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Amari Invites Travelers to Fall in Love with Laos Through Design, Local Stories, and Contemporary Relaxation

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BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2026 – When travel is no longer just about “arriving,” but about truly “being present” in every moment, ONYX Hospitality Group invites travelers to discover a new side of Laos through the concept of “Falling in Love with Laos.”

Amari Vientiane

This thoughtfully curated journey showcases the country’s cultural grace and natural serenity across two distinctive destinations—Amari Vang Vieng and Amari Vientiane—each offering its own unique experience. From tranquil days along the Nam Song River, surrounded by Vang Vieng’s dramatic mountains, to evenings spent on a stunning rooftop overlooking the Mekong River, where golden sunsets unfold across the heart of Vientiane, every moment is designed to be savored.

Blending Amari’s signature Thai warmth and contemporary style, the experience comes to life through thoughtful design and attentive service, and memorable culinary experiences—set against the rich culture, natural beauty, and enchanting charm of Laos, which make this journey truly unforgettable.

Amari Vang Vieng—where happiness feels effortlessly within reach. Simply open the balcony doors, let one’s gaze wander across the limestone mountains and the Nam Song River, and discover how easily happiness unfolds.

Set in a peaceful riverside location yet conveniently close to the town center and key attractions, Amari Vang Vieng is perfectly suited for both quiet relaxation and outdoor adventures in true Vang Vieng style. The resort features more than 160 contemporary rooms, thoughtfully accented with Laotian handicrafts. Spacious and light-filled, each room is designed with tall windows that invite the surrounding nature into every moment of relaxation. Guests can also unwind at the largest outdoor swimming pool in Vang Vieng—an inviting spot to linger as the sun begins to set.

Dining at Amari Vang Vieng is equally distinctive. Essence, the hotel’s signature restaurant, offers a curated selection of Laotian, Thai, and international cuisine. For more relaxed moments, Cascade, the riverside lobby lounge and café-style bar, invites guests to “slow down” with coffee, soft music, or signature cocktails crafted from local ingredients such as lemongrass, honey, and kaffir lime. Set against the tranquil flow of the Nam Song River, every bite and sip is delicious, approachable, and infused with Amari’s iconic charm.

Set in the heart of the culturally rich capital, Amari Vientiane is an ideal retreat for travelers who value culture, art, and authentic local life. With a prime location near notable landmarks such as Wat Sisaket, Patuxai Arch (Victory Gate), and the Morning Market, as well as being conveniently located near the airport, the hotel offers easy access for exploring Vientiane.

This upper-upscale hotel features 248 rooms in a variety of styles, thoughtfully designed to suit every lifestyle—from short city stays to indulgent moments of premium relaxation. Mornings invite guests to take part in the traditional Lao alms-giving ceremony before heading out to explore the city. As evening falls, Stellar Bar becomes the highlight—an elegant rooftop bar with 360-degree views of the Mekong River, where guests can enjoy breathtaking sunsets and sparkling city lights while sipping signature cocktails inspired by local flavors, capturing the effortless charm of Vientiane after dark.

Amari captures the charm of Laos through meticulously curated details—from design inspired by local craftsmanship, textiles, and weaving, seamlessly blended with the brand’s contemporary lines—to create a warm and relaxing atmosphere that tastefully reflects the true “Lao spirit,” while upholding internationally trusted service standards.

The attention to detail extends seamlessly to the service. Trained by Amari’s team from Thailand, the staff deliver sincere, warm, and generous Thai hospitality, thoughtfully infused with the gentle essence of Lao culture in every greeting and interaction throughout the stay. At the same time, the Local Flair dining experience completes the journey by reinterpreting local Lao ingredients through a contemporary lens—honoring cultural roots while remaining approachable and memorable.

