A China-linked cyber-espionage group has expanded its use of hijacked devices to mask attacks on telecommunications infrastructure, deploying three newly documented malware implants across Windows, Linux and network edge systems. The activity, tracked as UAT-9244, has targeted critical telecoms infrastructure in South America since 2024. The campaign shows how state-aligned operators are moving beyond direct server compromise to build distributed relay networks that help them scan, brute-force […]
Microsoft Corp. is moving more artificial intelligence work inside its own systems, replacing some OpenAI and Anthropic models in products such as Excel and Outlook as pressure grows to reduce the cost of running generative AI at scale. The shift marks a notable change for one of the technology industry’s biggest AI spenders. Microsoft has relied heavily on OpenAI’s models to power Copilot features across its software […]
Cybercriminals are using fake cracked-software downloads to infect consumers and smaller businesses with a double payload that steals credentials and mines Monero, underscoring how commodity malware operators are combining immediate data theft with longer-running attempts to profit from compromised machines. The campaign delivers Vidar, a widely used information stealer, alongside XMRig, an open-source cryptocurrency miner often abused in cryptojacking attacks. Victims are lured through malvertising into downloading […]
DXC Technology has opened a 200,000-square-foot Customer Experience Centre in Bengaluru, placing the city deeper into the global race to move enterprise artificial intelligence from pilot projects into live, measurable business systems.
The facility, announced on 7 July, is one of DXC’s largest global delivery hubs and brings together customer collaboration areas, an AI Hub, cybersecurity facilities, forensics labs, a Security Operations Centre and a Network Operations Centre. The centre is designed to help clients identify high-value AI use cases, test prototypes, integrate them with legacy platforms and operate them at scale.
The move comes as large companies are under pressure to modernise complex technology estates without disrupting core systems that run banking, insurance, manufacturing, public sector services, travel and healthcare operations. For global IT services firms, the most valuable opportunity now lies not only in building new AI tools, but in attaching them safely to ageing systems of record, cloud platforms, data pipelines and cybersecurity controls.
DXC said the Bengaluru site includes immersive Customer Experience Zones, Fluid Collaboration Hubs, Ideation Studios, Co-Creation Labs and Partner Experience Zones. The structure signals a shift in IT outsourcing from back-office delivery to co-engineering, where clients, consultants and technology partners work together on proof-of-value projects before wider deployment.
Ramnath Venkataraman, president of consulting and engineering services at DXC Technology, said the centre would bring engineering talent closer to customers and partners. He said the objective was to “co-create, engineer, and scale AI-powered solutions” that address complex business challenges and move clients faster from ideas to outcomes.
Rob Le Busque, DXC’s president for Asia Pacific and Japan, described the centre as a base for AI innovation, engineering and customer collaboration. He said DXC was aiming to help customers build connected enterprises where people work alongside AI agents to engineer and run systems of record.
The investment reflects Bengaluru’s continuing pull as a global technology hub. The city hosts a dense base of engineering talent, multinational technology development centres, enterprise software teams and start-up ecosystems. DXC already employs about 38,000 people in the country, making the new facility a strategic addition rather than a symbolic office expansion.
For DXC, the centre also arrives at a critical phase in its own turnaround. The company reported revenue of $12.64bn for fiscal 2026, down 1.8 per cent year on year, while adjusted EBIT stood at $970m. Fourth-quarter revenue was $3.13bn, down 1.2 per cent year on year, though bookings reached $3.3bn and the book-to-bill ratio stood at 1.07 times. Those figures underline both the pressure on legacy IT services revenue and the importance of higher-value modernisation work.
The enterprise AI market has moved beyond experimental chatbots and isolated productivity pilots. Large organisations are now seeking systems that can automate service operations, assist software engineering, improve fraud detection, support call-centre workflows, optimise supply chains and strengthen cyber response. The challenge is that many of these functions depend on decades-old enterprise platforms, heavily customised databases and compliance-heavy workflows.
That is where Bengaluru’s new DXC centre is positioned. Its AI Hub is intended to support hands-on development and testing, while the cyber and operations facilities allow clients to evaluate whether AI tools can be monitored, secured and maintained after deployment. This full-lifecycle approach is becoming central to enterprise modernisation, especially in sectors where downtime, data leakage or flawed automation can carry heavy financial and regulatory consequences.
The facility also strengthens DXC’s partner-led model. Its Partner Experience Zones are expected to support work with software, cloud, cybersecurity and platform companies. For IT services providers, alliances with hyperscalers and enterprise software vendors have become essential as clients seek hybrid solutions rather than single-vendor transformation programmes.
