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5G Team Taiwan Debuts With Success at COMNEXT Tokyo 2023

Demonstrating Leading Innovations in 5G Technologies and Deepening Exchanges Between Taiwan and Japan

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach – 11 July 2023 – Under the support and guidance of the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB), the Institute of Information Industry (III) led a handful of Taiwanese leading 5G companies including Askey Computer Corp. (ASKEY), LITE-ON Technology Corp. (LITEON), Quanta Cloud Technology (QCT), REIGN Technology Corporation (G REIGNS) in participation of COMNEXT Tokyo 2023 exhibition from June 28th to 30th. The event not only showcased the leading capabilities of Taiwan’s 5G network system solutions, but also created a new opportunity for technical exchanges and cooperation between Taiwanese and Japanese industries.

At the beginning of this year, a GSM Association (Groupe Speciale Mobile Association, GSMA) report predicted that the number of 5G connections will grow to 1.5 billion in 2023, eventually reaching 2 billion by the end of 2025, with more than 30 countries/regions carrying out technological innovation and cooperation.

With successive 5G network deployment, the number of connections is expected to double within two years. In response to this business opportunity, the IDB and the III organized the ‘5G Team Taiwan National Pavilion’ (5G TEAM TAIWAN) at the 2023 COMNEXT exhibition, expressing its value in the global 5G supply chain, where Taiwan is a reliable partner for international operators to engage with in next generation 5G deployments. Its participation has received considerable attention from international media including, Dempa, ASCII.jp, ZDNet Japan, and others, while also attracting about 160 potential customers.

The Taiwan Team Showcased Flexible, High-Performance 5G O-RAN Solutions
The 5G private network solutions exhibited by ASKEY can directly accelerate 5G AI+IoT integration in smart factories; for example, a smart manufacturing site can adopt ASKEY 5G devices, allowing data collection by autonomous mobile robots (AMR), for operators to perform real-time collaboration and remote maintenance, maximizing factory efficiency and capacity.

LITEON displayed its latest FlexFi Sub-6 and FlexFi Sub-6 O-RU small cell base stations that can be deployed directly on walls or ceilings, as well as ultra-low power FlexFi AIO & Femtocell micro base stations with 5G SA FR1.

Quanta Cloud Technology showcased its latest QuantaEdge server system that offers new 4th Generation Intel Xeon® Scalable processors with vRAN Boost technology and supports single-site and multi-site deployments with QCT’s end-to-end private network OmniPOD Enterprise 5G solution.

The G REIGINS 5G private network provides a highly reliable and flexible system for private 5G network applications and deployments. It offers both high-power outdoor stations and low-power indoor stations and provides advanced QoS and packet-scheduling technologies that ensure end-user performance meets requirements.

Taiwan and Japan Deepen Exchanges and Cooperation in Next-Generation Communication Technologies
Taiwan and Japan are inseparable strategic partners in the information and communication industry. In order to promote growth of Taiwan’s day-to-day technical exchanges, the IDB and the III gave special attention to the prospects of the next-generation communication industry between the two countries prior to the exhibition. During the event seminar, esteemed Japan colleagues shared their local 5G development status and insights of future trends. Meanwhile, Taiwanese manufacturers exhibited at COMNEXT displayed their latest 5G/O-RAN technologies and application solutions, while partnering with Japanese companies to create 5G open networks that can build a vibrant ecosystem. The seminar attracted more than 200 international industry professionals participating in the grand event.

At COMNEXT Tokyo 2023, Taiwanese manufacturers showcased their leading 5G application technologies. The event allowed the world to see the importance of Taiwanese innovations and products in the information and communication supply chain, and comprehensively demonstrated its value as the most important place for international players to engage with when considering 5G smart solutions.

Hashtag: #InstituteforInformationIndustry

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

About Industry Development Bureau, Taiwan

The Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) is an administrative agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan. IDB serves the role to formulate industrial policies, and to oversee various industries including metal & mechanical, information technology, consumer goods & chemical, knowledge services, as well as sustainable development in Taiwan.

