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A newly documented malware framework has exposed how attackers are turning open-source offensive tools into stealthy intrusion platforms capable of screen control, browser data access and Windows privilege escalation. The framework, tracked as TencShell, was detected during an attempted attack on a global manufacturing organisation through a third-party connection at its India site. The operation was blocked before attackers could establish lasting control, but the technical evidence […]

Singapore Airlines’ annual net profit fell sharply as Air India’s widening losses and the absence of a one-off accounting gain outweighed stronger operating performance at the group, while the Iran war added fresh uncertainty through higher jet-fuel costs and airspace disruption.

The Singapore flag carrier reported net profit of S$1.18 billion for the year ended March 31, down 57.4 per cent from the previous year. Operating profit, by contrast, rose 39 per cent to S$2.38 billion, helped by robust passenger demand, higher yields and stronger traffic across Singapore Airlines and Scoot. Group revenue reached a record S$20.52 billion, up 5 per cent, while the two carriers carried 42.4 million passengers, a 7.7 per cent increase from the year before.

The headline profit decline was driven largely by two accounting and investment factors. Singapore Airlines no longer benefited from the S$1.1 billion non-cash gain recognised after the completion of the Air India-Vistara merger in November 2024. At the same time, its share of associated-company results swung into a large loss as it accounted for a full year of Air India’s losses rather than only four months in the previous reporting period.

Air India recorded a US$2.8 billion loss for FY2025/26, its largest since Tata Group took control of the carrier in 2022. Singapore Airlines owns 25.1 per cent of the Air India Group after Vistara, its former joint venture with Tata Sons, was merged into Air India. The investment remains central to SIA’s wider multi-hub strategy, giving the carrier exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.

The losses underline the scale of Air India’s turnaround challenge. The airline is renewing its fleet, refurbishing aircraft interiors, upgrading service standards and trying to rebuild operational reliability after years of under-investment. Those efforts are being tested by supply-chain constraints, limited aircraft availability, airspace restrictions, constraints on services to key Middle East markets and elevated fuel prices.

The Iran war has added another layer of pressure for long-haul operators. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz after the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran in late February pushed jet-fuel prices higher and widened the gap between aviation fuel and crude oil costs. Singapore Airlines said the impact was only partly reflected in March because fuel bills are priced with a lag, with the full effect expected to feed through in FY2026/27.

Higher fuel prices are particularly damaging for airlines because fuel is the sector’s largest variable cost and is difficult to offset quickly. SIA and Scoot have raised fares across their networks, but those increases do not fully cover the higher price of jet fuel. The group’s fuel hedging provided some protection during the year, while average full-year fuel prices were lower than the previous year, but the cost outlook has become more demanding.

Airspace restrictions have also reshaped competitive dynamics on routes linking South Asia, Europe and North America. Air India has been exposed because its network relies heavily on long-haul flights that are sensitive to rerouting, longer flying times and crew-scheduling limits. Foreign carriers including Lufthansa Group, Cathay Pacific, KLM and Swiss have gained room to expand India-linked international services as Air India manages disruption and cost pressure.

For Singapore Airlines, the underlying operating figures still show resilience. Passenger load factor rose to 87.7 per cent, with traffic growth of 4.7 per cent outpacing capacity expansion of 3.4 per cent. Passenger yields rose 1 per cent, while cargo revenue declined 2.1 per cent to S$2.17 billion as weaker yields offset higher loads.

New Delhi is weighing a cut in taxes on foreign investment in domestic bonds, a move aimed at drawing deeper global capital into the debt market and easing pressure on the rupee.

The proposal, pushed by the Reserve Bank of India and under examination by the finance ministry, would lower the tax burden on overseas investors earning returns from government and corporate debt. The measure is being considered as policymakers seek to align India’s bond taxation framework more closely with other emerging markets and strengthen the appeal of rupee assets at a time of volatile global capital flows.

