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Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng Ranked in Asia’s Top 8 by Times of India

Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng, Laos

Luang Prabang and Vangvieng are among Asia’s top eight destinations for solo backpackers in 2025, according to The Times of India, one of the country’s leading English-language publications.

Rising Star of Asian Music Festivals: Chinese Brand “Bubbling & Boiling” Debuts in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board and jointly presented with Resorts World Sentosa, the inaugural Bubbling & Boiling Music and Arts Festival • Singapore concluded with resounding success over the last weekend. The two-day festival brought together artists from China, Singapore, Korea, the United States and beyond, drawing young audiences from across Asia and the world to Sentosa. More than just a music event, the festival showcased how China’s new generation of cultural IPs can integrate global resources, creating fresh pathways for the convergence of live entertainment and tourism.

The stage
The stage

“Bubbling & Boiling is not just a festival — it reflects the rising wave of cultural consumption and experiential entertainment driven by China’s younger generation. This collaboration marks a new phase, where Singapore is not only a host for large-scale events, but also a partner in co-creating cultural celebrations for Asia,” said Mr. Andrew Phua, Chief Representative & Executive Director, Greater China, Singapore Tourism Board.

Vanessa Chen, Partner at Sparkle Live Entertainment, added “Regions across the globe are actively working to boost consumer markets, which presents valuable opportunities for large-scale live events. For music festivals with more complex culture content, organizing an event involves coordinating multiple partners, the support from official bodies is especially crucial. The successful organization of large-scale music festivals serves as a vital window showcasing an improved business environment. Bubbling & Boiling has been fortunate in this regard. From our birthplace in Dongjiang, Tianjin Binhai New District, to Xiamen Haicang District, and now to Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, we have consistently benefited from strongly and comprehensive local support. Thanks to this robust backing, our business has flourished in just two years, and supporting our journey onto the global stage.”

This edition marked Bubbling & Boiling’s first international appearance, in partnership with Resorts World Sentosa — one of Singapore’s most iconic leisure destinations. The collaboration demonstrated how a youth-driven, original Chinese festival brand can integrate with a world-class resort to attract new generations of visitors from China, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Guests not only enjoyed high-quality international performances but also immersed themselves in hotels, dining, shopping, and entertainment, creating a cross-scene model of “live entertainment + tourism.”

“Festivals like Bubbling & Boiling bring a unique sense of festivity to the entire resort. We regard long-term investments in attractions and infrastructure as the framework, while cultural events are the lively strokes that add flexibility and freshness. On this stable foundation, such activations can introduce special highlights, meet repeat-visit demand, respond to new consumer trends, and spark more cross-sector connections. We believe that the convergence of live performance, cultural IP and tourism is not just a trend, but a driving force for the future of integrated resort experiences. Looking ahead, we hope to bring in more youth-oriented international IPs to inject fresh energy into the resort.” said Mr. Lim Shien Yau, Acting Assistant Vice President, Communications, Resorts World Sentosa.

Youth engagement was at the heart of this year’s festival. Gen Z accounted for more than 85% of attendees, while international attendees accounted for over 90%. On social media, festival-related topics amassed over 200 million views, making it one of the region’s most talked-about cultural happenings and reaffirming the growing influence of youth culture in global exchange.

Audience feedback reflected the festival’s cultural depth. One student from the National University of Singapore shared that the special Xiamen booth left a strong impression, describing the Hanfu and opera costume experiences as both fresh and immersive, while traditional Minnan-style games felt familiar yet unique, adding a cultural layer to the festival atmosphere.

In addition, the festival partnered with Xiamen Media Group to launch the BUBBLING&BOILING Salon, an industry dialogue bringing together cultural and tourism leaders from both Singapore and China. Discussions explored new models for international collaboration in cultural tourism, fostering exchange and innovation between professionals from both countries.

Zhang Chongshuo, Founder of Sparkle Live Entertainment, the festival’s organizer, emphasized that Singapore, as a hub connecting East and West, provides the ideal gateway for cultural exchange. As a representative of China’s new generation of music festivals, Bubbling & Boiling aspires to serve as a bridge between global youth culture and international markets — looking inward to pursue higher-quality content creation, while reaching outward for cross-border and cross-industry opportunities. The festival seeks to offer a stage for the most innovative and trend-setting creators in music and the arts to showcase their work and unleash their creativity.

