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Markforged Appoints Unotech as Exclusive Distributor in Hong Kong

Bringing Continuous Fiber Reinforcement (CFR) Technology to Local Market, Targeting Aviation Maintenance, Electronics Manufacturing, and Medical Devices Launch Event Successfully Held at Hong Kong Productivity Council


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 September 2026 – Markforged, a leading provider of industrial additive manufacturing solutions, today proudly announced the official appointment of Unotech Limited (“Unotech”) as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong. Unotech will fully manage the sales, technical support, and application development for Markforged’s product portfolio in the region, delivering comprehensive end-to-end support for local industries. The official launch event was held at the Inno Network of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC).

The event kicked off with an opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by executives from both companies, followed by the first live demonstration of Markforged’s patented Continuous Fiber Reinforcement (CFR) technology. This breakthrough technology overcomes the material limitations of traditional 3D printing by precisely laying down continuous strands of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and high-strength, high-temperature fiberglass inside the part during printing. The resulting components match the strength and rigidity of machined aluminum, making them ready for quick use in manufacturing jigs, fixtures, robotic grippers, production tooling, and end-use functional parts.

Local manufacturing and engineering units face pressing dual challenges: compressed lead times and a growing share of high-mix, low-volume orders. Custom manufacturing tools—such as fixtures, assembly jigs, inspection gauges, and automated grippers—are the hardest hit. Markforged’s additive manufacturing platform effectively shifts production capabilities directly back to the facility floor. By enabling “print-on-demand” iterations right after design changes, it significant reduces traditional tooling lead times that usually stretch into weeks. For Hong Kong’s manufacturing environment, characterized by limited space, high labor costs, and tight delivery schedules, this digital solution significantly leverages operational and clinical efficiencies.

Leveraging Unotech’s robust industrial technology network in Hong Kong, Markforged’s advanced hardware and materials can be efficiently and reliably integrated across universities, research institutes, and manufacturing facilities. Backed by an in-house

team of application engineers, Unotech provides on-site installation, professional training, and tailored application development to help clients shorten supply chains, reduce inventory, and enhance production resilience.

Ivan Siu, Sales Director of Unotech Limited, stated: “We are deeply honored to partner with Markforged, a pioneer in industrial 3D printing. Combining Markforged’s technological dominance with our local footprint, we are confident in delivering highly cost-effective, reliable, and innovative manufacturing choices to Hong Kong. Our dedicated technical team will focus on mission-critical industries, including aviation maintenance, electronics manufacturing, medical devices, and precision engineering. These sectors demand superior part strength and rapid turnaround times, which perfectly match the capabilities of CFR technology. We will continue to strengthen our local engineering capabilities to drive the long-term growth of Hong Kong’s smart manufacturing ecosystem.”

Brian Chen, General Manager of Greater China and Vietnam at Markforged, added: “Hong Kong stands as a vital technology and trade hub within the Greater Bay Area, with a sophisticated customer base spanning multiple advanced manufacturing sectors. We chose Unotech as our exclusive partner because of their deep local technical expertise and comprehensive after-sales service network. An exclusive partnership concentrates accountability, ensuring our customers have a single, seamless point of contact for total peace of mind. Markforged will directly share our extensive repository of case studies and validated material data from the Greater China region with the Unotech team, empowering them to maximize operational efficiency for our medical, aviation, and precision engineering clients.”

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1. Markforged appointed Unotech as its exclusive distributor in Hong Kong, with executives from both companies hosting the opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
2. Brian Chen, General Manager of Greater China and Vietnam at Markforged said that the company chose Unotech as their exclusive partner because of Unotech’s deep local technical expertise and comprehensive after-sales service network.
3. Ivan Siu, Sales Director of Unotech Limited said they were deeply honored to partner with Markforged.
4.&5 First live demonstration of Markforged’s patented Continuous Fiber Reinforcement technology at the event.
6. Markforged and Unotech ‘s management pose for a group photo with industry representatives.

Hashtag: #Unotech

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

About Markforged

Markforged is an industrial additive manufacturing company that enables manufacturers to create strong, end-use parts, fixtures, and spares right on the factory floor through its Digital Forge platform and Continuous Fiber Reinforcement (CFR) technology. This approach shortens supply chains, reduces inventory, and enhances production resilience. Its product line includes industrial-grade composite and metal additive manufacturing systems, serving sectors such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices, and precision engineering.

