Consumers in Thailand have turned to crocodile meat in the face of soaring pork prices.
Chubb Commits US$10,000 Grant to Support Dementia Care in Singapore
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 25 January 2022 – The Chubb Charitable Foundation announced today that it has committed a USD10,000 grant to Dementia Singapore – a Social Service Agency specialising in dementia care, caregiver support, training, consultancy, and advocacy.
The grant will support Dementia Singapore’s activities to promote dementia care through CARA – a lifestyle and community digital platform that provides easy access for persons living with dementia and caregivers to connect to an ecosystem of solutions.
CARA, an acronym for Community, Assurance, Rewards, Acceptance – the four main functions of the membership programme, is the first dementia membership programme of its kind in the world. It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The CARA membership and app download is free.
The key features of the CARA mobile application include:
- Safe Return: An initiative supported by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), CARA serves as a unique identifier for persons with dementia, providing assurance that members can continue to move freely and independently within a safe community, giving caregivers greater peace of mind.
- Connected Care Circle: With CARA, multiple family members in the care circle can link their CARA accounts to their loved ones living with dementia and receive Safe Return notifications.
- Tailored Rewards: CARA members can enjoy benefits suited to their care journey such as discounts and priority privileges from our carefully selected partners.
- Ecosystem of Solutions: Members can access a curated list of solution providers relevant to their needs. They can navigate options at their fingertips and tap on the community platform for further support and resources throughout their dementia journey.
In Singapore, one in 10 people aged 60 and above suffers from dementia and this corresponds to approximately 82,000 people in 2018. This number is also projected to increase to 152,000 by 20301.
“We believe CARA will be a useful digital companion for the dementia community,” said Mr Stanley Ho, Dementia Singapore’s Director of Advocacy & Communications, whose team is leading the development of the CARA app. “With CARA providing a key touchpoint that caters to their various dementia care needs, we hope people impacted by dementia can benefit from using this app and continue to lead fulfilling and enriching lives,” Mr. Ho added.
Chubb Insurance Singapore Limited’s Country President Kevin Bogardus said, “We are delighted to partner with Dementia Singapore to support the development of the CARA app as well as other campaigns towards members’ engagement. Through these efforts, we are doing our part to help make dementia more manageable for all.”
1 https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/74/understanding-dementia
About Chubb Singapore
Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer. Chubb Insurance Singapore Limited, via acquisitions by its predecessor companies, has been present in Singapore since 1948. Chubb in Singapore provides underwriting and risk management expertise for all major classes of general insurance. The company’s product offerings include Financial Lines, Casualty, Property, Marine, Industry Practices as well as Group insurance solutions for large corporates, multinationals, small and medium-sized businesses. In addition, to meet the evolving needs of consumers, it also offers a suite of tailored Accident & Health and Personal & Specialty insurance options through a multitude of distribution channels including bancassurance, independent distribution partners and affinity partnerships.
Over the years, Chubb in Singapore has established strong client relationships by delivering responsive service, developing innovative products and providing market leadership built on financial strength.
More information can be found at www.chubb.com/sg.
#Chubb
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ViLab and Actoplus form partnership to tap China’s booming virtual idol space
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 25 January 2022 – ViLab Limited, a Hong Kong-based metaverse service provider, has formed an exclusive partnership with Actoplus Holding Ltd. to develop virtual idols and other metaverse technology, with the goal of capturing opportunities from the transformation of digital brand marketing in Mainland China.
Over the past year, virtual Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) have become an increasingly popular way for both domestic and global brands to connect with Chinese audience, particularly the younger generation. The collaboration between ViLab and Actoplus, a provider of e-commerce, digital marketing and live streaming services for fashion and lifestyle brands in Greater China and other Asian regions, will see the two companies work together on the creation and maintenance of virtual idols. These characters can be deployed for an array of commercial functions, such as brand endorsement, livestreaming broadcast and both online and offline marketing campaigns.
Fully-developed and powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced animation technology, virtual idols bear close semblance to real human and are now being adopted by a diverse range of industries from fashion to gaming to financial services. The size of the virtual idol market in China reached US$540 million in 2020, a 70% jump from a year earlier and was expected to reach US$17 billion in 2021, according to consultancy iiMedia research.
The latest partnership represents another milestone for ViLab and a significant step towards building brand awareness and access to the world’s largest consumer market. Actoplus is the first Hong Kong company to be certified as a high-quality brand service provider, or “Douyin Partner,” by Douyin, the leading Chinese live-streaming and e-commerce platform.
