INSEAD to Open First Permanent Facility in North America
Applications now open in the Philippines for British Council IELTS Prize (East Asia) 2019/20, supporting 30 test takers to study abroad
New Year's Eve Events at 3 Major Tourist Spots in Kanagawa Pref. Unveiled, with Activities to Welcome 2020
Russell Reynolds Associates Hires Katherine Henry
Applications now open in Vietnam for British Council IELTS Prize (East Asia) 2019/20, supporting 30 test takers to study abroad
Eye Level recognizes young talents at its 27th Eye Level Literary Awards
Sungrow Hits a 100 GW Inverter Shipment Milestone
Whales English announces positive net cash flow and over 30 K Premium users
Applications now open in Malaysia for British Council IELTS Prize (East Asia) 2019/20
Applications now open in Taiwan for British Council IELTS Prize (East Asia) 2019/20, supporting 30 test takers to study abroad
-
Legendary Advocate for Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights Natan Sharansky Awarded 2020 Genesis Prize
Joins Michael Bloomberg and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as Recipient of Prestigious Jewish Award JERUSALEM, Dec. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today The Genesis Prize Foundation (GPF) announced Natan Sharansky, the legendary advocate for freedom, democracy and human rights, as the 2020 Genesis Prize Laureate. In choosing Sharansky from a list of 250 nominees, the Selection Committee noted his extraordinary lifelong struggle for political and religious freedoms, emphasizing the relevance of his work in today's world. 2020 Genesis Prize Laureate Natan Sharansky "Natan Sharansky is one of the great human rights advocates of our lifetime," said Stan Polovets, Co-founder and Chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation. "At great personal sacrifice, he fought for the rights and dignity of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. Today, as we witness democratic principles being challenged and human rights, along with freedoms of thought and expression, denied to so many, Natan's example is an inspiration to all those struggling for democracy. While this is particularly true in parts of the world under authoritarian rule, even in democracies our freedoms cannot be taken for granted. Natan's ideals and vision are as relevant today as they were in the 1980's when he took on the totalitarian Soviet regime – and won." Sharansky is the sole living non-US citizen to receive both the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and Pope John Paul II were the only other non-Americans to receive both honors. The annual Genesis Prize honors extraordinary individuals for their outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity, and commitment to Jewish values. In line with the tradition established by previous recipients of the Prize, Sharansky has chosen to forgo the $1 million award, and GPF will donate the funds in his honor to nonprofit organizations to be selected at a future date. Sharansky becomes the 8th Genesis Prize honoree. Previous Genesis honorees include New York City Mayor and current US presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg (2014), and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (2018). Michael Bloomberg said: "Congratulations to Natan Sharansky on winning this year's Genesis Prize. After being imprisoned in a Soviet gulag for nearly a decade, he has devoted his life to advancing and protecting human rights around the world. His values and ethics, rooted deeply in his Jewish faith, have served as his moral compass -- and his life has been a beacon to so many who dream of freedom." Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said: "Natan Sharansky is a hero, whose courage united people all over the globe in a quest for freedom. He is a distinguished leader who made a significant contribution to the State of Israel, to the people who lived in oppressed societies of the Soviet bloc nations, and to humanity as a whole. I congratulate Natan on this prestigious global award." Natan Sharansky first gained global renown in the 1970s as a leader of the Soviet dissident movement, where he worked alongside Nobel Prize Laureate Andrei Sakharov, demanding that the USSR live up to its international human rights obligations. Arrested for his challenge to the Soviet regime, he spent nine years incarcerated as a Prisoner of Conscience – much of it in solitary confinement –refusing to disavow his demands for respect of human rights for all oppressed people of the Soviet Union. Unbroken, Sharansky was released in 1986 following an intense international pressure campaign, spearheaded by his wife Avital. His release became the symbolic prelude to the unraveling of the communist regimes throughout the Soviet bloc in the late 1980's. Since moving to Israel, Sharansky continued his activist work and emerged as an influential political thinker. He authored three best-selling books, making the case for freedom, democracy and human rights. During his time in government –including as Deputy Prime Minister – and as the head of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Sharansky fought tirelessly for the rights of new immigrants, religious minorities, and women. At the helm of the Jewish Agency, he focused on repatriation of Jews to Israel, strengthening the links between Israel and global Jewry, and made an effort to develop separate, egalitarian prayer space near the Western Wall. Natan Sharansky said: "I am humbled by this honor and thank the Genesis Prize Foundation for recognizing my work to promote democracy, rule of law, and human rights. As my personal hero President Ronald Reagan said, freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not passed to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like to live when men were free." Natan Sharansky will be honored at the Genesis Prize Ceremony in Jerusalem on June 18, 2020. BACKGROUND The Genesis Prize is a global award that celebrates Jewish achievement and contribution to humanity. Launched in 2013, the Prize is financed through a permanent endowment of $100 million established by The Genesis Prize Foundation. Genesis Prize laureates are chosen through a comprehensive worldwide nominations process. The Selection Committee, chaired by the head of the Jewish Agency for Israel Isaac Herzog, selects a short list of potential laureates and makes a recommendation to the Prize Committee. The Prize Committee, chaired by Justice Tova Strasberg-Cohen, decides on the final Laureate. Previous Genesis Prize laureates are former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg; actor, producer and peace activist Michael Douglas; virtuoso violinist and advocate for individuals with special needs Itzhak Perlman; sculptor and advocate for the rights of refugees Sir Anish Kapoor; Oscar-winning actress and social activist Natalie Portman; and owner of New England Patriots and founder of the leading foundation to combat anti-Semitism Robert Kraft. In 2018, the Genesis Prize Foundation honored U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to social justice and equal rights. All laureates have selected causes that are important to them, and award funds in their honor have been donated to these causes. These initiatives have included support of social entrepreneurship based on Jewish values, inclusiveness of intermarried families in Jewish life, improving the lives of individuals with special needs, helping to alleviate the global refugee crisis, advancing women's equality, and combatting anti-Semitism and efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1042598/Natan_Sharansky_official_picture.jpg Related Links :http://www.genesisprize.org
-
China Online Education Group Announces Third Quarter 2019 Results
Net revenues increased by 35.0% year-over-yearGAAP and Non-GAAP net loss improved by RMB85.1 million and RMB81.4 million year-over-year, respectivelyBEIJING, Dec. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- China Online Education Group ("51Talk" or the "Company") (NYSE: COE), a leading online education platform in China, with core expertise in English education, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. Third Quarter 2019 Financial and Operating Highlights Net revenues were RMB409.2 million (US$57.2 million), a 35.0% increase from RMB303.2 million for the third quarter of 2018. Gross billings[1] were RMB547.3 million (US$76.6 million), a 28.9% increase from RMB424.5 million for the third quarter of 2018. Gross margin was 71.7%, compared with 63.8% for the third quarter of 2018. GAAP net loss decreased 94.1% year-over-year to RMB5.3 million and sequentially decreased 83.6% from RMB32.4 million for the second quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP net loss decreased 97.8% year-over-year to RMB1.8 million and sequentially decreased 93.2% from RMB26.7 million for the second quarter of 2019. Operating cash inflow was RMB123.2 million (US$17.2 million), compared with RMB1.7 million cash outflow for the third quarter of 2018. Cash, cash equivalents, time deposits and short-term investments balance reached RMB906.4 million (US$126.8 million) as of September 30, 2019. Key Operating Data For the three months ended Sep. 30, Sep. 30, Y-o-Y 2018 2019 Change Gross billings (in RMB millions) 424.5 547.3 28.9% K-12 mass-market one-on-one offering 331.9 504.6 52.0% K-12 small class offering 16.6 8.7 (47.6%) Adult offering 54.7 29.3 (46.4%) K-12 American Academy one-on-one offering 21.3 4.7 (77.9%) Active students[2] (in thousands) 210.0 258.2 23.0% "The third quarter is a seasonally strong quarter for us, and our results reflected solid execution of our focused strategy. We exceeded the high end of both our net revenues and gross billing guidance ranges by 2.3% and 5.7%, respectively, fueled in large part by a 23.0% year-over-year increase in total active students," said Mr. Jack Jiajia Huang, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 51Talk. "Our primary growth driver remains our K-12 mass-market one-on-one offering in non-tier-one cities[3]. K-12 mass-market one-on-one gross billings grew 52.0% year-over-year to reach RMB504.6 million and represented 92.2% of our total gross billings. The improvement in our fundamentals reflected our consistent strategy of focusing on K-12 mass market in non-tier-one cities. "During the third quarter, we launched our mobile-friendly, interactive curriculum for levels 0 to 2 of our flagship program, Classic English Junior. The enhanced curriculum improves learning effectiveness and leads to better learning outcomes through several new features including interactive games, virtual teaching aids, improved facial emotional recognition and engaging role-play scenarios. I am also very proud to share that two of our students were selected to represent Chinese youth and present speeches in English on the topic of environmental protection at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Spain, on December 5, 2019. Such an honor is indeed a testament to the hard work of these students, the dedication of their teachers and their supportive families. "I am also delighted to share that we successfully delivered over 100 million one-on-one online English lessons, including free trial lessons, from our inception in 2011 through the end of November this year. As 51Talk continues to grow, we are confident our balanced growth strategy and operational focus on non-tier-one cities will continue to yield solid value for our stakeholders," Mr. Huang concluded. "Our momentum from the first half continued into the third quarter as we achieved record high revenues, gross billings, gross margins, as well as the smallest non-GAAP net loss in our history at RMB1.8 million," said Mr. Min Xu, Chief Financial Officer of 51Talk. "We are also proud to report record high operating cash flow of RMB123.2 million for the quarter. Non-GAAP net margin improved to negative 0.4% this quarter from negative 7.6% in the second quarter this year. These results reflect the wide market appeal of our offerings and our on-going effort to improve operation efficiencies. As we wind down the year in the seasonally slower fourth quarter, we remain on track to prudently execute our balanced growth strategy." [1] Gross billings for a specific period, which is one of the Company's key operating data, is defined as the total amount of cash received for the sale of course packages and services in such period, net of the total amount of refunds in such period. [2] An "active student" for a specified period refers to a student who booked at least one paid lesson, excluding those students who only attended paid live broadcasting lessons or trial lessons. [3] Tier-one cities include Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Tianjin. Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results Net Revenues Net revenues for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB409.2 million (US$57.2 million), a 35.0% increase from RMB303.2 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily attributed to an increase in the number of active students and, to a lesser extent, an increase in the average revenue per active student. The number of active students in the third quarter of 2019 was 258,000, a 23.0% increase from 210,000 for the same quarter last year. Net revenues from one-on-one offerings for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB383.4 million (US$53.6 million), a 37.6% increase from RMB278.6 million for the same quarter last year. Net revenues from small class offering for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB25.8 million (US$3.6 million), a 4.9% increase from RMB 24.6 million for the same quarter last year. Cost of Revenues Cost of revenues for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB116.0 million (US$16.2 million), a 5.8% increase from RMB109.6 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in total service fees paid to teachers, mainly due to the delivery of an increased number of paid lessons. Cost of revenues of one-on-one offerings for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB104.6 million (US$14.6 million), a 12.6% increase from RMB92.9 million for the same quarter last year. Cost of revenues of small class offering for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB11.4 million (US$1.6 million), a 32.0% decrease from RMB16.7 million for the same quarter last year. Gross Profit and Gross Margin Gross profit for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB293.2 million (US$41.0 million), a 51.5% increase from RMB193.5 million for the same quarter last year. Gross margin for the third quarter of 2019 was 71.7%, compared with 63.8% for the same quarter last year. One-on-one offerings gross margin for the third quarter of 2019 was 72.7%, compared with 66.6% for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly attributable to 1) price increases and 2) the inclusion of the Company's audio picture book in course packages, which carries a higher margin and is recognized as revenues at the time of delivery. 51Talk's small class offering gross margin for the third quarter of 2019 was 56.0%, compared with 32.0% for the third quarter of 2018. The increase was mainly due to optimization of product structure of small class offerings by reducing the lower margined products. Operating Expenses Total operating expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB299.4 million (US$41.9 million), a 6.1% increase from RMB282.2 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly the result of an increase in sales and marketing expenses, partially offset by decreases of product development, and general and administrative expenses. Sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB215.4 million (US$30.1 million), a 16.9% increase from RMB184.2 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was mainly due to higher sales personnel costs related to increases in both the number of sales and marketing personnel and average sales commission. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB214.8 million (US$30.1 million), a 17.5% increase from RMB182.7 million for the same quarter last year. Non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, excluding branding expenses, were 32.6% of the gross billings for the third quarter of 2019, compared with 36.5% for the same quarter last year. Product development expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB38.4 million (US$5.4 million), a 15.8% decrease from RMB45.6 million for the same quarter last year. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the number of personnel. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB37.3 million (US$5.2 million), a 13.9% decrease from RMB43.4 million for the same quarter last year. General and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB45.6 million (US$6.4 million), a 12.9% decrease from RMB52.3 million for the same quarter last year. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses for the third quarter of 2019 were RMB43.8 million (US$6.1 million), a 10.5% decrease from RMB48.9 million for the same quarter last year. Loss from Operations Loss from operations for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB6.2 million (US$0.9 million), compared with RMB88.6 million for the same quarter last year. Non-GAAP loss from operations for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB2.8 million (US$0.4 million), compared with RMB81.5 million for the same quarter last year. Net Loss Net loss for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB5.3 million (US$0.7 million), compared with RMB90.4 million for the same quarter last year. Non-GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB1.8 million (US$0.3 million), compared with RMB83.3 million for the same quarter last year. Basic and diluted net loss per American depositary share ("ADS") attributable to ordinary shareholders for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB0.26 (US$0.04), compared with RMB4.50 for the same quarter last year. Each ADS represents 15 Class A ordinary shares. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders for the third quarter of 2019 was RMB0.09 (US$0.01), compared with RMB4.05 for the same quarter last year. Balance Sheet As of September 30, 2019, the Company had total cash, cash equivalents, time deposits and short-term investments of RMB906.4 million (US$126.8 million), compared with RMB712.1million as of December 31, 2018. The Company had deferred revenues (current and non-current) of RMB2,000.8 million (US$279.9 million) as of September 30, 2019, compared with RMB1,676.1 million as of December 31, 2018. Impact of Recently Adopted New Accounting Standard In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 "Leases", which generally requires lessees to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet and to provide enhanced disclosures surrounding the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leasing arrangements. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2019 on a modified retrospective basis and did not restate comparative periods. The Company recognized approximately RMB55.8 million as total right-of-use assets and RMB54.2 million as total lease liabilities for the operating leases on its consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019. The Company recognized RMB65.8 million and RMB64.3 million as total right-of-use assets and total lease liabilities, respectively, for the operating leases on its consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2019. Other than the foregoing, the new lease standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Outlook For the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company currently expects net revenues to be between RMB385 million to RMB390 million, which would represent an increase of approximately 29.2% to 30.8% from RMB298.1 million for the same quarter last year; The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects the Company's current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions and customer demand, which are all subject to change. Conference Call The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on December 9, 2019 (9:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong time on December 9, 2019). Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: United States (toll free): 1-866-264-5888 International: 1-412-317-5226 Mainland China: 400-120-1203 Hong Kong (toll free): 800-905-945 Hong Kong: 852-3018-4992 Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "China Online Education Group." Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.51talk.com. A replay of the conference call will be accessible until September 18, 2019, by dialing the following telephone numbers: United States (toll free): 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 10137279 About China Online Education Group China Online Education Group (NYSE: COE) is a leading online education platform in China, with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students across China to take live interactive English lessons with overseas foreign teachers, on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified foreign teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In evaluating its business, 51Talk considers and uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental metrics to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP sales and marketing expenses, non-GAAP product development expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP loss from operations, non-GAAP income tax expenses, non-GAAP net loss, non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, and non-GAAP net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders per share and per ADS. To present each of these non-GAAP measures, the Company excludes share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this press release. 51Talk believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. 51Talk believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to 51Talk's historical performance. 51Talk computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and from period to period. 