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American Standard Design Award 2026: Calling APAC Design Students to Reimagine the Bathroom

American Standard challenges young designers to create bathrooms of the future that addresses our evolving needs.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LIXIL global power brand, American Standard, is proud to launch the fourth edition of the American Standard Design Award (ASDA) 2026.


ASDA is a bathroom space design competition for young designers in Asia-Pacific (APAC) to showcase their creativity and put their theoretical knowledge into practice.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of American Standard, a brand that has been designing products that are inspired by life – transforming everyday routines into meaningful experiences. To celebrate this special milestone, ASDA 2026 invites future designers to embrace this legacy by showing us how residential bathrooms of the future can address our evolving needs under the theme of “Inspiring Everyday Living“. The bathroom is a place where families bond, individuals find solace, and the most modest and compact spaces become the backdrop for unforgettable moments.

“Celebrating 150 years of purposeful innovation inspired by life at American Standard, we are proud to launch the fourth edition of the ASDA Bathroom Design Competition. With a legacy built on inviting and dependable design with pioneering technology, the brand continues to champion solutions that enrich daily life. This year’s theme, ‘Inspiring Everyday Living,’ invites aspiring designers to reflect on how the bathroom can address our evolving needs and become a meaningful extension of how we live, connect and feel,” said Antoine Besseyre des Horts, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, Asia.

ASDA 2024 APAC Winner_ Ricardo Noel Bonalos, Philippines
ASDA 2024 APAC Winner_ Ricardo Noel Bonalos, Philippines

 

ASDA 2024 APAC Grand Prize Winning Project: SereniScape Retreat, a hospitality bathroom design that blends American Standard Loven’s warm curves, Aero-lite’s sleek profile, and customizable storage for a personalized stay experience.
ASDA 2024 APAC Grand Prize Winning Project: SereniScape Retreat, a hospitality bathroom design that blends American Standard Loven’s warm curves, Aero-lite’s sleek profile, and customizable storage for a personalized stay experience.

Last year’s competition drew nearly 3,500 registrations and over 1,000 submissions from nine countries.

ASDA 2026 is open to full-time undergraduate students studying architecture or interior design in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Registration for ASDA is free and opens on 11 August 2025 with the entry submission deadline on 4 January 2026. A panel of architecture and design luminaries will judge all the entries to announce national winners in April 2026. These winners will advance to compete for the APAC Grand Prize in May 2026.

(Left to Right) ASDA 2024 National Winners_ Vo Mai Ha (Vietnam), Luist Yansen (Indonesia), Podsatorn Keela (Thailand), Ricardo Noel Bonalos (Philippines) and Davy Sophonn (Cambodia)
(Left to Right) ASDA 2024 National Winners_ Vo Mai Ha (Vietnam), Luist Yansen (Indonesia), Podsatorn Keela (Thailand), Ricardo Noel Bonalos (Philippines) and Davy Sophonn (Cambodia)

 

ASDA 2024 Master Class by Martin Aerne, Architect, Cambodia
ASDA 2024 Master Class by Martin Aerne, Architect, Cambodia

The top three winners at the national level stand to win cash prizes between USD 1,000 to USD 2,000 and the APAC Grand Prize Winner will walk away with an additional USD 3,000 along with a chance to attend a Masterclass by LIXIL Design Leaders.

For more information about ASDA and entry requirements, please visit the ASDA website at https://asda.americanstandard-apac.com/.

*END*

About American Standard

American Standard makes life healthier, safer and more beautiful at home, at work and in our communities. For 150 years, the brand has innovated and created products that improve daily living in and around the bathroom and kitchen for residential and commercial customers. American Standard is part of LIXIL, a global leader in housing and building materials products and services. Learn more at americanstandard-apac.com  and follow us on LinkedIn.

About LIXIL

LIXIL  (TSE  Code  5938)  makes  pioneering  water  and housing  products  that  solve  every  day,  real-life  challenges,  making better homes  a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high quality products  that  transform  homes.  But  the  LIXIL  difference  is  how  we  do  this;  through  meaningful  design,  an  entrepreneurial  spirit,  a dedication to improving accessibility for all and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry leading brands, including  INAX,  GROHE,  American  Standard  and  TOSTEM.  Approximately  53,000  colleagues  operating  in  more  than  150  countries  are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. Learn more at www.lixil.com.