About Institute for Information Industry, Taiwan

The Institute for Information Industry (III) has contributed to pioneering research and development in information and communication technology, the deepening and broadening of information applications, training and educational activities, and national technological infrastructure deployment. As The Digital Transformation Enabler, its objective is to promote information communication technology innovation and applications in Taiwan, and to assist in the development of the digital economy.

Laos Issues Statement on Delivery of Cluster Munitions to Ukraine

Lao MOFA Releases Statement Amid US Decision to Send Ukraine Cluster Bombs
A 9 November, 2006 file photo shows Mines Advisory Group (MAG) Technical Field Manager Nick Guest inspecting a Cluster Bomb Unit in Lebanon that was dropped by Israeli warplanes during the 34-day long Hezbollah-Israeli war. (Photo: AP)

After the United States confirmed its decision to send cluster bombs to Ukraine on Friday as part of ammunition support to fight the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Laos released a statement regarding the situation.

CloudMile Enhances Customers’ Connectivity and Security by Partnering With JumpCloud

Partnership Creates Seamless, Secure, and Efficient Connectivity To Corporate Resources

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 11 July 2023 CloudMile announced a partnership with JumpCloud Inc., an Open Directory Platform provider that unifies identity, access, and device management across cloud services, applications, IT resources, and devices. JumpCloud’s mission is to Make Work Happen® by providing people with Secure, Frictionless AccessTM to the resources they need to do their jobs.

JumpCloud and CloudMile jointly provide a comprehensive solution for seamless, secure, and efficient connectivity to corporate resources. JumpCloud simplifies user management and access control, while CloudMile assists in optimizing cloud infrastructure and leveraging advanced technologies, including AI/ML and data analytics. In addition, CloudMile can integrate this solution with Google Workspace, empowering users with better access centrally to Google’s cloud, productivity, and collaboration tools within organisations.

“The security of our customers is the top priority at CloudMile,” said Jeremy Heng, Country Manager for SEA, CloudMile. “By partnering with JumpCloud, we can secure our clients and access control no matter where they work in a central operative approach.”

“We are pleased to have CloudMile join our partner community,” said Daniel Nguyen, Head of Sales for ASEAN & Japan, JumpCloud. “Today’s hybrid and remote work landscape continues to challenge businesses to stay productive and secure. CloudMile, a leading managed service provider, will continue the mission of enabling employees to securely work from anywhere.”

For small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with limited resources, JumpCloud enables simple, secure, and cost-effective user management by consolidating identity across all IT resources without the complexity of other enterprise solutions.

Nearly 1,900 IT admins rated JumpCloud as an industry leader in an array of identity, device, and directory categories at G2, the business technology industry’s most trusted source for customer reviews. In addition, JumpCloud was recently chosen by Google Workspace as a 2023 Recommended for Google Workspace app. This comes only weeks after JumpCloud and Google Cloud announced their partnership on a new joint offering that enables businesses to combine Google Workspace with the open directory platform provided by JumpCloud to strengthen their security and their management of hybrid workforces. JumpCloud also recently won the 2023 Fortress Cybersecurity Award in the Authentication and Identity category, and was honored as a winner in the 18th Annual 2023 Globee® Awards for Information Technology in the category of Identity and Access Management as a Service (IDaaS).

Hashtag: #CloudMile

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

About CloudMile

CloudMile, a leading AI and cloud technology company in Asia, focuses on digital transformation for its corporate clients and driving growth. Leveraging machine learning and big data analysis, CloudMile assists over 700+ clients corporates with business forecasts and industrial upgrades. CloudMile has earned 130+ accreditations, with 60+ Google Cloud professional certifications.