Bitcoin fell below $62,000 in Asian trading as renewed US-Iran hostilities drove oil prices higher, prompting investors to cut exposure to cryptocurrencies and other risk assets. The world’s largest digital token traded near $62,000 after touching an intraday low around $61,700, extending a pullback that spread across Ether, XRP and Solana. Ether hovered near $1,625, while several large alternative tokens lost between 1 and 3 per cent […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Ras Al Khaimah is preparing for one of the largest residential supply expansions in its history, with 25,600 new homes expected to be delivered by 2030 as developers accelerate launches around waterfront districts, branded residences and lifestyle-led communities. The new supply pipeline, tracked by Cavendish Maxwell, is heavily weighted towards apartments, which account for 97 per cent of planned stock. The figure underlines […]
Gulf Cooperation Council banks are bracing for slower growth as the Middle East war and wider geopolitical uncertainty weigh on credit demand, investor confidence and corporate activity, even as lenders retain strong profitability, capital buffers and stable funding. S&P Global Ratings analyst Tatjana Lescova said banks across the six-nation bloc are expected to continue delivering solid earnings despite pressure from the conflict, higher risk premiums and uneven […]
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group will remove daily price limits on exchange-traded funds and futures contracts from 3 August 2026, marking a fresh step in its push to deepen liquidity, improve price discovery and align its listed products more closely with global market practice. The change applies to ETFs and futures contracts listed on the exchange, allowing their prices to move without the daily trading bands that […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai ADNEC Group delivered AED9.2 billion in economic impact in 2025, marking its strongest annual performance and strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a regional centre for exhibitions, conferences, hospitality and business tourism. The figure represented an 8 per cent rise from AED8.5 billion in 2024, supported by higher event activity, stronger visitor flows and deeper integration across venues, events, services, catering, tourism and media. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai DMCC has launched a dedicated cybersecurity vertical as part of a wider restructuring of its technology ecosystem, bringing more than 4,000 technology companies under the newly formalised DMCC Tech platform. The new unit, DMCC Cyber, is designed to support businesses working across cyber resilience, digital trust, data protection, identity management, and governance, risk and compliance. It will sit alongside the DMCC AI Centre, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE has emerged as the GCC’s busiest confirmed construction market, with 700 execution-ready projects valued at $138 billion, underscoring the country’s shift from post-boom recovery to a broader phase of active development across real estate, energy, infrastructure and specialised industrial assets. Saudi Arabia ranks close behind by project count, with 628 confirmed schemes, though its pipeline is larger in value terms at […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai OPEC+ has approved another increase in oil output targets for August, adding 188,000 barrels per day to planned supply as Gulf exports move back through the Strait of Hormuz and crude prices ease from wartime highs. The decision, taken at a virtual meeting on Sunday, extends a sequence of monthly quota increases that began in April and continued through June and July. Saudi […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil prices have slipped back as a burst of supply, softer demand signals and easing disruption fears revive concern that the global market may be heading towards another glut. Brent crude has traded close to $72 a barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate has hovered below $70, pulling prices towards levels seen before the latest Middle East supply scare. The shift has […]
Mexico-focused companies are facing a sharper wave of TimbreStealer attacks as operators behind the information-stealing malware combine tax-themed phishing with cloud-hosted delivery, DLL side-loading and layered evasion designed to defeat automated analysis. The campaign marks a technical step-up for a malware family first tracked in late 2023, when attackers used fiscal and invoice lures to push an obfuscated stealer at users in Mexico. The latest activity keeps […]
Cape Verde’s breakthrough World Cup campaign ended in Miami Gardens after the Blue Sharks pushed defending champions Argentina to extra time before falling 3-2 in a round-of-32 match that turned one of the tournament’s smallest teams into one of its defining stories. Argentina advanced to a round-of-16 meeting with Egypt, but the night belonged almost as much to Cape Verde, whose players twice came from behind and […]
China’s cinemas are being encouraged to add AI agents, karaoke rooms, coffee bars, retail corners and cultural events as regulators seek to turn theatres into broader entertainment venues rather than spaces dependent only on film screenings. The policy direction was set out in a notice issued by the National Film Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation, outlining 10 measures across business diversification, brand management and […]
Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has joined a large group of cornerstone investors in Luxshare Precision Industry’s Hong Kong share sale, giving the Apple supplier stronger institutional backing as it seeks to raise up to $3.1 billion in what could become the city’s biggest listing of 2026. The Shenzhen-listed manufacturer is offering 383.5 million H-shares at a maximum price of HK$63.28 each, with trading expected to begin on […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The UAE’s non-oil private sector came close to stalling in June as the impact of the Iran conflict, softer tourism activity and cost pressures hit client demand, leaving firms with the weakest improvement in business conditions since February 2021. The seasonally adjusted S&P Global UAE Purchasing Managers’ Index fell to 50.8 in June from 52.6 in May, staying only slightly above the 50 […]
By R. Suryamurthy Every war leaves behind shattered cities, broken societies and grieving families. But some wars destroy something less visible yet infinitely more consequential: faith in the institutions created to prevent humanity from repeating history’s darkest chapters. The latest report of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Israel and the Occupied […]
Gulf banking systems remain well placed to absorb near-term shocks from the US-Iran conflict, but their credit strength is now tied closely to whether the ceasefire holds and whether the Strait of Hormuz returns fully to dependable commercial use. Fitch Ratings says the durability of the truce between Washington and Tehran will be central to the outlook for banks across the Gulf Cooperation Council, where lenders entered […]
Dubai’s off-plan office market surged to a record AED13.1 billion in the first half of 2026, surpassing the combined value of transactions recorded across the previous seven years and signalling a decisive shift in the emirate’s commercial property cycle. Developers sold 1,668 off-plan office units between January and June, compared with AED5.48 billion generated from 1,821 transactions between 2019 and 2025. The jump reflects a sharp acceleration […]
Singapore-based companies have committed more than S$5.5 billion in Johor since the JS-SEZ memorandum of understanding, while IMFC-J reported 1,000 enquiries linked to RM73 billion in potential investment in March 2026.