About Unotech Limited

Unotech Limited is an industrial technology solution provider in Hong Kong. By introducing smart manufacturing and 3D printing technologies, Unotech delivers equipment supply, application development, and technical support services to local research, educational, and manufacturing institutions.

AS Watson Delivers 10% Global Health Growth Powered by 3,300+ Pharmacists Advancing Preventive Healthcare Worldwide


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 September 2026 – As World Pharmacists Day approaches, AS Watson celebrates the contribution of more than 3,300 pharmacists and nearly 10,000 health professionals who help customers proactively manage their health and wellbeing every day through its network of over 1,770 pharmacies worldwide.

AS Watson Delivers 10% Global Health Growth Powered by 3,300+ Pharmacists Advancing Preventive Healthcare Worldwide

Driven by growing customer interest in preventive healthcare and self-care, AS Watson recorded 10% growth in global health sales over the past year, reflecting increasing demand for products and services that support overall wellbeing and healthier lifestyles.

Peter Macnab, International Commercial Director of AS Watson, said, “As healthcare continues to evolve from treatment to prevention, AS Watson is supporting customers with trusted professional advice, personalised and innovative O+O (Offline plus Online) healthcare solutions. We proudly recognise our pharmacists and healthcare professionals whose expertise and dedication make a meaningful difference to the health of customers and communities every day.”

AS Watson Unveils Global Health Research
To better understand evolving customer health behaviours, AS Watson unveiled findings from its Global Health Research, conducted by WISE, its customer experience insights division, among over 11,000 respondents across 10 markets in Europe and Asia.

The survey found that health concerns(43%) are the main driver of health product adoption, with professional advice (41%) from healthcare experts remaining a key influence alongside recommendations from family and friends (32%).

Customers are increasingly adopting an offline and online approach to product research, combining online research(82%), health professional consultations (49%) and in-store product discovery(44%). When making purchase decisions, they consider a combination of price and promotion(56%), brand trust(48%), and product benefits(45%).

The findings highlight the increasingly important role pharmacists play in preventive healthcare, helping customers make informed health decisions through trusted professional advice and guidance.

Peter concluded, “The future of healthcare is increasingly preventive, personalised and accessible. By bringing together trusted expertise, personalised care and O+O innovation, AS Watson is building a healthcare ecosystem that helps people take charge of their health with confidence. Our ambition is to make preventive healthcare more accessible and relevant to every customer, helping create healthier lives and communities worldwide.”

Hashtag: #ASWatson




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

About AS Watson Group

Established in 1841, AS Watson Group is one of the world’s longest-standing and most recognised retail companies with roots in Asia. Today, the company operates over 17,000 stores across 12 retail brands in 31 markets, employing 130,000 people globally. This makes AS Watson Group the largest international health and beauty retailer in the world.

In the fiscal year 2025, AS Watson Group reported revenue of over US$26 billion. The company’s technology-enabled O+O (Offline plus Online) platforms serve over 6 billion shoppers annually, seamlessly integrating physical and digital retail experiences.

AS Watson Group supported over 180 charitable and non-profit organisations every year, dedicating over 40,000 hours of volunteer work to serve over 370,000 people in need in our operating markets.

AS Watson Group is also a member of the world-renowned multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, which has four core businesses – ports and related services, retail, infrastructure and telecommunications in over 50 countries.

Please visit for more information.

About WISE

WISE stands for Watson Insights on Shoppers Experience. It is the research division of AS Watson, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer. By constantly having conversations with a panel that comprises of over 180 million members across 31 markets, WISE focuses on developing customer insights in beauty care, personal care, health and wellbeing to help better understand and meet the needs of today’s customers.

Xaysomboun Identifies Four Companies Over Unauthorized Gold Mining

A stone and sand processing plant in Nam Mo village
A picture of a stone and sand processing plant in Nam Mo village, Anouvong district, where the Kesana Herchalern company was extracting alluvial gold. (Photo by Lao Security News)

Authorities in Xaysomboun Province have identified four companies allegedly involved in unauthorized alluvial gold mining and processing during inspections this year, according to provincial media reports on 22 September.

The cases came to light during inspections carried out this year, with authorities finding gold extraction at sites whose permits covered other activities.

One of the companies, AFA Exploration Mining and Agriculture Trading Export-Import, allegedly processed gold in Thathom District under a permit for extracting stone, sand, and associated minerals.

