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Bybit Celebrates MIBR’s 20th Anniversary with Exclusive ‘Phygital’ NFTs Collection Drop

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 – Bybit, the world’s third most visited crypto exchange, is proud to support partners Made in Brazil (MIBR) in launching a range of NFTs to celebrate the esports team’s 20th birthday. Phygital NFTs are so-called because they are tied to real-life apparel.

KV NFT Versão ByBit (1).jpg

Bybit will exclusively host the launch of MIBR’s inaugural NFT collection, set to roll out on October 24th, with two fresh NFTs unveiled every subsequent week. The collection showcases an elite series of 12 legendary jerseys, capturing MIBR’s triumphant journey throughout the years.

The collectible jerseys come in different levels of rarity. The standard editions have a capped print of 250, whereas ultra-rare versions are limited to just five units each. Remarkably, six of these coveted NFTs will be up for grabs at no cost, with the rest open for acquisition on Bybit’s user-friendly platform. Dive deeper here: http://www.bybit.com/MIBR-NFT.

Fans who complete the full NFT collection will be gifted an autographed, tailor-made MIBR jersey. Those securing 11 NFTs, will get a personal shoutout from their preferred MIBR figure, and those owning between 7 and 10 jerseys will get an exclusive MIBR store discount and a special $BRZ bonus on Bybit.

“It’s an honor to facilitate the fusion of the dynamic worlds of esports and cryptocurrency,” said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. “By joining the physical and digital worlds with this ‘phygital’ NFT collaboration with MIBR, we are not only celebrating their rich history but also setting a precedent for the future of fan engagement and phygital collectibles. It’s a testament to our commitment to offering innovative experiences to our global community.”

“This collaboration enables us to celebrate and immortalize MIBR’s two-decade journey,” said Roberta Coelho, CEO of MIBR. “We’re thrilled to share this milestone with our global fans through Bybit’s next-level crypto exchange.”

Hashtag: #Bybit #TheCryptoArk

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

About Bybit

Bybit is a top-five cryptocurrency exchange established in 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

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New Exhibition on Cultural Misappropriation Opens at the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre in Luang Prabang

Oma Artisans watching their mini documentary in the new exhibition. (Photo supplied)

There’s a blurred line between cultural appropriation and artistic appreciation in the global fashion industry. But the boundaries become even more difficult to draw when fashion giants reproduce motifs from minority ethnic groups’ garments.

Record 23,000+ companies disclose environmental impact through CDP, with urgency for action clear in wake of unprecedented global temperatures

  • Record 23,000+ global companies including listed companies worth over two thirds of market capitalization reported environmental data through CDP in 2023
  • USA, China, Japan, UK and Germany lead the way as home to the most disclosing companies
  • Data gained from disclosure is essential to tracking progress against the Paris Agreement and the first Global Stocktake, set to conclude at COP28
  • New Chief Executive Officer Sherry Madera shares CDP’s plans for its new future-proofed platform as demand for environmental data grows and ahead of incoming regulation

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 – Companies are reporting their environmental data in record numbers, with over 23,000 companies – including listed companies worth US$67 trillion (over 66% of global market capitalization) – disclosing through CDP in 2023, with the urgency for global climate action clear in what is set to be the warmest year on record.

Disclosures are up 24% from 2022 and 300% since the Paris Agreement
Disclosures are up 24% from 2022 and 300% since the Paris Agreement

This represents a 24% increase in the number of companies that disclosed in 2022 and an increase of over 300% through CDP, the global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions, since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015.

The positive global trend for corporate transparency and accountability continues, with companies disclosing through CDP based across the world, representing many tens of thousands of subsidiaries and divisions, and hundreds of thousands of facilities.

Most countries have seen growth in the number of disclosing companies, including a considerable increase in Asia, where the Republic of Korea and Cambodia more than doubled the number of disclosing companies since the previous year. The USA, China and Japan continue to make up the top three disclosing countries.

However, while reporting in three key areas has increased – on climate change, water security and deforestation – only 1% of companies reported on all three areas, underlining the need to enable better disclosure on nature.

City, state and region disclosure has so far reached over 1,100 in close to 100 countries. Reflecting the global reach of CDP’s sub-national work, this covers cities from Austin to Auckland, and states and regions in each continent – such as Latin America, where nearly 90% of the Brazilian Amazon is covered by regions reporting to CDP. CDP-ICLEI Track, the world’s leading climate reporting platform for cities, and CDP’s disclosure platform for states and regions remain open for 2023 disclosure.

