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UnionPay, Official Payment Partner of the 26th CIFIT, Facilitates Global Development with Payment Innovation

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Advertorial Desk
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XIAMEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 September 2026 – On September 8, the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) opened at the Xiamen International Expo Center. Held under the theme of “Further expanding bilateral investment, jointly facilitating global development”, this year’s CIFIT has attracted the participation of delegations from 123 countries and regions. As the official payment partner of the event, UnionPay showcased its key business achievements in international expansion and technological innovation. Highlights included its global network, UnionPay cross‑border B2B payment solutions, Nihao China App—a one‑stop service platform for inbound visitors to China—and the National Pilot Base for AI Application (Financial Sector). Dong Junfeng, Chairman of China UnionPay and UnionPay International, attended the event.

Strengthening the Global Acceptance Network

In a continuous effort to strengthening its global payment networks, UnionPay is now accepted in 183 countries and regions, covering more than 100 million merchants outside China’s mainland. UnionPay cards have been issued in 84 countries and regions outside China’s mainland, with its mobile payment services available in over 100 markets. UnionPay is also advancing QR payment connectivity with local payment networks in multiple geographies worldwide. Outside China’s mainland, UnionPay QR payments are accepted at over 46 million merchants, and over 200 UnionPay‑standard wallets have been launched in 37 countries and regions.

The “Global Network” section of UnionPay’s exhibition at the CIFIT displayed its three‑pronged business structure centered on the acceptance, card issuance, and cross-border QR payment linkages. Leveraging its advanced global switching and clearing infrastructure and payment technologies, UnionPay has launched digital payment solutions that are tailored to emerging subsectors within trade, such as cross‑border e‑commerce, as well as flight and hotel services. For Chinese enterprises going global, online travel agencies, and cross‑border e‑commerce clients, UnionPay has introduced the Virtual Commercial Card (VCC), a digital corporate card product. Featuring over-the-air provisioning and global acceptance, the solution delivers digital payment services that are efficient, secure, and controlled. Embracing open cooperation, UnionPay empowers partners in a collective effort to foster a new ecosystem for connected cross‑border payments.

Advancing AI‑Payment Integration to Build an Intelligent Payment Ecosystem

Responding to the deepening integration of artificial intelligence into the payment industry, UnionPay is using its Agentic Payment Open Protocol (APOP) as a key enabler to evolve AI‑powered finance from isolated projects toward industry-wide adoption. Providing a unified set of underlying technical standards for agentic payment use cases, the APOP is now available on the UnionPay Open Platform. The initial 19 partners consist of domestic and international commercial banks, AI agent providers, tech firms, merchants, and acquirers. Together with dozens of ecosystem partners, UnionPay has completed pilot transactions in real-word settings for overseas hotel reservations, in‑vehicle agent-assisted purchases, AI‑enabled flight booking, utility payments in the UnionPay App, and smart in-store ordering services.

In the exhibition area, UnionPay showcased a range of agentic payment achievements—the result of pulling industry resources to facilitate the integration and collaboration of computing power, data, and AI models, with a view to building a financial AI ecosystem that is open, controlled, secure, and reliable. Guided by the vision of “Trusted Ties, Shared Success”, UnionPay pursues sharing, joint governance and win‑win outcomes in its engagement with partners, delivering standard technical paradigms for the industry that is viable and replicable.

The Nihao China App, an All-in-One Solution that Makes Payment Easier for Visitors to China

In another exhibition zone themed “Nihao China”, UnionPay showcased the Nihao China App, a one‑stop digital service platform created specifically for inbound visitors to China. Integrating solutions for payment, transport, lifestyle, and cultural experience-driven tourism, and featuring an AI assistant, the app enables travelers to get around China hassle-free with their mobile phones.

The Nihao China App allows users to link their international cards for payments; mainstream Chinese QR code payments—both the Merchant Presented Mode and the Customer Presented Mode—are also supported. Over 300 mobile apps can seamlessly invoke the Nihao China App for payments. When it comes to transit, the app can be used to hail a taxi, purchase train and plane tickets, and ride the subway in 43 major Chinese cities and the bus in 1,760 cities at the county level and above nationwide. The app also supports 27 languages, including Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean and Russian. The app’s built-in AI assistant can read and respond to text prompts provided in 119 languages, while its speech recognition feature enables voice-based Q&A in 35 languages. Through multi‑modal interactions based on speech, texts and images, the app can provide assistance across various use cases, such as payment, navigation, translation, and content sharing. Other tourist‑friendly features include e‑SIM data plans, currency conversion, English‑language maps, tax refund, and city-specific travel guides. As of July 2026, the Nihao China App has surpassed 800,000 downloads in over 160 countries and regions globally.

UnionPay continues to advance Project Excellence to facilitate the payment journey for inbound visitors in China, and accelerate payment connectivity between China’s mainland and the rest of the world. As of this past July, the inbound transactions generated by UnionPay cards issued outside China’s mainland and by overseas partner wallets increased 51% and 53% year on year, respectively. During the CIFIT, UnionPay worked with local banks to launch marketing campaigns at the Xiamen International Expo Center. These activities centered on “ticket‑stub economy”—where tickets to cultural and sports events come with discounts at nearby consumer locations—and payment offers outside China’s mainland, further enhancing user experience for Chinese and international participants alike.

