Japan will restore Dubai crude as the benchmark for calculating petrol price subsidies from June 4, reversing a temporary shift to Brent after Middle East turmoil distorted the price of the crude grade most closely linked to the country’s oil imports. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said the change would improve the accuracy of subsidy calculations as Dubai crude prices had stabilised and the spread […]
The arrangement makes BlockShoals the approved local intermediary under the SEC’s StratBox framework, while Binance supplies technology, security systems, operational support and compliance expertise developed across regulated markets. The sandbox phase is expected to begin in the second half of 2026 and run for at least two years, giving regulators direct oversight of product testing before any wider rollout to users.
The move marks a notable shift in Binance’s strategy in the Philippines. Rather than seeking to restore access through an offshore model, the exchange is now pursuing market participation through a domestic company operating under SEC supervision. BlockShoals, a Philippine-incorporated fintech firm, secured approval under the crypto asset intermediary framework after a multi-year process involving regulatory conditions, compliance checks and investor-protection requirements.
Binance’s online presence in the Philippines was blocked in 2024 after the SEC said the platform had offered investment and trading services without the necessary licence. The regulator had warned the public about the exchange in November 2023, then moved to restrict website access through telecommunications authorities the following year. The action became one of the clearest signals that Manila intended to bring offshore digital-asset platforms under local rules.
That enforcement drive has since widened. The SEC’s crypto-asset service provider rules, issued in 2025, require firms serving Philippine users to register, maintain sufficient capital, observe marketing standards, and meet operational and reporting obligations. The framework is intended to protect retail investors while allowing controlled innovation in a market where crypto use remains high by regional and global standards.
The Philippines ranked ninth in the 2025 global crypto adoption index, reflecting strong activity across retail centralised services and digital-asset platforms. Usage has been driven by a young, mobile-first population, remittance demand, online work, gaming-linked crypto activity and a broad appetite for alternative financial products. That adoption has also heightened regulatory concern over fraud, weak disclosures, market volatility and the risks of foreign platforms serving users without domestic accountability.
Seker, Binance’s head of Asia-Pacific, described the Philippines as one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic digital economies, saying frameworks such as StratBox create a channel for regulators and industry participants to work together while maintaining user protection and market integrity. The company has presented the BlockShoals partnership as part of a compliance-first approach rather than a conventional market relaunch.
BlockShoals has framed its role around local accountability. A company representative said the partnership was an opportunity to show that global digital-asset platforms and domestic regulatory frameworks could operate constructively together, adding that the firm would work under direct SEC supervision while building a secure platform for users.
The sandbox structure gives the SEC room to monitor how products are configured, how customer onboarding is handled, how risks are disclosed, and how safeguards such as know-your-customer checks, anti-money-laundering controls and transaction monitoring are applied. It also gives Binance a pathway to rebuild trust after a period in which its Philippine operations were defined by access restrictions and licensing concerns.
The Philippine approach mirrors a broader shift across Asia, where regulators are moving away from informal tolerance of offshore crypto activity and towards domestic licensing regimes. Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia and Japan have tightened rules for exchanges, stablecoin activity, custody, marketing and investor suitability. The result is a more fragmented operating environment for global platforms, with access increasingly dependent on local registration, capital commitments and regulator-facing governance.
For Binance, the Philippine partnership carries strategic value beyond one market. The exchange has spent the past several years seeking to repair relations with regulators after facing scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. A successful sandbox test in Manila would support its argument that global crypto platforms can adapt to local rules through partnerships, product controls and supervised deployment.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 May 2026 – As the European Union prepares to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive into law by June 2026, employers will soon be required not only to disclose pay scales but to provide unprecedented clarity on how pay decisions are made.
This movement is not confined to Europe. Across the US, UK, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and Japan, a combination of strict regulation and rising employee expectations is pushing organisations toward a new standard of openness.
According to the latest Pay Transparency E-guide from the world’s most trusted talent solutions company Robert Walters, 48% of job seekers say they only apply for roles where salary ranges are disclosed upfront, which reflects salary transparency is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ but prerequisite for even engaging in the hiring process.
In Hong Kong, where salary disclosure has traditionally remained limited and highly individualised, these global developments are beginning to prompt new conversations around how pay is determined and benchmarked in the hiring process.
Growing public debate over current hiring practice to benchmark offers in Hong Kong
The common practice of requesting candidates’ current or previous salary is beginning to attract more discussion in Hong Kong. While employers have traditionally used this information to benchmark offers, some professionals question whether it places too much emphasis on past earnings rather than the value of the role or prevailing market rates.
