Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi-based Burjeel Holdings has highlighted its mission-ready healthcare operations across national and international projects, reporting more than 1.17 million outpatient and inpatient visits as it showcases an integrated model for delivering medical services. The healthcare group is placing emergency preparedness, frontline medical response, deployable hospital infrastructure and specialised treatment at the centre of its participation in the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit […]
Figma co-founder and chief executive Dylan Field has questioned the limitations of the Model Context Protocol (MCP), warning that unrestricted access to company data could increase security risks even as the design software developer expands its artificial intelligence partnerships. Field said the open-source protocol, which enables AI agents to connect with external applications and information, requires substantial improvement. His comments followed Figma’s announcement of 20 additional MCP […]
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 October 2026 – VinFast VF 3, the best-selling electric mini-SUV of VinFast Philippines, has claimed the top spot in the local BEV segment after recording 2,906 units sold from January to August 2026 according to the CAMPI report.
The VinFast VF 3 is the Philippines’ best-selling BEV, underscoring its strong consumer appeal and helping accelerate the transition to greener mobility.
Dubbed as the “Tiny Titan,” the VF 3 asserted its popularity among first-time Filipino EV owners looking for compact and practical vehicles. Already gaining strong traction before recent oil price hikes, the VF 3 saw demand surge during the global energy uncertainty as volatile domestic fuel prices pushed Filipino motorists towards cost-efficient mobility options.
Beyond the impressive specifications of the VF 3, the model’s market dominance is credited to VinFast’s comprehensive Ownership System that helps address key barriers to EV adoption. The number one BEV brand’s first-of-its-kind initiatives such as the Battery Subscription Policy, which lowers upfront costs, and the Residual Value Guarantee Program, which protects long-term asset value, continue to appeal to Filipinos looking for practical mobility solutions. Coupled with its free charging program until March 31, 2029, the brand’s expanding charging networks in the country builds a strong total cost of ownership case for VF 3, attracting Filipinos to make the EV shift amidst fuel price volatility.
Mr. Antonio “Toti” Zara III, CEO of VinFast Philippines, said: “We are deeply grateful and incredibly proud of the warm reception that VF 3 received in the Philippines. Achieving the number one spot is a milestone that demonstrates Filipino drivers’ readiness to embrace electric mobility when backed by an ecosystem that supports their entire journey. The incredible reception of the VF 3 proves that eliminating traditional barriers through our comprehensive Ownership System makes going electric a seamless, practical choice. But the Tiny Titan leading the charts is only the beginning of our mission in the country, as we vow to continuously expand and evolve this ecosystem to ensure sustainable EV ownership remains accessible, effortless, and dependable for every Filipino motorist.”
The VF 3’s success in the Philippine market reflects consumer reception and the model’s suitability for local mobility needs. To continue meeting consumer needs and enhancing the ownership experience, VinFast is steadily expanding its vehicle lineup and further developing its comprehensive Ownership System – encompassing growing dealership networks across the Philippines, the Battery Subscription and the Residual Value Guarantee programs, the V-Green network, and dedicated aftersales support. VinFast continues to remove barriers to EV ownership and make electric driving a practical, seamless choice for Filipinos.
VinFast is expected to sustain this momentum by continuing to expand its charging network and dealership footprint across the country. To experience the country’s best-selling electric mini-SUV firsthand, customers are invited to book a test drive or visit any authorized VinFast dealership nationwide.
Hashtag: #VinFast
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The world’s most powerful central banks are lining up to raise interest rates at the same time. History suggests this rarely ends quietly. The Federal Reserve is, I believe, likely to hold this month, then hike in December. Markets put the odds of a European Central Bank rise in December at 84%. Canada’s inflation has smashed through its target. British wage growth keeps running hot. Everywhere you […]
TONGXIANG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 October 2026 – The 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit will open on Nov. 2, bringing technology leaders, researchers and companies to the historic water town as Tongxiang firms expand AI applications from commercial cleaning and autonomous delivery to industrial control and data-center cooling.
The CenoBot S5 autonomous cleaning robot undergoes real-world testing at a demonstration site in Tongxiang.
For Tongxiang, long associated with the annual internet conference, the summit is also a chance to demonstrate how local companies are commercializing AI technologies for customers at home and abroad.
Ahead of the event, reporters visited seven Tongxiang-based companies working in robotics, intelligent vehicles, synthetic data, industrial automation, logistics and computing infrastructure.
