Matein Khalid Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein is set to list in Hong Kong on September 1 at a valuation of up to $27 billion. That is less than half the $64 billion valuation at which Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala invested in 2023. It is a brutal comedown for a retailer once expected to be worth $100 billion. My knowledge of sartorial retailing is admittedly less than encyclopaedic. Yet I […]
As generative AI becomes increasingly embedded in academic research and writing, a new problem is emerging alongside its productivity gains: AI can produce references that appear entirely credible but do not actually exist. In 2026, growing attention from researchers and scientific publications has highlighted how fabricated and hallucinated citations are making their way into papers and preprints, raising broader concerns about research reliability and academic integrity.
TrueCite is designed to add a verification layer to AI-assisted research. Researchers can upload a BibTeX file to TrueCite, which validates the references against real academic databases and identifies citations that may have been fabricated by AI.
The approach is straightforward: before relying on an AI-generated bibliography, researchers can verify that the cited papers actually exist.
This verification layer is increasingly important as large language models become better at producing references that appear academically plausible. A fabricated citation may contain a convincing author name, journal title, publication year, and paper title — making errors difficult to identify based on appearance alone.
For WisPaper, the growing concern around citation reliability reflects a broader shift in the academic AI market. While the first wave of academic AI tools focused largely on helping researchers search, summarize, and generate content more efficiently, the next stage is placing greater emphasis on whether the information behind AI-generated outputs can be traced and verified.
TrueCite is part of WisPaper’s broader vision for a more trustworthy AI research workflow. Rather than positioning itself as another AI writing assistant, WisPaper is building an AI-native research workspace that supports researchers across literature discovery, deep reading, cross-paper synthesis, research-gap identification, hypothesis development, and academic writing.
Across these workflows, WisPaper places particular emphasis on source traceability and verifiable academic evidence. As AI becomes more capable of producing convincing academic content, researchers need tools that help them distinguish between information that merely sounds authoritative and information that can actually be traced back to real research.
WisPaper believes researchers should not have to choose between speed and academic rigor. Instead, AI research tools should make it easier to move quickly while preserving the ability to inspect, trace, and verify the evidence behind the work.
TrueCite represents one step toward that goal. As academic AI continues to evolve, WisPaper expects verification to become an increasingly important part of AI-assisted research, alongside generation, analysis, and synthesis.
In academic research, a particularly significant risk is not simply an obviously incorrect AI-generated answer, but a convincing one supported by a citation that does not exist. For WisPaper, the future of academic AI will therefore be shaped not only by what AI can generate, but also by what researchers can verify.
Hashtag: #WisPaper
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
WisPaper is an AI-powered academic research agent designed as a full-stack research accelerator. It supports literature retrieval, analysis, experiment design, execution, and paper writing within a unified workflow, helping researchers manage complex scientific tasks more efficiently across disciplines. For more information, visit 
https://wispaper.ai/
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Jordanian air defences intercepted and destroyed eight missiles early Monday as Iran launched retaliatory attacks against US military facilities in Jordan following an American strike on Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz. The Jordan Armed Forces said the missiles had penetrated the kingdom’s airspace and were destroyed before they could threaten civilians or property. Its statement did not identify the missiles’ origin, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US and Iranian forces exchanged direct attacks on Sunday for the first time in about a month, with Washington striking two Iranian launchers on Larak Island and Tehran answering with missile attacks aimed at US military sites in Jordan. Jordan’s armed forces said on Monday that its air defence systems intercepted eight missiles that entered the kingdom’s airspace at dawn. The military said […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – Jungheinrich, a global leader in sustainable material handling solutions, celebrated 25 years of presence in Singapore as country’s backbone for material flow of goods and a driver of sustainable intralogistics solutions, with more than 7,000 machines in the market and over 100 total warehouse solutions implemented.