At this year’s CIFIT, UnionPay demonstrated its latest advancements in cross‑border payments, intelligent finance, and payment facilitation for inbound visitors to promote payment connectivity among industrial partners at home and abroad. Moving forward, UnionPay will further leverage its strengths in global networks, products, technologies, and standards to expand international cooperation. Driven by the vision of “Trusted Ties, Shared Success”, it will contribute to the development of an open world economy and a global development community.

Hashtag: #UnionPayInternational

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

Laos Prepares For ASEAN Para Games With 12-Sport Bid

By
Laotian Times
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Laos triumphed over the Philippines at the AOZ Championship on 20 January 2024. (Photo: X-1/IWBF)

Laos is preparing to compete in 12 sports at the 14th ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur next October.

The Lao team has proposed entering athletics, swimming, powerlifting, boccia, women’s goalball, men’s blind football, women’s wheelchair basketball, cycling, badminton, wheelchair fencing, tennis and shooting, according to the Lao delegation attending the ASEAN Para Sports Federation’s Board of Governors meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week.

The 14th ASEAN Para Games will run from October 17–23, 2027, bringing para athletes from across ASEAN to Kuala Lumpur for a week of regional competition.

Member countries are currently submitting preliminary plans for the sports they hope to enter, with Laos proposing 12 disciplines for the Games.

Laos at the 2026 ASEAN Para Games

Earlier this year, Laos sent a large delegation to the 13th ASEAN Para Games, held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, from 20-27 January.

The Lao team competed against athletes from nine other ASEAN countries after Cambodia withdrew from the Games.

Lao athletes took part in athletics, swimming, weightlifting, goalball, volleyball, wheelchair basketball, boccia, football, cycling, shooting, fencing, badminton and tennis.

Before leaving for Thailand, the team received support from the government and private sector, including jerseys worth LAK 96 million (USD 4,445).

Laos is now looking ahead to the 2027 Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Kenanga Investment Bank Introduces World’s First Hang Seng Biotech Index Structured Warrants to Malaysia

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Advertorial Desk
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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 September 2026 – Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (“Kenanga Group” or “The Group“) is proud to unveil the world’s first structured warrants linked to the Hang Seng Biotech Index (“HSBIO“) under its flagship brand, NagaWarrants by Kenanga (“NagaWarrants“). The new warrants, HSBIO-CAA (0661AA) and HSBIO-HBA (0661BA), provide Malaysian investors with exposure to Hong Kong’s biotechnology and healthcare sector, one of Asia’s most compelling long-term growth themes driven by demographic shifts, rising healthcare demand and continued medical innovation.

(From left to right) Nancy Cheng, Executive Director and Head of Operations of Hang Seng Indexes Company; Linda Luk, Executive Director and Product Strategist (ETF) of Hang Seng Indexes Company; Gilbert Lee, Executive Chairman of Hang Seng Indexes Company; Nicholas Ho, Commissioner for Belt and Road of the HKSAR Government; Muzambli Markam, Consul General of Malaysia in Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR; Philip Lim, Head of Equity Markets and Group Head of Equity Derivatives of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad ("KIBB"); Kenneth Teoh, Deputy Head of Equity Derivatives and Head of Equity Derivatives Trading of KIBB, and Isabelle Zhen, Head of Group Equity Marketing of KIBB
(From left to right) Nancy Cheng, Executive Director and Head of Operations of Hang Seng Indexes Company; Linda Luk, Executive Director and Product Strategist (ETF) of Hang Seng Indexes Company; Gilbert Lee, Executive Chairman of Hang Seng Indexes Company; Nicholas Ho, Commissioner for Belt and Road of the HKSAR Government; Muzambli Markam, Consul General of Malaysia in Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR; Philip Lim, Head of Equity Markets and Group Head of Equity Derivatives of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (“KIBB”); Kenneth Teoh, Deputy Head of Equity Derivatives and Head of Equity Derivatives Trading of KIBB, and Isabelle Zhen, Head of Group Equity Marketing of KIBB

The introduction of HSBIO-CAA and HSBIO-HBA marks another significant milestone in structured products innovation, making HSBIO accessible through a listed structured warrant format for the first time, while further expanding NagaWarrants’ range of Hang Seng-linked offerings, which includes products linked to the Hang Seng Index (“HSI“), Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (“HSCEI“) and Hang Seng TECH Index (“HSTECH“).

The launch ceremony took place at the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong on 9 September 2026, one of the region’s premier platforms for fostering international dialogue, business collaboration and investment opportunities. Held as part of the summit, the ceremony brought together representatives from Kenanga Group and Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited to mark the introduction of the new products.

HSBIO tracks 30 of the largest biotechnology and healthcare companies listed in Hong Kong. In 2025, the index gained 64.5%, significantly outperforming the HSI, HSCEI and HSTECH. During the year, the index rose by more than 80% at its peak, reflecting rising investor interest in China’s rapidly evolving biotechnology sector.

The growing appeal of the index is also reflected in its expanding ecosystem, which includes listed futures contracts and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with more than HKD11 billion in assets under management. Against this backdrop, HSBIO-CAA and HSBIO-HBA provide investors with an additional avenue to gain exposure to this increasingly relevant segment through a listed structured warrant.

“Being the first to introduce HSBIO-linked structured warrants reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of product innovation. Through NagaWarrants, we continuously seek to identify emerging opportunities and translate them into accessible investment solutions that help Malaysian investors participate in global market trends. This latest launch underscores our focus on delivering differentiated products that broaden investor choice and provide access to a wider range of market opportunities beyond traditional benchmarks,” said Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad.

