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Jumpstart the New Year With Up to 80% in Savings on iShopChangi’s Deals!

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with iShopChangi as you enjoy great savings all throughout January 2023 with a weekly themed set of deals to jump on.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 5 January 2023 – Spanning the months of January to February, hop on down to iShopChangi for amazing weekly deals as it welcomes the Year of the Rabbit. With exciting deals on wines & spirits, beauty, electronics and more for both travellers and non-travellers, kickstart the new year with great savings with iShopChangi.

Leap for Joy With these Amazing iShopChangi Sitewide Vouchers

From January to February, iShopChangi has exciting Chinese New Year (CNY) themed sitewide vouchers to grab all that your heart desires at a bargain. Extending to a wide range of products, enjoy CNY staples like the New Moon South Africa Abalone Bundle Deal, retailing now at S$148, a 46% discount from its usual price of S$274.80. Have an easier time in the kitchen this CNY when cooking for loved ones with the Mayer 3.5L Digital Air Fryer, which now retails at S$88, a 58% off from its usual price of S$209. Alternatively, get the best gifts for visitation this year from iShopChangi! The Trulife Premium Bird’s Nest With Rock Sugar 10 Pack Gift Set is not only a great way to impress hosts but also a steal at just S$48.80, a 40% off the usual price of S$80.90! Access these deals and more by simply locking in the following discount codes below at checkout.

CNY (Sitewide vouchers)

From 3 Jan – 5 Feb:

12% off* no min. spend, capped at S$50. Use Code: <CNYHUAT12>

15% off* a min. spend of S$350 capped at S$100. Use Code: <CNYHUAT15>

CNY Gifting and Last Dash Flash Sale

From 11 – 15 Jan and 20 – 24 Jan:

20% off* with a min. spend of $800 capped at $200. Use Code: <CNYFLASH20>


Ramp Up with these Deals for the Coming Year and Festivities

This festive season, relish the weekly themed deals with iShopChangi, with each week taking you through the different aspects of CNY traditions.

Beginning with Reunion Essentials (week of 2 Jan to 8 Jan), look forward to get-together must-haves like the PowerPac Bear Steamboat with BBQ Grill, 2 in 1 Multi Cooker. Retailing at S$78, a 63% discount off the usual price of S$209, this duo-cooking steamboat will surely be a treat with the variety of cooking options it offers. The Barton & Guestier B&G Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Bundle of 6, retailing at S$142, a 30% off the usual price of S$204, will also be a great addition to reunion parties with not only great flavour, but volume too.

From 9 to 15 Jan, expect amazing deals on spring cleaning essentials, such as electronics from the versatile PowerPac. Refresh the air and your senses with the PowerPac X Bear 2-in-1 Humidifier & Water Air Purifier 5L Large Capacity Desktop Dual Purification Aroma Diffuser. Retailing at S$32.90, a 67% off the usual price of $99, it will be certain to freshen up any home for visitors! The PowerPac Handheld Garment Steamer will be a great addition to your festivity preparation essentials. Now retailing at just S$19.90, it is 64% off its usual price of S$55.90!

With the CNY festivities fast approaching, iShopChangi has dedicated the last two weeks’ deals to festive gifts. From 16 Jan to 22 Jan and 23 Jan to 29 Jan, look forward to gift sets like Kinohimitsu [Bundle of 2] Essence of Chicken Gift Sets of 8 retailing at S$35.80, 40% off the usual price of S$59.80, and the Ést.Lab Glowing ést.perience Kit On-The-Go retailing at S$79.00, a 15% off the usual price of S$93. Gifted separately or together, these items are sure to have you feeling or looking great for the coming festivities!

Hop into the New Year

New travelling and non-travelling users of iShopChangi will get a warm welcome with S$20 off with a minimum of S$79 spent. From 3 Jan to 5 Feb, simply use the code <ISCNEW20> to enjoy more savings on iShopChangi’s wide selection of brands.