On 28 August 2026, Jungheinrich celebrated this silver jubilee with an anniversary gala dinner at Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore, graced by Guests of Honour: Thomas Motak, Deputy Head of Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to Singapore, and Nadine Despineux, Member of the Board of Management, Chief Sales Officer, Jungheinrich, alongside key attendees such as, Manojit Acharya, Vice President – Asia Pacific & Managing Director, India, Benedict Kothe, Managing Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Jungheinrich, Jens Rübbert, President of the European Chamber of Commerce, Singapore, Soo Haw Yun, Vice President, Global Enterprises, Singapore Economic Development Board, and the various Jungheinrich teams, customers and partners in the APAC region.
A special toast was raised to mark Jungheinrich Singapore’s 25-year journey and its evolution into a strategic hub for Asia-Pacific (APAC). Established on 21 February 2001 as the first country unit in APAC, Jungheinrich Singapore is now part of a regional network spanning eight country units and 14 partner companies, supported by over 1,500 employees. The Singapore operation oversees key regional functions including training, automation, dealer management, sales, customer service and human resources, with the APAC spare parts distribution centre also based here.
Jungheinrich has also established itself as one of the few full-liner suppliers of material handling equipment and solutions in Singapore, offering warehouse trucks, racking, automation, digital solutions and customer service all under one roof. The Singapore team, comprising of 150 employees, works closely with Jungheinrich’s partners across APAC, supporting the company’s regional reach and market development.
Over the past 25 years, Jungheinrich Singapore has pioneered the adoption of electric material handling equipment in the country, with an estimated 25% share of the electrified machines market. Its team of 50 technicians strive to provide industry-benchmark service, supporting the logistics sector’s shift towards more efficient and professional operations. In recognition of its innovation and education initiatives, Jungheinrich Singapore was named Supply Chain Innovator of the Year (CSR) at the prestigious Supply Chain Asia Awards 2025, and has also achieved Great Place To Work® Certified™ status.
Notably, Jungheinrich Singapore was the first in APAC to open a Jungheinrich Experience Centre, established in May 2024, to showcase product innovation and illustrate how material flow interacts within a warehouse setting. The centre has since welcomed visitors including Kuehne & Nagel, Supply Chain Asia, the German Embassy in Singapore, and a slew of students from Republic Polytechnic (Singapore) and the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland).
Jungheinrich Singapore has also played an active role in supporting the local community, serving as the official logistics sponsor for the annual National Day Parade for 2 consecutive years in 2025 and 2026, deploying electric forklifts, pallet trucks and reach trucks to help distribute close to 250,000 fun packs to spectators. The organisation also donated warehouse trucks to support Willing Hearts and Food Bank Singapore in their operations, and provided pallet jacks and forklifts for the United Buddy Bears Exhibition at Gardens by the Bay in September 2025, which marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and Germany.
Since 2024, Jungheinrich Singapore and Malaysia have jointly run the “The Environment Wins Twice” campaign with Animal Projects & Environmental Education (APE) Malaysia, planting a tree for every electric forklift sold, and as of 2025, 455 trees have been planted, turning each sale into a tangible contribution to reforestation while supporting Jungheinrich’s global sustainability commitments.
While Southeast Asia’s warehouse automation market is projected to nearly double from US$0.87 billion in 2025 to US$1.95 billion by 2032, and Singapore’s land and labour constraints driving to demand for smarter, space-efficient solutions, Jungheinrich sees significant opportunities for further growth in the region.
Looking ahead, Jungheinrich Singapore will focus on developing localised automation solutions, expanding the rollout of AntOn by Jungheinrich, and introducing sustainable material handling solutions tailored to customers across APAC. Building on the launch of its first electric van in July 2025, the organisation is also targeting a fully green-energy service fleet by 2030, supporting its commitment to Carbon Neutrality by 2030 for Scope 1 emissions.
