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Indian Drama a Surprise Hit in Laos and Thailand

Gangubai Kathiawadi with her seductive gesture

Indian biographical crime drama, Gangubai Kathiawadi, has proven a surprise hit on Netflix among viewers in Thailand and Laos.

Blue Cross Launches Double Privileges to Cheer for the World No. 1

Offering 100 Free Sports Insurance Every Day and Premium Discount

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 May 2022 – In celebration of the outstanding achievements of fencing gold medalist and brand ambassador Edgar Cheung Ka Long, who has recently won gold medal in men’s individual foil at the FIE World Cup in Paris and has ascended his ranking to the World Number 1, Blue Cross (Asia Pacific) Insurance Co., Ltd. (“Blue Cross”) today announces to give away 100 SmartFit Sports Insurance every day, encouraging the public to live a healthy lifestyle by engaging in sport activities while enjoying protection. Besides, customers can enjoy up to 55% premium discount on designated insurance products using promo code “WORLD1” during enrolment.

From now until 1 June 2022, Blue Cross will offer free giveaway of SmartFit Sports Insurance Basic Plan (leisure sports; 1 day or 3 days covered period) to customers through its website or Blue Cross HK App. The daily quota is 100 and will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis, and while stocks last.

Plan features of SmartFit Sports Insurance:

  • Covers over 30 types of sports and competitions, including ball games, hiking, water ski, track and field, fencing and swimming, etc
  • Comprehensive coverage including Sports Injury, Accidental Medical Expenses, Personal Liability, Damage of Personal Sports Equipment and injury or illness that happens during participation in sports activities, such as Exertional Heat Stroke, Cardiac Arrest, as well as coverage on Sudden Death due to Congenital Heart Defect
  • 3 plan levels available for selection, suitable for sports enthusiasts, amateur instructors, students and professional athletes

Besides, from now until 30 June 2022, SmartClub members who enrol in any designated plans including SmartFit Sports Insurance, HomeSafe Protection Insurance, MaidSafe Insurance, DecorationSafe Insurance and LovePet Outpatient Insurance, through Blue Cross HK App or Blue Cross website, an extra 10% premium discount will be applied by entering promo code “WORLD1”. Customers can enjoy up to 55% premium discount together with existing offer.

For more details about “Double Privileges to Cheer for the World No. 1” and the above-mentioned products, please visit Blue Cross website at www.bluecross.com.hk or download the Blue Cross HK App.

Disclaimers:

  • This press release is for distribution in Hong Kong only. The distribution of this press release is not and shall not be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or a provision of any insurance product outside Hong Kong.
  • Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance Limited is a subsidiary of The Bank of East Asia, Limited and a member of the BEA Group. It is not affiliated with or related in any way to Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association or any of its affiliates or licensees.

Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance Limited

Blue Cross (Asia-Pacific) Insurance Limited (“Blue Cross”) is a member of The Bank of East Asia Group. With over 50 years of operational experience in the insurance industry, Blue Cross provides a comprehensive range of products and services including medical, travel and general insurance, which cater to the needs of both individual and corporate customers.

In 2021, Blue Cross was assigned a financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent) by A.M. Best, a global full-service credit rating firm specialising in the financial service industry. For the latest rating, please access www.ambest.com.

#BlueCross

Laos to Redistribute Large Fleet of State Vehicles 

State vehicles were reclaimed and auctioned off in 2017.

The government of Laos is moving forward with a plan to reclaim vehicles from Party and state leaders amid a renewed push for austerity. 

Thailand Pass Remains in Place after CCSA Meeting

Thailand Pass Remains in Place after CCSA Meeting

Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has announced the reopening of entertainment venues, while the Thailand Pass system will remain in place.

