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Fresh from France: Sustainable Apple Delights Mark Great Success in Malaysia


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 February 2025 – France has over 100 different apple varieties thanks to its unique climate and fertile soil. Recently, climate change has significantly impacted global agriculture, particularly affecting fruit cultivation. Following a challenging harvest in 2023, Europe’s apple production faces its second-lowest level of the century, primarily due to severe frost conditions in Eastern Europe, which results in a total yield of just 10.2 million tons—a decline of 1.3 million tons compared to the previous year. In contrast, France’s total apple production in 2024 remains relatively stable, at 1.4 million tons (figures finalized in November 2024). This reflects a slight decrease from 2023 but represents a stable crop compared to the three-year average, showcasing the resilience of French apple cultivation.

Interfel Malaysia Kombucha Workshop
Interfel Malaysia Kombucha Workshop

The outlook for specific apple varieties varies widely. While the yield of some of the major French varieties such as Golden and Gala has increased —by 8% for Golden and 1% for Gala— other varieties, such as Granny Smith and Fuji, have declined by 26-30%. The production of club varieties and local selections has also decreased this year. For instance, Pink Lady, France’s third-largest variety, yielded 154,000 tons, indicating a 10% decline. Meanwhile, the crop of Jazz has decreased by 19%.

For more than 25 years, French apple growers have proactively embraced innovative and adaptive measures. They are implementing sustainable agricultural practices such as precision irrigation, soil management, and environmentally friendly pest control to ensure the healthy growth of the trees and enhance their resilience. These methods not only protect the environment but also secure a sustainable supply of high-quality apples. Each apple not only tastes delicious but also embodies this commitment.

To introduce the authenticity of its produce and its process of responsible farming, INTERFEL hosted a series of annual activities in Malaysia. The series of activities include French Apple Kombucha Workshop for influencers, consumer roadshow, and in-store samplings at major retail stores such as AEON, Lotus, Econsave, and Jaya Gorcer. The activities happened from December 2024 until March 2025 with great success.

With emphasis on sustainability, Interfel aims to expand their initiative by promoting diverse methods of consuming French Apples and supporting sustainability through various activities that offer versatile uses for French Apples, promoting health, and minimizing the environmental footprint—all while celebrating the varied culinary possibilities of this nutritious fruit.

These activities were a resounding success, drawing the participation of 20 local influencers in the French Apple Kombucha Workshop and reaching over thousands of consumers through in-store samplings. Consumers also enjoyed lively roadshow events featuring fun games and exciting prizes, making the experience both memorable and interactive. French apples are still in season and available at major Malaysian supermarkets until March 2025.

Today, almost 1,300 French apple growers are committed to producing high-quality apples that are both environmentally friendly and rich in taste. Want to discover more delicious recipes and updates about French apples? Follow us on social media @FruitVegFromFR for the latest news and event information, letting you get up close and personal with this delightful and healthy offering from France!
Hashtag: #enjoyitsfromeurope #frenchapples #fruitvegfromfrance



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

Interfel, the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Interprofession from France.

Interfel, the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Interprofession, was established in 1976 and represents all aspects of the fresh fruit and vegetable sector, including production, cooperation, shipping, import, export, wholesale trade, distribution, and collective catering. As a private law organization, Interfel has been recognized as a national agricultural interprofessional association by French rural law and the European Union since November 21, 1996, within the framework of the Single Common Market Organization (OCM). The 15 members of Interfel are the national representative associations of the various professions in the sector.

An interprofessional advocates for the interests of the professionals it represents and provides advice to its members. With 75,000 companies and 450,000 direct jobs, including 250,000 seasonal workers, all trades in the sector are represented. (Source: Interfel, Sept. 2015).

Interfel is a platform for interprofessional dialogue, aiming to promote the sector and its professions and encourage the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. Its missions include understanding consumers and markets and adapting the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables to demand, discussing interprofessional agreements with public authorities, defining the sector’s strategic orientations in research and experimentation, promoting and defending the sector on the national and international market, and implementing communication actions, including information and advertising.

The Mills Fabrica Launches New Service to Support Brands and Organisations Advance Their Sustainability Journey

Aimed at businesses of any size and at any sustainability stage, the partnership service has already engaged nearly 50 global partners since its soft launch


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 February 2025 – The Mills Fabrica, a global collaborative hub propelling sustainability-focused innovations in the techstyle and agrifood sectors, today announces the launch of its partnership service, designed to help brands and organisations — of any size and at any sustainability stage — discover new opportunities for advancing environmental and social impact in their operations.

