The government of Japan pledged 833,333 USD to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to implement: Safer Cities: Interventions against Covid-19 focusing on WASH and Protection for communities at risk.
PolyU study finds south China has become more vulnerable to flash droughts that develop in a shorter time amid climate change

The PolyU study, published in Nature Communications, found that southeast China – the region spanning from the Yangtze River Delta to Hainan province – is at a higher risk of experiencing more rapid drying, with an increase in the proportion of flash droughts developed within five days by as much as 18.67 per cent during 2000 – 2020. Ordinary droughts usually take five to six months or an even longer time to develop to full strength.
Dr WANG Shuo, Assistant Professor of PolyU’s Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, who led the research, said the nature of flash droughts, characterised by rapid onset in less than a month and a fast depletion of water availability, means there are less early warning indicators for impact preparation, potentially causing more severe impacts on agriculture and society than slowly evolving droughts.
“Flash drought occurrence is often accompanied by above-average temperatures and a precipitation deficit, which may trigger compound extreme events such as the concurrence of flash drought and heat wave. Thus, flash droughts can pose even more serious threats to urbanised areas like Hong Kong due to the urban heat island effect,” he said.
The in-depth analysis was devised to address the following scientific questions: how fast flash droughts evolve and why. In the study, the research team mapped the onset timescales of flash droughts globally and the causes of the rapid onset speed, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders on the potential risks of flash droughts, and an impetus for innovators to advance flash drought forecasts and early warning systems.
Based on different data sets that use satellite soil moisture measurements, the study found that although flash droughts are not becoming more frequent in most parts of the world, they are developing at a faster rate (i.e. in a shorter period of time). Out of all flash droughts that occurred in the past two decades, these data sets showed that there was about 33.64 – 46.18 per cent of flash droughts that developed within five days, representing an increase of 3.23 – 19.03 per cent during the period.
Such adverse climate events tend to occur in humid and semi-humid regions, including Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Amazon Basin, eastern North America and southern South America. Atmospheric aridity – caused by high temperature, low precipitation and a high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) – is likely to trigger flash droughts, the study indicates.
Dr Wang explained that “atmospheric aridity creates a perfect condition for the occurrence of flash droughts, and the joint influence of soil moisture depletion and atmospheric aridity further reinforces the rapid onset of flash droughts. In other words, low soil moisture combined with a high vapour pressure deficit accelerates the decline in soil moisture through land–atmosphere feedback loops. Thus, southeast China with strong land–atmosphere coupling is more vulnerable to flash droughts.”
Compared with traditional, slowly developing droughts, flash droughts evolve with a relatively fast depletion of soil moisture that may cause an imbalance of ecosystems and agricultural systems. The flash drought in the summer of 2012 led to an estimated US$35.7 billion in losses of corn crops in the central United States.
“Governments and the public should realise the increasing flash drought risk in addition to commonly known extreme weather events, and adapt to such emerging climate-induced natural disasters. It is crucial to improve traditional drought monitoring systems and indicators for capturing rapidly evolving flash droughts,” Dr Wang said.
#HongKongPolytechnicUniversity #PolyU
Lenovo Study: Three in Five CIOs Would Replace Half or More of Their Current Technology If Given Opportunity
- Research commissioned by Lenovo reveals CIOs are more involved than ever before in areas outside their traditional technology purview, such as business model transformation, corporate strategy, and sustainability
- Tasked with increasing organizational agility and streamlining operations cost, 57% of CIOs think at least half their current tech stack is serviceable but could be improved – with 21% wanting to replace almost all of their tech stack
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 April 2022 – A new global research study from Lenovo [1] reveals how the CIO role has evolved, shedding light on growing areas of responsibility and increasing influence in the C-Suite, as well as removing barriers to business growth.
Today, technology is the nervous system that connects corporate strategy, finance, innovation, operations, and talent. CIOs are increasingly tasked with connecting with key stakeholders across the organization to ensure alignment and drive execution. With IT enmeshed in every facet of a business, CIOs believe that their organizations must continue to invest in digital transformation to remain relevant. Key findings from Lenovo’s global survey of more than 500 CIOs include:
- Nearly all CIOs surveyed believe their roles have evolved and expanded in the past few years, and that they are being asked to make business decisions that go far beyond technology.