Another company, Kesana Herchaleun, was allegedly extracting alluvial gold at a stone and sand processing site in Nam Mo Village, Anouvong District.

Authorities seized equipment at the site and detained seven people, including the company’s president and six Lao workers, in an operation in June.

Two other companies, Vietnam-Lao Mining Construction and Investment and Supmany Construction Road Bridge And Mineral Development, were also identified over alleged unauthorized alluvial gold extraction in Nam Yon Village.

Authorities confiscated equipment and detained suspects during the inspections, although provincial media did not give a total number of people arrested.

Officials are now calling for tighter inspections to make sure companies stick to the activities covered by their permits.

Gold Mining Under Scrutiny

The cases add to a growing number of illegal mining investigations across Laos this year.

In July, the government suspended Daochalearn Mineral Processing after finding unauthorized iron ore operations that had muddied the Nam Song River in Vang Vieng. The company was ordered to stop work and restore the affected areas.

Authorities have also investigated suspected illegal gold mining in Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang, while Savannakhet launched a wider operation targeting illegal gold mining and logging.

The latest cases in Xaysomboun show the focus is not only on unlicensed mining, but also on companies allegedly going beyond what their existing permits allow.

De Beers Group Unveils ‘You Shine So Bright’, A Short-Form Drama Recasting the Contemporary Allure of Natural Diamonds in Light and Shadow

Following the Desert diamonds Asian launch, natural diamonds open a further contemporary chapter


BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 September 2026 – Carrying forward the afterglow of the dazzling Desert diamonds Asian launch, the short-form drama ‘You Shine So Bright’ lands with cinematic images and a finely worked story, setting the lasting allure of natural diamonds within the landscape of contemporary city life. Both a continuation and a renewal of De Beers Group’s storytelling for the natural diamond category, the series connects the stones to modern living through narrative, presenting their core qualities across a range of settings—fashion appeal, emotional value, and origins that can be scientifically identified and verified. The drama goes live on 21 September on Hongguo, Douyin, Kuaishou and other platforms, showing natural diamonds as they are worn from one day to the next while deepening consumers’ understanding of, and trust in, the qualities that set these stones apart.

De Beers Group Unveils 'You Shine So Bright', A Short-Form Drama Recasting the Contemporary Allure of Natural Diamonds in Light and Shadow

Desert diamonds are natural diamonds raised into a contemporary image. Drawing on what the desert stands for—age, rarity and the refining work of time—the category answers both the preciousness of a stone formed over billions of years and a younger generation’s regard for authenticity, individuality and inner radiance. Since the Desert diamonds Asian launch in Shanghai in July, De Beers Group has used the drama form to bring natural diamonds more widely into daily life as a vehicle for shared stories, emotional connection and inheritance. The drama also carries the truth of Desert diamonds to a wider group of young consumers, turning what began as a single content experiment into an elevated telling of the Desert diamonds story for the present day.

A new narrative form: widening the conversation through short-form drama

As Gen Z and younger audiences become a significant force in the market, the way content is consumed has shifted. De Beers Group answers that shift with a premium short-form drama, its plot carefully constructed and its storytelling close to lived experience. The ideas, values and meaning a natural diamond carries are folded into the turns of the story without visible seams, surfacing between the movement of the plot and the feelings of its characters, and moving the viewer before they have noticed. With a tight narrative rhythm, sharply drawn characters and a range of everyday settings, the short-form drama has become a new kind of content that finds an echo with younger audiences. ‘You Shine So Bright’ sets natural diamonds inside its characters’ relationships and daily lives, showing their fashion appeal, emotional value and traceable origin where story and feeling meet, so that younger viewers rediscover the charm and meaning of natural diamonds from a vantage point closer to their own lives, and find in the stones a value that has lasted and still feels current.

The drama brings together well-known actors from mainland China and Hong Kong with an experienced creative team for a production made to premium standards, in which visual style, costume and jewellery pairing have each been worked through in detail. Rather than conventional brand placement, the series leads with story, folding the identification and traceability of natural diamonds—and the technology behind the Tracr platform—into the plot itself. Costume and natural diamond jewellery are matched to each character’s temperament and setting, so that the pieces are not only part of a look but echo who the characters are and how their feelings develop, giving the series a visual aesthetic that pairs fashionable taste with a refined finish.