As a Premier Partner of Google Cloud, CloudMile is qualified for Machine Learning Specialization, Data Analytics Specialization, Cloud Migration Specialization and Infrastructure Specialization. The company has become Google Cloud Managed Service Provider (MSP) covering Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore as well as the Public Sector Partner of the Year for APAC Region 2020 and was named 2022 Google Cloud Partner All-star in Sales. For more information, visit or follow CloudMile on LinkedIn, at

About JumpCloud
JumpCloud® helps IT teams Make Work Happen® by centralizing management of user identities and devices, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt Zero Trust security models. JumpCloud has a global user base of more than 200,000 organizations, with more than 5,000 paying customers including Cars.com, GoFundMe, Grab, ClassPass, Uplight, Beyond Finance, and Foursquare. JumpCloud has raised over $400M from world-class investors, including Sapphire Ventures, General Atlantic, Sands Capital, Atlassian, and CrowdStrike.

Spackman Media Group Artist Son Suk-Ku’s Upcoming Highly Anticipated Netflix Original Drama, D.P. Season 2, Premieres on July 28

  • Spackman Media Group artist Son Suk-ku headlines the upcoming original Netflix crime drama series, D.P. Season 2, which premieres on July 28, 2023
  • Son Suk-ku presently stars in Korean theatre production, ARMY ON A TREE, which runs till August 5, 2023
  • Hailed as one of Korea’s biggest stars, Son Suk-ku achieved the #1 position in the May 2023 movie star brand reputation of actors in Korea and the top spot in the 2023 MALE ACTORS TO WATCH survey conducted by Cine21, a prestigious weekly film magazine in Korea, in February 2023

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 10 July 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 Son Suk-ku of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited (“Spackman Media Group“), stars in the highly anticipated Netflix original crime drama series, D.P. Season 2, which premieres on July 28, 2023.

Son Suk-ku returns to the second season of Netflix’s D.P., which is based on the webcomic D.P. DOG’S DAY written by Kim Bo-Tong. The story relates the experiences of the mandatory military service in South Korea.

D.P. Season 2 comes on the heels of Son Suk-ku’s most recent Disney+ record-breaking Korean drama, BIG BET Season 2, which raked in the highest viewership on the Disney+ platform during its inaugural week in February 2023, surpassing all previous Korean original content on the streaming service.

Directed by Han Jun-hee, Jung Hae-in, Koo Gyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun, Ji Jin-hee, Kim Ji-hyun and Choi Hyun-wook star together with Son Suk-ku and form the main cast of D.P. Season 2. The Netflix official trailer of D.P. Season 2 can be viewed at youtu.be/1L9d3NyIt2o and the six main character posters have been released by Netflix, according to NAVER News[1].

Son Suk-ku currently stars in ARMY ON A TREE, a Korean theatre production based on the work of the late Japanese writer Hisashi Inoue. ARMY ON A TREE, which runs till August 5, 2023, tells the true story of a veteran soldier and an army recruit (played by Son Suk-ku). While hidden in a Gajumaru tree from 1945 until March 1947 and unaware of Japan’s defeat in Okinawa, their extraordinary tale of survival is a test of endurance, hope, and the complexities of human nature during times of extreme adversity, which invites audiences to reflect on the implications of war.

Dominating both the big and small screens in Korea, Son Suk-ku of Spackman Media Group garnered unparalleled rankings and viewership in his productions with lead roles in BIG BET Season 2, THE ROUNDUP, which was the top box office performing film of 2022, and MY LIBERATION NOTES, the K-drama that caused a syndrome throughout Korea in 2022.

Son Suk-ku’s exceptional acting talent has gained widespread recognition in mainstream television and film. Last month, Son Suk-ku achieved the top spot in the movie star brand reputation of actors in Korea in May 2023, according to the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute[2]. The result was obtained by a brand analysis of 50 actors from April 29, 2023, to May 29, 2023, which studied big data from consumers’ brand reception and the volume of media and community interest on the actors. Son Suk-ku ranked first among the 50 actors, surpassing other renowned actors including Song Joong-ki, Ma Dong-seok, Jeon Do-yeon and Kim Hye-soo.

