A new decree has upgraded the Xesap protected area in Salavanh and Sekong provinces to national park status. This change aims to protect the rich biodiversity of the Annamite mountain range and contribute to global conservation goals.
KBTG Welcomes a Blast From the Future at the Second Annual KBTG Techtopia

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 July 2024 – KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG) recently organized KBTG Techtopia for the second consecutive year. A thought-provoking and skill-awakening tech conference, KBTG Techtopia brought together over 70 speakers from around the world and more than 2,500 attendees, establishing itself as Thailand’s leading platform for tech enthusiasts.

Mr. Ruangroj Poonpol, Group Chairman of KBTG, stated, “following our success from last year, we opted for KBTG Techtopia at a much larger scale, moving the venue from our headquarters to Samyan Mitrtown, a mixed-use property in the city of Bangkok. On 18 July 2024, we transformed the entire fifth floor into a space where attendees could immerse themselves in emerging technologies and meaningful conversations. Although our primary focus is still AI, we chose to dive deeper beneath the trends, addressing more pressing matters as discussed on the global stage like risk management, national strategy, and AI ethics. Most importantly, we would like to demonstrate that, against major beliefs, AI will not reduce or replace human’s role. On the contrary, human’s significance will only increase moving forward, serving as the conductor to the orchestra. Always bring AI on the table but keep humans in the room.”
With this year’s theme being “A Blast From the Future”, not only were the topics curated to showcase new possibilities that near-future technologies can unlock, both to positive and negative effects, KBTG also invited Thai policy makers and representatives from global institutions to share their action plans and paint the visions of tomorrow together. One of the key speakers is Dr. Andrew Ng, the Managing General Partner of AI Fund, founder of DeepLearning.AI, co-founder of Coursera, and named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people in AI.
In his keynote, Ng explained how AI is rapidly evolving into general-purpose technology, likening it to electricity. With new opportunities came risks, though he argued that the risks of AI lie in the application, not the technology itself. He further pointed out the areas in which AI could be applied in Thailand, namely tourism, healthcare, and agriculture. Ng’s appearance on the stage of KBTG Techtopia came after the strategic partnership announcement between AI Fund and KXVC, KBTG’s venture capital arm, with the aim to build new AI startups and strengthen connections between their robust ecosystems. During his visit, KBTG and Ng have formed two additional partnerships to drive AI education in Thailand:
- KBTG, DeepLearning.AI and Artificial Intelligence Association of Thailand (AIAT) to create KBTG.AI Kampus program for developing Thai AI talents
- KBTG, AI Fund, and Equitable Education Fund (EEF) to explore AI technology solutions to help improve Thailand’s youth education system.
What differentiated this year’s conference is the variety of topics. Not limiting the subjects to AI, KBTG Techtopia touched on other emerging techs, from machine learning, blockchain, Web3, quantum computing, cyber security, ESG and many more, through the eyes of industry experts like Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, IBM, and Cisco. Additionally, we worked with The Secret Sauce, one of Thailand’s most popular podcast shows, to produce a half-day session featuring remarkable innovations and business cases by Thais, illuminating the actual potential Thailand holds. In total, the conference offered three conference stages, six workshops, as well as the innovation product exhibition zone with selections of state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge solutions by KBTG and partners, including KASIKORN VISION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY or K-Tech, KBTG’s China-based office who flew from Shenzhen to take part in this event.
Aligning with KBTG’s mission to promote AI literacy and support AI growth, all proceeds from ticket sales after deduction of expenses are allocated to the Artificial Intelligence Association of Thailand (AIAT) to support the development of OpenThaiGPT – a project aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the Thai large language model (Thai LLM) and improving its usability. Having sold out the on-ground tickets within the early bird period, KBTG has raised a total of 681,000 baht. This amount will be further contributed by the sales of rerun tickets.
