A picture on the left are some snakes authorities seized from the bus in Champasak , and picture on the right is seized wildlife items in Luang Prabang. (Photo by ChampaMai and Agriculture and Environment News)
Lao authorities have seized more than 60 kilograms of suspected illegal wildlife products in Luang Prabang and intercepted 294 live animals in a separate operation in Champasak, as the country steps up efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.
On 13 June, the Lao Wildlife Enforcement Network inspected a property in Luang Prabang suspected of illegally trading protected wildlife products.
During the operation, authorities confiscated a large quantity of items believed to be derived from endangered species, including 968 ivory-like objects weighing 21.57 kilograms, 112 suspected animal gallbladders weighing 14.88 kilograms, nine bags of pangolin scale-like materials weighing 10.63 kilograms, and 559 rhino horn-like items weighing 10.07 kilograms.
Officers also seized 79 boxes of suspected elephant skin powder, eight boxes of suspected bear gallbladder products, two hornbill head-like items, 700 tubes of herbal medicine suspected to contain wildlife ingredients, and nine machines allegedly used to process wildlife products.
Authorities are currently investigating the case, state media reported.
Nearly 300 live animals intercepted in Champasak
In a separate operation announced on 17 June, environmental inspection authorities in Champasak intercepted 294 live wild animals at the Vang Tao International Checkpoint in Phonthong District.
Officials said the animals were being transported on an international passenger bus travelling between Pakse and Bangkok. The species are not native to Laos and are believed to have been trafficked across the border.
The seized animals included 144 turtles, 99 pythons, 24 green snakes, one of which was found dead, three gold-ringed cat snakes, and 24 lizards.
Authorities said the case violated laws governing the import, export, transit, and transportation of wildlife. Investigations are ongoing.
In the news release, The CHARLES & KEITH Family Grows – A Warm Welcome to Kim You Jung, issued 16-Jun-2026 by CHARLES & KEITH over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that ‘Note to editors:’ section and the boilerplate should all be removed. The complete, corrected release follows:
The CHARLES & KEITH Family Grows – A Warm Welcome to Kim You Jung
SINGAPORE, June 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Already admired by audiences for her authenticity, talent, and distinctive personal style, Kim You Jung joins the growing CHARLES & KEITH family as Brand Ambassador.
United by a shared spirit of modern femininity, creativity, and confidence, she embodies the values that define CHARLES & KEITH and its continued commitment to celebrating individuality, self-expression, and contemporary style.
Through upcoming campaigns and brand initiatives, Kim You Jung will join CHARLES & KEITH in inspiring self-expression and individuality for a global audience.
The CHARLES & KEITH Family Grows – A Warm Welcome to Kim You Jung
CHANGSHA, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 June 2026 – Carrying the warmth of everyday life and the richness of Chinese civilization, Chinese Restaurant embarks on a new chapter as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Marking this milestone, Chinese Restaurant: Nanyang Memories Season makes its highly anticipated return, with partners Huang Xiaoming, Wang Junkai, Hannah Quinlivan (Kun Ling), Jiang Yan, Jin Mengjia, Zhang Yaqi, Lin Shuwei, and the rest of the team ready to begin a heartwarming journey through Southeast Asia. The new season will premiere on June 19, airing every Friday at 12:00 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Mango TV and at 10:00 p.m. on Hunan TV.
Over the past nine years, Chinese Restaurant has traveled across multiple countries and regions, including Thailand, France, Italy, and Hungary. Looking back on its journey of cultural exchange, the program launched a dedicated Chinese food truck in France, allowing local residents and visitors to conveniently experience authentic Chinese flavors. In Hungary, food served as a unique language that fostered deeper intercultural understanding. During the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, the program actively responded to the Belt and Road Initiative, using cultural interaction and culinary exchange to strengthen friendship between the two nations.
Now, standing at the threshold of its second decade, Chinese Restaurant: Nanyang Memories Season returns to Thailand, drawing upon the longstanding cultural, tourism, and people-to-people ties between China and Thailand. Through food and storytelling, the program once again brings Chinese culture to life on Southeast Asian soil.
