NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Global K-beauty leader COSRX continues to expand its presence on the haute couture stage as the official backstage hair sponsor for MISS SOHEE during Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 on 29^th January.

Backstage hair was overseen by internationally renowned hair artist Joana Neves, COSRX’s Global Hair Ambassador, whose expertise bridged the refined aesthetics of haute couture with K-beauty hair solutions proven in backstage environments.

MISS SOHEE Backstage: COSRX Enters the Haute Couture Arena

MISS SOHEE, founded by designer Sohee Park, is a London-based haute couture house recognized for its refined craftsmanship and contemporary approach to couture. For the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, COSRX supported the show from backstage, providing performance-driven K-beauty hair solutions.

Widely regarded as one of the first occasions a K-beauty brand has supported backstage hair sponsorship within the haute couture calendar, the collaboration marks a notable moment as Korean beauty enters one of fashion’s most exclusive creative environments.

Presented under the theme “BREATHING FORMS,” the collection explored sculptural silhouettes softened by movement and fluidity — a signature approach that has established MISS SOHEE as a leading voice in contemporary couture. Since its Paris Haute Couture debut in Spring/Summer 2025, the house has rapidly gained global recognition, with designs worn by internationally celebrated figures including Anya Taylor-Joy, Beyoncé, Zendaya, Bella Hadid, and Florence Pugh.

For the show, COSRX worked alongside Joana Neves, COSRX Global Hair Ambassador, supporting the backstage hair team with its PEPTIDE-132 Hair Bonding Trio. Long dominated by European beauty houses, the haute couture backstage saw a meaningful shift through this partnership, marking a notable moment for K-beauty on the Paris couture stage.

About Joana Neves

Joana Neves is a London-based fashion hairstylist and Global Hair Ambassador for COSRX, working closely with the brand across Europe on professional education initiatives, backstage collaborations, and the development of performance-driven hair solutions for high-fashion environments. Recognized for her refined aesthetic and modern approach to hair artistry, she is a lead artist within the internationally renowned hair team led by Guido Palau, with an extensive portfolio that includes collaborations with Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, and Prada, as well as styling global icons such as Kendall Jenner, Lily Collins, and Dua Lipa.

About COSRX PEPTIDE-132 Hair Bonding Trio 

Backstage hair for the MISS SOHEE Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2026 show was supported exclusively by COSRX’s PEPTIDE-132 Hair Bonding Trio, selected by Global Hair Ambassador Joana Neves to meet the technical and aesthetic demands of a couture runway.

• PEPTIDE-132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Oil Serum
  A lightweight, high-performance bonding oil serum used to refine and finish backstage looks, delivering flexible control and couture-ready shine. Infused with patented PEPTIDE-132 to reinforce weakened areas of damaged hair.
• PEPTIDE-132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Shampoo
  A salon-grade formula that gently cleanses while strengthening compromised protein bonds, creating a balanced foundation for precision styling.
• PEPTIDE-132 Ultra Perfect Hair Bonding Treatment
  An intensive treatment designed for mid-lengths and ends, improving softness, manageability, and resilience ahead of runway styling.

About COSRX

Founded in 2013, COSRX is a global skincare brand known for its “essentials-only” approach: highly effective ingredients, concentrated formulas, and affordable prices. Trusted by millions worldwide and powered by social media virality, COSRX has grown into one of the most influential K-beauty brands across skincare and haircare. COSRX is also on Instagram + TikTok.

HUARAZ, Peru, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On January 20, a launch event for the newly completed broadband network was held in Peru’s Ancash region, marking the project’s completion and entry into operation. The national broadband project, undertaken by Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC), is set to significantly enhance local digital infrastructure, bridge connectivity gaps, and support economic and social development.

