On August 3, fifteen diplomats based in China — representing Ethiopia, Fiji, Latvia, Türkiye, Botswana, Guinea, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Malaysia — took part in an exchange event with local businesses in Hefei, Anhui Province, kicking off a week-long tour of the province. On August 5, the group traveled to Xuancheng, where, after experiencing the traditional craft of Xuan papermaking firsthand, H.E. Mr. Karlis Eihenbaums, Ambassador of Latvia to China, said that the preservation of traditional craftsmanship carries great significance for any nation.

As a trained historian, Eihenbaums joined fellow diplomats from several countries on a cultural tour spanning the cities of Xuancheng and Huangshan. Xuancheng is the birthplace of Xuan paper, while Huangshan is one of China's best-known tourist destinations.

In Xuancheng, the diplomats observed — and personally engaged in — the traditional techniques behind the "Four Treasures of the Study": brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. During an exchange with an intangible cultural heritage inheritor, Eihenbaums spoke about the importance of passing down historical traditions, adding that he was pleased to see local children learning about the history of papermaking and getting hands-on experience at the Xuan Paper Museum. H.E. Prof. Lekoko S. Kenosi, Ambassador of Botswana to China, suggested that Xuan paper could potentially be applied to rock art and wildlife conservation projects in Botswana. H.E. Mr. Robert Lee, Ambassador of Fiji, proposed incorporating Xuan paper into fashion design as a way of weaving it into tourism experiences.

The diplomats then traveled on to Huangshan, where their first stop was Xidi Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, they toured the village's traditional Huizhou-style residences and learned about local efforts to preserve intangible cultural heritage. In Qiyun Town, the group experienced a night cruise and a fireworks display. The itinerary also included an exchange session with young local entrepreneurs. Li Dong, an entrepreneur based at the DN Huangshan Digital Nomad Community, said the diplomats' interest in his AI hardware products had given him greater confidence in the road ahead.

At the conclusion of the Huangshan leg of the trip, Nicolas Brea, the diplomat from Argentina, said he had been deeply impressed by the region's scenery, environment, and cultural heritage, and that he looks forward to visiting Anhui again in the future.

"This is a rare opportunity — we have come to the new engine of China's economic growth, Anhui." So said H.E. Mr. Robert Lee, Fiji's Ambassador to China, at an exchange event in Hefei on the 3rd, which brought together 15 diplomats from Ethiopia, Fiji, Latvia, Türkiye, Botswana and other countries for an in-depth dialogue with the province.

At the opening ceremony, more than 100 Anhui-based enterprises were on display, spanning new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, photovoltaic materials, construction equipment, culture, and tourism and wellness — sectors that represent new growth points for Anhui and for the Chinese economy more broadly. Newly released figures for the first half of the year show Anhui posting an economic output of 2.737 trillion yuan and growth of 5.6%, placing it among China's top ten provinces by GDP. Known for its strength in scientific innovation and its long-termism, the province is home to firms such as iFlytek (artificial intelligence) and JAC Group (automobile manufacturing).

H.E. Prof. Lekoko S. Kenosi, Botswana's Ambassador to China, said he valued this dialogue format and would visit companies over the coming days, adding that Anhui's sci-tech enterprises demonstrate strong R&D capabilities, opening possibilities for cooperation in cultural technology and intelligent manufacturing. Ambassador Lee also noted Anhui's progress in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, seeing points of convergence with Fiji's development needs.

The week-long programme will take the diplomats to companies in Hefei, Xuancheng and Huangshan, covering construction, automobile manufacturing, culture, and tourism and wellness. In Hefei, the itinerary includes a leading construction firm and an AI park; in Xuancheng, the development of the cultural industry and a cultural exchange session; in Huangshan, eco-tourism and wellness resort projects. The organizers said the aim is to give the diplomats a fuller picture of how a Chinese provincial economy actually works, and to identify potential areas for cooperation in supply chains, green technology transfer and people-to-people exchange.

No agreements have been signed so far, but several envoys expressed interest in continuing to engage with Anhui companies after the event. Long dominated by agriculture and traditional manufacturing, Anhui has in recent years become one of the faster-growing provinces in China's regional economy, drawing investment of a certain scale from both domestic and overseas sources.

Sheikh Mubarak Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, AEC Chairman, said: "H1 2026 reflects the resilience of AEC's business model, with net profit nearly doubling YoY and our contracted backlog with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) reaching a record $1.1 billion. In line with our commitment to delivering sustainable returns, the Board has recommended an interim cash dividend of 3 Fils per share. We remain committed to creating long-term shareholder value, and supporting Kuwait's long-term energy ambitions."

Ahmad Mohammad Al-Ajlan, Board Member and CEO, said: "H1 results reflect the successful execution of our growth and diversification strategy, with revenue increasing 34.4% and net profit rising 96.6% YoY. Record backlog, continued investment in fleet expansion, and the growing contribution of our oilfield services business provide a strong foundation for AEC's next phase of growth and long-term value creation."

Operational Review

Drilling and workover services account for ~61% of backlog. AEC operated 20 rigs at 100% utilisation, completing 202 rig moves versus 100 in H1 2025. Drilling revenue rose 39% to $45.21 million and rig leasing and mobilisation revenue grew 13.8% to $10.44 million.

Oilfield Services account for ~39% of backlog. AEC advanced mobilisation of its ESP, Slickline and OTSG service lines, investing $17.8 million. Other operating revenue increased 60.8% to $2.75 million. AEC also entered a strategic JV with Kellton to drive AI-led digital transformation across the GCC energy sector.

Dividends

The Board of Directors has recommended an interim cash dividend of ~10 cents per share for the six-month period ended June 30, 2026, representing a total distribution of approximately $5.5 million, and marking AEC's first interim cash dividend.

Outlook

AEC enters the second half with strong revenue visibility and full fleet utilisation. Priorities include mobilising the ESP, Slickline and OTSG service lines and seven new rigs, executing the record backlog, and maintaining financial discipline. Over the medium term, AEC targets a mix of ~60% drilling and 40% oilfield services, and net debt to equity below 1.25x.

With players connecting from different regions around the world, maintaining stable and responsive online gameplay has become increasingly important. Through this collaboration, GearUP will provide network optimization technology designed to improve connection stability, reduce latency, and minimize packet loss, helping Escape from Tarkov players achieve faster, stable connections and enjoy smoother, more immersed gameplay.

The partnership highlights a shared commitment to improving the online gaming experience for players worldwide. As multiplayer games continue to grow across regions and platforms, reliable connectivity has become a key part of delivering engaging and competitive gameplay. By combining Escape from Tarkov's intense gameplay experience with GearUP's intelligent routing technology, the collaboration aims to support a smoother connection experience for the global gaming community.

"The quality of an online gaming experience depends on more than just gameplay — a stable connection is essential," the GearUP Team said. "Working with Escape from Tarkov allows us to support players during an important moment for the game while continuing our mission of making online gaming experiences faster, smoother, and more accessible around the world."

Through its advanced network optimization technology, GearUP supports thousands of games across PC, mobile devices, consoles, and supported routers. The platform continuously optimizes network routes to help players adapt to changing internet conditions and enjoy more consistent online experiences..

