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Authorities Assess Possible Casualties After Overnight Fire in Luang Prabang

By
Namfon Chanthavong
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Fire in Luang Prabang destroyed seven homes on 3 January. (Photo: ໂທລະພາບແຂວງຫຼວງພະບາງ)

A fire tore through a public housing area in Wat That village, Luang Prabang, in the early hours of 3 January, destroying seven homes and forcing residents to flee.

The blaze broke out at around 1:30 am, according to the head of Wat That village, who said his son alerted him after flames erupted at a rented property owned by a resident known locally as Noi.

The fire started in a row of three connected houses before spreading rapidly to nearby homes.

Authorities confirmed that five houses were completely destroyed, while two others suffered partial damage. Firefighters, police, and local officials rushed to the scene to contain the blaze, evacuate residents, and secure the area.

Unofficial sources reported potential deaths, but authorities have not confirmed any fatalities as of publication.

Officials said they are still verifying information and assessing the full impact of the incident.

The cause of the fire and the total value of losses remain under investigation.

Later in the day, Provincial Party Secretary Bounluam Manivong, along with provincial leaders and representatives from Luang Prabang, visited the site to inspect the damage and offer support to affected families.

The Provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare, the Red Cross, and local social welfare offices delivered relief supplies and basic necessities as initial assistance.

Emergency services continue to monitor the area, while officials work to support displaced residents and determine next steps.

US Strikes Reported in Venezuela as Caracas Declares National Emergency

By
Laotian Times
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Picture of fire at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on January 3, 2026. Loud explosions, accompanied by sounds resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard in Caracas around 2:00 am (0600 GMT) on January 3, an AFP journalist reported. The explosions come as US President Donald Trump, who has deployed a navy task force to the Caribbean, raised the possibility of ground strikes against Venezuela. (Photo by Luis JAIMES / AFP)

UPDATED on 3 January at 4:43 PM

United States President Donald Trump claimed on 3 January that American forces had “captured” Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during what he described as a “large-scale strike” in Venezuela.

Trump made the statement amid reports of explosions across Caracas earlier the same day, which Venezuelan authorities said were caused by foreign military attacks on sites in and around the capital.

Attacks

Explosions were reported in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, early on 3 January, prompting sharply differing accounts from Venezuelan authorities and the United States amid heightened bilateral tensions.

Local sources and international media reported multiple explosions near military installations in and around Caracas. Videos circulating online showed flames and thick smoke rising from several locations, while authorities reported power outages in nearby communities.

Independent verification of the cause of the explosions remains unavailable.

Venezuela Declares Emergency, Blames US

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the incident, describing it as “external aggression” and declaring a nationwide state of emergency. In an official statement, the government accused the United States of launching military strikes aimed at undermining Venezuela’s sovereignty and seizing its oil and mineral resources.

Caracas rejected any suggestion that the blasts were accidental and ordered security forces to activate national defence plans. Authorities also called on political and social organisations to mobilise in response.

The incident follows months of rising tensions between Washington and Caracas. US officials have repeatedly accused Venezuela’s leadership of involvement in drug trafficking and regional instability, claims Venezuelan authorities deny, saying the United States seeks regime change and control over strategic resources.

US Issues Security Warning, Stops Short of Confirmation

US officials have not publicly confirmed carrying out military strikes. American media outlets cited unnamed US officials saying the administration was aware of reports of explosions and aircraft activity over Caracas.

Meanwhile, the US government issued a security alert warning American citizens not to travel to Venezuela and advising those already in the country to shelter in place.

The US Embassy in Bogotá said it was aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas and reiterated warnings against travel to Venezuela.

Authorities in Caracas continued to assess the situation at the time of publication. The Laotian Times will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Bybit 2025 Recap: Unlocking 80 Million Users, Regulatory Achievements, Ecosystem Play

By
Advertorial Desk
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DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, looks back at 2025 with highlights of mixed challenges and achievements. The exchange recounts its expansion from 50 million to 80 million registered users, global regulatory and compliance advancements, and trading highs across metrics amid market challenges. Despite the hacking incident in February, Bybit stood firm as the second largest centralized exchange, with 2025 marking the year it strengthened its ecosystem and solidified its position for future growth.

