Jakarta, Indonesia – In a glittering affair at the ASEAN Business Award 2023 ceremony held in Jakarta on 4 September, LOCA, the successful Laotian startup, emerged victorious in the category of “The Best Customer Experience.” The triumph not only underscores LOCA’s dedication to redefining travel and payments but also elevates the global recognition of Laotian innovation.
28-Year-Old Barista Wins Laos AeroPress Championship 2023, Qualifies for Global Event in Melbourne

Malavanh “Bobby” Daphasouk, a 28-year-old barista from Slurp Cafe Vientiane, emerged as the champion of the coffee-making competition, Laos AeroPress Championship 2023, held in Vientiane Capital from 1-3 September.
AXA Study: Hong Kong Gen Z’s mind health at higher risk with only one in ten individuals flourishing
Tech addiction exacerbates young people’s mental health problems
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 5 September 2023 – AXA Hong Kong and Macau (“AXA”) today released the second phase of the annual AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing 2023 (“the Study”), which assessed the state of mind health[1] across the globe. The Study revealed that the Gen Z group (aged 18 to 26 years old) in Hong Kong have lower overall mind health as only one in ten respondents stated that they are flourishing, compared to one in five for the overall respondents. 67.2% of the Gen Z respondents also reported experiencing moderate to extreme stress levels over the last year, which is 14% higher compared to the overall respondents (53.1%).
Loneliness and body image issues made worse by tech addiction
While there are multiple factors contributing to poorer mind health among Gen Z, 64% of Gen Z individuals in Hong Kong stated that technology addiction and obsessive social media have exacerbated the issue.
Indeed, among the Gen Z respondents impacted by social media and technology addiction, 71% reported that they feel lonely and 80% said they struggle with negative body image issues (versus 43% and 51%, respectively, of the overall Gen Z respondents not affected by addiction), while only 5% considered themselves to be flourishing, which is half of the overall percentage among the age group.
Always-on culture: a detriment to wellbeing and productivity
These addiction issues have also spilled over into the workplace, as the increasing prevalence of remote working has perpetuated the “always-on” culture in the post-pandemic world. 44% of the employed Gen Z respondents said they find it difficult to separate their work from their personal life, while 40% reported that the hours they are expected to work causes them distress. This highlights the increasingly blurred boundaries between work and personal life, which could be detrimental to Gen Z’s wellbeing and productivity.
Andrea Wong, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, AXA Hong Kong and Macau said, “The findings of the AXA Mind Health Study underscore the need to enhance the overall wellbeing of Gen Z individuals in Hong Kong. While this group is more vulnerable to stress and can experience negative emotions in a tech-saturated world, there are steps that young people can take to improve their mind health, including setting technology boundaries, improving time management, creating a healthy work-life balance, as well as spending quality time with families and friends. Furthermore, as an advocate for holistic wellness, AXA was one of the first employers to introduce a series of employee wellness programmes, including mental health care support, hybrid work arrangements, skill and job matching, and skill development support, all of which enables employees to strike a better work-life balance and have a more positive outlook in the workplace.”
Aspiring to achieve financial prosperity, yet weighed down by uncertainty
The Study revealed that financial prosperity is a top priority among the younger generation in Hong Kong. When asked about their one “big wish,” 38% of the city’s Gen Z individuals said they aspire to “become rich” and only 18% of Gen Z in Hong Kong see achieving perfect physical health as their biggest wish, compared to 34% among the general population.
However, 44% of Gen Z respondents reported that their current financial situation causes them significant stress, and only 30% said they feel secure about their financial future, which indicates that financial uncertainty is a major source of stress. As this group of people is still at an early stage of their career, hence they are advised to start financial planning early on so they can reap the benefits of a more stable and secured financial future.
As the pioneer insurer to promote holistic wellness, AXA has launched a series of initiatives in Hong Kong, including the annual AXA BetterMe event, as well as the Mind Charger services on the “Emma by AXA” mobile app, which helps customers and the community to build healthy lifestyles and practice mindfulness. By addressing the challenges faced by Gen Z head-on, AXA will continue to support the younger generation thrive both personally and professionally.
Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing (AXA Mind Health Study)
AXA Mind Health Study is an annual study of mind health and wellbeing to assess the current state of mind health across the globe, and to provide individuals and businesses with the insights and advice needed to foster positive mind health.
AXA Mind Health Study 2023 was conducted in collaboration with IPSOS between September and October 2022 by means of online survey and online interviews among a total of 30,000 respondents aged between 18 to 74 years old across 16 European, American and Asian regions, namely France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, US, Mexico, mainland China and Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand and Philippines.
