Vang Vieng Station in Vientiane Province has commenced providing freight services along the Laos-China Railway.
Health Authorities in Laos Ease Requirements for Newly Discharged Covid Patients
Health authorities have eased requirements for Covid-19 patients after being discharged from hospital, allowing them to resume their lives without further testing or isolation.
Laos Confirms 733 New Cases of Covid-19, Three Deaths
Laos has recorded 733 cases of Covid-19 across the country today, with three deaths.
Laos to See Decline in Coffee Exports This Year
Coffee exports are expected to slow for Laos this year as the number of coffee plantations decreases.
Discovery’s ‘New Taste of Hong Kong’ New Host for Season 2
TLC’s ‘New Taste of Hong Kong’ season 2 answers why so many have made the iconic city their home premiering on January 21
Fabio Grangeon, an actor and culinary enthusiast, will take Singapore and Malaysian audiences through the many colourful layers of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods from the perspective of locals and expats that have made the city their home
SINGAPORE – Media Outreach – 18 January 2022 – TLC is set to premiere the second season of the ‘New Taste of Hong Kong.’ The show will give audiences a unique and exclusive look at the city’s creative and culinary scene from the perspective of both locals and expats who proudly call Hong Kong “home.” Through the show, audiences will celebrate Hong Kong’s gems in Sai Kung, Central, and West Kowloon, answering why many fall in love with the city. Episode 1 of the latest season will premiere on TLC SEA to Singapore and Malaysia audiences on January 21 at 20:05, and Episode 2 will premiere on January 28 at 20:05.
Miru Wong showing her meticulous designs to host Fabio Grangeon.
The new season will introduce actor and culinary enthusiast Fabio Grangeon as the new host. In between projects, Fabio explores places that may become his next home in Asia, harvesting new memories and sensations through tastes and stories, all of which fuel his imagination and serve as his inspiration to cook and to perform. Fabio will be the guide as he experiences the New Taste of Hong Kong, immersing himself among people that have fallen in love with the city. The tour guide, and Hong Kong Super Fan Alexandra Unrein, are one such example: “The first time I came to Hong Kong, – I lost my heart, “she says. “Then I met my husband, so I lost it twice. I decided to stay around, and then I became a Hong Kong tour guide.”
Fabio will be visiting iconic areas, starting with Sai Kung and Central, with colourful characters who show him the natural side of Hong Kong juxtaposed with the creative street art scene.
The show unravels the story behind every ingredient, flavour, and dish, along with the people dedicated to honouring them. Indulging in the city’s iconic nightlife in Central, Fabio tastes modernist inspiration from Mixologist Antonio Lai of Quinary, named Asia’s 50 best bars, who serves him Oolong Tea Collins, drawing the long tradition of drinking tea, Yum Cha. “This allowed me to connect with my family, bringing my memory back to the old days — this is a Hong Kong-style of drink.”
In West Kowloon, Fabio catches up with neighbourhood locals of Yau Ma Tei and Jordon, who show him why Hong Kong is so unique, tasting famous traditional food products that will shock his taste buds. The show celebrates how the city’s diversity contributes to a thriving arts scene, with traditional culture and heritage being valued and preserved while new cultures are accepted and melded together with the old to create something uniquely Hong Kong.
Jessica Burrows, a soloist with Hong Kong Ballet and Hong Kong Super Fan, shows Fabio around the West Kowloon Cultural District, a growing art and cultural hub. She says the diversity is why she fell in love with the city. “The dynamic energy is incredible,” she says. “It’s very inspiring, and there are so many people from so many different places in the world. You learn a lot.”
As the show follows the stories of people changed by the city, it also showcases changes within the iconic city. The show traces Hong Kong’s unique legacy of preserving and honouring tradition amid the march for modernity, spotlighting humble street corner shops passed down for generations and a history spanning decades.
The Sindart in Bowring Centre is a special place where craftsman Miru Wong’s family has been doing business since 1958. The history has fueled her worn work, saying, “I find my inspiration in some traditional Chinese stories and from our daily lives.” Jay Liu, the principal flautist for the SAR Philharmonic Orchestra and shopkeeper for Liu Ma Kee Limited, which crafts traditionally fermented tofu, also celebrates the importance of family as a fourth-generation owner of a hidden gem at the heart of Min Street has operated for over a hundred years.
Fabio Grangeon says of his experience: “I am beyond charmed by the authenticity of this place and its people. I feel lucky to have made these new friends who have helped me explore Hong Kong through the precious experiences of each of them—finding inspiration in their personal stories. Through scenery, food and art, they all have stories to share. But my journey isn’t over. There are many more stories to be found.”