Hong Kong Fabric Innovator Comfiknit Supports The Unified Diversity Fashion Show – SOROYURU in Osaka・Kansai Expo

Showcasing its Disruptive Textile Technology on a Global Stage & Celebrating Diversity and Interconnection


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 August 2025 – Hong Kong fabric innovator Comfiknit is proud to support the Unified Diversity Fashion Show – SOROYURU, which was held on August 8, 2025 at Expo2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Adults and children from around the world gathered to showcase their respective cultures and -promoting textile technology in celebration of cultural diversity, sustainability, and inclusiveness.

The Unified Diversity Fashion Show at Expo2025 Osaka-Kansai
The Unified Diversity Fashion Show at Expo2025 Osaka-Kansai

“SOROYURU” – Transforming the Future of Fashion

The Unified Diversity Fashion Show – SOROYURU took place at the Wasse Exhibition Hall, Expo 2025 Osaka. Models from Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Italy, France, Jordan, Canada, and Liberia were dressed in fashionable ethnic costumes made of Comfiknit’s fabrics, showcasing the beauty of SOROYURU.

The pieces designed for the nine nations are diverse when some of the elements on one piece are partially matched with those on another, creating a subtle sense of interconnection. The collection channels the “SOROYURU” concept, which extends beyond colours and patterns to encompass the resonance of thoughts, ideas, and directions, fostering a harmonious balance and showcasing the linkage/unity of diversity and empathy beyond race, gender, and culture from different parts of the world.

The Japanese word “soro” (soroeru) means “gentle coordination” while “yuru” refers to “something loosened, relaxed, laid-back, or unpretentious”.

Comfiknit has engaged in a collaboration with Japan’s innovative SteAm Design House to promote the “SOROYURU” concept, which is envisioned to lead the development of a future-proof sustainable fashion business. SteAm was founded by Sachiko Nakajima, the curator of the Jellyfish Pavilion. A SOROYURU Executive Committee has been formed to advance the mission, with the Unified Diversity Fashion Show as the kick-off event.

Comfiknit: Clothing as A Means to Enhancing Wellbeing

Hiroyuki Akahori ( 赤堀宏之), Co-founder of Comfiknit, said the fabric innovator is very proud to take part in the Expo2025 as a Hong Kong company, and sponsor the meaningful fashion show, which aligns with the company’s endeavor to redefine the standards of well fashion for the next generation and beyond.

“Comfiknit takes a future-proof approach to clothing in response to the growing concern for wellbeing and sustainability. The patented proprietary technology of the Comfiknit multi-layer fabrics provides wearers with the ability to manage the micro-climate on their skin, offering supreme comfort and protection without compromising style. ”

Comfiknit has been working with top-notch institutions, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US and Nagasaki University, Japan, to research the cooling properties of activewear fabrics and eczema-friendly fabrics.

The event producer Sachiko Nakajima ( 中島幸子)remarked, “The event is about co-creation with shared values, visions, and joint efforts in the selection and combination process. The process itself is a great experience in promoting empathy and connections. ”

Official Uniform Supplier of Jellyfish Pavilion

Comfiknit is the official apparel supplier of the Jellyfish Pavilion of the Expo 2025 Osaka. The colorful uniform with varying, vibrant graphics is designed by a renowned Japanese fashion designer, Shinshiro Mizuno (水野 信四郎), and made of Comfiknit’s sweat management fabric.

Shinshiro Mizuno and Indonesian designer Thresia Mareta are the fashion show designers. Mizuno has worked with Givenchy, Hanaemori, Yuki Tori, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen, and owner of his brand[fuse] and a Givenchy-licensed wedding gown brand. Mareta, an architect-turned-fashion designer, is the founder of sustainable design brand LAKON, with a mission to cultivate an ecosystem for craftspeople to transform and sustain their craftsmanship.

Special Offering to Expo2025 Kansai Visitors

A limited-edition SOROYURU T-shirt collection is featured at the pavilion. Visitors to Osaka can buy Comfiknit’s Activewear and Daily wear, including the SOROYURU collection at: E Salon, 5/F Lucua Osaka ( 7-26 Aug ) 〒530-8558 Osaka, Kita Ward, Umeda, 3 Chome−1−3

https://www.instagram.com/comfiknit

Hashtag: #Comfiknit #SteAM #OsakaKansaiExpo #farbicinnovation #Soroyuru #fashion #diveristy #SDG



