January 6, 2022

Hong Kong puts temporary flight bans in place amid omicron surge

Authorities in Hong Kong have partially closed the city’s borders to international travel amid a growing wave of infections with the omicron variant of COVID-19.

Passenger flights from the U.K., U.S., Australia and Canada have been banned from landing in the city for 14 days, as 38 newly confirmed cases were reported, 34 of them likely transmitted in the community, government figures showed.

Microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung said that the sources of some of the reported cases had yet to be traced, suggesting there is already an invisible chain of transmission in place.

“As we know, Hong Kong is a very small place, so it doesn’t make much difference where the outbreak began; it will soon be all over the city,” Yuen told a local radio show.

“The omicron variant is highly transmissible compared with the previous alpha and delta variants, so we have reason to believe that we may be seeing the fifth wave,” he said. “I’m not trying to scare people.”

He said the question is whether the government will try to maintain a “zero-COVID” policy in the face of the latest outbreak.

“It’s likely that they will keep going with it for the time being, because vaccination rates are so low,” Yuen said.

The government announced a series of regional “circuit-breakers” on Wednesday, banning civilian flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with passengers also barred from transiting through Hong Kong if they have come from those countries.

The measures will last until Jan. 21. Additional quarantine requirements will take effect for Hong Kong residents returning from Grenada, Mauritania and Mayotte, and non-Hong Kong residents from there will be barred from entering the city from Jan. 9, the government said.

Chief executive Carrie Lam said the government is hoping to drastically reduce the number of omicron cases with a “speedy assault.”

The government has also ordered public, government-owned facilities like swimming pools, sports centers to close, banned large-scale sporting events including the Hong Kong Cycling Festival, and ordered bars, gyms and beauty salons to close.

Diners are banned from eating in restaurants after 6.00 p.m., while residential buildings in Ap Lei Chau, Happy Valley, North Point and Tai Po were placed under lockdown on Thursday for mandatory COVID-19 testing.

“We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the ‘restricted area’ as soon as possible,” a government spokesman said in a statement.

Failure to comply with the order could result in a fine of H.K.$25,000 and six months’ imprisonment, the statement said.

“The advice given to me by my colleagues in the public health arena is we are facing a very dire situation of a major community outbreak any time, and that’s why we have to take very decisive measures,” Lam told a news conference. “

But she stopped short of closing schools。

”Not allowing young students to come to school, not having face-to-face learning, is significantly affecting their health, whether it’s their mental health or their physical health,” Lam said. “[So] for the time being … we are not suspending classes.”

Meanwhile, Lam hit out at flag-carrier airline Cathay Pacific after its crew were found to have broken quarantine regulations at the end of 2021.

“As everyone knows, I summoned the top leaders of Cathay Pacific on Dec. 31, including the chairman and chief executive officer of Cathay Pacific,” she said. “I told them that the whole city will have to pay a huge price, because their crew members did not follow the quarantine arrangements laid down by the government.”

“They have to conduct a comprehensive investigation and submit a report to the Hong Kong government. At the same time, appropriate disciplinary action must be taken internally,” she said.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

January 6, 2022

Constellation Brands Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2022 Results

VICTOR, N.Y., Jan. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a leading beverage alcohol company, reported today its third quarter fiscal 2022 results. A conference call to discuss the financial results and outlook will be hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Newlands and Chief Financial Officer Garth Hankinson on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. (EST).

Visit cbrands.com/investors/events to locate information for joining the conference call, or a live, listen-only webcast of the conference call.

ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDS
At Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe sharing a toast, unwinding after a day, celebrating milestones, and helping people connect, are Worth Reaching For. It’s worth our dedication, hard work, and the bold calculated risks we take to deliver more for our consumers, trade partners, shareholders, and communities in which we live and work. It’s what has made us one of the fastest-growing large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver what’s next.

