Just in:
ADIA and partners establish $1.4 billion aviation venture // Arrow Electronics showcases technologies advancing intelligent robotics, mobility and digital infrastructure // As AI Reshapes Education, Singapore Convenes Global Dialogue on the Future of Early Childhood Education // Utilities pursue ₹1,992 cr in unpaid bills // Cloudflare unveils Zero Wire vulnerability intelligence service // U.S. Mid Term Result Is A Clear Verdict Against Trump’s Authoritarianism // Dubai boat show confirms international shipyard line-up for November // DIP Holding targets Dh1.12 IPO price and $529m proceeds // Burying Head In “India Made Poverty Reduction” Data Is Dangerous // Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum 2026 Grand Opening // Democrats capture Senate majority with seven Republican seats // After Reaching 7 Million Users in the Philippines, Skyro Launches Transparent Cash Loans in Malaysia // APT29-linked campaign exploits outdated Apple and Android software // BJP’s Aggressive Response Exposes Anxiety Over Opposition Unity // AI trust gap reveals distinct retail priorities: Divergent paths to consumer growth in Hong Kong and the GBA // Vance attributes Republican midterm defeats to Iran conflict // Hong Kong mandates crypto transaction disclosures to tax authorities // Fast Just Got Fastest: STING Energy Boost™ Celebrates Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1® World Championship and the Fan Energy Behind It // Pinarayi faults UDF over mounting road crashes // OpenAI identifies 948 Linux privilege escalation flaws using AI //

News related to
Tech

Netflix is set to roll out a redesigned mobile app by the end of April, adding a vertical video discovery feed that mirrors the swipe-driven format popularised by short-form platforms as the streaming group pushes to make browsing faster and more intuitive on phones. The company disclosed the change in its April 16 shareholder letter, saying the updated mobile experience follows a period of testing and is […]

Google has extended its Personal Intelligence system to the Gemini app’s built-in image generation tools, allowing users to create tailored visuals shaped by data from their own Google services, including Google Photos, rather than relying only on long text prompts or manual uploads. The update ties a more personal layer of context to Nano Banana 2, Google’s latest image model, as the company pushes harder to make […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai   Google is preparing to take its Android XR eyewear effort into luxury fashion through a partnership with Gucci, with Kering chief executive Luca de Meo saying the smart glasses are expected by 2027 rather than this year. The plan gives Google a high-end brand partner as it tries to turn experimental smart eyewear into something consumers will actually wear in public. The […]

GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 April 2026 – On April 15, the 139th China Import and Export Fair (hereinafter referred to as the “Canton Fair”) officially opened. As a leading enterprise in the manufacturing sector, Gree Electric made a grand appearance at Pavilion 4.2A under the theme “GREE, Making Better Electric Appliances,” presenting over a hundred innovative products in its largest exhibition area in Canton Fair history. Amid the global wave of green and intelligent manufacturing transformation, GREE is leveraging its hard-core independent innovation and full-industry-chain capabilities to show the world the confidence and resolve of China’s intelligent manufacturing to navigate industry cycles and lead the transformation.

GREE at the 139th China Import and Export Fair
GREE at the 139th China Import and Export Fair

Zhu Lei, CMO of Gree Electric, stated that Gree has participated in the Canton Fair for 31 consecutive years. This year, GREE brought 130 products to the event. Facing the global market, GREE strives to fully meet the practical needs of consumers from different regions worldwide. Notably, the majority of these products are originally manufactured in and exported from China, reflecting the dedication and ingenuity of GREE’s Chinese craftsmen.

It is reported that at this year’s Canton Fair, GREE has created a full-industry-chain exhibition space ranging from core components to scenario-based solutions. To date, buyers from over 50 countries and regions have scheduled visits and business negotiations, marking a 21% year-on-year increase.

Currently, the global home appliance industry is undergoing a dual transformation. On one hand, an energy efficiency revolution driven by the “Dual Carbon” goals makes the transition to eco-friendly refrigerants an urgent priority; on the other hand, an experience revolution spurred by consumption upgrades has made quietness, health, and smart features the core demands of users. GREE’s SilenzX series ultra-quiet air conditioners, showcased at the event, serve as a precise response to this trend. Equipped with a self-developed rotary four-cylinder compressor, the SilenzX series reduces the minimum sound pressure level of the outdoor unit to a mere 29 decibels—far below the industry average of 42 decibels. Backed by 137 invention patents, the product recently won a Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, signaling that Chinese enterprises have shifted from being “followers” to “leaders” in the realm of comfort technology.

