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Infosys to Acquire Leading Cybersecurity Services Provider The Missing Link

Acquisition strengthens Infosys’ cybersecurity and cloud capabilities across Australia and Asia

BENGALURU, India and SYDNEY, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY) , a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire The Missing Link, an award winning Australian cybersecurity services specialist firm with capabilities across the full stack of cyber solutions. This strategic investment further strengthens Infosys’ cybersecurity capabilities, while bolstering its presence in the fast-growing Australian market, and reaffirms its continued commitment to global clients to navigate their digital transformation journey.

Headquartered in Australia, The Missing Link brings to Infosys, a group of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals consisting of Red Team, Blue Team, and a state-of-the-art Global Security Operations Centre (GSOC) adding to the network of Infosys’ global cyber defense centers. The Missing Link’s accomplished cybersecurity practice provides strategic advice, offensive and defensive security services and tactical support, cybersecurity risk assessments & compliance, and managed services. The company has been serving leading global enterprises in collaboration with market leading technology products, further complemented by its innovative proprietary solutions and accelerators. Their solutions help protect networks, secure assets and equip staff with the tools to mitigate cyber-attacks. Together, Infosys and The Missing Link will be able to offer clients cutting-edge full-stack cybersecurity services covering all aspects of a customer’s business, data, systems and networks.

Satish HC, EVP, Chief Delivery Officer, Infosys, said, “Technology led transformation and securing the enterprise are amongst the highest priorities for global corporations.Together with The Missing Link, and our cloud offering Infosys Cobalt, we aim to usher in the  new wave of differentiated value to customers, with specialized end-to-end cybersecurity offerings and solutions. We are excited to welcome The Missing Link and their leadership team to Infosys.”

Alex Gambotto, Founder & CEO, The Missing Link said, “As we take this exciting next step in our journey, I am proud of all we have accomplished together over the last 27 years. Our team has worked tirelessly to build a company that delivers excellence, innovation, and value to our clients and partners with our core ethos of under promise and overdeliver. I am thrilled that The Missing Link will be joining Infosys. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for us, allowing The Missing Link to leverage the immense expertise, platforms, and global reach of Infosys to better serve our customers and expand our capabilities. While our ownership may change, our commitment to delivering top-tier solutions remains unwavering. We are confident that together, we can create even greater value for all our clients, partners, and team.”

Investment Bank TH Global Capital advised The Missing Link on the transaction.

The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 (i.e. quarter ending June 30, 2025), subject to customary closing conditions.

About The Missing Link

Established in 1997, The Missing Link was born from a vision to help businesses achieve their goals with the right IT solutions and services. Headquartered in Australia, The Missing Link is a cybersecurity and cloud services specialist, delivering services across the entire spectrum of IT strategy, technology roadmap, project management, cybersecurity, risks assessments & mitigation and automation services. Their highly skilled team of IT specialists includes Cybersecurity, IT Infrastructure/Cloud and Robotic Process Automation & Generative AI experts, with many years of experience and a commitment to delivering first-class solutions that exceed customers’ expectations.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the ‘safe harbor’ under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, our ability to attract and retain personnel, our transition to hybrid work model, economic uncertainties, technological innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

 

 

NYSE Content Advisory: Pre-Market update + Taiwan Semiconductor exceeds earnings expectations

NEW YORK, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

Kristen Scholer delivers the pre-market update on April 17th

  • Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE: TSM) rose pre-market after the company released better than expected earnings results
  • Fed Chair Powell spoke yesterday at the Economic Club of Chicago, warning that tariffs levied by President Trump could drive up inflation in the near-term
  • Chair Powell added that tariffs could create a challenging scenario for the Fed’s dual mandate that calls for full employment and stable prices
  • Markets are closed tomorrow for Good Friday

Opening Bell
Community-Word Project celebrates 25 years of empowering young voices, fostering creativity, and transforming communities through the arts.

Closing Bell
Read Alliance celebrates 25 years of impact, marking a milestone in its mission to advance educational equality through early literacy and youth mentorship.

