The Lao government has issued the first-ever Thai Baht bond in the Lao domestic market, as a Thai credit agency downgraded the country’s credit rating to BB+.
Kantar Uncovers Public’s Emphasis on Health and Food Safety, Highlighting the Unlimited Potential for Vegan Seafood
Vegan Street Snacks Reach 50% Purchase Rate – Night Economy Emerges as a Key Opportunity for Promoting Plant-Based Foods in Hong Kong.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 9 October 2023 – Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company, today releases its Hong Kong‘s Plant-based Food Market report, revealing 74% of consumers choose plant-based foods for health reasons, and they pay great attention to nutrition and food safety when making dietary choices. Labels including additives-free, traceability and natural can increase consumers’ willingness to purchase vegan products.
According to the report, over 90% of consumers expressed interest in considering vegan seafood in the future, while only 10% have purchased this kind of product in the past three months. The increasing interest is amplified by recent concerns over the safety of seafood consumption due to Japan’s discharge of treated radioactive water. The report suggests that the industry should capitalize on this trend and develop unique vegan seafood products and dishes.
In the government’s recent promotion of the night economy, street food plays a crucial role. However, most street food in night markets are high in calories and low in nutritional value, easily leading to weight gain and health issues. Given that maintaining health is a primary reason for choosing plant-based food, the industry could consider offering healthy and low-calorie vegan alternatives at night. The report shows that 94% of consumers are willing to try vegan ready-made meals and snacks, including vegan versions of popular street foods like hamburgers, deep-fried spring rolls/prawn crackers, siu mai, fish balls, and fried chicken nuggets and so on.
Kantar’s study explores Hong Kong citizens’ opinions on the nutrition, taste and product labels of plant-based foods. The goal is to understand the information that needs to be emphasized, as well as the barriers that need to be overcome for plant-based foods to become part of consumers’ daily diet.
Other key findings include:
· Major factors that deter consumers from choosing plant-based foods include high prices (53%), dislike for their taste and texture (32%) and difficulty finding them in the market (23%). To address these concerns, it is recommended that fast-food restaurants and Hong Kong-style cafes, known for their convenience and affordability, promote plant-based dishes.
· The industry can explore the possibility of introducing options which cater to various dining scenarios. For example, considering office workers’ preferences, there is potential for launching vegan cheese sandwiches and vegan satay beef noodles as breakfast options. According to the report, 25% and 23% individuals are willing to try the vegan versions of these dishes respectively.
Jeff Tsui, Managing Director of Kantar Profiles’ division, Greater China, commented:
“A growing emphasis on health is driving the evolution of plant-based trend locally. The recently published Hong Kong‘s Plant-based Food Market report provides actionable insights for the catering industry, suggesting that diversifying plant-based food choices to accommodate different dining scenarios would be an intriguing strategy to attract busy urban dwellers. Notably, Hong Kong’s dining culture is a blend of Chinese and Western influences, with cha chaan tengs (Hong Kong-style cafes) having played a prominent role in shaping the food trend. Despite the rising popularity of cross-border consumption, there remains an opportunity for innovative plant-based dishes that incorporate local flavors to spearhead a fresh wave of healthy eating.”
Hashtag: #Kantar #KantarProfiles #MarketResearch #PlantbasedFood #HealthyEating #JapanRadioactiveWater #VeganSeafood #NightEconomy #VeganFishball #VeganSiuMai #凱度 #市場調研 #植物基食品 #健康飲食 #食品安全 #日本處理水 #純素海鮮 #香港夜經濟 #純素小食
https://www.linkedin.com/company/164738/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Kantar 凱度
Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world’s top companies. We combine the most meaningful attitudinal and behavioral data with deep expertise and advanced analytics to uncover how people think and act.
Kantar’s Profiles division is home to the world’s largest audience network. With access to 170m+ people in over 100 global markets, it offers unrivalled global reach with local relevancy. Validated by industry leading anti-fraud technology, Kantar’s Profiles Audience Network delivers the most meaningful data with consistency, accuracy, and accountability – all at speed and scale.
For more information, please get in touch with AskProfilesGC@kantar.com.
Xiao-I Corporation Releases Hua Zang Large Language Model 1.1, Effectively Addressing Pain Points in Industry Applications with Its Support for Multiple Language Scenarios
As a domestically produced general AI system, positioned as “controllability, customizability, and deliverability,” Hua Zang Large Language Model has achieved notable breakthroughs in delivery costs. The newly released 1.1 version has taken its multilingual support capabilities to the next level, introducing support for two additional languages: English and Japanese. This expansion enables interactive applications in bilingual scenarios, such as encompassing conversations, text generation, translation, and more, significantly broadening its applicability.
