A police official allowing a vehicle to go after checking for drugs.
From this month to next year, police in Bolikhamxay Province will establish checkpoints on roads throughout the province to test motorists for drug use.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 4 August 2022 – World Vision’s First Asia Summit for Corporate Good concluded fruitfully yesterday. The two-day summit was held from 2 August to 3 August 2022 in a virtual format, reflecting on how corporations across the Asia Pacific region can lead sustainable change for children.
The Limitless 2022: Asia Summit for Corporate Good delivered impactful sessions and discussions, including issues of youth and inclusive economic growth, technology and education, hunger and sustainable food systems, climate change and bottom lines, and volunteerism for re-engagement.
The summit rallied around the impact that strategic partnerships with corporations can make to positively impact children and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
More than 400 corporations and NGOs, over 30 of them from Hong Kong, came together to exchange views on concrete steps they can take to address issues facing children across the Asia Pacific region, for instance, exploring possibilities of applying their resources to overcome social and economic challenges experienced by children in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Vision has worked across the Asia Pacific region for decades. In 2021 alone, World Vision directly impacted the lives of 18.7 million people in the region, of which 7.5 million were children.
ShopBack will officially launch its platform in Hong Kong in response to the market’s immense potential
Users in Hong Kong can anticipate exciting Cashback promotions and discounts to commemorate ShopBack’s entry and rebrand celebrations within the month of August
The launch will be rolled out alongside the Group’s global rebranding efforts to better synergise various features across its platform
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 4 August 2022 – ShopBack, Asia-Pacific’s leading shopping and rewards platform, today announces its upcoming market entry into Hong Kong. During the soft launch set to take place on 8th August 2022, shoppers in Hong Kong can expect heightened access to discount codes and coupons to earn Cashback on online purchases.
With the market primed for more rewarding shopping experiences, ShopBack has already onboarded over 250 merchants in Hong Kong. These merchants range from local to global players, including Watsons, Disney+, Apple, KFC, Booking.com, Farfetch, Taobao, Sasa, ParkNShop, iHerb, and more.
The Group’s entry into the market comes at an opportune time, where e-commerce in Hong Kong is poised to rise at a rapid rate of over 11 percent[1], potentially reaching revenues of HK$226 billion (US$29 billion) by 2024[2]. In efforts to turbocharge this sector and boost its overall retail industry, Hong Kong is implementing the 2022 Compensation Voucher Scheme[3], where shoppers in Hong Kong can experience greater financial accessibility towards their shopping experience.
“Entering Hong Kong is an exciting prospect for us at ShopBack. The market’s massive potential for e-commerce and the government’s focus on growing the sector illustrates a clear market demand for financial flexibility and convenience in shopping activities,” said Josephine Chow, Head of Expansion and Co-Founder, at ShopBack. “With ShopBack’s vast array of Cashback rewards and financial services, we are excited to see even more shoppers enjoy a seamless shopping experience following our official hard launch in Hong Kong later this year.”
A Global Rebranding for the Wins
ShopBack’s entry into Hong Kong occurs in tandem with the Group’s first global brand refresh across all its 10 markets in the Asia Pacific. Underscored by its new tagline – “For the Wins” – the brand refresh seeks to translate the small wins on ShopBack’s platform into an elevated shopping experience for its users.
To illustrate the full suite of benefits that ShopBack provides, the Group’s rebrand will focus on empowering its shoppers to achieve small wins in their daily shopping and payment activities. Its new tagline, “For the Wins”, a play on the popular Internet catchphrase, looks to celebrate the victories in one’s daily life, however small they may be.
“ShopBack believes in the power of small wins, applied consistently and continuously, and we work relentlessly to deliver smarter ways to shop and pay. We hope that the rebrand brings out this message more strongly to our shoppers,” said Henry Chan, CEO and Co-founder. “As we continue to grow our network of partners and brands in Hong Kong, we will continue to engage shoppers across multiple touchpoints, help partners gain visibility and sales, while supporting them in achieving their own victories through small wins.”
ShopBack’s launch in Hong Kong is the latest in a series of milestones achieved by the company. In 2021, ShopBack company drove US$3.5 billion in sales to 10,000 merchants[4], launched its ShopBack Pay service earlier this year[5], and raised US$80 million[6] during a recent funding round in June. The Group also plans to deepen its product offerings and expand its financial services to more markets in the coming months.
