BEIJING, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On December 28, 2025, The School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China (RUC) and School of Journalism and Communication Chongqing University jointly released the International Digital Image Index of Chinese Cities (2025) in Chongqing.

The index set out an evaluation framework assessing the international online image of 106 Chinese cities. It drew on industry data, overseas media coverage, and overseas social media data, and applied big data analytics using tools and platforms including the Zhihuixingguang Daoding database and CISION One database.

The assessment system was built on three dimensions: international communication power, international influence and international recognition. According to the index, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen ranked among the leading cities on its measures of international online image. Large regional cities including Fuzhou, Xiamen and Ningbo also ranked highly and drew attention in international online discussions.

The index highlighted featured cases across the three dimensions. Beijing, Shanghai, Zhongshan and Chongqing were named in the communication category, while Fuzhou, Yiwu, Xiamen, Ningbo, Kaifeng and Yantai were listed for international influence and Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Shanghai for international recognition.

Lu Jiayin, the project leader and a professor at Renmin University of China, described the index as more than a ranking list, arguing that a city’s international online image is increasingly shaped by “online communication and audience resonance” rather than by population or economic size alone.

Zhou Yong, dean of School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China, said international communication must go beyond simply “sending messages out. “He added, “It is not merely a translation of language, but a dialogue among civilizations, a connection of emotions, and a resonance of values .”

Hu Baoxiang, president of the China Cities News Media Alliance, described the index as a multi-source assessment and suggested the framework could serve as a methodological reference for cities seeking to improve their international communication.

The School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China (RUC) was founded in 1955. With more than sixty years of continuous development, it has become a nationally acclaimed institution for journalism and communication education, a leader in education reform and innovation, and an important platform for global journalism and communication education exchanges. In the four rounds of national disciplinary evaluations conducted by the Ministry of Education of China, its Journalism and Communication Discipline has been consistently ranked No. 1. In 2017, it has been inducted into the Chinese “Double First-Class” discipline plan.

Dubai: Global platform for digital commerce and new economy

DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new milestone reflecting Dubai’s global leadership in customs innovation, Dubai Customs’ innovative cross-border e-commerce platform has received widespread praise from the World Customs Organization (WCO), in a special trilingual report on it (French, English, and Spanish). The report confirms that Dubai Customs serves as a global model for digital transformation. This success story proves that customs services innovation and border control are attainable through effective policies, strong partnerships, and advanced technology.

Dubai Customs Building

This interest highlights the UAE’s thriving e-commerce sector, creating thousands of jobs and advancing our leadership’s vision for growth. The volume of goods transported by sea and air in the Emirate of Dubai has also recorded remarkable growth, achieving Dubai’s D33 vision of becoming a global hub for economic expansion driven by logistics and digital commerce.

Reflecting strong market growth, UAE e-commerce reached AED 32.3 billion ($8.8 billion) in 2024 and is forecast at AED 50.6 billion ($13.8 billion) by 2029. Supporting this, Dubai Customs targets converting 20–30% of low-value e-commerce shipments to its platform. Through cooperation with multinational express couriers and SMEs, Dubai Customs ensures that all parties benefit from advanced trade facilitation. The platform’s scope extends regionally, supporting e-commerce routes across the GCC. These goals support the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) , which aims to double the economy within a decade , rank Dubai among the top three economic cities , and position it as a top five global logistics hub.

Commenting on this global achievement, Juma Al Ghaith, Advisor to the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Artificial Intelligence at Dubai Customs, emphasized that the World Customs Organization’s praise reflects the depth of the transformation led by Dubai Customs in the world of trade and e-commerce, and embodies the vision of the wise leadership in making Dubai the city of the future and a global hub for the new economy.

Atiq Al Muhairi, Executive Director of Customs Development at Dubai Customs, said: “Dubai Customs’ e-commerce platform is a qualitative leap and a new benchmark in facilitating cross-border trade by strengthening the link between government entities and shipping companies, enabling companies to comply with customs requirements quickly and easily, and aligning the logistics system with e-commerce traffic.”

