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Top 6 Best Places to Work in the USA for 2024 revealed


NEW YORK, USA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – The Best Places to Work organization is thrilled to unveil the Top 6 Best Places to Work in the USA for 2024, celebrating companies that have set the benchmark for workplace excellence, innovation, and employee satisfaction. This year’s honorees represent a diverse range of industries, unified by their dedication to fostering outstanding workplace cultures. Here are the remarkable organizations leading the way:

Fifth Avenue Financial, a leader in the financial services sector, secured the top position for its unwavering commitment to supporting its advisors and cultivating client-focused practices. Their dedication to guiding clients through critical financial decisions reflects their excellence in fostering trust and professional growth.

NTT Data, a global leader in IT services, earned the second spot for its relentless focus on innovation, offering strategic consulting and advanced technologies that empower transformative experiences and drive organizational success.

Green Buzz Agency, a dynamic communications agency specializing in sustainable marketing, ranked third for its dedication to environmental responsibility and social impact, helping businesses build authentic, eco-conscious brand identities.

Omnilife, a pioneer in health and nutrition for over 33 years, secured fourth place for its mission of promoting healthy lifestyles globally by producing high-quality dietary supplements enriched with vitamins, herbal extracts, and fruit essences.

Christ Church USA, a non-denominational Christian congregation, earned the fifth spot for its inclusive community that embraces diverse racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, inspiring lives through its mission to “Unite People to God and People to People.”

U.S. Retirement & Benefit Partners, a leading financial services firm headquartered in Iselin, NJ, rounded out the top six, recognized for its specialized expertise in employee benefits and employer-sponsored retirement plans, fostering financial well-being for K-12 public schools, government agencies, and private businesses.

These outstanding organizations exemplify the highest standards of workplace excellence, fostering environments where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Hashtag: #BestPlacesToWork

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

About Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work is an international certification program recognized as the ‘Platinum Standard’ for identifying and celebrating top workplaces worldwide. The program helps organizations benchmark their HR practices, improve employee satisfaction, and highlight those delivering exceptional employee experiences.

In the USA, the program collaborates with organizations across various industries annually to provide actionable insights, enhance organizational agility, and promote business effectiveness through employee-focused strategies.

For more information, visit the program website: .

Luang Prabang Tourism Booms with 2.3 Million Visitors in 2024

Luang Prabang Image By The Laotian Time
Luang Prabang Image By The Laotian Time

In 2024, Luang Prabang welcomed more than 2 million tourists, surpassing the initial goal of 900,000 visitors. 

According to data provided to the Laotian Times by the Luang Prabang Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism, a total of 2,306,375 tourists visited the UNESCO Heritage Town last year, with 1,532,394 being foreign visitors. 

2024, Luang Prabang tourists Table
2024, Luang Prabang tourists Table

The top 10 countries contributing to this success with the highest number of visitors were China, Thailand, South Korea, the United States, France, Japan, Germany, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

China led the way with a significant 438,355 tourists, followed by Thailand with 175,575, and South Korea with 151,189. 

This growth was already evident in 2023, when Luang Prabang attracted over one million visitors, marking a 91.49 percent increase compared to 2022. This increase generated an estimated USD 560 million, with over 760,000 international tourists contributing to the city’s economy. 

In 2023, Thailand was on the top of the list with 214,079 visitors. China and South Korea followed with 62,900 and 13,817 tourists respectively.

The rise in visitor numbers to Laos is attributed to the country’s increased exposure on several international travel websites as well as the success of the 2024 Visit Laos Year campaign. As part of this initiative, Laos granted special visa exemptions to more than 30 countries, including China, the United States, and eight European countries.

In October, Laos was ranked fourth on the list of the Top 30 Best Places to Visit in 2025 by the travel guidebook “Lonely Planet.” The top five destinations include Cameroon, Lithuania, Fiji, Laos, and Kazakhstan.

