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The Miss Universe Organization and Mouawad unveil “The Crown Number 12: Force for Good ” in Thailand.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach – 19 December 2022 – The Miss Universe Organization today unveiled “The Crown Number 12: Force for Good”, crafted by world-renowned luxury jeweler Mouawad. The new crown, with pear-shaped blue sapphires surrounded by diamonds and valued at approximately USD 5.58 million, will be the prestigious mark of honor for the winner of the 71st MISS UNIVERSE® Competition. The event will take place on January 14, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

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A unique, bespoke work of art and craft, the Force for Good crown emanates Mouawad’s passion for crafting the extraordinary, featuring the meticulous setting of sapphires and diamonds, whose design is replete with symbolism. Reflecting the point that significant change does not happen in an instant, the base of the crown is set with diamonds symbolizing the status quo. From the base upwards, rippling wave motifs reflect the momentum of change, with their varying sizes portraying that this momentum gains ground gradually through advocacy at different moments and places, to audiences large and small, over time.

“It has been an honor to craft a new crown for The Miss Universe Organization, and to create a new sparkling chapter in the story of Mouawad Miss Universe crowns, said Mouawad Co-guardian Fred Mouawad. “The Mouawad Miss Universe Force for Good Crown is a work of extraordinary craftsmanship, completely crafted and set and by hand total 993 stones setting, featuring 110.83 carat of blue sapphire and 48.24 carat of white diamond in a design that evokes The Miss Universe Organization’s belief in a future forged by women who push the limits of what’s possible and the incredible women from around the world who advocate for positive change.”

Upon closer inspection, the culmination of these wave-like curls at the base emulates a serpent’s head, symbolizing the challenges involved in swaying opponents and those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. As the eye moves upward from the base of the crown, the color gradient changes from the glistening white of diamonds to the warm blue of sapphires, deepening in intensity toward the pinnacle of the crown. At the top, a stunning of Royal Blue sapphire pear-shape 45.14 carat displays a depth of color emblematic of the goodness that can be achieved through persistent action and of the hope for a brighter future.

Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, Chief Executive Officer of JKN Global Group Public Company Limited, as the new owner of The Miss Universe Organization, said: “The Miss Universe 2022 Force for Good Crown stands for a graceful reincarnation of The Miss Universe Organization’s long-standing values and heritage as a guiding light, shining bright to the future glory. The new crown is also the dazzling illustration of both the challenges and rewards that come when young women advocate for causes close to their heart and strive make an impact on the world.”

As we are stepping into the new era of women’s empowerment, The Miss Universe Organization will continue to be a global organization run by women for women with a promise to serve as an inspirational platform that celebrates diverse women, supporting them to realize their ambition and build self-confidence, while evolving the brand over time to be more relevant and appealing to the next generation. Our new ambition is to instill the sense of passion for ‘transformational leadership’ among us all, with firm belief that everyone can lead, to be successful and achieve their life goals. With this future-oriented approach, the Miss Universe brand is keen to take on a pivotal role in involving and engaging people on a journey toward social inclusion, gender equality and environmental sustainability,” added Anne Jakapong.

The “MISS UNIVERSE x MOUAWAD: Unveiling the new crown “Force for Good”, the New Emblem of Beautifully Confident” press conference revealed the new crown held in TRUE ICON HALL, 7th floor, ICONSIAM. Bangkok, Thailand, and has been witnessed by over 150 local media and VIPs. The event was also broadcast via JKN 18 TV channel and live streaming on Miss Universe YouTube channel and JKN18 Facebook page, attended by thousands of international media.

The partnership between The Miss Universe Organization and Mouawad was formed in 2019, which saw winners of a prestigious competition, MISS UNIVERSE® honored with crowns crafted by Mouawad.

Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip said she was excited to bring the new crown to the stage of the 71st MISS UNIVERSE® Competition herself. The event will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Last year’s winner Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu will crown her successor at the end of the event.

