Iran struck Gulf energy infrastructure again overnight into Friday, setting fire to Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi refinery and damaging a power and water desalination plant, as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could escalate by targeting more of Iran’s infrastructure if Tehran did not yield. The attacks sharpened fears that a conflict already disrupting shipping and fuel markets is moving deeper into the economic core of the […]
A Japanese-owned liquefied natural gas tanker has crossed the Strait of Hormuz, offering the clearest sign yet that tightly controlled commercial traffic may be resuming through one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors after weeks of disruption linked to the war involving Iran. The vessel, SOHAR LNG, is the first Japan-linked LNG carrier confirmed to have made the passage since the conflict began on 28 February, […]
Oil prices jumped sharply on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said the United States would step up attacks on Iran over the coming weeks, stoking fears that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz could last longer and tighten supplies of crude and refined fuels across global markets. West Texas Intermediate settled at $111.54 a barrel after surging more than 11%, while Brent closed near $109.03, extending […]
U. S. defence shares have failed to sustain the geopolitical bounce that often accompanies armed conflict, with the sector sliding in March even as tensions around Iran intensified. The NYSE Arca Defense Index, which tracks 34 large and small-cap companies, fell nearly 8% during the month, a steeper decline than the S&P 500’s roughly 5% drop, underscoring how investors have become more cautious about paying up […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Kingdom Holding Company has agreed to buy Prince Alwaleed bin Talal AlSaud’s stake in Breakthrough Energy Ventures for 255 million riyals, or about $68 million, in a deal that pushes the Riyadh-listed investment firm further into climate-focused venture capital while underlining the growing role of Gulf capital in technology bets beyond conventional energy. The company disclosed the transaction on 2 April and said […]
Greenlogue/AP TotalEnergies and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar have signed a binding agreement to create a $2.2 billion joint venture that will combine their onshore renewable energy activities across nine Asian markets, in a move that underlines how large energy groups are shifting capital towards power demand growth in the region. The partners said the new platform will be owned equally, based in Abu […]
The announcement signals how sharply competition for AI infrastructure has intensified across Asia. Microsoft said the programme will focus on adding computing capacity inside Japan at a time when governments and corporations are demanding secure, local processing for sensitive workloads. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice-chair and president, disclosed the plan during a visit to Tokyo, where the company also set out training and security goals tied to the investment.
Under the plan, Microsoft intends to train one million engineers and developers by 2030, a figure that underlines the labour challenge facing Japan as it tries to scale AI use across the economy. The company is also expanding cybersecurity collaboration with the Japanese government, including work around threat intelligence and cybercrime prevention. Those elements give the package a dual purpose: commercial expansion for Microsoft and strategic support for a country that has made digital resilience and industrial competitiveness central to policy.
The new commitment builds on a smaller programme announced in April 2024, when Microsoft said it would invest $2.9 billion over two years to expand cloud and AI infrastructure in Japan, while also launching wider digital skilling efforts, opening its first Microsoft Research Asia lab in the country and deepening cooperation on cybersecurity. The latest package therefore appears less like a standalone move than the next stage of a longer campaign to lock in market share and policy relevance in one of Asia’s most advanced economies.
Japan offers Microsoft an attractive mix of high-value enterprise customers, a technologically sophisticated manufacturing base and a government that has been openly supportive of industrial uses for generative AI. Tokyo’s policy stance has increasingly favoured the deployment of advanced digital tools to lift productivity, offset labour shortages and bolster economic security. That political environment has made Japan a focal point for global technology groups seeking not just customers, but durable alignment with state priorities on data sovereignty and national resilience.
Market conditions also help explain the scale of the move. Reuters reported that around one-fifth of working-age people in Japan are now using generative AI tools, showing that adoption has advanced but remains well below leading global levels, leaving substantial room for growth. At the same time, labour projections point to a steep shortage of AI and robotics specialists by 2040, raising the stakes for corporate training programmes and local infrastructure investment. For Microsoft, that creates an opening to sell both computing capacity and the wider ecosystem needed to make AI usable at scale.
Partnerships with local players will be central to execution. Microsoft said it would work with firms including SoftBank and Sakura Internet to expand domestic AI computing capacity and provide more secure local access to Azure services. That matters in Japan, where demand from public institutions and regulated industries often hinges on where data is processed and how operational control is shared. Collaboration with established domestic groups may also help Microsoft navigate competitive pressure from rival cloud providers and home-grown digital infrastructure ambitions.
An Iran-linked hacking group has claimed it breached PSK Wind Technologies, an Israeli defence supplier that says it develops command-and-control shelters, communications systems and other integrated solutions for defence and homeland security customers. Material circulated online on 2 April was presented by the group, Handala, as proof of a deep intrusion into a company tied to sensitive military infrastructure. Independent verification of the full scope of the […]
Being the only B2B international fastener trade show in Taiwan, Fastener Taiwan showcases a comprehensive spectrum of products and services, including finished fasteners, fastener machines and materials, molds and tooling, inspection instruments, and hand tools.
