Vietnamese local authorities arrested six Laos nationals on 6 May for allegedly transporting 120 kg of drugs across the border into central Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, according to the local media.
Six Laos Nationals Apprehended for Drug Trafficking Into Vietnam

Informa Markets to Host Medlab Asia and Asia Health 2024
Catalyzing Advancements in the Medical Laboratory, Devices & Equipment and Healthcare Industries towards Establishing ASEAN as a Medical Hub
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 May 2024 – Informa Markets is gearing up to highlight the industry capabilities of medical services and advancements in medical laboratory technology, medical devices, and equipment for service provision within the healthcare system across the region at Medlab Asia and Asia Health 2024. Scheduled for July 10-12, 2024, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the event marks a significant move to a new venue in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The event is committed to driving economic growth for Thailand’s medical device industry, reinforcing its potential, and enhancing Thailand’s position as a Medical Hub in the ASEAN region.

Ms. Rungphech Chitanuwat, Regional Portfolio Director – ASEAN, Informa Markets, as the organizer of Medlab Asia and Asia Health 2024, stated, “The growing demand in the healthcare industry due to the aging population, the rise of medical tourism, and increasing needs for enhanced well-being. Therefore, public health services, health systems, medical services, and treatment in hospitals and clinics are driving the demand for medical laboratory services and medical equipment in the ASEAN region is growing significantly. According to McKinsey & well, the medical laboratory market is expected to reach US$16.36 billion by 2027, growing at a 12.59% CAGR from 2023 to 2027. The industry’s growth is driven by the demand for more accurate diagnostics precise and modern equipment. We saw the increased purchasing power of entrepreneurs in the medical laboratory and medical equipment industry. Last year, Medlab Asia and Asia Health alone generated a business value of US$ 37.5 million or approximately 1,312.5 million baht, reinforcing the potential of the event that can attract up to 9,947 entrepreneurs from the business sector and healthcare professional to attend. This is in line with Informa Markets’ key ambition of building a healthcare community to create business opportunities and connections, learning academic conferences, and updating trends in the industry together especially in South East Asia market.”
In 2024, Medlab Asia and Asia Health will be co-located with CPHI South East Asia 2024 to cover the entire spectrum of the pharmaceutical, medical laboratory, medical devices, and healthcare industries. As such, the host has laid out the concept of organizing all three events under the theme “International Healthcare Week” with the essential goal of creating access to a comprehensive healthcare system and fostering the adoption and application of innovative technology in the health system for improved community health, ultimately leading to a more stable economy.
The 2024 exhibition will showcase a wide array of medical laboratory diagnostics, laboratory equipment, diagnostic kits, consumables, services, radiology and imaging, sterilization and decontamination, emergency medicine (including resuscitation), rehabilitation, medical prevention, and medical information technology systems. A new zone introduced this year will be the Innov8 Start-Up zone, designed to foster innovation in medical technologies. The event expects over 350 exhibitors from 15 countries, more than 10,000 visitors, and 3,000 participants in medical academic sessions. The company aims to attract more than 400 potential buyers through business matching.
Mr. Noppasit Laotaveerungrueng, Secretary-General of the Medical Device Manufacturers Industry Club at the Federation of Thai Industries, said, “Thailand serves as a strategic gateway to Asia. In 2023, the medical device market in Thailand boasted an import value of US$ 6,987 million and an export value of US$ 7,623 million, with a continuous market growth rate of 8-10%. Moreover, Thailand boasts 60 medical facilities certified according to JCI international standards, the highest in Asia and ranked 4th globally. These achievements stem from technological advancements, demographic shifts, and escalating healthcare demands. Additionally, there’s been a surge in international collaboration efforts. Consequently, the ASEAN region garners global interest as it offers universally accessible, safe, high-quality healthcare at reasonable prices. This allure propels the continuous expansion of Thailand’s medical laboratory and healthcare market.”
Dr. Duangdej Yuaikwarmdee, Director of the Exhibitions Department at Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, revealed, “Medical devices industry is considered one of the 12 new target industries (New S-Curve) of Thailand that has the potential to create social and economic strength. The medical device industry in Thailand has a total value of approximately 60,000-70,000 million baht per year. At the same time, Thailand’s medical tourism sector is expected to reach 760 billion baht in 2027, which will make Thailand an important destination for investment in this industry because we are ready in every aspect. TCEB is ready to support international product exhibitions to create a sustainable competitive advantage for this medical industry.”
The Medlab Asia and Asia Health 2024, an international trade show and academic conference for the medical laboratory and healthcare industry, will take place from July 10th to 12th, 2024, at Halls 5-7 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand. For more details and to pre-register, visit Register for Medlab Asia & Asia Health 2024
Hashtag: #medlabasia #asiahealth
https://www.medlabasia.com/asiahealth
https://twitter.com/MedlabSeries
https://www.facebook.com/medlabseries
https://www.instagram.com/medlab.series/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Medlab Asia and Asia Health
As the ASEAN region’s leading medical laboratory and healthcare exhibition and congress, Medlab Asia and Asia Health play a crucial role in developing the value of medical laboratory and healthcare by transforming tomorrow’s diagnostics. They provide a platform for industry leaders, including manufacturers, dealers, and distributors, to share best practices, showcase innovations, and collaborate and network.
Laos to Enhance Tour Guide Training to Meet Growing Tourism Demands
In response to the surge in tourism, Laos is ramping up efforts to ensure tour guides are well-equipped, as many currently lack adequate training.
VinFast officially launches in the Philippine market

