The Journey of Dr. Bounloth Sodaluck. (Photo by LFHC)
Bounloth Sodaluck grew up watching rural families in Xayaboury Province struggle to find medical care for their children. Now, decades later, she leads the only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in northern Laos and has just become the first Lao national to win the Women of the Future Southeast Asia Award in the Professions category.
“This award is for the hospital and our team, who are dedicated to saving kids’ lives,” she said.
It is International Women’s Day, and if there is a story worth telling today in Laos, it is probably hers.
Dr. Pom, as she is known, did not come from a family of doctors or a city with good hospitals. After finishing high school in Xayaboury, she earned a place at the University of Health Sciences in Vientiane. Her focus sharpened during clinical rotations at Lao Friends Hospital for Children in Luang Prabang, where she noticed something that would later mark her entire career.
“Children are not good at telling us how they feel, so we need to pay attention,” she says.
She never left.
This year, LFHC marked its 11th anniversary, and Dr. Pom marked it by leading the team that built the hospital’s first PICU, a unit that now handles the region’s most critically ill children, many arriving from remote provinces with few other options.
The hospital has operated for eleven years on entirely private funding, offering completely free care to every child who comes through its doors.
Beyond the ward, Dr. Pom works as Medical Education Director, training junior Lao doctors and interns with skills she developed through additional study in Vientiane and Thailand.
“If I can give my students the tools and confidence to treat sick children, my impact will multiply,” she says.
Women in Laos have been moving into medicine, law, and public life for years now, often without much noise about it.
But the path is rarely straightforward, especially for women from rural areas, where getting to university at all can depend on factors that have nothing to do with ability.
Dr. Pom did not let any of that define her limits.
Debuting at the FHE.org 2026 Conference, the Gentry–Lee (GL) scheme introduces a breakthrough in matrix multiplication performance for Fully Homomorphic Encryption.
SEOUL, South Korea and TAIPEI, March 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DESILO, a deep-tech company specializing in privacy-enhancing technologies, today unveiled the Gentry–Lee (GL) scheme, a major advancement positioned as the 5th generation of Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE).
The scheme is being formally presented at the FHE.org 2026 Conference in Taipei. The framework is co-authored by Yongwoo Lee (Chief Scientist, DESILO) and Craig Gentry (Chief Scientist, Cornami) — the inventor of FHE in 2009 and recipient of the 2022 Gödel Prize.
As organizations increasingly adopt AI while handling sensitive data, a new paradigm known as Private AI is emerging. Private AI enables AI systems to operate directly on encrypted data, allowing enterprises and organizations to use AI without exposing sensitive prompts, inputs, or model outputs to the AI provider.
This capability is particularly important for highly regulated industries, enterprise environments with strict data protection and sovereignty requirements, and organizations working with highly sensitive or valuable data.
Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) enables this approach by allowing computations to be performed directly on encrypted data without decrypting it.
While earlier FHE schemes made encrypted computation increasingly practical, their computational overhead has remained a major challenge for modern AI workloads. The GL scheme introduces a new architecture designed to significantly improve the efficiency of matrix multiplication, one of the core operations underlying modern deep learning systems.
Because Large Language Models (LLMs) rely heavily on repeated matrix multiplication, improving this operation is critical for enabling AI computation under encryption.
“Back in the early days of FHE, the primary goal was proving mathematical feasibility,” said Craig Gentry, Chief Scientist of Cornami. “With the GL scheme, we are fundamentally restructuring how homomorphic operations handle matrix multiplication. Optimizing these core operations brings encrypted computation much closer to supporting modern AI architectures.”
“Matrix multiplication is the dominant workload in modern AI systems,” said Yongwoo Lee, Chief Scientist of DESILO. “With the GL scheme, we introduce a new framework designed to significantly improve how these operations are performed under homomorphic encryption, bringing practical Private AI closer to reality.”
The full research paper describing the GL scheme is available via the IACR ePrint archive.
DESILO is a deep-tech company advancing the future of Private AI through breakthroughs in cryptography. Specializing in Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) and privacy-enhancing technologies, DESILO develops infrastructure that enables AI systems to operate securely on encrypted data, allowing organizations to unlock the value of sensitive data without compromising privacy.