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

About Comfiknit

Comfiknit is a fabric innovator and spearhead of well fashion, dedicated to developing fabrics intelligence for skin microclimate management that makes our fabrics work in sync with the human body for optimal performance of evaporative cooling, moisturizing, protection and healing. Based in Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks, Comfiknit presents a range of wellness-focused products: Active wear, Moisturizing Travel wear, Daily wear and Eczema-friendly clothing ()

About Jellyfish Pavilion, Expo 2025 Osaka

The Jellyfish Pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka is curated by musician, mathematician, and STEAM educator Sachiko Nakajima as a co-creation space that brings science, technology, and art together to work towards the goals of the Expo2025. Activities and performances promoting sustainable development and the enhancement of well-being from different parts of the world are broadcast on the 360-degree screen in the pavilion. Thematic talks are held there every day.

Comfiknit is showcasing its health-promoting fabric innovation in collaboration with MIT and Nagasaki University, Japan, in the Jellyfish Pavilion.

POWERCHINA Drives Green Energy Transition in Europe and Central Asia Amid Growing Global Climate Pressures

BEIJING, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Power Construction Corporation of China (“POWERCHINA” or “the Company”) is accelerating the global transition to a low-carbon, resilient energy system by constructing clean energy projects aimed at supporting regions affected by drought and extreme heat across Europe and Central Asia. The Company is delivering practical solutions to climate challenges through solar, hydropower, and green hydrogen projects tailored to local drought and energy needs.

POWERCHINA launches Central Asia’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen project in Tashkent, advancing Uzbekistan’s Green Energy Strategy
POWERCHINA launches Central Asia’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen project in Tashkent, advancing Uzbekistan’s Green Energy Strategy

In May, POWERCHINA entered into a general contracting agreement with Spain’s Viroque Energy for the Arreaz Photovoltaic Power Station in San Roque, Cádiz. The project, with an installed capacity of 44 megawatts, includes design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and operation and maintenance. Once completed, it is expected to supply about 95,000 megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually, supporting local low-carbon energy development. POWERCHINA is actively advancing the global energy transition.

Another POWERCHINA-constructed solution to global climate pressures, the Ulog Hydropower Plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was officially completed and handed over for operation recently, marking the project’s entry into full commercial operation. With an installed capacity of 35.14 megawatts, this hydropower station is designed to meet both power generation and ecological water supply needs, the project is equipped with a concrete double-curvature arch dam, an ecological flow power station, a right-bank water diversion tunnel, and a water diversion and power generation system. Upon full completion, the project will significantly enhance local power supply reliability, support Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy structure optimization, concurrently improve regional ecological conditions, and further amplify POWERCHINA’s global influence.

Further east, Central Asia’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen project in the region – also marking POWERCHINA’s maiden international green hydrogen venture – has commenced trial operations in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with successful production of high-purity hydrogen. This landmark project represents a crucial component of Uzbekistan’s Green Energy Strategy. The core hydrogen production facility is located at the MAXAM Chemical Plant in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. It adopts ALK electrolysis technology, equipped with 4×1,000 Nm³/h electrolyzer systems, total capacity is 20 MW. The facility can produce 3,150 tons of green hydrogen annually, reducing approximately 30,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year compared to the previous gray hydrogen production mode. The project represents a key milestone in advancing green, low-carbon energy transformation across Central Asia and beyond.

Speaking about the green hydrogen initiative, Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, commented that the successful launch of the project marks a significant milestone for the industry. He praised the project’s progress, highlighting its demonstration of international cooperation and the shared commitment to advancing clean energy. By overcoming numerous challenges, the project also provides valuable experience for the global development of green hydrogen.

As the world confronts unprecedented environmental challenges, POWERCHINA remains committed to helping accelerate the global transition to clean energy with tangible, scalable results.

 

MEESty to Host Public-Industry Engagement Day and Launching of the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P)

KUCHING, Malaysia, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak (MEESty) is pleased to announce the upcoming Public-Industry Engagement Day and the Launching Ceremony of the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P), scheduled to take place on Monday, 11 August 2025, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This milestone event is designed to foster meaningful dialogue between public and industry stakeholders on Sarawak’s sustainable energy future. It will highlight three major government policies that chart Sarawak’s pathway toward sustainability and energy innovation:

  • Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint (SSB)
  • Sarawak Hydrogen Economy Roadmap (SHER)
  • Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P)

Interactive engagement sessions will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to gain key insights into these forward-looking policies, with emphasis on how they impact and involve industry players, community members, and civil society.