A deeper layer of competitiveness stems from GREE’s long-term bet on a green future. Among the products showcased at this Canton Fair, over 80% are equipped with AI, green energy-saving, and other advanced technologies. GREE has comprehensively implemented R290 eco-friendly refrigerant technology across its entire product matrix, including split units, window units, and water heaters. Furthermore, its world-first photovoltaic air conditioning system has achieved a systemic breakthrough of “zero carbon emissions, zero electricity bills, and zero waste.” The AI dynamic energy-saving technology also utilizes intelligent algorithm optimization to boost annual energy efficiency by 15.8% and reduce power consumption by 13.6%. Rather than isolated technological features, these represent comprehensive green solutions that cover the entire chain of energy production, transmission, and consumption, providing the industry with a leapfrog path from “low-carbon compliance” to “zero-carbon leadership.”

Behind this systemic innovation capability lies a full-industry-chain competitive moat forged through 35 years of independent R&D. At this Canton Fair, Gree introduced three major compressors—G-Boost, G-Storm, and G-Hyper—which have successfully overcome industry challenges such as ultra-high-temperature cooling and ultra-low-temperature heating. Its star product, the GMV 9 series, is capable of operating in an ultra-wide temperature range from -35°C to 60°C, marking GREE’s achievement of full-stack technological autonomy from core components to system integration.

Overseas buyers visit the booth of Gree
Overseas buyers visit the booth of Gree

This strategic resolve is yielding substantial returns in GREE’s global layout. As one of the first Chinese home appliance companies to venture overseas, GREE has built a network covering more than 190 countries and regions. Independent brands now account for 70% of its total export volume, and this figure exceeds 85% in Belt and Road countries. This marks a highly successful, high-quality transformation from a traditional OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) model to an independent brand-led enterprise.

From core technological breakthroughs to a green and low-carbon transition, GREE remains rooted in technology and centered on quality. Its presence at the Canton Fair serves as a vivid microcosm of the transformation and upgrading of China’s manufacturing sector, demonstrating the powerful potential and dynamic momentum of “Made in China.”
Hashtag: #GREE

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

  Dogecoin climbed on Friday, extending a 24-hour advance that outpaced some larger digital assets and lifted sentiment across the meme-coin corner of the market, as traders responded to a burst in turnover and a broader recovery in risk appetite. Market trackers showed DOGE trading near 9.8 US cents on 17 April, with daily volumes above $2.5 billion and sharply higher than the previous day, pointing to […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has completed its first purpose-built station for electric vertical take-off and landing air taxis near Dubai International Airport, marking a tangible step in the emirate’s bid to introduce commercial aerial taxi services before the end of 2026. The four-storey facility, presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is designed as the main operational hub for a new urban air […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan used meetings in Beijing with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to push the UAE-China relationship deeper into energy, investment, technology and industrial cooperation, as both sides sought to align long-term economic goals with a more volatile regional backdrop. The visit, which ran from April 12 to April 14, also […]

Advertisements

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sequoia Capital has raised about $7 billion for a new fund, giving one of Silicon Valley’s best-known venture firms fresh firepower to back its largest and most expensive bets, especially in artificial intelligence, according to people familiar with the discussions. The fundraising marks the first major capital raise under the firm’s newer leadership era and arrives as investor appetite has swung sharply toward […]

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 April 2026 – Today, IX Asia Indexes announced the 2026 1st quarter review of the ixCrypto Index Series. The constituent changes will be implemented on the effective date of 24th April 2026 (Friday). The results of the constituent review and exchange review are as follows:

1. Constituent Review – ixCrypto Index Series

1. 1. ixCrypto Index (“IXCI”)
The number of constituents will remain at 19 with no additions and deletions.

Additions:
No addition

Deletions:
No deletion

The free float adjusted market capitalization coverage is 84.26%* (excluding stablecoins, which represents 10.90% of the total crypto universe), while the 90-day-average volume is 77.36%*. The recapping at 40% will take effect on the effective date.

