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Wafra Named Euromoney’s Best Islamic Fund Manager for Second Consecutive Year

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NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Wafra Inc. (“Wafra”), a leading global alternative investment firm headquartered in New York, announced today that its Global Sukuk Team has been named Best Islamic Fund Manager1 at the 2025 Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards. This marks the second consecutive year the team has received this distinction and highlights Wafra’s focus on delivering differentiated strategies and performance for clients.  

Co-managed by Ron Solenske and Elias Scheker Da Silva, who have over 40 years of combined fixed income experience, the Global Sukuk Strategy is part of Wafra’s Portfolio Solutions platform, which addresses the complex and evolving needs of global institutional partners. Wafra’s Global Sukuk Strategy is built on a disciplined, research-driven investment approach that aims to deliver consistent, risk-adjusted returns while outperforming industry benchmarks.

“We’re thrilled to receive this recognition for the second year running — it affirms our commitment to delivering innovative solutions for our institutional partners, some of whom require Shariah-compliant investment exposure,” said Mr. Solenske. Mr. Da Silva added, “It’s an honor to once again be named Best Islamic Fund Manager. This award reflects the strength of our disciplined investment approach which becomes even more important during periods of market volatility.”

The Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards recognize institutions that have demonstrated exceptional performance across key categories over the past 12 months. Winners are selected by a panel of Euromoney journalists and researchers following a thorough process of analysis and interviews, and were revealed at the Euromoney Middle East Awards for Excellence ceremony, held in Dubai on May 20, 2025.

About Wafra
Wafra is a leading global alternative investment manager with approximately $28 billion of assets under management across a range of alternative assets, including real assets, real estate, and strategic partnerships. Through flexible and accretive capital solutions and focusing on long-term partnerships, Wafra aligns and partners with high-quality asset owners, companies, and management teams. Headquartered in New York, Wafra has additional offices in London and Bermuda. For more information please visit, https://www.wafra.com/. 

Media Contacts

Diana Estupinan
Managing Director and Head of MENA, Prosek Partners
destupinan@prosek.com
+971 58 534 3668

1The accolade noted herein is independently determined and awarded by Euromoney and represents the opinions of the publisher and not those of Wafra. There can be no assurance that other publishers or market participants would reach the same conclusion. The Euromoney Islamic finance awards are judged by a panel made up of Euromoney’s journalists and research team. Award decisions are based on an evaluation of criteria including, but not limited to new or enhanced products and services, highlighted deals, digital solutions and technology, environmental social and governance, financial performance, business development and transformation. Additional information can be found on the Euromoney website at https://www.euromoney.com/islamic-finance-awards-home. Wafra is a sponsor of Euromoney’s Islamic Finance Awards 2025.

Wafra Named Euromoney’s Best Islamic Fund Manager for Second Consecutive Year

By
Advertorial Desk
-

NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Wafra Inc. (“Wafra”), a leading global alternative investment firm headquartered in New York, announced today that its Global Sukuk Team has been named Best Islamic Fund Manager1 at the 2025 Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards. This marks the second consecutive year the team has received this distinction and highlights Wafra’s focus on delivering differentiated strategies and performance for clients.  

Co-managed by Ron Solenske and Elias Scheker Da Silva, who have over 40 years of combined fixed income experience, the Global Sukuk Strategy is part of Wafra’s Portfolio Solutions platform, which addresses the complex and evolving needs of global institutional partners. Wafra’s Global Sukuk Strategy is built on a disciplined, research-driven investment approach that aims to deliver consistent, risk-adjusted returns while outperforming industry benchmarks.

“We’re thrilled to receive this recognition for the second year running — it affirms our commitment to delivering innovative solutions for our institutional partners, some of whom require Shariah-compliant investment exposure,” said Mr. Solenske. Mr. Da Silva added, “It’s an honor to once again be named Best Islamic Fund Manager. This award reflects the strength of our disciplined investment approach which becomes even more important during periods of market volatility.”

The Euromoney Islamic Finance Awards recognize institutions that have demonstrated exceptional performance across key categories over the past 12 months. Winners are selected by a panel of Euromoney journalists and researchers following a thorough process of analysis and interviews, and were revealed at the Euromoney Middle East Awards for Excellence ceremony, held in Dubai on May 20, 2025.