Holds groundbreaking ceremony for second U.S. plant; completion scheduled for April next year
Expands production capacity by 50% and adds 765-kilovolt-class manufacturing capability; annual revenue expected to increase by 200 billion won
Continues long-term U.S. investment following establishment of first local production subsidiary by a Korean power equipment company in 2011
Expansion of extra high voltage power transformer production capacity to further strengthen leadership in the North American market
SEOUL, South Korea, March 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HD Hyundai Electric has commenced expanding its North American production subsidiary, further reinforcing its leadership in the region’s extra high voltage power transformer market.
HD Hyundai Electric held a groundbreaking ceremony for a second plant at its North American production base in Alabama, U.S., on the 6th (local time). (From third left: Cornelius “CC” Calhoun, President of the Montgomery City Council; Kim Youngki, CEO of HD Hyundai Electric; Jun-ho Lee, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta; Cho Seok, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai; and Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce)
The company said that it held a groundbreaking ceremony on Mar. 6 for a second plant at its North American production base, HD Hyundai Power Transformers USA, in Montgomery, Alabama. The ceremony was attended by Kim Youngki, CEO of HD Hyundai Electric; Lee Joon-ho, Consul General of the Republic of Korea; Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce; Cornelius “CC” Calhoun, President of the Montgomery City Council; and representatives from major customers and partner companies.
The new facility, spanning approximately 312,000 square feet, will be constructed within the site of the North American production subsidiary, with completion targeted for April next year. HD Hyundai Electric will invest approximately $200 million to increase extra high voltage power transformer production capacity by 50% and establish manufacturing and testing capabilities for 765-kilovolt-class transformers, supporting the expansion and modernization of the United States’ backbone transmission network. Upon completion, the plant is expected to generate approximately 200 billion won in additional annual revenue.
Established in 2011, HD Hyundai Power Transformers USA was the first U.S.-based transformer manufacturing subsidiary built by a Korean power equipment company and has since grown into the largest power transformer production facility in the United States.
HD Hyundai Electric invested $55 million at the time of the subsidiary’s establishment, followed by an additional $44 million in 2018 to expand production space and $19 million in 2023 to build a dedicated transformer storage facility, demonstrating its continued commitment to local investment. This localized production base has significantly reduced supply lead times and enhanced customer responsiveness, strengthening trust and order competitiveness in the North American market.
As a result, operational performance has steadily improved. Revenue increased from approximately $100 million in 2017 to about $400 million in 2025. The workforce has also expanded significantly, growing approximately 100 employees in 2011 to more than 300 in 2017 and reaching around 460 in 2025. Following completion of the second plant, the company plans to hire an additional 200 employees.
“Our North American production subsidiary has played a key role in strengthening our presence in the U.S. market through local manufacturing. We will successfully complete the second plant and create synergies with the Ulsan plant expansion, scheduled for completion in September, to further solidify our leadership in the North American extra high voltage power transformer market,” said an official from HD Hyundai Electric.
BEIJING, March 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A report from hubpd.com:
Yiwu’s model is they’ve found a number of people from different countries who speak Chinese, and have trade experience here in Yiwu. And they act as mediators for people from their country or region. It’s like having a mediator, but one that specifically understands your language and culture. That’s very important when it comes to resolving disputes.
China’s Secret to Calmly Resolving Trade Disputes
Chinese courts have developed a mediation Method called”Six-Foot Alley”, having foreign mediators helps International Businessman to work things out. This is also part of the Fengqiao Experience in the New Era.
Court rejects allegations that Binance assisted, participated in, or conspired with terrorists. This represents a decisive legal dismissal of all claims.
ABU DHABI, UAE, March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by registered users, announced today that a U.S. federal court in the Southern District of New York has dismissed all claims brought against the company under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The lawsuit involved 535 plaintiffs who alleged that Binance provided material support related to 64 terrorist attacks.
In a 62-page decision, the Court found that plaintiffs failed to establish any of their central allegations: that Binance assisted terrorists, that Binance associated itself with terrorist attacks, that Binance participated in or sought to advance those attacks, or that Binance engaged in any conspiracy with terrorist organizations.
“This dismissal is a complete vindication of all false allegations,” said Eleanor Hughes, Binance’s General Counsel. “The court has unambiguously rejected the false and damaging narrative that Binance assisted terrorists. We have always maintained that these claims were without merit, and today’s ruling confirms that. We will continue to defend ourselves aggressively against any litigation or reporting that misrepresents who we are and how we operate.”