The new season introduces an innovative business model inspired by traditional Chinese agricultural wisdom, creating a distinctive experience that combines pastoral ecology with the aesthetics of contemporary Chinese dining. New service concepts, including the “Chef’s Table” and “Chef at Home,” offer guests diverse culinary experiences while naturally integrating Chinese cuisine into everyday local life.
For ten years, Chinese Restaurant has remained committed to its original vision: telling authentic and heartfelt Chinese stories while showcasing the unique appeal of Chinese cuisine to global audiences. Through food, the program has helped narrow cultural distances, deepen international understanding, and highlight the confidence, vitality, and inclusiveness of Chinese culture.
The premiere episode of Chinese Restaurant: Nanyang Memories Season coincides with the Dragon Boat Festival, as the seven partners begin a brand-new entrepreneurial adventure in Chiang Mai, Thailand. From unexpected operational challenges and cultural differences to the dynamic interactions among team members with diverse personalities, the journey promises a wealth of memorable moments and compelling stories for viewers.
Over the years, the Chinese Restaurant franchise has consistently used authentic Chinese cuisine as a bridge connecting people across cultures. Every dish reflects the traditions and warmth of Chinese daily life, while every shared meal conveys the spirit and values of Eastern culture. Set against real-world international backdrops, the program vividly presents the depth and richness of Chinese civilization.
Today, Chinese Restaurant is far more than a culinary reality show. It has become a platform for cultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and friendship between China and the world. Through the universal language of food, the program continues to bring people closer together, allowing Chinese flavors and Chinese stories to resonate across borders and leave a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.
Hashtag: #MGTV
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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 June 2026 – Hong Kong universities continue to excel on the international stage with five institutions ranked among the world’s top 100 and, for the first time, two in the top 20 of the 2027 World University Rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) on June 18.
A spokesman for Hong Kong’s Education Bureau (EDB) said that with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government’s full commitment to developing Hong Kong into an education hub, coupled with the support of a series of policy measures, the city’s higher education system has again excelled.
Announcing the results, QS said in a press release that Hong Kong “emerges as Asia’s most improved higher education system for the second consecutive year, and the second most improved globally among systems with three or more ranked universities”.
Hong Kong is home to five universities consistently ranked in the global top 100
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) maintained its position at 11th in the world; The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) rose 14 places to 18th; The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology rose 11 places to 33rd; and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University climbed four places to 50th, entering the world’s top 50 for the first time. Also among the top 100 is City University of Hong Kong, which improved 11 places to 52nd.
In the latest Best Global Universities Rankings published by the U.S. News & World Report just days ago, multiple Hong Kong universities also demonstrated exceptional international competitiveness, with 20 subjects placing in the global top 10. Notably, CUHK, HKU, and The Education University of Hong Kong swept the global top three spots for the Best Global Universities for “Education and Educational Research”, underscoring the city’s prowess in cultivating talents and conducting academic research.
“These achievements fully affirm the effectiveness of the HKSAR Government’s steadfast investment in education and its full support through the University Grants Committee (UGC) for institutions to continuously innovate, optimise, expand capacity, and enhance quality. The significant year-on-year rise in the overall rankings of our institutions further validates Hong Kong’s strong appeal as a premier hub for international high-end talent,” the EDB spokesman said.
“The stellar performance of UGC-funded universities in the international rankings is by no means accidental. On one hand, it relies on the tireless efforts of all institutions to actively recruit world-class scholars and invest in infrastructure. On the other hand, the HKSAR Government’s stable resource investment, clear and supportive policy guidance, as well as the rigorous quality assurance implemented through the University Accountability Agreements, are also of paramount importance.”
The University of Hong Kong secured the 11th spot in the latest QS World University Rankings
The Government will continue to promote the internationalisation and diversification of post-secondary education, which aims to not only enhance Hong Kong’s development momentum but also make proactive contributions to the nation’s development, the spokesman said.
The strength demonstrated by Hong Kong’s higher education system aligns perfectly with the strategic goals set out in the National 15th Five-Year Plan to build a leading nation in education, technology, and talent.
To support the post-secondary education sector to grow bigger and stronger, the Government has raised the admission ceiling for non-local students in taught programmes at funded post-secondary institutions to 50 per cent, and increased the over-enrolment ceiling for self-financing places in funded research postgraduate programmes to 120 per cent, among other measures.