Since the last review, there has been a decrease in the crypto total market capitalization from USD3.38T to USD2.62T (-22.53%)#, and a decrease in the daily volume from USD157.69B to USD108.17B (-31.40%)#. Bitcoin remains the largest crypto in the constituent list, with its price decreased by 24.58% since the last review.

1.2. ixCrypto Portfolio Indexes

1.2.1 ixCrypto 5 Equal Weight Index (“IXEW5”) and ixCrypto 5 Square Root Index (“IXSR5”)

Additions:
No addition

Deletions:
No deletion

1.2.2 ixCrypto 10 Equal Weight Index (“IXEW10”) and ixCrypto 10 Square Root Index (“IXSR10”).

Additions:
No addition

Deletions:
No deletion

1.2.3 ixCrypto Altcoin 10 EW Index (“IXAEW10”) and ixCrypto Altcoin 10 Square Root Index (“IXASR10”).

Additions: Monero

Deletions: Chainlink

1.3. ixCrypto BTC/ETH Indexes
As of the cut-off date on 31st March 2026, the ixCrypto BTC/ETH 50/50 Index (“IX5050”) maintains a 50%/50% weighting for the ixBitcoin Index “IXBI” and ixEthereum Index “IXEI”. The ixCrypto BTC/ETH Proportional Index (“IXPI”) has a weighting of 83.12% and 16.88% for IXBI and IXEI, respectively.

At the upcoming effective date, IX5050 weightings will remain unchanged at 50%/50%. IXPI weightings will be adjusted to 84.53% and 15.47% for IXBI and IXEI, respectively, reflecting the market capitalization proportions of Bitcoin and Ethereum at the cut-off date.

1.4. ixCrypto Stablecoin Index
The number of constituents will remain at 6 (Appendix 5). Stablecoin comprises 10.90% of the total crypto universe, and ixCrypto Stablecoin Index covers 98.26% of the 90-day average market capitalization in the stablecoin universe.

Additions
No addition

Deletions
No deletion

2. Exchange Review
To ensure the fairest price objective, all indexes are calculated based on average of multiple exchanges. As a result of exchange review, 10 exchanges passed the review process, which are as follows:

  1. Binance
  2. Pionex (ADDITION)
  3. BitMart (ADDITION)
  4. MEXC
  5. LBank
  6. Bybit
  7. Gate.io2
  8. Kucoin
  9. Crypto.com Exchange
  10. Coinbase Exchange

Deletion

  1. Huobi Global
  2. OKEx

The selected 10 exchanges will be used to generate each of the fair average prices for the IX indexes’ constituents. The exchange review covers volume rankings, exchange background checks, founders’ background checks, USD/USDT/USDC/BTC pair coverage, overconcentration rules, exchange API coverage checks, and stability, among other aspects, for an exchange.

For more details about our exchange selection criteria, please email [email protected]. More information on the ixCrypto Indexes, including their constituents and constituents’ weights, is provided in the Appendices, or refer to the website https://ix-index.com/.

*Exclude stable coins and coins that trigger conflict of interest (based on conflict-of-interest rule methodology 3.9, effective on Oct 2, 2020)
#As of 31th March 2026, based on the past 90 days average
XXXX (ADDITION)Newly introduced exchanges as of 2026 Q1

Appendix 1

ixCrypto Index (“IXCI”)

Universe All crypto coins traded in at least two different exchanges around the world
Selection Criteria Cryptocurrencies ranking in the top 80% of cumulative full market capitalization (“MC”) coverage and within an acceptable range in accordance with the Volume Buffer Rule in terms of 90-day average trading volume
Number of Constituents 19 in Q1 2026
Launch Date 12th December 2018
Base Date 3rd December 2018
Base Value 1,000
Reconstitution Rule If the coverage is below 75% or any of constituents is not within an acceptable range in accordance with the Volume Buffer Rule in terms of 90-day average trading volume, IXCI will be reconstituted to bring MC coverage back and do liquidity screening.
Reconstitution and Rebalancing Frequency Quarterly and with a fast entry rule
Weighting Methodology Free float adjusted market capitalization weighted with a cap of 40%
Currency US Dollar / HK Dollar [EOD in 14 currencies]
Dissemination Every 5 seconds for 24×7

