Brought to its knees during the Covid-19 pandemic, Luang Prabang is now facing the opposite problem as swarms of tourists descend upon the city, with tourism experts sounding the alarm about the potential for overtourism.
Vientiane Authorities Urge Telcos to Bury Cables
Vientiane’s Department of Communication and Technology issued a notice last week ordering telephone companies in the capital to bury their cables underground by 25 March.
Japan, China leaders Visit Rival Capitals in Ukraine War

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began a surprise visit to Ukraine early Tuesday, hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in neighboring Russia for a three-day visit. The dueling summits come as the longtime rivals are on diplomatic offensives.
New Life Successfully Hosted 3-day Mental Health Symposium
Explore Opportunities and Challenges with Government Officials, Scholars, Professionals, and Service Users
“330 Well-Being Index” research indicates 25% of Hong Kong people’s well-being score below average
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 March 2023 – The New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (NLPRA) is a non-profit organization, of 58 years old, specializing in mental health. NLPRA adopts a dual objective in serving the community: strenuously serving persons in recovery of mental illness and their families with multifarious high-quality professional services; and proactively promoting holistic body (3), mind (3) and spirit (0) well-being for everyone in the community through a series of community mental health programmes.

Having the new challenges in the “post-COVID” era in mind, NLPRA has just humbly hosted a 3-day Mental Health Symposium from March 15th to 17th, as well as the announcement of the research results of “330 Well-Being Index”. The symposium theme is “Change and Challenge: From Recovery to Holistic Well-being”. It aims to provide a timely platform for government officials, experts and other people who care about mental health in Hong Kong. Through 16 sessions covering 7 wide-ranging dialogue on mental health topics, while embracing changes and meeting challenges, the symposium has explored how to forge the way forward and better meet the ever-changing social needs, and to promote the holistic 330 well-being for all.

There were more than 1,300 registered participants in the symposium with most of them attended online. All the delegates enjoyed a valuable and productive event. Prof. Annie TAM Kam-lan, GBS, JP, Chairperson of Executive Committee, NLPRA delivered the opening remarks. She reviewed the 58-year journey of NLPRA’s culture and services. Prof. Annie TAM hopes to promote the reform of mental health services, not only for the people in recovery but also for everyone in the community. “We will continue to develop new initiatives and explore how a multi-sector approach may help to drive the ‘Transforming health care for all’. The symposium created a platform to explore the innovative mindset and challenges of mental health in a changing ‘Post-COVID’ environment with government officials, scholars, professionals, and service users.”
Secretary for Health Prof. LO Chung-mau, BBS, JP, delivered the opening keynote speech on “Mental Health Services in Hong Kong”. Prof. LO stated that NLPRA is the government’s most important partner in mental health, and expressed his gratitude to NLPRA on behalf of the government and Hong Kong people. Prof. LO said: “Holistic Well-being is an important issue for the Hong Kong Government, especially confronting the challenges of the ‘New Normal’ from the post pandemic.” He also shared some government’s work on mental health, such as “Shall We Talk”, The Mental Health Workplace Charter, “Pilot Scheme for ADHD+” and “Dementia Community Support Scheme”.

New Life also held a press briefing to introduce the “[330] Well-being Index” and announce its research results. New Life and Professor Patrick Wing-leung LEUNG, Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Psychology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong have conducted subsequent studies on the “Comprehensive Well-Being Scale” (Sham, Yeung, Mak & Powell, 2021), which validated the CWBS can be applied to the general public. Professor LEUNG mentioned, “The CWBS was found to correlate not only issues of distress such as anxiety, depression, psychological distress, physical symptoms and alienation, but also other important indices of well-being and items relating to strengths and values such as resilience, meanings of life, optimism, compassionate love, social connectedness, universalism, and self-transcendence.”
A total of 1,020 valid questionnaires were collected in the community for the study on CWBS in January 2023. According to the Population Census, a stratified sampling method based on sex, age, and education level was conducted to ensure the representativeness of the community sample. The [330] Well-Being Index can be obtained after individuals fill out the questionnaire. The calculated total score is classified into one of the 3 categories: A total score of 65 or below indicates one’s level of well-being to be below average. A total score of 66-78 indicates an average level of well-being. A total score of 79 or above indicates one’s level of well-being to be above average. Research findings revealed 25% of samples attained a CWBS score of 65 or below. These individuals may need to seek professional assistance for further assessment and advice. “[330] Well-Being Index” assessment website has already been launched (https://wellbeingindex.dayday330.hk). The general public are welcome to take the questionnaire as a preliminary self-assessment of one’s overall well-being. NLPRA will provide suitable recommendations on how to take good care of one’s 330 wellness and maintain a positive attitude to face various challenges in life.
At the closing session, Mr. Chris SUN Yuk-han, JP, Secretary for Labour and Welfare delivered a speech on “Future of Mental Health Services” in Hong Kong. Mr. SUN expressed that mental health services are facing 4 challenges in the future: the aging population, the needs of caregivers, higher education levels, and post-COVID recovery. “In the past 3 years, due to fighting the pandemic and social distancing measures, the mental distress of a considerable number of citizens may have increased significantly. Having a long period of online classes and a lack of social interaction, some youngsters may become hidden youths, or have extra emotional needs. In the future, we must keep pace with the times and do our best to provide rehabilitation services and appropriate support for people with mental health needs, and help them integrate into society. As President Xi Jinping mentioned in his speech at the 20th National Congress, we hope that the majority of disabled people should live and work in peace and contentment, with no worries about food and clothing, and live a happy and beautiful life.”
Hashtag: #NewLife
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Kenanga Investment Bank Wins Seven Awards at the Bursa Excellence Awards 2022
Champion – Overall Equities Participating Organisation
- Best Overall Equities Participating Organisation (Champion)
- Best Retail Equities Participating Organisation (Champion)
- Best Online Retail Participating Organisation (Champion)
- Best Remisier, Margaret Heng (Champion)
- Best Remisier, Chew Yee Seng (2nd Runner Up)
- Best Institutional Derivatives Trading Participant (Champion)
- Best Overall Derivatives Trading Participant (1st Runner Up)


