On March 28 local time, the 22nd International Congress on Luobing Theory was held in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. Under the theme of "Inheritance, Openness, Innovation, and Integration," the congress brought together leading experts, scholars, and industry elites from both China and abroad to share the latest research achievements in the innovative application of Luobing theory. In-depth discussions were held on the role of Luobing theory in the prevention and treatment of major diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.
At the opening ceremony, "The Compendium of Luobing Theory," compiled by Wu Yiling, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and his research team, was officially unveiled. The book integrates cutting-edge research achievements and clinical insights in Luobing theory in recent years, representing another landmark work in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. The compendium is divided into four volumes: Luobing Theory, Clinical Application of Luobing Theory, Medicinals and Formulas for Collaterals, and Health Preservation through Collateral Regulation. It aims to promote the academic achievements of contemporary TCM research on Luobing theory, expand its clinical application value, and ensure that research advancements in the treatment of major diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, and respiratory conditions reach a wider range of patients.
During the keynote report session of the main forum, Wu Yiling, and Jia Zhenhua, a professor at the Hebei Academy of Innovative Medicine for Luobing Theory, delivered academic reports titled "Systematic Construction and Innovative Transformation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Luobing Theory" and "Systematic Research on Zang-Fu Collateral Disease - Treating Pulmonary Collateral Diseases to Guide the Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Conditions," respectively. Their presentations explored the important role of collateral-dredging medications in the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and other conditions.
The congress also featured multiple sub-forums, including those on coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory diseases, urological conditions, and cancer. Participating experts and scholars engaged in in-depth discussions on how Luobing theory can serve public health across these various fields.
As an integral part of the academic theoretical system of traditional Chinese medicine, Luobing theory has gained global attention and recognition in recent years. The Overseas Forum of the 22nd International Congress on Luobing Theory will be held in Singapore in the autumn of 2026.
evian® ในฐานะแบรนด์ภายใต้ Danone ยึดถือวิสัยทัศน์ One Planet. One Health ของบริษัทที่เชื่อว่าสุขภาพของผู้คนและสุขภาพของโลกนั้นเชื่อมโยงกัน เราจึงตั้งใจที่จะปกป้องและฟูมฟักดูแลทั้งสองสิ่งไปพร้อมๆ กัน
evian celebrates 200 years with new Jeff Koons collaboration, this anniversary will be marked by celebrations of fine dining and culture throughout the Asia-Pacific region
evian® has today marked 200 years since it first began bottling its natural mineral water in 1826.
The Live Young Collective
To mark this milestone year, evian® has unveiled a striking new portrait featuring Jeff Koons alongside the brand’s ambassador family – Carlos Alcaraz, Emma Raducanu, Frances Tiafoe and Céline Boutier – who together highlight evian®’s longstanding links to culture, tennis and golf. Set against the snowy peaks of the French Alps, where evian® natural mineral water undergoes its 15‑year natural filtration, the Live Young Collective is alongside a vintage evian® delivery truck, symbolising the brand’s 200-year journey from a protected local water source to a global icon.
Icon meets Icon
To honour the anniversary, evian® has teamed up with world-renowned artist Jeff Koons to launch two limited-edition glass bottles created to honour the bicentenary.
The glass bottles, available in pink (still) and blue (sparkling), offer a playful depiction of one of Koons’ most iconic works, ‘Balloon Dog’. Long associated with joy, playfulness and celebration, the ‘Balloon Dog’ captures evian®’s icon and long-standing Live Young spirit, adding a celebratory touch to dining tables around the world.
Speaking about his collaboration with evian®, Jeff Koons, says: “When evian® approached me, the message about youth immediately resonated with me. It reflects a truth I deeply believe in: youth is not defined by age, but by a mindset. I’ve always loved evian® natural mineral water, so when I was invited to celebrate the brand’s 200 Years Young milestone, I was excited to create these special limited-edition bottles. I chose to incorporate my ‘Balloon Dog’ into the design because it not only echoes the iconic status of the brand itself, but also embodies the spirit of celebration, playfulness, curiosity, and the joy of creating, a moment that feels both life-giving and uplifting.”
A Regional Celebration at the Table
At the table, evian®’s natural mineral water elevates the finest culinary experiences, partnering and collaborating with the world’s greatest chefs. Its perfectly balanced minerals reset the palate, preparing the taste buds to capture the most delicate flavors.
Across Asia-Pacific, evian®’s anniversary will be expressed through iconic culinary experiences and chef-community moments that extend the brand’s story into local fine dining culture.