“National is Global”: DR PLANT’s Alpine Truffle Museum Grand Opening


KUNMING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – On January 6th, China’s first alpine truffle museum was established at the Fuli Palace of Kunming Botanical Garden. This museum, founded by the brand “Dr. Plant”, focuses on alpine truffles and aims to showcase the unique charm and precious value of truffles to the public in innovative ways. While providing robust support for black truffle conservation, it also injects new vitality into biodiversity protection efforts. Xie Yong, Deputy Director of the Wu Zhengyi Science Foundation, Founder and Chairman of DR PLANT, Qin Lan, Alpine Truffle Experience Officer, Niu Yang, Director of Kunming Botanical Garden, and original designer Jia Kemu attended the opening ceremony.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt_RfLf5U-A

To better protect the truffle ecology from destruction and raise public awareness of truffles, DR PLANT established the country’s first Alpine Truffle Museum, integrating ethnic culture into brand building and promoting the concept of alpine plant skincare.

“National is Global. Doctor Plant always adheres to the inheritance of ethnic culture. The Alpine Truffle Museum allows global consumers to experience the charm of Chinese skincare brands and understand the ethnic wisdom of the Chinese nation. We will uphold this confidence and present and transmit more natural beauty originating from China to the world,” said Xie Yong, Founder & Chairman of Doctor Plant.

Through the Alpine Truffle Museum, DR PLANT visually showcases the perfect fusion of ethnic cultural elements and alpine plant resources, bringing content with ethnic characteristics to the world stage. DR PLANT continuously explores and inherits alpine plant resources, achieving synergistic progress in brand value and cultural inheritance, injecting deeper cultural connotations and vitality into the brand.

“As a domestic brand deeply rooted in the field of alpine plant skincare, DR PLANT has always been committed to bringing safe and effective alpine plant ingredients to everyone. The domestic first Alpine Truffle Museum built in Kunming, Yunnan, in the form of public welfare, allows us to deeply understand the relationship between truffles, ecology, and human skincare through science popularization and immersive interaction,” mentioned Qin Lan, the Alpine Truffle Experience Officer, at the opening ceremony.

China’s first Alpine Truffle Museum not only connects the past and the future but also connects nature and humanity. DR PLANT has fulfilled its social responsibilities and commitments through practical actions, enabling more people to understand the unique charm of China’s alpine plants and illuminating the path for Chinese brands to explore natural cultural inheritance.

“Truffles are typical representatives of growth and harmony among all things, a harmonious life community. China’s black truffles have nearly the same nutritional value as those in France, but their commercial prices differ by dozens of times, mainly due to deficiencies in mining techniques and social impact. The ecological, nutritional, and beauty functions of truffles await exploration. We must not only utilize truffles well but also protect them. This requires contributing Chinese wisdom, technology, equipment, and products!” Xu Jianchu emphasized that the Dr. Plant Alpine Truffle Museum is crucial for the protection and promotion of black truffles in China. Taking the alpine truffle museum as a carrier, he hopes that Yunnan black truffles will go global.
Hashtag: #DRPLANT

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

VT Markets Anticipates Cryptocurrency Growth from Policy Changes and Market Momentum in 2025 Q1 Economic Outlook


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – VT Markets, an award-winning financial services provider, today releases its 2025 Q1 Economic Outlook. The report highlights how the dual tailwind of favourable policies and market dynamics will propel the cryptocurrency sector into a new era of mainstream adoption. The report also underscores the transformative strides achieved by cryptocurrencies in 2024, which sets the stage for further growth in the upcoming year.

2024 As A Landmark Year for Cryptocurrency

With the conclusion of the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, cryptocurrencies have ascended from niche assets to mainstream investment products. Political developments, particularly arising President Trump’s re-election and his pro-cryptocurrency stance, acted as the main catalyst for this phenomenon. Participants observed Bitcoin’s price surging by over 40%, crossing $108,000 by year-end anticipating dovish policy shifts and renewed investor confidence towards the digital asset.

Key regulatory appointments, such as naming crypto advocate Hester Peirce as SEC Chair, signalled to the market a shift towards a more favourable regulatory framework, instilling optimism in institutional and retail investors alike.

The Rise of Spot Bitcoin ETFs

In early 2024, the U.S. SEC approved multiple spot Bitcoin ETFs; a significant breakthrough for the cryptocurrency industry then. By year-end, assets under management for these ETFs grew from $28.8 billion to $110 billion. Among them, BlackRock’s IBIT ETF stood out, achieving record-breaking $30 billion AUM in under 300 days.

This development not only validated cryptocurrencies as a mainstream investment class but also paved the way for wider institutional participation. The integration of cryptocurrency into traditional finance is seen as a key step toward standardisation – an issue which has plagued the industry since its inception.