Spackman Media Group Artist Ko Sung-hee Set To Star In Upcoming Office Comic K-Drama, GAUS ELECTRONICS

  • Spackman Media Group artist Ko Sung-hee headlines in new office comic K-drama, GAUSS ELECTRONICS
  • GAUSS ELECTRONICS is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by Kwak Baek-soo with 2.6 billion views and shall be released in the second half of this year via Olleh TV and OTT platform, seezn
  • Represented by MSteam, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spackman Media Group, Ko Sung-hee won the Best New Actress in the 2014 MBC Drama Awards for her role in MISS KOREA (2013) and DIARY OF A NIGHT WATCHMAN (2014)

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 May 2022 Spackman Entertainment Group Limited (the “Group“), one of Korea’s leading entertainment production groups founded in 2011 by media & technology investor Charles Spackman, wishes to announce that Ko Sung-hee of MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (“MSteam“), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group’s associated company, Spackman Media Group Limited (“Spackman Media Group“), is set to star in upcoming office comic drama, GAUS ELECTRONICS, which is expected to be released in the second half of this year via Olleh TV and OTT platform, seezn.

Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by Kwak Baek-soo with 2.6 billion views, GAUS ELECTRONICS tells the story of funny employees at Gaus Electronics, portraying sympathy, laughter and sorrow of their life at the company. In this office comic drama, Spackman Media Group artist Ko Sung-hee stars alongside Kwak Dong-yeon, Kang Min-ah and Bae Hyun-seong.

Previously, Ko Sung-hee of MSteam won the Best New Actress in the 2014 MBC Drama Awards for her role in MISS KOREA (2013) and DIARY OF A NIGHT WATCHMAN (2014). Her recent works include A YEAR-END MEDLEY (2021), the Korean remake of SUITS (2018) on KBS2, MY HOLO LOVE(2020) on Netflix and KINGMAKER: THE CHANGE OF DESTINY (2020) on TV Chosun. Besides Ko Sung-hee, MSteam also represents international Korean actor, Wi Ha-jun of Netflix’s original Korean series, SQUID GAME (2021), iconic Korean actress Son Ye-jin of hit romance drama CRASH LANDING ON YOU (2020), and top actress Lee Min-jung who won the Top Excellence Award at the 2020 APAN Star Awards.

About Spackman Entertainment Group Limited

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

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

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

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

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

Production Labels

SEGL owns Novus Mediacorp Co., Ltd. (“Novus Mediacorp“), an investor, presenter, and/or post-theatrical distributor for a total of 79 films (58 Korean and 21 foreign) including ROSE OF BETRAYAL, THE OUTLAWS and SECRETLY, GREATLY, which was one of the biggest box office hits of 2013 starring Kim Soo-hyun of MY LOVE FROM THE STARS, as well as FRIEND 2: THE GREAT LEGACY. In 2012, Novus Mediacorp was also the post-theatrical rights distributor of ALL ABOUT MY WIFE, a top-grossing romantic comedy produced by Zip Cinema. In 2018, THE OUTLAWS, co-presented by Novus Mediacorp broke the all-time highest Video On Demand (“VOD“) sales records in Korea. For more information, please visit

The Company owns a 100% equity interest in 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 100% equity interest in Take Pictures Pte. Ltd. (“Take Pictures“) which produced STONE SKIPPING (2020) and THE BOX (2021), and shall release THE GUEST in the second half of 2022 and A MAN OF REASON, with the previous working title GUARDIAN in 2022 tentatively.

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 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 MSteam Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Son Ye-jin, Wi Ha-jun, Lee Min-jung, Ko Sung-hee), SBD Entertainment Inc. (Son Suk-ku, Han Ji-hyun, Lee Cho-hee, Park Keun-rok), UAA&CO Inc. (Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Hye-ri, Kim Ji-young, Wang Ji-won), Play Content Co., Ltd. (Kang Min-ji, Hwang-hwi) and Kook Entertainment Co., Ltd. (Baek Si-won, Shin Ji-woong). Through these full-service talent agencies in Korea, SMGL represents and guides the professional careers of a leading roster of award-winning actors/actresses in the practice areas of motion pictures, television, commercial endorsements, and branded entertainment. SMGL leverages its unparalleled portfolio of artists as a platform to develop, produce, finance and own the highest quality of entertainment content projects, including theatrical motion pictures, variety shows and TV dramas. This platform also creates and derives opportunities for SMGL to make strategic investments in development stage businesses that can collaborate with SMGL artists. SMGL is an associated company of the Company. For more information, please visit

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

Strategic Businesses

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

For more details, please visit

#SpackmanEntertainmentGroup

HONMA Golf Names Li Yifeng as its Brand Ambassador in China

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 May 2022 – HONMA Golf Limited (“HONMA” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; HKEx stock code: 6858), one of the most prestigious golf brands worldwide, announced today that the Group has named the renowned artist Li Yifeng as its brand ambassador in China. The new collaboration marks a milestone for the 65-year-old brand to further promote the spirit of golf to a wider audience and to inspire new participation in the sport of golf across China.

Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador
Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador

Founded in 1959 in Japan, HONMA is one of the most prestigious and iconic brands in the golf industry, synonymous with intricate craftsmanship, dedication to performance excellence and distinguished product quality. Its beautifully hand-crafted golf equipment carries a distinct reputation in both “premium performance” and “magnificent artistry” and has been prized by golf aficionados for decades.

As one of the most popular singers and actors in mainland China, 35-year-old Li Yifeng is an idol to millions and garners great acclaim from the public for his sporty and stylish appearance, healthy and positive lifestyle and outstanding versatility in acting and music. He is known to be a pure perfectionist and always pushes the envelope of what is possible which perfectly aligns with HONMA’s brand philosophy.

Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador x BERES 5-Star golf club
Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador x BERES 5-Star golf club

On the occasion of celebrating HONMA’s 65th anniversary, HONMA and Li Yifeng are delighted to present the 65th anniversary limited edition SAKURA DANCE club series that has been designed specifically for lady golfers in Asia. SAKURA DANCE blends the elegant design of fashion and art with state-of-the-art golf club manufacturing techniques. Together with the club set comes a luxurious gift bag that contains a full set of golf apparel, balls and other accessories from the same series, making it an all-inclusive set for even the most novice of golfer to confidently take to the course. The SAKURA DANCE series is expected to give rise to more outdoor-loving lady consumers taking to the fairways.

65th Anniversary Limited Edition Series of HONMA SAKURA DANCE
65th Anniversary Limited Edition Series of HONMA SAKURA DANCE
Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador x SAKURA DANCE luxurious gift bag
Li Yifeng, HONMA brand ambassador x SAKURA DANCE luxurious gift bag

While the public enthusiasm in wellness and outdoor sports continues to grow, the golf industry in China is also embracing unprecedented development and new participants. Consumer demand for professional and fashionable sports equipment and apparel has boomed significantly. As a well-established brand in golf, HONMA is boldly exploring and innovating to fulfill the constantly evolving consumer needs. The collaboration between HONMA and Li Yifeng is designed to breakdown the golf stereotype of being a business-oriented sport, aiming to broaden the brand’s reach to a wider spectrum of sports enthusiasts and the younger generation who aspire to an active and quality life, and to encourage them to pick up a club and experience the healthy, green, elegant and natural lifestyle of golf.

Mr. LIU Jianguo, Chairman of the Board, President and Executive Director of HONMA Golf Limited, said, “HONMA has never ceased innovating and exploring, always maintaining its finger on the pulse of the latest generation of consumers. As the brand marches into its 65th anniversary, we are excited to collaborate with such an outstanding and talented artist as Mr. Li Yifeng. We believe that with HONMA’s distinctive brand and products and Mr. Li’s strong public influence, together we could inspire more of the public to participate in this healthy outdoor sport and contribute to the further development of the golfing community in China.”

“Moving forward, HONMA will continue to build its brand awareness around the growing number of sport-loving and sophisticated consumers in China as well as in other major golf markets and adhere to a multi-channel strategy across all product lines, creating a diversified 360-degree immersive brand experience for golfers around the world. We will strive to create long-term, sustainable value for our shareholders as we grow into the world’s leading golf lifestyle brand,” LIU added.

