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Nam Mo 2 Reservoir in Xieng Khouang Impounded, Final Construction Phase Underway

On 10 January, Nam Mo 2 in Xieng Khouang Province successfully impounded its hydropower reservoir. (Photo credit: Service Comprehension International Group, the project’s Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor)

The Nam Mo 2 Hydropower Project in Xieng Khouang Province successfully impounded its reservoir on 10 January, marking a major milestone as the project moves into its final construction phase ahead of planned commercial operation.

The project is located on the Nam Mo River in Mok district, around 70 kilometers upstream from the Laos–Vietnam border. Built in a mountainous area with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,300 meters above sea level, the plant has a total installed capacity of 120 megawatts.

The reservoir operates at a normal water level of 1,305 meters and has a total storage capacity of 80.03 million cubic meters.

According to Service Comprehension International Group, the project’s current Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractor, all legal approvals were secured before impoundment. Authorities also coordinated with local administrations to carry out information and safety programmed for upstream and downstream communities.

Technical teams completed dry testing of hydromechanical gate systems, confirming that key equipment is ready for operation.

Once fully operational, the hydropower plant, which will operate under a 27-year concession, is expected to generate up to 484 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to supply power to approximately 160,000 households.

Construction of Nam Mo 2 began in October 2015 following high-level approvals from Lao and Vietnamese leaders. 

Initial EPC work carried out by Chinese contractors was completed before 2023, after which SCI Group took over the contract in August 2023. 

The project experienced delays due to contractor changes and disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, pushing back its original completion target of January 2019.

The total investment is estimated at between USD 225 million and USD 240 million. Financing includes a USD 152 million loan from the Vietnam Bank for Investment and Development.

With reservoir impoundment complete, construction efforts are now focused on final installation and commissioning works ahead of full-scale operation.

AISpeech’s Smart Mobility Solutions Debut at CES 2026

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, The article is from Shuzhi Society:

AISpeech, a leading conversational AI platform provider, presented its latest breakthroughs in the intelligent mobility sector. With a focus on end-to-end conversational AI, AISpeech showcased the strength and innovation of China’s AI technology on a global stage.

AISpeech's Smart Mobility Solutions Debut at CES 2026
AISpeech’s Smart Mobility Solutions Debut at CES 2026

Orphi Voice Assistant: Omni-scenario Interaction Breakthrough

AISpeech introduced its Orphi Voice Assistant, an intelligent in-vehicle interaction system built on its end-to-end voice and speech technology. Orphi provides flexible and customized in-vehicle dialogue system for automakers worldwide, integrating voice processing, recognition, synthesis, language understanding, noise suppression and other functionalities. Key features include full-duplex wake-free interaction, multi-intent understanding within one sentence, and “say what you see” functionality, all of which significantly enhance driving safety and the naturalness of human-machine interaction. Leveraging voiceprint recognition and multi-zone sound source localization, Orphi offers personalized responses for passengers in different seating positions, delivering a seamless and intelligent in-car interaction experience.

Global Mobility Enabled by over 40 Languages

Designed for global deployment, Orphi Voice Assistant supports over 40 languages—including Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, and others—with deep optimizations for regional accents, linguistic habits, and cultural nuances. This capability is backed by AISpeech’s two championships in the Grand Challenge at ICASSP 2023 (2023 IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing), a signal processing contest focusing on multi-speaker and multi-lingual speech synthesis. The system further demonstrates its adaptability through region-specific tuning, such as enhanced accent recognition for North America and tailored speech patterns for Europe, enabling seamless interaction across diverse linguistic environments.

Global Partnerships: Empowering Domestic and International Brands

AISpeech is dedicated to co-developing in-car voice and speech interaction experiences with global partners. The company has collaborated with top international brands like Mercedes-Benz and Audi, while also working closely with leading Chinese automakers such as BYD, SAIC GM Wuling, Great Wall Motor, and IM to help them expand globally.

At AISpeech’s CES 2026 booth, visitors experienced near-human conversational interaction through a smart cockpit equipped with the multilingual voice system. Its stable performance in noisy environments, accurate recognition of complex commands, and low-latency, high-accuracy responses drew praise from international attendees. A representative from a European automaker noted, “AISpeech’s voice system delivers impressive performance in speech naturalness, adaptability to accents, and comprehension of less-common languages, demonstrating a solid foundation for serving the global market.”

