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Reader’s Digest Reveals Hong Kong’s Most Trusted Brands In 2021 During The Covid-19 Pandemic

The 23rd Annual Survey Reveals The Brands & Personalities We Trust The Most

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 9 July 2021 – Coming off a year where our trust has never been more tested, with deadly dangers and testing lockdowns, the 23rd annual survey of Hong Kong’s Most Trusted Brands has been revealed exclusively in Reader’s Digest Hong Kong June issue. In many cases, the winners have withstood the challenges of today’s climate to instil even more consumer faith.

Reader’s Digest commissioned an independent market research agency to conduct a stand-alone survey of a representative sample across Asia, to find out consumer views on brands in over 50 categories. More than 8000 individuals were selected across five of the region’s key markets: Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. As well as brands, Hong Kong’s most trusted personalities were also identified and these results are revealed exclusively in the June issue of Reader’s Digest Hong Kong.

“Perhaps more than any other year previously, trust has been the guiding human emotion we’ve all had to rely on to navigate through our day safely,” notes Editor-in-Chief, Louise Waterson.

“For the brands themselves, trust matters when it comes to weathering a crisis, and ultimately, trust is built on the traditional foundations of quality, consistency, honesty and delivering on your promises.

“In terms of the current situation, with this pandemic, that also means getting proactive and reaching out to your customers like never before. It’s very much about maintaining a relationship with that particular individual.”

TRUST DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

In these unprecedented difficult times, brands are expected more than ever to support customers with their concerns and provide reassurance that expectations will be upheld and that their value as a customer is recognised.

Trusted Brands understand that the key to easing consumer anxieties is to open a gate of communication through mutual respect and empathy. The Trusted Brands outlined in our survey are here to listen to customer concerns, sympathise with their situations and provide the necessary support and assistance to their customers because they appreciate these valued relationships.

This is the kind of service and quality that helps a consumer understand that the brand they know and trust is still on their side, and working hard to continue the relationship they worked hard to build.

NOTABLE WINNERS

  • AIA, an Asia Award winner, also won in the Insurance Company and Provident Fund categories in Hong Kong;
  • Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital received Gold awards in the Eye Surgery Center Category and Platinum awards in the Private Hospital Category;
  • Yew Chung Education Foundation has been the Gold winner in the International School category 11 times;
  • Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited has won in the Property developer category for 16 years;
  • Hong Yip Service Co., Ltd. and Kai Shing Management Services Company Limited have won the Property management company category;
  • Caltex has been the Gold winner in the Petrol Station category for 20 years;
  • Golden Phoenix has won in the Rice category for 17 consecutive years;
  • Centaline Property Agent has been the winner in Real Estate/Property Agent since 2007;
  • amp received Gold awards for 7 years;
  • HKUSPACE has been the Platinum winner in Continuing Education Institute Category for 8 years;
  • Wilson Parking has been the Platinum winner in Car Parking Category for 9 consecutive years and Link has won Gold awards in the same category for 6 consecutive years;
  • Anthony Fong Tung Shing yet again won Most Trusted Television Host for News/Current Affairs and, similarly, Do Do Cheng claimed the Most Trusted Entertainment/Variety Presenter again.

From Lovebirds, to Mothers, to Fingers – DJ Maddy Barber has $20,000 more MADLY Bespoke Jewellery Experiences to Giveaway

  • DJ Maddy Barber ends her radio career with an unprecedented $50,000 jewellery giveaway
  • The final giveaway on 16 July is called #GiveMaddyTheFinger and the team will be looking out for Singapore’s longest ring finger (plus one more winner)- a cheeky send off for the radio veteran
  • $20,000 worth of MADLY bespoke jewellery experiences were given away today on Kiss92FM
  • Adeline Tan had a hard time conceiving until going through IVF and their MADLY upgrade would be a celebration of her hard-earned family of 5
  • Marianne George D’Cruz had suffered from postpartum depression and cracked her Diamond Engagement Ring during a breakdown so her MADLY upgrade would replace the damaged original

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 9 July 2021 – After announcing her departure from radio on Monday 28 June 2021, DJ Maddy Barber was egged on by co-hosts Divian Nair and Andre Hoeden to sponsor a radio giveaway and ended up conceding to a $50,000 MADLY bespoke jewellery giveaway! Last Friday, Jovan Teo and Eveleen Liew proposed to each other on air to a resounding #MadlyYes, and this week, not one but two lucky winners, Marianne George D’Cruz and Adeline Tan, have won a MADLY Upgrade worth $10,000 each.

