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2025 Sunhak Peace Prize Spotlights Champions of Global Change

Celebrating 10 years of honoring exceptional leadership in sustainability, global citizenship, and education

SEOUL, South Korea, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Sunhak Peace Prize Ceremony took place on Friday, April 11, at the Crystal Ballroom of Lotte Hotel World, Seoul, attended by over 750 international guests, including global leaders, former heads of state, and prominent civil society representatives. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Prize honored three distinguished leaders for their significant contributions in environmental sustainability, global citizenship, and educational innovation.

From left to right (H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Samuel Radebe, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Dr. Wanjira Mathai, Mr. Hugh Evans, Dr. Patrick Awuah, Jr)
From left to right (H.E. Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Samuel Radebe, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Dr. Wanjira Mathai, Mr. Hugh Evans, Dr. Patrick Awuah, Jr)

Wanjira Mathai from Kenya was recognized for her outstanding environmental leadership, notably through the AFR100 initiative and the Green Belt Movement. Her dedicated efforts have contributed significantly to environmental restoration, with over 51 million trees planted to rehabilitate degraded landscapes across Africa.

Hugh Evans from Australia, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen, received the prize for his exceptional commitment to global citizenship. Through his leadership, Global Citizen mobilized over $43 billion, directly impacting the lives of more than 1.3 billion individuals worldwide by addressing poverty, health, education, and access to essential services.

Patrick Awuah Jr., founder of Ashesi University in Ghana, was honored for transforming African higher education. His visionary leadership introduced innovative curricula emphasizing ethics, gender equality, critical thinking, and leadership. Ashesi University is now recognized as a pioneering institution, producing graduates equipped to lead positive social change across Africa and beyond.

The Founders’ Award was presented to former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for his contributions to peaceful democratic transitions and good governance, and Samuel Radebe from South Africa for his dedication to interreligious harmony and community peace in Africa. Meanwhile, the awarding of the Founders’ Award to Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, was postponed due to unavoidable circumstances.

In his congratulatory remarks, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated, “On its 10th anniversary, the Sunhak Peace Prize continues to spotlight the vital contributions of unsung heroes to global peace and solidarity. I deeply commend the laureates for their inspiring dedication and extend heartfelt gratitude to Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for her visionary leadership and unwavering support of global peace efforts.”

For more information, please visit www.sunhakpeaceprize.org or contact:
Sunhak Peace Prize Secretariat
sunhakprize@gmail.com

Global First Engineered Exosome with INCI Name — ImmVira Leads a New Era in International Cosmetic Ingredients

SUZHOU, China, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EonveLab, a subsidiary of ImmVira Group (“ImmVira,” or the “Company”), recently announced that its in-house developed engineered exosome product, MVR-EX103, developed for treating superficial skin depressions, has successfully passed the review of the International Cosmetic Ingredient Nomenclature Committee (“INC”) and been officially granted a standardized International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient (“INCI”) name under the designation “Exosome.” This marks the first engineered exosome worldwide to receive an INCI designation, highlighting ImmVira’s leadership in the field and a significant advancement in the development of next-generation cosmetic ingredients.

As a globally recognized regulatory standard, the INCI system has been widely adopted across major markets, including the U.S., EU, and China. The INCI system ensures reliable safeguards for transparency and consistency, which facilitates international regulatory compliance while enhancing consumer trust through ingredient labeling clarity and formulation safety.

Based on its OVPENS platform, ImmVira has developed a series of engineered exosome pipelines capable of simultaneous multi-protein delivery, targeting critical unmet medical needs in complex chronic and anti-aging related diseases. Compared to naturally derived exosomes, engineered exosomes offer advantages, including consistency and controllability in quality derived from stable cell lines, precise and stable therapeutic function benefiting from the precisely designed targeting functional proteins, and scalable GMP-standard manufacturing under strict supervision. The approval of MVR-EX103 by INCI is a significant milestone for the Company in advancing international partnerships and market expansion. ImmVira has entered a commercial partnership with a leading multinational corporation for the U.S. and Canadian markets of MVR-EX103. Meanwhile, more expansive global collaborative efforts are currently underway and progressing steadily.