- 9-in-10 CIOs say that their role and responsibilities have expanded beyond technology, including non-traditional areas such as data analytics and business reporting (56%), sustainability/ESG (45%), DE&I (42%), HR/talent acquisition (39%), and sales/marketing (32%).
- 82% say the CIO role has become more challenging compared with just two years ago as they are confronting a vast array of unique challenges, from the increasing use of AI and automation to talent acquisition in a global, remote workforce.
- CIOs find it most difficult to solve challenges related to data privacy/security (66%), cybersecurity/ransomware (66%), keeping up with technological change (65%), managing fragmented IT vendor ecosystems (61%) and adopting/deploying new technology (60%).
- The majority of CIOs believe their role in the organization has increased in influence.
- More than 3-in-4 CIOs say they have a greater impact on their company’s overall fortunes than other C-Suite positions.
- 88% agree that “my role as CIO is the most critical component of my company or organization’s continued operation.”
- As the CIO role expands and evolves, respondents say that their technology vendors play an invaluable role in their company’s overall success.
- Business would feel an impact in no more than a few weeks if they halted spending on digital transformation initiatives, according to 61% of respondents. This speaks to technology’s role as a critical component of the business, not just a source of cost efficiencies.
- Looking ahead, CIOs expect to turn to their vendors to help them solve a myriad problems in the next five years, including increasing their organizational agility (60%) and providing security of their company’s systems and operations (52%), as well as to simplify the configuration, deployment and maintenance of technology (50%), and optimize costs (43%).
- 8-in-10 CIOs agree their tech vendors are “so effectively integrated that it increases [their] overall productivity.”
- Considering their new challenges and evolving responsibilities, CIOs suggest their current tech stack has much room for improvement.
- Given the chance to reboot from scratch, most CIOs (57%) say they would replace half or more of their company’s current technology.
- Compared to the previous year, 63% of companies are using more Device-as-a-Service in their tech stack.
- As business models change, nearly all CIOs (92%) would definitely or probably consider adding new aaS offerings over the next two years.
“Modern CIOs are the ‘mission control’ for their organizations, their role has transformed drastically in just the span of the past 24 months,” said Ken Wong, President, Lenovo Solutions and Services Group. “From navigating complex tech ecosystems to keep up with the speed of digital transformation, to upskilling employees and managing a global shortage of IT talent, today’s CIO is responsible for the entire technology value chain and beyond. Lenovo’s research demonstrates CIOs are up for the challenge. And they are looking to partner with their vendors to bring their organizations along and succeed.”
Research firm International Data Corp. estimates that by 2023, 60% of CIOs at companies world-wide will be primarily measured for their ability to cocreate new business models and revenue streams, chiefly through enterprise-wide collaboration[2] . Yet Lenovo’s own research shows that it may be an uphill battle for CIOs, who have identified areas such as data privacy/security, cybersecurity/ransomware and managing a fragmented IT vendor ecosystem as their most challenging concerns.
“In this complex technological environment, CIOs want to innovate, not manage IT. As Lenovo’s research highlights, CIOs look to their technology vendors beyond just delivering the basics well – namely, increase organizational agility, simplify configuration, and optimize costs. IT leaders also need counsel and guidance on how emerging technology can enhance their business goals. The opportunities for technology to add real business value – right across the enterprise – are immense,” added Mr. Wong.
To manage an increasingly complex digital transformation journey, businesses need simple and flexible IT solutions. Lenovo’s solutions provide organizations the breadth of Everything-as-a-Service offerings in Lenovo TruScale; the flexibility to pay for the infrastructure solutions they need, as long as they need; and the depth in our expertise and services that empower CIOs to focus more on their strategic imperatives. Businesses of all sizes need the flexibility to stay competitive, and a scalable, cloud-like solution model is the answer.