Watch NYSE TV Live every weekday 9:00-10:00am ET

Watch NYSE TV Live every weekday 9:00-10:00am ET on LinkedIn

 

Korea’s Reddit: Aha Community Achieves 4,933% Revenue Growth Over Three Years

Human-Centric Q&A Platform Emerges as Key AI Data Provider and Community Hub in South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aha Community, a fast-growing online platform in South Korea, is positioning itself as the nations answer to Reddit. The platform enables users to ask questions, share knowledge, vote, and engage in discussions on a wide range of topics with people from diverse backgrounds.

Aha Community Sees Explosive 4,933% Revenue Growth
Aha Community Sees Explosive 4,933% Revenue Growth

Founded to foster meaningful dialogue and help users transform knowledge and experience into valuable assets, Aha Community is pioneering a human-centric online community in the age of artificial intelligence. Unlike algorithm-driven platforms, Aha prioritizes people over algorithms as the core of connection and conversation.

Since launching monetization in 2022, Aha Community has experienced explosive revenue growth:

2022: USD 148,000
2023: USD 3.15 million
2024: USD 7.45 million

This marks an extraordinary 4,933% increase over three years, underscoring the platforms rapid ascent and market relevance.

Ahas revenue streams include premium memberships, advertising, and notably, the sale of Korean language corpus data—a sector showing rapid expansion.

Hanwool Suh, CEO of Aha Community, commented:

Our Korean language corpus model monetizes human experience by providing AI companies developing large language models (LLMs) with high-quality, real-world conversational data. Aha Community has accumulated millions of authentic questions, answers, and debates, which we are transforming into valuable resources to support the AI revolution.”

Aha Communitys unique position as both a social platform and a data provider has attracted interest from AI developers, researchers, and investors seeking high-quality, real-world Korean language data. The companys commitment to user-driven content and ethical data practices further distinguishes it in a crowded digital landscape.

Looking ahead, Aha Community plans to expand both its online and offline human-centric community initiatives with a clear mission: to become the Reddit of South Korea.

About aha Community

Aha Community is an online platform where users from all walks of life can ask questions, share knowledge, vote, and engage in discussions on diverse topics. Designed to foster meaningful dialogue and help users discover better answers, Aha Community empowers individuals to turn their knowledge and experience into valuable digital assets.

Media Contact:
Hanwool Suh, CEO
Aha Community
https://www.a-ha.io 
hello@a-ha.io 

 

LUX launches groundbreaking Shake For Change campaign in China, empowering women to reclaim their identities through the power of names


SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 April 2025 – In a bold move to challenge gender bias and celebrate individuality, LUX unveiled its revolutionary ‘Shake For Change’ campaign in China – a first-of-its-kind digital experience that puts the power of transformation into women’s hands. At the heart is a radical, yet deeply personal idea: reclaiming one’s name as a declaration of identity and self-expression.

PR Boards 01

A name is more than a label but a reflection of who we are and aspire to be. Yet, for countless women in China, their names echo the weight of outdated expectations and ingrained cultural bias. Social listening uncovered deeply troubling stories: names like Zhao Di (“I wish you were a boy”) and Ya Nan (“secondary to man”) reveal a painful legacy of disappointment and inequality.

But Chinese women are speaking out – and they’re being heard.

Across China, women are sharing their stories and calling out the sexism embedded in names never truly theirs, leading to viral conversations and igniting a nationwide movement to challenge the narrative.

Empowering women through the Shake For Change H5 experience
To spotlight the pervasive issue and empower women to take control of their identities, LUX created the Shake For Change H5 experience.

Accessible via WeChat, Weibo, and Rednote, this interactive experience spotlights the struggles women face with names that no longer serve them and empower them to take a bold step towards self-expression

How It Works:

  • Enter Your Current Name – Users enter their given name which carries the weight of cultural expectation or disappointment.
  • Shake for Inspiration – With a shake of their phone, a bold new name is revealed
  • Find Your Perfect Fit – Users can continue to shake for more name inspirations or share their favorite with friends and followers.

This is more than just a digital tool—it’s a moment of transformation.

Shake For Change bridges the gap between emotion and action, turning a daunting, bureaucratic process into an empowering journey.

