A major fuel shortage in Luang Namtha District yesterday saw just one petrol pump open as residents flocked to fill up.
AI and Robotics Pave the Way for a New ‘Security Technologist’ Career Pathway, Say Industry Experts
- Strides in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics in security technology management is paving the way for a new ‘security technologist’ career pathway in Singapore
- This presents potential opportunities for security officers to upskill and take on more meaningful roles, but horizontal and critical core skills remain essential to their employability
- Security officers must grasp the fundamentals and working principles of these technologies to stay nimble, or risk being left behind
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 29 March 2022 – With the emerging trend of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics with manpower to enhance work systems, there will be an inevitable shift in the role of security officers in Singapore, note industry experts. While this digital transformation will free up workers’ time for higher-value tasks and creates more opportunities for them to upskill and move up in the security industry, those who lack the fundamental competencies to operate new technologies may be at a disadvantage.

These are some key findings from NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB)’s recently launched Industry Insights report on Security, which featured in-depth interviews with experts from NTUC LHUB, Union of Security Employees (USE), CBM Security, and Apollo Global Academy to uncover the trends in Singapore’s private security sector.
“To optimise headcount in the manpower scarce industry, security technology management which integrates the use of AI into its operations, allows security officers to be more competitive and productive. There are four aspects that security officers need to be familiar with: Access Control Management, Alarm System Management, Robotics and Automation Application as well as Security Surveillance Management,” says NTUC LearningHub’s Director of Technical Skills, Tay Ee Learn
Technology Creates Opportunities More Than It Displaces Jobs
As the security industry in Singapore makes strides in leveraging technology to enhance and create more efficient security systems, there will be lower dependence on manpower to conduct manual work such as patrolling and CCTV feed monitoring. Experts say that these technological advancements spell greater job prospects rather than job displacement for security officers. Some examples include the industry’s growing need for Command Centre Specialists and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilots who specialise in aerial surveillance.
Executive Secretary of USE, Steve Tan says, “As the security sector faces a persistent shortage of security officers, it is not likely that we will see a displacement of jobs. Instead, we can expect technology to alleviate the shortfall and eventually enable the roles and duties of security officers to evolve into higher-skilled roles that manage the technology and carry out more meaningful tasks.”
By the same token, Chief Trainer at Apollo Global Academy, Alan Low says, “Systems can only detect the error, but they cannot respond. Security officers will still be needed. Rather than taking away the job of the security officers, we are trying to uplift the security officers to a higher level so that they can perform higher-value tasks.”
However, Alan cautions that security officers must grasp the fundamentals and working principles of technologies to stay nimble, or risk being left behind. “If security officers are trained in only one product and are deployed to another area that uses a different product, they may not know how to operate it. Thus, it is imperative for security officers to understand the fundamentals and working principles of technologies. They will need to know how to operate the technology systems and identify basic errors to perform some troubleshooting of the equipment which cannot be limited to the scope of specific products.”
Horizontal and Critical Core Skills Remain Essential
Security officers are often the first response personnel in situations such as crowd control and dispute management. As such, horizontal skills such as Facility Management and Incident Response, therefore, continue to be fundamental to their role. The report also outlines that Critical Core Skills — such as Digital Fluency, Problem Solving, Adaptability and Communication — are key competencies for security officers who want to remain competitive and resilient in the digital age.
Steve adds, “The ability to adapt to trends is critical as the role of security officers evolve with technology transformation. The Tripartite partners are working towards building a more holistic future for our security officers. We are prepared to equip our security officers with skills where they can choose to pursue a deep vertical path in security technology and have the option to cross over to horizontal pathways in facility management and incident response.”
To download the Industry Insights report on Security, visit https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/security-2022. To find out more about the courses, training and grants, contact NTUC LearningHub at www.ntuclearninghub.com/.
About NTUC LearningHub
NTUC LearningHub is the leading Continuing Education and Training provider in Singapore which aims to transform the lifelong employability of working people. Since our corporatisation in 2004, we have been working with employers and individual learners to provide learning solutions in areas such as Cloud, Infocomm Technology, Healthcare, Employability & Literacy, Business Excellence, Workplace Safety & Health, Security, Human Resources and Foreign Worker Training.
To date, NTUC LearningHub has helped over 26,000 organisations and achieved close to 2.6 million training places across more than 2,900 courses with a pool of about 900 certified trainers. As a Total Learning Solutions provider to organisations, we also forge partnerships to offer a wide range of relevant end-to-end training. Besides in-person training, we also offer instructor-led virtual live classes (VLCs) and asynchronous online learning. The NTUC LearningHub Learning eXperience Platform (LXP) — a one-stop online learning mobile application — offers timely, bite-sized and quality content for learners to upskill anytime and anywhere. Beyond learning, LXP also serves as a platform for jobs and skills development for both workers and companies.
