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Six Mekong-Lancang Countries Reach Pact on More Dam Operations Data Sharing

Six Mekong-Lancang Countries Reach Pact on More Dam Operations Data Sharing
The Mekong River (photo: Rainforest Cruises)

Senior officials from the six Mekong countries on Sunday endorsed recommendations of the first phase of the Joint Study between the Mekong River Commission and Mekong Lancang Cooperation to pave the way for better information sharing about reservoir operations on the Mekong’s water flow, and water release as well as practical solutions to mitigate and adapt to impacts.

Two Shootings Over Weekend Highlight Issue of Gun Violence in Laos

A shooting in Pak Ngao village, Huay Xai District, Bokeo province, left two young men dead. (photo: Red Cross Emergency Rescue Unit of Bokeo Province)

Two shootings occurred in Bokeo and Bolikhamxay provinces in Laos on Sunday, 10 September, leaving two people dead and one severely injured.

Calling All Pet Lovers! Starstreet Precinct Takes Your Furry Friends on a Pawsome Adventure

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 September 2023 – Known for its variety of shopping and dining outlets, Starstreet Precinct is a pet-friendly neighbourhood that welcomes four-legged friends year-round. From today to 24 September, Starstreet Precinct will take you on a pawsome adventure where pet owners can bring their furry friends for a fun day out. Make your way to the decorative photo spots in the Precinct for cheeky snaps. Get tails wagging in excitement, as you shop at the charitable weekend Pawsome Market, featuring over 20 participating homegrown Hong Kong pet brands. Don’t forget to visit the pet-friendly shops and restaurants* in the area afterwards!

Starstreet Precinct_Pawsome Adventure (1).jpg

*For the full pet-friendly shops at Starstreet Precinct, please see Appendix.

Capture Memorable Moments With Your Pets!

Starstreet Precinct_Pawsome Adventure (3).jpg

This animal wonderland is sure to keep everyone busy for a fun-filled day out. The themed decorations dotted outside Three Pacific Place on Wing Fung Street ensure you and your furry friends get plenty of nice shots. Smile next to the geometric Shiba and happy cat for the first shot, then hop on the caravan located behind the bus stop to feel like being on a camping expedition with your pets , making it another unique photo spot!

Location: Outside Three Pacific Place on Wing Fung Street You’ll get a warm welcome as soon as you arrive at Starstreet Precinct, where two smiling animal statues await to greet you. The geometric Shiba and happy cat make the perfect backdrop to your first photo opportunity. Celebrate the start of a beautiful day by snapping a picture with these fun characters – and why not dress your pets in a similar style?
Location: Outside Three Pacific Place on Wing Fung Street Going on a day trip with pets can be hassle free when Starstreet Precinct takes this concept back to the city, where you can capture an adorable moment with your pets in a makeshift caravan. This decoration is sure to be a crowd favourite, as pet-owner duos can “say cheese” from the vehicle’s window.

Date: From today until 24 September 2023

Location: Starstreet Precinct (Outside Three Pacific Place on Wing Fung Street)

Shop for a Good Cause!

Pamper your pets with goodies from the Pawsome Market featuring a rotation of wide range of homegrown Hong Kong pet brands, with highlights including Dots HK for ultra-chic outfits; Tailsup to treat them to delicacies like beef pumpkin waffles; Summinnie Pets for natural “super snacks”; signature freeze-dried treat from The Dog’s Garden; and more! From dressing your dapper pups and felines to feeding them with some well-deserved goodies, you can find something new every time you visit!

Best of all – all rental proceeds from the event will be donated to Paws United Charity to support their work to improve the lives of animals in need. There will also be other donation channels onsite so pawrents can lend an extra hand if they wish.