To celebrate the collaboration, GearUP will provide free network acceleration for Escape from Tarkov from August 4 through August 11, 2026 (UTC). During this period, players can access GearUP's optimization service for the game without an active membership. Players can learn more about the dedicated Escape from Tarkov network optimization service and experience improved connectivity throughout the new season.

About GearUP

GearUP is a global game network optimization platform dedicated to improving online gaming experiences through intelligent routing technology. Supporting thousands of games across multiple platforms, GearUP helps players achieve faster, more stable connections and enjoy smoother gameplay worldwide.

Contact

business@gearupbooster.com

Under the theme "Advancing Basic Science for Humanity," the two-week event will host over 500 academic sessions covering all branches and interdisciplinary directions of basic science, along with frontier topics such as generative large-model reasoning, computer vision, human-computer interaction and quantum information.

Top international scientists will deliver lectures on basic science and frontier science award reports to share the latest global breakthroughs and promote multidisciplinary collaborative innovation.

A diverse range of events will also be held during the congress, including high-level academic dialogues, youth engagement activities, and cultural and scientific exchange programs.

The high-level academic dialogues will feature "Mathematics Night," "Physics Night," and "Engineering Night," bringing together Fields Medal and Turing Award recipients to discuss frontier trends.

The newly launched Women Scientists Forum will invite outstanding female researchers to share their career experiences and discuss opportunities and challenges in scientific research, aiming to inspire more female scholars to scale new heights in science.

The congress will also host a Basic Science and AI Forum for in-depth discussions on core bottlenecks and future breakthrough paths in AI theory, as well as industry trends.

In addition, the event will feature "Tsinghua Day," which will invite world-leading mathematicians and physicists to Tsinghua University for dialogues with young students, encouraging them to engage in basic science and explore the unknown.

During the congress, an "Explore Huairou" tour will be held to invite global experts to visit Huairou Science City, the International Conference Resort, the Mutianyu Great Wall, the Great Wall International Animation Valley and Doctor's Farm.

The tour will offer international scholars a firsthand look at the innovation vitality and research ecosystem of the comprehensive national science center, as well as the ecological charm and cultural heritage of Huairou.

It will also demonstrate how science and technology are empowering rural revitalization, showcasing Huairou's achievements and high-quality development as a world-class strategic science and technology integration demonstration zone.

This year marks the fourth year of the ICBS being held in Beijing. It is co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Government, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the China Association for Science and Technology, and the International Consortium of Chinese Mathematicians.

HONG KONG, Aug. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From August 7 to 10, 2026, the 16th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and the 2026 International Dragon Award (IDA) Annual Conference were grandly held in Hong Kong, the "Pearl of the Orient." At this joint event, over 10,000 financial insurance professionals from around the world—including senior executives of insurance companies, industry experts, and scholars—gathered together to discuss and exchange insights on new trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the insurance industry.

Three Decades of Driving Growth and Prosperity in the Insurance Industry

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress. Since its inception, the Congress has remained unwavering in its founding mission: to unite the world's elite Chinese financial insurance professionals, demonstrate their professional value, and pursue a higher plane of business excellence. Over the past three decades, it has consolidated the collective wisdom of Chinese insurance management, perpetuated its culture of excellence, championed its progressive spirit, broadened the strategic vision of participants, and demonstrated the exemplary conduct of outstanding practitioners. Throughout these thirty years, the Congress has stood guardian to the perseverance and aspirations of countless insurance professionals around the world, borne witness as the insurance industry steadily matured, and carried forward the legacy of its growth and honor.

The 16th Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress and the 2026 International Dragon Award (IDA) Annual Conference, held under the theme "Professional Epoch," extended special invitations to 125 distinguished speakers from around the world—including senior executives of leading insurers, outstanding agency leaders, top‑performing agents, and experts from multiple disciplines beyond the insurance sector. Through this multifaceted program, the Congress built a diverse, open, and cross‑sector platform for in-depth exchange, advancing the growth and prosperity of the industry. A special highlight was the "WCLIC 30th Anniversary Tribute," a milestone celebration joined by nearly 10,000 participants in commemoration of three decades of shared journey.

The Congress received strong support and invaluable guidance from the Insurance Authority, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, and government officials at various levels, along with the generous backing of its corporate sponsors.

Congress Highlight: Official Release of Global Rankings for IDA Member Companies

In 2024, the International Dragon Award (IDA) Executive Committee released the inaugural Official Announcement of Global Rankings for IDA Member Companies in Hong Kong, China, unveiling key trends and benchmarks shaping the global financial insurance industry. The data offers valuable guidance and strategic reference for financial institutions and agency teams in their business operations. For insurers, the number of IDA members serves as a powerful indicator of both productivity and professional caliber. The greater the number of IDA members an institution holds, the stronger its performance in overall productivity, recruitment and training, and talent retention—signaling a trajectory of sustainable, long-term growth.

At this year's Congress, the IDA Executive Committee will release the Official Announcement of 2026 Global Rankings for IDA Member Companies. Informed by the collective insights and recommendations of the Expert Committee on International Dragon Award Data Analytics—a panel comprising distinguished experts from industry, government, and academia—the 2026 data analysis has advanced further in both depth and breadth.

IDA Honor Celebration: Thousands of IDA Elite Professionals Converge at the Summit

In 2026, the global insurance industry confronts new challenges amid a volatile and turbulent economic landscape. Yet, even in the face of such headwinds, an exceptional group of insurance professionals has thrived against the odds—earning the prestigious International Dragon Award through extraordinary performance and unwavering resilience.

To pay the highest tribute to these pillars of the industry, the Congress specially designed the "Honor Salute" and the "Dragon Night"—inviting over 4,800 IDA members to walk the "Star of Distinction," a pathway embodying the philosophy of "Paragon, Perfection, and Nobility"—and ascend the awards stage to share in a moment of glory reserved for the most dedicated professionals.

Among all IDA honors, the following distinctions shine most brightly:

In 2026, a total of 142 new IDA Life Members were recognized, bringing the cumulative total to 727. Through more than a decade of unwavering professional dedication and sustained achievement, they have set the exemplar for long‑term performance excellence across the insurance industry worldwide.

In the same year, 5 new IDA Hall of Fame inductees joined the ranks, bringing the cumulative total to 21. With over two decades of unwavering commitment to their original vision and sustained dedication, these honorees have not only achieved personal excellence but have also set a lasting benchmark for generational succession across the global insurance industry.

In team honors, 14 teams achieved the IDA Hundred‑Elite Team distinction in 2026, bringing the cumulative total to 34. Their extraordinary organizational management, talent development, and capacity for sustainable growth have established them as exemplary benchmarks for insurance teams worldwide.

In addition, 7 new "IDA World Records" were unveiled in 2026, bringing the cumulative total to 21. These records chronicle the highest achievements and historic milestones attained by IDA members over the past 27 years.

After three decades of weathering storms and navigating change, the Worldwide Chinese Life Insurance Congress remains steadfast in its mission to contribute to the prosperity, progress, and growth of the global financial insurance industry. Together with financial institutions and outstanding practitioners worldwide, the Congress continues to walk alongside them on their journey toward excellence—every step of the way.

