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Peak Hour Gridlock Returns to Vientiane Capital

Traffic jam in Vientiane Capital
Large numbers of vehicles on the roads in Vientiane Capital (Photo: Security News)

With the reopening of schools and businesses as Covid cases fall, Vientiane Capital is once again experiencing crippling traffic jams during peak hours.

Hongkong Land joins Science Based Targets initiative as part of global effort to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

  • Commitment to SBTi accelerates the Group’s long-standing contribution to climate action, which has led to carbon emissions reduction in its Central Portfolio by 38% since 2008.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 25 February 2022 – Hongkong Land is proud to commit to the Science Based Targets initiative (“SBTi”) campaign to set emissions reductions and net-zero targets in line with climate science consistent with the Paris Agreement which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Joining other leaders in the private sector to support climate action, Hongkong Land has set itself ambitious emission reduction targets covering its operations across the region. This includes targeting a 46% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 22% reduction in carbon intensity for Scope 3 emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels. Measures include continuing to retrofit and deploy smart green technologies in existing portfolios to drive efficiencies, increasing the use of renewable energy, and focusing on low carbon construction to reduce emissions in development projects.

The SBTi was established in 2015 as part of a partnership between CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute and the World Wide Fund for Nature to provide businesses with a clear plan to reduce emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement to combat climate change.

“Climate change is an issue we have attached great importance to for many years and is a business priority for the Group. We are proud to be strengthening this dedication by committing to this initiative,” said Mr Ben Keswick, Chairman of Hongkong Land. “Sustainability is fully integrated into all of our operations, with strong backing from the Board.”

“Hongkong Land has an established track record of adopting green building standards and innovating to deliver long-term value to stakeholders. This commitment, which works towards independent and clearly defined goals for carbon emissions reductions, is a natural next step in Hongkong Land’s sustainability journey,” he concluded.

Key sustainability initiatives across the portfolios in recent years include the consistent retrofitting of existing assets to drive energy efficiency – with annual reinvestment in the Central Portfolio in Hong Kong totalling more than US$50 million – and increasing renewable energy generation onsite. The Group has also implemented a robust green building certification programme, with all buildings in Hong Kong and Singapore achieving BEAM Plus Platinum and Green Mark Platinum certifications. Energy consumption in the Central Portfolio has been reduced by 30% when compared to the baseline year of 2008.

At a Group level, Hongkong Land has issued green bonds and sustainability-linked loans amounting to US$548 million and US$2.1 billion, respectively.

Mr Robert Wong, Chief Executive of Hongkong Land, added “Developers must take responsibility for mitigating their impact on the environment and pushing the sustainability agenda forward on behalf of the community they serve, including their tenants who are increasingly prioritising greener buildings and services.

“We have made considerable investment into our existing portfolios and new developments to reduce our carbon footprint, and committing to the SBTi targets is the latest step in our journey as we seek to accelerate our efforts,” he said.

Hongkong Land

Hongkong Land is a major listed property investment, management and development group. Founded in 1889, Hongkong Land’s business is built on excellence, integrity and partnership.

The Group owns and manages more than 850,000 sq. m. of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing and Jakarta. Its properties attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands.

The Group’s Central Hong Kong portfolio represents some 450,000 sq. m. of prime property. It has a further 165,000 sq. m. of prestigious office space in Singapore mainly held through joint ventures, four retail centres on the Chinese mainland, including a luxury retail centre at Wangfujing in Beijing, and a 50% interest in a leading office complex in Central Jakarta. The Group also has a number of high quality residential, commercial and mixed-use projects under development in cities across China and Southeast Asia, including a 43% interest in a 1.1 million sq. m. mixed-use project in West Bund, Shanghai. In Singapore, its subsidiary, MCL Land, is a well-established residential developer.

Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The Group’s assets and investments are managed from Hong Kong by Hongkong Land Limited. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

#HongkongLand

About the Science Based Targets initiative

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reductions targets in line with the latest climate science. It is focused on accelerating companies across the world to halve emissions before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.

The initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and one of the We Mean Business Coalition commitments. The SBTi defines and promotes best practice in science-based target setting, offers resources and guidance to reduce barriers to adoption, and independently assesses and approves companies’ targets. www.sciencebasedtargets.org @sciencetargets

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

CEIBS in top tier of FT MBA ranking for sixth straight year

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach – 25 February 2022 – CEIBS has once again placed in the top tier of schools in the world in the Financial Times‘ annual ranking of MBA programmes released today. The school secured the #16 spot in the latest ranking, making it the only non-US/non-European school to appear in the FT‘s top tier in 2022. It also marks the sixth consecutive year CEIBS has finished both in the top tier and as the top school in Asia.

