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Woman Found Dead Two Days After Boat Racing Accident in Xayaboury

A woman who was a member of a boat racing crew in Xayaboury fell from her boat and drowned on Monday. Her body was retrieved two days later from the river, 10 km away from where the boat capsized.

Govt Urges Authorities to Scale up their Anti-Drug Efforts

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security General Vilay Lakhamfong spoke at a conference about ramping up efforts to curb the trade of drugs in Laos.

On the occasion of National Day against Drug Abuse and Trafficking, the Minister of Public Security asked government agencies to ramp up their efforts to curb and prevent the trade of drugs in Laos.

ViewQwest sees growing demand for bespoke enterprise network and security solutions in the Philippines

Weaknesses of traditional network and security models magnified amidst expansion of digital transformation and widespread adoption of cloud applications and hybrid workforce

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach – 12 October 2022 – Business enterprises in the Philippines are increasingly opting for bespoke enterprise network and security solutions, alongside its peers in Southeast Asia. ViewQwest, a leading and award-winning regional telecommunications and Managed Security Services provider (MSSP), which has seen a surge in demand for its services in the country, revealed this in a select media briefing with key media publications here today. The company was represented by its Chief Executive Officer Vignesa Moorthy and Chief Marketing Officer Jurist Francisco-Gamban.

“In the Philippines, there is widespread enterprise adoption of cloud applications and the hybrid workforce as companies pursue continued digital transformation. Large enterprises with archipelago-wide branch networks and a distributed workforce require high-performance, high-availability and high-security access to their corporate network and resources – all while streamlining operations, driving cost savings and enabling business agility. This has magnified the weaknesses of traditional network and security models, and created the growing need for secure access service edge (SASE) and software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) services,” Vignesa Moorthy commented.

The Managed SASE and SD-WAN from ViewQwest converge networking and security services into one unified solution, replacing legacy data centre-oriented security with cloud-based architecture and places network and security controls on the edge, instead of the corporate data centre. Designed to fully support and deliver the highest performance for applications hosted in data centres and the cloud, including software as a service (SaaS), the solutions combine to enable enterprises to implement secure access from anywhere, allowing companies to reap enhanced protection and network performance, while reducing costs and complexity.

Localised understanding of unique regional needs

ViewQwest has been rolling out its Managed SASE and SD-WAN offerings across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, with services designed and implemented to address the unique needs of large and highly distributed domestic and regional enterprises in the region. The offerings take into account the unique challenges in the region, including diverse connectivity and inconsistent network quality, rising bandwidth costs, data residency and data sovereignty requirements, and a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.

With a deep understanding of the Philippine market and the general Southeast Asian market, built on ViewQwest’s experience from large-scale enterprise projects, the company is cost-effectively delivering a simplified and high-availability network that provides superior network and application performance, as well as best-of-breed secure access to any remote user, branch office or device.

“We help customers transform their network and security architecture with confidence. Leveraging our telco DNA, we have built the most cost-effective, high-performance and reliable networking solutions integrated with our certified best-of-breed SASE capabilities from leading global cybersecurity leaders such as Palo Alto Networks. This allows us to create differentiated services that address unique security demands across our markets and customers – a distinct advantage that ViewQwest offers to enterprises in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia,” added Vignesa Moorthy.

ViewQwest has been named by Palo Alto Networks as a Next Wave MSSP Innovator. ViewQwest Philippines offers a complete range of global connectivity, SASE, SD-WAN and managed services required for enterprise network and security transformation. Since entering the Philippine market in 2019, ViewQwest has grown its clientele and now supports the needs of top Philippine enterprises across various industries.

For more details on ViewQwest, please visit https://viewqwest.com/

Hashtag: #ViewQwest

About ViewQwest

Established in 2001, ViewQwest is a leading telecommunications service provider of domestic and global connectivity, managed SASE, SD-WAN and other network and security solutions. It has been consistently recognised as Singapore’s fastest Fixed Network Provider in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 by Ookla Speedtest Intelligence. In 2021, Ookla also named ViewQwest the Most Consistent Fixed Network in Singapore. It has also been named one of Palo Alto Networks’ Top Managed Security Services Providers (MSSP) for 2022.

In 2016, ViewQwest expanded into Malaysia as a fully-licensed operator with Network Facility Provider (NFP), Network Service Provider (NSP) and Application Service Provider (ASP) licences, offering managed networks and security services as well as residential broadband services. In 2019, it commenced commercial operations in the Philippines and in 2022, expanded into Hong Kong to further extend its market coverage for Managed SASE, SD-WAN and cybersecurity solutions to top Southeast Asian enterprises.

