US Acting Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, J.R. Littlejohn will travel to Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia from 19-24 June.
US Environmental Affairs Official to Visit Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia

Thailand’s Caretaker Government Criticized for Holding Meeting to Discuss Military-Ruled Myanmar

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand on Monday will host a meeting of neighboring countries to discuss the violent political deadlock in Myanmar, an initiative that has been criticized for potentially undermining regional peace efforts and for being carried out by a caretaker government.
Spackman Media Group Artist Son Suk-ku Stars In Upcoming Korean Theatre Production, ARMY ON A TREE
- Spackman Media Group artist Son Suk-ku is set to star in a new Korean theatrical play, ARMY ON A TREE, which opens on June 20, 2023
- Represented by Spackman Media Group, Son Suk-ku previously secured the #1 position in the movie star brand reputation of actors in Korea in May 2023 based on the Korea Corporate Reputation Research Institute
- Son Suk-ku most recently starred in the record-breaking Korean drama, BIG BET Season 2, which posted the highest viewership ever among all previous Korean original content on Disney+ in its first week of release, and plans to headline in Netflix’s Korean drama MURDER DIEARY (2024)
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 19 June 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“), shall be starring in the upcoming Korean theatre production, ARMY ON A TREE, which is scheduled to open on June 20, 2023, at the LG Art Center Seoul, U+ Stage.
Following his recent Disney+ record-breaking Korean drama, BIG BET Season 2, ARMY ON A TREE serves as Son Suk-ku’s highly anticipated return to the theatrical stage.
ARMY ON A TREE, which will run from June 20, 2023, to August 5, 2023, is a Korean theatre production based on the work of the late Japanese writer Hisashi Inoue. It relates the true story of a veteran soldier and an army recruit (to be 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.
As one of Spackman Media Group’s top actors, Son Suk-ku’s exceptional acting talent has been widely recognized in mainstream television, film and theatre. 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[1]. 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. Son Suk-ku’s latest drama, BIG BET Season 2, set new records with the highest viewership on the Disney+ platform during its inaugural week in February 2023, surpassing all previous Korean original content on the streaming service.
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.
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, top box office performing film of the year, THE ROUNDUP (2022), and the May 2022 most popular K-drama, MY LIBERATION NOTES.
Looking ahead, 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/
Two Lao-Americans Showcase Lao Cuisine on US TV Show
Two Lao-Americans whipped up a traditional Lao dish on an American television show on Fox 5 San Diego, to promote the San Diego Lao Food Festival which was organized last week.
Laos Plans to Export Rice to United States in 2024
The owner of a rice production company in Laos expressed her interest in exporting rice to the US next year after the recent success of Lao rice importations in European markets.
Kerry Logistics Network Launches Global LCL Solutions
From Asia to Multiple Destinations Worldwide
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 19 June 2023 – Kerry Logistics Network Limited (‘Kerry Logistics Network’, ‘KLN’; Stock Code 0636.HK) announces the launch of a global less-than-container load (LCL) programme to offer weekly direct LCL services from key Asian gateways to multiple country destinations across the globe. The new offerings will leverage on KLN’s solid presence and extensive ground support in Asia to provide customers with increased cost efficiency and dedicated customer care from Container Freight Station (CFS) to CFS for cargoes of any size.
With the new weekly scheduled LCL services, suitable for all industries, KLN caters to more than 2,800 corridors worldwide. Leveraging KLN’s established overland network between China and Southeast Asia, KLN provides shipment pick-up across China to be transported through its self-owned or self-managed consolidation hubs in all base ports with complete control on landside haulage cost. KLN also provides value-added services including insurance, fumigation, customs clearance, warehousing as well as cargo tracking through its designated portal.
Vic Cheung, Managing Director of Kerry Logistics Network, said, “Many companies are facing increasing price pressure as the demand for products remains low post-pandemic. Our dedicated global ocean freight team is maximising the load per container to offer our customers greater flexibility and more cost savings on their shipments, in particular for smaller-volume cargoes. Riding on KLN’s unique market position and extensive gateway coverage in Asia, our dedicated LCL solutions are backed by strong in-house customs clearance capabilities and local support at destination ports, enabling us to meet our customers’ diverse needs.”
Hashtag: #KerryLogisticsNetwork
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Kerry Logistics Network Limited
Kerry Logistics Network is an Asia-based, global 3PL with a highly diversified business portfolio and the strongest coverage in Asia. It offers a broad range of supply chain solutions from integrated logistics, international freight forwarding (air, ocean, road, rail and multimodal), e-commerce and express to industrial project logistics and infrastructure investment.
With a global presence across 59 countries and territories, Kerry Logistics Network has established a solid foothold in half of the world’s emerging markets. Its diverse infrastructure, extensive coverage in international gateways and local expertise span across the Mainland of China, India, Southeast Asia, the CIS, Middle East, LATAM and other locations.
Kerry Logistics Network generated a revenue of over HK$86.6 billion in 2022. It is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as well as a constituent of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index.
Police Arrest Lao Man for Murder of Vietnamese Woman
Police in Hatsaifong District have apprehended a Lao man who was suspected of killing a Vietnamese woman in Vientiane Capital.