JOHOR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 July 2026 – Forest City Special Financial Zone (Forest City SFZ) today issued a progress update on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), pointing to early implementation milestones in investment facilitation, financial-services incentives and cross-border connectivity.
Forest City, Johor
The JS-SEZ agreement, signed on 7 January 2025, covers approximately 3,588 square kilometres across southern Johor. It comprises nine flagship areas and targets investment in 11 sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, financial services, the digital economy, tourism, education, healthcare and the green economy. Forest City is the designated financial-services flagship within the framework.
“The JS-SEZ has moved beyond framework design and into early-stage execution. Forest City has a defined role in financial services and family-office activity, while the wider zone is building a pipeline across multiple industries,” a Forest City SFZ spokesperson said.
Investment pipeline builds across the JS-SEZ
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said Singapore-based companies had committed more than S$5.5 billion in investments into Johor since the JS-SEZ memorandum of understanding was signed in January 2024. The figure was highlighted at the second JS-SEZ Joint Investment Forum in Singapore in October 2025.
On the Malaysian side, the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre Johor (IMFC-J) reported in March 2026 that it had received 1,000 investor enquiries and was facilitating RM73 billion in potential investment.
IMFC-J is a joint federal-state one-stop centre led by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Invest Johor and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.
The figures represent investment commitments and potential project value rather than fully realised capital expenditure, but provide an early measure of the commercial pipeline forming around the economic corridor.
Forest City builds financial-services proposition
Malaysia announced the Forest City SFZ incentive package in September 2024, followed by the gazettement of the Single Family Office (SFO) tax rules in October 2025. Under the scheme, a qualifying SFO vehicle may receive a 0% tax rate on eligible investment income for an initial 10-year period, with a possible extension for a further 10 years, subject to asset, local investment, staffing and operating-expenditure requirements.
The initial phase requires at least RM30 million in assets under management. The wider Forest City incentive framework also includes a 5% corporate tax rate for qualifying global-services and selected relocation activities, while eligible knowledge workers in the JS-SEZ may qualify for a 15% personal income tax rate, subject to prevailing rules and approvals.
According to Forest City data, nine family offices had received approvals under the scheme by June 2026. The Securities Commission Malaysia had previously reported more than 30 expressions of interest and has set a target of RM2 billion in SFO assets under management by the end of 2026.
Separately, Forest City said 593 applicants were approved for the SFZ category of the Malaysia My Second Home programme between 1 October 2024 and 31 March 2026, indicating demand from investors, professionals and long-stay residents alongside the financial-services push.
Cross-border measures support the dual-market model
The JS-SEZ framework is intended to combine Johor’s land, industrial capacity and cost base with Singapore’s capital, connectivity and business ecosystem. Measures under the bilateral framework include investor facilitation, automated immigration channels, paperless goods clearance and improved transport links.
Singapore has rolled out QR-code immigration clearance across travel modes at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Travellers should continue to carry their passports, which may still be required for verification and for clearance at the Malaysian border.
The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link is targeted to begin passenger service by the end of 2026. The four-kilometre line will connect Bukit Chagar and Woodlands North in about five minutes and is designed to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction during peak periods.
Execution and conversion remain the next test
The World Bank projects Malaysia’s economy to expand by 4.4% in 2026, supported by domestic demand, while warning that trade restrictions, global policy uncertainty and weaker external demand remain downside risks.
For the JS-SEZ, the next phase will be measured by the conversion of enquiries and commitments into approved projects, realised investment, skilled employment and operating businesses. Delivery of transport, utilities, talent development and regulatory coordination will also determine the pace at which companies adopt a cross-border operating model.
“The early indicators are encouraging, but the economic impact should be assessed over a multi-year horizon. The priority now is to convert the pipeline into sustainable business activity, jobs and a deeper professional-services ecosystem,” the spokesperson said.