Global Regulatory Alignment

In July, Bybit’s Vienna-based operation secured full MiCA compliance across applicable EEA countries via local authorizations in Austria. In MENA’s blockchain and crypto hub, Bybit received the UAE’s first SCA Virtual Asset Platform Operator License in October, enabling full trading, custody, and fiat services nationwide. Bybit has also recently relaunched its services in the UK after a 2-year hiatus, now offering spot and P2P crypto trading for UK users by partnering with FCA-regulated Archax to comply with strict financial promotion rules, providing access to around 100 trading pairs.

Security: From Setback to Strength

In February 2025, Bybit faced a major cyberattack with approximately $1.4 billion in ETH stolen in an incident linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. The attack proved to be the ultimate stress test for the exchange as it rose from defense to recovery and growth.

The platform ensured zero loss in client funds via its 1:1 reserve guarantee, restored reserves within 72 hours through partners’ support, and processed over 350,000 withdrawal requests in the initial 12 hours. The immediate actions taken not only helped Bybit avert the crisis, but also prevented the potential contagion effects across the crypto ecosystem.

In the aftermath, Bybit recovered BTC liquidity to $13 million daily in 30 days, surpassing industry benchmarks per Kaiko. In a report by Glassnode, analysts noted that ETH’s trading volume on Bybit reached a new daily all-time high of $8.5 billion despite the hack during the summer rally, reflecting the unwavering community trust and Bybit’s operational resilience and financial depth.

The breach also prompted Bybit’s security taskforce to evolve and build towards a new infrastructure that contributes to industry-wide safety. A slew of over 50 security upgrades were conducted after 9 security audits within a month, establishing new trust benchmarks. With the establishment of the Lazarus Bounty program, Bybit offers an open invitation for experts to join the hunt and potentially help other victims of crypto-related cybercrime.

Bybit Spot: Early Access Strategy, Year-Round Breakout Listings

In 2025, Bybit Spot consolidated its listing strategies to effectively identify and list quality assets ahead of the hype and market saturation. The platform excelled at early discovery and advanced access for its users, connecting Bybit traders to emerging opportunities uniquely found on Bybit. In January, TRUMP recorded up to 548% gains on Bybit. Community-led DeFi project TUNA surged 2,637% on its first day of listing on Bybit, and MET hit 255% on day one. These results demonstrate Bybit Spot’s forward-looking listing strategy in unlocking early market trends.

In real-world assets (RWA) tokenization, Bybit Spot also remained at the industry forefront. The platform pioneered incorporating RWA assets like XAUT, with the asset reaching 127% in gains, and launched xStocks for on-chain U.S. equity trading, leading the tokenized equities trend. Additionally, Bybit Spot unleashed up to $40 million in total rewards through projects like NXPC and NIGHT, mobilizing market momentum into tangible returns for users.

Through strategies focusing on ahead-of-the-curve market entry, early access, and user-centric mechanisms, Bybit Spot concluded an exciting year of traders.

Trading Volume, Hybrid Trading, and Ecosystem Strategy

Throughout 2025, Bybit has sustained its No. 2 spot among exchanges by monthly trading volume. The momentum carried on during the relatively quiet winter trading season and the broader market downturn, recording a 24-hour spot trading volume of $9.1 billion on December 22, 2025. 

Beyond the numbers, Bybit also intensified its all-inclusive strategies and ecosystem play. Now supporting all things on- and off-chain within one interface:

  • The revamped Bybit Alpha enables Bybit users to navigate on-chain opportunities, discover the hottest tokens, and explore liquidity farming without leaving the Bybit app.
  • Byreal, a Bybit-incubated Solana DEX launched in early October 2025, surpassed $1 billion in cumulative trading volume within 10 weeks, with $10.88 million TVL and top-10 Solana DEX rankings for 30-day fees, revenue, and supporting 40+ assets including tokenized RWAs.
  • Launched in May 2025, Bybit TradFi debuted as the first major CEX platform to integrate gold, forex, global indices, commodities, and over 100 stock CFDs with up to 500x leverage for eligible users. In September, Bybit TradFi introduced 24/5 trading for 20+ stock CFDs including tech giants like NVDA, TSLA, and AAPL to align TradFi hours with crypto’s 24/7 model.
  • Bybit also integrated xStocks in June 2025 with dozens of tokenized U.S. equities and ETFs via Backed Finance, offering 24/7 settlement on Solana for global access.
  • Riding on regulatory wins in 2025, Bybit Institutional saw substantial institutional growth with asset inflows surging from $1.3 billion in Q3 to $2.88 billion in Q4, while its wealth management operation’s assets under management (AUM) expanded fivefold from $40 million to $200 million.
  • Bybit Earn continues to offer innovative and diverse products including Mantle Vault, a stablecoin on-chain yield asset management product optimized for APR performance, which hit $52 million in AUM within 7 days of launching.
  • Mantle’s strategic partnership with Bybit in 2025 introduced MNT as a multi-functional asset supporting fee discounts, institutional leverage trading, RWA tokenization, and high-yield staking opportunities on Bybit, while Bybit, Mantle, and other ecosystem partners collaborated to deliver institutional-grade DeFi liquidity solutions.
  • Over 2 million Bybit Card users and expanding footprint of Bybit Pay attest to the ecosystem strength of Bybit, empowering users to make the most of their digital assets in everyday life, from buying a morning coffee to creating memories at Tomorrowland Brasil.

Whether traders are building a diversified portfolio in TradFi, gold, commodities, and crypto, seeking frictionless on-chain yield via Bybit Alpha and Bybit Earn, or going for the fully on-chain experience in Byreal, the Bybit ecosystem has it all.

WSOT: A Record-Breaking Year

Bybit’s flagship trading competition, the World Series of Trading (WSOT) 2025, featured a $10 million USDT prize pool, drawing record participation that earned Bybit a Guinness World Record title for the most participants in an online trading competition within 24 hours, with 71,765 unique active participants on August 27. WSOT 2025 generated $172.8 billion in total trading volume across 1,474 squads (up 288% YoY) and 520,451 traders from 202 countries and regions.

In this year’s WSOT, 300,000 USDT was pledged to blockchain education via the Bybit Rising Fund, empowering local communities with scholarships, hackathons and training.

Through inventive resilience and a collective growth mindset, Bybit turned 2025 around to be a year of quiet strength, celebrating over 80 million users by the end of 2025.

#Bybit / #CryptoArk / #IMakeIt  

About Bybit

Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 80 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

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HOTLIST 2025 “From Seed to Harvest”: A Story of Resilience and Transformation

By
Advertorial Desk
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HANOI, Vietnam, Jan. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Travellive Media Group is pleased to announce the HOTLIST Travellive Editor’s Pick 2025 (HOTLIST 2025), a curated project honouring outstanding brands, destinations, and individuals that have made significant contributions to the development of Vietnam’s tourism industry over the past year.

HOTLIST Travellive Editor’s Pick 2025: From Seed to Harvest
HOTLIST Travellive Editor’s Pick 2025: From Seed to Harvest

HOTLIST is a expert-curated list reflecting the evolving values of the market at each stage of development. The selection process combines the expertise of a prestigious advisory council comprising both domestic and international experts, based on key criteria including quality, innovation, social impact, and sustainable growth potential.

Last year, HOTLIST 2024 made a strong impression on the tourism, hospitality, and service community by recognising more than 40 brands and 12 inspiring individuals across 28 categories spanning hospitality and resorts, destinations, technology, and experiential initiatives. The year also marked the first time HOTLIST expanded into a professional event series, featuring The Insiders Forum and the Honor Ceremony, attracting over 700 guests including senior business leaders and experts from various fields.

HOTLIST 2025: From Seed to Harvest

Entering 2025, HOTLIST is developed under the theme “From Seed to Harvest” inspired by rice, a symbol deeply rooted in Vietnam’s wet-rice civilisation and cultural identity. From planting ideas and nurturing resources to harvesting sustainable achievements, this metaphor reflects the authentic development journey of projects, brands, and destinations within the tourism and hospitality industry.