“Candidates are increasingly asking how compensation is determined, not just what is being offered,” said John Mullally, managing director at Robert Walters Hong Kong. “Where decisions appear to be anchored to previous salary rather than the scope of the role, it can shape perceptions of fairness during the hiring process.”
At the same time, candidates are also paying closer attention to the amount of personal information requested during recruitment, reflecting broader expectations for transparency and consistency.
Wage secrecy culture under reassessment as Gen Z shows greater openness toward salary disclosure
Traditionally, salary has been a deeply private matter in Hong Kong, often viewed as a “confined personal message” that is rarely shared even with family members, which can make it difficult for employees to understand how pay decisions are made or how they compare with peers in similar roles.
However, data from the Robert Walters Salary Survey suggests that Gen Z is beginning to dismantle these long-standing cultural roots.
While only 5.5% of Hong Kong professionals overall are comfortable discussing their compensation with colleagues, that openness jumps to 24% among Gen Z. This stands in stark contrast to the 4% of Millennials and 2% of Gen X who are willing to share such information. This shift indicates that as the younger workforce grows, the cultural resistance to pay transparency is starting to fade.
“For Gen Z, transparency is a marker of fairness, equity, and social responsibility,” says John Mullally. “Candidates today have more access to market information and are making more informed decisions. Greater transparency can help build trust earlier in the process and support more constructive conversations around expectations.”
Global standards, local implications
With stricter requirements emerging in regions such as Europe, practices in one location are increasingly shaping expectations in others. Companies that operate across borders may find that consistency in how compensation is communicated becomes more important in attracting and retaining talent.
“For multinationals, this is more than just a compliance task. Operating transparently in one market while remaining opaque in another creates an ‘information asymmetry’ that erodes internal trust. We are seeing forward-thinking firms ‘level up’ by adopting a consistent, global standard of transparency, even before local legislation mandates it.” comments John Mullally.
While standardisation is difficult in industries like sales or professional services, where pay is often tied to commissions and individual portfolios, companies may need to balance flexibility with clearer communication. As expectations evolve, greater openness may become an important factor in securing and retaining talent.
Navigating complexity: how organisations can prepare
To prepare for this shift, Robert Walters advises Hong Kong organisations to move beyond simple disclosure toward building a robust job architecture. This framework must clearly explain the logic behind pay decisions, ensuring that transparency provides clarity rather than confusion when employees compare compensation.
Businesses should also prioritise internal equity audits to resolve any unjustified pay gaps before they lead to friction. Ultimately, the success of this transition depends on communication; managers must be trained to lead data-driven, honest conversations about pay to ensure transparency becomes a foundation for trust and a stronger employer brand.
“While full transparency on pay is still some way off in Hong Kong, expectations are clearly evolving,” Mullally said. “Organisations do not need to replicate other markets overnight but taking steps towards clearer and more consistent communication around pay will become increasingly important in staying competitive.”
Hashtag: #RobertWaltersHongKong #HongKongHiringMarket #HiringTrends #Benefits #Salary #Hiring #2026 #PayTransparency
https://www.robertwalters.com.hk/
http://www.linkedin.com/company/robert-walters
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Robert Walters – Robert Walters is the world’s most trusted talent solutions business. Across the globe, we deliver recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing and advisory services for businesses of all shapes and sizes, opening doors for people with diverse skills, ambitions, and backgrounds. We help organisations find the skills and solutions to reach their goals and assist talented professionals to power their unique potential.
The Hong Kong office specialises in placing high-calibre professionals on a permanent or contract basis in the following specialities: accounting & finance, construction, property & engineering, financial services, HR & business support, legal & compliance, sales & marketing, supply chain, logistics & procurement, and tech & transformation.
About the Robert Walters Pay Transparency E-guide
With landmark legislation going live in Europe this June and conversations around salary openness gaining momentum worldwide, the era of “confidential” compensation is rapidly coming to an end. In its place is a new corporate landscape defined by transparency, clarity, and open dialogue around pay. This comprehensive e-guide explores the practical realities of this global shift, defining what pay transparency actually looks like in practice and examining why open compensation structures matter now more than ever in the modern workplace.
The guide also provides deep insights into how employee and job applicant expectations are shifting on a global scale, highlighting the direct link between pay transparency and a company’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP). Ultimately, it offers actionable, strategic advice for businesses and hiring managers on how to successfully navigate the cultural and structural transitions within their own organisations.
