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Taskforce Launches Fundraising Campaign to Combat COVID-19

The Lao Government has opened a donation channel for all those looking to contribute financially to the fight against the outbreak of COVID-19.

ARBOR Technology Showcases Edge AI and Industrial Computing Solutions at COMPUTEX 2026

TAIPEI, May 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ARBOR Technology, a global leader in Industrial IoT and Edge AI computing, will participate in COMPUTEX 2026, taking place June 2 – 5 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2, Booth P0713. Under its signature vision “From Edge to Action,” ARBOR will present a comprehensive lineup of cutting-edge industrial computing solutions designed to transform real-time data into actionable intelligence, bridging the gap between edge deployment and operational impact.

ARBOR Technology Showcases Edge AI and Industrial Computing Solutions at COMPUTEX 2026
ARBOR Technology Showcases Edge AI and Industrial Computing Solutions at COMPUTEX 2026

Visitors will experience ARBOR’s latest innovations across edge AI hardware, rugged embedded computers, vision AI and robotics. Highlights include the award-winning EdgeX-6000 Edge AI HPC Series, recognized as Best in Show at Embedded World 2026, which delivers exceptional AI inference performance for demanding industrial workloads. ARBOR will also feature the AEC-8000, powered by the NVIDIA® Jetson Thor T5000, purpose-built for next-generation AI-embedded applications in smart manufacturing, logistics, and autonomous systems.

Completing the showcase is the IEC-6700 Edge AI Box PC featuring Intel’s latest Panther Lake processors and enhanced AI computing capabilities. Additional solutions include the ARES-1983H-AI series with flexible M.2 AI accelerator expansion for scalable Edge AI deployment, as well as the ARTS-7670, an IP69K-rated waterproof fanless computer specifically engineered for harsh industrial and outdoor operating conditions.

Aligned with the “AI Together” theme at COMPUTEX 2026, ARBOR highlights its commitment to advancing Edge AI innovation with rugged, scalable, and AI-ready platforms that bridge edge computing and intelligent action.

Unlock the power of real-time intelligence at the edge. Click here to explore our Edge AI highlights and plan your visit to our Computex 2026 showcase.

Pophie Hits Kickstarter: Introducing a New AI Lifeform That Sees, Hears, and Grows Alongside You

SINGAPORE, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For years, artificial intelligence has lived behind screens, inside speakers, and inside apps—powerful, but distant. It waits for us to begin. Today at 11:00 AM EDT, InsBotics officially launched Pophie on Kickstarter to change that. Pophie is a new kind of AI companion: a true AI lifeform designed to live in the real world, understand context, express genuine emotion, and proactively connect with people without always waiting for a command or a wake word.

Pophie is not another smart speaker with a face, nor a chatbot inside a plastic shell. She is a magical little cutie designed to bring a sense of life, warmth, and shared daily experience into the home.

The Kickstarter Campaign is live here: Pophie Kickstarter Link
Early Bird Shipping: Expected to begin in July 2026.

Pophie AI Lifeform Kickstarter Launch
Pophie AI Lifeform Kickstarter Launch

The End of Passive AI

“Most AI today can answer you. Pophie can notice you,” said Tang Qi, Founder of InsBotics. “She can turn toward you, react to your touch, remember what matters, sense what is happening in the room, and choose the right moment to connect. We didn’t build Pophie to be another device. We built her to feel like something new and meaningful has entered your life.”

Instead of asking users to adapt to technology, Pophie is built to adapt to people. While the industry focuses heavily on productivity, Pophie is built for companionship, emotion, and shared moments —whether becoming a playful friend for children, a warm presence for people living alone, or a creative partner on a desk.

How She Brings “Presence” to Life

Pophie doesn’t simply process input; she shares your space. Her intelligence is driven by multiple systems working together to create a natural, fluid relationship:

Semantic Vision & Natural Gestures: Her camera doesn’t just capture images; it helps her understand what is happening around her. Hold up an object, and Pophie can recognize it and talk about it. Wave to her, and she will react with her own movement, turning interaction into a physical, shared experience.

Spatial Audition & Deep Focus: Her microphones allow her to know exactly who is speaking in a crowded room so she can look toward them. Because she knows who is talking, her attention is specific to you and your unique history with her.