Unlike conventional injectables, topical engineered exosome products designed for pan-dermatological applications benefit from a flexible and expedited registration pathway, enabling direct-to-market commercialization through the filing of cosmetic ingredients. Going forward, with the commitment to technology-driven development, ImmVira is poised to expand its engineered exosome applications across multiple sectors, driving the in-depth integration of both the healthcare and beauty industries. Through cutting-edge science and scalable solutions, ImmVira aims to deliver a new generation of safe, effective, and globally accessible cosmetic ingredients and skincare solutions.

About ImmVira

ImmVira is a global biotech company dedicated to developing breakthrough therapeutic solutions through efficient, safe, and targeted drug delivery technologies. The company centers its operations on the end-to-end drug development platform (OVPENS Platform) and has established an innovative R&D system that powers two robust delivery vectors: engineered oncolytic viruses and engineered exosomes. With an established CMC process in line with global standards, the platform originated multiple innovative drug candidates targeting major, complex, and refractory diseases, including cancer, respiratory diseases, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, urological diseases, and dermatological conditions. Based on extensive research and development, ImmVira has pioneered, developed, and matured both the field of oncolytic viruses for cancer therapy and the field of engineered exosomes for non-cancer applications.

Results of the ixCrypto Index Series Quarterly Review (2025 Q1)


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 April 2025 – Today, IX Asia Indexes announced the 2025 1st quarter review of ixCrypto Index Series. The constituent changes will be effective on 18th April 2025 (Friday) (“the effective date”). The results of the constituent review and exchange review are as follows:

1. Constituent Review – ixCrypto Index Series

1.1 ixCrypto Index (“IXCI”)
The number of constituents will decrease to 18 constituents with 1 addition and 2 deletions.

Addition

  1. Hedera

Deletions

  1. Pepe
  2. Near Protocol

After the change, the free float adjusted market capitalization coverage is 83.10%*, while the 90-day-average volume is 74.47%* (excluding stable coin which has 6.65% of the total crypto universe). The constituents change above and recapping at 40% will be effective on 18 April 2025 (Friday).

Since the last review, there has been an increase in the crypto total market capitalization from USD2.89tn to USD3.14tn (+8.65%)#, and a decrease in the daily volume from USD152.20bn to USD122.17bn (-19.73%)#. Bitcoin remains as the largest crypto in the constituent list, with its price has decreased by 11.13% since the last review.

1.2. ixCrypto Portfolio Indexes

1.2.1 ixCrypto 5 Equal Weight Index (“IXEW5”) and ixCrypto 5 Square Root Index (“IXSR5”)

Additions
No addition

Deletions
No deletion

1.2.2 ixCrypto 10 Equal Weight Index (“IXEW10”) and ixCrypto 10 Square Root Index (“IXSR10”).

Additions

  1. Chainlink
  2. Stellar

Deletions

  1. Toncoin
  2. Shiba Inu


1.2.3 ixCrypto Altcoin 10 EW Index (“IXAEW10”) and ixCrypto Altcoin 10 SR Index (“IXASR10”).

Additions

  1. Stellar
  2. Sui

Deletions

  1. Toncoin
  2. Shiba Inu

1.3. ixCrypto BTC/ETH Indexes

As of 31st March 2025, the market capitalization represented by the two indexes IX Bitcoin Index (IXBI) and IX Ethereum Index (IXEI) in ixCrypto BTC/ETH 5050 Index (“IX5050”) was 56.20%/43.80% respectively, a change from 43.69%/56.31% from 31st December 2024. The weight of IXBI & IXEI within IX5050 will be adjusted back to approximately 50%/50% respectively (estimated using 31st March 2025 prices), at the effective date.

As of 31st March 2025, the market capitalization represented by the two indexes IXBI and IXEI in ixCrypto BTC/ETH Proportional Index (“IXPI”) was 56.20%/43.80% respectively.

