Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has halted all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice as escalating security tensions deepen economic disruption across the Gulf. Afra Al Hameli, Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced the decision while rejecting allegations about the status of economic relations between the UAE and Iran. She said regional escalations were […]
allnex is the global market and technology leader for Sag Control Agent (SCA) resin, a unique technology enabling excellent appearance of Automotive OEM coatings.
Today allnex announced to build its first SCA production facility in APAC, the largest global Automotive market.
This investment will significantly improve regional supply resilience, reduce lead times, and enhance service for our customers based in the APAC region
And it will support faster adaptation of the next-generation of SCA’s including high-solid, low-bake, and sustainable “green SCA” solutions.
FRANKFURT, GERMANY – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – allnex, a leading global manufacturer and solution provider of coating resins and additives, today announced plans to expand its manufacturing footprint in Asia-Pacific with a strategic investment in Sag Control Agent (SCA) capacity at its Rayong site in Thailand.
Scheduled to begin operations in January 2028, this new SCA capacity investment, signifies allnex’s commitment to support its customers in the world’s fastest-growing automotive coatings markets.
By bringing SCA production into the APAC region, and importantly closer to customers, allnex will strengthen supply reliability, shorten lead times, and provide greater responsiveness to evolving market needs.
SCAs are a unique and cornerstone technology of allnex’s Automotive OEM product portfolio and they define its market leadership position in this application. allnex SCA resins have superior sag control functionality, enabling exceptional appearance in premium high-gloss clearcoats. These specialty resins ensure that coating manufacturers are able to meet the ever increasing demands of car producers for performance, efficiency, and sustainability.
Since allnex invented SCA resins four decades ago, all allnex SCA production was concentrated in its Bergen op Zoom facility in The Netherlands. In the last few years, APAC has become the largest SCA market globally with strong future growth projections driven by increased car production and requirements for better appearance. By making this investment in APAC, allnex will not only provide customers with proximity of supply and greater assurance, it will also ensure to have enough capacity available in time, to meet future growth.
“This strategic capacity investment for a unique technology, is driven by our commitment to our customers and their growth ambitions in Asia-Pacific. By localizing SCA production in Thailand, we are responding directly to customer needs for greater supply security, shorter lead times, and faster access to innovation. The new facility will strengthen our ability and agility to support both global and regional customers in APAC and allows us to meet future market demand.” said Ruben Mannien, Senior Executive Vice President APAC.
The Rayong site was selected following a comprehensive evaluation of multiple locations across the region. The site offers existing infrastructure, strong technical capabilities, and strategic proximity to key automotive manufacturing hubs, including China, India, Korea, and Southeast Asia.
The investment will include dedicated reactors for the production of SCA resins for plastic automotive parts and metal car bodies.
Beyond improving supply resilience, the new facility will support allnex’s latest SCA innovations designed for next-generation clearcoat systems, including high-solid, low-bake, and more sustainable coating technologies. These solutions help customers improve productivity, reduce energy consumption, and differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, ensuring production readiness ahead of anticipated market growth.
Hashtag: #allnex
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Cl0p has claimed a sweeping data-theft campaign affecting nearly 50 companies worldwide, placing Shell, Philips, GE and financial technology group Fiserv among the organisations named on the cybercrime operation’s leak site. Several companies have opened investigations, although the scale of the alleged theft remains unverified. The campaign appears to mark another large-scale attempt by the Russia-linked extortion group to exploit a weakness in widely deployed enterprise software […]
Amaris B. Clinic’s first-half 2026 enquiry figures show arm-related concerns accounted for 41.4% of all body-sculpting enquiries from women, with nearly half of those enquiries coming from women in their 40s. Medical director, Dr Ivan Puah links the trend to perimenopause, slowing metabolism and lifestyle pressures specific to Singapore.
SINGAPORE– Media OutReach Newswire – 17 August 2026 – Arm fat has become the single most common concern driving women to seek body-sculpting consultations in Singapore this year, according to internal enquiry data from Amaris B. Clinic, whose medical director, Dr Ivan Puah, is an MOH-accredited liposuction doctor.
Between January and June 2026, the clinic logged 406 face- and body-sculpting enquiries from women, of which 168 (41.4%) cited arm concerns, more than any other body area. Thirty-one women enquired about more than one area, so individual counts do not sum to the total.