Avid listeners of Kiss92 on the morning school run, Adeline Tan was urged by her three children to take part in this jewellery giveaway. Adeline’s journey to becoming a mother was a difficult one. After multiple failed fertility treatments, she finally conceived her three kids (a 9 year old son and a pair of 5 year old twins) in two rounds of IVF. However, after pregnancy, she found that she could no longer wear her wedding band and engagement ring. With this MADLY upgrade, she hopes to create a unique family heirloom which represents all five of them, a ring that she can pass on to her daughter someday. ⁣⁣

Marianne George D’Cruz has a love story that moved the team to tears; a story of steadfast and everlasting love between husband and wife. After giving birth to her first son, she suffered from postpartum depression, and in one of her breakdowns, flew into a rage and threw her wedding ring against the wall so hard that the Diamond cracked. The ring was beyond repair. Her kind and loving husband wanted to replace it with a similar one, but even 27 years after the incident, she still felt guilty for what she had done and unworthy of a new ring, until now. Marianne gave a heartfelt dedication to her husband on air, saying that she “wouldn’t change anything in the world” about what they’d been through and that he was her “pillar, rock and gemstone all rolled into one”.

The final giveaway will be on Barber’s last radio show on the 16th of July, and is cheekily titled ‘Give Maddy The Finger’! It’s the search for Singapore’s longest ring finger. To participate, listeners just have to share a picture of their ring finger next to a ruler with the hashtag #GiveMaddyTheFinger on Instagram or Facebook. Two winners will be chosen and participants are encouraged to have fun and get creative with their entries.

About MADLY

MADLY is a vibrant and colourful bespoke jewellery brand which stocks the finest 0.1% of coloured gems from around the world. First and foremost a design house, the MADLY experience breaks free from norms that people expect from fine jewellery. Their bespoke, coloured gemstone pieces are made specially for each client; designed with bright, vivid colours to celebrate an occasion, crafted with all their tiniest quirks in mind and made to last generation after generation. Whether your piece is a symbol of power, a statement of freedom, or a sparkly reminder of those nearest and dearest, MADLY’s bespoke service offers you the chance to create meaningful coloured gem jewellery that speaks of who you are and who you want to be.

Follow MADLY at:

Instagram : @madlygems

Facebook : @MadlySG

Website : MadlyGems.com

#MADLY #MadlySG #makeitMADLYmeaningful #WomenWhoWearMADLY #MADLYYes #StraightFromTheSource #GiveMaddyTheFinger

Imported Cases Arrive in Savannakhet as Laos Records 68 New Cases of Covid-19

Savannakhet Covid-19 Update

Laos has confirmed 68 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases to 2,537.

Singapore Asset Manager, Lighthouse Canton and CDPQ’s Ivanhoé Cambridge invest in life sciences R&D real estate

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 9 July 2021 – In a landmark transaction in South Asia, Ivanhoé Cambridge, a global real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (cdpq.com), one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers, and Singapore based asset management firm, Lighthouse Canton (the existing asset manager with a track record of managing the portfolio), have announced their investment in a 0.85M sq.ft life science R&D office-labs portfolio in Genome Valley, Hyderabad.

The MN Park portfolio will receive investment from Ivanhoé Cambridge and Lighthouse Canton in an 80:20 ratio, respectively. The initial focus will be on consolidating the portfolio with select value accretive acquisitions in relevant life science R&D clusters in India. The transaction also includes the completion of development on identified land options within the portfolio to cater to tenant expansion requirements.

“This new investment in MN Park allows us to reinforce our conviction in life science real estate, a key focus area of our diversification strategy into high growth, innovation-focused sectors”, commented Chanakya Chakravarti, Managing Director, India, at Ivanhoé Cambridge. “We anticipate that India will further cement its position in the global life science arena in the post pandemic world. A new healthcare focus positions office-labs as a unique and exciting opportunity. We look forward to participating in this high growth sector by expanding the portfolio through select acquisitions in partnership with an aligned asset manager. MN Park offers diversification to Ivanhoé Cambridge’s India exposure, thereby enhancing portfolio resilience.”, he added.

“This is the first time a global pension fund is investing in life sciences R&D real estate in the region, and we are proud to be taking the first step in showcasing Singapore’s asset management capabilities in this space.” Said Ms. Audrey Tang, Chief Operating Officer for Lighthouse Canton in Singapore.