The new weight of IXBI and IXEI within the IXPI will be adjusted back to approximately 88.23/11.77% (estimated using 31st March 2025 prices) to restore their relative weight in the cryptocurrencies market at the effective date.

2. Constituent Review- IX Digital Asset Industry Index Series

2.1 ixCrypto Stablecoin Index

The number of constituents will decrease to 4 with no addition and 1 deletion. Stablecoin comprises 6.65% of the total crypto universe, and ixCrypto Stablecoin Index covers around 98.64% of the 90-day average market capitalization in stablecoin universe.

Addition
No addition

Deletion

  1. First Digital USD


2.2 ixCrypto Infrastructure Index

The number of constituents will remain unchanged at 23 with no addition and no deletion.

Additions
No addition

Deletion
No deletion

3. Exchange Review

As a result of exchange review, 8 exchanges passed the review process, which are as follows:

  1. Binance
  2. Bybit
  3. Coinbase Advanced
  4. OKEX
  5. Gate.io
  6. Bitrue
  7. Bitget
  8. Whitebit

Removed Exchanges

  1. Upbit
  2. DigiFinex

The selected 8 exchanges will be taken to generate each of the fair average prices for the IX Aaia indexes’ constituents. The exchange review covers volume rankings, exchange background checking, founders’ background checking, USD/USDT/USDC/BTC pairs coverage, overconcentration rules, exchange API coverage checking and stability etc for an exchange.

For more details about our exchange selection criteria, please email info@ix-index.com

More details about the ixCrypto index, including their constituents, constituents’ weight are provided in the Appendices, or refer to the website https://ix-index.com/

*Exclude stable coins and exchange coins (based on conflict-of-interest rule methodology effective Oct 2, 2020)

#As of 31st March 2025, based on past 90 days average

Appendix 1

ixCrypto Index (“IXCI”)
Universe All crypto coins traded in at least two different exchanges around the world
Selection Criteria Cryptocurrencies ranking in the top 80% of cumulative full market capitalization (“MC”) coverage and within an acceptable range in accordance with the Volume Buffer Rule in terms of 90-day average trading volume
Number of Constituents Variable/18 in Q1 2025
Launch Date 12th December 2018
Base Date 3rd December 2018
Base Value 1,000
Reconstitution Rule If the coverage is below 75% or any of constituents is not within an acceptable range in accordance with the Volume Buffer Rule in terms of 90-day average trading volume, IXCI will be reconstituted to bring MC coverage back and do liquidity screening.
Reconstitution and Rebalancing Frequency Quarterly and with a fast entry rule
Weighting Methodology Free float adjusted market capitalization weighted with a cap of 40%
Currency US Dollar
Dissemination Every 5 seconds for 24×7

(On Bloomberg, Reuters and major information vendors)

Website https://ix-index.com/
Appendix 2
Weightings of the Constituents of ixCrypto Index

Crypto 90-day-average- Market Cap 90-day-average-volume * Cut-off
Price
Cumulative
Market Coverage before Cap
Weighting (%) After 40% Cap#
1 Bitcoin $ 1,853,706,299,098 $ 44,335,293,590 82334.52 59.07% 40.00%
2 Ethereum $ 324,029,915,475 $ 23,391,114,110 1806.22 69.39% 23.56%
3 XRP $ 147,586,504,307 $ 7,512,441,885 2.14 74.09% 13.44%
4 Solana $ 88,521,847,638 $ 5,227,247,283 124.64 76.91% 6.90%
5 Dogecoin $ 39,041,680,047 $ 2,512,936,991 0.17 78.16% 2.67%
6 Cardano $ 29,530,840,898 $ 1,400,106,794 0.66 79.10% 2.52%
7 TRON $ 21,041,656,451 $ 756,877,826 0.23 79.77% 2.38%
8 Chainlink $ 11,988,550,347 $ 677,353,909 13.39 80.15% 0.95%
9 Avalanche $ 11,437,915,217 $ 449,968,255 18.86 80.52% 0.85%
10 Stellar $ 10,666,634,081 $ 502,743,927 0.27 80.86% 0.89%
11 Sui $ 10,563,860,585 $ 1,259,649,871 2.35 81.19% 0.81%
12 Toncoin $ 10,373,541,695 $ 206,364,392 3.90 81.52% 1.05%
13 Hedera $ 9,897,358,921 $ 538,624,996 0.17 81.84% 0.77%
14 Shiba Inu $ 9,851,176,835 $ 382,240,482 0.00 82.15% 0.79%
15 Polkadot $ 8,309,611,370 $ 273,561,329 4.04 82.42% 0.68%
16 Litecoin $ 8,265,200,782 $ 965,042,550 86.00 82.68% 0.70%
17 Bitcoin Cash $ 7,375,185,883 $ 342,182,940 298.85 82.92% 0.64%
18 Uniswap $ 5,914,239,713 $ 251,139,351 5.87 83.10% 0.40%
As of 31 March,2025