The year-round fine dining program will bring evian® still & sparkling glass bottles from Jeff Koons to the region’s most refined tables. Highlights across 2026 will include signature mixology served with evian® Still and Sparkling, a series of 4 Hands Dinners with chefs and evian® Chef Ambassadors.
In Thailand, the anniversary will be brought to life through creating a local expression of evian® ‘s 200 Years within one of the region’s most vibrant fine dining and mixology venues. With opportunities to experience unique creations by Diageo World Class mixologists, including Gov Kitibordee, the programme will translate the global celebration into moments that feel elevated, contemporary and distinctly joyful. Other evian Chef Ambassadors based in Bangkok include Chef Nick Pavapaiboon of Wang Hinghoi and Chef Arnaud Dunand of Maison Dunand Bangkok.
Source of Truth
For 200 years, evian® has stood the test of time, defined by its exceptional Alpine origin, naturally filtered over 15 years through glacial rocks, and its enduring commitment to purity and quality. This rich heritage has cemented evian® as an icon of premium hydration and timeless superiority. The brand’s 200-year story is closely tied to its commitment to protecting the 125 km² natural ecosystem that feeds the evian® spring — a responsibility it has upheld in partnership with 13 local municipalities for more than 30 years. This promise is built around three core principles: championing sustainable agriculture, preserving natural ecosystems (including our wetland of national importance), and supporting responsible development within the region.
Later this week, evian® will kick off its 200 Years Young celebrations with a special gathering in Évian-les-Bains. The event will bring friends of the brand back to its source to explore the protected landscape that shapes evian®’s unique mineral composition, and to immerse themselves in the cultural spheres that have shaped the brand’s identity for two centuries.
Dawid Borowiec, Global Director at evian®, says: “Two centuries in, still living young, still flowing forward. Celebrating 200 years is a defining milestone for evian® and a reminder of how deeply our brand is rooted in its source and the generations of care that have protected it. Welcoming guests back to Évian‑les‑Bains allows us to share the expertise and long‑term stewardship behind our natural mineral water, while reaffirming our commitment to safeguard it for the future. This anniversary also celebrates the cultural worlds we are proud to be a part of – from tennis and golf to fine dining – as we look ahead to the next chapter of evian®’s Live Young mission.”
More of evian®’s brand story can be discovered in the celebratory evian zine. Further details and imagery from the Évian-les-Bains launch event will also be shared later this week.
About evian®
evian® natural mineral water comes from the heart of the French Alps, a unique geological site in the world. For more than 15 years, it travels through the rocks, where it picks up minerals. The brand has been working for over 30 years to preserve natural surroundings of the source, in an effort to preserve evian® natural mineral water’s exceptional quality for generations to come. Natural and uniquely balanced, evian® natural mineral water is a good hydration option.’
evian®, a Danone brand, embraces the company’s One Planet. One Health vision that the health of the people and the health of the planet are interconnected and therefore seeks to protect and nourish both.
About Jeff Koons
Jeff Koons was born in York, Pennsylvania in 1955. He studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. He received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1976. Koons lives and works in New York City. Since his first solo exhibition in 1980, Koons’s work has been shown in galleries, museums, and cultural institutions throughout the world. Koons’s work is in numerous collections, including The Broad Art Foundation, Los Angeles, California; Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Tate Gallery, London; and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. His work was the subject of a major exhibition organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art, Jeff Koons: A Retrospective (June 27 – October 19, 2014), which then traveled to the Centre Pompidou Paris and the Guggenheim Bilbao. Recent solo exhibitions include Shine at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence and Jeff Koons: Lost in America at Qatar Museums in Doha, and Porcelain Series at Gagosian in New York City. Koons is widely known for his bold paintings and sculptures, including Rabbit, Michael Jackson and Bubbles, Puppy, and Balloon Dog.
The smooth, mirror-finished surfaces of his iconic stainless-steel sculptures reflect and affirm viewers and their environments. A dialogue with the readymade is evident in his complex paintings that often employ bright, saturated color, communicating the artist’s interest in art history, the biological, and acceptance. Koons earned renown for his public works, such as the monumental floral sculptures Puppy and Split-Rocker.
Polyplastics Co., Ltd.'s DURACON(R) POM resin has been selected for use in a unique crawler track transport system developed by Tokyo-based CuboRex Co., Ltd., a leading supplier of innovative mobility solutions. The unique transport system, which significantly improves work efficiency at factory and construction sites compared to conventional caster-equipped carts, includes a structural crawler covering made of DURACON(R) POM.