At a time when the tourism sector faces multiple challenges such as climate change, shifting traveller behaviour, and global competition, the spirit of “From Seed to Harvest” underscores the importance of long-term vision, perseverance, and adaptability.

This year, HOTLIST 2025 introduces a public voting component in the final evaluation stage, enabling the community and industry professionals to participate directly in the selection process. Beyond fostering engagement, this initiative also provides an opportunity for audiences to share their firsthand experiences with the shortlisted brands and projects.

HOTLIST 2025 Honourees

HOTLIST 2025 expands its scope across key tourism sectors, featuring 07 main categories: Hospitality; Aviation; Travel Design & Experiences; Destination; Technology & Innovations; Sustainability and Community Projects & Voices. Each category aims to identify exemplary individuals and brands that play a guiding role in shaping the future of Vietnam’s tourism and hospitality industry.

This year’s list continues to acknowledge well-established brands such as Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An; Topas Ecolodge; Six Senses Ninh Van Bay; P’apiu Resort; Wink Hotels, among others. It also introduces international brands that have made a positive impact on the Vietnamese market, including voco Quang Binh Resort by IHG, Park Hyatt Phu Quoc, and Hyatt Place Halong Bay, Bai Chay. In the Aviation category, STARLUX AIRLINES was selected for its premium flight experience.

The expansion and diversification of award categories reflect HOTLIST’s commitment to comprehensively capturing industry dynamics, while encouraging responsible development models that respect local identity and generate positive social impact.

As part of its mission to deliver practical value to the tourism industry, HOTLIST 2025 will host The Insiders Forum in Hanoi (7 January 2026, Sheraton Hanoi West) and Ho Chi Minh City (19 January 2026, JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon). The forums will gather business leaders, experts, and researchers to share insights and discuss key topics shaping tourism landscape.

On 19 January 2026, The Honor Ceremony will take place in Ho Chi Minh City to officially recognise and present certificates to the brands, projects, and individuals featured in HOTLIST 2025. The event will also serve as a B2B networking platform for industry stakeholders.

Through each edition, HOTLIST Travellive Editor’s Pick has gradually become a highly anticipated annual reference point for the tourism community, built on credibility, sustainability-driven orientation, and a series of professional programmes. Through recognition activities, dialogue forums, and community connections, Travellive not only highlights market excellence but also actively contributes to promoting sustainable thinking and elevating standards within tourism industry.

This year, HOTLIST 2025 is supported by The Brand Promise (Co-organiser of The Insiders Forum), PR Newswire (Media Partner), and sponsoring brands including BMWines, Lady Triệu (drink experiences), and Cocoon, Jourdeness (gifts). HOTLIST 2025 continues to amplify meaningful stories, connect outstanding individuals and organisations, and share positive values with the wider public.

CCTV+: Xi Outlines Main Directions for Developing New Quality Productive Forces

By
Advertorial Desk
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BEIJING, Jan. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chinese President Xi Jinping has conducted in-depth fieldwork and inspections at the production frontline over the past year, outlining the breakthroughs and main directions for developing new quality productive forces.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has attached great importance to the development of AI and made a series of important instructions during the year.

In April 2025, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held a group study session, which focused on strengthening the development and regulation of AI.

During the session, Xi stressed the need to comprehensively advance technological innovation, industrial development, and application empowerment in AI, improve regulatory systems and mechanisms, and firmly maintain the initiative in AI development and governance.

Only four days after the group study session, Xi embarked on a trip to learn firsthand about the development of AI.

During his inspection tour in Shanghai in late April last year, he visited the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center.

“This undertaking of AI is part of our endeavors to advance Chinese modernization, build China into a strong country, and realize the great cause of national rejuvenation, and the hope lies in all of you,” said Xi.

During an inspection tour to Bensteel Group in northeast China’s Liaoning Province in January last year, Xi stressed that the steel industry is an important fundamental industry of the country, crucial for the nation’s real economy.