Foreign investors currently face tax on coupon income of around 20 per cent, alongside capital gains obligations that vary depending on treaty arrangements and holding periods. A concessional 5 per cent tax rate on interest income had earlier helped attract participation, but that dispensation ended in 2023. Market participants have since argued that the higher tax cost has limited the impact of India’s inclusion in major global bond indices.

The government securities market is valued at about $1.3 trillion, but foreign ownership remains near 3 per cent, far below levels seen in several comparable emerging markets. The gap has persisted despite the phased inclusion of government bonds in widely tracked indices run by JPMorgan and FTSE Russell, and despite the country’s relatively high real yields compared with several Asian peers.

Bond investors have welcomed the direction of policy discussions, though the scale and timing of any tax change remain uncertain. A reduction could improve net returns for overseas funds, especially passive investors whose allocations are guided by benchmark weights. It could also encourage more active managers to increase positions in rupee debt, provided currency risks and settlement procedures remain manageable.

The rupee has been under pressure as foreign investors trimmed exposure to local equities and as global dollar strength affected emerging-market currencies. A deeper foreign bid for bonds could help stabilise capital flows, support reserves management and reduce the cost of government borrowing over time. The benchmark 10-year yield has already reacted to expectations of a friendlier tax regime, moving lower as traders priced in the possibility of stronger inflows.

The debate forms part of a broader effort to make the domestic debt market more accessible. The Reserve Bank has retained foreign portfolio investment limits for the 2026-27 financial year, keeping the cap at 6 per cent for central government securities, 2 per cent for state development loans and 15 per cent for corporate bonds. Available headroom under these limits remains underused, suggesting that tax treatment, liquidity conditions and operational procedures matter as much as formal access.

Policy planners are also focused on the corporate bond market, where deeper foreign participation could help fund infrastructure, green energy, housing finance and private-sector expansion. The country’s corporate debt market remains smaller than its banking system and equity market, leaving companies heavily dependent on bank lending. A more attractive tax framework could draw long-term investors such as pension funds, insurers and sovereign wealth funds, although credit depth and transparency would still need improvement.

Foreign investors have long cited India’s source-based taxation, documentation rules and compliance requirements as barriers to larger allocations. Tax treaties reduce the burden for investors from some jurisdictions, but the framework remains uneven. A clearer and lower withholding structure could reduce uncertainty and help India compete more effectively with Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico and South Africa, where foreign bond investors often face lighter tax treatment.

The policy choice is not without trade-offs. Lower taxes would reduce immediate revenue from foreign bond income, and a larger foreign presence could make the debt market more sensitive to shifts in global interest rates and risk appetite. Sudden outflows during periods of stress could amplify pressure on the rupee and complicate monetary policy. Authorities are therefore likely to balance market deepening with safeguards designed to prevent destabilising flows.

The fiscal backdrop will also shape the decision. The Centre continues to manage a large borrowing programme while trying to lower the fiscal deficit gradually. A broader foreign investor base could help absorb government debt and keep yields contained, but officials are unlikely to move without assessing revenue costs, treaty implications and the impact on domestic financial institutions.

A commercial vessel anchored off Fujairah has been taken by unauthorised personnel and steered towards Iranian territorial waters, intensifying concern over security at one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. The incident was reported 38 nautical miles, about 70 kilometres, north-east of the UAE port of Fujairah, close to the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz. The ship was at anchor when unidentified personnel boarded it […]

Meta has begun rolling out an incognito chat mode for WhatsApp users who want to speak with its AI assistant without leaving a stored conversation trail, marking a significant privacy shift as technology companies compete to make generative AI feel safer for everyday use. The new feature, called Incognito Chat with Meta AI, is being introduced on WhatsApp and the Meta AI app over the coming months. […]

China’s search for safer gas supplies has pushed energy to the centre of Xi Jinping’s talks with Donald Trump in Beijing, where the war involving Iran has sharpened pressure on both sides to repair a trade channel that collapsed under tariffs. The discussions come as disruption around the Gulf has unsettled fuel markets, tightened liquefied natural gas flows into Asia and revived the commercial logic of United […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Zimbabwe’s export map is shifting sharply towards the Gulf, with the United Arab Emirates emerging as the country’s largest overseas market as trade, minerals sales and investment talks deepen between Harare and Dubai. Bilateral trade reached about US$4.1 billion last year, driven mainly by mineral exports and reinforced by a new pipeline of investment discussions covering mining, renewable energy, manufacturing, agriculture and logistics. […]

