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SOPA Announces 2024 Journalism Awards Finalists

Executive Editor of The New York Times, Joseph Kahn, to be featured speaker


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 May 2024 – The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), a Hong Kong-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to pursuing excellence in journalism, today announced the finalists for the SOPA 2024 Awards for Editorial Excellence (full list here). Global, Regional, and Chinese media outlets submitted more than 700 entries in English and Chinese and a separate category of Bahasa Indonesia.

This year marks the 26th consecutive year of the awards, which were first held in 1999. Winners will be announced Thursday, June 20 at an awards dinner in Hong Kong.

Joseph Kahn, a former China correspondent and past SOPA winner who is now executive editor of The New York Times, overseeing all aspects of The Times’s global newsroom and news report, will be the featured speaker. A two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Mr. Kahn will talk about his priorities for maintaining editorial independence in an age of polarization.

Awards will be given out across 21 categories spanning Women’s Issues, Audio Reporting, Investigative Reporting and Business Reporting and a lot more in between. Several publications who made the finalists list benefited from an entry-fee subsidy for small media outlets or first time entrants. Among those are China Books Review in the global opinion writing category; India’s ThePrint for regional women’s issues; Master-Insight.com for Chinese-language opinion writing; and Magdalene.co in the Bahasa category.

As one of the cohort of 135 volunteer judges —comprised of former and current journalists and journalism academics from around the world— summed up this year’s awards: “From story choice to execution, this is one of the best sets of stories I’ve seen in a long, long time. I hope we continue to have an audience for this kind of journalism.”

Public health was a top theme of coverage, including the fallout from substandard medical syrup made in India and China’s role in the global supply chain of fentanyl.

Public policy in the world’s two most populous nations —India and China— was also a popular topic. Grabbing headlines in India —currently boasting the world’s largest population— was how the nation is trying to raise incomes and improve living standards. Meantime, worries are growing about the weakening of some democratic institutions like the press and the judiciary. In China, the leadership’s propensity to put national security ahead of economic growth drew attention, as well as the country’s unfolding real-estate crisis and the rivalry between the U.S. and China over the procurement of advanced technologies.

The Journalism and Media Studies Centre at The University of Hong Kong, known as JMSC, has administered the SOPA Awards since 2011.

“SOPA’s status as Asia’s pre-eminent journalism awards is attested by this season’s shortlist, which shows an unprecedented level of diversity and depth in terms of reporting range and reach,” said Ting Shi, Senior Lecturer at HKU who acts as Head of Judges for the awards.

“We’ve also seen an increasing trend of collaborative journalism in the region, where news organizations team up and work together to tackle transnational and cross-discipline topics; media outlets of various sizes and in different places get to play to their specific strength in an encouraging collective journalistic endeavor for the sake of public interests.”

Rita Widiadana, a veteran Jakarta-based journalist and executive board member of the Asia Pacific Media Alliance (APCAT) for Health and Development, is Head of Judges for the Bahasa Indonesia category, which honors stories that set the domestic agenda in politics, business or social/cultural affairs.

“This year’s shortlist captures the evolving geopolitical landscape, as well as the complexity of the region. We extend our thanks to everyone who submitted their outstanding works to the awards, and we look forward to honoring the winners and finalists in June,” said Yi-Shan Chen, Editor-in-Chief of CommonWealth Magazine and co-chair of SOPA’s Editorial Committee.

2024 Award Categories

* * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * *

Excellence in Reporting on Women’s Issues
Excellence in Journalistic Innovation
Excellence in Audio Reporting
Excellence in Video Reporting
Excellence in Human Rights Reporting
Excellence in Feature Writing
Excellence in Technology Reporting
Excellence in Magazine Design
Excellence in Arts and Culture Reporting
Excellence in Bahasa Indonesia News Reporting
Excellence in Explanatory Reporting
Excellence in Business Reporting
Excellence in Infographics
Excellence in Reporting Breaking News
Excellence in Opinion Writing
Excellence in Reporting on the Environment
Excellence in Photography
The Scoop Award
Carlos Tejada Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting
SOPA Award for Young Journalists
SOPA Award for Public Service Journalism

Hashtag: #SOPAwards2024

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

About SOPA

The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) is a Hong Kong-based not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1982 to champion freedom of the press, promote excellence in journalism and endorse best practices for publishers operating in the Asia Pacific region.