A Full and Complete Legal Victory
The Court’s decision to dismiss all claims — across every allegation, represents a decisive legal victory.
While the Court has allowed plaintiffs 60 days to file an amended complaint in light of a recent appellate decision, Binance is confident that no amended pleading will be able to cure the fundamental deficiencies the Court identified. The underlying claims have been thoroughly examined and rejected.
Commitment to Compliance and Legal Integrity
Binance has consistently invested in industry-leading compliance infrastructure, regulatory engagement, and legal governance. Today’s ruling affirms that Binance’s operations do not support, facilitate, or enable terrorism in any form.
The company will continue to engage constructively with regulators worldwide, operate within established legal frameworks, and pursue vigorous legal action where necessary to correct false and misleading narratives about its business.
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 310 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 March 2026 – CGTN published an article on the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee. Reviewing the work of the CPPCC National Committee in 2025 in areas like its consultative and deliberative work and assisting in the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the article highlights the CPPCC’s role as a dedicated consultative body through which people’s democracy is practiced.
Committed to addressing the difficulties regarding people’s livelihood through the rule of law, Pi Jianlong, a lawyer and a national political advisor, has spent years going deep into factories, workshops, law firms and juvenile probation and rehabilitation centers, making sure that his proposals, grounded in rigorous field research, are precise, practical and responsive to real needs.
Noting the predicament faced by food delivery riders, including the lack of contracts, social security and basic protection, he proposed targeted suggestions such as innovating social security models and strengthening platform responsibilities. In 2025, platforms such as JD.com and Meituan successively introduced social security plans, providing full social insurance coverage for full-time riders and accident and medical insurance for part-time riders.
Awarded for his outstanding performance in 2025 by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee recently, Pi exemplifies the commitment of thousands of CPPCC members to serving the people through high-quality duty fulfillment, underscoring the CPPCC’s role as a major vehicle through which people’s democracy is practiced.
On Wednesday afternoon, China’s top political advisory body, the CPPCC National Committee, kicked off its annual session in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping, together with other leaders, attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.
99.9% proposals handled
Acting as a dedicated consultative body, the CPPCC has pooled extensive consensus and strength to support the successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and a solid start to the 15th Five-Year Plan over the past year, injecting strong vitality into the practice of whole-process people’s democracy – a key concept put forward by Xi himself to advance China’s political landscape.
Over the years, China has made all-around progress in improving the institutions, standards and procedures of socialist democracy and advanced socialist consultative democracy by way of extensive participation.
According to a work report delivered at the opening meeting, in 2025, the CPPCC National Committee received 5,992 proposals from its members, of which 5,061 were accepted for processing. The response rate for the accepted proposals stood at 99.9%.
The CPPCC National Committee members carried out 6,778 activities to serve the people, along with 11,115 outreach activities engaging people from relevant sectors. These efforts benefited more than 4 million people.
By innovating consultative and deliberative methods, improving consultative democracy institutions, and fostering a culture of consultation, the CPPCC has further strengthened its role in promoting democracy and offering policy advice while building consensus.
Over the past year, the CPPCC National Committee held 98 consultative and deliberative events, ranging from promoting the country’s green and low-carbon transition for the 15th Five-Year Plan and developing the silver economy to improving and innovating social governance. These efforts demonstrate that consultative democracy is grounded in reality and responsive to public needs, pooling support, consensus, wisdom and strength to advance Chinese modernization.
Securing a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan
Supporting the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan serves as a key task of the CPPCC in 2025, representing a vivid practice of whole-process people’s democracy.
From May 20 to June 20 last year, China launched an online public consultation to gather opinions for its next five-year plan. The initiative drew over 3.11 million valid submissions, yielding more than 1,500 constructive suggestions across 27 topics.
A summary of these findings was submitted to the Party leadership, ensuring that the people’s voices were heard at the highest level. By September, a total of 2,112 suggestions had been collected from various regions, departments and sectors, resulting in 218 revisions to the document.
To contribute to the 15th Five-Year Plan, the CPPCC, over the past year, held a special standing committee meeting and carried out 54 special studies, yielding a series of high-quality outcomes. Meanwhile, it launched a special research column, publishing 55 issues to provide evidence-based references for policy-making.
This broad-based participation highlights that national development strategies are rooted in public will, gathering strong momentum for Chinese modernization.
