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Young Lao Footballers Win International Titles as World Cup Fever Grows

By
Phoudasack Vongsay
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A picture of WIG NAGA welcoming celebration on 8 July after winning the defended its title at the IberCup in Portugal. (Photo by Phoudasack Vongsay, Laotian Times staff)

While the FIFA World Cup dominates football headlines, a Lao youth footballers has returned from Europe with two international titles.

On 5 July, W.I.G NAGA’s under-13 team successfully defended its IberCup title in Portugal, defeating Portuguese side GD Estoril Praia B 4-2 in the final to become back-to-back champions of one of the world’s best-known youth football tournaments.

Just weeks earlier, in mid-June, the club’s under-10 team also won the MIC Football 7 tournament in Spain, giving Laos two international youth football titles during a single European tour.

When the players returned to Vientiane on 8 July, parents, supporters, and football fans gathered at the airport to welcome them home.

A picture of WIG NAGA’s Tonjukkit Noysomsy during interview with the Laotian Times

For the coach Tonjukkit Noysomsy, defending the IberCup title was always going to be the team’s toughest challenge.

“We knew it would be very difficult,” he said. “We never underestimated any opponent. We prepared for a long time through training, studying matches, and analysing replays.”

Tonjukkit said the tournament also gave the team an opportunity to introduce Laos to people who knew little about the country.

“We are proud to represent Laos,” he said. “Many people there knew very little about Laos. During the tournament I often had to explain where Laos is, sometimes even showing them on Google.”

Friendship

a picture of the WIG NAGA team after wining at the IberCup in Portugal, defeating Portuguese side GD Estoril Praia B 4-2 in the final on 5 July. (Photo by Wilaikul NAGA Academy)

Asked what has helped the team succeed, Tonjukkit pointed to the bond the players have built over years of training together.

“These boys have been together for five or six years. They have hearts and fight for each other because they are friends.”

The players train six days a week, with one session before school and another after classes.

But Tonjukkit said winning trophies is only part of what the club is trying to achieve.

“We don’t only teach technical skills,” he said. “The most important thing is that they enjoy football, enjoy playing together, and learn how to be good teammates.”

He said the club’s long-term goal is to help develop the next generation

of Lao footballers.

“We don’t want this to be the end,” Tonjukkit said. “Our goal is to develop quality players for the Lao national team and one day help them compete in Asia and on the international stage.”

The team will not have much time to celebrate. Its next challenge is an international tournament in Shanghai, where W.I.G NAGA will face eight invited teams, including youth sides from Spain, Japan, and South Korea.

“We’ll train hard and make sure we’re fully prepared. W.I.G NAGA will never stop developing and will keep fighting.”

Young Players

The welcome home was one of the biggest surprises for the Lao Footballers

A picture of Centre-back Nino (left) and Righer winger Niou (right) during the interview with Laotian Times and Talk2Teen staff.

Right winger Niou said winning the title was unforgettable, but seeing so many supporters at the airport made the moment even more special.

“I feel really happy that we defended our title,” he said. “I am also very excited to see so many fans welcoming us.”

Niou’s teammate and centre-back Nino said the team never expected such a large crowd.

“We didn’t think this many people would come. I’m very thankful.”

The team is already looking ahead to more international competitions.

Following the tournament in China, W.I.G NAGA is expected to compete in the United States, Brazil, and Italy.

Plotio Analyst Highlights Emerging Risk Management Trends Among Asia-Pacific Investors in a Global Macro Environment

By
Advertorial Desk
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TAIPEI, July 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Asia-Pacific continues to demonstrate strong growing digital sophistication, investors across the region are increasingly embracing a broader, globally informed approach to financial decision-making. Taiwan, in particular, stands out as one of the region’s more dynamic markets, characterised by high levels of digital adoption, strong investor participation, and a deep-rooted culture of continuous learning.