As one of Southeast Asia's largest consumer markets, Indonesia has become a strategic market for Changhong, driven by its large population and long-term growth potential. Partnering with Rossa is a natural extension of the company's localized brand strategy. Together, Changhong and Rossa will engage local audiences through campaigns that reflect Indonesian culture, raising brand awareness and building stronger connections with consumers.

Vaclav Lian, General Manager of Changhong Indonesia, said: "Indonesia is one of Changhong's key international markets, and our partnership with Rossa exemplifies our long-term commitment to local consumers. We will continue to deliver innovative products and reliable services that make everyday home life smarter and more enjoyable."

The partnership with Rossa is part of Changhong's broader strategy to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia and engage a new generation of consumers. Alongside the collaboration, Changhong has expanded its after-sales support in Indonesia by introducing extended warranty coverage for key product categories—including televisions, air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines—backed by 24-hour customer support. Through continuous innovation, Changhong delivers smarter products and better experiences, building stronger connections with local consumers.

The enhanced warranty and expanded service support demonstrate Changhong's confidence in its products and long-term commitment to the Indonesian market. Looking ahead, Changhong Indonesia will continue to enhance its products and services to better meet evolving customer needs, delivering smarter and more reliable home experiences for families across Indonesia.

About Changhong

Founded in 1958, Changhong is a leading global consumer electronics and smart home appliance company. Its portfolio includes televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and smart home solutions, with products and services available in more than 160 countries and regions. Driven by innovation, Changhong develops technologies and products designed to make everyday living smarter, more convenient and more enjoyable for consumers around the world.

Visit Changhong Indonesia: https://changhong.co.id/

- Goyang, Daejeon, Jeongseon, Suwon, and Seoul emerge as the most popular bakery tourism destinations in South Korea, driven by growing search interest

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Driven by South Korea's vibrant cafe culture and the growing popularity of bakery-themed events, "bread pilgrimages" have emerged as one of the latest travel trends. Today, South Koreans are willing to travel in search of the perfect loaf, visiting renowned bakeries and bread festivals across the country. The phenomenon gained even greater momentum after actor Beomjun Seo embarked on a bread pilgrimage in the entertainment show "I Live Alone," inspiring viewers to explore famous bakeries. Reflecting this growing appetite for bakery tourism, digital travel platform Agoda has revealed the top domestic "bread pilgrimage" destinations for travelers to explore in the second half of the year.

Based on accommodation searches made by South Korean travelers between 1 January and 15 June this year, Goyang recorded the largest increase in travel interest among destinations hosting upcoming bakery-related events. Daejeon, Jeongseon, Suwon, and Seoul followed, rounding out the top five destinations for bakery tourism.

Goyang topped the list with a 22% increase in accommodation searches, likely driven by the "2026 Cafe & Bakery Fair Season 2" taking place from 29 October – 1 November this year. The event showcases not only coffee, desserts, and bakery products, but also coffee equipment, packaging solutions, related services, and the latest industry trends. Season 1, held from 4–7 June, attracted more than 200 participating brands and an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 visitors.

Ranking second, Daejeon recorded an 18% increase in accommodation searches. Long regarded as one of South Korea's iconic "bread pilgrimage" destinations thanks to the legendary bakery Sungsimdang, the city has continued to strengthen its reputation through unique local experiences such as the "Bread Taxi," where taxi driver Seongwoo Ahn offers visitors exclusive tours of the city's best bakeries. Interest is also expected to be fueled by two major upcoming events, "Bbangbbangrun 2026 in Daejeon," taking place on 9–10 October, and the "2026 Daejeon Bread Festival," scheduled for 17–18 October.

Jeongseon ranked third with a 17% increase in accommodation searches, likely driven by the "Bread Trail Run 2026" taking place from 12–13 September. First launched last year, the event combines running with a unique bakery experience, featuring refreshment checkpoints where participants can enjoy treats, including bread, beverages, snacks, ice cream, and chocolate. Beyond the race itself, participants can enjoy a variety of activities, including a running clinic led by a national team athlete, warm-up sessions, and photo zones.

Suwon placed fourth, with accommodation searches rising 15%. The increase is likely driven by the "Korea Coffee & Dessert Festival Season 2," scheduled for 11–13 December. As Suwon's only exhibition dedicated exclusively to coffee and desserts, the festival brings together coffee lovers, home baristas, and bakery enthusiasts to discover the latest dessert trends.

Rounding out the top five, Seoul recorded an 11% increase in accommodation searches, likely driven by the "2026 Cafe & Bakery Fair Season 2" taking place from 27–30 August. The capital also hosted Season 1 earlier this year from 25–28 February, reinforcing its position as one of the country's leading destinations for bakery enthusiasts and cafe culture.

Alex Park, Country Director, South Korea at Agoda shared, "Food has always been an important part of the travel experience, and we're seeing more opportunities for travelers who want to plan trips around finding the best bakeries, with bread evolving from a simple dessert into a destination and experience in itself. From iconic bakeries to bread festivals, Agoda is delighted to help travelers discover local culture through food while making it easy to find great-value accommodation for every journey."

With over 130,000 flight routes, more than 6 million holiday properties, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda ensures bread enthusiasts can seamlessly combine their bookings in one convenient platform throughout their journey. Discover the best deals on Agoda's mobile app and visit Agoda.com to plan the perfect summer getaway.

RXIM002 represents the world's first circular RNA-based in vivo CAR-T therapy achieving FDA IND clearance. RiboX expands its clinical-stage pipeline through its proprietary targeted LNP delivery platform.

SHANGHAI and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- RiboX Therapeutics Ltd. ("RiboX"), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering fully engineered circular RNA (circRNA) therapeutics, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for RXIM002. RXIM002 is the world's first circular RNA-based in vivo CAR-T therapy delivered by a targeted lipid nanoparticle (tLNP). This marks an important milestone for the field as circRNA-based in vivo CAR-T officially advancing into clinical development.

RXIM002 is an investigational product employing tLNP encapsulated circRNA that encodes a CD19‑targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) for the treatment of autoimmune cytopenias. By delivering circRNA to T cells in vivo, RXIM002 enables durable CAR expression and generating functional CAR-T cells directly within the patient's body. This "in situ generation" approach fundamentally bypasses the complex, costly and time-consuming ex vivo manufacturing processes required by conventional CAR-T therapies, expanding patient access. In autoimmune diseases, deep B cell depletion driven by the in vivo generated CAR-T cells has the potential to induce immune reset and durable drug-free remission.

Prior to the IND submission, RXIM002 was evaluated in investigator-initiated trials (IITs) in China in autoimmune disease patients. Follow-up of these patients are currently ongoing, with some patients exceeding six months. RiboX submitted complete IIT data as part of the IND package to the FDA, encompassing safety and early efficacy results from all treated patients. Based on the integrity and robustness of this full dataset, the agency permitted an accelerated dose-titration scheme and granted subcutaneous formulation as part of clinical development, paving the way for potentially outpatient administration that could fundamentally transform the CAR-T treatment paradigm.

