering approvals in as little as three hours, with same-day funding available. Bizcap has funded more than 42,000 SMEs, totalling $1.9 billion, while holding a 4.9/5 Trustpilot rating.

For more information, visit bizcap.com.au

Jiangsu Deploys China’s First All-Voltage-Level Lightning Fault-Locating System

NANJING, China, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd. announced the launch of its lightning monitoring and analysis system for its distribution network on September 5, marking completion of China’s first lightning fault location system that covers all voltage levels across both transmission and distribution networks. The system doubles the speed of locating and restoring lightning-caused faults on distribution lines and reduces lightning-related customer outage duration by 50%.

In the first half of 2025, Jiangsu province recorded 380,000 lightning strikes—twice the number reported during the same period last year. “As one of China’s largest provincial power grids, Jiangsu’s network spans nearly 370,000 kilometers, with extensive coverage and countless nodes, which can make post-storm fault location challenging,” said Zhu Zhen, Deputy Director of the Distribution Operation and Maintenance Division, Distribution Network Management Department at State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power. “The newly launched solution uses AI and multi-source data integration to overcome challenges such as pinpointing outage locations and lengthy field inspections, cutting fault-location time to minutes.”

According to Zhu, the system introduces three major innovations: generating lightning hotspot heat maps from meteorological data to support real-time monitoring of high-risk areas; using intelligent diagnostics to automatically distinguish between urban and rural operating conditions, tagging affected structures and recording past lightning events; and analyzing surge arrester operation frequency to guide targeted deployment of lightning protection facilities.

“The new system enables rapid and precise location of lightning-related outages and is a practical application of AI for grid operations. It will materially improve service reliability during peak lightning season,” stated Li Jian, Deputy Director of the China National Energy Key Laboratory of Lightning Disaster Detection, Early Warning and Safety Protection.

Since entering pilot operation, the system has successfully analyzed more than 20,000 lightning-activity data points, identified over 50 lightning-related faults, and achieved post-verification accuracy exceeding 90% following manual verification, according to company figures.

 

 

intelamp Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Display of Solar-Powered LEDs

  • 36,862 intelamp Solar LED Lights Illuminate a Vision of “World Peace”

DUNHUANG, China, Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — intelamp, a global innovator in solar landscape lighting solutions, has set a new Guinness World Record for Largest display of solar-powered LEDs. On August 28, a dazzling array of 36,862 intelamp solar lights lit up the iconic Mingsha Mountain dunes in Dunhuang,  forming a brilliant “Silk Road” lighting pattern.

36,862 intelamp Solar LED Lights Set Guinness World Record
36,862 intelamp Solar LED Lights Set Guinness World Record

This spectacular display surpassed the previous record of 24,765 lights set in Japan and drew a crowd of more than 40,000 visitors. Beyond its breathtaking visual impact, the event highlighted the vast potential of renewable energy and reaffirmed intelamp’s mission to deliver sustainable lighting solutions worldwide.

“For us, this record is more than just a number. It represents our vision to bring light, warmth, and friendship to communities across the globe,” said Master Tang, Chief Scientist of intelamp. “As a Shenzhen-based company, we are proud to demonstrate how solar innovation can inspire both sustainable development and cultural connection.”

For eight consecutive years, intelamp has advanced solar education through global outreach programs in schools and communities. The company has also partnered with international NGOs, donating tens of thousands of solar lamps to raise awareness of renewable energy. In addition, intelamp supports cultural and athletic initiatives, including sponsorship of an international rugby team in Shenzhen to promote cross-cultural friendship.

China produces more than 90% of the world’s solar lights, and intelamp stands out for its high-performance design, durability, and long lifespan. Recognized widely on Amazon and through its official website (www.intelamp.com), the brand continues to expand steadily into global markets.

About intelamp

intelamp is a leading solar lighting company headquartered in Shenzhen, China. Committed to innovation, durability, and environmental responsibility, intelamp designs cutting-edge solar landscape lighting solutions. With a mission to spread light and friendship across the world, intelamp is consistently recognized as a trusted brand in solar technology.

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/105300-largest-display-of-solar-powered-leds