According to recent industry data, securities account holders in Taiwan now represent close to 60% of the population*. Several factors have contributed to this trend, including the rapid adoption of financial technology, greater accessibility to global markets, the expansion of the middle class, and increasing interest among younger generations in financial literacy and wealth management knowledge.

Against this backdrop, Plotio analysts have observed a notable shift in investor behaviour. Rather than focusing solely on domestic opportunities, investors are increasingly seeking to understand how global macroeconomic developments, geopolitical events, and cross-market relationships may influence financial markets. This transition from localised investment perspectives towards a broader global macro approach reflects a growing emphasis on risk awareness and informed decision-making.

According to Plotio, understanding global macro trends has become increasingly important in today’s interconnected financial environment. Market developments in one region can often influence sentiment and conditions elsewhere, making access to educational resources and market information an essential component of financial learning. As a professional business partner committed to investor education, Plotio places significant emphasis on helping individuals develop a broader understanding of global market dynamics through accessible educational content and market insights.

The growing demand for financial knowledge is particularly evident across Asia-Pacific, where investors continue to demonstrate strong enthusiasm for learning. In response to this trend, Plotio has accumulated experience through hosting more than 2,000 professional seminars and educational events. These initiatives aim to promote a risk-first mindset and encourage rational, knowledge-based decision-making among market participants.

At the same time, digitalisation continues to reshape expectations around information accessibility and cybersecurity. Investors increasingly value stable digital platforms, secure information environments, and seamless access to market updates across multiple devices. To support these evolving needs, the Plotio App provides users with market information, real-time market insights, and expert analysis.

One notable feature of the APP is the Visitor Mode, which allows members of the public to access selected market information and educational content without a complex registration process. By lowering barriers to learning while maintaining a strong focus on information security, the feature supports Plotio’s commitment to making financial education more accessible.

Plotio emphasises that all financial decisions should be made independently by clients based on their own learning, research, and assessment of risks. Through ongoing educational initiatives and the provision of market information, Plotio remains committed to supporting investors as they enhance their financial knowledge and navigate an increasingly interconnected global marketplace.

*source: https://money.udn.com/money/story/5607/9481609

*Educational resources are provided for reference only and do not constitute any investment advice.

GIM Raises US$20 Million Series A as Agentic Investing Enters Live Execution

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Advertorial Desk
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HONG KONG, BEIJING and SHANGHAI, July 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Grace Investment Machine (“GIM”), an AI-native investment technology company building agentic systems for capital markets, today announced the close of its US$20 million Series A financing. The round was co-led by a leading US venture capital firm and Hony Capital, with participation from IDG Capital and existing investor Monolith Capital. The financing marks GIM’s third funding round within its first year of operations.

GIM AI: Visionary Machine, Shared Prosperity.
GIM AI: Visionary Machine, Shared Prosperity.

GIM is building agentic AI systems designed to go beyond assisting investment research. The company describes this approach as a “Visionary Machine”: AI systems that generate, test, and refine investment hypotheses through market data, feedback loops, and coordinated agents.

Capital markets offer a uniquely rich learning environment. Every investment hypothesis can be translated into action, and every action produces measurable feedback. Over time, this closed learning loop allows intelligent systems to sharpen judgment not by memorizing the past, but by continuously learning from the market itself.

“We believe investment AI is moving from information assistance to autonomous hypothesis generation and testing,” said Jiahao Xu, founder and CEO of GIM. “GIM is building systems that can reason across market data, evaluate signals through feedback, and improve over time in real-world capital markets.”

The company is advancing on two fronts: foundation models tailored to capital-market environments, and multi-agent systems that generate, validate, and evolve investment signals across coordinated reasoning layers. Its flagship paper, CogAlpha, was accepted to the ACL 2026 main conference with an Oral recommendation. The paper presents a seven-layer agent architecture that moves from raw data to actionable investment signals.

GIM’s broader ambition is captured in a second phrase: Shared Prosperity. As intelligence systems compound at different rates, the company believes the defining question of the next decades will be who gets to own and harness that growth. Its long-term bet is to build products — from institutional strategies to individual-accessible vehicles — that turn self-evolving intelligence into a widely held asset, rather than a concentrated advantage.

