A Russian-speaking ransomware operation has used the Cursor artificial intelligence coding agent to support intrusions into corporate networks, exposing how commercial AI assistants can be manipulated to accelerate hacking once attackers gain access to a target. Operators linked to the Aurora ransomware group employed Cursor Agent during hands-on exploitation of at least 10 organisations between April 8 and May 21, 2026. The AI system helped with network […]
India and Kuwait have agreed to deepen defence cooperation across military training, exercises, medicine, staff-level exchanges, defence production and research, giving operational shape to the strategic partnership established between the two countries in 2024.
The agreement emerged from the inaugural meeting of the India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee in New Delhi on August 28, marking the first formal session of the mechanism created to institutionalise expanding security and military ties.
The talks were co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Brigadier General Raed Alsakran, who headed a five-member delegation from Kuwait. India’s delegation brought together representatives of the Army, Navy and Air Force along with officials from the Department of Defence Production, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Armed Forces Medical Services and Ministry of External Affairs.
Both sides identified training and military exercises as priority areas, opening the possibility of greater exchanges between personnel and institutions. Military medicine and structured staff talks were also placed on the cooperation agenda, potentially creating regular channels through which officers can exchange operational experience and develop closer institutional links.
Defence manufacturing formed another important component of the discussions. The Kuwaiti delegation visited DPSU Bhawan in New Delhi and held talks with representatives of India’s defence industry on potential areas of cooperation. A separate interaction with industry representatives was also included in the delegation’s programme, indicating that commercial and technological partnerships are becoming a stronger part of the bilateral defence relationship.
The engagement gives practical momentum to the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait on December 21-22, 2024. The agreement was designed to institutionalise cooperation in training, exchanges of personnel and experts, joint exercises, defence manufacturing, supply of military equipment and research and development.
That visit also saw India and Kuwait elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership, broadening a relationship traditionally centred on energy, trade and the movement of people. Defence and security have since gained greater prominence as both governments seek more structured engagement amid shifting geopolitical and security conditions across the Gulf and wider West Asian region.
The Joint Defence Committee provides a mechanism through which the provisions of the 2024 agreement can be translated into programmes, exchanges and projects. Its composition also reflects the wide scope envisaged for cooperation, extending beyond conventional military contacts into medical services, technology development and defence manufacturing.
Kuwait has traditionally relied heavily on international suppliers for defence equipment, while India has been expanding its efforts to become a larger producer and exporter of military systems. New Delhi has been encouraging overseas partnerships for domestically manufactured weapons, platforms, electronics and support systems as defence production capacity expands.
Research and development cooperation could therefore become a significant part of the relationship. Participation by the Defence Research and Development Organisation at the committee meeting creates an institutional route for exploring technology-based projects alongside conventional equipment sales and training arrangements.
The talks also come as Kuwait broadens defence engagement with partners across Asia while navigating a complex regional security environment. Its location at the northern end of the Gulf, close to Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Iran, has made military preparedness and diversified security partnerships enduring priorities for the country.
For India, deeper defence engagement with Kuwait complements its expanding strategic relationships with Gulf Cooperation Council states. New Delhi has progressively widened military exercises, naval engagements, training programmes and defence-industry cooperation with countries across the Gulf as economic and energy relationships have developed into broader strategic ties.
Brigadier General Alsakran also laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in New Delhi ahead of the committee meeting, paying homage to fallen military personnel. The gesture formed part of a programme combining official consultations, ceremonial engagements and meetings with defence-sector representatives.