Today, we are a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Every day, people reach for our high-end, iconic imported beer brands such as Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Premier, Modelo Especial, Modelo Negra, and Pacifico, and our high-quality premium wine and spirits brands, including the Robert Mondavi brand family, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, The Prisoner brand family, SVEDKA Vodka, Casa Noble Tequila, and High West Whiskey.

But we won’t stop here. Our visionary leadership team and passionate employees from barrel room to boardroom are reaching for the next level, to explore the boundaries of the beverage alcohol industry and beyond. Join us in discovering what’s Worth Reaching For.

To learn more, follow us on Twitter @cbrands and visit www.cbrands.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS	INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS
Mike McGrew 773-251-4934 / michael.mcgrew@cbrands.com Amy Martin 585-678-7141 / amy.martin@cbrands.com	Patty Yahn-Urlaub 585-678-7483 / patty.yahn-urlaub@cbrands.com Marisa Pepelea 312-741-2316 / marisa.pepelea@cbrands.com Adam Russell 585-678-7292 / adam.russell@cbrands.com

A PDF containing our Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 Results and full financial tables is available at:

http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/aaa68b52-047b-41b0-b2df-db120c0344fc

January 6, 2022

Zenas BioPharma Appoints Dr. John Orloff to Board of Directors

BOSTON and SHANGHAI, China, Jan. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zenas BioPharma, a global biopharmaceutical company committed to becoming a leader in the development and delivery of immune-based therapies, today announced the appointment of John Orloff, MD to its Board of Directors. Dr. Orloff joins the Zenas Board with over 25 years of experience successfully leading global research and development organizations across multiple therapeutic areas including autoimmune diseases.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Dr. Orloff to the Zenas Board of Directors,” said Lonnie Moulder, Founder and Executive Chairman of Zenas. “John’s leadership and extensive expertise in research, development, and medical and regulatory affairs will be invaluable as we advance our portfolio of innovative immune-based therapeutics and continue to expand our pipeline via business development.”

“I am delighted to work with the Zenas leadership team and fellow directors as the Company rapidly progresses an exciting immune-based pipeline,” said Dr. Orloff. “I look forward to contributing to the Company’s continued development as it strives to deliver on its mission to bring innovative medicines to patients in need.”

Dr. Orloff currently serves as a venture partner with Agent Capital. In his most recent executive role, he served as Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development at Alexion where his leadership in expanding the development pipeline to 30 programs supported the recent $39 billion acquisition of Alexion by AstraZeneca.

Prior to Alexion, Dr. Orloff served as Global Head of R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Baxalta, and has also held executive leadership roles with Novelion, Baxter International, Merck Serono, Novartis and Merck Research Laboratories. Before entering the biopharmaceutical industry, he was a faculty member of the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Orloff received an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Dartmouth College, earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont, College of Medicine and completed a fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at Yale University School of Medicine.

About Zenas BioPharma

Zenas BioPharma is a global biopharmaceutical company based in the USA and China committed to becoming a leader in the development and delivery of immune-based therapies for patients in the US, China and around the world. Zenas is rapidly advancing a deep pipeline of innovative therapeutics that continues to grow through our successful business development strategy. Our experienced leadership team and network of business partners drive operational excellence to deliver potentially transformative therapies to improve the lives of those facing autoimmune and rare diseases. For more information about Zenas BioPharma, please visit www.zenasbio.com and follow us on Twitter at @ZenasBioPharma and LinkedIn.

Investor and Media Contact:
Joe Farmer
Zenas BioPharma
IR@zenasbio.com

January 6, 2022

Constellation Brands Enters Agreement With The Coca-Cola Company to Bring the FRESCA® Brand Into Beverage Alcohol

Constellation Brands will manufacture, market, and distribute new FRESCA™ Mixed cocktails, which will launch this year in the United States

VICTOR, N.Y., Jan. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a leading beverage alcohol company, announced today that it has entered into a brand authorization agreement with The Coca-Cola Company in the United States to bring the FRESCA® brand into beverage alcohol through the manufacturing, marketing, distribution, and launch of FRESCA™ Mixed – a new, distinctive line of spirit-based, ready-to-drink cocktails that are well-aligned to a number of emerging consumer trends.