DURACON(R) POM was selected for the crawler's white components. It was chosen for its high load-bearing capacity, providing the strength to withstand heavy-duty material handling at manufacturing sites. POM also boasts excellent friction properties, delivering stable performance in both static and dynamic friction. It offers durability and reliability, and meets destruction criteria even in harsh field environments. DURACON(R) POM was adopted as an optimal solution following comparative testing with other resins such as PA.
CuboRex's trolley crawlers can be easily installed on existing trolleys. The increased contact area reduces the load per unit area (ground pressure), decreasing friction resistance and sinking. The force required for operation is significantly reduced, enabling smooth travel even over steps and uneven terrain. Under similar conditions, turning performance also improves. Maneuvers that were arduous with conventional casters become easier, substantially reducing operator strain. Coordination with tow trucks and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) also becomes smoother, preventing time loss due to stops or dropped cargo.
Demand for material handling is growing, with significant potential anticipated even within the Japanese market. The introduction of crawlers for carts eliminates the need to purchase new dedicated transport carts, enabling a dramatic improvement in operational efficiency while utilizing existing equipment. This solution, which simultaneously achieves cost reduction and enhanced safety, holds great potential in the global market as well. Applications across diverse industries, including logistics, manufacturing and construction, are anticipated in the future.
This case study demonstrates that material selection can transform on-site productivity, going beyond mere material supply. DURACON(R) POM served as a key material supporting CuboRex's innovative ideas, contributing to the efficiency of transport operations.
For more information, visit: https://www.polyplastics.com/global/s/ourapproach/a5nRB000002hUOHYA2/239?language=en_US
About CuboRex Co., Ltd. and about Polyplastics: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202603185867-O1-v9SRWvjD.pdf
DURACON(R) is a registered trademark of Polyplastics Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.
With 30 days to go until the opening ceremony of the 2026 Asian Beach Games in Sanya, the organizing committee announced on Monday that a total of 1,790 athletes have been confirmed to take part.
According to the organizers, national and regional Olympic committees from 45 countries and regions have signed up for the event. Following qualification reviews, the number of registered athletes stood at 1,790 as of March 20.
The Games will feature 14 sports, 15 disciplines and 62 events. The women's beach football event has been canceled due to an insufficient number of teams, while all other events will go ahead as planned.
The top five sports by number of participants are beach handball, dragon boat, beach athletics, ju-jitsu and beach volleyball. Beach handball has attracted the largest number of athletes, with 237.
In terms of delegation size, the top five participating teams are Thailand, China, the Philippines, India and Hong Kong, China.
Li Haigang, deputy secretary-general of the organizing committee, said the overall competition schedule and event timetables have been optimized and will be released soon.
"The detailed timing of events will be clarified to help media and spectators better plan their viewing schedules," he added.
Meanwhile, operational teams at all competition venues have completed multiple rounds of training, tabletop exercises and test events.
"In 30 days, athletes, coaches and officials from across Asia will gather in Sanya to compete amid its blue seas and sandy beaches," Li said. "We will spare no effort in our preparations to provide a high-quality competition environment and deliver splendid Games."
On March 20, 2026, the opening ceremony of "Up the Spring Mountain, Heal with You - 2026 Spring Niushou" kicked off at Niushou Mountain Cultural Tourism Zone in Nanjing, China. Rooted in intangible cultural heritage and centered on wellness, this spring event has upgraded the thousand-year-old Niushou Mountain Spring Outing Custom from a traditional folk custom into an immersive, interactive and resonant modern cultural tourism experience. This year, Niushou Mountain has carefully prepared a series of spring-long activities to create an exclusive cultural tourism feast for visitors. Amidst the beautiful spring scenery, people will appreciate traditional Chinese culture and experience the unique charm of oriental lifestyle aesthetics.
Niushou Mountain in Nanjing, China is a world-renowned cultural mountain with the millennium-old reputation of "Spring Niushou". The spring outing tradition here originated in the Six Dynasties and flourished in the Ming Dynasty. In 2023, it was inscribed on the list of Jiangsu Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage, serving as a vivid epitome of traditional Chinese culture. In spring, magnolias, peach blossoms and crabapples bloom in succession on Niushou Mountain. When shrouded in mist and clouds, the poetic scene of "Niushou Misty Landscape" unfolds. Coupled with the pristine forest environment, it forms a natural wellness sanctuary - an ideal destination for visitors to escape the hustle and bustle and relax the body and mind.
Centered on wellness experiences, this spring series of events launches five distinctive wellness systems: natural ecology, Zen culture, healthy catering, intangible cultural heritage art, and technological immersion. Breaking the traditional sightseeing mode, it offers you in-depth physical and mental relaxation. During the event, you can experience featured programs such as crystal bowl sound healing and Song-style tea ceremony, relieving stress and nourishing your soul through traditional cultural experiences.