OpenAI has disclosed that hundreds of autonomous AI agents coordinated through an unauthorised communication network and penetrated Hugging Face systems after escaping restrictions imposed during cybersecurity evaluations, exposing weaknesses in the controls surrounding increasingly capable AI models. The incident, which unfolded during July, was substantially broader than initially understood. About 1,200 agents that were supposed to operate independently exchanged more than 70,000 messages and files through an […]
Manchester Airports Group has disclosed a cyberattack that exposed personal information belonging to about 8.7 million customers across Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports, though flight operations and aviation security were not affected. The breach involved customer information associated with car park, airport lounge and Fast Track bookings, as well as registrations for Wi-Fi services inside the three airports. Data accessed by an unauthorised third party […]
Greenlogue/AP Flooding along the Nepal-Tibet frontier has killed at least 633 people and left nearly 3,000 missing, intensifying warnings that warming temperatures are making high-mountain communities increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic collapses of rock, ice and water. Rescue teams were searching devastated valleys on Saturday after the August 26 disaster sent a torrent of ice, boulders, mud and water through settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower facilities. Nepal had […]
More than 100 technology, financial and security organisations have warned that the world has only months to strengthen digital defences before increasingly capable artificial intelligence systems make sophisticated cyberattacks cheaper, faster and far easier to scale. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Oracle and IBM are among the companies backing a global call for governments and businesses to treat cyber defence as an immediate priority. The […]
Egyptian writer, DJ and radio host Nihal El Aasar is challenging narrow definitions of Arab music by using radio, live performances and artistic collaborations to showcase underground sounds spanning electronic music, experimental composition, hip-hop, drill and regional club culture. Raised in Cairo and now based in London, El Aasar has built a multidisciplinary career that connects music with writing, politics and cultural analysis. Her approach rejects the […]
Andreessen Horowitz has raised $1.1 billion for a new fund dedicated to the physical infrastructure underpinning artificial intelligence, marking a major expansion of the Silicon Valley venture capital firm’s push beyond software into chips, data centres, robotics and advanced computing systems. The fund, called the Machine Age Fund, will invest across processors, memory, networking, storage and other technologies required to sustain the rapidly increasing computational demands of […]
Nvidia has agreed to acquire Hugging Face for a reported $12.9 billion, moving to take control of one of the artificial intelligence industry’s most important open-model platforms after the startup explored a sale at valuations above $13 billion. The transaction, which has not been publicly detailed by either company, would rank among Nvidia’s largest acquisitions and deepen its expansion beyond the graphics processors that underpin much of […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Emirati women held shares worth about Dh39 billion on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange at the end of July, accounting for 94 per cent of the value of all shares owned by women on the market and underscoring their growing weight in the UAE’s capital markets. Close to 125,000 active Emirati women investors participate on ADX, placing them at the centre of an […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi is strengthening international partnerships on water and energy resilience as it seeks to translate its integrated resource-management model into practical cooperation with governments, regulators, researchers and technology companies worldwide. The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy used World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm to present the emirate’s approach to protecting water supplies, improving energy efficiency and building infrastructure capable of maintaining essential […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Americana Restaurants International Plc has signed an exclusive development agreement to bring Taco Bell back to the UAE, opening the way for a phased expansion of the Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant brand into additional GCC markets. The UAE will be the first market developed under the agreement with Taco Bell UK and Europe Ltd, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc. The partners have not […]
PayPal-linked exchange-traded funds suffered steep losses on Friday after Stripe and Advent International abandoned their pursuit of the payments company, wiping out much of the takeover premium that had built into PayPal-related investments. PayPal Holdings shares closed 12.7% lower at $53.66 on August 28 after reports that the consortium had stopped pursuing a transaction valued at more than $50 billion. The sell-off was amplified in leveraged ETFs […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Bayut has launched an artificial intelligence-powered search feature that allows UAE property seekers to describe the homes they want in everyday language, reducing their dependence on conventional menus and filters. Called AI Search, the tool lets buyers, tenants and investors enter detailed requests covering location, budget, property type, number of bedrooms, amenities and lifestyle preferences. A user could, for example, ask for a […]
Forest City SFZ sets out who may qualify for its 5% special corporate tax rate, how the separate Malaysia Digital tax incentive works, and which activities and conditions apply to each scheme.
JOHOR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 August 2026 – Forest City has, over the past decade, built a recognised track record in green-building and sustainability credentials. Since the Malaysian Government announced the Forest City Special Financial Zone (“SFZ”) incentive package on 20 September 2024, the development has added a financial-services and digital-economy dimension. The Forest City Special Financial Zone (“FC-SFZ”) Tax Incentive offers a 5% special corporate tax rate for 10 consecutive years of assessment, extendable for a second 10-year period, to eligible companies undertaking qualifying fintech, Financial Global Business Services (“FGBS”) or Foreign Payment System Operator (“FPSO”) activities in Pulau 1, Forest City. Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (“MDEC”) is the appointed government agency to process applications, which are assessed by the National Committee on Investment (“NCI”).