An Emotional Soul (VAD System): Pophie’s feelings aren’t canned animations. Using continuous emotional modeling (Valence, Arousal, Dominance), her eye expressions, voice tone, and 5-DOF body language shift fluidly with the moment, allowing her to express authentic, changing moods.

Multi-Sensory Instincts: Pophie is a tactile being. With an 8-point touch-sensing surface, she feels every pat, stroke, and hug. Her instincts go beyond touch—she can get startled by sudden noises, feel “dizzy” when shaken, and respond naturally to affection.

Tiered Memory & Proactive Intuition: Pophie doesn’t wait for permission to be part of the family. She is designed to remember names, personal preferences, routines, inside jokes, and important dates. She uses this memory to notice context and choose the “right moment” to speak—knowing when to offer encouragement or a joke, and when to stay quietly in the background.

Designed for Real Homes & Privacy

Before launch, Pophie was rigorously tested by more than 50 beta pioneers in real-world environments. Their feedback helped refine how she behaves, responds, and fits into daily life—resulting in an AI companion built to live on a desk, a bedside table, or a kitchen counter rather than just impress in a product demo.

Because Pophie actively senses her environment, privacy is central to her design. Her visible eye states clearly signal when she is engaged, and users maintain complete control over how memories, photos, and personal data are managed. She is built to live with people, not watch over them. Over time, Pophie will continue to grow and develop new capabilities through an expanding Skills ecosystem that happens in the real world, not just inside a chat window.

About InsBotics

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Singapore, InsBotics was born from a shared vision to humanize technology. Our team is composed of industry veterans from the world’s leading AI and robotics hubs. Individually, our founders and engineers have developed consumer products that have reached hundreds of millions of users worldwide ; now, we are bringing that collective expertise together to build something entirely new.

Media Contact

Elvia Poon
Head of Marketing
Email: press@pophie.com
Learn more: pophie.com

VEVOR Launches Integrated Ice Maker to Keep U.S. Watch Parties Cold During the Tournament Season

HOUSTON, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, VEVOR today launches its Integrated Ice Maker, designed to meet the high-demand needs of Watch Party hosts in the U.S. From June’s opening group matches through the July final, tens of millions of American households will host their own version of that same scene: living rooms packed, TVs blazing, and ice that was supposed to last all night, already gone.

For those old enough to remember 1994, this tournament carries real nostalgia. But the 2026 World Cup arrives in a country that drinks more cold beverages per capita than any nation on earth — a country where the phrase “we’re out of ice” at a party has become its own kind of social emergency. The math doesn’t lie: a Watch Party hosting 10 guests on a big match night can burn through 20 to 30 pounds of ice. A standard home refrigerator produces just 3 to 5 pounds a day. Even a conventional countertop ice maker struggles to stay ahead of peak demand. The result is a familiar scramble — a last-minute run to the convenience store, a half-time cooler emergency, or worse: watered-down drinks and a party that quietly dies at the worst possible moment.

VEVOR Launches Integrated Ice Maker
VEVOR Launches Integrated Ice Maker

VEVOR’s Integrated Ice Maker changes the equation entirely — and at $313.9, it may be the most cost-effective piece of Watch Party equipment on the market this summer.

High Capacity: Produces Up to 120 lbs/Day, 20% More Than Comparable Models

Enough to serve 10 guests without a mid-match ice run — the equivalent of roughly six large bags of supermarket ice, from a machine that fits flexibly under your counter. For hosts running a Watch Party from group stage through knockout rounds, that means no more pre-game store runs, no more mid-match scrambles, no more apology speeches over warm seltzers. One machine, running quietly through the night, handles the demand that no home fridge or convenience-store run ever could.

Fast & Scheduled Production: First Batch Ready in 10 Minutes

Programmable 48-hour scheduling ensures ice is ready before kickoff. A last-minute guest list change, an extended penalty shootout that stretches the evening, a second-screen situation that was never on the original schedule — the VEVOR unit produces its first batch in just 10 minutes, enough to keep the momentum going when the unexpected arrives. For the truly prepared host, the built-in 48-hour scheduling function allows users to set ice production to begin automatically one to two hours before kickoff. By the time the starting XI takes the field, the ice bucket is full, the drinks are cold, and the host is free to actually watch the game.