To download the full Robert Walters Pay Transparency E-guide, please contact us or visit: https://www.robertwalters.com.hk/insights/hiring-advice/e-guide/global-pay-transparency.html
| Name | SYNC Design & Innovation in SITE 2026 |
| Date | Friday, June 26, 2026 |
| Venue | Paragon Hall, 5th Floor, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand |
| Admission | Free (advance registration required) |
| Languages | Thai / English / Japanese |
| Website | https://syncforum.asia |
| Organizer | Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. |
| Production & Co-organizers | FOURDIGIT Inc., National Innovation Agency (NIA), Thailand |
| Supported by | Creative Economy Agency (CEA) |
| Production partners | Y’s Connection Inc., J-WAVE, Inc., iDID |
Hashtag: #FOURDIGIT
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
By Nitya Chakraborty With the U.S. President Donald Trump himself downgrading the status of the four nation Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), why is Indian government spending so much of its precious time on QUAD meetings? It is sheer wastage of time for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as also Foreign Minister Dr. S Jaishankar. US […]
The article Trump Has Downgraded Status Of QUAD-India Should Not Waste Time On It appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
The agreement was signed on Tuesday during the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks covering economic security, energy resilience and Indo-Pacific cooperation. The pact gives both countries a structured route to work together across the full minerals value chain, from exploration and extraction to refining and downstream industrial use.
Critical minerals and rare earth elements have become central to the global contest over clean-energy technologies, semiconductors, electric vehicles, defence systems, communications equipment and advanced manufacturing. For New Delhi, the agreement offers access to US capital, technology partnerships and supply-chain coordination at a time when domestic demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, copper and rare earth magnets is expected to rise sharply.
China’s dominance remains the main strategic driver behind the pact. Beijing controls a large share of global rare earth refining and magnet production, giving it leverage over industries that depend on high-performance permanent magnets, battery inputs and specialised industrial materials. Export restrictions and licensing measures imposed by China on select critical minerals have added urgency to efforts by major economies to diversify sourcing and processing.
New Delhi’s gains could come in several layers. The first is supply security. India’s electronics, defence, renewable energy and electric mobility sectors need stable access to minerals that are often mined in one region and processed in another. A bilateral framework with Washington can help identify viable projects, link producers with manufacturers and create longer-term offtake arrangements that reduce price and availability shocks.
The second benefit lies in processing. India has mineral-bearing resources, a large manufacturing base and expanding demand, but it lacks sufficient refining and separation capacity for several high-value critical minerals. Collaboration with US companies and research institutions could support technology transfer, pilot processing facilities, environmental safeguards and recycling systems. That is particularly important because rare earth value chains are not only about mining; separation, purification and magnet-making often determine strategic control.
A third advantage is financing. Critical mineral projects are capital-intensive, slow to develop and vulnerable to volatile prices. The new framework is expected to encourage coordinated investment, risk-sharing and policy support. For India, this could help attract patient capital into mineral exploration, processing parks, recycling ventures and specialised manufacturing units linked to batteries, magnets and electronics.
The agreement also fits into New Delhi’s wider industrial strategy. The government has launched auctions for critical mineral blocks, expanded exploration and moved to build partnerships with resource-rich countries. State-backed and private companies have shown growing interest in lithium, rare earths and battery materials, while domestic manufacturers are seeking greater localisation of supply chains for electric vehicles, solar power, wind equipment and semiconductors.
Washington’s interest is equally clear. The US wants trusted partners that can help build alternatives to China-centred mineral flows. India offers scale, engineering capacity, a large market and geopolitical alignment through the Quad. A stronger minerals partnership can also support US efforts to diversify clean-energy and defence supply chains beyond a narrow group of suppliers.
The pact follows earlier India-US cooperation in technology, defence, semiconductors and clean energy. It also complements Quad-level initiatives designed to strengthen supply chains and energy security across the Indo-Pacific. Australia brings mining strength, Japan brings advanced materials and manufacturing capacity, the US brings capital and technology, and India brings market scale and industrial ambition.
Challenges remain substantial. New mining and processing projects often face long approval timelines, environmental scrutiny, land acquisition issues and high upfront costs. Rare earth separation involves complex chemistry and waste management concerns. Recycling can reduce dependence on fresh extraction, but collection systems and processing capacity remain underdeveloped. India will also need a skilled workforce, stable regulation and clear pricing signals to convert diplomatic agreements into viable industrial projects.