Singapore Changi Airport earlier this year placed a fourth order for commercial cleaning robots from CenoBots, a Tongxiang-based company whose machines are used in airports, supermarkets, hospitals, factories and warehouses.
CenoBots has sold products in more than 40 countries and regions. Its customers include Changi Airport, British retailer Tesco, the University of Minnesota and pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. This year, the company supplied about 600 autonomous cleaning robots for Tesco Express stores across the United Kingdom.
“Cleaning robots are appearing in more and more settings,” said Shen Jizhong, CenoBots’ co-founder and vice president. “It is much like electric vehicles becoming a familiar sight on the roads — a trend that is gathering pace.”
The company’s machines are adapted to different settings. Hospital robots must move through busy corridors without disrupting patient care, while those used in supermarkets navigate around shoppers and carts. Factory robots operate near forklifts, and airport models must handle both fine debris in carpeted areas and small obstacles on smooth floors.
CenoBots continues to refine its robots through real-world testing, focusing on reliable operation and consistent cleaning performance across diverse environments. The company has expanded its research, development and production facilities in Tongxiang from approximately 3,000 square meters in its early years to more than 20,000 square meters. Local malls, hospitals and sports venues have also served as long-term testing sites.
While CenoBots focuses on service robots, TEEMO is developing the vehicle platforms that support autonomous mobility. The company makes drive-by-wire skateboard chassis and core components for autonomous vehicles used in last-mile delivery, patrols and logistics.
Its standardized chassis can be equipped with different vehicle bodies and hardware for specific uses. One of TEEMO’s strategic customers, autonomous delivery-vehicle maker Zelos, was selected for all lots in China Post’s centralized procurement program for 7,000 autonomous delivery vehicles.
TEEMO’s customers already span the United States, the Middle East, India and Russia, said Zhang Yongjian, the company’s director of operations.
“In some overseas markets, distances are long, populations are dispersed and last-mile delivery is difficult to staff,” Zhang said. “Autonomous delivery vehicles have strong potential there, and overseas business will become an important growth driver for us.”
Other Tongxiang companies are concentrating on the data and perception systems that allow machines to function in physical environments.
Dayan Technology, founded in Tongxiang in May 2025, provides synthetic-data and toolchain services for autonomous-driving and humanoid-robotics companies. It combines real-world data collection, digital twins and simulated training environments to help developers train robots before they are deployed.
Its wearable devices record human movement and interactions with objects. A haptic glove uses liquid-metal and pressure sensors to capture hand gestures, finger movements and contact force. A multi-camera headset records a user’s visual field, body posture, hand movements and the position of nearby objects.
Dayan said its tactile-perception model can process touch signals in milliseconds. The technology is intended to help robots do more than identify objects visually: They can learn how firmly to grip an item, recognize when it is slipping and apply force without causing damage.
Freetech Intelligent Factory
Freetech is applying related sensing and decision-making capabilities to intelligent driving. The company develops intelligent-driving systems and 4D imaging radar for passenger and commercial vehicles, and said its technology has been selected for hundreds of vehicle programs.
Its ODIN AI platform supports products at different levels of driving automation. The radar is designed to complement cameras in heavy rain, fog, darkness and abrupt changes in light, including when vehicles enter or leave tunnels.
At its intelligent-manufacturing base in Wuzhen, Freetech is also using AI in production. An in-house system reads customer orders and calculates the components and materials needed for each production line before manufacturing begins. The company said the system has increased overall efficiency by more than 20%.
“Transportation combined with a specialized function will be an important direction for the future,” said Dr. Zhang Lin, Freetech’s founder and CEO.
Freetech sees potential applications beyond passenger vehicles, including robots, elder-care vehicles, mining equipment and agricultural machinery.
Beyond mobility, Tongxiang firms are using AI to address the complexity of industrial operations. Founded in 2019, Shuhan Technologies provides on-premises industrial AI for chemical plants, energy facilities and wastewater-treatment systems. Its AI-driven control layer continuously ingests data from central control systems and field sensors, identifies dynamic conditions and autonomously adjusts operating parameters in real time.
“Fundamentally, all industrial process challenges can be framed as control and optimization problems,” said Zhai Zhengjun, Shuhan’s Chief Technology Officer.