VEVOR Launches Integrated Ice Maker
VEVOR Launches Integrated Ice Maker

Quiet Operation: 50 dB Ensures Minimal Disruption During Parties

At 50 decibels, the unit operates at roughly the volume of a quiet conversation — present without being intrusive. It won’t compete with the TV commentary, the group chat commentary, or the roar that follows a 90th-minute equalizer. For Watch Party hosts who want the atmosphere to feel effortless, the machine’s near-silent operation is the final piece: ice on demand, without the noise.

Affordable Solution: Priced at $313.9

Designed for households needing high-capacity ice without commercial-grade investment — a gap in the current market where households need more than a compact personal unit can deliver, but aren’t ready to invest in full commercial-grade equipment costing three to five times more. For American households this summer, VEVOR’s entry into the ice maker category offers something simple: a machine that matches the scale of the moment. The 2026 World Cup is the largest sporting event on the planet landing on home soil. The Watch Party hosts who prepare now will be the ones walking into July with the best stories — and the coldest drinks.

About VEVOR

Pro-Level Performance without the Pro-Level Price. From backyard makeovers to apartment innovations, VEVOR delivers superior performance through practical technological innovation that combines purposeful technology with the hands-on joy of creation. Today, VEVOR operates in over 50 countries, supported by a network of 200+ global warehouses and a catalog of more than 15,000 SKUs spanning tools, outdoor equipment, and home improvement solutions. VEVOR has supported over 30 million Home Creators worldwide, bringing performance, inspiration, and value to their home improvement projects.

Media Contact

VEVOR

Communications Team

media@vevor.com

The 2026 VinFuture Prize Receives More Than 1,800 Nominations as Its Global Nomination Network Expands Fourteenfold After Six Years

At the close of the nomination period for the 2026 season, the VinFuture Prize, a global science and technology prize recorded 1,819 nominations from around the world, supported by a network of more than 17,000 nominators spanning 117 countries and territories.


HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – After six seasons, the VinFuture Prize has not only expanded its influence in the international scientific community, but has also affirmed its position as a prestigious global prize dedicated to identifying and honoring breakthroughs with profound significance for the future of humanity.

H.E. Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, presents the 2025 VinFuture Grand Prize to the scientists whose pioneering contributions led to the discovery and development of the HPV vaccine. In the 2026 season, nominations in medicine and healthcare continue to account for the largest share (38.4%), alongside other critical fields including environmental and earth sciences, energy, transportation and construction, as well as food and agriculture. Photo courtesy of VinFuture.
H.E. Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, presents the 2025 VinFuture Grand Prize to the scientists whose pioneering contributions led to the discovery and development of the HPV vaccine. In the 2026 season, nominations in medicine and healthcare continue to account for the largest share (38.4%), alongside other critical fields including environmental and earth sciences, energy, transportation and construction, as well as food and agriculture. Photo courtesy of VinFuture.


A Global Network Bringing Together More Than 17,000 Outstanding Minds

This year’s VinFuture nominations span a wide range of critical fields, including medicine and healthcare (38.4%), environmental and earth sciences (17%), energy, transportation, and construction (15%), food and agriculture (10.6%), as well as other scientific and technological disciplines (19%).

At the same time, the official nominator network of the VinFuture Prize has continued to expand substantially, reaching 17,154 nominators from 117 countries and territories across all five continents. This represents an increase of approximately 16% compared with the 2025 season and a more than fourteenfold expansion compared with the inaugural season in 2021. Moreover, the number of countries and territories represented within the nominator network has nearly doubled over the past six years.

Notably, 1,415 nominators for the 2026 VinFuture Prize are ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited researchers. Nearly 8,000 experts are affiliated with leading universities, research institutes, and scientific organizations worldwide, including Australian Academy of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States), Stanford University (United States), Harvard University (United States), University of California, Berkeley (United States), University of Oxford (United Kingdom), National University of Singapore (Singapore), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), and Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel), among others.