This vision has drawn support from investors with long-term conviction in both AI and capital markets. The round brings together long-term investors with experience across artificial intelligence, financial technology, and global markets. Alongside its research efforts, GIM is also bringing AI-driven strategies and investment products into live validation across multiple asset classes and markets.

SUNTORY BEVERAGE AND FOOD THAILAND WINS TWO MAJOR SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS AT ASIA RESPONSIBLE ENTERPRISE AWARDS 2026

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Advertorial Desk
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  • Regional recognition of “Growing for Good” and “Giving Back to Society” — values brought to life in Malaysia through school and community programmes

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Suntory Beverage and Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a leader in health enrichment products under the BRAND’S trademark in Thailand and Indochina and part of Suntory Beverage and Food Health Enrichment (SBFHE), the regional business unit driving growth in the health enrichment and beverage categories across Asia, was honoured with two major sustainability awards at the recent Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2026.

At the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2026, Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was honoured with the Health Promotion Award for “BRAND’S Young Blood”—marking its second win in the category—and the Green Leadership Award for “BRAND’S Bring Back”. In Malaysia, Suntory Beverage & Food Malaysia, through Ribena as the official partner of Nutrition Month Malaysia, continues to bring its “Giving Back to Society” philosophy to life by promoting healthier lifestyles in classrooms and communities.
At the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA) 2026, Suntory Beverage & Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was honoured with the Health Promotion Award for “BRAND’S Young Blood”—marking its second win in the category—and the Green Leadership Award for “BRAND’S Bring Back”. In Malaysia, Suntory Beverage & Food Malaysia, through Ribena as the official partner of Nutrition Month Malaysia, continues to bring its “Giving Back to Society” philosophy to life by promoting healthier lifestyles in classrooms and communities.

The company received the Health Promotion Award for “BRAND’S Young Blood” — its second win in the category — and the Green Leadership Award for “BRAND’S Bring Back,” recognising the Group’s success in driving business growth while creating lasting, positive social and environmental impact.

Award-winning impact across the region

The “BRAND’S Young Blood” project, implemented in collaboration with the National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross Society, since 1997, promotes blood donation among young people aged 17 to 22. For more than 26 years, the project has contributed over 2 million units of blood to Thailand’s blood supply, including more than 260,000 units from youth donors in 2025 alone.

The “BRAND’S Bring Back” project, developed with the Pollution Control Department under Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) Environment Office, promotes waste segregation and circular economy practices in schools. In 2025, the project reached more than 256,000 students, directly engaging nearly 5,700 students across 10 pilot schools and providing interactive learning kits to 437 schools under the BMA.

Mrs. Mathuvalee Stithyudhakarn, Vice President — Corporate Affairs, Thailand and Indochina, Suntory Beverage and Food (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, “We are truly honoured to receive two awards at the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards 2026. These recognitions reflect our commitment to ‘Growing for Good’ and ‘Giving Back to Society,’ which continue to guide our efforts to drive business growth while creating positive social and environmental impact. We strongly believe that investing in young people, promoting health and well-being, and caring for the environment are fundamental to sustainable social development.”

Giving back to society in Malaysia

As a regional business unit dedicated to health enrichment, SBFHE believes that improving people’s well-being extends beyond products to include healthier communities, a healthier environment and stronger opportunities for future generations. This commitment is reflected across the region, including Suntory Beverage and Food Malaysia (SBFM), where the founding values of “Growing for Good” and “Giving Back to Society” come to life through Ribena school and youth programmes that nurture healthier habits and stronger communities among young Malaysians. These initiatives reinforce SBFHE’s purpose of creating lasting value for society through high-quality products and meaningful sustainability initiatives.

