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Trip.com Group Limited Reports Unaudited Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2023 Financial Results

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SHANGHAI, Feb. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM; HKEX: 9961) (“Trip.com Group” or the “Company”), a leading one-stop travel service provider of accommodation reservation, transportation ticketing, packaged tours, and corporate travel management, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023.

Key Highlights for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2023

Domestic and international businesses continued to show robust recovery in the fourth quarter of 2023 Domestic hotel reservations grew by over 130% year over year.Outbound hotel and air reservations both recovered to over 80% of the pre-COVID level for the same period in 2019, compared to a 60% industry recovery in terms of international air passenger volume for the same period.Total bookings on the Company’s global OTA platform have increased by over 70% year over year.The Company delivered strong financial results in the fourth quarter of 2023 Net revenue for the fourth quarter grew by 105% compared to the same period in 2022. Net income for the fourth quarter was RMB1.3 billion (US$189 million).Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was RMB2.9 billion (US$401 million). Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28%, improved from 6% for the same period in 2022.

“In 2023, China embarked on a significant journey of reconnecting with the world driven by the rising travel sentiment. Our global business also experienced substantial growth fueled by our expanded market presence,” said James Liang, Executive Chairman. “With a continued focus on globalization and AI innovations, we are confident to build upon the success of 2023 and further explore the opportunities that lie ahead.”

“We are pleased with the strong results achieved across our business segments in the past year,” said Jane Sun, Chief Executive Officer. “The global travel industry has shown remarkable resilience and is poised to sustain its growth trajectory. To capitalize on this trend and unlock new opportunities, we remain committed to investing in technology and product innovation, enhancing customer services, and promoting sustainable development of the travel industry.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2023 Financial Results and Business Updates

The Company’s business has recovered significantly due to the resilient travel demand, leading to a surge in travel bookings year over year.

For the fourth quarter of 2023, Trip.com Group reported net revenue of RMB10.3 billion (US$1.5 billion), representing a 105% increase from the same period in 2022 primarily due to substantial recovery of travel market. Net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 25% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.

For the full year of 2023, net revenue was RMB44.5 billion (US$6.3 billion), representing a 122% increase from 2022.

Accommodation reservation revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB3.9 billion (US$550 million), representing a 131% increase from the same period in 2022 primarily due to substantial recovery of travel market. Accommodation reservation revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 30% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.

For the full year of 2023, accommodation reservation revenue was RMB17.3 billion (US$2.4 billion), representing a 133% increase from 2022. The accommodation reservation revenue accounted for 39% of the total revenue in 2023 and 37% of the total revenue in 2022.

Transportation ticketing revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB4.1 billion (US$578 million), representing an 86% increase from the same period in 2022 primarily due to substantial recovery of travel market. Transportation ticketing revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 23% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.

For the full year of 2023, transportation ticketing revenue was RMB18.4 billion (US$2.6 billion), representing a 123% increase from 2022. The transportation ticketing revenue accounted for 41% of the total revenue both in 2023 and 2022.

Packaged-tour revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB704 million (US$99 million), representing a 329% increase from the same period in 2022 primarily due to substantial recovery of travel market. Packaged-tour revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 47% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.

For the full year of 2023, packaged-tour revenue was RMB3.1 billion (US$442 million), representing a 294% increase from 2022. The packaged-tour revenue accounted for 7% of the total revenue in 2023 and 4% of the total revenue in 2022.

Corporate travel revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB634 million (US$89 million), representing a 129% increase from the same period in 2022 and a 7% increase from the previous quarter, primarily due to substantial recovery of travel market.

For the full year of 2023, corporate travel revenue was RMB2.3 billion (US$317 million), representing a 109% increase from 2022. The corporate travel revenue accounted for 5% of the total revenue both in 2023 and 2022.

Cost of revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 68% to RMB2.0 billion (US$283 million) from the same period in 2022 and decreased by 19% from the previous quarter, which was in line with the increase in net revenue. Cost of revenue as a percentage of net revenue was 19% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

For the full year of 2023, cost of revenue increased by 80% to RMB8.1 billion (US$1.1 billion), compared to that for 2022, which accounted for 18% of net revenue in 2023.

