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Asian Elephant Gives Birth to New Baby in Laos

A baby Asian elephant after its birth.

Mae Ping, an Asian elephant who had been pregnant for 22 months, finally gave birth to a calf at the Mekong Elephant Park in Xayaboury Province.

SonicWall Boosts Wireless Play with Ultra-High-Speed Wi-Fi 6 Access Points

New SonicWave 600 Series wireless access points, with Wi-Fi 6 technology, deliver always-on, always-secure connectivity for the most complex environments

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 29 August 2022 – SonicWall today announced the introduction of the new Wi-Fi 6 wireless security product line, which provides always-on, always-secure connectivity for complex, multi-device environments. Powered by Wi-Fi 6 technology, the new SonicWave 600 series wireless access points, coupled with Wireless Network Manager (WNM) 4.0, enable organizations to automatically secure wireless traffic while boosting performance and simplifying connectivity.

“In today’s hyper-connected world, organizations of all sizes are scaling high-performance wireless networks that need to be simple to deploy, dependable and secure,” said SonicWall President and CEO Bob VanKirk. “The SonicWave 600 series gives our global partner community and strategic MSSPs another solution to help protect their customers with secure, easy-to-manage wireless connectivity for the complex environments where they do business.”

SonicWall Wireless Network Manager (WNM) 4.0 provides an easy, effective way for enterprises, partners and MSSPs to securely manage wireless networks. WNM leverages the cloud to simplify management of complex environments with a unified, single-pane-of-glass cloud management portal.

The SonicWave 600 series uses Wi-Fi 6 technology which can increase overall wireless throughput by up to 4X compared to Wi-Fi 5 technology and reduce latency by up to 75%. Additionally, the SonicWave 600 series includes key features that address business needs for security, management, ease of deployment and scalability, including:

  • Increased wireless throughput by up to 4X. Superior Wi-Fi 6 performance using 802.11ax technology improves throughput, latency and total cost of ownership (TCO).
  • Ultra-fast wireless speeds on busy networks. Powered by Wi-Fi 6 technology, the SonicWave 600 series helps eliminate issues arising from crowded wireless networks while ensuring top speeds in highly dynamic environments.
  • Advanced cyberattack prevention. Increase confidence and block advanced cyberattacks with wireless access points integrated with the award-winning SonicWall Capture Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) sandbox service, patented Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection (RTDMI) and Reassembly-Free Deep Packet Inspection.
  • Threat detection and removal. Scan all wireless traffic coming into and going out of the network using deep packet inspection technology, and then remove harmful threats such as malware and intrusions, even over SSL/TLS-encrypted connections.
  • Reduced downtime. Never let a dropped or disrupted connection impact business, and safeguard revenue channels with secure, always-on connectivity for distributed networks.
  • Ability to build an optimized IoT environment. Design and scale high-performance networks capable of connecting dense, multi-device environments.
  • Upgrades along the way. Ensure consistency while improving performance and security by upgrading your environment — at your speed and within budget — to the latest technology that is fully backward-compatible.

“SonicWall has consistently provided solutions that have helped keep our campus secure over the years,” said Pam Messex, Chief Information Officer at Berean Baptist Church & Academy. “Educational environments have the challenge of being both secure and open simultaneously. Students need easy access to various resources, while staff members need to maintain secure records and safeguard personal information. Adding SonicWave wireless access points to our network gives us the ability to do this. We have come to rely on features such as segregation and security through client isolation, ease of use, and performance — especially as our campus becomes increasingly wireless.”

All SonicWave access points, including the new SonicWave 600 series, integrate with the cloud-delivered Wireless Network Manager 4.0, which allows for control and troubleshooting of wireless and switching access across networks of any size or region with a single pane of glass.

Designed with MSSPs in mind, the Wireless Network Manager infrastructure simplifies access, control and troubleshooting by unifying multiple tenants, locations and zones, while supporting thousands of SonicWave access points and SonicWall network switches — all without the cost of complex overlay management systems.

“The threat landscape evolves far too quickly to rely on legacy solutions,” said SonicWall Vice President of Products Jayant Thakre. “This advanced offering places additional emphasis on extending the performance of wireless networks with real-time threat mitigation. Businesses and their end users expect the best in real-time security, performance and analytics — regardless of the type of network or physical location.”

Debasish Mukherjee, Vice President, Regional Sales, Asia Pacific Japan at SonicWall added, “In today’s fast paced and increasingly connected world we live in, it’s only imperative that our environment remains secure yet open to new advancements. With the new SonicWave 600 series that uses Wi-Fi 6 technology, we can deliver always-on and always-secure connectivity even for the most complex environments. This means that end users can expect the best in real-time security, performance and analytics — to facilitate the management, ease of deployment and scalability of their operations regardless of the network or physical location they are in.”

