
President Lee urges citizens to dine out to boost South Korea's economy
On Friday, Lee had dinner at a restaurant in central Seoul with his staff in a way to promote dining out to help small-sized brick-and-mortar restaurants and small merchants, overcome a slump amid sluggish domestic demand.
'I personally hope citizens would visit nearby restaurants to promote and cheer on their businesses ... which will in turn revive the local economy and become an impetus for a bright future of South Korea,' Lee said in a social media post.Lee's remarks came as the country will begin distributing cash handouts to all citizens on July 21 as part of a government initiative aimed at stimulating domestic consumption.All South Korean citizens residing in the country will receive a one-time payment of 150,000 won, depending on their income levels.Lee earlier instructed senior aides to draw up measures to maximise the effects of cash handouts, which is a part of an extra budget as a stimulus package to boost private consumption. — Bernama-Yonhap
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Malay Mail
37 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
HKSTP Joins Hands with Mainland and Overseas Institutions to Launch Global University Innovation Network
Hong Kong Techathon+ Marks its 10th Anniversary Reinforcing Hong Kong's Position as an International Talent and I&T Hub HKSTP, joined by representatives from 15 local tertiary institutions, officially announced the establishment of GUIN. The ceremony is officiated by Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry (front row, centre), Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP (front row, left), Mr Derek Chim, Head of Startup Ecosystem and Development (front row, right) as well as senior management from participating institutions. 1. Theme-based Global Incubation Programme Leveraging the research strengths of Hong Kong's tertiary institutions, this Programme attracts global innovation teams to conduct R&D and commercialisation activities locally. The Programme will develop in various academic sectors. The initial phase includes partnerships with the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Dentistry to establish the "Global Hub for Future Dentistry" programme, and with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Optometry and InnoHK Centre for Eye and Vision Research to launch the "Global Vision Tech Incubation" programme. 2. Talent Exchange Initiatives Through HKSTP's Global Internship Programme and industry academia research frameworks, overseas talents gain valuable practical experience and industry engagement opportunities. This summer alone, HKSTP welcomed over 200 interns from world-leading institutions – including 32 students from The University of Newcastle, Australia, partner of GUIN – to work with five startups in the Science Park on credit-bearing projects. HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 July 2025 - The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), in collaboration with 15 local tertiary institutions and supported by leading global tertiary institutions and organisations, today celebrated the 10anniversary of its flagship international intercollegiate innovation and technology (I&T) event, Hong Kong Techathon+ (HK Techathon+) at Hong Kong Science Park. The occasion also marked the launch of the "Global University Innovation Network" (GUIN), a new initiative designed to deepen international collaboration among tertiary institutions, and further bolster Hong Kong's position as an international talent and I&T newly established GUIN is a collaborative effort between HKSTP and 15 local institutions: The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, The Education University of Hong Kong, Lingnan University, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, and Tung Wah is further supported by renowned universities, in the overseas including Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Social Sciences, The University of Queensland (Australia), The University of Newcastle (Australia), Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (mainland China), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Universiti Malaya (Malaysia), and Astana Business Campus of Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan).The initiative aims to enhance innovation collaboration between Hong Kong and esteemed global institutions, facilitating cross-regional resource sharing, talent exchanges, and the commercialisation of R&D outcomes. GUIN will attract top-tier international I&T teams and startups to Hong Kong, further elevating the city's position as the international talent and I&T Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, remarked, "Hong Kong enjoys a unique advantage of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world, converging global innovation resources, including high-calibre talents. The Government is committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. Over the past two years, we have attracted over 200 I&T enterprises with high potential and representativeness to set up or expand their businesses here. I encourage all the young talents to seize this opportunity to collaborate, innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible."Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said: "From a bold vision a decade ago, HK Techathon+ has evolved into a flagship Hong Kong and international intercollegiate I&T event, symbolising the collective commitment of HKSTP, our partnering institutions, and supporters in nurturing innovative talent. HKSTP has been committed to cultivate a vibrant I&T ecosystem, offering comprehensive support to young innovators – from ideation and R&D to business expansion. We look forward to seeing these young talents unleash their creativity and potential, becoming key drivers of Hong Kong's I&T development and co-creating an exciting new chapter in our city's innovation journey."Since its inception in July 2015, HK Techathon+ has grown significantly, attracting over 7,000 young innovators, generating more than 2,400 innovative projects, and nurturing hundreds of entrepreneurs and startups. Many alumni have gained global recognition, with several featured on the "Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia" expanding into a global event in 2024, HK Techathon+ has welcomed participation from over 30 leading international institutions from mainland China, Taiwan, Macao, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, and the United States, including world renowned institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and The University of Queensland. This international platform enables local and overseas academic innovators and startups to exchange ideas, deepen their understanding of Hong Kong's vibrant I&T ecosystem, and integrate seamlessly into the city's innovation #HKSTP The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 to create a thriving I&T ecosystem grooming 13 unicorns, more than 15,000 research professionals and over 2,300 technology companies from 25 countries and regions focused on developing healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies, etc. Our growing innovation ecosystem offers comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures, with the I&T journey built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined. Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen plays positive roles in connecting the world and the mainland with our proximity, strengthening cross-border exchange to bring advantages in attracting global talent and allowing possibilities for the development of technology companies in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability, with both dry and wet laboratories, co-working space, conference and exhibition facilities, and more. Through our R&D infrastructure, startup support and enterprise services, commercialisation and investment expertise, partnership networks and talent traction, HKSTP continues contribute in establishing I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong. More information about HKSTP is available at


Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Malaysia acts to avoid US sanctions amid escalating global AI chip war
KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti) has announced that all exports, transhipments, and transit of high-performance AI chips of US origin now require a Strategic Trade Permit, effective immediately. The new requirement falls under Section 12 of the Strategic Trade Act 2010, which serves as a catch-all control provision for items not explicitly listed in the Strategic Items List. Companies and individuals must notify authorities at least 30 days before moving these AI chips if they know or suspect potential misuse or restricted activities. "This initiative serves to close regulatory gaps while Malaysia undertakes further review on the inclusion of high-performance AI chips of US origin into the SIL (Strategic Items List) of the STA 2010 (Strategic Trade Act)," the ministry said in a statement. Malaysia has warned it will take strict legal action against any violations of the Strategic Trade Act 2010 or related laws. The ministry emphasised that while Malaysia supports investments and trade aligned with international best practices, all entities must comply with relevant international obligations to avoid secondary sanctions. Miti also reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, transparent, and rules-based trading environment with all trade partners. Last week, Bloomberg reported that the US plans to restrict shipments of advanced AI chips to Malaysia to prevent them from being diverted to China, as part of a broader crackdown on semiconductor smuggling. Despite Malaysia's previous pledges to tighten import scrutiny, chip exports to the country have surged, drawing US attention and prompting proposed curbs that may include temporary exemptions for American and allied firms operating there.


Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
SleekFlow Unveils AgentFlow: Building Teams of AI Agents To Increase Revenue For Businesses
SleekFlow, launched in 2019, operates in 6 regions and helps more than 2000 businesses globally handle 600k conversations every day With its engineering team led by former Silicon Valley based LinkedIn China CTO Gao Lei, SleekFlow presents one of Hong Kong's first AI agent platforms specifically designed to increase sales and human collaborations Last week, the AgentFlow launch event, "Connecting at Scale with AgentFlow," in Hong Kong brought together tech innovators from Microsoft, McKinsey, and HSBC to inspire AI transformation to a crowd of 100. Multilingual Mastery : Supports seamless conversations in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Cantonese, enabling businesses to engage diverse audiences effortlessly. : Supports seamless conversations in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Cantonese, enabling businesses to engage diverse audiences effortlessly. Advanced Data Processing : Extracts structured information from complex file formats like spreadsheets, PDFs, and visual-heavy documents, ensuring accurate and context-rich responses. : Extracts structured information from complex file formats like spreadsheets, PDFs, and visual-heavy documents, ensuring accurate and context-rich responses. Model-Optimized Performance : Integrates models like GPT-4o, 4o-mini, and Gemini, dynamically selecting the best model for each task to enhance natural language understanding and data retrieval. : Integrates models like GPT-4o, 4o-mini, and Gemini, dynamically selecting the best model for each task to enhance natural language understanding and data retrieval. Vector Database Efficiency : Leverages vector databases for rapid, scalable retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), minimizing response times and reducing AI hallucinations. : Leverages vector databases for rapid, scalable retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), minimizing