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CARsgen’s Allogeneic CD19/CD20 CAR-T Therapy Administers First Dose in an Investigator-Initiated Trial

SHANGHAI, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, announces that KJ-C2219, an allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy targeting CD19/CD20, has administered the first dose to a patient in an investigator-initiated trial (IIT).

KJ-C2219 is developed based on CARsgen’s THANK-u Plus platform and is designed for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and autoimmune diseases. An investigator-initiated trial is ongoing in China to evaluate KJ-C2219 for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (R/R B-NHL).

About THANK-u Plus

CARsgen has developed the THANK-u Plus platform as an enhanced version of its proprietary THANK-uCAR® allogeneic CAR-T technology to address the potential impact of NKG2A expression levels on therapeutic efficacy. THANK-u Plus demonstrates sustained expansion regardless of varying NKG2A expression levels on NK cells and exhibits significantly improved expansion compared to THANK-uCAR®. Preclinical studies show that THANK-u Plus delivers superior antitumor efficacy in the presence of NK cells compared to THANK-uCAR®. Allogeneic BCMA or dual-targeting CD19/CD20 CAR-T cells developed using this platform exhibit robust antitumor activity in the presence of NK cells, indicating that THANK-u Plus has broad potential for developing diverse allogeneic CAR-T therapies.

About CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited

CARsgen is a biopharmaceutical company with operations in China and the U.S., focusing on innovative CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. CARsgen has established a comprehensive CAR T-cell research and development platform that covers target discovery, innovative CAR T-cell development, clinical trials, and commercial-scale production. Internally, CARsgen has developed novel technologies and a product pipeline with global rights to address significant challenges faced by existing CAR T-cell therapies. Efforts include improving safety profile, enhancing the efficacy in treating solid tumors, and reducing treatment costs. CARsgen’s mission is to become a global biopharmaceutical leader that provides innovative and differentiated cell therapies for cancer patients worldwide and makes cancer curable.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical fact or that do not relate to present facts or current conditions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements express the Group’s current views, projections, beliefs and expectations with respect to future events as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and factors beyond the Group’s control. As a result, they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those detailed under the heading “Principal Risks and Uncertainties” in our most recent annual report and interim report and other announcements and reports made available on our corporate website, https://www.carsgen.com. No representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this press release.

Contact CARsgen

For more information, please visit https://www.carsgen.com/

HKICPA participates in the Asian Financial Forum 2025: Explores new growth engines in global sustainability


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2025 – The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) is participating in the two-day “Asian Financial Forum 2025” from today (13 January to 14 January), to promote Hong Kong’s sustainable development and the implementation of the HKFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (HKFRS SDS). At the Forum, the HKICPA President Edward Au shared the importance of HKFRS SDS, and spoke on assisting enterprises in implementing the standards. In addition, HKICPA set up a booth at the venue to showcase the Institute’s journey in setting HKFRS SDS, and took part in the InnoVenture Salon to provide one-on-one consultations to start-ups in the area of sustainability.

The HKICPA President Edward Au participated in the Asian Financial Forum 2025 as a panellist in a panel discussion titled Setting Global Milestone in Sustainability. He was joined by other guest speakers to explore ways for companies and market participants to better understand the best practices, challenges, and opportunities for advancing sustainability initiatives globally.
The HKICPA President Edward Au participated in the Asian Financial Forum 2025 as a panellist in a panel discussion titled Setting Global Milestone in Sustainability. He was joined by other guest speakers to explore ways for companies and market participants to better understand the best practices, challenges, and opportunities for advancing sustainability initiatives globally.

Co-organized by the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the two-day “Asian Financial Forum 2025” commenced today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, the Forum attracted more than 3,600 leading figures from finance and business to participate. The event brought together over 100 influential leaders from government, finance, and business communities from all over the world for ground-breaking discussions and exchange of insights on the global economy from an Asian perspective.

The HKICPA President Edward Au (left two) participated in the Asian Financial Forum 2025 as a panellist in a panel discussion titled Setting Global Milestone in Sustainability. He was joined by other guest speakers to explore ways for companies and market participants to better understand the best practices, challenges, and opportunities for advancing sustainability initiatives globally.
The HKICPA President Edward Au (left two) participated in the Asian Financial Forum 2025 as a panellist in a panel discussion titled Setting Global Milestone in Sustainability. He was joined by other guest speakers to explore ways for companies and market participants to better understand the best practices, challenges, and opportunities for advancing sustainability initiatives globally.

