– Opening in April with a special exhibition based on its contemporary art collection, offering a broad survey of Korean and international visual culture
– September will anticipate the first solo exhibition of American artist Jonas Wood in Asia
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Amorepacific Museum of Art (Director: Seungchang Jeon) will present two major contemporary art exhibitions in 2026: a special exhibition from its contemporary art collection and a solo exhibition of the acclaimed American artist Jonas Wood.
Opening in April, APMA, CHAPTER FIVE – FROM THE APMA COLLECTION brings together a broad spectrum of contemporary art with special emphasis on the key trajectories and shifts within Korean contemporary art. Featuring approximately 50 works by over 40 artists—including David Hockney, Rose Wylie, Kiki Smith, Gala Porras-Kim, Nam June Paik, Lee Bul, Lee Ufan, and Koo Bohnchang—the exhibition offers paintings, photographs, sculptures, and installations that provide a comprehensive overview of the museum’s contemporary art collection.
In September, the museum will unveil the first institutional survey in Asia of Los Angeles–based artist Jonas Wood (b. 1977). Wood is widely recognized for his bold use of color, flattened perspectives, and densely patterned surfaces. Working from personal photographs, family archives, found images, and his own surroundings, he transforms familiar subjects into compositions that are at once intimate and psychologically charged. The exhibition traces key themes that have shaped Wood’s world, presenting approximately fifty paintings and thirty works on paper spanning more than two decades of his career.
Through these two contemporary art exhibitions, Amorepacific Museum of Art offers audiences an opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of today’s art. A range of on-site programs designed to deepen engagement with the exhibitions will be announced via the museum’s website and Instagram.
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — S&E Company, a South Korea–based agritech innovator, announced that it is accelerating the global expansion of its AI-driven agricultural data analytics and B2B pre-trading platform, B•good, with Vietnam positioned as a key market in its Southeast Asia strategy.
As climate volatility and market uncertainty continue to challenge agricultural supply chains, S&E Company is focusing on data-driven solutions that enable more predictable, transparent, and efficient trading. Through B•good, the company integrates artificial intelligence–based price and yield forecasting with a digital marketplace that connects producers and institutional buyers before harvest.
B•good’s pre-trading model allows farmers to secure sales channels and target prices in advance, while food companies, retailers, and distributors can optimize procurement planning, reduce inventory risks, and minimize food waste. The platform also offers a structured trading mechanism for imperfect or non-standard produce, unlocking new value from agricultural products that are often discarded or heavily discounted in traditional markets.
At the core of B•good is S&E Company’s proprietary analytics engine, which aggregates and analyzes large volumes of data from production sites, wholesale markets, and distribution channels. These insights are delivered through decision-support tools that enable contract farming, collaborative purchasing, and data-driven marketing strategies for farmers, local governments, and corporate partners.
Internationally, S&E Company is placing particular emphasis on Vietnam, where agricultural production plays a central role in the economy and where demand for digital transformation is rapidly growing. The company is collaborating with local partners to digitize production data for major fruits and vegetables and to apply AI-based forecasting models tailored to local growing conditions. These initiatives are designed to support smarter production planning, reduce market risk, and improve income stability for producers.
“Vietnam is an important agricultural hub in Southeast Asia, but producers face increasing uncertainty from climate change and price volatility,” said SeHun Chang, CEO of S&E Company. “By applying AI-driven forecasting and pre-trading models to local production data, we aim to help Vietnamese farmers and agribusinesses make more informed decisions and build a more resilient agricultural ecosystem.”
S&E Company’s Vietnam initiatives also form the foundation for a scalable, cross-border agricultural data platform that can support regional trade and supply chain optimization across Southeast Asia.
S&E Company’s global expansion is supported by an overseas expansion assistance program operated by Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency. Through this program, S&E Company is strengthening its international partnerships and accelerating the global deployment of its data-driven agrifood solutions.
Featuring innovative projects built with Agent Workbench by participants from Japan and Korea, the competition championed the convergence of agentic AI and low-code.
SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OutSystems, the leading AI-powered low-code development platform, today announced the winners of its “AI Agent Hackathon 2025,” unveiled at an award ceremony on Friday, December 19, in Roppongi, Tokyo.
Held from November 1 to 30, the hackathon aimed to empower participants to create the future with AI powered low-code by developing AI agents capable of autonomous reasoning and action to support and augment human work. Participants from 21 companies from Japan and Korea competed to build innovative agentic applications using Agent Workbench.
OutSystems AI Agent Hackathon 2025
“A future where AI agents support daily operations and business processes is within reach,” said Tomohiro Mieno, Northeast Asia Regional Vice President and OutSystems Japan Representative Director. “This hackathon demonstrated that anyone can rapidly build impactful, agent-powered applications using Agent Workbench, marking a key step towards the agentic future of businesses. The creativity and technical excellence displayed by all participants further highlights the expanding possibilities of development in the AI era. OutSystems is committed to accelerating innovation hand-in-hand with the developer community.”
Participants were evaluated against judging criteria covering the effective use of AI and Agent Workbench, clarity of problem-solving approach, implementation quality and reproducibility, and overall business impact. The winning teams include:
ODC Enterprise License Division
1st Place: Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd./ Team: NeoNova (A team that rapidly creates new value by leveraging AI and low-code) – (Korea) Title: Building Accessibility-Centric Intelligent Services for a World Where Even Digitally Disadvantaged Users Can Easily Access Services (Welli) Overview: A voice-based AI life-support app designed for seniors facing digital access barriers.
2nd Place: Mitsui Knowledge Industry Co., Ltd. (MKI)/ Team: AI Hajimemashita Title:Ibemaru-kun – An AI Agent That Serves as the “Right-Hand Assistant” for Event Planning Overview: An agentic AI tool automating internal event planning tasks.
3rd Place: LY Corporation/ Team: LINE Yahoo Title: Meeting Brush-Up – Measuring and Eliminating Wasteful Meetings Overview: App for improving meeting quality by identifying and reducing inefficiencies.
“We are truly honored to have received first place in the Enterprise category,” said 김태우 of Hanwha Systems Co., Ltd.. “This hackathon was a highly meaningful experience, as it allowed us to seamlessly experience everything from application development to AI within a single platform, OutSystems, and helped us realize that AI is not a threat, but a powerful tool that developers can leverage more effectively. We would like to sincerely thank everyone at our company who supported us throughout the hackathon, as well as all the team members who worked tirelessly until the very end. We look forward to continuing to achieve even more together through building systems with OutSystems in the future.”
ODC Personal Edition Division
1st Place: DX PlanBuilders Title: AI solution for supporting DX initiative planning, powered by Agent Workbench Overview: An application that uses AI to support analysis and planning in the DX initiative phase, enabling the democratization of development planning and reducing the workload of IT departments.
3rd Place: Yu Ochiai Title: OutSystems 11 Review application “OutReview” Overview: An AI assistant for reviewing OutSystems 11 applications
MVP Award
Chung Jae Young (Korea), Asia Information System CO., LTD Title: Hanamo Overview: A mobility safety support application for people with visual impairments Comment from the winner:
“I am deeply humbled to have received the MVP Award. By leveraging OutSystems’ AI-powered low-code platform, I was able to rapidly turn my ideas into a deployable, live solution at remarkable speed, deepening both my technical understanding and creative confidence. I intend to build on this experience by applying these new learnings to my future development efforts and pursue even more initiatives that drive meaningful social impact.”
Challenge for the Future Award
Isuzu Motors Limited / Team B36AI（Build 360°× AI） Title: Auto Sales Forecast Adjuster Overview: Sales Forecast Adjustment Application Comment from the team:
“We are very pleased to have been awarded the Citizen Developer Award. With OutSystems’ AI-powered low-code environment, we were able to quickly bring to life a solution that flexibly incorporates business factors, which marks a significant milestone for us. This hackathon has opened our eyes to the potential of involving non-technical users in the application development process. Building on this experience, we plan to expand our usage of OutSystems as one of our core internal development tools to accelerate field-driven DX initiatives.”
The top winners were awarded a special invitation to the OutSystems ONE Conference to be held in Europe next year.
OutSystems is the leading AI-powered low-code development platform trusted by thousands of customers worldwide. The platform empowers CEOs, management teams, and technology leaders to build mission-critical applications and agentic systems that grow revenue, streamline operations, and deliver exactly what businesses need.
While evolving AI pilots into production success can be challenging due to talent gaps, legacy systems, imperfect data, and sprawling point solutions, OutSystems provides a proven low-code platform and AI-driven development experience that enables innovation up to 10x faster with the assurance of built-in security, scalability, and governance.
Recognized as a leader by analysts, IT executives, business leaders, and developers around the world, global brands trust OutSystems to innovate as fast as the evolving market demands and orchestrate powerful human + AI collaboration in the agentic future.
Founded in 2001, the company’s network spans more than 60 million end users, over 500 partners, and active customers in 75+ countries across 20+ industries. Learn more at www.outsystems.com.
A slow boat traveling from Pakbeng to Luang Prabang sank in the Mekong River near Tham Ting (Pak Ou) Cave in Pak Ou district around 3:18 to 3:27 PM on 18 December. (Photo supplies:
Rescue teams have recovered the body of one child who went missing after a slow boat struck underwater rocks near Tham Ting (Pak Ou) Cave in Pak Ou district, Luang Prabang Province, authorities confirmed on 23 December. Search operations are continuing for another missing girl.
The latest development follows the sinking of a slow boat on the Mekong River on 18 December, which was carrying passengers from Pakbeng district in Oudomxay Province to Luang Prabang City. The incident occurred at around 3:45 PM near Tham Ting Cave, a major tourist site north of Luang Prabang.
Authorities previously reported that the boat, registered under license number 0120 and owned by a resident of Hang Yai village in Chomphet district, struck underwater rocks before sinking approximately 20 minutes later. Investigators noted that damaged river buoyage markers, which help guide vessels and indicate hazards, may have contributed to the accident by causing the driver to misjudge the safe channel.
Passengers and Rescue Efforts
A total of 147 people were on board the vessel, including 118 foreign nationals and 29 Lao citizens, comprising 25 passengers and four crew members. A motorbike and multiple pieces of passenger luggage also sank with the boat.
On 22 December, authorities recovered the body of a woman, later identified as Pany Her from Khokaek village in Hongsa district, Xayyabouly Province, near Xanghai village in Pak Ou district. Her two children were reported missing at the time.
In the latest update, rescue teams confirmed that one of the missing children has been found dead, while efforts remain underway to locate the second child.
Officials have not released further details on the child’s identity or the circumstances of the recovery.
Ongoing Investigation
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport officially confirmed that the slow boat sank after hitting underwater rocks near Tham Ting Cave. An internal report dated 19 December, and made public on 22 December, cited damaged navigational markers as a contributing factor.
Survivors previously told The Laotian Times that only a limited number of life jackets were available on board. Several passengers described scenes of panic as water entered the boat, prompting passengers to hand children to nearby rescue boats and jump into the river to escape.
Local authorities in Luang Prabang have continued recovery operations using boats and cranes to retrieve the sunken vessel and remaining belongings. Most passenger luggage was initially reported to have remained on board, though some passengers have since recovered their items.
Officials said search and recovery efforts remain active, while authorities continue to assess safety conditions along the river route and investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Further updates are expected as rescue operations and the investigation continue.
SYDNEY, Dec. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — One year after announcing an exclusive partnership, leading wellness retailer SDS Australia and European sauna manufacturer Auroom have unveiled the Australian release of the Aurea Outdoor Sauna – a luxury-grade sauna that signals a new direction for the Australian wellness market.
SDS Australia’s new luxury-grade Aurea Outdoor Sauna
The launch marks a major milestone in the partnership, which has gained significant momentum over the past twelve months as demand grows for design-led, architectural saunas rather than mass-produced offerings. According to SDS Australia’s CEO, Michael Doubinski, enquiries are increasingly coming from architects, landscape designers and high-end residential clients seeking sauna solutions that meet architectural standards.
“The Aurea reflects where the market is heading,” Doubinski said. “Wellness is no longer an afterthought. Clients want spaces that are considered, durable and visually resolved, something that belongs alongside contemporary architecture.”
Designed and crafted in Europe, the Aurea Outdoor Sauna has been conceived as a standalone architectural object. Its sculptural form, premium material palette and precision-engineered construction distinguish it from conventional outdoor saunas currently available in Australia.
The sauna is built using solid European timbers, including a refined thermo-treated exterior and a waxed alder interior, selected for both longevity and tactile warmth. Subtle integrated lighting, multi-level benching and carefully controlled proportions reinforce its positioning as a designed space, rather than a merely utilitarian product.
SDS Australia notes that the release of the Aurea follows a year of strong growth in its collaboration with Auroom, with the brands supplying saunas into premium residential builds, wellness retreats and architect-led projects across Australia.
“A year ago, we spoke about bringing a different level of sauna craftsmanship to Australia,” Doubinski said. “The Aurea is a clear expression of that vision and a signal of what’s next.”
The Aurea Outdoor Sauna is now available through SDS Australia, further expanding the company’s portfolio of European-made wellness environments aimed at the upper end of the Australian residential and commercial market.
Arrival passengers in Suvarnabhumi Airport. ( Photo: Suvarnabhumi Airport).
Thai authorities have stepped up security measures at Suvarnabhumi Airport following reports of drones flying near the airport on the nights of 20 and 21 December, reinforcing safeguards for regional air travel.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said Airports of Thailand (AOT) has instructed airport authorities to work closely with security agencies, the military, and police to prevent unauthorised drone activity.
The move came after the reported sightings raised safety concerns, though officials confirmed that flight operations were not disrupted.
Suvarnabhumi Airport Director Kittipong Kittikhachorn said the airport immediately activated its emergency response plan and conducted inspections of surrounding areas.
The airport promptly moved to strengthen anti-drone detection and countermeasure systems, with support from the Army, Air Force, and Royal Thai Police, according to Kittipong.
Thai police have also deployed additional officers, established checkpoints, and stopped vehicles near the airport to check for suspicious activity.
Authorities are reviewing registered drone owners in nearby areas and have asked surrounding communities, hotels, and businesses to report any unusual activity immediately.
Flying drones within a nine-kilometre radius of Suvarnabhumi Airport is illegal and poses serious risks to aviation safety. Under Thailand’s air navigation laws, violators face severe penalties, including life imprisonment in severe cases.
Suvarnabhumi Airport serves as a major transit hub for the region, with thousands of passengers travelling through Bangkok daily.
Thai authorities said the tightened measures aim to protect passenger safety, maintain confidence in Thailand’s aviation system, and ensure uninterrupted regional travel.
Updated at 11:15 AM on 23 December, Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) reported a mysterious drone swarm disrupting Suvarnabhumi Airport, with over 2,500 drones concealed in vehicles entering restricted areas.
Integration improves access and continuity of specialist care across Singapore–Malaysia border
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2025 – As healthcare systems in Singapore and Malaysia continue to emphasise accessibility, continuity and regional collaboration, Sincere Healthcare Group (“Sincere”) has announced the integration of Landmark Medical Centre (“Landmark”), a trusted healthcare provider in Johor Bahru since 2005. Under the integration, Sincere holds a major stake in Landmark, creating a more connected care pathway for patients who seek specialist treatment across borders.
For patients, this integration translates into a more coordinated and reassuring healthcare experience — particularly for those who travel between Singapore and Johor Bahru for consultations, treatment, follow-up care or second opinions. It reflects a broader regional focus on enabling care closer to home while maintaining high clinical standards and specialist access.
Shared Medical Heritage, Aligned with Patient-Centred Care Both Sincere and Landmark were founded by clinicians who believe that good medicine begins with ethics, compassion and respect for patients. Landmark’s clinical foundation was established by Dr Robert Luk Tai Kong and continues under the leadership of Dr Lucas Luk, Managing & Medical Director, who has guided the centre’s steady growth while preserving its patient-first ethos.
Sincere Healthcare Group was founded by Prof Ng Soon Chye, a pioneer in fertility medicine whose contributions helped shape Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) in the region. Today, Sincere has grown into a multi-centre healthcare group providing obstetrics and gynaecology, women’s and men’s health, fertility care, minimally invasive and robotic gynaecological surgery, and colorectal services.
“Landmark has always focused on specialised care delivered with personal attention and clinical integrity,” said Dr Lucas Luk. “Integrating with Sincere allows us to expand our specialist support while preserving what patients value most — trust, familiarity and continuity of care.”
Supporting Seamless Cross-Border Care Cross-border healthcare has become increasingly relevant as patients seek timely access, specialist expertise and flexible care options. This integration strengthens a clear, coordinated care pathway between Singapore and Johor Bahru, aligning with broader healthcare strategies that encourage collaboration, efficiency and patient mobility across the region.
Landmark’s central location in Johor Bahru near the Woodlands entry point, combined with Sincere’s presence near Tuas, allows patients to move more easily between care settings. Services in obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility treatment, and women’s and men’s health are now better connected across the two networks.
“Our focus has always been on how patients experience care,” said Ms Koh Lee Lee, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sincere Healthcare Group. “This integration supports a more holistic and connected approach, allowing patients to receive appropriate care at the right place and time, across Singapore and Malaysia.”
Expanding Care While Preserving Trust Importantly, Landmark Medical Centre will continue operating under its established name, care teams and clinical philosophy. Patients can expect the same familiar doctors and environment, now supported by a broader specialist network, shared clinical standards and enhanced collaboration within the Sincere group.
“Medicine should always be guided by what is right for patients,” said Prof Ng Soon Chye, Medical Chairman of Sincere Healthcare Group. “By working together, we can strengthen care pathways, share expertise and support better outcomes for the people who trust us with their health.”
Looking Ahead The integration represents a meaningful step in building sustainable, patient-centred healthcare capacity across the Singapore–Malaysia corridor. Continued investment in medical programmes, technology and specialist collaboration will support long-term care needs while complementing national healthcare priorities focused on quality, access and continuity.
For patients, the message remains simple: more access, more expertise and the same commitment to compassionate, ethical care — now delivered through a more connected cross-border healthcare network.Hashtag: #sincerehealthcaregroup #landmarkmedicalcentre #crossborderhealthcare #womenshealth #menshealth #obgyn #gynaecology #singaporehealthcare #johorbahruhealthcare #SGhealthcare #JBhealthcare #SingaporeMalaysia #integratedcare #specialistcare #continuityofcare
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Sincere Healthcare Group Pte Ltd
Sincere Healthcare Group is a private healthcare network in Singapore and Malaysia specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G), reproductive medicine, fertility care, and advanced women’s and men’s health services. Its centres provide comprehensive programmes including IVF, andrology, prenatal care, diagnostics, minimally invasive surgery and women’s health screening. Supported by experienced specialists, modern laboratories and technology-enabled systems, Sincere serves local and international patients seeking ethical, evidence-based care. Its portfolio also includes colorectal conditions, endoscopy, colonoscopy and laparoscopic surgical services. Expanding its regional presence, Sincere has established a Patient Liaison Centre in Shanghai, China, to support patients seeking fertility consultations and coordinated cross-border care.
Landmark Medical Centre Sdn Bhd
Landmark Medical Centre is a well-established healthcare provider in Johor Bahru, founded in 2005 and recognised for its trusted legacy, strong clinical leadership, and commitment to patient-centred care. It offers multidisciplinary services with core strengths in women’s health, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgical care, and general health services. Guided by medical integrity and long-standing community relationships, Landmark continues to deliver quality medical care supported by experienced clinicians and modern clinical facilities.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2025 – Japan’s largest anime merchandise specialty store, Animate, officially opened today (December 23) in Mong Kok, returning to Hong Kong in a direct operation format. The new store is located on the fourth floor of the popular shopping mall, T.O.P This is Our Place, providing local and overseas anime fans with a more complete synchronized shopping experience from Japan.
Store in a Prime Location in Mong Kok, Easily Accessible via Subway
The new Animate Hong Kong is situated on the fourth floor of T.O.P, directly connected to Mong Kok MTR Station for convenience. Since Mong Kok is a gathering place for local trend culture and young consumers, it was chosen as the location for Hong Kong’s first direct-operated store.
Introduced Direct Operation Model from Japan for More Comprehensive New Products The Hong Kong store operates under a direct management model from the Japanese headquarters, significantly upgrading product supply, including:
Faster availability of Japan’s latest anime peripherals, manga, and audiovisual products.
Many products can be launched simultaneously with Japanese stores.
A more stable supply of limited items and store exclusive bonuses.
The Animate direct-operated store can considerably shorten the time difference in launching new products, offering a shopping experience closer to that of Japanese stores.
Launching Limited-Time Offers and Activities for Opening To celebrate the opening, Animate Hong Kong is offering several locally exclusive shopping privileges and opening events, including:
Commemorative opening limited offers.
Elegant gifts based on spending amounts.
Thematic exhibitions of selected works.
Limited-time collaborative projects.
More information about the activities will be announced on the official X, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.
The brand hopes that the new store can become a communication hub for Hong Kong anime fans and attract more local and overseas visitors.
【Store Information】
Store Name: Animate Hong Kong
Opening Date: December 23, 2025
Address: Shop 409A / 409B / 411, 4th Floor, T.O.P This is Our Place, 700 Nathan Road, Mong Kok, Kowloon
![Gala Porras-Kim, The weight of a patina of time [2125], 2024, Graphite, color pencil and encaustic on paper, Triptych: 228.6 x 182.8 cm each (framed) © Gala Porras-Kim. Courtesy of the artist Photo: Wes Magyar/MCA Denver](https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/-70.jpg "Gala Porras-Kim, The weight of a patina of time [2125], 2024, Graphite, color pencil and encaustic on paper, Triptych: 228.6 x 182.8 cm each (framed) © Gala Porras-Kim. Courtesy of the artist Photo: Wes Magyar/MCA Denver")
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