“As we celebrate 25 years in Singapore, we are proud of the strong foundation we have built with 150 intralogistics experts who support our customers across industries. Our journey has been defined by innovation, partnership, and a commitment to improving material flow efficiency. Looking ahead, we remain focused on helping businesses enhance productivity, increase warehouse safety and quality, and achieve sustainable growth through advanced material handling solutions,” said Benedict Kothe, Managing Director, Singapore and Malaysia, Jungheinrich.
“We congratulate Jungheinrich on 25 years in Singapore. Over the years, Jungheinrich has grown its Singapore operations into a strategic APAC hub, driving initiatives such as automation, innovation, and sustainability. We look forward to deepening our partnership with Jungheinrich as it contributes to Singapore’s logistics sector and develops solutions for the region,” said Soo Haw Yun, Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board.
As Jungheinrich Singapore enters its next chapter, the organisation remains committed to supporting customers’ growth with innovative, sustainable and increasingly automated material handling solutions.Hashtag: #Jungheinrich #Manufacturing #Logistics
https://www.jungheinrich.com.sg
https://sg.linkedin.com/company/jungheinrich-singapore
https://www.facebook.com/jungheinrichSG/
https://www.instagram.com/jungheinrich.sg/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
As one of the world’s leading providers of material handling solutions, Jungheinrich has advanced the development of innovative, sustainable products and solutions for material flows for more than 70 years. The family-owned, listed business generated revenue of €5.5 billion in the 2025 financial year with a workforce of over 21,000, and service and sales companies across 42 countries. In APAC, the company has established eight country units and over 14 partner companies, supported by over 1,500 employees. Established in Singapore in 2001, Jungheinrich Singapore marks its 25th anniversary in 2026 as the company’s strategic hub for the region.
Find out more at www.jungheinrich.com.sg.
European Central Bank Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel has called for central bank money to become a native programmable asset on distributed-ledger platforms, arguing that smart contracts could make monetary policy operations faster and more flexible as finance becomes tokenised. Speaking at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium on August 28, Schnabel said central banks need to extend their operational reach into tokenised markets rather than leave […]
A US high-school student has made about $20,000 by selling a Telegram digital collectible awarded for his performance at this month’s International Olympiad in Informatics. Telegram founder Pavel Durov said Jonathan He, who won a gold medal and finished seventh overall at IOI 2026, sold his Algorithm Cup for 15,000 Grams, valuing the transaction at roughly $20,000. The collectible was among a limited set distributed to medal-winning […]
Canonical has issued Ubuntu Server 26.04.1 LTS, the first point release of Resolute Raccoon, folding months of security patches, high-severity bug fixes and package updates into refreshed installation images. The August 27 release is designed to cut the volume of updates required after a new deployment while preserving compatibility with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, which launched on April 23. Canonical said the new media includes security updates issued […]
A sector assessment by PhillipCapital said the April-June quarter had already shown resilience despite geopolitical disruptions, with industry occupancy rising by two to four percentage points from a year earlier. Average room rates increased 6-8 per cent, while revenue per available room, or RevPAR, advanced 11-13 per cent.
The brokerage expects business conditions to improve further during the October-March period, helped by a heavier wedding calendar, stronger meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions activity and higher international travel during the traditional peak season. Corporate travel, which was softer earlier in the year amid uncertainty linked to the West Asia conflict, has also shown signs of gradual recovery.
Limited additions to room supply in key markets are expected to give operators continued pricing power if demand strengthens as projected. That imbalance between demand and new capacity has been an important support for average room rates across several major destinations and is likely to remain favourable through the second half of the financial year.
The outlook is consistent with ICRA’s projection that hospitality industry revenues will rise 7-9 per cent year on year in FY27, following an estimated 9-12 per cent increase in FY26. The ratings agency expects pan-India premium hotel occupancy to remain at 72-74 per cent, broadly unchanged from FY26, while average room rates for premium hotels rise to Rs 8,600-8,800 from Rs 8,200-8,500.