“With approximately 53% of the average daily trading volume and 51% of the average daily trading value of all HSI structured warrants traded on Bursa Malaysia in 2025, we have a strong understanding of the trends and themes that resonate with investors. We are seeing growing interest in targeted exposures beyond broad market benchmarks, with biotechnology emerging as one of Asia’s most dynamic growth sectors. HSBIO structured warrants provide investors with a familiar way to gain exposure to this evolving theme and mark the first in a series of initiatives to expand the range of products and investment opportunities available to our clients,” added Philip Lim Kuok Wei, Head of Equity Markets and Group Head of Equity Derivatives of Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad.

The addition of HSBIO-CAA and HSBIO-HBA broadens the range of Hong Kong market exposures available through NagaWarrants, complementing existing offerings linked to the HSI, HSCEI and HSTECH. The Group’s efforts in product innovation were also recently recognised internationally with the Best Warrants Issuer Malaysia 2026 award from Global Banking and Finance Review.

For more information on NagaWarrants and the latest trading opportunities, visit www.nagawarrants.com or join the Telegram community, @NagaWarrants.
Hashtag: #Kenanga

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

Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (197301002193 (15678-H))

Established for over 50 years, Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (“Kenanga” or “The Group”) is a leading financial group in Malaysia, offering a wide range of services, including equity broking, investment banking, treasury, Islamic banking, listed derivatives, investment management, wealth management, structured lending, and trade financing. The Group’s digital innovations include the launch of KDi GO, a wealth-centric app, along with game-changing products such as Rakuten Trade, Malaysia’s first fully digital stockbroking platform, and Kenanga Digital Investing, an A.I. robo-advisor.

The Group has garnered multiple awards, including top honours at the Bursa Excellence Awards 2025. The Group also secured Gold in Financial Services at The Edge Malaysia ESG Awards 2025, the Malaysia Best Bank for ESG and Malaysia Best Bank for Diversity & Inclusion Awards at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, as well as the Top 20 Overall Excellence and the Niche Cap Excellence Award at the National Corporate Governance and Sustainability Awards 2025. As one of the highest-scoring constituents of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index and a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact, Kenanga continues to drive collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in the financial industry.

This Press Release was issued by Kenanga Group’s Marketing, Communications & Sustainability Department.

Easmed and The Air Station unveil hidden sleep apnea risk across Singapore’s workforce in landmark survey

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Advertorial Desk
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Findings uncover a hidden sleep crisis driving daytime exhaustion and productivity loss despite a full night’s rest

  • Almost the entire office workforce (97%) experiences performance drops following a bad night’s sleep, with 58% losing over 20% of their daily output.
  • Most workers fail to recognise sleep apnea signs, misinterpreting chronic gasping, snoring, and daytime exhaustion as standard work stress.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 10 September 2026 – A comprehensive sleep health survey titled, “Sleeping Enough, Waking Up Tired: The Hidden Cost of Sleep Apnea Risk in Singapore’s Workforce“, reveals that unaddressed sleep disorders are quietly eroding productivity across the nation’s workforce.

The survey is jointly commissioned by Easmed and The Air Station, Singapore-headquartered medical technology companies specialising in innovative medical devices and sleep health solutions. The survey of 1,000 office-based working adults in Singapore aged 30 to 60, conducted in June 2026, reveals a concerning gap between sleep debt, clinical risk and public awareness.

Sleep Apnea is a prevalent medical condition where the upper airway repeatedly relaxes and collapses during sleep, temporarily cutting off oxygen flow. This forces the brain to repeatedly wake the body up to restart breathing, disrupting core sleep cycles and causing loud snoring, gasping, and severe daytime exhaustion.

Key Survey Highlights

  • Workplace productivity drain: 97% of respondents experience a productivity drop after a poor night’s sleep, with 58% estimating their performance drops by more than 20%.
  • Hidden clinical risk: 1 in 4 (24%) office workers screen at intermediate-to-high risk for Sleep Apnea.
  • Widespread awareness gap: 60% of employees have never heard of Sleep Apnea or only know the name. Additionally, 56% have never evaluated their sleep quality via a doctor, app, or diagnostic test.
  • Nightly sleep deficit: Singapore workers average 6.3 hours of sleep per night compared to the 7.4 hours they need to feel refreshed, leaving a daily 1.1-hour shortfall.
  • Normalised misconceptions: 50% view daytime fatigue as a normal part of busy working life, 25% believe brief breathing pauses during sleep are harmless, and 24% mistake loud snoring for deep sleep.
  • Key hurdles to care: Cost of diagnosis/treatment (51%) and lack of knowledge on where to seek help (36%) are the primary reasons workers avoid getting evaluated for Sleep Apnea.

While 72% of employees cite flexible hours as their top ask for sleep support, health experts emphasise that extra time in bed cannot fix underlying physiological conditions like Sleep Apnea.

Corporate access to subsidised screening (37%) and targeted sleep education (21%) remain the most direct solutions.

Commenting on the survey findings, Dr Phua Chu Qin, Senior Consultant Otolaryngology (ENT) and Director of Sleep Surgery at Sengkang General Hospital, said: “The productivity findings for this local survey reinforce that sleep is not simply a lifestyle issue. This is timely, because Singaporeans need to move away from normalising poor sleep and persistent daytime fatigue and start to recognise when poor sleep warrants assessment.”

“Snoring and witnessing breathing pauses during sleep should not automatically be dismissed as harmless. Recognising these warning signs early and getting assessed can be an important step towards better health, alertness and productivity,” she added.