Industry forecasts by Technology Business Research indicate that Device Subscription Services are growing at a CAGR of 26% from 2020 to 2024 and data center subscription services are growing at 42% during the same period. [3] As-a-Service solutions provide mission-critical support and services, enabling businesses to use technology to scale quickly, lower costs, and reap greater efficiencies. With its flexible and simple offerings, Lenovo has helped organizations from the education to aerospace sectors optimize the right technology with the potential to transform and future-proof their operations.
The full study is available at: [link]
About Lenovo SSG Global Study of CIOs
Fieldwork for this study was conducted via a quantitative survey from December 6, 2021 to December 21, 2021, among a total of 525 global CIOs. The survey sample comprised of a near equal number of respondents from each market: Brazil, China, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. Respondents included CIOs of companies and organizations with at least 250 total employees.
Third Calendar Quarter 2021
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$60 billion revenue Fortune Global 500 company serving customers in 180 markets around the world. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, we are developing world-changing technologies that power (through devices and infrastructure) and empower (through solutions, services and software) millions of customers every day and together create a more inclusive, trustworthy and sustainable digital society for everyone, everywhere. To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.
#Lenovo
State Inspection Authority: USD 732 Million Lost to Corruption Since 2016
Since 2016, the Lao government has lost funds in various currencies totaling USD 732 million to corruption, according to a recent report.
Hang Lung Properties Joins Another Global Initiative for Net Zero Carbon by 2050
Mr. Adriel Chan, Vice Chair & Chair of Sustainability Steering Committee, Hang Lung Properties, said, “Hang Lung Properties is proud to be the first real estate company in Hong Kong and among the first such companies in Asia to join ULI Greenprint’s global initiative in support of a low carbon future. Climate resilience is our sustainability priority. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint in line with climate science, setting ambitious and concrete 2025 and 2030 carbon reduction targets. In January this year, we took a step further by committing to set both near- and long-term targets to reach net-zero value chain greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050. We look forward to exchanging best practices on this journey with other Greenprint members, and call on all real estate companies to step up to the challenge and create a net-zero carbon world together.”
By joining both ULI Greenprint’s net zero carbon operations goal and the Science-Based Targets initiative’s Net Zero Standard, we hope to actively contribute to the reduction of the built environment’s impact on climate change in collaboration with industry peers, while accelerating our decarbonization efforts across all aspects of our business in line with climate science.
ULI Greenprint is a global membership consortium of top real estate owners, developers, investors, and strategic partners committed to improving the environmental performance of the real estate industry. Through measurement and benchmarking, knowledge sharing, and implementation of best practices, ULI Greenprint and its members strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon operations by 2050.
The ULI Greenprint’s net zero carbon operations goal is a way for existing ULI Greenprint members to lead the way in reducing their impact on climate change beyond their carbon reduction commitments. The goal encourages portfolio-wide carbon reductions via energy-efficiency improvements, on-site renewable energy, green utility power and building electrification, off-site renewables, renewable energy credits and offsets.
About Hang Lung Properties
Hang Lung Properties Limited (SEHK Stock Code: 00101) creates compelling spaces that enrich lives. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties develops and manages a diversified portfolio of world-class properties in Hong Kong and the nine Mainland cities of Shanghai, Shenyang, Jinan, Wuxi, Tianjin, Dalian, Kunming, Wuhan and Hangzhou. With its luxury positioning under the “66” brand, the company’s Mainland portfolio has established its leading position as the “Pulse of the City.” Hang Lung Properties is recognized for leading the way through enhanced sustainability initiatives in real estate as it pursues sustainable growth by connecting customers and communities.
At Hang Lung Properties – We Do It Well.
For more information, please visit www.hanglung.com.
#HangLungProperties
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
TCS Study Finds 88% of C-Suites in Asia Pacific will Increase the Use of Digital Solutions to Drive Sustainability in Next 3 Years
Tata Consultancy Services and University of Auckland Created the World’s First Digital Sustainability Index to Propel Conversations on the Essential Role of Digitalization in Driving Enterprise Sustainability
SINGAPORE | MUMBAI, INDIA – Media OutReach – 20 April 2022 – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) and the Centre of Digital Enterprise, University of Auckland Business School have published the Digital Sustainability Index, a world-first study of enterprises in the Asia Pacific region that focuses on how digital solutions are contributing to sustainability outcomes across social, environmental, and economic levers.