DXC Launches Global AI Center of Competence to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption

ASHBURN, Va., Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC), a leading Fortune 500 global technology services provider, today announced the launch of a new AI Center of Competence in Warsaw, Poland, which joins a growing network of DXC AI centers globally.

DXC Launches Global AI Center of Competence to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption
DXC Launches Global AI Center of Competence to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption

The center’s 500 data & AI experts with expertise in multiple industries are helping companies around the world harness the power of AI to drive innovation, streamline operations, increase efficiency, and reduce costs.

Customers are already benefiting, including Ferrovial, a leading global infrastructure company listed on the Nasdaq exchange, employing more than 25,000 people worldwide. Ferrovial is collaborating with DXC’s full stack engineers at the AI Center of Competence in Warsaw to continue developing AI Workbench, a next-generation generative AI platform that combines consulting, engineering, and secure enterprise services to help organizations scale responsible AI across their businesses.

Ferrovial is now using AI Workbench to enhance real-time operational management and elevate safety standards in its own organization. The solution leverages more than 30 intelligent agents capable of making real-time decisions, enabling Ferrovial to respond swiftly to evolving conditions and regulations. 

“We are excited to tap into DXC’s global engineering expertise through the AI Center of Competence Center in Warsaw,” said Javier Lázaro, Digital Hub Director, Ferrovial. “We are working closely with DXC’s engineers on the development of AI Workbench which we are already using across our organization to optimize decision-making and improve safety.”

DXC’s AI Center of Competence is built around three strategic pillars: resilient cloud infrastructure, intuitive AI interfaces, and a centralized hub for Research & Development. This approach enables organizations to fully harness the power of AI, simplify cloud operations, and maintain the highest data security standards globally.

“The AI Center of Competence is not just about building technology – it’s about creating a global ecosystem for continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation,” said Pete McEvoy, DXC’s Managing Director for Data & AI. “Our experts in Poland will work with colleagues and customers around the world to deliver solutions that drive meaningful transformation across industries and geographies. By bringing together the right people, refining processes, and leveraging cutting-edge technology, we ensure that our AI innovations are not only powerful but practical, sustainable, and truly impactful.”

The new center is part of DXC’s expanding global AI network, which includes similar hubs in Bulgaria, India, the Philippines and Spain. 

As a leader in enterprise-scale AI and data modernization, DXC helps organizations across industries harness the power of artificial intelligence to drive efficiency, innovation and growth. With decades of experience in data and engineering and a global network of AI centers of competence, DXC delivers secure, scalable solutions ranging from GenAI platforms like DXC AI Workbench to industry-specific AI agents, empowering customers to rapidly integrate responsible AI into their operations. 

To learn more, visit our website. 

About DXC Technology
DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) is a leading global provider of information technology services. We’re a trusted operating partner to many of the world’s most innovative organizations, building solutions that move industries and companies forward. Our engineering, consulting and technology experts help clients simplify, optimize and modernize their systems and processes, manage their most critical workloads, integrate AI-powered intelligence into their operations, and put security and trust at the forefront. Learn more on dxc.com.

 

Three WuXi Biologics Manufacturing Facilities Receive GMP Certification from Türkiye İlaç ve Tıbbi Cihaz Kurumu (TITCK)

WUXI, China, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — WuXi Biologics (2269.HK), a leading global Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), announced that three of its manufacturing facilities in Wuxi – MFG1, MFG2, and DP5 – have received GMP certification from Türkiye İlaç ve Tıbbi Cihaz Kurumu (TITCK). This marks the first GMP inspection conducted by Turkey’s TITCK at WuXi Biologics. Achieving the certification underscores the company’s commitment to upholding stringent international quality standards across its global network.

During the five-day onsite inspection of two monoclonal antibody biologics produced by WuXi Biologics for its clients, the three manufacturing facilities successfully passed TITCK’s comprehensive assessment, validating the company’s capabilities in providing high-quality services for global clients. All of these facilities have previously received approval from other major regulatory authorities for the development of multiple biologic therapeutics.

WuXi Biologics has consistently demonstrated a proven track record of adherence to the industry’s most rigorous quality standards. As of the end of June 2025, it has successfully passed 44 regulatory inspections, including 22 conducted by the FDA and the EMA. The company also holds an industry-leading achievement with a 100% pass rate for Pre-License Inspection (PLI) by the FDA. Additionally, WuXi Biologics has passed more than 1,700 GMP quality audits by global clients, including more than 200 audits by EU Qualified Persons. Currently, the company operates 16 GMP-certified drug substance and drug product facilities within its global network. Its world-class quality and compliance capabilities remain the cornerstone of clients’ trust.