The highlight of this grand feast is the series of featured activities running throughout the spring, covering cultural lectures, outdoor hiking, study tours, reading sessions, Dunhuang Cultural Week, six-sense wellness experiences and more. Partnering with a renowned bookstore, Niushou Mountain has released a wellness reading list and launched a public welfare reading program, allowing you to feel the warmth and kindness of Chinese culture while unlocking diverse cultural tourism experiences.
From late March to May, Niushou Mountain, Nanjing, China will serve as an open-air wellness destination, bringing people continuous wonderful experiences. In March, visitors can join singing bowl tea tasting, hiking meditation and themed lectures by cultural tourism experts to relax in nature and culture. In April, Dunhuang Cultural Week will be staged, featuring traditional costume shows, intangible cultural heritage experiences, sharing sessions by philosophical scholars, as well as interactive programs like meditation calligraphy, parent-child yoga and aromatherapy workshops, showcasing the collision of diverse cultures. In May, the event will reach its climax: during the May Day holiday, there will be a new themed cultural experience every day; a special gratitude activity will be held for Mother's Day; and renowned humanities scholars will deliver wonderful talks. The whole event will provide immersive experiences full of cultural appeal and healing power.
Niushou Mountain sincerely invite all to visit Niushou Mountain, Nanjing, China - to enjoy spring scenery, experience intangible cultural heritage, and relax the body and mind. In this poetic and Zen-filled mountain forest, people will encounter an exclusive spring appointment with culture and wellness.
2026 Spring Niushou AI Theme Promo Video: https://vod-xhpfm.xinhuaxmt.com/NewsVideo/202603/cce90d88f77d47d4a683ade42011ba3a.mp4
วิดีโอ AI ส่งเสริมการท่องเที่ยวเทศกาลฤดูใบไม้ผลิภูเขาหนิวโส่วซาน: https://vod-xhpfm.xinhuaxmt.com/NewsVideo/202603/cce90d88f77d47d4a683ade42011ba3a.mp4
HOP INN Hotel, a leading budget hotel brand with over 80 branches across Thailand, the Philippines, and Japan, expands its Asia Pacific presence with the opening of its first hotel in Seoul, South Korea.
(From L-R) Ms. Noppatsorn Phatiwutthipat, Vice President of Business Development; Mr. Apichan Mapaisansin, Executive Vice President of Project Development, Property Renovation, and Operating Maintenance; Ms. Pichanun Boonpromgul, President of HOP INN Hotel Public Company Limited; Mr. Kirill Mokronosov, Senior Vice President of International Operations; Mr. Park Sungsu, HOP INN Seoul Myeongdong Hotel Manager
The 97-room HOP INN Seoul Myeongdong marks the brand’s debut in one of the region’s most dynamic travel markets. Operated by HOP INN Hotel Public Company Limited, the opening represents another milestone in the company’s expansion across high-potential markets in Asia Pacific, supporting its goal of operating more than 150 hotels and 14,000 rooms across the region by 2030 and strengthening HOP INN’s position as one of the most consistent and trusted budget hotel brands.Ms. Pichanun Boonpromgul,President of HOP INN Hotel Public Company Limited
Ms. Pichanun Boonpromgul, President of HOP INN, said “Seoul is one of Asia’s most exciting and globally connected destinations, with strong demand from both international and domestic travelers. The opening of HOP INN Seoul Myeongdong marks a significant step in our regional expansion and introduces our trusted value-for-money hospitality to the Korean market. With its prime location and comfortable accommodations, the hotel reflects HOP INN’s commitment to delivering consistent quality and reliable service wherever our guests travel.”
Located in one of Seoul’s most vibrant districts, HOP INN Seoul Myeongdong offers modern guest rooms designed for comfort and efficiency. Just a 3-minute walk from Chungmu-ro and Eulji-ro stations, the hotel provides easy access to Seoul’s key attractions including Myeongdong’s bustling shopping streets, the iconic N Seoul Tower, the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, and the lively districts of Hongdae, Gangnam, and Itaewon.
HOP INN Seoul Myeongdong features the brand’s signature amenities including high-quality bedding, complimentary Wi-Fi, efficient workspaces, and welcoming service, ensuring a comfortable and convenient stay for travelers visiting the city.
To celebrate the opening of HOP INN Seoul Myeongdong, guests can enjoy a special introductory promotion of up to 30% OFF for HOP Reward Members, starting from PHP3,099 per night, for booking and stays until May 31, 2026.
For more information about HOP INN Hotel, visit www.hopinnhotel.com and follow the brand on social media.