51Talk believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation expenses that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the 51Talk's business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying table at the end of this press release provides more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures. Exchange Rate Information This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB7.1477 to US$1.00, the rate in effect as of September 28, 2019 as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "aims", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "likely to" and similar statements. Among other things, 51Talk's business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as 51Talk's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. 51Talk may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about 51Talk's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: 51Talk's goals and strategies; 51Talk's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its brand and platform; 51Talk's ability to retain and increase its student enrollment; 51Talk's ability to offer new courses; 51Talk's ability to engage, train and retain new teachers; 51Talk's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; 51Talk's ability to maintain and improve infrastructure necessary to operate its education platform; competition in the online education industry in China; the expected growth of, and trends in, the markets for 51Talk's course offerings in China; relevant government policies and regulations relating to 51Talk's corporate structure, business and industry; general economic and business condition in China, the Philippines and elsewhere and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in 51Talk's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and 51Talk does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. CHINA ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) As of Dec. 31, Sep. 30, Sep. 30, 2018 2019 2019 RMB RMB US$ ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 413,143 227,684 31,854 Time deposits 162,688 214,182 29,965 Short term investment 136,304 464,547 64,993 Inventory - 776 109 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 242,499 257,324 36,001 Total current assets 954,634 1,164,513 162,922 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment, net 35,341 24,481 3,425 Intangible assets, net 11,790 9,064 1,268 Goodwill 4,223 4,223 591 Right of use assets - 65,782 9,203 Other non-current assets 4,230 6,846 958 Total non-current assets 55,584 110,396 15,445 Total assets 1,010,218 1,274,909 178,367 LIABILITIES Current liabilities Short-term loan - 30,362 4,248 Deferred revenues 1,658,800 1,994,883 279,094 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 209,910 196,611 27,507 Lease liability - 34,642 4,847 Taxes payable 16,917 22,023 3,081 Total current liabilities 1,885,627 2,278,521 318,777 Non-current liabilities Long-term loan 69,045 - - Deferred revenues 17,321 5,904 826 Deferred tax liabilities 21 - - Lease liability - 29,669 4,151 Other non-current liabilities 853 1,049 147 Total non-current liabilities 87,240 36,622 5,124 Total liabilities 1,972,867 2,315,143 323,901 Total shareholders' (deficit) (962,649) (1,040,234) (145,534) Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit 1,010,218 1,274,909 178,367 CHINA ONLINE EDUCATION GROUP UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (In thousands except for number of shares and per share data) For the three months ended For the nine months ended Sep. 30, Jun. 30, Sep. 30, Sep. 30, Sep. 30,
-
Twenty Outstanding Philippines' Entrepreneurs and Organisations Honored at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2019
MANILLA, Philippines, Dec. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty outstanding Philippines' entrepreneurs and organisations were honored at the recently concluded Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2019 or APEA, led by Megawide Construction Corporation's Chairman and CEO, Mr. Edgar Saavedra, and Robinsons Land Corporation's President and CEO, Mr. Frederick D. Go. Group photo of 20 outstanding winners at the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards Philippines 2019 This is the award's 13th year, and the Philippines is the ninth market to organise the awards this year, out of the awards' 14 markets. An initiative by Enterprise Asia, the region leading NGO, APEA is the largest regional recognition programme, with over 3,000 nominations received each year, and less than one tenth of that receiving the awards in all 14 markets. With the theme of 'Promoting Inclusive Economic Development Through Sustainable Entrepreneurship', over 300 attendees were present at the by-invitation only awards ceremony in the Philippines, comprising of industry leaders and dignitaries including Tan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn, chairman of Enterprise Asia; H.E. Mr Gerard Ho, Ambassador of Embassy of the Republic of Singapore, Philippines; H.E. Mr. Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng, Ambassador of Royal Thai Embassy Manila; Mr Dave M. Almarinez, President & CEO of Philippine International Trade Corporation (PITC); Ms. Maria Kristine Josefina G. Balmes, Deputy Executive Director of Philippine Commission on Women (PCW); and Dato' William Ng, president of Enterprise Asia. In the Philippines, APEA is supported by the Philippine International Trade Corporation (PITC); Philippine Commission on Women (PCW); British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP) and Philippine Retailers Association (PRA); Plaza Premium First as the Airport Lounge Partner; and BusinessWorld, Esquire Philippines, and SME Magazine as Official Media Partners. Over the past thirteen years, over 2,000 of the most senior entrepreneurs in Asia has received the APEA, including Philippines' Henry Sy and Tony Tan, Malaysia's Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay, Tan Sri Azman Hashim and Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow, Indonesia's Chairul Tanjung, Mochtar Riady and Ciputra, Thailand's Kobchai Chirathivat and Rit Thirakomen, Philippines' Henry Sy and Tony Tan, Singapore's Kwek Leng Beng and Sam Goi, and India's Adi Godrej and Rahul Bajaj. Tan Sri Dr. Fong said, "We are gratified by the continued interest in the programme. We believe this is a reflection of the ongoing success of entrepreneurs and enterprises, as well as our steadfast commitment to upholding the highest standards of our global criteria." Besides Megawide Construction Corporation's Chairman and CEO, Mr. Edgar Saavedra, and Robinsons Land Corporation's President and CEO, Mr. Frederick D. Go, who both were accorded the Entrepreneur of the Year, other notable winners of the APEA Philippines chapter include Philusa Corporation, Reyes Tacandong & Co, Far Eastern University and Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc. who accolade under the Corporate Excellence category. Dr. Fong added, "We are proud to be the oldest business awards program in Asia and have been privileged to shine the spotlight on some of Philippines exception game changers of tomorrow, whose entrepreneurial spirit in growing successful businesses have made a positive and enduring impact on their community and country. Beyond recognising the efforts of these extraordinary entrepreneurs and management teams behind responsible and dynamic businesses, we hope to encourage them to continue taking their businesses to the next level, and in the process, encourage even greater entrepreneurial activity." RECIPIENT LIST OF ASIA PACIFIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS 2019 PHILIPPINES Entrepreneur of the Year Edgar Saavedra Chairman & CEO Megawide Construction Corporation Construction Industry Frederick D. Go President & CEO Robinsons Land Corporation Property Development Industry Outstanding Category Michael H. Deakin Founder & President Lifeline 16911 Medical Inc. Healthcare, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry William T. Ti, Jr. Principal Architect WTA Architecture & Design Studio Professional & Business Services Industry Corporate Excellence Category 24/7 Customer Philippines, Inc. Telecommunications & ICT Industry ACM Landholdings, Inc Property Development Industry Asian Institute of Management Education & Training Industry Bloomberry Resorts Corporation Hospitality, Food Service & Tourism Industry C & E Publishing, Inc. Education & Training Industry Far Eastern University Education & Training Industry First Vita Plus Marketing Corp. Direct Selling Industry Global Business Power Corporation Mining & Energy Industry Mabuhay Filcement Inc. Manufacturing Industry MediLink Network, Inc. Healthcare, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry Philusa Corporation Healthcare, Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Industry RDAK Transport & Equipment, Inc. Transportation & Logistics Industry Reyes Tacandong & Co. Professional & Business Services Industry Robinsons Land Corporation Property Development Industry Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc. Hospitality, Food Service & Tourism Industry Sunnies Studios Retail Industry About Enterprise Asia Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, in uplifting the economic status of people across Asia and in ensuring a legacy of hope, innovation and courage for the future generation. For further information, visit www.enterpriseasia.org. About Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards is the region's most prestigious awards for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation and sustainable leadership. The Award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups together leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 14 countries and markets all over Asia. For further information, visit www.apea.asia Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191209/2664549-1?lang=0Related Links :http://www.enterpriseasia.org
-
Peking University HSBC Business School Professor and Co-Authors Publish Paper on Cross-Border Acquisitions