Senior government officials, including Raúl García, Vice Minister of Transport and Communications of Peru, and Angelly Epifania, Vice Governor of the Ancash region, attended the ceremony alongside representatives from YOFC’s Peru operations, local community members, and the project team. Together, they celebrated the completion of a major national connectivity initiative that is expected to deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

Six years ago, Raúl García, then representing the Peruvian government, signed a project agreement with YOFC at the Government Palace. After six years of implementation, YOFC has delivered a large-scale national broadband network, drawing on its technical expertise and proven delivery capabilities. The project underscores YOFC’s commitment to fulfilling contractual obligations and achieving sustainable outcomes.

As a key component of Peru’s digital infrastructure upgrade, the network spans four regions, connecting over 1,600 towns and more than one million people while reducing regional disparities in broadband access. To date, more than 9,000 kilometers of optical cable have been deployed and over 1,500 sites constructed, providing internet access to more than 4,000 public institutions—including schools, hospitals, police stations, and central plazas—and making high-quality digital services readily available to local communities.

The project also created substantial employment opportunities during construction, generating more than 5,000 jobs. By fostering knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and collaboration with local partners, it has supported the growth of related local industries.

As a global provider of optical communications solutions, YOFC’s successful delivery of this project demonstrates its ability to execute complex international infrastructure projects and provide end-to-end solutions.

Looking ahead, YOFC will continue to deepen its global partnerships, maintaining a strong focus on building digital infrastructure worldwide. Leveraging its technological and industrial expertise, the company aims to expand fibre connectivity across global markets, help more countries and regions overcome digital infrastructure constraints, and contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable digital ecosystem while advancing global connectivity.

HONG KONG, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — More than 190 students from 13 local secondary schools will take part in a year-long programme to gain hands-on experience in preparing an extremely rare whale specimen for public exhibitions scheduled for 2027. The Environment and Conservation Fund “Sea” Through Cetacean: STEAM Student Ambassador Programme & Cetacean Conservation Exhibition, organised by the Division of Science of Lingnan University in collaboration with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Cetacea Research Institute, and Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, was officially launched on 1 February 2026. This initiative builds on the rare stranding of a Longman’s beaked whale in Hong Kong in 2024, providing students with a unique opportunity to assist in the preparation of skeletal specimens of one of the world’s most mysterious marine mammal species. The project also promotes cetacean conservation and will educate the public in key marine environmental issues, including plastic pollution in the oceans.

Dr Eric Cheng Kam-chung, SBS, MH, OStJ, JP Chairman of the Environment and Conservation Fund Committee, delivered a speech at the launch ceremony: “This Environment and Conservation Fund funded project turns a marine ecological conservation event into a highly meaningful educational programme. It is believed that the project will not only raise public awareness of whale and dolphin conservation as well as environmental sustainability but also encourage a deeper reflection on marine ecological conservation.”

Dr Chu Chun-wa, Assistant Director (Fisheries and Marine Conservation) of the Fisheries and Marine Conservation Branch of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), said “The AFCD has long been committed to promoting marine conservation. We believe this skeletal preparation programme will cultivate a sense of responsibility among young people towards marine ecology, foster greater interest in fisheries and marine conservation, transform scientific knowledge into action, and facilitate the long-term protection of biodiversity in Hong Kong waters.

Prof Paulina Wong Pui-yun, Head and Associate Professor (Presidential Early Career Scholar) of Division of Science at Lingnan University, agreed “Complete Longman’s beaked whale specimens are extremely rare worldwide, and this has presented a precious opportunity to study rare deep-sea cetaceans. Lingnan University is honoured to host this programme, which allows students to study whale specimens through STEAM interdisciplinary experiences. We hope to teach students to understand marine conservation from multiple perspectives — science, technology, engineering, and arts — so they can become a new generation of ambassadors, spreading conservation messages among the public and raising awareness of the importance of protecting marine ecosystems.”