* 90-day-average-volume ranking in total market is shown in the parentheses
# Weighting (%) after 40% Cap is adjusted according to the cut-off price, the arrangement of order may not be the same as 90-day-average-Market Cap

Selection of index constituents is based on the past 90-day-average market capitalization and volume.
For the calculation methodology of the index, please refer to the “ixCrypto Index Methodology Paper” on our website

Appendix 3

Weightings of the Constituents of ixCrypto Portfolio Indexes

Index Constituents ixCrypto 5 EW Index ixCrypto 5 SR Index ixCrypto 10 EW Index ixCrypto 10 SR Index ixCrypto Altcoin 10 EW Index ixCrypto
Altcoin 10
SR Index
1 Bitcoin 20.00% 50.97% 10.00% 41.48%
2 Ethereum 20.00% 18.62% 10.00% 15.15% 10.00% 24.71%
3 XRP 20.00% 14.06% 10.00% 11.44% 10.00% 18.66%
4 Solana 20.00% 10.08% 10.00% 8.20% 10.00% 13.37%
5 Dogecoin 20.00% 6.27% 10.00% 5.10% 10.00% 8.32%
6 Cardano 10.00% 4.95% 10.00% 8.08%
7 TRON 10.00% 4.81% 10.00% 7.85%
8 Chainlink 10.00% 3.04% 10.00% 4.96%
9 Avalanche 10.00% 2.88% 10.00% 4.68%
10 Stellar 10.00% 2.95% 10.00% 4.80%
11 Sui 10.00% 4.57%
Appendix 4

Weightings of the Constituents of ixCrypto BTC/ETH 50/50 Index
and ixCrypto BTC/ETH Proportional Index

90-day-average Crypto Market Cap 90-day-average Crypto Volume Index Level Cumulative Market Cap Coverage Weight in BTC/ETH 50/50 Weight in BTC/ETH Proportional
IXBI $ 1,853,706,299,098 $ 44,335,293,590 19871.37 59.07% 50.00% 88.23%
IXEI $ 324,029,915,475 $ 23,391,114,110 15484.61 69.39% 50.00% 11.77%
Appendix 5

Weightings of the Constituents of ixCrypto Stablecoin Indexes

Crypto 90-day-average- Market Cap 90-day-average-
volume
Cut-off
Price
Cumulative
Market Coverage
before Cap
Weighting (%) After 40% Cap
1 Tether USDT $ 140,886,211,125 $96,063,792,876 $1.00 4.49% 40.00%
2 USDC $ 54,040,686,289 $9,493,000,348 $1.00 6.21% 40.00%
3 Ethena USDe $ 5,731,179,447 $102,739,821 $1.00 6.39% 9.89%
4 Dai $ 5,365,464,578 $ 1,731,621,623 $1.00 6.56% 10.11%
As of 31 March 2025

Appendix 6

ixCrypto Indexes Dissemination

Real time indexes are disseminated every 5-second interval for 24×7 since 23 June 2022. The real-time indexes are available for viewing on the IX Crypto Index official webpage. For IXCI, IXBI and IXEI, the indexes are also available through Nasdaq Global Index Data Service (GIDS) with the tickers “IXCI”, “IXBI” and “IXEI”, with dissemination interval kept at 15-second unchanged.