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 May 2024 – VinFast Auto (Nasdaq: VFS) today announces it will officially enter the Philippine electric vehicle market in late May 2024 with its diverse and smart green mobility solutions. This debut strongly affirms VinFast’s commitment to being a leader across Southeast Asian markets and its mission to promote the electrification of transportation globally.

The VF 5 model will be available for test drives at the VinFast launch event in the Philippines.
As part of its global growth strategy, VinFast has invested in numerous markets, including the U.S., Canada, Europe and, more recently, Indonesia, India, and Thailand. The Philippines mark a new milestone for VinFast in its Southeast Asian expansion strategy, particularly as the country embraces more government policies that promote the growth of electric vehicles. The brand launch also reaffirms VinFast’s commitment to supporting the country in promoting greener and more sustainable transportation infrastructure.
VinFast will introduce Filipino customers to its comprehensive range of premium-quality electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, and electric bikes with modern, youthful designs and smart features, providing them with diverse offerings and high-quality electrified experiences.
Similar to other markets, VinFast will offer Filipino customers access to its exceptional after-sales services and attractive sales policies and the company is planning to establish a nationwide network of dealerships in the country, helping facilitate a swift transition from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc, CEO of VinFast Philippines, said: “The brand launch in the Philippines marks another significant milestone for VinFast in its journey to grow its presence in the global electric vehicle market. We are proud to support the Philippines in its electric mobility revolution and believe that by offering modern, powerful, and smart vehicles alongside exceptional customer service, VinFast will steadily achieve its expansion goals in this market.”
VinFast will host its brand launch event in Manila, Philippines on May 31 for the media and June 1-2 for the public. At the event, guests will be able to view and experience VinFast’s range of electric vehicles, including the VF e34, VF 5, VF 7, and VF 9, six electric motorcycle models, and the VF DrgnFly electric bike. Attendees will also have an opportunity to sign up for test drives of the VF e34, VF 5, and the VF DrgnFly electric bike.
In January 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and Vingroup Chairman and VinFast Founder, Managing Director and CEO Pham Nhat Vuong held an official meeting to discuss investment cooperation opportunities.
Hashtag: #VinFast
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About VinFast
VinFast – a member of Vingroup – envisioned to drive the movement of the global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with scalability that boasts up to 90% automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam.
Strongly committed to the mission for a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy for all to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility and a sustainable planet. Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.ph/
Haier Cup Seeks the Next Badminton Champion

- The competition kicks off in Kuching, a newly added location, on 11 May 2024
- Haier Malaysia has increased the number of locations to enable more participation, with attractive prizes on offer
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 May 2024 – Hot on the heels of the Thomas Cup and swinging straight into the spirit of the upcoming Malaysia Masters 2024, Haier Malaysia announced that its homegrown badminton competition, the Haier Cup, will kick off in Kuching on 11 May 2024.