The HKICPA President Edward Au said, “The Asian Financial Forum brings together leaders from political and business communities and financial experts worldwide, providing an ideal platform for the HKICPA to showcase its efforts in promoting sustainable disclosure standards in Hong Kong and to gain an understanding on the best practices in sustainability reporting across regions. As the sustainability reporting standard setter of Hong Kong, the HKICPA is committed to creating an enabling environment for the successful implementation of the HKFRS SDS and to contribute towards the development of a comprehensive sustainability disclosure ecosystem in Hong Kong to embrace new growth opportunities.”

The HKICPA published HKFRS SDS in December last year, which are fully aligned with the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards), with an effective date of 1 August 2025. President Edward Au today participated in the panel discussion titled “Setting Global Milestone in Sustainability”, under the Global Spectrum seminar series. He was joined by Janey Lai, CEO of the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council, Sue Lloyd, Vice Chair of International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and Justin Wu, Managing Director, Head of Climate Change Asia Pacific, Global Sustainability, HSBC. The panel explored ways for companies and market participants to better understand the best practices, challenges, and opportunities for advancing sustainability initiatives globally. It also underscored the significance of aligning Hong Kong’s sustainability disclosure requirements with ISSB standards, marking a crucial milestone in the development of efficient and resilient capital markets both in Hong Kong and globally.

In the panel discussion, Edward Au stated, “Hong Kong is among the first jurisdictions worldwide to align local sustainability disclosure standards with the international standards, which is critical to maintaining and enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness among global capital markets. The HKFRS SDS, published by the HKICPA and fully aligned with the ISSB Standards, provide a global baseline for sustainability-related financial disclosures, enabling companies to present more consistent, comparable, and decision-useful information to investors.”

He continued, “The accounting profession in Hong Kong is well-experienced in financial reporting, auditing, internal control and risk management. The profession is thus more than capable of providing high quality sustainability reporting and assurance services. Moving forward, the HKICPA is committed to building capacity for the profession and stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the HKFRS SDS and to solidify Hong Kong’s status as a leading international financial centre and a green and sustainable finance hub.”

The HKICPA set up a booth at the venue to present the development journey of HKFRS SDS, the Institute’s efforts in standard setting and capacity building, and other related topics. Participants’ enquiries about the HKICPA’s role in sustainability development were addressed, enhancing their understanding of sustainability disclosures in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the HKICPA also supported the Forum’s InnoVenture Salon. Cyrus Cheung, the Chair of the Sustainability Committee of the HKICPA, met with start-ups to provide one-on-one consultations to address their concerns related to sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) along their entrepreneurial journey.

For details of Asian Financial Forum 2025, please visit website:

https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en

Hashtag: #HKICPA





Wechat: hkicpa_official

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

About HKICPA

The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“HKICPA”) is the statutory body established by the Professional Accountants Ordinance responsible for the professional training and development of certified public accountants in Hong Kong. The Institute is also a standard setter of the local accounting industry. The Institute has about 48,000 members and about 12,000 registered students.
Our qualification programme assures the quality of entry into the profession, and we promulgate financial reporting, auditing, ethical and sustainability disclosure standards that safeguard Hong Kong’s leadership as an international financial centre.
The CPA designation is a top qualification recognized globally. The Institute is a member of and actively contributes to the work of the Global Accounting Alliance and International Federation of Accountants.

Nature’s Miracle Holding, Inc. Announces Up to $29.7 Million Financing

ONTARIO, Calif., Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nature’s Miracle Holding, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMHI) (“Nature’s Miracle”), a growing agriculture technology company providing equipment and services to growers,  announced that it entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with a single institutional investor (“Investor”) on January 10, 2025. The SPA allows Nature’s Miracle, subject to customary conditions, to sell up to $29.7 million in the aggregate of a newly-designated class of convertible preferred stock to the Investor. 

The Investor agreed to provide Nature’s Miracle up to $29.7 million available in tranches. The initial tranche in the amount of $2,700,000 will be funded with $1,800,000 funded within one business day following Closing and the remaining $900,000 funded within one business day following the date on which the shares of common stock into which the shares of convertible preferred stock are convertible are registered for resale pursuant to an effective registration statement. Subsequent tranches of up to $27,000,000 may be funded in increments of up to $2,700,000 per tranche subject to certain conditions. The Investor will also receive certain warrants to purchase shares of common stock upon the funding of each tranche.