Honoring heritage with New Women’s Font
LUX created a dynamic typeface, New Women’s Font, inspired from the historic Nu Shu script to honor the women who pioneered it. Translating to ‘women’s script’, Nu Shu was crafted by women and used in secrecy to express stories of pain, resilience and sisterhood under a patriarchal society.

The New Women’s Font serves as a powerful way to write modern female names, imbuing them with resilience of their foremothers, helping women break free from outdated traditions to boldly rewrite their futures.

Reimagining names with AI
Leveraging AI, each name is crafted to maintain a meaningful connection to the individual’s existing name to preserve its personal significance while carrying symbolic meaning.

Judy Zu, Global Brand Director, LUX, said, “Each Chinese character is an alchemy of sound and symbol—the same strokes, rearranged, weave blessings or critiques. At LUX, we believe every woman deserves a name that becomes a mirror to her strength and a compass for her journey. Yet, even today, profound bias still lurks behind many women’s names. That’s why we created Shake For Change: not just to rename, but to reignite.

Because every woman can—and should—sculpt her identity unapologetically. Just as characters transform with every stroke, so can we.”

Amplifying voices through the Rednote Ambassador Program
LUX has partnered with influential female voices on Rednote who embraced the transformative journey of Shake For Change firsthand. Through personal narratives, they show how a name can be a turning point. Their stories illuminate a universal truth: when a woman defines herself on her own terms, she unlocks a deeper sense of self-worth and possibility.

Discover the Shake For Change H5 experience and discover your own transformation. Visit LUX’s official pages on WeChat, Weibo, and Rednote to learn more and join a community of women rewriting their futures, one powerful name at a time.
Hashtag: #LUX

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

About LUX

LUX has been celebrating beauty and femininity since 1925. We understand that beauty is a woman’s armour, her source of strength. It is hers to express, unapologetically. We will continue to help women everywhere to rise above judgements they face at home, in the workplace and in wider society.

About VML 

At VML we exist to inspire growth for ambitious brands. Part creative agency, part consultancy and part technology company, our experts provide end-to-end capabilities at a global scale to deliver inspiration across the entire brand and customer experience.

For more information, please visit us at

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries joins Infosys-led JV in Japan, HIPUS

JV to accelerate business process transformation for enterprises leveraging digital procurement platforms

BENGALURU, India and TOKYO, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has invested in the Infosys-led Joint Venture HIPUS, enhancing Infosys’ presence in Japan. MHI is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense, and has established corporations like Hitachi Ltd., Panasonic Corporation and Pasona.

HIPUS, in which Infosys owns a majority stake, was set up in 2019, to drive high-quality, end-to-end procurement processes along with sourcing and category expertise, leveraging next-generation digital platforms for Japanese corporations.

MHI has been a longstanding customer of HIPUS and has now expanded the collaboration by acquiring a 2 percent stake from Infosys. Through this investment MHI aims to further explore new business opportunities in the region.

Anantha Radhakrishnan, CEO and MD, Infosys BPM, and Chairperson, HIPUS Board said, “Japan continues to be a strategic market for Infosys and HIPUS and we have consistently expanded our footprint in the region. This collaboration with MHI reinforces Infosys’ commitment towards building trusted collaboration with customers in Japan and accelerating their digital business process transformation journey. Infosys is excited to welcome Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to HIPUS.”

Isao Miyake, Head, Value Chain Headquarters, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, said, “In our company’s ongoing efforts to upgrade procurement activities through a data-driven strategy, we expect HIPUS advanced analytics and support to significantly improve procurement operations, enable well informed decision making, and generate greater value across the organization.”

Kiyoshi Asami, CEO and Representative Director, HIPUS, said, “MHI has become an important client for HIPUS receiving a wide range of services. HIPUS is also executing MHI services beyond Japan, leveraging Infosys’ global presence as well as its strong sourcing and procurement services. We are extremely delighted that MHI has decided to invest in HIPUS and we look forward to an impactful collaboration.”

The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 (i.e. quarter ending June 30, 2025), subject to customary closing conditions.