To the company's knowledge, RXIM002 is the world's first tLNP-circRNA in vivo CAR therapy that achieved FDA IND clearance. This milestone validates RiboX's proprietary tLNP platform and further reinforces the company's leadership in precision RNA therapeutics.

"The FDA IND clearance for RXIM002 is a pivotal milestone for RiboX and for the field of circRNA medicines," said Weiyi Zhang, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of RiboX Therapeutics. "As the first-in-class circRNA in vivo CAR-T therapy to enter the clinic, RXIM002 exemplifies our ability to translate robust pre-clinical results and rigorous early clinical evidence into an accelerated development path. This achievement brings us closer to delivering a transformative treatment option for patients living with debilitating autoimmune diseases. We are committed to advancing clinical research of RXIM002 across multiple regions worldwide to address the significant unmet needs."

About RXIM002

RXIM002 is a first-in-class, tLNP-delivered circRNA therapy encoding an anti-CD19 CAR. It's designed to generate functional CAR T cells in vivo to achieve durable, non-integrating CAR-expression. By inducing profound depletion of pathogenic B cells, RXIM002 promotes immune reset and sustained disease remission, offering a potentially transformative, off-the-shelf solution for patients with B-cell-driven autoimmune diseases.

About POPULUS-1 Study

POPULUS-1 is a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and early efficacy of RXIM002 in patients with relapsed or refractory autoimmune cytopenias. The study will initially enroll participants with relapsed or refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), the most prevalent autoimmune cytopenia, characterized by a low platelet count and an increased risk of bruising and bleeding. ITP is caused by pathogenic autoantibodies driven by aberrant B-cell activation. RXIM002 is being developed to induce transient in vivo CAR T-cell mediated depletion of pathogenic B cells while potentially preserving immune competence.

About RiboX Therapeutics

RiboX Therapeutics is a global, clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to discovering and developing circRNA therapeutics with operations in China, US and Israel. RiboX develops proprietary circRNA and targeted LNP platforms that enable durable expression, precision tissue targeting and broad therapeutic applicability across multiple disease areas.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the development, regulatory advancement, clinical evaluation, safety, efficacy, and commercial potential of RXIM002 and the Company's circular RNA and targeted lipid nanoparticle platforms. Actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties. RiboX undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.

For Further Information, please visit: http://www.riboxtx.com/

HEZE, China, Aug. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Production Rollout Ceremony of Shandong HiTHIUM's world's first long-duration energy storage (LDES) integrated industrial park (Heze Base) was held on August 7 in Heze Luxi New Area. As the world's first intelligent manufacturing base purpose-built for LDES, the Heze Base exemplifies its commitment to "benchmark from day one, leadership from production rollout." It marks a strategic milestone for HiTHIUM in its unwavering LDES commitment and deepening global integrated industrial layout, propelling the company into a new era of worldwide LDES integrated intelligent manufacturing and scaled delivery.

Spanning a planned total area of approximately 80 hectares and representing a total investment of over RMB 13 billion across the entire industrial chain, the Shandong Heze project is the world's first integrated industrial park dedicated exclusively to LDES. The project has been designated as a key national private investment initiative and a flagship project in Shandong Province's new energy system development.

Built on a whole-industry-chain approach, the facility encompasses intelligent manufacturing of LFP battery cells, module and system integration, new material production, and upstream raw material processing – achieving end-to-end integration from materials to cells and systems.

Wang Pengcheng, Co-founder and CEO of HiTHIUM and Chairman of Shandong HiTHIUM, stated: "The production rollout marks a new phase for the Heze Base in scalable manufacturing, market-oriented delivery, and ecosystem development. Building on this new foundation, HiTHIUM will continue to advance our 'three pillars of leadership':

Industrial leadership – building a national benchmark industrial cluster for LDES. With the Heze LDES integrated industrial park as the 'core engine', HiTHIUM will gather upstream and downstream partners to cover the full 'generation-transmission-distribution-consumption' application ecosystem.

Product leadership – defining full-scenario LDES solutions. HiTHIUM has taken the lead in defining and deploying LDES solutions. Leveraging the Base's scaled capacity, HiTHIUM will fully unleash the manufacturing potential of thousand-ampere-hour large-capacity products, ushering the global lithium-based LDES industry into an era of large-scale delivery.

Production efficiency leadership – building global competitiveness through integrated intelligent manufacturing. Fully equipped with independently developed fifth-generation intelligent manufacturing lines, the Base enables end-to-end synergistic integration across core materials, cell manufacturing, system integration, and global delivery, ensuring our ability to deliver large-scale, high-efficiency, and high-quality products to markets worldwide."

The Heze Base's integrated intelligent manufacturing system covers the entire process from raw materials to prefabricated container delivery. Powered by the fifth-generation production lines – the industry's first to exceed 15 GWh in single-line capacity – the new generation delivers a 50% reduction in floor space per GWh, 58% reduction in production manpower, 13% reduction in manufacturing energy consumption, and 200% efficiency improvement compared to the previous generation. With an automation rate exceeding 95%, over 1,000 quality control checkpoints reinforced by AI-powered visual inspection, the Heze Base establishes low-cost operational capabilities, high-efficiency delivery, and premium product quality, offering globally competitive LDES solutions to customers worldwide.

Have you ever seen durian coffee brewed right inside a fresh durian?

This one-of-a-kind durian coffee has recently taken young people by storm at the Chengdu International Railway Port.

You may be even more surprised to learn these durians were still hanging on the trees just five days ago. Five days later, they "rode" more than 2,000 kilometers via the China-Laos-Thailand all-rail-cold-chain freight service, traveling straight from major growing areas in eastern Thailand to the imported durian distribution center inside the Chengdu-Eurasia National (Commodity) Pavilion in the Chengdu International Railway Port.

Thanks to this regular cold-chain rail route that delivers goods efficiently with minimal damage, and in seamless container journeys, tropical Southeast Asian fruits that once commanded steep prices — such as Vietnamese longans and Lao mangosteens — now reach Chinese consumers at lower prices and in better condition.

If you look at the transport route map of Chengdu International Railway Port, every shipping line runs like a blood vessel, pumping steady vitality into countries and cities along the way.

Since the first Chengdu-Europe Express Rail pulled out of Chengdu bound for Lodz, Poland, back in 2013, the Chengdu-Eurasia international logistics corridor centered on Chengdu has expanded steadily over more than a decade. More than 100 cities at home and abroad, including Moscow, Lodz, Vientiane, Hanoi and Izmir, have joined the network one after another. A land-sea intermodal shipping network focused on overland rail now connects Europe, Asia and North America, together with a backbone network of air cargo routes, has gradually taken shape.

Today's sophisticated transport network stands in stark contrast to the region's isolation in ancient times. To reach the Shu lands (the Sichuan Basin around present-day Chengdu), travelers had to cross the formidable Qinling and Daba mountain ranges. The great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai once sighed, "The road to Shu is harder than climbing to the sky." The Italian explorer Marco Polo also wrote in his travelogue that traversing the Shu Road took twenty days, with winding paths snaking through mountains, gorges and dense forests.