Against the backdrop of beautiful natural sceneries and lively nightlife, the ‘New Taste of Hong Kong‘ allows audiences in Singapore and Malaysia the chance to discover and explore the city as it has never experienced before, offering surprises in every corner.
About Discovery Inc.
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real-life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the forthcoming multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.
Notes to editors
Link to Photos
Facebook 30s teaser video
Host Fabio Grangeon Profile photos and bio
#Discovery
WeTV Bets Big on Southeast Asia with New Content Partnership Opportunities
WeTV looks to expand its local partner ecosystems to deliver the best of Asian entertainment to its viewers
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – WeTV, Southeast Asia’s leading video-on-demand (VOD) and over-the-top platform (OTT), has announced plans to aggressively ramp up its presence in Southeast Asia in 2022 and is welcoming local brands and advertisers in the region to join forces in reaching out to WeTV viewers.
WeTV is a global video streaming platform launched by Tencent Video, one of the largest online video platforms in China. Curated for international viewers, it is one of the largest digital video streaming destinations in several Asian markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. It is available on multiple platforms including mobile, desktop, tablets, and Smart TV and in 2022, it is set to introduce a list of titles geared towards keeping viewers in the region yearning for more. To date, WeTV has attained remarkable achievements in Southeast Asia, and they plan to break new barriers with a slew of over 40 locally produced WeTV Originals projects in their 2022 pipeline. For example, Season 1 of “My Girlfriend is an Alien” was a big hit in Indonesia, and viewers can look forward to Season 2 of this series. Other highly anticipated productions that will be launched in 2022 include Tencent Video Originals “The Longest Promise” and “Who Rules the World” as well as WeTV Originals “Little Mom 2”, “My Lecturer My Husband S2” and more.
WeTV has been reaping the benefits of its long-term strategy to produce top quality original content specifically for Southeast Asian viewers. In 2021, WeTV Originals in Thailand were nominated for 6 awards at the 26th Asian Entertainment Awards, the largest television awards in Asia. This has proven to be a powerful springboard for home-grown talents to achieve fame internationally and for artists to be recognized for brand sponsorships. Along these lines, 2022 will see the continued release of WeTV Originals that were produced locally in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. These include “The Wife”, a Thai television adaptation based on a popular Thailand novel which has garnered much attention in the past 20 years, as well as “Valentine’s Again”, another WeTV Thai Original which stars several popular local actors in a romantic comedy.
In 2021, WeTV achieved a significant milestone of over 60 million downloads globally – a 31% growth as compared to 2020. Additionally, the number of WeTV’s monthly active users (MAU) has been growing exponentially year-on-year. From 2020 to 2021, WeTV saw a 67% spike in MAU, and an impressive leap of 95% in WeTV VIP users. These demonstrate WeTV’s success in delivering first-class entertainment experience across an extensive range of genres to its viewers. Renowned international brands and agencies across multiple industries have also tapped WeTV for the purpose of reaching out to their target audiences. These include:
- Telecommunications: 3BB, Advanced Info Service (AIS) Thailand, DITO Telecommunity, Globe Telecom, Maxis, PT Telkom Indonesia, Smart Communications
- Agencies: GroupM, Interpublic Group (IPG), Omnicom Media Group (OMG)
- Brands: Unilever, P&G, TikTok, Apple, Samsung, LG, OPPO, VIVO Huawei and Xiaomi
“Since our launch in 2019, WeTV has always sought to support the local creative sector, by offering attractive and customizable advertising and brand solutions to our partners,” said Jeff Han, WeTV Director and Vice President of Tencent Video. “The past four years have been a ride, and we remain committed to growing not only our global presence but also helping local productions go international. With guaranteed high-quality content and an extensive range of platform offerings to meet the needs of every partner, WeTV aims to become the go-to digital content platform for our partners in the region.”
ABOUT WeTV
WeTV is an Asian streaming service that sees the creation of premier video-on-demand (VOD) and provides over-the-top (OTT) local content. The streaming service provides content from around the region, inclusive of selected Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, Malaysian, Philippines and Thai series and movies. Operating as a freemium service, viewers can access some content without the need for a paid subscription and premium content at a small fee. The basic features also include free subtitles. WeTV is available on the browser at wetv.vip, or on the WeTV application that can be downloaded from the Apple Store for iOS users and the Google Play Store for Android users.