According to the work report, in 2026, the CPPCC will conduct in-depth research and thorough consultations on major tasks and strategic measures of the 15th Five-Year Plan and carry out cross-committee, cross-sector and cross-disciplinary studies, aiming to put forward forward-looking, targeted and operable policy suggestions, according to the report.
Focusing on key issues in areas such as economic development, technological innovation, reform and opening up, social development, and people’s livelihood, the CPPCC will truthfully reflect public opinions based on facts and implement the CPPCC National Committee’s democratic oversight work plan during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
For more information, please click: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-03-04/How-China-builds-consensus-boosts-growth-via-consultative-democracy-1LeSOfZLbk4/p.html
Hashtag: #CGTN
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Kiztopia brings its award-winning “Play to Learn, Learn through Play” concept to Southern Malaysia, marking its 3rd outlet in Malaysia and 22nd across APAC
JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 March 2026 – Kiztopia, Singapore’s leading family edutainment brand, officially celebrated the grand opening of its newest outlet at Toppen Shopping Centre, Johor Bahru on February 26, 2026. This milestone marks Kiztopia’s third outlet in Malaysia since 2024 and its 22nd family edutainment centre across the Asia-Pacific region.
From left: Ms. Li San, Operations Manager of Kiztopia Malaysia; Ms. Heidi Tian, CEO and Founder of Kiztopia; Mr. Sergey Aristarkhov, Centre Manager of Toppen Mall; Ms. Su Wei, General Manager of Kiztopia Malaysia; and Mr. Nicholas Yong, COO of Kiztopia, commemorated the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new outlet.
Founded in Singapore in 2019 with its flagship outlet at Marina Square, Kiztopia was awarded “Best Attraction Experience” at the Singapore Tourism Awards in 2021. Today, the brand operates across Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, with sub-brands including Kiztopia Club, Bouncetopia, SkyPark, Kiztopia Prestige, and Xventure — a sports and adventure concept designed for teens, adults and thrill-seekers.
The Johor Bahru outlet represents Kiztopia’s continued commitment to expanding its footprint in Malaysia, bringing innovative and immersive family experiences to the southern region.
Speaking at the grand opening ceremony, Ms. Heidi Tian, Founder and CEO of Kiztopia, said: “A very warm welcome to our grand opening ceremony at Toppen Shopping Centre today. This marks our third outlet opened in Malaysia since 2024 and our 22nd outlet in the APAC region. We are honoured to collaborate with Ikano Group and delighted to bring memorable experiences and timeless fun to all families in Johor and across Malaysia.
We are fully committed to Malaysia’s market development and hope to bring more innovative and creative concepts and experiences to Malaysian families.”
Ms. Su Wei, General Manager of Kiztopia Malaysia, added: “This expansion reflects how much we value families in the South. Beyond the play zones, our team is here to create lasting memories — and we can’t wait to see the smiles begin at Toppen.”
Mr. Sergey Aristarkhov, Centre Manager of Toppen Mall, shared: “Toppen is not just a shopping mall; it is a place that creates meaningful experiences for families and children. This is what we believe in. We are proud to welcome Kiztopia as part of our experiential offerings, strengthening Toppen’s position as a destination for family bonding and interactive play.”
A world of imaginative play and active learning
Kiztopia is built around its core philosophy of “Play to Learn, Learn through Play.” The Johor Bahru outlet features vibrant thematic play zones inspired by Kiztopia’s eight unique IP-registered characters, each designed to stimulate creativity, physical activity, and social development.
Children can explore large-scale interactive playground structures, role-play zones that spark imagination, obstacle courses that encourage physical agility, and immersive activity areas that nurture teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Designed as a safe, engaging and enriching environment, the centre allows children to build confidence while strengthening family bonds through shared experiences.
Beyond daily play sessions, Kiztopia also offers curated birthday party packages and school visit programmes, providing customised, guided experiences that combine fun, education and memorable celebrations for children of all ages.
Strengthening Malaysia’s family entertainment landscape
The launch at Toppen Shopping Centre reinforces Kiztopia’s long-term commitment to Malaysia as a key growth market in Southeast Asia. By collaborating with Ikano Group and Toppen Mall, Kiztopia aims to deliver not just entertainment, but holistic family experiences that blend education, physical play and emotional connection.