The vendor tickers are shown below:

Index Name Bloomberg Ticker Reuters Ticker
Real-time Delayed
ixCrypto Index IXCI IXCI2 .IXCI
ixBitcoin Index IXCBI IXCBI2 .IXBI1
ixEthereum Index IXCEI IXCEI2 .IXEI1
For further information about ixCrypto Index and other available indexes including IX Crypto spot price index series, please visit company official webpage https://ix-index.com or subscribe to LinkedIn: IX Asia Indexes

For data licensing and product, please contact us at licensing@ix-index.com.

For free API use on academic research or trial, please contact enquiry@ix-index.com

Hashtag: #IXAsia #ixCryptoIndex

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

About IX Asia Indexes and IX Asia Index Advisory Committee

IX Capital International Limited is an award-winning index and investment advisory company. The index business arm- IX Asia Indexes, providing real-time digital asset and innovative indexes, disseminated 24×7 globally and built on robust infrastructure. Since the launch of the first crypto benchmark index (“IXCI”) launched in Hong Kong in December 2018, the ixCrypto index series expand into 29 indexes designed for exchange futures product, mark to market and fund managers’ portfolio construction purposes. To ensure the professionality and impartiality of the index methodologies and operations, IX Asia Indexes has established its index advisory committee with representation from different industries, including fund management, exchanges, brokerage, financial blockchain experts, crypto service providers, etc. The committee will meet quarterly a year to discuss matters relating to the IX Asia Indexes, including to review and to comment the data sources, methodologies, and operations of IX Asia Indexes, to provide guidance to the future development of new IX Asia Indexes and to handle other issues and decisions on an as-needed basis.

IX Asia Indexes was awarded the Fintech Award (wealth investment and management) 2019 and 2021 organised by ETNet. It as well won an award for Startup of the Year and Basic Technology (Big Data) from Hong Kong Fintech Impetus Awards 2022 by Metro Broadcast and KPMG. It also won Asia Pacific Enterprise Achievement Award 2024 by Echolade. IX Asia Indexes completed its IOSCO compliance statement and obtained ISO/IEC 27001:2013 UKAS certification.

Website:

Advisory Committee:

About IX Crypto Indexes

The ixCrypto index (“IXCI”) is the first crypto index launched in Hong Kong. It was launched on 12 December 2018. It is denominated in USD with a base value of 1000 and a base date on 3 December 2018. Designed to be easy to understand while providing a good representation of the crypto market, ixCrypto index aims to cover the top 80% of the cumulative free-float adjusted market capitalization in the crypto universe and, at the same time, the crypto currencies should fall within the top liquid cryptos ranked by trading volume in the 90 days preceding the review date. The index is to be reviewed quarterly and with a fast entry rule. Real time indexes are disseminated every 5-second for 24×7 since 23 June 2022. Real time index data together with ixBitcoin Index and ixEthereum Index can be obtained from IX Asia Indexes Data Services and Bloomberg terminal on IXCI . For IXCI, IXBI and IXEI, the indexes are also available through Nasdaq Global Index Data Service (GIDS) with the tickers “IXCI”, “IXBI”, “IXEI”, with dissemination interval kept at 15-second unchanged.

Explore Beyond Expo 2025 Osaka with Agoda’s Day Trip Recommendations

SINGAPORE, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda is spotlighting five enriching day trips for visitors attending Expo 2025 Osaka in Japan. Taking place on Yumeshima Island near Osaka from April 13 to October 13, 2025, the Expo will showcase innovations across health, design, and connectivity. Agoda’s day-trip recommendations aim to enhance the travel experience by encouraging exploration of nearby destinations beyond perennial favorites Osaka and Kyoto.

Expo 2025 Osaka is set to attract international visitors, eager to explore forward-looking exhibits and cultural showcases. Agoda’s insights revealed that the highest number of accommodation searches for the Kansai region came from South Korea, followed by Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and mainland China.