All of this illustrates how Amari connects guests to the spirit of the destination, inviting them to gradually fall in love with Laos through warm, meaningful, and lasting memories.
Hashtag: #ONYXHospitalityGroup #AmariHotels #Travel #Hotel #HolidayTravel #HolidayIdeas



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

About ONYX Hospitality Group:

ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in Southeast Asia’s hospitality industry, operates a collection of comprehensive yet complementary brands – Amari, OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence – catering to the distinctive needs of discerning business and leisure travellers in Southeast Asia where their expertise lies. In addition to its brand portfolio, ONYX Hospitality Group also operates additional hospitality services across spa and food and beverage. With over five decades of management experience, the company extends its innovative solutions throughout the region, upholding internationally recognised standards and ensuring optimal operational manoeuvrability. By fostering enduring relationships with like-minded business partners, ONYX Hospitality Group delivers unparalleled experiences in a dynamic and competitive market, meeting the ever-evolving demands of travellers.

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China’s AGI Pioneer and Leader Z.ai Listed on Hong Kong Stock Exchange

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SHANGHAI, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Qiming Venture Partners’ portfolio company Z.ai (formerly known as Zhipu AI), a pioneer and leader inartificial general intelligence (AGI) in China, successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on January 8th, 2026, Beijing time, becoming the world’s first listed large language model company.

Z.ai (02513.HK) issued shares at a price of HK$116.20 per share and opened at HK$120.00 per share with a market capitalization of HK$52.83 billion.

Qiming Venture Partners co-led Z.ai’s Series B1 financing round in early 2022, nearly a year before ChatGPT was released and sparked the global wave of large models. This funding was instrumental in supporting Z.ai to overcome R&D challenges and complete its first 100-billion-parameter large model, GLM. Qiming continued to support the company in its subsequent B2& B4funding round. Under Chapter 18C of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Qiming stands as Z.ai’s  experienced independent investor

Z.ai was founded in 2019 as a commercialization of technological achievements from Tsinghua University. With the mission “to make machines think like humans”, the company has remained dedicated to AGI research and development. Since its inception, Z.ai has launched China’s first 10-billion-parameter model, its first open-source 100-billion-parameter model, its first conversational model, its first multimodal model, and the world’s first device-control AI agent. It has built one of the world’s most advanced and comprehensive model portfolios and AI agent products.

GLM achieves breakthrough in full domesticization, supports over 40 domestic chips, becoming one of the most versatile model architectures in the industry. Its latest flagship model,GLM-4.7, has delivered top-tier performance among open-source models across multiple mainstream public benchmarks. In CodeArena, an authoritative coding evaluation system with global participation from a million users in blind testing, GLM-4.7 ranks first among open-source models and first among domestic models, surpassing GPT-4. Additionally, on the highly authoritative AA AI Index, the model also secured first place among open-source models and first among domestic models. The released GLM Coding Plan has already gained 150,000 users globally, establishing itself as a primary programming model solution for Chinese developers.

Today, Z.ai has grown into China’s largest independent large language model developer. Its GLM series of models are applied across various sectors including public governance, industrial manufacturing, energy and power, finance, internet, communications, consumer electronics, and education. As of September 30, 2025, Z.ai’s models had empowered over 12,000 enterprise customers, more than 80 million end-user devices, and over 45 million developers worldwide, making it the independent general-purpose large-model vendor in China with the highest number of enabled end-user devices.

Zhang Peng, CEO of Z.ai, stated: “Listing in Hong Kong represents a landmark milestone for Z.ai. Our journey—from commercializing research outcomes at Tsinghua’s labs to becoming a publicly listed company—has never strayed from our original vision: ‘to make machines think like humans’. Going public means we must shoulder even greater social responsibility and industry mission. Moving forward, Z.ai will continue to deepen our commitment to fully independent, controllable full-stack large model technology, relentlessly push the boundaries of AGI capabilities, and consistently enhance the reasoning, coding, and multimodal performance of the GLM model series. We are dedicated to building a more open and thriving AI ecosystem, empowering thousands of industries through accessible and inclusive technology, and making General Artificial Intelligence a genuine productive force for the advancement of human civilization.”

Alex Zhou, Managing Partner of Qiming Venture Partners, said, “The Z.ai team combines deep conviction in its technical roadmap with a rare ability to consistently translate frontier research into real commercial value. This dual strength—a strong belief in technology coupled with disciplined industrial execution—gives us confidence that the company will navigate the AI wave with resilience and emerge as a category leader. Z.ai’s successful IPO is not only a critical validation of China’s path in foundational AI innovation, but also sends a clear signal to the broader technology investment community: in the long run, the market recognizes and rewards teams that stay committed to frontier exploration and deep, foundational technological breakthroughs. We look forward to Z.ai building on this milestone and continuing to drive innovation in large language model technology and real-world applications, creating even greater value for the AI ecosystem.”