Today, SOPA is the voice of Asia’s media and publishing industry, and continues to work to uphold media standards and freedoms while celebrating and supporting professional journalism and publishing. The SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence are the annual flagship awards, serving as a regional benchmark for quality, professional journalism and have been given out for 26 consecutive years since 1999.

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Moomoo Celebrates Success with Business Partners at Nasdaq Exchange

Building a unique platform for investor education


TORONTO, CANADA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 May 2024 – Moomoo, the world’s most advanced trading platform, hosted an exclusive event at the Nasdaq MarketSite on April 29. This event brought together users, business partners and influencers from seven markets, to celebrate financial education empowerment across regions.

The event was to celebrate the recently announced global strategic collaboration with NASDAQ to continue promoting investor education and increase market access. Moomoo organized this event to provide opportunities for financial and investing influencers to share insights, forge community connections and inspire smart money management habits.

Moomoo hosted an exclusive event at the Nasdaq MarketSite, brought together business partners from seven markets to celebrate financial education empowerment across regions.
Moomoo hosted an exclusive event at the Nasdaq MarketSite, brought together business partners from seven markets to celebrate financial education empowerment across regions.

From left to right: Greg Ferrari, Vice President of Exchange Management for North American Market Services at Nasdaq; John Black, Associate Vice President and Head of Index Options at Nasdaq; Thomas Maguire, Associate Vice President and Head of Data Product Management at Nasdaq; Nate Palmer, President, Moomoo Financial Inc.; Brandon Tepper, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Data at Nasdaq; Justin Zacks, Vice President of Strategy, Moomoo Technologies Inc.
From left to right: Greg Ferrari, Vice President of Exchange Management for North American Market Services at Nasdaq; John Black, Associate Vice President and Head of Index Options at Nasdaq; Thomas Maguire, Associate Vice President and Head of Data Product Management at Nasdaq; Nate Palmer, President, Moomoo Financial Inc.; Brandon Tepper, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Data at Nasdaq; Justin Zacks, Vice President of Strategy, Moomoo Technologies Inc.

“Through collaborating with Nasdaq, we aim to educate our business partners on the use and importance of real-time Level 2 quotes. Advanced tools like Nasdaq TotalView® provide greater transparency to markets, which is an advantage to investors. This event equips our partners with the essential knowledge to further educate their followers – retail investors,” said Justin Zacks, Vice President of Strategy at Moomoo.

“Our platform is dedicated to making complex financial data more accessible and easier to use. This could not be done without the continued support of our partners and collaborators who share our goals of promoting financial education and empowering investors.” Justin further explained.

Taylor Price, a Tik Tok influencer with over one million followers said, “Moomoo’s all-in-one platform makes investing easy for beginners to start and scale up to becoming experts that analyze global markets.”

To celebrate its six-year collaboration, Moomoo and Nasdaq worked together to offer eligible moomoo users an exclusive 3-month free access of Nasdaq TotalView® on moomoo platform. By giving users access to this in-depth level-2 data, moomoo and Nasdaq hope to boost retail investors’ trading experience while they are both dedicated to empowering investors with advanced trading technology and comprehensive market insights.

Especially for Canadian investors, moomoo pioneered “extended trading hours” feature, allowing users to trade US stocks and ETFs from 4am to 8pm, providing more flexibility and trading opportunities. Sophisticated technology behind moomoo also enables faster order execution.
Hashtag: #Moomoo

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

About moomoo

Moomoo is a leading global investment and trading platform dedicated to empowering investors with user-friendly tools, data, and insights. Our platform is designed to provide essential information and technology, enabling users to make well-informed investment decisions. With advanced charting tools, pro-level analytical features, Moomoo evolves alongside our users, fostering a dynamic community where investors can share, learn, and grow together.

Founded in the US, Moomoo operates globally, serving investors in countries such as the US, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Canada and Malaysia. As a subsidiary of a Nasdaq-listed company, we take pride in our role as a global strategic partner of the Nasdaq, earning numerous international accolades from renowned industry leaders such as Benzinga and Fintech Breakthrough. Moomoo has also received multiple awards in the US, Singapore, and Australia for its cutting edge, inclusive approach to investing.

For more information, please visit moomoo’s official website at or feel free to email: pr@moomoo.com.