The Mills Fabrica Launches New Service to Support Brands and Organisations Advance Their Sustainability Journey

This initiative builds on The Mills Fabrica’s mission to catalyse industry-wide shifts towards sustainability by bridging the gap between sustainable innovations and leading brands and organisations, effectively creating opportunities for mutual growth. Brands and organisations can choose from a range of bespoke programmes such as Sustainability Discovery Day, Sustainability Workshops, Impact Campaign Experiences, Sustainability Innovation Scouting, and Impact Retail & Pop-Up Experiences to accelerate their sustainability journey and overcome industry-specific challenges. Since its soft launch eight months ago, The Mills Fabrica has already engaged nearly 50 global businesses, demonstrating a strong demand for the new service.

“Over the years, working with dozens of changemakers, one fact stands clear — the future of sustainability depends on a cross-sector collective effort, with entrepreneurs, industry veterans, manufacturers, investors, and consumers uniting behind one shared vision. With our proven track record in driving innovation and a deep understanding of our partners’ needs, it is only natural for The Mills Fabrica to launch this service. Through offering tailored programmes, we hope to unlock the full potential of collaboration by connecting brands and organisations with cutting-edge sustainability-focused innovation, specialist industry knowledge and our unique network of ecosystem partners. Together, we can drive planet-positive outcomes at scale, laying the groundwork for a regenerative future,” said Cintia Nunes, General Manager and Head of Asia, The Mills Fabrica.

The unique global innovation connector providing unparalleled access to extensive resources and bespoke programmes

The scale and urgency of the climate crisis underscores a crucial need to empower businesses to confidently navigate the innovation landscape and achieve purposeful, sustainable growth. Today, businesses face mounting pressure to adopt sustainability practices — not only to meet the demands of conscious consumers, but also to comply with new regulatory requirements and unlock operational efficiencies. Yet, significant barriers remain, including challenges in integrating sustainable-thinking, identifying new opportunities for advancing sustainability, sourcing sustainability-focused tech innovations and effectively quantifying impact.

This is where the new partnership service comes in. With a strong belief that the climate crisis demands global collaboration, The Mills Fabrica serves as a unique global innovation connector. In a world where brands and organisations play a critical role in the sustainability ecosystem, it acts as a crucial bridge that pulls together knowledge, resources and strategies to drive large-scale environmental and social impact.

Having partnered with 100+ global brands and 35 startups worldwide, The Mills Fabrica is in an ideal position to offer brands and organisations 360-degree access to an innovation ecosystem, encompassing access to market intelligence, technology integration, and retail data. It takes a highly tailored approach, collaborating closely with each brand and organisation to understand their unique challenges and co-creating bespoke programmes that drive measurable impact. Prominent players in the retail sector such as L’Oréal also engaged with The Mills Fabrica’s partnership service to advance their sustainability journey.

The bridge builders driving tangible, planet-positive outcomes for industry-wide sustainability progress

Sustainability is not a one-size-fits-all journey. Brands and organisations often struggle not just with implementing sustainability initiatives, but also with measuring and communicating the true environmental and social impact of their efforts in a meaningful way.

Whether integrating impact-thinking into their organisations or sourcing sustainability-focused innovations, businesses can leverage The Mills Fabrica’s measurement approach to quantify and communicate their progress. Utilising the nine planetary boundaries framework outlined by the Stockholm Resilience Center and IRIS+, its measurement approach instils confidence, ensuring sustainability efforts are not just in place but actively demonstrating real change.

One example of its programmes is The Mills Fabrica’s Impact Retail & Pop-Up Experiences, which allow partners to engage directly with consumers through its impact retail store Fabrica X. Here, they can test campaigns, gather vital consumer data and create retail showcases to reach and educate consumers. All campaigns are measured using its industry-recognised framework.

Fidelity International, a leading investment fund committed to sustainable development, partnered with Fabrica X on a biomaterial campaign to highlight the importance of sustainable consumer consumption. Through the impact retail store, it showcased innovative alternative materials to inspire consumers to adopt an eco-conscious lifestyle and showcased the groundbreaking work of material pioneers. The campaign received positive feedback from the public, with over half (66%) of surveyed participants agreeing that they should be more considerate about clothing materials.