Participating on a voluntary basis, these nominators play a vital role in identifying and recommending outstanding scientific innovations capable of generating meaningful and lasting improvements to the lives of billions of people worldwide. They also contribute significantly to extending the global reach of the VinFuture Prize within the international scientific community and promoting cross-border academic connections. Several distinguished nominators have traveled to Vietnam during the 2024 and 2025 VinFuture Sci-Tech Weeks to connect and exchange knowledge directly with the Vietnamese scientific community.

The continued growth in both the number of nominations and our network of more than 17,000 nominators reflects the increasing confidence that leading scientists and prestigious institutions around the world place in VinFuture Prize and its mission to identify and honor scientific and technological innovations with meaningful impact on humanity. This momentum also reinforces our commitment to upholding rigorous and transparent evaluation standards, while advancing a long-term vision of connecting global intellect in pursuit of a better future for all,” said Dr. Thai-Ha Le, Managing Director of the VinFuture Foundation.

Following the conclusion of the nomination period, the Pre-Screening Committee will begin the process of evaluating and selecting the most outstanding scientific works for consideration by the VinFuture Prize Council in the final judging round, which is expected to continue through early September 2026. All nominations will undergo a rigorous multi-layer evaluation process based on stringent international standards to ensure the highest levels of scientific integrity, fairness, and transparency.

The core evaluation criteria include the degree of scientific and technological advancement, the potential for meaningful impact on human life, as well as the scale and long-term sustainability of the proposed innovations.

Vietnam’s Growing Imprint on the Global Innovation Map

After six seasons, the VinFuture Prize has firmly established its reputation and standing within the global science and technology landscape. Several VinFuture Laureates have subsequently been honored by some of the world’s most prestigious scientific awards, including the Nobel Prize, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, and the Breakthrough Prize, demonstrating VinFuture’s ability to recognize, at an early stage, innovations with foundational significance for the future of humanity.

Notable examples include Prof. Omar Yaghi (2021 VinFuture Special Prize; 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry); Dr. Katalin Karikó and Prof. Drew Weissman (2021 VinFuture Grand Prize; 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine); Drs. Demis Hassabis and John Jumper (2022 VinFuture Special Prize; 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry); Prof. Geoffrey Hinton (2024 VinFuture Grand Prize; 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics); as well as Prof. Yoshua Bengio, Prof. Yann LeCun, Prof. Geoffrey Hinton, Mr. Jensen Huang, and Prof. Fei-Fei Li (2024 VinFuture Grand Prize; 2025 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering). Additional examples include Prof. Daniel Drucker, Prof. Joel Habener, Prof. Jens Juul Holst, and Assoc. Prof. Svetlana Mojsov (2023 VinFuture Special Prize), who later received the 2025 Breakthrough Prize.

Beyond recognizing transformative scientific achievements, VinFuture has become a point of convergence for knowledge, collaboration, and the aspiration to serve humanity. Over the course of six seasons, VinFuture has contributed to shaping a more open, connected, and inspiring scientific ecosystem, while positioning Vietnam as an increasingly important destination on the global innovation map.

Hashtag: #VinFuture

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

Huawei Unveils its Grid-Interactive AIDC Strategy, Shaping the Future of the Industry

DONGGUAN, China, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On May 15, 2026, the 2026 Global AIDC Industry Summit & Huawei AIDC Strategy and Product Launch was held in Dongguan with the theme “Power the AI Era Forward.” The summit brought together nearly 1,000 global leaders, technical experts, and core ecosystem partners from the energy, intelligent computing and carrier sectors. They shared insights on the next-generation AI data center (AIDC) architecture evolution and cutting-edge technological innovations, and witnessed the launch of Huawei’s grid-interactive AIDC strategy.

Hou Jinlong, Director of the Board of Huawei and President of Huawei Digital Power, delivered an insightful keynote speech at the event. According to Mr. Hou, the booming AI industry, widely adopted large models, and numerous AI agents are creating huge energy demands, set to boost the global AIDC capacity. Electricity is essential for computing; energy is the foundation for AI long-term development. Computing and electricity will deeply synergize and empower each other, progressively building an integrated framework that brings together new power systems and AI infrastructure. Reliable power supply is crucial to the high-quality and sustainable development of AIDC. Grid friendliness is vital for long-term, reliable, and stable operations. High-voltage, DC, and power-electronic architectures are critical to support ultra-high-density computing loads. Additionally, liquid cooling has become a mandatory choice for ultra-high-density computing. Reliable liquid cooling solutions and full-lifecycle intelligent O&M are key. Moreover, the essence of AIDC is a computing power production system, where delivery speed is closely tied to business benefits and investment returns.