When inspecting Luoyang Bearing Group in Luoyang City, central China’s Henan Province in May, Xi said that modern manufacturing relies on sci-tech empowerment.

“China has always adhered to the path of developing the real economy. From the past reliance on imported matches, soap and iron, to now becoming the world’s largest manufacturing country with the most complete industrial categories, we have taken the right path. To truly realize Chinese modernization, we must continue to strengthen the manufacturing sector and master manufacturing technologies independently,” Xi said.

In a conversation with workers at the Yangquan Valve Co., Ltd during his inspection tour in north China’s Shanxi Province in July last year, Xi said that the real economy should not be abandoned, nor should the traditional industries, whiling stressing industrial transformation and upgrading through technological innovation.

 

Champasak Eliminates Volunteer Teacher Program After Full Civil Service Recruitment

By
Namfon Chanthavong
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Laos Expands Military Teacher Training Program to Tackle Teacher Shortage
A female Lao teacher teaching the Lao language to students (photo credit: EU Commission)

Champasak Province has officially ended the use of volunteer teachers after recruiting all remaining volunteers into the civil service, provincial authorities announced at the end of December 2025.

Provincial education officials reported that the province now has zero volunteer teachers, marking the completion of a long-running transition toward a fully formalised teaching workforce.

Champasak first began assigning volunteer teachers during the 2013–2014 and 2015–2016 academic years, with a total of 1,118 volunteers placed in schools across the province. By 2023, authorities had recruited 671 of them as civil servants, leaving 307 volunteers. In 2025, 38 volunteers stopped working, reducing the number to 269.

Under the 2025 implementation plan, the province recruited all remaining volunteers into formal positions. This included 180 national defence civil servants and 89 teaching civil servants, as well as the recruitment of eight additional contract teachers. With this step, Champasak declared the official abolition of volunteer teachers in the province.

National Efforts to Address Teacher Shortages

Champasak’s move comes amid wider national efforts to address chronic teacher shortages, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

In June last year, the Ministry of National Defense announced a plan to recruit 2,000 soldiers to serve as substitute volunteer teachers nationwide, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Sports. The initiative aimed to support schools in mountainous and rural villages where infrastructure remains limited and teacher vacancies persist.

Selected military personnel would receive specialised training before deployment to classrooms.

Authorities launched the program as an immediate response to long-standing staffing gaps caused by low teacher salaries, limited career prospects, and rising living costs, which have discouraged many volunteers from remaining in the education sector.

Yet, the shortage remains severe in some areas. In Savannakhet Province’s Xepon district, for example, only nine out of 109 schools had sufficient teaching staff as of mid 2025, while more than 500 teaching positions remained vacant across the province.

Officials said the use of substitute teachers, alongside civil service recruitment, forms part of a broader government strategy to reduce student dropouts, maintain school operations, and stabilise the education system while longer-term reforms continue.

CGTN: Extraordinary Navigation: How China strides forward with confidence

By
Advertorial Desk
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BEIJING, Jan. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Innovation-driven development is reshaping a dynamic and vibrant China. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, the country, for the first time, entered into the top 10 list in the global innovation ranking for 2025, the year that also marks the completion of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for economic and social development.

The modernization accomplished under the plan has brought next steps into sharp focus as the new year ushers in a new development blueprint. Last October, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee adopted recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan at a key Party plenum, charting the country’s development path from 2026 through 2030.

As the country and the world stand at a crossroads, China, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping’s governance philosophy, has not only charted a clear course for its own development but also offered valuable insights for a world in search of stability and direction.

Ready for 15th Five-Year Plan

Xi sees the 15th Five-Year Plan period as a critical stage for reinforcing the country’s social and economic foundations, and for pushing ahead on all fronts toward the nation’s 2035 modernization goal.

A defining feature of this process has been inclusive and consultative governance. In January of last year, the CPC leadership decided to set up a drafting group for the country’s strategic blueprint to be submitted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, with Xi personally heading up the high-level strategy team. The drafting group convened its first plenary meeting in February, 2025, marking the official start of the drafting process.

