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Tanoto Foundation Develops Impactful Future Leaders at Tanoto Scholars Gathering 2025

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SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 August 2025 – High unemployment among educated youth and a lack of leadership readiness are significant challenges on Indonesia’s path to its “Golden Indonesia 2045” vision. Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) in February 2025 indicated a national open unemployment rate of 4.76%, with 7.28 million people unemployed. Alarmingly, the unemployment rate for university graduates is even higher at 5.25%. This gap highlights that academic qualifications alone are insufficient for the demands of the modern workforce and future leadership roles.

To address this, graduates need to have not only technical competence but also strong soft skills, leadership abilities, a collaborative spirit and robust social awareness, especially in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world.

Tanoto Foundation, an independent philanthropic organisation that catalyses systems change in education and healthcare founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, is committed to nurturing university graduates to become impactful future leaders through its flagship TELADAN (Transforming Education to Produce Future Leaders) Programme. The TELADAN Programme provides scholarships to undergraduate students from 10 partner universities in Indonesia. What distinguishes the TELADAN Programme is its structured leadership training provided to its recipients, known as Tanoto Scholars, from their second to eighth semesters to enhance their leadership and soft skills.

Tanoto Scholars Gathering 2025: To Learn and To Lead
A key component of the TELADAN Programme is the Tanoto Scholars Gathering (TSG), an annual forum that brings together Tanoto Scholars from across Indonesia to learn, network and strengthen their leadership capabilities. This year’s TSG was held from July 24 – 26, 2025 at the RAPP Complex in Pangkalan Kerinci, Riau. The event was attended by 291 Tanoto Scholars from 10 partner universities: IPB University, Diponegoro University, Gadjah Mada University, Brawijaya University, Universitas Indonesia, University of North Sumatra, Bandung Institute of Technology, Hasanuddin University, Mulawarman University, Riau University, and Andalas University. Through the theme, “Learn & Lead: Becoming the Champion of Good”, Tanoto Scholars were encouraged to embody impactful and sustainable leadership.

Benny Lee, CEO of Tanoto Foundation, stated that the TSG aims to shape scholars into role models. “The core value we instil is that every Tanoto Scholar must be a role model for doing good. This philosophy of creating a positive impact is a legacy from our founders, Mr. Sukanto Tanoto and Mrs. Tinah Bingei Tanoto,” he said at the opening ceremony. “As future leaders, Tanoto Scholars must not only be examples but also lead others to do good. They have a responsibility to bring progress to society.”

Eduward Ginting, Chief Operating Officer of RAPP, who also opened the event, urged the scholars to become impactful leaders. “You are champions selected through a rigorous process. As chosen students, you must create an impact not only in your immediate surroundings but also on a broader scale for Indonesia,” said Eduward.

During her session at the start of TSG 2025, Veronica Tan, Deputy Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, emphasised the importance of a positive mindset. “You must feed yourselves with things that build you up. Surround yourselves with a positive environment and supportive people,” she advised. “Intellect is important, but conscience is even more so. A sharp mind without a good character is useless. Therefore, be leaders with a conscience who bring positive impact to others”.

In his session, Professor Brian Yuliarto, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, called the university years a “golden time” for building networks, character and life vision. He shared 12 characters for success, including strong desire, self-belief, specialised knowledge, imagination and persistence. “We need smart people who produce breakthroughs that change the quality of life for society. They must be not just competent, but also relevant and contributive,” he concluded.

Adding another perspective, Angkie Yudistia, CEO of Thisable Enterprise, shared her inspiring journey of creating opportunities amid challenges. She recounted how losing her hearing at a young age motivated her to rise up and become a sociopreneur. Angkie urged the scholars to become future leaders who possess empathy, self-awareness and a strong commitment to equality and collaboration.

The TSG 2025 activities were designed to be immersive. Scholars participated in an industrial visit to a business group of the Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) – also founded by Sukanto Tanoto – to learn firsthand how a sustainable business is built and developed. They also engaged in an experiential leadership workshop and outbound activities to hone their teamwork, quick decision-making, and problem-solving skills. The overall goal is to equip Tanoto Scholars with relevant soft skills and a leadership mindset, preparing them to create a positive impact in any field they enter.

A Model for Leadership Development: The TELADAN Programme
Demonstrating its ongoing commitment, Tanoto Foundation’s TELADAN Programme offers a holistic leadership development model for students at its partner universities in Indonesia. This comprehensive scholarship goes beyond financial aid by providing structured training to build critical soft skills. The programme also provides support for its scholars to participate in international competitions, internships, and research projects.