Laos Welcomes Over 1 Million Tourists in First Quarter of 2024

Laos Welcomes Over 1 Million Tourists in First Quarter of 2024
Tourists performing the alms giving in Luang Prabang (Photo - Ven. Bounhao Panyasouk)

Laos is targeting a significant increase in tourism in 2024, with over 1 million foreign tourists already welcomed in the first three months of the year. The top arrival was from Thailand, with 337,689 visitors, according to the Tourism Development Department of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.

Laos Makes History as First Southeast Asian Nation to Ban Child Corporal Punishment

Laos Makes History as First Southeast Asian Nation to Ban Child Corporal Punishment
©UNICEF Lao PDR/2015/AVitikainen

UPDATED ON 12 NOVEMBER AT 10:42

Laos has just become the first in Southeast Asia to officially outlaw corporal punishment to fully protect children from all forms of violent punishment. The country, where violence against children is prevalent, especially in rural areas, might have shed its bad reputation when Globally, Laos is the 66th nation to legally prohibit corporal punishment.

phData is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious “Best Place to Work” certification for 2024

One of the industry’s most coveted ‘Employer-of-Choice’ recognitions, the Best Place to Work Certification reinforces phData’s standing as one of the leading technology employers in India


BENGALURU, INDIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 May 2024 – phData, a tech company focusing on delivering data products and platforms and modern data technologies, today announced that it has been certified as a Best Place to Work in India for 2024.

This achievement recognizes the company’s commitment to creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture where employees feel valued and supported. The prestigious award is based on the evaluation of the company HR practices along with employees’ feedback. This year, 95% of employees said phData is a best place to work, compared to just 74% at the typical Indian tech company.

Commenting on the achievement, Manashi Chakraborty, HR Director of phData, stated, “phData is extremely delighted to be awarded as the Best Places to Work in India. This achievement has further strengthened our employees’ belief in the organization’s mission, vision, and values. This is a very proud moment for all of us at phData. The recognition motivates us to keep working on our people policies along with building a culture of belonging, innovation, and excellence.”

phData has rapidly advanced its capabilities within Snowflake’s partner ecosystem. They are focused on delivering data products and platforms using Snowflake and modern data technologies. They help with end-to-end services to architect, deploy, and support machine learning and data analytics on Snowflake. phData also comes with best practices, industry experts, and proven data strategies to ensure the clients meet their business objectives.

Please visit the phData website at https://www.phdata.io to know more about them.

Every year, the program partners with many organizations in India, across different industries, to help them measure, benchmark, improve their HR practices and have access to the tools and expertise they need to deliver effective and sustainable change in their organizations.

For more information, please visit www.bestplacestoworkfor.org

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/best-places-to-work-program/
Twitter : http://www.twitter/bptw4
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/bptw4all/
Hashtag: #BestPlacesToWork

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

Nearly 1,500 Nominations for the Fourth Season of the VinFuture Prize


HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 May 2024 The nomination portal for the 2024 VinFuture Prize officially concluded on April 17th with a total of 1,469 nominations for the fourth award season. The number of nominating partners has increased nearly eightfold compared to the first-year Prize; and nearly 15% of this year’s nominating partners are among the world’s top 2% most-cited researchers.

Second from the right: Prof. Martin Andrew Green (University of New South Wales, Australia, Laureate of the 2023 VinFuture Grand Prize) is one of three new members of the 2024 VinFuture Prize Council, along with Prof. Pamela Christine Ronald (University of California, Davis, United States, Laureate of the 2022 VinFuture Special Prize for Women Innovators) and Prof. Susan Solomon (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States, Laureate of the 2023 VinFuture Special Prize for Women Innovators).
Second from the right: Prof. Martin Andrew Green (University of New South Wales, Australia, Laureate of the 2023 VinFuture Grand Prize) is one of three new members of the 2024 VinFuture Prize Council, along with Prof. Pamela Christine Ronald (University of California, Davis, United States, Laureate of the 2022 VinFuture Special Prize for Women Innovators) and Prof. Susan Solomon (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States, Laureate of the 2023 VinFuture Special Prize for Women Innovators).

In the 2024 season, nominations continue to cover a wide range of essential fields such as healthcare (36.3%), sustainable energy (24.6%), environment and climate change (15.2%), AI applications in multidisciplinary fields (13.8%), and agriculture (10.1%).