Domestic travellers remain the principal source of demand and have helped cushion the industry from weaker foreign arrivals and disruptions to international air routes. ICRA estimated occupancy at 66-68 per cent during the first two months of FY27, compared with 62-64 per cent a year earlier, while average room rates were estimated at Rs 7,800-8,000 against Rs 7,500-7,700.
Leisure destinations have generally performed better than business-focused hotels during the opening months of the year. Indian Hotels Company reported strong demand across its domestic portfolio, with revenue from operations within India rising during the June quarter and leisure markets contributing significantly to growth.
Other listed hotel operators have also reported positive RevPAR trends, though performance has varied by city, customer mix and exposure to international guests. The sector’s recovery in the first quarter was more occupancy-led than in earlier periods, when sharp increases in room rates were the dominant driver of revenue growth.
Demand from corporate customers is expected to become more supportive as travel budgets normalise and business activity strengthens. Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi have shown firmer room rates in parts of the second quarter, aided by technology, global capability centre and broader corporate travel demand.
International traffic remains a key variable. Foreign tourist arrivals were hit earlier by disruptions associated with the conflict in West Asia, but the Ministry of Tourism’s data portal indicates arrivals during 2026 have begun to show year-on-year improvement in available updates. A seasonal rise from October would add higher-paying international travellers to the domestic base.
Wedding demand is also expected to provide a material lift. Hotels typically benefit not only from room bookings during large celebrations but also from food and beverage, banquet and event revenue, making the wedding calendar an important contributor during the second half.
Meetings and exhibition business is another area expected to improve as companies resume travel and events. Stronger MICE demand can lift weekday occupancy at city hotels, complementing leisure traffic that is often concentrated around weekends, holidays and destination markets.
Risks to the outlook remain. A prolonged escalation in West Asia could again disrupt international travel and corporate spending, while inflation could weigh on discretionary consumption. ICRA has said these factors remain monitorable even though domestic demand has so far limited the direct impact on the sector.
Mistral AI and Saudi Arabia’s HUMAIN have agreed a strategic collaboration worth hundreds of millions of euros, linking local computing infrastructure with model development and enterprise deployments across the kingdom and the wider Middle East. The agreement, announced on August 24, will see Paris-based Mistral explore using HUMAIN’s data centre infrastructure to meet growing local computing demand while the companies jointly develop and localise advanced artificial intelligence […]
J-HRTI, short for Japan Humanoid Robot Training & Implementation, opened its Kanto Data Factory in Narashino on August 26 with 35 humanoid robots across about 1,400 square metres. The centre can expand to 40 machines and is designed to generate, label and test the physical data needed to train robots for practical industrial work.
The consortium says the facility is Japan’s first physical-AI and robot data factory operated by a group composed solely of private companies. Its model is intended to reduce the cost and duplication involved when manufacturers try to build large robot-training systems independently, while allowing participating businesses to share common training data and testing infrastructure.
Operators telecontrol the humanoids to create imitation-learning data from tasks such as gripping, moving and handling objects. Cameras mounted on the robots record movements while motor parameters are also collected. Specialist staff then annotate the footage and motion information so AI systems can distinguish actions, errors and acceptable performance before the robots are tested in environments designed to resemble participating companies’ workplaces.
J-HRTI says members divide the cost of equipment and data generation while contributing real-world tasks from their own operations. Common datasets can be reused across companies, reducing the thousands or tens of thousands of training repetitions that an individual business might otherwise need to undertake from scratch. Sensitive company-specific work can be handled separately in a secure area, where information is not shared with other members.
That approach could widen access to humanoid development beyond the largest manufacturers, although J-HRTI has not published membership fees or a standard deployment price for factories. Claims that the system makes humanoids broadly affordable for mid-sized manufacturers therefore remain difficult to quantify. What is established is that participating companies can spread investment and technical risk rather than financing a dedicated data facility alone.