That is why inland western Chinese cities like Chengdu needed an efficient, stable international logistics corridor to break the shackles holding back development. No matter how hard the ancient Shu Road once was, a new thoroughfare had to be built.

After years of infrastructure construction and strategic planning of international logistics corridors, the New Shu Road is fully open and efficient. Today, setting out from Chengdu, you can "roam" the Eurasian continent in just 20 days: Around 12 days by China-Europe Railway Express to Lodz and Moscow; Around 14 days to Nuremberg and Tilburg; Roughly 3 days to Laos and 5 days to Thailand via the all-rail freight line covering China, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia; And a mere 10 days to travel all across ASEAN via the ASEAN land-sea intermodal transport route.

The smooth New Shu Road has turned into a global "conveyor belt" for the flow of goods. New energy products and specialty agricultural products "Made in Chengdu" and "Made in China" are constantly shipped overseas. Meanwhile, French red wine, German automobiles and other commodities pass through Chengdu to reach inland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, as well as Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. In the first half of this year, Chengdu's total import and export volume of goods hit 440.67 billion yuan.

Transportation is no longer a constraint on local development — instead, it has become a force that nourishes and propels regional growth. Chengdu once relied heavily on traditional heavy industry, but the China-Europe Railway Express has rapidly opened it up to the outside world and driven industrial upgrading. This positive impact has spilled over to many more regions along the routes. For example, Malaszewicze, a small Polish border town, has grown into a key EU logistics hub thanks to the railway service.

In ancient times, the Shu Road was hard, because mountains and passes stood in the way. Today, the new Shu Road stretches far and wide, connecting China with the rest of the world.

The ever-improving New Shu Road brings impetus for high-standard opening-up to China's western hinterland, offering richer opportunities for all countries, cities and enterprises along the routes, and delivering tangible benefits to people everywhere — just like that fresh cup of durian coffee.

China Mosaic

http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

― Searches for Tateshina Highlands rise 277% as interest grows in "cool-cations" offering cooler climates and nature escapes ―

SINGAPORE, Aug. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Agoda Company Pte. Ltd. (Headquarters: Singapore; CEO: Omri Morgenshtern), which operates the digital travel platform Agoda, has revealed growing interest among Japanese travelers in domestic cool-weather destinations for late summer 2026, based on accommodation search data.

According to Agoda, accommodation searches increased for destinations offering relatively cool climates and abundant natural surroundings, including Tateshina Highlands, Furano, Yuzawa, Karuizawa, and Matsumoto and Kamikochi. Tateshina Highlands recorded the strongest growth in travel interest among Japan's cool-weather destinations, with searches increasing by 277%.

The data compares accommodation searches made by Japanese travelers between January and March 2026 for check-ins from April to June 2026 with searches made between April and June 2026 for check-ins from July to September 2026.

Agoda's insights reveal rising travel interest for "cool-cations," where travelers choose destinations that allow them to escape the summer heat and recharge in natural surroundings, especially during the late summer months between July to September. The findings also suggest that highland and mountainous destinations offering comfortable climates, hot springs, outdoor activities, and distinctive local cuisine are attracting increasing attention as summer travel destinations.

• Top Five Cool-Weather Destinations with the Growth in Late Summer Travel Interest

Tateshina Highlands: 277% increase
Furano: 229% increase
Yuzawa: 202% increase
Karuizawa: 161% increase
Matsumoto and Kamikochi: 133% increase

• Tateshina Highlands, Nagano Prefecture | Searches up 277%

Tateshina Highlands is known as a high-altitude resort destination offering a relatively cool and comfortable climate, even during summer. Visitors can enjoy hiking, scenic drives, and hot springs amid abundant natural surroundings. Its convenient access from the Greater Tokyo area may also be one of the reasons it is attracting interest as a summer travel destination.

• Furano, Hokkaido | Searches up 229%

Furano offers quintessential Hokkaido scenery, including expansive rural landscapes and colorful flower fields. Its relatively cool summer climate, together with opportunities for scenic drives, outdoor activities, and dining experiences featuring local ingredients, has made it a popular destination for travelers seeking relief from the heat.

• Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture | Searches up 202%

Best known as a winter snow resort, Yuzawa is also gaining attention as a cool-weather destination where travelers can enjoy nature during the summer months. In addition to outdoor experiences and hot springs surrounded by mountains, its convenient Shinkansen access from the Greater Tokyo area makes it an appealing choice for shorter trips.

• Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture | Searches up 161%

Karuizawa has long been one of Japan's best-known summer retreats, offering both abundant nature and a sophisticated townscape. With a wide range of experiences, including shopping, dining, cycling, and forest walks, the destination is popular among diverse groups of travelers, including families and couples.

• Matsumoto and Kamikochi, Nagano Prefecture | Searches up 133%

The Matsumoto and Kamikochi area is known for the magnificent natural scenery of the Northern Japan Alps, fresh mountain air, and beautiful alpine landscapes. Travelers can combine walks through Kamikochi with historical and cultural sightseeing at attractions such as Matsumoto Castle, allowing them to enjoy both nature and urban tourism during the same trip.

Agoda's findings indicate that when choosing summer destinations, an increasing number of travelers are likely to consider not only sightseeing attractions and accommodation options, but also comfortable climates and natural surroundings. Travelers are also increasingly likely to combine stays in cool-weather destinations with hot springs, outdoor activities, local cuisine, and cultural experiences to create more fulfilling summer trips.

Tadashi Ikai, Senior Country Director, Agoda International Japan, shared: "When planning summer trips, more Japanese travelers are seeking out destinations where they can stay cool and comfortable, in addition to enjoying sightseeing and leisure activities. Agoda's latest insights show growing interest in cool-weather destinations such as Tateshina Highlands, Furano, and Yuzawa, where travelers can recharge amid abundant natural surroundings. The appeal of these 'cool-cations' goes beyond simply escaping the heat. They also give travelers opportunities to enjoy experiences unique to each destination, including hot springs, outdoor activities, and local culinary culture. Through our diverse range of accommodation and travel products, Agoda will continue supporting travelers in planning comfortable summer trips that suit their individual preferences."

Agoda offers travelers access to a wide range of travel products, including hotels, private homes, flights, and activities. By booking activities in advance through Agoda, travelers can better plan their itineraries and enjoy a smoother, more fulfilling travel experience in their chosen destinations.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Malaysia is broadening its approach to engaging Malaysians overseas, moving beyond a traditional focus on talent return towards a more coordinated national strategy that harnesses global Malaysian expertise to strengthen local talent and national competitiveness.

As part of this next chapter, Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp), the strategic think tank under the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA), today established MyHeart Global Connect, a global advisory council comprising 15 Malaysians based in 10 countries, during Salam Dari Malaysia @ Singapore.

Officiated by the Minister of Human Resources, YB Dato' Sri Ramanan Ramakrishnan on 7 August 2026, and attended by H.E. Datin Paduka Anizan Siti Hajjar Adnin, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore, the event brought together 250 Malaysian professionals, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, academics, students and community representatives living and working in Singapore.

