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Gold, Silver and Bronze winners announced for the WARC Awards 2024 Asia-Pacific

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WARC Awards

7 Gold, 11 Silver and 15 Bronze awarded across 10 markets for 12 categories

Local and global brands honoured including Dove, McDonald’s, Paytm, Samsung, and leading agencies from across APAC represented

22 May 2024 –  The Gold, Silver and Bronze winners are announced for the WARC Awards 2024 – Asia Pacific. Now in their fourth year, the awards, in association with LIONS, honour marketing and strategic effectiveness.

7 Gold, 11 Silver and 15 Bronze accolades have been awarded for Asia-Pacific. Campaigns for both global and local brands, and for a diverse range of product categories covering CPG, finance and travel are represented showcasing how marketers are driving growth across different sectors.

India has won the most awards (11), followed by Australia (7), New Zealand (4), Singapore (3), Greater China (2), Hong Kong SAR (2), Philippines (1), Taiwan (1), Thailand (1) and Vietnam (1).

The three APAC jury panels followed a rigorous judging process using the Creative Effectiveness and the B2B Effectiveness Ladders, unique tools providing a consistent approach and global language to benchmark effectiveness.

The Gold, Silver and Bronze winners are:

Brand Purpose category:

Gold

  • An envelope that sealed the fate of women · Ujjivan Small Finance Bank · McCann Worldgroup, Gurugram · India

Silver

  • Brand Purpose · LEAD School · TBWA/India, Mumbai · India

Bronze

  • Dove’s journey from good to loved · Dove · Ogilvy, Mumbai · India

Business-to-Business category

Bronze

  • Making money talk · Paytm · McCann Worldgroup, Gurugram · India

Channel integration category

Bronze

  • Saudi tourism invites Chinese travellers to Lai Bai! · Saudi Tourism Authority · PHD Media MENA, Glodow and Nead Communications, San Francisco · Greater China
  • Reviving the lost colours of West Bengal · Sunlight · Mindshare, Mumbai · India

Channel Pioneer category

Gold

  • Samsung iTest – Comparing apples with androids · Samsung Galaxy · DDB Auckland / Tribal Aotearoa, Auckland · New Zealand

Silver

  • Doing nothing makes you unmissable · Cadbury 5 Star · Ogilvy, Mumbai · India

Jury chair, Sindhuja Rai, CEO, Wavemaker, APAC, said: “Something which was seen as innovative a few years back is now business as usual, showing a maturity within the market. There were cases that showed really strong, inspiring and clever use of technology, but being anchored and rooted in the heart of the brand and the business, rather than being a novelty.”

Cultural Impact category

Gold

  • Changing the education system to keep girls in school · Whisper (feminine hygiene) · Leo Burnett, Mumbai · India

Silver

  • #LetHerGrow · Dove · Edelman, Bangkok · Thailand
  • Can a cookie help India win the World Cup? · Oreo · Leo Burnett, Mumbai · India

Bronze

  • Correct the internet · Team Heroine · DDB, Auckland · New Zealand

Customer Experience category

Silver

  • Re:Store · KFC · Dentsu Creative, Shanghai · Greater China

Bronze

  • Rebuilding a more wonderful airline experience · Virgin Australia · Special, Sydney / PHD Sydney · Australia

Commenting on the Bronze winner, jury chair Dean Chadwick, Chief Marketing Officer, MYOB, said: “The Virgin case study was not a one and done campaign. The brand is committed to the middle seat lottery for a number of years. So you can see the net effect of that as a consumer because the brand is there for the long haul.”