ETO Markets Strengthens Global Compliance Framework with Mauritius FSC License

SYDNEY, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ETO Markets, a globally recognized trading platform, has secured a financial services license from the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius (Mauritius FSC, License No. C119023893). This regulatory authorization reinforces the company’s commitment to transparency, investor protection, and high operational standards across international markets.

ETO Markets Strengthens Global Compliance Framework with Mauritius FSC License
ETO Markets Strengthens Global Compliance Framework with Mauritius FSC License

A Milestone in Global Compliance

The Mauritius FSC license represents a meaningful enhancement to ETO Markets’ global regulatory framework, strengthening its position as a trusted international financial services provider. Headquartered in Australia, ETO Markets is recognized for delivering secure, innovative, and client-focused trading solutions across multiple jurisdictions. This authorization complements its existing licenses from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA). It further extends ETO Markets’ regulatory footprint, enhancing its ability to serve a rapidly growing global client base.

Strengthening Client Protection Through Global Compliance

Established in 2001, the Mauritius FSC is known for its stringent regulatory standards that prioritize investor protection and market stability. Together with oversight from Australia ASIC and Seychelles FSA, this license underscores ETO Markets’ dedication to global best practices and high compliance standards. Clients can trade with confidence, knowing that ETO Markets ensures transparency, maintains segregated client funds, and provides robust dispute resolution mechanisms to safeguard their interests.

Strategic Positioning in a Global Financial Hub

Mauritius is recognized as a premier international financial center, bridging Africa and Asia and serving as a gateway for global investment flows. By establishing a licensed entity under the Mauritius FSC, ETO Markets strengthens its strategic presence in the region, leveraging Mauritius’ favorable regulatory environment to expand its global reach and better serve a diverse international clientele.

Empowering Traders with Intelligent Trading Solutions

ETO Markets remains focused on integrating intelligent, technology-driven tools into its trading infrastructure. Through advanced infrastructure, ultra-fast execution, and robust risk management tools, ETO Markets continues to integrate AI-powered innovations into its platforms, reinforcing its mission to redefine trading efficiency and transparency across global markets.

About ETO Markets

ETO Markets is a leading financial services platform, regulated across multiple jurisdictions, including Australia ASIC, Seychelles FSA, and Mauritius FSC. Serving clients in over 120 countries, it provides seamless access to a wide range of asset classes. With ultra-low spreads, competitive leverage, and a commitment to regulatory excellence, ETO Markets delivers intelligent, technology-enhanced trading experiences under the highest global standards.

SHAREit Group Upgrades to AI-Powered Mobile Ad Platform to Drive Growth in Emerging Markets

SINGAPORE, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SHAREit Group (“SHAREit” or “the Company”), a next-generation internet technology company, has upgraded its mobile advertising platform, repositioning it as an AI-driven commercial growth engine. Powered by the Company’s proprietary AI-Powered Core, the platform has expanded beyond its developer-focused origins to support intelligent commercialization at scale. The platform now reaches approximately 2.4 billion users worldwide, with over 150 million daily ad impressions, and processes up to 180 billion ad requests per day through a high-concurrency AI architecture, further strengthening its role as a growth engine in emerging markets.

This strategic upgrade comes at a pivotal moment for the global digital economy. According to eMarketer’s 2025 forecast, mobile advertising spending in high-growth regions like Southeast Asia and Latin America is projected to continue outpacing global averages, driven by an increasingly mobile-first consumer base. The SHAREit Ad Platform is engineered to capture this opportunity, bridging the gap between global advertisers and these high-value “Next-Gen” users.

Built on over 10 years of data accumulation, SHAREit Group applies large-scale deep learning models to convert behavioral data into real-time commercial intelligence. Its high-efficiency algorithms assess user value and intent within milliseconds, dynamically matching ads with relevant audiences. To ensure this precision translates into authentic value, security and traffic quality remain core priorities. An AI-driven anti-fraud system continuously monitors traffic patterns, identifying and intercepting abnormal or invalid activity in real time to ensure advertising spend reaches genuine users and supports long-term brand value.

