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CNN Lists Pakse as One of Asia’s Most Underrated Places

the giant gold Buddha at Wat Pho Salao | (photo: discoverlaos.today)

In an article published on its website on Wednesday, CNN mentioned Champasack’s Pakse district as one of the top underrated places in Asia.

Global C-pop Artist Tia Lee (Lee Yu Fen) Selects Teen’s Key as the First #EmpowerHer Beneficiary Organization Following Resounding Success of “Goodbye Princess” MV

#EmpowerHerDance goes Global with Top TikTokers from Australia, New Zealand, Middle-East and the UK leading the Charge

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 21 December 2022 – Tia Lee (Lee Yu Fen), a global C-POP singer, film and television actress, and fashion icon, has selected young women’s charity Teen’s Key in Hong Kong as the first beneficiary organization under the global #EmpowerHer campaign.

This follows the breakthrough success of Tia’s “Goodbye Princess” music video (MV), which achieved over 1 million views within 10 hours after its worldwide premiere. As of now, “Goodbye Princess” has garnered overwhelming support with more than 58 million views on YouTube within 12 days, far exceeding all previous global C-pop records. The overwhelming response underscores the borderless resonance of both the song and #EmpowerHer’s ‘Female Empowers Female’ initiative, marking Tia as a tireless advocate for female empowerment.

Tia is a tireless advocate for female empowerment
Tia is a tireless advocate for female empowerment

Tia Lee said, “I am so grateful for all the love and support for ‘Goodbye Princess’. I created it as a reminder that it is time for all of us – especially women – to embrace our strengths and rise up against the challenges that are holding us back. It takes a joint effort to achieve a truly inclusive and empowered world for all, which is why it’s so important that we all do our part to support charities and organisations like Teen’s Key in Hong Kong, who are doing incredible work in helping girls and women in need.”

The Resonant #EmpowerHer Campaign and What’s Next

The #EmpowerHer campaign is one of the biggest initiatives in the world to support female empowerment. For every viewing benchmark hit for the “Goodbye Princess” MV, a donation will be made to selected beneficiaries of the campaign, up to a maximum total of HKD3.8 million. This figure was chosen for its significance for the upcoming International Women’s Day, which falls on the 8th of March 2023.

Teen’s Key Hong Kong will be the first beneficiary organization after Tia personally pledged to support the empowerment of women worldwide. The MV’s views have an unprecedented number of views, reinforcing its meteoric rise – and the views are still pouring in. Other beneficiaries include the Daughters Of Tomorrow in Singapore and Beats by Girlz and Women in Music in the United States, as well as others to be named across the globe.

“We are proud and thankful to be the first recipient of the #EmpowerHer campaign, which represents everything that we believe in and fight for here at Teen’s Key – empowering young women to follow their own dreams. These funds will go a long way to supporting our work and enabling us to help more young women & girls. More importantly, we hope that the campaign’s message will spread throughout the world and inspire everyone to believe in themselves,” said Rachel Chow, Resource Development Manager, Teen’s Key Hong Kong.

The Power of the Global #EmpowerHerDance Inspires Awareness Through Dance with the Most Popular TikTokers in Australia, New Zealand, Middle East and the UK leading the charge

International female dancers and prominent influencers around the world have rallied around the #EmpowerHer movement through the #EmpowerHerDance dance challenge, which was inspired by “Goodbye Princess” and has taken TikTok by storm.

Australia’s most popular creator on TikTok last year, Hannah Balanay was the first to cover the song’s distinctive choreography with the signature ‘goodbye’ hand wave, followed by Judah Metu-Teakura in New Zealand, J Lou in Hong Kong, and Leen Mohammed from the Middle East whom are all the most popular TikTokers/KOLs in their respective regions. Evie Meg from the UK has also joined the challenge. J Lou’s #EmpowerHerDance Challenge IR Reel video received more than 230,000 views within 24 hours, while Leen Mohammed’s TikTok #EmpowerHerDance Challenge video received more than 270,000 views within 24 hours of release. With people across the globe having viewed their dance videos to date, new covers continue to be posted on the platforms every day under the #EmpowerHerDance hashtag as more step up for the cause.