The funding of each subsequent tranche are not expected to occur earlier than 60 trading days after the funding of the prior tranche (except that the first subsequent tranche may be funded 30 trading days following the date on which the shares of common stock into which the shares of convertible preferred stock are convertible are registered for resale pursuant to an effective registration statement), in each case, subject to certain conditions including: (i) for each day of the Measurement Period, the average daily volume is greater than $500,000, (ii) for each day of the Measurement Period, the daily volume weighted average price of the Nature’s Miracle’s common stock is greater than $1.50, (iii) the aggregate stated value of the outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock held by the Investor is no greater than $1,000,000 (iv) the shares of common stock underlying the applicable shares of convertible preferred stock held by the Investor are registered pursuant to an effective registration statement, and (v) certain other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature. “Measurement Period” means the 20 trading days immediately preceding the applicable funding date.

For more information, please visit Nature’s Miracle website: https://www.nature-miracle.com/ or email Nature’s Miracle at: info@nature-miracle.com. For more information on the SPA, including important terms and conditions, please see Nature’s Miracle’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities discussed herein, in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

About Nature’s Miracle Holding Inc.

Nature’s Miracle (www.Nature-Miracle.com) is a growing agriculture technology company providing equipment and services to growers in the Controlled Environment Agriculture (“CEA”) industry which also includes vertical farming in North America. Nature’s Miracle offers hardware to design, build and operate various indoor growing settings including greenhouse and indoor-growing spaces. Nature’s Miracle, through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries (Visiontech Group, Inc. and Hydroman, Inc.), provides grow lights as well as other hydroponic products to hundreds of indoor growers in North America. Nature’s Miracle has also developed a robust pipeline to build commercial-scale greenhouse in the U.S. and Canada to meet the growing needs of fresh and local vegetable products. Nature’s Miracle has established its first manufacturing footprint in North America with its grow-light assembly plant in Manitoba, Canada and is expected to set up additional manufacturing/assembly facilities in North America.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, for example: the closing of the offering, intended use of proceeds from the offering; successful launch and implementation of NMHI’s joint projects with manufacturers and other supply chain participants of steel, rubber and other materials; changes in NMHI’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; NMHI’s ability to develop and launch new products and services; NMHI’s ability to successfully and efficiently integrate future expansion plans and opportunities; NMHI’s ability to grow its business in a cost-effective manner; NMHI’s product development timeline and estimated research and development costs; the implementation, market acceptance and success of NMHI’s business model; developments and projections relating to NMHI’s competitors and industry; and NMHI’s approach and goals with respect to technology. These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing views as of any subsequent date, and no obligation is undertaken to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. As a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include: the ability to maintain the listing of the Company’s shares on Nasdaq; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on NMHI’s business; the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; the risk of downturns and the possibility of rapid change in the highly competitive industry in which NMHI operates; the risk that NMHI and its current and future collaborators are unable to successfully develop and commercialize NMHI’s products or services, or experience significant delays in doing so; the risk that the Company may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that the Company will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the Company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; the risk that third-party suppliers and manufacturers are not able to fully and timely meet their obligations; the risk that NMHI is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; the possibility that NMHI may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and other risks and uncertainties described in NMHI’s filings from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts

Nature‘s Miracle Holding, Inc.
Investor Relations Department
ir@nature-miracle.com

Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Tina Xiao
Phone: +1-646-932-7242
Email: investors@ascent-ir.com

China Liberal Education Holdings Limited Has Regained Compliance with Nasdaq’s Minimum Bid Price Deficiency

BEIJING, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — China Liberal Education Holdings Limited (“China Liberal” or the “Company“) (NASDAQ: CLEU), a China-based company that provides technological consulting services for smart campus solutions and other educational services, today announced that the Company received a written notification (the “Compliance Notice“) from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq“) dated January 10, 2025, informing the Company that it has regained compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (“Minimum Bid Price Requirement“) and the matter is closed.

As previously announced, the Company received a notification letter from the Nasdaq dated August 21, 2024, indicating its failure to maintain a minimum bid price of US$1.00 per share for 30 consecutive business days under Minimum Bid Price Requirement. Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company was provided with 180 calendar days, or until February 17, 2025, to regain compliance.

To comply with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, the closing bid price of the Company’s ordinary shares must be at least US$1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days at any time prior to February 17, 2025. Therefore, in order to cure the Minimum Bid Price deficiency, the Company has effectuated a share consolidation on December 24, 2024, of which fifteen (15) ordinary shares with par value of $0.015 per share each in the Company’s issued and unissued share capital consolidated into one (1) ordinary share with par value of US$0.225.

According to the Compliance Notice, the Company evidenced a closing bid price of its ordinary shares at or greater than US$1.00 per share for 10 consecutive business days from December 24, 2024 to January 8, 2025. Thus, the Company has regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and the matter is closed.