Evangeline Lim, Marketing Director of Suntory Beverage and Food Malaysia, shared, “This regional recognition belongs to every Suntorian across Asia. In Malaysia, we bring ‘Giving Back to Society’ to life in classrooms and communities — helping children build healthy habits early, because nurturing healthier generations today builds stronger communities tomorrow. We believe good health goes beyond access to high-quality products; it also requires nutrition literacy that empowers young people to make informed choices and adopt lifelong healthy behaviours. Through partnerships across sectors, we strive to improve health and well-being and create lasting positive impact for society.”

As part of its Ramadan corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, Ribena partnered with OH Kasih by OHBULAN! to bring together more than 2,500 students and 90 Suntorians for a meaningful community initiative. The programme featured nutrition education, interactive activities and the distribution of Ramadan iftar bags, reflecting SBFM’s commitment to supporting local communities and celebrating the spirit of Ramadan through kindness, giving and shared experiences.

Ribena, which is the official partner of Nutrition Month Malaysia, supports healthier lifestyles among primary school students through a 10-school educational roadshow. The initiative combines nutrition education, interactive activities including the Misi Pahlawan Cilik Sihat Activity Book – designed to inspire children to adopt healthier eating and drinking habits, reflecting SBFM’s commitment to nurturing healthier communities beyond its products.

Across the region, Suntory Beverage and Food Health Enrichment advances sustainability initiatives spanning water stewardship, sustainable packaging, health and well-being promotion, quality-of-life enhancement, and education development — foundations for long-term growth and for creating value for society beyond quality products.

About the Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA)

The Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards (AREA), organised by Enterprise Asia, recognise organisations across Asia that demonstrate excellence in conducting business responsibly while creating sustainable value for stakeholders. Award-winning projects undergo a rigorous evaluation by an independent panel of experts, who assess outcomes, sustainability, innovation and long-term positive impact on society and the environment.

The Planner Concept Celebrates 10 Years of Transforming Spaces Through Quality, Transparency, and Innovation

By
Advertorial Desk
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SINGAPORE, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Planner Concept, a Singapore based interior design and renovation firm founded by Ben Lee, marks a significant milestone as it celebrates a decade of delivering quality renovation solutions across residential, retail, and commercial sectors.

(Left) Ms Evelyn Lee and (Right) Mr Ben Lee founder of The Planner Concept Pte Ltd
(Left) Ms Evelyn Lee and (Right) Mr Ben Lee founder of The Planner Concept Pte Ltd

Founded with a commitment to serving the community, The Planner Concept has built its reputation on creating functional, aesthetically pleasing spaces while ensuring a seamless renovation experience from concept to completion. Over the past ten years, the company has successfully helped homeowners and businesses bring their visions to life through professional project management, quality workmanship, and transparent communication.

Joining the company after graduating, Evelyn Lee, Ben Lee’s daughter, has played an important role in supporting the company’s growth and development. Working alongside her father, she has contributed to strengthening client relationships and advancing the company’s commitment to quality service and innovation.

“Our mission has always been simple to provide quality workmanship and efficient project execution while creating a smooth renovation journey for every client,” said Evelyn Lee of The Planner Concept. “We believe every space should reflect the client’s vision, needs, and lifestyle while staying within budget and project timelines.”

Ben Lee, Founder of The Planner Concept, established the company with the vision of creating a renovation firm built on trust, transparency, and customer satisfaction. His leadership and commitment to delivering reliable renovation solutions have played a key role in shaping the company’s growth and reputation over the past decade.

Built on Trust, Grown Through Referrals: 10 Years of The Planner Concept

What began as a one-man business has grown into a trusted family-run renovation company built on quality, integrity, and craftsmanship.

The Planner Concept has evolved into a father-and-daughter team, blending industry experience with fresh perspectives to create functional spaces for homeowners and businesses.

Guided by a quality-over-quantity philosophy, the company’s growth has been driven largely by referrals and repeat clients, reflecting the trust it has earned over the years.

As it enters its next chapter, The Planner Concept is expanding its digital presence and strengthening its expertise in residential and commercial renovations, while remaining committed to helping clients create spaces they love with honesty, quality, and care.