Speaking at the event, YB Dato' Sri Ramanan said Malaysia's talent ecosystem extends beyond its borders and engaging Malaysians overseas must become a coordinated national effort.

"Malaysia's talent story does not end at our borders. Malaysians overseas remain an important part of our country's talent ecosystem. As we strengthen local talent, we must also strengthen our engagement with Malaysians around the world so their expertise, experience and global networks can complement our nation's development."

The Minister said the MADANI Government remains committed to building a stronger, more competitive and future-ready workforce through quality jobs, stronger industry collaboration and investments in future skills.

He added that TalentCorp has been tasked to work closely with KESUMA, other ministries and agencies, Malaysian diplomatic missions, industry partners and the Malaysian diaspora to shape the next chapter of Malaysia's diaspora engagement.

"We already have strong foundations through TalentCorp's Returning Expert Programme and MyHeart. The next step is to build on those foundations through a more coordinated national approach that enables Malaysians overseas to continue contributing to Malaysia's development while complementing our efforts to strengthen talent at home," he said.

MyHeart Global Connect brings together accomplished Malaysians from around the world to provide strategic insights, international perspectives and global networks that support Malaysia's talent agenda. The council will strengthen collaboration between Government, industry, academia and the Malaysian diaspora, while creating more opportunities for mentorship, knowledge exchange, strategic partnerships and international collaboration.

The initiative complements the Government's broader efforts to strengthen Malaysia's competitiveness through initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), which aims to attract high-value investments, create quality jobs and expand opportunities for Malaysians.

TalentCorp Group CEO Ms Biruntha Mooruthi said the establishment of MyHeart Global Connect reflects a new chapter in Malaysia's engagement with its global talent.

"Many Malaysians overseas have built exceptional careers, expertise and international networks. MyHeart Global Connect gives us a structured way to bring that global expertise into national conversations, strengthen collaboration with Government, industry and academia, and ensure it complements the development of talent here at home."

She added that Singapore remains one of TalentCorp's strongest diaspora communities, with almost 4,000 Malaysians registered on MyHeart, while also being the largest source of applications under the Returning Expert Programme.

The programme also featured a special sharing session by Malaysian filmmaker Raymond Tan, director of ITAM: A Sun Bear Story, Malaysia's first feature-length wildlife documentary to receive a nationwide cinema release. As he prepares to return to Malaysia after building his career internationally, Tan shared how global exposure, experience and networks can create new opportunities for Malaysia's creative ecosystem and inspire the next generation of local talent.

Following the launch, the Minister participated in an open dialogue session with members of the Malaysian community in Singapore, where participants shared ideas and perspectives on strengthening Malaysia's talent ecosystem and enhancing engagement with Malaysians overseas.

TalentCorp will continue expanding MyHeart Global Connect, working with KESUMA, Government agencies, Malaysian missions abroad, industry, academia and diaspora communities to ensure global Malaysian expertise continues to complement local talent development and contribute meaningfully to Malaysia's long-term growth and competitiveness.

For more information on MyHeart, visit www.myheart.my

Pursuant to Section 802.01C of the NYSE's Listed Company Manual, a company will be considered to be below compliance standards if the average closing price of its security as reported on the consolidated tape is less than US$1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. The Company has six months (the "Cure Period") following receipt of the notice to regain compliance with the minimum share price requirement. The Company can regain compliance at any time during the Cure Period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the Cure Period the Company has a closing share price of at least US$1.00 per ADS and an average closing share price of at least US$1.00 per ADS over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. In the event that at the expiration of the six-month Cure Period, both a US$1.00 per ADS closing share price on the last trading day of the Cure Period and a US$1.00 per ADS average closing share price over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the Cure Period are not attained, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting procedures.

The Company intends to monitor the market conditions of its listed securities and will consider various measures to cure the non-compliance caused by adverse effects on its trading price and avoid any potential delisting. The Company remains confident in its long-term strategy, business fundamentals and growth prospects and plans to continue the execution of its share repurchase programs as previously announced.

As of August 7, 2026, the Company has repurchased 4,417,036 ADSs under the existing repurchase programs.

About AMTD IDEA Group

AMTD IDEA Group (NYSE: AMTD; SGX: HKB) represents a diversified institution and digital solutions conglomerate group, connecting companies and investors with global markets. Its comprehensive one-stop business services plus digital solutions platform addresses different clients' diverse and inter-connected business needs and digital requirements across all phases of their life cycles. AMTD IDEA Group is uniquely positioned as an active super connector between clients, business partners, investee companies, and investors, connecting the East and the West. For more information, please visit www.amtdinc.com or follow us on X (formerly known as "Twitter") at @AMTDGroup.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs, plans, and expectations of AMTD IDEA Group are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the filings of AMTD IDEA Group with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and AMTD IDEA Group does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

IR Office
AMTD IDEA Group
EMAIL: ir@amtdinc.com

Guided by its philosophy of Less Effort, More Living, CASEKOO has steadily expanded its definition of innovation. From protection-focused designs in its early years to hands-free innovations like StandKOO, and now lifestyle solutions like LinKOO, CASEKOO has continued to redefine the role of a phone case.

The Birth of StandKOO: Hands Free, Anywhere

Early in CASEKOO's journey, the company identified a persistent source of everyday friction: the challenge of propping up a smartphone for hands-free viewing. Rather than treating it as a minor inconvenience, the team saw an opportunity to rethink how a phone case could better adapt to everyday life.

The result was StandKOO, an innovative case featuring a seamlessly integrated MagicStand™ that challenged the traditional notion that a phone case was only meant to protect a device. In practice, that ease can be felt while joining a video call at a small desk, following a recipe in the kitchen, or watching content during a break. More than a product innovation, StandKOO marked the beginning of a design philosophy that would shape CASEKOO's evolution over the next decade.

The Evolution of LinKOO: Designed to Fit You

The evolution continued with LinKOO, a collection inspired by a deeply personal moment. During an evening walk with his wife, CASEKOO Founder Ralph Ye found himself juggling his phone, keys, and wallet, frustrated that he couldn't simply hold her hand. That moment of reflection led to the creation of ClipSafe™, an innovative foldable clasp that transforms a phone case into a versatile, hands-free companion for life on the move.

For Ralph, the same need is visible in ordinary moments of movement: a commuter leaving a cafe with coffee in one hand, a traveler moving through a station with luggage while keeping a phone close for directions, or a parent reaching for a child while trying to keep a phone secure. In each case, the point is not another feature for its own sake, but one less interruption between a person and the moment in front of them.

More than a new product, LinKOO represents CASEKOO's evolution from designing accessories that protect devices to creating solutions that give people greater freedom to live, connect, and move with ease.

The Business Success: A Decade of Trust and Growth

As CASEKOO enters its second decade, its growth is reflected not only in business milestones but also in the trust it has built with consumers around the world. The company has sold more than 20 million phone cases across 32 countries, establishing a global community of over 17 million users through a decade of continuous innovation and thoughtful design.

For CASEKOO, these milestones represent more than just numbers—they reflect the trust earned through products designed to meet real, everyday needs.

