Saeng Douangdara with VoyageLA team (photo: voyagela)
Saeng Douangdara, a famous Lao-American chef spoke with The Laotian Times last week during his visit to Laos to give his thoughts on Lao and American cuisine.
DÜSSELDORF, GERMANY – Media OutReach – 30 January 2023 – Dear Reality launches EXOVERB, a totally new reverb plugin that adds an as yet unheard three-dimensional depth and width perception to stereo productions. Blending the mix with the most natural reverb, the plugin offers 50 true-to-life acoustic scenes, relying on EXOVERB’s proprietary reverb engine with synthesized spatial multi-IRs. Incorporating the fundamentals of spatial hearing, EXOVERB enables enhanced control of the spatial distance perception, which will clean up the stereo mix, leaving more space for additional instruments.
The EXOVERB user interface
EXOVERB provides 50 hand-tailored acoustic scenes in four categories (Ambiences, Rooms, Halls, and Plates), perfectly tuned for modern music production. Each preset is based on multiple synthesized impulse responses (IRs) developed with Dear Reality’s proprietary software and expertise in immersive audio. “Though spatial audio technology offers new perspectives on sound and the listener’s immersion, it is often overlooked that stereo can produce an immersive sound field with realistic depth, too – if done right,” explains Achim Fell, co-CEO of Dear Reality, adding that “with EXOVERB, we unlock this capability by applying the fundamentals of our spatial audio technology to our first pure stereo reverb plugin.”
In keeping with Dear Reality’s ease of use philosophy, EXOVERB features a straightforward user interface where the reverb can be perfectly adapted to the individual mix. An innovative triangle pad helps select the perfect blend of reverb, early reflections, and dry signals by setting the ratio of the early reflections and the late reverb on the x-axis and the level of dry and wet signals on the y-axis. Moreover, EXOVERB provides direct access to commonly used parameters such as Pre-Delay, Size, Decay, and Width, without the user having to dive into sub-menus as with many other reverb tools.
Speeds up the creative mixing process: EXOVERB’s innovative triangle pad lets you intuitively hit the sweet spot
By default, EXOVERB provides a greater sense of depth with natural spatial separation. Using the Depth parameter, the front-back space of the mix can be further adjusted, thereby increasing the perception of depth in stereo mixes.
“The perception of auditory events is inseparably linked with their position in space,” explains Felix Lau, Product Owner at Dear Reality. “The fascination for this relationship between the position of sound in space and how its position is perceived and recreated by the listener’s brain is what has brought me into spatial audio in the first place. With EXOVERB, we are now making this relation in space accessible for stereo productions.”
Furthermore, EXOVERB provides three separate EQs to shape early reflections, decay, and summed signal. Each 3-band EQ includes a low-shelf, a parametric, and a high-shelf filter to get the optimal reverb sound for the mix.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Dear Reality
Dear Reality is a leading company in the field of immersive audio controllers, best known for its binaural, Ambisonics, and multichannel encoders with totally realistic room virtualization. The company’s products are used worldwide by sound engineers, sound designers, broadcasters, and musicians. Founded in 2014 by Achim Fell and Christian Sander, Dear Reality strives to deliver high-quality, cutting-edge 3D audio software for interactive and linear audio production. Since 2019, Dear Reality has been proud to be a part of the Sennheiser Group.
Both companies are striving for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and prioritize green operations as part of their ESG agenda
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach – 30 January 2023 – In a joint effort to drive a greener supply chain, Big C Supercenter, “The Thai Retailer with Customers at its Heart” the leading grocery retailer in Thailand, and DHL Supply Chain Thailand, the global market leader in contract logistics, have announced the deployment of electric trucks for product distribution, from the Big C Wangnoi Distribution Center to Big C branches in Bangkok as an initial stage. In the near future, other types of electric trucks are being considered for the fleet to transport Big C products to stores in various locations.