Addressing Industry Challenges Through Transparency and Reliability

The renovation industry often faces challenges such as project delays, poor coordination, inconsistent workmanship, and communication gaps. The Planner Concept addresses these issues through a client-centric approach focused on transparent pricing, efficient project management, and continuous communication throughout the renovation process.

By working closely with clients from the initial design phase through project completion, the company ensures expectations are clearly managed and timelines are effectively coordinated. This commitment has earned The Planner Concept a growing base of repeat customers and referrals, contributing significantly to its continued growth.

A Decade of Steady Growth and Expanding Capabilities

The Planner Concept has steadily expanded its capabilities beyond residential projects to include commercial and retail renovations. This diversification has enabled the company to serve a broader range of clients while gaining valuable expertise in understanding the unique requirements of different industries.

From homeowners seeking practical and stylish living environments to business owners requiring spaces that align with their brand identity, The Planner Concept has consistently delivered tailored solutions that balance functionality and design excellence.

The company’s growth has been driven by its unwavering focus on trust, reliable communication, and delivering projects within agreed timelines.

Commitment to Quality and Innovation

As renovation trends continue to evolve, The Planner Concept remains committed to exploring innovative materials and design solutions while maintaining strict quality standards. The company actively evaluates emerging products before recommending them to clients, ensuring that long-term performance and durability are never compromised.

“Providing honest and reliable guidance is at the core of what we do,” Evelyn explained. “When new products enter the market, we thoroughly assess their quality and suitability before recommending them to our clients. Transparency is essential in maintaining trust.”

Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, The Planner Concept aims to strengthen its position as one of Singapore’s trusted interior design and renovation firms.

The company plans to expand its team by recruiting experienced interior designers with expertise in both residential and commercial projects. This strategic growth will allow the company to serve more clients while maintaining its commitment to quality workmanship, transparent pricing, and efficient project execution.

In addition, The Planner Concept is investing in strengthening its brand presence and business profile through enhanced marketing initiatives and digital engagement, enabling more homeowners and businesses to discover its services.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Reflecting on her own journey in the industry, Evelyn encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace challenges and remain committed to continuous learning.

“Success comes from perseverance and experience. Every industry has its challenges, but growth happens when you’re willing to learn, adapt, and stay committed. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and take on new opportunities,” she shared.

As The Planner Concept enters its next decade of growth, the company remains dedicated to helping clients create inspiring spaces while delivering a renovation experience built on trust, quality, and professionalism.

About The Planner Concept

The Planner Concept is a Singapore-based interior design and renovation company specializing in residential, retail, and commercial projects. Established in 2015 by founder Ben Lee, the company provides end-to-end renovation solutions, including design consultation, project management, and renovation execution. Known for its transparent pricing, quality workmanship, and efficient project delivery, The Planner Concept continues to help clients transform their spaces into environments that reflect their vision and lifestyle.

Narwal Unveils Flow 2 White – A Quiet Luxury Colorway Made to Blend Into Modern Living Spaces

By
Advertorial Desk
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Where Function Meets Aesthetics, Narwal Flow 2 White Merges Flagship-Grade Cleaning with Detail-Driven Design

NEW YORK, July 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Narwal, a global leader in smart home cleaning, today unveiled the Narwal Flow 2 White – a new, distinct colorway of its 2026 flagship robot vacuum and mop launching on July 16. Built on a philosophy that the best home technology is powerful yet unobtrusive, engineered yet beautiful, the Flow 2 White is designed to be not just a smart home device but a piece of home decor that earns its place in any room.

The Narwal Flow 2 White robot vacuum and mop system is shown in a minimalist modern interior, featuring a sleek white design that blends seamlessly with the contemporary space.
The Narwal Flow 2 White robot vacuum and mop system is shown in a minimalist modern interior, featuring a sleek white design that blends seamlessly with the contemporary space.