Meanwhile, the Government is promoting the “Study in Hong Kong” brand. The Task Force on Study in Hong Kong, in collaboration with major institutions, is stepping up promotion of Hong Kong’s excellent academic, research, and international collaboration resources on the Chinese Mainland and overseas. It also aims to attract outstanding talent from all over the world through initiatives such as expanding the Belt and Road Scholarship.
SINGAPORE, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As part of the Singapore Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence Award (SIMEA) 2027 Launch Event on 2 July 2026, Hannover Fairs Asia-Pacific (HFAP) and the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) will announce a strategic partnership and unveil the roadmap for the next phase of Industrial Transformation ASIA-Pacific (ITAP).
The announcement will outline plans for ITAP’s return in October 2026 as a high-level industry conference alongside the NAMIC Global Additive Manufacturing Summit (GAMS), as well as the event’s full-scale return in 2027 alongside CeMAT Southeast Asia at Marina Bay Sands.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment by HFAP and SMF to strengthen Singapore’s position as a regional hub for advanced manufacturing, industrial technology, supply chain innovation and Industry 5.0 collaboration.
Exhibiting and Sponsorship Opportunities
For exhibiting and sponsorship enquiries, please contact the ITAP team:
DUBAI, UAE – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 June 2026 – As Southeast Asia and the Middle East ramp up investments in autonomous driving and AI-powered transportation, VinFast is positioning itself at the intersection of today’s EV market and tomorrow’s mobility ecosystem.
The future of mobility is being shaped by a common set of trends: electrification, artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
Recent developments in Southeast Asia and the Middle East show how quickly that transition is unfolding. Across both regions, investment is increasingly extending beyond electrification to autonomous driving, AI, and software-centric vehicle platforms. While approaches vary, the goal is becoming increasingly similar: creating vehicles that are not only electric, but also intelligent, connected, and capable of higher levels of autonomy.
In Southeast Asia, VinFast recently announced a three-way collaboration to develop a Level 4 robotaxi platform tailored to the region’s dense traffic conditions and complex urban environments.
At the same time, similar autonomous mobility initiatives are emerging in the Middle East, highlighting a broader shift toward AI-powered transportation and software-defined vehicles.
As momentum builds, attention is moving beyond EV adoption alone toward the integration of intelligent mobility technologies. This shift is creating opportunities for automakers that can combine strong EV foundations with long-term technology development.
One company pursuing both is VinFast, Vietnam’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer and one of the country’s fastest-growing global technology companies. Founded in 2017, it has expanded beyond its home market and now operates across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Its robotaxi initiative reflects a broader ambition to participate in the transition toward software-defined vehicles, where software, connectivity, AI, and over-the-air updates play an increasingly central role in the ownership experience. Through these efforts, VinFast is evolving beyond a conventional automaker into a participant in the next generation of mobility.
Yet even as it invests in future technologies, VinFast continues to demonstrate strong performance as an EV manufacturer.
In May 2026, the company delivered 19,503 electric vehicles in Vietnam, bringing total sales for the first five months of the year to 97,961 units. The achievement marked VinFast’s twentieth consecutive month as Vietnam’s best-selling automotive brand.
That commercial success provides a solid foundation for its technology ambitions. Rather than treating autonomous mobility as a distant objective, VinFast is building on a rapidly growing base of vehicles already on the road.
Another cornerstone of its strategy is aftersales support. Vehicles such as the VF 8 come with a 10-year or 200,000-kilometer vehicle warranty, a 10-year unlimited-kilometer battery warranty, five years of free maintenance, 24/7 roadside assistance, and mobile service support.
In May, VinFast announced agreements with 29 new aftersales partners across international markets, including several in the Middle East. The partnerships will strengthen the company’s service network through standardized technician training, quality-control systems, and an efficient spare-parts supply chain.
This focus on aftersales reflects a reality often overlooked amid discussions about AI and autonomous driving. Long-term success depends not only on technology, but also on customer trust, ownership experience, and dependable support.