Innovative and value-added solutions can be found from key participants including Sheh Fung, a leader in high-end painted screws; ZYH YIN, the primary screw supplier to IKEA; TAIWAN SHAN YIN, providing dental implants and automotive components, and SPEC, a qualified supplier for global brands like Tesla and Mercedes-Benz. Additionally, Taiwan Steel Group (TSG) will present integrated solutions for the aerospace and renewable energy industries, while machinery giants like JERN YAO and CHIEN TSAI will debut energy-efficient forging and thread-rolling technologies.
International brands are increasingly drawn to Taiwan’s growing markets, with exhibitors like Germany’s Dörken Coatings and Achilles Seibert, Japan’s Fukae Spring, and Korea’s HAWERS utilizing the show to expand their global reach.
Beyond the abundant display, Fastener Taiwan features the Global Fastener Forum, where industry experts discuss industry development and analyze regional regulations and opportunities. The Procurement Policy and Market Briefing will host leaders from major European distributor associations- EFDA, BIAFD and FDS, to discuss the implications of the EU CBAM and evolving procurement standards. To offer a deeper perspective, the Site Visit program provides buyers with exclusive access to local factories to witness fastener production process firsthand, while One-on-One Sourcing Meetings offer opportunities to discuss specific enquiries.
Fastener Taiwan 2026 is more than a trade show; it is where global industry leaders gather to forge the next decade of success. We invite professionals from all sectors, especially the aerospace, semiconductor, infrastructure, medical, and construction sectors, to register for visit now (https://reurl.cc/O6XXD9) to empower your business through fastening innovation.
Hashtag: #FastenerTaiwan2026
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
US-based Patel Family Office and Dammam-headquartered Abdel Hadi A. Al-Qahtani & Sons have signed a $1 billion agreement to build 50 business hotels across Saudi Arabia by 2029, betting that the Kingdom’s fast-growing corporate travel market now needs more standardised mid-market accommodation than luxury-led supply can offer. The partners said the platform, branded AYARA, was signed at the FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami and is expected to […]
Britain has sharpened its language on security, raised its military ambitions and promised a larger defence budget, but the test now lies in whether those commitments produce forces that can respond quickly and credibly to a widening arc of threats from Europe to the Middle East. The question has come into sharper focus after London moved a nuclear-powered submarine into the Arabian Sea about a month into […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil prices leapt on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the United States would keep striking Iran for at least the next two to three weeks, dashing hopes that Washington was preparing to scale back military action and easing concerns in energy markets only briefly. Brent crude rose above $108 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate climbed past $106 in early trade, reversing […]
Cordros Securities has projected a calmer but still constructive second quarter for Nigeria’s equities market, arguing that the sharp gains posted in the first three months of 2026 may give way to more selective buying, with bank stocks likely to remain at the centre of investor attention. That view comes after a powerful first-quarter rally on the Nigerian Exchange, where banking counters were among the strongest performers […]
Almost eight in 10 UK manufacturers suffered at least one serious cyber incident over the past 12 months, according to new ESET-commissioned research, adding fresh evidence that digital disruption is now a mainstream operational risk for one of Britain’s most exposed industrial sectors. The findings indicate that 78% of manufacturers were hit, while 53% said attacks led to lost revenue, underscoring how cyber breaches are moving from […]
Copper and other industrial metals fell on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump renewed threats to strike Iran’s power plants and other civilian infrastructure if talks fail to halt a war that has entered its second month, adding another layer of risk to commodity markets already strained by conflict in the Gulf. Bloomberg reported the move across metals markets on April 2, while Reuters and AP reporting […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Silver tumbled on Thursday, extending a volatile run in precious metals as higher oil prices, firmer Treasury yields and a stronger dollar pulled investors out of bullion. Spot silver was reported down about 4.6% on the day, while market data showed the metal trading near $72.31 an ounce and futures dipping to an intraday low around $70.35, leaving the market pressing against […]
Dubai Taxi Company and Baidu’s Apollo Go have begun fully driverless commercial ride-hailing in Dubai, opening public bookings through the Apollo Go app in what Baidu said is the platform’s first international app deployment. The launch adds a new commercial channel for autonomous transport in the emirate and gives Dubai one of the clearest live tests yet of how driverless taxis can move from controlled trials into […]
Global energy markets are facing a supply shock more severe than the oil crises of 1973 and 1979 combined with the gas disruption that followed Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to International Energy Agency executive director Fatih Birol, who said mounting losses of oil and liquefied natural gas from the Middle East were set to intensify through April. Birol said more than 12 million barrels of […]
The proposed tender offer price is ¥4,750 a share. That figure carries an unusual wrinkle: Reuters reported it stood 4.7% below Taiyo’s last closing price, reflecting how market speculation had already lifted the stock, while the joint company release framed the offer as carrying a steep premium to unaffected average prices before the bidding process became public and before activist-related filings stirred the shares. The contrast underlines how Japan’s take-private deals are increasingly playing out in markets already primed by rumour, activism and expectations of strategic change.
