Despite the ongoing dry season, parts of Laos will experience rainy weather this week.
Global Survey Sees Seven Out of Ten People Wanting to End Plastic Pollution
Ahead of next week’s inaugural negotiations on what will be included in the UN’s plastics treaty, WWF and Plastic Free Foundation release an Ipsos survey showing that an average of seven out of 10 people polled across 34 countries believe that the treaty should create binding global rules to end plastic pollution.
Government Approves Caustic Soda Processing Plant Project in Thakhek

Last week the Ministry of Finance and Lao-Jinda Industrial Co.Ltd signed a contract, to allow the latter to build a Caustic Soda processing plant.
35 Filipino Companies Honored as Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2022
With the theme, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the awards this year focused on the efforts of companies in promoting diversity and inculcating inclusion in the workplace, while retaining HR Asia’s stringent evaluation criteria.
In all, 11,800 employees from 185 Filipino companies took part in HR Asia’s proprietary Total Engagement Assessment Model – ranking their own employers on metrics ranging from workplace happiness and team cohesion to employee advocacy and continued job motivation. The top 35 companies who made the cut off point this year are then named HR Asia Best Companies to work for in Asia 2022 for the Filipino market.
“HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia is the only award that is judged solely by the nominees’ employees – making this the most transparent award of its kind. Equally important, with 15 markets, and over 400,000 surveys done each year – the program is also the most extensive awards for employee engagement and workplace excellence across the region”, says William Ng, group publisher of Business Media International, the owner of HR Asia.
The top three workplace positive sentiments by Filipino employees are that employees are willing to help those who require assistance, the employees also believe that their job contributes to the success of their organization, and employees are willing to put in the extra effort to achieve the goals and objectives of the organization.
However, the survey has also turned up several concerns from employees, such as lack of communication with former employees, feeling exhausted at work due to the workload, and the lack of enthusiasm to return to work after the weekend.
This year, two companies are awarded the gold Harmonia statuette as they are recognized to be one of the Best Companies to Work for in Asia for five consecutive years, these companies are Monocrete Construction Philippines, Inc., and Puregold Price Club, Inc.
The WeCare awards are also given out to Cloudstaff Modern Workforce, Everise Philippines, Fedex Express Philippines, Monocrete Construction Philippines, Inc., Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation, and United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corporation (Cocolife).
2022 Philippines HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia credits Yo Manila! as the award’s supporting partner.
“The pandemic has placed extraordinary demands on business leaders and beyond. For some companies, a near term survival plan may seem to be the only agenda for recovery but by investing in employee engagement, employees will feel supported in their jobs and in return will contribute to the overall business operations and post recovery growth,” Ng added.
The HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia Awards recognises companies that have shown world-class employee engagement and workplace excellence, while displaying demonstrable empathy and care for their employees.
The award covers fifteen markets across the region including mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam making this the largest recognition programme and survey in the region for employee engagement.
LIST OF WINNERS OF HR ASIA BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR IN ASIA 2022 (PHILIPPINES EDITION) IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:
1. A. Menarini Philippines Inc.
2. Allergan Healthcare Philippines Inc., An Abbvie Company
3. Ayala Land, Inc.
4. B&M Global Services Manila, Inc.
5. Colliers International Philippines Inc.
6. Cloudstaff Modern Workforce
7. DB Group Philippines
8. Emapta
9. Energy Development Corporation
10. Everise Philippines
11. EY Global Delivery Services Philippines
12. Fedex Express Philippines
13. foodpanda Philippines
14. Globe Telecom
15. H&M Hennes & Mauritz Inc. (H&M Philippines)
16. Health Carousel Philippines, Inc
17. Hitachi Solutions Philippines Corporation
18. Johnson & Johnson Philippines
19. Lazada Philippines
20. Megaworld Corporation
21. Microsoft Philippines, Inc.
22. Mondelēz Philippines
23. Monocrete Construction Philippines, Inc.
24. Procter & Gamble Philippines Inc.
25. Puregold Price Club, Inc.
26. Sandoz Philippines
27. Smartsourcing
28. Sourcefit Philippines Inc
29. Startek Philippines, Inc
30. TDCX (PH) Inc.
31. Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation
32. UHS Essential Health Philippines, Inc
33. Union Bank Of The Philippines
34. United Coconut Planters Life Assurance Corporation (Cocolife)
35. Vena Energy Philippines
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Business Media International
Business Media International is a subsidiary of Audience Analytics Limited (1AZ.SG), a regional leader in promoting growth for companies in Asia through data-driven brands and initiatives. We own renowned media brands such as SME Magazine, HR Asia, Capital Asia, Energy Asia, Logistics Asia, TruthTV, and CXP Asia as well as business impact assessment brands such as SME100, HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia, Golden Bull Awards and CXP Asia Best Customer Experience Awards. We organize various exhibitions and have the proprietary software-as-a-service — Total Engagement Assessment Model – in our portfolio.
Warner Bros. Discovery and Pau Jar Charity Foundation Present After Covid-19
Premiering in Southeast Asia on November 30, new show shares how Taiwan navigated and thrived during the pandemic through technology and resilience
• The pandemic urged Taiwan to accelerate its advancements in telemedicine and architecture.
• Taiwan’s technological innovations furthered its e-commerce and e-learning capabilities to fulfill the consumers’ evolving needs.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 November 2022 – Warner Bros. Discovery, in collaboration with Pau Jar Charity Foundation, presents After COVID-19. This eye-opening new show will premiere on Discovery Channel in Southeast Asia on November 30, 2022, at 8:05 pm (SEA/PH) and 7:05 pm (BKK/JKT).

After COVID-19 will showcase an in-depth perspective of how Taiwan saw the situation as a catalyst for change amid the disastrous global effects brought about by COVID-19. By combining prompt, strategic action with world-class technologies, Taiwan enabled life after COVID to become more advanced than ever.
“After COVID-19 focuses on the present state of Taiwan, documenting how far the country has developed – from its healthcare to building design, as well as advances in Taiwanese e-commerce and education practices,” said Cindy Ma, Head of Commercial Taiwan, Warner Bros. Discovery. “We are pleased to partner with the Par Jar Charity Foundation to highlight the multitude of innovations that Taiwan has brought forth over the past two years in this new one-off special.”
Jin-Xiang Lai, Chairman of Pau Jar Charity Foundation, said: “We are truly excited to partner with leading media company Warner Bros. Discovery, as we share how the Taiwanese took the opportunity to reshape various aspects of the nation. With hard work, resilience, and advanced technologies, they were able to significantly progress their telemedicine, architecture, e-commerce, and e-learning capabilities.”
Documenting how Taiwan combined its resilience and innovative spirit to embrace new technology, materials, thinking, and needs for reform, the special showcases several breakthroughs, offering audiences an insight into how these will benefit present and future lives.
• Telemedicine. With Taiwan aging faster than before, the rise of critical patient care will eventually result in a strain and shortage on the medical system. This led local experts to transform the system to cater to long-term healthcare with the use of big data, artificial intelligence, and IoT devices. By applying the concept of “smart medical care,” Taiwan can reduce the risk of patients frequently entering and leaving the hospital, practice high-precision medicine, and help conserve hospitals’ manpower and resources.
• Architecture. With “resilient cities” becoming a priority in recent years, Taiwan stands at the forefront, investing in sustainable structures which can withstand natural disasters, as well as the pandemic. ICUs were built with the highest standard of medical-grade materials and dedicated systems for effective containment of the virus. An antibacterial light developed by Delta Electronics and derived from Spectrum 222 technology has proven to be a more powerful disinfectant than alcohol and, thus an epidemic prevention essential to this day.
• E-commerce. In this post-pandemic era, the Taiwanese have completely shifted from shopping in malls to shopping online. Logistics warehouses quickly replaced small shops, shopping malls, and department stores in every corner of the city and can now process up to 20,000 orders a day with the help of automatic warehousing systems. Now predominantly managed by handling robots, these super warehouses operate on a computerized, error-proof design and contactless lifestyle.
• E-learning. Distance teaching has been the norm for quite some time, with educators now thinking in the form of “digital learning” and “virtual classrooms.” Taiwan’s VR experts provide the world with a new co-learning space, a learning environment of different places, empathy, and synchronicity. Its entry into the metaverse breaks all the time and space constraints that hinder people’s imagination, embracing this world of new experiences.