The partnership between Big C and DHL Supply Chain Thailand is centered on their mutual goal to reduce carbon footprint. This deployment of electric trucks represents yet another significant step forward in their collaborative effort to build a sustainable supply chain. The trucks are powered by 100 percent electricity.
Aswin Techajareonvikul, Chief Executive Officer and President of BJC Big C said, “BJC Big C operates business in parallel with creating a sound economy and good quality of life for the community and society. The company aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This year, Big C has joined forces with DHL Supply Chain Thailand to have electric vehicles (EV) to transport and distribute goods to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and to focus on becoming a green logistics organization. Big C will pilot the use of electric trucks to transport and distribute goods at three Big C branches in Bangkok, namely Big C Saphan Khwai, Big C Ratchada, and Big C Ratchadamri. We plan to expand routes and increase the number of vehicles in the long term in Bangkok and other provinces. This collaboration is a joint drive to create an environmentally sustainable supply chain.”
Steve Walker, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Thailand Cluster, stated, “We are very pleased to join Big C on this journey as we have shared values and vision for protecting the planet and improving people’s lives. DHL Supply Chain aspires to be a leader and is committed to being a responsible logistics partner in creating a sustainable future in the region. We have been supporting Big C for the past 20 years and currently deliver their products to over 1,800 stores nationwide. We hope to help them advance their supply chain operations by providing clean, green, and safe solutions to achieve environmental sustainability goals.”
The electric trucks will be managed by the DHL Connected Control Tower, which utilizes advanced technologies such as the Paragon Route Optimization System, Transport Management System, Telematics, and the MySupplyChain digital platform to maximize transport efficiency.
Scott Gerrie, Transport Vice President of DHL Supply Chain Thailand Cluster, added, “Our transport team is constantly looking for innovative ways to help customers lower carbon emissions. Apart from the current EV trucks, we are also looking to install Trailar solar mats on the EV fleet and use fuel additives for internal combustion engine trucks to reduce carbon emissions. We hope to provide greater impact in the future by increasing fleet innovation and utilization within our own fleet and those of our sub-contractors.”
Hashtag: #DHLSupplyChainThailand
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About DHL – The logistics company for the world
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including, technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 81 billion euros in 2021. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. Deutsche Post DHL Group aims to achieve net zero-emissions logistics by 2050.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 January 2023 – For the tenth year in a row, SABIC, a global leader in the chemicals industry, has been recognized as the “top employer Asia Pacific” by the Top Employer Institute, a globally accredited certification body. SABIC’s focus on empowered, people-centric leadership, and embrace of technology that makes processes simpler and easier, have been key to its continued success as companies pivot to new ways of working following the pandemic.
SABIC wins the Top Employer Award in Asia Pacific for the 10th year in a row.
In addition to the regional award, SABIC also received the “Top Employer 2023” awards in five of its key Asian markets – China for the thirteenth year running, and India, Japan, Singapore and South Korea for the past ten years. SABIC employs 31,000 people globally, including 3,000 in 18 markets across Asia Pacific; its regional headquarters are in Singapore and Shanghai.
The announcement comes amid a period of significant, global transformation for employee management, as companies spent 2022 deciding how best to navigate changing expectations on people practices in the workplace. SABIC has embraced change by adopting technologies that ensure employees have the resources they need wherever they are based. During the pandemic, the Human Resources team began the roll-out of the HR One platform, building on its commitment to continually digitalize and centralize SABIC’s employee value proposition and offerings. Acting as a “one-stop” online platform, HR One houses all the information and tools an employee might need from training to claim submissions. And, from 1 January 2023, employees will be able to apply for flexible work arrangements via HR One, following SABIC’s July announcement that it is committed to a hybrid working model.
Meanwhile, leadership development programs have been the cornerstone of SABIC’s ongoing success, enabling the empowerment and trust required in today’s values driven, hybrid, and diverse work environment. The Asia Leadership Acceleration Program (ALAP) has been vital to SABIC’s achievements in the region, ensuring the company is inculcating a growth mindset and encouraging agility in its leaders. Meanwhile, SABIC’s recently launched Asia Empowerment Project was designed in response to feedback received in employee surveys in 2021 and will directly address four key areas related to low perception of empowerment that employees highlighted – Authority, Leadership Behavior, Continuous Improvement and Culture.