About Qiming Venture Partners

Qiming Venture Partners was founded in 2006. Currently, Qiming Venture Partners manages eleven US Dollar funds and seven RMB funds with $9.5 billion in capital raised. Since our establishment, we have invested in outstanding companies in the Technology and Healthcare industries at the early and growth stages.

Since our debut, we have backed over 580 fast-growing and innovative companies. Over 210 of our portfolio companies have achieved exits through IPOs at the NYSE, NASDAQ, HKEX, Shanghai Stock Exchange, or Shenzhen Stock Exchange, or through M&A or other means. There are also over 80 portfolio companies that have achieved unicorn or super unicorn status.

Many of our portfolio companies are today’s most influential firms in their respective sectors, including Xiaomi, Meituan, Bilibili, Zhihu, Roborock, Hesai Technology, UBTech, WeRide, HyperStrong, Insta360, Unisound, Biren Technology, Z.ai (02513.HK), Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, Tigermed, Zai Lab, CanSino Biologics, Schrödinger, APT Medical, Sanyou Medical, AmoyDx, SinocellTech, Insilico Medicine, AusperBio, Yuanxin Technology, Medilink Therapeutics, LaNova Medicines, StepFun, among many others.

 

Under the Patronage of the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources – Inauguration of the First Edition of the “Future Minerals Pioneers” Bootcamp

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim AlKhorayef, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, His Excellency Eng. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, the Vice-Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, inaugurated the in-person bootcamp of the first edition of the Global Minerals Innovation Competition, titled “Future Minerals Pioneers”. The competition is organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in partnership with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP).

Future Minerals Pioneers
Future Minerals Pioneers

The in-person bootcamp commenced on Thursday, 8 January 2026, and runs through 10 January 2026, bringing together 356 qualified participants representing 32 countries at the global competition stage. The participants were selected from 1,812 applicants across 57 countries worldwide, indicating the competition’s strong international reach. Saudi participants accounted for 68% of the qualified cohort, while 32% represented international participation. The bootcamp is the final milestone of the competition, paving the way for the announcement of winners and the recognition of partners on 14 January 2026, during the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh.

During his tour of the bootcamp, His Excellency the Vice-Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs, Eng. Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, reviewed solution prototypes presented by participating teams, observed innovative project presentations, and examined the bootcamp’s operational mechanisms. H. E’s visit also included an overview of the outputs of interactive workshops, as well as engagement with mentoring sessions and accompanying technical discussions.

Participating teams are competing across three core tracks, addressing six strategic challenges, with two challenges assigned to each track. These include the Smart Technologies Track, which focuses on smart compliance solutions within mining complexes and on enhancing mineral exploration processes; the Safety and Security Track, dedicated to developing preventive and proactive solutions to mitigate risks at mining sites and strengthen workforce health and safety; and the Resource Sustainability Track, which addresses challenges related to circular mining and improving water-use efficiency across mining operations.

The bootcamp has witnessed broad participation from key partners and supporting entities, led by the competition’s main partner, the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), alongside the main partner for the national competition phase, the Saudi Mining Services Company (ESNAD). This engagement also includes a range of national and international entities that contributed to the design of challenges, mentoring, judging, and the enablement of participating teams.

The bootcamp also brings together a distinguished group of local and international experts, along with members of judging panels representing more than 16 public and private sector entities, enhancing the diversity of expertise, the depth of evaluation, and the overall quality of the competition’s outcomes.

The in-person bootcamp program includes a series of awareness workshops and mentoring sessions dedicated to the development and evaluation of solutions, ensuring their alignment with real-world challenges in the mining and minerals sector.

The Future Minerals Pioneers Bootcamp represents the final phase of the Global Minerals Innovation Competition, combining hands-on development, specialized guidance, and collaboration among innovators, experts, and partners, culminating in the selection and recognition of winners during the Future Minerals Forum 2026.