The ShopBack Group is Asia-Pacific’s leading shopping and rewards platform, serving over 35 million shoppers across ten markets. Founded in 2014, ShopBackers across the region come together with a singular mission: to make shopping rewarding, delightful, and accessible for all.
More than half a billion shopping trips start with ShopBack each year. ShopBack offers smart shopping experiences to users while helping brands and retailers increase outreach and engage shoppers.
The Group powers over US$3.5 billion in annual sales for over 10,000 online and in-store merchant partners. Through integrating Buy Now, Pay Later service hoolah and launching ShopBack Pay and PayLater, ShopBack extends the platform’s offerings into financial services, providing shoppers with more convenient payment options.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 August 2022 – Known as one of Asia’s largest NFT x ART Exhibition Event, “ARTAVERSE” is presented by Mastercard and supported by Web3.0 major players such as Animoca Brands, L2 Capital, MetaMask, and MADworld. “ARTAVERSE” successfully provides a channel for visitors to experience an all-immersive exhibition in Hong Kong. The event facilitated the exploration of multifarious interesting activities to interact with digital art exhibits, explore the blend of art and technology.
Riding on this successful event held in Hong Kong that showcases world-renowned NFT projects, “ARTAVERSE” hopes to expand its sphere of influence and hold similar events in Singapore, at the iconic and luxurious Marina Bay Sands. Widely supported by key players and leading organization cross-industries, “ARTAVERSE” aims to build a Singapore art community through integration of digital art, blockchain technology, augmented reality, virtual reality and local art. The Singapore “ARTAVERSE” offers a few additions including exhibition, rave and concert, introducing a plethora of ways to experience and explore both the arts.
The introduction of NFT and Metaverse has popularized art technology, reshaping our perception of traditional art. Via “ARTAVERSE’s” promotion of diverse and immersive exhibitions, “ARTAVERSE” creates a platform encouraging Asian art technology development, adding to the rapidly growing art/technology scene in Singapore.
Concept behind “ARTAVERSE”
“ARTAVERSE” focuses primarily on NFT and virtual arts displays through exhibitions, while providing guests and attendances an unforgettable experience blended with music fun. Concert and rave will be featured as part of “ARTAVERSE” s’ multi-day event, reshaping guests’ and art-lovers’ way of exposure to arts.
Further, “ARTAVERSE” is committed to equipping the younger ones with opportunities to explore their creative potential and develop their individual artistic sense. Besides displays of digital artworks and big-stage Music and Art performances, “ARTAVERSE” offers special workshops targeted at a younger crowd.
“ARTAVERSE” in Singapore
To better appeal to Singapore society, “ARTAVERSE’s” Singapore initiative is three-pronged: Exhibition, Concert and EDM Party. These areas of focus will span across 4 days, from 11am to 3am, aptly suited toward the youngsters in recent times. The novel EDM Party will share similarities to “ARTAVERSE’s” prior concerts while having an added twist. With nightlife having finally returned to pre-Covid days, people will be able to let loose while interacting with exciting artworks during “ARTAVERSE’s” snazzy events.
Hashtag: #ARTAVERSE
ABOUT “ARTAVERSE”
The “ARTAVERSE” team is established by Right Grace Entertainment, Yiu Wing Live Co.Ltd and Bold Asia in 2022. “ARTAVERSE”, the first/largest outdoor NFT x Local Art Exhibition will be hosted for the first time in June 2022, and is officially sponsored by Mastercard, whilst receiving strong support from more than 100 partners. It is determined to make the exhibition a collection of digital art, blockchain technology, augmented reality, virtual reality and local art. The all-in-one outdoor art community brings together local contemporary and digital artists with a new generation of collectors and art lovers to promote the popularization of the digital universe of Art under Web 3.0 in Hong Kong and across Asia, and lead the public into a vast new era of digital art.
Originally held biennially, the tradeshow will now become a yearly affair to meet the demand for a quality annual sourcing platform in Asia.
This year will see Alternative Proteins Asia debuting with the largest gathering of progressive companies, entrepreneurs, start-up competition and conferencefrom this maturing vertical in Singapore to date.