Based on a survey of 200 C-level executives in Asia Pacific, the report explores Digital Sustainability – the creation, usage, and governance of digital resources to maximize their value for business, the environment and society, how it can enable organizations to better understand corporate motivators, and capacity and capability around digital technologies.
The study highlights three major obstacles that are inhibiting their pursuit of sustainability objectives through digital solutions: limited budget, lack of in-house knowledge and challenges in establishing a traditional ROI.
Other key findings:
- 88% respondents anticipate an increased use of digital resources, systems and platforms to address sustainability outcomes in the next 36 months.
- The vast majority (87%) agree that Digital Sustainability can deliver a competitive advantage and is a central value of their companies.
- Most of the respondents (80%) believe their corporate reputation in the market has improved as a result of digital sustainability initiatives implemented.
“At TCS, we believe digital has the power to positively change the world. The construct of digital sustainability provides a valuable, holistic framework for corporate leaders in their growth and transformation strategies,” said Girish Ramachandran, President, TCS Asia Pacific. “The Digital Sustainability Index will help organizations across the Asia Pacific understand how they can create, use, and regulate digital transformation, innovation, and resources to create future-fit, connected businesses that can deliver value for society today and in the future.”
“Never has the impact of technology on the community and sustainable innovation been more relevant and more necessary, and together with TCS, we are confident the Digital Sustainability Index can help key decision makers in every company gain a better understanding of how technology can positively impact business outcomes and deliver longer term value for all stakeholders,” said Ilan Oshri, Director of the Centre of Digital Enterprise, University of Auckland Business School, New Zealand.
Click here to access the report: https://www.tcs.com/digital-sustainability-index-2022
About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 50 years. TCS offers a consulting-led, cognitive powered, integrated portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions. This is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.
A part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 556,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 46 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $22.2 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, and is listed on the BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) and the NSE (National Stock Exchange) in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit www.tcs.com.
#TataConsultancyServices #TCS
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Myanmar Government Denies Shortage as Motorists Queue for Fuel
Myanmar’s energy ministry has denied rumors that the country is facing a fuel shortage despite long queues of motorists forming at petrol pumps.
Discovery Southeast Asia’s #SayNo2Plastics campaign for Earth Day
- Discovery Southeast Asia, together with Greenpeace Southeast Asia, launches the #SayNo2Plastics campaign for Earth Day 2022
- A 21-day #SayNo2Plastics challenge by Discovery and Greenpeace calls on fans and on Eco-Warriors across Asia to share their version of sustainable living on social media
- Discovery and Animal Planet programs on how to tackle the human-caused climate crisis, overpopulation and save nature
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 April 2022 – Discovery Southeast Asia, together with Greenpeace Southeast Asia, launch a #SayNo2Plastics challenge for Earth Day on April 22, 2022. The campaign will shed light on the plastic crisis and invite the wider public to be part of the solution by choosing sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic.

“For Earth Day, Discovery and Greenpeace are bringing in environmental advocates from across Asia— Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam to ring in the urgency to act and save the planet. Discovery Channel will also have dedicated TV shows that will echo themes from climate to plastics,” explains Tony Qiu, SVP General Manager, East and Southeast Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Single-use plastics pose a major threat to our environment, people and the climate. While used for very short periods, single-use plastic remains in our environment for a long time, polluting ecosystems, harming wildlife and contaminating our food system”, said Marian Ledesma, Zero-Waste Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia-Philippines. “But the problem is bigger than waste because every stage of plastic’s lifecycle – from extraction and production all the way to waste disposal – produces carbon emissions, exacerbates social inequalities, and exposes people to toxic pollutants and harmful chemicals. Urgent action on the plastic crisis is necessary to protect the Earth and all living creatures calling it home. Governments and businesses must take measures to drastically reduce plastic production and accelerate the shift to refill and reuse models.”
How to participate?
