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Dubai boat show confirms international shipyard line-up for November // AI trust gap reveals distinct retail priorities: Divergent paths to consumer growth in Hong Kong and the GBA // Middle East governments assess Iran war after US vote // Hong Kong mandates crypto transaction disclosures to tax authorities // e-Crime Bureau Signs Cybersecurity Partnership With Smart Africa, Reinforcing Its Global Expansion // OpenAI identifies 948 Linux privilege escalation flaws using AI // U.S. Mid Term Result Is A Clear Verdict Against Trump’s Authoritarianism // Fast Just Got Fastest: STING Energy Boost™ Celebrates Kimi Antonelli’s Formula 1® World Championship and the Fan Energy Behind It // Asia Left Behind: Ten international companies have yet to report delivering on their cage-free egg pledges across the region // Govt opposes Arlekar’s PSC action // CR Longdation Aethereal Cybersecurity × Global Cybersecurity Alliance (GCSA) Join Hands to Establish the “AI and Cybersecurity Research Centre” // After Reaching 7 Million Users in the Philippines, Skyro Launches Transparent Cash Loans in Malaysia // xCube Access Welcomes Entrust Capital Limited  Expanding Access to Professional Portfolio Management // As AI Reshapes Education, Singapore Convenes Global Dialogue on the Future of Early Childhood Education // Oil and chip shares retreat after Democratic victories // APT29-linked campaign exploits outdated Apple and Android software // Cyberport Venture & Capital Forum 2026 Grand Opening // SC to examine students’ exam plea today // Anthropic to prohibit persistent abuse of Claude chatbot // Vance attributes Republican midterm defeats to Iran conflict //

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Bitcoin clawed back above $76,000 at the start of the week, holding firmer than much of the wider digital-asset market even as decentralised finance absorbed the shock of a major exploit tied to KelpDAO that has drained close to $300 million and triggered a sharp retreat in capital across lending and restaking platforms. Market pricing on 21 April showed bitcoin near $75,745 after touching an intraday high […]

Grinex, a Kyrgyzstan-based cryptocurrency exchange under Western sanctions, has suspended operations after losing about one billion roubles, or roughly $13.1 million, in what it described as a highly organised cyber attack. The platform said the breach was a targeted operation and alleged that intelligence services from “unfriendly” Western states were behind it, though it did not provide public evidence to support that claim. The theft has drawn […]

Windows users are facing a sharper cyber threat after researchers identified a campaign that pairs the long-running Gh0st remote access trojan with CloverPlus adware, giving attackers a mix of covert control and instant income from poisoned web traffic. The operation uses a single obfuscated loader to unpack both payloads, turning one infection into a dual-purpose compromise that can spy, persist and monetise at the same time. Two […]

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 April 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer-processor, today announced a strategic partnership with Change Financial to accelerate payment method adoption and fintech growth across Australia.

The collaboration combines Paymentology’s cloud-first processing platform with Change Financial’s local BIN sponsorship, regulatory expertise and in-market presence – enabling fintechs, digital banks and programme managers to launch and scale debit, credit and prepaid programmes more efficiently in the Australian market.

Change Financial is a Mastercard Principal Issuer in Australia, providing local scheme connectivity and compliance support. Together with Paymentology’s real-time, multi-cloud processing infrastructure, the partnership creates a streamlined pathway for fintechs looking to enter or expand in the country.

Australia represents one of the world’s most advanced digital payments markets. The national payments market was valued at USD 849.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.35 trillion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.09% between 2026 and 2034. Cards and mobile wallets now sit at the centre of everyday transactions, as digital adoption continues to accelerate. Australians made approximately AUD 160 billion in mobile wallet payments in the past year alone, with billions of transactions recorded annually, highlighting strong demand for digital-first, contactless and mobile-enabled payment experiences.