A significant highlight of the event will be the official launch of the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P), which will be officiated by The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak. This policy outlines the Sarawak Government’s comprehensive strategies for transitioning towards a cleaner, more resilient, and inclusive energy landscape.

The Ministry will provide further information and policy developments after the event to ensure continued awareness and alignment with Sarawak’s energy transition agenda.

Trip.com Secures Exclusive Ticketing Partnership with Palawan Innovation Studios for The Palawan @ Sentosa – HyperDrive

SINGAPORE, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Trip.com, a leading global travel services provider, is proud to announce an exclusive third-party ticketing distribution partnership with Palawan Innovation Studios Pte Ltd for HyperDrive, Southeast Asia’s first indoor gamified electric go-kart circuit located on Sentosa.

The Palawan @ Sentosa – HyperDrive
The Palawan @ Sentosa – HyperDrive

Under the agreement, Trip.com will serve as the exclusive distributor across all online third-party sales channels for HyperDrive. Palawan Innovation Studios will continue to operate its own direct-to-consumer channels through its official website and on-site ticket counters.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Trip.com’s regional strategy to move beyond conventional attraction products and strengthen its portfolio of “Play & Experience” offerings – a category focused on immersive, lifestyle-driven entertainment that appeals to the modern traveller.

“Today’s travellers are seeking more than just sightseeing – they want energy, immersion, and unique experiences,” said Chase Liu, General Manager of Attractions & Tours, Trip.com Group. “HyperDrive is exactly the kind of high-octane, experiential attraction that defines our growing focus on ‘Play & Experience’ products. We’re excited to lead the charge with Palawan Innovation Studios to bring this next-generation experience to a broader audience.”

As part of this exclusive arrangement, Trip.com will manage and centralise HyperDrive’s ticket inventory across various platforms including its sister platform Ctrip, other affiliated sites, and selected resellers to ensure consistency in availability, pricing, and customer experience. This streamlined distribution approach eliminates market fragmentation and enhances operational efficiency for all stakeholders.

“We’re pleased to appoint Trip.com as our exclusive ticketing distribution partner for HyperDrive,” said Markus Christ, General Manager at Palawan Innovation Studios Pte Ltd. “Their extensive network, digital expertise, and proven ability to scale destination products across the region make them the ideal partner to support our growth ambitions.”

In addition to managing distribution, Trip.com will support the partnership through joint marketing campaigns targeting both local and international audiences. Initiatives will include digital promotions, seasonal campaigns, and increased visibility across Trip.com’s regional platforms.

This partnership reaffirms Trip.com’s commitment to delivering differentiated experiences across Asia’s key tourism hubs, positioning the platform as the preferred destination for high-quality, experiential travel products. This has underpinned Trip.com’s growth in bookings for attractions and tours in Singapore, which grew by over 50% in the first six months of this year. Bookings by Singapore users was particularly strong, jumping over four-fold. The top source locales for Singapore attraction bookings in the same period were mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. There was also strong growth for bookings from India, Vietnam, Australia, and Southeast Asian neighbours Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

About Trip.com

Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 24 languages across 39 countries and regions in 35 local currencies. Trip.com has an extensive hotel and flight network consisting of more than 1.5 million hotels and flights from over 640 airlines covering 3,400 airports in 220 countries and regions around the globe. Trip.com‘s world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service help to ‘create the best travel experience’ for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit trip.com.

About The Palawan @ Sentosa – HyperDrive

Located at The Palawan @ Sentosa, HyperDrive is Asia’s first indoor gamified electric go-kart circuit. The three-level indoor track features 308 metres of exciting straightaways and 14 thrilling turns. The experience is powered by a fleet of high-performance electric go-karts, equipped with industry-leading engines, ergonomic seat designs and pro-level steering wheels. In 2024, HyperDrive introduced Asia’s first Game of Karts — an interactive race where players collect ‘weapons’ to sabotage competitors or ‘boosts’ to turbo-charge to the finish line, all while immersing in special lighting and sound effect for the ultimate experience. HyperDrive is  one of the many vibrant experiences at The Palawan @ Sentosa which is Shangri-La Group’s first standalone lifestyle and entertainment precinct located on Sentosa Island, Singapore. The 183,000 square-foot development is a beach wonderland curated with multi-faceted, unique leisure and dining experiences for guests. Designed for both local and international visitors, patrons can expect to spend an entire day exploring, playing, and bonding over activities and delicious fare, in a tropical island setting.