(From Left) Hannah Balanay in Australia, J Lou in Hong Kong, and Leen Mohammed from the Middle Eas


The Ingenious “Goodbye Princess” Pre-Release Campaign Sets a New C-pop Record – Accumulated over 100 Million Views Globally Within a Month

Last month, the pre-release campaign for “Goodbye Princess” featured a 6-part animation series that told the story of Tia’s journey in the music and entertainment industries, as well as her subsequent reinvention.

The ingenious pre-release campaign combining animation, music and fashion videography set an unprecedented C-pop pre-release record of more than 100 million views within a month. The pre-release campaign is on track to become the most successful engagement campaign of all time by a C-pop artiste.

The full series and complementing fashion videography can be watched on Tia’s social media channel.

Official press materials:

#EmpowerHer Campaign Concept Video:

https://youtu.be/gK7ldOO1wAM
GOODBYE PRINCESS” Music Video: https://youtu.be/VwxtUuZYsuY

https://weibo.com/1396928042/MiMX0oPdI

GOODBYE PRINCESS” Single Cover:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Clxu8nWNdOE/

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=696972191796005&set=a.231904644969431 (for downloading)

“GOODBYE PRINCESS” MV Pre-Launch Campaign Animation and Motion Image Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMEhj-AvvXvBIjICUGgQQPYXfJNnbV-VG
ROLLACOASTER UK Cover:

https://www.instagram.com/p/ClUA1Swtnyk/

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=688854202607804&set=a.231904644969431 (for downloading)

Vogue Hong Kong「The Voice」Cover:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck7_neKsh_w/

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=681908259969065&set=pcb.681909583302266 (for downloading)

Tia Lee Official Channels:
Instagram @leeyufen: https://www.instagram.com/leeyufen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tialeeofficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeyufentialee/
Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/1396928042/

Hashtag: #TiaLee #EmpowerHer #EmpowerHerDance

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

About Tia Lee | Lee Yu Fen:

Tia Lee (李毓芬), born in Taipei, is a global C-pop singer, fashion icon and film and television actress. In addition to her acting roles and musical career, Tia appears frequently at major fashion shows. As a trend-setter, Tia has graced the covers of fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and shares her beauty and fashion tips through a number of Vogue’s social media channels.

Man Arrested for Trying to Assault a Minor in Khammouane

Police have apprehended a man after he attempted twice to assault a minor in Thakhak District, Khammouane Province.

Laos Reports a Trade Deficit of USD 45 Million in November

Rail freight transport. (Photo Credit: Laos-China Railway)

According to the Lao Trade Portal, the November trade deficit figure of USD 45 million is quite low compared to September and October figures of USD 233 million and USD 230 million respectively.

Heineken, Loca Team Up to Curb Drunk Driving in Vientiane

Heineken® has teamed up with LOCA to create awareness of “when you drink, never drive” and provide incentives to curb drunk driving behavior in Vientiane, Laos. The partnership offers incentives for drinkers to ride to their favorite bar and return back home safely using LOCA.

Thief Nabbed After Robbing Multiple Gold Shops in Bolikhamxay

Photo Credit: Bolikhamxay Public Security

Bolikhamxay police arrested a thief six days after he robbed two gold shops last week in the province’s Khamkeut district.

Steward Leadership 25 Unveiled at Steward Leadership Summit

25 initiatives from organisations within the Asia-Pacific region selected for steward leadership excellence

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 21 December 2022 – Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC), INSEAD Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society, WTW and The Straits Times unveiled the Steward Leadership 25 (SL25), the inaugural annual listing of 25 organisational initiatives that showcased notable efforts to create a collective better future for stakeholders, society, future generations and the environment.

The 25 initiatives were honoured at the Steward Leadership Summit, which was held at Shangri-La Singapore on 30 November. The inaugural event was organised by SAC to highlight the importance of steward leadership across the Asia Pacific. Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Education, Singapore, graced the event as the guest of honour and delivered the keynote address. Some 350 participants attended the event.

Steward leadership excellence demands genuine desire and persistence to pursue a corporate agenda beyond profit-making.

The 25 were selected from 95 submissions across the Asia-Pacific region. They were from diverse industries, including financial services, transportation, agribusiness and real estate. These initiatives were chosen for their steward leadership strategy and actions in creating sustainable economic value, and all 25 hold equal merit.