Designed to Blend In – A Finish Built for Modern Living

Interiors have grown lighter with trending Scandinavian minimalism, cream and oat palettes, pale hardwood, and open-plan layouts. Spaces built on warmth, restraint, and calm have gained popularity. In these environments, a white finish feels like a natural extension of the space — quiet, considered, and visually at ease. With quiet luxury becoming a defining principle of modern home design, Narwal brings a refined white touch to its well-acclaimed flagship model for consumers who prioritize design just as much as technical specs.

White is not just a simple repaint, but a reflection of Narwal’s philosophy of how a cleaning robot vacuum should appear in a modern home.

  • Frosted Glass-textured Front Panel: The base station’s front panel features a subtle frosted glass texture that catches, deflects, and softens light rather than absorbing it. A fingerprint-resistant surface helps the dock maintain a clean, refined look over time. 
  • Ambient Status Light Bar: A slim band of light surrounding the front panel adds a quiet visual rhythm to the unit and communicates the robot’s current status, transforming technology into design language.
  • Sleek Silhouette: The semi-enclosed base station creates spatial depth and lightness while positioning the robot and the base station as a whole rather than two separate entities.

Designed to Power Through – “Invisible” Device Delivering The Most Visible Results

Behind the refined exterior lies Narwal’s flagship innovations. Carrying the same award-winning cleaning performance as the black original, the Flow 2 White features the proprietary FlowWash™ Mopping System, which uses a high-speed track mop that rotates at over 100 times per minute and delivers 140°F heated water to keep the mop clean throughout each cycle. This “treadmill-style” real-time self-cleaning mopping maximizes cleaning efficiency and quality, easily handling the toughest stains, from kitchen grease to muddy pet footprints, without spreading dirt across the floor.

The Flow 2 White is powered by the pioneering NarMind Pro Autonomous System, which pairs an onboard AI processor with a cloud-based VLM Omni Model to achieve unlimited object recognition. The robot delivers advanced smart obstacle avoidance that adapts cleaning strategies to detected debris, improves edge coverage by 15%, boosts overall cleaning efficiency by 20%, and significantly reduces the need for human intervention. This hybrid AI model further empowers scenario-based cleaning modes: Pet Mode automatically detects pet-active areas for deeper cleaning and helps users locate pets remotely with the Find My Pet feature; Baby Mode ensures ultra-quiet, disturbance-free operation at just 56.48 dB near cribs, with toy recognition built in; and AI Floor Tag identifies valuable objects and sends detection alerts via the mobile app.

To deliver a truly luxurious and hands-free cleaning experience, the Flow 2 White has an upgraded 31,000Pa suction power with CarpetFocus technology, a certified detangling system for 0% hair tangling, 3D color mapping for enhanced mobile control and interactivity, and a fully automated self-emptying base station with up to 120 days of maintenance-free use. Altogether, the vacuum operates quietly in the background without human intervention, living up to the “quiet luxury” promise.

Pricing and Availability

The Narwal Flow 2 White will be available starting July 16 on the Narwal website and on Amazon, with an introductory launch price of $1,099.99 ($400 off the $1,499.99 MSRP), valid through July 31. Ahead of the official launch, Narwal is offering a limited early-access sign-up program on its website: the first 300 registrants receive a $30 credit toward their purchase, followed by a $20 credit for the next 700 sign-ups. Spots at each tier are limited and fill in real time.

About Narwal

Narwal is dedicated to developing innovative products that transform daily life. Our range of solutions addresses common challenges, with a focus on understanding and meeting user needs through extensive R&D. This commitment has yielded industry firsts such as the Auto-washing mop, AI-powered DirtSense™, and the DualFlow Tangle-Free System. We obsess over every detail to ensure our products are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, blending design and performance for a better daily life. As a top-five global vacuum brand, Narwal serves over 5 million users across 30 countries, including North America, South Korea, Germany, and Australia. Our innovations have been honored with awards such as the CES Innovation Awards, the Edison Gold Award, and Time Magazine’s Best Inventions.