Product development expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 39% to RMB2.9 billion (US$411 million) from the same period in 2022 and decreased by 18% from the previous quarter, primarily due to the fluctuations in product development personnel related expenses. Product development expenses as a percentage of net revenue was 28% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

For the full year of 2023, product development expenses increased by 45% to RMB12.1 billion (US$1.7 billion) from 2022, which accounted for 27% of net revenue in 2023.

Sales and marketing expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 103% to RMB2.3 billion (US$329 million) from the same period in 2022 and decreased by 15% from the previous quarter, primarily due to the fluctuations in expenses relating to sales and marketing promotion activities. Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenue was 23% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

For the full year of 2023, sales and marketing expenses increased by 117% to RMB9.2 billion (US$1.3 billion) from 2022, which accounted for 21% of net revenue in 2023.

General and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by 6% to RMB869 million (US$122 million) from the same period in 2022. General and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 15% from the previous quarter primarily due to a decrease in general and administrative personnel related expenses. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenue was 8% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

For the full year of 2023, general and administrative expenses increased by 31% to RMB3.7 billion (US$527 million) from 2022, which accounted for 8% of net revenue in 2023.

Income tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB399 million (US$56 million), compared to RMB246 million for the same period in 2022 and RMB448 million for the previous quarter. The change in Trip.com Group’s effective tax rate was primarily due to the combined impacts of changes in respective profitability of its subsidiaries with different tax rates, changes in deferred tax liabilities relating to withholding tax, certain non-taxable income or loss resulting from the fair value changes in equity securities investments and exchangeable senior notes recorded in other income/(expense), and changes in valuation allowance provided for deferred tax assets.

For the full year of 2023, income tax expense was RMB1.8 billion (US$246 million), compared to RMB682 million in 2022.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB1.3 billion (US$189 million), compared to RMB2.1 billion for the same period in 2022 and RMB4.6 billion for the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB2.9 billion (US$401 million), compared to RMB286 million for the same period in 2022 and RMB4.6 billion for the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28% for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 6% for the same period in 2022 and 34% for the previous quarter.

For the full year of 2023, net income was RMB10.0 billion (US$1.4 billion), compared to RMB1.4 billion in 2022.

Net income attributable to Trip.com Group’s shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB1.3 billion (US$183 million), compared to RMB2.1 billion for the same period in 2022 and RMB4.6 billion for the previous quarter. Excluding share-based compensation charges, fair value changes of equity securities investments and exchangeable senior notes recorded in other income/(expense), and their tax effects, non-GAAP net income attributable to Trip.com Group’s shareholders for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB2.7 billion (US$376 million), compared to RMB498 million for the same period in 2022 and RMB4.9 billion for the previous quarter.

For the full year of 2023, net income attributable to Trip.com Group’s shareholders was RMB9.9 billion (US$1.4 billion), compared to RMB1.4 billion in 2022. Excluding share-based compensation charges, fair value changes of equity securities investments and exchangeable senior notes recorded in other income/(expense), and their tax effects, non-GAAP net income attributable to Trip.com Group’s shareholders was RMB13.1 billion (US$1.8 billion) in 2023, compared to RMB1.3 billion in 2022.

Diluted earnings per ordinary share and per ADS was RMB1.94 (US$0.27) for the fourth quarter of 2023. Excluding share-based compensation charges, fair value changes of equity securities investments and exchangeable senior notes recorded in other income/(expense), and their tax effects, non-GAAP diluted earnings per ordinary share and per ADS was RMB4.00 (US$0.56) for the fourth quarter of 2023. Each ADS currently represents one ordinary share of the Company.

For the full year of 2023, diluted earnings per share and per ADS was RMB14.78 (US$2.08). Excluding share-based compensation charges, fair value changes of equity securities investments and exchangeable senior notes recorded in other income/(expense), and their tax effects, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and per ADS was RMB19.48 (US$2.74).