About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial groups, spanning energy, smart infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com

About HiPUS

HIPUS Co., Ltd. promotes business process transformation and provide total procurement solutions with the procurement know-how cultivated over many years in the Hitachi Group as our business core. Since April 2019, Infosys has become our parent company, and we provide new, cutting-edge services that combine global knowledge and domestic skills in procurement processes, consulting, analytics, Gen AI, and other digital technology services. For more information, please visit https://www.hipus.com.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the ‘safe harbor’ under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

Infosys to Acquire Leading Energy Consulting Company, MRE Consulting

Acquisition to strengthen energy and commodity trading and risk management (E/CTRM) capabilities for Infosys

BENGALURU, India and HOUSTON, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire MRE Consulting Ltd. (‘MRE Consulting’), a technology and business consulting service provider. This strategic investment brings newer capabilities for Infosys in trading and risk management, especially in the energy sector.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, MRE Consulting  will bring a team of over 200 professionals with industry knowledge, consulting and deep technology experience in Energy/Commodity Trading and Risk Management (E/CTRM) platforms and ecosystems. Through decades of successful delivery, MRE Consulting has developed proprietary E/CTRM business process frameworks spanning multiple commodities, transportation modes and business models. These frameworks serve as the foundation for commodity trading projects, accelerating vendor selection, solution design and implementation. MRE brings new clients, and synergies with new buying centers.

Ashiss Kumar Dash, EVP & Global Head – Services, Utilities, Resources, Energy, and Sustainability, Infosys, said, “The world is now shifting towards a more sustainable future. With increasing complexity in integrating diverse sources of energy including renewables, global corporations require innovative solutions to navigate transformation. At Infosys, we are witnessing a significant rise in demand for digital transformation in energy and commodity trading and risk management (E/CTRM). By combining MRE Consulting’s deep E/CTRM capabilities with Infosys’ established leadership in the energy, resources and utilities sector, we are further enhancing our ability to drive value for our clients in this critical area of their business. We are excited to welcome MRE Consulting and its leadership team to the Infosys family.”

MRE Founders, Mike Short, Dru Neikirk and Shane Merz, said, “The opportunities for our clients at the intersection of data, AI, and technology are vast. Beyond strong business synergy, we were seeking a partner who shared our values and mutual respect. By joining with Infosys, we will extend our expertise, deliver new capabilities, and expand beyond our current markets, while scaling what makes MRE special. We are truly excited about this new journey.”

The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 (i.e. quarter ending June 30, 2025), subject to customary closing conditions.

About MRE Consulting

Founded in 1994, MRE Consulting provides technology and business consulting services to the Energy & Utilities, Services, and Healthcare industries. MRE specializes in business advisory and digital transformation for Energy/Commodity Trading and Risk Management (E/CTRM). MRE also provides comprehensive solutions across customer engagement, call center optimization, field service, CPQ/pricing, cloud infrastructure and digital workplace and is a Salesforce and Microsoft partner. We are proud to be recognized as a Houston Business Journal Best Places to Work. For more information, please visit www.mre-consulting.com/.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. We enable clients in more than 56 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the ‘safe harbor’ under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technologicassl disruptions and innovations such as Generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

 

 

 

Democracy News Alliance – Canada must reduce reliance on extractive industries and U.S. exports, report finds

Los Angeles/Ottawa – Newsaktuell – 17 April 2025 – From dissatisfaction with the Trudeau government to dissatisfaction with Trump’s policies — compounded by general anxiety around tariffs, the economy and a deteriorating relationship with the U.S. — navigating an economic downturn should be an immediate priority for Canada as it heads into a federal election, a new report recommends.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, shown here campaigning at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario in Oakville, has rallied Canadians around national unity and is now in a close race against the Conservatives ahead of the federal election on April 28. (Photo by Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) - The use of this image for editorial purposes is permitted and free of charge provided that all conditions of use are complied with. Publication must use image credits.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, shown here campaigning at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario in Oakville, has rallied Canadians around national unity and is now in a close race against the Conservatives ahead of the federal election on April 28. (Photo by Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) – The use of this image for editorial purposes is permitted and free of charge provided that all conditions of use are complied with. Publication must use image credits.

In the long-term, however, it says Canada will need greater economic diversification and regional representation.

“Although it is wealthy by global standards, Canada’s economy faces key vulnerabilities such as excessive reliance on extractive industries, shortages of critical goods like housing and heavy dependence on exports to the U.S.,” states a Canada BGI Report on the country’s governance performance, released a little more than ten days before the April 28 federal election.