From meetings of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and symposiums with private entrepreneurs to regional development consultations and dialogues with non-CPC figures, China has adopted an open-door approach to policymaking – inviting broad input and pooling collective wisdom.

Meanwhile, public opinions were solicited on the new plan during a month-long online consultation campaign. A summary of these findings was reviewed by Xi and presented to the Party leadership, ensuring that the voices of citizens were heard at the highest level.

In the months leading up to the October plenum, Xi conducted field visits to enterprises and communities during domestic inspection tours, focusing on priorities for China’s development in the coming five years, and has also convened a series of leadership meetings to review the draft, reflecting a governance philosophy that values strategic vision while remaining grounded in practical realities.

During the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, the landmark document, formally titled the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, was adopted, following more than eight months in the making.

The recommendations serve as a timetable and roadmap for continuing the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability.

Noting that 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan, Xi in his New Year message urged greater efforts to boost confidence, take solid steps to promote high-quality development, further deepen reform and opening up across the board, deliver prosperity for all, and write a new chapter in the story of China’s miracle.

New chapter in the story of China’s miracle

The year 2025 was one riven with uncertainty. Amid this backdrop, China has put dialogue first and pursued win-win international cooperation, serving as a stabilizing anchor for the world and reflecting the nation’s firm and steady strides on the global stage.

The year witnessed a landmark “China moment” in global governance, defined by the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by Xi. Advocating a more just and equitable global governance system, the GGI garnered swift support from over 140 countries and international organizations, securing its place as one of the defining moments in China’s 2025 diplomatic drive.

China’s diplomacy paid dividends when leaders and representatives from across five continents gathered in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in a show of recognition for China’s contributions to the victory of WWII and the country’s unwavering commitment to upholding the post-war international order.

Beyond these milestones, China played a more proactive role in global governance, announcing its 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions for climate action, foregoing any new special and differential treatment in current and future World Trade Organization negotiations, and establishing the International Organization for Mediation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

China is ready to work with all countries to advance world peace and development, said Xi.

For more information, please click:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-01-02/Extraordinary-Navigation-How-China-strides-forward-with-confidence-1JBRwC4YLPa/p.html

CNOOC Limited Announces Buzios6 Project Commences Production

By
Advertorial Desk
-

HONG KONG, Jan. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CNOOC Limited (the “Company”, SEHK: 00883 (HKD Counter) and 80883 (RMB Counter), SSE: 600938) announces that Buzios6 Project has commenced production safely.

Buzios oilfield is located in the Santos Basin, southeast offshore of Brazil. It is the largest deep-water pre-salt oilfield in the world. Buzios6 is the seventh project commissioned of the oilfield. It will be developed with an FPSO and subsea production system. 13 development wells are planned to be commissioned, including 6 oil producers and 7 injectors. With Buzios6 on-stream, the installed production capacity of the Buzios oilfield will reach 1.15 million barrels per day.

The FPSO used in the Buzios6 project has a designed production capacity of 180,000 barrels of crude oil per day and 7.2 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, along with a storage capacity of 2 million barrels. To enhance environmental performance, it is equipped with closed flare to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and heat recovery devices to reduce energy consumption.

CNOOC Petroleum Brasil Ltda., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, holds a 7.34% interest in the Buzios Shared Reservoir, while the operator Petrobras holds 88.99%, and CNODC Brasil Petróleo e Gás Ltda. holds 3.67%.

— End —

Notes to Editors:

More information about the Company is available at https://www.cnoocltd.com.

*** *** *** ***

This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words “expect”, “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “objective”, “ongoing”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, “plans”, “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company’s expectations, including but not limited to those associated with macro-political and economic factors, fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, climate change and environmental policies, the Company’s price forecast, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws and regulations.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations.

*** *** *** ***

For further enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Cui Liu
Media & Public Relations
CNOOC Limited
Tel: +86-10-8452-6641
Fax: +86-10-8452-1441
E-mail: mr@cnooc.com.cn

Mr. Cheng Yao
Ever Bloom (HK) Communications Consultants Group Limited
Tel：+852 5540 0725
Fax：+852 2111 1103
Email: cnooc.hk.list@everbloom.com.cn

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