(On Bloomberg, Reuters and major information vendors)

Website https://ix-index.com/
Bloomberg Page IXCI <GO>

Appendix 2

Weightings of the Constituents of ixCrypto Index

Crypto 90-day-average- Market Cap 90-day-average-Volume Cut-off
Price
Cumulative Market Coverage Weighting (%) After 40% Cap#
1 Bitcoin $1,533,407,044,481 $43,779,443,111 $66,691.44 58.59% 40.00%
2 Ethereum $291,140,668,312 $23,907,396,435 $2,023.51 69.71% 25.84%
3 BNB $99,700,601,834 $2,038,341,597 $608.55 73.52% 8.78%
4 XRP $98,820,126,064 $3,218,693,555 $1.32 77.30% 8.59%
5 Solana $58,322,802,634 $4,336,158,111 $82.44 79.53% 5.00%
6 TRON $27,802,977,066 $657,701,996 $0.32 80.59% 3.20%
7 Dogecoin $18,028,347,533 $1,341,528,833 $0.09 81.28% 1.47%
8 Cardano $11,055,216,118 $608,106,281 $0.24 81.70% 0.93%
9 Bitcoin Cash $10,617,756,282 $424,111,900 $459.70 82.10% 0.97%
10 Hyperliquid $8,515,529,227 $338,272,606 $36.79 82.43% 1.00%
11 Monero $7,415,161,010 $124,095,526 $321.29 82.71% 0.63%
12 Chainlink $7,273,963,510 $623,444,392 $8.61 82.99% 0.65%
13 Stellar $5,965,923,096 $147,863,725 $0.17 83.22% 0.59%
14 Zcash $4,956,891,601 $450,471,925 $225.56 83.41% 0.40%
15 Litecoin $4,745,674,586 $397,678,356 $53.20 83.59% 0.43%
16 Avalanche $4,565,289,028 $327,621,719 $8.79 83.76% 0.40%
17 Sui $4,558,926,661 $688,122,173 $0.86 83.94% 0.36%
18 Hedera $4,371,988,560 $136,144,137 $0.09 84.11% 0.40%
19 Shiba Inu $3,987,578,330 $135,856,575 $0.00 84.26% 0.36%

As of 31 March 2026

# Weighting (%) after 40% Cap is adjusted according to the cut-off price, the arrangement of order may not the same as 90-day-average-Market Cap

Selection of index constituents is based on the past 90-day-average market capitalization and volume.
For the calculation methodology of the index, please refer to the “ixCrypto Index Methodology Paper” on our website

Appendix 3

Weightings of the Constituents of ixCrypto Portfolio Indexes

Index Constituent ixCrypto 5 EW Index ixCrypto 5 SR Index ixCrypto 10 EW Index ixCrypto 10 SR Index ixCrypto Altcoin 10 EW Index ixCrypto
Altcoin 10
SR Index
1 Bitcoin 20.00% 47.35% 10.00% 38.28% – –
2 Ethereum 20.00% 20.26% 10.00% 16.37% 10.00% 25.472%
3 BNB 20.00% 11.81% 10.00% 9.54% 10.00% 14.848%
4 XRP 20.00% 11.67% 10.00% 9.44% 10.00% 14.682%
5 Solana 20.00% 8.91% 10.00% 7.20% 10.00% 11.199%
6 TRON – – 10.00% 5.76% 10.00% 8.968%
7 Dogecoin – – 10.00% 3.91% 10.00% 6.085%
8 Cardano – – 10.00% 3.10% 10.00% 4.829%
9 Bitcoin Cash – – 10.00% 3.18% 10.00% 4.944%
10 Hyperliquid – – 10.00% 3.22% 10.00% 5.005%
11 Monero – – – – 10.00% 3.968%

As of 31 March 2026

Appendix 4

Weightings of the Constituents of ixCrypto BTC/ETH 50/50 Index and ixCrypto BTC/ETH Proportional Index

Crypto 90-day-average Crypto Market Cap 90-day-average Crypto Volume Index Level Weight in BTC/ETH 50/50 Weight in BTC/ETH Proportional
Bitcoin $1,533,407,044,481 $43,779,443,111 16119.86 50.00% 84.53%
Ethereum $291,140,668,312 $23,907,396,435 17402.12 50.00% 15.47%

