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Alice Fung, Phil Lam, Sean Wong, and Grace Chan Unite Across Generations to Speak Up for Children

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3 months ago

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Save the Children’s “Safe Start for Little Seed” Calls to Safeguard Children’s Growth

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 April 2026 – Save the Children Hong Kong has officially launched the “Safe Start for Little Seed” campaign. Beyond legal protections, the initiative aims to cultivate a “Zero Tolerance for Child Abuse” culture and plant the “soil for safe sprouting” across society, ensuring that children’s safety remains the top priority anytime, anywhere.

Celebrities across generations and child actors raise their voices together, calling on the city to pledge to become ‘Seed Guardians’.

The campaign is strongly supported by “Down-to-earth Grandma” Alice Fung, singer-songwriter and new father Phil Lam, Time Still Turns the Pages child star Sean Wong, and celebrity mother Grace Chan. In addition to sharing personal insights on positive parenting, they are calling on the public to sign the petition and become a “Seed Guardian” to protect children.

While the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, which came into effect earlier this year, requires 25 categories of professionals to report suspected abuse, Save the Children Hong Kong believes the law is only the baseline. For children to truly grow up with peace of mind, community-wide participation is essential. “Safe Start for Little Seed” begins with positive parenting and non-violent communication within the home, extending to schools and child-service organisations. Through Child Safeguarding Services and workshops, the campaign enhances the awareness and practical skills of frontline personnel in NGOs, schools, and sports centres. Parents, neighbours, coaches, and tutors can all become “Seed Guardians” by identifying risks early, showing active care, and knowing how to seek help.

Save the Children Hong Kong also reiterated that while mandatory reporting laws are in place, there is room for policy improvement. This includes gradually expanding mandatory reporting obligations to all roles and professionals who work with children, institutionalising safeguarding training within relevant tertiary curricula, and conducting regular staff training across organisations. The government should review its policies in a timely manner to ensure that children’s safety is fully protected.
Eliminating Punishment: Accompanying Children Through Dialogue

Many parents in Hong Kong face heavy work pressure. When faced with a child’s sudden needs—such as illness or emotional outbursts—they may resort to shouting or physical discipline out of frustration. However, harsh reprimands or corporal punishment only lead to short-term compliance and fail to help children understand the reasons behind their behaviour, potentially damaging the foundation of trust in the long run.

Veteran actress Alice Fung shared in a campaign video that she once used physical discipline when her son was young. She recalled slapping him after he ran into the road out of fear for his safety, admitting, “It was actually my own fear.” When her son was seven, he was injured while playing; as she raised her hand to discipline him, he said, “Mommy, please don’t hit me anymore, I’m already in a lot of pain.” This was a wake-up call for her. Since then, she chose reasoning over physical punishment. “He is in his fifties now, and we are still very good friends,” she said.
Trusting Children: Supporting Exploration with Empathy

Singer-songwriter Phil Lam mentioned that although his parents were strict, they never used corporal punishment. He credits their trust and support for allowing him to find his own path, a philosophy he now applies to his 18-month-old son. Using the example of weaning his son off a pacifier, Phil said, “I told him the pacifier is only for sleeping. Since you aren’t sleeping now, why not give it back to me? Although he didn’t fully understand, he thought about it and let go.” Phil was surprised by the results, adding, “Don’t assume children don’t understand. They understand a lot.” He reminded parents, “When children feel loved, they feel safe and confident to explore the world.”

Sean Wong, the 14-year-old actor who portrayed a child under immense pressure in the film Time Still Turns the Pages, understands how a single word can leave a lasting mark. In reality, Sean is thankful his parents do not pressure him heavily regarding academics. During stressful exam periods, his mother takes him to flower markets or food fairs to relax. Recognising his luck, Sean noted the struggles of his peers: “I see classmates who get high grades but aren’t happy. They feel they’ve disappointed their parents.” He added: “I hope parents can see things from a child’s perspective—knowing that they’ve tried their best, then praising and encouraging them. That would take so much pressure off us.”