The platform’s transformation reflects a strategy to turn massive consumer engagement into scalable business outcomes. By integrating first-party inventory from SHAREit Group’s own suite of apps with premium OEM partnerships and third-party SSPs, the platform offers end-to-end coverage across the full user lifecycle—from acquisition to retention and monetization.

SHAREit Ad Platform offers global advertisers four core advertising solutions, including retargeting, matrix-based interactive formats, and the proprietary HotApp solution. These solutions are supported by a product ecosystem of over 50 owned utility applications spanning music players, incentive-based offer walls, and e-commerce services. This diversified matrix enables campaigns to reach users in high-frequency, high-intent environments across emerging markets. In many regions, the platform ranks among the largest mobile marketing channels, on par with global leaders. Together, its scale and traffic advantages allow advertisers to efficiently reach, attract, and convert high-quality users through a transparent, performance-driven model.

To ensure support execution excellence, the company has established more than 10 regional teams in strategic hubs such as Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa and more. These teams provide full-lifecycle localized services ranging from creative adaptation to post-campaign analytics, bridging the gap between global scale and local cultural alignment.

Jason Wang, Partner of SHAREit Group, shared: “Our core philosophy has always been to start with developers, but not stop there. AI is essential to moving beyond traffic-driven competition and returning to the fundamentals of advertising. SHAREit Group is not just a media publisher but a smart digital infrastructure for emerging markets. By applying AI-driven insights, robust anti-fraud capabilities, and a collaborative ecosystem mindset, we help advertisers understand real market dynamics, avoid blind spending, and build a more transparent, sustainable media environment.”

SHAREit Group is focused on building an AI-driven, transparent, and efficient advertising ecosystem that supports long-term growth. By combining proprietary technology, data intelligence, and global traffic partnerships, the platform provides a strong foundation for developers and advertisers expanding across emerging and high-growth markets.

About SHAREit Group

SHAREit Group is a global internet technology company dedicated to building a high-quality digital ecosystem for users and businesses worldwide. By integrating proprietary technology with deep local insights, SHAREit Group serves as a key growth engine for advertisers in emerging markets. It operates across 10+ global hubs, empowering partners in gaming, e-commerce, and fintech to achieve sustainable business growth.

For more information, please visit: [www.ushareit.com]

Wyndham Enhances Position in South Korea with First Managed Hotel Opening

Accelerates growth with new signings in Seoul and Busan

SINGAPORE, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is stepping up its expansion in South Korea, opening its first managed hotel and adding two new development projects as it seeks to build scale in a market rebounding faster than much of Northeast Asia.

The company recently opened the 529-room Wyndham Goseong Gangwon, near Seoraksan National Park, and has signed agreements for Howard Johnson by Wyndham Seoul, expected to open in 2028, and Wyndham Busan, slated for 2030.

Wyndham’s expansion comes as South Korea’s tourism sector continues to rebound, supported by resilient domestic travel and a steady recovery in international arrivals. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the country recorded 15.821 million inbound visitors between January and October, a 15.2% increase from a year earlier. Industry executives expect international demand to continue improving into 2025, supporting increased investment in branded accommodation across urban and resort markets.

“South Korea’s booming tourism market presents a compelling opportunity for Wyndham, which is why we’re focused on strategic expansion and strengthening our presence through high-caliber additions like Wyndham Goseong, Gangwon. With global scale, an industry-leading loyalty platform, and deep local expertise, Wyndham has a proven record of helping owners not only drive performance, but generate long-term value while delivering exceptional guest experiences.”

— Ben Schumacher, Regional Vice President, Operations, APAC, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

Wyndham Goseong, Gangwon: A Coastal Retreat for Relaxation and Events

The opening of Wyndham Goseong, Gangwon marks Wyndham’s first managed hotel in South Korea and a key milestone in the Company’s local operations. Located adjacent to Bongpo Beach and Seoraksan National Park, the 529-room, ocean-view property is designed to serve leisure travelers, families, and MICE groups.

Over the past two years, Wyndham has expanded its footprint in South Korea through new brands and operating models, including the introduction of Wyndham Grand in 2023 and more recently, Trademark Collection by Wyndham in 2024. These additions build on an established portfolio of 30 hotels with more than 9,200 rooms across brands such as Days Inn®, Howard Johnson®, Ramada Plaza®, Ramada®, Ramada Encore®, Ramada Hotel & Suites®, Wyndham Grand® and Trademark Collection®, enabling Wyndham to serve diverse traveler segments while supporting owners with scalable, globally recognized brands.