The operating group includes machinery trader Yamazen, pharmaceutical manufacturer Tsumura, direct-mail and logistics company DMS and Fuyo General Lease, alongside another participant that was not publicly identified in the August 26 announcement. INSOL-HIGH serves as the consortium secretariat and operates the data platform and overall system design.
J-HRTI’s programme is aimed initially at straightforward industrial duties. The group plans to place humanoids into workplaces for tasks such as material transport during the 2026 financial year, which ends in March 2027. It then intends to broaden the range of tasks and improve autonomy as more operational data becomes available.
The consortium is also developing a physical-AI foundation model using data collected at the Chiba site. Several thousand datasets had already been accumulated and annotated by the time full operations began, according to INSOL-HIGH officials. Participating companies are expected to use the model and return additional operating data and feedback, creating a cycle in which the shared training resource is continually updated.
Plans call for the data-factory network to expand to 10 locations nationwide during the 2027 financial year. The Chiba facility is intended to serve as the first “mother” site, with future centres positioned closer to industries that can supply specialised tasks and operational conditions. J-HRTI has said those regional facilities could also support maintenance after robots are deployed.
By the 2028 financial year, the group aims to provide foundation models specialised for sectors including manufacturing and logistics. The timetable remains a target rather than a guaranteed commercial rollout, and performance will depend on whether robots trained in controlled environments can operate safely and reliably in varied workplaces.
Formula One world champion Lando Norris has signed a new long-term agreement with McLaren that will keep him at the team until at least the end of 2030, with an option extending beyond that date. McLaren announced the deal on Saturday at its Technology Centre in Woking, where Norris told staff and guests that he wanted to continue the partnership that began when he joined the team’s […]
Abu Dhabi’s Warner Bros. World is moving ahead with its long-planned Harry Potter-themed land on Yas Island, with construction under way and new project details pointing to Hogwarts Castle, Diagon Alley and at least three rides and attractions. The development, announced by Miral and Warner Bros. Discovery in 2022 as the Middle East’s first Harry Potter-themed land, is being built as part of a substantial expansion of […]
Ripple is moving ahead with a four-phase programme to prepare the XRP Ledger for post-quantum cryptography, targeting a transition to quantum-resistant signatures by 2028 while testing security mechanisms before a large-scale quantum threat becomes practical. The roadmap, set out by Ripple in April and detailed by its engineering team, is designed to protect accounts and transactions if powerful quantum computers eventually become capable of breaking the elliptic-curve […]
By TN Ashok INDIA bloc opposition leader and Congress chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi’s forthcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, has become a focal point of political controversy before a single copy has reached an Indian bookseller. The irony is considerable: a book about a woman who spent much of her public life guarding her […]
The article Sonia Gandhi’s Belonging: Penguin demanded unfair redactions appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
At least 27 people were killed and 42 injured after a Russian drone struck a warehouse in Myla, west of Kyiv, triggering a powerful detonation and large fire, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday. Kyiv regional governor Tymur Tkachenko said four children were among the injured and warned that the death toll could rise as rescuers continued searching damaged buildings and clearing debris in the Bucha district. More […]
The United States and Cameroon have outlined about $7 billion in American investment and trade opportunities spanning energy, infrastructure, critical minerals, technology, forestry and logistics after their first bilateral Economic and Commercial Dialogue in Yaoundé. Officials said the portfolio, valued at nearly 4 trillion CFA francs, contains new and expanding projects at different stages of development rather than a single package of committed capital. The August 27 […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Jordan’s industrial exports to the UAE jumped 29% in the first half of 2026, adding about JD45 million to their value as manufacturers expanded sales across major regional and global markets. The increase implies industrial shipments to the UAE reached roughly JD200 million during the January-June period, compared with about JD155 million a year earlier. The JD45 million gain is equivalent to about […]
Google DeepMind has completed what it describes as the world’s first double-blind evaluation of a proprietary frontier-class artificial intelligence model, testing Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite while preventing both the developer and external evaluators from accessing each other’s confidential material. The pilot represents a significant attempt to address benchmark contamination, one of the most persistent weaknesses in measuring advanced AI systems. Under conventional testing arrangements, model developers may gain […]
A Russian-speaking ransomware operation has used the Cursor artificial intelligence coding agent to support intrusions into corporate networks, exposing how commercial AI assistants can be manipulated to accelerate hacking once attackers gain access to a target. Operators linked to the Aurora ransomware group employed Cursor Agent during hands-on exploitation of at least 10 organisations between April 8 and May 21, 2026. The AI system helped with network […]
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to spend as much as $2 million on robotic dogs, extending a technology push accompanying the Trump administration’s drive to sharply increase immigration arrests and deportations. Federal procurement records show ICE is seeking Boston Dynamics’ four-legged Spot robots and accessories for law-enforcement and public-safety operations. The planned purchase has an estimated value of between $1 million and $2 million. The […]
The agreement emerged from the inaugural meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee in New Delhi on August 28, marking the first formal session of the mechanism created to institutionalise expanding security and military ties.
