Gold rose more than 1 per cent on Monday as hopes of a possible US-Iran agreement pushed oil prices lower, weakened the dollar and reshaped inflation expectations across commodity and currency markets. Spot bullion climbed to about $4,559 an ounce, while US gold futures traded near $4,560, extending gains as investors assessed signals that Washington and Tehran had moved closer to a framework that could ease pressure […]
Greenlogue/AP UAE officials used the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition in Rotterdam to reinforce the country’s ambition to become a global hub for low-emission hydrogen, placing cross-border trade, common standards and industrial decarbonisation at the centre of its energy transition agenda. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure represented the UAE at the gathering in the Netherlands, where governments, technology developers, financiers and energy companies examined the commercial […]
European Parliament scrutiny of the Stop Destroying Videogames initiative was diverted by Slovak MEP Milan Uhrík after he used a debate on digital ownership and game preservation to attack what he described as “woke ideology” in the games industry. The initiative, widely known through the Stop Killing Games campaign, asks the European Commission to require publishers selling or licensing videogames in the European Union to leave them […]
Cannes handed its top prize to Cristian Mungiu’s Fjord, giving the Romanian film-maker his second Palme d’Or for a stark Norway-set drama that turns family conflict into a wider examination of political polarisation, migration, parenting, faith and the limits of cultural tolerance. The award, announced at the closing ceremony of the 79th Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, places Mungiu among a select group of directors to have […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Jazeera Airways has launched its first direct service between Kuwait and Italy, operating an inaugural flight from Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 5 to Milan Bergamo Airport on Friday as the carrier pushes deeper into the European leisure and business travel market. The new Kuwait–Milan Bergamo route will operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, using Airbus A320neo aircraft. The service […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s ports and customs authorities have opened fresh discussions with Kuwait to strengthen maritime transport, customs cooperation and trade flows, as Gulf economies push for more resilient supply chains amid shifting regional trade conditions. Abdulla bin Damithan, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation in Dubai, met Khaled Abdulrahim Al Zaabi, Consul-General of Kuwait in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, at […]
Abu Dhabi has cast its departure from OPEC as a strategic move to protect national revenue before global oil demand enters a long-term decline, marking one of the sharpest shifts in Gulf energy policy in decades. The UAE ended nearly 60 years of membership in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on May 1, stepping away from both OPEC and the wider OPEC+ framework after years […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Brazilian refiner Acelen has secured $1.5 billion to begin construction of a major biofuels refinery in Bahia, advancing Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala-backed strategy to build a large-scale renewable fuels platform in Latin America. The project, led by Acelen Renováveis, is expected to start operations in 2029 and produce up to 1 billion litres a year of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. The financing […]
The 2026 Sunday Roast Guest Chef Series runs across selected Sundays from February to October, with further dates expected for November and December. Priced at HK$898 per guest, plus a 10 per cent service charge, the programme gives each participating restaurant one Sunday to reinterpret the classic British roast through its own cuisine, while retaining the familiar three-course structure of starter, roast or seafood main, and dessert.
The format reflects a wider shift in Hong Kong’s premium dining scene, where luxury hotels are moving beyond standard brunch buffets and using chef-led collaborations to attract diners who want novelty, scarcity and recognised culinary talent. For Lobster Bar & Grill, long associated with seafood, grills, cocktails and live jazz, the series also positions brunch as a curated dining event rather than a routine weekend offering.
The 2026 line-up began with NOI on 8 February, bringing contemporary Italian cooking shaped by Chef Paulo Airaudo’s wider culinary approach and Hong Kong-based Chef Luigi Troiano’s execution. It continued on 15 March with 22 Ships, known for modern Spanish flavours under Chef Antonio Oviedo, and on 12 April with Yong Fu Hong Kong, whose Ningbo seafood cooking added a refined Chinese coastal identity to the Sunday roast template.
The next phase brings Neighborhood on 31 May, Leela on 28 June and Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic on 19 July. Neighborhood, led by Chef David Lai, enters the series with strong recognition from both Michelin and Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, where it ranked No. 24 in the 2026 list. Its reputation rests on market-led European bistro cooking, generous sharing dishes and a style that combines technical control with an understated dining room culture.
Leela, led by Chef Manav Tuli, adds a modern interpretation of regional cooking from India, using refined technique, spice layering and tandoor-led elements. Its participation broadens the series beyond European and Chinese traditions, giving the roast format a more expansive culinary identity at a time when Hong Kong diners are showing stronger interest in regional specificity and chef-driven storytelling.
Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic brings the strongest fine-dining profile in the May-to-July phase. The Landmark restaurant, guided in Hong Kong by Chef Marc Mantovani, earned two Michelin stars in the 2026 Hong Kong and Macau guide. Its contribution is expected to bring a more composed French approach to the format, with emphasis on precision, balance and luxury ingredients.