Free Book Download: 15 Minutes of Quality Parent-Child Time

Strong relationships are built through consistent quality time—not only the amount of time spent together. Save the Children Hong Kong encourages parents to set aside 15 minutes every day—away from phones and work—to play, talk or read with their children. This makes it easier to tune in to children’s thoughts and feelings, and helps strengthen their sense of safety and security. To support families, Save the Children Hong Kong has published the children’s book, The Rights Twins and Their Guardian Bears. Through lovable illustrations, the book introduces the four fundamental rights of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: survival, protection, development, and participation. By signing the online petition to be a “Seed Guardian” to affirm the commitment to protecting children’s healthy development in safe environments and not turning a blind eye when abuse is suspected, the public can download the e‑book for free and practise the “15‑minute rule” through shared reading.

Ms Kalina Tsang, CEO of Save the Children Hong Kong, stated: “Becoming a ‘Seed Guardian’ is not just a slogan; it is an invitation. The law has built a safety net, but for children to truly flourish, the whole city must walk together to plant a culture of ‘zero tolerance for child abuse’ in every piece of Hong Kong soil. One active act of care today means one less regret tomorrow.”
Reviewing Legislation for a Long-term Safe Environment

While welcoming the new Ordinance, Save the Children Hong Kong emphasises that the government must continuously monitor and improve policies. According to Save the Children Hong Kong’s recent research report, Children’s Views on Safety Within Organisations In Hong Kong, half of the 587 children surveyed (aged 9–17) felt they could not find a trustworthy staff member within child-facing organisations. While legislation provides the baseline for child protection, building a long‑term safe environment still requires systematic cultural change.

Save the Children Hong Kong recommends that the Government consider gradually expanding the scope of mandatory reporting to include all professionals who frequently come into contact with children. We also advocate for the institutionalisation of child safeguarding training by integrating it into relevant tertiary education curricula and implementing regular staff training across all child-facing organisations in Hong Kong. Only by fostering a “zero tolerance for child abuse” culture across all levels of society can Hong Kong truly become a child‑friendly, child‑first environment.

Save the Children Hong Kong is committed to advancing child protection through prevention. At community level, our Heart to Heart Parent-Child Programme strengthens parents’ positive parenting and non-violent communication skills through workshops. It ensures children grow up in a respectful and harmonious environment, enhancing their self-protection awareness and parent-child relationships. Since its launch in 2018, the programme has served over 1,200 parents and caregivers, along with nearly 2,000 children in Hong Kong.

At the institutional level, our Child Safeguarding Services assist organisations involved in child-related work by providing services such as policy formulation, risk management, and staff training. We empower schools and NGOs with the knowledge, skills, and internal mechanisms needed to actively protect the children in their care.

At the policy level, we mobilise society to support child-based policies through advocacy and research reports. We continue to provide recommendations on the implementation and coverage of the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, calling on the entire community to collectively safeguard the safety of our children.

Hashtag: #SavetheChildrenHongKong #香港救助兒童會 #保護兒童 #childprotection





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About Save the Children Hong Kong

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Hong Kong and around the world, we do whatever it takes – every day and in times of crisis – so children can fulfil their rights to a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. With over 100 years of expertise, we are the world’s first and leading independent children’s organisation – transforming lives and future.

Established in 2009, Save the Children Hong Kong is part of the global movement which operates in around 100 countries. We work with children, families, schools, communities and our supporters to deliver lasting change for children in Hong Kong and around the world.

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ZenaTech Expands AI Drone Commercialisation as DaaS Contributes 93% of Q1 Revenue

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15 hours ago

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22/07/2026

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VANCOUVER, CANADA – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – ZenaTech (Nasdaq: ZENA) is combining AI-powered drone technology, enterprise software and professional services through its Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) model, supporting commercial applications across engineering data collection, agriculture, warehouse management, facility inspection and property maintenance.

Through DaaS, enterprise customers can access drone equipment, trained personnel, mission execution, data collection and project deliverables without purchasing and maintaining a complete in-house drone system. The model extends ZenaTech’s business beyond equipment sales and enables the company to generate recurring service revenue from customers’ operational requirements.