“We are honoured to receive this recognition. It is a testament to the unwavering hard work and dedication of our teams who have pursed excellence and provided exceptional service to our clients, even amidst challenging market conditions,” said Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of Kenanga Group.
The Bursa Excellence Awards 2022 brought together and celebrated the achievements of the industry’s top-performing brokers and market intermediaries in 24 categories with 54 awards being presented. Themed “Recognising Excellence, Celebrating Success”, the event was graced by Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Chairman of Bursa Malaysia Berhad, and Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia Berhad.
For more information on Kenanga Group, please visit www.kenanga.com.my.
Hashtag: #Kenanga
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (197301002193 (15678-H))
Established for more than 45 years, Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (the Group) is a financial group in Malaysia with extensive experience in equity broking, investment banking, treasury, Islamic banking, listed derivatives, investment management, wealth management, structured lending and trade financing with strong foundations in regulatory compliance and risk management.
An innovative and established home-grown brand, the Group’s digital ambition includes building a robust digital ecosystem that meets the needs of its clients and businesses. Some of its game-changing products includes Malaysia’s fully online digital stockbroking platform Rakuten Trade and a fully A.I. robo-advisor, Kenanga Digital Investing. The Group also launched Malaysia’s first securities broking e-wallet, Kenanga Money, paved the way in AI-led Quan and algorithmic trading, kick-started a revolutionary supply chain financing solution for SMEs and made inroads into the digital assets space through its investment in Tokenize Technology (M) Sdn.Bhd.
The Group has garnered a host of awards and accolades reflecting its strong market position. It was awarded under the categories of Highest Returns to Shareholder Over Three Years, Best Overall Equities Participating Organisation by Bursa Malaysia, Best Overall Derivatives Trading Participant, Best Structured Warrant Issuer, Best Retail Equities Participating Organisation, Best Institutional Equities Participating Organisation Investment Bank; along with Best Trading Participant and Best Institutional Equities Participating Organisation and for Equity and Financial Derivatives for 18 consecutive years. The Group was also accorded the title of Best Institutional Derivatives Trading category by Bursa Malaysia.
The Group continues to be a regular and repeat recipient of distinguished industry accolades, such as the Lipper, Fundsupermart and Morningstar awards. Rakuten Trade, Malaysia’s first fully digital securities broker in 2017 via a joint venture with Japanese fintech giant Rakuten Securities Inc was also named Malaysia’s fintech company of the year in 2018 by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). For its continued efforts towards community outreach and employee volunteerism, the Group was awarded the coveted Company of the Year award for environmental and sustainability at Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards 2021. The Group is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principle-based approach to responsible business.
Today, Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad is an award-winning leading independent investment bank in the country with a continuous commitment towards driving collaboration, innovation, digitalisation and sustainability in the marketplace.
This Press Release was issued by Kenanga Group’s Marketing, Communications & Sustainability Department.
Space X, Netflix, Boeing to Join Important US Business Mission in Vietnam
Space X, Netflix, and Boeing are among the companies to participate in the largest-ever US business mission in Vietnam this week to discuss investment and sales potential in the expanding Southeast Asian country.
Ajoomma Is the First Singaporean Film to Launch Exclusively on Prime Video
Beginning April 13, Prime members in Singapore can stream the most critically acclaimed Singaporean film in recent years on Prime Video
Amazon Prime includes unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, unlimited access to video game benefits with Prime Gaming, Prime Day, access to tens of thousands of items available for free same day delivery service on Amazon Fresh & Fast on orders over S$60 (subject to slot availability), as well as free one-day delivery on domestic Prime eligible selection on Amazon.sg, all available for only $2.99 a month
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 21 March 2023 – Today, video streaming service Prime Video announced that critically acclaimed Singaporean film Ajoomma will be available exclusively on Prime Video in Singapore starting April 13.