For more information, visit

TRON Becomes the “National Blockchain” of Dominica as the First of Its Kind

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Media OutReach – 12 October 2022 – TRON has made another breakthrough in its cooperation with sovereign states—appointed as Dominica’s designated national blockchain infrastructure with endorsement to issue Dominica Coin—an achievement that is the first of its kind in the blockchain industry.

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On October 7 (AST), the Government of Dominica announced on its official website that it had entered into an agreement with TRON, appointing TRON Protocol as its designated national blockchain infrastructure. Meanwhile, TRON has obtained the government’s endorsement to issue Dominica Coin (DMC), the country’s fan token. This agreement is, to date, the highest level of cooperation between a sovereign state and a blockchain platform, which cements TRON’s legal status as the national blockchain infrastructure of Dominica. With this deal as a prelude, TRON is poised to create a new trend of introducing blockchain-based applications to sovereign states.

The news has sent shock waves across the blockchain industry, with some of the industry practitioners crying that “Dominica is now a territory of the TRON States.” The partnership between TRON and Dominica has created many more use cases for blockchain technology and laid the foundation for its success in the future.

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An island country in the Caribbean region, Dominica has an economy mainly based on agriculture and tourism. Just like Grenada, the country uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$ or XCD), a currency pegged to the U.S. dollar. The Caribbean, home to 25 sovereign countries and 14 regions, has become the superstar for the development of cryptocurrencies, making itself an integral part of the crypto and blockchain industries. Mostly small islands with relatively simple economic systems, the Caribbean is heavily dependent on trade and faces the challenges of insufficient foreign exchange reserves (U.S. dollar) and lack of financial infrastructure. The rise of blockchain has brought new opportunities for economic and social development in this region. Jamaica and Puerto Rico, among other countries and regions, are actively embracing cryptocurrencies and blockchain to speed up their growth. Now, as Dominica and TRON strike up a partnership, this Caribbean country has joined its neighbors to welcome this innovative technology.

The collaboration between TRON and Dominica has been long planned. WICNEWS, the largest news website in the Caribbean, reported that the partnership was formed right after the Virtual Asset Business Act was passed in this island country in May. TRON has obtained the government’s endorsement to issue Dominica Coin (DMC), a blockchain-based fan token, to help promote Dominica’s global fanfare for its natural heritage and tourist attractions.

An official statement by Dominica stated that TRON Protocol is one of the leading global blockchain platforms, known for its efficient and cost-effective crypto settlement system. The country is taking a historic step towards enhanced economic growth by embracing digital innovation and appointing TRON Protocol as its designated national blockchain infrastructure.

The Government of Dominica has been committed to building a more inclusive and diversified economy with the help of new technologies, according to Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica.

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“The open and cost-effective nature of the TRON blockchain infrastructure will play a vital role to better integrate Small Island Developing States like Dominica into the global economy in the future,” Roosevelt Skerrit added.

Founded in 2017 by Justin Sun, TRON has grown to one of the largest public chains, boasting over 115 million users, over 4 billion transactions, and over $50 billion in on-chain assets. Forbes, the world-renowned business media, earmarked TRON as “one of the largest decentralized organizations”. The future goal for TRON is to become a mainstream financial service provider.

While advancing the underlying technologies of TRON and building a comprehensive blockchain ecosystem, Sun is also dedicated to promoting regulatory compliance and the adoption of blockchain worldwide. In late 2021, Sun was appointed as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Grenada to the WTO. He said that during his tenure, he would proactively promote the integration of cryptocurrencies and sovereign states to build a new financial system that is secure, efficient, and inclusive. Moreover, he would also leverage his experience in the field of digital industry for a joint response to the new challenges regarding digital transformation in the post-pandemic era.

The WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) was held in June this year in Geneva, Switzerland. Sun stated at the conference, where he participated as head of the Grenada delegation, that blockchain and stablecoins can empower trade, e-commerce and many other industries, and that blockchain and crypto technologies can inject impetus into the economies of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean region.

At TOKEN2049 and the ninth Milken Institute Asia Summit, both just concluded in Singapore, Sun also said that the crypto industry is poised to become the mainstream in the next decade. He believes that blockchain technology and the crypto industry can bring blockchain-powered finance to mass adoption, which benefits everyone across the globe and addresses regulators’ concerns by keeping risks to a minimum.