Mr. Ruangroj said in closing, “through KBTG Techtopia, we hope to show the world that KBTG is a tech powerhouse of Southeast Asia and that Thailand is the destination for frontier technologies. Having brought prominent figures such as Ng to inspire thousands of people in Thailand, KBTG Techtopia has proven itself as the place to be for all tech enthusiasts. Next year is going to be even more amazing and we could not wait to take everyone on an exploration once more.”
Hashtag: #KBTG #KBTGTechtopia #AI #MachineLearning #Blockchain #Web3 #QuantumComputing #TechConference
https://www.kbtg.tech/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kasikorn-business-technology-group
https://www.facebook.com/KBTGLive/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
KASIKORN Business-Technology Group
KBTG is a tech arm of KASIKORNBANK. We never cease to innovate financial applications and beyond, with the aim to become the best tech organization of Southeast Asia.
Franklin Templeton and SBI Holdings Sign MoU to Establish Joint Venture in Japan
Proposed JV to focus on ETFs and emerging asset classes including digital assets and cryptocurrencies
TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 July 2024 – Franklin Templeton has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SBI Holdings (“SBI”), a Japanese Internet-based financial conglomerate providing a wide range of financial services including securities, asset management, banking, and insurance, to establish a joint venture (“JV”) in Japan.
The proposed JV will harness best-in-class capabilities of both firms by combining Franklin Templeton’s comprehensive suite of investment products including ETFs, and its experience in digital assets, with SBI’s strength in distribution, integrated financial services capabilities and reach in the Japanese market.
Jenny Johnson, President and CEO of Franklin Templeton, said: “We are excited to collaborate with SBI Holdings, a leading online financial conglomerate in Japan. The extensive reach of SBI’s iconic brand amongst younger audiences in Japan aligns well our commitment to help this new generation of investors achieve their goals through our future-focused investment solutions. This strategic partnership underscores our shared belief that best-in-class financial capabilities should be more accessible for investors. It also represents a tremendous step forward to broaden our client reach and solidify our commitment in the market.”
Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, Chairman, President & CEO of SBI Holdings, said: “We are very pleased to establish an asset management company in Japan as a JV with Franklin Templeton, a leading global investment management firm with 77 years of corporate history and tradition, as well as a strong track record in investment performance. SBI Group has been focusing on serving the interest of its customers as its primary mission since its inception. We are also proud of being a fast-rising financial group in Japan leveraging technology as one of its key sources of growth, and promoting various businesses related to Web3. We look forward to partnering with Franklin Templeton whose business includes focus on digital assets and provision of industry leading digital asset technology.”
With increased volatility across global markets, emerging asset classes including digital assets and cryptocurrencies, that have low correlation with traditional assets such as equities and fixed income, can help to diversify risk in an investor’s portfolio. Through this strategic partnership, Franklin Templeton and SBI will aim to provide investors in Japan with greater access to a diversified range of investment solutions.
With over 100 indexed and active ETFs, Franklin Templeton’s global ETF platform has grown significantly, and has more than USD 27 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024.
As regulations related to digital assets and ETFs continue to evolve in Japan, the proposed JV will seek to enable new synergies by leveraging Franklin Templeton’s experience with tokenized money market funds and digital assets-backed ETFs in the U.S. This, combined with SBI’s in-depth expertise as a leader in Japan’s digital asset space, will help offer innovative solutions that meet investors’ evolving interests and objectives in the Japanese market.
Hashtag: #FranklinTempleton
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Franklin Templeton
Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in fixed income, equity, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and over US$1.6 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. For more information, please visit www.franklinresources.com and follow us on
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Facebook.
AS Watson Accelerates Supply Chain Sustainability Efforts to Fight Climate Change