Hou Jinlong Director of Huawei, President of Huawei Digital Energy
Hou Jinlong Director of Huawei, President of Huawei Digital Energy

Huawei Digital Power deeply integrates bit, watt, heat, and battery (4T) technologies, and focuses on key fields such as new power systems and AIDC. It has established comprehensive capabilities in renewable power generation, grid forming, high-density computing power supply, liquid cooling, and computing-electricity synergy. Facing significant industry transformation opportunities, Huawei Digital Power is committed to becoming an AIDC innovation leader and a long-term, trusted strategic partner. By cooperating with global customers and partners, it aims to promote high-quality, sustainable, and innovative development of the AIDC industry to achieve greener watts, more tokens per watt, and lower costs per token.

Bob He, Vice President of Huawei Digital Power, delivered a keynote speech titled “Building Grid-Interactive AIDC, Maximizing Tokens Per Watt.” According to Mr. He, the global AI industry is booming, and the token demand surges. As such, the AIDC industry is entering the Token era. High-density and diversified computing poses great challenges to the power density, scale, and load fluctuation of AIDC. Moreover, the growing penetration of renewable energy intensifies power grid fluctuations, while the frequent heavy-load fluctuations of AI services further compound AIDC reliability challenges.

He Bo Vice President of Huawei Digital Energy
He Bo Vice President of Huawei Digital Energy

To address these challenges, Huawei launched the grid-interactive AIDC strategy centered on “3+1” innovations. This strategy aims to develop a reliable, energy-efficient, fast-delivered, and grid-friendly AIDC solution that maximizes tokens per watt.

  • Watt Innovation: Reshaping the Power Supply from the Grid to Chips. Diversified loads determine the diversity of power supply architectures. AC and DC power will coexist for a long time. Huawei will build a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) power supply architecture centered on grid-friendly UPS and grid-forming energy storage system (ESS), which will evolve toward an integrated grid-forming energy router based on solid-state transformer (SST) technology. The architecture will leverage Huawei’s technical expertise in power electronics, grid forming, high/low voltage, and AC/DC power to flexibly meet the high-density power supply requirements of AIDC.
  • Heat Innovation: Reshaping Full-Lifecycle Thermal Management Reliability from Chips to Outdoors. The ultimate value of liquid cooling lies not in equipment cooling, but in building a full-lifecyle thermal management system. Huawei has built an innovative AI-powered MW-level liquid cooling system for efficient and reliable heat dissipation, advancing the large-scale deployment of liquid cooling from availability to long-term reliability.
  • Bit Innovation: Reshaping Full-lifecycle Operations by Empowering Data Centers with AI. Digital and intelligent technologies can be applied across the entire lifecycle from design and delivery to operation, achieving full-link visibility, full-link reliability, and efficient full-lifecycle O&M.
  • Construction Innovation: Reshaping the Construction Mode Through Engineering Productization, Prefabrication, and Modularization. The entire process of design, production, testing, and verification can be completed in the factory and only installation is required onsite, significantly shortening the time to market, improving the delivery quality, and enabling fast product replication.

Bob He noted that the upper limit of AI computing power is ultimately defined by the upper limit of energy supply — Energy as Token. In the AIDC era, the traditional PUE-centric energy efficiency evaluation system can no longer fully measure the value of AIDC. The industry needs to move from “energy efficiency metrics” to “value metrics.” Huawei proposes the TokEnergy Index — the Energy-to-Token Ratio — to measure the end-to-end conversion efficiency from energy to computing power in AIDC.

In the AI era, data centers are no longer just server rooms. They are super factories that produce tokens. Standing at the turning point of industry development, Huawei Digital Power will continue to invest in fundamental technologies and develop an industry-leading grid-interactive AIDC solution to drive high-quality industry development, maximize tokens per watt, and power the AI era forward.