Since its founding, ViLab and its partners have been developing and upgrading virtual human and background technologies such as face-shifting, lip synchronization and voice cloning. ViLab in November announced a partnership with Gulliver Studios, the special effect creator behind the South Korean drama series Squid Game, to explore collaboration in three-dimensional (3D) and computer-generated imagery (CGI) technology.
Ric Wu, Chairman and Founder of ViLab, said: “We are delighted about this collaboration as virtual idols has been a dominant feature in our metaverse vision since our founding. Access to the world’s biggest consumer market where digital marketing is seen as one of the next frontiers will give us the perfect platform to test and launch many of our ideas and technology.”
Vincent Lau, Chairman of Actoplus, said: “This collaboration with ViLab will make use of Actoplus’s expertise in digital marketing and e-commerce to jointly develop business in Mainland China. At the same time, Actoplus will connect ViLab with existing and potential partners in the metaverse space, to further explore the range of possibilities presented by the new digital era and reinvent business models for the future.”
About ViLab
ViLab Limited is a professional metaverse service provider based in Hong Kong. With a focus on using artificial intelligence to build and upgrade virtual identity and behavior in the metaverse, it strives to provide 360-degree solutions to individuals and corporates in adapting to the latest changes in web experience. Its core mission is to equip clients in their journey to explore the possibility and potential of the metaverse. Through the creation of a parallel universe, they can also search for solutions to real life problems.
About Actoplus
Actoplus Holdings Ltd. provides e-commerce, digital marketing and live streaming services in Greater China and other Asian regions for top lifestyle and fashion brands include Evisu, I.T, Alpha Industries, Geox and 90 Fun. It is the first Hong Kong-based company to be certified as a high-quality brand service provider by Douyin, the leading Chinese ecommerce and live streaming platform.
#ViLab #Actoplus
Vientiane Man Arrested in Possession of 40 Stolen Vehicles
Police in Hatsaifong District, Vientiane Capital, have arrested a man found in possession of 40 stolen vehicles.
Nagarro SE: Nagarro prepares for metaverse with RipeConcepts
MUNICH, GERMANY – EQS Newswire – 24 January 2022 – Nagarro, a global leader in digital engineering, has reached an agreement with the shareholders of RipeConcepts, a leader in global digital creative services, to bring the companies together.
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, USA, with the majority of its employees in Cebu, Philippines, RipeConcepts positions itself as “digital lightning in a bottle” and delivers high quality, multi-channel creative content at scale. The company especially excels in the creative digital disciplines of design, illustration, 3D modelling, animation and marketing. Its clients include Fortune 500 companies as well as Silicon Valley unicorns. It has over 650 full-time employees and 2021 revenues in the region of 10 million Euro. The company has won several design awards.
For Nagarro, the transaction strengthens its design and creative capabilities. These enhanced capabilities could be deployed to improve existing offerings but also to develop new offerings related to a vision of a “metaverse” future. In addition, the transaction provides Nagarro access to the highly educated workforce in the Philippines.
Paul Lyon, founder/CEO at RipeConcepts, and an award-winning entrepreneur, states: “We at RipeConcepts consider ourselves a unique boutique and, like Nagarro, love to solve problems for our Fortune 500 and unicorn clients. After 30 years of successful entrepreneurship and multiple M&A processes, I can say that it’s rare to meet a more ‘authentic’ group of forward-thinking global entrepreneurs than the folks at Nagarro, especially given their corporate design and culture to match. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with a like-minded team of savvy world-class digital engineers. I am excited about our future together.”
Manas Fuloria, co-founder at Nagarro, states: “Some things are meant to happen! We were lucky to be introduced to RipeConcepts and Paul by a valued client some years ago, and we stayed in touch. Paul’s entrepreneurial vision and entrepreneurial (delete) energy coupled with the execution ability of his colleagues, especially that of President and COO Miles Nepomuceno, have resulted in a truly impressive business. This is a deliberate, strategic acquisition for Nagarro given the direction in which consumer technology is heading. We believe that by putting together our traditional capabilities with those of our friends at RipeConcepts, we will be able to conjure up exciting new possibilities for our clients around the world.”
About Nagarro:
Nagarro, a global digital engineering leader, helps clients become innovative, digital-first companies and thus win in their markets. The company is distinguished by its entrepreneurial, agile, and global character, its CARING mindset, and its approach of thinking breakthroughs. Nagarro employs over 12,000 people in 27 countries.