20220214mabranking-cover.jpg
CEIBS in top tier of FT MBA ranking for sixth straight year

The FT‘s ranking is widely considered to be the most influential of its kind in the world and takes into consideration a range of factors such as career progress, diversity, research and ESG (Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) efforts. In compiling the ranking, the FT divides 100 short-listed business schools into four major tiers according to their scores.

The twelve months leading up to today’s ranking proved to be a bounce-back time for both the world economy and business schools following the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many US and European business schools fared well according to the FT‘s employment and salary indicators.

As China’s economy has matured, it has created a more dynamic labour market and steadily raised the bar for MBA prospects, many of whom now bring professional degrees and both China and international work experience to the programme.

CEIBS MBAs have remained highly sought-after in the job market, with the most recent graduating cohort achieving job offer received and accepted rates of more than 95%. Meanwhile, the salary percentage increase of CEIBS MBA graduates was the highest amongst top tier schools in the FT‘s ranking.

Interested in pursuing an MBA at CEIBS? The admissions window for our October 2022 intake is now open! For more information about life on the programme in Shanghai, available scholarships and our upcoming Beyond Borders MBA Experience Day, click here.

#CEIBS

Controversial Plastic Amulets Inspire Recycling in Thailand

Thais make amulets from plastic waste
Amulets made from plastic waste in Thailand (Reuters).

Two Thai companies have partnered to produce Buddhist amulets from recycled plastic, rather than from traditional materials like metal or wood, in hopes of motivating wearers to be mindful of the environment.

Thailand Knocks Laos Out of AFF U23 Championship 2-0

Thailand knocks Laos out of AFF U23 Championship
Thailand knocks Laos out of AFF U23 Championship

Thailand proceeded to the final of the AFF U23 Championship after beating Laos 2-0 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Cambodia on Thursday afternoon.

Laos Issues New Regulations on Labor Protection at Golden Triangle SEZ

Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone

Authorities in Bokeo Province have issued new rules on labor protection at the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.

Responding to International Mother Language Day, CIP Rewards Indigenous Language Promotion and Invites Traditional Leaders to Discuss the Sustainable Development of Indigenous Languages

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 24 February 2022 – To campaign the importance of protecting languages, and advance the inheritance of mother languages to prevent their disappearance, the United Nations designated February 21 each year as the International Mother Language Day. CIP held the 2022 International Mother Language Day — Indigenous Language Revitalization Award Ceremony and Forum on Taiwan Indigenous Language Development on February 21 and 22 at Parkview Hotel Hualien. The event included the Indigenous Language Revitalization Award Ceremony, keynote speech, and conference on building an environment friendly to indigenous languages by traditional leaders and heads of agencies.

Group photo of Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 International Mother Language Day — Indigenous Language Revitalization Award Ceremony: Premier Su Tseng-Chang (Left 5) and Minister Icyang ‧ Parod of the Council of Indigenous Peoples (Left 4) as award presenters, and Achievement Award winner Akawyan Pakawyan (Right 4).

Minister Icyang of CIP said that in order to further reward the individuals, agencies, and groups promoting indigenous languages, the number of awards has been increased to 23 from 12 in 2021. In addition to providing NTD 20K to 60K bonuses, the Premier Su Tseng-Chang personally presented all 12 award categories to demonstrate his appreciation to everyone for being the role model in promoting indigenous languages.

The Indigenous Language Development Meeting the following morning saw the participation of indigenous traditional leaders, their contributions help everyone understand how they led the indigenous communities in building the environment for indigenous languages. In addition, CIP is also moving forward with the “Support Program to Creating the Environment for Indigenous Languages in Church” this year, expanding the function and role played by the Church in passing on indigenous languages over the years, and creating on a wide scale an environment friendly to indigenous languages.

Responding to the theme of this year’s UN commemoration of the International Mother Language Day, “using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities”, Minister Iycang of CIP delivered his full remark and speech in the Amis language, which is simultaneously interpreted through the equipment for simultaneous interpreting. This shows how mother languages are no longer obstacles to communication with the assistance of technology. In the future, we will be applying more indigenous language-assistive technology, and continue to work with central and local governments, NGOs, and indigenous peoples to promote the preservation and promotion of indigenous languages.

#CouncilofIndigenousPeoples

OPPO Sets to Strengthen Presence in High-end Market with New Find X5 Series

SHENZHEN , CHINA – Media OutReach – 24 February 2022 – OPPO today launched its latest family of flagship smartphones, the Find X5 Series, marking another decisive step into the high-end market for the leading smartphone brand. The new addition to the Find X Series is the first smartphone series to be powered by OPPO’s MariSilicon X imaging NPU and other industry-leading features. With its futuristic design, seamless ceramic back panel, and premium International Warranty Service, every aspect of the Find X5 Series has been tailored to deliver the best possible user experience.