About HONMA Golf Limited

HONMA is one of the most prestigious and iconic brands in the golf industry. Founded in 1959, the Group utilizes the latest innovative technologies and traditional Japanese craftsmanship to provide golfers around the world with premium, high-tech and the best performing golf clubs, balls, apparels and accessories. HONMA’s products are sold in approximately 50 countries worldwide, primarily in Asia and across North America, Europe and other regions. The Group was successfully listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 6 October 2016 (SEHK stock code: 6858). As the only vertically integrated golf Group with in-house design, development and manufacturing capabilities, a strong retail footprint in Asia and a diverse range of golf clubs and golf-related products, HONMA is perfectly positioned to continually grow its business in Asia and beyond, benefitting from the return of golfers in mature golf markets such as the US and Japan and from increased participation in golf’s new and under-penetrated markets such as Korea and China.

#HONMA

Giant Freshwater Stingray Caught in Northern Cambodia

Giant stingray caught in Mekong River in northern Cambodia
Giant stingray caught in Mekong River in northern Cambodia (Photo: Wonders of the Mekong)

A giant freshwater stingray was captured in the Mekong River last week in Cambodia’s northern province of Stung Treng.

Guild 22, Hong Kong’s first blockchain game guild, begins operation

  • Gamified finance is gaining traction and the blockchain game industry is experiencing strong growth, with its value reaching HK$78 billion
  • Offers free workshops and seminars to promote and democratise blockchain game on 22 May, the Guild 22 day
  • Blockchain and Game-Fi expert Ronald Chiu offers play-to-earn tips onsite

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 May 2022 – Playing video games is an investment nowadays as players can play to earn throughout the process. Hong Kong’s first blockchain game guild “Guild 22” has begun operation and 22 May has been scheduled as “Guild 22 Day”. The guild is launching a three-day event from 20 to 22 May at Metacade located at Russell Street, Causeway Bay.

The event “Guild 22 Blockchian Game-Fi Experience Days” is Guild 22’s first large-scale public function. Ronald Chiu, founder of Guild 22 and Hong Kong’s Game-Fi pioneer, will attend the event to introduce the guild’s roadmap to gaming enthusiasts and offers free consulting services about cryptocurrencies, blockchain, Game-Fi, and NFT to the public.

Game-Fi has become very popular in recent years. Guild 22, officially established in December 2021, consists of a team of experts boasting in-depth knowledge and background in cryptocurrencies and finance, and a group of passionate young video game players. So far, Guild 22 has invested more than HK$10 million in programme development and digital assets. It also strives to attract like-minded players to become members, hoping to expand the game player circle.

Currently, Guild 22 offers a variety of popular games, including Axie Infinity, Pegaxy, Cyball, CEBG, DefiLand, Splinterlands, STEPN, to name a few. It has a deep understanding of the blockchain and Game-Fi economy.

Ronald Chiu, one of the founders of Guild 22 and pioneer of Hong Kong’s Game-Fi, said, “The play-to-earn model stemmed from the Southeast Asian market with many players there earning an income up to three times more than their jobs. Due to differences in living standards, play-to-earn has not yet made a big impact in Hong Kong. However, as down-to-earth game STEPN has gained popularity, in addition to AAA games that are set to be rolled out, many advanced gamers start focusing on the combination of the traditional gaming industry and the blockchain technology, bringing economic changes to the gaming industry.”

It’s unimaginable to earn more than HK$10,000 a month as blockchain games gain popularity across the globe

Ronald unveils that there will be several pillars when it comes to the future development of Guild 22, including game testing, gamified financial promotion, and game player community maintenance. “We believe that the current gamified financial market is only in its infancy. It is expected that it will become more mature and further consolidated in the upcoming two years. As Hong Kong’s first blockchain game guild, Guild 22 can connect traditional gamers to gamified finance. Since blockchain games have gradually integrated into people’s lives, Hong Kong players can learn more about the evolution and development of gamified finance and blockchain games through Guild 22 in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the market size of blockchain games grew from zero to HK$19.5 billion in 2021. Ronald predicts that it could grow to HK$78 billion by 2023. Taking the blockchain game STEPN as an example, players only need to buy a pair of digital asset sneakers (about US$1,000 to US$1,200) in advance to earn about US$60 a day. All calculations are based on the gamers’ stamina and in-game digital currency every day. They can earn about US$1,860 a month.