Dr. Chris Chen, CEO of WuXi Biologics, commented, “We are delighted to receive GMP certification from Turkey’s TITCK—our first recognition in the Turkish market, and a clear sign of WuXi Biologics’ capability to tap into emerging markets. With a deep understanding that quality is crucial to ensuring safety and efficacy in the global pharmaceutical industry, we are steadfast in upholding the highest standards across our entire network. Looking forward, WuXi Biologics will continue building on our first-class quality system and exceptional service capabilities, remaining dedicated to enabling our clients in bringing high-quality biologics to patients worldwide.”

About WuXi Biologics

WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK) is a leading global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) offering end-to-end solutions that enable partners to discover, develop and manufacture biologics – from concept to commercialization – for the benefit of patients worldwide.

With over 12,000 skilled employees in China, the United States, Ireland, Germany and Singapore, WuXi Biologics leverages its technologies and expertise to provide customers with efficient and cost-effective biologics discovery, development and manufacturing solutions. As of June 30, 2025, WuXi Biologics is supporting 864 integrated client projects, including 24 in commercial manufacturing.

WuXi Biologics regards sustainability as the cornerstone of long-term business growth. The company continuously drives green technology innovations to offer advanced end-to-end Green CRDMO solutions for its global partners while consistently achieving excellence in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). Committed to creating shared value, it collaborates with all stakeholders to foster positive social and environmental impacts, and promote responsible practices that empower the entire value chain. 

For more information about WuXi Biologics, please visit: www.wuxibiologics.com

Contacts

Business
info@wuxibiologics.com

Media
PR@wuxibiologics.com

 

Aduna Welcomes Spark as First New Zealand Partner

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aduna, the global aggregator of standardized network APIs, today announced a partnership with Spark, New Zealand’s leading digital services provider, to accelerate the adoption of advanced network APIs across the country. With Spark joining Aduna’s growing global ecosystem, New Zealand becomes part of a worldwide federation of operators bringing network intelligence to developers and enterprises through a unified platform.

The partnership will initially focus on SIM Swap detection and Number Verification APIs, providing enterprises with real-time tools to verify customer identities and safeguard digital transactions. These APIs are particularly critical for industries such as banking, financial services, e-commerce, and digital platforms, where fraud prevention and seamless onboarding are essential to trust and growth.

For developers, collaboration unlocks the ability to build new services that integrate network intelligence directly into applications to reduce friction in customer authentication, improving security for online transactions, and creating richer, more responsive user experiences. By accessing these APIs through Aduna, developers in New Zealand gain the same consistent standards already used across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, enabling them to scale solutions across markets.

“Partnering with Spark extends Aduna’s global footprint to New Zealand, opening new opportunities for enterprises and developers,” says Anthony Bartolo, CEO, Aduna. “By delivering standardized APIs, we enable businesses to strengthen digital trust and give developers the tools to build secure, user-friendly services that drive real value.”

“At Spark, we see this partnership with Aduna as an important step in unlocking new ways to monetize our network investments,” said Renee Mateparae, Network and Operations Director at Spark. “It allows us to capture the full value of our network capabilities while giving our business customers access to sophisticated connectivity solutions that solve challenges. Fraud prevention will be one of the first areas we tackle, with SIM Swap detection and Number Verification APIs providing the tools businesses need to safeguard their customers.”

About Spark

Spark is New Zealand’s largest telecommunications and digital services company, committed to helping all of New Zealand win big in a digital world. Through its mobile, broadband, cloud, and digital solutions, Spark connects people, businesses, and communities to the technology and services they need to thrive. With a focus on innovation, security, and customer experience, Spark is enabling New Zealand’s digital future and supporting growth across industries.

About Aduna

Aduna is a landmark venture between some of the world’s leading telecom operators and Ericsson, dedicated to enabling developers worldwide to accelerate innovation by leveraging networks to their full potential via common network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Its venture partners include AT&T, Bharti Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, e&, KDDI, Orange, Reliance Jio, Singtel, Telefonica, Telstra, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone. By combining network APIs from multiple operators globally under a unified platform based on the CAMARA open-source project, driven by the GSMA and the Linux Foundation, Aduna provides a standardized platform to foster collaboration, enhance user experiences, and drive industry growth.

To find out more about network APIs and Aduna, visit www.adunaglobal.com.