Cintia continues, “At The Mills Fabrica, we are bringing together partners and innovators to create powerful collaborations that drive impactful sustainability progress. Recognising the diverse needs of brands and organisations in addressing sustainability challenges, we work with our partners to co-create programmes that are flexible, regardless of their sustainability stage or budget. We invite businesses from all sectors to join us in our mission and leverage this service to accelerate environmental and social impact through innovation.”

For more information on The Mills Fabrica’s new partnership service, please visit here.Hashtag: #TheMillsFabrica

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

About The Mills Fabrica

The Mills Fabrica is a global collaborative hub propelling sustainability-focused tech innovations within the techstyle and agrifood sectors, grown out of the legacy of Hong Kong conglomerate Nan Fung Group. To innovators at various growth stages, it uniquely offers resources encompassing venture capital, incubation support, impact retail (Fabrica X), prototyping lab, co-working and event spaces in Hong Kong and London. The Mills Fabrica’s new partnership service is designed to help businesses—of any size and at any sustainability stage—to discover new opportunities for advancing environmental and social impact in their operations.

How 51Talk is Redefining Online Education Through AI–from the Boardroom to the Classroom

SINGAPORE, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — 51Talk, an online English language education platform, has announced plans to launch a comprehensive, AI-powered systems upgrade across its business operations within the coming months.

Partnering with top tier global AI service providers, the company describes the new initiative as a mass integration of AI across every facet of its business, including teaching, customer acquisition, marketing, management, and beyond.

Dubbed the “Smart Learning System 2.0“, this program is set for full implementation in Q2 2025, marking a major milestone in the company’s mission to advance the field of online education.

Enhancing Learning Outcomes through AI Integration

51Talk primarily caters to young learners aged 3-15, offering personalized one-on-one English courses. With the introduction of the new system, the platform will provide an overhauled, improved user experience in three key areas.

Initially, AI will be deployed in the student onboarding stage, where it will generate customized course plans based on evaluations of pre-class English proficiency.

Following this, the system will assume an active monitoring role to ensure that standards of teacher performance are upheld, and will evaluate student engagement to suggest areas of improvement for lesson delivery.

Finally, the system will take charge of student assessment beyond live lessons to cover areas such as practice exercises, real-time pronunciation feedback, and perhaps most notably: progress tracking.

This comprehensive approach will offer students, parents, and teachers transparent and quantifiable insights for progress and outcomes—powered by the efficiency and precision of automation.

Streamlining Business Operations through AI Integration

Currently, 51Talk’s ability to deliver personalized and scalable language education is already driven in part by AI systems, albeit only in selective aspects of the business.

Based on data from 51Talk’s existing iteration of the Smart Learning System, the company has provided the following projections for how the system upgrade is set to improve operational side metrics:

On Customer Acquisition and Service Efficiency, AI-driven automations employed in social media marketing, customized trial offerings, customer queries, and more are set to significantly reduce customer acquisition costs through increased conversion rates and lower service-related human resource costs.

On Staff Recruitment, replacing the traditional three-round manual interview process with AI-assisted screening is set to improve recruitment efficiency by 80%.

What’s in store for 51Talk and the future of online education?

During the pilot phase of the system, 51Talk has become the first in the industry to achieve a fully AI-driven sales closure, underscoring its potential to scale for rapid global expansion and accelerated revenue growth.

However, beyond the immediate benefits, 51Talk’s commitment to AI reflects a forward-looking vision for the future of online education: Achieving high-quality, personalized education, affordable to all.

With Smart Learning System 2.0, 51Talk bridges the gap between scalability and personalization, offering a sustainable model that redefines what’s possible in global online education.

Contact:
David Chung
davidchung@51talk.com 

Consensus concludes sold-out debut event in Hong Kong and announces return to Asia in 2026

  • The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre reached maximum capacity, with nearly 10,000 in-person attendees from over 100 countries, solidifying the conference’s position as a marquee event of the region.
  • The conference, and its 350+ side events held over the week, are estimated to have contributed HK$275m to the economy.
  • Sold-out event highlights the conference’s success in bridging East-meets-West dialogue, with industry-altering announcements made throughout the week.