Note to Editors
After COVID-19 is produced and developed by Grace Liao in association with Flowing Films for Discovery Channel.
After Covid-19 Logos and Images
After Covid-19 Photo
After Covid-19 Promo
Hashtag: #WarnerBros.Discovery
About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, WB Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
Aon Study Finds Rising Cost of Employee Benefits a Top Concern for Asia Pacific Businesses
- 57 percent of employees are not fully clear about the benefits provided by their organisation
- 2 in 3 employers report their benefits offering does not fully support their diverse workforce
- 1 in 2 employers did not have a benefits strategy
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 November 2022 – Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, has published its 2022 Asia Pacific Employee Benefit Trends Report, which evaluates the changing expectations of employees and the trends in employee benefit strategies in the region. The insights from the study aim to help employers quantify and qualify employee benefits and assess how their organisations can increase workforce resilience amid an increasingly volatile talent market.
The Aon study revealed that 55 percent of employers found that increase in benefit plan cost was their top challenge followed by 54 percent reporting unavailability of benefit packages that offer diversity, options, and flexibility to attract and retain talent.
Benefits Strategy
Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a rapid and significant change in employee expectations in the region. Employees increasingly seek a work environment that supports their mental health and wellbeing, with increasing numbers asking for remote work arrangements, meaningful work and shorter hours. Employers recognise this with 35 percent of those surveyed reporting that 1 in 4 of their employees may work remotely in future.
However, while employee wellbeing was a key priority for 46 percent of the employers surveyed, 1 in 2 of the companies indicated that they lacked a clear benefits philosophy and that mid to longer term benefits strategy was a key future priority for them. Furthermore, 1 in 5 companies did not review their benefit offerings on a regular basis.
Tim Dwyer, chief executive officer of Health Solutions for Asia Pacific at Aon, said: “Employers in the region need to recognise the shift in employee work motivations resulting from COVID-19 and rethink their benefits strategy. To ensure they build a resilient workforce that can thrive during times of ongoing change and complexity, employers must leverage available anonymised and aggregated data insights around health and wellbeing, alongside employee feedback to gain insight into needs and expectations. These insights can inform decisions on how to manage the evolving structure of work or more specific solutions, such as ways to achieve a healthier and more inclusive team. Apart from the diversity and flexibility of benefits, there is a need to communicate the benefits employees receive more clearly.”
Benefits Diversity and Communications
Talent attraction and retention is key for organisations with 28 percent reporting an increase in turnover of more than 5 percent in 2022. In the face of rising inflation and skill shortages, employers are offering holistic compensation packages, including benefits to attract and retain people with the right skills. However, 41 percent of employers reported that their benefits were not sufficient to fulfil employees’ needs and 45 percent found that their benefits were perceived as ‘below market’.
The study also found that 1 in 3 employers plan to implement flexible options or a choice programme in the near future, leveraging digital tools and voluntary benefits. Most prevalent locations where employers are implementing a flexible benefits programme are Philippines, India, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.
Apart from a focus on enhancing benefits choices for the diverse workforce, the study also found that there are issues with the communication of benefit offerings to employees. Fifty seven percent of employers confirmed their employees were not fully aware of the benefits provided by the organisation, even though 3 in 4 employers communicated benefits through email and 41 percent used a digital benefits platform, with more companies moving toward providing a ‘digital benefits home hub’, as an access point for all things benefits.
Simon Thompson, practice leader for Health Solutions for Asia Pacific at Aon said, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been heightened expectations from employees for meaningful work, mental and physical wellbeing and work-life balance. These expectations are different for various talent groups; therefore, a standardised benefit offering may not appeal to all. Businesses therefore must have a clear employee benefit strategy catering to the various talent groups and ensure benefits are communicated often, leveraging both digital and more traditional approaches, whilst balancing sustainable benefit plan costs. A clear benefits and communication strategy will help businesses make better workforce decisions based on employee health and wellbeing data, talent attraction and retention outcomes, benefits spend and business performance – and ensure all elements are aligned to build a resilient workforce.”
More information about Aon in Asia is available here.
Hashtag: #Aon
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Aon
Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Our colleagues provide our clients in over 120 countries with advice and solutions that give them the clarity and confidence to make better decisions to protect and grow their business.
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Discover 7-Eleven’s New Burgerrific Flavours Available All Day Every Day!