As of December 31, 2023, the balance of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investment, and held to maturity time deposit and financial products was RMB77.3 billion (US$10.9 billion).

Recent Development

From September 2023 to the date of this press release, the Company purchased 6.8 million ADSs in aggregate with a total gross consideration of US$224 million pursuant to its existing share repurchase plan.

Pursuant to the regular capital return policy adopted by the Company’s board of directors in November 2023, in February 2024, the board of directors of the Company approved and authorized the Company to implement strategic capital return initiatives from time to time for an aggregate value up to US$300 million (the “2024 Capital Return Program”). The 2024 Capital Return Program permit discretionary annual share repurchases, discretionary annual cash dividends, or a combination of both.

Conference Call

Trip.com Group’s management team will host a conference call at 7:00 PM EST on February 21, 2024 (or 8:00 AM CST on February 22, 2024) following this announcement.

The conference call will be available live on Webcast and for replay at: https://investors.trip.com. The call will be archived for twelve months on our website.

All participants must pre-register to join this conference call using the Participant Registration link below:

https://register.vevent.com/register/BIe44158d2fc1245a3a7358621c0de47c7 

Upon registration, each participant will receive details for this conference call, including dial-in numbers and a unique access PIN. To join the conference, please dial the number provided, enter your PIN, and you will join the conference instantly.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “is/are likely to,” “confident” or other similar statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this press release, as well as Trip.com Group’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, severe or prolonged downturn in the global or Chinese economy, general declines or disruptions in the travel industry, volatility in the trading price of Trip.com Group’s ADSs or shares, Trip.com Group’s reliance on its relationships and contractual arrangements with travel suppliers and strategic alliances, failure to compete against new and existing competitors, failure to successfully manage current growth and potential future growth, risks associated with any strategic investments or acquisitions, seasonality in the travel industry in the relevant jurisdictions where Trip.com Group operates, failure to successfully develop Trip.com Group’s existing or future business lines, damage to or failure of Trip.com Group’s infrastructure and technology, loss of services of Trip.com Group’s key executives, the impact of COVID-19 to Trip.com Group’s business operations, adverse changes in economic and political policies of the PRC government, inflation in China, risks and uncertainties associated with PRC laws and regulations with respect to the ownership structure of the variable interest entities and the contractual arrangements among Trip.com Group, the variable interest entities and their shareholders, and other risks outlined in Trip.com Group’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the issuance, and Trip.com Group does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Trip.com Group’s consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), Trip.com Group uses non-GAAP financial information related to adjusted net income attributable to Trip.com Group Limited, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, and adjusted diluted earnings per ordinary share and per ADS, each of which is adjusted from the most comparable GAAP result to exclude the share-based compensation charges that are not tax deductible, fair value changes of equity securities investments and exchangeable senior notes recorded in other income/(expense), net of tax, and other applicable items. Trip.com Group’s management believes the non-GAAP financial measures facilitate better understanding of operating results from quarter to quarter and provide management with a better capability to plan and forecast future periods.

Non-GAAP information is not prepared in accordance with GAAP, does not have a standardized meaning under GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by other companies. The presentation of this additional information should not be considered a substitute for GAAP results. A limitation of using non-GAAP financial measures is that non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation charges, fair value changes of equity securities investments and exchangeable senior notes recorded in other income/(expense), and their tax effects that have been and will continue to be significant recurring expenses in Trip.com Group’s business for the foreseeable future.

Reconciliations of Trip.com Group’s non-GAAP financial data to the most comparable GAAP data included in the consolidated statement of operations are included at the end of this press release.

About Trip.com Group Limited

Trip.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: TCOM; HKEX: 9961) is a leading global one-stop travel platform, integrating a comprehensive suite of travel products and services and differentiated travel content. It is the go-to destination for travelers in China, and increasingly for travelers around the world, to explore travel, get inspired, make informed and cost-effective travel bookings, enjoy hassle-free on-the-go support, and share travel experience. Founded in 1999 and listed on Nasdaq in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, the Company currently operates under a portfolio of brands, including Ctrip, Qunar, Trip.com, and Skyscanner, with the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world.”

