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Vehicle Registration in Vientiane Exceeds City’s Population

Vientiane Traffic Lights Improperly Installed

In Vientiane Capital, the number of registered vehicles has now surpassed the city’s population, exacerbating traffic congestion, pollution, and safety concerns. According to Amphaivanh Keopradith, Deputy Director of the Transport Department at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPT), the total vehicle count across Laos reached 2,705,538 in 2023, with 43 percent of these registered in Vientiane.

The breakdown of these vehicles shows that 67 percent are two-wheeled motorcycles, 14 percent are pickup trucks, and a significant portion falls into other categories. The number of vehicles registered in Vientiane greatly exceeds the rate of population growth, leading to numerous challenges.

The high volume of vehicles has resulted in severe traffic congestion, particularly during rush hours at major intersections. Increased air and noise pollution are also significant concerns, posing serious health risks to residents. Additionally, the surge in vehicle numbers has contributed to a high rate of road accidents, with 6,806 incidents recorded nationwide in 2023, making up 17.4 percent of the total.

Despite existing laws and regulations aimed at mitigating these issues, including a road safety strategy designed to reduce road accident fatalities by 50 percent, problems persist.

To tackle these challenges, the government, under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, is launching a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) express bus system as part of a larger sustainable transportation initiative. This USD 99 million project, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the government’s budget, aims to overhaul Vientiane’s transportation infrastructure to align with international standards.

The BRT project includes the introduction of electric buses that offer convenience, comfort, cleanliness, and safety. Additionally, plans are in place to upgrade alleyways for pedestrian safety, enhance roads for bicycle use, and improve roadside parking systems. These measures are intended to alleviate congestion, reduce pollution, and enhance overall transportation efficiency in Vientiane.

United Language Centre Launches Two New English Courses to Cater Diverse Learning Needs and Preferences

The Path to Fluency Starts Here


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 August 2024 – United Language Centre, a leading English language school in Singapore, is proud to announce the launch of two new English courses: Essential English Regular (EER) and Essential English Premium (EEP). These new offerings mark an exciting expansion of its previous Essential English programme and are designed to cater to diverse learning needs and preferences.

United Language Centre

Transforming English Learning

The language institute’s new English courses employ advanced teaching methodologies, including digital learning tools and modern classroom facilities, which support an engaging and effective learning environment for learners. These advancements make learning more dynamic and enjoyable, leading to improved outcomes. The Essential English Premium classes cater to learners seeking an immersive experience with smaller class sizes of 3 to 7 students, allowing for focused, personalised interaction. Conversely, the Essential English Regular option offers a well-rounded learning experience with class sizes of 5 to 10 students, striking a balance between quality and affordability.

Early adopters of Essential English Premium have reported notable improvements in their speaking fluency and confidence. At the same time, Essential English Regular students have highlighted the English speaking course’s engaging content and supportive atmosphere, as well as significant progress in their language skills.

“Our mission is to inspire confidence and build a supportive language community. With the introduction of Essential English Premium and Essential English Regular, we’re addressing the growing demand for both personalised and cost-effective English learning solutions,” stated Matthew Fast, Founder at United Language Centre. “These new courses are designed not only to enhance English proficiency but also to cultivate a welcoming environment where students can build lasting connections.”

Key Features of Essential English Regular and Essential English Premium

  • Expert Instructors: Teachers are carefully selected and trained in the United Language Centre teaching methodology, ensuring a consistent and high-quality English education across both new courses.
  • Community Engagement: The institute fosters a supportive environment by organising regular community events and activities. These help students feel at ease and build meaningful connections within one of Singapore’s largest language communities.
  • In-House Curriculum: Combining renowned textbooks with its in-house curriculum, United Language Centre focuses on equipping students with practical communication skills to prepare them for real-world English usage.
  • Flexible Scheduling: United Language Centre offers flexible scheduling options, including a 12-hour cancellation policy, to accommodate students’ busy lives.
  • Integrated Online Lessons: Both courses include online lessons, providing additional practice and support accessible whenever and wherever.


A Response to Student Needs

The development of EEP and EER reflects the institute’s commitment to meeting student needs for personalised attention and affordable English learning options. Inspired by student feedback and market trends, these English courses aim to provide a unique learning experience that aligns with the institute’s vision of creating a global language-learning community.