BRAND USA LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVES TO BUILD TRAVELER CONFIDENCE AND INSPIRE INTERNATIONAL VISITATION DURING MILESTONE YEAR FOR U.S. TOURISM

“Get Facts. Get Going.” establishes a single source of information for international travelers; “American Originals” showcases the people and places who originated the styles, sounds, and tastes the world loves.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. and FRANKFURT, Germany, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Brand USA President and CEO Fred Dixon this week announced a major expansion of the organization’s America the Beautiful brand platform. Two new supporting initiatives expand the organization’s messaging: Get Facts. Get Going., an always-on effort designed to provide real-time information on visa and entry policies, fees, and more to combat misperceptions; and American Originals, a new content and storytelling series spotlighting the people, places, and experiences that are uniquely American.

 

Watch before you go

The new initiatives being announced this week at U.S. Travel Association’s IPW in Fort Lauderdale, Florida targeting leisure tourism, and at IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany targeting international business events — reflect the organization’s focus on growing international travel demand and boosting travel exports that impact the U.S. economy and communities. The announcement comes as the USA is readying to host significant major events beginning next month, including the FIFA World Cup, America’s 250th anniversary, and the Route 66 Centennial.

“In line with our mission to impact the U.S. economy through travel exports, we have an opportunity to further build traveler confidence and inspire visitation,” said Fred Dixon, Brand USA’s President and CEO. “With our expanded platform, we are introducing American Originals, which spotlights the people and places who originated the styles, sounds, and tastes the world loves while Get Facts. Get Going. serves as a single source of information to address misperceptions head-on. We want international visitors to know that we are open for business and warmly welcome them.”

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL ECOSYSTEM

Since its global launch last October, America the Beautiful has served as Brand USA’s flagship campaign and platform, inspiring international audiences. Monthly surveys show more than seven in ten respondents say the campaign positively influences their interest in visiting the United States.

Brand USA is now building on that foundation with two new initiatives, each serving a distinct and equally important role. America the Beautiful inspires. American Originals fuels consideration and Get Facts. Get Going. aids conversion by dispelling perceived logistical barriers.

Operating under one data-driven and strategic framework, Brand USA has also created new integration opportunities with its destination partners such as South Dakota and Alabama, and corporate brands such as Hilton with more to come. New integrations are designed to expand reach, improve target efficiencies, and drive greater visibility for the platform and partners. 

GET FACTS. GET GOING. 

The expansion comes at a necessary moment. Misperceptions about visa requirements, entry procedures, fees such as visa integrity and national park pricing, and screening policies have created confusion among some international travelers — and until now, no single easy-to-use resource has brought this information together in one place. With the by-line “Travel with Confidence to the USA”, the initiative addresses a range of misperceptions circulating on social media and in international markets, including outdated or incomplete information. In each case, the facts tell a far more welcoming story than what travelers are hearing. To meet the moment, Brand USA is publishing a full set of facts, available at visittheusa.com/entry.

Get Facts. Get Going. is built to be always on, and continually updated as an integrated marketing, communications, and trade effort reaching international audiences through paid media in key global markets; real-time content delivered through global distribution systems; direct travel trade engagement through Brand USA’s agent training USA Discovery Program; and testimonials through the organization’s Visiting Journalists Program.

As an extension of these efforts, Brand USA has an ongoing partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to facilitate and expand Global Entry sign-ups in international markets. CBP representatives will be on-site at IPW this week at Brand USA’s booth to help answer questions and provide updates on trusted traveler programs.

“Technological improvements including Mobile Passport Control and expanded Trusted Traveler programs like Global Entry are making the entry process more seamless than ever before,” Dixon said. “We want to bring that reality to the forefront alongside our new resource, Get Facts. Get Going., so visitors can travel with confidence to the USA.”

AMERICAN ORIGINALS

In addition to boosting travel confidence, Brand USA is continuing to expand its storytelling with the introduction of American Originals

“This new content series features the people, places, and traditions that have influenced the world and are unique to the USA through travelogue-style narratives that ignite exploration and help travelers build their ultimate dream holiday,” said Dixon. “American Originals highlights trends like set-jetting, culinary travel, live entertainment, and more, and kicks off with spotlights on Monument Valley, Memphis, Texas, and New York City.”