Guild 22 has scheduled 22 May as the Guild 22 day. It also launched its first large-scale public event “Guild 22 blockchain game play-to-earn trail” from 20 to 22 May. During the event, Ronald will introduce the guild’s plans and play-to-earn tips to games in collaboration with Kimi Chiu. Professionals will also teach the visitors to establish a crypto wallet on-site, bringing them to the Game-Fi journey.

Kimi also says that the play-to-earn feature greatly benefits gamers. She comments, “As a gamer, we can earn rewards and income from the games. We can even win a fair amount of the right to vote. Thereby, we can affect the development of the game. I also heard that I can earn more money by working after joining the guild. Moreover, the props and equipment in the game are all unique NFT assets. They are not only collectibles but also can be traded in the market to earn extra income. Who said that playing games is a waste of time?”

Gamers who come to experience can try the P2E shootout game EV.IO on the spot. By using their shooting skills, they have a chance to win the “Guild 22 Jackpot” of 500 USDT. Gamers will also be awarded an NFT after becoming a Guild 22 member. Moreover, they can also participate in the Axie Infinity Challenge hosted by HKGameFi and compete for the prize money worth $1000 USDT offered by Guild 22. Gamers who are interested in learning about Guild 22 and getting to know Game-Fi should not miss this opportunity.

Guild 22 Blockchain Game-Fi Experience Days
Date: 20 to 22 May, 2022
Time: 12noon to 9pm
Location: Metacade, No.38 Russell Street, Causeway Bay

About Game-Fi

  • The term Game-Fi(gamified finance)can be traced back to 2019, when Mary Ma, chief strategy officer of MixMarvel, first proposed the concept of “integrating financial elements into games”. After her mention, games are not pure entertainment anymore.
  • The development of gamified finance has become more common and globalised in recent years. In October 2021, blockchain game company Axie Infinity completed a Series B funding round, raising US$152 million and has accumulated revenue of US$1.35 billion so far.
  • According to the statistics provided by blockchain game platform service provider Blockchaingamer, the total investment in Game-Fi has exceeded US$2.5 billion at the moment.
  • According to Dapp data tracking platform DappRadar and Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA), the total investment in 2022 will reach US$10 billion.
  • Statistics of the Digital Report 2020 global report show that there are a total of more than 3.5 billion gamers across the globe, while the average daily gaming time is 1 hour and 10 minutes. Hong Kong ranks 18th in the world (55 minutes), compared with Japan (27 minutes), which ranks 42nd.
  • Using STEPN as an example, players only need to buy a pair of digital asset sneakers (about US$1,000 to US$1,200) and they can earn about US$60 a day. All calculations are based on the gamers’ stamina and in-game digital currency every day.

Please download the photos here

About Guild 22

Game-Fi has become very popular in recent years. Guild 22, officially established in December 2021, consists of a team of experts boasting in-depth knowledge and background in cryptocurrencies and finance, and a group of passionate young video game players. The guild is different from its counterparts in Southeast Asian markets, as Guild 22 focuses more on players’ level and automated fintech instead of blindly pursuing the number of gamers. Moving forward, Guild 22 will also continue to attract the younger generations to co-develop the blockchain and traditional gaming markets, and cooperate with the technical team to develop data analysis systems. It will also operate from the perspective of digital asset management and strive for the most profitable transactions.

Moreover, Guild 22 is planning to collaborate with local universities to launch a wide variety of activities in order to reach out to the younger generations. Apart from recruiting talented gamers, we hope to include people who are interested in the gaming market.

Website:
Twitter:
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Instagram:
Discord:

#Guild22

About Ronald Chiu

As one of the founders of Guild 22 and chairman of Pong Group, Ronald owns the PONGConnect Technology Innovation Industry. His innovation includes Beer Pong, an electronic scoring table. A pioneer of Hong Kong’s Game-Fi and a dedicated mobile gamer, Ronald had a deep understanding of the traditional gaming model and gamified finance model. He is optimistic about the future of blockchain games and has made a seven-figure investment in Guild 22. In the future, he will multiply his investment, using Guild 22 to bring Hong Kong players to go abroad and learn more about the evolution and development of gamified finance and blockchain games.