Sherry Madera, Chief Executive Officer at CDP said: “With over 23,000 businesses disclosing through CDP this year, it is clear that sustainability – and the data that underpins it – is not a ‘nice to have’, but an essential part of long-term success in the business community that is showing no sign of slowing down – nor should it.

“IPCC forecasts on our world’s climate trajectory make for grim reading in what is set to be the warmest year on record. To take decisive action for the future of our planet, we need organizations to be measuring and managing where they are on their sustainability journey through disclosure.

“Without data we lack accountability. This accountability is vital and timely especially ahead of COP28 in Dubai which will deliver the first Global Stocktake. We hope to see a common roadmap for the global community to work collaboratively to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and CDP stands ready to continue to be the world’s platform for sustainability data disclosure.”

Michelle Papayannakos, BBC Group Senior Sustainability Manager said:

“CDP has really helped the BBC to engage internally on climate change, increasing our maturity as an organization and providing a robust valuation of our current activities.

“CDP is also a core part of our decarbonization strategy for our supply chain, asking our top 450 suppliers to also disclose has enhanced engagement, transparency of data and most importantly, led to a ripple effect of development and action on climate change.”

As the global landscape of mandatory disclosure expands, CDP is committed to align with the global baseline of climate-related financial disclosures delivered through the ISSB Standards to support companies and reduce the reporting burden, and ensuring investors and regulators have access to the data they need across regions and regulatory requirements.

Already aligned with the TCFD recommendations, CDP’s 2024 questionnaire will align with the ISSB’s climate disclosure standard (IFRS S2) and from next year will start to reflect the TNFD framework, encouraging more companies to report across both climate and nature matters. CDP has also committed to reflecting the SEC’s upcoming climate disclosure rule and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards in its disclosure system .

Emmanuel Faber, Chair of the ISSB, said: “The demand from global capital markets for robust, consistent and accurate climate-related information is higher than ever, and with it the need for a disclosure eco-system that is easy to navigate for companies.

“CDP’s work towards alignment with the IFRS S2 is incredibly welcome and timely, as it will further ease the reporting burden for thousands of companies, moving us one step closer to a common language for disclosures, while improving the consistency of climate-related information for investors and accelerating their access to this data. As companies prepare to implement the ISSB standards, it is positive to see yet another year of growth in voluntary disclosure through CDP.”

Sherry Madera continues: “CDP recognizes its unique role and responsibility to accelerate action as the driving force for collecting primary environmental data from organizations for over 20 years.

“As the demand for sustainability data gets increasingly intense and complicated for organizations to negotiate, we have the expertise to prepare organizations – large and small – to meet the needs of their stakeholders. This is why in 2024, we will be making it easier and quicker to disclose and access data, through a new framework on a new and enhanced technology platform.

“These improvements will enable CDP to continue to push boundaries in environmental reporting and helps organizational leaders deliver impact for their company and for the planet.”

Notes to editor

Hashtag: #CDP #ENVIRONMENTALDISCLOSURE

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

About CDP

CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Founded in 2000 and working with more than 740 financial institutions with over $136 trillion in assets, CDP pioneered using capital markets and corporate procurement to motivate companies to disclose their environmental impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. Over 24,000 organizations around the world disclosed data through CDP in 2023, with more than 23,000 companies – including listed companies worth two thirds global market capitalization – and over 1,100 cities, states and regions. Fully TCFD aligned, CDP holds the largest environmental database in the world, and CDP scores are widely used to drive investment and procurement decisions towards a zero carbon, sustainable and resilient economy. CDP is a founding member of the Science Based Targets initiative, We Mean Business Coalition, The Investor Agenda and the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. Visit cdp.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.

Webinar Level Up With Algorand: Revealing interesting information about the hackathon with a prize of up to $200,000

Recently, Algorand Vietnam organized a webinar “Level Up With Algorand” to guide programmers nationwide on the fastest and simplest way to program on Algorand. In addition, information about Algorand’s biggest hackathon of the year – Build-A-Bull Hackathon with prizes up to $200,000 (nearly 5 billion VND) was also shared in detail by the speakers.

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 – On October 13, Algorand Vietnam organized a webinar “Level Up With Algorand” to guide information technology students as well as programmers nationwide on the fastest and simplest way to program on Algorand. In addition, information about Algorand’s biggest hackathon of the year – Build-A-Bull Hackathon with prizes up to $200,000 (nearly 5 billion VND) was also shared in detail by the speakers and received the attention of the crowd of attendees.