EQT to acquire South Korea’s leading AI-enabled HR Tech Platform, Remember

  • Remember has rapidly grown into a leading AI-powered HR tech platform used by the vast majority of South Korea’s professional workforce, solidifying its position as a market leader
  • EQT intends to fully support Remember’s next phase of growth, leveraging its expertise and experience investing in global HR tech and software sectors     
  • The transaction reflects confidence in Remember’s leading position in South Korea’s HR tech industry and reaffirms its global expansion potential

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EQT is pleased to announce that BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII (“EQT”) has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a controlling stake in Remember & Company (“Remember” or the “Company”), a leading AI-enabled HR tech platform in South Korea. As part of the transaction, major shareholders including Ark & Partners will sell their stakes to EQT. The deal is valued at approximately KRW 500 billion (USD 400 million), making it one of the largest transactions in South Korea’s HR tech industry to date. EQT secured exclusive negotiation rights and led the transaction on a proprietary basis, preempting a competitive bidding process, by leveraging its deep sector expertise to recognize Remember’s differentiated investment proposition early on.

Founded in 2013 as a business card management app, Remember has rapidly grown into a leading AI-powered HR tech platform serving the majority of South Korea’s professional workforce. Leveraging a proprietary, self-updating database of over 500 million name cards and 5 million users, it delivers end-to-end recruitment solutions to more than 10,000 enterprise clients – enhancing hiring speed, precision, and recruiter productivity. Beyond recruitment, Remember has evolved into a comprehensive platform integrating content-driven networking, CRM capabilities, and lead generation tools. Often referred to as the “LinkedIn of Korea”, it has established a strong presence in a market where LinkedIn remains underpenetrated, while advancing more inclusive and efficient hiring across industries.

The deal is underpinned by strong macro tailwinds in South Korea, including demographic shifts, increasing demand for experienced hires and the evolution of recruitment technologies. These conditions are accelerating the adoption of outsourced and AI-enabled talent platforms, particularly among mid-sized and enterprise clients. Backed by strong conviction in these trends, EQT has made several relevant HR tech investments including Beamery in the UK, HRBrain in Japan, Handshake in the US, and PageUp in Australia.

Ark & Partners, recognized as a next-generation growth buyout investor in Korea’s private equity industry, played a pivotal role in this transaction. Since acquiring Remember in December 2021, Ark & Partners has strengthened the Company’s operational capabilities and transformed the business model from a business card app into a fast-growing HR tech platform. As a result, Remember’s revenue grew more than twelvefold within three years.

Dayea Yeon, Partner in the EQT Private Capital advisory team and Head of EQT Private Capital Korea, said: “Remember is a rare and differentiated asset, uniquely positioned at the intersection of South Korea’s demographic structural transformation and the rise of AI-driven talent management. With a clear competitive edge and strong growth trajectory, it represents a highly thematic investment for EQT. By leveraging our global network of industry advisors, along with our in-house digitalization and sustainability capabilities, we are excited to support Remember’s ambition to become Asia’s leading HR tech platform. This transaction underscores EQT’s long-term commitment to Korea and our belief in the transformative power of data and AI to shape the future of work. We look forward to partnering with Remember to drive both innovation and meaningful social impact.”

Sungmin Kim, Founder and CEO of Ark & Partners, added: “This transaction is a strong validation of our ‘secondary growth buyout’ strategy, demonstrating how hands-on operational and strategic support can unlock the full potential of high-growth companies. The transition from Ark & Partners to EQT, represents a ‘new-generation deal’ that highlights the growing interplay between South Korea’s venture ecosystem and private equity market. From the beginning, we had conviction in Remember’s ability to lead Korea’s HR tech transformation. We are proud of what has been achieved and confident that EQT is the ideal long-term partner to guide Remember through its next chapter of growth.”

EQT has been active in South Korea since 1998 and views the country as a core pillar of its Asia Pacific strategy across private equity, infrastructure and real estate. Through its private capital strategy, EQT aims to support South Korean businesses in achieving their growth and operational ambitions by drawing on the expertise of its global sector teams, in-house capabilities in sustainability and digitalization, and a worldwide network of industry advisors.

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q3 2025.

With this transaction, BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII is expected to be 90-95 invested (including closed and/or signed investments, announced public offers, if applicable, and less any expected syndication).

