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Empowering the Green Transformation of a Century-Old Coal City: The Case of Pan’an Lake Wetland Park

XUZHOU, China, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On February 6, staff from the State Grid Xuzhou Power Supply Company conducted inspections of electrical facilities on the opposite bank of Xuzhou Lake Wetland Park in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province. This was done to ensure reliable power supply for over 100 electric sightseeing vehicles and electric cruise boats.

It is estimated that the low-voltage shore power facilities installed at Pan’an Lake Wetland Park can annually charge more than 10,000 electric cruise boats, replace over 50 tons of fuel, and save merchants nearly RMB 400,000 in energy costs each year.

Xuzhou, known as a century-old coal city, once had Pan’an Lake as its largest coal mining subsidence area. Since 2011, the local government has implemented comprehensive remediation of the subsidence area following the principle of “cultivating wetlands and developing tourism.”

The State Grid Xuzhou Power Supply Company leveraged its professional and resource advantages to assist Pan’an Lake Wetland Park in implementing the ship shore power project. This initiative promoted the pilot programs of “replacing oil with electricity” and “replacing coal with electricity.” The company constructed four ship shore power service areas across 19 islands within the scenic area and completed the installation and renovation of over 10 sets of shore power facilities. With these convenient charging facilities, the park has successively introduced electric sightseeing cars and electric cruise boats, attracting a steady stream of visitors.

In 2024, Pan’an Lake Wetland Park received approximately 2 million tourists, generating a comprehensive tourism income of RMB 368 million, representing an increase of about 17%. This has resulted in significant economic, social, and ecological benefits.

The development of new energy has entered a rapid phase, with an anticipated annual grid-connected capacity surpassing 5 million kilowatts

TURFAN, China, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On February 6th, seven new energy projects, including Guangdong Energy’s 500,000-kilowatt wind power project in Toksun, received approval for grid connection. It is projected that by 2025. The total installed capacity of new energy connected to the grid will reach 5,055,000 kilowatts, marking a 152% increase from the previous year.

Turfan, often referred to as “China’s Hot Pole,” is situated at the heart of one of Xinjiang’s nine major wind zones. The region is abundant in wind and solar resources, with an average annual sunshine duration of 3,200 hours. The technical and economic exploitable capacities for wind power and photovoltaic power are 40.1 million kilowatts and 98 million kilowatts, respectively. The scale of new energy projects under construction or approved has surpassed 20 million kilowatts.

To accommodate the demands of new energy development and grid connection, State Grid Turfan Power Supply Company has implemented advanced planning and promoted the construction of 750-kilovolt and 220-kilovolt power grid projects. This year, it plans to invest 86.33 million yuan in three projects, including the 220-kilovolt transmission line from the Gaoquan South Substation of Shanshan County of State Power Investment Corporation. These projects will involve constructing 48.88 kilometers of 220-kilovolt transmission lines to optimize the regional power grid structure, enhance the power supply capacity and reliability of the regional power grid, and ensure the smooth grid connection of new energy projects.

In 2024, Turfan City generated a total of 25.77 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, of which new energy generation accounted for 6.561 billion kilowatt-hours, or 25.46%. Following the grid connection of new energy projects in 2025, the installed capacity of new energy is expected to exceed 10 million kilowatts, reaching 10.595 million kilowatts, with annual power generation anticipated to surpass 10 billion kilowatt-hours.

Sohu.com to Report Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results on February 18, 2025

BEIJING, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sohu.com Limited (NASDAQ: SOHU), a leading Chinese online media, video and game business group, will report its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2024 unaudited financial results on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, before U.S. market hours.

Sohu’s management team will host a conference call on the same day at 4:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time, February 18, 2025 (5:30 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time, February 18, 2025) following the quarterly results announcement.

Conference Call Preregistration

Participants can register for the conference call by click here, you will be led to the conference registration website. Upon registration, each participant will receive details for the conference call, including dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN. Please dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin.

The live webcast and archive of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of Sohu’s website at https://investors.sohu.com/.

About Sohu

Sohu.com Limited (NASDAQ: SOHU) was established by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of China’s internet pioneers, in the 1990s. As a mainstream media platform in China, Sohu is indispensable to the daily life of millions of Chinese, providing a network of web properties and community based products which continually offer a broad array of choices regarding information, entertainment and communication to the vast number of Sohu users. Sohu has built one of the most comprehensive matrices of Chinese language web properties, consisting of the leading online media destinations Sohu News App, Sohu Video App, the mobile news portal m.sohu.com, the PC portal www.sohu.com, and the online video website tv.sohu.com; and the online games platform www.changyou.com/en/.