ZenaTech reported revenue of CAD 8.4 million for the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 640% from CAD 1.13 million in the same period of 2025. DaaS contributed approximately CAD 7.8 million, accounting for around 93% of quarterly revenue.

In 2025, the company generated annual revenue of CAD 12.9 million, up 558% from approximately CAD 2 million in 2024. DaaS contributed approximately CAD 10.1 million during its first full year of operations, representing around 78% of total annual revenue.

Acquisitions Support Service Network Expansion

ZenaTech has expanded its DaaS operations through a combination of internal technology development and acquisitions. The acquired businesses bring existing customers, professional teams and local operating capabilities, while ZenaTech gradually introduces drones, automated data collection and AI-supported analytics into selected workflows.

In 2025, the company completed 20 acquisitions, including 19 businesses providing engineering data, facility inspection and related professional services, as well as one enterprise software company.

By June 2026, ZenaTech had completed its 24th DaaS-related acquisition and expanded its services into property cleaning, facility inspection and maintenance.

Through its ZenaDrone subsidiary, ZenaTech has also developed drone products for indoor and outdoor operations. The IQ Quad supports site data collection, engineering imagery and 3D modelling, while the IQ Nano uses barcode and RFID scanning to support inventory records, shelf inspections and indoor data collection.

The company’s reported revenue growth, acquisition activity and DaaS contribution provide investors following the AI and drone sectors with measurable indicators of how its technologies are being integrated into commercial operations and converted into service revenue.

Hashtag: #ZenaTech

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

About ZenaTech

ZenaTech (Nasdaq: ZENA) is a technology company specialising in AI-powered drones, Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS solutions and related technologies. Through its ZenaDrone subsidiary, the company develops drone products and software for commercial applications including engineering data collection, agriculture, warehouse management, facility inspection and property maintenance. ZenaTech combines its technology capabilities with a growing professional service network to support the adoption of drone-based solutions across a range of operational environments.

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A Defining Milestone for Gene Solutions: SPOT-MAS Multi-Cancer Screening Test Receives U.S. FDA Breakthrough Device Designation

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16 hours ago

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22/07/2026

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – Gene Solutions – a global biotechnology company advancing accessible genomic solutions for cancer detection and precision oncology, announced that SPOT-MAS 10 has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This designation marks an important regulatory milestone for Gene Solutions and reflects the continued progress of SPOT-MAS as an AI-powered, multi-omic platform for early cancer detection.

SPOT-MAS Multi-Cancer Screening Test Receives U.S. FDA Breakthrough Device Designation

The proposed indications for use describe SPOT-MAS 10 as a qualitative in vitro diagnostic test performed on plasma derived from a single direct-draw venous whole blood specimen. The test analyzes circulating cell-free DNA methylation and fragmentomic signatures using a machine-learning-based algorithm to detect a cancer-associated signal. It is intended for use as an adjunctive screening test in asymptomatic adults aged 40 years and older to assist in detecting cancers within the scope of the assay. These include five common cancers — breast, lung, liver, colorectal and gastric cancers — and five aggressive, less common cancers that currently lack standard screening methods — ovarian, pancreatic, esophageal, endometrial and head & neck cancers.

SPOT-MAS has been developed through years of rigorous scientific research and clinical development. In March 2025, SPOT-MAS became the first multi-cancer screening blood test in Asia to complete a large prospective cohort validation, with the K-DETEK study evaluating more than 9,000 asymptomatic participants and demonstrating strong performance, including high specificity and the ability to identify cancer-associated signals across multiple cancer types.

Since then, SPOT-MAS has been used in more than 100,000 individuals in real-world practice, with consistent performance observed beyond controlled study settings. Real-world data were presented at ESMO Asia 2025 and were featured at ASCO Breakthrough 2026 in Singapore.

The platform is built on a multi-omic approach— integrating genetics, epigenetics, and fragmentomics — together with AI-driven analysis, large-scale prospective validation, growing real-world evidence and focus on cancer types with high clinical relevance in the regions where the test is deployed.