The pattern is one Dr Puah says he sees consistently in practice: Arm fat that resists diet and exercise and that many patients report noticing as they enter their 40s.
Nearly Half of Arm-Concern Enquiries Come From Women in Their 40s
Among women who wrote in specifically about arm concerns, enquiries were heavily concentrated in mid-adulthood, an age range that overlaps with perimenopause for many women:
Full Breakdown
Age group
Percentage of arm-concern enquiries
21 –29 year-olds
4%
30 – 39 year-olds
32%
40 – 49 year-olds
42%
50 – 59 year-olds
11%
60 – 69 year-olds
3%
70 and above
1%
Nearly half of all arm-related enquiries came from women aged 40 to 49, an age range that overlaps with perimenopause for many women.
Why Arm Fat Is Difficult to Shift
Women naturally carry 6 to 11 percentage points more body fat than men, a difference tied to reproductive physiology. Genetics also influence where fat is stored, and some women are predisposed to carrying it in the upper arms, a distribution pattern that responds poorly to exercise alone.
Patients describe the concern in different ways, including upper-arm fat, “bingo wings” or “bat wings” (a combination of loose skin and fat that moves with the arm), and chafing where the arm rubs against the body.
Dr Puah points to two overlapping life stages as the main physiological drivers:
“Perimenopause and menopause are the two life stages we most consistently see linked to arm fat in the clinic. As women approach these stages, metabolism slows, and that shift tends to show up first in areas like the arms and underarms. It’s most noticeable in women with an apple-shaped body distribution,” said Dr Puah.
Hormonal changes associated with ageing, often compounded by stress or poor sleep, can make the body more prone to storing fat and losing lean muscle mass. Skin also loses elasticity with age, which Dr Puah says contributes to the looser, softer contour some patients describe.
Climate, Fashion and Workplace Culture Add Visibility
Singapore’s climate means sleeveless and short-sleeved clothing is worn year-round, keeping arms visible for most of the year. Dr Puah says this, combined with grooming expectations in client-facing and corporate roles, contributes to why arm concerns generate more enquiries in Singapore than they might in cooler markets.
“In Singapore’s climate, women are more conscious of how their arms look in everyday clothing, and arm sculpting is consistently among the most common requests we receive for this concern,” said Dr Puah, who chairs Singapore’s Lipo Peer Review Committee.
Not All Arm Fullness Is the Same, Clinic Says
Dr Puah cautions that upper-arm fullness is not uniform from patient to patient. For some women it is predominantly fat. For others, it is a combination of fat and skin laxity, with genetics, hormonal changes and age all shaping the tissue involved.
“Many women are surprised to learn that arm fat is often genetically predetermined and resistant to exercise. A proper evaluation helps clarify what’s driving the concern and sets realistic expectations for what can be achieved. The rise in enquiries reflects growing awareness that stubborn arm fat is a physiological issue, not a failure of willpower or fitness,” said Dr Puah.
The clinic’s data points to a broader shift: arm concerns are no longer a secondary consideration for patients but a leading driver of body sculpting consultations among women in Singapore, particularly during the perimenopausal transition.
Note on methodology: Figures are drawn from self-reported enquiry records logged by Amaris B. Clinic between 1 January and 30 June 2026 and reflect enquiries at this clinic only; they are not a population-representative survey of Singapore women. Hashtag: #MedicalAesthetics
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
ABOUT AMARIS B. CLINIC
Founded in 2004 and led by Dr Ivan Puah, Amaris B. Clinic is a Singapore-based medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery practice. Its services span facial and body sculpting, including liposuction, gynecomastia surgery, and fat grafting, alongside non-surgical treatments such as Ultherapy Prime, biostimulator injections, and hair loss therapy.
Dr Puah, an MOH-accredited liposuction doctor with extensive training in various cosmetic procedures, is committed to providing personalised care with an artful eye and proven medical techniques.