PHBS Answers the Question: How Do Acquirers' Home Country Institutions Influence the Performance of Cross-Border Acquisitions?SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cross-border acquisitions (CBAs) have increasingly become one of the most important international strategies for firms to enhance their performance by quickly acquiring strategic resources globally, for instance, advanced technology and huge overseas markets. However, research shows that the failure rate of cross-border mergers and acquisitions is high, and about 70% of companies have not been able to achieve 1+1>2 synergy value from CBAs. How do acquirers' home country institutions influence the post-acquisition performance of CBAs? Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) Associate Professor Zhu Hong and co-authors addressed this question in their paper "Home Country Institutions behind Cross-Border Acquisition Performance" recently published in the Journal of Management. The researchers developed an institutional framework consisting of the informal institutions' collectivism and humane orientation, as well as the formal institutions' shareholder orientation and property rights protection. Zhu and her co-authors retrieved CBM deals across 50 countries from the SDC Platinum database –the world's most comprehensive database of mergers and acquisitions – annual financial data for acquirers and targets from Datastream, home and host countries' collectivism and humane orientation from the GLOBE study, and other information from various sources. Further, they advanced multilevel modeling to analyze 12,021 CBAs, and findings showed that informal and formal institutions not only have important individual effects but also jointly affect their firms' post-acquisition performance. Results show that collectivism and humane orientation in home countries can exert positive influences on post-acquisition performance. Shaped by home country collectivism and with a high level of humane orientation, acquirers which have managers who view their acquired targets as highly interdependent within their organizations are more likely to involve acquired targets in decision making in the post-acquisition integration process. Accordingly, acquired targets are more willing to collaborate with the acquirers in achieving post-acquisition value creation. In addition, their study highlights the joint influence of informal and formal institutions: informal institution influence can be weakened by incompatible formal institutions that hamper post-acquisition collaborative efforts. In addition to significant theoretical contributions to the research of institutions and CBAs, this study offers important practical and public policy implications by clearly demonstrating the importance of institutions in firm strategies and development. The study further reinforces the importance of institutions in the development of firms and economies in China and throughout the world. The remarkable and successful institutional reforms in China, such as the on-going development of the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road Initiative, have been buttressing the rapid and impressive economic rise of China. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peking-university-hsbc-business-school-professor-and-co-authors-publish-paper-on-cross-border-acquisitions-300970559.html
-
5 YEARS CONSECUTIVELY - Kantar Worldpanel is awarded as one of the 'Best Workplaces(TM) in Greater China 2019' by Great Place to Work(R)
TAIPEI, Dec. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kantar Worldpanel has been awarded, for the 5th consecutive year, one of the 'Best Workplaces™ in Greater China 2019' by Great Place to Work®. 5 YEARS CONSECUTIVELY - Kantar Worldpanel is awarded as one of the 'Best Workplaces(TM) in Greater China 2019' by Great Place to Work(R) 5 YEARS CONSECUTIVELY - Kantar Worldpanel is awarded as one of the 'Best Workplaces(TM) in Greater China 2019' by Great Place to Work(R) 5 YEARS CONSECUTIVELY - Kantar Worldpanel is awarded as one of the 'Best Workplaces(TM) in Greater China 2019' by Great Place to Work(R) Great Place to Work It's no easy feat to cultivate a high-trust, high-performance organisation. According to Great Place to Work®, it takes the commitment of dedicated and motivated employees and leaders to achieve such a lofty goal. This year 44 companies made it to the list. We applied the survey to more than 150 companies with more than 200,000 employees in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. This survey assesses employees' perceptions of leadership, organizational culture and trust, and is decisive for being selected for the "Best Workplaces™ in Greater China". The core result findings of 2019 In the Trust Index© Survey to employees, we considered and collected all valid responses and this generated an average score of 87% for Greater China. We applaud the continuous efforts to build up a great culture for the associates. Great Place to Work's Best Companies to Work For® in Greater China List create cultures that are friendly, inclusive, productive and ethical. An overwhelming majority of employees at the Region's Best say they're proud of their workplaces. Kantar Worldpanel has numerous branches around the globe participating the Great Place to Work and winning the same award every year. We believe that Greater China team winning this award will make the whole brand share the same pride and glory. According to the Managing Director of Kantar Worldpanel Greater China, Jason Yu, 2019 has been a year of "Transform To Win" for the whole company. New ideas of digital transformation, new online learning platform and new leadership frameworks to help leaders transform are being bounced and launched in the region. Office renovation in Beijing, new form of employee activities across offices, and donating to the Special Olympics by various campaigns are undergoing with enthusiastic participation. The WITH PEOPLE strategy coupled with LEADERSHIP 2021 are being rooted more and more profoundly in our culture and leadership behaviour. Outstanding female high potential talents are put through various global and regional leadership programs to boost a diverse and flourishing career path for our talents. Kantar Worldpanel is extremely proud and for all the constant effort made around people development, humbly deserved to be one of the Best Workplace in Greater China once again and will continue on this worthy journey holding all our employees together. About the Best Workplaces™ in Greater China List Since 2012, Great Place to Work® has identified the top organisations that create great workplaces in Greater China in which they operate through the publication of the Best Workplaces™ in Greater China List. The objective of publishing the list is to acknowledge organisations and Great Workplaces from diverse industries and sizes that deliver and establish great culture among the colleagues and associates, so as to sustain and enhance the competitive edge of the region. To be considered eligible for the Best Workplaces™ in Greater China List, companies must score at least 70% in the overall result of the Trust Index© employee survey and Culture Audit© assessment. About Great Place to Work® Great Place to Work®, headquartered in San Francisco, is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures that provides executive advisory and culture consulting services to businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in 60 countries across five continents. Through proprietary assessment tools, benchmarks, advisory services, workplace reviews and certification programs (such as the Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For published on Fortune Magazine), Great Place to Work® helps its clients create great workplaces that outpace peers on key business metrics like revenue growth, profitability, retention and stock performance. Follow Great Place to Work® Greater China at www.greatplacetowork.cn / http://www.greatplacetowork.com.hk and join the community on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and on WeChat ID: greatplacetowork. About Kantar Worldpanel – Inspiring successful decisions Kantar Worldpanel is the global expert in shoppers' behaviour. Through continuous monitoring, advanced analytics and tailored solutions, Kantar Worldpanel inspires successful decisions by brand owners, retailers, market analysts and government organisations globally. With over 60 years' experience, a team of 3,500, and services covering 60 countries directly or through partners, Kantar Worldpanel turns purchase behaviour into competitive advantage in markets as diverse as FMCG, impulse products, fashion, baby, telecommunications and entertainment, among many others. For further information, please visit us at www.kantarworldpanel.com. Twitter: Google+: LinkedIn: RSS: Newsletter: Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191128/2656598-1-a?lang=0Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191205/2656598-1-b?lang=0Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191205/2656598-1-c?lang=0Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191206/2656598-1-d?lang=0 Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191202/2656598-1LOGO?lang=0Related Links :https://www.kantar.com/
-
Tarena Engages Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP as its Independent Auditor
BEIJING, Dec. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tarena International, Inc. (Nasdaq: TEDU) ("Tarena" or the "Company") announced today that it has engaged Marcum Bernstein Pinchuk LLP ("MBP") as its independent registered public accountant with respect to the fiscal years from 2016 to 2018. The engagement of MBP as the independent registered public accountant was approved by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company on December 5, 2019. The Company's Audit Committee has dismissed KPMG Huazhen LLP ("KPMG") as the Company's independent registered public accountant. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and through the subsequent interim period on or prior to December 5, 2019, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf has consulted with MBP on either (a) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company by MBP that MBP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, or (b) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement, as that term is defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F (and the related instructions thereto) or a reportable event as set forth in Item 16F(a)(1)(v)(A) through (D) of Form 20-F. About Tarena International, Inc. Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) is a leading provider of professional education services in China. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers professional education courses in IT and non-IT subjects. Tarena also offers K-12 education programs. Its professional education courses provide students with practical skills to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tarena-engages-marcum-bernstein--pinchuk-llp-as-its-independent-auditor-300970065.html
-
KPMG expects to invest US$5 billion on digital leadership in professional services