The sleep paradox: Time in bed versus restorative sleep
The study highlighted a striking disconnect between time spent in bed and actual sleep quality. On average, Singapore office workers accumulate a nightly “sleep debt” of 1.1 hours, getting 6.3 hours of sleep against a reported need of 7.4 hours.

However, individuals screening at the highest risk for Sleep Apnea actually reported longer average bedtimes (6.68 hours) than low-risk workers (6.30 hours). Because Sleep Apnea causes repeated airway collapses and micro-awakenings throughout the night, time spent in bed fails to translate into restorative sleep.

The desensitisation runs deeper: high-risk workers were more than twice as likely as low-risk workers to say a poor night’s sleep had “no impact” on their productivity (8% vs. 2.5%), and significantly more likely to say poor sleep hadn’t affected their concentration at all. Thus, the group carrying the greatest health risk is also the group least able to recognise it in themselves, underscoring why self-assessment alone cannot catch Sleep Apnea, and why objective clinical screening is essential.

Dangerous myths keep Singaporeans in the dark
The report uncovered prevalent misconceptions regarding sleep hygiene and clinical signs, that may be delaying diagnosis:

  • 50% of respondents view daytime sleepiness as “just a normal part of a busy working life.”
  • 25% believe brief pauses in breathing during sleep are harmless.
  • 24% believe loud, regular snoring is a sign of deep, healthy sleep.

Over 80% of the workforce recognises that sleep sacrifice isn’t a virtue, yet nearly 1 in 5 still feel needing little sleep signals a strong work ethic.

Among individuals already sitting in the high-risk Sleep Apnea bracket, these myths run even deeper: 52% believe loud snoring is healthy and 54% view breathing interruptions as harmless, suggesting many high-risk individuals are unknowingly reassuring themselves out of seeking help.

A call for workplace sleep wellness
While 72% of employees indicated a desire for flexible working hours to manage sleep, health experts emphasise that schedule adjustments alone cannot solve clinical sleep disorders like Sleep Apnea. Instead, actionable support requires early detection and clinical intervention.

“Sleep health can no longer be viewed purely as a personal lifestyle choice; it is a critical workplace health issue that directly impacts safety, decision-making, and long-term cardiovascular health,” said Yvonne Loo, Group Director at Easmed.

“Our goal in commissioning this survey is to lower the friction for screening. Structural barriers like clinical diagnostic costs (51%) and confusion on where to seek help (36%) can be easily solved through accessible home sleep testing and corporate wellness partnerships.”

Explore more survey results here: www.easmed.com/sgsleepsurvey2026

About the survey
The “Sleeping Enough, Waking Up Tired: The Hidden Cost of Sleep Apnea Risk in Singapore’s Workforce” survey was jointly commissioned by Easmed and The Air Station, bringing together two complementary perspectives in sleep health — medical innovation and clinical care on one hand, and consumer sleep wellness, screening and treatment support on the other. Read more about sleep health survey here: www.easmed.com/sgsleepsurvey2026

Hashtag: #WorkplaceWellness #SleepApnea #Easmed #TheAirStation




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

About Easmed

Easmed is a Singapore-headquartered medical technology company with a longstanding focus on advancing sleep medicine in Southeast Asia. Working closely with healthcare professionals and institutions, Easmed provides medical and surgical technologies across Sleep Medicine, ENT, Neuro and Urology.

In sleep medicine, Easmed focuses on advanced treatment solutions for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Its portfolio includes Inspire®️ hypoglossal nerve stimulation, an implantable treatment option for appropriately selected OSA patients, reflecting the company’s involvement across both established and emerging approaches to sleep apnea care.

Beyond medical technology, Easmed actively supports clinical research, education and public awareness of sleep health, working with sleep specialists and healthcare professionals to improve understanding of OSA, its health implications and the importance of earlier recognition and intervention.

The commissioning of the Singapore Sleep Health Report is an extension of this work — using local data to better understand how sleep and undiagnosed sleep disorders may be affecting Singapore’s workforce and to encourage a broader conversation about sleep as an important pillar of health.

Follow Easmed on social media:
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About The Air Station

The Air Station is a Singapore consumer-facing sleep health company providing an end-to-end pathway from better sleep and early screening to diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support.

Its services span across sleep wellness solutions, sleep health screening, home sleep studies and a range of treatment options for sleep apnea, including dental sleep appliances and CPAP therapy, the established first-line treatment for many patients with OSA.

The Air Station also works to take sleep health beyond the clinic. Through corporate sleep health talks, community education, screening initiatives and sleep wellness programmes, it aims to make sleep health easier for the public to understand and act upon.

Its approach recognises that poor sleep exists on a spectrum: for some, better sleep habits and wellness interventions may help; for others, persistent snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness or disrupted breathing may warrant screening and medical assessment.

Together, Easmed and The Air Station connect the clinical and consumer sides of sleep health — from medical innovation and healthcare professional education to public awareness, screening and practical pathways to care.

Their jointly commissioned study of 1,000 working adults in Singapore found that approximately 1 in 4 screened at intermediate-to-high risk of OSA, while 60% had either never heard of OSA or knew it only by name. The findings also highlighted the relationship between poor sleep and workplace performance, with 97% of respondents reporting some productivity decline following a bad night’s sleep.

The organisations hope the findings will encourage employers, healthcare professionals and communities to look beyond simply asking “Are we sleeping enough?” and start asking “Are we sleeping well — and could an underlyin disorder be going unnoticed?”