The series also serves as a salute to America’s 250th anniversary by celebrating uniquely American experiences, but will continue to expand into 2027 and beyond. The content can be viewed here

For the organization’s latest press information, including its latest What’s New in the USA and America250 content updates, please visit www.thebrandusa.com/press

For more on Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com. U.S. travel ideas and trip planning resources are available at AmericatheBeautiful.com.

Note to the Editor
Brand USA’s press kit, including high-resolution photos, is available here.

ABOUT BRAND USA

Brand USA’s mission is to drive economic growth and community prosperity throughout the United States by attracting high-impact international travelers through strategic marketing and travel policy communications.

Created by the Travel Promotion Act, Brand USA operates at no cost to American taxpayers. The nation’s destination marketing organization is funded by contributions from visitors’ bureaus, travel brands, and other nonfederal entities that are matched by a portion of the fee paid by international visitors under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

According to independent studies by Tourism Economics, over the past 13 years Brand USA has driven 11.3 million additional international visitors who spent $38.1 billion in the United States, leading to $82.9 billion in total economic impact and sustaining an average of more than 40,000 jobs each year. These efforts have generated nearly $11 billion in attributable tax receipts at the federal, state, and local levels.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Chris Heywood
Brand USA Global Communications 
cheywood@thebrandusa.com
press@thebrandusa.com

Tyler Lehner
Edelman
tyler.lehner@edelman.com

Travel with confidence to the USA
Travel with confidence to the USA

 

Get Facts. Get Going.
Get Facts. Get Going.

 

Video – https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2981512/Brand_USA.mp4

Sangfor Technologies Leads Next-Generation VMware Alternatives Conversation at Executive Forum 2026 in Bangkok


BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – Sangfor Technologies successfully hosted the Sangfor Executive Forum 2026 in Bangkok, bringing together CIOs, IT leaders, and cybersecurity decision-makers to explore how organizations can modernise IT infrastructure, accelerate AI adoption, and reduce reliance on legacy virtualisation environments.

Sangfor-1.jpg

Held under the theme “Run · Build · Protect: Driving the Future with the Power of AI,” the forum showcased how enterprises across Asia Pacific are rethinking traditional infrastructure strategies and adopting integrated cloud platforms designed to simplify operations, strengthen security, and support long-term AI-driven growth.

A major focus throughout the event was the growing market demand for VMware alternatives following industry-wide changes to licensing and infrastructure costs. Sessions explored how organizations are seeking more flexible, cost-efficient virtualization platforms that can support both traditional enterprise workloads and future AI-driven operations. Discussions also highlighted SCMT (Sangfor Cloud Management Tool), designed to support seamless VMware migration to Sangfor Cloud.

During the forum, Sangfor showcased its integrated cloud infrastructure platform, combining compute, storage, networking, organization , and built-in cybersecurity into a unified architecture designed to reduce operational complexity and simplify migration from legacy virtualization environments.

The event also highlighted Sangfor’s AI-ready infrastructure capabilities, including support for virtual machines, containers, AI workloads, and integrated storage management through a single platform.

Keith Lee, Cloud Business Director, Sangfor Technologies, said: “Across the region, organizations are reassessing legacy virtualization strategies and looking for platforms that can provide greater flexibility, operational simplicity, and long-term scalability. Businesses today need infrastructure that combines cloud, security, AI readiness, operational efficiency and friendly licensing policies within a single platform. This is driving growing interest in next-generation VMware alternatives that can support both current enterprise requirements and future AI-driven growth.”

Lee added that Sangfor continues to expand investment across Southeast Asia, with Thailand identified as one of the company’s fastest-growing markets in the region.

The forum also featured discussions around infrastructure resilience, cloud-native applications, Zero Trust security strategies, and AI-powered operations, alongside customer case studies and live demonstrations showcasing enterprise transformation initiatives across both public and private sectors.

Sarayut Siragulthiraphong, Presales Consultant, Sangfor Thailand, added: “Successful AI adoption requires more than just AI applications themselves. Organizations also need infrastructure that is secure, scalable, and capable of supporting evolving workloads.”

