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Meta Removes Third-Party AR Filters on its Platforms Starting 14 January

Meta AR Filter (Photo: Meta Spark)

Meta has announced that, starting 14 January, it will discontinue all third-party face filters and Augmented Reality (AR) effects on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. This includes AR effects created by both brands and third-party developers. However, AR effects owned by Meta will remain available across its family of apps.

Nearly Three Hundred Families Still Await Compensation for Lao-China Railway Project

Nearly Three Hundred Families Still Await Compensation for Lao-China Railway Project
The Lao-China Railway Luang Prabang station (photo credit: hobomaps)

Nearly 300 families affected by the Lao-China Railway project are still waiting for compensation promised by the government, as ongoing challenges hinder the process. The issue was raised by Minister of Public Works and Transport Ngampasong Muangmani during the 18th Plenary Meeting on 8 January.

Vientiane Authorities Issue New Parking Guidelines for Key Tourist Sites

Vientiane Authorities Issue New Parking Guidelines for Key Tourist Sites
Patuxay Park in Vientiane (photo credit: Mimi Oulayvanh Sisounonth)

Disorganized parking at Patuxay Park in Vientiane continues to raise concerns among residents, prompting the local authorities to take action.

On 8 January, the Vientiane Capital Department of Public Works and Transport, in collaboration with the Vientiane Urban Services Management Office (VUSMO) and the Traffic Police Department, conducted an inspection and issued guidance on proper parking practices.

The inspection revealed that many vehicles, including tourist buses and private cars, continued to be parked chaotically, creating safety hazards and disrupting traffic flow. 

Officials called on drivers to follow parking rules to ensure order in the area.

The new parking guidelines, which apply to key tourist locations such as Patuxay and That Luang, allow tourist buses and vans to park temporarily (3-5 minutes) for passenger pick-up or drop-off. Violators will face fines ranging from  LAK 1 million to 10 million (approximately USD 46 to 460). 

In addition, plans are underway to introduce electric minibuses at That Luang to reduce road vibrations and preserve the site’s foundation.

Looking ahead, The government plans to extend these parking regulations to other major tourist sites, including the Mekong Riverside, Wat Si Muang, and Ho Phrakeo temples, ensuring a safer and more organized experience for visitors.

 

Vientiane’s Top Tourist Sites Attract Over 300,000 Visitors in 2024

Photo of 3 famous tourist sites including That Luang, Hor Pha Keo, and Sisaket temple (Photo: The Laotian Times)

In 2024, more than 300,000 people visited Vientiane’s main tourist attractions, contributing more than LAK 9 billion (over USD 400,000) to the local economy.

Experience The Ultimate Adrenaline Rush With Thrill Coaster Singapore Vr Pods At Madame Tussauds Singapore


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – Madame Tussauds Singapore is thrilled to announce the launch of its newest and most exhilarating experience, the Thrill Coaster Singapore.

Photo by Madame Tussauds Singapore
Photo by Madame Tussauds Singapore

Madame Tussauds Singapore is taking excitement to the next level with the launch of Thrill Coaster Singapore, a state-of-the-art virtual reality experience designed to immerse visitors in heart-pounding, high-speed adventures like never before.

The Thrill Coaster Singapore is a cutting-edge virtual reality immersive entertainment, blending high-speed thrills with stunning virtual reality environments. Designed to captivate both thrill-seekers and tech enthusiasts, riders will feel the rush of high-speed coaster action while virtually soaring above the city’s most famous landmarks around Marina Bay area, offering a unique perspective of the vibrant cityscape.

“We’re thrilled to introduce ThrillCoaster VR Pods as part of our ongoing commitment to delivering innovative and immersive entertainment. This is more than a ride— it’s an immersive experience that showcases the beauty of Singapore from a whole new angle,” said Steven Chung, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Singapore. “This ride will be a truly unique adventure for our guests.”

What Makes Thrill Coaster Singapore Unmissable?