About China Liberal Education Holdings Limited

China Liberal is an educational services provider headquartered in Beijing, China. China Liberal provides a wide range of services, including technological consulting for Chinese universities to improve their campus information and data management systems, designed to enhance the teaching, operating, and management environment of the universities, thus establishing a “smart campus.” Additionally, China Liberal offers tailored job readiness training for graduating students. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at http://ir.chinaliberal.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s expectations and projections about future events, which the Company derives from the information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those using terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. When evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can provide no assurance that these expectations will prove to be accurate, and it cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Investors are encouraged to review the risk factors that may affect future results in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in its other filings with the SEC.

Investor Relations Contact

China Liberal Education Holdings Limited
Email: ir@chinaliberal.com

Ascent Investor Relations LLC
Tina Xiao
President
Phone: +1 646-932-7242
Email: investors@ascent-ir.com

Yiwu Brands Unite for Overseas Expansion with Grand Opening of Yiwu Selection Store

YIWU, China, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Yiwu, the world’s preeminent hub for small commodities, hosts an extensive trading network connecting the globe with 47 industries and 12 million products. As competition in the global trade arena intensifies, relying solely on product volume and price advantage is no longer feasible. In its place, brand building and international promotion have become essential for Yiwu to achieve and maintain sustainable growth.

Amid a surge in global cross-border e-commerce, Yiwu brands are seizing unprecedented opportunities for expansion. In response to consumers’ growing appetite for quality and personalization, Yiwu companies are adopting a winning strategy: moving their brands overseas to outpace the competition and capture the global market.

Yiwu Brands Unite for Overseas Expansion with Grand Opening of Yiwu Selection Store
Yiwu Brands Unite for Overseas Expansion with Grand Opening of Yiwu Selection Store

Today, under the aegis of the Yiwu Municipal Party Committee and Government, and with strong support from Zhejiang China Commodities City Group, the Yiwu Brand Development Promotion Association, in collaboration with industry leaders, unveiled the first Yiwu Selection Store on the 5th floor of International Trade City, Area 2. The store features over 10,000 curated products across multiple categories, showcasing the best of Made-in-China and Yiwu brands. Impressively, within just five hours of its grand opening, the store secured signed orders totaling 120 million yuan (approx. USD 16.4 million)!

The Yiwu Selection Store serves as a central hub for premium brands from Yiwu’s many sectors, spanning 23 major categories including jewelry, stationery, toys, gifts, tools, kitchenware, beauty products, and electronics. It unites 139 prominent merchants under one roof. Yiwu Selection will serve as a launchpad as the city continues developing innovative and impactful models to boost brand exports.

Expanding Global Reach: The store is pioneering a global offline distribution model to onboard influential agents. These agents will utilize their local resources and sales networks to establish a strong presence in overseas markets. This strategy aims to increase brand market share, enhance local influence, and facilitate localized operations.

Maximizing Traffic Synergies: By syncing with the independent resources of the Chinagoods platform, the store effectively consolidates global traffic. The approach offers exporting brands ample exposure and targeted traffic, boosting their online visibility and sales potential.

Innovating Distribution Scenarios: The store has implemented a direct-supply model for cross-border e-commerce, effectively using digital platforms to bridge global markets. This strategy streamlines the supply chain, boosts efficiency in product distribution, and accelerates the expansion of brands into international e-commerce arenas, enhancing competitive edges in real-time market conditions.

Using Social Media Effectively: The store employs creative content marketing strategies on leading global social media platforms to engage and attract overseas buyers and consumers. The strategy bolsters brand visibility and expands international reach and cultural impact.

Global Promotion Push: The store is scheduling annual promotional events across five key international markets to showcase the distinct advantages and features of its brands. The events are designed to create direct communication channels with overseas buyers, distributors, and consumers, effectively amplifying brand recognition on a global scale.

The Yiwu Selection Store has created a groundbreaking model for Yiwu brands to venture overseas together. By consolidating the strengths of multiple industries, the store achieves economies of scale and consolidates bargaining power, outperforming individual brands operating independently. Utilizing Chinagoods brand promotion and global social media strategies, it has rapidly elevated the international standing and prestige of Yiwu brands, redefining the goods produced in this Chinese city as a symbol of high quality, customization, and innovation.

As the Yiwu Selection Store continues to expand, it aims to propel Yiwu brands into broader international markets, fostering new opportunities for growth. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance the city’s many industries, spurring the evolution and improvement of its business landscape and supporting the rise of globally influential brands.

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.

image-1.jpeg

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.