As of 31 March 2026

Appendix 5

Weightings of the Constituents of ixCrypto Stablecoin Indexes

Crypto 90-day-average- Market Cap 90-day-average-
volume
Cut-off Price Cumulative
Market Coverage
Weighting (%) After 40% Cap
1 USDt $185,014,602,798 $90,009,449,564 $0.9991 7.07% 40.00%
2 USDC $75,247,269,332 $12,399,472,322 $0.9997 9.94% 40.00%
3 Ethena USDe $6,227,533,422 $125,083,188 $0.9991 10.18% 6.02%
4 Dai $5,364,237,297 $153,912,985 $0.9997 10.39% 5.50%
5 World Liberty Financial USD $4,432,479,244 $1,826,951,498 $0.9995 10.56% 4.48%
6 PayPal USD $3,897,616,348 $150,988,466 $0.9996 10.71% 4.00%

As of 31 March 2026

Appendix 6

ixCrypto Indexes Dissemination

Real time indexes are disseminated every 5-second interval for 24×7 since 23 June 2022. The real-time indexes are available for viewing on the IX Crypto Index official webpage and Bloomberg Page IXCI <GO>. For IXCI, IXBI and IXEI, the indexes are also available through Nasdaq Global Index Data Service (GIDS) with the tickers “IXCI”, “IXBI” and “IXEI”, with dissemination interval kept at 15-second unchanged.

The vendor tickers are shown below:

Index Name Bloomberg Ticker TradingView Ticker Reuters Ticker
Real-time Delayed
ixCrypto Index IXCI IXCI2 IXCI .IXCI
ixBitcoin Index IXCBI IXCBI2 IXBI .IXBI1
ixEthereum Index IXCEI IXCEI2 IXEI .IXEI1

For further information about ixCrypto Index and other available indexes including IX Crypto spot price index series and EOD indexes, please visit company official webpage https://ix-index.com or subscribe to LinkedIn: IX Asia Indexes

For data licensing and product, please contact us at [email protected].

For free API use on academic research or trial, please contact [email protected]



Hashtag: #ixCryptoIndex

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

About IX Asia Indexes and IX Asia Index Advisory Committee

IX Capital International Limited is an award-winning index and investment advisory company. The index business arm- IX Asia Indexes, providing real-time digital asset and innovative indexes, disseminated 24×7 globally and built on robust infrastructure. Since the launch of the first crypto benchmark index (“IXCI”) launched in Hong Kong in December 2018, the ixCrypto index series expand into over 40 indexes designed for exchange futures products, mark-to-market, and fund managers’ portfolio construction purposes. To ensure the professionality and impartiality of the index methodologies and operations, IX Asia Indexes has established its index advisory committee with representation from different industries, including fund management, exchanges, brokerage, financial blockchain experts, crypto service providers, etc. The committee will meet quarterly a year to discuss matters relating to the IX Asia Indexes, including to review and to comment the data sources, methodologies, and operations of IX Asia Indexes, to provide guidance to the future development of new IX Asia Indexes and to handle other issues and decisions on an as-needed basis.

IX Asia Indexes was awarded the Fintech Award (wealth investment and management) 2019 and 2021 organised by ETNet. It as well won an award for Startup of the Year and Basic Technology (Big Data) from Hong Kong Fintech Impetus Awards 2022 by Metro Broadcast and KPMG. It also won Asia Pacific Enterprise Achievement Award 2024 by Echolade. IX Asia Indexes completed its IOSCO compliance statement and obtained ISO/IEC 27001:2022 UKAS certification.

Website:

Advisory Committee:

About IX Crypto Indexes

The ixCrypto index (“IXCI”) is the first crypto index launched in Hong Kong. It was launched on 12 December 2018. It is denominated in USD with a base value of 1000 and a base date on 3 December 2018. Designed to be easy to understand while providing a good representation of the crypto market, ixCrypto index aims to cover the top 80% of the cumulative free-float adjusted market capitalization in the crypto universe and, at the same time, the crypto currencies should fall within the top liquid cryptos ranked by trading volume in the 90 days preceding the review date. The index is to be reviewed quarterly and with a fast entry rule. Real time indexes are disseminated every 5-second for 24×7 since 23 June 2022. Real time index data together with ixBitcoin Index and ixEthereum Index can be obtained from IX Asia Indexes Data Services and Bloomberg terminal on IXCI <GO>. For IXCI, IXBI and IXEI, the indexes are also available through Nasdaq Global Index Data Service (GIDS) with the tickers “IXCI”, “IXBI”, “IXEI”, with dissemination interval kept at 15-second unchanged. Wechat: 信昇亞洲指數.