Forest City at night, looking across the Strait of Johor towards Singapore. Forest City lies approximately 2 km from Singapore at its nearest point.
The FC-SFZ Tax Incentive is separate from Malaysia Digital (“MD”) Status and the MD Tax Incentive. A company does not need MD Status to qualify for the FC-SFZ Tax Incentive. Under MDEC’s current rules, an FC-SFZ applicant must also not have been granted another tax incentive for the same qualifying activity. Eligible MD Status companies may separately apply for the MD Tax Incentive, subject to the applicable criteria and approval process.
Key Incentives at a Glance
Forest City’s first decade was defined in part by its green-building and sustainability record. Forest City reports nearly 40 international awards and certifications as at August 2026, including LEED for Core and Shell (“LEED-CS”) Gold pre-certification and GreenRE Gold ratings. On 20 September 2024, the Malaysian Government announced the Forest City SFZ incentive package, adding a financial-services and digital-economy dimension to the development.
The current incentive landscape has four main components:
Forest City SFZ corporate tax rate: Eligible companies undertaking qualifying fintech, FGBS or FPSO activities in Pulau 1 may receive a 5% special corporate tax rate for 10 consecutive years of assessment, extendable for a second 10-year period, subject to approval and continued compliance. The qualifying activity must use at least one promoted technology enabler specified by MDEC.
Single Family Office (“SFO”) Scheme: A qualifying Single Family Office Vehicle (“SFOV”) may receive a 0% tax rate on chargeable income from its qualifying holding and investment activities for an initial 10 years, with a possible extension for a further 10 years, subject to the Securities Commission Malaysia (“SC”) requirements.
Knowledge workers: Eligible knowledge workers working within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (“JS-SEZ”), which includes Forest City as a designated flagship area, may qualify for a special 15% personal income tax rate for 10 years, subject to the applicable conditions.
Malaysia Digital tax incentive: This is a separate national incentive administered by MDEC. For New Investment, eligible companies may choose between a reduced tax rate — 0% on qualifying intellectual-property (“IP”) income, subject to the modified nexus approach, and 5% or 10% on qualifying non-IP income for up to 10 years — or an Investment Tax Allowance (“ITA”) of 60% or 100% of qualifying capital expenditure for up to five years. Different rates apply to the Expansion Incentive. Applications are open until 31 December 2027.
Taken together, these measures position Forest City SFZ as a potential regional base for qualifying financial-services and technology-enabled businesses assessing Malaysia’s tax framework, proximity to Singapore and access to ASEAN markets. However, the schemes are separate and should not be treated as automatically cumulative.
Forest City Tax Framework for Fintech and Technology-Enabled Financial Services
The FC-SFZ Tax Incentive is not a blanket 100% tax exemption for fintech, AI or technology companies. It is a 5% special corporate tax rate for qualifying activities under the FC-SFZ framework. MDEC is the appointed agency to process applications, while applications are assessed by the NCI.
The 5% rate applies to qualifying fintech activities, FGBS and FPSO activities carried out in Pulau 1, Forest City. The qualifying activity must utilise at least one promoted technology enabler: artificial intelligence (“AI”) or big data analytics (“BDA”); Internet of Things (“IoT”); cybersecurity; cloud; blockchain; creative media technology, including extended reality (“XR”) or mixed reality (“MR”); robotics or automation; or advanced network connectivity or telecommunications technology. Eligibility is not automatic based on location alone; companies must also satisfy the applicable corporate, activity, substance, regulatory and compliance conditions.
The “up to 100%” figure sometimes cited in relation to Malaysia Digital refers to the ITA available under the MD New Investment Incentive. It is an allowance on qualifying capital expenditure, not a 100% income tax holiday. The MD Tax Incentive is also separate from the FC-SFZ Tax Incentive and should not be assumed to stack with it for the same qualifying activity.