Language support has always been a pain point for application promotion in the practical operations of certain cross-border e-commerce enterprises targeting overseas markets. Industry analysts believe that integrating multilingual capabilities in the Hua Zang Large Language Model will effectively assist relevant corporate users in realizing AI-empowered cross-border business implementation, thus expanding the boundaries of its applications.
Furthermore, the new version has also upgraded and strengthened its output control. It has introduced a text risk prediction and control module, enabling intelligent monitoring of the scale and risk of generated content, thus ensuring the safety and controllability of enterprise users’ application processes.
The expansion of language support will facilitate the Hua Zang Large Language Model’s implementation in various vertical domains, while the enhancement of output control provides enterprises with a greater sense of security. This is expected to lead to an expansion in the user base. With the dual driving forces of technological iteration and business application, the Hua Zang Large Language Model is steadily progressing toward its goal as a general AI system, and will accelerate the advancement of AI empowerment across various industries in China.
Hashtag: #HuaZangLargeLanguageModel
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ROSEN, TRUSTED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Archer Aviation Inc. Investors with Losses to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – ACHR
New York, New York – Newsfile Corp. – October 6, 2023 – WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) between September 17, 2021 and August 15, 2023, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important November 20, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased Archer Aviation securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Archer Aviation class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18433 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 20, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Archer Aviation relied on heavily edited videos of earlier flights to exaggerate the amount of flight testing it had actually performed and the sophistication of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft; (2) Archer Aviation had misrepresented the nature and profitability of its business partnerships; (3) Archer Aviation was unlikely to secure Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) certification in the timeframe it had represented to investors, thereby delaying the start of mass production of its aircraft for commercial sales; (4) accordingly, Archer Aviation had overstated its financial position and/or prospects; (5) all of the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to subject Archer Aviation to significant financial and/or reputational harm; and (6) as a result, Archer Aviation’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the Archer Aviation class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18433 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
——————————-
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HUBC DEADLINE: ROSEN, GLOBAL INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages HUB Cyber Security Ltd. f/k/a Hub Cyber Security (Israel) Ltd. Investors with Losses to Secure Counsel Before Important October 16 Deadline in Securities Class Action – HUBC, HUBCZ, HUBCW
New York, New York – Newsfile Corp. – October 6, 2023 – WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of HUB Cyber Security Ltd. (NASDAQ: HUBC) (NASDAQ: HUBCZ) (NASDAQ: HUBCW) f/k/a Hub Cyber Security (Israel) Ltd. (“Legacy HUB”) pursuant and/or traceable: (a) through Legacy HUB’s merger (the “Merger”) with Mount Rainier Acquisition Corp. (“Mount Rainier”); (b) to the registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus (collectively, the “Offering Documents”) issued in connection with the Merger; and/or traceable to the registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus (collectively, the “Offering Documents”) issued in connection with the Merger; and/or (c) between March 23, 2022 and June 13, 2023, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important October 16, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.
SO WHAT: If you purchased HUB Cyber securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.
WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the HUB Cyber class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18848 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 16, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.
WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.
DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Offering Documents and defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) private investment in public equity (“PIPE”) financing in connection with the Merger was not committed; (2) HUB would not be led by Legacy HUB’s then-current management team, including Defendant Eyal Moshe (the Company’s founder and previous Chief Executive Officer); (3) the Company had downplayed the full scope and severity of deficiencies in its compliance controls and procedures, including its disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting; (4) the Company overstated its remediation of, and/or ability to remediate, the foregoing deficiencies; (5) accordingly, the Company had hundreds of thousands of dollars of unexplained expenses incurred, and/or funds misappropriated or otherwise fraudulently obtained, by a senior officer of the Company; (6) the foregoing increased the risk that the Company would be unable to timely file one or more of its periodic financial reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as required by the NASDAQ’s listing rules; (7) as a result, the Company was also at an increased risk of being delisted from the NASDAQ; (8) all the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to negatively impact the Company’s business, financial results, and reputation; and (9) as a result, the Offering Documents and defendants’ public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.
To join the HUB Cyber class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18848 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.
No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.
Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
——————————-
Contact Information:
Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Works on Largest Wind Power Project in Southeast Asia Move Forward
Wind turbine delivery continues as the country carries on with the development of the largest wind farm in Southeast Asia (SEA).