The SonicWave 600 series will also be expanded with the release of SonicWave 621, currently scheduled for release by the end of calendar 2022.

To learn more about the SonicWave 600 series, please visit sonicwall.com/wireless.

Hashtag: #SonicWall

About SonicWall

SonicWall delivers Boundless Cybersecurity for the hyper-distributed era in a work reality where everyone is remote, mobile and unsecure. SonicWall safeguards organizations mobilizing for their new business normal with seamless protection that stops the most evasive cyberattacks across boundless exposure points and increasingly remote, mobile and cloud-enabled workforces. By knowing the unknown, providing real-time visibility and enabling breakthrough economics, SonicWall closes the cybersecurity business gap for enterprises, governments and SMBs worldwide. For more information, visit or follow us on , , and .

Phoutsavanh Vongkhamxao Crowned Miss Grand Laos 2022

Ms. Phoutsavanh Vongkhamxao, the winner of Miss Grand Laos 2022.

Phoutsavanh Vongkhamxao has been declared the winner of Miss Grand Laos 2022 and will go on to represent Laos at the Miss Grand International 2022 pageant in Indonesia this October.

SSY announces 2022 interim results

Net profit HK$570 million; Interim dividend HK$0.06/share
Seize development opportunities; Enhance competitive strength

Result summary:

  • Total revenue HK$3,405 million, representing a growth of 39.4%;
  • Net profit HK$570 million, representing a growth of 106.8%;
  • The Board resolved to pay interim dividend of HK$0.06 /share

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 29 August 2022 – SSY Group Limited (“SSY” or the “Company”; Stock Code: 2005.HK) and its subsidiaries (together, the “Group”) presents the interim results of the Company for the six months ended 30 June 2022.

During the first half of 2022, the Group achieved a revenue of HK$3,405 million, representing an increase of 39.4% compared to corresponding period of last year (“1H2021”) with gross profit margin 57.0%, representing a decrease of 3.2 percentage points compared to 1H2021. The Group achieved a net profit of HK$570 million, representing an increase of 106.8% compared to 1H2021.

Faced with pressure from continuous impacts of the epidemic, shrinking market demands and supply shock, the Group seized the development opportunities arising from changes in the industrial landscape and policy support, and implemented a series of measures to improve quality and enhance efficiency of its main business segments including preparations, bulk pharmaceuticals and medical materials, so as to maintain good growth momentum. Focusing on the dual circulation of domestic and international markets development pattern, the Group concentrated its efforts on market development for dominant preparations and key types of preparation products, and explored the domestic and overseas markets for its bulk pharmaceuticals and medical materials products. The Group also proactively optimised its product mix and placed great emphasis on the marketing of new featured products, leading to a new growth in market shares and sales volume.

The Board of directors proposed to pay an interim dividend of HK$0.06 per share for year 2022, which increased by 20% as compared to 1H2021. The total amount of interim dividend this year to be paid is approximately HK$179 million.

Amidst the normality under epidemic, the domestic pharmaceutical market witnessed a stable rigid demand. The Group continued to increase the market shares of the intravenous infusion solution and continuously solidified its leading position in the market. During the first half year, the sales volume of infusion solutions reached 754 million bottles (bags), representing an increase of 19.3% compared to 1H2021. Revenue of infusion solutions reached HK$1,834 million, representing an increase of 20% compared to 1H2021. Ampoule products delivered a remarkable market performance and have become a new support for the development of the Group’s injection segment. During the first half year, the revenue of ampoule products was HK$511 million, representing an increase of 4.7% compared to 1H2021, which maintained a good growth momentum. Solid preparations business segment delivered a steady and positive sales performance. In line with the national and local centralised procurement policies, the Group made coordinated efforts to secure market supply of tender-awarded products to promote and expand the market of new products. During the first half year, the revenue reached HK$145 million, representing an increase of 71% compared to 1H2021. Bulk pharmaceuticals business achieved a boost in both production and sales. After continuous optimization of production process, the premium production capacities were realised rapidly. In particular, as a vertical integration, the Group acquired Cangzhou Lingang Youyi Chemical Co., Ltd. at the beginning of the year, significantly improving the coordination between upstream and downstream entities of the industrial chain. During the first half of the year, revenue of bulk pharmaceuticals reached HK$777 million, representing an increase of 214.6% as compared to 1H2021. The Group achieved a growth jump in production and sale of medical materials. In the first half of the year, revenue from external customers of the Group recorded HK$90.55 million, representing an increase of 12.5% compared to 1H2021.