That balance between innovation and execution increasingly mirrors the direction of the mobility sector in both Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
As both regions continue investing in electrification, intelligent vehicles, and autonomous transportation, their mobility ambitions are becoming increasingly aligned. VinFast’s recent moves illustrate how a Southeast Asian automaker is helping bridge today’s EV market with the software-defined, autonomous mobility ecosystem of the future.
MUNICH, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Innoscience today announced that the Munich Regional Court has just issued a pair of rulings, from which it could be confirmed that Innoscience’s currently marketed gallium nitride (“GaN”) power device products fall outside the scope of Infineon’s asserted German patents and may be commercialized in Germany without restriction.
These rulings are fully consistent with the final determination issued last month by the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”), which found that Innoscience’s current products do not infringe Infineon’s asserted U.S. patent relating to packaging design (U.S. Patent No. 9,899,481). The Munich case concerns the German counterparts of that same patent family. In line with the ITC’s findings, the Munich Court found infringement only with respect to a limited set of legacy products—certain packaged 650–700V transistors—that had already been discontinued. Therefore, any injunction granted would not apply to Innoscience’s current product portfolio. As a result, there is no impact on Innoscience’s ongoing operations or its customers’ use of its products in Germany.
The decisions mark another significant milestone in Innoscience’s string of favorable outcomes across major jurisdictions. They follow the company’s recent success in China, where it secured an injunction and damages award against Infineon, as well as its decisive victory at the ITC in the United States last month. Together, these rulings reaffirm the legality of Innoscience’s current product portfolio and its ability to operate freely in key global markets.
While proceedings in Germany remain ongoing, including Innoscience’s invalidity challenges to the asserted German patent, the growing body of decisions across China, the United States, and Germany underscores that the global litigation campaign initiated by Infineon has not altered the competitive position of Innoscience’s core products. To the contrary, independent judicial findings across multiple jurisdictions have consistently validated the robustness of Innoscience’s technology and reinforced market confidence in the company’s product compliance and innovation capabilities.
Innoscience remains committed to advancing its technology leadership and expanding its global footprint, delivering cutting-edge GaN solutions to customers worldwide in a fair and competitive marketplace.
HONG KONG, June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NOVVA Group (“Novva”), a global AI-enabling energy infrastructure platform, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of San Jose Solar Power Plant (“SJSP”), a utility-scale solar PV project in Bukidnon, Mindanao, from Mabuhay Power Holdings Corporation. The acquisition marks Novva’s first investment in the Philippines and a critical milestone in its strategy to build a scalable, bankable power platform across Southeast Asia.
NOVVA Group CEO Steven Liu (left) and Mabuhay Power Holdings Corporation Chairman Sherwin Hing (right) sign the agreement for SJSP.
SJSP is a 120 MWp greenfield solar project located in Barangay San Jose, in the Municipality of Quezon, Bukidnon. Once operational, it is expected to generate over 200 GWh of clean electricity per year. Construction is scheduled to begin in Q1 2027, with commercial operation targeted for 2028.
The transaction comes amid an unprecedented surge in Asian power demand, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and digital infrastructure. With energy availability emerging as the primary constraint on sustained economic growth, resilient power infrastructure has become vital. The project also advances the Philippines’ goal of a 35% renewable energy share by 2030, channelling clean capacity into one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing digital economies.
Steven Liu, Founder and CEO of Novva, said: “Power availability has become one of the defining constraints on future growth. With SJSP, we are securing the strategic infrastructure needed to support the next wave of industrial and digital development. By combining disciplined execution with long-term partnerships, Novva is building a reliable clean energy foundation to power the future of Southeast Asia.”
SJSP will integrate directly into Novva’s regional platform, which combines renewable generation, flexible power solutions, energy storage, grid connectivity and infrastructure financing capabilities. Novva remains committed to scaling clean energy capacity to sustain the next generation of hyperscale data centres and digital economies.
About Novva Novva (NOVVA Group Pte. Ltd.) is a global AI-enabling energy infrastructure platform that originates, finances, builds, and operates bankable clean energy assets across Southeast Asia and Latin America. As digital transformation drives an unprecedented increase in global electricity demand, Novva scales its clean power capabilities to build the reliable energy foundation for the AI era and beyond. www.novvaglobal.com
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