For more information, visit www.ntuclearninghub.com.
#NTUCLearningHub
Thailand to Ban Cryptocurrency Payments
Thailand is to ban the use of cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, as payment for goods and services.
Cryptocurrency Exchange Bybit Receives In-Principle Approval to Conduct Virtual Asset Business in UAE and Move Global Headquarters to Dubai
● Bybit is committed to a continuous constructive dialogue with regulators and legislators in the UAE and will play a key role in educating investors and wider public on digital assets
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Media OutReach – 28 March 2022 – Cryptocurrency exchange business Bybit has received in-principle approval to conduct a full spectrum of virtual assets business in Dubai, the firm announced today at a joint press conference with the UAE Ministry of Economy at the World Government Summit 2022. Bybit also announced that it plans to set up its global headquarters in Dubai, offering a full suite of products and services globally, under the Emirate’s “test-adapt-scale” virtual assets market model.

Bybit stressed it was fully committed to supporting the regulatory efforts of the UAE government and is looking to share its in-depth industry knowledge, experience and insights with all stakeholders. Bybit has a key role to play in educating retail investors and the wider public in how to use virtual assets in a safe and responsible manner, helping the UAE manage risks within a framework for responsible growth.
“Bybit’s decision to open its global headquarters in Dubai is a milestone in our efforts to position the UAE as a global digital hub,” said H.E. Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Minister in Charge of Talent Attraction and Retention. “Virtual assets such as cryptocurrency and blockchain have changed finance forever. To stay ahead in this fast-changing industry, we are building a business-friendly ecosystem with robust regulations to attract, retain and enable high-growth companies – this is paying dividends in terms of the next generation FDI we are seeing coming in. This will create jobs and investment opportunities and consolidate our position as one of the world’s most attractive places to live and work for those in virtual assets and web 3.0 industries.”
“Bybit looks forward to contributing to the virtual assets innovations of the Emirate’s vibrant economy and having our global headquarters in Dubai. I believe we could help further stakeholders’ understanding of this complex industry as the virtual assets space continues to rapidly mature. This in-principle approval is an extraordinary opportunity for Bybit to support the UAE and the wider region’s ambition to become a global virtual assets technology hub,” said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit.
Led by a sophisticated management team with talent from fintech, IT, virtual assets, investment, and legal background, Bybit is one of the fastest growing virtual assets platforms with its peak daily trading volume of US$76 billion in May 2021. It is the third most digitally visited virtual assets business in the world.
Bybit’s new headquarters office is expected to commence operations in as early as April 2022 and it has started the process of hiring talent and transferring existing teams and operations to their new home in Dubai.
The UAE’s new Dubai Virtual Asset Regulation Law was announced earlier this month. It aims to establish a regulatory framework for the sector designed to boost the industry providing robust guardrails that protect investors, facilitate cross-border transparency, and assure global market integrity.
About Bybit
Bybit is a virtual assets platform established in March 2018 that features an ultra-fast matching engine, excellent customer service and multilingual community support. The company provides innovative online spot and derivatives trading services, mining and staking products, an NFT marketplace as well as API support, to retail and institutional clients around the world, and strives to be the most reliable platform for the emerging virtual assets class. Bybit has recently become the Principal Team Partner of Formula One racing team, Oracle Red Bull Racing.
For more information please visit: https://www.bybit.com/
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https://www.instagram.com/bybit_official/
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#Bybit
Ariana DeBose and Lupita Nyong’o Shine in De Beers Jewellers at the 94th Academy Awards

Actress Ariana DeBose triumphantly won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Anita in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of West Side Story after sweeping the rest of award season. She looked radiant with a fresh and modern take on Hollywood glamour in De Beers high jewellery collections – layered diamond line necklaces, Drops of Light diamond earrings, Arpeggia three-line diamond bracelet, Arpeggia ring and Ellesmere Treasure high jewellery ring paired with a vibrant red ensemble.
“Oscars night was spectacular in every way! When we chose the jewellery to wear for the big night, I put on the diamond necklaces from De Beers and the pieces immediately evoked light and music from within. Each one really spoke to me for this moment and it was the perfect way to celebrate this incredible evening. And I know De Beers is committed to sustainability which is a win for me,” Ariana said of her De Beers Jewellers look for the evening.
Zadrian Smith, half of Ariana’s styling team Zadrian + Sarah said of the look, “As Ariana’s Academy Awards look is so unique and individual, we needed jewellery that was going to stand apart as well. We chose stunning natural diamonds from De Beers, who had pieces that measured up to the magnitude of this moment.” Sarah Edmiston added “…And when we found out that the earrings and necklace she’s wearing were named ‘Drops of Light,’ it felt serendipitous. Ariana is such a light, illuminating the spaces around her.”