Minh Ha Truong, Head of Growth Asia Pacific at Paymentology commented: “Australia is one of the most sophisticated payments ecosystems globally, with strong consumer adoption of digital, contactless and mobile-first experiences. By partnering with Change Financial, we’re combining next-generation issuing infrastructure with trusted local BIN sponsorship and expertise, unlocking faster payment method adoption for fintechs and helping them scale confidently in the Australian market.”

Change Financial brings deep experience supporting fintechs and financial institutions through local sponsorship, scheme relationships and programme enablement.

Jennifer Mateer, Chief Commercial Officer at Change Financial added: “We collaborate closely with fintechs and programme managers every day to launch innovative payment solutions with speed and confidence. Our partnership with Paymentology combines our local market expertise with global-scale issuing infrastructure, enabling innovators to accelerate time to market and deliver compelling card payment experiences to Australian consumers and businesses.”

Hashtag: #Paymentology #Fintech

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

About Paymentology

Paymentology is the leading next-generation issuer processor, empowering fintechs, digital banks and retail banks to effortlessly launch and manage innovative payment solutions on a global scale. The company drives greater customer choice and value through easy-to-use, integrated platforms and services that help clients to disrupt the status quo, accelerate time to market, and achieve growth.

With a superior multi-cloud platform offering a vast global footprint, and enhanced real-time data, Paymentology distinguishes itself as a leader in the payments industry. Its team of payments experts, with deep local market knowledge, operates across 50 countries and 14 time zones, providing 24/7 support. Paymentology is deeply committed to expanding financial inclusion globally, changing lives and positively impacting the communities in which it operates.

For more information, visit .

America’s gross national debt is closing in on $39tn, extending a climb that has more than doubled the federal government’s outstanding obligations since 2011 and sharpening debate over how long Washington can sustain large deficits, rising interest bills and expanding borrowing needs without broader economic consequences. Official daily Treasury data put total public debt at about $38.99tn in mid-April 2026, meaning the widely shared claim that the […]

  Two separate phishing campaigns are hitting organisations with Formbook, a long-running information stealer that continues to adapt its delivery methods to slip past traditional Windows defences. The latest activity shows attackers pairing ordinary email lures with layered obfuscation, trusted system tools and DLL side-loading, giving a familiar malware family fresh room to operate inside corporate environments. Stealthy Formbook waves target Windows users Security researchers tracking the […]

Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol, a fast-growing standard used to connect AI models with external tools and data, has come under intense scrutiny after security researchers disclosed a critical weakness that they say can open the door to arbitrary remote code execution across a broad swathe of the AI software stack. The issue, published on April 15, centres on how MCP implementations handle STDIO-based server configurations and command […]

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BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 April 2026 – China Unicom and Huawei capped off a series of successful 5G-A GigaUplink deployments by guaranteeing the premium connectivity at the Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon, where human and robot runners competed alongside through the E-Town in Daxing District. This marks the two companies’ latest landmark showcase for sports events, combining 5G-A and AI to provide fast uplink with huge capacity and low latency for event organization and media services, digital engagement, and humanoid participation.

China Unicom 5G-A empowering robots to sprint across the finish line
China Unicom 5G-A empowering robots to sprint across the finish line

China Unicom Delivered a Masterclass in Connected Marathon Events

Marathon events typically feature high-density crowds with an extensive demand for uploads. China Unicom and Huawei turned to 5G-A 3CC on 3.5 GHz and 2.1 GHz for the event, ensuring an uplink fulfillment at 20 Mbps surpassing 99.6%, along with a peak speed of field-tested 677 Mbps. This impressive uplink performance provided consistent and reliable support for 4K/8K broadcasting and real-time collection and editing while also enabling fans to share and stream smoothly.

Such unrivalled experience is underpinned not only by high-quality networks but also flexible operations. China Unicom and Huawei used intelligent base stations to build 5G-A intelligent, elastic channels for the event. This facilitated differentiated scheduling for livestreaming, voice and video calling, and short videos to ensure smooth experiences for fans even at heavy-traffic moments.