Ten looks, ten ways of wearing diamonds

Natural diamonds move with the leads through work, social life, leisure and love, versatile enough to sit at ease in everyday moments and grand occasions alike. The series builds ten jewellery looks, spanning banquets and parties, romantic evenings, the working day, sport and leisure, and time at home. In full dress or in something plain, the stones reflect a different side of the wearer’s character and style each time, offering women today a range of ideas for how diamonds might be worn—jewellery not only lighting a look but becoming a language of personal style.

Through its characters and the turns of its plot, ‘You Shine So Bright’ gives natural diamonds a fuller narrative weight across different settings. A diamond shapes a character’s style, and it enters the story alongside emotional developments and the milestones of a life, so that jewellery, character and feeling are woven together, showing the many ways a natural diamond finds its place in daily life.

An heirloom carries love forward

‘You Shine So Bright’ is a premium short-form drama that draws together family inheritance, romance, professional rivalry and mystery. The story turns on a jewellery group and two young creative companies, and amid rivalry at work, clashes of feeling and the growth of its characters, the disappearance of an heirloom natural diamond draws out a series of puzzles and becomes the thread that carries the plot forward. As the truth emerges, so do the love, the inheritance and the real value that the diamond holds.

As the story develops, the meaning of a natural diamond extends from outward style to inward feeling. It witnesses love and commitment, it accompanies personal growth and it marks the valuable moments of a life—a lasting choice, whether to reward oneself or to keep a good memory close. With family inheritance and sincere feeling beneath it, the drama makes the natural diamond a token that links past, present and future, holding love and commitment through the passage of the years.

Formed over billions of years, every natural diamond holds the preciousness and the rarity that only time confers, and no two are exactly alike—as no two attachments, and no two family stories, carry the same mark. When a stone passes from one moment of a life to the next, and from one generation’s keeping into the next generation’s company, what is handed on is not only a lasting brilliance but the memories, the feelings and the stories that come with it.

Scientifically identifiable, traceable to source: trust built on truth

When the disappearance of the heirloom drives the story to its height, the identification and traceability of a natural diamond enter the mystery as evidence. As the investigator works step by step towards the truth, the science by which a diamond can be identified and its origin traced is written into the unfolding plot, and a gripping story shows what makes a natural diamond authentic, transparent and worthy of trust.

The Tracr natural diamond traceability platform uses blockchain technology to give each stone its own digital identity, recording the information attached to it from source through to retail so that its origin and passage can be checked. Through a form close to the audiences it reaches, ‘You Shine So Bright’ carries the fashion appeal, emotional value and specialist technology of natural diamonds into the telling. The core values of identification and traceability emerge naturally through the characters and the plot, so that a viewer caught up in the story also comes to understand where a natural diamond truly comes from and how openly that origin can be shown, building deeper knowledge and firmer trust.

A natural diamond arrives across an immense span of time, and holds a lasting feeling as it passes between generations. From the first appearance of the Desert diamonds idea, to the jewellery that carried it into daily life, to this story told in light and shadow, natural diamonds continue to find new creative forms in which to speak to one generation after another. The truth, the preciousness and the singularity that come from nature do not fade with time, and they take on fuller meaning in the life of the present. However the years turn, every true and singular light is worth treasuring, remembering and passing on.

‘You Shine So Bright’ can be watched on Hongguo, Douyin, Weixin Channels, CCTV Video, Weibo, Baijiahao, iQIYI, Tencent Video, YouTube and TikTok, by searching “You Shine So Bright”.

With Special Thanks To
Jewellery Sponsors: CHOW TAI FOOK, Chow Sang Sang, TSL Jewellery
Fashion Sponsors: Betti Haute Couture, Betti Bespoke, Belmont 1995, BonBom, INNIU, LULU CHEUNG, pushBUTTON, TUSCAN’S, VICTOR CHAN STUDIO

For more information on natural diamonds, please follow and visit the official channels below:

De Beers Group official website
www.debeersgroup.com
Natural Diamonds Instagram
@ADiamondisForeverhk

Website
www.adiamondisforever.com/zh-hk

Hashtag: #ADiamondisForever #Desertdiamonds #NaturalDiamonds #Diamonds #YouShineSoBright

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

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers London and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology services. De Beers Group is committed to ‘,’ a holistic and integrated approach to sustainability that underpins our efforts to create meaningful impact for the people and places where our diamonds are discovered. Building Forever focuses on three key areas where, through collaborations and partnerships around the globe, we have an enhanced ability to drive positive impact; Livelihoods, Climate and Nature. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit .

About Building Forever

In 2020 De Beers Group established a set of sustainability goals to deliver a blueprint for lasting positive impact in the countries and regions where it operates and across the diamond value chain, so that every diamond it discovers and recovers brings enduring benefit to the people and environments of the places it comes from. Building Forever sets out a comprehensive framework built on four pillars: leading ethical practices across the industry, partnering for thriving communities, protecting the natural world and accelerating equal opportunity — guiding the Group towards a fairer, safer, cleaner and healthier future in which communities prosper and the environment is protected. De Beers Group works to raise industry standards, improve transparency of diamond provenance and improve conditions for artisanal miners. Across its operations, the Group follows best practice in biodiversity, water management, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, and mine closure and rehabilitation. De Beers Group also works with stakeholders to build a sustainable future and to raise living standards in the communities where it operates, particularly in health and wellbeing, education and skills development, economic diversification and livelihood support. The Group actively promotes inclusive economic development and welcomes diverse perspectives to help shape the future of its business, its communities and wider society. It places particular emphasis on addressing the industry’s long-standing gender imbalance and on encouraging a new and more diverse generation of talent into the diamond and jewellery industry.

CEGGA II Marks Four Years of Working Together for More Inclusive Governance in Laos

A picture of Lao government institutions, civil society organisations, communities and Team Europe partners during the CEGGA II closing ceremony. (Photo by GIZ)

Good governance begins when people have a voice. After four years of implementation, the Citizen Engagement for Good Governance, Accountability and the Rule of Law Program Phase II (CEGGA II) is approaching the end of its implementation period. Representatives from government institutions, civil society organisations, communities and development partners gathered for a closing ceremony on 23 September in Vientiane Capital to celebrate the journey, its achievements and the people behind the work.

Vilayvanh Bouddakham, Deputy Chief of the Central Committee for the Organisation and Personnel (CCOP), said, “What we have developed and implemented together from the beginning until today is in line with the Government’s direction to promote the participation of all sectors and bring our collective efforts together for the development of the country. We will continue to build on this work, taking forward the lessons learned and the achievements of the program and applying them in practice.”

CEGGA II has been running from 2022 to 2026 as a joint initiative of Switzerland, Germany and the European Union with Laos, and is implemented by GIZ. The program focuses on three closely connected governance areas: strengthening civil society engagement, bringing citizens closer to decision-making, and improving access to justice and understanding of the rule of law.

Through panel discussions, TED-style presentations and reflections from partners, the event highlighted how the program’s work has translated into tangible change.

Across communities, civil society organisations play a growing role in shaping local development. Through the CEGGA Small Grants Mechanism, 32 community projects have been implemented across Laos, benefiting more than 100,000 citizens while strengthening local organisations and supporting vulnerable groups. The initiative has also helped expand dialogue between government and civil society, including through CSO Fairs that provided a platform for more than 70 CSOs to connect with communities and wider audiences.

At the same time, more citizens have gained opportunities to engage with decision-makers. Between 2024 and 2026, Provincial People’s Assemblies in Luang Prabang and Khammouane engaged with more than 87,000 citizens through public hearings, petitions and hotlines. Women accounted for 45 per cent of those reached.

The program has also supported women’s participation in political leadership, with more than 400 women candidates receiving training ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections. This effort contributed to women securing 29.71 percent of seats in the National Assembly, an increase from 21.92 percent in the previous legislative period.

For many communities, access to justice has become easier to understand. CEGGA II has supported legal awareness activities, mobile legal services and Clinical Legal Education, connecting law students with communities and helping to bridge the gap between legal education and practice. More than 25,000 villagers have received legal information, while more than 2,100 village leaders have received training.

These results are built through collaboration among Lao government institutions, civil society organisations, communities and Team Europe partners. The program’s success goes beyond individual activities and figures. It is reflected in stronger relationships, greater opportunities for dialogue and participation, trust, and strengthened capacities that can continue to support a more inclusive national development process in Laos. 

As CEGGA II approaches the end of its implementation period, the work of strengthening citizen engagement, dialogue and responsive governance continues.

SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY TAKES TALENT PIPELINE TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND ACROSS ASIA

New initiatives will reach more than 4,000 youths in Singapore, introduce semiconductor concepts from age 10, and connect emerging talent across Asia

SINGAPORE, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Singapore’s semiconductor sector is widening its talent pipeline, with new initiatives reaching students from primary-school age through to university, while giving youths more opportunities to experience the industry first-hand and build connections across the region.

David Chua, CEO, National Youth Council, and Ang Wee Seng, Executive Director, SSIA, mark a three-year partnership to expand semiconductor industry exposure, Job Tasters and mentoring opportunities for youths.
David Chua, CEO, National Youth Council, and Ang Wee Seng, Executive Director, SSIA, mark a three-year partnership to expand semiconductor industry exposure, Job Tasters and mentoring opportunities for youths.

The global semiconductor industry will need more than one million additional skilled workers by 2030, according to Deloitte, intensifying competition for engineers and technical talent. The scale of the challenge means the industry needs to widen the pipeline earlier and strengthen connections between technical education and industry.

Announced by the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), the initiatives include a primary-school engagement pilot, a three-year partnership with the National Youth Council (NYC), a semiconductor future makers camp and SSIA’s first regional student talent exchange.

“Building talent does not start at hiring. Semiconductors are behind almost everything we use, yet much of the industry remains unseen by young people,” said Ang Wee Seng, Executive Director of SSIA.

“It is not about asking children to choose a career early. It is about widening what they can imagine for their future and giving them the exposure and connections to see where they could contribute.”

MORE FIRST-HAND EXPOSURE TO SEMICONDUCTOR CAREERS

Under a three-year partnership between SSIA and NYC, the semiconductor industry will support up to 1,000 Job Taster opportunities and 300 industry mentors, alongside broader industry engagement expected to reach more than 4,000 youths.

Part of the SG Youth Plan, the partnership will provide opportunities including micro-work experiences, job shadowing, company learning journeys, project challenges and short-term work attachments, alongside mentoring by semiconductor professionals.

“As we expand Job Taster and mentoring opportunities under the SG Youth Plan, our partnership with SSIA will give youths first-hand exposure to the semiconductor industry and connect them with professionals who can help them better understand the pathways and possibilities ahead,” said David Chua, Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Council.

MAKING SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY VISIBLE EARLIER

At the primary-school level, SSIA will introduce a two-year pilot for students aged 10 and above using LEGO® Education’s Computer Science & AI solution, coupled with semiconductor context provided by SSIA and industry.

The pilot aims to reach more than 600 students. Using physical models, programmable motors and colour sensors, students will explore coding, computational thinking and age-appropriate AI concepts while learning how chips enable sensors, smart devices, robots and AI applications.

SSIA and ams OSRAM are also developing a Semiconductor Future Makers Camp for children and youths aged seven to 16, planned for 2027. As Founding Industry Partner, ams OSRAM will contribute engineers, mentors and hands-on experiences around light, sensing and semiconductor technologies.

CONNECTING EMERGING TALENT ACROSS ASIA

SSIA also launches its first Regional Student Talent Exchange, bringing together more than 50 students and educators from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore.

Participants span disciplines including IC design, VLSI and embedded systems, electronics engineering and manufacturing, wearable electronics and computer science. The exchange will connect them with peers, industry leaders and Singapore’s semiconductor ecosystem before they enter the workforce.

 “By bringing students from different markets and technical disciplines together early, we want them to build the relationships and regional perspective they will need in an industry where innovation, manufacturing and supply chains cross borders,” said Wee Seng.

“Semiconductors are a regional and global industry, and the talent driving this sector must have the same international outlook. Early opportunities for students to engage with industry and peers across borders can help build the networks, knowledge and perspectives that will shape their future careers,” said H.E. Trần Phước Anh, Ambassador of Vietnam to Singapore.

“NIELIT greatly values its collaboration with the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association (SSIA), which provides a meaningful platform for strengthening India–Singapore cooperation in the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The participation of students and faculty from NIELIT Deemed to be University campuses in the SSIA Regional Exchange and Summit 2026 is an important step towards providing our young talent with international exposure, industry insights and opportunities for knowledge exchange.

