The Laotian Times interviews visual artist “The Vientianist,” whose work combines digital processes and vintage styles into celebratory, tongue-in-cheek scenes of Lao life.
AXA BetterMe Weekend comes back on 8 to 9 October
Free carnival at West Kowloon Cultural District to promote holistic wellness Covering the elements of physical & mental wellness, art and green lifestyle
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 26 September 2022 – To mark and celebrate the World Mental Health Day on 10 October, AXA Hong Kong and Macau (“AXA”) brings back AXA BetterMe Weekend on 8 to 9 October 2022 at AXA x WONDERLAND @West Kowloon Cultural District, to encourage everyone to live healthily inside out and become a BetterMe. All activities are free of charge and suitable for people of all ages.
AXA also understands the importance of fitness in stress management. To promote an active lifestyle, there are 7 sessions of free yoga and dance classes guided by professional instructors from PURE Yoga and PURE Fitness under the themes of “Family Yoga”, “Yoga Strength & Stretch” and “United Dance for Family”. All sessions will be available for registration on Emma by AXA app starting from 9am, 27 September 2022on a first-come, first-served basis.
Last but not least, AXA brand ambassador Sammi Cheng will show up in the opening ceremony on 8 October to cheer up the participants and and bring more excitement to the event.
Terms and conditions apply. For more details on AXA BetterMe Weekend including the transportation arrangement, please visit: https://www.axa.com.hk/en/betterme-weekend
Details of Yoga and Dance classes:
Date | Class | Time (45 minutes / session) |
8 October (Sat) | Family Yoga | 12:30 – 1:15pm |
Yoga Strength & Stretch | 3:30 – 4:15pm | |
United Dance for Family | 4:30 – 5:15pm | |
9 October (Sun) | Yoga Strength & Stretch | 1:00 – 1:45pm |
United Dance for Family | 2:00 – 2:45pm | |
Yoga Strength & Stretch | 3:30 – 4:15pm | |
Family Yoga | 4:30 – 5:15pm |
Registration of Yoga / Dance classes
Emma by AXA app (non-customers are welcome to join)
Download Emma by AXA

Registration procedures
1. Login / Register on Emma by AXA
2. Click “Enroll Events” and register to join the class for free
3. Please note that submission does not imply successful registration. A notification email will be sent to the email address submitted to inform the registration result on or before 6 October 2022
Remarks:
*Only participants aged 18 or above can register for the classes; participants of the “United Dance for Family” and/or “Family Yoga” classes can join with a child aged 5 or above
*No yoga or dance experience is required
*Instructors of the classes are professional yoga teachers from PURE Yoga and PURE Fitness
*Yoga and Dance classes are free of charge. Seats are limited, first-come, first-served while quota lasts
*Terms and conditions apply
Details of Experience Zones :
Emotion Zone | Understand more on self emotions and connect with family and friends through activities, such as handcraft workshops and colouring walls. There will be a giant game machine for fun experience with chances to win travel and leisure vouchers! |
Art Care Zone | Enjoy eye, body and breathing exercises in the “Art Care Therapy Experience Zone”, while taking a little bit of time out of the hustle and bustle to refocus, relax and rejuvenate. |
Wellness Zone | Relax and get moving through a series of reflex, sensory and reaction games. Enjoy health screening services and get tips on staying fit and healthy. |
Go Green Zone | Enjoy the fun and meaningful educational activites including building an eco-friendly model car, recycling game and Metaverse exploration and to get to know how technology and our actions contribute to the environment. In this zone, you can also create personalised WhatsApp stickers to foster fun connections with your beloved family and friends. |
Fitness Zone | Relax and connect with family members through different exercises including Yoga and Dance classes. Moreover, there will be outdoor busking performance from local musicians in this zone for relaxation. |
Site Map:

Hashtag: #AXA
About AXA BetterMe
AXA BetterMe is a holistic wellness platform with a comprehensive suite of programmes and services covering Physical Wellness Support, Mental Wellbeing Support and Health Management. Simply access the AXA BetterMe services through the Emma by AXA app anytime, anywhere.
A Successful EV Charging Hong Kong Brand is Entering Malaysia
Cornerstone Technologies has covered 7,800 Private Residential EV Charging Parking Spaces and over 1,500 Public EV Charging Parking Spaces, now expanding to Europe and Asia.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 26 September 2022 – Cornerstone Technologies, a leading innovator in EV Charging Total Solutions originated in Hong Kong, is now entering Malaysia. Its entry has been marked by a number of DC chargers which have been scheduled to be ready by the end of this year. After enjoying the success in Hong Kong, Cornerstone Technologies is excited to tap into Malaysian market, confident to bring the same success to this place.
