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Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative to Boost Support for Indonesia

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Yohei Sasakawa, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination, Makes Announcement on World Leprosy Day 2025

TOKYO, Jan. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On the occasion of World Leprosy Day 2025 on January 26, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa announces that the Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative (SLI) will increase its support to Indonesia to combat the stigma and discrimination associated with leprosy and to promote early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae that mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. For much of its long history, the cause was unknown, giving rise to many myths and misconceptions.

Since the introduction of WHO-recommended multidrug therapy (MDT) in 1981, some 18 million people worldwide have been cured of leprosy. However, around 200,000 new cases are reported each year, and many people affected by leprosy and their families continue to face rejection based on outdated stereotypes and superstitions.

After India and Brazil, Indonesia has the third highest number of cases of leprosy in the world. In 2023, it recorded 14,376 new cases, including 1,179 children. In addition, 826 people, including 21 children, had visible disabilities at the time of diagnosis, indicating that they were diagnosed late.

Indonesia is one of the most important countries in the fight against leprosy,” said Sasakawa. “Overcoming stigma and discrimination and promoting early diagnosis and treatment there will be key to accelerating the world’s progress toward zero leprosy.”

He said that from this year, SLI will intensify its support for Indonesia, working with government agencies, civil society organizations, research institutes, the media and others to raise awareness of leprosy and encourage people to seek treatment if they suspect they have the disease.

SLI already supports the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s national leprosy program through the WHO, as well as providing assistance to NGOs and PerMaTa, an organization of persons affected by leprosy.

“Leprosy is a treatable disease. With appropriate and timely treatment, disabilities associated with leprosy can be prevented,” said Al Kadri, PerMaTa’s chairman. “But fear of prejudice and discrimination means that many people go undiagnosed and untreated.”

Indonesia has a comprehensive strategy to tackle leprosy, according to Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, including public education campaigns, collaboration with tuberculosis initiatives to strengthen case detection and treatment, and support for social rehabilitation. “Through these measures, we aim to achieve a leprosy-free Indonesia, where everyone can live with dignity,” he said.

As part of its support for Indonesia’s efforts against the disease, SLI plans to identify several districts and work with local government agencies, healthcare providers and others to develop “zero leprosy” projects that can serve as models for the whole country.

About WHO Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa

As chairman of The Nippon Foundation, Yohei Sasakawa focuses on finding solutions to humanitarian and other problems in many parts of the world, especially in Asia and Africa. For more than half a century, he has been working to eliminate leprosy, serving as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination since 2001, and Japanese Government Goodwill Ambassador for the Human Rights of Persons Affected by Leprosy since 2007.

About Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative

Sasakawa Leprosy Initiative is a strategic alliance of WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa, the Sasakawa Health Foundation and The Nippon Foundation to realize a leprosy-free world. Since 1975, it has supported governments in their fight against leprosy through the WHO, contributing more than US$200 million. It has also made significant contributions to support organizations of persons affected by leprosy and has been instrumental in bringing leprosy to the attention of the United Nations, resulting in the adoption of several UN resolutions on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members.

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SOURCE Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative

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Agri-Food Tech Startups Led by Taiwan’s HAOSHi Attend SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 to Build Industry and Investment Connections

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TAIPEI and TOKYO, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A delegation of three food-tech startups led by Taiwan-based agri-food tech accelerator HAOSHi recently participated in SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, a global innovation event held in Japan. Through the exhibition and local industry engagement, the initiative aims to help Taiwanese startups establish partnerships with Japanese companies and explore potential investment opportunities.

SusHi Tech Tokyo has emerged as a key innovation platform in Japan, with a focus on urban development and technology applications. As Japan transitions into a super-aged society, demand for functional foods and precision health solutions continues to rise. In response, the Taiwanese delegation brought a focused approach to health and biotech applications, showcasing the R&D capabilities of Taiwan’s food-tech and precision nutrition sectors.

Ahead of the exhibition, HAOSHi worked with Sustainable Food Asia (SFA), a Japan-based organization engaged in sustainable food innovation, to arrange industry exchanges and company visits, giving the startups a more practical understanding of the local market. The trip also facilitated discussions between the Taiwanese teams and Japanese startups including Algalex, Eclipse Foods, and Morus, covering supply chain collaboration and market entry strategies. Through product demonstrations and tastings, the startups established initial business connections with companies in the cosmeceuticals, biotech, food manufacturing, and supply chain sectors.

The two organizations also co-hosted “Sustainable Food Night,” a networking event that drew around 30 representatives from established companies, startups, and investors. Discussions centered on collaboration opportunities in the agri-food tech sector across Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asia, with the broader aim of strengthening regional connectivity.

The three participating startups were Space Ark Bio, King Noodles, and Leeuwenhoek Laboratories, which specialize in fermentation applications, functional foods, and precision nutrition, respectively. Amber Lin, CEO of HAOSHi, said that the exhibition and in-market networking helped lay the groundwork for the startups to enter the market and support follow-up business discussions. The initiative also aligns with the goal of Startup Island Taiwan (SIT), which aims to connect Taiwanese startups more closely with the global innovation ecosystem.

