Home Blog Page 46

Fire Incidents Cost Laos Over USD 14 Million in First Half of 2026

By
Phoudasack Vongsay
-
A picture of after math of the incident occurred on 11 June in Pakthang village, Sikhottabong district, Vientiane Capital, where a fire destroyed a four-story building used to sell and store car spare parts. (Photo by Lao Security News)

Fire incidents across Laos claimed eight lives and destroyed homes, businesses, and vehicles during the first half of 2026, leaving behind more than LAK 319.6 billion (USD 14.3 million) in damage, according to new government figures.

The Fire Prevention and Suppression Police Department recorded 144 fires nationwide between January and June, including 20 in Vientiane. The incidents damaged 101 homes, 16 of which burned to the ground. Fires also destroyed a government building, four dormitory rooms, five warehouses, eight shops, and 18 vehicles.

Two warehouse fires alone accounted for more than 70 percent of the total losses.

The largest blaze broke out on 11 June in Vientiane’s Pakthang village, where flames engulfed a four-story building used to store and sell vehicle spare parts. Firefighters battled the fire for around eight hours before bringing it under control.

Authorities estimated losses from the blaze at about LAK 140 billion (USD 6.3 million). The fire also damaged three neighboring homes, while a nearby hotel sustained minor damage.

Another major warehouse fire struck Tonpheung district in Bokeo in late April, causing an estimated LAK 92 billion (USD 4.1 million) in losses.

Officials attributed most fires to cooking accidents, unattended incense and candles, electrical short circuits, and suspected arson.

Earlier this year, Luang Prabang also experienced a series of fires.

Two blazes tore through the historic Wat That village just five days apart in January, damaging several closely packed wooden houses. The first fire, on 3 January, killed two Chinese nationals. Police later linked the blaze to a robbery, murder, and arson case and arrested a 43-year-old Chinese national, Yui Fengtong, in connection with the investigation.

Although warehouse fires accounted for most of the financial losses this year, dozens of house fires continued to affect ordinary families across the country.

Huawei Announces Wi-Fi 7 Patent Licensing Rates, Reaffirms Commitment to Transparent and Reasonable Licensing

By
Advertorial Desk
-

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 July 2026 – Huawei today announced that its patent licensing royalty rate for Wi‑Fi 7 technologies would be set at US$0.5 per unit for Wi Fi 7 compliant devices.

Huawei Announces Wi-Fi 7 Patent Licensing Rates

This announcement underscores Huawei’s dedication to fostering a healthy innovation ecosystem through fair, transparent, and predictable licensing practices.

As the latest generation of Wi-Fi technologies, Wi-Fi 7 delivers dramatically higher throughput, lower latency, and greater reliability. Serving as much more than just a connectivity upgrade, it lays the groundwork for the next wave of digital transformation and opens up new possibilities for interactions between people and intelligent systems.

As a leading contributor to the IEEE 802.11 standards family, Huawei has played a pivotal role in shaping Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11be) technologies and holds one of the largest portfolios of declared essential patents for Wi‑Fi 7. The company has invested a decade of research and substantial resources into developing the core technologies that make Wi-Fi 7 truly next generation.

Huawei has thus emerged as a leader in the global Wi-Fi licensing landscape, and its patent license agreements had covered over 1.2 billion consumer electronic devices worldwide by the end of 2024.

With today’s announcement, Huawei provides clear advance notice of its Wi‑Fi 7 royalty rate, which is US$0.5 per unit for consumer‑grade Wi‑Fi 7 devices. Implementers may obtain licenses either through bilateral agreements or via patent pools, on FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) terms.

In July 2022, Huawei joined the Sisvel Wi‑Fi 6 patent pool as a founding member, concurrently becoming both a licensor and a licensee of the pool. The patent pool is a valuable option for the industry which in large provides a “one-stop” licensing solution under a transparent and fair framework with lower transactions costs.

Huawei also maintains a strong and proven Wi-Fi 6 patent portfolio, which has been widely recognized and licensed across the industry. This legacy of innovation across successive generations further demonstrates Huawei’s long-term commitment to advancing wireless connectivity.

Building on this success, Huawei has extended its participation to the Sisvel Wi‑Fi Multimode pool as a founding member, offering licensees a single, streamlined platform for accessing essential patents across both Wi‑Fi 6 and Wi‑Fi 7 generations.