He added: “According to a report by the WCO, the platform globally demonstrates how technology effectively facilitates trade.”

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Epicka, a leading innovator in global charging solutions and among the top universal travel adapter brands in the U.S., announced it will participate in CES 2026 and present its new Pulse Duo series, a next-generation lineup of GaN travel adapters.

Looking back, the first product in this lineup, the Pulse 45W Universal Travel Adapter, has been recognized by multiple media outlets, including WSJ, NBC, and Travel + Leisure, among others, as the ‘Best Universal Travel Adapter.’

Compared with Epicka’s initial Pulse series, the new Pulse Duo series introduces two major upgrades to enhance real‑world travel flexibility: a Type‑A AC outlet on the side, and a updated universal AC outlet with more compatibility on the front, providing seamless coverage across 200+ countries and regions.

Technical Specifications (Concise)

• Max Output: 45W (PD 3.0) / 65W (PD 3.0) / 140W (PD 3.1)
• Ports:
  • 45W & 65W: 5‑in‑1 (2 USB‑C, 2 USB‑A, 1 universal AC)
  • 140W: 6‑in‑1 (2 USB‑C, 2 USB‑A, 2 AC; universal front + side Type‑A AC)
• Indicators & Safety: LED power indicator (green), built‑in 10A replaceable fuse, GaN technology
• Laptop Support:
  • 45W: limited/slow charging
  • 65W: standard speed for 13″/14″ ultrabooks
  • 140W: ultra‑fast for 16″ MacBook Pro (MagSafe 3)

Unsure which adapter you need? Check out Epicka’s Universal Travel Adapter Choosing Guide. Simply match your devices and travel habits.

About Epicka

Founded in 2017, Epicka has grown into a widely recognized universal travel adapter brand in the U.S. market. Guided by the core values of “exploration & innovation,” to create stress-free power solutions for global travelers.

For more details, visit Epicka.com or find us by searching ‘Epicka’ on Amazon.com.

Location:  Shenzhen, China

PR Contact:  marketing@epickatech.com / collab@epickatech.com

NEW YORK, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

Kristen Scholer delivers the pre-market update on December 30^th

• Stocks are little changed Tuesday morning following back-to-back declines in the S&P 500. The year’s rally briefly paused amid profit-taking and volatility in precious metals, though the index remains on track for double-digit gains in 2025.
• Wall Street awaits the release of minutes from the Fed’s latest meeting at 2 p.m. ET. The central bank cut rates for a third straight time in December and signaled one more cut in 2026. Odds are 84% the Fed holds rates steady at its January meeting.
• Today marks the fourth day of the seven-session Santa Claus Rally, historically a bullish period. As of Monday’s close, the S&P is slightly lower over the first three days, but reaction to the Fed minutes could shift momentum.

Opening Bell
Girl Rising and She’s the First celebrate their merger, taking effect in 2026 under the Girl Rising Brand.

Closing Bell
Carnegie Investment Counsel celebrates their 50^th anniversary

Click here to download the NYSE TV App

SHAOXING, China, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A long-established household brand in China with a comparatively limited international profile, Sleemon Healthy Sleep Technology Co., Ltd. is gaining attention from the global technology community as it expands its focus on advanced sleep technology solutions.

Founded in 1984, Sleemon was the first mattress manufacturer in China to list publicly (SSE: 603008). While the company adopted its current corporate name in recent years, it has long been recognized in the domestic market for its leadership and sustained investment in sleep technology.

In 2024, Sleemon unveiled its AI-powered mattress series, aise, positioned to deliver integrated sleep management through a proprietary system. The collection has also received China’s highest L4 certification for smart mattresses.

In addition, Sleemon has partnered with BrainCo, a global leader in non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, to launch aise • BrainCo, a consumer-facing AI mattress incorporating BCI capabilities. By integrating electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring technology into the mattress design, the product enables real-time detection of sleep states and provides early health-risk alerts, highlighting Sleemon’s expansion into adjacent technology domains, including neuroscience and biosensing.