Travellers may place their orders between 30 days in advance and up to 12 hours before flying, and pick up their purchases from the Collection Centres across the departure and arrival halls of all terminals at Singapore Changi Airport. Alternatively, provide a Singapore residential address for delivery. Till 31 January, travellers can also enjoy 20% off when carting out, with no minimum spend, capped at S$20, with the code <REVENGE20>.

Non-travellers can cart out at tax and duty-absorbed prices on iShopChangi and have their items delivered to them for free when they spend at least S$59 and provide a local residential address for delivery.

New registrants to Changi Pay can also enjoy an exclusive S$5 welcome voucher.

Hashtag: #iShopChangi

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

iShopChangi

iShopChangi was launched in 2013 as an extension of Changi Airport’s promise to deliver greater comfort and convenience to travellers in its suite of airport retail offerings. Passengers can browse and purchase tax- and duty-free products across all terminals between 30 days to 12 hours pre-flight on the e-store – and choose to collect their items at Collection Centres within departure, upon arrival or have them delivered free in Singapore. Providing easy access to over 30,000 products across 900 brands and exclusives such as Changi First product launches, the site has since received global recognition with its award for Best Website – Retail Customer Facing at The Moodies: the Airport and Travel Retail Digital Media Awards 2018. In early 2020, the e-commerce store started to retail a selection tax- and duty-absorbed products to Singapore-based residents without the need to fly.

Three Nepali Women Rescued from Laos, Still Feel Unsafe at Home

The women who left Nepal to pursue supposedly well-paying jobs in Laos, fell victim to a human trafficking scheme, where they were expected to work in call centers and scam unsuspecting affluent people in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK. 

831 returns to the stage with Sennheiser Digital 6000

Taiwanese rock band makes a strong comeback with back-to-back tours across Asia

TAIPEI Media OutReach – 5 January 2023 – After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Taiwanese rock band 831 (八三夭) returned to the stage with a series of sold-out concerts across Asia. The “Miss you 300” tour saw them performing 21 sold-out shows in major cities in China and a debut show in Singapore before they returned to Taiwan to kickstart their “Upside Down World” tour on home ground in the Taipei Arena. As well as giving their fans an electrifyingly good time at the shows with their beat-heavy hits, the band also shared their personal thoughts and feelings, giving fans a glimpse of their warmth behind the rocker image. Sennheiser’s Digital 6000 has always been a mainstay of 831’s touring inventory, which has gradually expanded to include many other Sennheiser and Neumann products such as the SKM 500, MD 435 and MD 445 as well as the Neumann KM 184.

Photo credit: @niima316
Photo credit: @niima316

When 831’s front-of-house audio engineer Huang first heard the MD 435 and MD 445 on the snare, he was so impressed that he immediately requested for it to be deployed at the Taipei concert. He also enjoys working with the Digital 6000 series for its low latency, wide dynamic range and superb sound quality.

“Sennheiser’s Digital 6000 is impressive and has been serving the band really well. In fact, it is lead vocalist Up Lee’s only choice of microphone whenever the band goes on tour,” Huang commented.

For vocals, 831 used a two-channel Sennheiser Digital 6000 system. Up Lee used an SKM 6000 handheld transmitter while the rest of the band relied on the SKM 500 handhelds and SK 500 G4 wireless bodypack transmitters. Backing vocals were picked up by cabled e 935 and e 945 mics. “We are very impressed with Digital 6000’s low latency, wide dynamic range and sound quality. From an engineering perspective, D 6000 requires much less calibration and is capable of unreservedly showcasing the band’s stellar performance. It gives them the freedom and peace of mind to fully focus on their stage performance. There is no doubt why this is the vocalist’s system of choice to work with on tour,” Huang explained.