Over the past four years, the Future Minerals Forum has established itself as a key global platform for addressing the most pressing challenges in the mining sector, accelerating investment, and advancing responsible mineral supply chains—reinforcing the Kingdom’s growing role as a leading contributor to shaping the future of minerals worldwide.

For more information about the Future Minerals Forum, please visit:
https://www.futuremineralsforum.com

Kerry Southeast Asia’s New Food Service Campaign Reveals Citrus and Spice as Key Drivers of Menu Innovation Across Asia

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Advertorial Desk
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SINGAPORE, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Citrus and spice flavour pairings, once a mainstay in street food and home cooking, are now influencing menus across quick service restaurants (QSRs) and beverages, responding to consumer demand for bold yet balanced taste experiences, and shaping Kerry food service’s latest citrus and spice campaign.

For food service operators, citrus and spice profiles offer exceptional range. Citrus lifts fried or grilled proteins, while spice adds emotional warmth and depth, making the pairing ideal for limited time offers and cross-category menu innovation
For food service operators, citrus and spice profiles offer exceptional range. Citrus lifts fried or grilled proteins, while spice adds emotional warmth and depth, making the pairing ideal for limited time offers and cross-category menu innovation

Mintel GNPD data (2023–2025) shows a 42% CAGR in spicy-citrus flavour combinations in Southeast Asia, significantly outpacing many other flavour trends. Globally, spicy flavours have grown 22% in new product launches, with chili-lime emerging as a standout across snacks, sauces, and ready-to-eat formats. This momentum is mirrored in market value: the Asia-Pacific ghost pepper salsa market is now worth USD 210 million, growing at 9.1% CAGR through 2033, while products pairing pickled jalapeño with lime and related spicy-citrus profiles are forecast to reach USD 2.13 billion by the same year.

“This data signals how consumers define excitement on the menu,” said Angeline Ho, Marketing Lead, Food Service Chains, Southeast Asia, Kerry Group. “Across Asia, diners are gravitating toward flavours that excite but are clean, adventurous yet familiar. Citrus and spice succeed because they deliver contrast: brightness that cuts through richness and heat that energises rather than overwhelms. From a food service perspective, it’s a highly versatile pairing that works across cuisines, formats, and price points.”

The appeal of citrus and spice is deeply embedded in Southeast Asian culinary tradition. Thailand’s tom yum and som tum exemplify the balance of lime, chilli, and herbs; Vietnam’s lemon, tamarind, and chilli anchor lighter dishes; Indonesia layers lime, ginger, clove, and chilli into richly aromatic profiles; while the Philippines uses calamansi and chilli to add vibrancy to savoury dishes. Singapore and Malaysia continue to reinterpret sambal and citrus with contemporary ingredients such as gula melaka and black lime salt, blending tradition with modernity.

Award-winning Malaysian chef and restaurateur Yenni Law, co-founder of @meatfeds and recipient of the Le Cordon Bleu Ribbon ASEAN Award 2025, highlights the cultural resonance behind the trend. “In Asia, we share similar spices and herbs, and food is the language that unites us. Together, citrus and spices bring wholeness and harmony to a dish.”

For food service operators, citrus and spice profiles offer exceptional range. Citrus lifts fried or grilled proteins, while spice adds emotional warmth and depth, making the pairing ideal for limited time offers and cross-category menu innovation. Popular combinations such as lime and chilli, orange and chilli, and calamansi and chilli are now moving fluidly between food and beverage.

As flavour expectations rise, so too the importance of sourcing and sustainability. With 70% of global consumers preferring brands that demonstrate genuine sustainability commitments, responsibly sourced citrus and spices, along with transparency and traceability, are becoming critical components of menu development.

As Asia Pacific continues to influence global food service trends, citrus and spice stand out as an expression of balance, culture, and innovation, positioning the flavour pairing as a cornerstone of the region’s menu evolution.