Within this context, numerous nominations encompass pioneering fields, including but not limited to the discovery and formulation of new drugs leveraging artificial intelligence; solutions with potential for effective climate change adaptation; new sources and utilization processes of sustainable energy; the development of resource-efficient smart agricultural systems; and research on new materials, equipment, and optimized processes applicable to essential daily life activities…

The number of international scientists becoming official nominators for the fourth season of the VinFuture Prize has also seen a significant increase, totaling 9,101 individuals. This marks a rise of over 70% compared to the 5,264 partners in the third season and nearly eight times the 1,200 partners in the inaugural season. Among these, the majority of nominating partners are from the Americas (comprising 31.4%), followed by Europe (28.3%), Asia (26.0%), Africa (7.3%), and Oceania (7.0%).

Notably, among the 9,101 nominators, 1,347 (14.8%) are scientists within the top 2% most highly cited researchers worldwide, and 5,989 experts hail from top universities and research institutes globally. Institutions on the list include Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University (USA), University of British Columbia (Canada), University of Cambridge, University of Oxford (UK), National University of Singapore (Singapore), University of Tokyo (Japan), Australian National University (Australia)… The participation of outstanding scientists and leading experts has enhanced the quality of the nominated works for consideration for the VinFuture Prize.

Dr. Thai-Ha Le, Managing Director of the VinFuture Foundation, remarked: “In the fourth season of the VinFuture Prize, the increase in both quantity and quality of the nominations demonstrates the affirmation of VinFuture Prize’s vision and mission with comprehensive and practical criteria aimed at improving the quality of life for millions while ensuring sustainable development goals. The majority of the nominations are the results of cross-border and multidisciplinary collaborative projects, beyond conventional limitations. VinFuture hopes that by honoring worthy nominations, it will bring about positive impacts and contribute to promoting groundbreaking scientific innovations worldwide.

The 2024 VinFuture pre-screening round takes place from June 1st to August 31st and aims to enable the Committee to meticulously evaluate the most impactful and award-worthy nominations to proceed to the final round. To ensure scientific integrity, fairness, and transparency, the 10-member Pre-Screening Committee will assess the nominations according to a rigorous evaluation process based on the highest international standards and core criteria. These criteria include the degree of scientific or technological advancement, the level of impact on people’s lives, as well as the project’s scale and sustainability.

After nearly 4 years of operation, the VinFuture Prize, with its mission of “Science for Humanity,” has progressively solidified its position in the international scientific community due to its visionary approach and comprehensive evaluation criteria. Many VinFuture Prize Laureates have continued to be honored with prestigious international awards and world-renowned rankings. For instance, Dr. Katalin Karikó and Prof. Drew Weissman, the 2021 VinFuture Grand Prize Laureates, were honored with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2023. Most recently, the three Laureates of the 2023 VinFuture Special Prize, including Prof. Daniel Joshua Drucker (Canada), Prof. Joel Francis Habener, and Assoc. Prof. Svetlana Mojsov (USA), were named among Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024.Hashtag: #VinFuture

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

About the VinFuture Prize

The is the core activity of the VinFuture Foundation, a non-profit organization established on International Human Solidarity Day on December 20th, 2020, co-founded by billionaire Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong and his wife, Mrs. Pham Thu Huong. The VinFuture Prize aims to recognize transformative scientific and technological innovations capable of making significant positive changes in the lives of millions of people worldwide.

Arla Foods Ingredients targets ‘holistic hydration’ at Vitafoods Europe


GENÈVE, SWITZERLAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 May 2024 – Arla Foods Ingredients will showcase the potential of whey protein in beverages that combine hydration with nutritional benefits at Vitafoods Europe 2024.

Arla Foods Ingredients will showcase the potential of whey protein in beverages

Research shows that 61% of global active and lifestyle nutrition consumers are looking for functional beverages that provide health benefits beyond nutrition. At Vitafoods Europe (14th to 16th May) Arla Foods Ingredients will showcase new functional water concepts demonstrating how its whey protein isolates can meet this need for ‘holistic hydration.’

Designed for powder shake formats, Lacprodan® ISO.WaterShake is rich in both essential amino acids (EAAs) and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). It is easily combined with other functional ingredients, creating opportunities for additional claims for physical and cognitive wellbeing – perfect for consumers seeking convenient, holistic nutrition. For example, the new concepts will combine zinc and caffeine with protein.

Offering water-like refreshment, they include solutions for ready-to-drink applications as well as powder shakes and also contain on-trend botanical flavours.

The concepts meet many of the market needs highlighted by Innova in its top ten food and beverage trends for 2024. Its research shows that 42% of consumers globally see protein as the most important ingredient, and it also predicts a stronger focus on additional functional ingredients in everyday water products.