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations
Trip.com Group Limited
Tel: +86 (21) 3406-4880 X 12229
Email: iremail@trip.com

 

 

Trip.com Group Limited

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In millions, except share and per share data)

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2023

RMB (million)

RMB (million)

USD (million)

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

18,487

43,983

6,195

Short-term investments

25,545

17,748

2,500

Accounts receivable, net

5,486

11,410

1,607

Prepayments and other current assets

11,917

15,591

2,196

Total current assets

61,435

88,732

12,498

Property, equipment and software

5,204

5,142

724

Intangible assets and land use rights

12,825

12,644

1,781

Right-of-use asset

819

641

90

Investments (Includes held to maturity time deposit and
financial products of RMB15,527 million and RMB15,530
million as of December 31,2022 and December 31,
2023, respectively)

50,177

49,342

6,950

Goodwill

59,337

59,372

8,362

Other long-term assets

570

688

97

Deferred tax asset

1,324

2,576

363

Total assets

191,691

219,137

30,865

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities:

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt

32,674

25,857

3,642

Accounts payable

7,569

16,459

2,318

Advances from customers

8,278

13,380

1,885

Other current liabilities

12,718

16,715

2,354

Total current liabilities

61,239

72,411

10,199

Deferred tax liability

3,487

3,825

539

Long-term debt

13,177

19,099

2,690

Long-term lease liability

534

477

67

Other long-term liabilities

235

319

45

Total liabilities

78,672

96,131

13,540

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Total Trip.com Group Limited shareholders’ equity

112,283

122,184

17,209

Non-controlling interests

736

822

116

Total shareholders’ equity

113,019

123,006

17,325

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

191,691

219,137

30,865

 

 

Trip.com Group Limited

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income/(Loss)

(In millions, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 2022

September 30, 2023

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2023

RMB (million)

RMB (million)

RMB (million)

USD (million)

RMB (million)

RMB (million)

USD (million)

Revenue:

Accommodation reservation 

1,689

5,589

3,903

550

7,400

17,257

2,431

Transportation ticketing 

2,204

5,367

4,106

578

8,253

18,443

2,598

Packaged-tour 

164

1,328

704

99

797

3,140

442

Corporate travel

277

591

634

89

1,079

2,254

317

Others

697

876

991

140

2,526

3,468

488

Total revenue

5,031

13,751

10,338

1,456

20,055

44,562

6,276

Less: Sales tax and surcharges

(4)

(11)

(13)

(2)

(16)

(52)

(7)

Net revenue

5,027

13,740

10,325

1,454

20,039

44,510

6,269

Cost of revenue

(1,199)

(2,467)

(2,010)

(283)

(4,513)

(8,121)

(1,144)

Gross profit

3,828

11,273

8,315

1,171

15,526

36,389

5,125

Operating expenses:

Product development *

(2,104)

(3,577)

(2,916)

(411)

(8,341)

(12,120)

(1,707)

Sales and marketing *

(1,148)

(2,759)

(2,333)

(329)

(4,250)

(9,202)

(1,296)

General and administrative *

(816)

(1,028)

(869)

(122)

(2,847)

(3,743)

(527)

Total operating expenses

(4,068)

(7,364)

(6,118)

(862)

(15,438)

(25,065)

(3,530)

(Loss)/income from operations

(240)

3,909

2,197

309

88

11,324

1,595

Interest income 

458

543

593

84

2,046

2,090

294

Interest expense

(427)

(529)

(497)

(70)

(1,514)

(2,067)

(291)

Other income/(expense)

2,745

545

(903)

(127)

2,015

(667)

(94)

Income before income tax
expense and equity in
(loss)/income of affiliates

2,536

4,468

1,390

196

2,635

10,680

1,504

Income tax expense

(246)

(448)

(399)