This two-year project, led by Prof Scott Chui Yik-suen, Research Assistant Professor of the Division of Science at Lingnan University, starts with providing introductory training and guidelines on the preparation of whale skeleton specimens to over 190 students from 13 secondary schools across Hong Kong. Students will assist with an 11-month specimen processing procedure and gain hands-on experience in handling, degreasing, measuring, and documenting the condition of the assigned whale skeletal specimens to preserve them for both scientific study and public exhibition. Throughout the process, they will regularly and systematically monitor and record any changes to the specimens, and will also participate in diverse STEAM-based experiential learning activities, including science and conservation lectures, visits to research facilities and marine animal rescue centres, and field trips to Tai O, as well as creating works of art to exhibit. These multidisciplinary skills will help them become ambassadors advocating for cetacean and marine conservation.

In the second phase, the project will extend its reach to the public through two Cetacean Conservation Exhibitions scheduled for the second and fourth quarters of 2027. These will showcase the Longman’s beaked whale skeleton prepared with the students’ assistance in the first phase, together with specimens of two local cetacean species—the Chinese white dolphin and the finless porpoise. The exhibitions will also display the canvas bag found in the whale’s stomach to highlight the threats of plastic pollution to marine ecosystems. During the exhibitions, student ambassadors will serve as docents, guiding public tours and describing their own experiences to deliver key messages about cetacean ecology and marine conservation. The digital 3D model and 1:1 3D-printed replica of the Longman’s beaked whale skeleton will serve as lasting educational and scientific resources, contributing to 3DTEACH—a newly established educational alliance among universities in Hong Kong. This initiative will create ongoing and lasting value to public education, conservation efforts, and the scientific community.

Prof Chui said “There are typically 20 to 50 cases of dolphin stranding reported in Hong Kong each year, predominantly involving two local cetacean species—Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoises. Strandings of other species are rarer, with only a few reported annually. Cetaceans inhabiting inshore habitats, such as Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoises, are particularly susceptible to threats from human activities, including coastal development, marine traffic, and pollution. Plastic debris and fishing hooks are sometimes found in the stomachs of stranded animals, and entanglement in abandoned fishing nets and gear is not uncommon. One study even found up to 145 microplastic particles in the stomach of a stranded Chinese white dolphin in the Pearl River Estuary, highlighting the critical issue of plastic pollution in the marine ecosystem. We hope to educate the public in environmental issues such as cetacean conservation and marine plastic pollution through this project.”

Participating Secondary Schools (in alphabetical order):
Diocesan Boys’ School
DMHC Siu Ming Catholic Secondary School
Elegantia College
HKCCCU Logos Academy
Kau Yan College
La Salle College
Lingnan Hang Yee Memorial Secondary School
Po Leung Kuk Laws Foundation College
St. Catharine’s School for Girls
Sha Tin Methodist College
Shun Tak Fraternal Association Leung Kau Kui College
The ELCHK Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School
Ying Wa College

About the Longman’s beaked whale
The Longman’s beaked whales (Indopacetus pacificus), also known as Indo-Pacific beaked whales or tropical bottlenose whales, belong to the beaked whale family (Ziphiidae) within the order Cetacea. They live in the deep, open, tropic waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and are rarely seen near coastal waters. As of 2021, there have only been seven other complete skeleton specimens of Longman’s beaked whales reported worldwide, and they are widely regarded as one of the most mysterious and least understood marine mammals.

SINGAPORE and GELEPHU, Bhutan, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Matrixport announces that its Bhutan entity, Matrix Bhutan Pte Ltd, has received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Gelephu Financial Services Office (GFSO) to operate regulated financial services within or from Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).

The In-Principle Approval represents an important milestone in Matrixport’s long-term commitment to building regulated, institution-grade virtual asset financial services. It reflects Matrixport’s focus on operating within clear regulatory frameworks, with compliance, governance, and risk management forming the foundation of sustainable innovation.

“We have always believed that innovation in virtual assets requires operating within regulation, and the clarity and engagement provided by Gelephu Mindfulness City gives us the confidence to build responsibly,” said John Ge, Co-Founder & CEO of Matrixport.