AMSTELVEEN, Netherlands, Dec. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- KPMG today announced investments in technology, people and innovation, and expects to spend US$5 billion over the next five years to enhance its leadership position in the digital transformation of professional services. This investment will accelerate the digital transformation of KPMG and its clients, who will benefit from the latest technological advancements across Audit, Tax and Advisory and the expertise of highly-skilled KPMG professionals to help them transform their businesses. KPMG's investment will be prioritized in three key areas to strengthen client relationships and capitalize on growth opportunities in a time of transformative change. These include Technology: consistent, global cloud-based platforms to drive the quality of service delivery and new client-facing business solutions and managed services People: augmenting the digital skills of KPMG's global workforce and expanding talent in areas such as data science and digital architecture Innovation: extending the range of digital offerings and winning work through a diversified ecosystem of strategic alliances and a global innovation network "Technology is disrupting organizations across the globe," says Bill Thomas, Global Chairman, KPMG International. "Clients are turning to us like never before and trust KPMG professionals to help them implement, manage and optimize the digital transformation of their organizations. Our investment places KPMG firmly at the forefront of this digital shift and enhances our position as a digital leader in professional services." KPMG enters five-year agreement with Microsoft to invest in cloud-based technologies As part of this investment, KPMG and Microsoft have signed a five-year agreement that enables KPMG member firms and mutual clients to benefit from Microsoft technology, innovation and advancements in Microsoft's cloud platforms. KPMG is utilizing Microsoft technology – including Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 – to create a consistent, global cloud-based platform and extend its range of digital offerings. KPMG fully deploying cloud-based audit across the globe In 2017, KPMG began its journey to a cloud-based audit with the launch of KPMG Clara, a smart audit platform based on Microsoft Azure. In doing so, KPMG became the first of the Big Four professional services firms to move to a cloud-based audit and is on track to full deployment across the globe. KPMG Clara enables professionals to apply their extensive industry knowledge to deliver high-quality audits that consistently meet applicable professional standards, build trust with clients and sustain public confidence. It houses advanced, predictive analytics capabilities within a single, cloud-based source and seamlessly adopts the latest cognitive and Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions. This allows KPMG professionals to tap into advanced technologies that bring clients a greater range and depth of insights into risks and anomalies. Key investments to help clients navigate tax and legal landscape KPMG continues to invest heavily in tax technologies to help tax and legal leaders and their departments tackle regulatory change, streamline processes and data management, experience enhanced reporting and enable effective collaboration across departments. KPMG will invest more in cognitive, AI and machine learning capabilities to transform tax and legal functions. Co-creating market-leading Advisory capabilities with clients and alliances KPMG's digital transformation approach helps clients align their operations across the enterprise and enable an integrated customer journey by leveraging KPMG's Connected Enterprise and Powered Enterprise solutions. Additional leading capabilities include analyst-recognized Cyber security solutions and advanced use of AI and intelligent automation in Regulatory Driven Transformation and Deal Advisory solutions. KPMG professionals have access to globally consistent tools and solutions, benchmarks and industry analytics to provide clients with consistent support wherever they do business. Investment in people to harness the latest technology KPMG is making bold investments in the professional development of its people by creating a world-class learning and innovation center in Orlando, Florida. Beginning in January 2020, KPMG expects to welcome 800 partners and professionals to KPMG Lakehouse each week and lead more than one million hours of in-person learning experiences. Drawing on advanced technology and custom-designed, flexible learning spaces – including inverted classrooms that open to the outdoors – Lakehouse will encourage collaboration, creativity and discovery. The inaugural class of KPMG's cloud training program launched in November 2019. This program is designed to help KPMG professionals understand the full potential of cloud technology and to leverage those tools when developing internal and client-facing business solutions. KPMG strengthens global innovation capabilities KPMG continues to stimulate technology innovation through a number of global programs including its growing ecosystem of strategic alliances and KPMG Global Lighthouse, its Center of Excellence for Data-driven Technologies. KPMG is further investing in its global innovation network with currently 52 locations. These include KPMG Ignition Centers, which allow KPMG professionals and clients to experience all of the dimensions of our innovation capabilities in one location; KPMG Insights Centers – high-tech collaborative environments to explore data-driven technologies, emerging trends and the latest analytic solutions and services; and Innovation Labs, where KPMG professionals work with clients in an immersive process to apply design thinking for business model innovation, draw on industry research, customer insights, technology innovation and investment analysis to translate signals of change and help them take action. In addition, KPMG's Sensory Advantage Ecosystem is a global network that helps proactively identify early marketplace trends and conducts research to help KPMG and clients accelerate growth and strategy. About KPMG International KPMG is a global network of professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. We operate in 153 countries and territories and have 207,000 people working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Disclaimer Throughout this release, "we", "KPMG", "us" and "our" refer to the network of independent member firms operating under the KPMG name and affiliated with KPMG International or to one or more of these firms or to KPMG International. KPMG International provides no client services. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Mark Walters, KPMG International, +1-646-943-2115, mgwalters@kpmg.com
-
Announcing… COUNTDOWN, A Massive Global Collaboration to Tackle the Climate Crisis Powered by TED and Leaders from Policy, Business, Science, Story-te
Countdown Content to be Amplified on and by YouTube Leaders Coalesce to Build Public Support and Partnerships for the Countdown to Zero Net Emissions A Summit in Bergen, Norway in October 2020 Linked to Satellite Events Around the Globe Visit countdown.ted.com NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today TED and Future Stewards with Christiana Figueres announced Countdown: a global collaboration to turn the tide on climate change. The name Countdown refers to the necessary reduction to zero net greenhouse gas emissions called for by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in order to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. A summit of 1,000 leaders and influencers - representing a cross-section of nations, businesses, cities, and citizens - will be held in Bergen, Norway from October 6-9, 2020. The following day - 10.10.2020 - will be celebrated as a major global gathering made up of thousands of connected local events in cities, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces around the globe—coordinated by the global TEDx community and other partners. Countdown content will be promoted by YouTube, and many YouTube creators will be invited to take part both in Bergen and at local events being held around the globe. Content will focus on five big questions: POWER: How rapidly can we move to 100% clean energy?The plunging cost of renewables is a thrilling game-changer. BUILT ENVIRONMENT: How can we re-engineer the stuff that surrounds us?We need regenerative economics and a materials revolution. TRANSPORT: How do we transform the ways we move? It's time to rethink our cars, trucks, ships and planes for the 21st century. FOOD: How can we spark a worldwide shift to healthier food systems?A delicious, nutritious future can be good for farmers — and the planet. NATURE: How extensively can we re-green the earth?Our forests, soil and oceans can return us to a stable carbon cycle — and save countless other species. The months leading up to the Countdown summit will involve intense preparation by climate experts, policy makers, visionary business leaders, and thousands of local organizers who will discuss, debate, and create a plan of action based on these questions. Countdown invites everyone to play a part in counting the world's emissions down to zero. The intent is not to be something brand new, but to amplify and cross-fertilize the extraordinary work that has already been done by so many. Powerful solutions have already been proposed by more than 50 authorities on climate issues. Our website countdown.ted.com provides information and opportunities for people around the globe to join the effort. A team led by Future Stewards and TED will select the best proposals and turn them into talks. These will be delivered at the Countdown summit in Bergen, in front of a hand-picked audience capable of turning those ideas into action. The proposals and their accompanying commitments for action will be shared with the world on 10/10/20 with an opportunity for global companies, cities and individuals to participate. For the cities portion, C40 and the Global Covenant of Mayors have joined as official partners, and for the first time local TEDx organizers - operating 4,000 events annually - will activate to bring Countdown to their communities. Beyond cities and TEDx, companies around the world are invited to join this initiative and engage with employees on how to best play a part. Countdown is a partnership between TED and Future Stewards - and supported by a growing network of partner organizations, including YouTube, C40, Global Covenant of Mayors, Climate Reality Project, Climate Leadership Initiative, Global Citizen, and Project Drawdown. Individuals are also lending their voices, among them climate scientists Johan Rockström with the Stockholm Resilience Centre in Sweden; Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC and Endowed Chair Professor at Korea University Graduate School of Energy and Environment; and Katharine Hayhoe, an atmospheric scientist and director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. Others include Pierce Brosnan, Don Cheadle, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ava DuVernay, Davis Guggenheim, Jimmy Kimmel, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Norman and Lyn Lear, Rooney Mara, Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, and Meg Ryan. Among the leaders who convened today to announce Countdown were: Chris Anderson, Head of TED; Christiana Figueres, previously Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change during the Paris negotiations; António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Tshering Tobgay, former Prime Minister of Bhutan; Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States; Jessica Walsh of &Walsh, who created the campaign visuals; actor and environmental activist Mark Ruffalo; Ted Halstead, Chairman and CEO of the Climate Leadership Council; and Yuval Noah Harari, historian, philosopher and author of Sapiens. "To turn the tide on climate will require an unprecedented response at all levels of society, including courageous political leadership, transformative business vision, philanthropic audacity and wide-scale citizen engagement," said Chris Anderson, Head of TED. "We face a climate crisis that threatens us all, and while TED has never before taken on a specific issue, we concluded that it's no longer enough just to spread ideas. Some issues demand urgent action, which is what propelled us to take on what will be the most ambitious initiative ever attempted by this organization. And it's only possible because so many extraordinary partners have joined the growing Countdown