Okta Introduces Okta Device Access to Help Organizations Mature their Zero Trust Strategy
New product extends Okta’s trusted access management capabilities to the point of device login, empowering employees to work safely from anywhere
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 19 June 2023 – Okta, Inc. (NASDAQ: OKTA), the leading independent identity provider, today announced Okta Device Access, a new product that enables organizations to extend Okta’s Identity and Access Management (IAM) capabilities to secure access to corporate devices for a hybrid workforce. As part of Okta’s Workforce Identity Cloud, the solution will deliver stronger authentication to unlock a device, helping organizations achieve zero trust while simplifying the login experience for employees. Okta Device Access is part of Okta’s broader effort to move the industry beyond traditional multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enable phishing resistance and passwordless capabilities.
Identity-based attacks remain a persistent threat with more than 60% of security incidents involving stolen credentials and phishing attacks, according to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigation Report. As remote and hybrid workforces expand, protecting access to all corporate devices is becoming a top priority. According to the same report, missing desktops and laptops led to approximately 60% of security incidents associated with a lost or stolen asset, more than any other type of device — including mobile phones. Against this backdrop, organizations are shifting their focus toward protecting user and device identities. Okta Device Access enables businesses to secure access to both devices and applications, and future-proof their hybrid work strategy by enabling employees to work easily and safely from anywhere.
“Identity has become the first line of defense in a hybrid world of cloud applications and devices,” said Arnab Bose, Chief Product Officer, Workforce Identity at Okta. “We believe identity should empower IT and security teams to protect the enterprise across all touchpoints without compromising on productivity or agility. That’s why we’re investing meaningfully to become a first-party player in the device security space, and provide our customers with a unified authentication experience from any device to all applications. This empowers our customers to implement zero trust and use any technology safely.”
Unified Access Management for Hybrid Work
Okta Device Access will bring the same login experience that organizations trust for seamless access to their business apps to the point of device login. Unifying access management translates to immediate productivity gains for admins who can now integrate authentication policies across all user touchpoints, as well as for employees who can safely sign into their work devices and applications with a unified access experience — which means fewer passwords for potential attackers to utilize.
Reinforcing Okta’s commitment to independence and neutrality, Okta Device Access is also designed to work seamlessly across devices, empowering customers to build the best-of-breed technology architecture of their choice. This includes support for Windows and macOS, with support for additional operating systems to come.
Okta Device Access is launching with two critical capabilities: Desktop MFA for Windows and macOS, and Desktop Password Sync for macOS.
- Desktop MFA for Windows and macOS: Devices are the first vulnerable touchpoint for cyberattacks and at least one cybersecurity regulation requires MFA for device access — a key factor for organizations that work with government entities. With this feature, customers can extend Okta’s Advanced MFA policies to the desktop login to strengthen their zero trust strategy, and protect local data, native apps, and non-internet facing services on desktops.
- Desktop Password Sync for macOS: Developed in close partnership with Jamf and built on top of Apple’s Platform Single Sign-On Extension, this feature securely provisions local macOS user accounts with Okta credentials and seamlessly enrolls users into Okta Verify and FastPass, Okta’s flagship passwordless authenticator, to enable phishing-resistant authentication to any Okta-protected app. Organizations can also incorporate relevant device context into their authentication flows and gain higher security assurance through its Device Assurance capabilities in Okta Verify.
“At NOV, we power the industry that powers the world,” said John McLeod, Chief Information Security Officer at NOV, which delivers technology-driven solutions to empower the global energy industry. “Our operations span multiple regions around the world, which makes it especially critical that employees can safely access digital resources from wherever they are. Okta Device Access is a natural step on our zero trust journey by providing our employees with the seamless access they need to do their best work, while at the same time helping to protect the device.”
Advancing Zero Trust with Identity-Powered Security
The vision for Okta Device Access is to unify access to everything employees need to work safely and productively from anywhere. By extending Okta’s leading IAM from apps to devices, customers can advance their zero trust strategy with identity-powered security and a reimagined single sign-on experience across all touchpoints.
Learn more about Okta Device Access on our blog.
Availability
For Okta Workforce Identity Cloud customers, Desktop MFA for Windows is planned to be in Early Access in Q3 of 2023 and Generally Available in Q4 of 2023. Desktop Password Sync for macOS is planned to be in Early Access in Q3 of 2023 and Generally Available in Q4 of 2023. Desktop MFA for macOS is planned to be in Early Access in Q4 of 2023 and Generally Available in Q1 of 2024.
Any unreleased products, features, or functionality referenced in this release that are not currently available, may not be delivered on time or at all. Product roadmaps do not represent a commitment, obligation, or promise to deliver any product, feature, or functionality, and customers should not rely on them to make purchase decisions.Hashtag: #DeviceManagement #Authentication #Okta #WorkforceIdentityCloud #RemoteWork #Security
https://www.linkedin.com/company/okta-inc-/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Okta
Okta is the World’s Identity Company. As the leading independent Identity partner, we free everyone to safely use any technology—anywhere, on any device or app. The most trusted brands trust Okta to enable secure access, authentication, and automation. With flexibility and neutrality at the core of our Okta Workforce Identity and Customer Identity Clouds, business leaders and developers can focus on innovation and accelerate digital transformation, thanks to customizable solutions and more than 7,000 pre-built integrations. We’re building a world where Identity belongs to you. Learn more at okta.com.