Dedicated surgical training in gynecomastia surgery in San Francisco
Chairman of the Lipo Peer Review Committee in Singapore
Trained in Vaser liposuction (fundamental and hi-definition) in Colorado and Argentina
Trained in syringe liposculpture, fat grafting, and thread lift from renowned French plastic surgeon, Dr Pierre Francois Fournier
Appointed trainer by Allergan and Merz for fellow doctors on cosmetic injectables
Designated trainer for PDO thread lift and Picolaser from Venusys Medical
Graduate Diploma in Family Dermatology from NUS
Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture from TCMB
Graduate Diploma in Sports Medicine from LKCMedicine, NTU
Anthropic’s plan to embed invisible watermarks in text generated by future Claude models has triggered a sharp debate among heavy AI users who fear their reliance on the chatbot could become detectable in professional, academic and creative work. The company says the technology will allow authorised detection systems to estimate whether Claude was involved in producing a passage, without inserting hidden characters, altering its visible appearance or […]
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Cybersecurity researchers have found evidence that ExfilSquad obtained sensitive information belonging to at least 13 organisations, strengthening earlier claims by the emerging extortion group after it began distributing stolen datasets through torrent networks. The disclosures cover organisations in the United States, Britain and Sweden and span government, education, aviation, insurance, technology and consumer services. Investigators examining the material say the leaked files contain personally identifiable information, customer […]
Minimal Company has unveiled its second-generation smartphone with an AMOLED display, 5G connectivity and significantly faster hardware, while retaining the physical QWERTY keyboard that distinguishes the device from mainstream touchscreen handsets. The Minimal Phone 2 marks a sharp change from the original model’s 4.3-inch E Ink screen. The new handset uses a 3.92-inch AMOLED panel with a 1080 by 1240 resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, giving users […]
Meta has deactivated 756,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under the age of 16 as enforcement of the country’s landmark social media restrictions intensifies. The company said 462,000 Instagram accounts and 294,000 Facebook accounts were removed between the period immediately before the rules took effect in December 2025 and June 2026. The figures represent one of the clearest indications yet of the scale […]
Zerohash is preparing to submit a narrower application for a US national trust bank charter after regulators returned its first filing without reaching a decision, creating a regulatory setback for the digital-asset infrastructure provider that powers cryptocurrency trading for Morgan Stanley’s E*Trade platform. The Chicago-based company expects to refile with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency by the end of August, restructuring its proposal around […]
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The UAE’s new restrictions on social media access for children under 15 could reach far beyond conventional social networks, drawing gaming, streaming, education, ecommerce and other digital services into a widening child-safety compliance regime. Cabinet Resolution No. 106 of 2026 sets 15 as the minimum age for maintaining a personal social media account. Children below that threshold cannot create, use or operate covered accounts or access features […]
Iran has reshaped its military leadership around battle-tested hardliners and ordered stronger offensive capabilities as negotiations with the United States remain deadlocked, signalling that Tehran is preparing for a prolonged confrontation rather than an early settlement to the Gulf war. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has appointed six senior commanders across the Armed Forces General Staff, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij, placing veterans with extensive operational, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai OpenAI has launched Inference Residency in the UAE, allowing eligible organisations to run artificial intelligence model inference on graphics processing units located within the country while using its enterprise and developer services. The move strengthens local control over sensitive AI workloads as government bodies and regulated industries expand their use of generative AI. The service is available to eligible customers using OpenAI’s API, […]
Nintendo will begin officially selling the Nintendo Switch 2 and original Switch in Indonesia in December, giving the Japanese games company its first direct hardware presence in Southeast Asia’s largest economy while leaving a significant gap in its digital offering.
The December 2026 launch was announced by Nintendo executive officer Juro Takeuchi at a business conference in Jakarta. Distribution will be handled by PT Nusantara Interactive Niaga, part of the Salim Group, with Nintendo’s Singapore operation involved in the market rollout. Prices and a precise sales date have yet to be disclosed.
Nintendo’s move formalises a market that has for years relied heavily on imported consoles and third-party retailers. Switch systems and games have long been available in Indonesia through unofficial distribution channels, but an authorised presence should improve access to locally supported products, warranties and retail partnerships.
The expansion arrives more than a year after Nintendo launched the Switch 2 in its major markets. The successor to the original Switch has become a substantial part of the company’s hardware business, with cumulative shipments reaching 23.68 million units by the end of June. Nintendo shipped another 3.82 million Switch 2 consoles during the April-June quarter, while lifetime shipments of the original Switch exceeded 156 million units.