About RipeConcepts:
STEINHOFF INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS N.V. – Global Settlement Update
STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – EQS Newswire – 24 January 2022 – Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. (“SIHNV” or the “Company“, together with its subsidiaries, “Steinhoff” or the “Steinhoff Group“) and the former South African holding company of the Steinhoff Group, Steinhoff International Holdings Proprietary Limited (“SIHPL“), provide the following update on Steinhoff’s settlement of pending litigation proceedings (“Global Settlement“).
SIHPL Sanction Order
SIHPL’s application for the approval and sanction of its section 155 proposal (“s155 Proposal“) was heard today, 24 January 2022 by the Western Cape High Court. At the close of the hearing the Court granted SIHPL’s request and granted an Order approving and sanctioning the s155 Proposal. A copy of the Order will be made available on SIHNV’s website (www.steinhoffinternational.com) and on www.SteinhoffSettlement.com.
Update on Settlement Implementation
Following receipt of the Order, “Settlement Effective Date” (referred to under the s155 Proposal and SIHNV’s Composition Plan) is expected to occur on or about 15 February 2022.
The implementation of the Global Settlement requires numerous steps to be taken and payments to be made on and around the Settlement Effective Date.
SIHNV and SIHPL have undertaken preparations for the co-ordination of the steps required and will separately contact those counterparties who need to take any action (for example, to receive funds and/or PPH shares).
No actions are currently required by any party prior to the Settlement Effective Date unless specifically requested by Steinhoff and/or its advisers.
As disclosed in Steinhoff’s announcement of 15 December 2021, formal withdrawal of the various litigation that has been settled, including the withdrawal of the Liquidation Application against SIHNV will occur immediately following Settlement Effective Date. Occurrence of Settlement Effective Date is the remaining condition under SIHNV’s Composition Plan.
Further Information
Further updates will be provided as and when appropriate.
Claimants are able to review additional information in relation to the Steinhoff Group global settlement on the following website: www.SteinhoffSettlement.com.
The Company has a primary listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hang Lung Properties Commits to Setting Science-Based Targets to Reach Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 24 January 2022 – Hang Lung Properties (Stock Code: 00101) (the “Company” or Hang Lung) is pleased to announce that the Company is among the first real estate companies in Asia to have committed to setting both near-term and long-term targets to reach net-zero value chain greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by no later than 2050. The targets will be in alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative’s (“SBTi”) Net-Zero Standard.
Launched in October 2021, SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard is the world’s first framework for corporate net-zero target setting in line with climate science. It includes the guidance, criteria, and recommendations companies need to set science-based net-zero targets consistent with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. The Net-Zero Standard provides a common, robust, and science-based understanding of net-zero. It gives business leaders clarity and confidence that their near- and long-term targets are aligned with climate science, helping to ensure a habitable planet for all.
In committing to set a net-zero target through the SBTi, Hang Lung is also joining the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign (a global coalition) and the United Nations-led Race To Zero campaign.
Mr. Adriel Chan, Vice Chair of Hang Lung Properties, who also chairs the Company’s Sustainability Steering Committee, said “Climate resilience is a sustainability priority. Committing to SBTi’s Net-Zero Standard accelerates decarbonization efforts across all aspects of our business, and supports both national and corporate plans for net-zero carbon emissions in both Hong Kong and mainland China.”
As an industry leader with a strong commitment to sustainability, Hang Lung received a 4-Star performance rating and an A grade disclosure rating under GRESB, an MSCI ESG Rating of A and was included as a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series in 2021. The Company has been listed as an Index Component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices in the Asia Pacific Index since 2017, and was selected as a constituent of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index and the Hang Seng (Mainland and Hong Kong) Corporate Sustainability Index with an “AA” rating. It also received and a low ESG risk rating by Sustainalytics since July 2020.
About Hang Lung Properties
Hang Lung Properties Limited (stock code: 00101) creates compelling spaces that enrich lives. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties develops and manages a diversified portfolio of world-class properties in Hong Kong and the nine Mainland cities of Shanghai, Shenyang, Jinan, Wuxi, Tianjin, Dalian, Kunming, Wuhan and Hangzhou. With its luxury positioning under the “66” brand, the company’s Mainland portfolio has established its leading position as the “Pulse of the City”. Hang Lung Properties is recognized for leading the way in enhanced sustainability initiatives in real estate as it pursues sustainable growth by connecting customers and communities.
At Hang Lung Properties – We Do It Well.
For more information, please visit www.hanglung.com.