The guitar and bass were miked with wireless instrument systems from the evolution wireless series, with the drumkit benefitting from a variety of Sennheiser and Neumann microphones. The super-cardioid MD 445 was used on the snare, with its polar pattern helping to eliminate hi-hat bleed. Additionally, the e 901 and e 902 were used on the kick drum, while the toms and snare bottom were picked up by e 904 and MD 421. For the hi-hat and ride, they had chosen the Neumann KM 184.

Band Manager Woods Song spoke highly of the support from the local team: “I would like to thank the Sennheiser team for the great support. Our repertoire of Sennheiser and Neumann gear has grown a lot over the years. To be able to have our concert at the iconic Taipei Arena fully decked with Sennheiser and Neumann gear is a testament to how much the band love and trust the brand’s products. We look forward to continuing our journey with Sennheiser and taking our gear with us to wherever the tour takes us next!”

Hashtag: #Sennheiser

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

About the Sennheiser brand

We live and breathe audio. We are driven by the passion to create audio solutions that make a difference. Building the future of audio and bringing remarkable sound experiences to our customers – this is what the Sennheiser brand has represented for more than 75 years. While professional audio solutions such as microphones, meeting solutions, streaming technologies and monitoring systems are part of the business of Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG, the business with consumer devices such as headphones, soundbars and speech-enhanced hearables is operated by Sonova Holding AG under the license of Sennheiser.


Laos to Open its Border with China This Week

Vehicles at the Boten-Bohan border.

Authorities in Laos and China have agreed to reopen the international border crossing between Boten and Bohan on Sunday.

Laos to Experience Cold Weather in First Week of January

Laos to Be Under Cold Weather During First Week of January
Ethnic minority children receive warm clothing (photo: tuoitrenews)

According to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department, Northern and Southern provinces of Laos will be subjected to cold conditions from Wednesday until 10 January, some areas may also experience rainfall.

Hong Kong Baptist University-led research discovers new therapeutic target for irritable bowel syndrome

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 4 January 2023 – A research study led by scientists from the School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has shown for the first time that the human gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus is a major trigger factor of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Based on this discovery, a new therapeutic target for the disease’s treatment was identified. The study also found that low-protein food items such as fresh fruits, vegetables and bread may help reduce the gut motility in IBS-D.

The research team of Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies (middle); Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division (right); and Dr Zhai Lixiang, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (left) of SCM at HKBU, has shown for the first time that the human gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus is a major trigger factor of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.
The research team of Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies (middle); Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division (right); and Dr Zhai Lixiang, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (left) of SCM at HKBU, has shown for the first time that the human gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus is a major trigger factor of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

The research findings have been published in the internationally renowned scientific journal Cell Host & Microbe.

Curative treatment for IBS-D needed

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder characterised by stool irregularities, abdominal discomfort and bloating. It has been estimated that about 7% of adults in Hong Kong are affected by IBS. IBS-D is the most common type of IBS and there is no known cure for the disease. Most clinical treatments for IBS-D focus on relieving symptoms.

Previous research has demonstrated that the increased production of serotonin, a key neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of gut motility, contributes to the gastrointestinal symptoms displayed in IBS-D. It has also been shown that gut microbiota play a role in regulating the levels of serotonin. However, the bacterial species concerned and the molecular mechanism by which the gut microbiota modulate serotonin production remain unclear.

Phenethylamine and tryptamine produced by Ruminococcus gnavus trigger IBS-D

To explore curative treatment options for IBS-D, a research team co-led by Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, Director of the Clinical Division and Tsang Shiu Tim Endowed Professor in Chinese Medicine Clinical Studies; Dr Xavier Wong Hoi-leong, Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division; and Dr Zhai Lixiang, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow of SCM at HKBU, screened thousands of food components and their breakdown products in the fecal samples of 290 patients with IBS-D. They found that phenethylamine and tryptamine, two aromatic trace amines produced by the microbial digestion of dietary proteins, are highly enriched in IBS-D faeces, and they are associated with the severity of diarrheal symptoms in patients with IBS-D.