In Hong Kong, a total of 2,336 respondents aged between 18 and 74 were surveyed.
Hashtag: #AXA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About AXA Hong Kong and Macau
AXA Hong Kong and Macau is a member of the AXA Group, a leading global insurer with presence in 51 markets and serving 93 million customers worldwide. Our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters.
As one of the most diversified insurers in Hong Kong, we offer integrated solutions across Life, Health and General Insurance. We are the largest General Insurance provider and a major Health and Employee Benefits provider. Our aim is to not only be the insurer to provide comprehensive protection to our customers, but also a holistic partner to the individuals, businesses and community we serve. At the core of our service commitment is continuous product & service innovation and customer experience enrichment, which is achieved through actively listening to our customers’ needs and leveraging and investing in technology and digital transformation.
We embrace our responsibility to be a driving force against climate change and a force for good to create shared value for our community. We are proud to be the first to address the importance of mental health through different products and services and thought leading iconic research. Our overall Sustainability Strategy, with emphasis on climate strategy and biodiversity commitment, is developed based on TCFD recommendations. We are committed to integrating environmental, social and governance factors across our business and strive to contribute to a sustainable future through 3 distinct roles – as an investor, insurer and an exemplary company.
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON AXA’S WEBSITE: AXA.COM.HK
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Part 4 – “Risk factors and risk management” of AXA’s Universal Registration Document for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA’s business, and/or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as part of applicable regulatory or legal obligations.
Catch Popular Influencers Xiaxue and Mayiduo on Shopee Live this 9.9 Super Shopping Day

This 9.9 Super Shopping Day promises unbeatable deals and fun entertainment on Shopee Live.
- Countdown to 9.9 Super Shopping Day with Mayiduo from 11.30pm on 8 September
- Catch Xiaxue as she headlines the 9.9 Super Shopping Day stream and brings shoppers exclusive deals from 8.00pm to 9.30pm on 9 September
- Purchase luxury items from brands including Gucci, Dior, Loewe, YSL, Prada, and Chloé on Premiummall, which will livestream from Italy on 9 September at the following times:
- 12:00am to 2.00am
- 11.00am to 3.00pm
- 4.00pm to 6.00pm
- 8.30pm to 11.59pm
On 9 September, enjoy 30% off vouchers on all products sold on Shopee Live at 12.00am-2.00am, 12.00pm-2.00pm and 8.00pm-11.00pm!
The Shopee Live experience combines shopping with entertainment. Join the fun with live demonstrations and discover the best deals on a variety of products, including tech gadgets, beauty products and household items, all on Shopee Live!
Winston Goh, Head of Marketing at Shopee Singapore, said, “Shopee Live viewership has doubled since the start of the year. We are delighted to run exclusive deals, connect customers with their favourite brands in entertaining ways and help users make purchases conveniently. Besides meeting a growing demand for livestream entertainment, Shopee Live has become a popular platform for brands and sellers to promote a variety of products directly to Shopee’s diverse audience in engaging ways. Shoppers can look forward to value, variety and entertainment on Shopee Live this 9.9.”
Win $100,000 Cash at Shopee’s Super Giveaway
This 9.9 Super Shopping Day, sign up for Shopee’s $100,000 cash giveaway and complete at least one checkout on 9 September to stand a chance to win the $100,000 cash prize. A lucky winner will be selected at random and announced at 12.00pm on 19 September.
Visit https://shopee.sg/m/99-giveaway-23 to find out about Shopee’s largest cash giveaway!
Be a 9.9 Super Shopper: Enjoy Largest Cashback Discount at $300
In addition, enjoy big savings with 12% off brand vouchers and Shopee’s largest cashback discount ever at $300.
Look out for $9 off $20 Super Secret Voucher Drops daily at 9.00am @shopeesg between 28 August and 9 September! An additional voucher drop will take place at 9.00pm on 9 September.
Shop more and save more with Shopee this 9.9 Super Shopping Day: https://shopee.sg/m/99.
MariBank Opens to the Public
Download the MariBank app and open a Mari Savings Account to receive an upsized $300 Shopee voucher pack with a minimum deposit of $1,000! This exclusive 9.9 Mari Savings Account promotion is valid from 9 to 11 September only.
Earn 2.5% p.a. interest on deposits made to Mari Savings Account*. Receive up to $5.14 in interest paid out daily.
Visit www.shopee.sg/m/marisavings for information on the 9.9 Mari Savings Account promotion.