About Wafra
Wafra is a leading global alternative investment manager with approximately $28 billion of assets under management across a range of alternative assets, including real assets, real estate, and strategic partnerships. Through flexible and accretive capital solutions and focusing on long-term partnerships, Wafra aligns and partners with high-quality asset owners, companies, and management teams. Headquartered in New York, Wafra has additional offices in London and Bermuda. For more information please visit, https://www.wafra.com/. 

Media Contacts

Diana Estupinan
Managing Director and Head of MENA, Prosek Partners
destupinan@prosek.com
+971 58 534 3668

1The accolade noted herein is independently determined and awarded by Euromoney and represents the opinions of the publisher and not those of Wafra. There can be no assurance that other publishers or market participants would reach the same conclusion. The Euromoney Islamic finance awards are judged by a panel made up of Euromoney’s journalists and research team. Award decisions are based on an evaluation of criteria including, but not limited to new or enhanced products and services, highlighted deals, digital solutions and technology, environmental social and governance, financial performance, business development and transformation. Additional information can be found on the Euromoney website at https://www.euromoney.com/islamic-finance-awards-home. Wafra is a sponsor of Euromoney’s Islamic Finance Awards 2025.

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/wafra_logo-1.jpg 

Largest China-Russia Land Port Reinvents Itself as Industrial Hub

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Advertorial Desk
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HOHHOT, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 May 2025 – As China’s largest land port, Manzhouli is expanding beyond its traditional role as a “transit station.” By promoting local processing of grain, oil and timber, the city is steadily evolving into a regional industrial hub.

An aerial drone photo shows trains for China-Europe freight service at Manzhouli Railway Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
An aerial drone photo shows trains for China-Europe freight service at Manzhouli Railway Port in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

At Manzhouli Xinfeng Grain and Oil Industry Co., Ltd., freshly imported rapeseed from Russia is processed on intelligent production lines. From dehulling to pressing, the procedures run smoothly, as golden rapeseed oil gently streams into storage tanks.

“As soon as the raw materials clear customs, we go straight into production, operating around the clock,” said Yang Zhihong, deputy general manager of the company. He noted that Russian rapeseed oil, prized for its low acid value and high smoke point, is particularly popular among domestic downstream enterprises.

This “Russian supply, Chinese processing” model is fueling a growing shift among local businesses, pushing them beyond mere trade toward more advanced, value-added processing.

Yang crunched the numbers. “By importing raw materials through ‘border trade’, a special policy that allows residents in border areas to conduct small-scale cross-border trade under simplified customs procedures, we save an average of 500 yuan (about 69.5 U.S. dollars) per tonne. Since last year, that’s added up to savings of over 8 million yuan,” he explained.

This model cuts traditional trade taxes and fees from around 18 percent to less than 4 percent of total costs. It enables enterprises to source raw materials at lower prices, while border residents earn income from the price difference, creating a win-win supply chain involving border residents, cooperatives and enterprises.

As of April 2025, “border trade” in Manzhouli has surpassed 100 million yuan this year, with more than 3,600 border residents taking part, generating nearly 2 million yuan in tax revenue to the city.

The roaring development of Manzhouli’s timber processing industry goes hand in hand with the grain and oil sector. Since establishing an imported timber processing base in 2003, Manzhouli has continuously focused on deep and fine processing, showcasing the strong potential of its timber manufacturing industry.

Located in the Inner Mongolia Manzhouli border economic cooperation zone, the import-export resource processing industrial park processes up to 5.6 million cubic meters of timber annually. It has developed a diverse product lineup, including solid wood furniture, doors and windows, wood pellets, and solid wood flooring.

An aerial drone photo shows containers being loaded at Manzhouli Railway Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
An aerial drone photo shows containers being loaded at Manzhouli Railway Port in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

In 2023, the city’s timber import reached 1.88 million cubic meters, demonstrating the strong momentum of the industry’s growth.

Meanwhile, Manzhouli has planned the development of a 2.74-square-kilometer chemical industry cluster within the import-export resource processing industrial park. This cluster will primarily rely on the import of large quantities of liquefied petroleum gas, methanol, and alkanes from Russia to drive integrated new energy chemical utilization and related projects.

The cluster will provide high-end, premium chemical intermediates for domestic advanced polymer materials and engineering plastics, injecting new momentum into the city’s economic development.