#WeTV
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Arup empowers youths to chart a sustainable future for Hong Kong with a video competition among local schools
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – With sustainable development drawing increasing attention, the eyes of the world have turned to tackling the crisis of global warming following the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which took place in November last year. In Hong Kong, enhanced strategies and targets for combating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality have been set out. Arup, a global built environment consultant, recently organised the ‘Envisioning a sustainable Hong Kong’ video competition to raise awareness among young people, aiming to extend a positive influence on their peers, family and the community to enhance the city’s future.
Promoting wider participation
The Hong Kong government and various sectors have been taking proactive steps to address challenges including aging population, the landfill problem, and climate change. On top of it, it is important to pool together the efforts of all members of the community, especially the younger generation, empowering them to channel their opinions and play a greater role in driving sustainable development. This competition offered youngsters a precious opportunity to draw up their own blueprint for the future Hong Kong and amplify their voices and aspirations through video production.
As part of its 45th anniversary celebration in Hong Kong, Arup shared with young people an array of sustainable engineering and design solutions, riding on its impactful projects in the city, from Tai Kwun – the largest revitalisation complex, to T·PARK – the first waste-to-energy facility, and to Neuron – a digital platform for smart building management. The participants were also guided to develop an innovative mindset and leadership skills in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Unleashing creativity with videos
The competition received an overwhelming response, attracting more than 230 entries from teams formed by 480 students across 51 local secondary schools. From using animations and 3D models to creating a game-like experience, the participants unleashed their creativity in a 45-second video, showcasing their visions of Hong Kong with insights on infrastructure, building design, waste management and urban planning.
The results of the competition were announced at an award presentation ceremony last month. At the event, Michael Kwok, East Asia Region Chair of Arup, said that sustainable development is more than just a global issue, but one closely related to our city and lives with far-reaching impact on our descendants. By co-envisioning the city’s future with the younger generation, he hoped to gather new impetus to drive innovation that makes Hong Kong greener, more liveable and resilient.
Broadening horizons to pursue a better future
Many students were pleased with what they took away from the competition. Among the winners, Sun Ka-ying from Good Hope School, who won the Champion award, reflected that the activity has deepened her understanding of Hong Kong. From conception to producing the video, she got to explore different corners of the city, leading her to imagine a more sustainable Hong Kong where people and spaces are connected and our cultural heritage can be passed on.
Other winning teams addressed topical issues such as the urban heat island effect, overpopulation and land shortage. Kwok Chi-lok and Chan Yu-him, from Carmel Pak U Secondary School, expressed that by creating a 3D model, they aimed to project a sustainable city in a simplistic and easily understandable way while underlining the importance to balancing economic, environmental and social needs. On the biggest gain of the competition, Au Cheung-lok from TWGHs S. C. Gaw Memorial College shared that he learned much more about sustainable development and enjoyed working as a team in conducting research and devising meaningful solutions such as vertical farming for Hong Kong.
The competition was supported by social welfare organisations including the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, St. James’ Settlement, The Women’s Foundation, and The Zubin Foundation. Various learning opportunities were provided during the competition, including an online workshop with experts sharing to enhance students’ understanding of the UN SDGs and video production techniques. The students also met Arup’s engineers to explore their aspirations in the engineering and design sector. Outstanding participants will be given a visit and job shadowing opportunities at Arup.
Details of the results are as follows and the winning entries are available for viewing on Arup’s YouTube channel.
Award |
Entry |
School |
Champion |
Good Hope School |
|
1st runner-up |
Carmel Pak U Secondary School |
|
2nd runner-up |
TWGHs S. C. Gaw Memorial College and Queen’s College Old Boys’ Association Secondary School |
|
Merit |
HKMLC Queen Maud Secondary School |
|
Merit |
ELCHK Lutheran Academy |
|
Merit |
Good Hope School |
|
Most-Liked Video |
CCC Chuen Yuen College |
|
Most Supportive School Award |
/ |
The Chinese Foundation Secondary School |
About Arup
Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of over 16,000 designers, advisors, and experts working across 140 countries. Founded to be both humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology, and rigour to shape a better world.
Arup celebrates its 45th anniversary in Hong Kong in 2021. Today, its Hong Kong office operates as the firm’s East Asia headquarters with more than 2,000 people, serving as a creative powerhouse that makes a difference in this part of the world.
Company website: http://www.arup.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arup/mycompany/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArupGroup/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arupgroup/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/arupgroup
Weibo: https://weibo.com/arupinchina
Twitter: https://twitter.com/arupgroup
#Arup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
AIA survey reveals the biggest retirement planning concern: Negative impact of rising inflation on savings and not planning long enough compared to average life expectancy
First-in-market AIA Elite Secure Income plan provides guaranteed monthly retirement income while giving customers potential upside even in volatile times
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 18 January 2022 – AIA Singapore today unveiled that when it comes to retirement planning, a higher number of adults aged 36-45 and families with kids[1] are most concerned about retirement savings dropping in value due to rising inflation. While this emerged as the top concern, less than half (39%) take inflation into account when planning for their retirement. The study amongst 455 respondents[2] was conducted in November 2021.
Pre-retirees also appear to have lowered their retirement expectation at a time when the nation’s headline inflation rose to its highest in over 8 years[3]. With the lingering concern that their savings will not be sufficient to maintain their current lifestyle during retirement, almost 74% are prepared to reduce expenditure if the value of their retirement savings decreases.
In addition, Singaporeans may not be aware of how much exactly they will need for retirement and are not planning long enough for their golden years. While they intend to retire at about 60 years old, they expect their savings or investment to last them till about 69 years old[4]. However, with the average life expectancy in Singapore at 84.8 years old[5], there is a worrying gap of 15 years.
Ms. Melita Teo, Chief Customer and Digital Officer, AIA Singapore, said, “We recognise that the continued economic uncertainties have brought great distress and eroded financial confidence. True to AIA’s brand promise of enabling healthier, longer, better lives, we continue to take a holistic approach in helping Singaporeans be prepared with a well-rounded golden retirement, which we believe will bring the greatest value to our customers’ retirement planning journey.”
“With AIA as a partner, a holistic approach to retirement means wealth and wellbeing will both grow hand in hand, not at the expense of one or the other. We are committed to continuously innovating in this space to ensure more individuals and families in Singapore can achieve their Wealthbeing.”
First-in-market capital guaranteed investment-linked plan (ILP) that offers affordable premium for customers seeking lower risks investments while maximising their wealth creation.
AIA Elite Secure Income is a first-of-its-kind retirement plan that provides a steady stream of monthly retirement income wherein 100% of the total basic premiums paid will be guaranteed upon retirement. The plan leverages the long-term wealth creation strategy of the world’s finest asset managers to capture potential upside while limiting exposure to market volatility in the unfortunate event of market downturn.
Irma Hadikusuma, Chief Product Proposition Officer (CPPO) at AIA Singapore, said “AIA Singapore is launching AIA Elite Secure Income to address the desire amongst Singaporeans to secure their retirement plans by capturing significant potential upside of investments market while making sure that their initial savings remain guaranteed upon retirement. We are focused on providing individuals and families in Singapore with innovative and valuable propositions to help them live well, save well and plan well as they seek to forge their own legacies.”
What customers want |
Addressing these needs with AIA Elite Secure Income
|
Capital guarantee is the top consideration factor when deciding on ILPs for retirement
|
|
Safer and easy investment options to protect and grow their wealth
|
|
Sufficient retirement savings to maintain their desired lifestyle
|
|
Desire protection coverage when deciding an ILP to grow their wealth for retirement |
|
Flexibility of investing |
|
For more information on AIA Elite Secure Income and AIA’s comprehensive retirement proposition, please visit: https://www.aia.com.sg/en/our-products/investments/aia-elite-secure-income.html
[1] 32% of adults aged 36 – 45 or families with kids are most concerned about retirement dropping in value due to rising inflation vs. 27% most concerned amongst total customers surveyed.
[2] AIA Elite Secure Income Study surveyed 455 customers in Singapore.
[3] The Straits Times (23 Nov 2021): Singapore overall inflation rises to 3.2% in October, highest in more than 8 years: https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/singapore-overall-inflation-rises-to-32-in-october-highest-in-more-than-8-years
[4] The AIA Retirement Quotient (RQ) survey studied 1,000 members of the general Singapore population mid-March 2020.
[6] Secure Monthly Income is payable subject to the following conditions being satisfied: All premiums payable are up to date, no withdrawals from basic premium unit and bonus unit were made, and the policy has not been previously reinstated.
[8] To qualify for the Power Up Bonus, the policy must be in-force on the bonus declaration date and premiums payable must be up to date. Power Up Bonus may be adjusted if partial withdrawals are made from the policy value.
[9] Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) is only available for Single Premium in SGD currency.
About AIA
AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.
The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$330 billion as of 30 June 2021.
AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 39 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.
AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).
Notes:
1. Hong Kong SAR refers to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. Macau SAR refers to Macau Special Administrative Region.
#AIA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.