“Through this collaboration, NIELIT and SSIA are creating valuable avenues for academic–industry engagement, capacity building and development of globally relevant semiconductor talent. We look forward to further deepening this partnership and building stronger bridges between the semiconductor ecosystems of India and Singapore,” said Prof. M. M. Tripathi, Director General, NIELIT.

Laos Detains 33 Suspects in Two-Day Vientiane Cybercrime Crackdown

Lao authorities detained 33 Chinese nationals during two-day raids targeting cybercrime and online gambling operations at five locations in Vientiane. (Photo: Lao Security News)

Lao authorities detained 33 people, all Chinese nationals, in a two-day operation targeting cybercrime and online gambling in Vientiane’s Sisattanak District, authorities said.

The Ministry of Public Security task force carried out raids on 21 and 22 September, targeting five locations across the district and seizing computers, mobile phones, and other equipment.

The first raid, on 21 September, targeted a two-story villa in Dongsavath Village. Police detained 26 people and seized equipment they said was being used for criminal activities.

The following day, officers raided four more locations: Sailom Yen Guesthouse, Ratsami Hotel, Phonthip Plaza Apartments, and Thip By Day Dam Apartments. Seven more people were detained.

Authorities said all 33 suspects are being held for questioning while investigators work to identify possible accomplices and determine the extent of the operations. Legal action will follow in accordance with the law, according to the authorities.

Nationwide Crackdown

The raids come amid a wider crackdown on cybercrime and online gambling across Laos. Last week, authorities detained nearly 100 people in separate operations in Vientiane and Champasak.

On 18 September, police in Champasak detained 23 suspected scammers, including 22 Chinese nationals and one Lao national, after raiding a rented house in Bachiang Chaleunsouk District.

In Vientiane, police arresred 41 foreign suspects, including 40 Thai nationals and one Chinese national, during raids on four hotels on 16 September. Earlier in the month, authorities also detained 43 people at Yuzhou Smart Hotel and 13 people during a raid on two rented houses.

Meanwhile, on 20 September, Lao authorities handed 129 Thai nationals to Thai authorities at the 1st Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge. The group had been detained during an 28 August raid on the Mangrove Hotel and Glory Apartment in Xaysettha District.

The latest operations add to a broader crackdown that has seen Lao authorities detain more than 6,200 suspects linked to cybercrime since the start of 2026.

Donghai, China, Brings Crystal and Handcrafted Press-On Nails to Milan Fashion Week

MILAN, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Donghai County brought its crystal and handcrafted press-on nail industries to Milan on September 23 for a gathering of designers, businesses and cultural representatives. The event, held under the theme “Crystal Shines Across the World, Commerce Connects the Future,” coincides with the 10th anniversary of Donghai’s designation as a “World Capital of Crystal” by UNESCO. It offers the county’s makers an opportunity to build relationships within the international fashion community and reach new markets.


Crystal has long been part of Donghai’s identity; handcrafted press-on nails have become another distinctive local craft. Crystal trade exceeded 60.6 billion yuan in 2025. The county also produced more than 300 million pairs of press-on nails—over 70% of China’s total—with annual sales of 15 billion yuan. Its products reached more than 30 countries and regions.

About 60 guests gathered for the opening, among them Geng Xiewi, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Consulate General in Milan; Marco Griguolo, Metropolitan City of Milan Councillor for Infrastructure; Guo Mingzhou, Deputy Head of Donghai County; Stefano Di Marino, a China-Italy friendship ambassador; and representatives from the Italy–China Economic & Business Development Association (ASEIIC), the China Chamber of Commerce in Italy, fashion businesses, buyers, design schools and the media.

At the event, Jiangsu Donghai Crystal Industry Development Group Co., Ltd. introduced an initiative to bring international designers and other creative professionals together with Donghai’s crystal and press-on nail makers. New crystal and press-on nail products created in collaboration with Italian designers were unveiled, bringing Chinese and Italian design influences together in pieces visitors could see firsthand.

Visitors could also explore an open exhibition of crystal pieces and press-on nails from Jiangsu Jingcheng Shangjia Press-On Nails Co., Ltd., Donghai Jingyun Fuli Culture Co., Ltd., Donghai Ji Ming Yang Culture Development Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Jingyiyi Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd., and Lianyungang Yuenuo Beauty Co., Ltd.

With its crystal heritage and flourishing handcrafted press-on nail industry, Donghai brought two expressions of local creativity to Milan—and opened the door to new collaborations with the international fashion community.