 

Experience a Stylish Tet Getaway at Le Méridien Saigon

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nestled along the bustling Ton Duc Thang Street, Le Méridien Saigon boasts a prime location in the heart of the financial district, making it one of the most prominent thoroughfares in the city. With over 50% of its rooms offering stunning views of the Saigon River and the iconic Ba Son Bridge, Le Méridien Saigon is undoubtedly a premier destination for luxurious relaxation and culinary experiences, especially with Tet Binh Ngo just around the corner.

A Destination for an Elevated Getaway at Le Méridien Saigon’s Suite Collection

The hotel features a total of 344 meticulously designed accommodations, more than half of which provide breathtaking views of the Saigon River and the vibrant urban life, ensuring that every moment of your stay is extraordinary. The river-facing rooms are thoughtfully crafted to enhance the beauty of each scenic vista, offering guests a relaxing ambiance and stunning views both day and night. This truly is the perfect piece that elevates your relaxation experience!

Le Méridien Saigon proudly showcases over 51 luxurious suites, ranging from 55 to 68 square meters, featuring modern and elegant designs. The standout Presidential Suite, sprawling across 200 square meters, offers a unique experience for those who appreciate the finer things in life. This suite has become a preferred choice for many luxury brands for private events, thanks to its opulence, absolute privacy, and ability to meet the stringent standards of top-tier brands.

An Essential Experience for a Wonderful Tet Getaway

At Le Méridien Saigon, guests will not only enjoy luxurious accommodation but will also experience one of the few 5-star hotels with all restaurants and bars recognized for their high-profile accolades within the culinary industry. This Tet Binh Ngo, Le Méridien Saigon proudly continues its “Waves of Flavor” event series at the Latest Recipe buffet restaurant, providing diners with an impressive space and distinctive ingredients.

This year’s festive culinary narrative will revolve around the unique Goi Phat Tai (Yusheng) made from salmon, offering a meaningful and delightful experience for the spring celebration. Notably, Goi Phat Tai will be an essential dish during this Tet, ensuring guests enjoy a perfect welcoming of the new year.

Additionally, the BARSON cocktail bar & lounge will ring in the new year with Episode 6 of the series “Nights of the Best” – an exceptional event series featuring guest bartenders from Asia’s 50 Best Bars. This initiative not only brings success but has also helped BARSON earn prestigious awards such as Tatler’s Top 20 Best Bar and a spot on Men’s Folio’s DrinkIn Hot List.

Celebrating the New Year with Fireworks Views

Experience the delight of a buffet featuring spectacular fireworks views during the New Year’s Eve celebration at Latest Recipe, located on the hotel’s 9th floor.

Join us at Le Méridien Saigon to savor a perfect blend of elegance in accommodation and cultural depth in gastronomy, where every vacation is elevated into a memorable journey.

Book now through our website.
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Schaeffler appoints Maximilian Fiedler as Regional Chief Executive Officer Asia/Pacific

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany and SINGAPORE, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Schaeffler, the leading motion technology company, announced the appointment of Maximilian Fiedler (38) as Regional CEO, Asia/Pacific, effective 1 January 2026. In this role, he will also be part of the Executive Board of Schaeffler Group, representing the region.

Mr. Fiedler has been serving as the Chief Financial Officer, Region Asia/Pacific, since 2022. In June 2025, Maximilian Fiedler assumed the position as Regional CEO Asia/Pacific on a temporary basis in addition to his role as CFO Asia/Pacific.

Mr. Fiedler has been with Schaeffler since 2012 and has held several senior leadership roles, including Head of External Reporting for Schaeffler Group and Chief Financial Officer for Schaeffler Mexico. Before joining Schaeffler, Mr. Fiedler was Treasury Manager for HeidelbergCement AG.

Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG, said: “We are delighted to appoint Maximilian to drive our business in the Asia Pacific region. Maximilian has continuously demonstrated exceptional commitment to Schaeffler. We are confident, he will continue to inspire and steer our company towards sustained success.”