Sohu provides online brand advertising services as well as multiple news, information and content services on its matrix of websites and also on its mobile platforms. Sohu’s online game business, conducted by its subsidiary Changyou, develops and operates a diverse portfolio of PC and mobile games, such as the well-known Tian Long Ba Bu (“TLBB”) PC and Legacy TLBB Mobile.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:
Ms. Huang, Pu
Sohu.com Limited
Tel:     +86 (10) 6272-6645
E-mail:   ir@contact.sohu.com

In the United States:
Ms. Bergkamp, Linda
Christensen
Tel:     +1 (480) 614-3004
E-mail:   linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com

SM Investments Recognized for Landmark Capital Market Deal

PASAY CITY, Philippines, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments), the parent company of the SM Group, has been awarded the “Philippine Capital Market Deal of the Year” by International Financing Review Asia (IFR Asia) for its successful issuance of a USD500 million five-year bond in 2024. This recognition underscores SM Investments’ leadership in the capital markets and the strong confidence of global investors in the company’s financial strength.

IFR Asia cited SM Investments’ return to the US dollar bond market after a decade-long absence as a significant development for the Philippine corporate sector. The transaction, which was the largest five-year deal by a Philippine corporate in 2024, reopened the market amid volatile conditions and achieved competitive pricing at 35 basis points.

“This landmark transaction represents a major milestone for both SM Investments and the Philippine capital markets. The strong demand from investors reflects confidence in Philippine corporate issuers and underscores SM’s reputation as a stable and well-managed investment option,” said Erwin G. Pato, Executive Vice President for Treasury, Finance, and Planning at SM Investments Corporation.

IFR Asia noted that SM Investments’ bond issuance attracted significant investor interest, given the relative scarcity of corporate issuances from the Philippines in recent years. The transaction also marked SM Investments’ first bond issuance since its USD350 million 10-year note in June 2014.

The deal was arranged by leading global financial institutions, with HSBC, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered, and UBS acting as joint lead managers and joint bookrunners. BDO Capital and Chinabank Capital also participated as joint lead managers.

International Financing Review Asia is a respected source of news and analysis on capital markets and investment banking, reinforcing the credibility of this recognition.

SM Investments’ achievement highlights its commitment to financial excellence and its role in strengthening investor confidence in the Philippine market.

About SM Investments Corporation

SM Investments Corporation is one of the leading Philippine companies that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy.

SM’s retail operations are the country’s largest and most diversified, consisting of grocery stores, department stores and specialty retail stores. SM’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines with interests in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers as well as tourism-related property developments. SM’s interests in banking are in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country’s largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, the fourth largest private domestic bank.

For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com

CGTN: China’s booming ice and snow industry fuels its economic growth

BEIJING, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Harbin, capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, exemplifies the country’s thriving ice and snow economy.

During the eight-day 2025 Spring Festival holiday from January 28 to February 4, the city has seen booming snow tourism. As an ice-themed park known for its dazzling ice sculptures, Harbin Ice-Snow World attracted over 610,000 visits. In particular, more than 100,000 visits were made on February 1, setting a new record for single-day attendance.

The increasing popularity of the park is partly attributed to the city’s upcoming role as the host of the 9th Asian Winter Games, which will be held from February 7 to 14, marking China’s second major winter sports event following the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games and host a welcome banquet for foreign leaders in attendance.

Ice and snow economy enters ‘fast lane’

Xi has paid close attention to the development of China’s ice and snow sports and industries, urging efforts to consider ice and snow economy as a new growth point to promote the development of the whole industrial chain involving winter sports and culture, snow-and-ice equipment and tourism.

In recent years, as winter sports and tourism surged in popularity across China, the ice and snow economy has witnessed significant growth.

According to the General Administration of Sport of China, the number of people participating in various ice and snow sports such as skating, skiing, curling and ice hockey nationwide reached 57.35 million in the 2023-2024 snow season. Over 385 million winter leisure visits nationwide were recorded, marking a 38 percent increase from the previous year.

During the last snow season, Harbin alone welcomed over 87 million visitors, marking a 300 percent year-on-year increase and generating 124.8 billion yuan (about $17.4 billion) in tourism revenue – a staggering 500 percent growth.

Meanwhile, the ice and snow consumption is becoming an important growth point to expand domestic demand, transforming the “cold” resources into “hot” engine for economic development.

According to online shopping and tourism platforms, orders for ice and snow equipment surged, while searches and bookings for ice and snow tours saw rapid growth during the “Double 11” shopping festival last year.

On China’s leading e-commerce platform, Tmall, sales of categories such as down jackets, thermal wear and skiing equipment surged by over 200 percent year on year during the “Double 11” shopping festival.