Participating in this webinar are two famous speakers in the Vietnamese dev community: Mr. Pham Vu Cuong (Henry Pham), Representative of Algorand Foundation in Vietnam and Mr. Pham Hong Thai (Leo Pham), Lecturer at Lac University Pink. They shared about Algorand, Build-A-Bull Hackathon, secrets to participating in hackathons successfully as well as secrets to programming on Algorand quickly and effectively.

Algorand has long been known as the world’s leading Layer-1 blockchain with Pure Proof-of-Stake (PPoS) consensus mechanism along with high speed and security, low cost, and popular with many users. Not only that but through this webinar, Mr. Henry Pham brought many interesting perspectives and information about Algorand to help participants better understand this blockchain network. He also shared complete information about the Build-A-Build Hackathon with extremely attractive prizes. Accordingly, this year’s contest includes 5 tracks for contestants to freely choose: Defi, Consumer, Interoperability, Impact and Gaming. Build-A-Bull’s prize is also considered the largest in scale compared to other hackathons taking place at the same time. In addition to the $200,000 prize from the Algorand Foundation, the winning teams in each track have the opportunity to participate in the offline Demo round to win an additional $10,000 USDC, $25,000 AWS credits and 3 tickets to attend Decipher 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Students participating in the hackathon also have a prize fund of up to $5000 USDC.

Not stopping there, Algorand Vietnam also spent an additional $1,000 for hackathon teams from Vietnam. To be eligible to receive prizes, teams only need to follow two steps before November 1:

1. The team fills out Algorand Vietnam’s registration form to confirm their information at: https://bit.ly/3M7kKUx

2. The team registers directly on the Algorand Foundation website and submits their work on time on: https://www.algorand.foundation/build-a-bull-hackathon

With many years of experience participating in prestigious hackathons and winning large and small prizes, Mr. Henry has many useful tips for contestants on forming teams, and how to come up with ideas and implement projects most effectively. Mr. Leo Pham also guided webinar attendees to write smart contracts on Algorand simply and quickly. After only 15-20 minutes, viewers can understand and successfully deploy their first smart contract. Not only that, the two speakers will jointly organize an online Vietnamese Bootcamp course starting on October 30 to help students and developers learn and learn more about programming on Algorand from the most basic step-by-step. They also received enthusiastic responses and attention from the audience with many questions raised during the webinar.

The sharing session ended with an interesting minigame from the organizers with the large and enthusiastic participation of players.

The webinar “Level Up With Algorand” is like a breath of fresh air, bringing a lot of useful information to the Vietnamese dev community in general and the Algorand community in particular. In the coming time, the Vietnamese community promises to explode with what Algorand and competitions like the Build-A-Bull Hackathon bring.

Hashtag: #AlgorandVietnam

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

Namewee Donates “Millions of Me” Song to Pionex Brave Fund

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 – Malaysia’s distinguished songwriter and one of the country’s top ten outstanding young people, Namewee, has announced his generous donation of the new song “Millions of Me” to the Pionex Brave Fund.

Namewee’s decision to donate stems from his deep resonance with the “Be Brave” campaign initiated by the Pionex Brave Fund. Taking to his Facebook account on October 14th, Namewee expressed his alignment with the campaign’s message and subsequently revealed his intention to donate the lead song “Millions of Me” from his upcoming album to the Pionex Brave Fund.

The song “Millions of Me” encompasses the theme of bravery, perfectly aligning with the “Be Brave to Be Yourself” campaign. Namewee has graciously donated the song to both the Pionex Brave Fund and to all courageous individuals.

Welcoming Namewee’s contribution, the Pionex Brave Fund’s official spokesperson responded to media inquiries, stating, “We hope that this collaboration will serve as an inspiration to many. Regardless of the challenges we face, it is crucial to persevere and exhibit bravery. Furthermore, the proceeds from the new song’s copyright will be dedicated to advancing Web3 technology and providing blockchain education opportunities for marginalized communities worldwide.”

As of October 16th, Namewee’s donation announcement on Facebook has garnered over 100,000 likes, indicating a positive reception from the public.