China Unicom 5G-A GigaUplink networks integral to the success of E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon
China Unicom 5G-A GigaUplink networks integral to the success of E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon

5G-A GigaUplink Takes Embodied AI to New Heights

In a global first, the E-Town half-marathon features a pioneering format that sees human and robot runners compete simultaneously. The humanoid robots were divided into an autonomous navigation group and a remote-control group, running on the same course and evaluated using mixed timing methods. Each humanoid robot requires approximately 10 Mbps uplink for video uploads, environment sensing, gait control, and autonomous navigation. Dedicated uplink slices were reserved to ensure a positioning accuracy of up to sub-decimeter level and an average end-to-end latency of less than 30 ms throughout the racing course, which provided strong support for the video uploads, obstacle avoidance, cornering, and sprinting of humanoid robots. While offering technical upgrades to sports events, this promoted the adoption of humanoid robots on a large scale.

Qin Yang, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom in Beijing spoke proudly of the excellent connections his company provided for the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games as a global strategic partner and the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon event as the exclusive official communications sponsor. “5G-A and AI are essential digital infrastructure, enabling us to bring embodied AI to sports. Given the new dynamics of AI development, we will double down on our priorities over connectivity, computing power, services, and security to sharpen our competitive edges as a preferred telecom partner for intelligent sports and a core enabler for intelligent industry transformation. Moving forward, we will accelerate our innovation-driven push to strengthen our digital infrastructure and drive the high-quality growth of embodied AI in China and beyond.”

Samuel Chen, Vice President of Huawei’s Wireless Network Business Marketing, said this humanoid robot half-marathon offers a good example of deepening integration between mobile technology and embodied intelligence. “Beyond redefining connectivity for sports, it has shown us what intelligent production and life will look like in future. We are always dedicated to building excellent 5G-A networks together with operators based on user-centered innovation to ensure GigaUplink, low latency, and high reliability for differentiated mobile AI services. This will enable us to continuously drive the high-quality growth of the digital economy.”
Hashtag: #Huawei #ChinaUnicom

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

By Nantoo Banerjee Pakistan may be right that peace in Lebanon is essential for talks between the US and Iran. But, the key question is: will Iran’s theological regime ever ask its terror sponsor, Hezbollah, to go soft on Israel which lately launched massive waves of airstrikes across southern Lebanon, hitting over 200 Hezbollah targets, […]

The article Pakistan’s Back-Channel US-Iran Peace Negotiation May Not Work appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Gold prices fell on Monday as a fresh flare-up in waters around the Strait of Hormuz rattled energy markets, pushed up the dollar and Treasury yields, and raised doubts over diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the war. Bullion, which often draws support in periods of geopolitical strain, came under pressure as traders focused instead on the inflationary impact of another oil-supply shock. The move highlighted a familiar […]

GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 April 2026 – XTransfer, the World’s Leading B2B Cross-Border Trade Payment Platform, released its latest figures at the 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair). In the first quarter of this year, emerging markets across Asia, Africa, and Latin America accounted for 73% of XTransfer’s inbound cross-border payment collections, with 45% increase year-on-year. Collections from Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia increased 115%, 97%, and 18% year-on-year, respectively, highlighting growing demand among exporters for secure and efficient cross-border collection channels.

XTransfer at the 139th Canton Fair
XTransfer at the 139th Canton Fair

According to statistics from the China General Administration of Customs, emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have become a key driver of export growth. However, underdeveloped local financial infrastructure, incomplete cross-border payment systems, and shortages of foreign exchange mean buyers often struggle to access U.S. dollars. As a result, exporters in these markets frequently face low settlement efficiency, slow cash recovery, and risks such as account freezes.

To address these collection challenges, XTransfer has developed a comprehensive set of cross-border collection solutions. In 2025, payment collections from emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America rose 106% year-on-year. By region, collections increased 273% in Africa, 82% in Southeast Asia, and 94% in Latin America.