Upon graduation, scholars join the global Tanoto Foundation alumni network, which spans across Indonesia and the world. Since 2006, the foundation’s scholarship programmes have benefited 8,559 students as of 2024.
Hashtag: #RGE #RoyalGoldenEagle #TanotoFoundation #TELADAN #Education #Leadership #GoldenIndonesia2045 #SocialImpact

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

About Tanoto Foundation

At Tanoto Foundation, we unlock human potential, help communities thrive, and create lasting impact. Founded in 1981 by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto, we are an independent family foundation that believes in providing every person with the opportunity to realise his or her full potential. To do so, we catalyse systems change in education and healthcare. Our approach is impact-first, collaborative and evidence-based. We invest for the long term and strive to develop leaders who can drive sustained, positive outcomes.

More information is available at www.tanotofoundation.org.

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XTransfer Joins Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026

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Signals Plan to Make Malaysia Regional Compliance Hub

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border financial platform, was honoured to be invited to join the Malaysia Economic Forum (Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026). Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, shared insights on how Malaysia can accelerate technology application and innovation to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale exports under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), during FEM 2026’s panel discussion, “Made by Malaysia: Accelerating Technology Applications & Innovation”.

Bill Deng (second from the right), Founder and CEO of XTransfer, joins as a speaker at Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026.

Bill was honoured to join YB Tuan Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, and Mr Ooi Ching Liang, Senior Director of Engineering at SkyeChip, for a discussion focused on strengthening high-growth, high-value industries, advancing R&D commercialisation, increasing productivity and competitiveness, and supporting MSMEs in global value chains.

Drawing on XTransfer’s work with MSMEs across markets, Bill noted that many Malaysian businesses are “able to export,” but face persistent barriers to scaling exports. The most common issues are trust, compliance, and scale, which often surface as payment delays, repeated documentation requests, FX uncertainty, and working capital pressure as orders grow.

“For B2B SMEs in foreign trade, the biggest constraint isn’t demand. It’s the operational complexity behind cross-border payments, foreign exchange, and compliance,” Bill said. “In particular, AML requirements can be difficult for both traditional banks and SMEs to manage efficiently, creating friction that slows down legitimate trade.”

Bill highlighted a structural shift in global trade flows from a single dominant corridor to non-U.S., intra-Asia, and broader South–South routes. This trend is increasingly clear in real SME transaction patterns. Bill shared, “In 2025, XTransfer’s average collection amount from Asia, Africa, and Latin America grew by 106% year-on-year, with Africa exceeding 270%, Latin America reaching 94%, and ASEAN reaching 82%.” YB Liew noted the trend and thinks it is a direction Malaysia should pursue.

XTransfer also said it plans to establish Malaysia as its regional compliance centre, citing Malaysia’s strong geographic and time-zone advantages, a mature regulatory environment, availability of talent in compliance and risk operations, and cost efficiency. “Malaysia gives us the talent, governance environment, and regional proximity to scale compliance as intra-Asia and emerging-market trade accelerates,” Bill added.
Hashtag: #XTransfer #Malaysia #SMEs #13MP #FEM2026




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CGTN: Little Chinese New Year opens big window to China’s soul

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BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – As China marks Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year, there is growing evidence of its ancient traditions evolving into global lifestyle trends. CGTN published an article analyzing how this prelude to the Year of the Horse – from the folk ritual of “sweeping the dust” to the cross-cultural fusion of the Spring Festival Gala – illustrates China’s growing global cultural resonance.

As the lunar calendar turns its final pages, China enters a period of joyful anticipation known as Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year. Often celebrated as the Festival of the Kitchen God, it marks the official start of the “busy year” – a traditional term for the intense, joyful period of preparing food, cleaning homes, and shopping for the upcoming Spring Festival.

The Spring Festival is a deeply significant time for family reunion. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the “Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional Chinese New Year” onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

While daily routines continue to evolve, they remain anchored in rituals that provide a sense of normalcy and meaning. It is perhaps no wonder that in a climate of uncertainty, traditional Chinese lifestyles are finding a new audience beyond the country’s borders, with the Spring Festival chief among those unique traditions that are fast becoming a shared human experience.

Diverse traditions, shared aspirations

In a prelude to the broader celebrations, Xiaonian, observed on February 10 and 11 this year, kickstarts a focused period of preparation. According to ancient lore, families offer Zaotang, or sticky “Kitchen Candy,” to the Kitchen God to ensure he delivers a favorable report on the household’s conduct before he ascends to the heavens. This lighthearted tradition marks the beginning of several symbolic rituals aimed at welcoming a fresh start.

A key element of this transition is donning new clothes. In Chinese culture, the New Year represents a moment when “all things are renewed,” and wearing new garments symbolizes shedding the “dust” or misfortunes of the past to embrace auspicious energy for the year ahead. Alongside this personal renewal, families nationwide engage in “sweeping the dust,” a deep-cleaning ritual to purify the home and prepare it for new blessings.