Bai Zhiping, an official from the Manzhouli municipal commerce bureau, said that Manzhouli’s transformation from a “transit station” to an “industrial hub” reflects the development of the port-based processing model.

An increasing number of enterprises are moving beyond the traditional “transit economy” and are leveraging the advantages of the border to create a new industrial ecosystem focused on deep processing.

In the first quarter of this year, Manzhouli’s import and export freight volume reached 6.53 million tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 10.6 percent. The value of imports and exports handled by the Manzhouli port reached 47.67 billion yuan, up 6.1 percent year on year.

Hashtag: #Manzhouli

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

China’s Largest PV+LNG Powered Car Carrier Sets Sail on Its Maiden Voyage with LONGi Solar Modules

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Advertorial Desk
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XI’AN, China, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, “Yuanhai Kou,” China’s largest ocean-going cargo ship, SOLAR+LNG dual-fuel car carrier, embarked on its maiden voyage from Nansha, Guangzhou. The vessel is fully loaded with vehicles produced by Chinese brands, over 90% of which are new energy vehicles, heading to countries such as Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Tunisia. LONGi, a global leader in solar technology, provided high-efficiency PV modules for the ship, helping create a globally leading model of low-carbon intelligent shipping with its reliable performance.

On May 15, China's largest photovoltaic-energy car carrier set sail on its maiden voyage in Nansha, Guangzhou. ©CCTV News
On May 15, China’s largest photovoltaic-energy car carrier set sail on its maiden voyage in Nansha, Guangzhou. ©CCTV News

The “Yuanhai Kou” measures 199.9 meters in total length, with a gross tonnage of 68,252 tons and a displacement of 39,069 tons. It features 12 vehicle decks, including 8 fixed decks and 4 movable decks, with a loading capacity of 7,000 standard car parking spaces. It can carry all types of vehicles such as sedans, engineering vehicles, and buses, as well as MAFI cargo.

As China’s largest PV+LNG energy car carrier, the “Yuanhai Kou” boasts multiple green, low-carbon, and intelligent performance. In addition to adopting an advanced LNG (liquefied natural gas) dual-fuel main engine, it is equipped with a distributed PV system with a peak power of 302.8 kilowatts, currently the largest photovoltaic system installed on similar vessels.

The distributed PV system installed on the “Yuanhai Kou” is equipped with LONGi’s Sea-Shield series modules, which make full use of the upper deck space of the ship. More than 500 PV panels are installed throughout the ship, providing stable clean energy for the it’s lighting, communication, and other equipment. This PV system generates 410,000 kWh of electricity annually, saving approximately 111 tons of fuel and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 345.9 tons, equivalent to planting about 38,000 trees annually (calculated based on a single tree fixing 9 kilograms of carbon per year).

Aiming at the shipborne scenarios with high salt spray, high humidity, and strong vibration at sea, the Sea-Shield series modules significantly enhance their salt spray resistance and waterproof performance through anti-corrosion frame materials, enhanced sealing processes, and special junction box designs, ensuring continuous and efficient power output under complex working conditions and assisting in the green power supply during the ship’s navigation.

As a global leading solar technology company, LONGi has successively developed and launched functional products to meet the needs of different scenarios. With its continuously upgraded and rich product matrix and solutions deeply integrated with the needs of segmented markets, it leads the trend of differentiated scenario products in the industry. In the future, LONGi will continue to join hands with more partners to light up the “Made in China” maritime journey with reliable and efficient green energy.

 

Federation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC) hosts the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference 2025 (APIC 2025) under the theme “Ensuring a Transformed World Prosperity”, driving Asia’s petrochemical industry toward global sustainability and growth

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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 May 2025 – Federation of Thai Industries, Petrochemical Industry Club (FTIPC), proudly represented Thailand as host of the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference 2025 (APIC 2025). Held in collaboration with petrochemical associations from seven core member associations—Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, and Singapore—the event focused on fostering innovation, regional cooperation, and sustainable development in the petrochemical industry.

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Taking place on May 15 – 16, 2025, at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld Bangkok, APIC 2025 marked the 43rd edition of the conference and the third time Thailand has been the host. This year’s theme, “Ensuring a Transformed World Prosperity” – Action for Planet with Innovation and Collaboration, driving Asia’s petrochemical industry towards global sustainability and growth, reflects the industry’s mission to drive economic growth, enhance quality of life, and contribute to a sustainable future through innovation and collaboration.