With Malaysia’s growing demand for premium indoor family attractions, Kiztopia continues to innovate with new concepts, seasonal events and cross-brand experiences such as Jumptopia™ and Splashtopia — signature inflatable event experiences that have delighted families across the region.
Visit Kiztopia at Toppen Shopping Centre
Families in Johor Bahru and surrounding areas are invited to experience Kiztopia’s newest outlet at Toppen Shopping Centre and discover a dynamic space where imagination, learning and fun come together.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Kiztopia
Founded in 2019 with its flagship outlet at Marina Square, Kiztopia is Singapore’s leading family edutainment brand, awarded “Best Attraction Experience” at the Singapore Tourism Awards in 2021. Featuring eight unique IP-registered characters, Kiztopia offers a range of programs and activities where children can “Play to Learn, Learn through Play.” Today, Kiztopia operates 22 family edutainment centres (FECs) across Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan, with sub-brands such as Kiztopia Club, Bouncetopia, SkyPark, Kiztopia Prestige, and Xventure, a sports and adventure concept for teens, adults, and thrill-seekers. In 2024, Kiztopia secured its first round of private equity funding to support regional growth and expansion. Beyond its FECs, our signature bouncy castle event, Jumptopia™ and Splashtopia, has delighted families across the region, alongside co-organized events like the Children’s Festival and TriFactor Kids Run, family staycation collaborations, and a kids’ travel product line with American Tourister. For more information, visit http://www.kiztopia.com.my/.
BEIJING, March 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China.org.cn on China’s new efforts on further opening up:
The 15th Five-Year Plan featuring opening up: China and the world sharing the future
The year 2026 marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). At the “two sessions,” China announced its target GDP growth rate of 4.5 to 5 percent for this year. To achieve this goal anchored in high-quality development, China will no doubt continue expanding high-standard opening up, and pursue positive interactions with the international community toward a shared future.
For years, China has been the largest contributor to world economic growth. Take 2025 as an example. Against a backdrop of sluggish economic recovery and mounting uncertainties, China’s GDP still grew by 5%, with its volume surpassing 140 trillion yuan (about 20 trillion U.S. dollars) for the first time. These figures underscore China’s role as a stabilizing anchor and a growth engine for the world economy. Such “stability” and “growth” mean resilience and certainty for foreign investors and international companies.
Sharing opportunities and pursuing common development has long been China’s approach. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s total foreign trade volume exceeded 200 trillion yuan, a 40 percent increase compared with that of the 13th Five-Year Plan period. China has become a major trading partner for over 160 countries and regions, and in 2025, trade between China and at least 60 percent of the countries across the five continents recorded growth, which testifies to an ever-expanding global trade “circle of friends”. Besides the increase in scale, “green development” and “innovation” are adding new dimensions to China’s high-standard opening-up. In recent years, Chinese battery manufacturers like CATL and Sunwoda have established plants in European countries like Germany and Hungary, expanding their own markets while helping build localized supply chains for European automakers such as BMW and Volkswagen, achieving win-win results. Multinational corporations like AstraZeneca and Schneider Electric have also established major strategic R&D centers in China. These attest to the fact that through more profound opening-up, China is deepening integration with other countries across the industrial and innovation chains for mutual benefit.
At a time when global economic growth is slowing, geopolitical tensions persist, policy uncertainty lingers, and trade costs continue to rise, China is responding with institutional opening up, creating a secure and reliable destination for foreign investment. From the continued shortening of the negative list for foreign investment, to the complete removal of market access restrictions in the manufacturing sector, and the ongoing independent customs operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the appeal of “invest in China” is becoming increasingly evident.
At this year’s “two sessions,” a fresh round of signals on expanding opening-up was released in quick succession: China will expand market access and open more sectors, particularly the service industry. Pilot opening-up programs will be broadened in fields such as value-added telecom services, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals. The negative list for cross-border trade in services will be further shortened. National treatment for foreign-invested companies will be better ensured, and a new version of the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment will be implemented… This series of concrete policy measures has set a more defined direction and clearer roadmap forward for China’s high-standard opening up.
China’s development has never been a solo performance, but rather a symphony with the rest of the world — one that stresses win-win outcomes and shared growth. Looking ahead, the world can expect China to continue embracing greater openness, advance institutional opening-up, and create a steady stream of opportunities, working with other countries to sail toward a vast ocean of shared prosperity.
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