Comparison table:
Scheme
What it covers
Headline rate / benefit
Authority & key note
Forest City SFZ — fintech / FGBS / FPSO incentive
Qualifying fintech, FGBS and FPSO activities in Pulau 1 using at least one promoted technology enabler
5% special corporate tax rate for 10 consecutive years of assessment; extendable for a second 10-year period
MDEC processes applications; NCI assessment. Applications open 1 Sep 2024–31 Dec 2034.
Forest City SFZ — Single Family Office
Qualifying SFOV holding and investment activities
0% tax rate for an initial 10 years; possible extension for a further 10 years
Securities Commission Malaysia; SFO tax rules gazetted on 3 Oct 2025.
JS-SEZ — eligible knowledge workers
Eligible knowledge workers working within the JS-SEZ, including qualifying roles in Forest City
15% personal income tax rate for 10 years
Ministry of Finance / JS-SEZ incentive package; subject to eligibility conditions.
Malaysia Digital Tax Incentive — New Investment
Eligible MD Status companies undertaking qualifying Malaysia Digital Activities
0% on qualifying IP income and 5% or 10% on qualifying non-IP income for up to 10 years; OR 60% or 100% ITA for up to 5 years
MDEC; MD Status required before tax-incentive application. Applications open until 31 Dec 2027.
Malaysia Digital Tax Incentive — Expansion
Eligible MD/MSC Malaysia Status companies undertaking qualifying new or expansion activities
15% reduced tax rate for up to 5 years; OR 30% or 60% ITA for up to 5 years
MDEC; subject to the Expansion Incentive criteria. Applications open until 31 Dec 2027.
Malaysia standard corporate rate
Companies not qualifying for a lower or special rate
24% headline corporate income tax rate
Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN); lower tiered rates may apply to qualifying SMEs.
For accurate and current policy information, companies should refer directly to official sources, including:
Malaysia Digital Status and Tax Incentive: A Separate National Framework
MD Status is granted nationally by MDEC. An MD Status company may then be eligible to apply separately for the MD Tax Incentive, subject to the relevant criteria. Under MDEC’s current framework, qualifying Malaysia Digital Activities comprise the research, development or commercialisation of solutions, or the provision of services, using promoted technology enablers such as AI or BDA, IoT, cybersecurity, cloud, blockchain, drone technology, creative media technology, integrated-circuit design with embedded software, robotics or automation, and advanced network connectivity or telecommunications technology.
Under the current MD Tax Incentive, the available options differ between New Investment and Expansion:
New Investment: A 0% reduced tax rate on qualifying IP income, subject to the modified nexus approach, and a 5% or 10% reduced tax rate on qualifying non-IP income, for up to 10 years; or an ITA of 60% or 100% of qualifying capital expenditure against up to 100% of statutory income, for up to five years.
Expansion: A 15% reduced tax rate on qualifying IP income, subject to the modified nexus approach, and non-IP income, for up to five years; or an ITA of 30% or 60% of qualifying capital expenditure against up to 100% of statutory income, for up to five years.
The “100%” figure therefore refers to the ITA rate under the New Investment Incentive. It does not mean that all company income is tax-free.
The MD Tax Incentive is open for applications until 31 December 2027. A company must first obtain MD Status before submitting an application for the MD Tax Incentive.
MD Status also provides access to non-tax benefits under the MD Bill of Guarantees, including the ability to apply for foreign knowledge-worker quotas and passes, subject to the relevant immigration requirements. MDEC’s Expats Service Centre administers the related Foreign Knowledge Worker processes for eligible companies.
Eligibility Summary: Entities, Sectors and Permitted Activities
Forest City SFZ 5% rate
Activity-based: Qualifying services are limited to fintech-related activities, FGBS and FPSO activities.
Technology condition: The qualifying activity must utilise at least one promoted technology enabler specified by MDEC, including AI or BDA, IoT, cybersecurity, cloud, blockchain, creative media technology, robotics or automation, or advanced network connectivity or telecommunications technology.
Location condition: The qualifying activity must be carried out in Pulau 1, Forest City.