Contact

EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-to-acquire-south-korea-s-leading-ai-enabled-hr-tech-platform–remember,c4216266

The following files are available for download:

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250811 [Press release] EQT to acquire South Korea’s leading AI-enabled HR Tech Platform, Remember

https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/remember-1,c3459846

Remember 1

Co-writing the Poetry of Speed and Culture: CTCC Ordos race Concludes Successfully

SHANGHAI, Aug.11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On August 10, 2025, the second round of the 2025 CTCC China Touring Car Championship Ordos Race delivered thrilling competition. The TCR China Series, CTCC China Cup, and the co-organized Lynk & Co Cup reignited their battles across three fronts, jointly offering peak-level duels. Simultaneously, rich cultural tourism activities once again complemented the intense racing, co-writing a joyful chapter for the Ordos racing weekend.


TCR China Series: Lynk & Co Army Dominates Top Five

The Lynk & Co camp achieved a resounding victory in the TCR China Series. The Lynk & Co Teamwork Motorsport swept the podium in the TCR China Touring Car Championship: Zhu Daiwei claimed victory, Zhang Zhiqiang took second place, and Sunny Wang secured third. The Lynk & Co army not only executed team tactics once more but also engaged in fierce internal battles, providing spectators with spectacular offensive and defensive duels.

Teamwork Motorsport’s Paul Poon once again won the TCR China Touring Car Championship Challenge Cup category at the Ordos race. Guangzhou Spark Racing’s Liang Jingxi shook off the disappointment of the first round, bringing home the category runner-up position. Guiyang DTM Racing By FORCE’s Hu Heng earned the category’s third place.

In the TCR China Challenge, Guangzhou Spark Racing’s Liang Jingxi shook off the disappointment of the first round, securing the TCR China Touring Car Championship Challenge Cup category runner-up position. Zhejiang 326 Racing Team’s Liu Zichen took second place, and the Delta Racing Team’s Liu Chao, competing on home turf, finished third.

China Cup: Gao Huayang Secures Victory with Last-Lap “Steal”

In the China Cup battle, SAIC Volkswagen 333 Racing Team’s Gao Huayang delivered a stellar performance on the final lap, completing multiple overtakes to “steal the win” and take the overall victory and the TCS class win. The Zhejiang 326 Racing Team trio of Liu Ning / Zhao Shiyan / Wu Yifan clinched victory in the TCR class. Beijing Seven Degrees Racing’s An Junda / Guo Shen reversed their fortunes to triumph in the TC1 class.

LPCC Racing Team’s duo Bao Xuejiao / Liu Chao took the win in the TC2 class. Shenzhen Bonoo Racing Team’s Li Jiajun / Yu Xiaobo made further progress, becoming the new winners in the TC3 class.

Beyond the thrilling track action, the CTCC Ordos race also featured car stunt shows, the CTCC Ordos Rap & EDM Music Festival, and driver autograph sessions. The spectator activity zone boasted booths from the CTCC Official Store, Michelin, Dongchedi, and others, responding to fan enthusiasm with rich and engaging prize-winning interactions and immersive experiences.

By meticulously constructing an innovative “three-in-one” model integrating “top-tier racing, immersive experiences, and spectacular performances,” CTCC transformed the Ordos race into a motorsport culture festival for all. It fully showcased the immense charm of motorsport and the vigorous vitality of integrated cultural, sports, and tourism development. Furthermore, it served as a golden link for Ordos’ cultural tourism, presenting the city’s exciting events to audiences both at home and abroad. Through the traffic window created by CTCC, Ordos conveyed to the world the industrial dynamism, ecological landscape, and racing passion of the “Warm City.”

Next, CTCC will return to the Shanghai International Circuit. Stay tuned!

Tencent Cloud Announces Full Upgrade of AIoT 2.0 Product Solutions, Setting a New All-in-One Standard for Intelligent Device Development

HONG KONG, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, today announced the upgrade of its AIoT 2.0 product solutions, which will deliver seamless hardware-software integration with ready-to-use multimodal capabilities. The enhanced offering features TWeTalk (voice intelligence system) and TWeSee (video intelligence system), both deeply integrated into Tencent Cloud’s foundational AIoT platform for device management, messaging, and end-to-end audio & video communications. Together, these solutions provide users with a comprehensive, intuitive one-stop service, while also supporting the global expansion of smart hardware.

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, AIoT products are transitioning from simply being “AI-assisted” to becoming truly “AI-driven.” By addressing challenges such as complex system integrations, model adaptations, and high development and deployment costs, AIoT 2.0 harnesses Tencent Cloud’s deep expertise in AI, IoT, and audio & video technologies. These solutions facilitate seamless integration between hardware and software, making interactions among people, devices, and systems smarter, more efficient, and more user-friendly.