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 July 2024 – AS Watson, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, has accelerated its sustainability efforts in its global supply chain by transitioning its delivery fleet to electric vehicles and launching initiatives in waste reduction to fight climate change.

According to Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, “As a responsible global retailer, sustainability is at the heart of our business. We’ve been investing and innovating to reduce our environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future. Our latest initiative focuses on making the delivery fleet of our supply chain more environmentally friendly. We operate 12 retail brands in our global portfolio, and 60% of them have started using electric vehicles for some of the warehouse-to-store and online order deliveries. While the adoption of electric vehicles is slow in the industry, I believe that we should take on the challenge to launch this initiative in as many markets as possible.”
Ngai added, “Electric vehicles have limited driving range per charge, and insufficient charging infrastructure, which makes long-haul deliveries challenging. Additionally, the current technology solutions to reduce charging times and enhance overall performance are not yet widely available. These constraints result in difficulties for some of our operating markets to broadly deploy electric vehicles. We remain committed to overcoming these obstacles and transitioning our delivery fleet to more sustainable electric options wherever possible.”
A recent survey[1] showed global direct carbon dioxide emissions from heavy and medium-duty trucks increased by 2.4% to 1.8 billion metric tons (GtCO₂) in 2022, and they were responsible for around 25% of global transportation CO₂ emissions. The use of battery electric vehicles can help alleviate the issues as they emit at least 63% less CO₂ emissions than a comparable diesel vehicle[2].
AS Watson has accelerated its efforts in adopting electric vehicles in its global delivery fleet. The progress of Watsons China is significant, with electric vehicles now accounting for over 80% of all warehouse-to-store deliveries on average in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Chongqing and Xiamen.
For online order deliveries, Superdrug, Savers and ICI PARIS XL have started using electric vans and e-Cargo bikes in Central London and 13 emission-free zones in the Netherlands respectively. Additionally, Watsons China, Singapore and Taiwan have introduced electric vans and motorbikes for their country-wide online order deliveries.
Meanwhile, Superdrug, Savers, Kruidvat and Trekpleister have also started to shift towards using greener fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG), which generate less carbon emissions compared to traditional diesel fuel.
Driving Positive Change Through Waste Reduction
In addition to the electrification of its delivery fleet, AS Watson has made significant progress in waste reduction in its supply chain globally, successfully diverting over 95% of warehouse waste from landfills. Furthermore, AS Watson has also reduced the use of virgin plastics in its online business packaging by 50% year-on-year, demonstrating its commitment to more sustainable packaging solutions.
Ngai added, “We will continue our journey towards supply chain sustainability. We expect to see increasing adoption of electric vehicles and the introduction of more waste reduction initiatives to help create a more sustainable world. At AS Watson, sustainability is not a slogan, but a culture that every one of our 130,000 colleagues globally embrace every day. Only by working together, we can create a truly significant impact on the planet.”
Hashtag: #ASWatson
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Agridence Develops Platform for GPSNR’s Reporting Requirements (RR)


- Prefilling of data to copy and paste the same response to the respective recipients, reducing any duplicated efforts for reporting
- Ensuring data confidentiality in the users’ responses
- Allowing members to manage and assign their upstream suppliers with the relevant forms
- User-friendly and intuitive form to capture data easier than an excel sheet
- Submission tracking dashboard, to allow members to monitor the progress of their suppliers’ submissions and download their responses
Hashtag: #Agridence #GPSNR #Data #Sustainability #Innovative #Technology #Platform #Rubber
http://www.agridence.com
http://www.linkedin.com/company/agridence/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Agridence


Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR)

Flights Without Limits: Switzerland, Laos Forge New Air Services Deal
Switzerland and Laos have signed a new bilateral agreement on scheduled air services. Finalized on 26 July, the document replaces the outdated accord from 15 December 1999 and introduces modern provisions that boost operational flexibility for airlines.
This allows airlines from both countries greater freedom in their operations. Airlines can now be designated without numerical restrictions, paving the way for more carriers to enter the market and increasing the frequency and variety of flights available to travelers. Also, the agreement authorizes code-share flights, enabling airlines to offer tickets on each other’s flights, thereby expanding the range of destinations accessible to passengers.
One of the most notable features of the agreement is the right granted to designated airlines to operate direct flights without frequency limitations. This development is expected to streamline travel between Switzerland and Laos, making it more convenient for tourists, businesses, and cargo shipments. The enhanced connectivity is set to develop closer economic ties, boosting tourism, trade, and investment between the two nations.
The agreement will come into force once both countries have completed their respective legal formalities and exchanged diplomatic notes confirming this.
Information provided by the Swiss Cooperation Office and Consular Agency in Laos
Lao Boxer Sets Sights on Muay Thai Victory at ONE Friday Fights
Lao boxer Phetnamkhong Mongkolphet, 20, is set to compete against Thailand’s Lookkwan Sujibamikiew in the ONE Friday Fights at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok at 7:30 pm on 26 July.
smart Aims to Make Premium EVs Ubiquitous in Singapore
Driving Towards a Greener Future in Style