By using market demands as the guide and adhering to the strategy of “combination of generic and innovative drugs”, the Group made continuous and coordinated efforts to push forward the research and development of featured generic drugs, bulk pharmaceuticals, innovative drugs, medical materials as well as product types under consistency evaluation. The Group kept solidifying and expanding its strength in the research and development of featured generic drugs. During the first half of the year, a total of 22 production approvals were obtained, including 14 types of infusion products and 8 types of bulk pharmaceuticals, with the number of approvals obtained exceeding that of the whole year of 2021. So far, a total of 26 product types with 35 specifications of the Group have passed or were regarded as passing the national consistency evaluations regarding the quality and efficacy of generic drugs. During the period, 124 products of various types were also submitted by the Group to the Center for Drug Evaluation of the National Medical Products Administration for approval, including 100 preparation products (including products for consistency evaluation) and 24 types of bulk pharmaceuticals. The Group achieved positive progress in the Phase 1 clinical trial of the Type I innovative drug NP-01 project, and were stepping up efforts in the preparation of application materials for Phase 1 clinical trial for the innovative drug including ADN- 9, aiming to apply within the year. In addition, the bioprocessing film project of Jiangsu Best New Medical Material Co. Ltd. with an annual production capacity of 20 million square meters has completed construction and was ready for production on July 2022, providing a solid foundation for overall improvement of market supply capacity.

Looking forward to the second half of 2022, economic situation may remain severe and complicated amidst the normality under global epidemic. The Group will actively seize development opportunities and will make effort to facilitate the dual circulation of domestic and international markets in order to secure preemptive opportunities for development. On the preparations business, the Group will have an in-depth and a better systematic analysis on national and local centralized procurement policies, and will seize the market opportunities arising from the eighth round of National Centralised Medicines Procurement, with an aim to expand the market share and influence of its products passing the consistency evaluation. On the bulk pharmaceuticals business, the Group will proactively facilitate the domestic and international markets, and make efforts to strengthen and expand its bulk pharmaceuticals business, aiming to make a greater contribution to the development of the Group. In terms of research and development, the research and development of specialised generic drugs remains the focus of the Group’s research and development work for the moment. Facing the increasingly intensified competition in the research and development of generic drugs, the Company will leverage on the cooperation mechanism with universities and scientific research institutes, and explore more high quality research projects. The Group will continue to push forward proactively the spinoff listing of bulk pharmaceuticals segment in the PRC. At the same time, the Group will proactively seek opportunities of acquisition and investment in the pharmaceutical industry in order to increase the return on investment.

Mr. Qu Jiguang, Chairman and CEO of SSY said, “Facing the risks and challenges in the post-pandemic era, the Group will seize new opportunities for development in the industry. We will maintain the resilience and vitality of innovative development, and strive for facilitating the quality development of the Group. We firmly believe that, by virtue of the scale, quality, management and brand advantages accumulated in the industry over the years and the continuous innovation momentum released by the Group, we will strive to create new high record again in year 2022 in terms of production, sales and profit, and will bring satisfactory returns to our investors with a stronger result of development.”

Hashtag: #SSY

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

About SSY Group Limited

SSY Group Limited is one of the leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in China with nearly 7 decades of operation history and a well-established brand name. The Group went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in December 2005 with stock code 2005. The Group is principally engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and selling of a wide range of pharmaceutical products, including finished medicines of mainly intravenous infusion solution and ampoule injection to hospitals and distributors, bulk pharmaceuticals and medical materials. The manufacturing plants of the Group locates in Hebei Province and Jiangsu Province in China, and its pharmaceutical products has leading position in the high-end hospital market in China.

Thailand Looks to Indian Weddings for New Tourism Revenue

Indian weddings in Thailand

Thailand is looking to Indian weddings as a new source of tourism following the loss of Chinese visitors this year.

Shopee Celebrates the Heart of Malaysia on E-Commerce

60% of Malaysian Consumers Buy Local Ahead of Merdeka Day

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 29 August 2022 – 60% of Malaysian consumers are proactively supporting local sellers ahead of Merdeka Day with #ShopeeSapotLokal, at the live reveal of the platform’s largest marketplace study this year, Celebrating the Heart of Malaysia on E-Commerce*, ahead of the company’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day.