Whereas these practices are universal, celebratory flavors vary by geography. In the north, families traditionally gather over steaming plates of dumplings, whereas in the south, the menu often features sweet rice cakes (Niangao) and glutinous rice balls (Tangyuan).

As Mao Qiaohui, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnic Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explains, these variations highlight the inclusive nature of Chinese civilization.

“Although folk customs differ between different regions across China, this diversity reflects the cultural pluralism within the Spring Festival tradition,” she notes. “Different regional identities contribute to a shared pursuit of harmony and reunion.”

The vitality of these traditions is also evident in local craftsmanship. In northern regions like Shandong and Henan, artisans are currently making Huamo, decorated steamed buns, featuring horse designs for the upcoming zodiac year. Meanwhile, in Shuozhou, Shanxi Province, intangible heritage inheritors are carving spirited stallions onto traditional gourds. These creations reflect the regional diversity of the festival and a collective desire for progress in the year ahead.

Cultural dialogue: From global stage to daily life

The festive atmosphere is reflected further in preparations for the Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan), produced by China Media Group.

Recent rehearsals show performances meshing traditional Chinese culture with international artistry. One performance piece combines the wooden clog dance of the Hani and Lisu ethnic groups with the rhythmic tap of Spanish Flamenco and Hungarian folk dance. And with global stars like Jackie Chan and Lionel Richie on the bill, the Gala’s stage is set to become a stage for the world to come together.

The reach of the gala has expanded far beyond a domestic audience. Through the “Spring Festival Gala Prelude” events held in the United States, Russia, France, Italy, and several African nations, the program has become a gateway to Chinese New Year customs and cultural exchange.

This interest extends beyond art and into the lives of people worldwide, as seen in the #BecomingChinese trend. This phenomenon features international social media users adopting elements of Chinese daily life – such as keeping a thermos of hot water handy, wearing quilted indoor slippers or practicing mindful movement with Baduanjin exercises.

The festival is no longer a distant event but a gateway to Chinese lifestyle, rooted in ancient wellness wisdom and constantly updated by modern convenience, and the first step to a journey of exploration into a culture that values ritual, safety and hospitality.

Whether through global broadcasts or shared daily habits, the Spring Festival increasingly strengthens a sense of cultural empathy between China and the rest of the world.

For more information, please click here:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-02-10/Little-New-Year-opens-big-window-to-China-s-soul-1KEhJjMX2fe/p.html

Hashtag: #CGTN

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De Beers Group and Assouline Celebrate the Launch of “A Diamond Is Forever: The Making of A Cultural Icon 1926-2026”

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LONDON, UK – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – In the 1930s, De Beers redefined the role of diamonds in society, celebrating them as masterpieces of nature and craftmanship. Before this, diamond jewelry pieces were treasures exchanged discreetly amongst society’s elite, as luxury houses, fearful of diminishing their mystique, fostered only private relationships with their clients. De Beers revealed the wonder of diamonds to a wider audience, shifting the perception of them from luxury item to a gift integral to romantic milestones and aspirational, glamorous lives, as well as a way of marking personal achievement.

De Beers Group And Assouline Celebate The Launch Of “A Diamond Is Forever: The Making Of A Cultural Icon 1926-2026”

When copywriter Frances Gerety captured the diamond’s essence with the phrase “A Diamond Is Forever” in 1947, the declaration enshrined the diamond as a promise of love and endurance, a sentiment resonating far beyond the notion of a simple gift. Gerety’s words, seen on archival advertisements, magazine placements, and celebrity endorsements, reflected the deep cultural connection between diamonds and enduring relationships. Commissioned artwork from artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Raoul Dufy draw a direct line between a diamond’s rarity—each one formed deep within the earth over billions of years—and the creative genius of fine art. By sharing these artistic visions with the world, De Beers revealed the wonder of diamonds—nature’s oldest treasure—to a wider audience, elevating their aura and allure while preserving the sense of rarity and significance that sets them apart.

For a century, the story of diamonds has been one of transformation and continuity. In the 1960s, stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe adorned themselves with diamonds, embodying the elegance and glamour associated with the gemstone. The 1990s “Shadows” campaign, with its evocative pairing of diamonds and the neoclassical composition Palladio by Karl Jenkins, captured the essence of the diamond: authentic, unique, and everlasting.

In recent years, the conversation around diamonds has expanded to include provenance, sustainability, and ethical stewardship, affirming the diamond’s place as a symbol not just of love but of responsibility and conscience. Much like walking through a gallery that traces the evolution of artistic expression, A Diamond Is Forever offers a view into how diamonds have come to embody the shifting ideals and aspirations of society itself.

Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup #NaturalDiamonds #diamonds #ADiamondIsForever #Assouline




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About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit .

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