Railway Expansion, Education Reform Among Key Issues at National Assembly

By
Laotian Times
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Laos-China Railway Celebrates 3 Years: Over 4.3 Million Passengers
Laos-China Railway

Expanding the railway to southern Laos, rolling out a new school system, reducing poverty, and improving roads and water supply were among the key issues discussed during the First Ordinary Session of the 10th National Assembly this week.

Lawmakers questioned ministers on infrastructure, education, rural development, and environmental protection as the government outlined its priorities for the remainder of 2026.

One of the main proposals came from Champasak lawmaker Alounxay Sounnalath, who urged the government to extend the railway network to southern Laos.

Speaking during the Assembly session, he said expanding the railway would improve transport, support trade and production, and help boost economic growth in the region.

He also called for clearer import management policies, better coordination between central and local authorities, and a fair distribution of the government’s proposed 2,500 new civil service positions, with priority given to healthcare workers and long-serving volunteer teachers.

Roads and Water Supply

The call for railway expansion came as the government outlined broader plans to strengthen the country’s transport infrastructure.

Minister of Public Works and Transport Leklai Sivilay said the government will continue upgrading national highways, provincial roads, district roads, and village access roads to improve transport, reduce accidents, and support trade and tourism.

He said priority will be given to projects that already have funding or signed contracts, while additional financing will come from road maintenance funds, state investment, official development assistance (ODA), and public-private partnerships.

The government also plans to expand community water supply systems, improve urban planning, reduce flooding, and strengthen waste management.

According to Leklai, ministries will also work together to improve road access to tourist attractions and agricultural production areas.

New School System From 2028

Beyond infrastructure, lawmakers also heard updates on reforms in the education sector.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone confirmed that Laos will begin introducing its new 6+3+3 education system, starting with Grade 6 in the 2028–2029 academic year.

The reform will extend primary school from five years to six years, reduce lower secondary education from four years to three, and keep upper secondary education at three years.

The government is also revising the curriculum for all 12 grades, developing new textbooks and teachers’ guides, restructuring teacher training institutions into a national teacher training university, and preparing to establish the Lao-Vietnam Friendship University and the Lao-Russia Friendship School.

Sonexay said the government will continue addressing teacher shortages and expanding opportunities for volunteer teachers to become civil servants.

Poverty Reduction

The government’s social development agenda also featured prominently during the session.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomvihane said the government is preparing a new national agenda on rural development and poverty reduction.

The plan aims to lift more than 100,000 families out of poverty by 2030, reducing the national poverty rate from 14.78 percent to a single-digit figure.

The government also plans to remove more than 1,000 villages and 25 districts from the national poverty list while creating four to five model villages in each province.

Santiphab said the strategy focuses on creating stable jobs and incomes, improving infrastructure, expanding access to education, healthcare, and clean water, allocating land, and attracting more domestic and foreign investment into rural development.

He said Laos currently has 189,792 poor families, 2,173 poor villages, and 66 poor districts.

Forest Restoration

Environmental protection was another issue raised by lawmakers during the debate.

Members of the National Assembly questioned the government about the continued loss of forest cover linked to mining, hydropower, agriculture, and other development projects.

Minister of Agriculture and Environment Linkham Douangsavanh said forests currently cover 62.56 percent of Laos, and the government aims to increase that figure to 65 percent by 2030.

To reach the target, authorities plan to restore 520,000 hectares of natural forest, plant 200,000 hectares of industrial trees, and continue surveying and allocating forest land while strengthening reforestation efforts funded by development projects.

Keeper Security surpasses $225M in ARR with transformative growth and is emerging as the market standard for AI-native identity security

By
Advertorial Desk
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Compelling path to $1billion ARR and public offering, fueled by product market fit in the agentic AI age, explosion of identities and related threats, and accelerating growth


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – Keeper Security (“Keeper” or “we”), the identity security platform for humans, machines and AI agents, today announced a major milestone in its journey to become the market standard for AI-native identity security, having reached $225 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR). Since 2021, Keeper’s ARR has grown over 3x.