Nissan’s vehicle sales across the Middle East fell sharply in March as the war centred on Iran hit consumer demand, disrupted travel and darkened business sentiment across one of the carmaker’s stronger overseas markets. A report published on April 15 said Nissan’s sales in the region dropped to about half of pre-war levels, while overall regional sales were down 40 per cent for the month, according to […]

A court in Saratov has fined a local news agency and one of its executives after the outlet published a review of the television series Heated Rivalry, in a case that underlines how far Russia’s campaign against LGBTQ+ expression now extends into ordinary cultural coverage. The Oktyabrsky District Court in Saratov imposed a 500,000-rouble penalty on SaratovBusinessConsulting, widely known as SarBC, over an article that discussed why […]

Anthropic has rolled out Claude Opus 4.7, an upgraded version of its top broadly available artificial intelligence model, pitching it as a stronger tool for advanced software engineering just days after keeping its more powerful Mythos Preview behind tight access controls because of cyber-risk concerns. The move gives developers a more capable coding model while signalling that Anthropic is trying to balance commercial momentum with a more […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has moved to widen the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in its property market after Dubai SME and Dubai Land Department signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at giving entrepreneurs greater access to owners’ associations and real-estate operations, as the emirate pushes ahead with a broader strategy to deepen private-sector participation in one of its strongest growth industries. The agreement, announced […]

Cyber criminals are pushing a Windows information stealer called NWHStealer through bogus software downloads that masquerade as Proton VPN installers, gaming mods and hardware utilities, in a campaign that security researchers say relies less on classic phishing and more on users searching for tools they believe are legitimate. Malwarebytes said on April 15 that it had identified multiple active distribution chains tied to the stealer, with malicious […]

United Arab Emirates has won a seat on the World Food Programme’s Executive Board for the 2026–2028 term, giving it a direct role in shaping policy at the UN’s main food assistance agency as conflict, supply disruption and funding pressure deepen the global hunger crisis. The appointment places the country inside the WFP’s top governing structure at a moment when aid agencies are being forced to balance […]

Greenlogue/AP The UAE Ministry of Investment has signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Jereh Group to develop an integrated clean energy and industrial platform in the Emirates, in a move that aligns industrial expansion with lower-carbon power and deeper commercial ties between Abu Dhabi and Beijing. The agreement was signed by Mohammad Abdulrahman Alhawi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Investment, and Li Weibin, Executive President of […]

Cyber attackers are abusing the low-code automation platform n8n to push malware and track targets through phishing emails, in a campaign that security researchers say gathered pace between October 2025 and March 2026 and reflects a broader shift in how legitimate cloud tools are being repurposed for intrusion activity. Cisco Talos said it observed a sharp increase in emails containing n8n webhook links, with March 2026 volumes […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Parkin Company has teamed up with SP Corporation Car Parking Management, which operates as Secure Parking, in a deal aimed at speeding the spread of barrierless parking across the UAE after the two companies brought a fully integrated system into operation at City Walk in Dubai. The partners say they have identified a pipeline of more than 60,000 parking spaces for possible future […]

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has announced a new advance in stem cell-based embryo modelling that researchers say could improve how scientists study the earliest phase of human development, an area tied closely to infertility, miscarriage and some developmental disorders. The work, led by Associate Professor Mo Li and linked to KAUST’s Center of Excellence for Smart Health, centres on improving the formation and control […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai EDGE Group and Indra Group have agreed to explore the development and production of next-generation radar systems in Brazil, extending a defence partnership that has widened from the Gulf into Europe and now Latin America. The memorandum of understanding was signed at LAAD Security 2026 in São Paulo, where both companies said the plan is intended to help build a domestic radar production […]