coalition to lay the foundation." "Addressing climate change and taking immediate collective action is not only imperative, it is beneficial to everyone. Never has a topic been more timely, more urgent, and more important for all of us," said Christiana Figueres, founding partner of Future Stewards and Global Optimism, and co-author of the forthcoming book The Future We Choose. "Countdown will invite everyone's creativity, ingenuity, and stubborn optimism to help us all tackle the massive challenge of counting the world's emissions down to net zero, including moving beyond fossil fuels, eliminating waste and reforesting the earth. We must have a bold vision for the creation of the regenerative future we can choose to create, and Countdown is sure to help us get there." "I care about a changing climate because it is, as the military calls it, 'a threat multiplier'. It takes issues like poverty and hunger, disease, lack of access to clean water, even political instability, and exacerbates or amplifies them," said Katharine Hayhoe, an atmospheric scientist and director of the Climate Center at Texas Tech University. "That's why, to care about a changing climate, we don't have to be a certain type of person. A thermometer isn't blue or red, liberal or conservative. It gives us the same number no matter how we vote, and we are all affected by the impacts of a changing climate. No, to care about a changing climate, all we have to be is one thing: a human living on planet earth." "Over 1,000 of the world's largest companies have made bold commitments to climate action through our coalition partners' initiatives. Well over 100 are united behind what science says is necessary to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C," said Steve Howard, co-chair of the We Mean Business coalition board. "It is on our watch that the climate crisis has taken hold, and it will take all of us to rise to the challenge. Now is the time for businesses everywhere to step up their ambition on climate change so we can build a better future faster." "We are running out of time to solve the climate crisis," said former Vice President Al Gore. "The solutions are available and millions of global citizens are calling for action. Countdown is uniquely positioned to harness this momentum, and to mobilize the best ideas across every region of the world to confront this existential threat to humanity. As we head into a crucial year for climate action in the U.S. and globally, this effort could not be more important or more timely." "We can't turn the tide on the climate crisis unless we work across sectors and city limits, and ignite far-reaching support for the steps needed to cut emissions, strengthen global health, and build a clean-energy economy that works for everyone," said C40 Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "The 2020s will be a make-or-break decade for the preservation of our planet, and I am proud to lead C40 as they play a central role in this fight. Together, with all those involved in Countdown, we can deliver climate action, inclusive prosperity, and environmental justice to every community." TED, the nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, has a longstanding record of inspiring and supporting environmental engagement, including TED Prize winner Dr. Sylvia Earle's campaign to create marine protection hot spots; Audacious Prize recipients Environmental Defense Fund and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies; and hundreds of other TED Talks on climate change and the environment - including Greta Thunberg's globally recognized TEDxStockholm Talk. You can watch the recorded live theater announcement here. Find image assets here. About TED TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, often in the form of short talks delivered by leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED conferences, including our annual gathering in Vancouver, as well as TEDWomen, intimate TED Salons and thousands of independently organized TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of the talks from TED2019 are published to TED's podcast TED Talks Daily, available on all podcast platforms. TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; The Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TED Translate, which crowdsources the subtitling of TED Talks so that big ideas can spread across languages and borders; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED also has a growing library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, WorkLife with Adam Grant, TED en Español and Sincerely, X. Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED, on Instagram at https://instagram.com/ted and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences. About Future Stewards Future Stewards is a coalition of three partner organizations - Global Optimism, Leaders' Quest and We Mean Business - committed to building a regenerative future where we meet the needs of all within the means of the planet. The coalition came together in 2016 after the breakthrough Paris Climate Agreement to help leaders step up to the challenges of our changing world. Global Optimism is a purpose-driven enterprise focused on social and environmental change, led by Christiana Figueres and Tom Carnac. Leaders' Quest is a social enterprise, founded by Lindsay Levin, that equips CEOs and their teams for the demands of the 21st century. It helps them drive transformation through wisdom, compassion and the ability to grasp diverse perspectives. We Mean Business is a non-profit coalition working with the world's most influential businesses to take action on climate change. It catalyses business leadership to drive policy ambition and accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy. Contacts: Erin Allweiss | TED: countdownpress@thenumber29.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1039648/TED_Countdown.jpg Related Links :http://www.ted.com
-
FRINGE WORLD 2020 Launching in Singapore for the first time
Online contest with a chance to win a fully-paid trip to AustraliaSINGAPORE, Dec. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- FRINGE WORLD – Perth's annual summer festival is back and it's here to bring entertainment to curious urban dwellers. Located a mere five-hour plane ride away, FRINGE WORLD is the most popular festival in Western Australia. With all kinds of entertainment from comedy and burlesque, to musicals and circus acts - allowing visitors to break out of the mundane. Launching in Singapore for the very first time, FRINGE WORLD is Perth's best-kept secret since 2011. Amber Hasler, Festival Director of FRINGE WORLD, commented, "FRINGE WORLD has always been a cherished part of Western Australia's summer calendar and we're thrilled to share the Fringe fun with Singaporeans. We absolutely cannot wait for them to experience it because there is something for everyone and the program will not disappoint." "Perth has undergone a major transformation in the past years and has new attractions and offerings that will excite travellers from day-to-night. FRINGE WORLD is a perfect example of the incredible array of activities and entertainment lined up in Perth and its surrounding regions next year," said Ava Ang, Country Manager Singapore & Malaysia, Tourism Western Australia. "Singapore is Western Australia's second-largest international market both in terms of visitor numbers and spend, and we are committed to showcasing what the destination has to offer to more Singaporeans," continues Ang. The Festival program has more than 700 shows to choose from and individual show tickets are priced at an average of $26 AUD ($24 SGD) - visitors can get their funny bones tickled by 2 Englishmen and an Aussie, witness the incredible musical talents of Gingzilla: Live & Loud (as seen on America's Got Talent) and experience the physical talents, finely chiselled bodies and hilarious comic timing of Railed, a western themed circus spectacular. Moreover, FRINGE WORLD also started an online contest with the prize of a fully-paid trip to Perth and FRINGE WORLD. Simply submit the most fun, quirky, and outrageous escape plans for each scenario posed here, and the more people complete, the higher the chance to win. The contest ends on 10 December - so be sure to participate as soon as possible. An example of a FRINGE WORLD 2020 challenge scenario Winners will receive a pair of round-trip economy class flight tickets from Singapore to Perth on selected dates in January/February 2020, and two nights' accommodation at Doubletree by Hilton. They will also be entitled to eight FRINGE WORLD Festival 2020 show tickets. About FRINGE WORLD FRINGE WORLD is the most popular annual festival in Perth and annually hundreds of thousands of people enjoy the incredible array of entertainment on offer. There's something for everyone at FRINGE WORLD; from comedy, music and musicals, circus and much more, plus ticket prices are great value so visitors can enjoy multiple shows in one night out. The 2020 Festival will be held from 17 January to 16 February at more than 150 venues all over Perth and regional WA. The most popular way to enjoy the Festival is at one of the central hubs such as The Woodside Pleasure Garden or Girls School. The spaces are free to enter and have a magical atmosphere featuring food trucks, outdoor bars and free entertainment. The easiest and best way to buy FRINGE WORLD show tickets is from this website. Visit this page for more information and all are welcome to the 2020 Festival. Follow us on Facebook I Instagram To view the competition visit escapetofringe.world FRINGE WORLD thanks it's Escape campaign partner, Doubletree by Hilton. FRINGE WORLD gratefully recognises the support of its Festival partners including Principal Supporter Lotterywest; Government Partners The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, the City of Perth and Tourism WA; and Principal Partners Woodside and Gage Roads Brewing Co. About Perth Perth is the capital city of WA and offers spectacular experiences, great shopping plus fantastic restaurants and bars. The beaches are pristine, the wildlife is stunning and it's close to loads of fun day trip options. Perth is a close neighbour to South East Asia. It shares the same time zone as Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong and many more countries in Asia and it's only a five-hour flight from Singapore to Perth. Perth has transformed recently with an array of new public spaces activated including surrounding cultural hubs, the vibrant waterfront precinct of Elizabeth Quay, and Yagan Square, which is a celebration of WA's Aboriginal heritage. Day trip options nearby Perth include Rottnest Island (home to the quokka) and the spectacular wine regions in the Swan Valley and Margaret River. Visit experienceperth.com.au for more info about Perth, how to get around the city and things to see and do. Visit westernaustralia.com for more inspiration for travelling to Western Australia for FRINGE WORLD. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191203/2659357-1?lang=0Related Links :https://fringeworld.com.au
-
A Private Ski Slope in the Magnificent Japanese Snow Mountains! 2019-2020 Ski Season Opening of LOTTE Arai Resort