The Pionex Brave Fund, initiated by Pionex, the world’s largest cryptocurrency trading robot platform, was established with an initial investment of $10 million. Its mission is to support Web3 innovation projects and promote blockchain education for minority groups worldwide.
Hashtag: #Pionex

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

QKEx: Building an Exchange+Community Economy Ecosystem

VICTORIA, SEYCHELLES – Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 – QKEx, the cryptocurrency trading platform, has recently announced its plans to invest more resources and financial support in the decentralized social sector. The platform aims to create an “exchange+community economy” ecosystem, enabling the financialization of social ecology and online user community behavior.

Exchange+Community Economy

QKEx has introduced the concept of a community economic ecology, which focuses on the financialization of community behavior and the profitability of social value. The platform aims to establish a COMMUNALFI ecosystem that integrates the entire community system onto the blockchain.

QKEx, also known as QK Exchange, is a comprehensive global crypto asset service platform developed by QK Group since 2020. QK Group, the parent company, operates in various sectors such as QK Mining, QK Hot and Cold Wallet, and risk control. In 2017, the group received the prestigious “Best International Service Provider for Russian Mines” award.

QKEX has extensive regional cryptocurrency resources worldwide and operates independent centers in multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, Russia, Australia, Estonia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Its community resources are global in scope, potentially enabling the widespread implementation of decentralized social networks.

Two-Step Plan for the Community Economy Sector

Step 1: Addition of Independent Social Media Sections

QKEx will introduce independent social media sections and invite numerous trading communities to join. The platform plans to organize community competitions periodically and display monthly community rankings on the exchange. Higher-ranking communities will enjoy increased value and team leader rights.

Step 2: Listing of COMMUNALFI Function Block

QKEx will allow community team leaders to issue personalized benefits based on their social value. These benefits will be presented in the form of limited edition NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). Users can acquire community admission qualifications by purchasing NFTs related to community team leader benefits.

Hashtag: #QKEx

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

Laos Becomes Top Destination for Dispersed Tourism as Authentic Alternative to Overpopular Neighbors

Laos Becomes Top Destination for Dispersed Tourism as Authentic Alternative to Overpopular Neighbors
Nam-Ou River, Luang Prabang (photo: Adventure Asia Travel)

In the heart of Southeast Asia, Laos quietly emerges as a tranquil alternative to bustling tourism destinations that often steal the spotlight. 

Colgate is combating Smile Shame in The Land of Smiles where 98 percent of Thais wish they could smile freely

Colgate launches its #FreeYourSmile campaign by adapting its logo to celebrate all smiles in conjunction with World Smile Day®

BANGKOK, THAILAND Media OutReach – 18 October 2023 – Global personal and home care brand Colgate-Palmolive (“Colgate”) is taking a stand against Smile Shaming, underscoring the beauty and importance of all smiles through its #FreeYourSmile campaign. This comes on the back of World Smile Day which took place on 6 October 2023. This is especially significant given the proven benefits smiles bring to society’s health, mental wellbeing and social bonding. The region-wide campaign kickstarts Colgate’s efforts to tackle this complex topic for society and drive real positive change.

Caption

Colgate first commissioned an independent study across Asia-Pacific to gain insights and inform initiatives to propel this movement to eradicate Smile Shame for society to fully gain the benefits of smiling.

The Colgate Smile Study 2023 found that a resounding 94 per cent of people across Asia-Pacific would like the ability to smile more freely. Thailand jointly tops the list alongside Taiwan and Philippines where an overwhelming 98 per cent indicated their desire to smile without reservations.

The study also revealed that 95 per cent of Thais feel like they have the freedom to smile whenever they like – on par with the Asia-Pacific average – 62 per cent have experienced instances where they were made to feel bad about their smile.

WSD Thailand Infographic EN.jpg

The inaugural study, conducted by research company Pureprofile in August – September 2023, surveyed more than 4,000 individuals aged 16 to 55 years old across eight Asia-Pacific markets namely Thailand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and India. 500 individuals were surveyed in Thailand.

To commemorate World Smile Day®, Colgate is celebrating all smiles by adapting its iconic logo to represent the many different and beautiful smiles that surround us daily. Colgate is also collaborating with influencers across the region to further champion the cause. This includes Thailand’s beauty blogger Suzie Wadee, TikToker Titipan Pantu (@dreambarcodeza), and lifestyle influencer Pupé Jiradapa, who all have experienced Smile Shame but are now embracing the smiles that perfectly reflect each of their unique selves.

Additionally, as part of #FreeYourSmile, Colgate is introducing a Smile Generator AI tool at colgate.com/yourcolgatesmile, encouraging everyone to create their personalised Colgate smile on TikTok and Instagram, and spread the message to celebrate all smiles.