Adding to this, Mr. Shilpi Chowdhary, CEO for Lighthouse Canton, said, “The life sciences office-labs has been a high conviction theme for the firm since our acquisition of the MN Park portfolio in 2016. We are pleased to be co-investing with Ivanhoé Cambridge, a firm which is deeply aligned with this strategy. This investment sets the benchmark for such assets in the region, and we look forward to continuing supporting the growth of the life sciences sector across Asia.”

Ivanhoé Cambridge’s investment in MN Park is in line with its global strategy of focusing on sectors that foster innovation and long-term growth fundamentals. In March 2021, Ivanhoé Cambridge partnered with Lendlease to develop a 1.15-acre project featuring a state-of-the-art life science building with world-class amenities, located at 60 Guest Street, a land parcel in the Boston Landing campus in Allston/Brighton, Massachusetts.

Lighthouse Canton successfully acquired MN Park in 2016. It is South Asia’s largest privately owned portfolio of leased life sciences R&D facilities. The park is occupied by global and domestic credit tenants operating strategic R&D facilities engaged in mission critical, core innovation focused healthcare research.

About Ivanhoé Cambridge

Ivanhoé Cambridge invests internationally alongside strategic partners and major real estate funds that are leaders in their markets. Through subsidiaries and partnerships, the Company holds interests in more than 1,100 buildings, primarily in the industrial and logistics, office, residential and retail sectors. Ivanhoé Cambridge held C$60.4 billion in real estate assets as at December 31, 2020 and is a real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (cdpq.com), one of Canada’s leading institutional fund managers. For more information: www.ivanhoecambridge.com

Ivanhoé Cambridge develops and invests in high-quality real estate properties, projects and companies that are shaping the urban fabric in dynamic cities around the world. It does so responsibly, with a view to generate long-term performance. Ivanhoé Cambridge is committed to creating living spaces that foster the well-being of people and communities, while reducing its environmental footprint.

About Lighthouse Canton


Founded in 2014, Lighthouse Canton is a Singapore headquartered asset and wealth management firm with over 80 full time employees across offices in Dubai, and India (Bangalore and Hyderabad). Lighthouse Canton has AUM of S$2B (CA$1.88) (across public and private markets) on behalf of institutional investors, family offices, and high net worth individuals. It has been investing through multiple strategies in RE private equity, direct lending, public equities, and global macros. Under the Private Markets business vertical, the firm has developed a strong track record as a real estate asset manager, with a sharp focus on life sciences R&D office labs segment. For more information: www.lighthouse-canton.com

#IvanhoéCambridge #LighthouseCanton

Luxembourg Reaffirms Long-term Commitment to Development and Cooperation with Laos

Senior officials on Thursday sign a funding agreement in partnership with Luxembourg.
Senior officials on Thursday sign a funding agreement in partnership with Luxembourg.

The 13th Bilateral Partnership Commission meeting between the Government of Lao PDR and the Government of Luxembourg took place on 8th July 2021.

Asia Cloud Computing Association Releases 2021 New Financial Services and Tech Adoption Report: Better on the Cloud for Financial Services in Asia Pacific

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 9 July 2021 Asia Cloud Computing Association (ACCA) released its 2021 report on the financial services sector, Better on the Cloud – Financial Services in Asia Pacific. This is the third iteration of this report, examining the nuances of cloud and technology adoption by the Asia Pacific financial services sector.

The report examines eleven Asia Pacific markets, looking at the digital transformation accrued by jurisdictions which have facilitated greater cloud adoption within their financial sectors. The report reviews developments and policy adjustments made by regulators to work with financial institutions (FIs) and cloud service providers (CSPs) – adjustments which unlock the enabling power of cloud as a key support technology for FI business objectives, and risk management.

Digitally Transforming During The COVID-19 Pandemic

This pandemic season has significantly accelerated the need for FIs to transform digitally, with minimal disruption to their business. The financial sector’s resilience has been supported and enhanced by the availability of cloud computing technologies, which have supported transactions being enabled online and via mobile apps, allowed for secure means of remote identity verification and other Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, and have paved a new way forward for managing relationships, balancing limited physical interactions with virtual connections.

“During this intense work-from-home period, cloud-based tools have allowed rapid adoption of new ways to communicate and collaborate all over the world,” says Quint Simon, Head of Public Policy, Asia-Pacific & Japan at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Vice-Chair of the ACCA. “This has improved business efficiency and mitigated the risk of stress on FIs’ technology systems with capabilities that would have been far more challenging and costly without adoption of cloud computing.”