Keeper protects over 95,000 organizations, which includes many Fortune 500 enterprises and public sector agencies. The company is quickly emerging as the market standard for AI-native identity security for enterprises globally with its leading zero-trust and zero-knowledge identity security platform. In 2025, leading analyst firm Gartner recognized Keeper as the second-fastest-growing security software competitor globally, second only to Google.* This recognition underscores Keeper’s rapid market expansion in addressing identity security challenges created by cloud transformation and artificial intelligence adoption across enterprise infrastructure and endpoints.

Keeper is now growing at over 4x the industry average.

CAGR Graph

This market-leading growth is driven by the explosion of identities in the agentic AI age and relentless focus on innovation to protect customers, as evidenced by the release of its unified privileged access management and identity security platform, KeeperPAM®, which protects both human and Non-Human Identities (NHIs), including service accounts, machine identities, databases, AI agents and agentic workloads. Since the launch of KeeperPAM in February 2025, KeeperPAM revenue has exhibited 10x year-over-year growth and Keeper has seen industry-leading new customer growth, adding an average of 850 new organizations every month. In the last fifteen months, Keeper added over 400 innovative features and products to KeeperPAM.

“Identity is the new security perimeter,” said Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-founder of Keeper Security. “As enterprises increasingly deploy AI agents and autonomous systems, the number of privileged identities and machine credentials is growing exponentially. Organizations need a modern, unified platform that secures every identity – human and non-human – and governs every privileged interaction. Our growth reflects the market’s demand for a platform purpose-built to address these challenges.”

Keeper’s cloud-native cybersecurity platform delivers a comprehensive approach to identity security and privileged access management by unifying enterprise password management, secrets management, privileged session management, database management and endpoint privilege management in a single platform. Keeper’s AI-native identity security strategy seamlessly extends these capabilities to non-human identities and agentic AI environments, enabling organizations to discover, manage and secure machine credentials and autonomous workloads with the same rigor applied to human users.

As enterprises adopt AI technologies at scale, the proliferation of non-human identities is rapidly outpacing that of human identities by 150:1, according to reports, thereby creating new attack surfaces and operational complexity. Keeper’s platform helps organizations establish identity-first security strategies that provide security, visibility, governance and least-privilege controls across their entire identity ecosystem.

“Autonomous agents, frontier LLMs and machine-to-machine workflows are operating inside enterprise environments right now – without adequate governance, secrets management or access controls,” said Craig Lurey, CTO and Co-founder of Keeper Security. “Keeper is purpose-built to solve this problem at scale.”

The company’s continued growth and market recognition reinforce its position as one of the cybersecurity industry’s most innovative and fastest-growing providers of AI-native identity security and privileged access management solutions. Keeper’s financial profile combines best-in-class growth, profitability and a debt-free capital structure and is an asset positioned to efficiently lead identity security in the agentic AI age.

“Surpassing $225 million in ARR confirms what we’ve heard in every enterprise conversation – that securing non-human identities is the defining security challenge of the AI era,” said Darren Guccione, CEO of Keeper Security. “We have established an accelerated path to $1 billion in ARR which, coupled with our technology roadmap, will provide optionality for a public offering.”

Source Citation:

Gartner, Market Share Analysis: Security Software, Worldwide, 2025, Rahul Yadav, Deepali, 11 May 2026

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Keeper Security is the leading zero-trust and zero-knowledge identity security solution, trusted by millions of people and thousands of organizations globally. KeeperPAM® is Keeper’s privileged access management platform that unifies password and passkey management, secrets management, privileged session management and endpoint privilege management in a single cloud-native platform, protected with quantum-resistant encryption. KeeperAI delivers real-time, AI-native threat detection across every privileged session. As AI agents proliferate and identity becomes the defining attack surface, Keeper governs access for humans, machines, non-human identities and AI agents, serving as the unified control plane for access, compliance and visibility across the enterprise. For more information, visit.

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