31.1 C
Vientiane
Saturday, May 10, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 1892

Michelle Yeoh, Lily James, and Jessie Buckley Shine in De Beers Jewellers at the 2023 Critics’ Choice Awards

LOS ANGELES, US – Media OutReach – 17 January 2023 – De Beers Jewellers natural and responsibly sourced diamonds dazzled on nominees and actresses Michelle Yeoh, Lily James, and Jessie Buckley at the 28th annual Critics’ Choice Awards held at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, honouring the finest achievements of filmmaking and television.

Michelle Yeoh, nominee for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, radiated modern, natural elegance in a dramatic black and fuchsia gown complemented by sculptural rose pink aluminum earrings with white and intense pink diamonds and a statement Volute High Jewellery pear-shaped diamond ring. The earrings, from De Beers Jewellers’ The Alchemist of Light High Jewellery collection which celebrates the elemental magic of light, are a sublime fusion of art and science, precision and imagination, tradition and modernity.

Lily James, nominated for Best Actress in Limited series, opted for delicate classic diamond pieces from the Arpeggia, DB Classic and Aura collection to accompany her daring black gown.

Jessie Buckley, Critics’ Choice nominee for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, chose to wear timeless diamond pieces. Her look perfectly embodied a new generation’s take on old-Hollywood glamour.
Hashtag: #DeBeers #DeBeersHK #naturaldiamonds

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

About De Beers Jewellers

Founded in London, with a flagship store on Old Bond Street and a presence in the most exclusive locations around the world, De Beers Jewellers is the pinnacle of luxury diamond jewellery. Building on De Beers’ 130 years of expertise, the House glorifies the world’s most beautiful diamonds through creativity and craftsmanship in bold, distinctive designs.

De Beers is invested in ensuring all the diamonds it discovers create a lasting positive impact for people and the places where they are found. This comes with a pledge to build a better future – one that is fairer, safer, cleaner and healthier, in which communities thrive, ethical practices are maintained, and the natural environment is protected. We call this long-term commitment Building Forever.

De Beers Jewellers has 35 stores globally and ships to 15 markets via .

FB: @DeBeers
IG: @debeersofficial

Govt Allots LAK 190 Billion to Repair Roads, Manage Floods in Vientiane Capital

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport expects to spend more than LAK 190 billion (USD 11,256,569) to repair roads and manage flooding in Vientiane in preparation for the ASEAN Summit in 2024.

Western Companies Aid Myanmar Military Weapon Production, Finds Report

Laos makes statement on Myanmar military coup

According to a report by the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), companies from at least 13 countries, including in Europe, Asia and North America, have been supporting the Myanmar military to manufacture weapons that are widely used for committing human rights atrocities. 

China’s Economy Grew by Only 3% in 2022

China

China’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by only 3% in 2022, one of its lowest annual outcomes in decades.

Laos Gears Up to Welcome Chinese Tourists

Laos Prepares to Welcome Chinese Tourists
Chinese travelers flocking at Shanghai airport.

The Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism hosted a forum on Monday to discuss preparations underway for the arrival of Chinese tourists.

Top UK University offering international students a golden chance to be part of world-changing scientific research

NORWICH, UK – Media OutReach – 17 January 2023 – The University of East Anglia (UEA) – a United Kingdom Top 30 university – is offering international students a real chance to be at the forefront of world-changing scientific research at its 360-acre campus in Norwich.

Caption


With some of the world’s biggest issues ready to be solved by the next generation of microbiologists, geneticists, and biomedical researchers, INTO UEA – UEA’s on-campus international education partner – is offering a foundation programme in Pharmacy, Health and Life Sciences.

UEA is advantageously located on one of Europe’s largest single-site research collectives – Norwich Research Park (NRP). This proximity to NRP means students at INTO UEA and UEA benefit from world-class STEMM learning facilities and can draw on expertise and placement opportunities from four renowned research institutes, a major teaching hospital and over 150 science businesses, which are home to over 30,000 staff, including 3,000 scientists and clinicians working on challenges in food, health and the environment that will change lives around the globe.

Dawn Wilkinson, Programme Manager at INTO UEA, says: “Studying a STEMM subject at INTO UEA means being at the heart of bioscience research, discovery and real-world innovation. Our students become part of UEA’s thriving STEMM community from the moment they start studying with us. UEA is an integral member of Norwich Research Park, one of Europe’s largest single-sites of bioscience researchers working together to solve real-world problems in health, food and the environment, such as how to feed our growing human population. Life science students benefit from top-class teaching, facilities and opportunities to get involved.”