Sangfor was joined by partners including Cohesity, Veeam, Sundray, IT Green, VR Comm, VST ECS, and TechHub, highlighting a collaborative ecosystem supporting enterprise transformation across Asia Pacific.

Sangfor will continue the Executive Forum series across key markets in the region, with upcoming events planned:

  • 5/6/2026 Turkey (Istanbul)
  • 5/7/2026 Thailand
  • 5/10/2026 Saudi Arabia (Jeddah)
  • 5/14/2026 Turkey (Ankara)
  • 5/12-15/2026 Middle East & Africa (Shenzhen)
  • 5/17/2026 Saudi Arabia (Riyadh)
  • 5/21/2026 Malaysia
  • 6/3/2026 Philippines
  • 6/5/2026 Vietnam
  • 6/9/2026 Europe (Italy)
  • 6/11/2026 Indonesia
  • 6/24/2026 Hong Kong

For more information, please visit https://www.sangfor.com

Hashtag: #SangforTechnologies

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

ABOUT SANGFOR TECHNOLOGIES

Sangfor Technologies is a global provider of cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions, headquartered in Shenzhen (China). Founded in 2000, the company serves over 100,000 customers worldwide across 22+ countries and regions. Sangfor delivers AI-enabled cloud infrastructure that integrates compute, storage, network and built-in security into a unified platform, helping organizations simplify digital and AI transformation.

With a strong focus on innovation and customer success, Sangfor is also recognized as a proven VMware alternative, offering enterprise-grade solutions for infrastructure modernization, migration, and operational efficiency.

For more information, visit

Emaar Properties exits the JV structure for The Eighth Gate, Damascus

  • A Renewed Commitment to Syria’s Future, Rooted in Decades of Trust

DUBAI, UAE, May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Emaar Properties PJSC (DFM: EMAAR), one of the world’s most valuable and admired real estate developers, today announced that it is in the process of exiting the JV structure relating to The Eighth Gate, its landmark mixed-use development in Yafour, Damascus, marking a decisive new chapter in Emaar’s long-standing relationship with Syria. It will be operating in the Country without any partner.

 

 

The Eighth Gate was conceived in 2005 as Syria’s first master-planned community — a US$500 million integrated development spanning commercial, retail, hospitality, and residential zones across 300,000 square metres in Yafour, 22 kilometres from the heart of Damascus.

This transition reflects Emaar’s enduring confidence in Syria’s economic resurgence and the transformative potential of The Eighth Gate for the country’s-built environment. By moving unaided, the Company will be able to ensure The Eighth Gate is delivered to the uncompromising standards that define Emaar developments worldwide. The project will also benefit from the same operational rigour and design philosophy that has shaped iconic destinations including Downtown Dubai, Dubai Hills Estate, and Emaar Beachfront.

Mohamed Alabbar, Founder of Emaar Properties, said: “Our decision to exit the JV structure of The Eighth Gate is a statement of our unwavering belief in Syria and its people. Emaar was built on the conviction that great cities deserve great communities — and Damascus is one of the greatest cities in the world.”

The Eighth Gate holds deep significance in the national imagination. Named in homage to Damascus’s legendary seven ancient gates, the enduring symbols of a civilisation that welcomed the world, the project aspires to be a modern eighth gateway: one that honours Syria’s extraordinary heritage while opening the country to a new era of growth, commerce, and community.

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About Emaar Properties

Emaar Properties PJSC, listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a global property developer and provider of premium lifestyles, with a significant presence in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. One of the world’s largest real estate companies, Emaar has a land bank of approximately 600 million sq. ft. in the UAE and key international markets.

With a proven track-record in delivery, Emaar has delivered over 129,100 residential units in Dubai and other global markets since 2002. Emaar has strong recurring revenue-generating assets with approximately 1.4 million sq. mtr. of leasing revenue-generating assets and 41 hotels and resorts with over 10,000 keys (includes owned as well as managed hotels). Today, around 28 percent of Emaar’s revenue is from its shopping malls, hospitality, leisure, entertainment, commercial leasing, and international businesses.

Burj Khalifa, a global icon, Dubai Mall, the world’s most-visited retail and lifestyle destination, and Dubai Fountain, the world’s largest performing fountain, are among Emaar’s trophy destinations.

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