Binance Launches First Regulated TradFi Perpetual Contracts Settled in Stablecoin, Starting with Gold and Silver

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Largest crypto exchange bridges traditional and crypto assets, unlocking new opportunities for both crypto and TradFi participants

ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume and users, today announced the launch of TradFi Perpetual Contracts, an innovative product category enabling users to access traditional assets through USDT-settled perpetual contracts. This expansion of Binance’s derivatives offerings unlocks 24/7 access to diversified TradFi market exposure and offers new trading opportunities.

Jeff Li, VP of Product at Binance commented, “The launch of TradFi Perpetual Contracts marks a key step in bridging traditional finance and crypto innovation. By providing round-the-clock access to conventional assets with a seamless trading experience, we empower users to diversify and manage their portfolios more effectively. Backed by strong regulatory compliance and trust, this product creates new opportunities for crypto and TradFi traders on Binance.”

Binance is the first global digital assets trading platform to obtain a comprehensive suite of licenses under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) framework, setting a new standard for digital asset regulation. TradFi Perpetual Contracts are offered by Nest Exchange Limited, a Binance entity regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM as a Recognized Investment Exchange.

The inaugural TradFi Perpetual Contracts, XAUUSDT and XAGUSDT, correspond to the respective precious metals gold and silver. Binance is actively working to expand the offering with more trading pairs to further bridge traditional and crypto markets.

This launch opens TradFi instruments to existing crypto users while also welcoming traditional market participants to explore digital assets on the regulated Binance platform. It reinforces Binance’s industry-leading commitment to increasing user choices and connecting traditional finance to crypto, all while adhering to high regulatory standards.

TradFi perpetual contracts are designed for a simple and seamless trading experience, with no expiry dates and eliminating the need for contract rollovers. Traders can use them to hedge, diversify, and amplify their portfolio strategies across traditional and digital assets.

Key Benefits and Features of TradFi Perpetual Contracts

  • 24/7 Traditional Market Exposure: Unlike traditional markets limited to specific trading hours, Binance’s TradFi perpetual contracts allow continuous trading, covering pre-market, post-market, and night sessions for global accessibility and flexibility.
  • Simple and Straightforward: Settled in USDT, these TradFi perpetual contracts feature a familiar settlement currency and a fee structure consistent with Binance’s current range of perpetual contracts. This offers users a straightforward, cost-effective way to diversify across asset classes on a trusted platform.
  • Leverage to Amplify Trading: Users can amplify their exposure using available leverage, supporting diverse risk profiles and strategies.
  • Robust and Reliable Pricing with Advanced Risk Management:
    Binance maintains continuous trading even when the underlying assets have limited market hours. To ensure fair and manage off-hour risk, Binance employs sophisticated pricing and risk management mechanisms:
    • Price Index: Aggregates data from multiple vendors, updating every second during market hours. Outside these hours, it remains fixed at the last value to maintain stability.
    • Mark Price: Updates every second during trading hours, applying a smoothed futures price calculated with an Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (EWMA) during off-hours to prevent sudden price swings.
    • Deviation Constraints: Limits divergence between Mark Price and Price Index (for example, ±3% for commodity contracts like XAUUSDT) to effectively manage risk in continuous trading.

TradFi Perpetual Contracts are available on Binance’s web platform, mobile app, and via API. Users can log into their Binance account, go to Binance Futures, and find the [TradFi] tab located under the symbol search bar to explore the available TradFi Perpetual contracts.

Disclaimer: Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance is not liable for any losses you may incur. TradFi Perps are subject to high market risk and price volatility (particularly outside traditional market hours). You may be called upon at short notice to make additional margin deposits or interest payments. If the required margin deposits or interest payments are not made within the prescribed time, your collateral may be liquidated. Moreover, you will remain liable for any resulting deficit in your account and interest charged on your account. All of your margin balance may be liquidated in the event of adverse price movement. Past performance is not a reliable predictor of future performance. TradFi Perps do not represent ownership of the relevant underlying asset. Before trading, you should make an independent assessment of the appropriateness of the transaction in light of your own objectives and circumstances, including the risks and potential benefits. Consult your own advisers, where appropriate. This information should not be construed as financial or investment advice. To learn more about how to protect yourself, visit our Responsible Trading page. For more information, see our Terms of Use, Clearing Rules, Clearing Procedures, Contract Specifications and Risk Warning.