Probing further, the researchers found that mice which had been fed with either phenethylamine or tryptamine experienced increased stool frequencies and colonic secretions, which are major symptoms of IBS-D.

On the other hand, the team found that the gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus, which is enriched in IBS-D faecal samples, is a primary producer of phenethylamine and tryptamine. Furthermore, mice with this bacterium transplanted into their guts go on to develop IBS-D diarrheal symptoms. These results suggest that phenethylamine and tryptamine produced by Ruminococcus gnavus trigger IBS-D in mammals without the involvement of other risk factors of IBS-D.

Phenethylamine and tryptamine stimulate serotonin production

The research team further conducted a series of experiments to understand the mechanism by which phenethylamine and tryptamine lead to IBS-D. The results showed that phenethylamine and tryptamine directly stimulate the production of serotonin from the enterochromaffin cells in the gut through the activation of a trace amine-associated receptor (TAAR1), thereby stimulating gut motility and secretion disorders in IBS-D.

The team then explored the therapeutic potential of targeting the phenethylamine/tryptamine/TAAR1 pathway for the treatment of IBS-D. It was discovered that inhibition of TAAR1 activation through the use of a specific inhibitor effectively alleviated the diarrheal symptoms in mice which had been transplanted with IBS-D faecal samples.

Prospects for new therapeutic options

“With a full outline of the mechanism of how gut microbiota associate with gut motility disorders, our research results suggest that the phenethylamine/tryptamine-mediated TAAR1 pathway is a new therapeutic target for IBS-D,” said Dr Zhai Lixiang.

“IBS-D patients experience frequent episodes of diarrhea with accompanying abdominal pain, which reduce the quality of life. The research discoveries offer promising potential for the development of therapies for IBS-D based on the inhibition of the pathway,” said Professor Bian Zhaoxiang.

The research team also found that a diet low in phenylalanine, an amino acid and a dietary precursor of phenethylamine, suppresses gut motility in mice by reducing the microbial production of phenethylamine and tryptamine. Low-protein food items such as fresh fruits, vegetables and bread have relatively low levels of phenylalanine.

“Developing strategies to reduce the microbial transformation of dietary amino acids into phenethylamine and tryptamine, such as dietary intervention with reduced consumption of high-protein food items which usually have high phenylalanine levels, may represent a feasible approach for the management of IBS-D,” said Dr Xavier Wong.

Hashtag: #HongKongBaptistUniversity #HKBU

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

16,384 LEDs to revolutionize automotive lighting: Nichia and Infineon launch industry’s first high-definition micro-LED matrix solution

MUNICH, GERMANY and TOKUSHIMA, JAPAN – Media OutReach – 4 January 2023 – Automotive LED lighting technology has developed rapidly in recent years as a means for vehicle manufacturers to enhance driving comfort and road safety. In this regard, matrix LED technology for adaptive driving beam has become an important headlight feature for selective road illumination.

The new 16,384 pixel µPLS™ micro-Pixelated Light Solution from Nichia and Infineon combines high-definition resolution with industry’s highest light output. This solution enables a new automotive lighting experience by providing four-times wider field-of-view with significantly higher light output than any other current micro-mirror based HD matrix-light solution. The advanced HD light can warn drivers of hazards by highlighting people or objects, project markings on the road to guide the driver through a construction site or intersection, and offer glare-free high beam or bending light. This takes the driver’s road safety and driving comfort to a new level.
The new 16,384 pixel µPLS™ micro-Pixelated Light Solution from Nichia and Infineon combines high-definition resolution with industry’s highest light output. This solution enables a new automotive lighting experience by providing four-times wider field-of-view with significantly higher light output than any other current micro-mirror based HD matrix-light solution. The advanced HD light can warn drivers of hazards by highlighting people or objects, project markings on the road to guide the driver through a construction site or intersection, and offer glare-free high beam or bending light. This takes the driver’s road safety and driving comfort to a new level.