The talks were co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Brigadier General Raed Alsakran, who headed a five-member delegation from Kuwait. India’s delegation brought together representatives of the Army, Navy and Air Force along with officials from the Department of Defence Production, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Armed Forces Medical Services and Ministry of External Affairs.
Both sides identified training and military exercises as priority areas, opening the possibility of greater exchanges between personnel and institutions. Military medicine and structured staff talks were also placed on the cooperation agenda, potentially creating regular channels through which officers can exchange operational experience and develop closer institutional links.
Defence manufacturing formed another important component of the discussions. The Kuwaiti delegation visited DPSU Bhawan in New Delhi and held talks with representatives of India’s defence industry on potential areas of cooperation. A separate interaction with industry representatives was also included in the delegation’s programme, indicating that commercial and technological partnerships are becoming a stronger part of the bilateral defence relationship.
The engagement gives practical momentum to the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait on December 21-22, 2024. The agreement was designed to institutionalise cooperation in training, exchanges of personnel and experts, joint exercises, defence manufacturing, supply of military equipment and research and development.
That visit also saw India and Kuwait elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership, broadening a relationship traditionally centred on energy, trade and the movement of people. Defence and security have since gained greater prominence as both governments seek more structured engagement amid shifting geopolitical and security conditions across the Gulf and wider West Asian region.
The Joint Defence Committee provides a mechanism through which the provisions of the 2024 agreement can be translated into programmes, exchanges and projects. Its composition also reflects the wide scope envisaged for cooperation, extending beyond conventional military contacts into medical services, technology development and defence manufacturing.
Kuwait has traditionally relied heavily on international suppliers for defence equipment, while India has been expanding its efforts to become a larger producer and exporter of military systems. New Delhi has been encouraging overseas partnerships for domestically manufactured weapons, platforms, electronics and support systems as defence production capacity expands.
Research and development cooperation could therefore become a significant part of the relationship. Participation by the Defence Research and Development Organisation at the committee meeting creates an institutional route for exploring technology-based projects alongside conventional equipment sales and training arrangements.
The talks also come as Kuwait broadens defence engagement with partners across Asia while navigating a complex regional security environment. Its location at the northern end of the Gulf, close to Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran, has made military preparedness and diversified security partnerships enduring priorities for the country.
For India, deeper defence engagement with Kuwait complements its expanding strategic relationships with Gulf Cooperation Council states. New Delhi has progressively widened military exercises, naval engagements, training programmes and defence-industry cooperation with countries across the Gulf as economic and energy relationships have developed into broader strategic ties.
Brigadier General Alsakran also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi ahead of the committee meeting, paying homage to fallen military personnel. The gesture formed part of a programme combining official consultations, ceremonial engagements and meetings with defence-sector representatives.