Beyond the Expo, the Kansai region and surrounding areas offer a variety of experiences, from historical landmarks to culinary delights. Agoda has identified five destinations that are ideal for day trips:

  1. Nara: Known for its historical significance, Nara features attractions such as Todai-ji Temple and Nara Park, where deer roam freely. The city’s serene environment provides a contrast to the dynamic atmosphere of the Expo. Nara is accessible in about an hour via the JR Osaka Loop Line.
  2. Kobe: This port city combines modernity with tradition, offering highlights such as the Kitano Ijinkan-gai District and panoramic views from Mount Rokko. Kobe beef and the hot springs of Arima Onsen are also popular draws. The JR Kobe Line Rapid Service connects Osaka to Kobe in approximately 30 minutes.
  3. Nagoya: A blend of innovation and tradition, Nagoya features landmarks like Nagoya Castle and the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. Local cuisine, including miso katsu, adds to the city’s appeal. The Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station ensures a quick and convenient journey.
  4. Himeji: Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-see for its architectural beauty and historical significance. The castle’s white facade and surrounding gardens are particularly striking. The JR Sanyo Shinkansen provides access to Himeji in under an hour.
  5. Wakayama: Wakayama offers a mix of spiritual and cultural experiences, including Mount Koya, a center of Shingon Buddhism, and Wakayama Castle. Fresh seafood markets add a culinary dimension to the visit. The JR Wakayama Line connects Osaka to this peaceful destination.

Hiroto Ooka, Associate Vice President, North Asia at Agoda, shared, “Expo 2025 Osaka is not just about innovation; it’s also an opportunity to explore the rich culture and history of the Kansai region and beyond. Agoda is excited to help travelers uncover these destinations and create unforgettable memories with great value deals on accommodation, flights, and activities.”

With over 5 million holiday properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, Agoda makes it easy to plan your next celestial escape. Visit Agoda.com or download the Agoda mobile app for the best deals.

Rockefeller Foundation and Plan International Launch Emergency Response to Support Earthquake-Affected Children in Myanmar

$200,000 Grant to provide emergency relief and recovery for children impacted by the recent earthquake in in the hardest-hit regions of Mandalay and Sagaing

BANGKOK, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Rockefeller Foundation announced a $200,000 emergency grant to Plan International Myanmar to provide critical relief to children and families affected by the catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025. The disaster, which is the country’s most severe in over a century, has left thousands homeless, with children facing heightened risks of malnutrition, trauma, and disrupted education. In response, The Rockefeller Foundation support for Plan’s Resilient Children of Mandalay initiative will deliver immediate lifesaving support including safe spaces, meals, and psychosocial care, while laying the foundation for long-term recovery in the hardest-hit regions of Mandalay and Sagaing.

Plan International has begun initial distributions of essential items such as food, water, blankets, solar flashlights and dignity kits in Mandalay and surrounding areas – Photo: Plan International Myanmar
Plan International has begun initial distributions of essential items such as food, water, blankets, solar flashlights and dignity kits in Mandalay and surrounding areas – Photo: Plan International Myanmar

“Natural disasters widen existing inequalities, and it’s often children, especially girls, who have to endure the greatest risks. In moments of crisis, aiding those children means ensuring they have the support, security, and hope they deserve,” said Deepali Khanna, Head of Asia at The Rockefeller Foundation“This collaboration with Plan International is a crucial step in caring for the most vulnerable people affected today while paving the way for future stability.”  

The project will first establish six child-friendly spaces offering nutritious meals, mental health support, and emergency education for displaced children, with a focus on girls and young women. Over the following months, the initiative will rehabilitate schools, train teachers in trauma-informed care, and distribute learning kits, ensuring a pathway back to normalcy.

“After such a traumatic event, it is crucial that children’s emotional well-being and sense of normalcy is restored,” says Haider Yaqub, Country Director of Plan International Myanmar. “This vital support from The Rockefeller Foundation will provide children and especially girls who have been impacted by the quake, with safe spaces for playing and learning as their schools are being rebuilt and their learning journeys continue.”