Looking Ahead: Less Effort, More Living

As CASEKOO looks toward its second decade and beyond, its focus is sharper than ever: to empower users to spend less time managing their devices and more time living. This is the essence of Less Effort, More Living. The company will continue to design products that remove everyday friction, allowing people to move seamlessly between moments of focus, connection, and freedom. CASEKOO no longer makes accessories for your device; it makes room for your life.

"Ten years ago, we asked how to better protect a phone. Today, we're asking how to protect a moment," said Ralph Ye, Founder and Director of Business Development of CASEKOO. "Innovation isn't about changing identities; it's about making meaningful habits easier to keep. Our greatest achievement isn't measured by units sold, but by how our philosophy has evolved to fit seamlessly into the lives of our users."

The official 10th anniversary celebration on August 8^th will bring together CASEKOO's global community, partners, and team members to reflect on the milestones that have shaped the past decade while looking ahead together to a future where technology serves life, not the other way around.

About CASEKOO

CASEKOO is a design-led lifestyle accessories brand built around a simple idea: freeing your hands in everyday life. Through thoughtful functionality and refined design, the brand helps people move seamlessly between different moments of the day—from active, on-the-go moments to times of focus and connection.

What makes CASEKOO different from a regular phone case? Its difference lies in a simple belief: technology should support life, not interrupt it. By designing products that adapt naturally to how people live, work, and move, CASEKOO reduces everyday friction and creates a more effortless experience—making room for freedom, connection, and the moments that truly matter.

For more information, visit: casekoo.com.

CONTACT:
YuCharlotte
brandteam@casekoo.com

Embedded Storage: KOWIN offers Small PKG. eMMC tailored for AI smart glasses, ePOP for smart watches, and industrial-grade eMMC for rugged industrial control system. These products enable ultra-compact, low-power and long-lasting performance for diverse AI scenarios.

Solid-State Drives (SSDs): High-capacity SSDs are optimized for Mini PCs, supporting fast system booting and instant data access. They ensure stable and efficient AI computing for desktop and edge deployment environments.

DRAM Modules: SODIMM and UDIMM modules that significantly upgrade the computing power of AI laptops and desktops, accelerating AI model training, rendering, and multitasking.

Removable Storage: microSD cards and USB flash drives that meet the needs for portable storage and fast data transfer, ideal for AI data logging, field updates, and content transfer.

With this premium storage lineup, KOWIN effectively covers AI wearables, AI PCs, and industrial control systems, driving performance and reliability to facilitate global AI industry growth. KOWIN's participation at FMS 2026 reaffirmed its commitment to providing ultra-reliable and innovative storage solutions that drives the intelligent world.

About KOWIN

KOWIN specializes in the research, design, and sales of embedded storage, memory modules, and Removable Storage. The company's product portfolio spans eMMC, eMCP, ePOP, nMCP, UFS, LPDDR, DDR, SSD, portable SSD, DRAM Modules, Memory cards, and USB flash drives. These products are widely adopted across smart terminals, smart home, smart wearables, AI devices, IoT, network communication equipment, industrial control system, and smart learning / education, smart surveillance applications.

The brand renewal follows a period of continued business development, portfolio expansion, and evolving consumer expectations. "As consumers increasingly seek solutions to nighttime overheating and sleep discomfort, we see significant opportunities to innovate around cooling sleep experiences," said Amber Zhu, Marketing Director at SweetNight. "Our refreshed brand identity represents not only who we are today, but also where we are heading. Through our Cooling Sleep Technology strategy and upcoming innovations, including new additions to the CoolNest® Series, we remain focused on creating products that help people sleep cooler, more comfortably, and more consistently."

Brand Renewal: A Clearer and More Consistent Identity

The new visual system is designed to provide greater consistency across SweetNight's products, digital platforms, and consumer communications. The upgraded website will serve as an integrated destination for product information and brand content, creating a clearer and more cohesive experience for U.S. consumers as they explore sleep solutions.

Beyond its visual changes, the renewal reflects SweetNight's broader strategy of investing in sleep research and product innovation centered on practical consumer needs. For SweetNight, Cooling Sleep Technology represents a holistic approach that combines advanced materials, mattress construction, and airflow optimization to help create a more comfortable sleep environment.

Introducing the CoolNest® Ultra Memory Foam Mattress

The upcoming CoolNest® Ultra Memory Foam Mattress marks the next step in SweetNight's efforts to enhance cooling sleep solutions. As an upgraded addition to the CoolNest® Series, it is designed to further improve comfort, support, and overall sleep quality while addressing the growing demand for better temperature management.

SweetNight plans to approach cooling as an integrated product-development direction rather than a standalone surface treatment. Its research and development efforts continue to explore material innovation, structural optimization, and the interaction between cooling performance and other aspects of sleep comfort. The brand also intends to expand and update its cooling product portfolio over time, offering solutions for a broader range of preferences and sleep environments.

Aligning with Evolving Consumer Priorities

The strategic focus aligns with shifting priorities in the sleep category. As more consumers recognize how temperature affects nighttime comfort and sleep quality, cooling performance is emerging as a key factor in purchasing decisions. For hot sleepers in particular, effective temperature regulation is no longer viewed as an optional feature, but as an essential element of a comfortable and restorative sleep experience.

Together, the refreshed brand identity and the CoolNest® Series launch open a new chapter for SweetNight in the United States. With a unified visual presence and a clearer technology strategy, the brand plans to continue developing its U.S. operations while strengthening the connections among consumer needs, product innovation, and brand communication.

About SweetNight

SweetNight is a modern sleep brand dedicated to making high-quality, intelligent sleep solutions accessible to everyday families. The company addresses the biggest challenges in smart sleep by delivering technology that is simple, intuitive, and fairly priced. Its mission is to become the world's leading Self‑Adjusting Sleep Wellness Partner, bringing thoughtful, health‑focused innovation to households everywhere.

For more information, please visit www.SweetNight.com.

During the keynote, Dr. Chen introduced Longsys' Storage Foundry Model and presented three edge AI storage innovations — HLCache™, iSA™ + AISSD™, and AIDIMM™ — designed to address key industry challenges including high DRAM costs, limited memory capacity, and bandwidth constraints, creating a new pathway for edge AI storage innovation.

Engineering Culture: The Foundation of Storage Innovation

Dr. Chen traced Longsys' growth since its founding in 1999, including the launch of FORESEE, the acquisition of Lexar, expanded packaging and manufacturing through Longforce (Suzhou) Technology, and the integration of Brazil-based Zilia. Longsys now operates a global manufacturing network supporting worldwide delivery.

Rather than focusing solely on standardized products like traditional storage providers, Longsys applies full-stack engineering across eight areas — chip design, firmware development, material engineering, host software and OS-level adaptation, hardware design, packaging, automated testing, and mass production — enabling cross-domain hardware-software co-optimization and customized development. Together, these integrated capabilities across the storage value chain form the basis of the Storage Foundry Model.