Liquidity and Risk Appetite Fuel Growth

Macroeconomic conditions, including the Federal Reserve’s shift towards an easing monetary policy, contributed to increased market liquidity and higher risk asset valuations. Cryptocurrencies, known for their high-risk, high-reward profile, inevitably emerged as a preferred choice for portfolio diversification, further driving their adoption and price momentum.

2025 Will Be A Year of Regulatory Clarity and Technological Innovation

Looking ahead, the cryptocurrency sector is poised for greater regulatory clarity and broader market acceptance globally:

United States: Expected legislation on stablecoins and other crypto assets will a establish a clear regulatory environment.

European Union: The upcoming implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) will enhance transparency and compliance.

Asia-Pacific: Singapore and Hong Kong are set to strengthen their positions as regional crypto hubs, promoting Web3 development and reopening licensing opportunities for exchanges.

Emerging Markets: Countries like Brazil, the UAE, Australia, and South Africa are advancing efforts to legitimize cryptocurrencies, potentially becoming regional leaders in the sector.

A New Era for Mainstream Cryptocurrency Adoption

The VT Markets’ Research Desk suggests that the confluence of supportive policies, transparent regulations, and robust market conditions will accelerate the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies.

They believe that this transition from speculative assets to recognised investment products will be a pivotal moment in financial innovation.

Hashtag: #VTMarkets #CFDs #CFDsbrokers #cryptocurrency #Bitcoin #bitcointrading



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

Skipton International Introduces New 3-Year Mortgage Products and Reduces Buy-To-Let Mortgage Rates for New Customers


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – Skipton International, a licensed bank in Guernsey and a leading mortgage lender for UK buy-to-let mortgages, has announced the launch of a brand new 3-year mortgage product at a fixed rate starting at 5.89%. Skipton has also announced the reduction in mortgage rates for new customers across its UK buy-to-let fixed rate range with the lowest 5-year fixed rates starting at 4.99%.

Photograph shows: Lorraine McLean, Senior Mortgage Sales Manager. Skipton International
Photograph shows: Lorraine McLean, Senior Mortgage Sales Manager. Skipton International

Buy-to-let mortgages allow investors in the UK property market to build a portfolio of properties and generate steady income from rental properties. Any property purchased in the UK for the purpose of renting out, requires a buy-to-let mortgage.

Skipton International’s new 3-year mortgage product offers competitive rates and make the start of the year the perfect time to investigate the purchase of a UK property for rental purposes.

  • Reduced Rates: New business 5-year fixed rates now start at 4.99%.
  • New Products: A 3-year fixed rate has been introduced, starting at 5.89%.

The reductions have been applied across its product range, including for both purchase and remortgage applications, with effect from Monday 13 January 2025.

UK property purchases are proving a solid investment for non-UK residents, with a year-on-year increase in property values, a surge in demand for available rental properties, and higher rental income achieved than ever before,” said Lorraine McLean, Senior Mortgage Sales Manager, Skipton International.

UK high street banks are typically hesitant to lend to foreign nationals due to concerns about lack of established financial history in the UK, and potential challenges in enforcing loan agreements across borders.

However, Guernsey-licensed bank Skipton International offers a solution by providing mortgage options for British expats and non-UK residents from places like Hong Kong or Singapore, allowing them to buy property while navigating these lending restrictions.

The UK’s transparent legal system provides security for property rights, a significant draw for expats and non-UK residents from countries with less stable markets. Furthermore, the streamlined restrictions on foreign buyers allows non-UK residents to enter the market easily, provided they can secure financing.

“The UK’s buy-to-let sector has remained strong despite interest rate fluctuations. Recent developments look promising, and the Bank of England’s November 2024 rate cut to 4.75% signals good news for property investors, and projections indicate rates may fall to 4.2% by 2026. The market continues to grow steadily with high rental demand and landlord profitability rates reaching 87%,” added McLean.

Skipton’s approach makes gaining a UK mortgage for buy-to-let properties as stress free as possible including easy to use UK mortgage calculators to estimate how much to borrow, and the monthly repayments for the required loan size.

Skipton International is also a part of the Skipton Group, which includes the UK’s Skipton Building Society and Connells, the UK’s largest real estate agency.

Skipton’s Guernsey Advantage
Skipton is registered in Guernsey, an offshore island affiliated with England, but with its own laws as a British ‘Crown Dependency’. A highly regulated jurisdiction, Guernsey gives reassurance to anyone with financial dealings on the island.