Regulators have moved against Futu Securities International, Tiger Brokers and Longbridge Securities, accusing them of operating securities businesses on the mainland without approval, soliciting domestic clients and processing offshore trading orders in breach of securities, fund and futures rules. The action has disrupted a once-popular route for mainland investors seeking exposure to global technology stocks, Hong Kong initial public offerings and US-listed Chinese companies.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission and other agencies have ordered a two-year rectification programme aimed at closing unauthorised cross-border securities, futures and fund businesses. During the wind-down period, affected mainland clients will be allowed to sell existing holdings and withdraw money, but will not be permitted to make new purchases through the targeted channels.
The clampdown marks a sharp escalation from the regulatory warning issued in late 2022, when online brokers were told to stop opening new accounts for mainland investors and remove trading apps from domestic app stores. Existing clients had largely been allowed to continue trading, preserving a grey-zone channel that gave better-off retail investors access to overseas markets despite China’s capital controls.
Futu has disclosed a proposed penalty of about 1.85 billion yuan, while Tiger Brokers’ parent, UP Fintech Holding, faces penalties and confiscation of illegal income totalling more than 400 million yuan. Longbridge has said it will comply with rectification requirements and that client fund safety is not affected. Regulators have also indicated that illegal gains from related onshore and offshore entities will be confiscated, with final administrative decisions subject to formal procedures.
Market reaction was swift. Shares of Futu and UP Fintech fell sharply in US trading after the enforcement announcement, while pressure spread to parts of the Chinese ADR universe as investors assessed whether reduced mainland retail participation could weigh on offshore-listed stocks. Hong Kong market participants also began reassessing the impact on brokerage flows, custody transfers and IPO distribution.
Citic Securities has estimated that as much as HK$250 billion in assets in Hong Kong could be affected by the crackdown, with Futu accounting for a large portion. The figure underlines the scale of wealth that had moved through offshore brokerage platforms even after Beijing tightened scrutiny of capital outflows and online financial services.
Investors are now exploring alternatives, including moving positions by custodian transfer to licensed Hong Kong banking channels, using accounts with international banks, or relying on approved schemes such as Stock Connect, the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor programme and Wealth Management Connect. Those channels, however, have limits on eligibility, investment scope, quotas and product access, making them less flexible than the digital brokerage platforms that gained popularity during the pandemic-era boom in US and Hong Kong equities.
Beijing’s concern is not only securities law compliance. The wider policy objective is to control capital outflows, strengthen oversight of retail investment activity and prevent unlicensed overseas institutions from marketing financial products inside the mainland. The campaign also aligns with efforts to support domestic capital markets, where authorities have been trying to stabilise sentiment and encourage household savings to flow into regulated local investment products.
For the brokers, the enforcement action threatens an important part of their client base. Futu and Tiger expanded rapidly by offering low-cost, mobile-first access to overseas securities, appealing to younger and wealthier mainland clients who wanted exposure beyond A-shares. Both companies have been diversifying into Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia and the United States, but mainland-linked business remains material to investor perceptions of their growth prospects.
The crackdown may also reshape Hong Kong’s role as a financial gateway. Licensed institutions could benefit from account transfers and higher compliance-driven demand, but regulators in the city are expected to scrutinise whether account-opening documents, residency claims and fund-transfer routes meet legal requirements. That could raise operational costs and slow onboarding for brokers and banks serving mainland-related clients.
The Tokyo-listed investment group has become one of the most closely watched proxies for AI demand after committing tens of billions of dollars to OpenAI and building exposure across chips, power infrastructure, robotics and data-centre supply chains. The latest rally extended a sharp two-session advance that added tens of billions of dollars to SoftBank’s market value, marking one of its strongest runs since the technology boom that first made the group a symbol of risk-taking capital.
Investor enthusiasm has been driven by two linked expectations. OpenAI is preparing for a confidential US initial public offering filing that could set up a listing as early as September, while SB Energy, a power and data-centre infrastructure company backed by SoftBank and OpenAI, has said it intends to confidentially file for a US IPO. Together, the developments have strengthened the market view that SoftBank’s private holdings may be moving closer to public-market price discovery.
SoftBank’s OpenAI position is the main driver of that reassessment. The group has invested $34.6bn in the ChatGPT maker since September 2024 and has agreed to make a further $30bn investment through SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Completion of those tranches would lift its cumulative investment to $64.6bn for an ownership interest of about 13 per cent. The preferred shares are designed to convert automatically into common shares if OpenAI completes an IPO or related listing transaction.