Mr. Apichai Chareonsuk, Chairman of the Petrochemical Industry Club, the Federation of Thai Industries, said at the opening: “Petrochemicals are central to modern life—not only in production but in enabling a better, more sustainable world. Our industry is committed to balancing growth with responsibility. Through partnerships and innovation, we can drive the transformation needed to support future generations.”

The event drew over 1,500 delegates from across the globe, including petrochemical producers, plastics manufacturers, investors, and strategic partners. APIC 2025 generated an estimated 145 million baht in economic value, supporting Thailand’s tourism and service sectors while creating high-potential business opportunities for Thai operators. The conference is expected to lead to deals worth several billion baht.

The event served as a key platform to highlight the host’s capabilities, reinforcing Thailand’s role as a regional hub for petrochemical innovation and collaboration. It provided a space for industry leadership and meaningful dialogue on sustainability, the circular economy, and inclusive growth.

“Through the theme ‘Ensuring a Transformed World Prosperity,’ we emphasized that innovation and collaboration are key to building a better future. We hope to see stronger regional and global partnerships—advancing sustainable practices, driving innovation, and strengthening business networks across the petrochemical industry. This cooperation, in the long run, will lead to meaningful, positive change,” Mr. Apichai concluded.

Mr. Koshiro Kudo, Chairman of the Japan Petrochemical Industry Association and the next APIC host, praised Thailand’s role in this year’s event, saying: “Thailand did an outstanding job hosting APIC 2025. The discussion topics and the exchange of perspectives were well-aligned with the theme ‘Ensuring a Transformed World Prosperity’ and addressed it comprehensively. The conference delivered a positive impact both nationally and regionally. As Japan takes on the honor of hosting the next APIC, we are proud and delighted to welcome member associations and global representatives to continue fostering collaboration and driving the petrochemical industry in Asia toward a global stage.”

APIC 2025 serves as a key platform bringing together experts and opinion leaders from the petrochemical industry. It facilitates the exchange of views, exploration of business expansion opportunities, and strengthening regional and global cooperation. The event aims to foster regional collaboration, create business opportunities, and drive innovation toward global sustainability and growth, as outlined below:

  • Executive Panel: Top executives, including Narongsak Jivakanun, Chief Executive Officer of GC, Sakchai Patiparnpreechavud, Chief Executive Officer & President of SCGC, and leaders from Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association (GPCA) and McKinsey & Company, shared their vision in the session “Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of the Chemical Industry in a Transformed World”. Discussions explored trends, challenges, and the path forward for the petrochemical sector.
  • Empowering Women in Asia’s Chemical Industry: This panel, organized by Women in Chemicals, emphasized the importance of supporting female leadership across the region. Featured speakers included Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat, Member of Council of Trustees & Advisor, Petroleum and Energy Institute of Thailand (PEIT), and Anusara Suthikulavet, President and CEO, UBE Chemicals (Asia), spotlighting the impact of women in advancing the industry.
  • Exhibition & Networking Zone: A dynamic space where regional and global companies connected, showcased new technologies, and explored partnerships, strengthening the international business network in petrochemicals.
  • Sustainability & Circular Economy Discussions: Focused on actionable pathways for sustainable industry growth and meaningful cross-border cooperation.

APIC 2025 integrated Green Meeting practices, following the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) guidelines. Measures included paper reduction, sustainable catering, resource optimization, waste management, and awareness campaigns, reflecting the industry’s commitment to responsible operations.

Hashtag: #AsiaPetrochemicalIndustryConference #APIC

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

About Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC)

Originally known as the East Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (EAPIC), APIC was founded in 1979 by associations from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan to promote growth in the petrochemical industry. Over time, the network expanded to include Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and India, evolving into APIC.

Today, APIC is recognized as a leading petrochemical industry conference, drawing more than 1,500 participants globally. It serves as a vital platform for knowledge exchange and business networking within the petrochemical sector.

Thai Rock Star Jailed on Gun, Drugs Charges

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Laotian Times
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Thai rock star arrested of gun and drug charges. (Photo: Flickr)

AFP – Thailand’s Supreme Court has jailed one of the kingdom’s best-known rock stars for more than three years on gun possession and drugs charges.

Seksan Sukpimai, better known by his stage name Sek Loso, was convicted of illegal gun possession, drug use and obstructing a police officer.