Broad prospects

To harness its abundant ice and snow resources for economic development, China is intensifying efforts to expand its winter economy, encompassing sports, culture, equipment, and tourism.

According to the guidelines issued by the General Office of the State Council, the country aims to promote its ice and snow economy as a new growth point, with the goal of reaching an economic scale of 1.2 trillion yuan (about $169 billion) by 2027, and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030.

To achieve these goals, various cities and regions are integrating winter sports and tourism into their development plans.

The Heilongjiang Province is promoting the establishment of a China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization winter sports demonstration zone, expediting the development of ice-and-snow equipment and digital industry parks.

In Beijing, the city has launched an action plan, proposing 24 specific measures in areas such as expanding the ice and snow sports and consumption, and advancing the construction of ice and snow venue facilities.

The vigorous growth of the ice and snow economy has also drawn global attention. A slew of measures, including optimizing the visa-free policy and opening new international flight routes, have attracted a number of foreign tourists to start their “China Travel” and enjoy the winter season in the country.

China’s thriving ice and snow economy has also injected new momentum into the global tourism market, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday, extending a warm invitation to friends from around the world to participate in ice and snow events, fostering friendship and cooperation.

For more information, please click:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-02-06/China-s-booming-ice-and-snow-industry-fuels-its-economic-growth–1ALQPnOkxO0/p.html 

Laos Denies Supplying Electricity to Illegal Operations in Myanmar

Laos Denies Supplying Electricity to Illegal Operations in Myanmar

Laos’ state-owned electricity provider, Electricité du Laos (EDL), has denied any involvement in directly supplying power to illegal call center operations in Myanmar. This follows recent reports from Thai and Myanmar media that Myanmar’s Tachileik district would increase electricity imports from Laos after Thailand cut power to the region.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Romance and Refinement at Amari Phuket and Amari Vogue Krabi


BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 February 2025 – This Valentine’s Day, couples can treat themselves to an unforgettable experience at two of Thailand’s most romantic destinations: Amari Phuket and Amari Vogue Krabi. With their exclusive Valentine’s offers, these stunning beachfront resorts promise to deliver the ultimate romantic getaway.

Amari Phuket Tree Pod Couple 1 (1)

Amari Phuket:

Nestled on the serene shores of Patong Beach, Amari Phuket offers couples an enchanting escape to the tropics. With its prime location overlooking the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea, the resort combines luxury with tranquillity. Guests can choose from a variety of elegantly designed rooms and suites, such as the Superior Balcony Room or the Club One Bedroom Suite Ocean View Balcony, all offering breathtaking views and modern comforts.

Amari Phuket boasts exceptional dining venues such as their exclusive TreePods, offering an unparalleled dining experience high among the treetops, La Gritta, serving authentic Italian cuisine, and Rim Talay, which offers international and Asian dishes with panoramic sea views. For those seeking a lively yet sophisticated atmosphere, Samutr Bar and The Jetty provide the perfect settings for sunset cocktails and romantic stargazing dinners.

For adventurous couples, the resort is ideally located near Phuket’s popular attractions, including Jungceylon Shopping Mall, Central Patong, and the vibrant Phuket Town. Water sports enthusiasts can enjoy kayaking, scuba diving, and jet skiing directly from the property.

To make this Valentine’s Day even more special, Amari Phuket presents three exclusive dining experiences on 14 February 2025, from 18:00 – 22:00:

  1. Valentine’s Day Dinner at the Treepod
  2. Valentine Spread at Rim Talay
  3. Valentine’s Day – L’amore in Spiaggia

Amari Vogue Krabi: Sunset Beach Romance

Located on the pristine Tubkaek Beach, Amari Vogue Krabi is a haven of tranquillity and elegance. This 5-star resort is renowned for its contemporary Thai-style architecture, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern comforts. Guests are welcomed into a serene setting with lush tropical gardens, stunning Andaman Sea views, and a range of luxurious accommodation options, from Deluxe Rooms with private balconies to family-friendly villas with private plunge pools.

The resort’s signature restaurant, Marco’s Restaurant & Bar, offers a relaxed beachfront dining experience with Pan-Asian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, complemented by creative cocktails and live music on selected evenings. For a taste of authentic Thai flavours, Lotus Restaurant provides a rich menu in a beautifully decorated setting. Guests can also enjoy bespoke experiences like the Sunset Beach Picnic, where they can unwind on the soft sands of Tubkaek Beach with wine, canapés, and the backdrop of a breathtaking sunset.