Making its return for local fans this year, the number of locations has expanded to four, with Kuching being the latest addition to the roster of Johor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. The winners of each location will face off in the Grand Finals. The Haier Cup 2024 Malaysia has attractive home appliances and cash as prizes.

The Haier Cup will culminate in a regional tournament with champions from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam vying for the main title on 18 August 2024.
Haier Malaysia Brand Marketing Assistant Director Julian Thean enthused, “For Malaysians, badminton is more than just a sport. It is a source of national pride and we are united in the passion for the game. The success of Malaysian players has elevated the status of badminton, inspiring many Malaysians to take up the sport and strive for excellence. Cognizant of this and in line with our growing focus on sports marketing, we introduced the Haier Cup last year as an annual avenue for badminton enthusiasts to pit their skills. The support and reception for our inaugural Haier Cup gave us great encouragement and we have increased the prize pool and number of locations to ease participation. It would be fantastic if Malaysia’s next badminton talent could be discovered during a Haier Cup.”
The inaugural Haier Cup held in 2023 in Johor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. It attracted the participation of 392 people across the three locations. With the expanded locations and availability of more courts, Haier Malaysia hopes to cater to over 1,400 participants this time around.
The Haier Cup is open to all amateur Malaysians aged 18 years old and above. There are four categories for interested participants to compete in – men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
All participants will receive a limited edition tournament jersey and a Haier goodie bag upon registration. Fees are RM50 per person for the singles category and RM80 per team for the doubles category. Interested participants can visit https://bit.ly/HaierCup2024 to obtain more information and to register. Registration closes one week before the respective State Challenge.
For more information about Haier Cup 2024, please visit https://www.haier.com/my/ and follow Haier on Facebook and Instagram for the latest promotions, events and updates.
Haier Cup 2024 Format
The tournament begins with the State Challenge in Kuching, followed by Johor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Each State Challenge follows an open draw, single-game format where players advance with each victory. Games in the elimination, knock out and semi-finals stage will be played based on a 30 points best-of-one scoring system and the State Challenge finals will be in a best-of-three format based on a standard 21 points scoring system.
Champions and runners up (first and second place) of each State Challenge qualify for the Grand Finals in Kuala Lumpur on 17 August 2024.
Stage | Location | Date |
State Challenge | Arena Sukan, Kuching, Sarawak |
11 May 2024 |
State Challenge | Sports Hub, Austin Heights, Johor Bahru, Johor | 15 June 2024 |
State Challenge | Berapit Badminton Hall, Bukit Mertajam, Penang | 13 July 2024 |
State Challenge | Tops Arena Empire, Kuala Lumpur |
3 August 2024 |
Grand Finals | Kuala Lumpur | 17 August 2024 |
Regional Tournament | Kuala Lumpur | 18 August 2024 |
Regional Tournament
The Grand Champions of the Grand Finals of each country qualify to compete in a regional tournament that will be held in Kuala Lumpur on 18 August 2024. Players will get to test their mettle against winning shuttlers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Hashtag: #HaierCup #HaierMalaysia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Molex Combines High-Speed Data, Signal and Power in MX-DaSH Data-Signal Hybrid Connector Portfolio to Optimize Next-Gen Automotive Architectures