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- For skiers who haven't decided where to go during this ski season, LOTTE Arai Resort, is a skier's paradise in Japan. LOTTE ARAI RESORT Operated by LOTTE HOTELS & RESORTS, the LOTTE Arai Resort will open for the 2019-2020 ski season December 14, 2019. Since its completion in December 2017 in Myoko City, LOTTE Arai Resort has hosted the FIS Cup 2020 of the International Ski Federation (FIS), the Freeride World Qualifier (FWQ), and the Snowboard Masters (SBM) for three consecutive years. LOTTE Arai Resort was ranked 1st in 4 categories of the 2019 Ski Asia Awards including 'Japan's Best Ski Resort'. Over 50,000 skiers visited the resort last season, proving that this is Asia's premium adventure resort. Visitors can easily travel between the hotel and ski slope due to the Ski-In, Ski-Out Resort. The resort has over 6 square miles of ski grounds. Its longest ski slope is 3.2 miles long. The resort's fifteen courses are designed to provide different levels of difficulty, enabling both beginners and professionals to enjoy skiing. The resort is also an excellent place for backcountry skiing, as 80% of the mountain is covered with uncompressed snow. The LOTTE Arai Resort runs an English Snowsports School. Visitors can take lessons taught by a former member of the Australian national ski team. The school's excellence was acknowledged when Ski Asia designated it as 'Japan's best Snowsports school'. The resort's Hoshizora Outdoor Hot Spring offers a serene relaxation paradise. The spring's thermal water is drawn from 5,740 feet underground. SPA MANNA, a new facility due to open this season will introduce a program combining forest baths, yoga, Pilates and the healing power of the surrounding natural landscape. Also enjoy a spa, swimming pool, and 12 food and beverage locations. To commemorate the opening of the third ski season, a special Ski Mania package will be offered from December 21, 2019, to March 15, 2020. This package consists of a one-night stay, one-day pass for the adult ski lift, and free admission to the Hoshizora Hot Spring. This will be available at 24,000 Japanese yen per person (plus VAT), which is equivalent to a 20% discount on the individual tickets. * Reservation: LOTTE Arai Resort (www.lottehotel.com/arai-resort/en.html) Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191129/2656960-1?lang=0 Related Links :http://www.lottehotel.com
-
Tarena Announces Management Change
BEIJING, Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tarena International, Inc. (Nasdaq: TEDU) ("Tarena" or the "Company") announced today that it had terminated a number of employees, including a vice president of the Company, effective on December 2, 2019. The Company took the action to follow the recommendation by the independent audit committee of the board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), after the audit committee conducted the independent investigation which had been previously announced. In addition, the Board has formed a search committee (the "Search Committee") to search, evaluate and recommend to the Board qualified candidates for senior executive positions. The Search Committee is led by Mr. Jianguang Li and includes all the independent directors of the Company. About Tarena International, Inc. Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) is a leading provider of professional education services in China. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers professional education courses in IT and non-IT subjects. Tarena also offers K-12 education programs. Its professional education courses provide students with practical skills to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tarena-announces-management-change-300968002.html
-
MQDC joins with Tourism Authority of Thailand and RSTA for dazzling 'Beautiful Bangkok 2020' year-end spectacular
Enhanced third edition will create a new city-center countdown destination Amazing light and sound spectacular on Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard, one of Ratchaprasong's top landmarks, will light up Bangkok's skyline to celebrate the festive season BANGKOK, Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), one of Thailand's leading property developers, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA), announced today that they are jointly organizing 'Beautiful Bangkok 2020: A Blossom of Happiness'. The dazzling light and sound spectacular will turn the landmark Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard tower into a stunning attraction, lighting up Bangkok's skyline during the holiday season, culminating with a New Year Countdown display. MQDC joins with Tourism Authority of Thailand and RSTA for dazzling ‘Beautiful Bangkok 2020’ year-end spectacular The 'Beautiful Bangkok' annual display is now in its third year. This year the event has grown with 'The Wonder Flower Land', featuring a wide range of activities on the square in front of Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard. 'Beautiful Bangkok 2020: A Blossom of Happiness' will premiere on Monday 16 December 2019 between 6pm and 9pm. The spectacular continues through to the New Year Countdown on 31 December. Activities in front of Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard are open to the public from 17 to 31 December 2019 between 6pm and 11pm. The event aims to enrich the Holiday Season in Ratchaprasong for Thais as well as international visitors, reinforcing Bangkok as an exciting destination, capturing the hearts of people from around the world. Mr. Visit Malaisirirat, CEO of Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), said: "Beautiful Bangkok 2020 is designed to spread happiness and goodwill to all and to strengthen the tourism industry of Bangkok and Thailand. We are investing heavily to make this year's edition even bigger and more spectacular than ever and are also creating 'The Wonder Flower Land' on the square in front of Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard. "Advanced AI technology and a highly creative team from Japan have enabled us to design and execute a sensational light and sound show. We will project images onto Magnolias Ratchadamri Boulevard, which is a 60-floor super-luxury residential complex and a striking Ratchaprasong landmark with a distinctive design inspired by magnolia petals." The event's highlights include an interactive feature to personalize the light show to the heartbeats of individual spectators. MQDC has organized a 'Beautiful Bangkok Free Shuttle' service running along Ratchadamri, Rama IV, and Siam Square to provide additional convenience throughout the Festive Season. A photography contest will also seek out the best images of 'Beautiful Bangkok 2020: A Blossom of Happiness'. The overall winner will receive a Leica camera. Other prizewinners will have their images reproduced by TAT as postcards to promote tourism. The winning photos will be chosen by TAT and MQDC for their composition, beauty, energy, and creativity. Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said: "Bangkok and Thailand have been preferred destinations globally thanks to our diversity of tourist attractions that appeal to all types of tourists, whatever their lifestyle and interests. 'Beautiful Bangkok 2020: A Blossom of Happiness' is another major event with universal appeal and visual richness to further enhance our city's appeal." Mr. Chai Srivikorn, President of RSTA, said: "Ratchaparasong Square is an important city center tourism, business, and commercial district visited daily by over 600,000 people, rising to 900,000 in high season. The previous two editions of Beautiful Bangkok were major magnets for Thai and foreign visitors. Business owners in the area have prepared a wide range of activities this year in a joint effort to delight and entertain everyone, reinforcing Ratchaprasong's status as the region's top shopping and lifestyle destination." For show times of 'Beautiful Bangkok 2020: A Blossom of Happiness' and photo contest rules, go to www.mqdc.com or https://www.facebook.com/mqdcforallwellbeing/ Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC) develops, invests in, and manages residential, mixed-use, and 'theme' developments, including retail and hotels, to premium international standards under brands such as Magnolias, Whizdom, The Aspen Tree, Mulberry Grove, and The Forestias. The company operates under the concept of 'For All Well-Being', and has a strong commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. For more information, please visit www.mqdc.com The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) works to make Thailand a preferred destination in a sustainable way, helping lead the way in setting a direction for all stakeholders in promoting Thailand's tourism. Making Thailand a preferred destination in a sustainable way means making Thailand one of the world's top destinations chosen by tourists while promoting practices that balance economic, social, and environmental responsibilities. TAT conducts marketing and public relations activities that highlight the attractiveness of Thailand's tourism offerings and promote sustainable income distribution in the tourism value chain. Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) is an association of business owners in the Ratchaprasong Square area currently led by Mr. Chai Srivikorn, its president. The association aims to reinforce the Ratchaprasong Square area as one of the world's preeminent business, shopping, and tourism destinations. The area spans 1,020,000 sq m and is connected by the elevated Ratchaprasong Walk, linking 23 buildings in the Ratchaprasong Square area and covering a distance of over 1 km. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191203/2659172-1?lang=0
-
XJTLU Presents: From Star Wars to street art - Blending East and West Culture
SUZHOU, China, Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In a corner of the galaxy that is Shanghai and in a time set in the near future comes Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University's (XJTLU) inaugural public lecture in the city, with a focus on Star Wars and street art to start a discussion on cross-cultural exchanges between East and West. Image: Street art from one of the Festival's Li-Heng Lee curated. The event at IdeaPod on the Bund on Thursday December 5th will consider how culture is adapted in different ways to appeal to different audiences across the world. Theatre director and cultural icon Li-Heng Lee will deliver a keynote speech, reflecting on his experiences as a curator introducing street art performance to China at a Shanghai Expo and as a director of the East Meets West International Arts Festival. "The differences and similarities that exist between two cultures can reveal a lot about the host countries and areas where that culture has originated," Lee says. "The ability to adapt, reshape and repurpose the culture of one area to that of another can also help ensure its legacy and survival, albeit in different forms and different ways." The XJTLU event, taking place just prior to the release of the Disney's film: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, will also explore how that sci-fi film franchise, which is considered box office gold in the West, is less well received in the East, yet buoyed up with the aid of e-novel tie-ins. A panel discussion led by XJTLU's Dean of International Affairs and architect and filmmaker, Dr Igea Troiani, will follow the keynote. Panellists include Dr Michael High, global media scholar; Dr Li (Sunny) Pan; consumer mindfulness researcher; and Arturo Smith, digital cinematography pioneer. XJTLU Executive President Professor Youmin Xi, who will provide the opening address, said the inaugural theme was both fitting and reflective of the University's values. "In blending the strengths of the Chinese and United Kingdom higher education systems, XJTLU brings together East and West learning styles in a way that equips our students to succeed beyond a local level and progress in the world at an international level," he says. From Star Wars to Street Art will be held at the IdeaPod on the Bund, 1 Yan'an Dong Lu, December 5th from 5.45pm. To register, go to https://xjtlu-edu-cn.mikecrm.com/YkXNRa3 Located in Suzhou, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is the largest joint venture institution in China. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191203/2659066-1?lang=0 Related Links :www.xjtlu.edu.cn