Lupita Nyong’o looked like an embodiment of an Oscar statue as she took the stage wearing a glittering gold gown accentuated by Light Rays crown ring from De Beers’ latest high jewellery collection, The Alchemist of Light, Motlatse Marvel earrings and Landers Radiance ring from the Reflections of Nature high jewellery collection.
“We paired the most extraordinary De Beers jewellery with Lupita’s gold fringe gown. The Light Rays crown ring from The Alchemist of Light collection could not be more perfect because it mimicked the detailing of the dress. The pink and yellow diamond earrings and statement ring from the Reflections of Nature collection added the perfect pop of colour. You don’t ever want your jewellery to compete with your dress, rather you want them to enhance each other. These pieces effortlessly did just that,” said stylist Micaela Erlanger of Lupita’s Oscars look.
About De Beers Jewellers
Founded in London, with a flagship store on Old Bond Street and a presence in the most exclusive locations around the world, De Beers Jewellers is the pinnacle of luxury diamond jewellery. Building on De Beers’ 130 years of expertise, the House glorifies the world’s most beautiful diamonds through creativity and craftsmanship in bold, distinctive designs.
De Beers is committed to ensuring all the diamonds it discovers create a lasting positive impact for people and the places where they are found. This comes with a pledge to build a better future – one that is fairer, safer, cleaner and healthier, in which communities thrive, ethical practices are maintained, and the natural environment is protected.
De Beers Jewellers has 30 stores globally and ships to 15 markets via www.debeers.com.
About De Beers Group
Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of the De Beers Group strategy as it develops its portfolio of brands, including De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions, such as recently launched diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives GemFair and Tracr. De Beers Group employees are committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – one that is fairer, safer, cleaner and healthier; where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; and where communities thrive and the environment is protected. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DeBeersGroup
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LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/debeersgroup
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#DeBeers #ADiamondIsForever
OPPO Find X5 Pro elevates its cooling system to another level, offering an outstanding experience to users

PC-grade cooling in a miniature shell
Perfecting cooling in a phone is not a simple process. The OPPO Find X5 Pro uses a full passive cooling solution, generating zero noise. And all its pieces have to slot in around the core components in a precision-crafted case less than 9mm thick.
The OPPO Find X5 Pro cooling system is not treated as a pure logistical block puzzle. Each step of the process is guided by the human body’s perception of temperature. There will be no hot spot on the phone’s back that the users can notice, no heat build-up to distract from whatever situations
OPPO vapor chamber design
A vapor chamber is the heart of the phone’s cooling system. From the outside, this may simply look like a thin sheet of metal, but there’s an intricate little world inside its walls.
The vapor chamber is an ultra-thin copper cave injected with a very small amount of liquid. As heat from the components underneath conducts through the chamber’s bottom, this liquid evaporates and spreads throughout the chamber. It condenses on the outer walls, spreading the heat it held over a much larger surface area, dissipating the heat in the process.
The larger a vapor chamber is, the wider and more effectively it can move heat away from the components that generate it, like the primary processor. OPPO has managed to increase its size by 75% over the previous generation. It almost completely covers the battery and SoC, the main processor.
The display driver and display panel, the SoC and wireless charging coil are some of the heat-generating areas that require extra attention. OPPO developed bespoke solutions for these components based around three materials: copper, graphite and graphene.
Advanced materials engineering
Copper is the traditional material for cooling components. However, when devising heat management for the display, OPPO’s R&D team found that both heat dispersal and the resilience of the screen can be improved by using a copper sheet sandwiched with an ultra-thin layer of graphite.
It helps to keep the display cool while it delivers searing brightness at 120Hz, and dramatically improves the drop resilience of the OPPO Find X5 Pro by increasing structural integrity.
The other hot zones in a phone, like the motherboard and battery coil, did not need the same level of structural support, letting OPPO R&D dig even further into possible solutions. They landed on a graphene film, where the carbon from graphite is arranged in a single-atom layer, which dramatically improves strength and conductivity.
Graphene is a wonderful material but producing it on a mass scale is no easy task. To turn graphite into graphene involves a process called sintering, where the graphite is heated at temperatures up to 3100 degrees centigrade. Such high temperatures were unattainable for mass industrial production. OPPO is the first in the industry to achieve it, resulting in the highest quality, most conductive graphene film.
Following years of experimentation and fine-tuning, OPPO has achieved a 50% improvement in thermal conductivity of the graphene film compared to its first-generation process, for industry-leading performance.