OpenAI’s valuation has become central to SoftBank’s investment case. The company was valued at $852bn in private markets and preliminary discussions around a listing have included the possibility of a valuation as high as $1tn. The company is also seeking to raise at least $60bn at the lower end of earlier discussions, reflecting the huge capital needs of frontier AI model development, data centres, chips and power supply.
The OpenAI bet has already reshaped SoftBank’s earnings profile. The group reported a sharp profit rebound, helped by valuation gains tied to OpenAI, and said cumulative gains on the investment had reached $45bn. Its annual profit of about ¥5tn was described by the company as the highest recorded by a Japanese company, underscoring how quickly Son’s AI strategy has altered investor perceptions after years of scrutiny over the Vision Fund’s uneven performance.
SB Energy has added another layer to the rally because its business sits at the intersection of AI and power infrastructure. Founded in 2019, the company develops large-scale energy and data-centre projects and has positioned itself to benefit from surging electricity demand linked to AI workloads. It has raised more than $18bn in project capital and has a portfolio of about 5 gigawatts of operating and under-construction energy assets.
The company’s January partnership with OpenAI under the Stargate initiative placed it inside a broader push to build AI and energy infrastructure in the United States. That has made SB Energy more than a conventional renewable power developer in the eyes of investors. Its appeal rests on the argument that AI expansion will require dedicated power generation, grid connections and purpose-built campuses capable of supporting high-density computing.
SoftBank’s rally has also been supported by strength in Arm Holdings, the UK chip designer in which the group holds a large stake. Arm remains a key public asset for SoftBank and is viewed as a beneficiary of AI-related semiconductor demand. Gains in Arm shares have helped reinforce confidence that SoftBank owns multiple assets tied to the same structural theme, rather than a single concentrated wager on OpenAI.
The optimism carries risks. OpenAI faces intensifying competition from Alphabet’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude and other model developers, while the cost of training and operating advanced AI systems continues to rise. Credit analysts have raised concerns that the size of SoftBank’s OpenAI commitment may affect liquidity and asset quality, particularly as the group uses loans, asset sales and financing backed by holdings such as Arm and SoftBank Corp. to fund its strategy.
SoftBank arranged a $40bn bridge loan in March and drew $20bn in April, largely for the OpenAI investment, while also repaying part of that borrowing. The group has sold stakes in holdings including Nvidia and T-Mobile, issued bonds and considered other financing options as it reallocates capital towards AI. Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto has said the group may also explore ways to use its OpenAI assets for financing if market conditions allow.
Australia is moving to extend its domestic gas reservation scheme across liquefied natural gas projects and export arrangements, including volumes tied to existing contracts, sharpening a policy shift aimed at easing pressure on households, power generators and manufacturers exposed to volatile east coast gas prices. The draft design framework for the scheme requires LNG exporters to supply gas equal to 20 per cent of their export volumes […]
This latest agreement marks a continuation of the strategic partnership between the two organizations, building upon the success of Shama Lakeview Asoke, which ONYX manages on behalf of JR Kyushu Group. The property has earned recognition as one of the leading serviced apartments in Bangkok’s central business district, reflecting the Japanese partner’s strong confidence in ONYX’s management capabilities and in-depth market expertise.
The development of Shama North Pattaya therefore represents not only an expansion into a high-potential location, but also a reaffirmation of ONYX’s disciplined growth strategy. By collaborating with globally respected partners, the group continues to strengthen its footprint in the EEC.
Mr. Yuthachai Charanachitta, Chief Executive Officer of ONYX Hospitality Group, stated that this joint venture with JR Kyushu Group reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to growing alongside its partners. It also marks ONYX’s second joint venture with an international partner under its strategic expansion plan, underscoring continued investor confidence in the company’s capabilities, as well as its ongoing pursuit of investment opportunities and strategic collaborations with high-potential partners.
“For ONYX Hospitality Group, growth is not defined merely by the number of projects we develop, but by the strength of the partnerships we cultivate. Our joint venture with JR Kyushu Group reflects a shared vision and a commitment to creating long-term value together.
The Shama brand has grown from a deep understanding of the long-stay market, which we have consistently studied and monitored over the years. We see clear future potential in this segment. Each Shama development is founded on comprehensive insights into resident needs and expectations, placing emphasis on the core of the living experience — comfort, flexibility and a genuine sense of home — all delivered to international standards.