Redefining Storage Collaboration for the Edge AI Era

Dr. Chen highlighted that while NAND Flash and DRAM have achieved significant cost reductions over decades, the rise of edge AI has introduced a new level of complexity. He described the fragmented edge AI landscape as a "thousand-handed challenge," where diverse architectures, AI models, device forms, and applications require coordinated solutions rather than standardized approaches.

From AI PCs and mobile devices to industrial systems and robotics, different scenarios require tailored trade-offs among performance, power efficiency, form factor, and security. The Storage Foundry Model goes beyond conventional storage offerings by enabling solutions tailored to customers' CPUs, SoCs, AI models, and system architectures — integrating hardware, firmware, and system-level optimization to accelerate development cycles and lower barriers to edge AI deployment.

Three Longsys Innovations Powering Edge AI

HLCache™ UFS leverages Longsys' self-developed High-Level Cache technology to intelligently manage hot and cold data between UFS and DRAM, reducing memory pressure and improving multitasking performance on mobile AI devices.

iSA™ + AISSD™ enables efficient local AI inference for AI PCs and AI agent hosts by offloading MoE parameters and KV cache to dedicated SSD resources, reducing DRAM usage while supporting large-scale AI models.

AIDIMM™ addresses memory bandwidth challenges in AI BOX and edge AI systems with a plug-in high-bandwidth memory architecture, featuring a native 256-bit interface and up to 307.2GB/s bandwidth. Its flexible design simplifies system upgrades and reduces hardware redesign efforts.

"Collabovate": Building the Future of Edge AI Together

Dr. Chen highlighted that as edge AI evolves from early adoption to large-scale deployment, diverse requirements across devices, architectures, and workloads cannot be addressed by a single product or technology.

To address this fragmented market, Dr. Chen introduced "Collabovate" — combining Collaboration and Innovation — as a new ecosystem collaboration approach. Through the Storage Foundry Model, Longsys is bringing together partners across chips, devices, and AI ecosystems to leverage complementary capabilities and accelerate customized edge AI solutions.

By opening its full-stack technology capabilities, Longsys aims to build a more collaborative storage ecosystem, enabling deeper industry collaboration and unlocking new possibilities for intelligent computing.

About Longsys

Founded in 1999, Longsys (301308.SZ) is a globally leading branded semiconductor memory enterprise, integrating R&D, design, packaging and testing, manufacturing, and sales services. For more information please visit https://www.longsys.com/, and follow Longsys on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Key Highlights

• Provides a practical framework for comparing PQQ suppliers beyond quoted price and assay percentage.
• Covers production method, ingredient identity, analytical testing, batch consistency, formulation characteristics, packaging, storage, and supply continuity.
• Supports procurement, quality, R&D, regulatory, and operations teams involved in ingredient qualification.

ALHAMBRA, Calif., Aug. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NutriPQQ®, a fermentation-produced pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt ingredient from Nutri Avenue Inc. with more than 99% purity, has published a new PQQ Sourcing Guide for dietary supplement brands, contract manufacturers, formulators, private-label developers, and ingredient purchasing teams.

Developed as part of NutriPQQ®'s B2B ingredient support resources, the guide helps buyers evaluate PQQ beyond headline price and assay percentage. It covers ingredient identity, production method, analytical testing, batch consistency, formulation characteristics, packaging, storage, documentation, and commercial supply continuity.

The new guide organizes these variables into a practical qualification framework. Buyers are encouraged to review PQQ identity, fermentation versus chemical synthesis, assay and analytical methods, impurities and contaminants, batch-to-batch consistency, formulation characteristics, storage conditions, packaging, shelf life, and commercial continuity before approving an ingredient or supplier.

For teams preparing requests for information or comparing multiple candidates, the framework is designed to bring procurement, quality, formulation, regulatory, and operations requirements into the same review process. This can reduce repeated information requests and make gaps easier to identify before sampling or commercial negotiation begins.

From Price Comparison to Supplier Qualification

The lowest initial quotation does not always represent the lowest total sourcing cost. Delays in documentation, inconsistent lots, unsuitable packaging, incomplete testing, formulation issues, or unexpected supply changes can create additional costs after purchase.

The guide therefore encourages procurement, quality assurance, R&D, regulatory, and operations teams to compare suppliers across quality, technical fit, documentation, commercial reliability, and service rather than price alone. Using a shared framework can also help teams identify unanswered questions and document supplier approval decisions before commercial purchasing begins.

NutriPQQ® is produced through fermentation and company materials specify more than 99% purity. Buyers evaluating PQQ can review additional NutriPQQ® product and science information covering production method, testing, and technical characteristics relevant to formulation and sourcing.

Availability

The complete PQQ Sourcing Guide is available on the NutriPQQ® website. Companies evaluating PQQ ingredients can also contact NutriPQQ® to request product specifications, technical documentation, samples, pricing, or formulation support.

The guide is intended as an educational starting point and does not replace a company's internal quality system, regulatory review, or finished-product validation.

About NutriPQQ®

NutriPQQ® is a branded pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt ingredient from Nutri Avenue Inc. Produced through fermentation, it is positioned for dietary supplement brands, formulators, contract manufacturers, private-label developers, and ingredient sourcing teams. NutriPQQ® provides access to technical documentation, testing support, packaging options, and formulation guidance.

Media Contact

Nutri Avenue Inc.
Email: info@nutriavenue.com 
Phone: +1 423-393-7690
Address: 1101 W Valley Blvd, Ste 104, Alhambra, CA 91803
Website: www.nutripqq.com

As an all-in-one AI content creation platform, Wizstar continues to integrate industry-leading AI models and technologies into a unified workflow that combines AI video generation, AI avatars, real-time interactive avatars, and AI live streaming. By bringing multiple advanced models together, Wizstar enables users to choose the best model for different creative needs without switching between multiple tools, helping businesses streamline content creation across marketing, branding, e-commerce, training, customer service, and other enterprise scenarios.

Designed for high-end video creation, Seedance 2.5 introduces significant improvements in long-form video generation, multimodal understanding, prompt accuracy, and visual quality. The model supports native 30-second video generation, understands text, images, videos, and audio as references, and enables precise regional editing, allowing creators to produce marketing campaigns, commercial content, and social media videos with greater efficiency.

At the same time, MiniMax H3 further expands Wizstar's AI video creation ecosystem. The model supports video generation of up to 15 seconds at resolutions of up to 2K, while offering native audio-video generation, multimodal reasoning, and enhanced instruction following. It is well suited for brand marketing, e-commerce content, digital advertising, motion graphics, and other commercial production scenarios.

To better serve different creator needs, Wizstar has adopted a flexible model access strategy. MiniMax H3 is available free of charge with unlimited access for all platform users. Users who require more advanced video generation capabilities can unlock Seedance 2.5 by paying US$0.99 or subscribing to any Wizstar membership plan, which also includes 30 seconds of complimentary video generation credits.

Wizstar will continue integrating leading AI models and enhancing its platform ecosystem to deliver a more open, efficient, and intelligent AI content creation experience for creators and enterprises worldwide.

For more information and the latest product updates, please visit https://wizstar.com/?channel_id=W_marketing_1

For more information about the new model releases and access benefits, please visit: https://wizstar.com/activitypages/seedance25?channel_id=W_marketing_1