For the United States, Breakthrough Device Designation provides Gene Solutions with a prioritized channel of engagement with the FDA as the company advances its U.S. development and validation plans.

Looking ahead, Gene Solutions will continue to collaborate with academic, clinical, laboratory, commercial and strategic partners to support responsible adoption of SPOT-MAS in accordance with local regulations, clinical guidelines and best practices.

Important Regulatory Notice: SPOT-MAS 10 has received U.S. FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. Breakthrough Device Designation is not FDA approval, clearance or marketing authorization. The device remains subject to applicable FDA regulatory review requirements, and the designation does not guarantee future FDA approval, clearance or authorization.

For more information, visit https://spotmas.com.hk

Contact:
hk***@***********ns.com
Source: Gene Solutions Hong Kong Limited.
SPOTMAS_062026_04

Hashtag: #SPOTMAS

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St Francis Methodist School International Shares 2023–2024 WACE Outcomes and Student Journeys

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16 hours ago

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22/07/2026

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 July 2026 – St Francis Methodist School International (SFMS) has released its latest academic results for students in the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) programme. The outcomes reflect steady ATAR performance and a range of university placements through the school’s pre-university programmes.

St Francis Methodist International School pre university programmes

Overview of the WACE Curriculum at SFMS

SFMS International is among a small number of institutions in Singapore offering the WACE curriculum and has delivered this programme for over 23 years. The WACE is a recognised senior secondary qualification awarded by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Western Australia. It prepares students for university admission both locally and internationally.

SFMS is also currently the only school in Singapore offering a Senior High Preparatory Pathway (WACE) for students in Years 9–10. This introduces students to the structure and expectations of the curriculum earlier, building familiarity with subject content and assessment formats before progressing to the senior years. Additionally, subject selection in Years 11A and 12A is structured to meet university entry requirements and reflect students’ academic interests.

Academic Outcomes and University Placements

In 2023, 8 out of 12 WACE graduates from SFMS International achieved ATAR scores above 90, meeting the eligibility criteria for universities such as the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The cohort’s top scorer, Wang Dawei, recorded an ATAR of 96.15 and enrolled at NTU to study Business and International Trading. In addition to local placements, graduates were admitted to international universities such as the University of Melbourne and Fudan University in China.

In 2024, 2 out of 8 graduates also attained ATAR scores above 90. The highest scorer, Youn Chae-Won, achieved an ATAR of 95.3. Her university placement is currently pending.

Student Journeys and Holistic Development

Students in the WACE programme at SFMS International engage in both academic and co-curricular activities as part of their overall learning experience. Recent graduates have taken part in service learning, subject specialisation, and personal reflection throughout their time in the pre-university programme.

Youn Chae-Won, the 2024 valedictorian, joined SFMS International from Korea in 2021. Over time, she adjusted to a new academic environment and explored subjects such as accounting, which influenced her interest in finance-related pathways. She also took part in various aspects of school life, including a service learning trip to Bintan in 2023, where students supported local sanitation efforts. Her involvement in both academic and co-curricular settings marked a broad engagement with school life during her time at SFMS.

Andrew Zhuang, who enrolled in SFMS International in 2019, pursued subjects such as Business Management, Accounting, and English as an Additional Language (EALD). Beyond academics, he was involved in community fundraising and joined the same Bintan service trip. He also attended weekly chapel sessions and received support from peers and teachers during a period of health-related absence.

These outcomes reflect the ongoing role of the WACE programme at SFMS International in supporting students through both academic pathways and broader educational experiences. Under the leadership of Principal Mr Lee Hak Boon, the school continues to emphasise academic planning, subject selection, and student wellbeing as part of its overall approach to pre-university education.
Hashtag: #StFrancisMethodistSchoolInternational




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About St Francis Methodist School International

Established in 1960, St Francis Methodist School International (SFMS) is an educational institution in Singapore that offers primary, secondary, and pre-university programmes. The school provides several academic pathways, including the International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge IGCSE, and the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), preparing students for further studies in local and overseas institutions.

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