Skipton’s new rates will also be available to its global network of brokers in addition to direct applications.

For further information, visit: England, Scotland and Wales Buy-To-Let mortgages

Product fee:

Purchase: £1,999

Remortgage: £999
Additional borrowing: £999

Valuation cost:

Purchase: Cost included in Product Fee.

Remortgage: Cost included in Product Fee

Hashtag: #skiptoninternational

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

About Skipton International

Skipton International offers a range of offshore savings accounts and is one of the Channel Islands’ leading mortgage lenders for residential Channel Island mortgages and UK buy-to-let mortgages for expats and non-UK resident nationals. It is a three-times winner of the Moneyfacts ‘Offshore Bank Account Provider of the Year’ award 2021, 2022 and 2023, and the Mortgage Introducer ‘Top Mortgage Employer’ Award 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Skipton International is part of the , includes Skipton Building Society, and the UK’s largest estate agency, .

Skipton International is licensed under the Banking Supervision (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law. Skipton is a participant in the Guernsey Banking Deposit Compensation Scheme. The Scheme offers protection for ‘qualifying deposits’ up to £50,000, subject to certain limitations. The maximum total amount of compensation is capped at £100,000,000 in any five-year period. Full details are available on the Scheme’s website www.dcs.gg or on request. To help maintain service and quality, telephone calls may be recorded and monitored.

Skipton International has a customer service rating of 4.7 / 5 according to Feefo, an independent online assessor of customer service, and is a five-times Platinum award winner as a trusted provider.

Vietjet to Boost Aviation Infrastructure in Laos

Vietjet to Boost Aviation Infrastructure in Laos
This image is used solely for representational purpose (photo credit: Independent)

Vietnamese airline Vietjet has signed an agreement to support Laos in advancing its aviation infrastructure. 

“Immersive Translate” by funstory.ai Delivers Instant Multi-Language Translation with Just One Click, Named Google Chrome’s Best Extension of 2024


TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – Google recently announced its Best 2024 Chrome Extensions of the Year, with “Immersive Translate” developed by funstory.ai standing out for its innovative multi-platform integration and AI translation technology. The tool not only supports platforms including iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows but is also compatible with major browsers like Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox, delivering a translation experience that closely matches user needs.

Immersive Translate can accurately identify the main content areas of web pages, providing smooth bilingual parallel translations without needing to open multiple web pages
Immersive Translate can accurately identify the main content areas of web pages, providing smooth bilingual parallel translations without needing to open multiple web pages

Immersive Translate integrates leading AI translation engines including DeepL, OpenAI, Claude, and Gemini, breaking through the limitations of traditional single-engine translation tools. Users can freely switch between the most suitable translation engines based on different scenarios, achieving precise translation results.

The tool’s main feature is its intelligent bilingual comparison function, which accurately identifies the main content areas of web pages while preserving the original layout, allowing users to compare source text and translation on a single page. Additionally, it supports over 100 international video platforms including YouTube, Netflix, and TED, providing real-time bilingual subtitle translation services.

In terms of document processing, Immersive Translate supports nine document formats including Word and ePub, while also offering free PDF translation services that maintain the original document layout. Furthermore, its PDF PRO feature can intelligently recognize complex layouts, fully preserving mathematical formulas, tables, and mixed text-image layouts, solving the formatting issues common to traditional translation tools.

Notably, the tool is also a boon for manga enthusiasts, supporting over 50 international manga websites including Shueisha and MANGA Plus. Through AI image recognition technology, it can accurately translate dialogue box content while maintaining the integrity of the original images.

Immersive Translate not only provides professional support in the business sector but also creates an innovative learning environment in education. Through real-time bilingual comparison features, it perfectly integrates language learning with daily life, pioneering cross-language communication in the modern digital era.
Hashtag: #ImmersiveTranslate

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

Electricity Exports Lead Laos’ Trade Revenue in 2024

Electricity Exports Lead Laos’ Trade Revenue in 2024
Laos remains a key regional exporter of electricity, its top export commodity in 2024 (photo credit: UBN )

In 2024, electricity exports continued to lead Laos’ export revenues, generating nearly USD 980 million and accounting for 15.35 percent of total exports, according to the Department of Foreign Trade.