Hashtag: #TheMissUniverseOrganization #MOUAWAD

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

Lao Airlines Plane Clipped by Korean Jet at Incheon Airport

Lao Airlines hit by Air Premia jet at Incheon Airport.
Lao Airlines hit by Air Premia jet at Incheon Airport (Photo: Yonhap News)

A Lao Airlines passenger aircraft collided with another plane at Incheon International Airport early today, however, no injuries were reported.

Laos Commits to Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2025

Greenhouse gas emissions.

The government of Laos expressed its commitment to achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 during the recent session of the National Assembly.

Luxury beauty advisory SWISS REJU wins COSMOPOLITAN Best of the Best Panel’s Choice Award, celebrating exceptional body contouring results

HONG KONG SAR – Media Outreach – 19 December 2022 – Luxury beauty advisory SWISS REJU has been honored with “Best of the Best Panel’s Choice Award” by prestigious beauty giant COSMOPOLITAN. This award is an affirmation of SWISS REJU’s innovative body contouring program and its outstanding effects on helping people to obtain better body shape safely and non-invasively.

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“We are very delighted to receive this prestigious award from COSMOPOLITAN, it is such an honor to take part in this year’s event. This win is also a big recognition of our efforts and commitment to leading the future of body contouring. This is only made possible by the dedication of our associates, guests and technology partners,” says the spokesperson of SWISS REJU.

COSMOPOLITAN Best of the Best Awards are well recognized in the world of luxury beauty. The awards celebrate exceptional beauty products and services which have demonstrated effectiveness and innovation. Each year, the selection committee objectively evaluates and carefully hand picks innovative new offerings that make a difference to the industry.

“High end beauty and body contouring market has always been very competitive, this win is an excellent encouragement to our team.” says the spokesperson of SWISS REJU.

SWISS REJU’s proprietary technology K-Lipolysis is an innovative body contouring program that allows customers to comfortably shape their body, without the risks and discomfort of traditional liposuction surgeries. Harnessing the exclusive technology of laser, electromagnetic field and other innovative energy modalities, SWISS REJU K-Lipolysis makes it easier to obtain a better body shape with technology.

“We once again thank the panel judges and expert editors at COSMOPOLITAN for this wonderful award. We will continue to invest in new technology so more clients can get to experience the benefits of modern body contouring.”

Learn more about SWISS REJU: http://www.reju.hk

Hashtag: #SwissREJU

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

LOCA launches LOCA PAY Enabling QR Code payment via Credit Card

Loca launched a new product “Loca Pay” on 16 December 2022, with a new goal to be a convenient and safe digital payment intermediary for everyone.

Hong Kong Baptist University develops new aptamer drug for bone anabolic therapies

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 19 December 2022 – A research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has identified a molecular target for bone anabolic therapies using a selected aptamer that serves as an inhibitor of sclerostin, a protein that prevents bone growth. The discovery offers hope for the development of an effective next-generation treatment for osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta that is free of cardiovascular risk compared to the marketed antibody drug.

(From left) Dr Yu Yuanyuan, Professor Lyu Aiping, Professor Zhang Ge, and Dr Wang Luyao, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow of the Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases at HKBU, develop the new aptamer drug for osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta.
(From left) Dr Yu Yuanyuan, Professor Lyu Aiping, Professor Zhang Ge, and Dr Wang Luyao, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow of the Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases at HKBU, develop the new aptamer drug for osteoporosis and osteogenesis imperfecta.

The research findings have been published in the international academic journals Nature Communications and Theranostics. The New drug is at the pre-clinical trial development stage, and the research team plans to start clinical trials in the US and on the Mainland in 2024.

Current medication increases cardiovascular risk

Osteoporosis is a metabolic condition which leads to a reduction in bone density, resulting in weakened bones that are more fragile and likely to break. Osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as “brittle bone disease”, is a rare congenital genetic disorder characterised by extremely fragile bones. Sclerostin has been identified as a therapeutic target for both diseases.

