Following X-World, X-Foresight, and X-Cache, XPENG introduced X-Mind, a Predictive World Model framework that enables vehicles to simulate future scenarios before making decisions. Through a Visual Chain-of-Thought (Visual CoT), X-Mind allows autonomous systems to reason proactively, improving safety and delivering more human-like driving performance.

Unlike traditional perception-to-action systems that react to current conditions, X-Mind enables vehicles to anticipate future traffic changes through internal simulation. Its three core technologies include:

Thought Sketch, which creates an efficient cognitive representation combining Bird's-Eye-View (BEV) layouts and driving priors, preserving key elements such as road structures, obstacles, traffic lights, and navigation intentions while reducing computational complexity.

Recurrent Block Diffusion (RBD), which enables high-quality future scene generation within a single forward pass, overcoming latency challenges of conventional diffusion methods and balancing advanced reasoning with real-time deployment.

Visual CoT visualization, which reveals how the model predicts obstacle movements, lane connectivity, and future traffic conditions before generating driving decisions, improving transparency and system validation.

Trained on hundreds of millions of real-world driving data frames, X-Mind demonstrates improved trajectory prediction accuracy, enhanced performance in complex long-tail scenarios, and ultra-low inference latency suitable for automotive-grade chips.

Together with X-World and X-Foresight, X-Mind completes XPENG's Physical AI foundational model roadmap, enabling vehicles to understand not only how to act, but how the world evolves after each action.

For more information: https://www.xpeng.com/

Canada is breaking new ground as the first non-European country to participate in the Security Action For Europe (SAFE) initiative, designed to increase the EU's sovereign defense capabilities and reflecting the shared ambition of both parties to deepen their defence ties and strengthen joint security cooperation.

The agreement is a significant milestone for the Croatian drone developer, marking the first deployment of its new Defense Transformation Platform, designed to help countries build sovereign drone ecosystems. It will deliver strong growth and value for Canada, starting with an initial investment of $20M CAD to fund the expansion of RRS production facilities.

The deal itself is worth an estimated $150M CAD over the next five years, and will create up to 100 new high value technology jobs in Ottawa and Toronto by Q4 2027. The partners confidently expect to scale to 1000 systems per month by mid 2027, with a target of 10,000 per month over the course of the agreement.

Ivan Jelusic, CCO at Orqa, said, "This MoU will formalize the strategic framework for cooperation between RRS and Orqa to co-develop, manufacture, and commercialize advanced defence technologies. The specific focus is on uncrewed systems, counter-drone capabilities, and AI integration. RRS is the leading supplier of these systems to the armed forces and first responders in Canada, making them our ideal partner. We are committed to helping our allies create sovereign defence capabilities and this partnership is another step forward towards that goal."

Kevin Toderel, CEO of RRS, added, "Orqa is the global leader in sUAS systems. We are proud to be able to build these systems in Canada and work with Orqa to increase capabilities and act as a supply chain and software development partner, bringing Canadian IP to the world. Our aim is to build Canadian capability and capacity for sUAS systems, ensuring Canada has ready access to this essential strategic resource now and in the future."

The collaboration agreement defines four core areas:

1. Technology Transfer & Production Licensing: Orqa will facilitate the transfer of relevant technology and grant production licenses to RRS to enable localized Canadian manufacturing.
2. Force & Capability Development: Joint development of solutions tailored to meet the evolving operational requirements of Canada's armed forces, first responders and allied NATO partners.
3. AI Implementation: Collaboration on the research, development, and integration of RRS's sovereign AI capabilities onto mutually developed and manufactured platforms.
4. Hub Establishment: Developing RRS's facilities as Orqa's second North American manufacturing hub and primary export launchpad into the continent's broader defence and commercial market.

The interim report for the second quarter 2026 will be published on July 29, 2026, at approximately 07.00 CEST.

Supplement to the rights issue prospectus

As a consequence of this announcement, Electrolux Group will prepare and publish a supplement to the rights issue prospectus that was published on May 28, 2026. The prospectus supplement will be published as soon as it has been approved by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Sw. Finansinspektionen).

This is information that AB Electrolux is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on 29-06-2026 20:00 CET.

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

https://news.cision.com/electrolux-group/r/electrolux-group-submits-claims-related-to-refund-of-ieepa-tariffs-of-approx--usd-88-million,c4368840

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The transaction will combine BMO's market-leading metals and mining franchise with one of Australia's premier equity distribution platforms and will create a truly integrated global capability for clients. Australia is among the most important centres for metals and mining capital formation worldwide, with a market comparable to Canada and growing influence across global markets. This strategic acquisition will enhance BMO's ability to serve clients where capital is forming, underscoring the importance of a scaled local presence.

"This is a defining step forward in strengthening our position as the leading metals and mining investment bank globally," said Carrie Cook, Global Head, Investment & Corporate Banking, BMO Capital Markets. "By combining our global distribution capabilities with deep local expertise in Australia, we are building a more connected platform that will enable clients to access capital and opportunities across markets. As capital formation continues to shift globally, our clients increasingly expect seamless access to investors and opportunities across markets—and this transaction supports our ambition to be ahead of that evolution."

"This combination will bring together two highly complementary businesses to create a stronger and more competitive global platform," said Andrew McKenzie, Executive Chairman of Euroz Hartleys. "BMO provides immediate access to the leading global franchise in metals and mining and significantly expands our ability to connect Australian clients with international capital. We are excited to be part of a team that is setting the standard for the sector globally."

Since 2004, BMO has had a presence in Australia, with an office in Melbourne. At closing, approximately 40 Euroz Hartleys Group team members are expected to join BMO Capital Markets, further strengthening its regional and global capabilities. Together, the combined team will operate as an integrated global platform, enhancing connectivity across North American, European and Australian markets.

In connection with the transaction, BMO Capital Markets acted as BMO's exclusive financial advisor. DLA Piper and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP acted as legal counsel to BMO. Grant Samuel acted as financial advisor and Steinepreis Paganin acted as legal counsel to Euroz Hartleys Group.

The financing brings together a diverse group of strategic and financial investors, including leading technology companies, industrial partners and venture capital firms. IDG participated in the Series C round, while HongShan and Xiaomi have backed the company in multiple previous rounds. Combined with earlier lead investments from Meituan, Alibaba, ByteDance and Xiaomi, X Square Robot has become the only embodied AI company in China to secure lead-round backing at different stages from four of the country's leading technology companies.

"Since day one, X Square Robot has focused on in-house development of foundation models, pursuing a challenging but necessary path," said Wang Qian, founder and CEO of X Square Robot. "Today, our investments in embodied AI models, scalable, model-driven high-quality data pipeline system and real-world deployment are beginning to deliver clear results."

The company said it will use the funding to further invest in core technologies and foundational research in embodied intelligence, advancing toward general-purpose embodied AI that bridges the physical world and ultimately serves humanity.

Founded in 2023, X Square Robot develops end-to-end embodied AI systems that combine foundation models, robotics hardware and proprietary data pipeline system. Rather than relying on traditional rule-based automation, the company's approach enables robots to adapt to changing environments and generalize across a wide range of tasks.

Building a Full-Stack Embodied AI System

X Square Robot is building a full-stack embodied AI system that combines foundation models, robotics hardware, proprietary model-driven high-quality data pipeline system and real-world deployment. At its core is a general-purpose embodied AI model designed to enable robots to perceive, reason and act in complex physical environments.

In April 2026, the company introduced WALL-B, an embodied AI foundation model built on its World Unified Model architecture. Unlike modular VLA approaches that connect separate vision, language and action components, WALL-B trains perception, language, action and physical prediction within a unified network, enabling stronger multimodal understanding, spatial reasoning and continual learning from real-world interactions.

