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Cambodia Explores New Trade Route to China Via Laos

Laos Records Year-on-Year Trade Deficit of USD 48 Million in February
Representative image of containers at shipyard. (photo: RTE)

The Cambodian Ministry of Public Works and Transport is taking steps to improve the transportation of Cambodian agricultural products to Chinese markets by exploring a new trade route through Laos.

MSIG Grows Its Mangrove Planting Partnership With Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 28 July 2023 – MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd “(MSIG Malaysia)”, has planted about 6,247 mangroves throughout Malaysia in a partnership with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) which stretches back to 2019. The mangrove planting programme, which has grown in scale each year since establishment, aims to protect coastal communities from property damage due to flood and serves as an important source of biodiversity in the future.

In 2022, MSIG partnered MNS to plant 3,415 mangrove saplings in Penang, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Terengganu and Perak and they plan to build on that total in 2023. MSIG intends to maintain their support of MNS as part of their commitment to the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Climate Action.

In addition to financially supporting the planting programme, many MSIG employees also took time out of their usual work routines to volunteer in the planting activities facilitated by MNS in various parts of the country.

Commenting on initiative, MSIG Chief Executive Officer Mr. Chua Seck Guan said, “In conjunction with the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem that is celebrated annually on 26 July, MSIG wishes to use this opportunity to express our continued interest in supporting mangrove conservation and raising awareness of the pivotal role mangroves play in our ecosystem.

“Mangroves are a vital resource for Malaysia given their role of protecting coastal communities from erosion and floods by stabilising riverbanks and coastlines. They also serve as significant sources for biodiversity and are the breeding ground and habitat for many varieties of fishes and other marine life. As such it is crucial that they are protected and conserved in order to secure the wellbeing of our coastal communities and future generations.

“Apart from protecting coastal communities and restoring biodiversity, mangroves are also excellent carbon sinks. They are one of the most effective trees in the world for soaking up carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that causes climate change. As such, protecting and growing our mangroves play an important part in combating and mitigating the effects of climate change.

“Given the vast benefits that mangroves provide to the people and environment, we look forward to further our mangrove planting efforts with MNS in 2023 to support the conservation of these trees.

“This reflects MSIG’s continuous effort in providing for the wellbeing of Malaysians, both through our insurance products and our actions as a responsible business, keeping in mind to give back to society and protecting the environment that we operate in,” said Mr. Chua.

The mangrove planting initiative is one of many sustainability programmes that MSIG has undertaken over the past few years. These programmes are carefully planned and considered to ensure that they are in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Some of the programmes are focused on cultivating a zero-waste movement among MSIG employees through various educational activities and contests. This environmentally conscious approach can also be seen in the general insurer’s products such as MSIG EZ-Mile Motor Add-On (Pay As You Drive) and Solar Photovoltaic (PV) All Risks (protects solar PV system against loss or damage due to fire, theft and accidental damage).

As an effort to further raise awareness of the importance of mangroves, MSIG will be planting one mangrove sapling for each MSIG EZ-Mile Motor Add-On policy purchased through MSIG Online within 26 July to 25 August 2023 in recognition of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

MSIG also makes annual monetary contributions and donations in-kind to various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that focus on community welfare, medical care and other causes.

The mangrove planting programme is part of MSIG’s biodiversity conservation initiatives in Malaysia, in alignment with the general insurer’s corporate efforts in protecting and enhancing the planet’s natural capital.

Hashtag: #MSIG

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

About MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd

MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd (“MSIG Malaysia”) is a subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited and a member of MS&AD Insurance Group Holding, Inc. (MS&AD), one of the top ten** general insurers in the world.

With over 100 years of general insurance experience and a nationwide network of 20 branches in Malaysia, MSIG Malaysia is one of the leading general insurers in Fire, Engineering and Motor classes and No.1* in Marine Cargo, offering an extensive range of products and services for personal and business needs.

MSIG Malaysia’s expertise is well recognised through its receipt of many prestigious awards. These have included the 2020 Reader’s Digest Quality Service Award – Silver winner in the Car Insurance category. MSIG was recognized for having one of the highest levels of quality service, which reflects the effort that the company has put in to satisfy consumer’s demand for high service standards. The company was also awarded the 2018 “Outstanding Property and Casualty Insurer in Malaysia” award in the InsuranceAsia News Awards for Excellence. MSIG Malaysia was commended for leading the market with strong financial growth, investment in product innovation, enhanced digital capabilities in business and claims management systems and strong customer service proposition. Its commitment to customer service excellence through its efforts in enhancing the customer experience and industry leadership in Enterprise Risk Management also earned MSIG Malaysia the “General Insurance Company of the Year” at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards in 2015.

For more information on MSIG Malaysia, visit or facebook.com/MSIGmy.

*As of Dec 2022
**Fortune Global 500, 2021

About Malaysia Nature Society (MNS)

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) is the oldest and largest membership-based environmental non-governmental organization in Malaysia. The genesis of MNS predates our country’s independence – by a group of mainly British expatriates deeply interested in our country’s lush natural heritage decided that the abundant collection of field notes and natural history records which they had accumulated was vital to the country’s heritage and should be published. In 1940, with the publication of the Malayan Nature Journal Volume 1, the Malaysian Nature Society was born.

It is run by elected members on a voluntary, non-profit basis and backed up by about 26 full time personnel. The Society’s mission is to promote the study, appreciation, conservation and protection of Malaysia’s natural heritage. MNS has been the main force behind the protection of many key habitats as well as national, marine and state parks in Malaysia. The Society is also actively involved in species conservation (especially birds) as well as in the ratification of climate change convention in Malaysia.

For more info about MNS, please visit or

Circles partners unconnected.org to connect underprivileged children to education through digital connectivity

  • Quality education is crucial to help individuals and communities combat poverty, social exclusion and gender inequality.
  • Circles provides funding and the donation of internet connectivity through its roaming and e-Sim service, Jetpac, to help unconnected.org accelerate its transformative programs to digitally connect underprivileged children who have little to no access to education, to online learning courses and programs through its education partners.
  • To date, the partnership has powered over 300,000 lessons for underprivileged students in Indonesia and Africa.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 28 July 2023 – Circles, a global telco technology company, partners @unconnected.org, a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the digital divide and transforming lives through technology, to create a positive future for underprivileged children, women, refugees and underserved communities around the world.

A 2022 UNESCO data reported that 244 million children and youth between the ages of 6 and 18 worldwide are still out of school. Quality education is crucial to help individuals and communities combat poverty, social exclusion and gender inequality. However, access to education is greatly impaired by barriers such as lack of funding for education, schools and teachers.

In line with its mission to give power back to people, Circles provides funding and the donation of internet connectivity through its roaming and e-Sim service, Jetpac, to help unconnected.org accelerate its transformative programs, such as connectSTARS, to digitally connect underprivileged children who have little to no access to education, to online learning courses and programs through its education partners. The connectSTARS initiative not only provides internet connectivity to students in need but also fosters their digital literacy and skills development. To date, the partnership has powered over 300,000 lessons for underprivileged students in Indonesia and Africa.

Lawrence Corbett, Chief Operating Officer of Circles says, “Digital inclusion is crucial to help connect individuals and communities with equitable access to the internet, technologies and online learning. We are delighted to partner unconnected.org, which allows us to amplify our beliefs and services beyond the everyday work that we do and make a positive impact on the future of these children.” He continues, “At Circles, we are driven by a learner’s mindset and believe that if you ‘keep on learning’ you will ‘keep on growing’. At the heart of our business, we provide delightful digital experiences to people through reliable digital connectivity and innovative digital services, such as Jetpac. When we combine both, this partnership makes perfect sense in addressing our shared vision. Together, we look forward to digitally connecting more children to education, information and training, thus empowering them for a brighter future.”

Mea Thompson, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of unconnected.org says, “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Circles on groundbreaking projects. With Circle’s generous giving culture and shared vision, we are now one step closer to realizing our collective goal of a digitally connected world. We believe that access to digital education is a fundamental right, and this partnership with Circles reinforces our commitment to making that right a reality for every child, regardless of their socio-economic background. Through this partnership, we are empowering young minds to reach their full potential and opening doors to a brighter future. Together, we will build a connected future that leaves no one behind.”

Hashtag: #Circles #Unconnected #CSR #CSRPartnership #CorporateSocialResponsibility #DigitalInclusion #TransformingLives #KeepLearningKeepGrowing #SocialInclusion #ConnectingtheUnconnected #Sustainability #SocialImpact #Community #Charity #NGO #SocialResponsibility

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

About Circles

Founded in 2014, Circles is a global technology company that’s reimagining the telco industry with its SaaS platform, Circles X, and helping operators launch and operate successful brands.

Today, Circles is partnering operators in 14 countries to deliver delightful digital experiences to millions of people through our businesses.

With Circles.Life, our digital lifestyle brand, we empower and delight customers across the world by offering digital experiences that go beyond traditional telco services.

With Circles X, our digital telco technology empowers operators to launch digital telco brands from anywhere in the world. Built for operators by an operator, Circles X powers both Circles.Life and our partner operators’ digital telco brands.

Circles is backed by global investors such as Peak XV Partners, Warburg Pincus, EDBI and Founders Fund – renowned institutions with a track record of backing industry-shaking innovators.

For more information, visit .

About unconnected.org

is a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the digital divide and transforming lives through technology.

At their mission is to connect the unconnected and ensure that every individual, regardless of their socio-economic background, has equal opportunities to thrive in the digital age. They believe that technology can be a powerful tool for positive change, opening doors to education, knowledge, and economic empowerment.

Their initiatives span across all regions, with a focus on connecting students, women, refugees and underserved communities. Through strategic partnerships with NGOs, local communities, educational institutions, and corporate organizations, they leverage innovative projects with a focus on inclusivity and equity.

Do you want to be a part of the organisation? Do not hesitate to reach out to them directly as they are always open for new ways of collaboration to reach their goal to connect 1 billion people to the internet.

Brilliant Planet to scale algae-based carbon capture process with universal automation solution from Schneider Electric and Platinum Electrical Engineering

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 July 2023 – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and industrial automation, today announced that it has partnered with Platinum Electrical Engineering to implement the EcoStruxure Automation Expert solution for Brilliant Planet, a pioneer in low-cost, algae-based carbon capture.

Brilliant Planet uses algae as an affordable method of permanently and quantifiably sequestering carbon at the gigaton scale. The company grows vast quantities of microalgae in open-air pond-based systems on coastal land. These can sequester up to 30 times more carbon from the atmosphere than the same area of forest. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), carbon capture technologies are a crucial part of the efforts to tackle climate change.

Following eight years of research and development, including four years of trials at its three-hectare facility in Morocco, Brilliant Planet is now developing a scalable platform that will be deployed at sites worldwide.

“To scale at the speed required, we need to be able to modularize our application,” said Adam Taylor, CEO at Brilliant Planet. “The Schneider Electric and Platinum Electrical Engineering solution enables us to copy, paste, and scale at each site. This means we can utilize resources more efficiently, while seeing drastic improvements in control. We hope this system provides the foundation for further expansion in the coming years.”

The carbon capture process requires a highly flexible and efficient control system that can easily scale as needed. Brilliant Planet chose Platinum Electrical Engineering, a Schneider Electric Alliance Certified Partner, to deploy EcoStruxure Automation Expert, the world’s first software-centric universal automation system, alongside AVEVA System Platform and AVEVA Insight to provide complete visibility and control of operations.

Universal automation

Traditional industrial automation systems are closed, proprietary, and hardware-driven. They can make it difficult and costly for organizations looking to integrate new technologies from different brands to optimize efficiency. EcoStruxure Automation Expert is a universal automation solution, based on the IEC 61499 standard for interoperability, and can therefore be easily integrated with new or existing third-party equipment, and scale with ease across Brilliant Planet’s new sites globally.

As the first certified EcoStruxure Automation Expert global Alliance Partner, Platinum Electrical Engineering was chosen by Brilliant Planet as the system integrator for its deep understanding of the technology. Having recently earned Schneider Electric’s Global EcoStruxure Partner of the Year Award, Platinum Electrical Engineering has demonstrated software-centric automation installations that generate high levels of efficiency.

“By using EcoStruxure Automation Expert, we can significantly reduce the time spent on integrating and testing control software for each of Brilliant Planet’s sites,” said Stephen Maltby, Managing Director at Platinum Electrical Engineering. “It gives us the tools to be considerably more creative in the way we approach projects, allowing us to work with both green and brown-field projects, in a much more agile manner. The standardized application makes it straightforward to troubleshoot and adapt processes to customer-specific needs and deliver a complete bespoke, yet scalable system.”

“To help us achieve our mission of sustainability and next-generation industrial automation, we require a network of trusted Alliance Partners and valued customers, and this project demonstrates both,” said Sanjith Singh, Global Vice President, Software Centric Automation at Schneider Electric. “While Brilliant Planet is using our technology to deliver sustainable solutions to meet the challenge of climate change, Platinum Electrical Engineering is delivering an efficient and scalable solution.”

Related resources:


About Brilliant Planet

Brilliant Planet is unlocking the power of algae as an affordable method of permanently and quantifiably sequestering carbon at the gigaton scale. The company’s innovative process enables vast quantities of microalgae to grow in open-air pond-based systems on coastal desert land. This is achieved without using fresh water, by harnessing a natural process that contributes to the health of oceans and air.

https://www.brilliantplanet.com/

About Platinum Electrical Engineering
Platinum Electrical Engineering work with partners by, listening, engaging and focusing on the specific challenges, we use our knowledge, expertise, creativity and innovation to solve the complex challenges of today’s industrial landscape, whilst leveraging bleeding edge technologies and software, we integrate and optimise return on investment for our clients by, giving the control, data and decision making to the right person at the right time, to simplify the interaction between humans and machines, to create industrial ecosystems for the next generation workforce, whilst helping to electrify and decarbonise the planet.

https://platinum-eng.co.uk/
Hashtag: #Decarbonization #IndustriesOfTheFuture #Alliance #UniversalAutomation



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

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

Discover the newest perspectives shaping sustainability, electricity 4.0, and next generation automation on .

Singapore Hangs Man for Drug Trafficking. It Will Hang Woman on Friday — The First in 19 Years

A man takes a nap as the central business district is shrouded by haze in Singapore, on 23 September, 2019. Singapore executed a man Wednesday, 26 July, 2023, for drug trafficking and is set to hang a woman Friday — the first in 19 years — prompting renewed calls for a halt to capital punishment. (Photo: AP)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Singapore executed a man Wednesday for drug trafficking and is set to hang a woman Friday — the first in 19 years — prompting renewed calls for a halt to capital punishment.

Families Affected by Construction Near Nam Ngum Hydropower Dam 1 Receive Compensation

Families affected by Nam Ngum Hydropower Dam 1 construction receive compensation (Photo: Pasaxon)

A ceremony was held at the Keoudom district’s main club in Vientiane Province to provide compensation to families affected by the construction work around the Nam Ngum Hydropower Dam 1, especially in Sengsavang village.

Laos Welcomes Over 1.6 Million Tourists in First Half of 2023

Laos Welcomes Over 1.6 Million Tourists in First Half of 2023
A flock of tourist in Kuang Si waterfall (photo: thetravelintern)

The Tourism Development Department of Laos recently released a report informing that over 1.6 million international tourists visited Laos until June 2023.

Joining Forces for a Greener Future: Watsons Partners with Kenvue, L’Oréal and P&G to Drive Sustainability Efforts

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 27 July 2023 – Watsons, the flagship health and beauty brand of A.S. Watson Group, is committed to accelerating its sustainability efforts to create a positive impact on the environment. As the World Conservation Day is approaching, Watsons announced partnership with Kenvue, L’Oréal and P&G to work towards a more sustainable future. The collaboration will leverage the collective expertise of Watsons and the supplier partners to amplify the impact of our sustainability initiatives.


Malina Ngai, CEO of A.S. Watson (Asia & Europe), said, “At Watsons, sustainability is at the heart of our business, and we recognise the importance of prioritising it. As the leading industry player, we take our responsibility to lead by example, encouraging our supplier partners to join us in our journey to build a better world. We believe that only by working together, we can create a bigger positive impact to our planet. Our partnership with Kenvue, L’Oréal, and P&G is a significant step towards achieving our shared sustainability goals.”

Inspiring Customers to Go Green
In addition to providing sustainable choices products, the collaboration with our supplier partners has gone beyond just product range. We’ve also been teaming up to run a wide range of sustainability initiatives to engage every one of our customers.

The collaboration with Kenvue has led to the launch of a region-wide Green Smiles Campaign across Asia, aimed to inspire customers to go green with us while shopping. In Watsons Taiwan, Kenvue will plant one tree for every customer who purchases a sustainable choices product, while Watsons Indonesia’s customers will help save a sea turtle upon buying a sustainable choices product. In Thailand, customers will be able to learn sustainability tips through gamification and join beach clean-up activity with KOLs. Thibaut Mongon, CEO of Kenvue, said, “At Kenvue, our commitment to everyday care includes our planet. We are excited to launch our jointly created campaign, Green Smiles, and to continue our long-standing collaboration with A.S. Watson.”

In Hong Kong, Watsons and P&G have collaborated on the Plastic Reborn programme to encourage customers to recycle plastic containers. Since its launch in 2021, over 530,000 bottles have been recycled. Building on the success of the programme, this year, we plan to reprocess the plastic bottles collected through the Plastic Reborn programme and transform them into 3D printing materials suitable for STEM education in primary and secondary schools. James Lin, President of Procter & Gamble Hong Kong & Taiwan, said, “Stepping into the 3rd year of the programme, we pilot to repurpose the recycled plastic for school STEM education to immerse young generation to dial up sustainability awareness and inspirations on plastic waste solutions.”

Meanwhile, in the markets of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia, Watsons continues to team up with L’Oréal to run the Beauty for Future recycling campaign. Customers can recycle an array of beauty containers, ranging from foundation bottles, skincare tubs, to lipstick tubes, at Watsons stores. The campaign garnered tremendous support from our customers, resulting in nearly 200,000 bottles being recycled in just one year. Jean-Marc Cazenave, Global Sustainability Director (Consumer Products Division) of L’Oréal, said, “Thanks to our regional partnership with Watsons, we engage consumers via on-going recycling campaigns to further develop the collection of empty packaging in-store to build a more sustainable beauty”.

Empowering Customers via Sustainability Education
Continuous sustainability education plays a crucial role in inspiring customers to make behavioural changes. Watsons has launched Sustainable Month to encourage customers to reduce plastic waste by making smarter, more sustainable choices in their daily lives. The month-long social media campaign provides tips and hacks for customers to contribute to a sustainable future. Additionally, an innovative VR Hub (https://www.watsonsgogreen.com/vr) has also been launched to help customers earn exclusive rewards and adopt a sustainable lifestyle through educational videos, interactive games, and exploration of more sustainable choices products.

Ngai concludes, “We believe that Green is the new beautiful and each of us has a vital part to play in making a meaningful difference. Watsons will continue to inspire more business partners and customers to work together and create a significant impact. By embracing our social purpose Look Good. Do Good. Feel Great, we are committed to building a better, more sustainable world for more generations to come.”

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