Instant Impact category

Gold

  • Trapped · Income Insurance · Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Singapore · Singapore

Silver

  • Making the best call in home loans – How ANZ mobilised a thousand staff, redefined value and reversed a year of share decline in one month · ANZ · TBWA/New Zealand, Auckland · New Zealand
  • Spotify becomes the undisputed leader in IPL · Spotify · Leo Burnett, Mumbai · India

Bronze

  • How un-Australia delivered new records for Australian lamb · Australian Lamb · The Monkeys, part of Accenture song, Sydney / One Green Bean, Sydney · Australia
  • McDonald’s coffee retirement · McCafé · DDB Group, Hong Kong · Hong Kong (SAR)

Long-term Growth category

Gold

  • Brewing coffee culture in tea-drinking India · Nescafé · McCann, Gurugram · India

Silver

  • Beertime is playtime · Bar Beer · Ogilvy, Taipei City · Taiwan, China
  • Industry SuperFunds · Industry SuperFunds · Shannon Company, Melbourne · Australia

Bronze

  • How little moments made big bickies for Arnott’s · Arnott’s Biscuits · Saatchi & Saatchi, Sydney · Australia

Partnerships & Sponsorships category

Bronze

  • Domex X Petron partnership · Domex · Mindshare, Taguig · Philippines

Path-to-Purchase category

Bronze

  • Instant shoppable ads – A Moët & Chandon X News Corp Australia commerce partnership powered by Vudoo · Moët & Chandon · Vudoo, Melbourne · Australia

Strategic Thinking category (new)

Gold

  • How can a country exist without land? · Government of Tuvalu · The Monkeys, part of Accenture song, Sydney · Australia

Silver

  • You’re cooked · Fire and Emergency New Zealand · Motion Sickness, Auckland · New Zealand
  • Singapore’s favourite side trip · Gojek · Forsman & Bodenfors, Singapore · Singapore

Bronze

  • We see you care · Agency for Integrated Care · The Secret Little Agency, Singapore · Singapore
  • McDiploma · McDonald’s · DDB Hong Kong SAR · Hong Kong SAR
  • Cadbury 5 star presents – The mush detector · Cadbury 5 Star · Ogilvy Mumbai / Wavemaker Mumbai · India

Commenting on the winning work, jury chair Bhaskar Choudhuri, Chief Marketing Officer, Lenovo, APAC, said: “The overwhelming majority of the issues that the case studies were trying to solve were not marketing or advertising problems, but business problems related to brand growth, market share or category stagnation.”

Use of Data category

Gold

  • Democratising technology to help farmers fight climate change · Lay’s · Leo Burnett, Mumbai, India

Bronze

  • Tết 2022 – The safe ticket home · Lifebuoy · Mindshare, Ho Chi Minh City / Creativehunts, Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam

The Gold winners will automatically progress to compete at a Global level where a super-jury made up of all the regional jury chairs – Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa, North America – will award the coveted WARC Grands Prix, the ultimate recognition for marketing success. The Grands Prix will be revealed on 13 June via the Effectiveness Show part one. The Effectiveness Show part two will include interviews and insights from the Grand Prix winners.

Energy

High-Level Minister Roundup to Headline African Energy Week 2026

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African Energy Chamber

African Energy Week 2026 will convene ministers from Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia and Niger to spotlight oil, gas expansion, reforms and investment opportunities continentwide

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 13, 2026/APO Group/ –A high-level ministerial roundup will take center stage at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from 12–16 October –, convening some of the continent’s most influential energy leaders at a defining moment for Africa’s oil, gas and power sectors. As hydrocarbon expansion converges with accelerating energy transition strategies, the gathering is set to spotlight real-time project execution, regulatory reform and cross-border infrastructure that are actively reshaping Africa’s energy future.

 

Confirmed ministers to date include Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies Mourad Adjal, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines Birame Soulèye Diop, Zambia’s Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote and Niger’s Minster of Petroleum Hamadou Tinni.

 

Fresh from a March OPEC+ decision to lift output to 977,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), Algeria enters AEW 2026 amid a $60 billion sector transformation. The country is also advancing a 500-well exploration drive and accelerating its 1.48 GW “Project of the Century” solar rollout. Gas exports to Europe remains central to the country, supported by hydrogen corridor planning and refinery expansion aimed at boosting capacity to 50 million tons by 2029.