Over the same period, customs statistics show that in 2025, China’s total goods exports to Asia, Africa, and Latin America increased 14.6% year-on-year, with exports to Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America up 26.6%, 14%, and 8%, respectively. XTransfer’s significantly faster growth in collections compared with export growth suggests exporters are accelerating the shift from informal channels to secure, compliant collection methods, and that market recognition of high-quality cross-border payment services continues to rise.

Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, said emerging markets offer long-term opportunities for Chinese exporters, but many are held back by the “last mile” of collections. He added that XTransfer is committed to helping SMEs collect funds safely and quickly through secure, compliant, and efficient cross-border financial services comparable to those used by multinational companies.

Release of XTransfer PMI
At the Canton Fair, XTransfer partnered with the Yicai Research Institute to publish the “China Small and Medium Enterprises (B2B) Merchandise Export Purchasing Manager Index” (XTransfer Export PMI), offering operational guidance and decision-making reference for small and micro export-oriented businesses.

This edition draws on a sample survey of XTransfer’s 800,000 SME users, selecting over 3,000 companies nationwide. It covers the full export process across export orders, pricing, procurement, logistics, staffing, and cash flow. The report shows that the March 2026 XTransfer PMI was 51.56%, indicating export conditions for SMEs are generally improving. Despite a complex external environment, SMEs have remained resilient and steadily strengthened their pricing power in international markets. Meanwhile, demand structures in emerging markets are reshaping, with export focus shifting toward intermediate goods and higher value-added products.

Resilience Amid Geopolitical Disruptions
Customs data show that in the first quarter, China’s goods exports reached RMB 6.85 trillion, up 11.9% year-on-year, marking a strong start to the year and benefiting SMEs. The XTransfer PMI also shows expansion in the export order index (53.85) and the export price index (56.15). While seasonal factors like the Spring Festival affected the short term, the underlying “volume and price rising together” trend suggests SMEs are accelerating their shift from “low-price internal competition,” strengthening pricing power through technology upgrades and improved quality.

Geopolitical disruptions have also extended delivery times, pushing the logistics time PMI down to 37.50. In contrast, the sales collection (receivables) index rose to 68.59, showing a pattern of “goods moving slower, money returning faster”. This suggests overseas buyers remain strongly tied to China’s high-quality supply chain and are willing to raise prepayment ratios or shorten payment terms to secure capacity. One exhibitor, Mr Wang, said, “A Southeast Asian customer increased its deposit from 30% to 70% to lock in production, worried our capacity would be booked by others.“

Emerging Markets Demand Trends Toward “High-End” Upgrading
The report highlights a shift toward higher-end demand in emerging markets. Africa’s export orders index (57.55) points to rising infrastructure-related demand; Latin America’s export orders index (56.47) and price index (57.81) signal opportunities in electromechanical and optical medical equipment; and Southeast Asia is absorbing components and semi-finished goods, calling for SMEs to move from finished-goods suppliers to supply-chain partners.

As industrialisation accelerates in emerging markets, demand for high-quality intermediate goods, complete electromechanical equipment, and technical services is rising. SMEs are moving from “low-end capacity exports” to “exports of technology and supply chain support”.

The composite PMI for the “New Three” (new energy vehicles, photovoltaics, and lithium batteries) was 54.59. The “New Three” sectors continue to hold growth potential, and enterprises need to enhance profit margins by delivering differentiated value.
Hashtag: #XTransfer #PMI #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs

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

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 April 2026 – Brother proudly announces the launch of its new flagship 10-needle commercial automatic embroidery machine, the PR1060W. As the latest addition to the PR series, this machine combines high-efficiency multi-needle embroidery, intelligent positioning, and advanced matrix copying technology. It delivers a more powerful and competitive production solution for professional creators, small and medium-sized embroidery studios, and businesses looking to expand their operations.

PR1060W Professional Embroidery Machine

Compared to the previous flagship model PR1055X launched in 2021, the new PR1060W brings significant upgrades in operational smoothness, embroidery precision, and overall productivity.