HONG KONG, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Consensus Hong Kong, which took place between February 18 and 20, 2025, has officially wrapped up its sold-out debut. As the world’s biggest and longest-serving event series for critical conversations on Web3, digital assets and blockchain, Consensus attracted nearly 10,000 in-person attendees, from 102 countries, to Hong Kong, with a combined AUM for attendees estimated at more than US$4 trillion. The success of the event has garnered international attention, so much so that it has officially announced today that it will be returning to Asia again next year in 2026.

The event’s arrival in Hong Kong coincided with several key regional milestones, with notable announcements during the week taking place, including:

  • Hong Kong’s financial regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), unveiled a new road map with 12 initiatives designed to “future-proof” Hong Kong’s virtual asset ecosystem;
  • Standard Chartered publicized its joint venture with Animoca Brands and Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) to seek a licence from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) to issue a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin.
  • Other announcements came from Hex Trust, Robinhood, WisdomTree, Pundi AI, zkMe, and more.
  • Bullish Group, the parent company of CoinDesk, announced that its Hong Kong digital asset trading business has received licensing approval from the SFC;

Seventy-five percent of the nearly 10,000 in-person attendees traveled from overseas, driving up tourism in Hong Kong and bringing in an estimated HK$275m to the city. Over 450 media registered to report on the event and hear from over 300 high-caliber speakers from the Hong Kong government, Web3 regulators and brands like Binance, Blockstream, Circle, Coinbase, Google, Pantera, Robinhood and Solana Foundation. Supported by over 125 sponsors and over 160 community partners, including Auros, Hex Trust, TRON, Aptos, CoinW, Dimitra, First Digital, Genius, Zeebu, and many more, the team was able to fulfill its mission of making Consensus the most important platform for digital assets and Web3.

In addition to the main conference line-up, over 350 side events took place over the course of the week in iconic Hong Kong venues. Cloud 39 at the Henderson, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Wonderland (West Kowloon Cultural District) the Grand Hyatt and Iron Fairies hosted special events, such as the opening Rooftop Revelry, Consensus Cup, Token of Love music festival, Crypto Fight Night and the Closing Party. Additional community-hosted side events took place in venues across the city including at Trilogy, Soho House, Popinjays, The Kerry Hotel, Luk Yu Tea House, Faye, K11, Dragon-I, Ozone, Cardinal Point, and dozens of others.

Its signature experiences, including the Hackathon and PitchFest, drew tech talent from all over the world:

  • Over 500 top developers – including from Thiel Fellows, and quants from top investment banks JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley – joined the two-day, in-person Hackathon run in partnership with EasyA. In total, 67 ground-breaking blockchain projects were launched to compete for more than US$400K in prizes and grants. There were six tracks at the Hackathon: Aptos, Ripple, MozaicNFT,  Crust, Original Trail and Polkadot, which were won respectively by ProfitX, Xeno, MozaicDot, MoME (Mixture of Multi-chain Experts) and Pix x Origintrail Telegram Bot.
  • Over 400 of the world’s most promising early-stage Web3 start-ups attended, with 12 competing live onstage at CoinDesk PitchFest for investor attention. TransCrypts, a leader in digital identity and credentials, backed by Mark Cuban, GSR Ventures, and others emerged as the winner. The competition was judged by top investors from Spartan Ventures, Titan Fund, CMCC, Foresight Ventures, Animoca Brands, and more.

Michael Lau, Chairman of Consensus Hong Kong, said, “Consensus Hong Kong was an overwhelming success. The combination of our nearly 10,000 in-person attendees and over 350 side events is independent validation proving our conference achieved incredible product-market fit. It is clear that the global Web3 industry has been asking for a truly world-class conference in Hong Kong for a while, and Consensus Hong Kong was the answer.  Hong Kong has worked hard to strategically position itself as a forward-thinking digital assets hub with a vibrant ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurial spirits, so we hope to return again next year—at an even bigger scale.”

Brad Spies, Managing Director of Consensus said, “Consensus has always had a laser focus on bringing together all of the different parts of the crypto ecosystem: traditional finance, DeFi traders, regulators, developers, entrepreneurs, investors, startups, academics, and artists. We are humbled to host heavyweight attendees from around the world looking to connect, and share singular experiences from day to night. Consensus Hong Kong has taken that mission to a new level, bringing together all sides of the industry, east and west, and using Hong Kong’s unparalleled venues, restaurants, and community as a way to bring people together to share ideas, create business opportunities, and have an excellent time doing it.”