After being a part of Food&HotelAsia (FHA) for 44 years, FHA Horeca, which caters to hotels, restaurants, and cafes, will have a spin-off on its own held from 25-28 October 2022.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 4 August 2022 –Food and Hotel Asia (FHA) – Food & Beverage 2022, Singapore’s biggest B2B trade show, is back physically for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. It will return across four days from 5-8 September 2022 at the Singapore EXPO as an in-person event featuring over 2,000 exhibitors and 50 international group pavilions with an expected 35,000 local and international visitors spanning 60,000 square metres of exhibition space. FHA-Food & Beverage will also offer over 70 seminars conducted by over 100 speakers in 3 theatres over 4 days.
FHA-Food & Beverage 2018 at the Singapore Expo
Janice Lee, Event Director – Food, HKG and Singapore, FHA said: “This year will see participation from the largest ever international group pavilion in FHA-Food & Beverage such as Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, South Korea, and the Netherlands. We welcome more than 50 group pavilions across the world and with European Union as our Country of Honour, FHA will come together to contribute to a B2B platform where industry professionals across Asia can connect, trade, and discover the latest industry trends. With a 44-year strong track record, FHA continues to cement its position as the most important business event for international suppliers to meet buyers in Asia and beyond while continuing to evolve with the times.”
Mr Poh Chi Chuan, Executive Director, Exhibitions and Conferences, Singapore Tourism Board said: “We are excited to have FHA-Food & Beverage 2022, our largest international B2B tradeshow, return in force to Singapore. The evolution of FHA into two distinct mega events – FHA-Food & Beverage and FHA-HoReCa – reflects the continued importance of these business platforms for the F&B industry, as well as the trust that global event organisers have in Singapore. We look forward to welcoming all exhibitors and visitors to our city and will work closely with organisers to ensure a successful event.”
What’s New at FHA-Food & Beverage 2022
Novel to the 2022 edition of FHA-Food & Beverage is a brand new 1,400sqm feature zone dedicated entirely toplant-based and food-technology alternatives to animal proteins. Alternative Protein Asia (APA) is offering a maturing industry vertical a new B2B platform to conduct business, connect with investors, address sustainable practices, and provide a four-day thought-leadership conference on innovation.
Estimated to be worth $36.61 billion by 2029, the alternative protein market will be heavily influenced by Asia’s large population and increasing appetite for meat and protein. Since the global food system accounts for 26% of current global greenhouse gas emissions, investing in alternative proteins has one of the biggest impacts on decarbonization, with the highest CO2 savings per dollar of any sector (WeForum), and APA is the natural progression for companies that address climate change while targeting affluent consumers in Asia’s markets.
Exhibiting food tech companies include global players like Impossible Foods, Harvest Gourmet, First Pride, Big Idea Ventures, Finnebrogue, Tindle, Oatside, GrowthWell, Shiok Meats and many others.
APA’s exciting four-day conference program is highlighting the now and next for the industry, with over 40 thought leaders and experts from Good Food Institute (GFI), Nestle, Tyson Foods, Accor, AgFunder VC, CSIRO, GlobalData, Euromonitor, NTUC Fairprice, SaladStop!, SuperMeat, TurtleTree Labs, Singapore Management University (SMU), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), Innovate360, The Trendlines Group, Green Rebel Foods and more.
APA will also host the inaugural Big Idea Food Competition (BIFC), created by Big Idea Ventures, which will shine a spotlight on the best plant-based food entrepreneurs in Asia with the winner clinching an investment prize of US$200,000 at the finals.
Other exciting and new features and key events in the line-up include the:
– FHA Culinary Challenge where top chefs and culinary teams compete to be the best in their field;
– Halal Theatre, co-organized by Warees Halal is offering a large selection of workshops and seminars that will focus on four main areas: certification, trends, technologies, and case studies with guest speakers from Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), Singapore Business Federation (SBF), ASEAN Food and Beverage Alliance (AFBA), Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT;
– F&B Start-Up Village, an ideal launchpad for F&B start-ups;
– Food Technology Zone which will spotlight on industry developments and future trends in food processing and manufacturing, packaging solution ; and
– FHA Seminar with four days of industry seminars and workshops including the NYP Learning Studio, Ministry of Trade & Industry (MTI), Singapore Food Agency (SFA), Enterprise Singapore, Redmart, Asian Trade Center, foodpanda, HappyFresh, European Union and many others.