(56)

(682)

(1,750)

(246)

Equity in (loss)/gain of affiliates

(210)

618

351

49

(586)

1,072

151

Net income

2,080

4,638

1,342

189

1,367

10,002

1,409

Net (income)/loss attributable to non-
controlling interests

(23)

(23)

(45)

(6)

36

(84)

(12)

Net income attributable to
Trip.com Group Limited

2,057

4,615

1,297

183

1,403

9,918

1,397

Earnings per ordinary share 

– Basic

3.17

7.05

1.99

0.28

2.17

15.19

2.14

– Diluted

3.12

6.84

1.94

0.27

2.14

14.78

2.08

Earnings per ADS 

– Basic

3.17

7.05

1.99

0.28

2.17

15.19

2.14

– Diluted

3.12

6.84

1.94

0.27

2.14

14.78

2.08

Weighted average ordinary shares
outstanding 

– Basic

649,893,734

654,146,029

652,033,082

652,033,082

648,380,590

652,859,211

652,859,211

– Diluted

658,660,803

674,134,652

668,332,395

668,332,395

657,092,826

671,062,240

671,062,240

* Share-based compensation included in Operating expenses above is as follows:

  Product development 

147

242

215

30

567

870

123

  Sales and marketing 

37

44

39

5

115

158

22

  General and administrative 

126

223

196

28

506

806

113

 

 

Trip.com Group Limited

Unaudited Reconciliation of  GAAP and Non-GAAP Results

(In millions, except %, share and per share data)

Three Months Ended

Year Ended

December 31, 2022

September 30, 2023

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2022

December 31, 2023

December 31, 2023

RMB (million)

RMB (million)

RMB (million)

USD (million)

RMB (million)

RMB (million)

USD (million)

Net income

2,080

4,638

1,342

189

1,367

10,002

1,409

Less: Interest income

(458)

(543)

(593)

(84)

(2,046)

(2,090)

(294)

Add: Interest expense

427

529

497

70

1,514

2,067

291

Add: Other (income)/expense

(2,745)

(545)

903

127

(2,015)

667

94

Add: Income tax expense

246

448

399

56

682

1,750

246

Add: Equity in loss/(income) of affiliates

210

(618)

(351)

(49)

586

(1,072)

(151)

(Loss)/income from operations

(240)

3,909

2,197

309

88

11,324

1,595

Add: Share-based compensation

310

509

450

63

1,188

1,834

258

Add: Depreciation and amortization

216

204

208

29

875

817

115

Adjusted EBITDA

286

4,622

2,855

401

2,151

13,975

1,968

Adjusted EBITDA margin

6 %

34 %

28 %

28 %

11 %

31 %

31 %

Net income attributable to Trip.com Group Limited

2,057

4,615

1,297

183

1,403

9,918

1,397

Add: Share-based compensation

310

509

450

63

1,188

1,834

258

Add: (Gain)/loss from fair value changes of equity securities investments
and exchangeable senior notes

(1,945)

(185)

989

139

(1,338)

1,507

212

Add: Tax effects on fair value changes of equity securities investments and
exchangeable senior notes

76

(42)

(61)

(9)

41

(188)

(26)

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Trip.com Group Limited

498

4,897

2,675

376

1,294

13,071

1,841

Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding-
 Diluted-non GAAP 

658,571,739

674,134,652

668,332,395

668,332,395

657,092,826

671,062,240

671,062,240

Non-GAAP Diluted income per share 

0.76

7.26

4.00

0.56

1.97

19.48

2.74

Non-GAAP Diluted income per ADS 

0.76

7.26

4.00

0.56

1.97

19.48

2.74

Notes for all the condensed consolidated financial schedules presented:

Note 1: The conversion of Renminbi (RMB) into U.S. dollars (USD) is based on the certified exchange rate of USD1.00=RMB7.0999 on December 29, 2023 published by the Federal Reserve Board.