Media contact:
Cognito on behalf of Consensus Hong Kong
ConsensusHK@cognitomedia.com 

About Consensus

Since 2015, Consensus has been the world’s largest and most influential gathering of the digital assets, blockchain and Web3 communities. Consensus now heads to Hong Kong, bringing together the industry’s most important voices from East and West for pivotal conversations and deal-making opportunities.

Consensus Hong Kong convenes global leaders in tech and finance to debate pressing issues, announce key developments and deals, and share their visions for the future. Consensus is produced by the award-winning media outlet CoinDesk and is guided by its commitment to independent, unbiased journalism. Consensus sets the agenda for the next wave of innovation and deal-making in the crypto and Web3 space.

About CoinDesk

CoinDesk is the most trusted media, events, indices, and data company for the global crypto economy. Since 2013, CoinDesk Media has led the story of the future of money and investing, illuminating the transformation in society and culture that comes with it. Our award-winning team of journalists delivers news and unparalleled insights that bring transparency, comprehension, and context. CoinDesk Events gathers the global crypto, blockchain, and Web3 communities at annual events such as Consensus, the world’s largest and longest-running crypto festival. CoinDesk Indices offers expertise in digital asset indices, data, and research to educate and empower investors. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by Bullish group. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. For more information on CoinDesk media and events, please visit CoinDesk.com. For breaking headlines, data, and indices, visit CoinDeskmarkets.com.

CStone Announces Publication of GEMSTONE-303 Study Results for Sugemalimab (Cejemly®) in JAMA

  • Sugemalimab is the world’s first anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma. The GEMSTONE-303 study results support sugemalimab in combination with chemotherapy as a new standard first-line treatment for patients with PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥5.
  • Sugemalimab is the first anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody demonstrating superior overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) with a manageable safety profile in combination with chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma who have not received prior systemic treatment for advanced disease and have PD-L1 CPS ≥5.
  • Sugemalimab has received approvals for five indications in China, and for first-line treatment of Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in China, Europe and the UK. CStone will continue to engage with health authorities in Europe and other regions for regulatory expansion.

SUZHOU, China, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CStone Pharmaceuticals (“CStone”, HKEX: 2616), an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of anti-cancer therapies, today announced the publication of the GEMSTONE-303 study results for sugemalimab (brand name: Cejemly®) in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)

GEMSTONE-303 is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the efficacy of sugemalimab in combination with capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) compared to placebo plus CAPOX as first-line treatment for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma with PD-L1 CPS ≥5. The dual primary endpoints were OS and investigator-assessed PFS. Key secondary endpoints included PFS assessed by the Blinded Independent Central Review Committee (BICR), objective response rate (ORR), and duration of response (DoR).

The GEMSTONE-303 article published in JAMA highlights the following key efficacy and safety findings:

  • In patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥5, the sugemalimab group showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in both OS and PFS compared with the control group.
  • Median OS was 15.6 months in the sugemalimab group compared with 12.6 months in the control group, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.61-0.92), P=0.006, indicating that sugemalimab plus CAPOX could reduce the risk of death by 25%.
  • Median PFS was 7.6 months in the sugemalimab group versus 6.1 months in the control group, with a HR of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.54-0.81), P<0.001.
  • Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAE) occurred in 53.9% of patients in the sugemalimab group and 50.6% in the control group, indicating that the safety of this combination regimen was manageable.

Subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent clinical benefits across all pre-defined subgroups, including patients with varying PD-L1 expression levels:

  • Sugemalimab plus CAPOX significantly prolonged OS in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥10; median OS was 17.8 months in the sugemalimab group compared with 12.5 months in the control group, with a HR of 0.64 (95% CI, 0.48-0.85), P=0.002.
  • In patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥10, median PFS was 7.8 months in the sugemalimab group compared with 5.5 months in the control group, with a HR of 0.58 (95% CI, 0.43-0.77), P<0.001.
  • In patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥10, ORR was 71.4% in the sugemalimab group compared with 48.6% in the control group.