Growing EV Car Market in Singapore
smart’s partnership with Cycle & Carriage (C&C) as its general distributor in 2024 allows the automobile brand to leverage C&C’s expertise in the green mobility ecosystem. which includes electric car sales and aftersales, e-logistics, and other green mobility solutions. This robust foundation firmly establishes smart’s trajectory for accelerated growth and success in the Singapore market.
Growing Consumer Demand
Understanding the mindset of potential EV owners allows C&C and smart to stay ahead of trends, and perfectly positions the joint partnership to capitalise on this growing segment of early adopters and EV enthusiasts in Singapore.
The smart #1: Innovative Award-Winning Electric Car in Singapore
The unique architecture of the smart #1 gives a whole new sensation of space inside the cabin, with adjustable rear seats, ambient lights, and a floating centre console that creates an intimate living room feel. Frameless doors and a floating halo roof complete the human-centric design philosophy, that has been honoured with both the prestigious 2023 Red Dot Award for Product Design, and the iF Design Award in the Product – Automobiles/Vehicles category, solidifying its position as an exciting entrant into the fast-growing premium EV car market in Singapore.
The new smart showroom, expected to be ready by Q3 2024, will be housed on level 3 of the Mercedes-Benz Center, located at 301 Alexandra Road. Customers looking to have a first-hand look at the smart #1 model and perform test drives of the smart #1 all-electric SUV range can do so via roving roadshows around Singapore after its launch.
Comprehensive Aftersales Service Catalogue
By setting a high standard for aftersales services and caring for customers beyond the point of the new car purchase, smart aims to ease the transition towards EV adoption for those new to EVs, ensuring that they feel supported and confident throughout their ownership journey. As countries worldwide transition to a more sustainable future on the roads, smart hopes to lead the charge in Singapore, paving the way for a reality where EVs are not just an eco-friendly option, but the preferred choice of drivers.
A Partnership Built For Success
By choosing to partner with C&C in 2024, smart aims to rapidly integrate itself into the modern Singaporean EV car market and meet expectations of local fans while simultaneously furthering its global brand development and expansion strategy. For C&C, smart is an excellent new addition to an already well-diversified portfolio.
Mr. Xiangbei Tong, Global CEO of smart said, “We are delighted to announce our plan to expand smart’s business network in Singapore and the partnership with Cycle & Carriage. With extensive business network and abundant industry experience in the local market, Cycle & Carriage is an ideal partner to drive the region into the all-electric era together with smart.”
Hashtag: #smart
https://sg.smart.com/
https://www.facebook.com/smart.sgp/
https://www.instagram.com/smart.sgp/
https://www.tiktok.com/@smart.sgp
https://www.youtube.com/@smart.singapore
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Cycle & Carriage Singapore & smart Automobile Co., Ltd.
At Cycle & Carriage, we are passionate about creating people-focused experiences and exceptional journeys. Founded in 1899 in Kuala Lumpur, we are now a leading regional automotive group in Southeast Asia. Cycle & Carriage distributes, retails, and provides aftersales services for passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles in Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. Cycle & Carriage is a member of the Jardine Cycle & Carriage Group.
From passenger cars and commercial vehicles to used cars, Cycle & Carriage Singapore is one of the most diversified automotive groups in the country. With a network of six showrooms and service centres, and representing world-class brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Kia, Citroën, DS Automobiles, Maxus, ORA, Republic Auto, BYD Forklifts, and now, smart. We are committed to supporting our customers every step of the way. At Cycle & Carriage Singapore, we are also dedicated to enabling our people to follow their best paths. We have been one of HR Asia’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ since 2015.
Cycle & Carriage Singapore: www.cyclecarriage.com.sg
About smart Automobile
smart Automobile Co., Ltd. is a 50/50 joint venture between Mercedes-Benz AG and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. The joint venture creates synergy to turn smart into a leading provider of premium and connected electric vehicles.
Established in 2019, smart Automobile Co., Ltd. combines the strengths of both shareholders by bringing in the best of both worlds: the design of the next generation of smart vehicles comes from the worldwide Mercedes-Benz design network while R&D is carried out by smart in China. Moreover, smart leverages on the China-based production and supply network of Geely Group. The global headquarters of smart has been established in Hangzhou Bay, Ningbo with operational sales functions based in China and Europe.