Commenting on the announcement, Mohammed Al-Nafea, General Manager, HR MEAF & Asia Regions, said, “This achievement has been possible because SABIC had the foresight to shift our leadership culture away from one focused primarily on process-driven competencies to one in which shaping balanced, empathetic, and transformational leaders was key. Without this shift, SABIC wouldn’t have been able to navigate the challenges of the pandemic as adeptly as it did. The heart of our leadership model, ‘Be the Impact’, emphasizes people empowerment, and ensures an engaged, agile and collaborative workforce.”
David Plink, CEO of the Top Employers Institute said, “Exceptional times bring out the best in people and organizations. And we have witnessed this in our Top Employers Certification Program this year: exceptional performance from the certified Top Employers 2023. These employers have always shown that they care for the development and well-being of their people. By doing so, they collectively enrich the world of work. We are proud to announce and celebrate this year’s group of leading people-oriented employers: the Top Employers 2023.”
SABIC’s global programs, such as the U MATTER 22 roadshow and the AI chatbot “AMBER”, complement regional initiatives, ensuring colleagues in Asia Pacific feel part of a greater whole. U MATTER was piloted in APAC in 2019 and today, delivers in-person and hybrid events in 44 cities around the world, designed to inspire employees with a sense of belonging. Meanwhile, SABIC’s chatbot has been particularly valuable through the pandemic, acting as a two-way communication tool, with “AMBER” encouraging connection and dialogue by periodically asking colleagues for feedback about their experiences working at SABIC, as the company shifted to more flexible working. These programs have been well received, with an employee engagement rate of over 80 percent in the Asia Pacific region.
Mr Al-Nafea commented, “The competition to find and retain the best talent is now global, and employee engagement and well-being is a key element of this. Our leaders must be equipped with the right skills, mindset, and tools to grow and empower their people; care for their needs and inspire them to one day become leaders themselves. This award reaffirms SABIC’s longstanding commitment to investing in human resources and supporting its people for a better tomorrow.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
SABIC should be written in every instance in all uppercase.
Hashtag: #SABIC #TopEmployerAward #HR #hybridwork
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About SABIC
SABIC is a global diversified chemicals company, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It manufactures on a global scale in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific, making distinctly different kinds of products: chemicals, commodity and high performance plastics, agri-nutrients and metals.
SABIC supports its customers by identifying and developing opportunities in key end-use applications such as construction, medical devices, packaging, agri-nutrients, electrical and electronics, transportation and clean energy.
SABIC recorded a net profit of SR 23 billion (US$ 6.15 billion) in 2021. Sales revenues for 2021 totaled SR 174 billion (US$ 46.6 billion). Total assets stood at SR 318 billion (US$ 84.9 billion) at the end of 2021. Production in 2021 stood at 58 million metric tons.
The company has more than 31,000 employees worldwide and operates in around 50 countries. Fostering innovation and a spirit of ingenuity, SABIC has 10,090 patents and pending applications, and has significant research resources with innovation hubs in five key geographies – USA, Europe, Middle East, South Asia and North Asia.
About TOP EMPLOYERS INSTITUTE
Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognizing excellence in People Practices. We help accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work. Through the Top Employers Institute Certification Program, participating companies can be validated, certified, and recognized as an employer of choice. Established over 30 years ago, Top Employers Institute has certified 2 052 organizations in 121 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 9.5 million employees globally.
Top Employers Institute. For a better world of work.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 30 January 2023 – Recently, controversy has once again arisen surrounding Huobi and Justin Sun (Yuchen Sun). Since Justin became a member of the Huobi Global Advisory Board, the exchange has made several notable marketing accomplishments, but it has also faced a few public relations crises. In response to the recent spate of controversies, Huobi released an official statement.