21-day #SayNo2Plastics challenge to fans and the public
For the 21-day #SayNo2Plastics challenge, Discovery and Greenpeace invite the audience to do one, or all, of the following:
- Post a photo of your daily plastic use (count how many plastics you use, if any!)
- Post a photo of your reusables (bottles, bags, cutlery, straws instead of disposables)
- Screenshot and sign this petition
Contestants must use #SayNo2Plastics and #DiscoveryEarthDay and Tag @Discovery_SEAsia and @GreenPeaceSEA on Instagram.
Everyone who participates will be eligible to receive Discovery branded reusable items, such as:
- Discovery collapsible water bottle
- Animal Planet drawstring backpack
- Discovery cutlery set
- TLC microwavable lunchbox
Closing date: 13th May, 2022
Meet Southeast Asia’s Sustainability Ambassadors
For the #SayNo2Plastics message around Southeast Asia, Discovery will partner with eco-warriors and sustainability ambassadors from Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam with local leaders in cross-sections of environmental advocacy to raise awareness about the plastic crisis in this region.
These include Asian star influencers: Liv Golding, Charlotte Mei, Jia En, Melissa Tan, Aishah Jennifer Sinclair, Antoinette Taus, Seri Mizani, Maricel Lukkanit, Cat Trivino, Nadya Hutagalung, Mike Lewis, Rin Rin Marinka and Oz Chanarat.
The eco-warriors will share their story on how they are living sustainably and encourage Discovery viewers to join them on social media in the fight against plastics.
Earth Day Special TV Shows
In celebration of Earth Day 2022 (April 22), Discovery and Animal Planet will be premiering exclusive programs about the growing concerns of overpopulation, loss of biodiversity, and depleting the environment. Discovery will be airing the following:
Endangered: Executive produced and narrated by Ellen DeGeneres. United by the planet’s biggest conservation project — The Red List — conservation heroes worldwide are risking everything to save giraffes, gorillas, big cats and other endangered wildlife. 18 April, Monday 7:10pm (SEA/PH) 6:10pm (BKK/JKT)
Expedition Deep Ocean: Explorer Victor Vescovo and his team embark on an unprecedented global mission to dive to the deepest points of all five oceans, a feat no one has ever achieved. 20-24 April Wed-Sun 7:10pm (SEA/PH) 6:10pm (BKK/JKT)
Chasing Ocean Giants: From Oscar-winning director James Reed, adventurer Patrick Dykstra goes to the ends of the earth in pursuit of close encounters with the largest and most elusive ocean giants on the planet. 20-24 April Wed-Sun 8:15 pm (SEA/PH) 7:15 pm (BKK/JKT)
First To The Top Of The World: It starts like a bad joke — an insurance salesman and a doctor walk into a bar — but this epic, true story ends with the most unlikely team of explorers re-writing the history books by becoming the first people actually to reach the North Pole. 19 April Tuesday, 7:10pm (SEA/PH) 6:10pm (BKK/JKT)
Animal Planet will be airing the following shows:
Endangered: United by the planet’s biggest conservation project — The Red List — conservation heroes worldwide are risking everything to save giraffes, gorillas, big cats and other endangered wildlife. 22 April Monday, 7:00pm (SEA/PH) 6:00pm (BKK/JKT)
The Last Unknown: Acclaimed Nature Photographer Ian Shive embarks on a high-stakes ride to the farthest edge of our planet, uncovering the mysteries of America’s vastly unexplored National Wildlife Refuge System and one of the least known national parks. 22 April Monday, 9:00pm (SEA/PH) 8:00pm (BKK/JKT)
Notes to editors
Hashtags: #SayNo2Plastics #DiscoveryEarthDay
Social Media: @Discovery_SEASIA (IG) @DiscoverySEAsia (FB)
Campaign URL: www.discoveryearthday.com
Launch date: April 22, 2022
Earth Day #SayNo2Plastics Video: here
Earth Day Stunt Promo (Discovery): here
Endangered Promo (AP): here
The Last Unknown (AP): here
About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, CNN+, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, Investigation Discovery, TLC, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
#WarnerBrosDiscovery
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.