The company has also open-sourced WALL-OSS-0.5 and WALL-WM, extending its unified approach to robot manipulation and world modeling. WALL-OSS-0.5 achieved over 80% autonomous completion on four of 17 real-robot tasks without post-training, while WALL-WM introduces event-level prediction by aligning language, vision and action data around meaningful events, enabling stronger cross-modal learning and physical-world prediction across reasoning, manipulation and generalization tasks.

To accelerate model development, X Square Robot has built a scalable, model-driven data pipeline spanning automated data collection, cleaning, annotation, quality control and augmentation. Combined with real-world deployment, the system enables rapid model iteration while creating high-quality datasets for complex and long-tail scenarios.

Real-World Deployments Already Underway

X Square Robot is deploying its model and hardware stack across household, industrial, and logistics scenarios. Among these, household settings represent one of the most complex and important testbeds for real-world deployment.

In this area, the company has partnered with 58.com to launch an AI-powered cleaning service in Shenzhen and Beijing, where robots work alongside human cleaners in real residential environments. Since May, X Square Robot has also launched the "X Family Member Program," where robots live with users' families for up to one month as household companions, responding to a broader range of everyday needs. Together, these initiatives bring embodied robots beyond staged demos and into real homes and everyday life.

The company believes these real-world deployments create a continuous feedback loop in which operational data improves model performance, helping accelerate progress toward general-purpose embodied intelligence.

"As AI moves beyond digital experiences into the physical world, progress will depend on close integration between models, data and robotics," Wang said. "We're building that foundation so embodied AI can become part of everyday life."

To learn more, visit https://x2robot.com/en.

The acquisition will be one of the most transformative deals in the space industry, joining together two innovative American companies to play a leading role in the U.S. space economy. It merges Rocket Lab's leading launch capabilities and satellite manufacturing with Iridium's global satellite communications network, spectrum, and 500-plus strong partner ecosystem to create a competitive, vertically-integrated space company that designs, builds, launches, and operates its own constellations, delivering critical communications capability to millions of users worldwide.

The transaction will give Rocket Lab an immediate foothold in space-based applications, including both proprietary and standards-based satellite Internet of Things (IoT) and direct-to-device (D2D), PNT, and critical safety-of-life services, creating a formidable challenger in the global telecom market. Rather than simply continuing the Iridium network, Rocket Lab will build upon it to scale into untapped markets and pioneer new space-based services to the benefit of global customers.

Iridium's globally harmonized L-band spectrum and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network provide a secure, resilient foundation for reliable satellite communications and PNT services across government, defense, aviation, maritime, and commercial markets. Supporting more than 2.55 million active subscribers worldwide, Iridium delivers highly reliable, weather-resilient connectivity and an alternative PNT architecture for applications where Global Positioning Systema (GPS) and other Global Navigation Satellite Systema (GNSS) are degraded or unavailable. Combining Rocket Lab's launch, spacecraft manufacturing, and space systems expertise with Iridium's global network and L-band spectrum will accelerate innovation, positioning the combined company to support the development and deployment of Iridium's next-generation constellation. This includes direct-to-device (D2D/Iridium NTN DirectSM) services, which will grow into an important new capability for U.S. national security and emergency response, helping to ensure reliable, resilient communications when and where they are needed most, particularly where traditional networks are unavailable or compromised.

"This is a defining moment for the space industry and the start of a new era of strategic, accelerated growth for Rocket Lab and Iridium," said Sir Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. "Iridium has built the gold standard in secure, safety critical global satellite connectivity. It is relied upon by maritime fleets, the aviation industry, governments, and heavy industrial organizations who operate in the most remote off-the-grid locations. By marrying Iridium's deep heritage, trusted infrastructure, and highly sought-after spectrum with Rocket Lab's extensive and proven launch and manufacturing capabilities, we have the capability to unlock entirely new markets. We will go far beyond maintaining a legacy; we are going to build upon it to pioneer next-generation space applications and deliver sought-after capabilities to existing and new customers."

"As the worlds of space and terrestrial communications continue to converge, more critical services will depend on space-based capabilities," said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. "Success will come from those who can bring new innovations to space quickly and sustain them over time as efficiently as possible. We're excited about being able to accelerate the next generation of IoT, aviation, maritime, PNT, and national security capabilities, and pursue new innovative applications as part of Rocket Lab - a fully integrated, end-to-end space company. That's an incredible opportunity for our customers, partners, employees, and stockholders."

Transaction Highlights:

• Strengthens Rocket Lab's Strategic Vertical Integration: Creates an end-to-end space company spanning launch, spacecraft, spectrum, and on-orbit communications services through a proprietary network. Expected to eliminate third-party launch costs for constellation deployment and replenishment and captures launch margin internally while guaranteeing orbital access as launch capacity tightens, ensuring continuity of service to customers.
• Unlocks Entry to Space Applications Market: Provides Rocket Lab with immediate access to a proven constellation of LEO satellites and an established global communications customer base, realizing the company's long-term strategic vision to expand beyond launch services and spacecraft manufacturing into a vertically-integrated space applications company with recurring revenue from satellite services.
• Provides Access to Globally-Coordinated Spectrum: Adds globally-coordinated L-band spectrum that enables reliable user communications.
• Unifies Two Trusted Government Partners: The transaction combines two deeply trusted, long-standing defense partners, combining their specialized strengths to deliver highly resilient, next-generation capabilities directly to the warfighter across denied, degraded, and disadvantaged environments.
• Accelerates Growth and New Market Opportunities: Positions the combined entity to deliver next-generation satellite communications, resilient PNT, and emerging defense and commercial space services.
• Diversifies Financial Profile with Recurring Cash Flow Streams: In 2025, Iridium delivered $871.7M revenue1, $495M OEBITDA1 or 57% OEBITDA margin1, providing substantial recurring cash flow to fund growth.

Transaction Details
Under the terms of the transaction, Iridium stockholders will receive $27.00 in cash and a number of shares of Rocket Lab common stock calculated pursuant to an exchange ratio (subject to a collar) for each share of Iridium common stock outstanding at the closing. The collar is banded from $67.50 to $112.50. The transaction has a notional value of $54.00 per share of Iridium common stock, implying an enterprise value for Iridium of approximately $8.0 billion.

Complete details on the calculation of the exchange ratio will be in the transaction agreement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The transaction is expected to be completed in mid-2027, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval of Iridium stockholders and required regulatory approvals.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of Iridium and Rocket Lab. Moreover, each director of Iridium holding shares of Iridium common stock has entered into a voting agreement to support the transaction.

As part of the transaction, Rocket Lab has received commitments for a $3.6 billion 364-day senior secured bridge term loan facility from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo. Rocket Lab intends to fund the cash component of the transaction through a combination of cash from its balance sheet and other debt and equity financing sources.

Advisors

Deutsche Bank Securities is serving as lead financial advisor and Wells Fargo and PJT Partners as financial advisors, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. is serving as legal counsel, Goodwin Procter LLP as financing counsel and DLA Piper LLP as regulatory counsel to Rocket Lab. Evercore is serving as exclusive financial advisor, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is serving as legal counsel, Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP is serving as regulatory counsel, and Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher is serving as strategic communications advisor to Iridium.

Investor Presentation
An investor presentation discussing the transaction is hosted on Rocket Lab's investor relations website at https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com/

Vinh Long boasts a 130-km coastline stretching along nine major river estuaries that flow into the East Sea. This creates an ideal condition for the development of different kinds of renewable energy, especially wind and solar power. The province’s average wind speed and solar radiation are among the high levels in the region. With such advantages, Vinh Long has attracted numerous local and foreign investors.

Vinh Long is leveraging its advantages for socioeconomic development

According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, as of the end of March, the province has 15 wind power ventures in commercial operation with a total capacity of 650MW, including 13 ventures fully operational and two initiatives partially operational.

In 2025, the wind power plants maintain stable operation, reaching about 95 per cent of their designed capacity. In 2025 alone, the total power generation and supply to the grid amounted to 1.521 billion kWh, contributing $11.54 million in VAT to the state budget.