Lao Ministry Partners With ADB to Enhance Capacity in Public Debt Management
![Lao Ministry Partners With ADB to Enhance Capacity in Public Debt Management The Lao Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), concluded a 2-day training on “High-level Policy Dialogue on Good Practices for Enhancing Public Debt Management in Laos” on Thursday. The high-level dialogue aimed to establish links between public debt management and fiscal, monetary, and financial policies, with the goal of creating a comprehensive government strategy for improving public debt management. Consisting of government officials, private sector representatives, experts and development partners from the region and beyond, the dialogue aims to draw on international and regional experience to review past lessons, and make proposals for the Lao government to consider in its plans to strengthen public debt management. In July 2017, the Lao government approved the Public Finance Development Strategy 2025 and Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen public finances to contribute to sustaining dynamic and stable economic growth and a graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, reflecting the objective of the Government’s 2016–2020 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan. “The experiences and lessons of other countries facing similar public debt challenges discussed during the dialogue will greatly help the government, and the Ministry of Finance in particular, to elaborate specific measures to enhance public debt management,” the Ministry of Finance Director General of Public Debt Management Soulivath Souvannachoumkham said during the dialogue. Soulivath also stressed the need for more comprehensive, accurate, timely and transparent monitoring of all public debts, guarantees, onlending agreements and potential future financial obligations of state-owned enterprises and from public-private partnerships. Onlending agreements is the mechanism by which one party borrows money to lend out to another party. “The task for the [Lao] government going forward is to translate good practices identified into specific policies as soon as feasible, including by revising the Public Debt Management Law and elaborating a Medium-Term Debt Strategy,” ADB Deputy Director General for Southeast Asia Emma Veve said. The ADB has reiterated its support to the Ministry of Finance to strengthen public debt management in Laos. All the stakeholders will work in close collaboration with other development partners by providing steady technical assistance to current and future projects. The new country partnership strategy, 2024–2028, is scheduled for ADB Board consideration early next year. The ADB has committed to provide Laos with a total of USD 2.6 billion in the form of 364 public sector loans, grants, and technical support. So far, the bank has already provided Laos with USD 2.41 billion funded by regular and concessional ordinary capital resources, including the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The current ADB’s portfolio in Laos includes 12 loans and 10 grants worth a total of USD 610 million. Lao Ministry Partners With ADB to Enhance Capacity in Public Debt Management The Lao Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), concluded a 2-day training on “High-level Policy Dialogue on Good Practices for Enhancing Public Debt Management in Laos” on Thursday. The high-level dialogue aimed to establish links between public debt management and fiscal, monetary, and financial policies, with the goal of creating a comprehensive government strategy for improving public debt management. Consisting of government officials, private sector representatives, experts and development partners from the region and beyond, the dialogue aims to draw on international and regional experience to review past lessons, and make proposals for the Lao government to consider in its plans to strengthen public debt management. In July 2017, the Lao government approved the Public Finance Development Strategy 2025 and Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen public finances to contribute to sustaining dynamic and stable economic growth and a graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, reflecting the objective of the Government’s 2016–2020 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan. “The experiences and lessons of other countries facing similar public debt challenges discussed during the dialogue will greatly help the government, and the Ministry of Finance in particular, to elaborate specific measures to enhance public debt management,” the Ministry of Finance Director General of Public Debt Management Soulivath Souvannachoumkham said during the dialogue. Soulivath also stressed the need for more comprehensive, accurate, timely and transparent monitoring of all public debts, guarantees, onlending agreements and potential future financial obligations of state-owned enterprises and from public-private partnerships. Onlending agreements is the mechanism by which one party borrows money to lend out to another party. “The task for the [Lao] government going forward is to translate good practices identified into specific policies as soon as feasible, including by revising the Public Debt Management Law and elaborating a Medium-Term Debt Strategy,” ADB Deputy Director General for Southeast Asia Emma Veve said. The ADB has reiterated its support to the Ministry of Finance to strengthen public debt management in Laos. All the stakeholders will work in close collaboration with other development partners by providing steady technical assistance to current and future projects. The new country partnership strategy, 2024–2028, is scheduled for ADB Board consideration early next year. The ADB has committed to provide Laos with a total of USD 2.6 billion in the form of 364 public sector loans, grants, and technical support. So far, the bank has already provided Laos with USD 2.41 billion funded by regular and concessional ordinary capital resources, including the Asian Development Fund (ADF). The current ADB’s portfolio in Laos includes 12 loans and 10 grants worth a total of USD 610 million.](https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ADB-1-696x423.jpg)
The Lao Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), concluded a 2-day training on “High-level Policy Dialogue on Good Practices for Enhancing Public Debt Management in Laos” on Thursday.
Days Off in ASEAN: Which is the Most Holiday-Friendly Nation
As the festival season approaches, people across Southeast Asia are looking forward to spending quality time with family and unwind.
But, when it comes to time off from work, not everyone will enjoy the same amount of leisure time.
Here’s the ranking of ASEAN nations from the least to the most generous in terms of public holidays.