Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s Museum of the Future has welcomed more than five million visitors since opening its doors on 22 February 2022, marking a milestone that underscores its growing role as a global platform for innovation, science and cultural dialogue. Situated along Sheikh Zayed Road, the torus-shaped landmark has become one of the city’s most recognisable institutions, blending immersive exhibitions with research-driven initiatives. Officials said […]
Michael Saylor has indicated that his company could expand its already vast Bitcoin holdings, renewing debate over corporate exposure to the world’s largest cryptocurrency and reinforcing his long-standing conviction that digital assets will define what he calls the “Orange Century”. Saylor, executive chairman of MicroStrategy, now rebranded as Strategy, shared remarks on social media that were widely interpreted by market participants as a signal of further purchases. […]
Aston Martin is exploring the sale of branding rights linked to its Formula One team as the luxury carmaker warns that losses are set to deepen, underscoring the financial strain facing one of Britain’s most storied automotive marques. The company said it is assessing options to monetise the commercial value of the Aston Martin name within Formula One, a move that could involve selling or licensing branding […]
Copper prices edged higher on Friday but remained on course for a third consecutive weekly decline, as a firmer US dollar and persistent concerns over global demand continued to weigh on sentiment across industrial metals markets. Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange climbed during morning trade, recovering from earlier losses as short-covering set in ahead of the weekend. Despite the rebound, prices have retreated over […]
United States import tariffs have largely been paid by domestic businesses and households rather than foreign exporters, according to a growing body of economic research, sharpening debate in Washington over the long-term costs of trade protection. Studies by Federal Reserve economists and leading academic institutions show that the bulk of duties imposed during the trade disputes of the past decade were passed through to American importers in […]
Japan’s SBI Holdings has announced plans to issue a ¥10 billion onchain bond that will be settled via blockchain technology and offer XRP rewards to eligible retail investors, marking one of the most prominent efforts by a major financial group to merge traditional fixed-income products with digital asset incentives. The offering, branded as SBI START Bonds, will provide a fixed interest rate and use distributed ledger infrastructure […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai President Donald Trump has ordered a 10 per cent tariff on virtually all foreign goods entering the United States, reviving a central plank of his trade agenda after the US Supreme Court struck down a series of levies imposed last year. The White House said the across-the-board duty will take effect on 24 February at 12:01 a. m. Washington time, marking one of […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s real estate market closed 2025 with transactions worth AED142 billion across 42,814 deals, marking the highest annual value on record and underscoring the emirate’s growing weight as a global investment destination. The Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre, the sector’s regulator and custodian, said total transaction value rose 44 per cent compared with 2024, while the number of deals climbed 52 per […]
Markets fluctuated sharply on Friday as digital assets and traditional financial instruments digested the U. S. Supreme Court’s decision that struck down former President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime, triggering a brief rally in bitcoin followed by rapid sell-offs and mixed sentiment among investors. The ruling, handed down by a 6-3 majority, found that the use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose broad tariffs […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has moved to enable the resale of tokenised property assets, marking a significant step in a $16 billion plan to digitise parts of its real estate market and make transactions faster and more accessible. The Dubai Land Department has confirmed that the next phase of its real estate tokenisation initiative, developed with technology firm Ctrl Alt, will allow investors to trade property […]
HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 February 2026 – Vietnam Airlines, the National Flag Carrier of Vietnam, signed an agreement to purchase 50 Boeing 737-8 narrow-body aircraft in Washington, D.C. (USA), in the presence of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam and Vietnamese officials as part of his visit to the United States to attend the Board of Peace.
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, the airline’s leadership also met with Boeing to discuss a subsequent plan to invest in 30 wide-body aircraft in the coming period, with an estimated total value of over USD 12 billion, in support of its international network development strategy.
This landmark agreement represents a cornerstone of Vietnam Airlines’ long-term fleet modernization strategy. The airline is scheduled to take delivery of the aircraft between 2030 and 2032, with the expansion expected to increase its total fleet to approximately 151 aircraft by 2030. The US$8.1 Billion (at 2025 catalog pricing) investment prioritizes the development of the narrow-body fleet to enhance network frequency, operational flexibility and cost efficiency, while strengthening competitiveness in the next phase of growth.
The Boeing 737-8 aircraft will primarily operate on domestic and regional Asian routes, supporting rising passenger demand and strengthening regional connectivity. Over the next five years, Vietnam Airlines targets sustained double-digit average annual growth across key operating indicators, in line with the robust expansion of Vietnam’s aviation market.
Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines, said: “Vietnam Airlines is taking a comprehensive and forward-looking approach to strengthening its capabilities, spanning fleet modernization, financial resilience and the development of high quality talent, to support our long term growth ambitions. The investment in 50 Boeing 737-8 aircraft marks a significant step in building a modern, fuel efficient fleet while enhancing operational performance and elevating service standards to meet international benchmarks. This agreement also deepens the long standing strategic partnership between Vietnam Airlines and Boeing, creating a strong foundation for our ambition to become a five star international airline by 2030.”
Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: “We are proud to build on our partnership with Vietnam Airlines and support them as they pair the 737 MAX with the 787 Dreamliner to further scale regional networks and strengthen connectivity across Asia. The 737‑8’s capabilities, economics and passenger experience make it an ideal airplane to support Vietnam Airlines’ growth plans.”
Boeing 737-8 is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing’s history, recognized for its advanced design, operational reliability, and sustainability performance. With seating for up to 200 passengers and a range of up to 6,570 kilometers, the aircraft offers strong flexibility across short- and medium-haul networks.
Powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines and incorporating an optimized aerodynamic design and advanced technology winglets, the 737 reduces fuel use and emissions by 20 percent compared to the airplanes it replaces. On average, each aircraft is expected to save up to 8 million pounds of CO₂ emissions annually, supporting the airline’s network expansion while lowering operating costs.
The Boeing Sky Interior further enhances the passenger experience, featuring larger pivoting bins, advanced LED lighting, larger windows, and a spacious cabin architecture that delivers a modern and comfortable flying experience.
Beyond fleet expansion, this investment underscores Vietnam Airlines’ long-term commitment to sustainable development, emissions reduction, and service excellence. With the addition of the 737-8, the airline is strengthening its operational capabilities and adherence to international safety and service standards.
To secure diversified funding sources, Vietnam Airlines in 2025 engaged in discussions with domestic banks and dominant U.S. financial institutions, including EXIM Bank and Citi, to arrange financing for strategic projects such as fleet investment.
Building on strengthened financial foundations and improving operational performance, Vietnam Airlines continues to expand its global footprint, including the recent launch of a record 14 new international routes. The introduction of the Boeing 737-8 will further enhance the airline’s capacity to capture growth in the Asia Pacific aviation market, expand connectivity and elevate service quality, as it advances toward its goal of becoming a five-star airline by 2030. Hashtag: #VietnamAirlines #Boeing7378 #FleetExpansion #AviationIndustry #AirlineGrowth
Two of Abu Dhabi’s most influential investment vehicles significantly boosted their exposure to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust during the fourth quarter of 2025, pushing their combined bitcoin exchange-traded fund holdings above the $1 billion mark at the close of the calendar year. The moves, disclosed through quarterly filings with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission, underscore a broader shift among sovereign players toward regulated digital assets […]
New integration adds data-centric protection to Temenos Transact, streamlining compliance, secure modernization, and AI analytics.
WIESBADEN, GERMANY – EQS Newswire – 18 February 2026 – comforte AG, a global leader in data-centric security, and ITSS Global, a premier Temenos delivery partner, have announced a collaboration to help retail, commercial and private banks using Temenos Transact eliminate the risks associated with clear-text personally identifiable information (PII) and payment data across core banking systems and their connected environments. As banks accelerate digital transformation and data-driven programs such as fraud prevention and AI, exposure of sensitive data across systems has become a growing concern. Regulators and industry standards worldwide are also raising the bar for how banks protect sensitive data and prove control across connected environments, including PCI DSS, privacy requirements, and resilience expectations. The comforte and ITSS collaboration addresses these challenges with a co-developed solution that extends data protection into Temenos Transact environments without complex customization. Delivered by ITSS as part of its Temenos services, the integration leverages comforte’s TAMUNIO technology for centralized policy management, tokenization, and controlled de-tokenization, keeping sensitive data protected across environments while still supporting reporting, analytics, and downstream processing, including fraud detection workflows and AI-driven insights built on Transact data.
Turning Security into an Enabler “The modern threat landscape demands a shift from securing systems to securing the data itself,” said Henning Horst, CTO at comforte. “Today’s regulators and auditors expect readable data to stay out of places it doesn’t belong. Together with ITSS, we help banks prove that control and move faster on analytics, fraud initiatives, and AI programs using protected data.”
Safe Implementation into Temenos Transact “As banks modernize their Temenos environments, the real security challenge is no longer the perimeter. It is protecting sensitive data as it moves across core systems, analytics platforms, and the cloud,” said Somasundaram M, Regional Sales Director, MEA at ITSS. “Through our partnership with comforte, we enable Temenos clients to embed data-centric tokenization directly into their transformation journeys. This significantly reduces breach exposure, supports compliance with evolving regulatory mandates such as PCI DSS 4.0 and GDPR, and allows banks to adopt cloud, analytics, and AI-driven use cases without compromising data sovereignty or performance.”