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Iran-linked cyber-espionage operators have used trusted, digitally signed software components to breach organisations across four continents, widening concerns over state-backed campaigns that hide inside legitimate enterprise tools. Seedworm, also tracked as MuddyWater, Temp Zagros, Static Kitten and Mango Sandstorm, has been linked to intrusions affecting at least nine organisations in early 2026. The victims included a major South Korean electronics manufacturer, public-sector bodies, an international airport in […]

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Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s Gold Souq has come under a sharper regulatory spotlight after Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, led an inspection tour to assess whether merchants are meeting rules designed to prevent money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing in the precious metals trade. The visit placed one of Dubai’s most prominent retail and wholesale gold hubs at the centre […]

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 May 2026 – Kenanga Futures Sdn Bhd (“Kenanga Futures“) is proud to launch its inaugural 2026 campaign, “Shining in Global Futures,” running until 31 July 2026. More than just a campaign, this initiative calls on the new-gens of investors to broaden their access to global derivatives markets through selected Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME“) futures products with lower entry barriers and enhanced learning support.

Azila Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer/ Executive Director and Head of Listed Derivatives, Kenanga Futures Sdn Bhd
Azila Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer/ Executive Director and Head of Listed Derivatives, Kenanga Futures Sdn Bhd

Powered by interactive tools, strategic insights and guided learning, “Shining in Global Futures” equips participants with practical tools, market insights and guided learning to better understand and navigate global futures trading. Aligned with Kenanga Futures’ motto of “Building a Smart Derivatives Trading Community”, the campaign combines education, risk awareness and seamless market access to promote confident and responsible engagement in CME-listed derivatives.

“As global markets become increasingly dynamic, navigating volatility requires more than just access, it demands insights, discipline, and confidence. Against this backdrop, ‘Shining in Global Futures’, aims to make global futures markets more accessible while equipping traders with the K-Economy they need to manage risk and participate more effectively in,” said Azila Abdul Aziz, Chief Executive Officer/ Executive Director and Head of Listed Derivatives of Kenanga Futures.

To encourage broader participation, account opening fees during the campaign period are reduced to a nominal RM10, significantly lowering the barrier of entry for newcomers to capitalise on the current market landscape. Participants will also stand a chance to win prizes with a total value of up to RM20,000 across all winners.

The first 20 participants with successful account openings who trade a minimum of 30 CME products will be entitled to RM500 Poh Kong Gold cash vouchers, while the top three traders with the highest trading volumes exceeding 100 CME contracts will be rewarded with a cumulative total of RM9,000 worth of Poh Kong Gold cash vouchers.

In addition, the campaign introduces a virtual trading challenge conducted on the enhanced Kenanga Futures Virtual Trading platform (“KFVT“), which allows participants to experience real‑time market conditions and compete for rewards without incurring actual trading risk. Designed with accessibility in mind, KFVT also provides a practical and engaging entry point for new traders to gain hands‑on exposure, test strategies, and build confidence in navigating global markets. As part of this challenge, the top 10 participants who achieve the highest simulated profits will receive RM100 e‑shopping vouchers.

Looking ahead, Kenanga Futures plans to expand this initiative over the next year with the inclusion of advanced modules, collaborative learning opportunities and partnerships with industry leaders, as it continues its commitment to creating a thriving community of informed, confident and future-ready traders. Visit https://www.kenangafutures.com.my/shining-in-global-futures/ to start your trading journey today.

-Terms and conditions apply.

Hashtag: #KenangaFutures

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

KENANGA FUTURES SDN BHD

Kenanga Futures Sdn Bhd is an award-winning Malaysian listed derivatives broker regulated under the Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia Berhad. The company offers clients electronic market access to trade listed products on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives and CME Group. Apart from being a direct member of Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Berhad and the clearinghouse, the company is also a registered broker with the U.S. CFTC and was granted exemption relief pursuant to Commission Regulation 30.10 which enables the company to paper directly with entities in the U.S. On the domestic front, the company has an extensive network with 16 branches nationwide licensed to trade listed derivatives.