Date: 9-10, 16 -17 and 23 – 24 September 2023 (Saturdays and Sundays)

Location: Starstreet Precinct (Outside Three Pacific Place on Star Street)

Featured products:

Mooncake Set

Brands: Maowewe, Miss. Snack, Tailsup

Pet Camping Products

Brands: H House

Pet-care Products

Brands: City Vet Boutique

Pet Clothing & Accessories

Brands: Dots.hk, GutsDogcom, Mashu Mall, Miss Snack, My Petform, Sing Sing Pet’s Store, Sweet Doggg Handmade

Pet Food

Brands: CityU Vet Boutique, Dear Paw, Maowewe, Miss Snack, PetTreatCave, Summinnie Pets, Tailsup

Schedule Participated Brands
9-10 Sep H House, Dots.hk, Miss Snack, The Dog’s Garden, Summinnie Pets, CityU Vet Boutique, PetTreatCave, GutsDogcom, Sing Sing Pet’s Store
16-17 Sep 13 Hours Zakka, High.t.laaa, Houseofyuen, Theo, Sweet Doggg Handmade, Dirty Pig Handmade, Hsiu Handmade, Wingwingsnackshop, Tailsup
23-24 Sep My Petform, Houseofyuen, Chestnut Corner, DL Handmade Dog Wear, Tailsup, Little Oh!, Pawcrafty, Vetopia

Official website: www.starstreet.com.hk
IG: @starstreethk
FB: starstreet
#starstreethk

Appendix: Pet-Friendly Shops at Starstreet Precinct

Shop Address & Business Hours
Blue Bottle Coffee No. 15 St Francis Street

Mon – Fri: 8:00am – 7:00pm

Sat – Sun: 9:00am – 7:00pm

*Outdoor area only

Francis G/F, 4&6 St Francis Street

11:30am – 10:30pm

*Outdoor area only

Giando Shop1. G/F, Tower 1 Starcrest, 9 Star Street

Mon: Closed

Tue – Fri: 12:00pm – 10:30pm

Sat: 11:30am – 10:30pm

Sun & Public Holiday: 11:30am – 9:30pm

*Outdoor area only

Le Garçon Saigon 12-18 Wing Fung Street

Lunch:

Daily: 12-3PM

Dinner:

Sunday to Wednesday: 6:00pm -10:30pm

Thursday to Saturday: 6:00pm -12:00am

*Outdoor area only

Matchali G/F, 5 Moon Street

Mon – Fri: 8:00am – 7:00pm

Sat, Sun & Public Holiday: 9:00am – 7:00pm

*Outdoor area only

Monocle 1-4 St Francis Yard

Mon – Sat: 11:00am – 7:00pm

Sun: 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Pici 16 St. Francis Yard

Mon –Thu & Sun: 11:30am – 10:00pm

Fri & Sat: 11:30am – 10:30pm

*Outdoor area only

Salvo 5 St. Francis Yard

Mon –Sun: 11:00am – 7:00pm

YNC G/F, 4&6B St Francis Street

Tue –Fri & Sun: 12:00am – 6:00pm

Sat: 11:00am – 7:00pm

*Outdoor area only

Hashtag: #PawsomeAdventure #PawsomeMarket #StarstreetPrecinct #PawsAndPose

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Starstreet Precinct

Starstreet Precinct is a vibrant destination in Wan Chai, comprised mainly of Wing Fung Street, Star Street, Moon Street, Sun Street, and St. Francis Yard. Over the years, the neighbourhood has evolved from a quaint, historic landmark, into an eclectic hangout hotspot for those with a unique sense of style and character. Filled with cosy cafés, restaurants, bars, boutique shops with the most coveted fashion selections, galleries and interior design stores, the precinct offers an array of day-to-night experiences. With a focus on community and a passion to foster a sustainable lifestyle for all, Starstreet Precinct and its tenants are collectively working to build a better future together. Connected to Pacific Place and Admiralty station through the Three Pacific Place underground link, the neighbourhood is a hidden gem in the heart of Hong Kong.

Australia and Southeast Asia: Invested in Our Shared Economic Future

The countries of Southeast Asia are poised to be major drivers of global growth in the decades ahead, writes Nicholas Moore AO, Australia’s Special Envoy for Southeast Asia.

This Summer Broke the World Record for the Highest Temperature Officially Recorded

A cyclist tops a hill on a hot day at sunset, Aug 20, 2023, in San Antonio. UN weather agency says Earth sweltered through the hottest summer ever as record heat in August capped a brutal, deadly three months in northern hemisphere (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
A cyclist tops a hill on a hot day at sunset, Aug 20, 2023, in San Antonio. UN weather agency says Earth sweltered through the hottest summer ever as record heat in August capped a brutal, deadly three months in northern hemisphere (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

GENEVA (AP) — Earth has sweltered through its hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever measured, with a record warm August capping a season of brutal and deadly temperatures, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

Arup celebrates relocation of its Shanghai office, reinforcing its commitment to a greener China

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach – 11 September 2023 – Arup commemorated the relocation of its Shanghai office last week with an open house event at the new premises in Xujiahui Centre, located in the heart of Shanghai’s CBD. More than 150 clients and partners joined the celebration, gaining exclusive insights into Arup’s innovative approaches and cutting-edge technologies to drive sustainable development in China.

As we proudly open our new Shanghai office, we renew our unwavering commitment to China and its economy. For 40 years, we have been transforming China’s urban landscape while benefitting from its rapid growth. As China embarks on a new chapter of urbanisation, we are dedicated to leveraging our overseas experience and accumulated local know-how to support China’s ‘dual carbon’ ambition.

– Andy Lee, East Asia Region Chair, Arup

The evening featured inspiring discussions on sustainability, including topics such as low-carbon planning, climate risk assessment and resilience strategies, and decarbonising buildings. The highlight was the premiere of Abundance, an Arup-produced short fiction film that explores nature-based solutions and inspires designers to envision our collective regenerative future. The guests also had the opportunity to experience Arup-incubated smart building platform, Neuron, and Total Digital Design tool.

Over the past four decades, Arup has grown alongside China’s urban development, delivering iconic buildings, strategic infrastructure, and visionary city planning that resonate with the local context and evolving needs. Today, we unite our global expertise with China’s call for high-quality sustainable development, helping our clients decarbonise their assets with the transformative power of digital technology, towards a net-zero future.

Throughout the years, Arup has left an indelible mark on Shanghai’s skyline. Today, we are proud to relocate to this landmark engineered by Arup. We will continue to explore innovative solutions and collaborate with local clients and partners to shape a green and prosperous future for Shanghai and beyond.

– Penny Cheung, Mainland China and Shanghai Office Leader, Arup

Hashtag: #Arup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Arup

Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working globally. Founded to be humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology, and rigour to shape a better world.

Establishing our East Asia headquarters in Hong Kong in 1976, we embarked on our mainland China journey in the early 1980s. With offices in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Chongqing, we have helped deliver some of the most remarkable local landmarks and strategic infrastructure. We are also pioneering the delivery of sustainable buildings and communities, and our advisory roles in ambitious development zones such as Qianhai, Nansha and Hengqin are shaping China’s cities of the future.

Domestic and Foreign Investment Banks, Including Citi, UBS, Nomura Orient, Industrial Securities, Huaxi Securities, and Kaiyuan Securities are Bullish on Fosun International’s Strong Profitability in Core Businesses and Sufficient Liquidity

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 September 2023 – Fosun International Limited (HKEX stock code: 00656, “Fosun International” or the “Company”), together with its subsidiaries (“Fosun” or the “Group”), announced its interim results at the end of August, a number of domestic and foreign securities firms and investment banks, including Citibank, UBS Securities, Nomura Orient International Securities, Industrial Securities, Huaxi Securities, and Kaiyuan Securities, have successively published research reports, expressing their bullish views on Fosun International’s strong profitability in core businesses and sufficient liquidity. Many domestic and foreign securities firms and investment banks have assigned the Company a “Buy”/”Overweight” rating. In particular, Citibank, Nomura Orient International Securities, and Industrial Securities have assigned the Company target prices of HK$7.1, HK$7.5, and HK$9.06 respectively, with approximately 45% – 85% upside.

Securities firms and investment banks have recognized Fosun International’s strategy of focusing on its core businesses and concentrating on the development of core businesses where it boasts clear competitive advantages. During the Reporting Period, the Group achieved a total revenue of RMB97.06 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 10.9%; the key indicator reflecting the Company’s operational capabilities – industrial operation profit reached RMB3.37 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.5%, if excluding the profit of disposed enterprises (including transactions yet to be completed), industrial operation profit surged 66% year-on-year, demonstrating significant improvement in the profitability of core businesses. Domestic and foreign securities firms and investment banks pointed out that benefitting from consumption recovery and relaxation of travel restrictions globally, Fosun’s Happiness segment, especially tourism and consumer businesses, saw a strong recovery after the epidemic. In addition, the profitability of the Health segment, especially Fosun Pharma, improved significantly, reflecting steady growth in Fosun’s core businesses.

Some securities firms and investment banks pointed out that Fosun’s overseas core subsidiaries, empowered by the Group, have achieved remarkable results in global expansion and have become an important driving force for development. Huaxi Securities pointed out that Fosun International’s leading model of “global organization + local operations” has become more mature, with a business presence in more than 35 countries and regions and nearly 40 overseas brand enterprises. In the first half of 2023, the Group’s overseas revenue reached RMB44.09 billion, accounting for 45.4% of total revenue. Citibank pointed out that the international business of Fosun Insurance Portugal’s total gross written premiums (“GWP”) amounted to EUR832 million, a 19.4% increase year-on-year, highlighting the benefits of Fosun Insurance Portugal’s diversification strategy. MyFidelidade App launched by Fosun Insurance Portugal successfully acquired more than 1.4 million registered users (exceeding 13% of Portugal’s total population). Industrial Securities pointed out that Fosun Insurance Portugal’s total GWP for the first half of 2023 were EUR2.65 billion, maintaining its leading position in the Portuguese market with a 30% market share in Portugal; German private bank HAL’s gross income increased by 24% year-on-year to EUR224 million, with total assets reaching EUR13.3 billion, reflecting the strong growth momentum in Fosun’s overseas business thanks to the Group’s empowerment.

Fosun’s robust technology innovation capabilities are also an important core engine that drives the growth of the Company. In the first half of 2023, the Group’s research and development (“R&D”) investment reached approximately RMB4.2 billion. Nomura Orient International Securities believes that led by global expansion and innovation, Fosun is expected to see business recovery. The firm pointed out that Fosun has established strong globalization capabilities and a unique operating model. Through its global business presence, Fosun has closely integrated global resources with global customers. In addition, Fosun has always maintained high investment in R&D to build a global innovation system led by product innovation, digital intelligence innovation, and management innovation, leveraging innovation to create happier lives for families worldwide.

It is worth noting that domestic and foreign securities firms and investment banks unanimously pointed out Fosun continued to optimize its capital and asset structure, put greater efforts in the disposal of non-strategy and non-core assets, and actively explored financing channels, thereby maintaining ample liquidity. During the Reporting Period, cash inflow from divestment amounted to more than RMB20.0 billion at the consolidated level. In January 2023, Fosun High Technology successfully entered into a syndicated loan agreement for an amount of RMB12 billion with eight domestic banks, attesting to the domestic banking institutions’ firm support for the development of private enterprises. As for public-market financing channels, Fosun High Technology issued two super short-term commercial papers of RMB1 billion each in January and July 2023. In the first half of 2023, the Group has navigated through the maturity wall, and redeemed onshore bonds of RMB6.73 billion as well as offshore debt of over USD2.7 billion. As of 30 June 2023, the Group had no material offshore bonds due in one year. The improved credit profile has also been affirmed by the international market. International rating agency S&P Global Ratings recognized Fosun’s effective efforts in terms of debt reduction driven by asset divestment and debt structure optimization and lifted the Group’s rating outlook to “stable”.

Looking ahead to Fosun International’s future performance, domestic and foreign securities firms and investment banks are optimistic about the Company’s accelerated divestment of non-strategy and non-core assets and optimization of capital structure to sharpen its focus on core businesses. A securities firm pointed out that the Company’s results performance is expected to see rapid growth as compared to the full year of 2022. Since major factors affecting the share price have already been reflected, the Company’s current valuation is attractive, thus a number of domestic and foreign securities firms and investment banks have recommended investors to buy the Company’s shares.

Hashtag: #Fosun

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Lao Vice President to Lead Foreign Delegation at Vladivostok Economic Forum

Lao Vice President to Lead Foreign Delegation at Vladivostok Economic Forum
Lao Vice President Pany Yathotou to lead foreign delegation at Vladivostok, Russia economic forum next week

The Vice President of Laos, Pany Yathotou, is reportedly the top foreign guest at an economic forum in Vladivostok, Russia next week, said the Kremlin on Saturday.