In February of this year, he secured the coveted top spot in the 2023 MALE ACTORS TO WATCH survey conducted by Cine21, a prestigious weekly film magazine in Korea. Furthermore, Son Suk-ku achieved the top-ranking in movie star brand reputation, as recognized by the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute in January 2023. In December 2022, he also received the prestigious 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.

Son Suk-ku is planning to headline in Netflix’s Korean drama MURDER DIEARY (2024), which is a crime thriller dark comedy based on a popular webtoon of the same name.

Son Suk-ku is managed by SBD Entertainment Inc. (“SBD Entertainment“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spackman Media Group that represents 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 charlesspackman.com and spackman-group.com/charles-spackman.

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, 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. A MAN OF REASON is expected to be released in the third quarter of 2023. Studio Take shall also release an upcoming film, THE GUEST, which is at the post-production stage and scheduled to be released in the second half of this year.

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 novusmediacorp.com.

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 spackmanmediagroup.com.

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 spackmanentertainmentgroup.com.

Halekulani Okinawa 4th Anniversary Celebration

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 11 July 2023 – Halekulani Okinawa (Address: 1967-1, Nakama, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, Japan; Manager: Jun Yoshie) is celebrating four years of service excellence on 26th July 2023.

Left: Chef Vicky Cheng Right: Mr. Hiroyasu Kawate Below: SHIROUX
Left: Chef Vicky Cheng Right: Mr. Hiroyasu Kawate Below: SHIROUX

Enviably located in Onna Village in the picturesque Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park, Halekulani Okinawa is the second Halekulani brand luxury hotel after the Waikiki-based flagship in Hawaii. The prestigious outpost in Japan has been serving a growing international clientele since 26th July 2019 with the proverbial excellence in hospitality of its mother group. In the run-up to its fourth anniversary, Halekulani Okinawa is delighted to announce the upcoming “commemorative dinner” in gratitude for the support from all its guests.
URL: https://www.okinawa.halekulani.com/en/news/82/

4th Anniversary Dinner Celebration

For the memorable occasion, Vicky Cheng, the chef-owner of the Hong Kong-based VEA and Wing, will join Hiroyasu Kawate, the executive chef of Florilège in Tokyo and consulting chef of innovative Shiroux at Halekulani, to present a sumptuous four-hands dinner.

With an unshakable belief in food as a universal language, Vicky Cheng is dedicated to reimagining East-West fusion in culinary arts. This relentless quest came into fruition in 2015 when he opened VEA to instant success. His next venture Wing, a refined Chinese restaurant opened in 2021, is ranked 37th on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2023. At Wing, Vicky spearheads the modern transformation of the Eight Great Chinese Cuisine without losing a pinch of authenticity. The result is an enticing rebirth of traditional dishes, marked by a mastery of skills and best-in-class ingredients with a creative edge.

Hiroyasu Kawate has catapulted SHIROUX to international fame since the opening of Halekulani Okinawa. He unleashes his culinary ingenuity on local ingredients, such as Okinawan mugwort herb, seaweed, and chilli pepper, to create an ‘old is new’ menu infused with French influences. Spurred by his innovative take on gastronomic creation, Hiroyasu Kawate crafts a myriad of new dishes that offer an exclusive and unforgettable dining experience through his “Chef’s Omakase Courses”.

Be inspired by the epic four-hands dinner brought to life by two legendary chefs only at Halekulani Okinawa, as part of the 4th anniversary celebration of the ultra-luxury resort destination.

Details of the “4th Anniversary Commemorative Dinner” are as follows:

【Date】Wednesday, 26th July 2023 reception at 18:00 / dinner at 18:30
【Venue】Innovative “SHIROUX” (5/F Lobby Floor, Sunset Wing)
【Event】Four-hands Dinner by Chefs Vicky Cheng and Hiroyasu Kawate
【Price】38,000 yen (includes wine pairing, tax, and service charge)
【Capacity】50 guests
【Reservation and inquiries】
TEL: 0081-98-953-9530 (Halekulani Okinawa restaurant reservations: 10:00~18:00)
URL: https://halekulaniokinawa.jp/4thanniv_dinner_en

  • Details are subject to change without notice.