About Binance

Binance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Binance is trusted by more than 300 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, trading engine speed, protections for investors, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products and offerings from trading and finance to education, research, social good, payments, institutional services, and Web3 features. Binance is devoted to building an inclusive crypto ecosystem to increase the freedom of money and financial access for people around the world with crypto as the fundamental means. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com.

Call for Application for 2026 Tsinghua Amgen Scholars Program

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Advertorial Desk
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BEIJING, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Amgen Scholars Program (ASP) is an international program funded by the Amgen Foundation with the direction of Harvard University, aiming to increase research opportunities for students committed to pursuing careers in the field of biomedical science. Through the 8-or 10-weeks summer program, outstanding undergraduates from across the globe can undertake research projects under the instruction of world-class faculty, get involved in cutting-edge seminars and networking events, and take part in a symposium as representatives in their respective regions. From 2025-2027 there are (will be) 25 premier educational and research institutions across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada which can host the Amgen summer program. In Asia, there are 5 institutions, which are Tsinghua University, National University of Singapore, University of Tokyo，Kyoto University and International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad. Tsinghua’s main correspondent collaborator for the ASP is the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPS), which has played an important role in the university’s life sciences development and frontier biomedical research.

The promotional poster for the ASP
The promotional poster for the ASP

12 excellent candidates studying in Asia will be selected for the coming program in 2026, whose part of meal allowance, student apartment or on-campus hotel are covered, and stipends and transport support will be offered. Each scholar will be assigned to a faculty member as his/her mentor during the research program. In addition, the scholar will have the opportunity to participate in lab and take part in a series of academic activities with postdocs, technicians or graduate students. These valuable experiences will stimulate scholars’ research interests and enhance their research ability, thus providing a stable foundation for their further study. Furthermore, we will organize other extra-curricular activities, such as networking events and culture exploration, to enable scholars to make acquaintance with new friends and learn more about Chinese culture. Our program turned out to be a meaningful and salutary one, as all scholars who participated in our program from 2019 to 2025 claimed that they benefited from it profoundly and created unforgettable memories together.

In recent years, Tsinghua University actively sought to cultivate diversified talents and facilitate international collaborations and has made significant progress in innovation-driven talent development. Tsinghua University will continue to provide an excellent program upon the success of previous programs with the Amgen Foundation.

For more information, please click:

http://tsinghuaamgenscholars.com/amgenscholars.html# 

VinFast Makes 2025 Vietnam’s Car Moment, From Hai Phong to the Middle East

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Advertorial Desk
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VinFast’s breakout year, capped by its 200,000th vehicle and growing presence from India to the Middle East, shows how Vietnam is rewriting its industrial reputation, with electric cars leading the charge.


HAI PHONG, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2026 – On the final day of 2025, VinFast’s Hai Phong manufacturing complex ended the year at full throttle, rolling off the 200,000th vehicle from its production line. For Vietnam’s first and only global carmaker, the number capped off a year of achievements that highlighted Vietnam’s growing capability as a manufacturing hub.

VinFast's Hai Phong manufacturing complex ended the year at full throttle, rolling off the 200,000th vehicle from its production line.
VinFast’s Hai Phong manufacturing complex ended the year at full throttle, rolling off the 200,000th vehicle from its production line.

For more than a year, VinFast has led Vietnam’s car market, outselling brands that once defined what success on four wheels looked like, a welcome change in a country long used to importing its automotive identity. VinFast vehicles are now part of daily traffic as commuter cars, family haulers, and long-distance companions, judged and praised with the same standards buyers apply to Japanese, Korean, or German imports.

Scale, however, tells only part of the story. In the same year, VinFast revealed a far more technical project: the Lac Hong 900 LX, an armored electric vehicle certified to meet the VPAM VR7 ballistic protection standard. Very few automakers globally can build vehicles at that level of protection, and even fewer can do so with a fully electric platform.