In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the monoclonal antibody against sclerostin for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Studies have also shown that sclerostin antibody enhances bone mass and bone strength of mice with osteogenesis imperfecta. However, as sclerostin plays a protective role in the cardiovascular system, it was seen that sclerostin antibody increased the risk of heart attacks, stroke and cardiovascular death during clinical trials. Therefore, a black box warning for potential cardiovascular risks is required by FDA.

A research team led by Professor Lyu Aiping, Dr. Kennedy Y.H. Wong Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicineand Director of the Institute of Integrated Bioinformedicine and Translational Science at HKBU; Professor Zhang Ge, Director of the Law Sau Fai Institute for Advancing Translational Medicine in Bone and Joint Diseases at HKBU; and Dr Yu Yuanyuan, Manager of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area International Research Platform for Aptamer-based Translational Medicine and Drug Discovery and Assistant Professor of the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU, endeavoured to develop alternative drug options.

“loop3” identified as a new therapeutic target

Sclerostin suppresses bone formation by antagonising the “Wnt signalling pathway”. The “Wnt signalling pathway” modulates the stem cells responsible for skeletal tissue regeneration. Therefore, inhibition of sclerostin promotes bone growth.

The research team discovered that a “loop3 domain” in the core region of sclerostin can be used as a molecular target to inhibit sclerostin. Through genetic studies, it was shown that deficiency of the loop3 domain can inhibit sclerostin’s antagonistic effect against the Wnt signalling pathway, but it does not affect the cardiovascular protective effect of sclerostin. The result suggests that the loop3 domain can serve as a molecular target for inhibiting sclerostin while preserving its cardiovascular protective function.

The researchers then proceeded to screen aptamers that can specifically inhibit sclerostin loop3. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules that can selectively bind to molecular targets such as proteins. After binding with specific proteins, aptamers may inhibit protein–protein interactions and thereby elicit certain therapeutic effects. Through a combinatorial technology, an aptamer “aptscl56” was selected as a potential sclerostin inhibitor that targets the loop3 structure.

Aptamer selected as effective and safe sclerostin inhibitor

The research team examined aptscl56’s therapeutic functions with osteoporotic rat models and osteogenesis imperfecta mouse models. They found that aptscl56 effectively promots bone formation. On the other hand, the application of aptscl56 does not increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as aortic aneurysms and atherosclerotic development in both models.

The medical use of aptamers confers certain advantages, such as thermal stability and ease of synthesis. However, they are prone to rapid degradation and renal filtration. The research team therefore modified aptscl56 to produce an aptamer named “Apc001” with a longer half-life. The team demonstrated that Apc001 promotes bone formation, increases bone mass, improves bone microarchitecture integrity, and enhances bone mechanical properties in rats with osteoporosis and mice with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Clinical trials due to start in 2024

“Searching for reliable and safe alternatives to overcome the limitations of the currently available drugs is crucial to help patients who need bone anabolic therapies. Our ongoing studies, which span from identifying molecular targets for sclerostin inhibition to aptamer drug discovery, offer hope for the development of next-generation sclerostin inhibitors in the near future,” said Professor Zhang Ge.

“Our search for alternative drugs for bone anabolic therapies is a good example of tripartite collaboration between academia, industry and the government. The research work was partly conducted in collaboration with a local biotechnology company, and it was supported by the Innovation and Technology Fund. Some biotechnology companies in the Mainland were engaged in certain aspects of developmental research for the aptamer, such as toxicology tests. The collaborative efforts will continue to create more synergy and fruitful results,” said Professor Lyu Aiping.

The therapeutic aptamer Apc001 was granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of osteogenesis imperfecta in 2019.

Hashtag: #HongKongBaptistUniversity #HKBU

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

Straw Hut Village is New Tourist Attraction in Vientiane Province

People gather and enjoy themselves at a straw hut | (Photo: ເມືອງເຟືອງແດນງາມ Mueng Fueng Dan Ngam)

Straw Hut Village, a new tourist attraction just opened this month in Vientiane Province’s Meuang Feuang district, to attract both domestic and international visitors.