Yves Briantais, Executive Vice President, Marketing Asia-Pacific, Colgate-Palmolive said, “Smile Shame is especially prevalent in Asia-Pacific and this must change. At Colgate, we are on a mission to free people from the constraints of Smile Shame to truly embrace their own unique smiles. We believe brands have the power to challenge unrealistic beauty standards and promote authenticity. Colgate is leading the charge by celebrating all smiles.”

A notable 86 per cent of Thais believe that brands should have a role to play in tackling the issue of Smile Shame, according to the Colgate Smile Study 2023.

Advocating for the Benefits of Smiling

When able to smile freely, Thais report feeling more comfortable with themselves, with more males (50 per cent) than females (37 per cent) indicating this sentiment. In fact, scientific research supports the idea that smiling positively impacts mental health, acting as natural anti-depressants and pain relievers[1]. Smiling is also good for the heart, aiding in lowering blood pressure and expediting recovery after stressful events[2].

A key health benefit of smiling includes strengthening the immune system by increasing white blood cell counts, providing protection against infections[3]. Socially, smiling is a powerful tool to foster bonds and building trust by making a lasting positive impression on others[4].

Standing against Smile Shame

Smile Shame may not be a familiar term to many. It encapsulates the feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness, or insecurity regarding one’s smile. The Colgate Smile Study 2023 revealed that a significant 62 percent of Thais relate to the concept of Smile Shame.

Parul Patel Desai, Vice President Marketing, Greater Indochina Hub, Colgate-Palmolive, “It comes as no surprise that as The Land Of Smiles, almost all of Thailand feels empowered to smile whenever they like. While we are heartened by this, our survey findings also clearly indicate that there are many who still feel insecure about their smile, and have been impacted by the negative effects of Smile Shame. We hope that our initiative today will start breaking these barriers, and brightening Thailand with every individual’s own unique smile.”

62 per cent of Thais feel that it is safe to talk about Smile Shame, thanks to having empathetic friends and family, and the perception of societal acceptance in openly discussing the effects of such behaviours.

Celebrating the Diversity of Smiles

Smile Shame is associated with different attributes across markets, reflecting diverse perceptions of what makes a beautiful smile. In Thailand, Smile Shame is typically associated with the colour and structure of teeth.

The Colgate Smile Study 2023 also revealed that the key factor making Thais worry about their smile is their own feeling of self-doubt. This is followed by concerns about comments made about their smiles from others including family, friends, and even strangers. Indeed, for the aforementioned 62 per cent who have personally been made to feel bad about their smiles, top sources came from family and friends’ comments, followed by social media influence making them feel like they need to have perfect teeth to smile confidently.

#FreeYourSmile is the first step in Colgate’s mission to celebrate all smiles and combat Smile Shame, with more initiatives planned. This movement represents Colgate’s goal to inspire individuals to express themselves freely and proudly, regardless of perceived imperfections.

For more information, please visit colgate.com/yourcolgatesmile


1 ‘Good reasons to Smile’ (2023) John Hopkins Medicine. John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Available at: https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/Patients-Families/Health-Library/HealthDocNew/Good-Reasons-to-Smile

2 Smile! It’s Good for Your Heart’ (Sep 2012) Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Available at: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/smile_its_good_for_your_heart


3 ’11 Benefits of Smlling’ (Oct 2021) Delaware Psychological Services. Available at: https://www.delawarepsychologicalservices.com/post/11-benefits-of-smiling ’11 Benefits of Smlling’ (Oct 2021) Delaware Psychological Services. Available at: https://www.delawarepsychologicalservices.com/post/11-benefits-of-smiling

Hashtag: #Colgate

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

About Colgate-Palmolive Company

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet. Focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition, they sell their products in more than 200 countries and territories under brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, hello, meridol, Sorriso, Tom’s of Maine, EltaMD, Filorga, Irish Spring, PCA SKIN, Protex, Sanex, Softsoap, Speed Stick, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. We are recognized for our leadership and innovation in promoting sustainability and community well-being, including our achievements in decreasing plastic waste and promoting recyclability, saving water, conserving natural resources and improving children’s oral health through the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures program, which has reached more than 1.4 billion children since 1991. Our range of products are for everyone to find a way to get the smile they want.

For more information about Colgate’s global business and how we are building a future to smile about, visit .