Outside Vietnam, over the past two years, VinFast has pushed into North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Notably, in 2025, three new plants came online, one in Vietnam and two more in India and Indonesia. The Indian factory in Tamil Nadu entered a market famous for thin margins and even thinner patience. It is not a place that waits politely for newcomers to find their footing. Yet by December, just months after starting sales, VinFast had risen to become India’s fourth largest EV brand, prompting one Indian outlet to note that its market entry “proved to be a huge success.”

Much of VinFast’s momentum, across every market it has entered, comes from how it thinks about ownership. Rather than treating sales as an endpoint, the company tends to enter markets with an entire support system designed to remove local anxieties. In regions where electric vehicles still prompt practical questions, those details carry weight.

VinFast VF 8 model in UAE.
VinFast VF 8 model in UAE.

The Middle East offers a clear case. There, the VF 8 is positioned as a premium midsize electric SUV, supported by policies designed to reduce hesitation. Buyers receive a ten-year or 200,000-kilometer vehicle warranty, a ten-year unlimited-mileage battery warranty, and five years of free servicing, along with mobile service units, round-the-clock roadside assistance, and guaranteed parts availability.

For many buyers in the Middle East, Vietnam was not previously associated with car manufacturing, an image VinFast is steadily undoing for a country long thought of mainly as an exporter of rice and shoes. Beyond the vehicles themselves, that kind of normalization may be VinFast’s most lasting export.

There was a time when cars from South Korea were treated as a punchline in Western markets, but those jokes have not aged well. Vietnam’s turn is arriving in a different moment, shaped by electrification and fewer fixed ideas about who belongs in the global auto club. And this time, nobody is laughing.

Hashtag: #VF8 #VinFast

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

United States to Withdraw From Over 60 International Bodies Under New Policy Review

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Laotian Times
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More than 4,000 Lao nationals are among the over 1.4 million individuals in the United States with final deportation orders but not currently detained
US President Donald Trump speaks to journalists in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 30, 2025. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP)

The United States has announced plans to withdraw from dozens of international organisations, conventions, and treaty-related bodies, citing concerns that continued participation no longer serves US national interests.

In a presidential memorandum dated 7 January, US President Donald Trump directed all executive departments and agencies to begin withdrawing from a wide range of international organisations following a comprehensive review led by the US Secretary of State.

According to the memorandum, the Secretary of State submitted findings indicating that participation in several institutions was “contrary to the interests of the United States,” prompting the decision to disengage.

Wide Range of Organisations Affected

The directive covers both United Nations and non-UN organisations across sectors including climate change, biodiversity, migration, energy, trade, democracy promotion, and international law.

Among the non-UN bodies listed are the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Solar Alliance, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Several regional cooperation platforms and environmental research bodies are also affected.

Within the UN system, the United States plans to cease participation or funding for entities such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN Population Fund, UN Women, UN Conference on Trade and Development, UN Peacebuilding Fund, and multiple UN regional economic commissions, including those covering Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.

For UN entities, the memorandum specifies that withdrawal will involve ending participation and financial contributions “to the extent permitted by law.”

Implementation

The memorandum instructs agencies to take immediate steps to carry out the withdrawals, while authorising the Secretary of State to issue further guidance as needed.

It also notes that the review process remains ongoing, suggesting that additional organisations could be assessed in the future.

The White House emphasised that the directive does not override existing legal authorities or budgetary procedures and will be implemented in line with US law and available funding.

US Policy Shifts in 2025

The latest move follows an executive order, issued in February 2025, which ordered a review of all international organisations, conventions, and treaties receiving US funding or support.

Shortly after the announcement, the Trump administration ordered a temporary freeze on all US foreign assistance, placing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under review and suspending many of its overseas operations, including in Laos.

USAID, which resumed work in Laos in 2011 after a 35-year absence, paused all projects nationwide following the order. Staff were placed on administrative leave, and ongoing programs were halted pending further guidance from Washington.

At the time, USAID-funded initiatives in Laos focused on public health, disease prevention, environmental protection, sustainable forestry, and livelihoods. Several local projects, including health programs and small-scale economic development initiatives, were left incomplete when the suspension took effect.

US officials said the freeze was part of a broader review to ensure foreign assistance aligned with the administration’s “America First” policy priorities. A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Vientiane confirmed that all assistance funded through the State Department and USAID was under review.

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