Shama North Pattaya represents another important strategic property in strengthening and completing ONYX Hospitality Group’s presence in Pattaya, a high-potential destination within the EEC, alongside our key brands Amari and OZO, helping to create a more integrated and cohesive hospitality cluster in the area.”
Yuthachai added, “Shama North Pattaya reflects ONYX’s commitment to strengthening Thailand’s position as a leading destination for long-term residents while supporting the sustainable growth of the residential hospitality sector.”
Mr. Toshihiro Mori, Representative Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer of Kyushu Railway Company stated that this joint venture marks an important next step in JR Kyushu Group’s continued partnership with ONYX Hospitality Group in Thailand, building on the success of Shama Lakeview Asoke.
“Following our successful collaboration on Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok, we are pleased to deepen our partnership with ONYX Hospitality Group through Shama North Pattaya. We see strong potential in Pattaya as a leading resort destination within the EEC, and we have full confidence in ONYX’s hospitality expertise to deliver an exceptional property that meets the evolving needs of both Thai and international guests. We look forward to creating lasting value together.”
Strategically located in North Pattaya, a key tourism and economic hub within the EEC, Shama North Pattaya is designed to blend the comfort and convenience of serviced apartments with the refined services of a leading hotel brand. The project aims to cater to the steadily expanding long-stay segment, which is projected to continue its upward trajectory in 2026 and beyond.
The partnership between ONYX Hospitality Group and JR Kyushu Group not only highlights the complementary strengths of both organisations, but also serves as a strong indicator of Japanese investor confidence in Thailand’s economic stability and long-term prospects. At the same time, it signals the readiness of Thai hospitality brands to compete and grow alongside global partners in a sustainable and forward-looking manner.
Hashtag: #ONYXHospitalityGroup
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ONYX Hospitality Group, a reputable force in the Asia-Pacific hospitality industry, operates a collection of comprehensive yet complementary brands – Amari, OZO, Shama and Oriental Residence – catering to the distinctive needs of discerning business and leisure travellers across the region where it has deep expertise. In addition to its brand portfolio, ONYX Hospitality Group also operates additional hospitality services across spa and food & beverage. With six decades of management experience, the company extends its innovative solutions throughout the region, upholding internationally recognised standards and ensuring optimal operational manoeuvrability. By fostering enduring relationships with like-minded business partners, ONYX Hospitality Group delivers unparalleled experiences in a dynamic and competitive market, meeting the ever-evolving demands of travellers.
More information: www.onyx-hospitality.com
Find us on social media:
Follow us on Instagram: 
https://www.instagram.com/onyxhospitalitygroup/
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onyx-hospitality-group/
Follow us on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/ONYXHospitalityGroup
Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), headquartered in Fukuoka, Japan, and listed on the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a diversified group operating across Transportation, Real Estate and Hotels, Retail and Restaurants, Construction, and Business Services. Building on more than three decades of experience since its establishment in 1987, JR Kyushu has expanded beyond its core railway operations into a wide range of community-based and lifestyle businesses. In Thailand, JR Kyushu Business Development (Thailand) Co., Ltd. serves as the group’s investment platform for hospitality and real estate, building on the success of Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok and continuing to pursue long-term growth opportunities in the region.
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 […]
Matein Khalid US President Donald Trump’s recent state visit to China has done little to end the stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz. If anything, Iran appears to have been emboldened enough to escalate Gulf tensions through drone strikes near the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi and rocket attacks targeting sites in Saudi Arabia. Brent crude trading at about $110 a barrel has coincided with a brutal sell-off […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is close to completion, raising expectations of a diplomatic breakthrough that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz after months of conflict disrupted one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Trump wrote on Saturday that an agreement had been “largely negotiated” but remained subject to finalisation between the United States, Iran and other […]
The New York-founded company, led by Shayne Coplan, is seeking to open discussions around whether event-based contracts can be permitted under Japan’s financial and digital-asset framework rather than treated purely as gambling. The move comes as prediction markets draw heavier institutional interest, stronger trading volumes and sharper scrutiny from regulators over consumer protection, market integrity and the legal boundary between betting and derivatives.
People familiar with the matter said the company’s Japan strategy is at an early stage and would require engagement with officials, lawmakers and industry participants before any formal market entry. Japan does not have a dedicated framework for cash-based prediction markets, leaving platforms that allow users to trade on political, economic, sports or cultural outcomes exposed to uncertainty under gambling and financial laws.