“Powering Asia’s Financial Transformation with Bitcoin and RWA” — Blockstream, Safeheron, and EchoX Host an Exclusive Financial Leadership Summit in Tokyo

TOKYO, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — During Asia’s premier Web3 technology conference, WebX 2025 (Aug 25–26) in Tokyo, an Exclusive Financial Leadership Summit that may reshape Asia’s digital financial landscape was held at the 33rd floor of the Prince Hotel. The forum, titled “Powering Asia’s Financial Transformation with Bitcoin and RWA,” was co-hosted by global blockchain leader Blockstream, digital asset security solutions expert Safeheron, and Asia-based on-chain wealth management infrastructure builder EchoX. The event gathered nearly 100 senior decision-makers from the banking, asset management, securities, and regtech sectors across Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong to discuss the next paradigm shift in Asia’s on-chain asset management.

EchoX CEO Neil Lee, Blockstream Founder and CEO Adam Back, and Safeheron Partner and CTO Meng Wang at the forum
EchoX CEO Neil Lee, Blockstream Founder and CEO Adam Back, and Safeheron Partner and CTO Meng Wang at the forum

Unique Collaboration to Build Multi-Layered Infrastructure

At the summit, the three companies officially announced a collaboration to jointly develop a multi-layered blockchain-based financial infrastructure on Bitcoin Layer 2, Liquid Network:

  • Blockstream provides the Liquid Network as the foundational platform for stablecoin issuance and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.
  • Safeheron offers MPC-based self-custody and asset governance solutions.
  • EchoX leads product design and regional integration, enabling compliant on-chain financial services tailored for Asia.

This partnership aims to create a compliant, secure, and deployable on-chain asset framework, accelerating the migration of traditional financial capital into blockchain ecosystems.

Policy and Industry Endorsement

Ju-Chun Ko, a Taiwanese legislator known for his technology leadership, delivered the opening remarks in person. He emphasized: “On-chain finance is not an extension of risk, but an opportunity for institutional innovation.” He also called for Asia to establish “innovation that can be regulated, infrastructure that can be verified, and systems that can be interoperable.”

Keynotes and Cross-Sector Dialogues

  • Neil Lee, CEO of EchoX, shared insights on how on-chain wealth management bridges TradFi and DeFi, offering regulatory-aligned solutions tailored to Asia’s market needs.
  • Adam Back, CEO of Blockstream, delivered a keynote on “The Bitcoin Operating System”, outlining the strategic role of the Liquid Network as institutional-grade infrastructure.

Following the keynotes, two executive-level panel discussions addressed the institutionalization of Bitcoin Layer 2 and RWA, as well as the challenges of trust and compliance in digital finance transformation.

Forum Conclusion: Asia Is Redefining the Coordinates of On-Chain Finance

The consensus was clear: Asia is no longer merely a participant but is becoming a primary architect of global on-chain finance. The forum highlighted four core themes expected to shape financial reform over the next decade:

  1. Bitcoin Layer 2: Liquid as a Service (LaaS)
    Regional sidechains can share the security and TVL advantages of the Liquid Network while co-developing regulatory and best-practice standards.
  2. RWA (Real-World Asset Tokenization)
    Serving as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain, RWA enhances capital efficiency and cross-border accessibility.
  3. Self-Custody & RegTech Evolution
    Empowering financial institutions to securely manage and utilize digital assets within a compliant framework, advancing institutional adoption.
  4. Asia’s Financial Transformation and Regulatory Innovation
     Leveraging innovation and policy adaptation to shape the direction of financial reform for the coming decade.

At WebX 2025 in Tokyo, this Exclusive Financial Leadership Summit was recognized as a defining coordinate on Asia’s financial map. The future of asset allocation is being redefined here, and the financial landscape of the next decade will be written from this point forward.

Aduna Welcomes Spark as First New Zealand Partner

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aduna, the global aggregator of standardized network APIs, today announced a partnership with Spark, New Zealand’s leading digital services provider, to accelerate the adoption of advanced network APIs across the country. With Spark joining Aduna’s growing global ecosystem, New Zealand becomes part of a worldwide federation of operators bringing network intelligence to developers and enterprises through a unified platform.

The partnership will initially focus on SIM Swap detection and Number Verification APIs, providing enterprises with real-time tools to verify customer identities and safeguard digital transactions. These APIs are particularly critical for industries such as banking, financial services, e-commerce, and digital platforms, where fraud prevention and seamless onboarding are essential to trust and growth.