At a coal chemical plant with annual capacity of 1.2 million metric tons, Shuhan said its system reduced raw-material consumption by 6%. The company estimated that the deployment generated more than 176 million yuan, or about $26 million, in annualized economic benefits and reduced carbon emissions by more than 500,000 metric tons.
SENAD is targeting bottlenecks in logistics operations, including loading, unloading, sorting and pallet handling. It develops autonomous loading and unloading robots, as well as a multimodal logistics model called Robot Insight, for sectors including beverages, tobacco, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and logistics.
Tongxiang’s AI sector also includes companies addressing the infrastructure needed to run increasingly powerful computing systems. SynthCool is tackling a basic constraint of the AI boom: heat.
SynthCool develops two-phase liquid-cooling systems to address the heat generated by increasingly powerful processors. Inadequate cooling can trigger thermal throttling, reducing performance and energy efficiency.
“Heat dissipation is infrastructure,” said Zhu Zhijiang, SynthCool’s general manager.
SynthCool’s two-phase cooling technology uses the latent heat of vaporization to remove heat from processors. The cooling fluid absorbs heat and boils into vapor, which is then condensed back into liquid and recirculated.
Depending on ambient conditions and system design, two-phase cooling can also support free cooling and reduce reliance on compressor-based refrigeration. Waste heat may be recovered where temperatures and local demand make reuse practical.
According to SynthCool, its technology supports heat dissipation of more than 3,000 watts per chip and heat flux above 250 watts per square centimeter. Under comparable cooling requirements, the system requires approximately one-third of the flow needed by conventional single-phase water-cooled cold plates, helping reduce piping requirements and pumping demand.
SynthCool’s portfolio includes two-phase direct-to-chip and immersion cooling solutions, along with distribution units and control systems for AI data centers.
Hashtag: #Tongxiang
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Town, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup developing workplace assistants, has raised $108 million in Series B financing, securing a $1 billion valuation just four months after its public launch. The funding round, announced on October 19, was co-led by Forerunner Ventures and Menlo Ventures, with participation from existing investors Andreessen Horowitz and First Round Capital. Other participants included Better Tomorrow Ventures, Precedent. vc, Scribble Ventures, Serena […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) has launched a dual-tranche US dollar bond offering, targeting international investors as the utility group seeks financing for eligible green projects and other corporate requirements. The transaction, launched on Monday, October 19, comprises a long five-year tranche and a 10-year tranche of senior unsecured notes. Initial pricing discussions placed the shorter maturity at approximately 130 basis points […]
Walt Disney has agreed to offer jobs to most employees of bankrupt artificial intelligence chatbot developer Character. AI, expanding a proposed $20 million technology deal as the startup struggles with mounting legal liabilities and heavy operating losses. Bankruptcy court filings show that Disney has committed to making employment offers to at least 60 Character. AI employees, representing a majority of its workforce. Their estimated annual compensation totals […]
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman expects the company to demonstrate a humanoid robot in 2027, confirming an expansion into machines that could eventually compete with products developed by robotics businesses it previously supported. Altman outlined the timetable in a September interview, describing an impressive demonstration next year while cautioning that robots operating routinely in public spaces would take several more years. His remarks establish a development target […]
Voters across Canada’s oil-rich Alberta province went to the polls on Monday in a referendum that could initiate a constitutional process towards independence, amid warnings of economic disruption and deepening political divisions. The non-binding vote asks residents whether Alberta should remain within Canada or whether its government should begin the legal steps necessary to hold a binding referendum on separation. A victory for the independence option would […]
Anthropic has circulated draft legislation among US lawmakers that would sharply limit when federal authorities could stop the release or operation of advanced artificial intelligence models, setting intervention thresholds above $1 billion in damage or more than 50 deaths or serious injuries. The proposal, disclosed on 16 October, would require a foreseeable and imminent threat linked to a biological weapon, a cyberattack or an AI system escaping […]
Malaysia claims the inaugural Nations’ Trophy as athletes representing four Southeast Asian nations compete in Bangkok
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 October 2026 – Brazilian athlete Yasmin Yukare, representing Indonesia, and Malaysia’s Saddam Pittli were crowned the inaugural Red Bull Power Race International Champions in Bangkok, while Malaysia claimed the Nations’ Trophy. Yukare and Pittli secured their historic victories with winning times of 8:26 and 7:16, respectively, becoming the first international titleholders in the new competition.