response times and reducing AI hallucinations. Seamless and No-code Integration : Trains AI agents using existing knowledge bases and integrates with Flow Builder to embed intelligent automation into workflows. : Trains AI agents using existing knowledge bases and integrates with Flow Builder to embed intelligent automation into workflows. Enterprise-level Security: AgentFlow is developed with security and compliance at its core ISO/IEC 27001 & SOC 2 Type II Certified and GDPR Compliant. AgentFlow is built on Azure OpenAI, the customer data is never used to train public models. Featuring insights from enterprises like Microsoft, McKinsey, and HSBC, the discussions underscored one key takeaway: mastering AI is no longer optional—it's essential for businesses and employees to thrive in the future. Alfred Kam, Chief Information Officer of EGL Tours, Hong Kong's leading travel agency, shared, "Adopting AI isn't just about staying competitive today—it's a skill that will help employees remain relevant for the next 20 to 30 years." Kenneth She, Chief Transformation Officer of HKBN—one of Hong Kong's top broadband providers now expanding into insurance and other products—added, "Let the team stay what they do, do what they are good at, and transform them to do better [with AI]." Samson Fong, Regional Head of Marketing at Beame, a provider of advanced orthodontic solutions: "To keep the brand voice and protect the brand at scale across regions, human involvement remains essential. AI-human collaboration is key to achieving this balance." Henson Tsai, Founder & CEO of SleekFlow: "The best time to start AI was yesterday. The second best time to start AI is today." 65% of consumers are familiar with conversational AI, using it for product discovery, order tracking, and reservations. are familiar with conversational AI, using it for product discovery, order tracking, and reservations. 66% of businesses have adopted AI to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows. have adopted AI to enhance efficiency and streamline workflows. 45% of businesses plan to increase AI investment by 2027, signaling strong momentum for AI-driven solutions. HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 July 2025 SleekFlow , an Agentic AI platform for conversions, announces the launch of AgentFlow , a transformative AI solution designed to build teams of AI agents and redefine how businesses do sales. By leveraging cutting-edge conversational AI, AgentFlow empowers enterprises of different sizes to turn every interaction into a conversion opportunity, accelerating lead generation, sales, and customer retention across multiple is built on SleekFlow's advanced AI engine, utilizing a multi-agent architecture and graph database technology to deliver scalable, context-aware conversations. Unlike traditional AI systems that struggle with complex queries, AgentFlow deploys specialized AI agents to handle distinct tasks—such as data retrieval, inquiry resolution, and lead scoring—with unparalleled precision. Key capabilities include:"With SleekFlow's AgentFlow, we're making it radically easy for businesses to deploy AI at scale in a flexible and effective solution." said Henson Tsai , CEO of SleekFlow. "We want to empower companies to deliver human-like interactions that drive revenue and build lasting relationships, and this is just the beginning."On July 10, 2025, SleekFlow celebrated the launch of AgentFlow with an exclusive event at The Executive Center, Central, together with their AI launch partners Beame, EGL and HKBN. Over 100 industry leaders, technology innovators, and business executives from sectors such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Wellness, and Retail gathered to explore the transformative impact of AI-native customer simplifies AI adoption, empowering businesses to integrate this critical skill with ease. As the AI era accelerates, understanding and leveraging its potential is a skill every professional must embrace to stay 2025 Whitepaper on AI in Commerce underscores the critical role of AI in today's business landscape. Based on a survey of 200 Hong Kong consumers and businesses, the findings reveal:These insights highlight the growing demand for intelligent, scalable platforms like AgentFlow, which empower businesses to meet evolving consumer expectations while optimizing operations."AgentFlow represents a leap forward in conversational AI, blending cutting-edge multi-agent systems with no-code integration. At SleekFlow, we've engineered an agentic solution that not only understands complex customer needs but is also capable of taking actions on behalf of you—truly empowering businesses to thrive in the AI-native era." Lei Gao, CTO of #SleekFlow The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About SleekFlow Trusted by over 2000 enterprises across 70 countries, SleekFlow unifies WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, SMS, Website Live Chat, and more into a single, clutter-free workspace—so your team can focus on building relationships that convert. Seamlessly integrated with your e-commerce, payments, calendar, and CRM systems, our AI Revenue Agent understands customer history, recommends products, collects payments, and schedules appointments—handling the entire journey from inquiry to sale. Designed for AI-human collaboration, SleekFlow's Inbox Copilot centralizes communication, automates repetitive tasks, and highlights next steps and upsell opportunities. This empowers your team to close more deals with less effort. SleekFlow is located in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, and the UAE. In Jun 2025, the Series A+ startup secured an additional funding round, bringing its total capital raised to USD $23.5 million. Investors include Atinum Investment, AEF Greater Bay Area Fund (managed by Gobi Partners GBA and Transcend Capital Partners), Moses Tsang (Former General Partner of Goldman Sachs Group and Chairman of Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC) and Mars Growth Capital.