Follow The Air Station on social media:
Instagram:Facebook:LinkedIn:Youtube:TikTok:

New ASEAN Study Reveals Businesses Are Rethinking Hiring and Investment as Growth Priorities Shift

By
Advertorial Desk
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New Reeracoen Group x Rakuten Insight survey of 3,630 consumers and business leaders across six ASEAN markets highlights selective hiring as the dominant workforce strategy alongside a sharpened focus on operational efficiency and AI investment.

SINGAPORE, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ASEAN businesses are reshaping how they hire, invest and prepare for growth as they navigate an increasingly complex economic environment, according to a new regional study by Reeracoen Group and Rakuten Insight.

Kenji Naito, Group Chief Executive Officer, Reeracoen Group
Kenji Naito, Group Chief Executive Officer, Reeracoen Group

The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026, published by Reeracoen Group, a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, in partnership with Rakuten Insight, an online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., surveyed 3,630 consumers and business leaders across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in June 2026.

Capability building through targeted hiring and investment

The report reveals that while businesses continue to hire across the region, they are adopting a more selective approach as organisations focus on strengthening long-term capability rather than expanding headcount. Across the six markets, 32% to 47% of businesses are hiring selectively, while 7% to 16% are actively expanding their workforce. This suggests businesses are increasingly prioritising precision hiring and capability building over broad workforce expansion.

  • Indonesia: 47%
  • Malaysia: 36%
  • The Philippines: 39%
  • Singapore: 32%
  • Thailand: 33%
  • Vietnam: 47%

This approach is also reflected in businesses’ investment priorities. Operational efficiency ranks as the top business growth priority across the markets at 35% to 43%, while AI and technology rank among the top three at 24% to 33%.

Six markets, six stories

The ASEAN Survey also shows that ASEAN’s growth is shaped by distinct market strengths rather than a single regional trend.

  • Singapore: Highest focus on AI and technology investment intent (33%);
  • Indonesia: Leads in business confidence (66%) and career mobility (29%);
  • Malaysia: Strongest domestic market focus (75%);
  • The Philippines: Combines resilient business confidence (65%) with cautious consumer spending (89%);
  • Thailand: Leads in investment growth (28%);
  • Vietnam: Highest consumer optimism (48%) and hiring expansion (16%).

Consumer and workforce behaviour

Beyond hiring and investment, the survey highlights broader shifts in how consumers and workers are responding to economic pressures. Income diversification has become the preferred financial response to strengthen their financial position in several markets. In Indonesia, 71% of consumers are seeking additional income, followed closely by 70% in the Philippines—the top financial action in both markets, ahead of saving or cutting spending.

AI is also beginning to influence career decisions. In Vietnam, 39% of consumers considering a career change cite AI and automation as a primary motivator, ahead of income growth and work-life balance—the only ASEAN market where technology ranks as the leading career-change driver.

Kenji Naito, Group CEO, Reeracoen Group, said:

“In twenty years of building recruitment businesses across Southeast Asia, I have never seen talent strategy matter as much as it does right now. The companies that will win the next cycle are not the ones that wait for certainty — they are the ones investing in their people, their processes, and their readiness today. This report gives leaders the evidence base to make those investments with confidence.”

Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight, added:

“Understanding both sides of the equation—what consumers feel and what businesses do—is essential. A consumer sentiment study alone would tell you that ASEAN is worried. A business survey alone would tell you that ASEAN is cautious. Together, they reveal something more important: ASEAN is adapting. That is the story this report exists to tell.”

For the full six-market findings, including country-by-country profiles and a Leadership Playbook of eight strategic priorities for regional expansion, download The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026.

Download the report: https://www.reeracoen.sg/en/events/client-the-great-restructuring-ASEAN-consumer-business-pulse-survey-2026?utm_source=apac_pr&utm_medium=cta&utm_id=asean-whitepaper-2026

About Reeracoen Group

Reeracoen is a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, connecting talent with forward-thinking organisations across the region. With 9 offices across 6 major Asian markets, Reeracoen combines deep local market expertise with cross-border recruitment capabilities to support sustainable business growth.

Beyond recruitment, Reeracoen provides market intelligence, workforce insights, salary research, and employer advisory services, helping organisations make informed talent and business decisions in an evolving regional economy.

Reeracoen’s commitment to service excellence has been recognised through multiple industry awards, including Best Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2025, 2026), Client Service Excellence Award (2026), Best International Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2024), and Best Executive Recruitment Agency (2024).

For more information, visit www.reeracoen.sg.

About Rakuten Insight, Inc.

Rakuten Insight, Inc. is a wholly owned online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc., a global leader in internet services headquartered in Tokyo.

Established in 1997 as AIP Corporation and integrated into the Rakuten Group in 2014, Rakuten Insight operates a research panel focused on 12 major Asian markets and the United States, with a panel network spanning 60 countries and regions.

With offices in 11 countries and regions, the company provides market research for more than 500 leading companies worldwide. Rakuten Insight Singapore serves as a regional hub providing multi-lingual and multi-functional operational support for clients across Southeast Asia.

For more information, visit https://insight.rakuten.com.

Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight
Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight

Nearmap analysis finds most vulnerable properties face 3.6x greater risk of severe bushfire damage

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Advertorial Desk
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Analysis of more than 36,000 buildings affected by the January Victorian bushfires shows why broad hazard assessments alone cannot reveal the vulnerability of individual properties

SYDNEY, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New Nearmap analysis found that properties assessed as highly vulnerable to bushfire were 3.6 times more likely to be destroyed or badly damaged during the January 2026 Victorian bushfires than properties rated least vulnerable.