 

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SOURCE Trip.com Group Limited

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AstroRad Vest Worn by Astronauts Aboard International Space Station to Go on Display at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

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The historic exhibition follows landmark radiation protection findings from NASA’s Artemis I mission, whose AstroRad vest is separately displayed at Kennedy Space Center.

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — StemRad, a developer of advanced radiation protection technology, shared that one of its AstroRad radiation protection vests, flown aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and worn by five space travelers, will go on display in the At Home in Space gallery at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

The vest was worn by four female American astronauts and an Israeli private astronaut during everyday activities aboard the ISS, including work and sleep. These in-orbit evaluations provided valuable experience with the practicality and comfort of wearable radiation protection during extended space missions.

The Smithsonian exhibition follows the recent publication of landmark scientific findings in Science Advances from NASA’s Artemis I mission. The research demonstrated AstroRad’s ability to dramatically reduce radiation exposure during potentially cancer-inducing solar radiation storms: for the August 1972 storm, which occurred between Apollo 16 and 17, a 60% reduction in dose was demonstrated (roughly 1,200 chest X-rays). This provided important evidence for protecting astronauts on future missions to the Moon and Mars.

The AstroRad vest that traveled around the Moon aboard Artemis I is separately on display at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Together, the two exhibits trace AstroRad’s journey from operational evaluations aboard the ISS to radiation protection research beyond Earth’s magnetic field.

“Having AstroRad displayed at the Smithsonian is a tremendous honor and a proud milestone for our team,” said Dr. Oren Milstein, CEO and Co-Founder of StemRad. “Knowing that a technology we developed to help protect astronauts is now being recognized as part of the history of space exploration is incredibly rewarding. With AstroRad also on display at Kennedy Space Center following the groundbreaking Artemis I mission, we hope these exhibits will inspire future generations to tackle the challenges of human space exploration.”

“The AstroRad vest helps tell two stories in the new At Home in Space exhibit,” said Dr. Jennifer Levasseur, Museum Curator, and the lead curator for the gallery. “Importantly, the vest represents efforts to protect astronauts from the significant concern of increased radiation exposure on long duration spaceflights. It’s also an example of how technology demonstrations on the ISS will inform future human deep space exploration.” AstroRad was developed by StemRad in collaboration with Lockheed Martin to address one of the principal challenges of human space exploration: exposure to harmful ionizing radiation. The ISS operational evaluations, the Artemis I scientific results, and the Smithsonian and Kennedy Space Center exhibitions collectively highlight the growing role of wearable radiation protection in the future of human spaceflight.

About StemRad

StemRad is an American-Israeli company specializing in personal radiation protection technologies. Its solutions are designed to protect critical organs and tissues from harmful ionizing radiation while preserving mobility and operational effectiveness. StemRad develops radiation protection solutions for space exploration, emergency response, and defense applications.

Media Contact
StemRad
Tamar Cohen
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Three Products Featuring TCL CSOT Displays Named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026

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SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TCL’s flagship X11L SQD-Mini LED TV, the XTEINK X4 Pro Pocket eReader and the Framework Laptop 13 Pro have been named to TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 list. All three products feature displays supplied by TCL CSOT.

TCL X11L: Advancing Large-Screen Picture Quality

As the only Chinese TV selected in the consumer electronics category of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026, the TCL X11L features the TCL CSOT WHVA 2.0 Ultra Panel, delivering a native contrast ratio of 7,000:1 and 100% BT.2020 color space coverage. Its display technology combines the TCL CSOT Ultra Color Filter with 20,736 Precise Dimming Zones and 10,000-nit peak HDR brightness. Powered by SQD-Mini LED technology, which delivers an industry-leading color gamut, the X11L captures subtle variations in light, further advancing large-screen picture quality.

In its Best Inventions of 2026 coverage, TIME noted that “those who manufacture TVs are constantly seeking new ways to one-up their competitors, either through unique design or unmatchable image quality.” The TCL X11L, the publication stated, “promises the latter with an LED panel that employs ‘super quantum dot’ technology, designed with the capacity to emit light at more specific nanometer wavelengths than previously available tech. The resulting image is extremely color accurate but also impressively bright.”