For developers, collaboration unlocks the ability to build new services that integrate network intelligence directly into applications to reduce friction in customer authentication, improving security for online transactions, and creating richer, more responsive user experiences. By accessing these APIs through Aduna, developers in New Zealand gain the same consistent standards already used across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, enabling them to scale solutions across markets.

“Partnering with Spark extends Aduna’s global footprint to New Zealand, opening new opportunities for enterprises and developers,” says Anthony Bartolo, CEO, Aduna. “By delivering standardized APIs, we enable businesses to strengthen digital trust and give developers the tools to build secure, user-friendly services that drive real value.”

“At Spark, we see this partnership with Aduna as an important step in unlocking new ways to monetize our network investments,” said Renee Mateparae, Network and Operations Director at Spark. “It allows us to capture the full value of our network capabilities while giving our business customers access to sophisticated connectivity solutions that solve challenges. Fraud prevention will be one of the first areas we tackle, with SIM Swap detection and Number Verification APIs providing the tools businesses need to safeguard their customers.”

About Spark

Spark is New Zealand’s largest telecommunications and digital services company, committed to helping all of New Zealand win big in a digital world. Through its mobile, broadband, cloud, and digital solutions, Spark connects people, businesses, and communities to the technology and services they need to thrive. With a focus on innovation, security, and customer experience, Spark is enabling New Zealand’s digital future and supporting growth across industries.

About Aduna

Aduna is a landmark venture between some of the world’s leading telecom operators and Ericsson, dedicated to enabling developers worldwide to accelerate innovation by leveraging networks to their full potential via common network Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Its venture partners include AT&T, Bharti Airtel, Deutsche Telekom, e&, KDDI, Orange, Reliance Jio, Singtel, Telefonica, Telstra, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Vodafone. By combining network APIs from multiple operators globally under a unified platform based on the CAMARA open-source project, driven by the GSMA and the Linux Foundation, Aduna provides a standardized platform to foster collaboration, enhance user experiences, and drive industry growth.

To find out more about network APIs and Aduna, visit www.adunaglobal.com.

Logo: https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/aduna_logo-7.jpg

SUS ENVIRONMENT’s Waste-to-Energy Technology Triumphs at BRICS Industrial Innovation Contest 2025

SHANGHAI, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, SUS ENVIRONMENT’s showcase, Key Technologies and Applications for Low-Carbon and Efficient Waste to Energy, successfully won the First Prize in the Green Industry field of the BRICS Industrial Innovation Contest 2025. This project gained high recognition from the judges thanks to its internationally leading technologies, extensive domestic and overseas application experiences, and broad market prospects. Notably, this award is not only the single First Prize in the Green Industry field but also the very first international award which SUS ENVIRONMENT has received in the field of science and technology.

This award signifies a new level of technological strength and brand influence for Chinese environmental protection enterprises in the global solid waste management sector. It is reported that the award-winning projects will also be included in the BRICS Industrial Innovation Cooperation Project Database and receive support from investment and financing institutions such as one-on-one planning services.

SUS ENVIRONMENT’s award-winning project, Key Technologies and Applications for Low-Carbon and Efficient Waste to Energy, encompasses independently developed clean incineration, efficient energy utilization, flue gas pollutant control, and low-carbon technologies. Multiple academicians and experts have certified that these technologies have reached an internationally leading level. Meanwhile, the project’s technologies have been validated for applicability in multiple countries, including BRICS countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

In the future, SUS ENVIRONMENT will continue to leverage its independent core technologies make sustained efforts amid the wave of BRICS cooperation and global environmental protection initiatives, provide scientific solid waste management solutions for more countries, and enable low-carbon and clean energy as a solid driving force for promoting global green transition.

About SUS

SUS ENVIRONMENT is the global leading comprehensive environment provider.* As of June 2025, SUS ENVIRONMENT has established 11 management centers worldwide, providing environmental and energy services to over 100 million people. It has invested in and constructed 90 waste-to-energy projects (low-carbon Eco-industrial parks), with a daily processing capacity nearly 120,000 tons of municipal solid waste and annual green power generation of approximately 18,000 GWh. Its equipment and technology are applied in 300 waste-to-energy plants across the world, with a daily capacity over 300,000 tons of municipal solid waste.*

*Data sourced from the Environmental Sanitation Net Of China and public data, covering total design scale, with data as of June 30, 2025.