Winnie from Hong Kong did her foundation programme in Pharmacy, Health and Life Sciences at INTO UEA. She went on to study her undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD qualifications in Pharmacy at UEA.

INTO UEA ran regular drop-in sessions where I could ask questions and receive constructive feedback on my coursework, it also offered lots of opportunities for practical laboratory experience, which really helped to develop my interest in research. The innovative teaching methods e.g., problem-based learning encouraged independent study and helped me and my fellow students to develop our communication skills.”

Megan also from Hong Kong studied her foundation in Pharmacy, Health and Life Sciences at INTO UEA and went on to complete a BSc degree in Physiotherapy at UEA.

“Since INTO is located on the UEA campus, students can easily access the university facilities, such as the Sports Park, library, student union and Career Centre.

“I found the teaching methods used at INTO UEA were very similar to those used in Hong Kong, however I had to write a lot of science-based reports and essays which had to be presented very differently to what I was used to, for example academic writing and the Harvard referencing style – I found this difficult at first to get used to but I was supported to ensure I did.”

Kelly from China took her foundation year at INTO UEA and then went on to do her BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics at UEA. She subsequently completed her MSc in Human Molecular Genetics at the Imperial College London.

“At INTO you’re required to do much more independent study, which was quite challenging at first, though you are supported to learn how to do this effectively,” she says.

Aida from Malaysia completed a BSc in Biochemistry at UEA after her foundation programme with INTO UEA.

“I took part in the UEA Award which I saw as a way of getting involved with activities beyond my course. Throughout the award I got to attend networking events, enjoyed volunteering opportunities, and even completed some work experience. I definitely developed and improved my ‘soft’ skills taking part in these activities. I highly recommend the UEA Award to any students!”

With UEA ranked in the top 100 institutions in the world for Life Sciences*, it is little wonder that graduates have gone on to accomplish great things at the very best universities. Duuamene, from Nigeria, completed both his bachelor and master’s degrees at UEA after studying at INTO UEA. He credits his experience in Norwich with providing the impetus to go on to achieve a PhD in Medical Sciences (Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease) at the University of Cambridge in 2020:

“My undergraduate degree in Biomedicine and MSc in Molecular Medicine (at UEA) were pivotal to my studying for a PhD as I initially wanted to study medicine. I was really fascinated and intrigued to be able to test my curiosity in the lab and experiment my ideas in a hypothesis-driven manner. These degrees helped me to develop my research skills and ability to read, synthesise and extract relevant information from research papers, whilst being able to critique them as well. Hence, it provided me the theoretical and practical knowledge base for a PhD.”

INTO University Partnerships connects students seeking quality international education with leading universities in the UK, US and Australia. Since its inception in 2005, INTO has helped more than 130,000 students from 190 countries realize their dream of achieving a degree from a world-class university.

*Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022

Hashtag: #INTOUniversityPartnerships

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

Kantar’s CNY research reveals consumer recovery after relaxing social distancing measures

  • As the COVID-19 restrictions are lifting, the strong festive atmosphere encourages travel and consumption.

  • New Year gifts are no longer limited to food. The demand for healthcare products is increasing.

  • The tradition continues. Physical “lai-see” is still more prevalent than eLaisee in Hong Kong.

  • Due to the global economic outlook, public investment tends to be conservative.

  • The Year of the Rabbit, economic and livelihood issues are most concerning.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 January 2023 – Stepping into 2023, as Hong Kong relaxes and cancels social distancing measures, people’s daily life gradually returns to normal, posing a positive impact on the consumer market. To help brands seize business opportunities, Kantar takes an in-depth review of Hong Kong consumers’ popular CNY activities, consumption plans, and resolutions for 2023.

As the COVID-19 restrictions are lifting, the strong festive atmosphere encourages travel and consumption.

According to the data, travel and consumption activities during CNY increase. As Hong Kong has scrapped all social distancing restrictions, 80% of the people will resume socializing, consumption, and entertainment, including dinner with relatives and friends (64%), dinner out on New Year’s Eve (46%) and traveling abroad (21%). Most respondents expressed their hope to return to normal post pandemic (78%).