On 14 February 2025, Amari Vogue Krabi presents two exclusive dining experiences:

1. Romantic Candlelight Dinner

Couples can celebrate their love with an exquisite four-course menu in the romantic candlelight setting of Marco’s Restaurant.

Price: THB 3,499++ per couple

2. Sundown Beach Romance

Couples can enjoy a curated five-course menu at a romantic beachside candlelit dinner, featuring breathtaking limestone views. Complimentary welcome bubbles included.

Price: THB 5,499++ per couple

Beyond dining, the resort offers a range of activities, including rejuvenating treatments at Chaonang Spa, three swimming pools, and a fully equipped fitness centre. Guests can also embark on island-hopping adventures to iconic locations like Hong Island, just 10 minutes away by longtail boat, or explore Krabi’s lively town centre, a 40-minute drive from the resort.

Why Choose Amari for Valentine’s Day?

Amari Phuket and Amari Vogue Krabi offer more than just a holiday – they create moments to treasure forever. Whether it’s a secluded dining experience in a treetop pod, a candlelit dinner by the sea, or indulgent spa treatments, every detail is designed to celebrate love in the most enchanting settings. For more information or to book your romantic getaway, visit www.amari.com.

For more information on ONYX Hospitality Group please visit: www.onyx-hospitality.com

Hashtag: #ONYX

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

Boloni Opens Its First Experience Centre in Singapore

Setting new benchmarks in spatial design, Boloni’s inaugural Experience Centre in Singapore highlights its innovative expertise, offering tailored solutions that blend luxury living with exceptional craftsmanship

SINGAPORE, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Boloni, a pioneer in contemporary modular carpentry and premium interior furnishing solutions, proudly announces the opening of its first Boloni Experience Centre in Singapore. Located at Delta House, this 5,000 sq ft showroom marks Boloni’s inaugural footprint in the Republic and underscores its commitment to bringing trendsetting design and holistic home solutions to the region.

Boloni Singapore unveils its first Experience Centre at Delta House, redefining luxury living with cutting-edge interior design and modular craftsmanship. Explore bespoke home solutions in this 5,000 sq ft showroom.
Boloni Singapore unveils its first Experience Centre at Delta House, redefining luxury living with cutting-edge interior design and modular craftsmanship. Explore bespoke home solutions in this 5,000 sq ft showroom.

Since its establishment in 1992 in China, Boloni has evolved into a globally recognised brand, renowned for its innovative approach to interior design and furnishing. With over 500 dealership showrooms across China, Asia and Australia, including key cities like Shanghai, Beijing and Sydney; and a star-studded roster of clients, Boloni’s expansion into Singapore represents its dynamic growth and forward-thinking ethos.

A New Milestone for Southeast Asia

Boloni’s unique value proposition lies in its one-stop, total solution approach to home customisation. Unlike European models that specialise in specific areas such as kitchens or doors, Boloni offers complete housing solutions, from whole-house customisation to soft furnishings. This philosophy ensures superior quality, consistency, and a seamless customer experience.

“This marks an exciting milestone for Boloni as we partner The Modular Builder (TMB) to bring our expertise and innovative solutions to Singapore. Our Singapore Experience Centre reflects Boloni’s commitment to redefining modern living with a blend of design, functionality, and technology,” says Frank Cai, Founder of Boloni. “We believe this centre will inspire homeowners and designers alike, showcasing the possibilities of a truly customised living experience.”

“Our vision for Boloni Singapore Experience Center is to become the premier architectural design and build hub for landed homes in Singapore,” says Benedict Choa, CEO of Boloni Singapore and The Modular Builder (TMB), the parent company of Boloni Singapore.

“Delta House serves as a vibrant community for landed homeowners and developers, bringing together expertise and innovation for Singapore’s landed properties. Our team of award-winning architects and builders, recognized by BCA Merit Awards, exemplifies excellence in the industry. Simply put, we offer a comprehensive one-stop solution for value-driven engineering and luxury lifestyle design, tailored to meet the unique needs of individual homeowners.”

The Built Industry’s Dream Team

As a leader in product innovation and design, Boloni continually collaborates with artists, designers, and fashion houses to stay ahead of trends. The brand appeals to discerning clients, typically owners of landed property and GCB (Good Class Bungalows) who value luxury living and exceptional quality. Long-term plans include expansion into commercial projects, such as hospitality, condo development and retail spaces.

True to its collaborative spirit, Boloni offers a network of global collaborators and local partners with keen insight into the market. Helming the brand’s residential projects is architect Kee Jing Zhi, COO of Boloni Singapore and founder of the award-winning architectural practice Freight Architects. Fronting the commercial projects is Ma Hong Kai, a multidisciplinary specialist and architect from Beijing, who has an impressive track record of designing high-profile projects for global auto brands such as Land Rover, BMW, Rolls Royce, Bentley and Audi.