“The Coca-Cola Company’s FRESCA® brand is not only trusted by consumers, but also directly delivers on consumer preferences for refreshment, flavor, and convenience – attributes that also play well within beverage alcohol and where we can leverage our expertise,” said Bill Newlands, Constellation’s president and chief executive officer.

Adult Alternative Beverages, including ready-to-drink cocktails, represents nearly an $8 billion segment projected to grow at a 15-17 percent CAGR over the next three years, with trusted consumer brands commanding a significant share of the market, according to Constellation Brands market research.

FRESCA® is experiencing a surge in popularity with consumers and is currently the fastest growing soft drink trademark in The Coca-Cola Company’s U.S. portfolio (source: Nielsen AMC YTD 11-27-21). Favored by consumers and celebrities as a cocktail mixer, a soft drink, and a zero-calorie, zero-sugar sparkling soda water, consumers consider FRESCA® the no. 1 most unique and different product in the soft drink category (source: Bev360 Dec 2020 12MMT). Leveraging its credentials as a popular mixer that lifts all spirits it’s paired with, FRESCA™ Mixed cocktails will perfectly balance the FRESCA® flavor consumers expect with quality spirit bases rooted in Constellation’s expertise. The new FRESCA™ Mixed will be a distinctive and intriguing brand that delivers consumers fuller-flavored, convenient, ready-to-drink cocktails using real spirits that are great tasting and high quality.

“One of the core tenets of our innovation strategy is a belief in the power of extending strong and trusted brands in thoughtful ways to bring to market unique products that resonate with consumers,” said Mallika Monteiro, Constellation’s chief growth, strategy, and digital officer. “This is an exciting agreement that allows us to continue expanding our premium portfolio in ways that deliver distinctive consumer value propositions that include things like more flavor, different alcohol bases, and functional benefits.”

Added Dan White, chief of new revenue streams, Coca-Cola North America Operating Unit: “The Coca-Cola Company and Constellation Brands have a shared passion for building some of the world’s most loved brands and for building best-in-class beverage experiences. Our new relationship with Constellation Brands is ideal due to their consumer-focused approach to brand building, expansive distribution network, and distilled distribution expertise. With the launch of FRESCA™ Mixed by Constellation, people will have an entirely new way to enjoy the taste of FRESCA®, now mixed with real spirits.”

FRESCA™ Mixed is expected to launch this year, starting with cocktails using real spirits and inspired by recipes created by FRESCA® fans from around the globe. The products will be produced and marketed by Constellation and distributed through Constellation’s 3-tier distribution networks, leveraging the company’s consumer knowledge, brand-building capabilities, beverage alcohol expertise, and strong retail and trade relationships to secure national distribution.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. The word “expect” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These statements may relate to business strategy, future operations, prospects, plans and objectives of management, as well as information concerning expected actions of third parties. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such results will in fact occur or will occur on any contemplated timetable. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and Constellation Brands undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In addition to risks and uncertainties associated with ordinary business operations, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are subject to other risks and uncertainties, including the accuracy of all projections and other factors and uncertainties disclosed from time-to-time in Constellation Brands’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2021, which could cause actual future performance to differ from current expectations.

To learn more, follow us on Twitter @cbrands and visit www.cbrands.com.