*Applicable for Singapore citizens/Permanent Residents, 18 years old and above. Promo T&Cs apply. Insured up to S$75,000 by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Hashtag: #Shopee #SuperShoppingDay #ShopeeLive #ecommerce #Maribank #banking
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.
Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.
Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.
About MariBank
MariBank, a digital bank wholly owned by Sea Limited and licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The Bank aims to support the banking needs of digital natives and small businesses in Singapore, through the provision of simple and purpose-built banking products.
Cambodia Urges Japanese Airline to Resume Flights Between Two Countries
Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) has requested Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (APA) to consider restarting direct flights between the two nations.
ApeX Pro’s New Smart Liquidity Pools Bring the Best of DeFi to Bybit
The SLP provides users with an opportunity to become professional market makers and earn profits with a high return-to-risk ratio. The pool market-making strategy automatically places buy and sell orders to capture profits from bid-ask spreads. Profits are shared among the pool subscribers, earning liquidity providers an attractive passive income.
Bybit users can access ApeX Pro directly from their Bybit account, foregoing the need to set up a decentralized wallet and navigate blockchains directly, and they can access the product with just $10 USDC. The total size of the SLP will increase from $500,000 to $2,000,000 million over the course of the first month allowing more users to gain from this passive income stream, while the pool cap will increase further in the upcoming months.
Another key advantage of the SLP is its ability to mitigate impermanent loss, a common concern in traditional liquidity provision. Unlike other liquidity strategies, where users only earn fees when trades are within a specific range, the SLP offers continuous yield opportunities, thanks to its vigilant monitoring of user positions and adjustment to market conditions.
“With the launch of the Smart Liquidity Pool, ApeX Pro continues to spearhead innovation in the DeFi space,” said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. “We’re proud to provide Bybit users easy access to the next-level opportunities offered in the world of decentralized finance, directly from their Bybit account.”
Hashtag: #Bybit #TheCryptoArk
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Bybit
Bybit is a top-five cryptocurrency exchange established in 2018 that offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.
For media inquiries, please contact: press@bybit.com
For more information please visit: https://www.bybit.com
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Respond.io Attains Data Security Excellence with ISO 27001:2022 Certification

Elevating Standards in Data Security
ISO 27001:2022 is a comprehensive standard that guides organizations of various sizes across industries on how to establish, implement, maintain and enhance a systematic data security and risk management system.
Amidst the rising prevalence of cybercrime, effectively managing customer data is a daunting task. ISO 27001 guides organizations in cultivating risk awareness, preemptively addressing vulnerabilities and implementing a comprehensive strategy that involves individuals, policies and technology.
By attaining the ISO 27001:2022 certification, respond.io not only demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding sensitive customer information but also bolsters its defenses against cyber threats and achieves high standards of operational excellence.
This is a company-wide initiative, spanning human resources, which conducts strict background checks during the hiring process, to the tech teams. The latter implemented stringent security procedures, from end-to-end processes to vulnerability handling, and utilized robust cybersecurity technology to ensure continuous ISO compliance by monitoring elements like employee devices even at rest and AWS infrastructure. Any discrepancies will trigger swift alerts for resolution within agreed SLA timelines.
The Impact of ISO 27001:2022 Certification on respond.io‘s Users and Their Customers
Respond.io‘s ISO 27001:2022 certification benefits the thousands of businesses that rely on its platform for customer conversations at every stage of the customer journey.
This certification reflects high data security standards via a strong Information Security Management System (ISMS), fortifying against breaches and unauthorized access in adherence to internationally recognized standards. Additionally, it offers an effective risk management framework that streamlines operations, reduces disruptions and improves workflow.
In turn, businesses can foster trust by assuring customers their data is handled with utmost care and protected by rigorous security protocols. Respond.io‘s transparent ISO compliance provides customers with a clear understanding of their data’s handling, processing and protection.
Championing Trust and Reliability
“We are thrilled with our successful acquisition of the ISO 27001:2022 certification, which showcases our dedication to safeguarding user data and secures our position as an industry leader,” says respond.io CEO Gerardo Salandra. “Customers are increasingly looking for partners they can trust with sensitive data. Following this, we have rolled out a Trust Center so users can engage with our platform with even greater confidence.”
The respond.io Trust Center compiles the company’s practices, policies, and procedures on privacy, security, and compliance. It is a symbol of transparency and assurance that aims to build confidence among respond.io users.