EV Charging Total Solution
Cornerstone Technologies has a strong in-house R&D team, developing one-stop EV charging solutions including award-winning chargers and software backend system to support the smooth running of the entire EV Charging System.
Cornerstone Technologies has both AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct Current) chargers that are Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP)-compliant. With the connected platform, Charge Point Operators (CPO) and EV drivers can have access to real-time charging information and other access features to give them peace of mind and flexibility. Cornerstone Technologies have received the world’s prestigious design awards “Good Design” by The Chicago Athenaeum and ‘IF Design” award from Germany for their innovative smart chargers. Recently, Cornerstone Technologies is expanding beyond its home market, Hong Kong, and starting to tap into Switzerland, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Technologies, Mr. Vincent Yip stated his confidence in making Cornerstone EV charger to be the no.1 EV Charging solution provider and the most trusted brand for EV owners in Asia. “Given the immense experience in EV Charging and established technology platform, we are excited about the opportunity in Asia, there’s plenty of potential in Malaysia and the neighboring countries, we welcome corporations that are interested in investing for their property, we keep our arms open for a joint-venture and partnership possibility” Mr. Yip further commented.
Extensive Job References with Governments and Private Sectors
In the home-market, Hong Kong, Cornerstone Technologies has become tier 1 EV charging total solution provider for the Government. Thousands of EV charging points have been deployed supported with sophisticated CPO system. There are many “first’ technological solutions that have been developed by Cornerstone Technologies, among others: Load Management System to enable more EV chargers to be installed without having to increase electricity load, Integrated Parking System, a cashless and contactless billing system that integrates parking and charging fees into one, EVCSS (Electric Vehicle Charger Smart System) to monitor 1,800 EV chargers under various brands spread across 70 government car parks. The partnership with one of the corporations in Cambodia is also underway, more details on the operation for this market will be released soon.
Besides deploying EV chargers at thousands of residential parking spaces, Cornerstone Technologies has supplied ultra-fast 200kW DC chargers to one of Asia’s biggest public bus operators, KMB (Kowloon Motor Bus) supported with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system to manage the fleet.
Charge Point Operation (CPO) System
The “Cornerstone Go” CPO system completes with a Central Management System for data monitoring and reporting, Load Management System to regulate the electricity load within one car park for efficiency usage of electricity, as well as Payment System and Mobile App for a remote start and stop charging. These are crucial features for a successful charge point operator to thrive in this business. The development of the “Cornerstone Go” CPO System is intricate, however; the concept for EV owners is simple: just “Go” charge anywhere.
The transition from conventional vehicles to Electric Vehicles is imminent, therefore; the development and deployment of EV chargers must be accelerated. Currently, there is a big shortage of EV chargers everywhere in the world, the growth of electric vehicle production outpaced EV chargers deployment.
Whether you are a Property Developer, Fleet Management, Gas Stations Operator, Hotels, Super Markets or any Chain Stores, Government as well as individuals who are interested to find out how EV chargers can benefit your property, you are encouraged to email: info-intl@cstl.com.hk
Please visit Cornerstone Technologies at EVMAsia’22 September 27-29, booth number 2065, Hall 6, Level 2 at MITEC. One of the EV charging experts from Cornerstone Technologies, Mr. Vincent Chung is here to answer your questions.
Hashtag: #CornerstoneTechnologies
About Cornerstone Technologies
Founded in 2016, Cornerstone Technologies (Stock Code: 8391) is a leading innovator for EV Charging Total Solution in Hong Kong. We are the catalyst for a cleaner, brighter tomorrow. Harnessing the power of high-quality, reliable technology for everyone, we help fast track you toward a better future. For more information, please visit www.cstl.com.hk
Lao Authorities Shoot Down Thai Drone Flying Over Mekong River
A Thai internet user expressed concern on a discussion forum after his drone was shot down by authorities in Laos as he tried to fly it across the Mekong River.
Manulife joins hands with St. James’ Settlement to help improve primary school students’ financial literacy
- Multi-year “Go Paperless Education Aid Program” utilizes virtual reality and fintech to provide over 10,000 training hours for more than 600 under-resourced students
- New survey reveals kids’ misconceptions about digital wallets and lack of knowledge about savings
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 26 September 2022 – Manulife Hong Kong today announced the full launch of its “FinKids Academy” program in conjunction with its community partner St. James’ Settlement (SJS), an initiative that uses innovative technology to help under-resourced children improve their financial literacy, technology know-how and skills to be ready for the hybrid financial world of the future.