Plan’s response is concentrating on supporting the most vulnerable communities, suffering from the shock of losing loved ones, their homes, and livelihoods. Plan International Myanmar has its emergency teams on the ground supporting affected communities in Mandalay and Sagaing, working with local partners and communities themselves to provide life-saving assistance and help rebuild lives.

About Plan International
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.

Lee Kum Kee Celebrates Culinary Greatness at Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 Awards


SEOUL, KOREA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 April 2025 – Lee Kum Kee, the esteemed Asian culinary brand with over a century of heritage, proudly reflects on its successful partnership as the Official Sauce and Condiment Partner at the recently held Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards in Seoul, Korea. This prestigious event, which took place on 25 March at Grand Hyatt Seoul, brought together culinary luminaries, chefs, restaurateurs, and food enthusiasts from across the region to honour the best in gastronomy.

Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs of Lee Kum Kee, presents the Highest Climber Award to Chef Tam Kwok Fung of Chef Tam’s Seasons. (Photo courtesy of 50 Best)
Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs of Lee Kum Kee, presents the Highest Climber Award to Chef Tam Kwok Fung of Chef Tam’s Seasons. (Photo courtesy of 50 Best)

The awards ceremony celebrated the pinnacle of culinary talent, and Lee Kum Kee was delighted to showcase its commitment to elevating Asian cuisine globally. A highlight of the evening was Lee Kum Kee’s presentation of the Highest Climber Award, an award that recognises the restaurant that made the most significant leap in rankings, to Chef Tam Kwok Fung of Chef Tam’s Seasons, which also won The Best Restaurant in Macau.

“We are thrilled to present the Highest Climber Award to Chef Tam and the team at Chef Tam’s Seasons. Their impressive rise in the list is reflective of the growing influence of Asian cuisines on the global stage and synchronises with our commitment to be a global gateway to Asian culinary culture and to foster a community with a shared passion for culinary excellence.” says Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs of Lee Kum Kee.

Memorable Experiences and Positive Sentiment

The atmosphere during the event was filled with excitement and camaraderie as guests shared their admiration for the vibrant culinary scene in Asia. The Lee Kum Kee team echoed this sentiment, reflecting on the overwhelming support and enthusiasm from attendees. “It’s been very special to be celebrating close to home, where Chefs have expressed a sense of pride to see our brand, a household name of their childhoods, up on this global stage,” said Simon Cao, Vice President – Global Brand Development and Communications, Global Marketing of Lee Kum Kee.

As part of the celebrations, Lee Kum Kee hosted engaging brand activations throughout the week. On 23 March, the brand collaborated with Head Mixologist Mark Lloyd from Wing Lei Bar at Wynn Palace Macau for a unique sauce-inspired guest shift at Pine & Co., No.50 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024. Guests indulged in innovative culinary cocktails featuring Lee Kum Kee products, showcasing the endless possibilities of flavour combinations. A favourite of the night was a Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce inspired cocktail.

During the awards ceremony, Lee Kum Kee also featured a booth that highlighted its celebrated range of sauces and condiments, renowned for their authentic Asian flavours. Attendees enjoyed exquisite canapés of Lee Kum Kee Premium Oyster Sauce seasoned abalone and Lee Kum Kee Plum Sauce poached tomato, created by Chef Park Gun-Young and Chef Oh Se Wook, further illustrating the versatility and quality of Lee Kum Kee’s offerings.

Looking Ahead: Continued Commitment to Empowering Asian Culinary Greatness

Following the success of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, Lee Kum Kee is excited to announce its ongoing partnership in the upcoming The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, set to be held in Turin on 19 June, 2025. Additionally, the brand will support the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, while remaining committed to Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026.