Subject to the fulfilment of final regulatory conditions, the proposed licence would permit Matrix Bhutan Pte Ltd to carry out the following regulated activities:

• Providing Money Services
• Dealing in Investments as Matched Principal
• Providing Custody

No regulated services will be offered until all licensing requirements are satisfied and final approval is granted by the GFSO.

Strategic Entry into Gelephu Mindfulness City

Matrixport’s decision to establish a presence in GMC is anchored in the city’s clear regulatory framework and constructive supervisory engagement for financial services and virtual asset activities. The jurisdiction provides an environment that supports responsible participation, operational discipline, and long-term development within the digital finance sector.

Regulatory and Compliance Focus

Matrixport’s proposed operations in GMC will be underpinned by:

• Regulated payment-related activities conducted within an approved supervisory framework
• Robust compliance, AML, and risk-management controls aligned with international standards
• Strong governance and internal oversight, consistent with Matrixport’s global operating principles

All activities will be conducted strictly in accordance with applicable GMC and GFSO regulatory requirements.

In support of GFSO’s efforts to foster a vibrant and sustainable financial sector, Matrxport plans to participate as an early industry contributor to the proposed Center of Excellence (CoE) focused on strengthening compliance capabilities within the financial ecosystem of GMC. Through this initiative, Matrixport will contribute industry-led training support aimed at upskilling local Bhutanese talent with practical and current compliance skillsets. The CoE is intended to serve as a collaborative platform for training programmes, industry and academic partnerships, career guidance, and talent development initiatives to support companies operating in GMC, and to contribute to Bhutan’s longer-term ambition to build a recognized hub for compliance expertise.

About Matrixport

Founded in 2019, Matrixport is a global leading one-stop digital asset financial services platform that bridges traditional finance with the digital asset ecosystem through technology and regulatory compliance. The company has grown into a unicorn with a valuation exceeding US$1 billion and has established a licensed and regulated presence across major financial centres, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With seven offices worldwide, Matrixport manages more than US$7 billion in assets, facilitates monthly trading volumes exceeding US$7 billion, with cumulative interest payments surpassing US$2 billion. Its platform offers a comprehensive range of digital financial services including custody, wealth and yield management, structured products, and trading solutions for global clients.

Contact: pr@matrixport.com 

Providing Flexible and Diversified Investment Portfolios for Global Investors

HONG KONG, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Futu Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: FUTU), a globally leading securities trading and wealth management fintech platform, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) Limited (“Futu”), has received five prestigious awards from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). This achievement solidifies Futu’s leading position and expertise in the futures and options domain. Over the years, Futu is committed to providing diversified futures and options trading services for global investors with extensive customer coverage, earning recognition from worldwide major global exchanges and authoritative institutions for its outstanding performance in exchange product trading and derivatives investments.

Leveraging its exceptional user experience and the app’s feature advantages, Futu has received multiple awards from CME Group, including “Education Motivator”, “F&O Journey Driver”, “Influential Broker”, “Innovative Broker” and “Options Mover”, showcasing its comprehensive strengths in the derivatives service’s ecosystem.

Futu continues to enrich its futures and options product line, covering Hong Kong stock derivatives, US stock options, index ETF options, and various futures products under CME Group. Through its self-developed system and a suite of comprehensive options trading tools—including options analysis, options calculators, and advanced order types — Futu provides investors with a professional, user-friendly, efficient, and seamless options trading platform experience.

Jeff Shi, Regional Director of Futu Securities, said, “Futu is committed to providing investors with diverse, flexible, and highly adaptable investment solutions amid market volatility. The company has always been dedicated to delivering a world-class trading experience to Hong Kong investors, while empowering global investors to seize a broader range of market opportunities. We are honored to receive multiple accolades from CME Group. This recognition not only affirms Futu’s continuous dedication to product innovation and customer service but also encourages us to further expand our global business footprint. Looking ahead, we will strengthen collaborations with leading global exchanges, optimize multi-asset allocation tools, and expand the platform’s trading variety and flexibility. This will empower investors to capture global market opportunities and contribute to the development of Hong Kong’s capital markets.”