OPPO Find X5 Series

OPPO Find X5 Series

“At OPPO INNO DAY 2021, we announced our brand proposition of ‘Inspiration Ahead’, defining our commitment to constantly redraw the boundaries of the smartphone experience to make life better for everyone, regardless of the challenges and uncertainties faced,” said William Liu, Vice President and President of Global Marketing at OPPO. “With the Find X5 Series, we have raised the bar for flagship smartphones in terms of style and performance, while never stopping in our exploration of new possibilities.”

Rapid international growth reaches new heights

Last year saw OPPO establish itself in high-end markets worldwide while delivering strong growth for its high-end devices. Through successful partnerships with leading mobile operators, growth in the $600 segment surpassed 200% in 2021, while global shipments of the OPPO Find X3 Series increased by 140% compared with the previous Find X Series.

As of December 2021, OPPO has filed for over 75,000 patent applications and over 4,500 of them are related to 5G. With these strong technical foundations, OPPO delivers a portfolio of high-performing 5G products, the success of which have resulted in the brand ranking the second for two consecutive years in global 5G smartphone shipments among Android manufacturers according to the data from Canalys[1] .

Global partnerships with the likes of Roland-Garros and Wimbledon have also driven awareness for the OPPO brand worldwide. According to the data from Canalys, in 2021, OPPO held on to its place as the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer worldwide, with a total market share of 11%[2] .

Taking the end-to-end smartphone experience to the next level

The OPPO Find X5 Series raises the bar for flagship smartphone performance across the board with OPPO’s best-ever technology, product experience, and customer service.

MariSilicon X — OPPO’s recently-unveiled self-designed imaging NPU — makes its debut on the Find X5 Series. The NPU and its advanced in-house algorithms, including AINR, deliver a leap in computational photography performance. With MariSilicon X, the Find X5 Series is the first flagship smartphone series capable of capturing clear 4K Ultra Night Video that can rival what is seen by the human eye. Following its long-held mission to bring both natural and professional colors to smartphone imaging, OPPO has joined hands with Hasselblad to bring its Natural Color Calibration to the Find X5 Series, empowering users to unlock more emotive moments.

Elsewhere, many of OPPO’s breakthrough innovations can be found on the Find X5 Series. OPPO’s upgraded 360° Smart Antenna 3.0 ensures stable connectivity, with greater signal strength and range than other models. The series also features enhanced Flash Charging technology for faster charging, while a multi-tier cooling system ensures smooth overall performance and efficient dissipation.

Beyond the phone itself, OPPO has turned its attention to the entire customer experience. Find X5 Series owners will have access to OPPO’s premium International Warranty Service, which can be used at over 2,500 service centers in 62 countries and regions worldwide.

A standout flagship, driven by OPPO’s human-centric insights

Guided by OPPO’s brand mission “Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World”, the Find X5 Series represents OPPO’s pursuit of human-centric product features and designs aimed at improving the day-to-day lives of its users.

The design of the Find X5 Series reflects every aspect of the user experience. Built with advanced manufacturing technology, the curved and continuous ceramic back panel is anti-fingerprint and comfortable to hold while also providing greater protection and heat dissipation.

OPPO’s thoughtful consideration of its users is also manifested in ColorOS 12.1, which includes features such as the O Relax digital relaxation suite and Color Vision Enhancement for those who perceive color differently or have color vision impairments.

O Relax helps users release their stress through sounds

O Relax helps users release their stress through sounds

Looking at the bigger picture, OPPO strives to be a sustainable company and remains committed in its responsibility to the protection of the planet. In May 2021, OPPO was among the first companies to join the Eco Rating Labelling Scheme established by leading mobile operators in Europe. OPPO has also adopted green product design practices into the entire life cycle of the Find X5 Series: about 45% of the packaging is made by recycled fiber, and the overall plastic used in the packaging has reduced by 95% since 2019; for plastic materials that cannot be replaced for now, OPPO choose to use the biodegradable polylactic acid material; meanwhile, OPPO’s Battery Health Engine ensures the phone’s battery is able to maintain more than 80% of its effective power after 1,600 charge cycles — which greatly extends the product durability. To inspire more people to preserve the biodiversity of the planet, OPPO also collaborates with National Geographic to capture beautiful imagery of endangered and at risk animals, and supports National Geographic Society and its wildlife conservation efforts as part of the Endangered Colours campaign for the second consecutive year.

Photo by National Geographic Photographer Joel Sartore, shotting on OPPO Find X5 Pro expert mode

Photo by National Geographic Photographer Joel Sartore, shotting on OPPO Find X5 Pro expert mode

With the new Find X5 Series, OPPO is breaking new ground in technological innovation and human-centric user experience in the high-end market while sticking to its core values — a trait that OPPO will maintain as it continues to explore new possibilities in technology and products that help make life better for users worldwide.

Note



[1]
OnePlus is included in the OPPO global shipment
[2] OnePlus is included in the OPPO global market share