 

Following license extension for Jubilee and TEN to 2040 and the late-2025 restart of the Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana is pushing a $3.5 billion upstream reinvestment plan while settling $500 million in gas arrears. A 1,200 MW state thermal plant and expanded gas processing at Atuabo anchor its gas-to-power shift, alongside a renewed upstream push in the Voltaian Basin.

The participation of these distinguished ministers underscores the scale of opportunity unfolding across Africa’s energy landscape and the urgency of aligning policy with capital

 

Senegal’s delegation comes on the back of strong production momentum, with the Sangomar oil field delivering 36.1 million barrels in 2025, outperforming forecasts, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development ramped up to 2.9 million tons per annum following first gas. Dakar is now prioritizing domestic gas through refinery upgrades at the SAR refinery and preparations for Sangomar Phase 2 to push output beyond 100,000 bpd.

 

Zambia is redefining its power mix after drought-induced hydro shortfalls. New solar capacity – including the 200 MW Chisamba expansion and 136 MW Itimpi Phase 2 – is part of a broader 2,500 MW diversification drive. Cabinet has approved major regional fuel pipelines, while the Energy Single Licensing System fast-tracks approvals. Lusaka targets 10 GW generation by 2030, with solar and wind rising to one-third of supply.

Niger’s presence reflects its emergence as a serious oil exporter, with the fully operational 1,950-km Niger-Benin pipeline now moving up to 90,000 bpd to international markets. Alongside uranium expansion and renewed cooperation with Algeria on upstream assets, Niamey is advancing digital oversight reforms and reinforcing energy sovereignty amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

 

“The participation of these distinguished ministers underscores the scale of opportunity unfolding across Africa’s energy landscape and the urgency of aligning policy with capital,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Their leadership reflects a continent moving decisively from strategy to execution, creating a platform where investors can engage directly with the policymakers shaping Africa’s next wave of oil, gas and energy growth.”

 

At AEW 2026, this ministerial cohort will be well-positioned to offer investors direct insight into Africa’s most dynamic energy markets – where new barrels, new pipelines and new megawatts are reshaping regional growth trajectories in real time.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Enlit Africa 2026 Programme: 280+ speakers, African nuclear 2.0, Bruce Whitfield Business Breakfast

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Enlit Africa

The event, taking place 19-21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, expects 7,200+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors, making it Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Enlit Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4cEX08g) has released its full 2026 conference programme, featuring 280+ speakers across 8 specialised tracks including a new African Nuclear 2.0 session covering Koeberg’s 20-year life extension and Ghana’s nuclear vendor selection process.

 

The event, taking place 19-21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, expects 7,200+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors, making it Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals.

Award-winning business journalist and best-selling author Bruce Whitfield will deliver the opening address at the Project & Investment Network Business Breakfast on 19 May, kicking off three days of strategic sessions, deal-making platforms, and technical masterclasses.

New programme content includes:

African Nuclear 2.0 – A dedicated session examining the transition from planning to execution, featuring:

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s successful 20-year life extension (Units 1 and 2 now licensed until 2044/2045)

Ghana’s progression to Phase 3 of its nuclear programme, evaluating US, Chinese, and Russian technology bids

West African Power Pool‘s 10 GW regional nuclear capacity target

Small Modular Reactor (SMR) deployment readiness across African grids

Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) – A new session exploring how private investment is unlocking Africa’s transmission bottleneck, featuring global case studies from India’s PowerGrid and lessons for scaling grid capacity across the continent.

Generation Masterclasses – Five interactive roundtables on gas-to-power, nuclear, hydro power, clean coal, and hydrogen.

AI in Africa’s Power Grid – Examining practical deployment realities, real-time analytics, and predictive maintenance applications already in operation across African utilities.

Conference sessions and technical hub sessions on the expo floor are CPD-accredited by the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) and the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE).