The report, based on the Berggruen Governance Index (BGI), was conducted by researchers from the Los Angeles-based Berggruen Institute think tank, the Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Hertie School, a German university.

Currently, Canada ranks only 48th on the Economic Complexity Index. “Given its wealth, this is a disproportionately low figure and increasing it should be a top priority,” said the report.

The Berggruen Governance Index (BGI) Project analyzes the relationship between democratic accountability, state capacity and the provision of public goods to develop a deeper understanding of how governments can create a more resilient future for their people.

While Canada scores highly on most measures of the BGI, the report found that Canada’s performance “has been uneven over the last decade” and for many years has failed to address systemic problems.

These problems, however, have been overshadowed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Until recently, analysts predicted a landslide victory for the Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre, since the Liberals, under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had become deeply unpopular over numerous policy decisions, including immigration.

But the Liberals have “experienced one of the most dramatic electoral turnarounds in recent political history,” according to the Canada BGI Report, attributing the ascension of Trump to the U.S. presidency in January 2025 to this reversal of fortunes.

This reversal also coincided with the resignation of Trudeau and the selection of former Bank of Canada and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney as the new Liberal leader.

“Repeated threats of tariffs and even territorial annexation provoked outrage among Canadians and ignited a surge in patriotic sentiment, to which Poilievre’s defeatist ‘Canada is broken’ rhetoric was particularly ill-suited,” the researchers wrote.

Carney has rallied Canadians around national unity — and managed to solidify a poll swing back to the Liberals. What seemed like an inevitable win for the Conservatives just a few months ago has become a close race to the finish line.

While the Canada BGI Report found that Carney’s vision of “One Canadian Economy” appears to be a politically successful response to the crises Canada faces from the U.S., in the long-run Canada will need to contend with “persistent economic tensions” and “overcome governance challenges that predate both Trump and Trudeau”, the report said.

The BGI scores for state capacity and democratic accountability “trail those of many Western European peers,” according to the report, with institutional accountability falling by seven points from 2000 to 2021.

This indicates disillusionment with Canada’s institutions; researchers found that public trust in government steadily declined throughout the 2010s. “Coupled with eroding faith in democratic institutions and lingering regional tensions, the previous unpopularity of Trudeau’s Liberals appears to reflect systemic issues rather than an anomaly,” according to the Canada BGI Report.

A major flashpoint for Canadians is immigration. Canada has long been a supporter of greater immigration but, by 2024, public sentiment had shifted — helping to propel the Conservatives to the top of the polls. Canada’s international migration surged 15-fold under Trudeau — with the aim of meeting the country’s current labour shortage — but Ottawa started coming under fire for housing inflation.

Canada has one of the highest housing price-to-income ratios in the developed world, according to the OECD. One reason is stagnant homebuilding, with the number of dwellings per 1,000 residents far below the G7 standard. With homeownership rates declining, that has led to increasing backlash toward immigrants and newcomers.

Canada has also struggled with excessive reliance on extractive industries and heavy dependence on exports to the U.S. With current tensions between Canada and the U.S., “reliance on both oil and exports remains a major feature of the country’s economy and has recently been exposed as a geoeconomic vulnerability,” according to the researchers.

However, the persistent challenges of regional representation and limited state capacity “will make it increasingly challenging to enact far-reaching plans for economic integration and greater political sovereignty.”

The report said that addressing these challenges will require investments in state capacity, economic diversification — both sectorally and geographically — and building greater democratic legitimacy through regional inclusion.

Researchers recommend the next government “complete Trudeau’s unfinished goal of introducing a proportional representation system” that includes greater geographic representation and inclusion of First Nations peoples, which will be “critical for increasing legitimacy and national unity.”

Polls now project a Liberal majority in the House of Commons.

———————————————-

This text and the accompanying material (photos and graphics) are an offer from the Democracy News Alliance, a close co-operation between Agence France-Presse (AFP, France), Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA, Italy), The Canadian Press (CP, Canada), Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa, Germany) and PA Media (PA, UK). All recipients can use this material without the need for a separate subscription agreement with one or more of the participating agencies. This includes the recipient’s right to publish the material in own products.