Vinh Long continues to accelerate the development of new ventures. Over 1,200MW of wind power capacity is undergoing legal procedures and construction in line with the planning. By 2030, Vinh Long aims to develop nearshore wind power initiatives with a total capacity of 2,280MW. In the 2030-2035 period, it will have five more ventures with a total capacity of 788MW.

In addition, several large-scale offshore wind power projects are under study and open for investment, creating long-term growth opportunities for the local energy sector.

Alongside energy, Vinh Long also pays attention to logistics infrastructure and marine transport to reduce logistics costs for the locality and the Mekong Delta region. Investment is being directed towards a seaport network capable of handling vessels of up to 50,000 DWT, notably the Tra Cu Port and Dinh An Port. Combined with international shipping lanes through the Tra Vinh canal, the province is forming a modern production-service-logistics chain, enhancing the competitiveness of export goods.

Nguyen Quynh Thien, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said, “Vinh Long will leverage its advantages for coastal socioeconomic development. Simultaneously, the province will implement suitable plans in line with the government’s development orientation of energy, logistics, and coastal services, especially renewable energy.”

Another key venture is Dinh An Economic Zone, under the master plan to 2040, the zone will be expanded through land reclamation and the boundaries of the surrounding area. It is a multi-sector economic zone, with key sectors including industry, commerce, services, tourism, coastal urban development, and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries linked to renewable energy development. The zone is being envisioned as a free economic zone, serving as a gateway for international maritime trade.

Under the new planning, Vinh Long will leverage its maritime and coastal advantages to develop key marine industries, including seaports, logistics, renewable energy, tourism, and marine services. The locality is gradually building a network of seaports, regional warehousing facilities, and modern logistics centres to strengthen interregional connectivity and expand trade opportunities.

At the same time, the locality is accelerating the development of nearshore and offshore wind power ventures, along with other forms of coastal renewable energy, with the aim of becoming a regional hub for clean energy production.

Furthermore, efforts are made to develop coastal tourism, coastal urban areas, and a port-logistics-maritime tourism services linked to environmental protection and climate change adaptation. Focus is given to improving the quality of its human resources to meet the requirements of the marine economy, logistics, energy, and marine services. The province will also capitalise on its strategic position at the heart of the region and the transport network linking Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Vinh Long in the years ahead.

Vinh Long promotes reputable Khmer individuals" role in fostering consensus ahead of general election Through community gatherings, religious activities at local pagodas, household visits and hamlet meetings, monks, dignitaries, elders, hamlet Party cell secretaries and Party members have conducted bilingual communications in Vietnamese and Khmer, helping residents better understand legal provisions and avoid misinformation.

Acecook Vietnam opens factory in Vinh Long Acecook Vietnam put its new factory in Vinh Long province into operation on March 10 with an investment of over $200 million.

Vinh Long kicks ahead with marine-energy approach The Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long is accelerating a pivot towards a centre of marine economy and renewable energy production.

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

Designed to be larger and more immersive than ever before, Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 will feature thought-provoking discussions on watchmaking culture, exclusive exhibitions, special showcases, and experiential activities. The event will also be elevated through an exclusive collaboration with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), the world's leading organization dedicated to promoting watchmaking culture, which will present a highly anticipated edition of "The Symposium." The event is expected to attract more than 400 international watch collectors and over 40,000 visitors throughout its six-day run, further reinforcing Bangkok's as an emerging center of watch culture in Southeast Asia.

Building on the success of a landmark debut,the inaugural Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2025 marked a historic moment for the luxury watch industry in Southeast Asia, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from leading global brands, collectors, and horology enthusiasts.The event generated a remarkable 92% increase in luxury watch sales during the exhibition period compared with the same period of the previous year. More than 20,000 visitors attended the event, including over 200 international collectors, and generated over 300 million media impressions.These achievements underscored Thailand's growing significance as one of Asia's most promising luxury markets and laid a strong foundation for the event's continued expansion.

This year, Siam Paragon is poised to elevate the platform even further in terms of scale, brand participation and international partnerships. The number of participating brands has grown from 30 in its inaugural year to more than 45 in 2026, encompassing some of the world's most prestigious maisons, independent watchmakers, and leading names in haute horlogerie. With an anticipated attendance of over 400 international collectors and 40,000 visitors across six days, from 22–27 September 2026, the event's overarching ambition is to position Bangkok as Asia's emerging watch culture hub and secure its place among the world's most important watchmaking events.

Thanaporn Tantiyanon, Managing Director of Siam Paragon, said: "The success of Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week reflects the confidence that leading watch brands has placed in Siam Piwat Group, as well as the growing potential of Thailand and Bangkok as a strategic destination for the global luxury watch industry. This year, we are delighted to witness even stronger participation from world-renowned brands, collectors, and international partners. One of the most significant milestones for Bangkok Watch Week is our collaboration with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), an organization that plays a pivotal role in promoting and preserving watchmaking culture worldwide. Their participation elevates Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week to the standards of the world's leading watchmaking events.

"Together with the support of UOB Thailand, we aspire to create an international platform that connects brands, creators, collectors, and enthusiasts from across the globe while generating meaningful value for the luxury industry, tourism sector, and the Thai economy. Ultimately, our goal is to strengthen Bangkok's position as a global watch destination for the region."

Pascal Ravessoud, Vice President of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), said: "We are delighted to collaborate with Bangkok Watch Week to bring our watchmaking knowledge and expertise to Thailand for the very first time. Beyond certification, this partnership reflects a shared ambition to make watchmaking culture more accessible, engaging and meaningful for new audiences across Asia and beyond. Together, we are creating opportunities for enthusiasts, collectors and professionals to deepen their understanding of fine watchmaking and become part of a global community united by a passion for horology."

Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 will bring together more than 45 legendary and world-class watch brands, including A. LANGE & SÖHNE, BIANCHET, BOUCHERON, BOVET, BREITLING, BVLGARI, CARTIER, CHOPARD, FRANCK MULLER, GRAND SEIKO, H. MOSER & CIE., HUBLOT, IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN, JAEGER-LECOULTRE, LAURENT FERRIER, LOUIS ERARD, PANERAI, PIAGET, TAG HEUER, TIFFANY & CO., ULYSSE NARDIN, VACHERON CONSTANTIN, VAN CLEEF & ARPELS, ZENITH The 2026 edition will also welcome an impressive roster of new participating brands, including BLANCPAIN, BREGUET, BREMONT, CVSTOS, DAVID CANDAUX, GERALD CHARLES, GREUBEL FORSEY, JACOB & CO., L.LEROY, MB&F, NORQAIN, ORIS, PARMIGIANI FLEURIER, RESSENCE, ROGER DUBUIS, SPEAKE-MARIN, TUDOR and UNIVERSAL GENEVE

The event will further elevate the luxury watch experience in multi-dimensions through strategic collaborations with leading global watchmaking organizations and international collector networks. It will also expand both the venue capacity and the number of sessions for "The Symposium," a highly popular program that received an overwhelmingly positive response last year.

Highlights of Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026

The Symposium

Returning on a larger scale, The Symposium will feature founders, CEOs, master watchmakers, creative visionaries, and influential collectors from around the world. Presented in collaboration with FHH, the expanded program will offer deeper insights into the craftsmanship, heritage, innovation, and cultural significance of watchmaking.

The Exhibition

Visitors will have the opportunity to discover newly launched timepieces and novelties making their debut appearance, limited editions, exceptional masterpieces, highly complicated watches, rare creations, and museum-worthy collector pieces from some of the world's most iconic brands.

The Experience

A curated series of exclusive experiences will include immersive watchmaking workshops led by Swiss master watchmakers and specially created for Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026. A key highlight this year also include the official launch of the "Academy Lounge" by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie Academy (FHH Academy)—the first initiative of its kind in Southeast Asia. The platform will provide collectors, brand executives, and industry professionals with access to educational resources, expert guidance, and internationally recognized FHH Certification programs, helping cultivate deeper knowledge and appreciation of haute horlogerie.