Compared with respondents without children, consumers with kids are significantly more engaged in social events. The most popular family activities include visiting relatives and friends (73%), dining out (54%), traveling abroad (27%) and joining large events (25%). It is worth mentioning that 68% of the parents who choose outdoor events tend to visit museums and exhibitions. Hong Kong has strengthened the promotion of culture and art in recent years, and several cultural facilities and museums have been established. As a result, parents are able to cultivate young children’s interest and appreciation in art.

During the CNY, 41% of respondents will increase local consumption, and 55% believe that it is because of the festive atmosphere. Real estate developers, shopping malls and brand owners may resume holding more bazaars, exhibitions, and themed decorations. Besides adding a festive atmosphere and providing a variety of experiences, it can also stimulate consumption sentiment.

Recently, online shopping has become a habit of Hong Kong people. When asked how to use the lai-see money they received this year, half of the respondents said they would use it for shopping, and 81% of them expected to spend it online, close to spending on offline stores (92%). Among various online shopping platforms, HKTVmall is the most popular among citizens. 50% of the respondents indicate that they will increase the frequency of shopping on the platform, which is likely due to the more diversified products, the presence of popular brands, and the stable and fast delivery.

At the same time, due to the uncertainty of the pandemic, some people are worried and choose to stay home. More than half of them will watch TV (54%) and videos (44%) alone or with their families at home. 55% of them express that they can tolerate all advertisements to use the streaming platform for free, indicating that there is still potential for brands to place advertisements on YouTube and other platforms.

New Year gifts are no longer limited to food. The demand for healthcare products is increasing.

During Hong Kong’s three-year fight against COVID-19, people are increasingly health-conscious. Paying more attention to the healthcare of themselves and the loved ones, over 60% of people wish to be healthier in the new year. The choice of New Year’s gifts has also become diversified, not limited to food, such as cookies and chocolates. 41% of people choose to buy fitness, health, and beauty care products as gifts for family members, relatives, and friends. 72% of them use the lai-see money to buy fitness equipment and healthcare products for themselves. The trends show that consumers want to stay healthy by workouts and taking supplements.

Research shows that there are different preferences on buying New Year gifts for multiple recipients. When choosing gifts for family members or relatives, food, such as fruits and snacks, is the best option (89%), followed by healthcare products (87%) and shopping cash coupons (80%). People prefer cash coupons for work partners, such as colleagues and subordinates. Lastly, wine is the most popular gifts for bosses and customers.

The tradition continues. Physical “lai-see” is still more prevalent than eLaisee in Hong Kong.

One of the most important traditions during the CNY is undoubtedly “lai-see giving”. People generally start to give out red packets after getting married. The survey results discover that electronic lai-sees are not popular in Hong Kong. 93% of the respondents still stick to the tradition and give out physical lai-sees, which symbolizes blessing the receivers for the coming year with good luck. The younger generation, aged 18-41, are more willing to distribute lai-sees through electronic channels. Among them, 20% choose PayMe, and 20% choose bank’s mobile app. Compared with 2022, there is no particularly obvious difference in the penetration rate of e-Laisee.

Even if citizens have more freedom to celebrate the New Year and dine-out, over 60% of them prepare a similar amount of lai-see as last year, and no significant upward trend can be observed.

Due to the global economic outlook, public investment tends to be conservative.

The study found that the total estimated amount of lai-see in Hong Kong will reach 3.6 billion in 2023. When people are asked how to spend the money, most people choose investment and savings (65%) to realize wealth appreciation; followed by spending money on shopping (50%) and dining (46%) to reward themselves. Compared with female respondents (62%), more male respondents (73%) are inclined to investment and savings; while more female (72%) prefer shopping, with a higher proportion then male (61%).

There is expected to be a slowdown in global economic growth. Among people who choose to spend the lai-see on investment and savings, 90% tend to be conservative, including savings (78%) and bank time deposits (46%), indicating that the risk aversion of citizens has heightened. Financial institutions suggest considering the development and promotion of investment products with lower risks.

The Year of the Rabbit, economic and livelihood issues are most concerning.

During the Chinese New Year, it is inevitable to meet with relatives and elders. Most people should have faced “excessive concern” and have been asked all kinds of overwhelming questions. When it comes to the most embarrassing topic in family gatherings, over half of the people have struggled with questions about work and salary (52%), followed by the topic of life planning (47%). The study shows that there are more embarrassing topics for the younger generation, aged 18-41, about 2 to 3 questions on average. An interesting finding is that relationships and marital status, which are often perceived to be the “taboo topics”, receive the lowest votes (29%). It seems that everyone can also take the opportunity to care about others’ love life during the festival.