Alan Fan, Huawei’s Chief Intellectual Property Officer, said: “Through these initiatives, Huawei continues to facilitate collaborative licensing models that balance the interests of innovators and implementers, further reinforcing its leadership in shaping a transparent and efficient global Wi-Fi licensing environment.”

For more information on Huawei’s Wi‑Fi 7 licensing program, please visit [Huawei IP licensing webpage].

Hashtag: #Huawei

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

XTransfer Unveils New Malaysia Office

By
Advertorial Desk
-

Boosting Southeast Asia Strategy


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 July 2026 – Recently, XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform, officially inaugurated its new office in Malaysia. This marks XTransfer’s continued investment in localised operations across Southeast Asia and lays a solid foundation for further strengthening its regional trade finance services.

XTransfer Unveils New Malaysia Office
XTransfer Unveils New Malaysia Office

Leaders and partners from several major local Malaysian banks and financial institutions attended the event to witness this important milestone. The opening ceremony began with a lively lion dance performance, followed by a ribbon-cutting session led by distinguished guests in a festive atmosphere. Ribbon-cutting guests included Ms Winnie Wong, Director of Financial Institutions Group at Maybank; Ms Sylvia Wong, Regional Head at CIMB; Ms Daphne Yoo, Director at OCBC; along with representatives from various institutions and associations, and the head of XTransfer’s Malaysia team.

Guests warmly congratulated XTransfer on the opening of its new office and expressed their expectation that XTransfer will continue to support the development of local trade by providing Malaysian SMEs with more efficient and secure cross-border payment solutions. Representatives from multiple banks also noted that they look forward to deepening collaboration with XTransfer, further improving localised settlement networks, and jointly promoting the development of the cross-border payments ecosystem.

As a fintech company deeply focused on global trade finance, XTransfer has consistently adhered to a technology-driven and compliance-first approach. It is committed to providing global trade enterprises with secure, convenient, and cost-effective cross-border payment and collection solutions. With the launch of its new Malaysia office, XTransfer will position Malaysia as a strategic hub for its Southeast Asia operations, extending its reach across the Asia-Pacific market and further accelerating regional business expansion. Going forward, XTransfer will continue to advance its internationalisation strategy to better serve global trade companies.

It is also worth noting that in February this year, XTransfer received conditional approval from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for key payment licenses. Upon completing the pre-issuance conditions and being permitted to launch, XTransfer will introduce digital payment services to support businesses, particularly SMEs engaged in international trade. With the official opening of the new office, XTransfer will leverage stronger local service capabilities together with its global network resources to continue helping regional trade businesses seize global opportunities and expand into broader international markets.

Hashtag: #XTransfer #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs #Malaysia


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

Stewardship Asia Centre Rebrands as Steward Leadership Institute, Marking a New Chapter in Its Mission to Build Purpose-Driven Leaders

By
Advertorial Desk
-

The rebrand reflects the organisation’s evolution from a convening platform to a fully-fledged institute equipping leaders to create lasting value for organisations, society, and the environment.


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 July 2026 – Stewardship Asia Centre today announced it has officially changed its name to the Steward Leadership Institute (SLI). The new name and refreshed visual identity reflect the organisation’s growth from a platform for convening conversations on stewardship to an institute that actively equips leaders to make decisions with purpose and create enduring value.

“We are living in the age of the naked economy, where radical transparency has collapsed information asymmetry, and trust has become the ultimate source of competitive advantage. In this environment, only leaders who create genuine value for all stakeholders, not just shareholders, will earn the trust needed to sustain profitable growth. That is what steward leadership is about, and it is what the Steward Leadership Institute exists to build.”

— Rajeev Peshawaria, Chief Executive Officer, Steward Leadership Institute

SLI is a unit within the Temasek Trust ecosystem. The rebrand reflects the maturation of a shared mission to build a better future for every generation. Alongside the new name, SLI is introducing a refreshed visual identity featuring a diamond positioned atop the “I” in the wordmark, symbolising individual ascent and the Institute’s commitment to elevating leaders and the organisations they serve.

All existing programmes, frameworks, engagements, and client agreements remain unchanged. SLI’s team and leadership are unchanged, and all contacts and communications will continue without interruption.

Hashtag: #StewardLeadershipInstitute

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

About Steward Leadership Institute

Steward Leadership Institute (SLI) is dedicated to research, education, and advisory on enabling profitable growth by addressing environmental and social challenges. We are part of the Temasek Trust ecosystem with a shared purpose of building a better future for every generation. Temasek Trust is the philanthropic arm of Singapore-based global investor Temasek Holdings.

Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital Announced Availability of World’s First CAR-T Therapy for Solid Tumors in Advanced Gastric Cancer

By
Advertorial Desk
-

SHANGHAI, July 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital today announced the availability of satricabtagene autoleucel (“satri-cel”), the world’s first chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for the treatment of solid tumors, for eligible patients with Claudin18.2-positive, HER2-negative advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have failed at least two prior lines of therapy.

This milestone marks a historic breakthrough in oncology by extending CAR-T therapy from hematologic malignancies to solid tumors for the first time, while also highlighting Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital’s ability to rapidly introduce innovative oncology therapies and apply advanced immunotherapies in clinical practice.

Gastric cancer remains one of the most prevalent and deadly malignancies worldwide. Despite progress in chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory disease remain poor, underscoring a significant unmet medical need.

The approval of satri-cel represents a major advancement in precision immunotherapy. CAR-T therapy, which involves genetically engineering a patient’s own T cells to recognize and eliminate tumor cells, has transformed the treatment landscape for hematologic malignancies. However, its application in solid tumors such as gastric cancer has historically been limited by the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and immune evasion mechanisms. The successful development and approval of CT041 mark a critical step forward in overcoming these challenges.

Clinical evidence from the pivotal CT041-ST-01 randomized controlled trial demonstrated meaningful efficacy in heavily pretreated patients. In the modified intention-to-treat population, satri-cel achieved an objective response rate of 41% compared with 4% in the control group, along with a disease control rate of 81% versus 27%. The treatment significantly improved progression-free survival, reducing the risk of disease progression or death by up to 70%. Overall survival analysis further demonstrated a 53 to 63% reduction in mortality risk after statistical adjustment, highlighting its potential to deliver clinically meaningful benefit in a population with extremely limited treatment options.

As one of China’s leading private medical institutions, Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital is now among the select clinical centers providing access to satri-cel under approved indications. The hospital has established a structured multidisciplinary oncology framework to support advanced cellular therapies, including comprehensive patient evaluation, molecular diagnostics, individualized treatment planning, infusion coordination, and continuous post-treatment monitoring. Its clinical focus spans a broad range of tumor types, including gastrointestinal, lung, breast, thyroid, gynecologic, urologic, and soft tissue sarcomas, with a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary decision-making and personalized treatment strategies.

The center is supported by a nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary expert team across major oncology subspecialties. This includes leading colorectal cancer specialists Prof. Minhui Zheng and Prof. Xinxiang Li; experts in gastric, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic cancers Prof. Weize Wu, Prof. Jian Zhu, and Dr. Min Xu; urologic oncology specialist Prof. Dingwei Ye; gynecologic oncology expert Prof. Xiaohong Xue; breast cancer specialists Prof. Guangyu Liu, Prof. Cheng Wang, and Prof. Hui Ren; lung cancer experts Prof. Quan Wang, Prof. Jay Zhang, and Prof. Jiang Fan; thyroid cancer specialists Prof. Shawn Qu, Prof. Bin Jin, and Prof. Bo Wu; and medical oncologists Dr. Qi Li and Dr. Haiyan Yang. Together, this multidisciplinary structure ensures that patients benefit from coordinated, evidence-based, and highly individualized cancer care across all stages of treatment.

“The availability of satri-cel represents a transformative milestone in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer and signals the beginning of a new era in solid tumor immunotherapy, “said Dr. Kathy Shi, Founder and CEO of SinoUnited Health, “As CAR-T therapy continues to expand beyond hematologic malignancies, our institution remains committed to ensuring that patients have timely access to innovative therapies supported by strong clinical evidence and delivered through an integrated, multidisciplinary care model.”

Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital has previously established clinical experience in the application of CAR-T therapy in hematologic malignancies. Over the past year, the hospital has treated more than 30 patients with hematologic cancers using CAR-T therapy and has provided consultation and evaluation services to over 100 patients considered for CAR-T treatment. Through this experience, the hospital has developed comprehensive expertise in CAR-T-related patient management, including toxicity monitoring, risk stratification, and multidisciplinary supportive care, enabling the safe and effective delivery of cellular immunotherapies in complex clinical settings.