The 50-year-old founder and lead singer of Loso, one of Thailand’s most successful rock bands, has long been a staple of Thai gossip columns because of his colorful personal life.

He was originally arrested in 2017 after firing a gun into the sky following a concert in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The Supreme Court ruling ordered Seksan to serve three years and 20 days in jail.

© Agence France-Presse

Fukuoka City Announces Fukuoka Prize 2025 Laureates

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Advertorial Desk
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-Grand Prize Awarded to TAKARA Kurayoshi, Japanese Historian-

FUKUOKA, Japan, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fukuoka City (Secretariat of Fukuoka Prize Committee) on Wednesday May 21 announced the laureates for the Fukuoka Prize 2025 designed to honor those who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of Asian studies and arts and culture.

The Grand Prize has been awarded to TAKARA Kurayoshi, a creator in the field of history who has broken ground in Ryukyu Islands studies on multiple fronts. The Academic Prize has been awarded to BAIK Young-seo, a South Korean scholar of contemporary history who considers East Asia from the perspectives of citizens and people. VO Trong Nghia, a Vietnamese architect who advocates environmentally and ecologically friendly architecture, has won the Arts and Culture Prize.

Fukuoka Prize 2025 Laureates:
https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M100886/202505168939/_prw_PI1fl_COMj1g6L.png

Grand Prize
TAKARA Kurayoshi (History)
A creator in the field of history who has broken ground in Ryukyu Islands studies on multiple fronts.

Academic Prize
BAIK Young-seo (History)
A historian who is one of South Korea’s leading scholars of contemporary Chinese history.

Arts and Culture Prize
VO Trong Nghia (Architecture)
An architect who advocates environmentally and ecologically friendly architecture.

The Award Ceremony will be held on September 16, 2025. TAKARA’s and BAIK’s public lectures are scheduled for September 17, and VO’s for September 15. Archived recordings of events will be available online. Bookings for events will open in July. Advance bookings are mandatory & admission free.

About Fukuoka Prize

The prize is awarded by Fukuoka City for the purpose of its international contribution to Asia, honoring those who have made outstanding achievements in preservation and creation of unique and diverse Asian cultures. The prize was established in 1990 by Fukuoka City, which has played a significant role as Japan’s gateway for exchanges with the rest of the Asian region since ancient times. The prize marks its 35th anniversary this year.

The prize has been presented to 127 leaders from 28 countries and areas. Past laureates include Muhammad YUNUS from Bangladesh, who also received the Nobel Peace Prize; and NAKAMURA Tetsu from Japan, who took the lead in medical services, land reclamation and social welfare for the sick and vulnerable in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

https://fukuoka-prize.org/en

Wildberries marketplace begins to offer products from UAE sellers

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DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 May 2025 – Wildberries, a leading e-commerce platform in Eurasia, has expanded its product offering to include products from sellers based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing the number of countries where the company operates to ten.

It is expected that sellers from the UAE will diversify the platform’s current product range of more than 8 million SKUs, including by offering smartphones and other consumer electronics at attractive prices.

Cross-border e-commerce is one of Wildberries’ fastest-growing business segments and a major draw for sellers on the platform, as it enables small businesses and entrepreneurs from one country to leverage Widlberries’ infrastructure to sell their products in neighboring markets. The platform currently hosts more than 1 million sellers, over 85% of which are small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

In line with its commitment to customer convenience, Wildberries has fully automated the customs duty payment process so that it requires no additional actions on the part of the consumer. The amount of duty will be displayed next to the product price for informational purposes. Orders can be collected at any convenient pickup point.

Delivery will take from six days, depending on product availability and the speed of customs clearance. Wildberries plans to expand its product range and reduce delivery times as shipments from the UAE grow.

The UAE will become the tenth country in the company’s geographic footprint. At present, Wildberries operates in Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as working with sellers in China.

Hashtag: #Wildberries

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

About Wildberries

Established in 2004 in Russia, Wildberries is a leading e-commerce platform operating in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, while also partnering with sellers in China and UAE. Wildberries provides a state-of-the-art IT infrastructure to support customers and sellers, along with a developed logistics network spanning more than 130 facilities and 70,000 pick-up points across its markets. As of 2025, Wildberries serves over 79 million customers and processes more than 20 million orders per day.

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