Touted as the first official Singaporean-Korean co-production, Ajoomma is the feature directorial debut of Singaporean filmmaker He Shuming. The film is produced by Anthony Chen, a Golden Horse and Cannes Film Festival award winner. Ajoomma was also selected by the Singapore Film Commission as the nation’s entry to the 95th Academy Awards in 2023 in the Best International Film category. The film has received four nominations at the 59th Golden Horse Awards, and won “Best Screenplay” at the QCinema International Film Festival and the “Audience Award for Best Film” at the Red Sea International Film Festival. In addition, veteran actress Hong Huifang clinching the “Snow Leopard Best Actress Award” at the 8th Asian World Film Festival. Ajoomma is also available on Prime Video in Malaysia and Brunei.
Ajoomma follows the journey of Bee Hwa (Hong Huifang), a Singaporean middle-aged woman who has dedicated the best years of her life to caring for her family. Now widowed, with her grown-up son (Shane Pow) about to fly the roost, she is left to contend with a whole new identity beyond her roles of daughter, wife, and mother. A solo trip to South Korea becomes a wide adventure for her, when she meets Kwon-Woo (Kang Hyung Suk), a young tour guide who can’t seem to get his life in order, and Jung Su (Jung Dong-Hwan), an elderly security guard. The trio embark on an unexpected roller-coaster ride, where hearts flutter and unlikely bonds are formed.
“Ajoomma is a film that was seven years in the making, inspired by my relationship with my mother and a phase of transition in life for the both of us,” said director He Shuming. “The genesis of the film’s story was to explore the other side of the protagonist’s character, unbound by her motherly duties, and that it’s never too late to pursue your passions. I’m delighted that authentic Singaporean stories like Ajoomma will now be told to many more audiences within our borders and beyond.”
“We’re honoured by the many accolades Ajoomma has received, and even more heartened by the warm reception from audiences in Singapore and around the world,” said producer Anthony Chen. “Ajoomma is a testament to the strength of Singapore storytelling and filmmaking, and I look forward to telling even more homegrown stories that will resonate everywhere.”
“We are proud to make Ajoomma the first Singapore film that is exclusively available to Prime members in Singapore,” said David Simonsen, director of Prime Video, Southeast Asia. “With its heartfelt and compelling story, it has delighted film critics and audiences, and we look forward to bringing more made-by-Singapore content to Prime members. We are excited about the future of Singapore’s film and entertainment industry and are committed to supporting local filmmakers by showcasing the best of our talent and stories to a wider audience.”
Ajoomma joins Prime Video’s growing library, including Southeast Asian titles such as the award-winning Before, Now & Then (Nana), Perfect Strangers, Ten Little Mistresses, and Korean titles such as Island and Love in Contract, anime hits such as Chainsaw Man, on top of award-winning and critically acclaimed Amazon Originals like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and Emmy and Golden Globe winners Argentina 1985, Fleabag and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Prime members in Singapore will be able to watch Ajoomma anywhere and anytime on hundreds of compatible devices. Prime Video is available in Singapore for just $2.99 per month, new customers can find out more at primevideo.com and subscribe to a free 30-day trial.
Hashtag: #AmazonSingapore
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Prime Video – Singapore
Prime Video offers customers a vast collection of TV series, movies—all available to watch on hundreds of compatible devices:
- Included with Prime Video: Watch thousands of popular movies and TV shows, award-winning Amazon Originals and other exclusives, and more. Think global Amazon Original series such as The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power, The Wheel of Time, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as critically acclaimed Amazon Original movies like Ron Howard’s Thirteen Lives, Coming 2 America, The Tomorrow War, and exclusive local title such as Ajoomma, Korean titles such as Island and Love In Contract, anime hits such as Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and many more. Prime Video is available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
- Instant Access: Watch at home or on the go with your choice of hundreds of compatible devices. Stream from the web or use the Prime Video app on compatible smartphones, tablets, game consoles, or select smart TVs.
- Enhanced Experiences: Control how much data you use when streaming and downloading videos by choosing between Good, Better and Best visual quality settings, all of which utilise Prime Video’s state of the art video compression technology to use less data without reducing visual quality. Make the most of every viewing with High Dynamic Range (HDR) compatible content. Go behind the scenes of your favourite movies and TV shows with exclusive X-Ray access, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with select mobile downloads for offline viewing.
- Personalized: Customers can browse the user interface in their own language and watch popular TV shows and movies with subtitles.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit Amazon.com/about and follow
@AmazonNews.
Laos Moves Forward With National Action Plan On Plastic
Laos is developing a National Plastic Action Plan, which outlines actions that need to be undertaken to address the issues associated with the use and management of plastic.