Siam Paragon Bangkok Watch Week 2026 promises to be one of the most significant horological gatherings in the world, bringing together the finest brands, creators, experts, and collectors under one roof while contributing to Bangkok's rise as Asia's emerging watch capital.

The event will take place from 22–27 September 2026 at Siam Paragon. For more information, updates, and registration, please visit www.bangkokwatchweek.com or follow Facebook: SIAMPARAGON.

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

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

For more information, visit www.connexustravel.com

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

The launch event, held at Siglap Community Club, was officiated by Dinesh Vasu Dash, Mayor of South East District, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Manpower, and Adviser to East Coast GRC Grassroots Organisations (Bedok) and Ms Chan San San, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Singapore. They were joined by 145 children and family members, and 20 Prudential financial representatives. To mark the occasion, Prudential and South East CDC signed a Partnership Agreement to bring GFGL to 3,000 children by end-2027, through South East CDC's network of schools and community partners, as well as children from Prudential's broader outreach efforts, including youth groups such as the Singapore Girl Guides (Brownies).

GFGL started as a financial literacy and sports initiative, and now incorporates climate and health education to help children aged 7–12 develop future-readiness. Delivered through classroom learning and interactive activities, the programme introduces children to the financial concepts of Earn, Save, Spend and Donate. It also helps them to understand how a changing climate can affect their daily lives and what simple actions they can take to stay well and adaptable. Volunteers of GFGL are Prudential employees and financial representatives.

Chan San San, CEO of Prudential Singapore, said: "We would like to help children gain important life skills: understanding simple money concepts to manage their pocket money, how to take care of their health, and managing the impacts of climate change. The early habits we build when we're young stay with us and shape the decisions we make later in life. Through our partnership with the South East Community Development Council and the support of our volunteers, including our financial representatives and employees, Get Fit! Get Lit! brings these lessons directly to children from primary schools and community groups in a way that is fun, practical and relevant to their daily lives. Ultimately, our goal is to support 3,000 children with skills that help them to grow and contribute to a healthier, more resilient community."

Dinesh Vasu Dash, Mayor of South East District, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Manpower, and Adviser to East Coast GRC Grassroots Organisations (Bedok) said: "At South East CDC, we believe in nurturing young individuals to realise their full potential. The Get Fit! Get Lit! programme shows how community partnerships can deliver meaningful, hands-on learning — building healthy habits, financial awareness, and environmental responsibility in our children. By bringing this to schools and community groups across the South East District, we hope to give as many children as possible a strong foundation for the future."

South East CDC will work with Prudential to bring GFGL to schools and community partners across the district. Leveraging South East CDC's extensive network, the programme will reach children from up to 15 schools, including CHIJ (Katong) Primary, St. Gabriel's Primary School, and Geylang Methodist School (Primary), as well as community partners, TRANS Family Service Centre and Thye Hua Kwan Family Service Centre. South East CDC will play an active role in onboarding and coordinating with participating schools and community partners, ensuring that children across the district have access to the programme. The programme rollout will be supported by volunteers comprising Prudential employees and financial representatives.

Getting fit, getting lit: Inside the GFGL programme
Children today face a growing range of challenges – from navigating financial decisions to understanding climate and health risks that are becoming more visible around them. In Singapore, for instance, vector-borne diseases such as dengue remain a recurring concern, particularly during warmer periods, highlighting how environmental factors can directly affect health and daily life.

GFGL helps them build practical life skills early – across financial literacy, as well as climate and health resilience. By bringing these elements together, the programme builds confidence and resilience, equipping children with the knowledge and habits to manage risks and adapt to a changing environment. This reach is made possible by South East CDC's deep roots in the South East District, with its network of community clubs, schools, and community partners serving as the backbone for delivering GFGL to children and families across the district.

Building on the success of Prudential's financial literacy efforts Cha-Ching
Developed by Prudential plc's regional community investment arm, Prudence Foundation, Cha-Ching is a global financial education programme for children aged 7-12 years old. It teaches them the importance of being financially responsible from a young age by driving four fundamental money management concepts: Earn, Save, Spend and Donate. More than 20,000 children have participated in the programme since 2018.

https://www.prudential.com.sg/

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

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

• The 105: An events and members' club space
• The Arena: A multipurpose arena with wellness facility, 200m walking track, and end-of-trip facilities
• The Garden: An urban farm
• The Village Square: An integrated retail offering

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

Ms Chang Yuk Kam, Patricia, Chairlady of the Quality Building Award 2026 Organizing Committee, expressed gratitude to Ms Bernadette Linn, JP, Secretary for Development, Development Bureau, HKSARG and Mr Ho Chun Hung, JP, Director of Buildings,HKSARGwho served as Chairman of the Jury Panel, and also congratulated all the award winners. Ms Chang said: "Hong Kong is now proactively integrating into the national development strategy and fully participating in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The construction industry is embracing unprecedented opportunities. The Quality Building Award is also keeping pace with the times, actively breaking down geographical boundaries and vigorously promoting cooperation and project exchanges among the construction sectors in the Greater Bay Area and beyond. We hope that outstanding construction practices and cutting-edge technologies from different regions can be shared and complement each other, and that we can jointly build a vibrant and sustainable cross-regional architectural ecosystem, while seizing opportunities together and pursuing shared development."

For over two decades, the Quality Building Award has remained committed to its founding principles of recognizing excellence, driving innovation, and promoting inclusion, while witnessing the continuous evolution and growth of Hong Kong's building industry and that of the wider region. Notably, this year's Award significantly relaxed the entry requirements for the "Building Outside GBA (include International)" and "Building in GBA (Not include Hong Kong)" categories, with participating teams no longer required to include a Hong Kong-registered company. This move has successfully attracted a number of high-quality non-local projects, including outstanding entries from Egypt and Shanghai, fully demonstrating Hong Kong's unique advantage of being of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world, and further consolidating its status as a regional building hub.

The award-winning projects from past editions have covered a diverse spectrum of areas, including residential, non-residential, government and institutional buildings, renovation and revitalization projects, temporary structures, and cross-regional developments, showcasing the multifaceted value of architecture. This year's winning projects not only combine aesthetic design with functional excellence, but also actively respond to the industry's prevailing trends in green and low-carbon practices, as well as smart construction and management. They embody the core mission of driving urban development and enhancing the quality of living environments.

Ms Bernadette Linn, JP, Secretary for Development, Development Bureau, HKSARG, said: "The Quality Building Award has long been regarded as the 'Oscar of the construction industry'. Over the past two decades, it has recognised numerous outstanding projects demonstrating excellence in design, construction, teamwork and sustainable development. This year's Award is closely aligned with the policy direction of enhancing green development momentum under the National 15th Five-Year Plan. It reflects Hong Kong's firm commitment to advancing high-quality sustainable development, and supports the national dual carbon goals as well as the broader green and low-carbon development strategy."

The Quality Building Award 2026 featured eight award categories. Following months of rigorous evaluation by a 17-member judging panel comprising industry leaders, Kai Tak Sports Park stood out. With its "park-within-a-stadium" concept, it transformed the former airport site into an iconic landmark integrating sports, entertainment, community, and commercial functions. The design seamlessly blends aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability, which particularly embodies this year's theme: "Smartly We Build | Sustainably We Thrive | Inclusively We Lead." It was therefore honored with the highest award of the ceremony, the "Quality Excellence Award," as well as the "Grand Award" in the category of "Hong Kong Non-Residential (New Building – Government, Institution or Community)."

This year, the Organizing Committee also presented two special awards: the "Innovative Project Award" and the "Sustainable Development Award", which were awarded to Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park - Batch 1A Development: Building 11and Kai Tak District Cooling Plant No. 3 respectively. Among them, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park - Batch 1A Development: Building 11 also received the "Grand Award" in the Hong Kong Residential (Single Building) category, while Kai Tak District Cooling Plant No. 3 also received the "Merit Award" in the Hong Kong Non-Residential (New Building – Government, Institution or Community) category.