The introduction of satri-cel at Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital underscores the hospital’s ongoing commitment to advancing precision oncology and cellular immunotherapy. By integrating global innovation with clinical practice, the hospital aims to accelerate the translation of scientific breakthroughs into accessible treatment options for patients with advanced and previously refractory cancers.

As CAR-T therapy enters a new developmental era for solid tumors, Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital will further enhance its clinical diagnosis and treatment capacity, boost multidisciplinary collaboration, keep pace with the clinical application of novel anti-cancer agents, and deepen exchange and cooperation with medical institutions at home and abroad, so as to advance cancer care standards across China and worldwide.

About SinoUnited Health

Established in 2016 and anchored in Shanghai, SinoUnited Health(SUH) is a high-quality private healthcare provider with the largest and most extensive medical network in the Yangtze River Delta Region. Upholding the concept of “Patient First,” SUH provides trustworthy, cost-controllable, and high-quality healthcare services that meet both domestic and international standards.

Its international medical team strictly follows evidence-based guidelines and maintains long-term collaboration with renowned medical institutions in China and abroad, ensuring patients receive reliable, world-class care. As a physician-driven institution, SUH’s “General Practitioner+ Specialist” model offers holistic, professional, and personalized solutions, making premium private healthcare accessible for every family.

For more information, please visit: www.suhhealth.com

Contact: SinoUnited Health, internationalcare@suh.cn

THINKCAR Unveils Tyler as the Industry’s First AI Diagnostic Agent at Global Distributors Conference

By
Advertorial Desk
-

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 July 2026 – The automotive aftermarket faces a technician shortage: only one candidate exists for every four open roles. Today, THINKCAR unveiled Tyler, the industry’s first AI Diagnostic Agent, at its 2026 Global Distributors Conference in Shenzhen, with hundreds of distributors from 30+ countries gathered under the theme “Igniting the Era of AI Diagnostic Agents — AI That Knows. AI That Acts.”

Tyler is an AI Diagnostic Agent that perceives, reasons, acts, and learns with every session. It runs a full diagnostic workflow — from fault capture to repair plan — and predicts future failures before warning lights turn on. The technician keeps working. Tyler handles the rest. Related Tyler videos:

Video 1:Tyler: The AI Diagnostic Agent That Listens, Thinks, and Fixes

Video 2:I Am Tyler — An AI Diagnostic Agent Tells Its Own Story

Built on THINKCAR’s proprietary ThinkLLM, Tyler delivers answers in seconds, backed by 2.4M users, 400K+ daily sessions, and 140+ AI patents.

“Empowering every vehicle, that is the promise of a whole life. The independent repair shop deserves the best tools in the world,” said Ben Tan, Chairman of THINKCAR.

“Tyler does not replace your technicians. It replaces the tools that waste their time,” said Peter, VP of THINKCAR’s Diagnosis Business Center.

Tyler Ships Today. More Products Announced.

The THINKTOOL 394 AI ships with Tyler onboard. Dedicated AI Agent series will follow.

Alongside Tyler, THINKCAR announced:

T394 IMMO — Immobilizer diagnostics

T391 & T391 EV — Next-gen platform with EV capabilities

TPMS Tools — Tire pressure monitoring

Garage Equipment — Expanded maintenance line

Partnership with Solera AutoData
THINKCAR integrated 375,000+ Solera AutoData repair procedures covering 99% of models into Tyler’s workflow.

Conference by the Numbers
Hundreds of distributors from 30+ countries
30 awards across 4 categories: Diamond, Excellent, Outstanding, THINKCAR Star

  1. day program (June 24-27)

Availability
Tyler is available today on THINKTOOL 394 AI. 10-inch series (399, 394 IMMO, T391, T391 EV) expands late 2026. You wrench. Tyler handles the rest. Diagnostics. Assessment. Parts. Prediction. The End-to-end Expert.

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

About THINKCAR

THINKCAR is a leading AI-powered automotive diagnostic provider serving 2.4 million users across 215 countries, with products spanning 8 categories including diagnostic tools, TPMS, ADAS calibration, EV diagnostics, and remote service platforms.

From Ancient Capital to New Digital Silk Road Hub: The 7th Western Digital Economy Expo Sees Xi’an’s Industrial Integration Unleash Strong Momentum

By
Advertorial Desk
-

XI’AN, China, July 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Under the theme “Digital Convergence Revitalizes the Silk Road, Smart Innovation Shapes the West’s Future,” the 7th Western Digital Economy Expo (WDEE Expo) has successfully concluded in the ancient capital of Xi’an on June 28.