“A rapidly changing world reinforces the principle of taking ownership to do the right thing, and a mindset shift that is critical to driving all of us to work together towards enduring value creation for the benefit of stakeholders, society, the environment and our future generations. These organisations’ initiatives have made a difference, and I hope they will inspire others to act,” said Mr Lim Boon Heng, Chairman of Temasek Holdings, who unveiled the inaugural list at the Steward Leadership Summit.

“It is really heartening to see the efforts and persistence of so many organisations striving to create lasting positive change in the environment and community. In honouring these 25 inspirational initiatives, our eventual goal is for steward leadership excellence to be the norm instead of the exception, where every firm is committed to establishing a win-win-win outcome for employees, shareholders and society at large,” said Mr Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO of SAC.

“I hope the SL25 list will encourage other companies to look beyond their shareholders, to include their employees, customers, suppliers, and the larger communities that they operate within and be effective stewards for all. By intentionally delivering profit with purpose, responsible business leaders can prioritise the needs of current and future generations and our planet. As the recent discussions at COP 27 have highlighted, the problems that we need to solve require the combined and urgent stewardship efforts of all of us,” said Dr Vinika D. Rao, Executive Director of INSEAD Emerging Markets Institute, Gender Initiative and Africa Initiative, and Asia Director of the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business & Society.

“Progressive companies have moved past the moral imperative and are realising the tangible business benefits. WTW is proud to be associated with this list of SL25 so that we can help shine the spotlight on progressive companies, across various sectors and sizes and company types, that are role models for balancing purpose, profits, people and planet,” said Mr Shai Ganu, Managing Director and Global Leader of the Executive Compensation & Board Advisory at WTW.

“At The Straits Times, we have been covering developments in Singapore, Asia and the world since 1845, helping our readers understand events around them. Especially at this time of significant economic, environmental and geopolitical uncertainty, it is heartening to learn of and support the efforts of companies which aim to do good for all their stakeholders,” said Mr Jaime Ho, Editor of The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Mr Frank E. Mars, Board Chair and Advisor, Strategic Programs, Mars, Incorporated, joined the summit virtually. He highlighted the role of corporate organisations in solving today’s existential challenges, based on his discussion theme with Mr Peshawaria, “Successful Stewardship Requires More Than a Purpose.”

Mr Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, Head of Business Development and Digital Innovation, Ayala Corporation, explained how the Philippine conglomerate balanced profit and purpose.

Ms Erika Cheung, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Ethics in Entrepreneurship, and a former Theranos employee, talked about her courage to speak out and highlighted the importance of corporate ethics.

Ms Aw Kah Peng, Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore, Mr Bey Soo Khiang, Vice-Chairman at RGE and Chairman of APRIL Group, and Mr Edward Booty, reach52’s CEO, tackled the issue of whether “Can Addressing Existential Challenges Be Profitable?” The panel discussion was moderated by Mr Munib Madni, Founding Panvestor and CEO, Panarchy Partners.

In the second panel, Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, Dr Vinika D. Rao, Mr Jamie Ho and Tan Sri Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, Executive Director, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Secretariat, Singapore, shared the key highlights from the SL25 initiatives. Mr Shai Ganu was the moderator.

The SL25 initiatives and their companies (in alphabetical order) are:

Initiative Title Organisation Industry Geography Category
1 Improving the livelihoods of motorcycle taxis Angkas Transportation Philippines SME
2 Transforming workplaces for gender inclusion Avtar Group Human Resource Consulting India SME
3 Steering a collective Covid-19 response Ayala Corporation Conglomerate Philippines MNC
4 Climate action through voting and engagement BNP Paribas Asset Management Financial Services Singapore MNC
5 Innovating sustainability for the built environment CapitaLand Investment Limited Real Estate Singapore MNC
6 Constructing collaborative spaces to empower sustainability City Developments Limited Real Estate Singapore MNC
7 A different kind of bank DBS Bank Limited Financial Services APAC MNC
8 Fuelling growth with renewables, community art Faber-Castell AG Writing and Colouring Instrument APAC MNC
9 Producing dairy through sustainable farming Farm Fresh Berhad Food and Beverage Malaysia MNC
10 A work-integration model for social inclusion Foreword Coffee Pte. Ltd. Food Services Singapore Social Enterprise
11 Providing work opportunities for disadvantaged groups Genashtim Pte. Ltd. Corporate Services Singapore Social Enterprise
12 Scaling sustainable impact through ecosystem management GUAVA Amenities Hospitality and Travel APAC SME
13 Protecting Java’s coffee and primate landscape Mandai Wildlife Group Conservation and Education Indonesia SME
14 Equipping farmers with sustainable agricultural methods Marico Limited Consumer India MNC
15 Ahead in net positive carbon and gender equality Mirvac Group Real Estate Australia MNC
16 Enabling financial well-being for low-income households Noburo Platform Co., Ltd. Financial Services Thailand Social Enterprise
17 Driving the green movement Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited Financial Services Singapore MNC
18 Addressing health access in rural areas reach52 Healthcare APAC Social Enterprise
19 From tin-mining wasteland to sustainable township Sunway Group Conglomerate Malaysia MNC
20 Enabling communities through technology Tata Consultancy Services Technology Singapore MNC
21 Creation of bioplastic from farm-led innovation Thai Wah Public Company Limited Agribusiness Thailand MNC
22 Creating plant-based food, PWD opportunities The Social Kitchen Pte. Ltd. Hospitality Singapore Social Enterprise
23 Bio-innovation for food security and sustainability UAL Biotech Pte. Ltd. Agribusiness APAC SME
24 Directing capital towards UN SDGs UBS AG Financial Services APAC MNC
25 Collaborating to drive a sustainable ASEAN United Overseas Bank Limited Financial Services APAC MNC

Hashtag: #StewardLeadership25

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

About Steward Leadership 25

Jointly curated by Stewardship Asia Centre, the INSEAD Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society, WTW and The Straits Times, Steward Leadership 25 (SL25) is an annual listing of 25 initiatives that showcase steward leadership excellence within the Asia-Pacific region. SL25 highlights narratives from organisations that have demonstrated resolute actions in pursuing and achieving their unique versions of stewardship purpose while living stewardship values such as interdependence and long-term view. Organisational initiatives included in the SL25 list would have demonstrated steward leadership in strategy, execution and shaping culture.

Inclusion to the SL25 list is based on the particular initiative(s) described in the nomination form. SL25 is not intended as a blanket endorsement of the organisation as a whole. The organisations are responsible for the truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of their nominations, which are not guaranteed by the SL25 partners.

Doctor Anywhere acquires Singapore-listed Asian Healthcare Specialists, secures additional US$38.8 million funding

Acquisition of integrated healthcare provider Asian Healthcare Specialists marks expansion of strategic capabilities, builds holistic healthcare offering to serve Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 21 December 2022 – Doctor Anywhere (DA), a regional tech-led healthcare company headquartered in Singapore, announced that it has acquired Catalist-listed Asian Healthcare Specialists (SGX:1J3), an integrated healthcare provider in Singapore.

L-R: Mr Travis Seet, CFO and Dr Chin Pak Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Asian Healthcare Specialists; Mr Lim Wai Mun, Founder & CEO and Mr Edwin Basuki, CFO of Doctor Anywhere
L-R: Mr Travis Seet, CFO and Dr Chin Pak Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Asian Healthcare Specialists; Mr Lim Wai Mun, Founder & CEO and Mr Edwin Basuki, CFO of Doctor Anywhere

Asian Healthcare Specialists is a group of 14 medical specialists, with a patient-first approach and vision to make specialised care accessible to all. Its 12 specialist clinics across multidisciplinary specialities comprise orthopaedics, ophthalmology, dermatology, urology, gastroenterology, otorhinolaryngology, anaesthesia, family medicine and rehabilitation – all areas that complement DA’s regional healthcare services and offer consumers greater access to complex treatments.

The acquisition is a strategic step to further DA’s long-term growth ambitions, enabling it to deliver more holistic healthcare and meet the rising demand for complex, specialised treatment across Southeast Asia.

“Our goal at Doctor Anywhere is to build a digital healthcare ecosystem to enable better patient outcomes and help shape the future of healthcare in Southeast Asia. With consumers across the region seeking higher quality and more personalised care, the acquisition of Asian Healthcare Specialists strengthens our capabilities beyond our successful primary care services, enabling us to deliver more integrated, holistic care and greater value for our users,” said Lim Wai Mun, Founder & CEO, Doctor Anywhere.