By making its privacy practices and security measures highly visible and accessible, respond.io allows its customers to verify the fulfillment of their respective compliance prerequisites. Interested parties can also subscribe to receive updates on the latest security measures and policies to track continuous improvements.
To learn more about how respond.io commits to data privacy and security, visit respond.io’s Trust Center.
Hashtag: #respondio #datasecurity #saas
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About respond.io
Respond.io is a customer conversation management software that enables companies to respond to messages from any channel from one centralized dashboard by teams of all sizes, thus making communication with customers easier, faster and more satisfactory.
Over 10,000 companies from 86 countries, including British Airways, Klook, Decathlon, Roche and Bigo use respond.io. The platform processes 120 million messages per month, beating three of its main competitors combined.
In 2022, respond.io raised $7 million in Series A funding, led by Headline Asia with participation from AltaIR Capital, Smart Partnership Capital, Sterling Oak Group and Calendula Ventures. In April 2023, the company achieved the prestigious status of a WhatsApp Business Solution Provider (BSP). The company is headquartered in Malaysia.
DHL Express officially opens Incheon Gateway after €131 million expansion
- The Incheon Gateway is the largest DHL Express investment in South Korea
- The new Gateway is now more than triple the size of its predecessor, and can handle 3.5 times more cargo
- It features digitalized and automated systems that reduces the delivery time of imported goods by more than 30 minutes
- Incheon Gateway will be key to handling continuously growing import, export, and transit cargo, as well as e-commerce shipments
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Media OutReach – 5 September 2023 – DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, has commenced the full-fledged operation of Incheon Gateway after it invested €131 million (KRW 175 billion) to expand the Gateway in 2019. The investment is DHL Express’s largest in South Korea to date, making Incheon Gateway the largest gateway in the Asia Pacific.

The expansion aims to address the increasing air cargo demand at the Gateway, as a result of growing overseas trade in South Korea and increase in international express import and export with Asia-Pacific countries, including Singapore, Japan, China, Australia, and Taiwan.
Sean Wall, Executive Vice President of Network Operations and Aviation, Asia Pacific, DHL Express, was present to commemorate the opening of the new Incheon Gateway. He said, “We are handling more cargo in South Korea in recent years, and we expect the demand to continue on its upward trajectory. Between 2011 and now, the transit cargo handling volume we handled in the country grew more than threefold. The opening of the expanded Incheon Gateway arrives at a right time as it plays an important role to facilitate regional and intra-Asia trade, particularly for the Northeast Asian region, including Dalian, Qingdao, Wuxi, Ulaanbaatar, and Guam.”
The enhanced Incheon Gateway now boasts a gross floor area of 59,248 square meters – thrice the size of the previous Gateway at 19,946 square meters. The handling capacity is also boosted by over 3.5 times to reach 28,400 pieces per hour. The Gateway houses a 5.5 kilometers-long conveyor belt and 19 automated X-ray inspection machines to ensure shipment contents are safe and compliant. Moreover, Incheon Gateway is a pivotal logistics facility, connecting global DHL hubs and gateways through seven dedicated DHL aircraft and 40 aircraft from partner airlines. This can address the ever-growing transit shipment demand in the Northeast Asian region.
To process import and export shipments faster and more efficiently, the Incheon Gateway features a fully automated sorting and handling system. In particular, an automated document and small parcel sorter can efficiently process over 10,000 parcels an hour, significantly enhancing the handling speed and operations competency. As a result, more than 30 minutes of delivery time for imported goods is saved.
To minimize greenhouse gas emissions, the facility is partly powered by solar energy. A 1-megawatt solar power generator is installed – spanning the entire rooftop area (5,700 square meters) of the Gateway. The solar generator can produce energy that covers roughly 30% of the facility’s consumed energy, thus reducing around 650 tons of carbon emissions annually. This marks the first instance among cargo terminals within Incheon International Airport to use solar energy.
ByungKoo Han, Country Manager of DHL Express Korea, said, “The Incheon Gateway serves as a strategic facility that connects South Korea and the Asia Pacific region to the world. Since its initial opening in 2009, the handling volume of import and export at Incheon Gateway has increased by more than 90% in 2022. With this expansion, we are confident that we can adeptly manage the surge in shipment volume and cater to the increasing demand for international express delivery over the coming decade.”
South Korea is the world’s sixth largest e-commerce market. The larger Incheon Gateway will also now better support Korean cross-border e-commerce companies to grow in overseas markets.
Hashtag: #DHLExpress #IncheonGateway
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
DHL – Excellence. Simply delivered.
DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 395,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 94 billion euros in 2022. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.