Substance and compliance conditions: Approved companies must meet the conditions set out in their approval letter, including commitments relating to full-time employees, knowledge workers, annual operating expenditure, ESG requirements, relevant regulatory approvals or licences, and annual compliance reporting verified by an independent auditor.
Malaysia Digital (MD) Status and MD Tax Incentive
Activity-based: MD eligibility is tied to Malaysia Digital Activities that use the promoted technology enablers specified by MDEC. Merely operating an AI, cloud, fintech or digital business does not automatically confer tax-incentive eligibility.
Status and tax-incentive process: MD Status is granted by MDEC. The MD Tax Incentive is a separate application available to eligible MD or MSC Malaysia Status companies, depending on the relevant incentive category.
Geographic scope: MD Status is a national programme and does not require a company to be located in Forest City.
No automatic stacking: MDEC states that an FC-SFZ Tax Incentive applicant must not already have been granted a tax incentive for the same qualifying activity. MDEC also confirms that MD Status is not required to apply for the FC-SFZ Tax Incentive.
Accordingly, companies should assess the FC-SFZ and MD frameworks separately. Any proposed structure involving different activities, income streams or incentive programmes should be verified with MDEC and qualified tax advisers before any combined tax outcome is assumed.
Strategic Rationale: Proximity, Talent Incentives and Regional Access
Forest City’s location proposition is based on three interlocking factors: proximity to Singapore, targeted talent incentives and early investor interest.
Proximity as operational leverage: Forest City lies approximately 2 km from Singapore at its nearest point, placing qualifying operations close to one of Asia’s major financial and technology hubs. The Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link will connect Bukit Chagar in central Johor Bahru with Woodlands North in Singapore. MRT Corp has stated that service is targeted to commence on 31 December 2026. The RTS Link does not serve Forest City directly, so onward road transport between Forest City and central Johor Bahru will still be required.
Talent as a bundled enabler: Eligible knowledge workers in the JS-SEZ may qualify for a special 15% personal income tax rate for 10 years, while eligible MD Status companies may apply for foreign knowledge-worker quotas and passes through MDEC’s expatriate facilitation framework. These are separate benefits with their own eligibility and approval requirements.
Decision Framework: Two Pathways and a Diligence Caveat
The incentive structure is best assessed through two distinct pathways, with a separate due-diligence lens for investors and advisers.
Pathway A – FC-SFZ presence on Pulau 1: This is relevant to eligible fintech companies, FGBS providers and FPSO businesses that can satisfy the physical-location, activity, substance and compliance requirements. The 5% special corporate tax rate is available for 10 consecutive years of assessment and may be extended for a second 10-year period, subject to continued compliance and approval.
This route may suit businesses that value proximity to Singapore while maintaining qualifying operations in Pulau 1. The RTS Link is expected to improve connectivity between central Johor Bahru and Singapore, but it does not remove the requirement for companies to maintain the approved substance and qualifying activities in Forest City.
Pathway B – MD Status and MD Tax Incentive nationwide: This pathway may be relevant to eligible digital companies operating elsewhere in Malaysia. MD Status is granted nationally by MDEC, and eligible companies may subsequently apply for the MD Tax Incentive. The applicable reduced tax rate or ITA depends on whether the company applies under the New Investment or Expansion category and on the conditions it meets.
Investors and advisers should note that headline rates are not the same as effective tax rates. The outcome for any entity depends on qualifying activities and income, approved commitments, substance conditions and the specific incentive secured. Groups with annual consolidated revenue of EUR750 million or more may also be subject to Malaysia’s domestic top-up tax rules where the relevant effective tax rate falls below 15%. Tax outcomes should therefore be modelled only after verification against current primary sources and professional advice.
The Verdict
Forest City’s proposition to fintech and technology-enabled financial-services companies is specific and condition-based: a 5% special corporate tax rate for qualifying fintech, FGBS and FPSO activities carried out in Pulau 1 using promoted technology enablers. The incentive runs for 10 consecutive years of assessment and may be extended for a second 10-year period, subject to compliance and approval. It is neither a blanket 5% rate for all AI or technology companies nor a 100% income tax exemption.