Hashtag: #TRONDAO

Quarter of Healthcare Ransomware Victims Forced to Halt Operations

Trend Micro research reveals supply chains are key source of risk

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 12 October 2022 – Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, today revealed that 86% of global healthcare organizations (HCOs) that have been compromised by ransomware suffered operational outages.

To find out more, visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/explore/glrans

Most (57%) global HCOs admit being compromised by ransomware over the past three years, according to the study. Of these, 25% say they were forced to completely halt operations, while 60% reveal that some business processes were impacted as a result.

On average, it took most responding organisations days (56%) or weeks (24%) to fully restore these operations.

Ransomware is not only causing the healthcare sector significant operational pain. Three-fifths (60%) of responding HCOs say that sensitive data was also leaked by their attackers, potentially increasing compliance and reputational risk, as well as investigation, remediation and clean-up costs.

Respondents to the study also highlight supply chain weaknesses as a key challenge. Specifically:

  • 43% say their partners have made them a more attractive target for attack
  • 43% say a lack of visibility across the ransomware attack chain has made them more vulnerable
  • 36% say a lack of visibility across attack surfaces has made them a bigger target

The good news is that most (95%) HCOs say they regularly update patches, while 91% restrict email attachments to mitigate malware risk. Many also use detection and response tools for their network (NDR) endpoint (EDR) and across multiple layers (XDR).

However, the study also highlights potential weaknesses, including:

  • A fifth (17%) don’t have any remote desktop protocol (RDP) controls in place
  • Many HCOs don’t share any threat intelligence with partners (30%), suppliers (46%) or their broader ecosystem (46%)
  • A third (33%) don’t share any information with law enforcement
  • Only half or fewer HCOs currently use NDR (51%), EDR (50%) or XDR (43%)
  • Worryingly few respondents are able to detect lateral movement (32%), initial access (42%) or use of tools like Mimikatz and PsExec (46%)

“In cybersecurity we often talk in abstractions about data breaches and network compromise. But in the healthcare sector, ransomware can have a potentially very real and very dangerous physical impact,” said Bharat Mistry, Technical Director at Trend Micro.

“Operational outages put patient lives at risk. We can’t rely on the bad guys to change their ways, so healthcare organisations need to get better at detection and response and share the appropriate intelligence with partners to secure their supply chains.”

Hashtag: #TrendMicro

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world.

Laos, Australia Celebrate 70 Years of Diplomacy

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, met with Australian Foreign Minister, Ms. Penny Wong.

Laos and Australia’s foreign ministers met on Monday to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations and discuss upgrading bilateral ties to further strengthen their longstanding partnership.

Appointments to the Board of Clean Air Network announced

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 12 October 2022 – The Board of Clean Air Network (“CAN”) is pleased to announce the appointments of Mr. Chris Roberge and Mr. Stephen Howard as Board Directors and Ms. Lin Mau Tong, Kitty as Board Advisor, effective from 9th September 2022. We extend our warmest welcome to the incoming members, who are strongly committed to supporting the clean air goals of CAN.

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Chris Roberge is a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) specializing in taxation, fiscal incentives and legal affairs. He has helped numerous companies expand their businesses and manage the complex regulatory framework in the Americas and Asia during his 25 years’ tenure at Deloitte. Chris was also the Global leader of Deloitte’s energy practice and worked with many companies on their energy transition and climate strategies.

“Air Pollution is one of the top global environmental issues. I wish to advocate for clean energy policy developments using my prior experience to promote zero-emission among vehicles towards a sustainable environment in Hong Kong,” said Mr. Roberge.

Stephen Howard is a senior market executive and responsible officer with board-level experience for Hong Kong’s regulated banking entities. He has over 25 years of trading and management experience for the major US and European Banks and a Hong Kong Hedge Fund. Stephen was invited to join the Advisory Board of the Sydney Stock Exchange to help support the regional development of the Exchange and is currently the Chief Investment Officer of a sole family office in Hong Kong.

“I’m delighted to join the Board of Clean Air Network and work with our Chairperson, Tong, our CEO, Patrick and the team. The quality of our air in Hong Kong affects us all. This is an opportunity to help move the needle, in the right direction, for all of Hong Kong.” says Mr. Howard.