Intelligent Matrix Copy Function – Handle Large Orders with Ease

The PR1060W is equipped with an advanced matrix copy function that automatically calculates and arranges the maximum number of repeated patterns according to different hoop sizes, making full use of the available embroidery space. This feature effectively reduces fabric waste and repeated hooping procedures, significantly boosting productivity — ideal for handling high-volume orders.

For example, when using a 180 x 130mm embroidery hoop, the machine automatically duplicates the design into 4 identical patterns. When switched to the larger 360 x 200mm hoop, it can automatically replicate the design into up to 20 identical patterns.

Expanded Embroidery Area with Wireless Workflow

The PR1060W features a spacious 360 × 200mm embroidery field and comes with over 1,280 built-in designs and more than 100 fonts (including 3D fonts), offering greater creative freedom.

Once the design is ready, users can wirelessly transfer the file directly from a laptop or smartphone to the machine, eliminating complicated file transfer steps and making the workflow more efficient for both personal creations and bulk enterprise production.

10-Needle System – Multi-Color Embroidery in One Go

Equipped with 10 needles and 10 spool stands, the PR1060W can automatically switch between up to ten thread colors during embroidery, eliminating the need for frequent manual thread changes. This greatly reduces production time for complex multi-color designs.

Combined with auto-threading, auto-trimming, and jump stitch functions, the entire embroidery process becomes smoother and more stable, allowing users to complete high-quality work faster.

Advanced Camera Positioning – Significantly Enhanced Accuracy

The PR1060W is upgraded with optical camera positioning technology. Through the machine’s LCD screen, users can see the exact needle drop position in real time, enabling clear preview of the design before stitching. Even on small areas such as caps and sleeves, precise positioning is achievable, greatly reducing the risk of misalignment.

Versatile Embroidery Accessories

Brother offers a wide range of accessories* for the PR series, including specialized hoops designed for caps and socks. The machine supports automatic hoop detection, which instantly recognizes the installed hoop size and displays the available embroidery area on screen — no manual input required, making operation safer and more reliable.

In addition, the quick-release magnetic hoops secure fabric with simple magnetic attachment. They are particularly suitable for thick or delicate materials, preventing clamp marks or damage while improving embroidery quality and saving preparation time.

*Additional purchase required

Hong Kong Exclusive Local Support

Purchasers of the PR1060W enjoy Brother Hong Kong’s official warranty service, covering comprehensive repair and maintenance. Optional professional on-site installation and basic operation training services are also available, delivered by experienced local technical teams to help users quickly master the machine and start production without delay.

BE1 Embroidery Studio – Professional Design Partner

The powerful BE1* Embroidery Studio software supports high-precision complex pattern creation and fully integrates with CorelDRAW® vector editing tools. Users can easily convert photos into embroidery designs and apply various special effects, including hand-stitched and sparkling styles — ideal for highly customized projects.

*Additional purchase required

Opening a New Chapter in Embroidery Business

With its intelligent positioning, high productivity, and versatile functions, the new PR1060W makes embroidery work smoother and more efficient. Whether you are expanding a personal embroidery business or enhancing enterprise-level production capabilities, this flagship machine can be the key enabler to unlock greater commercial possibilities.

For more information on the PR1060W or to arrange a product demonstration, please feel free to contact Brother

Where To Buy

Customers can WhatsApp 3187 0505 or email [email protected] to contact a sales manager for detailed quotations, inquiries about purchasing details, product information, and after-sales service. If you are interested in learning more about product operations, you are welcome to schedule a product demonstration, and we will arrange for a product manager to assist you. For more details, please stay updated via the official website or the Brother Love DIY HK Facebook page.