#HangLungProperties
Hong Kong Rejoins Global Top Ten Data Center Markets, Ranked Second in Asia Pacific
- Hong Kong is in sixth position in 2022 data center global rankings
- Shanghai retains fourth-placed ranking for total market size
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 24 January 2022 – Asia Pacific’s data center market continues to grow at a relentless pace and is set to become the world’s largest data center region over the next decade. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest 2022 Data Center Global Market Comparison report, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney are ranked among the top 10 data center markets in the world.
Construction totals continue to grow globally, with 4.1 gigawatts (GW) currently underway in the markets covered, up from 2.9 GW in the previous study and 1.6 GW in the year before that. The largest clients continue to require larger builds, with 100 megawatt campuses becoming increasingly common.
Ranked outside the overall top 10 markets last year, Hong Kong makes a big jump in 2022, coming in at sixth place globally and second in Asia-Pacific. John Siu, Managing Director, Hong Kong at Cushman & Wakefield said: “Hong Kong offers a robust development pipeline, excellent networks and all major cloud services are available. The city also retains its crown as the globally lowest taxed data center jurisdiction. As a global financial and business capital, with a long history of pro-business policies it accordingly offers a robust data center sector.”
Mr. Siu added, “Strong demand from data center investors and operators have triggered high volume of transactions in 2021. For example, Mapletree acquired an industrial site via a government tender for a ground-up data center development, totaling circa 217,000 sf; ESR bought an industrial building (circa 294,000 sf) for a wholesale data center conversion; whereas GDS also purchased an industrial building for a data center redevelopment (circa 277,000 sf). In the next 5-year horizon, the city’s total new supply will amount to 5.5 million sf. That said, the supply pipeline in the medium to long term will be constrained by shortage of land and power supply in the popular data center submarkets, such as Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung. To support the city’s development as a world-class data center market, it is therefore crucial for the government and power suppliers to break the bottleneck and increase land supply and power capacity into these submarkets.”
Shanghai retains its position as the world’s fourth largest data center market by total market size, with market capability of more than 0.6 gigawatts surpassed only by Northern Virginia, London and Tokyo. Beijing was ranked 13th for the same indicator.
Further growth in Asia Pacific is expected throughout at least the next five to 10 years, as the region requires entirely new builds due to a lack of existing infrastructure for retrofit. Globally, regions across Latin America and Africa are also expected to enjoy considerable growth in coming years, as new undersea cables are bringing faster access to many markets for the first time. Secondary markets across the world continue to grow, with many soon to reach current primary market size.
2022 Global Data Center Overall Rankings |
2022 Global Data Center Market Size Rankings |
1 – Northern Virginia |
1 – Northern Virginia |
2 – Silicon Valley (tie) |
2 – London |
2 – Singapore (tie) |
3 – Tokyo |
4 – Chicago (tie) |
4 – Shanghai |
4 – Atlanta (tie) |
5 – Singapore |
6 – Hong Kong |
6 – Silicon Valley |
7 – Phoenix |
7 – Frankfurt |
8 – Sydney |
8 – Dallas |
9 – Dallas |
9 – Chicago |
10 – Seattle (tie) |
10 – Hong Kong |
10 – Portland (tie) |
|
Source: Cushman & Wakefield
“The horizon for the data center industry across the Asia Pacific region is exceptionally bright, thanks to deep hyperscale demand and the billions of dollars in development in progress to support these key tenants,” said Kevin Imboden, Cushman & Wakefield’s Director of Research for the Data Center Advisory Group. “The 1.3 gigawatts under construction in the APAC markets reviewed is a small fraction of what is in planning regionally, with much action and growth coming over the next decade.”
About the report
The Data Center Global Market Comparison is an annual report that assesses data center markets across the globe within 13 different categories to determine the top overall markets as well as the top performers in each of the 13 categories. For 2022, this report has been expanded to 55 global markets, including 1,333 data centers leading to the global top 10 markets. Click here to download the 2022 Data Center Global Market Comparison report.
About Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield is a leading global advisory services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners, with approximately 50,000 employees in over 400 offices and 60 countries. In Greater China, a network of 22 offices serves local markets across the region, earning recognition and winning multiple awards for industry-leading performance. The firm had global revenues of US$7.8 billion in 2020 across core services including valuation, consulting, project & development services, capital markets, project & occupier services, industrial & logistics, retail and others. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com.hk or follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/cushman-&-wakefield-greater-china).
#Cushman&Wakefield
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.