When 3,356 consumers were asked “Why do you think it is important to support local sellers?” during the month leading up to Merdeka Day, 30% endorsed the quality of Made-in-Malaysia goods that cater to their local preferences, 20% stated that they want to keep the economy running for patriotic reasons and 8% were sellers supporting other local sellers in the same boat. 42% preferred shopping local to get their items delivered faster.

Among these respondents, half of them (54%) are working full time, 18% are in-between jobs, 17% are senior citizens, 6% are stay-at-home parents and 5% are university students.

Shopee also examined what Malaysians valued about online shopping. Over 70% of consumers surveyed estimated that their everyday online shopping transactions resulted in savings of over 5% consistently. Economic uncertainty was the primary reason respondents valued every Ringgit saved, with 50% of buyers needing to reduce expenses in this environment, 14% not earning enough to cover essentials, 10% foreseeing major expenses in the coming months and 6% providing for multiple dependents.

“Interestingly, not all buyers prioritise discounts and vouchers exclusively. Seven in 10 Malaysians value peace of mind over lower price,” according to Kenneth Soh, Head of Marketing Campaigns at Shopee Malaysia.

Nine in 10 Malaysians still buy online despite the reopening of physical outlets because it is a learned and adopted habit. The majority value having ‘peace of mind’, with 40% enjoying the convenience of parcels delivered to their doorstep, 17% feeling safe with Shopee Guarantee, and 10% trusting reviews and pictures from other buyers.

For 49% of buyers, Shopee is the top-of-mind shopping destination for lifestyle products, including home decoration items, fashion pieces, and health and beauty products. Apart from that, 24% of buyers purchase living essentials (groceries and diapers) from Shopee, 16% look for tech devices (computers, mobile devices and TV) and the remaining 11% buy automobile parts or work and school supplies.

“When Malaysian consumers express their values through online shopping preferences this way, we truly understand why eight in 10 local sellers started their selling journey online with Shopee. We are humbled to discover that half of our local sellers surveyed say the income earned on our platform is crucial as it enables them to support their families,” said Soh.

The majority of local sellers began selling online with Shopee to overcome existing limitations on their earnings and participation in the economy: 24% because it is their only source of income, 5% can’t get a job, 18% need to supplement income and 24% feel the pressures of higher costs of living. 30% said they became Shopee sellers because of their passion for their business.

Save and Enjoy More with 9.9 Super Shopping Day

To enable Malaysians to stretch their Ringgit even more, Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day is currently happening till 9 September 2022. More value and joy await shoppers on top of Free Shipping with no minimum spend, daily 95% off deals and a chance to Shop & Win up to RM200,000**.

Malaysians can also look forward to Shopee Live daily exclusive vouchers, worth up to RM6 off with no minimum spend from any livestream on Shopee Live. The Live-exclusive vouchers refresh every day, so users should come back to Shopee livestream daily to claim and use the vouchers on 9.9 Super Shopping Day.

On top of that, users can also participate in the Shopee Live Buy & Win contest to stand a chance to win up to 100,000 Shopee Coins and Gold Bars. This is applicable for purchases made in any livestreams on Shopee Live from 26 August until 9 September.

To top it off, tune in to TV3, Shopee Live or Shopee’s YouTube channel at 9PM on 9 September to get your hands on the best TV deals in town from the Shopee 9.9 Super Show. Full of exciting performances, games and offers, Shopee will be treating Malaysians with Shopee Shake, Vouchers Drop and more during the show for an unforgettable 9.9 Super Shopping Day.

For more information about the Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day, visit https://shopee.com.my/m/99.

**Terms and conditions apply.

Notes
1. Survey Methodology*
The 2022 “Celebrating the Heart of Malaysia on E-Commerce” survey was conducted by Shopee Marketplace, between 19 July to 17 August 2022. Voluntary feedback was obtained from 2,132 Malaysian sellers and 3,356 Malaysian buyers on the platform.

2. Shopee Malaysia held a virtual press conference on the marketplace survey – ‘Celebrating the Heart of Malaysia on E-Commerce’ on 25 August 2022. To view it in full, please contact pr.my@shopee.com.

Hashtag: #Shopee #MerdekaDay

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.

Cambodia Bans Talc Powder Imports Over Asbestos

Cambodia temporarily bans baby powder from Thailand.

Cambodia has temporarily halted imports and distribution of talcum powder products after asbestos was discovered in several brands of baby powder.

Japan Donates Vehicles and Rescue Equipment to Help Flood-Stricken Laos

20 trucks were donated by the government of Japan to assist Laos amid flooding.

The Japanese government has provided vehicles to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare as part of efforts to tackle widespread flooding across the country.