  • Immersive Virtual Reality: Step into a vividly detailed world where you’re at the center of the action.
  • Dynamic Motion Simulation: Feel every twist, turn, and drop for an adrenaline-fueled experience.
  • Family-Friendly Fun: With multiple themed adventures, there’s something for thrill-seekers of all ages.
  • Exclusive Singapore Setting: Perfectly complementing our mix of interactive attractions.

Don’t miss this chance to be part of the action. Thrill Coaster Singapore is now open at Madame Tussauds Singapore, promising non-stop fun for families, friends, and adventure enthusiasts alike. Tickets for the Thrill Coaster VR Ride are available from starting price of $12 and is available from https://madametussauds.com/singapore/tickets. Do follow Madame Tussauds Singapore social media for updates .
Hashtag: #MadameTussauds




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

About Madame Tussauds Singapore

Located at Imbiah Lookout, Sentosa, Madame Tussauds Singapore opened in October 2014, and features variety of interactive experiences under one roof; from Madame Tussauds Singapore, to Images of Singapore, to “Spirit of Singapore” boat ride – the only Madame Tussauds site to have a boat ride, the Marvel Universe 4D Cinema, and lastly the Ultimate Film Star Experience!

Featuring 12 incredible zones from glamourous Hollywood actors to your favorite K-pop stars, artists, musicians and sports heroes, the incredible Madame Tussauds Singapore houses over75 wax figures. The gallery of wonder is so much more than an exciting attraction – where guests will get to experience our immersive and interactive technologies at every corner!

Madame Tussauds Singapore welcomes guests from 10am to 7pm daily (final admission at 6pm). For ticket enquiries, please call (65) 6715 4000 or visit .

Gold’s Stellar Growth May Have Reached its Finale, Says VT Markets Latest 2025 Q1 Economic Outlook


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – Award-winning brokerage VT Markets, a global leader in financial services, has released its 2025 Q1 Economic Outlook. In the report, the broker spotlights the remarkable trajectory of gold in 2024 and its potential market performance in the coming year. The report further delves into key drivers of gold’s price movement; an explainer on why the precious metal is regarded as a safe-haven asset amidst heightened global uncertainty last year.

2024: A Record-Breaking Year for Gold

Gold first emerged as a focal point for investors in 2024, reaching unprecedented heights of $2,790 per ounce during the U.S. presidential election period. Unsurprisingly, this all-time high was propelled by market volatility and escalating geopolitical tensions. While gold prices retraced by over $200 following the election, prices stabilised above $2,600 per ounce, closing the year with a noteworthy 27% annual gain. VT Markets highlighted this as a testament to gold’s resilience and its pivotal role in hedging against uncertainty.

Key Catalysts for Gold’s Stellar Performance

The VT Markets‘ research desk attributes gold’s extraordinary performance to three primary factors:

Central Bank De-Dollarisation

Gold demand surged as BRICS nations, including China and Russia, advanced de-dollarisation initiatives. Gold reserves within these economies climbed from 4,360 metric tons in 2018 to nearly 5,550 metric tons by 2024. Emerging markets, such as Turkey, Poland, and India, also contributed significantly to central bank gold purchases—a trend forecasted to continue into 2025 with expected demand exceeding 500 tons.

Geopolitical Instability Elevating Safe-Haven Demand

The irreversible trend of de-globalisation has heightened geopolitical risks, which in turn has further cementing gold’s allure. For one, the re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. President and his unilateral policy approaches are likely to perpetuate uncertainty this year. While short-term peace initiatives, such as potential Russo-Ukrainian negotiations, may temporarily temper gold prices, VT Markets foresees sustained demand due to the prolonged nature of geopolitical conflicts.

The Federal Reserve’s Monetary Policy Shift
The Federal Reserve’s pivot to rate cuts in September 2024 also sparked renewed interest in gold. Historical trends indicate that gold prices typically peak within two quarters of a rate cut cycle. VT Markets predicts that gold will retain upward momentum through early 2025, though its annual growth may taper as markets absorb the impact of monetary easing.