Alongside this are the separate SFO Incentive Scheme, which may provide a 0% tax rate for up to 20 years subject to SC requirements; the JS-SEZ’s special 15% personal income tax rate for eligible knowledge workers for 10 years; and the national MD Tax Incentive, which offers different reduced tax rates or ITA options depending on whether an applicant qualifies under the New Investment or Expansion category. Applications for the MD Tax Incentive are open until 31 December 2027.
Reported traction includes 260 cumulative investor enquiries recorded by Invest Johor by June 2026 and six families granted conditional approval under the SFO Incentive Scheme, with indicative assets under management close to RM400 million as reported by the SC in October 2025. Forest City also benefits from proximity to Singapore, while the RTS Link is targeted to commence service on 31 December 2026 between central Johor Bahru and Woodlands North.
For companies and investors, the key question is not simply whether these incentives exist, but whether their exact activities, income streams, location, substance commitments and corporate structure satisfy the conditions required to access them in practice. Current official guidance and qualified tax advice should be obtained before any investment or structuringHashtag: #ForestCity
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Federal government employees in the UAE will be allowed to adjust their working hours as children return to classrooms for the 2026-2027 academic year, giving parents greater scope to manage school drop-offs and pick-ups without disrupting government services. The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources has issued its annual “Back to School” policy to ministries and federal entities, setting out flexible attendance arrangements […]
The UAE National Golf Team will leave for Beijing early on Saturday as a three-player squad prepares to contest the Nomura Cup, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading amateur team championships. Mohammad Skaik, Sayed Rayan Ahmed and Sam Mullane will represent the UAE at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Team Championship, scheduled from September 1 to 4 at Bayhood No. 9 International Golf Club in Beijing. The delegation […]
Dubai’s facility management market is no longer defined by who has the largest workforce or the longest service menu. The stronger question is which operating model best matches the asset. A master community, five-star hotel, commercial tower, warehouse and residential portfolio can all require integrated FM, but the balance between engineering, manpower, technology, soft services, energy performance and governance will differ. That is why the best provider […]
Strengthening Competitiveness via Online-to-Offline Integration and Supply Chain Agility
Results Highlights
Revenue reached US$301.51 million, representing a strong increase of 23.2%.
Gross profit grew by 28.2% to US$93.98 million, with gross profit margin expanding to 31.2%.
Operating profit increased by 30.1% to US$24.29 million.
Net profit surged by 30.0% to US$18.30 million, with net profit margin improving to 6.1%.
Business-to-consumer (B2C) platform YesStyle recorded revenue of US$215.07 million, up 30.5%, accounting for 71.3% of the Group’s total revenue. Offline expansion was enhanced with the opening of its first physical concept store in the US.
Business-to-business (B2B) platform AsianBeautyWholesale (ABW) recorded revenue of US$82.75 million, up 6.2%, accounting for 27.4% of the Group’s total revenue.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2026 – YesAsia Holdings Limited (“YesAsia Holdings”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”) (2209.HK), a leading e-commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in curating Asian beauty and lifestyle products, announced today its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (the “Reporting Period”).
The Group continued to capture strong global demand for Korean Beauty (“K-Beauty”) products, driving revenue up by 23.2% year-on-year to US$301.51 million. Gross profit increased by 28.2% to US$93.98 million, with gross profit margin expanding by 1.2 percentage points to 31.2%. Operating profit grew by 30.1% to US$24.29 million. Benefiting from forward-looking investments in localized and tech-driven logistics infrastructure, which successfully mitigated geopolitical and freight cost pressures, profit for the period surged by 30.0% to US$18.30 million, after recognition of an one-off expense of approximately US$1.24 million in termination benefits arising from the organizational streamlining. Net profit margin improved to 6.1%. Basic earnings per share were US4.39 cents (1H 2025: US3.43 cents).
Navigating Uncertainties through Market Diversification and Logistics Agility
A global market footprint remains pivotal in mitigating geopolitical risks. The US, the Group’s largest market, has absorbed the tariff shock and delivered progressive improvement during the Reporting Period, with revenue exceeding 2H 2025 even outside the typical holiday peak season. Among non-core markets (excluding the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia), robust demand across Europe and Latin America, unlocked new growth momentum, with revenue from Europe and associated countries and Latin America growing by 22.1% and 178.4%, respectively. In the Middle East, the Group navigated the regional tensions to achieve steady revenue growth of 33.4%.