Among properties close to the fire front, 6.6% of those in the most vulnerable group were destroyed or badly damaged, compared with 1.8% of those rated least vulnerable. The findings highlight a critical distinction for insurers: broad hazard assessments can identify where bushfire risk is elevated, but they do not necessarily show which individual properties within an exposed area are most vulnerable.

The analysis comes as an active El Niño and seasonal outlooks indicate heightened bushfire risk across parts of Australia into spring and summer.

“El Niño and seasonal outlooks tell insurers where elevated bushfire risk may exist, but property intelligence helps show which properties within those areas may be most vulnerable,” said Andy Watt, Nearmap CEO.

“The challenge is not simply understanding that a postcode or corridor is exposed to bushfire. It’s understanding how that risk varies from one property to the next. When insurers can see property condition, vegetation and defensible space at scale, they can move from a broad view of hazard to a much more precise understanding of where vulnerability is concentrated.”

Same fire, different property outcomes

Nearmap examined the January 2026 Victorian bushfires using imagery captured before and after the events, creating a consistent view of individual properties and how they were affected. The analysis examined 36,012 buildings located within 500 metres of a building classified as destroyed or badly damaged. This included 2,980 buildings classified as destroyed or badly damaged.

For properties with usable pre-event imagery, Nearmap compared its Bushfire Vulnerability Score with post-event outcomes, finding a pronounced concentration of losses among the most vulnerable properties.

The analysis also found a consistent relationship between defensible space and outcomes. Among homes that survived, properties located within 100 metres of a destroyed building had more cleared ground across every zone assessed.

The findings demonstrate that proximity to a fire front alone does not determine the outcome. Even within the same exposed area, individual property characteristics can materially affect vulnerability.

Moving beyond postcode-level assessments

The findings highlight a key limitation of postcode-level risk assessments. While they identify where exposure exists, they don’t show which properties are most vulnerable. Property-level intelligence helps insurers make more informed decisions before and after a bushfire event. Property condition, roof characteristics, vegetation and defensible space can also provide additional evidence for loss-control programmes and prevention efforts.

“The forecast and hazard outlook are important signals, but they are not the whole picture,” said Watt. “The insurers that can see their properties clearly before an event, and assess what has changed when an event occurs, are better positioned to make informed decisions across underwriting, prevention and claims. Property intelligence gives insurers that visibility at the level where risk actually exists; the property.”

During an event, recent pre-event imagery establishes a baseline for what existed before the fire. Post-event imagery can then help determine what changed, allowing insurers to move more quickly from understanding where a fire travelled to understanding which individual properties were affected.

About Nearmap

Nearmap is a global property intelligence company redefining how organizations understand and act on the built environment. By owning the entire intelligence value chain—from high-recency geospatial capture powered by patented camera technology to accurate AI-derived analytics and guaranteed building materials data—Nearmap delivers a single, trusted source of truth for property decisions. Insurers, government agencies, and AECO organizations rely on Nearmap to transform property uncertainty into evidence, helping organizations move beyond fragmented data and manual processes with verified, frequently updated insight. These proprietary insights enable faster, more confident decisions across underwriting and claims, assessment and response, and planning and construction so teams can see truth, assess risk, and act with certainty. Founded in Australia in 2007, Nearmap stands as the definitive source of truth that shapes the livable world.

For more information, visit www.nearmap.com.

Media Contact

Taylor Cenicola

Taylor.cenicola@nearmap.com

World’s First Robot Sports League Launched in Riyadh, Plans to Hit 8 Cities Worldwide

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Advertorial Desk
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CyberHero, the world’s first global humanoid robot sports league, launched in Riyadh on September 9, with host Hero Esports announcing plans for an inaugural season spanning eight cities worldwide.


The inaugural Riyadh event marked the first in the new CyberHero series, offering a preview of the competition format, personalities, and broader vision for a new global robot sports property.

Hero Esports plans for the global circuit to span across four regions: the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia. Two of the eight stops will be located in the Middle East. The wider vision is to take physical AI out of the laboratory and onto a global competitive stage, using sport to explore how humans, AI and robots can increasingly work together.

CyberHero x Riyadh also marked the Middle East’s first humanoid robot combat event, featuring EngineAI T800 humanoid robots competing inside a purpose-built arena. Standing approximately 1.73 metres tall and weighing between 75 and 85 kilograms, the T800 features 29 articulated joints and is capable of walking, running, punching, kicking, turning, recovering after falls, and the occasional dance.

“CyberHero was born from a bold idea about the future of competition: that robots can be pushed to test their limits, break new boundaries and improve through data generated in competition,” said Danny Tang, Co-founder and CEO of Hero Esports. 

She added, “That is one of the lessons we have learned from esports, and it is also a responsibility we see for Hero Esports over the next decade — to use competition to drive innovation and progress. We are now establishing a global technology lab at our Shanghai headquarters to bring together technical expertise and talent from around the world.”

As the circuit takes shape, Hero Esports is seeking host cities and venues, robotics and technology suppliers, universities to provide teams and research, and commercial partners across tourism, sport, entertainment and music.

While CyberHero x Riyadh was staged as an invite-only launch event, the competition brought together some of the region’s biggest digital personalities, with MENA creator AboFlah and Saudi sports creator Bashar Arabi going head-to-head as managers of the two competing teams.

HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, commented: “I warmly welcome the choice of Riyadh by Hero Esports for the first CyberHero event. This is testament to the passion of our fans and Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to esports as a thriving sector and entertainment choice. The energy at CyberHero x Riyadh created new boundaries for audience experience and competition.”

Other creators and personalities taking part in the show included Bilal Fadili, Ta7o, Ahmad AlKhateb and Micky of Team Falcons. Electronic music producer and DJ Tokyo Machine also performed during the event, bringing his video-game-inspired sound into a show designed to combine sport, technology, gaming culture and live entertainment.

At the heart of CyberHero is a team-based competition model bringing together three roles: builders, who design and engineer the robots; coders, who develop and train the intelligence behind them; and drivers, who make live decisions and put the team’s capabilities to the test in the physical arena.

The league will also expand into additional disciplines as humanoid robot capabilities develop, with the long-term goal of building a global competitive platform that grows alongside advances in physical AI.

About Hero Esports

Hero Esports is Asia’s largest esports company, organizing more than 7,000 esports competitions annually and reaching hundreds of millions of fans worldwide.

Backed by Savvy Games Group and Tencent, the company operates and produces major esports leagues and tournaments across titles including Honor of Kings, Peacekeeper Elite, League of Legends and VALORANT, and serves as a China partner of the Esports World Cup.

Beyond esports, Hero Esports has expanded into a broader range of live entertainment and cultural experiences spanning gaming, technology, music and pop culture. CyberHero represents the company’s latest move into new forms of technology-driven competition and entertainment.

For more information, visit cyber.hero.com or follow @CyberHero.Global on Instagram, TikTok and X.

Media Enquiries
Zoe Han — Public Relations Manager 
hanjingru@heroesports.com

Partnership Enquiries
welcome@heroesports.com

Vortex and Brimstone Continue to Expand With Higher Grades

By
Advertorial Desk
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Vortex returns 30.5 meters at 780.53 g/t silver and 6.1 meters at 21.12 g/t gold
Brimstone extends north with 5.5 meters at 1,345.27 g/t silver

WINNEMUCCA, Nev., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: HYMC) (“Hycroft” or “the Company”) announces additional drill results from the 2025-2026 Exploration Drill Program (the “Drill Program”) at the Hycroft Mine, located in Nevada, USA, a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction.

Figure 1. Vortex High-Grade System
Figure 1. Vortex High-Grade System

Vortex Drill Highlights:

  • H26D-6090: 30.5 meters at 780.53 g/t silver and 0.49 g/t gold
    • Including 11.2 meters at 1,664.80 g/t silver and 0.85 g/t gold
    • Also including 5.5 meters at 2,249.39 g/t silver and 1.01 g/t gold
  • H26D-6166: 20.0 meters at 460.82 g/t silver and 0.32 g/t gold 
    • Including 6.1 meters at 952.37 g/t silver and 0.54 g/t gold
    • Also including 1.6 meters at 2,650.00 g/t silver and 0.91 g/t gold
  • H26D-6172: 6.1 meters at 28.65 g/t silver and 21.12 g/t gold
    • Including 1.5 meters at 49.40 g/t silver and 43.00 g/t gold

Brimstone Drill Highlights:

  • H26D-6167A: 5.5 meters at 1,345.27 g/t silver and 0.56 g/t gold
    • Including 1.8 meters at 4,074.00 g/t silver and 1.43 g/t gold

Diane Garrett, Executive Chairman and CEO, commented: “These are some of the strongest results we’ve seen from the Drill Program. We’re not just confirming the high-grade silver system, we’re extending it and are consistently intersecting thick, continuous, high-grade mineralization. We have also intersected a high-grade gold interval higher in the known system that we intend to follow up on as we are seeing an increasing number of higher-grade gold intercepts in this area of Vortex. These results continue to confirm our exploration strategy and underpin the potential for a high-grade underground mine. With the system open in all directions and at depth, we see a clear opportunity for continued expansion and growth of these high-grade mineralized systems.”

Drill results can be viewed in 3D using VRIFY at the following link:

https://vrify.com/meetings/recordings/9b47dc5c-bbbe-4db2-a4d5-9040ce5763bc

VRIFY note: Drill results reflect only those reported in this press release dated September 9, 2026, along with selected historical drill results relevant to the current targets discussed in the press release. The results presented do not represent all historical drilling completed at Hycroft.

Table 1. Drill Intercept Highlights

Hole ID

FROM

TO

INTERVAL

GRADE

(meters)

(meters)

(meters)

Ag (g/t)

Au (g/t) 

AgEQ(g/t)

AuEQ
(g/t)