PR1060W Specifications

PR1060X
Embroidery speed 1,000 spm
Large embroidery area 360X200mm
Built-in designs 1,280
Built-in lettering styles 51
LCD size 10.1inch
On-screen editing Yes
USB Yes
Number of needles 10
Pointer Camera positioning sensor
Jump stitch and wiper function Yes
Included embroidery frames -300×200mm embroidery frames
-180×130 mm embroidery frames
-100 x100 mm embroidery frames
-60×40 mm embroidery frames
Size(L×W×H) approx. 589×561×658mm
Weight approx. 41.8kgs

Hashtag: #Brother #PR1060W #商用自動刺繡機 #客製化 #刺繡設計



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

About Brother Hong Kong

Founded in 1908, Brother is now a leading brand that produces quality innovative products for the print and imaging, labelling and sewing markets. Key products include laser printers, Multi-Function Centers (MFCs), fax machines, labelers, label printers, and a wide range of home and industrial sewing machines.

Brother International (Hong Kong) is one of the leading suppliers of home, office, and industrial products in Hong Kong. Established in 1994, it has been serving customers in Hong Kong and Macau for over 30 years. According to IDC’s Global Hardware Peripheral Tracker report, Brother’s A3 multifunction colour inkjet printer has been the number one in shipment volume in Hong Kong for 18 consecutive years from 2008 to 2025, reaffirming Brother’s business success in the region.

For more information about Brother, please contact us via WhatsApp at 3187 0505 or visit .

Scientists have developed a soil-powered fuel cell that uses naturally occurring microbes to generate enough electricity for low-power underground sensors, opening a possible route to battery-free monitoring systems in agriculture, wetlands and other outdoor settings. The device, created by a team led by Northwestern University, is designed to run sensors that track soil moisture or register touch while operating in both dry and waterlogged ground. The underlying […]

Asteroid, a little-known meme coin tied to a Shiba Inu character called “Asteroid”, surged after a social media chain involving broadcaster Glenn Beck and Elon Musk drew intense attention to the story of Liv Perrotto, a 15-year-old from Pennsylvania whose design had been linked to SpaceX symbolism. Crypto trackers and market sites showed the token posting a violent jump before giving back part of the move, underlining […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE officials used the World Bank Group and IMF Spring Meetings in Washington to press a broader case for stronger multilateral coordination, flexible fiscal policy and wider financial partnerships, as the gatherings unfolded against a darker global backdrop of slower growth, energy-market strain and rising uncertainty. The delegation, led by Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said the […]

Bitcoin held above $74,000 through the latest stretch of trading, finding support from a softer-than-feared U. S. inflation reading while still facing a macro backdrop that remains far from comfortable for risk assets. The token’s ability to stay near that level has drawn attention because it came as March consumer prices in the United States rose 3.3% from a year earlier, a pace that was below some […]

Iranian authorities have arrested four people, including two foreign nationals, over the alleged import of SpaceX Starlink terminals, sharpening a crackdown on one of the few remaining channels for uncensored internet access inside the country. Iranian state-linked reporting, carried by Reuters on Sunday, said the arrests were made in the north-west and linked by officials to an alleged espionage network tied to the United States and Israel. […]

Fresh financing for an experimental therapy targeting brain injury in newborns has sharpened attention on one of neonatal medicine’s hardest gaps: the absence of any approved drug for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, or HIE. The trigger this month was ReAlta Life Sciences’ $40 million financing round to push pegtarazimod through its mid-stage STAR trial in babies with moderate or severe HIE, alongside the standard cooling treatment that remains the […]

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has cast Amaravati’s quantum push as a test of whether the country can build strategic technology capacity at home rather than remain tied to foreign platforms, using the launch of two indigenous open-access facilities to argue that partnership with global companies need not mean dependence. The remarks came days after the state unveiled Amaravati 1S and Amaravati 1Q on World Quantum Day, presenting the project as both a technology milestone and a political statement about capability.

Speaking in Amaravati, Naidu pushed back on questions over reliance on companies such as IBM, saying the starting point mattered less than whether domestic institutions could absorb, adapt and eventually build. He described the new facility as proof that companies and researchers in the country are capable of producing quantum systems, while acknowledging that the path to scale will involve collaboration. That framing is central to the state government’s pitch: use foreign alliances where useful, but ensure design, testing, skills and manufacturing depth are developed locally.