Projects in the Hong Kong Residential (Multiple Buildings) category also performed exceptionally well, with NOVO LAND receiving the "Grand Award". In the Hong Kong Building (Renovation / Revitalization) category, both Lo Pan Spirit Inheritance: Conservation of Lo Pan Temple and the Expansion of the Legislative Council Complex received the "Grand Award". Meanwhile, W.I.S.E. Complex received the "Grand Award" in the Temporary Building category.

To bring together professional expertise from the Greater Bay Area and beyond, this year's Award has specially revised the entry requirements for the categories of "Building Outside GBA (include International)" and "Building in GBA (Not include Hong Kong)", breaking geographical boundaries and broadening the international exchange landscape of Hong Kong's construction industry. The "Grand Award" in the "Building Outside GBA (include International)" category was presented to Arbour and The Iconic Tower, New Capital CBD, Egypt; while the "Grand Award" in the "Building in GBA (Not include Hong Kong)" category was presented to China Overseas Headquarters and Marisfrolg Industrial Park.

Mr Ho Chun Hung, JP, Director of Buildings, HKSARG who served as Chairman of the Jury Panel, said: "The pursuit of quality buildings, together with the creation of a sustainable and inclusive built environment, has long been a shared mission of the construction industry. Through recognising outstanding projects and exceptional professional teams, we aim to drive the industry forward, promoting the adoption of smart technologies, green and sustainable practices, and inclusive, people-oriented collaboration. Together, we can build a safer, higher-quality, and more liveable environment for all."

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) will serve as the Chairing Organization of the next Quality Building Award. The Award will continue to serve as an outstanding platform for industry exchange, recognizing outstanding projects and actively driving innovation and transformation within the construction sector. By working hand in hand with stakeholders across all sectors, Quality Building Award aims to build a higher-quality and more sustainable urban environment together.

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

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

Xi'an is one of China's oldest cities and one of its most popular international tourist destinations. Shaanxi Culture Industry Investment Group (SCG) is working with partners like Huawei, China Telecom Shaanxi, and China West Airport Group (CWAG) to promote cultural tourism using digital technologies including AI and 5G-A.For example, BoGuan is used to support a new AI travel companion agent that had been made available to over 4 million users by March of this year.

In September 2025, SCG and Huawei unveiled the BoGuan Large Model, the world's first commercial multimodal LLM for cultural tourism. It is also China's first industry-specific model dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage. This model is built on intelligent computing infrastructure and a high-quality dataset. The dataset has over 1.2 PB of data, including 31 million images, 4.4 million minutes of video footage, 2.18 million minutes of audio recordings, 510 3D models, and 960 million pieces of structured text.

BoGuan can generate highly-accurate multimodal content, such as museum-quality content about cultural relics. This allows it to support the creation of new digital relic presentations, the digitalization and preservation of traditional craftsmanship, and the creation of digital IP for intangible cultural heritage. Zhang Beiyuan, a dough sculpture artisan, said, "With this model, I can complete a dough sculpture that used to take two or three months in less than a week." BoGuan is also used to create digital IP like the popular cartoon character Tang Biaobiao, which is designed by integrating local cultural heritage elements with the stone carvings of the Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum. The sales of related digital collectibles and creative products have exceeded CNY2 million.

In addition to supporting cultural heritage preservation, BoGuan has been used to develop a range of cultural tourism apps, such as AI photography and AI travel companion agent. Visitors can directly talk with this agent on the GO-SHAANXI app to create and adjust travel itineraries and get real-time performance recommendations at attractions. The Zhiying Camera mini program provides paid services that instantly integrate user photos with AI-generated scenes from history, allowing visitors to "travel back to ancient times." These new consumption options unlock the business value of quality cultural tourism data. Furthermore, SCG is using BoGuan to integrate short drama production with cultural tourism and improve production efficiency and quality in Xi'an, a renowned short drama hub.

Additionally, China Telecom Shaanxi and Huawei have deployed a 5G-A network based on three component carrier aggregation (3CC) technology at Xi'an's Grand Tang Mall, a popular tourist attraction. The network delivers peak uplink and downlink rates of 600 Mbps and 3.5 Gbps, respectively, about 10 times faster than common 5G networks. During the 2026 May Day holiday, this network supported concurrent access for 23,000 users, guaranteeing smooth video watching and social media experiences. Furthermore, 5G-A-powered HD live streaming at the Grand Tang Mall has become an important way for the attraction to bring in new visitors. According to public data, the average user dwell time of these live streams has nearly doubled and the average transaction value has increased by 62%.

Edric Chu, General Manager of Huawei's Shaanxi Rep Office, said, "Artificial intelligence is not simply a stack of technologies. It has become a key enabler that can activate thousands of years of cultural heritage, reshape travel experiences, and inject new momentum into the industry. Moving forward, Huawei will continue working with our partners to enhance cultural heritage preservation with digital and intelligent technologies, and stimulate development within the cultural tourism industry."

https://www.huawei.com/za/

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

The event is scheduled for September 16–18, at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Labour Culture Palace in Hanoi, featuring a specialised exhibition area of approximately 4,000 square metres. The Vietnam Water Supply and Drainage Association (VWSA) expects 200 organisations and businesses to participate, with around 250 booths from 20 countries and territories. The annual forum has steadily grown into one of Southeast Asia's more prestigious specialised events for the water industry.

Participating businesses and organisations will showcase advanced technologies, equipment, solutions, and management models in the following fields urban water supply and drainage; water supply and wastewater treatment; digital transformation in the water sector; data management and smart operation; water loss reduction; automation and remote control; energy saving and carbon emission reduction; circular economy; water reuse; environmental treatment technology, water filtration technology; waste management, treatment, and recycling; green solutions and technologies for sustainable urban development.

Along with the exhibition, Vietnam Water Week 2026 will organise a series of thematic seminars with the participation of state management agencies, international organisations, experts, scientists, and domestic and international businesses. Key themes include digital transformation of the water sector in the new era; climate change adaptation solutions for the water sector; gender equality in water sector businesses; promoting private investment and public-private partnerships in the water sector; along with open technical workshops; seminars and business networking events.

Through these workshops, networking events, and technical exchanges, the event will create a substantive networking space between management agencies, businesses, development organisations, and experts to promote innovation, share international experiences, and strengthen cooperation in the water sector.

The programme is expected to attract participation from many prestigious international organisations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the International Water Association, along with water industry associations, management agencies, businesses, and experts from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hungary, and Finland.

This is the first time Vietnam Water Week will be held concurrently with the seventh National Congress of the Vietnam Water Supply and Drainage Association (2026-2031). This will be a significant event for the Vietnamese water industry community over the next five years, marking a generational leadership transition and defining strategic development directions for the industry in the context of digital transformation, climate change, and the need to modernise national infrastructure.

The congress will discuss key issues regarding mechanisms, policies, human resource development, application of science and technology, digital transformation, and expanding international cooperation to enhance the operational efficiency of Vietnam's water sector in the new phase.

The VWSA will organise activities to honour and present annual awards of the sector, including the 'Green Stream of Vietnam' Award, the 'Young Water Sector Cadre of Vietnam' Award, the 'Outstanding Graduation Project in Water and Environment' Award, and the 'Water for Life' Photo Contest.

Chairman of the VWSA, Nguyen Ngoc Diep, said, “The water sector is entering a period of profound transformation under the impact of digital technology, climate change, and the demands of sustainable development. Digital transformation helps improve management and operation efficiency and contributes to strengthening forecasting capabilities, risk management, and ensuring water security.”

Vietnam Water Week 2024 attracts 150 booths from 15 countries Vietnam Water Week 2024 has attracted 150 pavilions displaying advanced and smart materials, equipment, and technology from 15 countries.