Indonesia offers Nintendo considerable scale. Estimates of the country’s gaming population vary considerably depending on methodology, platform and definition of an active player. Government-linked figures have previously placed the number above 174 million, while officials this year have cited more than 200 million active gamers. The market is valued at roughly $2 billion annually, although mobile gaming accounts for a large proportion of participation.
That mobile-heavy profile makes Nintendo’s challenge different from simply putting consoles into more shops. Smartphone games have built enormous audiences through free-to-play models, localised payment systems and low barriers to entry. Nintendo must persuade consumers to spend substantially more on dedicated hardware and premium software, while competing for attention with mobile titles, personal computers and rival console ecosystems.
One potential obstacle is the absence of a dedicated Indonesian Nintendo eShop when the hardware goes on sale. Buyers seeking digital games will not initially receive a local storefront alongside the official console launch. Players have commonly used Nintendo Accounts registered in supported territories to gain access to digital purchases, but that workaround is less convenient than a domestic store with local pricing and payment options. Nintendo has not given a timetable for introducing an Indonesian eShop.
The omission is commercially significant because digital distribution has become central to Nintendo’s software business. Digital sales reached 132.7 billion yen in the quarter ended June, up 90% from a year earlier, and represented 61.5% of dedicated video-game platform software revenue. That category includes downloadable packaged titles, download-only software, add-on content and Nintendo Switch Online.
Nintendo nevertheless has an advantage in Indonesia through established brand recognition. Franchises including Mario, Pokémon, The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing have maintained large followings even without a formal local hardware operation. Official distribution could also make it easier for major retailers to carry consoles, accessories and physical games with more predictable supplies and after-sales arrangements.
The timing gives Nintendo a new market as Switch 2 enters its second full year. The company is supporting the platform with a widening catalogue of first-party and third-party games while maintaining compatibility with much of the original Switch software library. Nintendo has said regular software releases are important to expanding the installed base, particularly as consumers decide whether to move from the original system.
Indonesia could also provide a test for Nintendo’s broader Southeast Asian strategy. The company already operates official services in markets including Singapore and Malaysia, but the region remains fragmented by differences in income, digital payments, retail infrastructure and consumer preferences. Indonesia’s size makes it attractive, while its dependence on mobile gaming and sensitivity to hardware pricing create a more demanding commercial environment.
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Anthropic is introducing invisible, machine-readable markings into Claude-generated text and supported files, adding a new layer of provenance as artificial intelligence companies face tougher transparency requirements in Europe. The system is designed to follow generated material beyond the Claude interface, although the company acknowledges that substantial editing can defeat detection. Claude models launched on or after August 2, 2026 are being designed to support the marking system […]
Suisun City in Northern California has declared a state of emergency after malicious software compromised municipal computer systems, disrupting 911 routing, police and fire dispatch and several government services. Emergency calls continued to be answered after dispatch operations were shifted to Solano County. The cyberattack struck at about 5.45 am on Friday, August 7, forcing officials to shut down the city’s entire information technology network. The shutdown […]
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Elon Musk has predicted that Starlink connectivity will eventually become standard across cars worldwide, extending SpaceX’s satellite broadband ambitions into an automotive market increasingly dependent on permanent, high-bandwidth data links. “All cars will have Starlink in the future,” Musk said in a post on X, adding that satellite connectivity was the only practical way to deliver very high bandwidth to billions of vehicles. The statement sets out […]
A large study of more than 340,000 adults has found sharply different mortality patterns between wine and other alcoholic drinks, suggesting beverage choice may matter alongside the quantity consumed. Researchers followed 340,924 UK Biobank participants for an average of 13.4 years, examining total alcohol consumption as well as intake of wine, beer, cider and spirits. The analysis recorded 22,381 deaths and assessed mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer […]
Meta has been ordered to bear costs totalling $942 million in New Mexico after a judge found that Facebook and Instagram contributed to a public nuisance involving harm to children, adding sweeping safeguards for young users as the company prepares for a potentially far larger legal battle in California. Judge Bryan Biedscheid of the First Judicial District Court directed Meta to place $567 million into a five-year […]
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