7-Eleven is launching five brand-new 7-Select grab-and-go burgers to give customers a-BUN-dant choice, great value and flavours 24/7! These are just your average burgers and feature tasty and innovative fillings that will be sure to delight! Choose from a new breakfast burger, a Japanese-inspired burger and two brand-new seafood options to fuel you throughout the day.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 November 2022 – If you’re looking to grab a quick, affordable and satisfying bite on the run – whether for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or a late-night snack – nothing beats a 7-Select burger at 7-Eleven. These handheld treats have always been popular with customers so that’s why 7-Eleven is expanding its Ready to Eat burger range to offer an even greater choice of tasty options perfect for any time of the day. What’s more, they’re all affordably priced at $3.70 or under so are amazing value too!

Five all-new Burgerrific Flavours to keep you going around the clock
7-Select Chicken Sausage with Omelette Burger (U.P. $3.20): This ultimate breakfast burger boasting a succulent chicken sausage patty topped with fluffy omelette and cheese is sure to get your day off to a great start! We’ve dialled down the pepperiness of the patty to make it more breakfast-friendly, but it’s still packed full of flavour and wallet-friendly too!
7-Select Teriyaki Chicken Burger (U.P. $3.70): If you’re a fan of all things Japanese, then this burger is for you. Featuring a juicy chicken patty topped with sweet yet salty teriyaki sauce, this tasty burger is full of umami flavour to delight your tastebuds.
7-Select Xtra Spicy Fried Chicken Burger (U.P. $3.70): Who doesn’t love an upsized spicy chicken burger? With its extra-large, extra spicy patty made from tender chicken thigh, this fiery burger will not only make your mouth water but also satisfy any hunger craving.
7-Select Fish Burger (U.P. $3.70) & 7-Select Ebi Burger (U.P. $3.90): Variety is the spice of life so we’re adding not one but two all-new seafood options to our burger menu! The 7-Select Fish Burger contains a delicious white fish patty in crispy breadcrumb with cheese, diced onions and mayonnaise in a soft bun – perfect for breakfast, lunch or a quick supper on the run! Or treat yourself to the 7-Select Ebi Burger and enjoy a breaded shrimp patty topped with tangy tartar sauce all sandwiched in a fluffy white bun.
Don’t fret, your old fan-favourites are still available around the clock. Take your pick from the 7-Select Cheesy Beef Burger (U.P. $3.40), 7-Select Cheesy Chicken Burger (U.P. $3.40), 7-Select Spicy Chicken Burger (U.P. $3.40), or 7-Select Scrambled Egg Burger with Chicken Sausage (U.P. $3.50).
And if you’re looking for a great deal, then good news! All the above burgers can be enjoyed as part of our Saver Combos! Choose between 7-Select Cheesy Beef/ Scrambled Egg with Chicken Sausage/ Spicy Chicken/ Chicken Sausage with Omelette/ Teriyaki Chicken or Ebi Burger and pair it with either a MUG Rootbeer 330ml or FIRST BREW Wintermelon drink for just $4!
Plus enjoy this exclusive yuu Offer! Earn 3x Points when you buy any of these 7-Select Burger (Teriyaki Chicken/ Xtra Spicy Fried Chicken/ Ebi/ Chicken Sausage with Omelette) . You can also redeem a 7-Select Fish Burger for just 400 Points!
A summary table of all products and their prices can be found below:
Product | RSP |
7-Select Chicken Sausage with Omelette Burger | $3.20 |
7-Select Teriyaki Chicken Burger | $3.70 |
7-Select Xtra Spicy Fried Chicken Burger | $3.70 |
7-Select Fish Burger | $3.70 |
7-Select Ebi Burger | $3.70 |
7-Select Cheesy Beef Burger | $3.40 |
7-Select Cheesy Chicken Burger | $3.40 |
7-Select Spicy Chicken Burger | $3.40 |
7-Select Scrambled Egg Burger with Chicken Sausage | $3.50 |
All burgers are halal certified.
More promotions and updates can always be found on the 7-Eleven Singapore Facebook page so stay tuned!