Xi'an High-Tech Industry Development Zone
Xi’an High-Tech Industry Development Zone

The expo brought together delegations from Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, and other countries, as well as government and enterprise representatives from over 30 Chinese cities and 119 leading digital economy companies. The event facilitated the signing of 34 key projects, marking a new record in the expo’s history.

This year’s WDEE Expo has introduced the “Digital Economy Enterprise Going Global” exchange event for the first time, demonstrating that Xi’an has moved beyond the traditional role of facilitating industrial transfer and is actively exporting digital capabilities. The event released the “Silk Road Cross-Border Data Flow and Operations White Paper” providing practical guidance for standardized digital trade among Belt and Road partner countries. In addition, the signing of “GEO Industry Standard Self-Regulatory Convention” further consolidated the foundation for the compliant development of cross-border digital businesses.

As a key hub for the digital economy in western China, Xi’an is accelerating the construction of an open and shared digital ecosystem. In 2025, core digital economy industries above the designated size reached 129 billion yuan (9.28% of GDP).

Infrastructure has been reinforced through five new‑infrastructure initiatives covering networks, cloud, computing, data, and security, to support government‑enterprise collaboration and public services.

Xi’an drives digital growth through scenario‑based openness, releasing 303 application requirements across smart tourism, XR, new energy, and more. The city has built technology centers for open-source chip, AI algorithms, and industrial software, forging industrial chain clusters from R&D to large‑scale deployment.

In Xi’an, a robust enterprise ecosystem has been established through echelon building, white‑list institutional arrangements, and innovation funds, attracting industry leaders like Huawei and JD.com while nurturing specialized SMEs, creating a balanced environment where enterprises of all sizes thrive together.

As Xi’an advances its vision of becoming a hub for digital technology innovation, a launchpad for next-generation digital products and applications, and a thriving ecosystem for the integrated growth of digital enterprises, the city warmly invites partners from across the global big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence value chains to join as its “City Partners.”

iQIYI Strengthens China’s Comedy Ecosystem as “The King of Stand-Up Comedy” Returns for Season 3

By
Advertorial Desk
-

BEIJING, July 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On July 3, iQIYI, China’s leading online entertainment platform, announces that its original hit comedic variety show “The King of Stand-Up Comedy” returns for its third season. The new season will be available simultaneously on iQIYI and iQIYI International, bringing the latest chapter of the platform’s comedy franchise to a global audience.

Carrying forward the series’ core spirit of “from nobody to somebody,” the new season gathers a diverse lineup of stand-up comedians and manzai duos from various comedy clubs across China. Welcoming back old friends alongside fresh talent, the season gives performers a broader stage to share authentic stories rooted in everyday life, showcasing a wide range of comedic perspectives.

A Franchise with Proven Cultural Pull

Now entering its third year, “The King of Stand-Up Comedy” has established itself as one of China’s most influential comedy franchises and a signature title in iQIYI’s summer lineup. The first season‘s iQIYI popularity index broke 9,400, propelling the show to the top of iQIYI’s 2024 variety popularity index and dominating variety show rankings across several prominent third-party data platforms.

Season 2, which premiered in July 2025, sustained that momentum, generating over 5,100 trending topics and topping the third-party platform Enlightent’s August 2025 “Dominating Screen Chart of Variety Shows,” making it the only comedy program to earn that distinction that year.

The series’ appeal goes beyond ratings and popularity. In Season 2, one comedian’s routine about airline uniform policies prompted policy reviews at several Chinese carriers, a demonstration of how the show’s humor connects to broader public conversations.

From Hit Shows to Lasting Franchises

“The King of Stand-Up Comedy” is a testament to iQIYI’s ongoing efforts to develop long-running seasonal IPs. Alongside established franchises such as “The Rap of China,” which brought hip-hop culture into the mainstream in China, and “The Blooming Journey,” a travel-themed reality show anchored in female-centric storytelling, iQIYI has built a portfolio of standout seasonal IPs that speak to the full breadth of consumer tastes.  

With Season 3 of “The King of Stand-Up Comedy,” iQIYI continues to deepen that portfolio, reinforcing its position as China’s leading destination for original content that resonates season after season.

Contact: iQIYI Press, press@qiyi.com

1...454647...6,334Page 46 of 6,334