Looking Ahead: Stabilisation Amid Uncertainty

While 2024 was undeniably a banner year for gold, VT Markets anticipates a period of consolidation in 2025. The research team projects a high yet steady price trajectory, with reduced volatility compared to the previous year’s highs. Despite this, gold remains a critical asset in diversified investment strategies, particularly in uncertain economic climates.

Hashtag: #VTMarkets #CFDs #CFDsbrokers #XAUUSD #xauusdtrader



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

GJEPC And De Beers Group Forge Strategic Collaboration to Promote Natural Diamonds

As India becomes the world’s fastest growing major diamond jewellery market, industry leaders De Beers Group and GJEPC will collaborate to support the gem and jewellery trade with education and promotional assets to support the natural diamond narrative


MUMBAI, INDIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company, and the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India’s apex jewellery trade body, today announced the commencement of a strategic collaboration to strengthen the natural diamond narrative within the Indian gem and jewellery trade.

The collaboration titled, INDRA – Indian Natural Diamond Retailer Alliance, will focus on supporting independent retailers in India with tools that go beyond the conventional. For example, leveraging Artificial Intelligence to create customized retailer campaigns. From multi-lingual marketing assets to immersive storytelling and superior customer experiences, as well as in-depth natural diamond jewellery training in local languages, it will support India’s jewellery retailers with the tools they need to make sure that natural diamonds resonate deeply with every consumer who walks through their doors. Interactive roadshows regarding the collaboration will commence in January 2025, at which GJEPC members will be able to enrol in the programme.

Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “The Indian gem and jewellery market, currently valued at USD 85 billion, is poised for rapid growth, projected to reach USD 130 billion by 2030. Indra is designed to harness this momentum by tapping into India’s dynamic young population, the rise of organised players, and increasing demand across bridal, everyday wear, fashion, and entry-level jewellery. This initiative reflects a shared vision to educate stakeholders, empower retailers, and boost consumer demand, all while highlighting the timeless value of natural diamonds.”

Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands, said: “India’s diamond growth story is quite remarkable, and it has now become the second largest market in the world for retail sales of diamond jewellery. However, with its vibrant economy, growing young population and large number of leading diamond businesses, India still holds a wealth of untapped potential. Presently in the Indian jewellery retail sector, the penetration of natural diamonds stands at only around 10% which is well below the rate seen in mature jewellery markets such as the US. Through this new collaboration with the GJEPC we will help unlock this growing opportunity for increased consumer demand for all types of natural diamond jewellery, including bridal, everyday wear and entry level pieces.”

Retailers will be able to register for the programme on www.INDRAonline.in and will benefit from multi-lingual staff training modules focused on generic natural diamond product knowledge as well as access to a market intelligence portal. The programme will also provide customisable marketing assets and content for retailers to promote natural diamonds at a store level as they seek to enhance their returns and expand their customer base.

With 10,500+ members, GJEPC is the apex body driving India’s gem and jewellery sector. Through its three large scale IIJS Shows, as well as multiple roadshows and direct outreach activities, GJEPC has the potential to reach a broad range of the businesses comprising the Indian gem and jewellery industry. Through this collaboration, the two partners will capitalise on GJEPC’s deep understanding of the Indian market built up over five decades, combined with De Beers Group’s expertise in the diamond category.

The new collaboration follows the GJEPC’s adoption of the updated definition, nomenclature and guidelines for diamonds specified by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of the United States (US). The FTC’s updated guidelines provide distinct terminology standards, supporting clarity and transparency both for industry stakeholders and consumers.

Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup

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

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology services. De Beers Group is committed to ‘,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit .

About The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), set up by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India (GoI) in 1966, is one of several Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) launched by the Indian Government, to boost the country’s export thrust, when India’s post-Independence economy began making forays in the international markets. Since 1998, the GJEPC has been granted autonomous status. The GJEPC is the apex body of the gems & jewellery industry and today represents 10,500+ members in the sector. With headquarters in Mumbai, GJEPC has Regional Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Surat and Jaipur, all of which are major centres for the industry. It thus has a wide reach and is able to have a closer interaction with members to serve them in a direct and more meaningful manner. Over the past decades, GJEPC has emerged as one of the most active EPCs and has continuously strived to both expand its reach and depth in its promotional activities as well as widen and increase services to its members.

O-Level Computing Graduates to Receive Credit Exemption at NYP’s School of Information Technology

A first for the polytechnic, this exemption allows learners to free up and reallocate curriculum time. They can choose to use the freed-up periods to attain additional industry professional certifications.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – Commencing April 2025, learners who pass O-level Computing and enrol into NYP’s School of IT can apply for an exemption from the Programming Competency Unit (CmU), or the poly’s equivalent of a “module”.

The credit exemption will see learners saving 60 curriculum hours over the semester – which they can spend to develop adjacent tech skills in their interest areas.

This follows a recent curriculum review that showed that both the O-level Computing subject and the Programming CmU – a foundational learning unit all first-year IT students undertake – had similar learning outcomes that overlapped.

The data also showed that over the past cohorts at NYP, more than 9 in 10 students who passed their O-level computing subject scored at least a B for their Programming CmU.

Ms Tan Soon Keow, Director of NYP’s School of Information Technology, said: “We are committed to developing every student’s potential and giving them room to grow their capabilities while pursuing their diploma studies.”

“In finding avenues to recognise prior learning and give credit exemptions to learners who are already well-versed with foundational knowledge, we hope to open new opportunities for them to pursue advanced learning in their preferred domains, while keeping to the polytechnic curriculum rigour,” she added.

Learners given the credit exemptions are encouraged to use the freed-up 60 hours to pursue professional certifications, participate in competitions or work on projects mentored by industry veterans. This flexibility allows learners to focus on areas of interest and accelerate their growth in specialised fields.

Year One Diploma in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics student, Ker Hong Xuan, graduated with an A1 for his O-Level Computing subject in 2023. After enrolling at NYP in 2024, he obtained a Distinction[1] in the Programming CmU. He shared that he would have opted for an exemption had the programme been launched in the year he enrolled: “I love the idea of freed up curriculum time – I can join in the hackathons the School organises, and I could have gotten my Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification even earlier! I think it’s really laudable that the school is allowing us to explore different IT areas with the freed-up hours,” he added.

Earlier in 2023, NYP’s School of IT also announced that all SIT students who enrol from AY2023 would graduate with at least one professional certification. These industry-recognised certificates include Amazon Web Services Certified Cloud Practitioner, Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, and Certified Entry-Level Python Practitioner. Collectively, both initiatives reinforce NYP’s dedication to creating a learning environment that empowers students, recognising their competencies while and ensuring they are equipped with the most in-demand skills to excel in the dynamic tech industry.


[1] A ‘Distinction’ grade is awarded to the top 5% of students for the CmU

Hashtag: #NanyangPolytechnic #InformationTechnology

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About Nanyang Polytechnic

Established as an institution of higher learning in 1992, Nanyang Polytechnic’s (NYP) academic schools offer quality education and training through 37 full-time diploma courses and common entry programmes. NYP also has a full suite of Continuing Education and Training (CET) options for lifelong learning, ranging from specialist and advanced diplomas to SkillsFuture-supported modules and courses. NYP’s Asian Culinary Institute Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies are CET institutes set up in partnership with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to champion and transform Singapore’s F&B and retail sectors, respectively. A third NYP CET institute – the National Centre of Excellence for Workplace Learning – also set up in collaboration with SSG, will spearhead the development of progressive workplace learning strategies and programmes for companies here.

For more information, please visit .