People look ahead to a new year with hope. Saying goodbye to the Year of the Tiger, Hong Kong citizens’ popular wishes are still the same as last year, all related to health (61%), money (52%) and work (39%). The top four most concerned topics are “inflation” (35%), “health/health care” (33%), “stock market/ housing market” (31%) and “interest rate ” (27%), related to society, economy, and livelihood issues.

Jeff Tsui, General Manager of Kantar Profiles, Greater China commented:

“The report shows that there is a significant increase in consumers’ willingness to travel and spend during Chinese New Year. Positive impact can be found in the catering, large-scale events, health consumption, tourism sectors etc. Brands and service providers should seize the business opportunities to create more diversified products and bring more new experiences to consumers to meet their needs in the new year.”

Editor’s note
Respondents were sourced from Kantar’s LifePoints research panel, only accessible through the Kantar Profiles Network. All interviews were conducted as online self-completion and collected based on local census distributions between Jan 6-8.

Hashtag: #Kantar #KantarProfiles #Survey #ChineseNewYear #ConsumerInsights #CNYActivities #eLaisee #HKConsumers #HKRetail #2023Outlook

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

Kantar

Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company. We have a complete, unique, and rounded understanding of how people think, feel and act; globally and locally in over 90 markets. By combining the deep expertise of our people, our data resources and benchmarks and our innovative analytics and technology, we help our clients understand people and inspire growth.

Kantar Profiles is a division of Kantar, and home to the world’s largest audience network. With our industry-leading quality measures, fraud detection, and decades of experience – we are the most trusted panel provider in the industry.

Linkedin:
Company Website:
Wechat: 凯度全球线上调查

E-PowerSpot Shakes Up Hong Kong’s Power Bank Sharing Market with Innovative Partnership Program

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 16 January 2023 – E-PowerSpot, a promising enterprise in the shared power bank industry, is rapidly gaining market share across Hong Kong with its innovative partnership program and attractive benefits for partnering businesses. Its network of rental locations is quickly spreading across the city as its unique advertising advantages continue to win business owners over. In 2022, the company’s partner network expanded by 300% while user growth also saw a staggering 2000% increase.

IMG-7710-i-.jpg

“E-PowerSpot was inspired by the concept of a shared economy. On top of providing a great power bank rental experience to end users, we are also creating a city-wide advertising network where our partners’ ads can be displayed on HD monitors across Hong Kong, like mobile billboards,” said Douglas Wai, Business Director of E-PowerSpot. “Their ads can be displayed on our mobile app and on kiosks across Hong Kong. They also have access to a back-end control panel where they can manage and schedule their ads strategically.”

E-PowerSpot’s innovative way of blending power bank sharing with advertising has created hugely rewarding marketing opportunities for retail businesses and restaurants in its network. With little to no initial costs, businesses that set up an E-PowerSpot kiosk at their venue can immediately display their ads across thousands of monitors around Hong Kong.

“We don’t charge a hefty entrance fee. Businesses have nothing to lose from joining our network, apart from the small amount of space that our power bank kiosks occupy,” said Douglas Wai, Business Director. “In return, they get to show their ads to customers all around Hong Kong and grow their brands effectively.”

E-PowerSpot’s power bank kiosks can now be found in various retail stores, restaurants, bars, hospitals, gyms, laundromats, and other venues across Hong Kong. The brand continues to welcome new partners in its ever-growing network.

“Today, power bank kiosks drive more foot traffic than ever as people depend on their mobile devices for work. Almost any type of business would benefit from having our power banks around, but restaurants, cafes, and co-working spaces certainly love us the most. Customers who work or spend time there would never have to be disconnected again.” Said Echo Fung, Marketing Manager of E-PowerSpot.

“We don’t just power people’s devices. We are also powering our partners’ growth by providing them with effective advertising. We’re creating a shared economy where everyone benefits as the network expands.”

Hashtag: #E-PowerSpot

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

About E-PowerSpot

Launched in 2021, E-PowerSpot is a power bank sharing start-up that provides convenient and considerate rental services for users in Hong Kong. Businesses can place their advertisements on E-PowerSpot’s power bank kiosks and mobile apps through the brand’s advertising service or by becoming a partner within the network. Learn more at .