“The Experience Centre showcases how quality living can seamlessly integrate with sophisticated design aspirations. It offers a diverse range of styles and finishes that enables clients to realise their vision of their dream homes through a designer’s eye and high-quality furnishings,” says Kee, who is also the designer of the Experience Centre’s impressive interiors.

Integrated Design House

The Boloni Experience Centre unfolds in a series of meticulously appointed spaces where versatile technology and design converge, showcasing various settings, from high-end residential bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining spaces to hospitality-led spaces with ambience that inspire awe and confidence among customers. Its multifaceted showrooms provide the flexibility for use as an events space. Plans are in the pipeline for a series of lifestyle activities and events to showcase the Centre as an integrated design house.

Boloni’s modular carpentry system promotes sustainability by enabling recycling and upcycling, reflecting the brand’s commitment to green practices. “All our wood materials are cultivated for long-term sustainability, adhering to European standard E1 levels with formaldehyde emissions below 0.5 mg/L,” Choa remarks.

The Singapore showroom is just the beginning of Boloni’s ambitious plans in Southeast Asia. The brand is set to open a showroom in Bali in the first half of 2025, with further expansion opportunities in Vietnam.

Download high-resolution images is available from this link

Delta House, 2 Alexandra Road #01-01, Singapore 159919
Operating Hours: 10 AM7 PM daily except Sunday

WhatsApp: +65 9150 3555
Website: https://boloni.com.sg
Facebook: Boloni Singapore
Instagram: @boloni_singapore

XiaoHongShu
LinkedIn: Boloni Singapore

About Boloni Singapore

Boloni Singapore is the first Singapore outpost of Boloni International, a globally recognised brand established in 1992 in China. Renowned for its holistic home solutions, Boloni offers customisation and premium furnishing for residential and commercial spaces. With its innovative designs and state-of-the-art technology, Boloni Singapore is poised to transform the local interior design landscape, catering to discerning homeowners and businesses.

Annex

Key Executive Management, Boloni Singapore

Benedict Choa, Chief Executive Officer

Benedict Choa is a Singaporean entrepreneur with a background in Business Management from Monash University, Australia. His interest in civil engineering inspired ventures in real estate and hospitality. In 2019, Choa founded The Modular Builder (TMB) introducing modular interior design solutions to Singapore. In 2024, he partnered Boloni International to establish the Boloni Experience Centre, a 5,000 sq ft showroom at Delta House which opened in January 2025. Choa also co-founded KAPA Design Co in 2023, providing bespoke turnkey design-and-build solutions. As CEO, his vision focuses on creating collaborations between home owners and developers with architects and designers to create luxurious spaces using high-quality Boloni products.

Kee Jing Zhi, Chief Operating Officer

An award-winning architect, Kee Jing Zhi graduated from the National University of Singapore and RMIT University. One of his earliest accomplishments is his work with Wilkinson Eyre Architects in London on the iconic Gardens by the Bay. In 2015, Kee co-founded Freight Architects, known for its bold, sustainable designs and innovative approach to architecture, specialising in residential, commercial, and hospitality projects.

He later co-founded KAPA Design Co, a multidisciplinary consultancy offering property development and design services.

Kee’s extensive career spans over 20 years, with a portfolio that includes luxury residences and urban developments across Asia. His design philosophy emphasizes sustainability, adaptability, and the integration of progressive technology, ensuring each project harmonizes with its environment and meets the needs of modern living.

Notable projects include the award-winning Skool4Kidz Campus and Oku House. His work has been featured in key design and luxury lifestyle media titles such as Design and Architecture, CNA Luxury, Business Times, Home & Décor and Habitus.

As COO, Kee works closely with Boloni’s design and development teams, merging his architectural acumen with the brand’s state-of-the-art modular carpentry to craft bespoke living spaces tailored to each client’s unique vision.

Ma Hong Kai, Commercial Director

A graduate of Beijing University of Technology, Ma Hong Kai has nearly three decades of expertise in urban planning, architectural/interior design, project management; and planning, construction and builder operations. On the TMB commercial front, Ma Hong Kai, a multidisciplinary specialist and architect from Beijing, has an impressive track record of designing high-profile projects for global brands such as Land Rover, BMW, Rolls Royce, Bentley, and Audi, as well as leading Chinese automotive companies like NIO and Zeekr.

As Commercial Director, Ma will oversee the commercial sector of Boloni Singapore, covering retail, offices and hotels, establishing design standards for all projects, translating client brand concepts into designs that align with company ethos and ensuring seamless integration of premium materials and designs.