Sarah Meyer, Head of Sales Development, Health and Performance, at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “Active consumers are increasingly adopting a holistic health approach, and seeking out products that offer more than one benefit. Beverages that boost their daily nutrient intake while facilitating hydration are a great example. As these new concepts demonstrate, our whey protein isolate ingredients are a fantastic way to meet this need. Designed to appeal to consumers who are taking a proactive approach to their health, they create opportunities for efficient, on-trend combinations of hydration and nutrition.”

Exhibiting at Stand K122, the leader in premium nutrition will also showcase two additional concepts:

  • A multi-layered bar with high-quality whey and milk protein ingredients in every layer
  • A ready-to-mix powder application for medical nutrition showcasing the findings of a recent clinical study on how whey protein can improve day-to-day glucose control.

Hashtag: #ArlaFoodsIngredients

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

Arla Foods Ingredient

Arla Foods Ingredients, a subsidiary of Arla Foods, is a global nutrition leader committed to sustainability and innovation, serving major brands worldwide.

Click for more.

Denmark’s First Female Prime Minister Joins AUW as a Patron


CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 May 2024 – Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Denmark’s first female Prime Minister and a decade-long leader of the Social Democrat Party of her country, has joined the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh as a Patron. Prime Minister Thorning Schmidt also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children International and continues to serve on a variety of important Board and Advisory roles, including as Co-Chair of Facebook’s Oversight Board that addresses complex issues relating to freedom of expression.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Helle Thorning-Schmidt

Asian University for Women (https://asian-university.org) which was co-founded in 2008 by another prominent Danish political leader, former Environment Minister the late Lone Dybkjaer, has gained wide recognition and support In Denmark. The Lone Dybkjaer Foundation was expressly established under the stewardship of Ms. Dybkjaer’s husband, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen – who served three terms as Prime Minister of Denmark. Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen attended the annual Commencement of the Asian University for Women in 2023 in Chittagong, Bangladesh and, in drawing attention to the vital importance of women’s education and empowerment as a matter of human right as well as for addressing wider global challenges, termed the event as “the most important meeting of all” that he had ever attended.

Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt said “I am delighted to be joining the Asian University for Women as a Patron. No other university in the world does what AUW does — it proactively seeks out through numerous creative methods to reach the most marginalized adolescent girls in the world, prepare them for university education, and graduate them as extraordinarily well-rounded and skilled young women who carry a strong determination to devote their lives to overcoming injustice and underdevelopment. Nelson Mandela was my hero as a child — and these young women who despite all unimaginable obstacles still persist in creating a new world have also captured my admiration. I look forward to helping the AUW mission in whatever way I can.”

Prime Minister Rasmussen said “I am enormously pleased that my friend Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt is joining AUW as a Patron. She broke many “glass ceilings” and propelled significant changes more widely through her keen intellect and passion for a more just world. On a personal note, it so happens that my late wife Lone Dybkjaer (after whom the AUW Danish Foundation is named) served in the European Parliament with Helle as well as Helle’s late mother-in-law, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, on the European Parliament at the same time.”

Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen with Lone Dybkjaer Scholars in front of a portrait of the late Lone Dybkjaer at AUW’s Mahsa Amini Center
Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen with Lone Dybkjaer Scholars in front of a portrait of the late Lone Dybkjaer at AUW’s Mahsa Amini Center

Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt’s awakening to the great social issues came at an early age: as a teen-ager growing up in Denmark she was already repelled by the cruelty and absurdity of apartheid South Africa. As the Prime Minister of Denmark, she caused a significant increase in Danish support for education. She noted then: “…we must not forget vulnerable children living in insecure areas, children living in fragile situations. Their right to education is extremely important.” As the CEO of Save the Children International, she particularly advocated for protection of the vulnerable in Syria, Yemen and the Rohingyas from the Rakhine state of Burma.

Educated at the University of Copenhagen and the College of Europe, she brings to the Asian University for Women her deep appreciation of education as an instrument of women’s empowerment and an unflinching commitment to help build this institution as a center of global excellence where every young woman of talent can aspire to get a great education and renew her commitments to the creation of a just world.

The AUW Council of Patrons is chaired by Chief Patron Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Other Patrons include Mrs. Cherie Blair CBE KC (UK); Laura Bush (USA); Emma Bonino (Italy) and other luminaries from around the world.

Hashtag: #AUW

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