Hashtag: #7Eleven
About 7-Eleven
Established in Singapore in 1983, 7-Eleven has since expanded to more than 450 stores island-wide to become the leading 24-hour convenience chain store. We take pride in serving the Singapore community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 7-Eleven emphasises convenience and value by offering a wide array of quality products, food and services to satisfy the needs of its customers. Think 7-Eleven and what comes to mind are the refreshing Slurpee, 7CAFÉ as well as a wide range of quality ready meals and sandwiches under 7-SELECT. 7-Eleven is also a 24/7 one-stop destination for customers who need to access bill payment services in their own time. Our services cover payment of utilities, courier services, and even cash withdrawal.
For more information, visit www.7-eleven.com.sg
KLEVV Introduces Three New M.2 NVMe SSDs to the Market
Aimed at Enthusiasts to Mainstream Market
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 23 November 2022 – KLEVV, an emerging memory brand introduced by Essencore, is excited to announce three new consumer-grade M.2 NVMe SSDs, the CRAS C930, C910, and C730.

The new CRAS M.2 NVME SSD lineup aims to serve a wide range of users, enabling entry-level to top-tier enthusiasts with industry-leading storage technology.
Both CRAS 930 and C910 come with an optional add-on heatsink for users to maximize their freedom in the setup.
CRAS C930 – Get Ahead of the Curve
With an impressive 1500 TBW endurance lifecycle and a significant emphasis on DRAM cache buffer, the CRAS C930 is built to withstand harsh workloads. Utilizing the latest PCIe Gen4 x4 interface supported by NVMe 1.4, it delivers break-neck sequential read/write speed of up to 7400/6800 MB/s at 2TB max capacity and 4K random read/write up to 1000K IOPS.
Exceptional engineering and design elements make the CRAS C930 the crown jewel of KLEVV’s new M.2 NVME SSD lineup, capable of running on PCs, Laptops, and even PS5 consoles. Additionally, the flat fin heatsink addon is a great inclusion with up to 20% temperature reduction, giving users complete flexibility in their choice.
CRAS C910 – Armored with Power, Cooler than Ever
Adopting the PCIe Gen4 x4 interface with NVMe 1.4, the new CRAS C910 is the perfect solution for gaming and content creation.
Leveraging strictly selected 3D TLC NAND Flash chips, the CRAS C910 dishes out up to 5000/4800 MB/s sequential read/write speed at 1TB capacity.
Furthermore, the stylish black and white brushed aluminum heatsink included with the unit provides comprehensive utility capable of up to 10% passive heat dissipation.
CRAS C730 – Go Above and Beyond
Built around the PCIe Gen 3×4 interface supported by NVMe 1.3 technology, the CRAS C730 is a jack of all trades. Targeted at mainstream users, it outshines the competition by carrying top-shelf features and functionality way above its pay grade.
DRAM cache buffering, Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.), and Thermal Throttling Algorithm are a few worthy highlights to mention that make the CRAS C730 the best powerful, budget-friendly performance storage solution on the market.
Users can choose from 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities with impressive sequential read rates reaching 3700MB/s at 2 TB capacity.
PRODUCT AVAILABILITY
The CRAS C930, C910, and C730 M.2 NVMe SSDs will be available from Q4 2022, KLEVV products are distributed by Integral Memory plc in the United Kingdom/ France/ Spain/ Germany. Consumers may visit Amazon sites for online purchase.
INFORMATION
Product page
CRAS C930
CRAS C910
CRAS C730
Video
CRAS C930
CRAS C910
CRAS C730
Hashtag: #KLEVV
ABOUT ESSENCORE
Established in 2014, Essencore Limited aims to become the world’s top vendor of DRAM modules and NAND flash application products. The company started with one goal: to “Change the world and be a leader in semiconductor distribution.” The business strategies of Essencore is to adopt the newest technologies to differentiate themselves from competitors, deliver dedicated Memory products, and offer various product portfolios for customer’s competition readiness. For more information, please visit www.essencore.com.
ABOUT KLEVV
KLEVV, is a premium brand of Essencore, the major Module and NAND Flash application product vendor. The KLEVV range focused on superior gaming memory modules and solid state drives. KLEVV is committed to delivering world-class products with first-rate quality, and all products are engineered for enthusiasts who are pursuing the best things in life. KLEVV memory/SSD have been recognized by Germany’s Red Dot Design Award for its innovative product design in 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2022. For more information, please visit www.klevv.com.