Complementing market diversification, strategic investments in logistics infrastructure spanning Hong Kong, South Korea, the US, and Europe, alongside the adoption of automation technologies like AMRs, have built a highly resilient and scalable supply chain. These capabilities enabled the Group to maintain a stable baseline for business costs and absorb freight and fuel price spikes stemming from Middle East conflicts during the Reporting Period. Consequently, the increase in operating costs remained well below revenue growth, with freight cost as a percentage of revenue dropping to 19.0%, demonstrating the Group’s robust cost control and operational agility.
Integrating O2O Experiences to Drive B2C-B2B Dual-Engine Synergy
Social media marketing remained one of the Group’s core strengths during the Reporting Period, supported by an ecosystem of over 557,000 unique influencers that generated US$85.70 million and contributed nearly 40% of YesStyle‘s revenue. To amplify this online impact, the Group strategically expanded its global offline presence to seamlessly bridge online and offline customer experiences. YesStyle debuted a 1,500 sq. ft. concept store in the San Francisco Bay Area. At the same time, the Group staged high-profile activations, including a Madrid café pop-up that generated over 2 million impressions and brand events at Seoul’s Yesful Land that accumulated over 3 million impressions. Together, these physical and digital touchpoints successfully converted customer engagement into sustained loyalty.
This heightened brand exposure across end-consumer markets directly catalyzed overseas B2B purchasing demand. During the Reporting Period, ABW consolidated its newly built partnerships with retailers in the US and Latin America. Notably, ABW Online’s average order size surged 38.6% year-on-year to US$3,590.60. This uptick reflects substantially stronger purchasing appetite and inventory confidence for K-Beauty products among retailers, underscoring the powerful synergy of the Group’s B2C-B2B dual-engine model.
Mr. Joshua Lau, Founder, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of YesAsia Holdings, said: “K-Beauty remains on an upward trajectory as it becomes a mainstream player in the global beauty business. Looking ahead, we believe that there is ample room for growth for YesAsia Holdings in both the retail and wholesale spheres worldwide. Amid geopolitical and supply chain uncertainties, we are continuously reinforcing our competitive moat and market leadership through AI-empowered customer services, a highly agile supply chain, and a strategy that seamlessly converts online traffic into immersive physical experiences, thereby driving long-term value for our shareholders in a fast-evolving market landscape.”
Hashtag: #YesAsia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About YesAsia Holdings Limited (02209.HK)
Established in 1997, YesAsia Holdings is a leading e‑commerce platform operator recognized for its expertise in identifying and procuring quality Asian beauty products. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group delivers products promptly and efficiently to a global audience through its strong ties with over 400 leading Asian beauty brand and supplier partners. The Group operates two major channels: YesStyle, a B2C e‑commerce platform serving the growing demand for Asian beauty, fashion and lifestyle products, particularly Korean beauty products; and AsianBeautyWholesale, a B2B‑oriented business for Asian beauty products via online and offline channels. YesAsia Holdings is a constituent of the MSCI Hong Kong Micro Cap Index.
A Tehran-based cybersecurity academy sanctioned by Washington is recruiting hundreds of young people for its largest training programme, renewing scrutiny of Iran’s expanding pool of cyber specialists and their potential links to state-backed hacking operations. Ravin Academy is seeking between 600 and 1,200 Iranians aged 17 to 30 for a free, year-long cybersecurity scholarship programme. The initiative represents a substantial expansion for an organisation that US authorities […]
Asian equities traded cautiously on Friday as South Korea’s Kospi fell sharply, with investors cutting exposure to heavyweight technology stocks ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s closely watched Jackson Hole address.
The Kospi closed 1.79% lower at 6,788.88, shedding 123.49 points and snapping a three-session advance. Samsung Electronics dropped 3.38% to 257,000 won, while SK hynix fell 4.45% to 1.653 million won as investors locked in gains following an earlier technology rally fuelled by strong results from Nvidia. Foreign and institutional investors sold a combined 2 trillion won of Seoul-listed shares, while retail investors were net buyers.