Dr. Jason Yang, CEO, President of R&D, and Executive Director at CStone, stated: “We are honored to see the GEMSTONE-303 study results published in JAMA. This study establishes sugemalimab in combination with chemotherapy as the new standard first-line treatment for patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥5 G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. To date, sugemalimab has been approved for five indications in China. Internationally, we have expanded its regulatory pathways and forged commercialization partnerships in various global markets. The compelling clinical data from GEMSTONE-303 reinforce our confidence in advancing the global registration and commercialization of sugemalimab. We are committed to unlocking its full clinical potential and providing greater survival benefits to patients worldwide.”

Professor Lin Shen, Peking University Cancer Hospital, the leading principal investigator of the GEMSTONE-303 study, said: “Before the availability of PD-1 monoclonal antibodies, chemotherapy was the standard first-line treatment for unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma, with median OS rarely exceeding one year. The combination of anti-PD-1 antibodies and chemotherapy has significantly extended survival for these patients. The GEMSTONE-303 study builds on this progress. As the first anti-PD-L1 antibody approved for this patient population, sugemalimab specifically targeted the PD-L1-expressing population in its pivotal study, achieving significant efficacy with a manageable safety profile. The acceptance and publication of these results in JAMA affirm the innovation of GEMSTONE-303 and the valuable contributions of all researchers and participants involved.”

*Link to JAMA Network: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2830739

About Sugemalimab

The anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody sugemalimab was developed by CStone using OmniRat® transgenic animal platform, which allows creation of fully human antibodies in one step. Sugemalimab is a fully human, full-length anti-PD-L1 immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) monoclonal antibody, which may reduce the risk of immunogenicity and toxicity for patients, a unique advantage over similar drugs.

The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China has approved sugemalimab for five indications:

  • In combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous and non-squamous NSCLC;
  • For the treatment of patients with unresectable Stage III NSCLC whose disease has not progressed following concurrent or sequential platinum-based chemoradiotherapy;
  • For the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma;
  • In combination with fluorouracil and platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic ESCC; and
  • In combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy as first-line treatment for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma with a PD-L1 expression CPS ≥5.

The European Commission (EC) has approved sugemalimab (brand name: Cejemly®) in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC with no sensitizing EGFR mutations, or ALK, ROS1 or RET genomic tumor aberrations.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom has approved the marketing authorization application for sugemalimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC with no sensitizing EGFR mutations, or ALK, ROS1 or RET genomic tumor aberrations.

About CStone

CStone (HKEX: 2616), established in late 2015, is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of anti-cancer therapies. Dedicated to addressing patients’ unmet medical needs in China and globally, the Company has made significant strides since its inception. To date, the Company has successfully launched 4 innovative drugs and secured approvals for 16 new drug applications (NDAs) covering 9 indications. The company’s pipeline is balanced by 16 promising candidates, featuring potentially first-in-class or best-in-class antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), multispecific antibodies, immunotherapies and precision medicines. CStone also prides itself on a management team with comprehensive experiences and capabilities that span the entire drug development spectrum, from preclinical and translational research to clinical development, drug manufacturing, business development, and commercialization. For more information about CStone, please visit www.cstonepharma.com.

Forward-looking statements

The forward-looking statements made in this article only relate to events or information as of the date when the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or publicly revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. All statements in this article are made on the date of publication of this article and may change due to future developments.

Disclaimer: only for communication and scientific use by medical and health professionals, it is not intended for promotional purposes.

Lessons from Japan’s AMR Response for the Global Community

https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/380481

TOKYO, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) has released Japan’s AMR Response 2013–2025 alongside Tokyo AMR One Health Conference (February 18–19, 2025), hosted by Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare, Japan and co-hosted by WPRO and WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia. Developed by the AMR Clinical Reference Center for WPRO, the report highlights lessons from development, implementation, and monitoring of Japan’s National AMR Action Plan (2016–2020) (NAP1) and National AMR Action Plan (2023–2027) (NAP2). These insights may aid other countries in strengthening their AMR response.

NAP1 Implementation: Achievements and Challenges

NAP1 (2016) prioritized following six areas:

  1. Public awareness and education
  2. Surveillance and monitoring
  3. Infection prevention and control (IPC)
  4. Appropriate use of antimicrobials
  5. Research and development
  6. International cooperation

NAP1 strengthened Japan’s AMR surveillance and built an evidence base. However, challenges included geographic data bias, difficulties in IPC expansion to long-term care facilities, and limited public AMR awareness.