Polymarket allows users to buy and sell contracts tied to the outcome of real-world events, with prices reflecting market-implied probabilities. Its markets have covered elections, central bank decisions, geopolitical events, sports, entertainment and cryptocurrency milestones. The platform gained global visibility during the 2024 US presidential election cycle, when trading volumes surged and its odds were widely cited as an alternative gauge of political sentiment.
Japan would offer Polymarket a large, sophisticated retail market with deep participation in equities, foreign exchange and digital assets. The country has also built one of the world’s more structured crypto regulatory regimes, requiring registration for crypto-asset exchange service providers and imposing rules on custody, anti-money laundering controls and customer protection. That framework may give the company a potential route for engagement, although prediction markets remain a separate and more politically sensitive category.
The company’s global push has accelerated after a period of regulatory pressure in the United States. Polymarket settled a case with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in 2022 after being accused of offering off-exchange event-based binary options without proper registration. It blocked US users for several years before moving to rebuild a domestic regulatory path through acquisitions and licensing efforts. Its purchase of a derivatives exchange and clearinghouse gave it a route to pursue compliant US operations.
Institutional backing has also strengthened its position. Intercontinental Exchange, the parent of the New York Stock Exchange, agreed to invest up to $2 billion in Polymarket in a deal that valued the business at about $8 billion before the transaction. The partnership gave Polymarket a powerful market infrastructure ally and signalled that event-driven data may have value beyond retail speculation, particularly for investors seeking real-time sentiment around political, economic and corporate developments.
Competition is intensifying. Kalshi, a regulated US prediction market operator, has expanded rapidly by framing event contracts as financial instruments under commodities law. Its growth has triggered legal disputes with state regulators, some of whom argue that sports and election-linked contracts resemble gambling products. That debate is likely to influence Japan’s assessment of whether prediction markets can be supervised as finance, gaming, information markets or a hybrid category.
Polymarket’s Japan plan faces several obstacles. Gambling is tightly restricted, with permitted activity largely confined to state-authorised sectors such as horse racing, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, lotteries and pachinko-linked structures. Online betting carries heightened enforcement risks, and any product involving wagers on uncertain outcomes would need careful legal classification. A crypto-funded model could add further complexity because regulators would need to examine custody, settlement, identity checks, sanctions screening and investor suitability.
Supporters of prediction markets argue that they create useful public signals by aggregating dispersed information into tradable prices. Traders who believe a market is mispriced can buy or sell contracts, pushing prices closer to collective expectations. That model has appealed to political analysts, hedge funds, economists and technology investors seeking faster indicators than polls, surveys or conventional research.
Critics counter that thin liquidity, anonymous participation, insider access and coordinated trading can distort outcomes. Questions have intensified around markets linked to sensitive events, where participants may possess non-public information or where the existence of a market could create troubling incentives. Japan’s regulators are likely to examine whether surveillance systems, position limits, disclosure rules and dispute-resolution mechanisms are strong enough to reduce those risks.
Greenlogue/AP Corporate climate target-setting is entering a more flexible phase as the Science Based Targets initiative shifts its global approach from a largely standard-setting and validation role towards a broader model aimed at helping companies deliver emissions cuts in difficult operating conditions. The London-based organisation, widely regarded as the leading verifier of corporate climate goals, has set out a 2026-2030 strategy that gives greater weight to implementation […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s push to build a crude export route outside the Strait of Hormuz has moved to the centre of Gulf energy security after ADNOC said its new West-East Pipeline is about halfway complete and on course to expand shipments through Fujairah by 2027. The project, being fast-tracked under the direction of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of […]
Investors should be seeking advice on a possible US stock market correction as surging bond yields driven by the ongoing war in Iran pose a near-term risk to stock gains. Wall Street spent the past year treating artificial intelligence as a force powerful enough to overwhelm inflation, war, deficits and interest rates simultaneously. Markets rewarded that conviction spectacularly. Nvidia added more than $2tn in market value in […]
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 […]
Greenlogue/AP Global building emissions rose again in 2024, underscoring how rapid urban expansion is outpacing efficiency gains and slowing the sector’s shift towards a net-zero pathway. Operational emissions from buildings increased 1 per cent to 9.9 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide last year, even as energy intensity improved across parts of the global building stock. The latest Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2025-2026, released on 19 […]
Cardano’s payments push is moving into Japan through a partnership linking EMURGO, SecondFi and Slash Vision Labs, in a move designed to bring stablecoin spending into one of Asia’s most sophisticated cashless markets. EMURGO, a co-founding entity of the Cardano blockchain, has tied its consumer finance strategy to Slash Vision Labs’ payments infrastructure to make the Cardano Card available to users in Japan through the SecondFi app. […]
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.