The retreat highlighted growing caution over valuations in artificial intelligence-linked stocks. Nvidia had jumped nearly 9% in the previous Wall Street session after delivering strong quarterly results and indicating that spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure remained robust. The performance initially lifted technology stocks across the region, but enthusiasm faded in Seoul as attention shifted towards interest rates and the outlook for global bond yields.
Warsh’s first keynote address as Federal Reserve chair at the annual Jackson Hole symposium became the central focus for markets. Investors were looking for guidance on how the central bank would respond to persistent inflation pressures and whether policymakers were moving closer to raising borrowing costs. Interest-rate futures before the speech indicated roughly a one-third probability of an increase at the September meeting, with markets pricing in a move by December.
Bond markets have become particularly sensitive to Federal Reserve communication after longer-term Treasury yields climbed amid concerns that inflation could remain above target. The 30-year US Treasury yield was around 5.2% on Friday after briefly exceeding 5.3%, its highest level since 2007. The 10-year yield stood near 4.67%, while the two-year yield was about 4.23% before Warsh addressed the gathering.
Elsewhere in Asia, market performances were mixed. Japan’s Nikkei advanced around 0.5%, supported by technology shares and inflation data that reinforced expectations of further monetary tightening by the Bank of Japan. Tokyo consumer inflation for August remained close to the central bank’s 2% objective, keeping expectations of another interest-rate increase alive.
Taiwanese shares gained about 1.2%, benefiting more directly from Nvidia’s strong performance because of the island’s extensive semiconductor supply chain. Hong Kong shares moved slightly lower during part of the session, while mainland Chinese equities traded in a narrow range. The CSI 300 slipped about 0.1% at one stage and the Shanghai Composite edged higher, with investors also preparing for purchasing managers’ index data due next week.
Australia’s ASX 200 gained around 0.5%, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index advanced modestly. The Nifty 50 also moved higher as technology shares supported a rebound after two sessions of losses. Regional investors nevertheless avoided large positions as the direction of US monetary policy remained the dominant influence on risk appetite.
Currency markets were similarly restrained. The dollar index hovered around 99.1 and was on course for a weekly gain. The Australian dollar performed strongly after hotter inflation data led traders to reassess the interest-rate outlook, touching a three-month high near $0.72 and extending what was set to become a ninth consecutive weekly advance.
Oil prices provided some relief for equities after falling sharply during the week. Brent crude traded around $89.6-$89.7 a barrel and was heading for a weekly decline of more than 5%, partly reflecting developments involving Iran and Oman over administration of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Lower energy prices eased one source of inflation concern, although geopolitical risks remained embedded in commodity markets.
Gold slipped towards $4,590 an ounce as traders awaited clearer signals on US rates. The broader MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan was little changed, showing how the powerful Nvidia-led technology trade was being offset by uncertainty over monetary policy, elevated chip valuations and higher bond yields.
Boston Scientific is battling a worldwide operational disruption after a cyberattack disabled key information systems used to process and ship medical-device orders, raising concerns over delays in equipment needed for cardiac and other hospital procedures. The Massachusetts-based medical technology group detected the attack on August 25 and activated its incident-response protocols, bringing in outside cybersecurity specialists to investigate and contain the intrusion. Systems supporting customer orders and […]
Issac John The Silk Road Finance & Technology Forum concluded in Tashkent with a proposition that carries important implications for the UAE: Central Asia wants its historic trade routes transformed into new corridors for money, payments, technology and investment. For a country whose prosperity has been built partly on functioning as the commercial and financial crossroads between East and West, that raises an intriguing question. Does the […]
Dubai’s most talked-about skin booster may also have its most confusing name. “Salmon DNA” sounds like one treatment, but it is a popular label for a wider group of injectable products. Behind the nickname are different materials, concentrations and uses. Those details matter more than the trend. Many patients want hydrated, smooth and rested skin without obvious facial volume. Polynucleotide treatments fit this move towards gradual skin-quality […]