ABOUT THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our hydration, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Gold Peak, Honest and Ayataka. Our nutrition, juice, dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

MEDIA CONTACTS

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS

Mike McGrew 773-251-4934 / michael.mcgrew@cbrands.com

Amy Martin 585-678-7141 / amy.martin@cbrands.com

The Coca-Cola Company / press@coca-cola.com

Patty Yahn-Urlaub 585-678-7483 / patty.yahn-urlaub@cbrands.com

Marisa Pepelea 312-741-2316 / marisa.pepelea@cbrands.com

Adam Russell 585-678-7292 / adam.russell@cbrands.com

A downloadable PDF copy of this news release can be found here http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/a5c29944-d9a1-4ac0-8640-3c006d0545f5

January 6, 2022January 7, 2022

Hun Sen Hopes Talks in Myanmar Will End Bloodshed

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has been accused of “going rogue” on the eve of his two-day trip to Myanmar starting Friday, where he says fruitful talks with the junta could end the bloodshed that erupted almost 12 months ago when the military seized power.

However, underpinning the trip is Hun Sen’s legacy and his desire for international legitimacy as this year’s head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a position allowing him to negotiate with the Myanmar junta’s leader, General Min Aung Hlaing.He is also expected to meet with other military leaders.

Ou Virak, president of a Cambodian think tank, Future Forum, said Hun Sen — who has said he plans to retire after elections next year — wanted to elevate the country as a regional player, leaving behind its history first as a failed state, then a post-conflict nation.

“As an ASEAN chair I think the Burmese issue, or the Myanmar issue, will never go away and it’s going to be one of the biggest topics to be discussed in the next year. In that regard Cambodia has very little option but to address it,” he said.

“I think the biggest motivation is Hun Sen himself and the legacy he wants to leave, but also the image he wants to present as a regional leader. I think that’s the biggest motivation,” he added.

ASEAN, which follows a noninterference policy in members’ domestic affairs, has faced increasing pressure to resolve the crisis, which has claimed more than 1,400 lives and resulted in more than 11,000 arrests.

Most ASEAN states have condemned the coup, and Hun Sen’s trip will be the first state visit by a foreign leader since the coup after the bloc failed to enforce its own Five-Point Consensus to end violence and start peace talks, struck in Jakarta last April.

That resulted in Min Aung Hlaing being denied entry to the ASEAN Summit in October and then the ASEAN-China Summit in November. Hun Sen says he wants to bring Myanmar back into the fold through his agenda, which he added was not far from the Five-Point Consensus.

“If the results are fruitful, it may bring peace to Myanmar and the people of Myanmar will acknowledge the efforts of the ASEAN member states,” Hun Sen said of his Myanmar trip, according to a dispatch from the official Agence Kampuchea Presse.

Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who Cambodia has appointed as the new ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar, described Monday the country’s outlook as dire, warning all the ingredients for a civil war were now on the table.

“There are now two governments, there are several armed forces, people are undergoing what they call the civil disobedience movement and [there is] guerrilla warfare around the country,” he said.

However, Hun Sen’s authoritarian style of leadership at home has earned him many critics. The main opposition party was dissolved by the courts in 2017 enabling the ruling Cambodian People’s Party to win every seat in the National Assembly in elections the following year.

That was accompanied by a crackdown on the independent press and civil society groups with hundreds of people detained and jailed, upsetting Western countries and human rights groups, who claim Hun Sen had substantially eroded democratic values in Cambodia.

ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights questioned Cambodia’s moral authority to act on the crisis, noting Hun Sen had reached out to the Myanmar military but has ignored the National Unity Government established by supporters of their ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

They also said Hun Sen’s visit did not respect the ASEAN consensus on Myanmar and accused the prime minister, who has ruled Cambodia for about 36 years, of “going rogue.”

“Furthermore, his actions and stated intention to instate the junta as the representatives for Myanmar, undermines ASEAN credibility and fundamentally threatens both regional bloc cohesion and efforts to return to a democratic path in Myanmar,” the organization said in a statement.

“Meanwhile, the junta has escalated violence against the people of Myanmar, including the massacre of more than 30 people in Kayah State on Christmas Eve and intensive attacks in Karen State throughout December which have drawn widespread international condemnation.”

Others have suggested that Cambodia’s cozy relationship with China, which has also caused deep rifts within ASEAN, was behind the talks. However, Bradley Murg at the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, disputed that assertion.