Yasmin Yukare And Saddam Pittli Crowned Inaugural Red Bull Power Race International Champions
The International Final in Bangkok rounded off a world premiere season that began in Kuala Lumpur and moved on to Yangon and Jakarta before reaching the Thai capital for the Thailand National Final on 17 October. The following day, the 12 fastest men and 12 fastest women representing each of the four countries competed in the International Final, with 96 athletes vying for the inaugural titles. Across the four national events held in 2026, Red Bull Power Race attracted participants from 33 different countries and territories, from Brazil to South Korea, highlighting its appeal well beyond the four host nations.
The competition delivered fiercely contested racing throughout the day, including a dramatic photo finish in the men’s semi-finals, where three athletes were separated by just four hundredths of a second.
Red Bull Power Race International_02
Brazilian athlete Yasmin Yukare, representing Indonesia, was crowned the first women’s Red Bull Power Race International Champion after a commanding performance in Bangkok. Having set the pace throughout qualifying and the semi-finals, Yukare delivered her fastest time of the competition in the final, crossing the finish line in 8:26. Malaysia’s Hui Teng Tobee Yip claimed second place in 8:51, narrowly ahead of compatriot Natasha Nazamil, who completed the podium in 8:52.
Malaysia’s Saddam Pittli claimed the inaugural men’s Red Bull Power Race International Championship with a winning time of 7:16, producing his fastest performance of the day in the decisive race. Having finished second in the semi-final standings, Pittli found another level in the championship final, improving his time by more than 21 seconds to secure victory. Indonesia completed the podium, with Damar Prasetyo taking second place in 7:30 and Ghian Herdiyana third in 7:31.
Beyond the individual titles, athletes also competed for national pride in the Nations’ Trophy, earning points for the country they represented based on their finishing positions. Malaysia emerged victorious with the highest combined points total, claiming the inaugural trophy and rounding off a day of intense competition and friendly international rivalry.
Ms Supasita Kraisri, Chief Global Marketing Officer of TCP Group, said: “Red Bull Power Race brings our international sporting spirit to a new generation. Young adults across Asia are choosing more variety in the ways they exercise that fit around busy modern lives, and this format speaks directly to that. Beyond the competition, it’s also about bringing people together, building communities and creating shared experiences through sport. We want to inspire young adults to pursue their own goals and strengthen Red Bull’s connection with their active lifestyles.”
Billed as “The Fastest Race, The Greatest Rush”, Red Bull Power Race is built around familiar bodyweight exercises in a short high-intensity format that requires no specialist exercise equipment. That makes it accessible to anyone with the determination to take it on. Athletes complete four 400m runs separated by three stations of push-ups, sit-ups and squats, with men performing 40 repetitions at each station and women 30.
Yasmin Yukare said: “I still can’t believe I’ve won! The other women from Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand were so strong, and I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I just kept pushing and never gave up. The atmosphere was incredible, and hearing my friends cheering me on around the course gave me so much energy. Crossing that finish line was such a special moment. To anyone thinking about trying Red Bull Power Race, don’t be afraid to give it a go. The energy here is amazing, and you can do it!”
The short, high-intensity format leaves little margin for error, with success demanding more than just speed and strength. Athletes must balance explosive effort with smart pacing, knowing when to push and when to conserve energy. With every second counting, strategy and composure can make the difference between winning and losing.
Saddam Pittli said: “Representing Malaysia was my biggest motivation. Every lap, every station, I kept thinking about my country, and that pushed me to give everything I had. To become the first Red Bull Power Race International Champion makes me incredibly happy and proud. I really enjoyed the competition, and I hope my victory encourages more people to give it a try. Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Just come and experience it!”
Red Bull Power Race International
Official Results: Red Bull Power Race International Final 2026
By Nantoo Banerjee The prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, lately due to the ego tussle between the United States and Iran, have inflicted severe financial, operational, and human costs on India’s merchant marine industry and broader import-export trade. But, thanks to an excellent supply chain management effort, it failed to impact the country’s […]
India’s space economy could expand fivefold to $45 billion within eight years as the government seeks more private investment, quicker regulatory clearances and stronger commercial demand, Space Minister Jitendra Singh has said.
Singh estimated the sector’s current value at approximately $9 billion and projected it could reach $40 billion to $45 billion over seven to eight years. Speaking at a New Delhi roundtable on Saturday, he said the next priority was building internationally competitive businesses rather than simply demonstrating technological capabilities.