“We continue to be on the lookout for synergistic opportunities and targeted acquisitions of critical healthcare assets across the region, which will enable us to further the work we have begun on building a regional healthcare ecosystem that leverages technology and innovation. A more diversified and holistic range of integrated healthcare service offerings will enable Doctor Anywhere to deliver greater value and impact to elevate the region’s healthcare outcomes,” added Wai Mun.

Chief Executive Officer of Asian Healthcare Specialists Limited, Dr Chin Pak Lin commented, “Coupled with shifting demographics, technological innovations, and the diverse nature of healthcare infrastructure across Southeast Asia, we’re currently sitting at the nexus of potential transformation. We are excited to join Southeast Asia’s largest omni-channel healthcare provider and bring our well-established specialist care expertise to the group. We look forward to working together to bridge the gap between primary and specialised care to provide seamless, holistic care that transcends boundaries and statuses.”

Additional funding bolstered by latest Series C1 financing round

Doctor Anywhere also announced a US$38.8 million Series C1 financing round, an up round led by Novo Holdings, a leading international life science investor. Other existing shareholders also participated in the round, including Asia Partners, Kamet Capital, Square Peg, IHH Healthcare, EDBI and OSK-SBI Venture Partners.

The funding will be used to accelerate growth and to partly fund the acquisition of Asian Healthcare Specialists. It comes just over a year after the company raised a US$65.7 million Series C in August 2021 in one of the largest private funding rounds ever raised by a healthtech company in Southeast Asia. This brings the total capital raised by Doctor Anywhere to nearly US$140 million.

“Doctor Anywhere has shown an exceptional track record since its inception, and today it has firmly established itself as a regional leader in healthcare, successfully integrating seamless online and offline approaches to bring easily accessible and affordable healthcare to millions across Southeast Asia,” said Dr Amit Kakar, Senior Partner, Head of Novo Holdings Equity Asia.

“We are confident in DA’s growth as it builds a regional ecosystem to bring delivery of patient care to the next level, in line with its vision to become the leading tech-enabled omnichannel healthcare provider in Southeast Asia,” he added.

Carol Wang, Senior Associate at Novo Holdings Equity Asia, added: “We are particularly excited to lead this up round to fund the accretive acquisition of Asian Healthcare Specialists. With the addition of the synergistic specialist clinics, we believe that DA would further enhance patient journeys seamlessly through its fully integrated online and offline offerings and would further differentiate itself as a leading omnichannel healthcare provider in Southeast Asia, enabled by its innovative technologies. We look forward to continuing to back DA’s long-term vision, which is perfectly aligned with our deep expertise and commitment in tech-enabled healthcare services.”

Hashtag: #DoctorAnywhere

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

About Novo Holdings

Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the operating and financial assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, one of the world’s largest enterprise foundations. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novozymes (the Novo Group companies) and manages an investment portfolio, with a long-term return perspective. The investment portfolio comprises two teams: Life Science Investments and Novo Capital Investors. The Life Science Investments team invests in companies at all stages of development and includes Novo Seeds, Novo Ventures, Novo Growth and Principal Investments. The Novo Capital Investors team manages a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate and infrastructure assets, as well as private equity investments.

Novo Holdings operates out of offices in Copenhagen, London, Boston, San Francisco, Singapore and Shanghai. As of year-end 2021, Novo Holdings had total assets of USD 106 billion. Further information: .

About Doctor Anywhere

Doctor Anywhere is a regional tech-enabled, omnichannel healthcare company, on a mission to make healthcare simple, accessible, and efficient for everyone. Doctor Anywhere’s digital platform bridges gaps in the healthcare ecosystem through technology and innovation, enabling users to manage their health easily and effectively through the DA mobile app. Headquartered in Singapore and with a presence in six countries across the region, Doctor Anywhere now serves more than 2.5 million (and growing) users across Southeast Asia. For more information, visit:

About Asian Healthcare Specialists

Asian Healthcare Specialists Limited is incorporated in Singapore and listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the “SGX-ST”), and the Company’s sponsor is RHT Capital Pte. Ltd. The Group is a multidisciplinary medical services group providing an extended range of medical services such as anaesthesia, dermatology, family medicine, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otorhinolaryngology, rehabilitation and urology. The Group currently has 14 medical specialists in different divisions, one family physician and one physiotherapist, located at 12 clinics in Singapore.