CAN is also proud to announce collaboration with the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools (HKAHSS). Lin Mau Tong, Kitty, on behalf of the Executive Committee (2021-22) of the HKAHSS, assumed her new role as CAN’s Board Advisor. As principal of St. Rose of Lima’s College, Ms. Lin’s experience in educational sector will strengthen the organization’s capacity to educate future generations about clean air.

“We are thrilled to have three remarkable figures joining us. Their admirable passion for the cause and exceptional expertise will be priceless to Clean Air Network,” says Ms. Tong Zhao, Chair of the Board. “The synergy and solidarity among the existing and new board members will inspire the organization to advance our advocacy for clean air in Hong Kong.”

Clean Air Network also announces that Ms. May Chun will retire as Director of the Board effective from 22th September 2022. Ms. Zhao would like to express sincere gratitude to May, on behalf of the Board, for her valuable insights and contributions to the organisation.

Hashtag: #cleanairnetwork #airpollution #air #WHO #CAN #boardannouncement

About Clean Air Network (CAN)


Since our inception in 2009, CAN has become a principal advocate for clean air and the only dedicated air issue-focused non-profit organization in Hong Kong. Over a decade or so, we have been a strong force from civil society in shaping the HK government’s long-term emission control strategy through constructive dialogue and scientifically-sound approaches.

Currently, CAN is collaborating with the Institute for the Environment of HKUST to enhance community knowledge on air pollution matters and the Civic Exchange and World Resources Institute to formulate policy advice to accelerate the transition to zero emissions vehicles on the road. To make clean air a sustainable reality in Hong Kong, we have maintained a consistent media presence and our platforms to raise public awareness on air pollution-related issues and their health impact.

Get to know our new Board members:

Novo Nordisk launches ‘Your Weight Can’t Wait’ Campaign to raise awareness of adolescents with obesity

This campaign aims to create awareness of obesity as a medical disease, focusing on adolescents in the society, and encourages caregivers & healthcare providers to be proactive to tackle its consequences

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 12 October 2022 – Novo Nordisk proudly launched Your Weight Can’t Wait campaign addressing the increase in prevalence of adolescents with obesity in Singapore due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 2017 to 2021, the proportion of students who were overweight (BMI-for-age at or above the 90th percentile) in schools (primary, secondary and pre-university levels) has increased from 13% to 16%. In 2021, The Weight Management Clinic at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) reported a 12 per cent increase in such cases as compared to 2019, while the Division of Paediatric Endocrinology at National University Hospital (NUH) reported a 15 per cent increase[1], Even more alarming is the fact that such cases are often under-reported. If left unchecked, adolescent obesity would lead to a myriad of health and psychological issues later in life.

A modern solution for a longstanding issue

With the purpose of driving change to defeat chronic diseases, Novo Nordisk has made it a priority to tackle the issue of adolescent obesity. Using a multi-pronged approach, Your Weight Can’t Wait campaign aims to not only increase awareness regarding the dangers of obesity amongst adolescents and their caregivers, but to also encourage them to seek more information on obesity and management options while also addressing the stigma surrounding obesity that can be inherent in society.

This will be achieved by collaborating with notable social media figures through #ywcwchallenge, a physical challenge taking place on various social media platforms involving both strength and balance, where participants balance an apple on their head and perform 10 squats. This activity will remind everyone upon the importance of keeping active, thereby raising awareness on obesity.

For the face of the campaign, Novo Nordisk is proud to present an adorable otter as a mascot. Ottese the otter is an animal that is truly emblematic to the little island-state of Singapore with its famously tight-knit families. Novo Nordisk believes that Ottese will serve the campaign well, serving as a reminder that adolescent obesity should not be an issue that is faced alone, but with the help of a strong and cohesive family unit.

Supporting adolescents with obesity has never been more important in the current environment that has highlighted obesity as a significant risk factor for COVID-19. The Your Weight Can’t Wait campaign aims to increase knowledge and change the narrative around obesity in Singapore. Through this campaign, people with obesity and their families can learn more about the causes and consequences of obesity and find tools to help them to seek professional help to better manage this chronic disease.

For more information, please visit: www.yourweightcantwait.com


[1] https://www.straitstimes.com/life/rise-in-cases-of-overweight-kids-in-singapore-during-the-pandemic

Hashtag: #NovoNordisk

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Bagsværd, Denmark. Their purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity, and rare blood and rare endocrine diseases.

This is a disease awareness message brought to you by Novo Nordisk Singapore. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional in the event of any medical query or emergency – and please do not attempt to self-diagnose or treat any medical condition on your own.