“Opened in July 2019 in Onna-son along the picturesque coastline of Okinawa, ‘Halekulani Okinawa’ offers one-of-a-kind resort stays combining natural beauty and top-notch luxury. In the run-up to our fourth anniversary, we are delighted to receive the highest rating of five stars from the globally renowned Forbes Travel Guide for the second consecutive year, thanks in no small part to the staunch support from our guests. We will continue to respond sincerely to our guests’ comments and requests, and will do our best to provide you with a ‘stay to remember for a lifetime’ so that you will continue to choose us as your hotel. On the occasion of our fourth anniversary, we have curated a slew of celebrative events, including the exclusive dinner conceived by our consulting chef in collaboration with an illustrious chef from Hong Kong, and a spectacular programme of performances including the traditional Hula dance from Hawaii. We look forward to seeing you at Halekulani Okinawa.”
(Jun Yoshie, General Manager of Halekulani Okinawa)Hashtag: #HalekulaniOkinawa

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

About Vicky Cheng

A Hong Kong native with an overseas background, Vicky Cheng has come from an apprenticeship under some of the most respected names in French cooking, including Daniel Boulud, owner of Michelin-starred Restaurant ‘Daniel’ in New York. The techniques and management philosophy instilled in him helped build a solid foundation for his own restauranteering pursuit. After returning to Hong Kong, he has experimented with local ingredients, incorporating them into the essence of French cooking to create the ‘Chinese x French’ flavour for VEA, his personal venture. At VEA, he blends Chinese ingredients and French techniques in an elegant manner to conjure a curation of nostalgic and refined dishes. During this exploratory journey, he developed an interest in the eight Chinese regional cuisines, whence he started to soak up Chinese culinary techniques from master chefs and cut his teeth on Chinese cuisine in various aspects, from the selection of ingredients to cutting, cooking, and seasoning skills. In 2021, he opened WING, a contemporary Chinese restaurant that uses modern techniques and luxurious ingredients to showcase his personal rendition of traditional Chinese cuisine.

VEA Official Web Site:
WING Official Web Site:

About Halekulani Okinawa

Halekulani Okinawa is the second hotel under the Halekulani brand in Hawaii and the first Halekulani property outside Hawaii. A luxurious beach resort located at Onna Village in the Chubu (Central) area of Okinawa, Halekulani Okinawa is built in harmony with the surrounding 87,000-m2 Okinawa Kaigan Quasi-National Park along the 1.7km coastline. The hotel is well-equipped with four restaurants, a bar, a barbecue area, the SpaHalekulani, a gym room, the Halekulani Boutique, a 200-m2 conference/exhibition room, five swimming pools (four outdoor and one indoor), and more amenities. As a prominent highlight, the “Orchid Pool” is decked out with a mosaic of a Cattleya orchid on the floor, comprised of 1.5 million tilts. Halekulani Okinawa is the third property in Japan to be included in the Leading Hotels of the World, a prestigious list of only a selected few. In 2022, Halekulani Okinawa received a five-star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide Award, the first of its kind in Japan and Okinawa. This winning streak continues for the second consecutive year in 2023.
Forbes Travel Guide is one of the few prestigious global rating systems for luxury hotels, restaurants and spas.

About Hiroyasu Kawate

Hiroyasu Kawate was born into hospitality. The Tokyo native, whose father owned a Western restaurant, received culinary training in the likes of Le Bourguignon in Nishiazabu after his graduation from high school. In 2006, he went to Montpellier, France to learn French cooking in none other than Jardin des Sens. He joined the famous Quintessence in Tokyo as sous-chef in 2007, followed by the opening of his personal venture Florilège in 2009. The restaurant won its first Michelin star in 2016; it went on to become a 2-star venue from 2018 onwards. Florilège has also been named a Michelin Green Star restaurant in recognition of its sustainability effort, coupled with many more titles in its trophy cabinet, including the ‘One To Watch Award’ from Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants and 7th place on the same list for 2021, as well as 39th on the World’s Best 50 Restaurants list. In 2022, Florilège climbed to No. 3 on Asia’s Best list of the year. Hiroyasu Kawate has been consulting chef of innovative Shiroux since the opening of Halekulani Okinawa. His dedication to innovating gastronomic experience keeps on enticing global gourmands.