Co-located platforms:

Water Security Africa features country playbooks from Namibia (55-year potable reuse programme), Uganda (NRW reduction from 42% to 32%), Cape Town (Day Zero recovery strategies), and sector-specific stewardship sessions with Harmony Gold, Heineken, Mediclinic, and Growthpoint Properties.

Project & Investment Network (P&IN), part of the new Level 2 Executive Experience, connects project developers, investors, African utility CEOs, and DFIs through structured matchmaking, ministerial dialogues, and project briefings. Over the past two years, P&IN has facilitated $3 billion in project pitches.

Utility CEO Forum brings together 35+ confirmed utility CEOs under Chatham House Rule for candid, off-the-record strategic discussions on unbundling, prosumer management, and financial sustainability.

Municipal Forum addresses South African municipalities’ distribution, metering, and revenue challenges, including sessions on NRW management, tariff reform, Cost of Supply studies, and electrifying informal settlements.

Technical Hub sessions on the exhibition floor offer free, CPD-accredited training across Power, Renewable Energy & Storage, and Water tracks, with confirmed speakers from Eskom, ENGIE SA, ACTOM, National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), RenEnergy, and Matla Energy.

Site visits on 22 May include Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and the V&A Waterfront desalination plant.

Pass options:
Free expo pass registration: https://apo-opa.co/4bl2bYu

Free expo passes provide access to 250+ exhibitors and CPD-accredited Technical Hub sessions.

Delegate Pass:
Early bird registration closes 3 April 2026. Delegate passes start at R15,100 (Silver), with P&IN Executive passes at R32,000 including access to the Bruce Whitfield breakfast, Level 2 executive lounge, and investor matchmaking.

Download the full programme: https://apo-opa.co/3NwCble

Register: https://apo-opa.co/4cEX08g

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Binance Secures Second Major Legal Victory in U.S. Court Under Anti-Terrorism Act in Two Weeks

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Binance

US Federal Court in Alabama Dismisses All Claims Against Binance in Latest Lawsuit Victory

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Binance (www.Binance.com), the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced today that a U.S. federal court in Alabama has dismissed all claims against the company in a lawsuit alleging violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). This marks Binance’s second major legal victory in an  ATA matter within one week, following their victory in the Southern District of New York.

A Full and Complete Legal Victory

In a detailed 19-page ruling, the Court found the plaintiffs’ complaint to be legally and factually deficient. The court’s decision to dismiss every claim across the board represents a decisive legal victory for Binance.

Sanctions compliance and terrorism financing are serious matters of law – they require evidence, legal rigour, and due process

The judge described the filing as a “shotgun pleading.” The complaint failed to clearly specify the claims and improperly grouped all defendants together without distinguishing individual conduct or liability. The ruling also emphasized that the plaintiffs did not meet the basic pleading standard to provide a “short and plain statement” of their claims.

Following the ruling, the court granted the plaintiffs until April 10, 2026, to file an amended complaint addressing the deficiencies identified. However, the judge warned that failure to adequately address these issues would result in dismissal of the entire case.

Building on Momentum and Upholding Legal Integrity

“This decision reinforces our unwavering commitment to protecting Binance and our community from unsubstantiated and bad-faith lawsuits,” shared Eleanor Hughes, General Counsel at Binance. “Sanctions compliance and terrorism financing are serious matters of law – they require evidence, legal rigour, and due process. Courts have now examined these claims on two separate occasions and found them to be without merit. These outcomes speak for themselves. We will not tolerate attempts to misuse the legal system to target our industry, and we remain as committed as ever to transparency, security, and lawful conduct in everything we do”.

This latest decision follows closely on the heels of Binance’s comprehensive victory in New York (https://apo-opa.co/46Xg0ev), where the Court similarly rejected allegations that the company assisted, participated in, or conspired with terrorists. Together, these rulings reflect Binance’s strong resolve to protect its platform and community.

Binance has consistently invested in industry-leading compliance infrastructure, regulatory engagement, and legal governance. The company will continue to vigorously defend itself against any attempts to bring unfounded claims or misrepresent its operations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.

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