“I don’t see it as China-related at all. It’s simply stemming from the fact that Cambodia is the chair of ASEAN and at this point Cambodia is in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation,” he said.

“If Cambodia and the prime minister actively don’t engage with the problem, ideally, consistent with the views and traditions of other ASEAN partners, Cambodia will be condemned as ignoring the Myanmar crisis,” Murg added.

However, by going to Myanmar Hun Sen risked legitimizing the military’s ousting of Suu Kyi’s government, which, in the eyes of civil society groups, won a landslide election shortly before last February’s coup.

“The bigger question everyone is looking at at the moment is ‘what will the substance of those meetings be’?” Murg said.

Source: Voice of America

January 6, 2022January 7, 2022

Myanmar Military Accuse News Outlet of Sowing Distrust

Military officials in Myanmar’s Rakhine state announced charges Wednesday against a news website accused of sowing distrust in the military.

Western News was accused of publishing reports that misinterpret or create misunderstanding or distrust of the military, Rakhine State Military Council spokesperson Hla Thein told reporters at a news briefing.

The website’s editor-in-chief, Wunna Khwar Nyo, told VOA that Western News has not received official notification of the charges. He believes the accusations are related to reporting on a military base in Paletwa Township, Chin State, on December 28.

Fighting between the military and groups, including the Local People’s Defense Force Fighters, has been intensifying in Chin State, which borders Rakhine, as armed opposition groups oppose the junta rule.

“I think the reason may be our reporting about a white flag being hoisted on a hill at a military base,” Wunna Khwar Nyo said. “Two days later, Tin Htoo Aung, the person we interviewed for the report, was arrested and charged. Now, we are being sued under Section 124A of the penal code.”

The junta amended Section 124A of the penal code in February to include inciting hatred against military personnel. The penalty for the charge also was increased from three to 20 years in prison.

The prosecution of journalists has made it difficult for media to work, said Wunna Khwar Nyo, who added that the charge against Western News under Section 124A is “a worrisome situation.”

Security forces previously searched the news website’s offices on December 19 and admonished the journalists.

“Security officer warned us not to use the term ‘military council.’ It is an extreme action. On top of that, we are now being sued for the Paletwa report, things got really bad,” said Wunna Khwar Nyo. “Our fellow reporters are on the run.”

Since the February 1 coup, the military has cracked down on media, revoking broadcast licenses, ordering media to not use terms including “junta” “military council” or “regime,” and closing at least eight news outlets. More than 100 journalists have been detained, with about 50 still in custody, according to local media reports.

At least two journalists have been killed, including photojournalist Soe Naing, who died in military custody after his arrest on December 10, and Sai Win Aung, who was killed while covering fighting in the Myawaddy district near the Thai border on December 25.

Political analyst Aung Thu Nyein told VOA last week that 2021 was “the most oppressive year against independent media in Myanmar.”

International condemnation

UNESCO on Wednesday condemned the killing of Sai Win Aung, who was shot while reporting on refugees for Federal News Journal.

“Media workers like Sai Win Aung risk their lives to keep the public informed. Their work deserves to be recognized and their safety protected in line with international humanitarian law, which forbids attacks on civilians,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

Sai Win Aung was one of 55 journalists killed worldwide, according to data released Thursday by UNESCO.

“Far too many journalists paid the ultimate price to bring truth to light,” said Azoulay in a statement on the risks globally to media. “Right now, the world needs independent, factual information more than ever. We must do more to ensure that those who work tirelessly to provide this can do so without fear.”

Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has called for the international community to impose tougher sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders after Sai Win Aung’s death.

“Sai Wing Aung paid with his life for his determination to provide his fellow citizens with coverage of the terror that the armed forces have been inflicting on Myanmar’s population since last February’s military coup,” said RSF’s Asia-Pacific head Daniel Bastard in a statement. “He died a hero, and his fight must not be in vain.

Source: Voice of America