Taiyo is not a household consumer name, but it sits in businesses that have become more visible to global investors. The group is a leading producer of solder resist and other materials used in printed circuit boards and semiconductor packaging substrates, while also operating a medical and pharmaceutical arm that makes prescription drugs and provides contract development and manufacturing services. In its own long-term planning, Taiyo has pointed to growth opportunities from generative AI, data centres and communications infrastructure on the electronics side, alongside structural reform and expansion in contract manufacturing for pharmaceuticals.
That mix helps explain why KKR sees room for a private-market strategy. Taiyo said privatisation would allow it to pursue long-term investments and quicker decision-making with less pressure from the public market. The company’s “Beyond Imagination 2030” plan targets a rise in net sales to ¥180 billion by fiscal 2031 from ¥119 billion in fiscal 2025, while operating income is targeted to more than double to ¥47 billion from ¥22 billion. Management has also been trying to improve capital efficiency after sustained dialogue with shareholders, including a focus on profitability in the medical and pharmaceuticals unit and a review of portfolio positioning across the group.
For KKR, the Taiyo bid fits a broader pattern in Japan. The firm said it has been investing in the country for two decades and manages more than $20 billion there. Its existing investments span semiconductor equipment, pharmaceuticals, information technology and logistics, sectors where global funds have been seeking companies with specialised technology, export potential or scope for operational overhaul. Taiyo gives KKR exposure to electronics materials tied to advanced manufacturing as well as a pharmaceuticals platform that could benefit from demand for contract manufacturing and stable domestic drug supply.
The shareholder line-up behind the offer is also notable. DIC, Taiyo’s largest shareholder, and Kowa, which is affiliated with the founding family, have agreed to sell through a share consolidation and buyback process after the tender offer is completed. The founding family plans to reinvest in the KKR-managed vehicle that will own Taiyo after privatisation. Oasis Management, long known for active positions in Japan, has separately agreed to tender shares representing about 15.62% of the company. That combination reduces execution risk and suggests the deal has been designed to balance continuity with outside capital and governance pressure.
Still, the transaction comes with questions that investors and analysts will watch closely. A take-private at a headline valuation above ¥500 billion will invite scrutiny over whether minority holders are being offered enough upside after the stock’s sharp re-rating. The tender offer has yet to begin formally and remains subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals. Any delays or shifts in market conditions could test sentiment, especially at a time when deal financing and foreign buyouts in Japan are being judged against a higher bar on governance, transparency and shareholder treatment.
Taiyo’s business profile gives the story wider significance than a conventional chemicals buyout. Its electronics arm remains the core earnings driver, but the medical and pharmaceuticals business has been gaining attention as order volumes rise in contract manufacturing and as the group tries to lift margins. Taiyo’s own targets show electronics sales climbing to ¥128 billion by fiscal 2031 and medical and pharmaceuticals sales to ¥43 billion, with the latter expected to deliver a marked improvement in profitability. That combination of steady industrial demand and a healthcare growth angle is the sort of hybrid case private equity firms have been seeking across Japan’s listed mid-cap sector.
Voltify has raised $30 million in seed funding to push an ambitious plan to electrify freight rail without the cost and disruption of stringing overhead wires across vast rail networks, positioning the startup at the intersection of climate technology, industrial infrastructure and freight logistics. The company said the round was co-led by venture capital firm Aleph and Fortescue, with backing from Menomadin, J-Impact, The Dock and other […]
French President Emmanuel Macron is due to meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Wednesday, with the war involving Iran and the growing scramble for critical minerals set to dominate talks that reach far beyond bilateral ties. The meeting comes as Japan and France face the same strategic question from different angles: how to protect economic security in a world where energy supplies, shipping routes […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Nothing is developing artificial intelligence-enabled smart glasses for a planned launch in the first half of 2027, marking a potentially significant expansion beyond smartphones and audio devices as chief executive Carl Pei leans more openly into AI-led hardware. The move, first reported by Bloomberg on March 31, would place the London-based company into a fast-forming contest over wearables that many technology groups increasingly […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Copper prices climbed on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said military action against Iran could end within two to three weeks, helping trigger a wider rebound across markets that had been hit by worries over energy shocks, inflation and weaker global growth. The move in the red metal tracked a broader shift towards riskier assets as investors responded to the prospect, however […]
Mistral has raised $830 million in debt financing to build a large AI computing hub near Paris, a move that places the French start-up at the heart of Europe’s effort to develop home-grown artificial intelligence infrastructure and rely less on overseas cloud providers. The funding, the company’s first debt raise, will be used to buy 13,800 Nvidia chips for a data centre at Bruyères-le-Châtel, south of the […]