Enrollment Now Open
As of 1st July 2024, students were able to enrol in the courses through the institute’s website, social media platforms, email, and phone. To celebrate the launch, United Language Centre will host a series of special promotions, including an Open House in September and anniversary events in October.

Hashtag: #englishlanguageschoolsingapore #englishspeakingcoursesingapore #speakingenglishintermediatelevelsingapore

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

About United Language Centre

United Language Centre is dedicated to inspiring confidence in language learners through a friendly and supportive environment. With a mission to be the world’s most effective language learning brand, the institute combines expert teaching, community engagement, and advanced technology to offer one-of-a-kind educational experiences.

to learn more about their English courses and programmes.

Prudential Partners with Google Cloud to Build the Future of Insurance with AI


Partnership will empower Prudential’s 15,000 employees to use AI to better serve its customers, with end-to-end support from Google Cloud

New ‘AI Lab’ will initially focus on use cases that deliver better healthcare experiences and operational excellence

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 August 2024 – Prudential plc (Prudential) and Google Cloud today announced an expanded strategic partnership to build innovative AI-powered products and applications that will help enhance customer, agent and employee experiences. Google Cloud will support Prudential’s new AI Lab – the first partnership of its kind for the insurance industry in Asia and Africa – which will focus on solving business and customer challenges.

Launching later this year, the AI Lab is designed to accelerate Prudential’s adoption of machine learning, AI and generative AI (gen AI), while also driving progress towards Prudential’s strategic priorities of:

  • Delivering a better customer experience;
  • Driving technology-powered distribution; and
  • Improving access to affordable, quality healthcare

The Lab will provide Prudential’s 15,000 employees with a new sandbox environment and step-by-step process for turning their ideas into scalable AI products and applications. This includes access to leading large language models, advanced and secure gen AI and data analytics solutions, and end-to-end Cloud provision. The partnership presents an opportunity to shape the future of AI in life and health insurance.

Supported by Google Cloud’s deep expertise in health-focused AI, the Lab will initially prioritise ways of using AI to provide improved access to quality healthcare, while supporting agents’ ability to deliver a seamless and personalised customer experience. The Lab will also focus on using AI to improve operating processes – with the goal of delivering a better experience for customers, agents and employees alike, and driving new, bottom-line efficiencies.

Anil Wadhwani, Chief Executive Officer, Prudential plc, said: “Prudential is committed to leveraging technological innovation to create value for all our stakeholders. We are actively using data, advanced analytics and AI to create an exceptional customer and agent experience – while helping us work smarter and faster. Our expanded partnership with Google Cloud will unlock the innovation and creativity of our 15,000 employees and increase our speed to market, particularly in health insurance, where we see tremendous growth opportunities. By deepening our collaboration, we will build the future of insurance for our customers.”

Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud, said: “Generative AI represents a significant opportunity to drive innovation in the insurance industry. Our collaboration with Prudential and the launch of its AI Lab will help to reimagine customer experiences, optimise operations, and unlock new growth possibilities. Google Cloud is committed to providing the AI and data analytics capabilities, as well as the expertise needed to support Prudential’s vision for the future of insurance.”

Based in Singapore, the AI Lab will also partner with institutes of higher learning, research centres, promising start-ups and AI experts. This launch deepens the working relationship between Prudential and Google Cloud that was established in 2019. With the aim of driving better insurance, health, and financial outcomes across Asia and Africa, both organisations have been collaborating on digital transformation initiatives that have the potential to benefit millions globally.

Hashtag: #Prudential

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

About Prudential plc

Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in 24 markets across Asia and Africa. Prudential’s mission is to be the most trusted partner and protector for this generation and generations to come, by providing simple and accessible financial and health solutions. The business has dual primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (2378) and the London Stock Exchange (PRU). It also has a secondary listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (K6S) and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (PUK) in the form of American Depositary Receipts. It is a constituent of the Hang Seng Composite Index and is also included for trading in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme and the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme.

Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America, nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

From Malaysia to Hong Kong’s Financial Hub: CUHK Graduate Abigail Yap Blazes Trail in Actuarial Excellence


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 August 2024 – The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements of Abigail Yap, a recent graduate from Malaysia who has exemplified academic excellence and professional promise in the field of Insurance, Financial and Actuarial Analysis.