LOFTER Group assisted with “Gingko House”, the social enterprise, to hold a series of activities to bring warmth to the community this winter

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 19 December 2022 – LOFTER GROUP (“LOFTER” or “the Group”), a Hong Kong-based property developer has always been concerned about the needs of the community. Towards the end of the year, under LOFTER Care Community Programme which adheres to the spirit of “LOFTER Cares All”, the Group has assisted with “Gingko House”, the social enterprise, to organize the activities and to spread cares and warmth to grassroots.

Donation of Winter Clothing

Gingko House held “Donation of Winter Clothing” last year in the site of Nanking Street, Yau Ma Tei acquiring by LOFTER and aroused strong support from the public. In order to continue this event, the Group together with its internationally fund partner join hands to lend out acquired asset located at Hankow Road Tsim Sha Tsui, to the organization to carry out the activity. The Group hopes that the site could be made the best use of it and have charitable event before demolition and redevelopment.

Regarding to the event, the site is used to collect the winter clothing, small household appliances and other material donated by the community and to give to those in need, so as to endow the objects with “second life.”

Besides, the Group also come to the site with the representatives of organization to help with the activity and also hoping to take this opportunity to care about the needs of the grassroots.

Date :From today to 27 December 2022 (Tuesday)
Time :12 nn to 6 p.m.
Venue :G/F, 31 and 33 Hankow Road, Tsim Sha Tsui(near exit A of MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station)

Categories of recycled items:

  1. Winter clothing ─ down jackets, fleece coats, thermal underwear (new), rubber band trousers, sleeping bags, etc.
  2. Smart phone, tablets
  3. Small household appliances ─ electric water heater, hair dryer, toaster, rice cooker, mixer, etc.


Winter Love Project

In addition to the “Donation of Winter Clothing”, LOFTER will also visit different districts with Gingko House during Christmas and distribute gift bags with daily necessities, as well as packed meals and soup to those in need. Moreover, the Group also plans to present the gift bags to the grassroots before Lunar New Year.

Ms. Carol Chow, Founder and Chairperson of LOFTER said, “Affected by the epidemic situation of COVID-19, the economic environment still needs time to return to normal which putting a burden on the livelihood of the grassroots. Towards the end of the year, the Group supported the social welfare organization to provide the public with all kinds of daily necessities to the community, hoping to provide them with warmth in the winter. ”

Kenneth Choi, Director of Business Development at Gingko House said, “Thank you for all concerted support, so that the clothes and small household appliances, which were originally planned to be abandoned in winter, can be revived, and to make to vulnerable communities can feel warm in cold season.”

Hashtag: #LOFTERGroup

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

About LOFTER GROUP

Founded in 2012, LOFTER GROUP is a property developer based in Hong Kong. It is principally engaged in developing exceptional and high-quality residential, commercial, retail, and industrial properties. Leverage on its extensive experience, the Group is actively exploring a variety of opportunities for developing urban renewal projects across core districts of Hong Kong, with key focus on Grade A Commercial and Luxury Residential Projects. The Group vows to accommodate the needs of a diverse market and dynamic social policies, while maintaining a good balance between profitability, responsibility and sustainability.

About LOFTER-Care Community Program
LOFTER-Care Community Program is funded by LOFTER GROUP, sharing the value of “LOFTER Cares ALL”. It mainly provides support to charitable activities in HKSAR. The program strives to keep abreast of the needs of the community and flexibly provides various resources to the needy, aiming to bring positive changes to the world and build a sustainable future for the city.

About Gingko House

Established in 2003, Gingko House is the first institution in Hong Kong to motivate the employment of the elderly, and is committed to providing support to those in need. The services of the organization are diversified, including social enterprise restaurants, organic farms, eldershop, and so on, providing employment opportunities for the elderly who are in financial and psychological need. The total number of elderlies employed by the organization has exceeded 3,000 at present.