Vietnam Water Week 2025 to splash down in Hanoi in August Vietnam Water Week 2025 is set to take place in Hanoi from August 20-22, themed “Vietnam’s Water Sector in the New Era: Challenges and Opportunities”.

Vietnam Water Week 2025 gathers 200 domestic and international firms Vietnam Water Week 2025 will present a comprehensive picture of the Vietnamese water industry, marked by significant changes to meet the requirements of socioeconomic development and climate change adaptation.

Ministry of Construction updates draft Water Supply and Sewerage Law A comprehensive legal framework is being prepared for Vietnam's water sector, with a new law on water supply and sewerage scheduled for completion in 2026.

Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Vu Dai Thang said the capital now possesses the strategic vision, institutional framework and development momentum needed to enter a new phase of growth. Vietnam is entering a new era of development, backed by major national reforms in institutions, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, private-sector development, foreign investment, education, healthcare and international integration.

The chairman described the conference as the starting point for the Capital Master Plan, which establishes a development vision spanning the next century while creating new opportunities for urban expansion and economic growth.

The plan is supported by several key policy milestones, including Politburo Resolution No.02-NQ/TW outlining strategic, long-term development and goals for Hanoi, and the Capital Law 2026, which takes effect on July 1.

The new law grants Hanoi broader decentralisation powers and introduces special policy mechanisms designed to accelerate development. The city is also implementing central government resolutions on innovation, digital transformation, private-sector development, foreign investment and high-quality workers.

"The convergence of a long-term vision, a new institutional framework and strong determination for reform has created better conditions for Hanoi to build a civilised, modern and prosperous capital," Thang said.

The chairman said a master plan can only succeed if it is translated into concrete projects and measurable outcomes. "What investors are looking for today is the vision of the master plan, as well as the foundations Hanoi has prepared to turn that vision into reality," he said.

To achieve this, Hanoi has been preparing legal frameworks, infrastructure, financial resources and governance reforms alongside the drafting of the plan, enabling projects to move forward immediately after its approval.

"Confidence is built through efficient governance, a transparent, stable and predictable investment environment, and the timely resolution of difficulties faced by businesses," he said.

He reaffirmed the city's commitment to shifting from a management-oriented administration to a service-oriented government that places citizens and businesses at the centre of policymaking while measuring administrative performance by effectiveness.

Vu Dai Thang, Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee

Reviewing Hanoi's recent economic performance, Thang said the capital had overcome significant challenges during 2021-2025 while maintaining strong growth momentum. In 2025, Hanoi's regional GDP reached nearly $62.5 billion, accounting for 12.42 per cent of Vietnam's GDP. The city's economy expanded by 8.15 per cent, while state budget revenue exceeded $28 billion for the first time, maintaining Hanoi's position as the country's largest budget contributor.

More importantly, Hanoi has shifted its development model by using public investment to engage private capital, focusing on strategic transport infrastructure, digital infrastructure, education, healthcare and environmental projects. Growth has continued into 2026, with improvements across industrial production, trade, tourism, exports and investment.

During the first half of the year, Hanoi approved investment policies for 138 domestic projects worth approximately $141 billion and attracted an estimated $3.2 billion in foreign direct investment, remaining among Vietnam's leading destinations for FDI.

"These figures demonstrate growing investor confidence in Hanoi's business environment and highlight the city's substantial long-term growth potential," Thang said.

Strategic infrastructure development remains one of Hanoi's highest priorities. Just before the conference, the city simultaneously broke ground on five urban railway lines, marking the largest public transport expansion in its history and advancing transit-oriented development.

Other major infrastructure projects, including ring roads, bridges spanning the Red River, radial transport corridors, flood-control systems, digital infrastructure and technical utilities, are also progressing rapidly, opening up new development corridors across the capital.

Meanwhile, Hanoi is investing in affordable housing, modern urban areas, education, healthcare, digital infrastructure, innovation centres and environmental projects to improve both competitiveness and quality of life.

Thang said governance reform represents the third pillar supporting the Capital Master Plan, alongside institutions and infrastructure. Recognising that time is a valuable resource for businesses, the city is accelerating administrative reforms to reduce processing time, compliance costs and investment risks while improving transparency, policy consistency and implementation efficiency.

Under the new master plan, Hanoi will adopt a multi-centre, multipolar urban model built around mass public transport networks. The city will expand development above ground, underground and in the digital space while establishing new growth centres for innovation, finance, trade, logistics and high-tech industries.

Priority sectors include strategic transport infrastructure, TOD urban development, semiconductors, AI, data centres, next-generation industrial parks, smart logistics, clean energy, the circular economy, cultural industries, tourism, healthcare and high-quality education.

Thang emphasised that Hanoi would pursue quality rather than quantity in investment attraction. "The city will not attract investment at any cost. We will not sacrifice the environment, culture or people's quality of life for economic growth. Instead, we will prioritise projects with high added value, advanced technology, innovation, efficient resource use and low-carbon development that strengthen value chains and enhance economic competitiveness," he said.

The city also pledged to improve transparency by digitalising planning information, standardising administrative procedures, clearly defining institutional responsibilities and providing dedicated support for major inititatives under the "six-clear" governance principle: clear responsibilities, tasks, accountability, timelines, deliverables and outcomes.

At the conference, Hanoi announced 276 priority projects across key sectors while awarding investment approvals, investment registration certificates and cooperation agreements with domestic and international businesses.

Thang invited investors from Vietnam and abroad to partner with Hanoi in developing innovation centres, high-tech industrial parks, financial and logistics hubs, modern infrastructure and smart, green urban areas.

"Hanoi remains committed to being a development-oriented government that acts decisively, works closely with investors and delivers effective public services. We will continue improving governance, strengthening implementation capacity and building a transparent, safe and business-friendly investment environment so that every investor choosing Hanoi can develop with confidence over the long term," he said.

New investment model proposed for Hanoi's sci-tech projects

Hanoi breaks ground on three rental housing, five urban railway projects

Hanoi teams up with UOB to upgrade FDI quality

According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases, account for nearly 80 per cent of all deaths in Vietnam, making them one of the country's most pressing healthcare challenges. Against the backdrop of an ageing population and the growing prevalence of metabolic risk factors, strengthening capabilities in the prevention, diagnosis, and long-term management of chronic diseases has become increasingly important for the healthcare system.

With the participation of leading experts, the conference series provided updates on emerging trends in NCDs management based on international clinical treatment guidelines, focusing on cardiovascular event prevention, risk management in patients with diabetes, neuropathic pain treatment, and mental healthcare. The scientific sessions highlighted the importance of early intervention, personalised treatment, comprehensive care, and multidisciplinary collaboration in optimising long-term disease management, reducing complications, and improving patients’ quality of life.

Prof. Nguyen Lan Viet, permanent vice president of the Vietnam National Heart Association, said, "Continuous updates on medical advances and new treatment recommendations through multidisciplinary scientific forums play an important role in fostering scientific exchange, sharing practical experience, and supporting healthcare professionals in improving patient care."

Prof. Nguyen Lan Viet, permanent vice president of the Vietnam National Heart Association

During the conference, a session on technology transfer highlighted that treating non-communicable diseases is a long-term process, requiring sustainable access to high-quality medicines. As Vietnam continues to strengthen its legal framework and manufacturing capabilities in accordance with international standards, Le Ngoc Danh, head of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Division at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, stated, "Technology transfer presents a promising approach for Vietnam – not just to expand manufacturing capacity, but to progressively elevate the position of the pharmaceutical industry within the regional value chain. Through coordinated collaboration among regulatory authorities, domestic manufacturers, and multinational pharmaceutical companies, these projects can help maintain a stable supply of high-quality medicines, particularly for diseases requiring long-term treatment."

Le Ngoc Danh, head of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Division, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health

A five-year journey alongside Vietnam's healthcare community

This year’s conference series carries special significance as it marks five years since Viatris established its presence and began operations in Vietnam. Throughout this journey, Viatris has partnered with the medical community through scientific exchange initiatives, continuing medical education programmes, and professional collaborations aimed at enhancing long-term disease management and improving patients’ quality of life.