Maximilian Fiedler, Regional CEO Asia/Pacific, said: “I am honored to be entrusted with this position, and I look forward to working with our talented team to build on our achievements in the region, drive deeper engagement with our customers and deliver lasting value to all our stakeholders.”

Maximilian Fiedler will assume the role of Regional Chief Executive Officer Asia/Pacific effective 1 January 2026.
Maximilian Fiedler will assume the role of Regional Chief Executive Officer Asia/Pacific effective 1 January 2026.

Schaeffler Group – We pioneer motion
The Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in the field of motion technology for over 75 years. With innovative technologies, products, and services for electric mobility, CO₂-efficient drives, chassis solutions and renewable energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable – over the entire life cycle. Schaeffler describes its comprehensive range of products and services by means of eight product families: From bearing solutions and all types of linear guidance systems through to repair and monitoring services. Schaeffler is with around 110,000 employees and more than 250 locations in 55 countries, one of the world’s largest family-owned companies and one of Germany’s most innovative companies.

NEXCOM Brings Expanded Edge, Security, and Quantum-Resistant Innovations to MWC Barcelona 2026

TAIPEI, Jan. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NEXCOM, a leading supplier of network appliances, will join MWC Barcelona 2026 presenting a broadened portfolio designed to support future-ready networks across telecom, enterprise, and industrial environments. As one of the selected innovators featured in the Taiwan Pavilion—supported by the Industrial Development Bureau, MOEA—NEXCOM brings breakthrough technologies designed and manufactured in Taiwan to MWC Barcelona at booth 5A61 (Hall 5).

NEXCOM brings expanded edge, security, and quantum-resistant innovations to MWC Barcelona 2026. Must see at booth 5A61 (Taiwan Pavilion): broadened portfolio of solutions addressing today’s most pressing challenges in secure, synchronized, and resilient networking, built to solve real-world problems across telecom, enterprise, and industrial environments.
NEXCOM brings expanded edge, security, and quantum-resistant innovations to MWC Barcelona 2026. Must see at booth 5A61 (Taiwan Pavilion): broadened portfolio of solutions addressing today’s most pressing challenges in secure, synchronized, and resilient networking, built to solve real-world problems across telecom, enterprise, and industrial environments.

Visitors will be able to explore NEXCOM’s latest innovations designed to address emerging challenges in secure, synchronized, and resilient networking. Key highlights include:

  • Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)
    Platforms designed to integrate PQC-ready frameworks that aim to help customers strengthen long-term protection as operators prepare for quantum-era threats.
  • Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) Activation Kit
    Total solution to simplify configuration, accelerate deployment, and enable precise, real-time synchronization across smart warehouse automation, production logistics, and industrial edge networks.
  • NEXBOOT Dual-Layer Failover Mechanism
    A combined hardware-level redundancy and firmware-level self-recovery approach to reduce costly field returns and maintenance time — with minimal effort.
  • Compact,Value-Driven Network Appliances
    SD-Edge, security, and uCPE platforms engineered for strong performance, efficient power usage, and rich functionality within smaller footprints.
  • Collaborative Partner Solutions
    Ecosystem-integrated solutions demonstrating how NEXCOM hardware aligns with partner technologies to accelerate the rollout of advanced networking, cybersecurity, and edge-AI applications.

NEXCOM invites industry professionals to secure a meeting slot and explore collaboration possibilities. NEXCOM experts will be available throughout the event at the Taiwan Pavilion booth 5A61 (Hall 5) to guide through latest network and communication platforms and engage in focused solution discussions.

NEXCOM will share additional technology highlights and introduce new products in the coming press announcements. Stay tuned for more updates.

About NEXCOM

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, NEXCOM is shaping the future of AI-powered networking with its software-defined solutions. Through its Network and Communication Solutions (NCS) unit, NEXCOM delivers cutting-edge platforms for Cybersecurity, OT Security, SD-WAN, SASE, Load Balancing, 5G uCPE, edge AI, and more. NCS specializes in professional design and manufacturing services, enabling reliable and scalable network infrastructures for businesses of all sizes. With a focus on innovation, NEXCOM’s solutions empower customers worldwide to build resilient, high-performance networks tailored to the demands of tomorrow’s connectivity challenges.