XTEINK X4 Pro: Bringing Reading to Your Pocket

The XTEINK X4 Pro features a 4.3-inch E Ink display that uses reflective imaging technology and emits no blue light, delivering a paper-like reading experience designed to reduce eye fatigue during extended use. Its capacitive touchscreen and adjustable warm-and-cool front lighting help provide comfortable reading conditions throughout the day and night.

TIME wrote, “While the most popular e-readers are smaller than a hardcover, many are still a bit too large for true grab-and-go convenience. XTEINK filled the gap with its X3 and X4 e-readers.” Beyond its compact size, the XTEINK X4 Pro further enhances the reading experience with an upgraded, higher-capacity battery, making pocket-sized reading convenient at any time of day or night.

Framework Laptop 13 Pro: A Repairable, Upgradeable Laptop

The Framework Laptop 13 Pro combines a modular, repairable design with a custom 13.5-inch 2.8K touchscreen supplied by TCL CSOT. The display module measures 2.0 mm thick on the device side and 2.1 mm on the PCB side, with a weight of only 180 g, supporting the laptop’s modular architecture. The updated model also features a 74 Wh battery and a haptic trackpad, while its modular design allows users to replace or upgrade components and customize their configuration, from memory and keyboard options to ports.

TIME recognized the laptop for making high-performance computing more repairable and user-customizable. The newly updated Framework Laptop 13 Pro is more “like a bicycle,” says Framework CEO Nirav Patel. “Every part is easy to replace.” With an included screwdriver and components designed for replacement and upgrades, the laptop enables users to repair and personalize their devices themselves, and help extend product lifespan. By putting repair and customization in users’ hands, the Framework Laptop 13 Pro offers a more flexible and sustainable approach to personal computing.

The inclusion of all three products in TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 highlights not only the strength of each product, but also TCL CSOT’s end-to-end capabilities from technology R&D to industry collaboration. Looking ahead, TCL CSOT will continue to advance multiple display technology pathways and collaborate with industry partners to expand applications across diverse scenarios, bringing high-quality, slim, eye-care and environmentally friendly display solutions to more users.

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Bybit Brings Its New Financial Platform Vision to Hong Kong FinTech Week 2026

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LISBON, Portugal, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the New Financial Platform trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, announced its participation in Hong Kong FinTech Week (HKFTW) 2026, Asia’s premier fintech summit bringing together global financial leaders, regulators, and innovators at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from November 2 to 6, 2026.

Bybit’s senior leadership will take the stage during the two-day main conference, joining more than 1,000 global speakers and 45,000 participants from over 120 economies at one of the year’s most anticipated events for changemakers in financial services and innovation.

Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit, will deliver a fireside chat on the Main Stage on November 3 titled “Bridging the Divide: The Next Chapter of TradFi & Crypto Convergence.” The session will explore how AI-driven platform innovation, institutional-grade infrastructure and asset tokenization are reshaping the boundary between traditional financial markets and the digital asset ecosystem.

Sean Ballard, Head of Derivatives and Institutional Business at Bybit, will join a panel discussion titled “The Future of Trading: Next-Generation Market Infrastructure and Liquidity” alongside executives from Panthertrade, Gravity Team and BitGo on November 3. The panel will examine how AI-driven execution models, tokenized market access, and synchronized liquidity pools are converging to create more resilient, capital-efficient and accessible trading infrastructure for professional market participants.

Themed “Fintech Nexus: Bridging the World, Building the Future”, HKFTW 2026 is organized around three strategic engines: Finance+, AI+, and Go Global, reflecting the city’s role as a super-connector between capital, innovation and international markets. The event features 10 dedicated forums, including the Digital Assets and Web3 Forum and the AI in Finance Forum, with keynote speakers from leading global financial institutions and regulators.

Bybit is not licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, and its services are not available to the public in Hong Kong.

About Bybit

Bybit is The New Financial Platform.

We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.

Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.

Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.

Learn more at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
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