-
'2019 Seoul Christmas Festival,' to open on December 13th at Cheonggye Plaza
This year's theme is 'Christmas in Seoul with Santa'; the festival will be held nearby Cheonggyecheon Stream areaSEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- 2019 Seoul Christmas Festival Organization Committee announced plan for the 5th annual '2019 Seoul Christmas Festival' (SCF). 2019 Seoul Christmas Festival 2019 SCF will be hosted by the Kyunghyang Shinmun, C Channel Broadcasting station, and Agape Cultural Foundation, managed by 2019 Seoul Christmas Festival Organization Committee, and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Korea Tourism Organization. Starting with a lighting ceremony filled with events including lighting of the decorations, and performances on December 13th at Cheonggye Plaze, the festival will be held until January 1, 2020 near Cheonggyecheon Stream area (from Cheonggye Plaza to Jangtonggyo Bridge). This year's theme is 'Christmas in Seoul with Santa'. The festival will have 5 zones with different themes, dream, joy, Santa, blessing, and hope, where giant trees, Santa villages, blooming snow flowers (snow on the branches), flying wish lanterns and other events will present special memories for the citizens of Seoul and tourists, as if they are pulled into the winter fairytale. "At Cheonggyecheon Stream, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Seoul, visitors will be able to make special, unforgettable memories of their time in Seoul. Enjoy the season's holiday in romantic ways while enjoying the beautiful nightscape of Seoul," stated Manager Mr. Lee from 2019 SCF organization committee. Details of the festival can be found on the website (www.seoulcf.com) and by phone (+82-2-904-1159). Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20191122/2651596-1-a?lang=0 Related Links :http://www.seoulcf.com
-
Australian Capptivate Launch Signals Step Change in Candidate Assessment
SYDNEY, Dec. 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cappfinity, the world leader in strengths-based assessment, is launching an innovative platform designed to deliver bias-free algorithmic assessments, and provide deeper insight for recruiters and an immersive, authentic experience for candidates. Underpinned by Cappfinity's pioneering strengths-based methodology, the Capptivate platform provides a customised experience for every user, serving a bespoke combination of assessments across different roles, functions and levels – all perfectly aligned to the client's brand. Feedback from clients and candidates is positive with businesses seeing application processes shorten by hours and significant reductions in cost per hire. Candidates are also welcoming the Capptivate experience with 98% endorsing the new approach and describing it as engaging and informative. Cappfinity opened in Australia in September 2018 led by Lucy Zucker, who has a background in organisational psychology and talent research. Lucy and the team, which includes strengths expert Chris Battle as Client Success Director and Chris O'Brien as Strategic Account Manager, have enjoyed a successful first year with the company now working with a number of high-profile clients including Grant Thornton, GSK and Schneider Electric. Head of Client Success Lucy Zucker, commented on the launch: "Faced with the pressure to secure the best talent and improve candidate experience, businesses are keen to explore new ways of attracting and assessing candidates. Capptivate delivers the best of both worlds – our solutions enable recruiters to look beyond academic performance to assess for fit and potential, whilst also engaging candidates with a realistic job preview and insight into company culture."
-
China Online Education Group to Report Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results on Monday, December 9, 2019
Earnings Call Scheduled for 8:00 a.m. ET on December 9, 2019BEIJING, Dec. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- China Online Education Group ("51Talk", or the "Company") (NYSE: COE), a leading online education platform in China, with core expertise in English education, today announced that it will report its third quarter 2019 unaudited financial results on Monday, December 9, 2019, before the open of U.S. markets. The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time on December 9, 2019 (9:00 p.m. Beijing/Hong Kong time on December 9, 2019). Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: United States Toll: 1-866-264-5888 International: 1-412-317-5226 Mainland China Toll: 400-120-1203 Hong Kong Toll: 800-905-945 Hong Kong-Local Toll: 852-3018-4992 Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "China Online Education Group." Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.51talk.com. A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately one hour after the conclusion of the live call until December 16, 2019, by dialing the following telephone numbers: United States Toll: 1-877-344-7529 International Toll: 1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 10137279 Upcoming Investor Events After our Q3 earnings release, we plan to host investor events in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Management will meet with institutional investors throughout these events. Beijing investor event will be held at 51Talk, 6th Floor Deshi Building North, Shangdi East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, on December 10, 2019 at 10:00 am (Beijing time) Shanghai investor event will be held at 51Talk, No.1 building Huaxin Center, Guilin Road, Xuhui District. Shanghai City, on December 11, 2019 at 10:00 am (Beijing time) Hong Kong NDR, December 12 - December 13, 2019, in Hong Kong For registration and additional information, please contact us at ir@51talk.com, or 51talk@tpg-ir.com. About China Online Education Group China Online Education Group (NYSE: COE) is a leading online education platform in China, with core expertise in English education. The Company's mission is to make quality education accessible and affordable. The Company's online and mobile education platforms enable students across China to take live interactive English lessons with overseas foreign teachers, on demand. The Company connects its students with a large pool of highly qualified foreign teachers that it assembled using a shared economy approach, and employs student and teacher feedback and data analytics to deliver a personalized learning experience to its students. For more information, please visit http://ir.51talk.com. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: China Online Education GroupInvestor Relations+86 (10) 8342-6262ir@51talk.com The Piacente Group, Inc.Brandi Piacente+86 (10) 6508-0677 +1-212-481-205051talk@tpg-ir.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/china-online-education-group-to-report-third-quarter-2019-financial-results-on-monday-december-9-2019-300967346.htmlRelated Links :http://ir.51talk.com
-
YPO Elects Anastasios (Tassos) Economou 2020-2021 YPO Chairman
DALLAS, Dec. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, YPO, the premier global leadership community for chief executives, announced the election of Anastasios (Tassos) Economou to YPO's highest elected office, the 2020-2021 chairman of the YPO Board of Directors. Economou is the 69th member to hold this office and will succeed current YPO Chairman Elizabeth Zucker. He will begin his term on 1 July 2020. A member of YPO Monaco, Economou is the Founder and Managing Director of iGroup. Focusing on relative value investing, iGroup looks to spot an industry that is at the low part of the business cycle and invest in it. Industries where iGroup primarily are present include shipping, tech, spirits, real estate and biotech. "YPO is very dear to me, my second family," says Economou. "I cherish our values and the time we spend together. I am humbled to have been chosen to serve YPO further from the position of chairman and I look forward to being able to serve this family and make the YPO experience even more relevant for all my peers." The YPO chairman is elected by member peers on the board. Economou continues the legacy of YPO's founder and first president, Ray Hickok, who set the standard for peer leadership. "Tassos brings an incredible combination of business acumen, YPO experience and an energetic personality to the role of YPO chairman that I know will have an amazing impact on our organization," says Zucker. "Working alongside him over the coming year will be both my great pleasure and an honor." Economou joined YPO in 2005 and has been an active member at the chapter, regional and global level, having held more than 25 leadership positions. He is an elected director of the YPO board and currently serves as Chair of the Membership Council; Co-Vice Chair of the Chapters and Regions Committee; and a member of the Strategy and Finance Committees. He also is a member of the Chapter Model and Prominence and Diversity Work Groups. Economou was awarded the Alexander L. Cappello award in 2017, which is YPO's highest honor in membership development service. That same year, he was recognized with the Best of the Best YPO Region award for his work with the Europe Region. Tassos is also the Creator of the YPO LAB (Leaders Across Borders) program where members inspire their peers with life-changing moments shared through storytelling. About YPO YPO is a global leadership community of more than 28,000 chief executives in more than 130 countries, driven by the belief that the world needs better leaders. YPO members inspire and challenge each other based in open sharing and trust among a diverse community. Members' companies are diversified among industries and types of businesses, employ more than 22 million people globally and generate USD9 trillion in annual revenues. For more information, visit ypo.org. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1029464/YPO_Logo.jpg Related Links :https://www.ypo.org