In addition to scientific and professional collaborations, the technology transfer project for selected originator medicines represents one of Viatris's strategic milestones in Vietnam. To date, the first products under the project have received marketing authorisation from the Ministry of Health and are expected to support treatment needs. The initiative contributes to strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities in accordance with rigorous international standards while expanding patient access to high-quality treatment options.

Radhika Bhalla, head of Viatris Vietnam and Asia Alliance Markets, said, "This year’s scientific conference series marks an important milestone in Viatris’ five-year journey alongside Vietnam’s healthcare community and reinforces the value of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing non-communicable diseases. We remain committed to being a trusted partner to the medical community through scientific initiatives, professional collaboration, and efforts to expand access to treatment, helping improve healthcare outcomes for people across Vietnam."

Viatris delivering high-quality, accessible, and sustainable healthcare solutions Radhika Bhalla, head of Vietnam and Asia Alliance Markets at Viatris, said the company was committed to addressing healthcare needs more holistically, at the VIR Health Conference 2024 on September 25. Here is her speech.

Access at scale for sustainable healthcare development Viatris is a global healthcare company uniquely positioned to bridge the traditional divide between generics and brands, combining the best of both to holistically address healthcare needs globally.

Viatris celebrates 25 years of advancing cardiovascular health in Vietnam Viatris has marked its 25-year journey of accompanying Vietnam in the fight against cardiovascular diseases through a series of initiatives.

The signing ceremony took place on June 29 as part of the Hanoi Capital Master Plan Announcement and Investment Promotion Conference 2026, attended by Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Luu.

Speaking at the event, Luu said Hanoi had unveiled its 100-year Capital Master Plan on the same day, outlining the vision of developing the city into a green, smart and modern metropolis, as well as a leading centre for culture, knowledge, innovation and international integration.

"Delivering these long-term objectives would require substantial investment, especially for urban railway development. Hanoi, therefore, aims to diversify its financing sources and make full use of the special policy mechanisms granted by the central government to mobilise private-sector capital. In this context, local government bonds will become an important financial instrument for the city's development," he said.

During the ceremony, Hanoi Department of Finance signed cooperation agreements with five major banks: Agribank, VietinBank, BIDV, Vietcombank and MB, to jointly prepare and implement future bond issuances.

Under the agreements, Hanoi plans to issue a range of debt instruments between 2027 and 2030, including local government bonds, project bonds, infrastructure bonds, municipal bonds and green bonds, with total fundraising expected to reach $6-7.8 billion.

The proceeds will primarily finance strategic investment projects, particularly the expansion of Hanoi's urban railway system.

The participating banks will work with Hanoi Department of Finance to develop issuance plans, assess market demand and fundraising capacity, and provide services, including financial advisory, underwriting, issuance agency, distribution, and bond auctions, in accordance with prevailing regulations. The parties will also cooperate on promotional activities to broaden the investor base and improve fundraising efficiency.

Luu urged the Department of Finance to work closely with the participating banks in designing the issuance framework while ensuring full compliance with legal requirements so that future bond offerings are conducted transparently, efficiently and in line with the city's fiscal capacity.

He also called on the five banks to continue serving as Hanoi's strategic partners by providing market analysis, investment advice and support in designing bond products that meet investor demand.

According to Luu, the cooperation will help mobilise financial resources more effectively to support Hanoi's long-term goal of becoming a "Civilised, Cultured and Modern" capital while achieving rapid and sustainable development.

Hanoi breaks ground on three rental housing, five urban railway projects Hanoi People's Committee has broken ground on three rental housing projects and five urban railway projects, with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung in attendance.

Hanoi teams up with UOB to upgrade FDI quality A new agreement between UOB Vietnam and Hanoi Department of Finance aims to channel high-grade foreign investment into priority sectors, while also opening regional doors for local enterprises.

Infrastructure stocks poised for growth as Vietnam advances PPP bond framework Vietnam’s planned public-private partnership bond framework is expected to ease long-term funding constraints for infrastructure projects, creating fresh growth momentum for listed infrastructure companies.

Corporate bond maturity pressure set to ease sharply in Q3 Vietnam’s corporate bond market showed further signs of improvement in the first five months of 2026, as early redemptions surged, overdue payments remained contained and third-quarter maturity pressure was projected to decline sharply.

Vietnam has signalled a stronger focus on developing cultural industries and experience-driven tourism. Photo: Viet Channel

The recent large-scale music events such as the Ravolution Music Festival, held in mid-June in Ho Chi Minh City, was drawing increasing attention across Vietnam. Ravolution has in past years attracted thousands of attendees across multiple editions with international DJs and large-scale stage production.

Meanwhile, Dream Cities, with its latest edition in Hanoi in July, has expanded into a multi-city tour format targeting young audiences in major urban centres and tourist destinations. Both events form part of a broader line-up of music festivals scheduled across 2026, with more large-scale shows expected in the coming months.

Nguyen Dang Tuyet Ngan, a fourth-year student at Hanoi University, has attended Dream Cities for the past two years and is looking forward to its 2026 edition.

“Each year feels different in terms of atmosphere and line-up, so I’m quite excited to see how it develops this year,” she said. “I usually spend around $40-60 on tickets and other costs, which I think is reasonable for the experience. The crowd has also become larger and more diverse.”

She added that many attendees tend to go in groups and stay for the full event, turning it into a full-day experience rather than just a music performance.

These developments are contributing to broader economic activity across related sectors. According to Vietnam’s tourism authorities and statistical data, accommodation and food service revenue increased by around 14.6 per cent on-year in 2025. Festivals, by attracting large numbers of attendees, can support spending across transport, hospitality and food services.

Joon Park, general manager at Sheraton Hanoi West, said concerts and large-scale entertainment events were increasingly generating spillover effects across hospitality and tourism services in Hanoi.

“The Vietnamese government has identified the cultural and event industry as a strategic pillar, recognising culture as a vital engine for economic growth,” Park said. “Every concert at My Dinh Stadium creates a ripple effect throughout the hospitality sector.”

According to Park, recent events featuring artists such as Blackpink, Westlife and Coldplay, alongside Vietnamese performers including Anh Trai Say Hi and Soobin, have contributed to rising hotel occupancy and stronger demand for integrated entertainment experiences.

“Guests are looking for more than just a place to stay. They want food and beverage services, transportation, pre- and post-event lounges, and memorable local activities,” Park said.

He added that Sheraton Hanoi West has coordinated with event organisers to prepare accommodation packages and fan-focused gatherings during concert periods.

Large-scale events hosted in integrated township developments such as Ocean Park are also contributing to rising visitor flows and short-term accommodation demand in suburban urban areas outside central Hanoi.

Large-scale festivals are generating spillover effects across tourism and related service sectors. Photo: Viet Channel

According to Vietnam Music Landscape 2025-2026, published in January by RMIT University Vietnam, the country’s music industry experienced rapid growth in 2025, with a significant increase in both the scale and frequency of live events, including around 800 music-related events recorded. Major concerts typically attracted between 25,000 and 30,000 attendees per night, some reaching up to 100,000 participants.

The report also highlights growing demand for live experiences, particularly among audiences aged 18-34, who represent the largest consumer segment. A significant proportion of respondents expressed willingness to pay for live events, signalling improving commercial viability for concerts and festivals.

Vietnam’s relatively young population, with around 68 per cent of the population in the working-age group according to the National Statistics Office of Vietnam, provides a substantial consumer base for live entertainment and experience-driven tourism.

At the event level, large-scale festivals are generating spillover effects across tourism and related service sectors. Events such as 8Wonder have attracted tens of thousands of attendees, with some drawing close to 100,000 participants, according to organisers. These events have also featured cross-border artistic collaborations, symbolised by the display of national flags during performances, highlighting their role in cultural exchange.