NAP2 (2023) retains NAP1’s framework while setting more targeted, actionable goals.

Key Lessons for the Global Community

1. Embedding the AMR response in health systems strengthening

AMR strategies should be integrated into broader health system strengthening rather than implemented in isolation. AMR efforts must align with primary health care, universal health coverage (UHC), and emergency preparedness and response to achieve sustainable impact. WHO’s People-Centered Approach is essential to ensuring that people remain at the core of interventions.

2. Strengthening Antimicrobial Supply Networks

Global antimicrobial shortages highlight the need for stable supply chains. Japan promotes domestic production while maintaining import-based supply networks to ensure accessibility.

3. Enhancing Surveillance Data Collection and Use

High-quality surveillance data is crucial for evidence-based interventions, monitoring effectiveness, and early detection of AMR outbreaks. Strengthening surveillance systems remains key.

4. Adapting to the local context and maximizing the use of resources AMR measures must be adaptable to each country’s context. Strategies effective in Japan may not be directly applicable elsewhere, requiring flexible implementation.

Japan’s Global Leadership in AMR Response

Japan has demonstrated strong leadership in supporting countries through technology transfer in areas such as strengthening surveillance systems, IPC, and the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. The release of Japan’s AMR Response 2013–2025 and its presentation at the Tokyo AMR One Health Conference mark significant steps in sharing Japan’s expertise and advancing global AMR control efforts.

JACKY CHEUNG BREAKS RECORD WITH 1000 SHOWS ACROSS 10 TOURS, A MILESTONE IN CHINESE MUSIC HISTORY

BEIJING, Feb. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Jacky Cheung, known as the “God of Songs” in the Chinese-speaking world, reached a historic milestone on February 23 by completing his 1,000th concert. This performance, held in Haikou as part of the “Jacky Cheung 60+ World Tour,” also marked the 218th show of this current tour. Cheung is now the first Chinese artist ever to surpass the 1,000-concert milestone. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the management team of Universal Music Greater China (UMGC) attended the concert and presented Cheung with a special gift, honoring his remarkable influence and legacy over the past four decades.


 

L-R: Gary Chan, David Chan, Jacky Cheung, Timothy Xu, Sunny Cheung (photograph: Shen Jing)
L-R: Gary Chan, David Chan, Jacky Cheung, Timothy Xu, Sunny Cheung (photograph: Shen Jing)

Jacky Cheung’s ten world tours represent a legendary musical journey that spans 38 years. Beginning in 1987 with his first solo tour, the “Jacky Cheung 87 Concert” from Hong Kong Coliseum to his 1,000th concert in 2025, his career has taken him to over 100 cities across 18 countries and regions, attracting millions of fans. These performances have not only set unparalleled records in the Chinese music industry but have also witnessed the global rise of Chinese pop music on the world stage.

Although Cheung has always stated that breaking records was never his goal, his tours have consistently set new milestones. In 1995, his “Friends World Tour” reached 100 shows, a record for the most performances by a Chinese artist at the time. In 2010, his “1/2 Century World Tour” attracted over 2 million people within a single year, earning a Guinness World Records™ title for the “largest combined audience for a live act in 12 months.” The “Jacky Cheung A Classic Tour,” which spanned 2 years and 3 months, set the record for the most shows by a Chinese artist in a single tour, with 233 performances. Now, with his ongoing “60+ Concert Tour,” which began in 2023, Cheung has already completed 218 shows, with more performances expected to surpass the records set by his previous tours.

Regarded as one of the most influential Chinese artists worldwide, Jacky Cheung is often celebrated as the “God of Songs” in the Chinese-speaking world. He has won numerous prestigious awards, including the “U.S. Billboard Music Awards – The Most Popular Singer in Asia” (1994), “World Music Awards – World’s Best-Selling Asian Artist” (1995, 1996), and the “Jade Solid Gold Awards – Asia Pacific Most Popular Male Singer” (1994, 1997, 1998), “Golden Melody Award – Best Mandarin Male Singer” (1998), among other top honors, and has had seven albums certified as Hong Kong’s best-sellers by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).