Lobster Bar & Grill’s regular Sunday roast brunch already leans towards abundance, with appetisers such as lobster bisque, smoked salmon and steak tartare, followed by individually plated roast or seafood choices. Signature sides include duck-fat roasted potatoes and honey-glazed carrots, while desserts include banoffee pie, triple chocolate mud pie and seasonal creations. The guest-chef model keeps those anchors intact while allowing each collaborator to alter the flavour profile.
Executive Sous Chef Cary Docherty remains central to the concept. His role is not merely to host outside chefs, but to co-create menus that fit the kitchen’s seafood-and-grill identity while allowing each restaurant’s style to remain visible. That balance is crucial: too much hotel polish could dilute the individuality of the guest chefs, while too much experimentation could alienate diners expecting the comfort of Sunday roast.
The commercial logic is clear. Hong Kong’s dining market remains crowded, and premium hotel restaurants face intense competition from independent restaurants, private clubs and destination bars. A one-day-only brunch creates urgency, encourages repeat visits and lets diners access high-profile kitchens in a less formal setting than full tasting menus. For visiting chefs and independent restaurants, the collaboration offers exposure to a hotel audience with strong spending power.
Located on Level 6 of Pacific Place on Supreme Court Road in Central, Lobster Bar & Grill benefits from a business-district address and the broader Island Shangri-La dining ecosystem. Its Sunday and public holiday brunch service runs from 11.45am to 3.30pm, with last orders at 2.30pm, giving the collaboration format a defined weekend window rather than an open-ended promotional run.
Emirates NBD has extended a AED367.3 million loan facility to Luxembourg-based CPI Property Group, giving the European real estate investor funding cover for deferred payments on a portfolio of ultra-luxury residential units in Dubai through 2026 and 2027. The transaction, equivalent to about $100 million or €86 million, is secured against 19 high-end residences owned by CPI Property Group, including 15 units still under construction. The assets […]
Core42 has secured $550 million in structured trade finance from HSBC to accelerate artificial intelligence cloud and compute deployments across the United States and Europe, strengthening the Abu Dhabi group’s position in the global race to build large-scale AI infrastructure. The financing, arranged through two non-equity dilutive facilities, gives the G42 company additional capital without requiring a share sale. The first facility, worth $240 million, was completed […]
UAE economic growth is expected to slip into a mild contraction in 2026 as the Iran war disrupts oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, before staging a strong recovery in 2027 on higher crude and gas production, major energy projects and continued strength in non-oil sectors. The projected setback marks a sharp reversal for the Gulf’s second-largest economy, which has spent the past decade reducing its […]
France will add €710 million in targeted aid to help households and businesses absorb higher energy costs, as the war in Iran keeps fuel prices elevated and tests the government’s fiscal restraint. Budget Minister David Amiel said the new measures would lift total support for consumers and affected sectors to nearly €1.2 billion, while the government seeks to avoid broad tax cuts that would deepen pressure on […]
By Roksolana Pyrtko, Managing Consultant, Symbol Consulting DMCC Walk through a shopping centre in Warsaw, Kyiv, or Bratislava and the formula is almost always the same. A hypermarket on the ground floor, a food court upstairs, fashion brands filling the floors in between. For a long time, it worked. Developers across the region built to that template, leased up quickly, and moved on. The model is now […]
By Nitya Chakraborty The joint declaration made by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin after their summit in Beijing on May 20 has major ramifications on the global geopolitics in the context of the present unilateral actions of the U.S. President Donald Trump including the launching of war against Iran […]
The article China-Russia Joint Declaration From Beijing Summit Puts More Pressure On Trump appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
British Airways has pushed back the return of flights to Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv to August 1, extending disruption on three strategically important Middle East routes as airlines continue to adjust schedules around security risks, airspace limits and uneven demand across the region. The one-month delay, shown on the carrier’s booking systems and reflected in its travel updates, affects passengers who had expected services to resume […]
Microsoft has disrupted infrastructure used by Fox Tempest, a cybercrime-enabling group accused of selling fraudulent code-signing services that helped ransomware operators disguise malware as trusted software. The action, led by Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit, targeted a malware-signing-as-a-service operation that allegedly abused legitimate software verification systems, including Microsoft’s Artifact Signing platform. A legal case unsealed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said […]
Tehran has moved to turn the Strait of Hormuz crisis into a new insurance and payments channel, with an Iran-linked platform branded Hormuz Safe offering maritime cargo cover tied to cryptocurrency settlement for vessels using the strategic waterway. The initiative targets shipowners, charterers and cargo interests facing sharply higher war-risk costs, disrupted routing and mounting legal uncertainty across a corridor that remains central to global energy trade. […]
By Nantoo Banerjee India’s continuous hesitancy to curb the retail oil consumption pattern despite a worldwide surge in fuel prices is inexplicable, if not unacceptable. The government, the biggest benefactor of large domestic fuel use by way of imposition of levies close to 50 percent of the retail oil prices, is not prepared to ration […]
The article India Needs To Curb Oil Consumption appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
The sharpest pressure has fallen on long-dated Japanese government bonds, where the 30-year yield has climbed above 4 per cent, reaching a record since the maturity was introduced in 1999. The 10-year yield has also risen to around 2.8 per cent, its highest level in nearly three decades, marking a decisive break from the low-yield era that defined Japan’s markets for much of the post-deflation period.