Washington’s defence establishment is confronting a sharper supply-chain warning after President Donald Trump left Beijing claiming major trade progress, while China kept key controls on materials vital to US weapons, aircraft, satellites and advanced electronics. Trump ended his two-day visit by declaring that he had reached “fantastic trade deals” with President Xi Jinping, saying the understandings would benefit both economies. The commercial package pointed to tariff discussions, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi has moved to accelerate a strategic crude oil pipeline expansion that would sharply increase exports through Fujairah, as confrontation between the United States and Iran intensifies pressure on the Strait of Hormuz and exposes the vulnerability of Gulf energy routes. The project is designed to double the country’s capacity to ship crude from the Gulf of Oman coast by 2027, reducing […]
The agreement, reached during Modi’s official visit to Abu Dhabi on 15 May 2026, includes a strategic collaboration between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to expand the UAE’s participation in India’s strategic petroleum reserves to 30 million barrels. Both sides will also work on establishing strategic gas reserves, a move that signals a broader shift from emergency crude storage towards a more diversified energy security framework.
The pact places ADNOC at the centre of New Delhi’s stockpiling strategy. The UAE became the first country to partner with India in strategic petroleum storage when ADNOC stored crude in the Mangaluru cavern under an earlier arrangement. The new framework is substantially larger and comes as India seeks to reduce exposure to sudden disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions-driven shifts in trade flows, shipping risks, and sharp swings in spot fuel prices.
India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, imports more than 85 per cent of its crude requirement and nearly half of its natural gas needs. Its existing strategic petroleum reserve system has underground rock caverns at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru and Padur, with a combined capacity of about 5.33 million tonnes, equivalent to roughly 39 million barrels. These reserves are separate from commercial inventories held by refiners and oil marketing companies.
The current reserve base covers only a limited number of consumption days, making expansion a long-standing policy priority. Phase-two plans have included additional capacity at Padur and a new facility at Chandikhol in Odisha, while officials have explored public-private partnership models to bring in foreign oil producers and trading firms. The UAE arrangement is likely to support that model by tying storage capacity to assured supply and commercial flexibility.
The energy package also includes a long-term LPG supply arrangement between Indian Oil Limited and ADNOC. The UAE is already the largest source of LPG for India, meeting about 40 per cent of its import requirement. A deeper supply contract is significant for household energy security, as LPG remains a politically sensitive fuel linked to cooking gas access, subsidy management and inflation expectations.
Gas cooperation is another important element. New Delhi has been trying to raise the share of natural gas in its energy mix, but price volatility and limited storage have slowed progress. Strategic gas reserves could help shield fertiliser plants, city gas distributors, power producers and industrial users from abrupt supply constraints. The concept remains more complex than crude storage because gas requires specialised infrastructure, including LNG terminals, underground storage or converted reservoirs, but the agreement shows that both governments see gas security as part of the next phase of their partnership.
The Abu Dhabi talks also build on a wider hydrocarbons relationship. The UAE was among India’s top crude suppliers last year and has become a central partner in LNG, LPG, upstream investment and petroleum product trade. State-backed companies from India hold stakes in Abu Dhabi oil assets, including the Lower Zakum concession and Onshore Block 1, marking a rare upstream footprint for New Delhi in the Gulf.
The timing gives the agreement strategic weight. West Asian tensions have renewed concern over maritime chokepoints and insurance costs for energy cargoes. Any prolonged disruption near the Gulf would affect Asia’s largest consuming economies first, particularly import-dependent buyers such as India, Japan, South Korea and China. Larger stockpiles do not remove that vulnerability, but they give policymakers more room to manage price spikes, refinery supply schedules and emergency releases.
For the UAE, the pact strengthens its role as a long-term energy partner beyond crude sales. ADNOC has been widening its international storage, trading, LNG and downstream footprint as Abu Dhabi positions itself as both a reliable supplier and a capital partner. Participation in overseas strategic reserves gives the company access to storage optionality while reinforcing diplomatic ties with major demand centres.
The Modi-Sheikh Mohamed meeting also covered defence, investment, infrastructure and regional security, underscoring the shift in bilateral ties from labour, remittances and trade towards a broader strategic partnership. The UAE hosts a large expatriate community from India and remains one of New Delhi’s most important Gulf economic partners, with strong links in logistics, ports, food security, renewable energy and financial services.