More than passive cooling
OPPO also created the new Ice-skin* case to keep the phone cool while protecting it. The core of the case is Glacier Mat, an innovative material that achieves a self-replenishing cooling cycle without using any power at all.
Glacier Mat is a hydrogel layer co-developed with Wuhan University, one of the top universities in China. Hydrogel pulls moisture from the air, which is then evaporated through the heat generated by the device. It is an ideal material to bring the heat out from the device. However, the ordinary hydrogel cannot replenish water after evaporation so it can’t be used as a long-term cooling solution.
Glacier Mat is different, it is a modified hydrogel that can re-absorb moisture from the air at low temperatures, after the water initially held is evaporated through the process of cooling the OPPO Find X5 Pro, creating a circular cooling cycle. Although it sounds simple, it cost OPPO’s engineers a great deal of effort to put this theory into practice and mass production in less than half a year.

Testing shows a 2-3 degree drop in phone temperature when gaming with the Ice-skin case attached. A cooler phone improves comfort during play and ensures the highest frame rates for smoother experience. The most important part: the Ice-skin case achieves all this with minimal weight, zero power use and zero noise.
#OPPO
Overview of Laos’ Economy in 2021 and Forecast for 2022
The Lao National Socio-Economic Research Institute has released a report on the state of the economy in Laos for 2021, as well as predicted trends and forecasts for 2022.
Manulife and St. James’ Settlement launch “FinKids Academy” to help children-in-need continue learning during school holidays and beyond
- New program under multi-year “Go Paperless Education Aid Program” utilizes virtual reality and FinTech that aims to raise primary kids’ financial literacy
- Immediate support provided to 40 primary students during the extended school holidays, with over 600 students to benefit in the coming school year
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 28 March 2022 – Manulife Hong Kong today announced the launch of a “FinKids Academy” program in conjunction with community partner St. James’ Settlement, as an immediate initiative to support the community amid ad-hoc changes to the school schedule. The program is designed to help underprivileged children equip themselves with future-ready skills, improved financial literacy and greater technology know-how from the safety of home.
The new “FinKids Academy” runs under Manulife’s “Go Paperless” Education Aid Program from March to May 2022. Swiftly developed in response to the rapidly spreading fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, the initiative aims to help primary students acquire new skills through digital learning. The program will be fully launched in September this year with a total of over 600 students from 24 schools joining. A total of over 10,000 learning hours under the program will incorporate innovative technology, such as virtual reality (VR) and FinTech, to provide an immersive learning experience for the students.
“Manulife is committed to supporting the community through our expertise and network. Part of our mission is to improve financial literacy starting with those at a young age, so that they can plan early and be more financially-resilient as they grow,” said Raymond Ng, Vice President and Head of Hong Kong Retirement for Manulife Hong Kong and Macau. “We’re very grateful to our partner, St. James’ Settlement, for its tremendous support. The program will help kids learn core skills including coding, money planning, design thinking– invaluable tools for the future.”
The program offers hands-on learning that combines theory with practice using various digital tools. It covers basic coding knowledge, while exploring different types and uses of FinTech, digital currencies and how the metaverse will impact our future. The game-based learning utilizes VR in simulated day-to-day life situations with design thinking and mind-mapping tools.
Josephine Lee, Chief Executive Officer of St. James’ Settlement, said: “Schools here have endured two years of pandemic-related disruption and we see its impact on children’s education and well-being especially in less affluent areas. Given the extended holidays for students at the moment, it is vital to offer meaningful online educational programs to children. We are glad to have the participation of C.C.C. Chuen Yuen First Primary School and Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School within such a short timeframe. We believe that this program will be welcomed by participating schools as it helps equip our underprivileged children with the financial literacy and digital skills in a fun and engaging way.”
Echoing the focus of this year’s Hong Kong Money Month, the program calls for the community to develop financial management skills and plan for the future.
“The use of smart technology to really engage with the students is unique and pioneering. Through this initiative, Manulife hopes to continue nurturing children’s financial knowledge using emerging technologies, so as to prepare them for prudent money planning and to be more ready to meet the challenges of a fast-evolving and unpredictable environment,” Mr. Ng added.
In 2020, Manulife’s “Go Paperless” Education Aid Program was successfully launched as a community project in partnership with SJS, with donation of 400 iPads to 13 primary schools, and hosting of virtual AI and financial literacy workshops for 400 students. It also ran a design competition for an “AI and financial planning mobile app” and “My ideal AI financial planning robot” among the students over the following school year.
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 that helps 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. Our principal operations are in Asia and Canada, and the United States, where we have served customers for more than 155 years. We trade as ‘MFC’ on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under ‘945’ in Hong Kong. In the previous 12 months we made CAD$31.8 billion in payments to our customers.
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.
#ManulifeHongKong
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.