The minister identified predictable customer demand, domestic and overseas capital, efficient approvals and sustainable business models as essential conditions for expansion. His remarks at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum placed commercial viability at the centre of the government’s efforts to enlarge the role of private companies in space activities.
Government departments could become anchor customers for emerging enterprises, Singh said, providing contracts that enable businesses to test technology and develop products for wider markets. Support for proof-of-concept projects would also help companies demonstrate practical applications before committing to larger production programmes.
Such arrangements could address a central challenge for space ventures: securing reliable revenue while facing substantial development costs and lengthy periods before projects generate returns. Singh argued that an identifiable customer base would encourage manufacturing investment and allow companies to establish more durable commercial operations.
He also called for defined timeframes for installation and export licences, alongside lower operating costs and better integration of supply chains. Regulatory improvements, he said, must produce practical results for companies seeking to enter the market or expand their activities.
Singh referred to goods and services tax measures affecting space products, saying policy changes should deliver tangible benefits to industry. He did not announce a fresh tax package or specify new deadlines for regulatory decisions during the discussion.
The forecast broadly matches the longer-term ambition set out by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, or IN-SPACe, which has outlined a $44 billion space economy by 2033. Its strategy envisages $11 billion in exports, with opportunities spanning satellite communications, navigation, Earth observation, manufacturing and launch services.
That target remains an aspiration rather than an assured outcome. Delivering it would require sustained growth across multiple segments, with private operators securing customers and financing while navigating technical, regulatory and commercial risks.
Figures disclosed to Parliament in July illustrate both the expansion of private participation and the distance still to travel. Singh said cumulative private investment had reached $618.5 million by March 31, 2026, while $187 million had been reported during 2026. The government had granted 105 authorisations to non-government entities as of July 14.
Those authorisations are subject to national security and strategic considerations under IN-SPACe procedures. The government has said it is developing dedicated safety and security guidelines as commercial activity expands, reflecting the need to balance market access with oversight of sensitive technologies.
Singh said international partnerships could bring investment, technological expertise and access to overseas customers, while domestic capabilities remained important for strategic autonomy. He advocated closer cooperation among government agencies, private enterprises and foreign partners, particularly where collaboration could strengthen manufacturing networks and market access.
He pointed to satellite communications, geospatial services and Earth observation as areas where space technology already supports economic activity. Applications include infrastructure monitoring, agriculture, disaster management and defence, alongside services built around satellite data.
The minister highlighted government use of geotagging to monitor development projects, track implementation schedules and assist administrative clearances. He also cited space-based disaster information supplied to neighbouring countries, including Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The commercialisation programme follows the opening of space activities to private participation in 2019 and 2020, a change that enabled enterprises to work alongside public institutions. Singh said that cooperation had yielded results but that technical achievement alone would not guarantee commercial success. The distinction is significant for companies developing satellite hardware, data services and launch technologies: demonstrating that a system works is different from securing repeat orders at prices sufficient to sustain operations. Public procurement and export access could therefore influence investment decisions.
The roundtable, titled Space, Sovereignty and New Economy, included IN-SPACe promotion director Vinod Kumar and Aisha Bowe, founder and chief executive of STEMBoard and LINGO, a former NASA engineer who has flown with Blue Origin. Participants discussed investment, international cooperation and the challenge of converting national space capabilities into commercially viable enterprises.
Chief executives must take direct responsibility for artificial intelligence transformation rather than leave it to technology departments, Keystone chief executive Jeff Marowits has argued, as the advisory firm expands its international operations and investment in executive AI capabilities. His emphasis on leadership comes as businesses confront a widening gap between experimenting with AI tools and changing how their organisations operate. Keystone is positioning its advisory services around […]
Bitcoin and US stock futures climbed on Monday after China’s economy expanded faster than expected in the third quarter, while falling oil prices helped improve investor sentiment across global financial markets.
China’s gross domestic product grew 4.5% year on year during July to September, exceeding economists’ forecast of 4.4% and accelerating from 4.3% in the preceding quarter, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Bitcoin briefly climbed towards $82,500 as cryptocurrency traders responded to the stronger economic figures and improving conditions in traditional financial markets. Nasdaq futures also advanced, reflecting renewed demand for technology shares following a difficult period for companies associated with artificial intelligence.