The DNA content is an independent journalistic service that operates separately from the other services of the participating agencies. It is produced by editorial units that are not involved in the production of the agencies’ main news services. Nevertheless, the editorial standards of the agencies and their assurance of completely independent, impartial and unbiased reporting also apply here.

Hashtag: #DemocracyNewsAlliance

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

Sands China Marks 10th Anniversary of Support Programme for Local Suppliers with Celebration and SME Open Day

MACAO, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sands China celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme Thursday at The Londoner Macao®, followed by the 2025 Sands China Local Supplier Open Day, which was attended by 250 local SMEs.

Guests of honour celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sands China’s Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme Thursday at The Londoner Macao, followed by the 2025 Sands China Local Supplier Open Day.
Guests of honour celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sands China’s Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme Thursday at The Londoner Macao, followed by the 2025 Sands China Local Supplier Open Day.

Sands China’s Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme was created in partnership with the Macao Chamber of Commerce in 2015 to increase procurement opportunities for Macao’s SMEs. It targets three types of local businesses: local small and micro suppliers, “Made in Macao” companies and Macao young entrepreneurs. In line with government policies, the programme propels Sands China’s longstanding efforts to support the growth and development of local SME suppliers.

This year, the Sands China Local Supplier Open Day connected local SMEs, including Macao enterprises certified by the DSEDT Technology Enterprise Certification Program, with Sands China procurement representatives – thereby facilitating face-to-face conversations for the potential suppliers to learn about procurement opportunities in various Sands China departments.

Sands China set up several categories of procurement booths for the well-attended event: food and beverage, outside services and logistics, marketing, advertising and printing, technology and gaming products and services, hotel operating supplies and furniture, and facilities and construction. This year’s Open Day added a booth specially for DSEDT-certified Macao technology enterprises to learn about technology-related procurement opportunities. Additionally, a Sands Procurement Academy booth shared information about the academy’s free training programme for SMEs and offered registration on-site.

Grant Chum, chief executive officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., said: “We are honoured to witness our Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme celebrating its 10-year milestone with this SME Open Day, as it demonstrates our philosophy of supporting the development of local SME suppliers and fostering their prosperity by providing a high-level, effective platform for them to grow. Over the past 10 years, Sands China has proactively launched various initiatives to support local SMEs and we have consistently adjusted our strategies in response to the latest market changes and demands, putting innovative ideas into practice to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. We would like to express our gratitude to the Macao SAR government for its longstanding policy guidance, to the Macao Chamber of Commerce for being our key partner and a crucial bridge between us and local commerce, and to all local SMEs for their active participation and support throughout the years – as we all share the impactful achievements of Macao’s development.”

Hoi Lok Man, vice president of the board of directors of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, said: “SMEs are the economic foundation of Macao. The flourishing development of Macao’s local SMEs is one of the city’s ‘golden accesses’ to economic prosperity. Co-launched with Sands China in 2015, the Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme is a testament to our philosophy of supporting the growth and development of local SMEs, making progress together to achieve our mutual goal. Our support to local SMEs mirrors the adage to ‘teach a man to fish’ and is a microcosm of the solidarity of Macao’s business sectors – demonstrating their collaborative spirit of ‘growth, success, and shared prosperity.’ Our partnership with Sands China has significantly surpassed commercial procurement, in turn becoming an accelerator for Macao’s moderate economic diversification. Let today mark a new beginning in our journey, as Sands China continues to effectively promote the programme with support from all sectors of society – further polishing the ‘golden business card’ of Macao as an international metropolis.”

The officiating guests at Thursday’s event were Yang Yi, deputy director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR; Yau Yun Wah, director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Ricky Hoi, acting director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Victoria Kuan, director-general of the Macau Productivity and Technology Centre; Sanna Leong, manager of the Commerce and Business Development Division of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute; Hoi Lok Man; Andy Ng, director of the Macao Young Entrepreneur Incubation Centre; Grant Chum; and Charlie Cai, vice president of procurement and sustainability of Sands China Ltd.