Vortex High-Grade System

 H26D-6166

481.7

501.7

20.0

460.82

0.32

484.82

6.46

Including

485.0

489.4

4.4

597.03

0.21

612.78

8.17

Including

495.6

501.7

6.1

952.37

0.54

992.87

13.24

  Also Including

498.9

500.5

1.6

2,650.00

0.91

2,718.25

36.24

H26D-6090

390.1

396.3

6.2

11.17

2.08

167.17

2.23

414.2

427.3

13.1

110.24

0.25

128.99

1.72

Including

417.4

419.8

2.4

392.61

0.42

424.11

5.65

435.4

465.9

30.5

780.53

0.49

817.28

10.90

Including

453.5

464.7

11.2

1,664.80

0.85

1,728.55

23.05

  Also Including

453.5

459.0

5.5

2,249.39

1.01

2,325.14

31.00

H26D-6172

293.2

299.3

6.1

28.65

21.12

1,612.65

21.50

Including

296.3

297.8

1.5

49.40

43.00

3,274.40

43.66

335.7

358.7

23.0

137.23

0.69

188.98

2.52

369.1

381.4

12.3

112.91

0.25

131.66

1.76

414.8

436.5

21.7

121.94

0.89

188.69

2.52

Including

421.4

424.0

2.6

515.98

0.35

542.23

7.23

446.6

457.7

11.1

177.97

0.62

224.47

2.99

H26D-6173

370.9

377.0

6.1

33.99

2.63

231.24

3.08

389.3

396.7

7.4

134.13

0.29

155.88

2.08

Including

394.0

396.7

2.7

284.05

0.38

312.55

4.17

Brimstone High-Grade System

H26D-6167A

309.9

315.4

5.5

1,345.27

0.56

1,387.27

18.50

Including

313.6

315.4

1.8

4,074.00

1.43

4,181.25

55.75

Note: $3,600/oz gold and $48/oz silver are used for gold equivalent (AuEQ) and silver equivalent (AgEQ) numbers

Vortex Results

Hole H26D-6090 and H26D-6166 returned 30.5 meters at 780.53 g/t silver and 20.0 meters at 460.82 g/t silver, respectively. Both were drilled offsetting H25D-6070 and H25D-6072 and connect that 2025 step-out drilling to the main Vortex trend. Mineralization remains open to the west, down dip along the Central and Albert faults, currently interpreted as two of the more productive feeder structures at Vortex, and to the north and south.

Holes H26D-6172 tested the northern flank of Vortex and hit four separate silver intervals down hole in the footwall of the Break fault: 23.0 meters at 137.23 g/t silver and 0.69 g/t gold, 12.3 meters at 112.91 g/t silver and 0.25 g/t gold, 21.7 meters at 121.94 g/t silver and 0.89 g/t gold, and 11.1 meters at 177.97 g/t silver and 0.62 g/t gold, demonstrating the vertical continuity and extent of Vortex in this area.

H26D-6173, drilled down dip to the west of H26D-6172, returned 7.4 meters at 134.13 g/t silver, including 2.7 meters at 284.05 g/t silver, and 6.1 meters at 33.99 g/t silver and 2.63 g/t gold. These results further extend the high-grade continuity along the northern flank of the system.

Hole H26D-6172 also returned a high-grade gold interval higher in the hole, 6.1 meters at 21.12 g/t gold, including 1.5 meters at 43.00 g/t gold. This intercept lies higher in the Vortex high-grade silver system. With an increasing number of higher-grade gold intercepts in this area, the Company is planning follow-up drilling to determine the orientation and extent of this mineralization and whether it represents a separate high-grade gold system.

Brimstone Results

At Brimstone, the strategy is to develop the high-grade stockwork vein zone, test the controls on mineralization to the north, south and down dip, and identify and develop high-grade opportunities. Hole H26D-6167A was designed to test and extend high-grade mineralization to the north. The hole encountered a 30-meter silicified breccia that hosted high-grade silver, intersecting 5.5 meters at 1,345.27 g/t silver, including an impressive 1.8 meters at 4,074.00 g/t silver. This intercept opens up additional target opportunities and follow-up drilling is being planned.

Qualified Person

The Company’s Qualified Person for exploration is Alex Davidson, Vice President, Exploration, who has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation

Hycroft Mining Holding Corporation is a US-based gold and silver company exploring and developing the Hycroft Mine, among the world’s largest precious metals deposits, located in Nevada, a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction. With a long history of heap leach operations, Hycroft is advancing to the next phase of operations for processing sulfide mineralization. In addition, Hycroft is engaged in a robust exploration drill program (2025-2026 Exploration Drill Program) to expand and advance the two new high-grade silver systems Brimstone and Vortex. These discoveries represent a significant value driver for the Hycroft Mine. 

For Further Information

Investor Relations:
E: info@hycroftmining.com
P: 775-245-0564

Media:
E: media@hycroftmining.com
P: 775-245-0564

www.hycroftmining.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release and in public statements by our officers or representatives that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future business strategy, plans and goals, competitive strengths, the advancement and development of the Hycroft Mine, the results and implications of metallurgical analysis and test work, and the expansion and growth of our business.

Forward-looking statements are often identified by future or conditional words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “believe,” “target,” “budget,” “may,” “can,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “seeks,” “scheduled to” and similar words or expressions but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. The risks include, but are not limited to: (i) risks related to changes in our operations at the Hycroft Mine, including risks associated with the cessation of mining operations at the Hycroft Mine; uncertainties concerning estimates of mineral resources; risks related to the lack of a completed feasibility study; risks related to metallurgical test work and process development; and risks related to our ability to re-establish commercially feasible mining and processing operations; and (ii) industry-related risks, including fluctuations in the price of gold and silver; the commercial success of, and risks related to, our exploration and development activities; uncertainties and risks related to our reliance on contractors and consultants; and the availability and cost of equipment, supplies, energy or reagents.

Any exploration target described in this press release does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) of an exploration target are conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration of the relevant property or properties to estimate a mineral resource; and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource.

These and other risks may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and the occurrence of one or more of these events or circumstances, alone or in combination with others, may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations. Please see the “Risk Factors” outlined in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in other reports filed with the SEC, for more information about these and other risks.

Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Although these forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable when made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements in this press release.

Any forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.

Figure 2. Brimstone High-Grade system
Figure 2. Brimstone High-Grade system

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