“Building on the success of this year’s awards, we are thrilled to continue our collaboration with 50 Best, further solidifying our dedication to promoting the richness of Asian culinary culture on a global scale,” said Simon Cao.
Hashtag: #LeeKumKee #LKK #Asias50Best #50BestRestaurants

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

About Lee Kum Kee

Lee Kum Kee is the global gateway to Asian culinary culture, dedicated to promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide. Since 1888, it has brought people together over joyful reunions, shared traditions, and memorable meals. Beloved by consumers and chefs alike, Lee Kum Kee’s range of more than 300 sauces and condiments sparks creativity in kitchens everywhere, inspiring professional and home chefs to experiment, create, and delight. Headquartered in Hong Kong, China and serving over 100 countries and regions, Lee Kum Kee’s rich heritage, unwavering commitment to quality, sustainable practices, and “Constant Entrepreneurship” combine to enable superior experiences through Asian cuisine for people worldwide. For more information, please visit .

About Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants

Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants was launched in 2013 to celebrate gastronomy across the region and to provide diners around the globe with local insight and culinary recommendations.

The Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list is created by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 300 leaders in the restaurant industry across Asia, each selected for their expert opinion of Asia’s restaurant scene. The Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list is published by William Reed, which also publishes The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2002, and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, launched in 2013.

ROLLER Celebrated on AFR’s Best Places to Work List and Certified as a Great Place to Work

ROLLER’s purpose is to help create experiences that bring joy and happiness to the world. They achieve this by connecting attraction venues with powerful, easy-to-use technology.

AUSTIN, Texas, April 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ROLLER, the all-in-one venue management platform for the leisure and attractions industry, is proud to announce it has been named a finalist on the Australian Financial Review’s Best Places to Work List for 2025, in the Technology category. Presented in collaboration with Bendelta, the list evaluates hundreds of companies across Australia and New Zealand based on employee experience, policies, and innovation. For the ROLLER team, being recognized among such respected companies is a meaningful acknowledgment of the culture they’re continuing to build as they scale.

ROLLER crew in Austin, Texas at 2025 Company Kick Off
ROLLER crew in Austin, Texas at 2025 Company Kick Off

“Our people are the heart of everything we do,” says Bee Hepburn, Chief People Officer at ROLLER. “Being included on the AFR’s Best Places to Work List reflects our team’s passion for not only creating joyful guest experiences through our platform but also cultivating a workplace where people love to show up every day.”

ROLLER was also honored to be officially certified as a Great Place to Work® for the third consecutive year in Australia and the second year running in the United States.

“Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is based entirely on real feedback from employees, making it a genuine reflection of how people feel about the company culture. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that ROLLER stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

ROLLER’s employee experience is driven by core values that promote collaboration, trust, innovation, and personal growth. With a global team spanning the Americas, EMEA, and APAC, ROLLER emphasizes flexibility, psychological safety, and opportunities for career progression. Recent initiatives include working with Equidi to close the gender pay gap, a public holiday swap program, and DEI-driven hiring practices.

“We’re intentional about creating an environment where people feel connected to their work, each other, and the impact we’re making,” added Bee Hepburn. “Whether you’re based in Austin, Melbourne, or London, you’ll find the same level of openness, encouragement, and energy that defines ROLLER’s culture.”

As the company continues to grow and evolve, ROLLER remains focused on maintaining a culture-first approach, recognizing that happy, fulfilled teams are the key to delivering world-class products and support to the attractions industry.

About ROLLER

ROLLER is the cloud-based venue management platform for modern attractions, purpose-built to remove friction from the guest experience at every touchpoint. Their all-in-one platform simplifies its customers’ business processes, improving efficiency and maximizing revenue. ROLLER’s comprehensive solution includes: Online Checkout & Ticketing, Point-of-Sale, Integrated Payments, Memberships, Gift Cards, Waivers, Self-Serve Kiosks, Cashless Wallets, Guest Surveys, and more. To learn more, visit roller.software.

No Ong Luang Buddha Procession for Lao New Year 2025 in Vientiane, Governor Confirms

Miss Lao New Year
Miss Lao New Year.(Photo: Kampa Tour)

The Governor of Chanthabouly District, Vientiane, has announced that the traditional Ong Luang Buddha statue procession along Setthathilath Road will not take place during Lao New Year celebrations in 2025, citing ongoing construction works in the area.