The event is one in a series of initiatives and events celebrating the 10th anniversary of Sands China’s Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme. These include the Rua das Estalagens Team Member Food Fest at The Venetian® Macao, Sands Shopping Carnival, Sands Procurement Academy training programme, Sands Supplier Excellence Awards, and Macao Technological Innovation Exploration tour.

In addition, Sands China will launch a training programme this year to enhance local SMEs’ online marketing capabilities, thereby facilitating digital transformation in their businesses. Through this programme, participants will be equipped with marketing skills for live broadcasting on new media platforms, enriching their knowledge of future trends and the development of live commerce. The company is also fully supporting the “2025 Macau Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition” to be held in August this year, empowering young people to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, while injecting innovative elements into local industries in a bid to contribute to Macau’s economic diversification.

Sands China’s supplier support programme aims to meet the needs of Macao’s SMEs through various initiatives. Key among them is the F.I.T. programme, introduced in 2017 to provide Financial Support, Invitational Matching, and Training and Development for suppliers. The success of these efforts has been evident. Sands China recorded a gross procurement amount of MOP 15.2 billion in 2024, 84% of which (MOP 12.8 billion) went to Macao enterprises, including over 4.6 billion to local SMEs.

Sands China’s Local Small, Medium and Micro Suppliers Support Programme is in line with the Macao government’s initiative to “buy local” and demonstrates Sands China’s commitment to supporting local enterprises as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts. It is part of Sands China’s supplier relationship management strategy, which guides the company’s long-standing effort to support local suppliers, whom it views as its strategic partners.

About Sands China Ltd.

Sands China Ltd. (Sands China or the Company) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and is listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEx: 1928). Sands China is the largest operator of integrated resorts in Macao. The Company’s integrated resorts on the Cotai Strip comprise The Venetian® Macao, The Plaza® Macao, The Parisian® Macao and The Londoner® Macao. The Company also owns and operates Sands® Macao on the Macao peninsula. The Company’s portfolio features a diversified mix of leisure and business attractions and transportation operations, including large meeting and convention facilities; a wide range of restaurants; shopping malls; world-class entertainment at The Venetian Arena, The Londoner Arena, The Venetian Theatre, The Parisian Theatre, the Londoner Theatre and the Sands Theatre; and a high-speed Cotai Water Jet ferry service between Hong Kong and Macao. The Company’s Cotai Strip portfolio has the goal of contributing to Macao’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. Sands China is a subsidiary of global resort developer Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS).

For more information, please visit www.sandschina.com.

Media contacts:

Corporate Communications, Sands China Ltd.
Mabel Wu
Tel: +853 8118 2268
Email: mabel.wu@sands.com.mo 

Jesse Chiang
Tel: +853 8118 2054
Email: jesse.chiang@sands.com.mo

Representatives from 250 local SMEs attend Sands China’s Local SME Supplier Open Day Thursday at The Londoner Macao. This year, the event connects local SMEs, including Macao enterprises certified by the DSEDT Technology Enterprise Certification Program, with Sands China procurement representatives – thereby facilitating face-to-face conversations for the potential suppliers to learn about procurement opportunities in various Sands China departments.
Representatives from 250 local SMEs attend Sands China’s Local SME Supplier Open Day Thursday at The Londoner Macao. This year, the event connects local SMEs, including Macao enterprises certified by the DSEDT Technology Enterprise Certification Program, with Sands China procurement representatives – thereby facilitating face-to-face conversations for the potential suppliers to learn about procurement opportunities in various Sands China departments.

Representatives from 250 local SMEs attend Sands China’s Local SME Supplier Open Day Thursday at The Londoner Macao. This year, the event connects local SMEs, including Macao enterprises certified by the DSEDT Technology Enterprise Certification Program, with Sands China procurement representatives – thereby facilitating face-to-face conversations for the potential suppliers to learn about procurement opportunities in various Sands China departments.
Representatives from 250 local SMEs attend Sands China’s Local SME Supplier Open Day Thursday at The Londoner Macao. This year, the event connects local SMEs, including Macao enterprises certified by the DSEDT Technology Enterprise Certification Program, with Sands China procurement representatives – thereby facilitating face-to-face conversations for the potential suppliers to learn about procurement opportunities in various Sands China departments.