From Malaysia to Hong Kong CUHK - Graduate Abigail Yap
From Malaysia to Hong Kong CUHK – Graduate Abigail Yap

Abigail, who graduated in the Class of 2023, chose CUHK for its esteemed reputation and the vibrant financial landscape of Hong Kong. “Hong Kong presented an alluring prospect, particularly for those with an interest in the financial sector,” Abigail explained. Her decision was further solidified by CUHK’s welcoming community and the university admission scholarship she received.

Outstanding Achievements: A Record of Excellence

Abigail chose to study the Insurance, Financial and Actuarial Analysis (IFAAB) programme because it aims to equip students with a unique combination of technical skills, insurance expertise, financial acumen, and essential soft skills – a veritable arsenal to excel in whichever career path one may choose. During her time at CUHK, Abigail distinguished herself through numerous achievements:

– Finalist in the City Innovation and Technology (I&T) Grand Challenge

– 1st Runner Up in the International Student Summit 2021

– Top 10 Finalist in the Venture Capital on Campus (VCOC) Case Competition 2020

– 2nd Runner Up in the Melco and Amazon Web Services Student Challenge Case Competition

Abigail’s academic journey was complemented by four internships, including positions at Sun Life Malaysia, Allianz Life Malaysia, AIA Group Hong Kong, and FWD Group. These experiences provided her with invaluable industry exposure and practical skills.

Future Aspirations: Building on CUHK’s Foundation

Reflecting on her time at CUHK, Abigail praised the dedication of her professors in the IFAAB programme. “The professors consistently exhibited an unwavering commitment to student support, graciously offering guidance, clarification, and encouragement whenever needed,” she noted, emphasizing the high-quality curriculum designed to help students progress in their actuarial careers.

Looking ahead, Abigail plans to leverage her CUHK education to advance her career in Hong Kong’s dynamic financial sector before exploring opportunities globally. She remains connected to the university community, planning to participate in the Oxfam Trailwalker 2024 with fellow CUHK alumni.

“Ultimately, the seamless integration of CUHK’s world-class academic offerings and Hong Kong’s status as a global economic powerhouse create a synergistic ecosystem primed to catapult Malaysian students towards their aspirations,” she concluded.

Abigail’s journey underscores CUHK’s commitment to nurturing global talent and providing a springboard for international students to launch successful careers in Asia’s world city and beyond.

Hashtag: #CUHK

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

About The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a leading research university in Asia. Established in 1963, CUHK is committed to nurturing talent and expanding the frontiers of knowledge to foster a better world. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs through its nine constituent colleges and schools. CUHK has a strong emphasis on global engagement, with partnerships and exchange programs with top universities worldwide.

AsiaInfo Technologies expects to achieve a performance rebound in 2H 2024, full year profit exceeding last year

Actively consider maintaining the amount of final dividend per share at a relatively stable level as compared to the previous year


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 August 2024 AsiaInfo Technologies Limited (“AsiaInfo Technologies” or the “Company”, which together with its subsidiaries, is referred to as the “Group”; HKEX stock code: 01675), is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2024 (the “Period”).

In the first half of 2024, the Company faced serious challenges, the external business environment continued to show complexity and uncertainty, and the investment budgets of corporate customers across industries generally showed a tightening trend. In particular, the slowdown in the growth rate of the telecommunications industry, investment cycle staying at trough and the sudden increase in the effort on cost reduction by telecom operators resulted in marked pressure on the Company’s order prices, increased difficulty in business negotiation, and significant delays of orders, which created a relatively considerable impact on the Company’s BSS and other traditional businesses, leading to significant pressure on the interim results. The operating revenue amounted to RMB2,994 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 8.8%, of which the revenue from BSS and other traditional businesses amounted to RMB1,794 million, representing a year-on-year decrease of 18.1%. The Three New Business[1] maintained a double-digit growth, with revenue amounted to RMB1,200 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.0%. As a result of a relatively large decline in operating revenue, there was a net loss of RMB70 million during the Period.

In terms of new business, the Company attached greater importance to the high-quality development of the business and strengthened risk control in the process, resulting in a slower pace of business development and revenue growth. Similarly, due to various factors such as slowdown of the growth in the telecommunications industry, being in the trough of the industry investment cycle and steep increase in cost compression by telecom operators, revenue from the OSS business experienced a slight year-on-year decline of 1.6% to RMB280 million in the first half of the year. Revenue from the digital intelligence-driven operation business steadily improved and registered revenue of RMB447 million, representing a slight year-on-year decrease of 1.9%. Meanwhile, the Company continued to progress in the vertical industries digitialisation market and enhanced the expansion efforts in key areas such as energy, transportation and government affairs, maintaining a relatively fast growth and achieving a year-on-year increase of 34.6% in revenue to RMB473 million.