Enabling a Robust and Resilient Regulatory Environment

The report findings reveal that strong financial regulatory markets are characterized by a policy environment that has continuously updated, adapted, and revised regulations and guidelines to enable FI adoption of cloud computing technologies.

“We are pleased to note that many regulators are taking the step to go beyond accepting cloud adoption in the financial services sector, to actively affirming and encouraging FIs to consider the benefits of cloud,” observes Barbara Navarro, Director of Google Cloud Government Affairs and Public Policy, and Treasurer of the ACCA.

Ten Regulatory Recommendations

While there are positive developments within APAC which demonstrate the importance and benefit of continued dialogue between regulators, FIs and CSPs, the report notes that not all regulatory conditions are equally robust. It makes ten recommendations which will further accelerate digital transformation in financial services while mitigating associated risks.

  • Recommendation #1 – Governments have publicly affirmed the adoption of public cloud for financial institutions (FIs).
  • Recommendation #2 – Regulations should set out clear and not unduly burdensome processes for FIs to follow when adopting cloud services.
  • Recommendation #3 – Regulations should not require regulatory prior approval for implementation of cloud services for each workload.
  • Recommendation #4 – Regulations should be risk-based and clearly differentiate applicability to material and non-material workloads and for non-material workloads requirements should be minimal.
  • Recommendation #5 – Regulations should have a clear distinction between control vs processing of data.
  • Recommendation #6 – Geographic Restrictions: (a) Regulations should permit the cross-border transfer of data, and (b) Regulations should not require data to be stored in a specific geography.
  • Recommendation #7 – Regulations should not prescribe terms of cloud contracts.
  • Recommendation #8 – Regulations should not create a right to government for unrestricted physical audit access rights to CSP facilities.
  • Recommendation #9 – Regulations and regulators are neutral as to foreign or domestic CSPs.
  • Recommendation #10 – Regulations promote a risk-based approach to effective operational resiliency, which may include non-mandatory guidance encouraging the FI to consider business continuity and disaster recovery planning, geographic diversity, reversibility, exit planning, and vendor choice, among other factors.

Strengths and Opportunities for Regulatory Improvement

“From the report’s analysis, the leading markets have fully achieved most, if not all of our recommendations,” said Eric Hui, Chair of the ACCA, noting the improvements in APAC’s pro-cloud policies. “Financial regulators in Australia, Philippines, Singapore and Japan have made strong positive statements, or through their guidance, clearly support the adoption of cloud computing by FIs.”

However, there are opportunities for regulatory enhancement, to increase clarity and reduce cloud deployment times. “Beyond the leading regulators, there is a group of markets where the shift to cloud is more challenging because some regulatory requirements may tend to impede cloud adoption and technological innovation in the FIs,” adds Lim May-Ann, Executive Director of the ACCA. “There are variations on why this is the case for each of these markets, and this report provides a deep dive market analysis to examine market nuances further.”

One such nuance is the requirements for a regulatory approval or notice of no-objection from the financial regulator when deploying cloud technology. “In some markets the regulator requires approval or a notice of non-objection for each occasion an FI intends to place a workload on a cloud service, and this process can be highly repetitive, lengthy and opaque, which can impede cloud deployment,” observes Bojan Obradovic, Head of Cloud Services, HSBC, a member of the ACCA. “Regulators should consider the FI’s risk-based analysis – and how the standards, best practices and certifications of a CSP align with objectives.”

The report is available for free download at https://www.asiacloudcomputing.org. Markets covered include Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand – along with two global benchmark jurisdictions markets, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (federal, and New York state.)

About Asia Cloud Computing Association (ACCA)

The ACCA is the apex industry association for Asia Pacific stakeholders in the cloud computing ecosystem. We represent a vendor-neutral voice of the private sector to government and other stakeholders, with the mission to accelerate the adoption of cloud computing through Asia Pacific by helping to create a trusted and compelling market environment, and a safe and consistent regulatory environment for cloud computing products and services.

#AsiaCloudComputingAssociation #ACCA

Earthquakes Cause Tremors for Xayaboury Residents

Earthquake in Xayaboury
Damage caused by the earthquake in Xayaboury (Photo: Lao National Radio).

Xayaboury has recorded four earthquakes measuring from 2.8 to 4.9 on the Richter scale in recent days.