 

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SOURCE HAOSHi Accelerator

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DB HiTek to Participate in PCIM 2026, Strengthening Its Presence in the European Market

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Europe’s largest power semiconductor exhibition to be held in Nuremberg, Germany, from June 9 to 11Showcasing latest developments in SiC and GaN, highlighting its power semiconductor capabilities

SEOUL, South Korea, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DB HiTek, a leading 8-inch pure-play foundry, announced its participation in PCIM (Power Conversion and Intelligent Motion) Europe 2026, the continent’s premier exhibition for power semiconductors. The event will take place in Nuremberg, Germany, from June 9 to 11 (local time), as the company continues expanding its presence in the European market.

Following its successful debut at PCIM in 2025—where the company held face-to-face meetings with dozens of customers to discuss process technologies and collaboration opportunities—DB HiTek is building on that momentum. With over 1,000 booth visitors last year and ongoing business discussions, the company expects these engagements to translate into tangible business results this year through continued partnerships.

At this year’s event, DB HiTek will present progress in its next-generation SiC (Silicon Carbide) and GaN (Gallium Nitride) processes. The company will also highlight its industry-leading BCDMOS (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) technology, a core strength of its power management portfolio. A robust schedule of meetings with global clients is already in place, reflecting continued growth in collaboration.

According to market research firm Yole Développement, the global SiC and GaN power semiconductor markets are set for rapid growth. The SiC market is projected to grow from approximately $4.8 billion in 2026 to $10.4 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21%. Over the same period, the GaN market is expected to expand from $900 million to $2.9 billion, reflecting a CAGR of 33%.

DB HiTek started MPW (Multi-Project Wafer) runs for its SiC and GaN processes in December 2025, producing samples for more than 10 customer products. These were delivered between March and April 2026. Customer evaluations are underway, with feedback to be incorporated into final process verification. Full-scale mass production is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Currently, DB HiTek maintains mass production relationships with approximately 400 customers, primarily focused on its flagship power semiconductor products. The company also works with a broad client base using specialized image sensor technologies, including X-ray, Global Shutter, and SPAD (Single Photon Avalanche Diode). Its application mix is increasingly shifting toward industrial and automotive-grade products, reflecting growing demand from these sectors.

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SOURCE DB HiTek

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LG Display’s 27-inch DFR Gaming OLED panel wins SID’s ‘Display of the Year’

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SEOUL, South Korea, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LG Display, the world’s leading innovator of display technologies, announced that its 27-inch 540/720Hz Dynamic Frequency & Resolution (DFR) Gaming OLED panel has been awarded “Display of the Year” by the Society for Information Display (SID), receiving high acclaim for redefining the gaming display paradigm and accelerating market differentiation.

The “Display of the Year” award is SID’s most prestigious distinction, presented to the most groundbreaking display product launched during the previous year that is expected to lead the future of the industry.

This achievement recognizes LG Display’s new user-centered display paradigm. The product’s standout feature is the company’s proprietary DFR technology, which allows users to freely select the mode that suits their preferred gaming style.

High-refresh-rate mode particularly proves its value in game genres where rapid screen transitions are essential and victory is decided in a split second — like first-person shooters or racing games. By supporting an industry-leading refresh rate of 720Hz with HD resolution, this mode eliminates ghosting and motion blur even in the fastest scenes, enabling overwhelming gaming performance.

High-resolution mode provides an optimized visual experience for games based on stunning graphics. It simultaneously delivers QHD resolution and a 540Hz refresh rate. To overcome the conventional limitation where picture quality drops once the refresh rate exceeds 500Hz, LG Display applied a proprietary algorithm, securing the two core elements of a high refresh rate and high picture quality.

As a result, the panel obtained ClearMR 21000 certification, the highest rating from the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA).

“Our goal is to continue leading the gaming display market by leveraging LG Display’s differentiated OLED technologies and relentless pursuit of innovation,” said Young-seok Choi, Chief Technology Officer of LG Display.

SID is the world’s largest display society with more than 7,000 industry experts, researchers, and professors. It hosts Display Week annually, featuring new technologies, product exhibitions, and academic presentations. SID Display Week 2026 will take place in Los Angeles, California from May 3 to 8.

※ LG Display 27-inch 540/720Hz (DFR) OLED Gaming Monitor Panel Specifications

Category

High-refresh-rate mode

High-resolution mode

Peak Brightness

1,500nits

1,500nits

Refresh Rate / Resolution

720Hz / HD

540Hz / QHD

Response Time

0.02ms

0.02ms

 

About LG Display
LG Display Co., Ltd. [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220] is the world’s leading innovator of display technologies, including thin-film transistor liquid crystal and OLED displays. The company manufactures display panels in a broad range of sizes and specifications primarily for use in TVs, notebook computers, desktop monitors, automobiles, and various other applications, including tablets and mobile devices. LG Display currently operates manufacturing facilities in Korea and China, and back-end assembly facilities in Korea, China, and Vietnam. The company has approximately 70,707 employees operating worldwide. For more news and information about LG Display, please visit www.lgdisplay.com.

Media Contact:
Joo Yeon Jennifer Ha, Team Leader, Communication Team
Email: hjy05@lgdisplay.com

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SOURCE LG Display

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