Florilège Official Web Site:

PingPong Names David Messenger as CEO for International Business

NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach – 10 July 2023 – PingPong Global Group, a leading global provider of a full suite of cross border payment and financial services for SME and enterprise customers, today announced that David Messenger has been named as Chief Executive Officer of its Global Businesses. In this newly created role, Mr. Messenger will lead the push for PingPong’s efforts to build comprehensive payment solutions for the most innovative and dynamic enterprises, from SMBs to Fortune 1000, that are expanding internationally.

Mr. Messenger has more than 20 years of senior management experience in technology-focused companies, including more than 10 years in re-shaping global payment landscape through various executive roles.

“I am thrilled to join the incredible PingPong team and lead the growth of its global business, helping our business customers expand globally,” David Messenger said. “PingPong is a recognized leader in global payment. It has built a strong technology foundation and a highly professional team to enable rapid growth in key regions of the world. I believe PingPong is best positioned to take advantage of two of the most significant and historical growth opportunities – first is the rapid digitization of cross border businesses, and, second is how collaborative relationships between banks and fintechs are transforming financial services. I am excited and looking forward to working with PingPong’s leadership team to achieve the company’s vision”.

“We’ve enjoyed great growth across our business lines and regions over the last few years and this is the right moment to bring David in. Over the years, we have admired David’s initiatives to find a market entry for American Express in a new region, and built a online payment business through partnerships. He is a true visionary in our space, being one of the first to identify the emerging opportunities in Asia and made bold moves to accelerate the growth of fintech in Asia.” Said Robert Chen, Group CEO of PingPong Group. “His unique skillset and his willingness to go “all-in” fit our culture and make him the right leader for PingPong’s vision. We are excited for the growth that he will bring for our customers as well as our global teams.”

Previously he led LianLian Global, as CEO and Executive Chairman, which provides a global network of payments and related services to simplify and improve cross-border trade and operates across North America, South America, Europe and SE Asia.

He set up a Global Online and Mobile business as EVP and General Manager at American Express, targeting new customer segments and geographies, and building a new mobile payments and commerce platform. He led American Express’s entry into China, partnering with LianLian in 2010, and established key partnerships and made strategic investments/acquisitions globally.

He founded and was CEO of Mast Mobile, acquired by Hearsay Systems in 2017, and acted as Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Mobile USA, playing a leading role in the IPO, the sale to Sprint in 2010. Earlier he had been a principal and consulting practice leader at Towers Watson and Price Waterhouse.

David earned a Bachelors degree at University of Wales College Cardiff and will be based in London in his new role.
Hashtag: #PingPong

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

Sustainable Delivery: foodpanda Introduces Eco-Friendly E-Bikes in Laos

Sustainable Delivery: foodpanda Introduces Eco-Friendly E-Bikes in Laos

Food delivery company foodpanda, a subsidiary of Delivery Hero, has introduced an eco-friendly fleet of 30 e-bikes in Laos, aiming to provide sustainable delivery services for food, groceries, and parcels in Vientiane Capital and eventually across other provinces.

Vietnam Company Signs Agreement to Build Largest Wind Power Project in Laos

Vietnam's AMI Renewables Signs Agreement for Largest Energy Investment in Laos
FILE: This image is used only for representational purpose (photo: The GIOI Vietnam)

Representatives from the Lao government and Vietnam’s AMI Renewables Quang Binh Investment Joint Stock Company signed an agreement last week in Vientiane Capital to establish a wind power plant project in Sepone, Savannakhet province.