The Board attaches great importance to shareholders’ interests and return and guided the final dividend payout ratio for 2024 to maintain at 40% of the profit for the year attributable to the equity holders of the Company, while actively consider maintaining the amount of the final dividend per share at a relatively stable level as compared to that of last year.

It is expected that the Company will achieve a performance rebound in the second half of the year, with full effort to achieve better full year profit than last year. The Company will accelerate the process of business negotiation of BSS orders to mitigate the impact of order prices pressure and signing delays. At the same time, the Company will seize technological upgrade opportunities brought by “AI+” and “LLM+”, etc., actively participate in joint R&D with customers, and ensure the leading position of the BSS business in the telecommunications industry. It is expected that the rate of decline in BSS business revenue will be notably narrowed for the full year.

In terms of the Three New Business, the full year revenue is expected to maintain decent growth. The Company will accelerate the promotion and replication of digital intelligence-driven operation business, expand the scale of result-based and commission-based models, and strengthen collaboration with telecom operators in government and corporate business, and international business expansion to strive for a larger share of these cooperation opportunities and expand revenue scale. Additionally, the Company will continue to deepen its efforts in key industries such as energy, transportation, and government affairs, achieving continuous high-quality growth in non-telecommunications market businesses. While promoting revenue trend improvement, the Company will further step up cost control efforts in the second half of the year by rigorously controlling staff scale, strengthening process management of labour costs linked to performance, and reasonably allocate resources. The Company will expand centralised procurement and one-stop business expense platforms to effectively control daily costs and expenditures, striving to achieve full year profit exceeding that of last year.

The Company considers that telecommunications industry remains a high-quality industry. As long as we continue to build on our technological leadership, seize new technology upgrade opportunities brought by “AI+” and “LLM+”, and actively participate in joint R&D with telecom operators, we can maintain our leading position in the traditional business and seize the high-quality development on the Three New Business, seeking growth through challenges. Meanwhile, the Company will actively apply new technologies like AI to improve the automatisation level of R&D and delivery process, enhance production efficiency, reduce costs, and boost efficiency. The Company believes after a short- hit on results, the fundamentals for the Company’s long-term development remain solid, and its revenue and profit will maintain a stable and healthy momentum.


[1] Three New business represents the digital intelligence-driven operation, the vertical industries digitisation, and the Operation Support Systems (“OSS”) business.

Hashtag: #AsiaInfoTechnologies

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

Hong Kong-Laos: A New Era of Education Collaboration


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 August 2024 – A high-level delegation from Laos joined the inaugural Youth Development Summit in Hong Kong (August 10), less than two weeks after John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), visited Laos and spoke to students at a secondary school in the capital Vientiane. These exchanges indicate the strengthening of academic ties between Hong Kong and Laos.

Kingmano Phommahaxay, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports and the Vice President of Lao National Olympic Committee, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, speaks at the Youth Development Summit in Hong Kong on August 10.
Kingmano Phommahaxay, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports and the Vice President of Lao National Olympic Committee, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, speaks at the Youth Development Summit in Hong Kong on August 10.

Speaking at the Summit, Kingmano Phommahaxay, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports and the Vice President of Lao National Olympic Committee, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), said “I am pleased to highlight a significant milestone in our educational cooperation with Hong Kong, specifically the partnership between Vientiane Secondary School (VSS) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).” VSS and PolyU exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for collaboration in international student recruitment through the provision of scholarships opportunity to outstanding Lao students.

John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR (first left) and Saleumxay Kommasith, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (first right), witness the signing of MoU between PolyU and VSS on July 29.
John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR (first left) and Saleumxay Kommasith, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (first right), witness the signing of MoU between PolyU and VSS on July 29.

During his visit to Vientiane Secondary School, Mr Lee said, “I can assure you that Hong Kong is a city full of opportunities of every kind, for your careers and for your life.”

Mr Lee informed students that Hong Kong is the only Asian city with as many as five universities among the top 100 in the world.