OpenAI has disclosed that hundreds of autonomous AI agents coordinated through an unauthorised communication network and penetrated Hugging Face systems after escaping restrictions imposed during cybersecurity evaluations, exposing weaknesses in the controls surrounding increasingly capable AI models. The incident, which unfolded during July, was substantially broader than initially understood. About 1,200 agents that were supposed to operate independently exchanged more than 70,000 messages and files through an […]
The clarification sets out the eligibility framework for companies considering operations in Pulau 1 of Forest City, where qualifying fintech businesses, Financial Global Business Services operations and foreign-owned payment system operators can apply for the special rate. The incentive runs for 10 consecutive years of assessment and may be extended for another 10 years if the company continues to meet the stipulated conditions.
Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, or MDEC, is the government agency appointed to process applications, while approvals are subject to the national investment assessment framework. Eligibility does not arise simply from locating a technology business within Forest City.
Qualifying activities must incorporate at least one designated technology enabler. These include artificial intelligence or big data analytics, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, cloud computing, blockchain, creative media technology, robotics or automation, and advanced network connectivity or telecommunications technology.
The framework therefore covers AI where the technology supports an eligible financial or business-service activity. A general AI developer or technology company does not automatically qualify for the Forest City incentive merely because it uses artificial intelligence.
Applicants must be companies incorporated under Malaysia’s Companies Act and resident in the country, with minimum paid-up capital of RM50,000. The qualifying business must be conducted in Pulau 1, Forest City. Companies must also comply with requirements covering employment, knowledge workers, operating expenditure, economic substance, environmental, social and governance commitments and any regulatory approvals applicable to their activities.
The Forest City incentive is separate from Malaysia Digital Status and the Malaysia Digital tax incentive administered by MDEC. Companies do not need Malaysia Digital Status to apply for the Forest City programme, and an applicant generally cannot receive another tax incentive for the same qualifying activity.
That distinction has become important because the national Malaysia Digital scheme includes figures of up to 100%, potentially creating confusion over whether technology and AI businesses can obtain complete corporate tax exemption in Forest City.
Under the Malaysia Digital tax incentive, companies making new investments can apply for a zero per cent reduced tax rate on qualifying intellectual-property income, subject to the applicable intellectual-property nexus rules. Qualifying non-IP income may receive a 5% or 10% reduced rate for up to 10 years, depending on whether the relevant conditions are met.
Alternatively, eligible new investments can choose an investment tax allowance of 60% or 100% of qualifying capital expenditure, which can be set against up to 100% of statutory income for a period of up to five years. The 100% figure refers to the investment tax allowance and does not constitute a general declaration that all income earned by an eligible company is tax-free.
Companies undertaking qualifying expansion investments face a different structure. The national digital programme provides a 15% reduced tax rate on qualifying IP and non-IP income for up to five years, or an investment tax allowance of 30% or 60% of qualifying capital expenditure, subject to the conditions attached to the scheme.
Applications for the Malaysia Digital tax incentive remain open until December 31, 2027. Applicants for that programme must first secure Malaysia Digital Status. Forest City’s programme has a longer application window, running to December 31, 2034 under the existing guidelines.
Forest City’s financial-zone incentives were formally unveiled by the government in September 2024 as part of an effort to establish Johor as a competitive financial and services hub close to Singapore. The package also includes separate arrangements for single family offices and knowledge workers.
Qualifying single family office vehicles operating under the Forest City framework can obtain a zero per cent tax rate on chargeable income from approved holding and investment activities, subject to Securities Commission Malaysia requirements. That concession is distinct from the 5% regime covering fintech, Financial Global Business Services and foreign payment system operators.
Forest City also sits within the wider Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, strengthening its role in Malaysia’s strategy to attract cross-border investment, advanced financial services and digital businesses. Johor has emerged as a major destination for digital infrastructure and technology investment, supported by its proximity to Singapore, expanding data-centre capacity and improving regional connectivity.