The “FinKids Academy” program runs under Manulife’s “Go Paperless Education Aid Program” and follows a successful pilot that ran between March and May this year. The program will benefit more than 600 primary school students from 24 local schools providing more than 10,000 learning hours in total.
The program aims to support the children by equipping them with essential skills and knowledge through 10 in-depth workshops that cover topics such as fintech, basic coding, digital money, budgeting, the metaverse and more. Immersive STEM field trips and inter-school sharing sessions will also take place to provide them with a unique and impactful learning experience.
“Driving inclusive economic opportunities is a key part of Manulife’s Impact Agenda to create a more even playing field for all. We strive to bring long-term positive impact to the community by leveraging our expertise and network to raise the standard of financial literacy,” said Calvin Chiu, Manulife’s Head of Asia Retirement. “With the continuous support of SJS, Manulife hopes to continue promoting children’s understanding of financial concepts with the use of emerging technologies, helping them to make better financial decisions in the future.”
The launch is accompanied by the release of a new survey that reveals misconceptions about digital wallets and a lack of awareness about the importance of saving among Hong Kong’s younger generation. The survey was distributed in June by SJS, with the results based on interviews with 325 primary school students.
Nearly a quarter of the students thought their money will never be used up (23%), and 18% said they believed their parents’ income will not change after retirement. In addition, over half (57%) are not sure about how much they spent on average in a month. Close to two-thirds (62%) said they are not sure about the balance of their digital wallet and a third (33%) did not even know where the money in their digital wallet comes from.
In addition, the survey indicates a need to educate the students about the importance of savings for the future. Close to a third (29%) said they do not know how to save money. More than a half said their parents have not talked to them about their retirement plan (57%) and their source of income after retirement (57%).
Josephine Lee, Chief Executive Officer of St. James’ Settlement, said: “We can see there’s a clear need to help the next generation develop their financial literacy if they are to smoothly navigate the hybrid world without undue risk or loss. We look forward to continuing our work with Manulife to benefit the wider community and prepare young people to be able to manage financially in the future.”
C.C.C. Chuen Yuen First Primary School was one of first schools to join the pilot in March, along with Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School. Commenting on the pilot phase of the program earlier this year, Zhow Wong Ying, student at C.C.C. Chuen Yuen First Primary School, said: “I looked forward to the lessons because they were very inspiring and a lot of fun, particularly the virtual reality activities. I learned about why and how to save money, and am trying to do that with my pocket money.”
Hashtag: #Manulife
About Manulife Hong Kong
Manulife Hong Kong, through Manulife International Holdings Limited, owns Manulife (International) Limited, Manulife Investment Management (Hong Kong) Limited and Manulife Provident Funds Trust Company Limited. As a member of the Manulife group of companies, Manulife Hong Kong offers a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individual and corporate customers in Hong Kong and Macau.
About Manulife
Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2021, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 119,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 33 million customers. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong.
Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.
About St. James’ Settlement
Founded by the Rt. Rev. Bishop R.O. Hall of the Anglican Church in 1949, St. James’ Settlement began as a club for boys and girls in a temple in Stone Nullah Lane, Wanchai. Our first centre outside Wanchai (named Central and Western District Elderly Community Centre) was established in 1990. Since then, different service centres have been developed and most of them are located along the north coast of Hong Kong Island, from The Belcher’s in Western to Hing Wah Estate in Chai Wan. In recent years, in view of the society’s ever changing needs, we have opened service centres in Kowloon and the New Territories. To date, our 73 service points are in operation across Hong Kong. By the end of September 2021, we have over 1,800 staff members to provide a vast range of high quality services for people of different ages and needs. In the past year, around 1,000 volunteers have helped in different service units.
In 2020-2021, St. James’ Settlement served more than 2.2 million person-times, and our target beneficiaries include children, teenagers, families, the elderly and people with disabilities. We provide a broad spectrum of services ranging from community support to residential care.
Laos Judo Athlete Wins Bronze in International Judo Championship

A member of the Lao judo team has taken home a bronze medal at the Thailand International Judo Championship 2022 in Chiang Rai on Saturday.
Free Course Offered for Responsible Elephant-based Tourism
Asian Captive Elephant Standards (ACES) is inviting the travel industry and consumers to complete a free online course to help raise awareness about captive elephant welfare and responsible tourism practice in southeast Asia.
Meth Pills Seized by Laos Police in One of its Biggest Busts
A whopping haul of 33 million tablets along with 500 Kg (1,100 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine has been confiscated by authorities in Laos, in their third largest seizure ever of methamphetamine.