Recent posts regarding staff layoffs at Huobi have indicated that the company has taken steps to block internal communication channels on DingTalk to prevent employees from speaking out. These posts also disclosed the extent of the reductions and the way they were implemented, as well as the fact that employees were compensated in stablecoin, highlighting a lack of empathy on the part of Huobi towards its employees.
Huobi has stated that workforce optimization is a measure that companies resort to during difficult economic conditions. The cryptocurrency industry, including Huobi, has seen a series of layoffs in response to the current market downturn. Layoffs are often implemented to safeguard the interests of most employees and ensure the viability of a company. Without such measures, the collapse of a company would result in harm to many individuals. Huobi’s workforce optimization program has been reported to be more favorable compared to industry standards.
The implementation of any policies affecting all employees will be communicated through internal memos or emails. Communication channels between Huobi employees and the human resources department are consistently maintained and accessible.
Huobi has reported that certain accounts have been frozen due to their inability to conduct transactions in a normal manner and display of abnormal behavior. These accounts were observed to frequently trades in Huobi’s new listing tokens, with rapid movement of assets in and out. Upon investigation, it was found that these accounts generated unusual profits and rapidly reversed their gains, consistent with the characteristics of market manipulation tactics known as “rat trading.”
Huobi firmly maintains a stance of zero tolerance towards market manipulation tactics, such as “rat trading”. Under the updated governance framework, the company will continue to conduct comprehensive audits, hold accountable those who are found responsible, and timely disclose relevant information. The strong enforcement measures against rat trading demonstrate Huobi’s dedication to safeguarding the interests of its users.
Yuchen Sun, also known as Justin, stated in a tweet that with regards to security, Huobi has implemented a series of measures to secure users’ funds, including the utilization of cold wallets. This helps mitigate the risk of cyber-attacks or theft of assets. In addition, Huobi employs multi-signature technology and trusted cloud computing to protect user assets, in addition to cold wallets. The use of multi-signature technology requires the involvement of multiple parties in initiating transactions or asset movement, thereby preventing unauthorized tampering. Hashtag: #Huobi
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
SINGAPORE– Media OutReach –30 January 2023 – Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE:AVY), a leader in global materials science and manufacturing, has emerged as the winner under the ‘Eco-Package’ category at the AsiaStar 2022 awards.
Avery Dennison CleanFlake™ collection
Accredited by the Asian Packaging Federation, the AsiaStar Awards are given in recognition of excellence in packaging design in terms of innovation, functionality, graphic appeal, efficiency and environmental performance.
Avery Dennison has been awarded the best environmentally sustainable package for its AD CleanFlake solution. The AD CleanFlake adhesive technology enables the recycling of both polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) packaging to help brands meet sustainability targets, comply with regulations, and increase the availability of recycled plastic, resulting in less landfill waste.
During PET recycling, the adhesive deactivates to allow the label to separate cleanly from the container, leaving the plastic free of adhesive residue. During coloured HDPE recycling, the label stays attached, but does not compromise the resulting plastic pellets, due to its mono-material feature.
AD CleanFlake is a part of Sustainable ADvantage, the Avery Dennison portfolio of sustainable label solutions. Learn more at label.averydennison.com.
Hashtag: #AveryDennison #AsiaStarAwards
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Avery Dennison Corporation
Avery Dennison Corporation (NYSE: AVY) is a global materials science company specializing in the design and manufacture of a wide variety of labeling and functional materials. The company’s products, which are used in nearly every major industry, include pressure-sensitive materials for labels and graphic applications; tapes and other bonding solutions for industrial, medical, and retail applications; tags, labels and embellishments for apparel; and radio frequency identification (RFID) solutions serving retail apparel and other markets. Headquartered in Glendale, California, the company employs more than 35,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Reported sales in 2021 were $8.4 billion. Learn more at www.averydennison.com.
www.averydennison.com. 