At his concert on that evening, Jacky Cheung, deeply moved, expressed: “What does 1,000 concerts mean to me? It’s a reflection of the past 40 years, where I’ve spent nearly 3,000 hours standing on this stage. I’ve poured all my sincerity and love into every performance. To every fan who has supported me, whether you’re here with me tonight or not, my journey has been shaped by your unwavering love and encouragement. Without you, I would never have had the chance to do what I love most. These 40 years, these 1,000 shows—they were made possible by you. I am sincerely grateful for your constant presence by my side. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Jacky Cheung 1000 shows Celebration, Photographed by Shen Jing
Jacky Cheung 1000 shows Celebration, Photographed by Shen Jing

Jacky Cheung’s career began in 1984 when he joined PolyGram Records, which later became a subsidiary of Universal Music Group (UMG). Despite the many changes in the music industry over the years, Cheung has remained with UMG for over four decades, a testament to his enduring relationship with the label. UMG has supported the release of more than 50 of his albums, reinforcing his leadership in the Chinese music scene and helping to propel his international success. To commemorate his 1,000th concert milestone, UMG presented Cheung with a special gift — a three-meter-long traditional Chinese scroll painting that captures his 38-year, ten-tour journey. Each tour’s stage designs, lighting, and iconic looks are intricately depicted, set against a backdrop of fans holding light signs, symbolizing the brilliance of his enduring musical legacy.

Adam Granite, Executive Vice President of Market Development at Universal Music Group, sent his congratulations: “Jacky Cheung’s remarkable achievements over the past 40 years have far surpassed the boundaries of the Chinese music industry. From record-breaking album sales to the global reach of his music and the unparalleled scale of his tours, Cheung has solidified his place as one of the world’s most iconic superstars. Reaching 1,000 concerts is an extraordinary accomplishment that few artists worldwide could ever achieve. I offer my sincere congratulations to Jacky and eagerly anticipate the future milestones he will continue to set.”

Timothy Xu, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Greater China, presented the gift to Jacky Cheung and said, “It’s an honor to witness this historic milestone. I offer my heartfelt congratulations and deepest respect to Mr. Cheung. His unwavering trust in us over the past 40 years has contributed to an extraordinary legacy in the music industry. Mr. Cheung is not only our pride but also a defining figure in the Chinese music scene. His unparalleled artistry, remarkable professionalism, and every breakthrough he has achieved in bringing Chinese music to the global stage, continue to inspire us. We look forward to many more years of collaboration, promoting the influence of Chinese culture to the world stage.”

Gary Chan, Managing Director of Universal Music Hong Kong and Senior Vice President of Greater China, added, “It is an immense honor to witness and congratulate Mr. Cheung on his 1,000th concert. As the undisputed ‘God of Songs’ in the Chinese-speaking world, Jacky Cheung has become a symbol not just of Hong Kong’s pop music, but of a shared memory for Chinese people globally. From his early days with PolyGram in Hong Kong to his rise as a global superstar, we believe his legacy will continue to inspire the next generation of musicians from Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, leading them to new heights.”

*JACKY CHEUNG’S 1000 SHOWS ACROSS 10 CONCERT TOURS

  • Jacky Cheung 87 Concert (1987)
    A total of 6 shows
  • Love You More Every Day Tour (1991)
    A total of 15 shows
  • School & Friends World Tour (1993 – 1994)
    A total of 65 shows
  • Jacky Cheung 95 World Tour (1995 – 1996)
    A total of 100 shows
  • Friends World Tour (1999)
    A total of 67 shows
  • Music Odyssey Tour (2002 – 2003)
    A total of 45 shows
  • The Year of Jacky Cheung World Tour (2007 – 2008)
    A total of 105 shows
  • Jacky Cheung 1/2 Century World Tour (2010 – 2012)
    A total of 146 shows; Set a Guinness World Record™ for “the largest combined audience for a live act in 12 months.”
  • A Classic Tour (2016 – 2019)
    A total of 233 shows
  • Jacky Cheung 60+ Concert Tour (2023 – 2026)
    Still ongoing. As of February 23, 2025, 218 shows have been held.

 

Laos Lifts 31,000 Families from Poverty Amid Skepticism

Laos house (Photo: Global Hand)

By Kheuakham Chanlivong and Phontham Visapra


Laos has lifted 31,232 families out of poverty, reaching 89.23 percent of its 2024 target. The progress was shared during a national meeting on 17-18 February, where officials reviewed the country’s development efforts and set new goals.