The selloff has rippled across global debt markets. US Treasury yields have moved higher, with the 30-year yield testing levels above 5 per cent, while Germany’s benchmark bonds and UK gilts have also weakened. Bond prices move inversely to yields, meaning the surge in yields reflects heavy selling by investors who are demanding greater compensation for inflation, fiscal risk and uncertain central bank policy.
Rising oil prices are the immediate catalyst. Brent crude has moved above $100 a barrel as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupt energy flows and heighten concerns over import costs for major economies. For Japan, which relies heavily on imported energy, the oil shock carries a particularly direct inflationary threat. A weaker yen has amplified the impact, increasing the local-currency cost of fuel, food and other imported goods.
Japan’s inflation backdrop has become more difficult for policymakers. Consumer prices have remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2 per cent target for an extended period, while corporate goods prices have shown persistent pressure from energy, raw materials and logistics costs. Investors are now pricing in a greater chance that the central bank will raise interest rates again, possibly as early as its next policy meetings, after years of extraordinary accommodation.
Fiscal concerns are adding to the strain. Tokyo is preparing additional spending to cushion households and businesses from rising fuel and utility costs, but fresh borrowing could worsen concerns over debt sustainability. Japan’s public debt is already among the highest in the developed world, making long-term bond investors more sensitive to any increase in issuance. The prospect of larger supply has hit demand for longer maturities, where insurers, pension funds and banks traditionally played a stabilising role.
The Bank of Japan faces a delicate balance. Raising rates too quickly could unsettle growth and worsen losses in bond portfolios held by financial institutions. Moving too slowly could allow inflation expectations to become entrenched and place further pressure on the yen. The central bank has already scaled back its dominance of the bond market compared with the period of yield-curve control, leaving prices more exposed to market forces.
Global investors are also reassessing the role of government bonds as a safe asset. During earlier market shocks, US Treasuries, German Bunds and Japanese government bonds often rallied as investors sought protection. The current episode is different because the shock is inflationary rather than deflationary. Higher energy prices reduce household purchasing power, raise business costs and complicate the task of central banks that had hoped to cut rates or keep policy steady.
The selloff has implications beyond financial markets. Higher sovereign yields raise funding costs for governments already facing pressure from defence spending, ageing populations, energy subsidies and climate-related investment. They also affect mortgage rates, corporate borrowing and equity valuations. Technology shares and other growth-sensitive assets tend to come under pressure when long-term yields climb, because future earnings are discounted more heavily.
Japan’s shift is especially important because its low yields long encouraged domestic investors to buy overseas bonds. As yields rise at home, insurers and pension funds have less incentive to take currency risk abroad, potentially reducing demand for US and European debt. That repatriation effect could intensify volatility in global markets if Japanese institutions continue to rebalance portfolios.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Standard Chartered is moving to bring Zodia Custody’s crypto custody business inside its own digital-asset operations, marking a sharper push by the London-headquartered bank to capture institutional demand for regulated storage of tokens and blockchain-based financial assets. The planned acquisition would fold key custody activities of Zodia Custody Ltd., a majority-owned subsidiary, into Standard Chartered’s corporate and investment banking division, where the bank […]
Scientists have found radioactive iron from exploded stars locked inside Antarctic ice, offering fresh evidence that Earth is moving through a cloud of ancient supernova debris while the material continues to fall on the planet today. The findings, published on May 13 in Physical Review Letters, centre on traces of iron-60, a rare isotope produced inside massive stars and scattered across space when they die in supernova […]
Revolut has offered employees across its global workforce a £1,000 payment for helping bring new business customers to the digital bank, signalling a sharper push into corporate banking as Chief Executive Officer Nik Storonsky seeks to sustain rapid growth ahead of a planned public listing. The incentive, communicated to staff on Friday, places business customer acquisition at the centre of the London-based fintech’s next phase. Employees across […]
President Donald Trump is nearing a decision on whether to revive US air strikes against Iran as diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled and military planners prepare options for a sharper phase of confrontation. Senior aides have drawn up plans that would allow Washington to resume attacks if Trump concludes that negotiations have failed. The preparations do not mean a strike order has […]