Alvotech Initiates Clinical Studies for AVT04, A Proposed Biosimilar to Stelara® (Ustekinumab)

  • Approximately 530 participants will be enrolled in a comparative, confirmatory efficacy and safety study for AVT04 in plaque psoriasis, across Central and Eastern European countries.
  • AVT04 Pharmacokinetic (PK) comparability study in approximately 294 healthy volunteers is being conducted simultaneously in New Zealand and Australia.
  • Ustekinumab is indicated for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 8 July 2021 – Alvotech, the Iceland-based biosimilar company, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in the comparative, confirmatory efficacy and safety clinical study (AVT04-GL-301) for AVT04, Alvotech’s proposed biosimilar to the reference product Stelara®. The objective of the study is to demonstrate therapeutic equivalence between AVT04 and Stelara® in terms of safety, efficacy and immunogenicity in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis.


The AVT04-GL-301 study is being conducted in five countries in Central and Eastern Europe and it is expected that approximately 530 patients will be enrolled in the study.

In parallel, Alvotech is also conducting a PK similarity study (AVT04-GL-101) to demonstrate equivalent PK endpoints between the proposed biosimilar and the reference product Stelara. The AVT04-GL-101 study, that is also assessing safety and tolerability, is currently ongoing in Australia and New Zealand and is expected to enroll 294 healthy adult volunteers.

Ustekinumab, which is among the highest selling pharmaceutical products in the world, had worldwide sales of $7.7 bn in 2020.

AVT04 is the second proposed biosimilar product from Alvotech entering clinical studies, the first being AVT02, a proposed biosimilar to Humira®. Alvotech is the only known company that has both developed a biosimilar candidate for the high-concentration Humira® and is executing a switching study to support its approval as an interchangeable product.

Róbert Wessman, founder and Chairman of Alvotech commented, “As a founder, I am extremely proud to see us enter the second proposed biosimilar product into clinical trials. This brings us closer to our mission to expand patient access to high quality biosimilars at an affordable price.”

Mark Levick, CEO of Alvotech, added, “We are pleased to have reached this important milestone where the first subjects are being enrolled in clinical trials for AVT04, and we look forward to continuing with recruitment and patient follow-up.

“Additionally, the initiation of this clinical program, with two studies running in parallel, reinforces our commitment to improving the efficiency of the clinical development, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of patients suffering from serious chronic or life-threatening diseases, through faster access to high-quality biosimilars.”

About Alvotech:

Alvotech is a multinational biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacture of high quality biosimilars for global markets. We are specialists in biotechnology, seeking to be a global leader in the biosimilar space by delivering high quality, cost-competitive products and services to our partners and to patients worldwide. Our fully integrated approach, with high-quality in-house competencies throughout the value chain, enables the accelerated development of biosimilar products. Alvotech’s shareholder base includes, among others, Aztiq Pharma, led by founder and Chairman Mr. Robert Wessman, Fuji Pharma from Japan, YAS Holdings form Abu Dhabi, Shinhan from Korea, Baxter Healthcare SA from the US, ATHOS (Strüngmann Family Office) from Germany and CVC Capital Partners and Temasek from Singapore through their participation in Alvogen.

Alvotech’s initial pipeline contains several monoclonal-antibody and fusion-protein biosimilar candidates aimed at treating autoimmunity, oncology and inflammatory conditions to improve quality of life for patients around the world. For more information, please visit our website, www.alvotech.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

#Alvotech

About AVT04 and AVT02:

AVT04 is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) and a proposed biosimilar to STELARA® (ustekinumab). AVT04 is an investigational compound and has not received regulatory approval in any country. Biosimilarity has not yet been established by regulatory authorities and is not yet claimed.


AVT02 is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) and a proposed biosimilar to HUMIRA® (adalimumab). AVT02 is an investigational compound and has not received regulatory approval in any country. Biosimilarity has not yet been established by regulatory authorities and is not yet claimed.

Forward Looking Statement

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on our expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures, competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Statements in this press release about our future plans and intentions, results, level of activities, performance, goals or achievements or other future events constitute forward looking statements. There are a number of factors which could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any of the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements could prove inaccurate or incorrect and therefore any results contemplated in forward-looking statements may not actually be achieved. Nothing contained in these slides and/or the press release of them should be construed as a profit forecast or profit estimate. Wherever possible, words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “may”, “could”, “will”, “potential”, “intend”, “estimate”, “should”, “plan”, “predict”, or the negative or other variations of statements reflect management’s current beliefs and assumptions and are based on the information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.