Forest City SFZ said it will continue working with public agencies, financial institutions and professional-service providers to support family offices, international investors and companies evaluating Johor as part of their regional growth strategy.
Key figures
Indicator
Latest stated figure
JS-SEZ coverage
Approximately 3,588 km²; nine flagship areas; 11 priority sectors
Singapore-linked commitments
More than S$5.5 billion committed into Johor since January 2024
IMFC-J pipeline
1,000 enquiries; RM73 billion in potential investment as at March 2026
SFO incentive
0% on eligible investment income for 10 years, with a possible further 10 years
RTS Link
Targeted passenger service by end-2026; up to 10,000 passengers per hour per direction
Malaysia 2026 GDP outlook
4.4% growth forecast by the World Bank
Hashtag: #ForestCity
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Forest City Special Financial Zone
Located in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Forest City Special Financial Zone (FCSFZ) is Malaysia’s pioneering special financial zone and the financial-services flagship within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone. It is positioned to attract financial institutions, multinational corporations, high-net-worth individuals and businesses operating in wealth management, financial technology and global business services.
Its incentive framework includes a 0% income tax rate for qualifying Single Family Office Vehicles for up to 20 years, a preferential 5% corporate tax rate for approved qualifying activities, and a special 15% personal income tax rate for eligible knowledge workers, subject to the applicable conditions, regulatory approvals and prevailing legislation. Forest City also holds duty-free island status, further strengthening its appeal as a regional investment, business and wealth-management destination near Singapore.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Washington and Tehran have used a new round of indirect talks in Doha to move from crisis management towards implementation of a preliminary understanding that has lowered fears of a wider Gulf confrontation but left major disputes unresolved. The discussions, hosted by Qatar with Pakistani mediation, began on Tuesday night and continued on Wednesday in separate sessions involving senior negotiators and technical experts. […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 July 2026 – Global beauty brand LUX, in collaboration with VML Singapore, has launched #LUXMyWill — an initiative that transforms one of social media’s most talked-about beauty trends into a formal, lasting declaration of personal style.
Over the past year, women across TikTok and Instagram have embraced hashtags such as #BuryMeInThis – a viral expression of ultimate obsession, where users name the look they would want to be remembered in. What began as playful, dramatic content quickly evolved into a cultural signal: a new generation of women declaring that they are not dressing for occasions – they are the occasion.
LUX recognised the deeper meaning behind the trend and partnered with legal experts to give it permanence. #LUXMyWill enables women to turn a fleeting social post into a formally recognised personal style wish – one that can be witnessed, documented and preserved.
The initiative invites women to declare their chosen look on camera and tag someone they trust to honour it. Legal specialists worked alongside the brand to define what gives such a declaration standing, and to create simple, accessible content explaining the process. Selected participants also received a LUX My Will box, designed to preserve their chosen outfit alongside their recorded declaration.
“Beauty has always been a powerful form of self-expression. Today, women are taking that further – not waiting for occasions, but becoming them,” said Judy Zu, Global Brand Director, LUX. “This trend showed us that when a woman chooses how she wants to be remembered, it’s not frivolous – it’s a statement of identity. We wanted to give that statement the recognition it deserves.”
The movement built organically. Creators who had previously posted under #BuryMeInThis revisited their content to make it official, tagging friends who, in turn, created declarations of their own. Each tag became a new participant. Each declaration, a witnessed moment. Each video, a permanent expression of personal style.
Through this chain of participation, #LUXMyWill expanded rapidly – creator by creator, tag by tag – turning individual expressions of glamour into a collective cultural movement.
At its core, #LUXMyWill reinforces LUX’s enduring belief: beauty is not just something you wear for a moment. It is something you embody, define, and leave behind – because you are the occasion.
Hashtag: #LUXMyWill ##BuryMeInThis
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About LUX
LUX has been celebrating beauty and femininity since 1925. We stand for beauty that does not blend in: bold, sassy and maximalist. We will continue to support efforts that help women express their Main Character Beauty.
About VML
VML is a leading creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, to create connected brands that drive growth. The agency is a leading global marketing and systems integration partner, specializing in creating innovative solutions for business transformation. VML is celebrated for its award-winning work with blue chip client partners including AstraZeneca, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell, Ford, Intel, Microsoft, Nestlé, The Coca-Cola Company, and Wendy’s. The agency is recognized by the Forrester Wave™ Reports, which name WPP a “Leader” in Commerce Services, Global Digital Experience Services, Global Marketing Services and, most recently, Marketing Measurement & Optimization. VML’s global network is powered by 28,000 talented people across 60-plus markets, with principal offices in Kansas City, New York, Detroit, London, São Paulo, Shanghai, Singapore, and Sydney.