Attackers are exploiting trust in Adobe’s brand to deliver covert remote access, using a fake Acrobat Reader download page to install ConnectWise ScreenConnect through a fileless, memory-heavy attack chain that is designed to leave few traces on disk and make forensic analysis harder. Security researchers who uncovered the campaign said the operation began with a phishing site made to resemble Adobe’s official software page, where victims were […]

China’s economy expanded faster than expected in the first quarter, giving Beijing a firmer platform as it confronts the fallout from the war involving Iran, but the details beneath the headline number pointed to a recovery still leaning heavily on industry and exports while households remain cautious. Official data released on Thursday showed gross domestic product grew 5.0% from a year earlier in January to March, above the 4.8% forecast in a Reuters poll and up from 4.5% in the final quarter of 2025. Quarterly growth came in at 1.3%, slightly ahead of the previous quarter.

The stronger reading suggested that the first shockwaves from the conflict in the Middle East have not yet knocked China off course. Markets took the figures as a sign of resilience. Mainland share indices rose after the release and the yuan held near its strongest levels in three years, reflecting confidence that the world’s second-largest economy has, for now, absorbed higher energy risks better than some had feared.

Yet the composition of growth was less reassuring. March industrial output rose 5.7% from a year earlier, beating expectations, but retail sales slowed to 1.7%, well below forecasts and down from 2.8% in the first two months of the year. Fixed-asset investment in the first quarter rose 1.7%, also missing expectations, while property investment fell 11.2%. Those figures reinforced a pattern that has defined China’s economy for months: factories, infrastructure and technology manufacturing are carrying more of the load than domestic consumption or housing.

That imbalance matters because Beijing has repeatedly signalled that stronger household demand is essential to putting growth on a steadier footing. Economists cited in the reporting on Thursday said the first-quarter strength was driven largely by momentum built in January and February, especially through exports and industrial activity, while March showed signs of softer conditions. The slowdown in shop spending is particularly sensitive because consumer confidence has remained fragile even as policymakers talk up support for incomes, jobs and services-led demand.

The war has complicated that task without yet derailing it. Since hostilities erupted on 28 February, China has faced a familiar vulnerability: it is the world’s largest energy importer and still relies on stable global shipping and manageable oil prices to protect factory margins and household purchasing power. Reuters reported that economists believe China has so far weathered the shock because of large oil reserves, a diversified energy mix and price controls, but they also warned that persistently higher oil costs are beginning to filter through supply chains and squeeze profits.

Evidence of that pressure is already visible. Reuters noted this week that factory-gate prices in March rose for the first time in more than three years, a signal that energy-driven cost increases are feeding into production. Export growth, which had been one of the brighter spots, also lost momentum in March after a very strong start to the year, raising the possibility that manufacturers will find it harder to sustain their pace if shipping costs stay elevated and overseas demand weakens.

Beijing’s response is likely to stay measured unless the conflict worsens. Policymakers have already set a budget deficit of about 4% of GDP for 2026 and planned heavy bond issuance to support activity. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the central bank to keep the one-year loan prime rate steady through the year, with only a modest cut to reserve requirements anticipated later on. A stronger first quarter gives officials more room to avoid large-scale stimulus at this month’s Politburo meeting, though that calculus could change if oil prices climb further or exports weaken more sharply.

The broader international backdrop is not especially forgiving. The IMF said in its April World Economic Outlook material that the Middle East conflict is lowering growth expectations for advanced economies in 2026, even if the aggregate effect is described as modest. For China, that matters less through direct battlefield exposure than through energy costs, shipping uncertainty and the health of major overseas markets. A prolonged conflict would test the durability of China’s export-led strength at the same time as its consumer recovery remains incomplete.

Alibaba Group Holding has unveiled a new artificial intelligence model aimed at building 3D environments and interactive video, widening its challenge to Tencent in one of the most commercially sensitive corners of China’s technology market: games, cloud services and creator tools. The model, called Happy Oyster, was introduced on Thursday as a “world model”, a system designed to generate explorable digital scenes rather than only short clips, […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Middle East conflict damage to energy infrastructure could leave the region facing as much as $58 billion in repair costs, according to a sharply revised estimate from Rystad Energy, with oil and gas facilities alone accounting for up to $50 billion and much of the burden falling on complex plants whose restoration may take years rather than months. The research firm said the […]

VISHNU RAJA
RYO YAMADA
HITORI GOTOH
IKUYO KITA