Clients can access both U.S. and Malaysian listed derivatives on a single trading platform via the company’s trademarked real-time customised online trading solution, KDF TradeActive™. KDF TradeActive™ is available on both desktop and mobile devices, giving clients easy access to real-time market data and flexibility to trade on-the-go.

This Press Release was issued by Kenanga Group’s Marketing, Communications & Sustainability Department.

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 May 2026 – Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) and NH Foods Ltd. today announced that their joint venture, CPF NH Foods Co., Ltd., has officially commenced production at its modern manufacturing facility in Chachoengsao, Thailand, alongside the launch of a new premium brand, CP Nippon.

CPNHmain.jpg

The start of operations follows the successful establishment of the joint venture in late 2025, combining CPF’s fully integrated supply chain and regional distribution network with NH Foods’ advanced food processing technologies and product development expertise. The facility now serves as the production hub for a new generation of high-quality processed meat products, targeting both domestic and export markets including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other key Asian destinations.

Prasit Boondoungprasert, Chief Executive Officer of CPF, said “Starting production and introducing CP Nippon brand mark an important milestone in our partnership with NH Foods. This collaboration enables us to move beyond primary production to premium processed products, creating greater value for Thailand’s pork industry while strengthening its position as a key exporter across Asia.”

The manufacturing facility integrates advanced production systems and stringent quality assurance processes aligned with international standards, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to food safety, traceability, and sustainability. By leveraging CPF’s high-quality raw material sourcing and NH Foods’ precision manufacturing know-how, the joint venture aims to set new benchmarks in processed meat production.

Fumio Maeda, President and Chief Executive Officer of NH Foods, added “The commencement of production represents a key milestone in our collaboration with CPF. By combining our strengths in technology and product innovation with CPF’s operational excellence, we are bringing together the rich culinary traditions of Japan and Thailand to deliver refined, high-quality food experiences to consumers across Asia.”

The product range under CP Nippon brand reflects NH Foods’ Japanese culinary expertise—rooted in the craftsmanship of ryōrinin—combined with CPF’s strength in high-quality sourcing and production.

Beyond product innovation, CPF NH Foods is committed to sustainable manufacturing practices, including efficient resource utilization and environmentally responsible operations, in line with CPF’s “Kitchen of the World” vision and both companies’ long-term sustainability goals.

Hashtag: #AsianFoodInnovation #CPFNHFoods #CPFNippon #KitchenOfTheWorld #FoodInnovation #CPF

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

About Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF)

Charoen Pokphand Foods Plc (CPF) is a leading global agro-industrial and food company, operating in 17 countries and exporting to more than 50 markets worldwide. Guided by its “Kitchen of the World” vision, CPF focuses on delivering safe, high-quality, and nutritious food through a vertically integrated business model. The company integrates technology and innovation across its operations while advancing sustainability and working toward a low-carbon, resilient food system that supports global food security.

About NH Foods
NH Foods Ltd., operates in the food industry with a focus on meat products and related processed foods. The group conducts its business globally, and targets both domestic and international markets for its diversified protein and food solutions portfolio.

South Africa’s rand firmed in early Wednesday trade as investors turned their attention to Beijing, where talks between U. S. President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping were expected to influence appetite for emerging-market assets, commodities and risk-sensitive currencies. By 0749 GMT, the rand was trading at 16.4517 against the dollar, about 0.4% stronger than its previous close. The move followed a weaker session on Tuesday, […]

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Discord Nitro subscribers will receive a starter edition of Xbox Game Pass at no additional charge under a new partnership with Microsoft, adding a substantial gaming benefit to the paid chat and community service as both companies compete for deeper engagement among players. The offer gives eligible Nitro members access to more than 50 PC and console games, along with 10 hours of Xbox Cloud Gaming each […]

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