AIoT 2.0: A New Standard for Intelligent Device Development

The upgraded AIoT 2.0 product suite—featuring TWeTalk, TWeSee, and the foundational AIoT platform—sets a new benchmark for intelligent device development.

“Compared to version 1.0, AIoT 2.0 offers deeper integration with AI technologies, particularly in Voice and Visual Agents, delivering significant enhancements in both functionality and user experience,” said the Tencent Cloud AIoT team.

TWeTalk delivers a comprehensive AI conversational solution for smart hardware, with a focus on advanced Voice Agent functionality and real-time audio-video communication capabilities (TRTC/WebSocket). On the device side, TWeTalk partners with leading embedded chip and module manufacturers to integrate core technologies such as noise reduction, wake word detection, and sound source localization. On the cloud side, it provides essential services and distinctive features including speech-to-text (STT) with emotion recognition, voice broadcasting, text-to-speech (TTS), voice customization, WeChat call integration, and conversation highlights. TWeTalk also offers robust AI platform capabilities such as model fine-tuning, agent customization, knowledge graphs, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and model context protocol (MCP).

Additionally, TWeTalk integrates seamlessly with Tencent’s extensive ecosystem, broadening its range of applications. For communications, TWeTalk enables two-way audio & video calls (VoIP) between devices and WeChat, making it suitable for a wide array of use cases. In terms of content, it supports integration with QQ Music, allowing users to easily access music through voice commands for a more convenient listening experience. Looking ahead, TWeTalk will also enable wearable devices such as smartwatches and AR glasses to support WeChat Pay, enabling smooth and secure payments directly from these devices.

Users can customize these features to suit their specific business needs, assembling them in a modular, building block–style approach for highly tailored solutions. Through close collaboration with leading chip and module partners, TWeTalk ensures optimized compatibility, allowing users to deploy finely tuned large AI models with minimal chip resources. This approach delivers cost-effective, full-scenario edge-cloud collaboration and significantly lowers the development barrier for smart hardware.

Currently, TWeTalk is widely used across a range of applications, including companion toys, robotics, smart wearables, live translation headphones, smart ordering systems, intelligent tours, and AI interviews. It enables natural conversations between users and smart devices with end-to-end latency below 800 ms. For example, Dahua’s intelligent surveillance solutions leverage Tencent Cloud’s technology to allow IPC (Internet Protocol Camera) devices with screens to make native WeChat calls. This ensures users receive WeChat notifications directly on their devices without the need to install additional applications, thus important calls are never missed.

Tencent Cloud Showcased TWeTalk at Europe’s Technology Event, Viva Technology 2025
Tencent Cloud Showcased TWeTalk at Europe’s Technology Event, Viva Technology 2025

TWeSee is dedicated to advanced visual solutions, offering video condensation, summarization, search, and object detection—powered by visual agents with perception, reasoning, and autonomous decision-making capabilities. With TWeSee, visual capture devices progress from merely “seeing” to truly “understanding”, transforming into intelligent systems able to perform multimodal perception, multi-dimensional analysis, and scenario-based decision making. On the integration side, TWeSee provides plug-and-play AI visual analytics for audio and video equipment connected to the Tencent Cloud AIoT platform, while also offering seamless access for third-party cloud storage users. This greatly shortens the time-to-market for smart applications.

Powered by self-developed multimodal large models, TWeSee is specifically optimized for use cases such as IPCs, smart locks, and security surveillance, continuously enhancing video understanding across diverse scenarios. For instance, with IPC devices, TWeSee can automatically generate concise video highlights of important events and deliver real-time alerts. Additionally, TWeSee supports natural language search, enabling precise and intelligent indexing across large video datasets.

In pet monitoring scenarios, TWeSee can condense video footage of pets into engaging video highlights. For playback retrieval, users can search using text or images, and when paired with TWeTalk, voice search is also supported—for example, “retrieve footage of yesterday’s delivery worker”. In industrial settings, TWeSee delivers advanced visual analytics for applications such as supermarket foot traffic analysis, shelf stockout detection, theft identification, and monitoring employee behavior, providing valuable customer insights and timely theft alerts. With its robust and adaptable visual understanding capabilities, TWeSee quickly adapts to a wide range of customer needs and industry requirements, enabling smart devices to fully realize the vision of an intelligent and connected world.