The registration for on-site seminars is highly encouraged through a 2-step process: registration for FHA can be done here first. Next, register for seminars from your FHA profile page.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 4 August 2022 – On July 29, 2022, People’s Procuratorate of Shenzhen Municipality and the Qianhai Authority organized a ceremony for signing three cooperation agreements and grand opening of the Hong Kong Enterprise Compliance Development Service Centre (the Centre). The ceremony was officiated by Yu Xinxi, Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Procurator-general of People’s Procuratorate of Shenzhen Municipality and Liang Ke, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Shenzhen Qianhai Cooperation Zone.
Shenzhen People’s Procuratorate and the Qianhai Authority signed three cooperation agreements” and witness the grand opening of the Hong Kong Enterprise Compliance Development Service Centre
Song Jijiang, Chief Procurator of Shenzhen Qianhai Procuratorate, and Liu Guilin, Deputy Director-General of the Qianhai Authority, signed three cooperation agreements on co-establishing “Hong Kong Enterprise Compliance Development Service Mechanism”, “Marine Ecological Environment and Natural Resource Protection Mechanism” and “Public Interest Litigation Collaboration Mechanism”. The parties will establish the Hong Kong Enterprise Compliance Development Service Centre together and coordinate all matters related to the establishment of the Centre. The position of the Centre is to provide comprehensive and professional platform for compliance research, exchange, construction, consultation, and publicity. The Centre aims to provide all-round and professional services to enhance operation convenience for Hong Kong enterprises in Qianhai.
Secretary Liang Ke said that signing of the three cooperation agreements is an important milestone for the deepening of reform and opening up in Qianhai. Qianhai will work together to strengthen corporate services and make good use of the Centre, which can further help Hong Kong enterprises in risks resistance, crimes prevention, and creation of a market-oriented, rule of law, and international business environment. Focusing on the “Golden Inner Bay”, Qianhai will work together to strengthen ecological protection. The mechanism will enhance the clustering and ecosystem of marine industry in Qianhai and promote the high-quality development of marine economy, and support Shenzhen to become a global maritime city. Focusing on “social welfare”, Qianhai will work together to strengthen innovation in the rule of law, fully support the procuratorial organizations to play the role of “an important force in protecting national interests and social interests”, and promote the comprehensive deepening of reform and opening up.
Secretary Yu Xinxi said that the signing of the three agreements and the grand opening of the Hong Kong Enterprise Compliance Development Service Center is a new era of in-depth cooperation between Shenzhen People’s Procuratorate and the Qianhai Authority. It creates a “Three Ones” win-win cooperation. The first one is to establish “One Cooperative Mechanism” that closely communicate and cooperate, leverage complementary advantages, improve reform efficiency, and create win-win development. The second one is to highlight Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation through “One Service Platform”, and continuously optimize procuratorial services to build the Hong Kong Enterprise Compliance Development Service Center into an important window serving Hong Kong enterprises and an important platform for the exchange of law enforcement and judicial theory and practice in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. The third one is to focus on the linkage of the Bay Area, promote the establishment of “One Friends Circle”, actively strengthen communication, deepen practical and theoretical exchanges, and promote the formation of a “Golden Inner Bay” marine ecological environment protection alliance around the Pearl River Estuary.
In the future, Shenzhen People’s Procuratorate will continue to deepen the cooperation with the Qianhai Authority in technological innovation, financial reform, business environment construction, etc.. They will work closely to improve procuratorial services with targeted and effective results, and to ensure high-quality development of Qianhai, and help Qianhai to position as a new plateau for reform and opening up in the new era.
Mr. Daochinda Sihalath, Director-General of the Laos-China Railway(right) and Col. Kaysone Keomany, Director-General of the Railway Police Department(left).
The Director-General of the Laos-China Railway made a statement yesterday admitting the railway system’s inefficient management.
https://www.artaverse.asia/ 
https://www.instagram.com/artaverse.asia/ 
https://twitter.com/ArtaverseAsia/ 