- Innovative family of wire-to-wire and wire-to-board connectors ideally suited to meet growing demand for in-cable and zonal architecture applications
- Compact, robust connectors combine functionality to save valuable space while empowering design engineers to reduce wiring harness costs and complexity
- Unified connectivity solution lowers weight and Bill-of-Materials (BOM) while automated assembly simplifies manufacturing and decreases labor requirements
- Versatile line-up accommodates different terminal sizes and types, elevating freedom to mix-and-match connectors for use across diverse vehicle designs and applications
LISLE, UNITED STATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 May 2024 – Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, continues to build on its automotive industry expertise with the introduction of its MX-DaSH family of data-signal hybrid connectors that unify power, signal and high-speed data connectivity in a single connector system. These innovative wire-to-wire and wire-to-board connectors are designed to support the transition to zonal architecture and address the full range of emerging applications requiring reliable data transmission. These include autonomous driving modules, camera systems, GPS and infotainment devices, LiDAR, high-resolution displays, sensor-device connectivity and more.

“The complete MX-DaSH portfolio enables automotive designers to reimagine vehicle electronics by integrating power and high-speed data transmissions within a single connector system to achieve major savings in size, space, cost and labor,” said Greg Everly, director, new product introduction for Molex, Transportation Innovative Solutions (TIS). “Our holistic approach lets designers mix and match different types of terminals, offering greater freedom and flexibility to support zonal architectures and simplify wiring harnesses.”
Optimizing Innovative Automotive Designs
MX-DaSH connectors are available with sealed and unsealed options to optimize next-gen automotive architectures with assorted environmental and design requirements. Versatile configurations support different power and signal terminal sizes, such as 0.50, 0.64, 1.20, 1.50, 2.80 or 4.80mm, as well as high-speed FAKRA Mini (HFM®) modules for high-speed data transmission.
To ensure heightened reliability, MX-DaSH wire-to-wire connectors feature industry-leading male blade stabilization and independent secondary locks for robust and reliable terminal mating. Moreover, MX-DaSH empowers automotive engineers to accommodate a growing mix of devices and sensors with different network requirements by offering modular sections or cartridges in the wire to board option that support various interfaces without changing form factors or footprints.
Reducing Cost and Complexity
With the new MX-DaSH family, automotive OEMs and their suppliers can better meet escalating demands for more compact, hybrid connectivity to support a multitude of automotive applications. For example, MX-DaSH makes it possible to reduce the number of inline, wire-to-board connectors for an instrument panel and body control harness from eight to two while removing up to six meters of copper wiring, depending on the specific vehicle model.
Multiple options in this connector system encompass a variety of wire-to-wire applications. For instance, the 31+1-Way connector system combines 31 power and ground circuits, as well as a high-speed data connection, to decrease packaging requirements by up to 30%. With more functionality built into every MX-DaSH connector, considerable time savings can be realized through streamlined harness installations. Fewer component requirements also offer increased opportunities to further reduce BOMs.
Additionally, MX-DaSH connectors have been designed for automated harness assembly to decrease cycle times and elevate overall manufacturing process efficiency and quality.
Product Availability
MX-DaSH connectors have been validated in accordance with global industry standards groups, including USCAR, Peugeot and IEC, to ensure reliable performance under the harshest automotive environmental conditions. MX-DaSH wire-to-wire connector models are available, along with select wire-to-board models and custom configurations. A continued expansion of the product family is underway to help customers keep pace with evolving vehicle connectivity needs.
Hashtag: #Molex
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Molex
Molex is a global electronics leader committed to making the world a better, more-connected place. With a presence in more than 40 countries, Molex enables transformative technology innovation in the automotive, data center, industrial automation, healthcare, 5G, cloud and consumer device industries. Through trusted customer and industry relationships, unrivaled engineering expertise, and product quality and reliability, Molex realizes the infinite potential of Creating Connections for Life. For more information, visit www.molex.com.
Lao Kip Hits Record Lows Against US Dollar, Thai Baht
Laos is facing significant economic challenges as its national currency continues to depreciate against foreign currencies, notably the US dollar and the Thai baht. This trend poses a significant challenge to the stability of the Lao economy.