Sleemon has established China’s first public-interest sleep research institute, developed dedicated research workstations in collaboration with several academicians, and jointly founded R&D centers with leading institutions, including Tsinghua University and the Shanghai Institute for Advanced Study of Zhejiang University. These initiatives are aimed at accelerating the transition from academic research to commercial application, fostering a continuous cycle of innovation across the company.

Sleemon is now setting its sights on an even broader frontier: healthcare. Looking ahead, its platform is expected to expand beyond sleep guidance to include the management of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. By incorporating drug development and digital therapeutics into its platform, the company aims to support longer, healthier lifespans and improve overall quality of life. This strategic approach positions Sleemon to extend beyond the traditional bedding category and into competition with established health-monitoring and medical-technology providers, while placing the company within the evolving global landscape for health-data platforms.

From smartphones serving as hubs of the mobile internet to the automotive industry’s shift toward autonomous driving, waves of intelligent devices have been reshaping multiple industries. Against this backdrop, smart mattresses—closely linked to sleep and human health—are increasingly viewed as a potential next wave of connected, health-focused intelligent systems.

This year, several AI companies have visited China for in-depth discussions with Sleemon, laying the groundwork for potential strategic partnerships. As one of the world’s largest home-furnishing markets, China is witnessing significant advances in sleep technology by domestic players—developments that merit close attention from U.S.-based technology and consumer-electronics companies and may prompt a reassessment of competitive strategies in the sleep-technology sector.

HANOI, Vietnam, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FPT Corporation (hereafter “FPT”) officially delivered its first commercial shipment of power chips (Power ICs) to a leading Japanese electronics corporation, through the distribution of Restar Corporation (hereafter “Restar”) – a Japanese trading company for semiconductors and electronic components. 

It is also the first time a Vietnamese company has successfully introduced commercial semiconductor chips into the Japanese market, one of the world’s most demanding markets in terms of quality and reliability. 

The milestone comes at a strategic time: the global power chip market is set to hit $59 billion by 2030, including a $3 billion opportunity in Japan. This growth is fueled by robust demand across the consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, and high-tech landscapes.

The power chips recently exported to Japan are specifically designed for high-performance multi-function printers (MFPs) used in office and enterprise environments. Designed by FPT, these chips manage and stabilize internal power supply, protect components from voltage and current fluctuations, and ensure reliable operation under high-load conditions. Furthermore, FPT is now developing a comprehensive power IC ecosystem, encompassing multiple product lines such as PMICs, LDOs, BUCK converters, LED drivers, and Power MOSFETs.

Through months of rigorous optimization, FPT engineers ensured their ‘Make in Vietnam‘ power chips met the highest international standards. The chips successfully passed comprehensive evaluations – including electrical characterization, JEDEC reliability, and real-device validation—while satisfying Japan’s stringent industrial-grade safety requirements.

This milestone sets the stage for Restar to distribute 10 million FPT-designed chips throughout the Asia-Pacific by 2027. Following this initial delivery, both companies will ramp up volumes and collaborate on R&D. Future efforts will focus on next-generation power chips and integrated circuits specifically engineered for Japan’s imaging and industrial sectors.

Mr. Tran Dang Hoa, Chairman of FPT Semiconductor, FPT Corporation stated: “Semiconductors stand as a core strategic pillar at FPT. Our vision is to lead Vietnam’s ascent in the global tech wave, establishing the nation as a critical link in the international value chain.This inaugural shipment to Japan not only affirms Vietnam’s mastery of core technology but also signals its emergence as a vital hub in the global high-tech supply chain”. 

Recent supply chain disruptions, notably involving Nexperia, have intensified the global search for reliable alternatives. FPT is answering this demand by introducing a suite of discrete power devices—including ESD and Zener diodes—positioned as a strategic second source for the Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese markets.