From “General Intelligence” to “Scenario Intelligence”: Global Implementation Redefines the AIoT Interaction Experience

With the rapid advancement of AIoT technology, the boundaries of hardware devices are constantly expanding, and industry focus has shifted from pure technical competition to ecosystem building. The ability to achieve real-world implementation across various application scenarios has become a key measure of enterprise competitiveness. Tencent Cloud’s AIoT 2.0 product solutions are deeply integrated into industries and use cases worldwide, driving intelligent transformation across a diverse range of sectors.

In the AI toy sector, Tencent Cloud equips Alpha Group‘s Weslie 3.0 smart toy with a comprehensive TWeTalk voice solution, offering features such as WeChat calling and voice customization. Jianing Lv, Product Head of Alpha Group’s Intelligent Toy Division, shared: “With AI technology, we hope Weslie can evolve from a 2D cartoon character into a true smart companion—capable of making WeChat calls, singing, and genuinely accompanying children. This collaboration with Tencent Cloud and Yancheng AI Core Star Technology Co., Ltd, marks an exciting new journey into ‘IP + AI’.” Looking ahead, even more innovative features, including conversation highlights and memory storage, will be introduced to further enrich meaningful parent-child interactions.

Talking Tom, an internationally renowned IP, has redefined the global landscape for AI toys with the launch of the “AI Tom Bud,” powered by TWeTalk’s global solution. Han Chengyan, Co-founder of Talking Tom’s AI business, commented, “The localized deployment and language technology offered by Tencent Cloud’s TWeTalk global solution were critical to our large-scale launch in the North American market. Our collaboration—from R&D to commercial rollout—was seamless. We are highly optimistic about our ongoing partnership and look forward to expanding the global AI companion market together.”

In the AI headphones sector, Philips AVA-CN has transformed its TAT5599 headphones by *iPhi APP into both a “AI meeting assistant” and a “portable interpreter” by leveraging Tencent Cloud TWeTalk’s text summarization and real-time translation capabilities. Wang Qiang, General Manager of Philips AVA China Region, stated,”The distinction between traditional and AI headphones has been eliminated. Through our strategic collaboration with Tencent Cloud, Philips has redefined the standards for effective communication and productivity—shifting from simple ‘sound transmission’ to truly ‘intelligent communication’.”

In the smart home sector, Kaadas—a long-standing leader in China’s smart lock market, with products sold in 36 countries—has partnered with Tencent Cloud’s TWeSee solution to bring a closed-loop experience to smart locks for the first time, spanning cloud decision-making, edge execution, and user feedback. By leveraging TWeSee’s proprietary vision models for door lock scenarios, security events can be identified, summarized, and alerted with greater accuracy and speed. Intelligent extraction and rapid compilation of event videos reduce users’ abnormal video search time by about 90%, cut average response time for security events to under 500 ms, and extend lock battery life by 30%. This empowers smart locks to truly “see and remember” everything happening at your doorstep.

Gwelltimes, an innovative technology-driven company specializing in integrated smart security solutions, is a leading player in the network camera sector, with products and services spanning more than 200 countries and regions. Its popular Yoosee cameras are deeply integrated with Tencent Cloud’s TWeSee visual intelligence solution—making Gwelltimes the first in the industry to deploy multimodal large models at scale. This advanced solution delivers intelligent event extraction, text summarization, and natural language video search, helping elevate the security industry from a “passive event recorder” to an “intelligent security steward” and establishing a new industry benchmark. Today, Gwelltimes’ IPC products, powered by TWeSee, serve over 130 million Yoosee app users worldwide, making security video more interactive, engaging, and insightful.

Last but not the least, a major Thai enterprise has leveraged Tencent Cloud’s TWeSee visual intelligence solution to rapidly introduce value-added AI features—such as video highlights—to its existing video surveillance platform through lightweight cloud integration in less than three months. By unlocking new business value from its surveillance data, the company has established additional revenue streams. Moving forward, a wider range of TWeSee-powered value-added services will be rolled out, further propelling Thailand’s smart home industry into the AI era.

In summary, AI is reshaping the boundaries of the Internet of Things, driving industries into a new era of innovation and growth. With AIoT 2.0 product solutions, Tencent Cloud remains committed to advancing its technologies and solutions—delivering high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective intelligent services. This empowers industries around the world and helps customers unlock new opportunities for growth.

About Tencent Cloud:

Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation.