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Olympic and Paralympic Games Celebrated in Vientiane

Celebration of 500 Days Before Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vientiane
A government official competing in a friendly pétanque contest

The French Embassy in Laos organized a sports event on 14 March 2023 in the garden of the French Institute 500 days before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Vietnam to Offer Visa Exemptions to More Countries

Vietnam to Offer Free Visas to More Countries
Foreign tourists in Vietnam (photo: vnvis)

Vietnam will grant visa-free entry to more countries and prolong the maximum stay duration of international visitors to bolster the recovery of its tourism industry, said the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Mr. Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday.

HDFC Bank continues investing in platform technologies to improve customer experience and enhance efficiencies

Backbase remains the preferred next-gen digital banking platform vendor for HDFC Bank

MUMBAI, INDIA – Media OutReach – 16 March 2023 – HDFC Bank Ltd has appointed Backbase to deliver their vision for a market-leading digital banking experience in India. Backbase powers HDFC Bank’s next-gen retail banking, enabling a more seamless customer experience across digital touchpoints in response to changing consumer expectations and new regulatory requirements.

HDFC Bank is India’s largest private sector bank, providing innovative products and smart banking solutions to over 70 million customers across India. A Backbase customer since 2016, HDFC Bank has renewed its agreement in line with its technical design principles of security, horizontal scalability, and remaining cloud agnostic.

Built as one unified platform to engage and orchestrate frictionless experiences across all touchpoints at every stage of the customer lifecycle across retail banking, business banking, digital lending, and wealth management, Backbase has helped 150+ banks and credit unions around the globe re-architect banking around their customers.

“Indian consumers expect digital banking to match the seamless experience of their favourite e-commerce and social media platforms. In addition to savvy UI, from savings to loans to payments and beyond, customers want to effortlessly complete transactions, easily and quickly, anytime and anywhere. Backbase’s banking platform has been assessed to be what we need and; we are confident that it will help us develop new services faster,” Ramesh Lakshminarayanan, CIO and Group IT Head, HDFC Bank said.

HDFC Bank’s next-gen customer-first internet banking architecture will be run and managed on the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. The digital banking platform meets Indian money transfer regulations, via seamless integrations with Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), and UPI Payments, and encompasses enhanced, configurable local security features on par with local industry standards.

HDFC Bank continues to invest in technologies to improve customer experience and enhance efficiencies by providing a seamless experience to their customers across all platforms, on the back of a resilient infrastructure, building on the HDFC Bank Enterprise and Digital Factory established in June 2021.

“I’m delighted to continue partnering with HDFC Bank to bring platform-era banking to its millions of customers,” Jouk Pleiter, CEO, Backbase said. “We’ve worked tirelessly to earn the trust of HDFC Bank, and we’re excited to deliver a next-generation banking experience in one of the most important and innovative banking markets in the world.”

Localized delivery
Backbase provides seamless local engineering, implementation and customer support, for banks in India, including HDFC Bank, through its Asia Customer Success hub and Hyderabad Backbase Development Center (BDC), freeing financial institutions to focus on delivering hyper-personalized experiences and support as well as generating new revenue streams. In addition, for banks with hybrid or pure cloud implementation, Backbase provides local support via our data centers within Mumbai and Hyderabad.

“Our strong local technology and engineering resources allow us to do it right the first time, and to do more with less,” Abhijit Chavan, Regional Vice President, Customer Success, Asia, Backbase explained. “Our engineering investment in India and customer success hub provides instant digital execution power to Indian financial institutions as they move to a unified banking platform architecture.”

Hashtag: #Backbase #digitalbanking #engagementbanking #apac #HDFC

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

About Backbase

is on a mission to re-architect banking around the customer.

Backbase created the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform – a unified platform with the customer at the center, empowering banks to accelerate their digital transformation. From customer onboarding, to servicing, loyalty, and loan origination, our single platform — open and frictionless, with ready-to-go apps — improves every aspect of the customer experience. Built from the ground up with the customer at the heart, our Engagement Banking Platform easily plugs into existing core banking systems and comes pre-integrated with the latest fintechs so financial institutions can innovate at scale.

Industry analysts Forrester, Gartner, Omdia, and IDC continuously recognize Backbase’s category leadership position. Over 150 financials around the world have embraced the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. In APAC, the customers we serve include ABBANK, BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, EastWest Bank, HDFC, IDFC First, JudoBank, Techcombank, TPBank, and UBank.

Backbase is a privately funded fintech company, founded in 2003 in Amsterdam (Global HQ), with regional offices in Singapore (APAC HQ), Atlanta (Americas HQ), and operations in Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Latin America, and the UK.

Warner Bros. to Open “Harry Potter” Theme Park in Tokyo This Year

Tokyo to Open “Harry Potter” Theme Park This Year
Visitors at Harry Potter theme park in London. ( Photo : Unsplash )

The Tokyo-based subsidiary of multinational movie production house Warner Bros. Studio will open a new theme park based on the popular “Harry Potter” movie franchise on 16 June.

Man Robs Vientiane Gold Shop at Gunpoint

A man robbed a gold store at a market in Vientiane Capital on Wednesday.

A man carrying a firearm robbed and fled from a gold shop at Sikhai Market in Sikhottabong District, Vientiane Capital on Wednesday.

Microsoft supports Inchcape on its data-driven digitalization journey with Azure 

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 16 March 2023 – In a digital-first world, enterprises are generating data at breakneck speed as they integrate technology into all areas of the business to adapt to market and digital disruptions.

Over the last few years, market changes in the automotive sector have created a growing value gap between manufacturers and consumers. Industry disruptions such as changing customer digital behavior, stricter ESG regulations, and the boom in demand for electric and hybrid vehicles have led companies to rethink their digital transformation strategy, with data and analytics at the heart of it.

To set the foundation for analytics success, global automotive distributor Inchcape turned to Microsoft for its business needs. Inchcape distributes and markets vehicles of some of the world’s most popular brands like Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW to over 40 countries across six continents, including Singapore.

Hitting the accelerator on data transformation

Recognizing the value in embracing data-driven digitalization for predictive analytics in customer engagement, pricing optimization, and demand forecasting, the company established a new strategy called ‘Accelerate’, which had digital transformation at its heart. To build out its data and analytics capabilities, Inchcape sought out Microsoft Singapore’s partner, Tiger Analytics Inc, to put its digital strategy into action.

Inchcape’s platform of choice for a seamless omni-channel transformation was Microsoft Azure to leverage the company’s existing SQL-based systems. Using Azure meant that migration and deployment of workloads could be automated, faster, and more agile compared to other platforms. In addition, Inchcape could access Databricks and Data Factory to facilitate efficient data transformation.

Navigating data-driven digitalization with Azure

Inchcape identified three areas for initial use cases for its data models, utilizing them as tools for making better business decisions. The first was a lead scoring tool centered around car sales built using the Azure Databricks Data Analytics Platform for customers. The solution allowed Inchcape to determine customers by their ‘digital body language’ based on website interactions, showroom visits and sales history.

The second use case was for after-sales churn prediction, which was tied to service warranties. By analyzing warranty and car servicing data, Inchcape could engage with customers proactively before they decide to leave.

The third was used in parts pricing optimization and profit maximization, which are tied to transactions with dealerships and shops. By evaluating parts transaction data, Inchcape can determine better opportunities to maximize product price elasticity.

Together with Tiger Analytics, Inchcape built a data analytics center of excellence, achieving a centralized approach to harnessing the power of data. “Data and analytics are at the heart of our Accelerate strategy to set our business up for success. Our leaders empowered us to build a central analytics team and pursue a modern analytical architecture that provides real-time and event-driven business intelligence and predictive analytics insights,” says Ram Thilak, Global Head of Data Science & Analytics at Inchcape. “Effective use of Microsoft products helped accelerate delivery and future-proof Inchcape’s data management strategy,” says Lakshmi Vaideeswaran, VP and Client Partner for Inchcape.

“For instance, having centralized data resulted in a 75 percent improvement in data accessibility across the organization, which fed into day-to-day decision-making. Furthermore, the implementation of Azure Purview helped Inchcape manage metadata, eliminate KPI discrepancies, and support end-to-end data pipelines for advanced analytics and reporting. Azure also provided Inchcape with visibility over cloud use so the company could scale up or down cost-efficiently.”

Charting sustainable growth with analytics

As the company plans to expand its analytics capabilities across the business, Inchcape’s central analytics team has grown from 20 to 150 employees globally.

Inchcape also established a long-term analytics roadmap to unlock the true value of data and drive its digital strategy well into the future. Learning from the initial use cases, the company is now evaluating 20 more possible use cases to establish how data can be leveraged for business intelligence.

Lee Hui Li, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore said “data and AI continue to play a prominent role in supporting businesses on their digitalization journey. Microsoft’s tools and technologies are designed to benefit everyone, and that includes helping our customers better organize and make sense of their data. As a global leader in cloud and digital technology, we are proud to partner enterprises across industries and help them gear up for success, as we empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”

Hashtag: #Microsoft

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

Spackman Media Group Artist Son Suk-Ku’s BIG BET Season 2 Achieves The Highest Viewing of All Time For Korean Content On Disney+

  • BIG BET Season 2, starring Spackman Media Group artist Son Suk-ku, broke the record for the highest viewing ever in the first week of its release among all previous Disney+ Korean original content
  • Season 2 of BIG BET surpassed the record established by BIG BET Season 1 as the top-rated Korean OTT series on IMDb among those released concurrently
  • Son Suk-ku also secured the top spot in the 2023 MALE ACTORS TO WATCH survey conducted by Cine21, a weekly film magazine in Korea, surpassing Pak Seo-joon, Song Joong-ki and Lee Jung-jae

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 16 March 2023 – Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the “Group“), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups founded in 2011 by global media & technology investor Charles Spackman, wishes to announce that BIG BET Season 2, headlined by Son Suk-ku of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited (“Spackman Media Group“), set a new record for the highest viewership in its first week of release, surpassing all previous Disney+ Korean original content.

BIG BET Season 2 broke the record previously set by BIG BET Season 1, which attained the highest rating of 8.4/10 among Korean OTT series released concurrently on IMDb, the world’s largest content rating site. In BIG BET Season 2, top Korean star Son Suk-ku of Spackman Media Group reprises his role as a cop who further tightens his grip on a legendary king of the casino in the Philippines.

Last month, Son Suk-ku was also ranked #1 in the 2023 MALE ACTORS TO WATCH survey conducted by Cine21, a weekly film magazine in Korea, surpassing Pak Seo-joon, Song Joong-ki and Lee Jung-jae in the survey. The top five in the 2023 MALE ACTORS TO WATCH were Son Suk-ku, Pak Seo-joon, Koo Gyo-hwan, Lee Do-hyun, Song Joong-ki and Lee Jung-jae. The top five in the 2023 FEMALE ACTORS TO WATCH are Park Eun-bin, Kim Tae-ri, Han So-hee, Song Hye-kyo, Kim Hye-soo and Lee Hanee.

In January this year, Son Suk-ku also took the top spot in movie star reputation, according to the Korea Corporation Reputation Research Institute. Moreover, in December 2022, Son Suk-ku won the JTBC Grand Prize at the 2022 TV Drama Acting Awards held by Good Data Corporation, an online competitive analysis agency for K-content in Korea.

The top ranking of Son Suk-ku and the highest viewership of BIG BET Season 2 of all time for Korean content on Disney+ continue to underscore his star power in the Korean entertainment sector.

Last year, Son Suk-ku dominated both the big and small screens in Korea with his lead roles in the 2022’s top box office performing film, THE ROUNDUP, and the most popular K-drama in May 2022, MY LIBERATION NOTES.

Son Suk-ku is represented by SBD Entertainment Inc. (“SBD Entertainment“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spackman Media Group that represents and manages the careers of 12 artists. In addition to Son Suk-ku, SBD Entertainment also represents one of Korea’s rapidly rising young actors, Han Ji-hyun of popular K-drama THE PENTHOUSE 3, who won the Best Rookie Female Actor in the 2021 Brand Customer Loyalty Awards in Korea and endorsed Shiseido in 2022.

Hashtag: #SpackmanEntertainmentGroup

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

About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited

Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (“SEGL” or the “Company“), and together with its subsidiaries, (the “Group“), is one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups. SEGL is primarily engaged in the independent development, production, presentation, and financing of theatrical motion pictures in Korea.

The Company was founded in 2011 by renowned media and technology investor Charles Spackman who served as the Company’s Executive Chairman until 2017. For the past two decades, Mr. Charles Spackman has been a powerhouse in the Korean entertainment industry starting in the early 2000’s with the pioneering success of Sidus Pictures, the largest movie production company at the time and the first to be listed in Korea. Mr. Spackman is also the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the global investment firm, Spackman Group. For more information, please visit and .

Since its founding, SEGL had produced more than 30 major motion pictures including a number of the highest grossing and award-winning films in Korea, namely #ALIVE (2020), CRAZY ROMANCE (2019), DEFAULT (2018), MASTER(2016), THE PRIESTS (2015), SNOWPIERCER (2013), COLD EYES (2013) and ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012).

Our films are theatrically distributed and released in Korea and overseas markets, as well as for subsequent post-theatrical worldwide release in other forms of media, including online streaming, cable TV, broadcast TV, IPTV, video-on-demand, and home video/DVD, etc. Generally, we release our motion pictures into wide-theatrical exhibition initially in Korea, and then in overseas and ancillary markets.

The Group also invests into and produces Korean television dramas. In addition to our content business, we also own equity stakes in entertainment-related companies and film funds that can financially and strategically complement our existing core operations. SEGL is listed on the Catalist of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited under the ticker 40E.

Production Labels

SEGL owns a 100% equity interest in Studio Take Co., Ltd. (“Studio Take“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021). Its latest film, A MAN OF REASON, is set to be screened theatrically and digitally in North America and at theatres in Korea in the first half of 2023. A MAN OF REASON premiered in the US at the 42nd Hawaii International Film Festival. The film was also invited to the 47th Toronto International Film Festival, the largest film festival in North America, and the 55th Sitges Film Festival, one of the world’s top three genre film festivals. Studio Take shall also release an upcoming film, THE GUEST, in 2023 tentatively.

SEGL owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 80 films (59 Korean and 21 foreign) including OKAY MADAM (2020), LONG LIVE THE KING (2019), MY FIRST CLIENT (2019), ROSE OF BETRAYAL (2018), THE OUTLAWS (2017) and SECRETLY, GREATLY (2013), which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS (2013), as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY (2013). In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE (2012), a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more information, please visit

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Greenlight Content Limited (“Greenlight Content“) which is mainly involved in the business of investing into dramas and movies, as well as providing consulting services for the production of Korean content. Through the acquisition of Greenlight Content, the Group’s first co-produced drama, MY SECRET TERRIUS, starring top Korean star, So Ji Sub, achieved #1 in drama viewership ratings for its time slot and recorded double digits for its highest viewership ratings. Greenlight Content was one of the main investors of MY SECRET TERRIUS.

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Simplex Films Limited (“Simplex Films“) which is an early stage film production firm. The maiden film of Simplex Films, JESTERS: THE GAME CHANGERS (2019), was released in Korea on 21 August 2019. Simplex Films has several line-up of films including HURRICANE BROTHERS (working title).

The Company owns a 20% equity interest in The Makers Studio Co. Ltd., which plans to produce and release four upcoming films, the first of which will be THE ISLAND OF THE GHOST’S WAIL, a comedy horror film.

Talent Representation

The Company holds an effective shareholding interest of 43.88% in Spackman Media Group Limited (“SMGL“). SMGL, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, together with its subsidiaries, is collectively one of the largest entertainment talent agencies in Korea in terms of the number of artists under management, including some of the top names in the Korean entertainment industry. SMGL operates its talent management business through renowned agencies such as SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku, Han Ji-hyun, Park Keun-rok), MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee, Lee Cho-hee), UAA&CO Inc. (Kim Sang-kyung) and Play Content Co., Ltd. (Hwang-hwi). Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company. For more information, please visit

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in Constellation Agency Pte. Ltd. (“Constellation Agency“). Constellation Agency, which owns The P Factory Co., Ltd. (“The P Factory“) and Platform Media Group Co., Ltd. (“PMG“), is primarily involved in the business of overseas agency for Korean artists venturing into the overseas market. The P Factory is an innovative marketing solutions provider specializing in event and branded content production. PMG is a talent management agency which represents and manages the careers of major artists in film, television, commercial endorsements and branded entertainment.

Strategic Businesses

The Company also operates a café-restaurant, Upper West, in the Gangnam district of Seoul and own a professional photography studio, noon pictures Co., Ltd.

For more details, please visit

BTS Skytrain Workers in Bangkok Threaten Strike Over Unpaid Debts

BTS Skytrain Workers in Bangkok Threaten Strike Over Unpaid Debts
BTS protesting at the city's Government House. ( Photo : Bangkokbiznews )

Over 300 employees of the BTS Skytrain said they were willing to stop working and bring the city’s mass transit system to a standstill in seven days if the government doesn’t clear the THB 50 billion (USD 1.5 billion) debt it owes to operators.