The immediate trigger for that argument was the April 14 launch of the Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility, or AQRF, spread across SRM University-AP in Amaravati and Medha Towers in Gannavaram. Andhra Pradesh has described the systems as the country’s first indigenously built, open-access quantum computer test beds, intended to let researchers, startups and industry users test hardware under operating conditions rather than rely only on closed imported machines. Officials say the site is designed to validate processors, cryogenic systems, amplifiers and control electronics, with access for hands-on study and benchmarking.

That matters because quantum computing remains a field in which much of the world’s high-end hardware is controlled by a small number of companies and laboratories. Andhra Pradesh officials and syndicated reports on the launch said about 85 per cent of the facility’s components were manufactured domestically, a claim being used to support the government’s assertion that a “sovereign hardware ecosystem” is now possible. The systems were developed with support from institutions including the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Indian Institute of Science and the Defence Research and Development Organisation, alongside younger firms working on hardware integration.

Yet the sovereignty message sits alongside a second reality: Amaravati’s longer-term quantum ambitions still rely on international corporate participation. IBM, Tata Consultancy Services and the Andhra Pradesh government announced in May 2025 that the planned Quantum Valley Tech Park in Amaravati would seek to host an IBM Quantum System Two with a 156-qubit Heron processor, subject to export licences and final agreements, while TCS would work on algorithms and applications. Naidu himself described that project at the time as part of the National Quantum Mission and a route to job creation and industrial use cases.

That leaves Andhra Pradesh trying to strike a careful balance. On one hand, the state wants the credibility, tooling and developer ecosystem that come with IBM and TCS. On the other, Naidu is signalling that strategic depth cannot rest on access alone. His comparison with the telecom sector was meant to make that case: the country did not master mobile and network technologies overnight, but built capability over time through policy support, local firms and institutional confidence. In quantum, he appears to be arguing for the same sequence — collaborate first where necessary, but move steadily towards domestic competence.

The wider national backdrop supports that ambition. The National Quantum Mission, approved in April 2023 with an outlay of Rs 6,003.65 crore running through 2030-31, is meant to seed research, industrial development and applications across computing, communications, sensing and materials. The Department of Science and Technology says the mission aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers in the 50 to 1,000 physical qubit range and has already set up four thematic hubs led by IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi. Amaravati’s project is therefore not operating in isolation; it is seeking to attach itself to a national push that is still in its build-out phase.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of North Nias in western Indonesia early on Sunday, shaking parts of North Sumatra but triggering no tsunami warning, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG. The agency said the quake hit at 3.06am WIB at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre in the sea about 48 kilometres south-west of North Nias. BMKG said […]

Quantum computing has taken a meaningful step from theory towards application after researchers showed that a hybrid system combining quantum hardware with artificial intelligence can improve predictions of chaotic physical systems, a class of problems that has long frustrated scientists because small errors grow quickly over time. The work, led by University College London and published in Science Advances on April 17, found that the method delivered […]

Fresh uncertainty gripped the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after merchant vessels attempting to cross the waterway reported gunfire and shipping sources said Iranian naval broadcasts warned that passage was no longer permitted, sharpening fears over the security of one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Reuters reported that at least two vessels came under fire, while New Delhi confirmed that two India-flagged crude carriers were […]

Greenlogue/AP Dahbashi Engineering has moved its headquarters in Dubai Industrial City onto on-grid solar power, marking a sustainability push by a company better known in the Gulf for heavy machinery spare parts, service operations and industrial battery solutions. The company said the installation is expected to meet about half of the site’s annual electricity demand and cut operating costs by roughly 30 per cent under Dubai’s Shams […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Prestige One Developments has begun handing over Vista, a 140-home residential project in Dubai Sports City, marking a delivery milestone for the developer as it expands construction activity across the emirate. The handover comes as Prestige One says it has more than 20 active developments under way and about 2,500 residential units under construction, underscoring how mid-sized developers are trying to convert off-plan […]

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