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About comforte AG
comforte AG is a leading provider of data-centric security solutions that empower enterprises to protect sensitive information throughout its lifecycle while maintaining its usability for business operations. Headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany, comforte is a trusted partner for global enterprises across various industries. The TAMUNIO data security platform automates the discovery, classification and protection of data within complex IT environments. With over 25 years of expertise, comforte safeguards data for over 300 global customers, including industry leaders like Visa and Mastercard, enabling them to drive digital transformation, optimize operations, and achieve sustainable growth with confidence. For more information, visit comforte.com and follow comforte AG on LinkedIn.
About ITSS ITSS Global is a Geneva-headquartered technology services and solutions provider with a presence in more than 25 strategic locations worldwide. Since 2001, ITSS Global has delivered best-in-class outcomes through deep banking expertise and strong technical capabilities, supporting organizations with end-to-end IT modernization and operational excellence. The company provides expertise across infrastructure, cybersecurity, and managed services—helping clients enhance performance, strengthen security, and scale with confidence.
A multi-certified Temenos partner, ITSS Global has supported 300+ clients globally as a system integrator across the full Temenos suite, while also delivering complementary solutions that extend and enhance the Temenos core—enabling future-ready banking transformation through cloud adaptability, AI enablement, and continuous innovation.
Bitcoin retreated ahead of the US market open, mirroring declines in equity futures as traders returned from a three-day break to a more fragile macro backdrop marked by geopolitical strain and shifting rate expectations. The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell below key technical levels in early trading, extending a pullback that began over the weekend. The move coincided with weakness in US stock-index futures and a firmer dollar, […]
United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are set to dominate Middle East sustainable bond issuance this year, with total regional volumes projected to reach between $20 billion and $25 billion, according to S&P Global, as governments and corporations accelerate funding for climate and energy transition goals. The ratings agency estimates that the two largest Gulf economies already accounted for about 80 per cent of sustainable bond issuance […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi has begun deploying facial recognition technology for notary transactions, positioning its judicial system at the forefront of biometric authentication in the Gulf and marking a shift away from conventional digital signatures. Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said the first phase of the project allows users to verify their identity through facial recognition when completing notarial services, removing the need for physical attendance […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai China’s Belt and Road Initiative recorded $213.5 billion in engagement during 2025, the highest annual level since its launch more than a decade ago, as a wave of construction contracts and energy investments reshaped the geographic balance of the programme and propelled the Middle East into the top ranks of recipients. Data compiled in the China Belt and Road Initiative Investment Report […]
Iran has signalled progress in indirect negotiations with the United States over its nuclear programme, days after heightened tensions in the Gulf led to a partial disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies. Officials in Tehran said discussions aimed at easing sanctions and placing constraints on uranium enrichment had moved forward, describing the latest round of contacts as “constructive”. […]
Ford Motor is developing a new universal electric vehicle architecture through a tightly held internal programme designed to cut costs, boost range and stem heavy losses in its battery-powered division, according to executives and industry analysts familiar with the effort. The initiative, led by a small “skunkworks” team operating with a high degree of autonomy, centres on a flexible platform intended to underpin multiple vehicle types. Senior […]
Cucumber prices across Russia have climbed sharply, prompting public frustration and drawing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators as households grapple with food inflation during the conflict in Ukraine. Data published by the federal statistics agency show that the retail cost of cucumbers has risen markedly since the start of the year, outpacing overall food inflation. In several regions, consumers have reported prices doubling compared with the same […]
Ripple has ranked ahead of Bitcoin and Ethereum in a global survey measuring emotional connection between consumers and cryptocurrency brands, underscoring how perception and trust are emerging as competitive factors in a volatile digital asset market. The San Francisco-based blockchain company placed fourth overall in MBLM’s Brand Intimacy Study for cryptocurrency projects, outperforming both Bitcoin and Ethereum in the latest assessment of how strongly users feel bonded […]
Dragonfly Capital has secured $650 million for its fourth investment vehicle, pressing ahead with fresh commitments to digital asset infrastructure even as senior partners describe the current venture climate in crypto as a “mass extinction event”. The San Francisco and Singapore-based firm said the new capital will be directed towards foundational blockchain systems, stablecoins, on-chain financial services and tokenised real-world assets, signalling a long-term strategy despite persistent […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has begun rolling out facial recognition technology for notary transactions, marking a significant shift in how legal documents are verified and authenticated in the emirate. The first phase of the initiative, announced by the department, integrates biometric identification into selected notary services, enabling clients to complete procedures through digital platforms without the need for physical attendance. Officials describe the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s education landscape is set for a major expansion as Dubai Holding Investments and global operator Nord Anglia Education announced a strategic partnership to develop and operate a network of premium K-12 schools across the emirate, responding to surging demand driven by population growth and an expanding expatriate community — a move that adds momentum to the broader Gulf private education boom while […]
www.itssglobal.com 
LinkedIn
X