Three years ago Nichia Corporation and Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) announced the joint development of a high-definition (HD) light engine with more than 16,000 micro-LEDs for headlight applications. Now, both companies are launching industry’s first fully integrated micro-LED light engine for HD adaptive driving beam applications. The micro-LED matrix solution will be seen in a German premium vehicle in 2023.

“The new 16,384 pixel µPLS™ micro-Pixelated Light Solution is our latest addition to Nichia’s portfolio of high-class automotive lighting solutions,” said Yusuke Yamazaki, Head of Sales and Marketing Automotive, Nichia Europe GmbH. “It combines high-definition resolution with industry’s highest light output. This solution enables a new automotive lighting experience by providing four-times wider field-of-view with significantly higher light output than any other current micro-mirror based HD matrix-light solution. For this reason, the advanced HD light can warn drivers of hazards by highlighting people or objects on or by the side of the road. It can also project markings on the road to guide the driver through a construction site or intersection. In addition, functions such as the glare-free high beam or bending light work more precisely and smoothly compared to current adaptive driving beam solutions. This takes the driver’s road safety and driving comfort to a new level.”

“The µPLS is industry’s first fully integrated matrix LED driver capable of driving 16,384 LEDs, combining all required micro-LED driver circuitry with extensive diagnostics and high-speed video and control interfaces,” said Andreas Doll, Infineon’s Senior Vice-President and General Manager of the Business Unit Body Power of Infineon’s Automotive Division. “Our innovative µPLS is much more energy efficient than current HD matrix lighting solutions, contributing to saving global CO2 emissions and extending the range of electric driven vehicles. Furthermore, we enable the vision of our customers to deploy fully digital light on the road, saving them overall system cost at a very small form factor at the size of a single semiconductor chip. The µPLS is another great example of how Infineon products support digitalization as well as decarbonization towards a net-zero society.”

The new HD light engine uses Nichia’s micro-LED technology and an integrated LED driver IC from Infineon that can drive all 16,384 micro-LEDs individually using pulse-width modulation (PWM) control. Additionally, the driver IC monitors each micro-LED separately and provides on-chip temperature monitoring allowing for optimal thermal control. Integrated video interfaces enable high-speed transmission of the video signal from the light pattern generator unit. Unlike current HD matrix solutions, Infineon’s driver IC only activates the LEDs that are actually needed for a light pattern. This dramatically increases the energy efficiency of the µPLS light engine at much smaller form factor compared to micro-mirror-based HD matrix solutions in the market.

This allows for smaller and slimmer headlamp designs in the future. In addition, the new HD light engine enables adjustments that can be digitally programmed at the factory or activated by the vehicle manufacturer or driver on demand. For example, the different requirements of left- and right-handed drivers can be considered, significantly increasing user-friendliness. With all these features, the new HD light significantly reduces design and production complexity for vehicle manufacturers.

Hashtag: #Infineon #Nichia #LED

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

About Nichia Corporation

Having “Ever Researching for a Brighter World” as a motto, Nichia takes great pride in being the technology leader and world’s largest LED and laser diode manufacturer. Founded in 1956 as a specialty chemical producer, Nichia quickly became the leader in luminescent materials (phosphors). Nichia later developed and commercialized the first high-brightness blue LED in 1993 and the first white LED in 1996. Additional nitride-based LEDs in various colors were developed, including ultraviolet and visible Laser Diodes. Nichia believes that its products will remain at the forefront of energy-efficient solutions throughout the world for years to come.

Nichia will continue to be a company that makes contributions to the world by evolving its original and unique technologies and “Ever Researching for a Brighter World.” More information is available at .

More information on Infineon’s commitment to New Mobility:

The Telegraph Recommends Laos as One of 20 Places You Must Visit in 2023

Laos-China Railway

The British newspaper’s travel experts curated a collection of the 20 top destinations to visit this new year and Laos featured in the list among some other usual suspects like Spain, Switzerland and France.