Similarly, domestically produced programmes such as Anh Trai Say Hi are expanding audience reach through digital platforms, recording millions of online interactions.

This growing interest in live experiences is taking place alongside a recovery in tourism demand. Data released in April by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism show that the country welcomed approximately 6.76 million international visitors in the first quarter, up around 12 per cent on-year and marking the highest quarterly level on record. Tourism-related spending has also remained strong, providing a supportive backdrop for event-based tourism..

At the global level, according to the World Tourism Barometer, published in January by UN Tourism, Asia-Pacific remains one of the fastest-recovering regions. Within the region, recovery continues to gain traction, positioning Southeast Asia as an increasingly competitive destination cluster.

At the policy level, Vietnam has signalled a stronger focus on developing cultural industries and experience-driven tourism. Resolution No.80-NQ/TW, issued in January, sets out the objective of developing Vietnam into an attractive destination for regional and global cultural and artistic events by 2030, alongside boosting international integration in culture.

This development aligns with broader global tourism trends highlighted by UN Tourism. As demand for live experiences grows, music festivals are expected to play a larger role in linking cultural production with tourism and service sector expansion.

According to the report, the defining feature of the current cycle is not whether banks can avoid macroeconomic headwinds, but rather each institution's ability to absorb and manage risks more effectively than its competitors.

On the funding side, SSI Research estimates that, as of mid-May, total deposits across the banking system exceeded $680 billion, up almost 3 per cent from the outset of the year. However, deposit growth continued to lag well behind credit expansion, leaving the system-wide loan-to-deposit ratio at an elevated level, reflecting persistently tight liquidity conditions.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has reported that, as of April 28, outstanding credit had increased by more than 4.4 per cent compared with the end of 2025, while deposit mobilisation grew at a much slower pace.

As a result, the VND deposits remained approximately $80 billion below total outstanding credit.

This imbalance also signifies why deposit interest rates are unlikely to decline significantly, with long-term deposit rates expected to remain in the range of 7–8 per cent per year.

Meanwhile, banks have limited room to raise lending rates immediately, as lending rates typically adjust with a lag.

Banks’ financial statements show that the average net interest margin (NIM) of 28 banks fell to just under 2.87 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 from 2.93 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2025, with 20 banks reporting on-quarter declines.

Nguyen Quang Huy, CEO of the Faculty of Finance and Banking at Nguyen Trai University, said the banking sector faced dual pressures in the first quarter as declining NIM coincided with weaker non-interest income streams.

"This indicates that the sector's profit growth potential has narrowed considerably compared with previous periods. NIM is expected to remain under pressure in the short term, particularly in the second quarter," Huy said.

"Funding costs usually reflect previous increases in deposit rates with a time lag, while asset yields cannot adjust at the same pace. Medium- and long-term loans, preferential lending programmes, and continued efforts to support borrowers make it difficult for banks to raise lending rates significantly," he added.

Market analysts believe that NIM may stabilise in the following quarters of 2026, although a strong recovery remains unlikely.

In practice, NIM recovery would require several conditions, including deposit rates ceasing to rise, current account savings account ratios remaining stable, existing loans being repriced and credit growth focusing on segments that offer reasonable yields while maintaining prudent risk control.

Simply raising lending rates to improve NIM could expose banks to higher non-performing loan risks, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises, real estate borrowers, and retail customers.

Against this backdrop, analysts expect liquidity conditions to gradually improve, supported by four key drivers: stronger cash inflows returning to the banking system, higher export earnings, continued growth in foreign direct investment inflows, and accelerated public investment disbursement.

Regarding lending activities, the banking system's credit growth target for 2026 remains at around 15 per cent. As of the end of May, outstanding credit had risen by just over 5.7 per cent from the beginning of the year, equivalent to an annual increase of 19 per cent.

SSI Research forecasts that credit growth in the second half of the year will become more cautious as banks are required to remain within their assigned credit quotas. Credit allocation is shifting significantly towards construction and infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile,, the housing mortgage segment is expected to stage a more meaningful recovery only in 2027, when interest rates are projected to decline substantially. Pressure on net interest margins therefore remains the most immediate challenge facing the sector.

SSI Research expects deposit rates to remain broadly unchanged before edging lower towards the end of 2026.

As funding costs continue to rise faster than the recovery in interest-earning asset yields, privately owned joint-stock commercial banks are projected to record an average NIM decline of around 10 basis points.

By contrast, state-controlled commercial banks, benefiting from more stable funding structures and lower funding costs, are expected to improve NIM by approximately 8 basis points.

Under this scenario, fee income from trade finance, guarantees and standby letters of credit will become an increasingly important profit driver as interest income remains constrained throughout 2026.

Banks enter post-digitalisation race for customer loyalty As digital banking becomes the norm, Vietnamese lenders are entering a new race where customer experience, data intelligence and trust, not transaction speed, will determine who wins long-term loyalty.

Banks build bigger buffers as bad debt pressure returns Banks are sharply increasing loan-loss provisions as rising bad debts, weaker cash flows and mounting property market risks force lenders to prioritise financial resilience over short-term profit.

Banks face growing constraints on loan rate reductions Although banks have trimmed lending rates following the State Bank of Vietnam’s call for lower borrowing costs, rising funding expenses and stronger competition for deposits are expected to limit further reductions.

Seven high-tech agricultural zones include the Ho Chi Minh City high-tech agricultural zone with an area of 88.17 ha; the Can Gio high-tech agricultural zone with an area of 89.74 ha; the Cu Chi high-tech agricultural zone with an area of 23.3 ha.

Illustration photo: baodautu.vn

The others are Nhuan Duc with an area of 470 ha, An Nhon Tay 470 ha, Binh Gia 383.22 ha, and Phuoc Hoa 203 ha.

According to the operating regulations, the zones aim to become centres for research and development in high-tech agriculture in the fields of crop cultivation, animal husbandry, aquaculture, forestry, medicinal plants, biotechnology, post-harvest technology, and high-tech services.

These zones will play a crucial role in integrating applied research, pilot production, testing, demonstration, technology transfer, incubation, and support for training high-tech human resources in agriculture, in line with global high-tech development trends and Vietnam's policies and orientations for high-tech agricultural development.

In addition, they will attract investment and highly skilled human resources at home and globally to implement high-tech applications in high-tech agricultural zones. They include linking research activities, high-tech applications, and the production of high-tech products in the agricultural sector.

Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigns Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Agricultural Zone Management Board to directly manage the zones, and to organise the implementation of tasks related to investment, sci-tech, innovation, digital transformation, land, construction, environment, and other related fields as prescribed.

The management board is responsible for coordinating with relevant departments and agencies to build and develop the zones in a synchronised manner, ensuring investment efficiency and avoiding the creation of additional management entities.

According to the city's orientations, the planning of these zones must ensure the synchronisation of technical and social infrastructure, the application of smart, environmentally friendly management solutions, and the provision of smart management utilities to meet their operational needs, while complying with relevant legal regulations.

Projects in the zone must also meet the principles and criteria of high-tech applied agriculture, aiming to attract domestic and foreign businesses and experts to participate in research, production, and development of high value-added agricultural products.

Investment capital for these zones is mobilised from various sources, including the state budget, the city budget, government support programmes, and socialised resources from businesses. The city also encourages the application of specific financial mechanisms and risk acceptance in scientific research and innovation to promote the testing and application of new technologies in agricultural production.

Thai Nguyen hi-tech agricultural zone set up Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed Decision No 70/QD-TTg on the establishment and issuance of operational regulations of the Thai Nguyen high-tech agricultural zone.

Agri-tech on top of development plans for Phu Yen Phu Yen province is earning its first achievements in terms of high-tech agriculture thanks to vigorously restructuring the local agricultural sector.

Rice cultivation makes use of advanced tech Many agricultural businesses are intensifying the large-scale application of advanced rice production technologies to boost economic value, while also reducing emissions.

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