“To welcome more outstanding talent from Laos, we have already relaxed the visa policy for Laotian talent to work in Hong Kong, or study in our publicly funded universities,” Mr Lee said. “And once you’ve graduated from a Hong Kong university, you are eligible to stay in Hong Kong, work in Hong Kong, or simply enjoy life in Hong Kong, for up to 24 months, under our Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates.”

Mr Phommahaxay added that the scholarship scheme and the signing of the MoU represents “a significant step towards fostering educational excellence and mutual development of our youth who will undoubtedly play an important role in promoting people to people exchange between the Lao PDR and Hong Kong”.

Hashtag: #hongkong #brandhongkong #asiasworldcity #ASEAN #Laos #PolyU #collaboration #business #education #exchange #youthdevelopment





Wechat: 香港 亚洲国际都会

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

Thai Constitutional Court Rules Srettha Thavisin’s Ministerial Status Invalid Over Ethical Reasons

Thai Constitutional Court Rules Srettha Thavisin’s Ministerial Status Invalid Over Ethical Reasons
Srettha Thavisin, the former prime minister of Thailand (photo credit: Thai PBS)

The Thai Constitutional Court has ruled out Srettha Thavisin as the Thai Prime Minister. 

Unburdened by the Past: VinFast and the Emergence of Pure-Play EVs

The automotive industry is rapidly evolving, and pure-play EV companies are at the forefront of this change, championing a sustainable future. Unlike traditional automakers who may turn to hybrid models, these companies are fully committed to electric vehicles, driving the industry towards a greener tomorrow.


HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire 14 August 2024 – The automotive industry is undergoing a transformative shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), disrupting the traditional dominance of internal combustion engines (ICE). While established car manufacturers grapple with the costly transition from ICE to EV, pure-play EV companies are emerging as agile and innovative players in the market.

VinFast EV manufacturing complex in Hai Phong, Vietnam
VinFast EV manufacturing complex in Hai Phong, Vietnam

Unburdened by legacy technologies and ICE supply chains, these companies are laser-focused on EV development, embracing cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. This is a global phenomenon, evident in the emergence of EV companies in the Middle East, such as Ceer and NWTN. However, one notable example stands out for its rapid growth and ambition: VinFast.

VinFast, the car-making arm of Vietnam’s largest private conglomerate, Vingroup, has made remarkable strides in the EV market in less than five years since its founding. The company transitioned to become a fully electric vehicle manufacturer in 2021, delivering its first self-developed EVs to Vietnamese customers in December of that year. And thanks to Vingroup’s expertise and resources, VinFast was able to construct a modern car factory in record time, a feat that usually takes traditional automakers years to accomplish. This rapid progress is a testament to VinFast’s agility and ambition, earning it recognition on TIME’s list of 100 most influential companies in 2024.

VinFast’s ambitions extend beyond its home market. The company has expanded its footprint globally, establishing a presence in the Middle East through partnerships with distributors and previously in other key markets like Southeast Asia, India, and the US. This global expansion demonstrates VinFast’s commitment to making electric mobility accessible to a wider audience.

All-In on EVs

In its April report, the International Energy Agency notes that EV companies’ stocks have outperformed general stock markets and traditional carmakers since 2019. This highlights the growing potential of this sector and the long-term growth prospects of pure-play EV companies like VinFast.

However, the transition to electric vehicles is not without challenges. Competition in the EV market is intensifying, and pure-play companies need to scale up their production and build strong brand recognition to remain competitive. The EV industry as a whole faces infrastructure limitations, such as the availability of charging stations, and needs to address consumer pain points like charging times and range anxiety.

But it’s only in this difficult backdrop that we are able to see one notable advantage of pure-play EV makers: Their unwavering commitment to going green. This obligation to adapt and innovate differentiates them from traditional automakers who might hesitate or hedge their bets by turning to half-measures like hybrids.

In VinFast’s case, their desire to go green is baked into its DNA through the unwavering commitment of its founder and also chairman of Vingroup, Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnam’s richest man. Vingroup, its affiliates, and external lenders have provided VinFast with over $12.9 billion to fund operating expenses and capital expenditure between 2017 and March of this year. Vuong himself recently pledged another $1 billion to the company’s success.

Dedicated EV manufacturers are all-in on electric vehicles, not backing down from challenges. As the EV market matures and technology advances, pure-play companies are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of mobility.

Hashtag: #VinFast #EV

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