The market recovery was uneven, however. South Korea’s Kospi faced selling pressure after an initial improvement, highlighting continuing concerns about technology valuations and the substantial financing requirements of artificial intelligence development.
US Nasdaq futures gained approximately 1% during Asian trading, while contracts tracking the broader S&P 500 advanced around 0.7%. Lower energy prices provided additional support as investors assessed their implications for inflation, corporate earnings and borrowing costs.
China’s economic figures offered a measure of reassurance about activity in the world’s second-largest economy. Quarterly output increased 1.2% from the preceding three months, exceeding expectations for a 1.1% expansion and improving from 0.9% growth during April to June.
The stronger performance was supported by exports and industrial production, although weaknesses in household consumption and property investment continued to complicate the economic outlook.
Official figures showed industrial production increasing 5.5% year on year in September, compared with 5.2% in August. Retail sales grew 1.1%, indicating modest improvement in consumer spending despite persistent pressure on household confidence.
China’s government has established an annual economic growth target of approximately 4.5% to 5%, making the third-quarter performance significant for policymakers considering whether further stimulus measures are necessary.
Growth during the first nine months reached 4.6%, according to official estimates, keeping the economy within reach of the government’s full-year objective.
Financial markets nevertheless remained sensitive to concerns that China’s expansion depends heavily on exports and industrial investment rather than sustained improvements in domestic demand.
The property sector remained a particular concern, with investment continuing to contract despite measures intended to support homebuyers and stabilise developers.
Oil markets supplied another important influence on trading. Brent crude futures declined approximately 1.7% to $107.95 a barrel, while US crude futures slipped 0.8% to $100.62.
The decline followed developments surrounding Washington’s sanctions policy towards Russia. President Donald Trump indicated that restrictions could be eased, potentially allowing additional Russian energy supplies into international markets, although the administration had not finalised its position.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the administration could take up to 60 days to assess the economic consequences of changing sanctions arrangements.
Lower crude prices helped ease immediate concerns about inflation, particularly because energy costs influence transport, manufacturing and household expenditure across major economies.
US government bonds strengthened as yields declined. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield fell approximately four basis points to 5.0525%, providing some relief to financial markets concerned about elevated borrowing costs.
Expectations surrounding Federal Reserve policy remained important for cryptocurrency investors. Lower inflation could eventually create additional room for monetary easing, although policymakers face competing pressures from energy markets and economic activity.
The Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate currently stands between 4.75% and 5%, with financial markets expecting policymakers to leave borrowing costs unchanged at their next meeting.
Across Asian equities, the initial advance reflected bargain hunting following substantial losses in technology stocks. Japan’s Nikkei and South Korea’s Kospi both experienced volatile trading as investors reassessed exposure to semiconductor manufacturers.
Concerns about artificial intelligence spending remained prominent. Goldman Sachs estimates that five major technology companies could increase their combined capital expenditure to approximately $1.2 trillion next year, raising questions about investment returns.
China’s currency strengthened against the dollar, with the yuan reaching approximately 6.6828, its strongest level since July 2022.
Gold traded around $4,181 an ounce, supported by declining bond yields, while the dollar remained under pressure against several currencies.
Elsewhere, European equity futures weakened amid political uncertainty in France, demonstrating the differing regional influences on international investment flows.
Chinese blue-chip shares edged lower after initially benefiting from the economic figures, with investors continuing to assess whether stronger industrial activity would translate into a sustained improvement in domestic consumption.
Ethereum climbed nearly 5% as substantial purchases by large cryptocurrency holders and a recovery in Bitcoin helped lift digital asset prices following a sharp market sell-off. Ether, the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, traded around $2,480 on October 16, registering a gain of approximately 4.6% over 24 hours, according to CoinGecko data. Trading volume reached about $14.48 billion, while its market capitalisation approached $302 billion. The […]
Abu Dhabi is expected to prioritise additional borrowing over withdrawals from sovereign wealth assets if the US-Iran war escalates, according to Fitch Ratings, which forecasts substantial budget surpluses and manageable government debt through 2028. The rating agency said the emirate would favour debt financing rather than drawing down investments beyond the established dividend policy of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), reflecting its ability to access capital […]
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised tougher security measures and prosecutions after nationwide demonstrations over living costs descended into arson, looting and clashes with police, intensifying political confrontation ahead of next year’s presidential election. Macron condemned the destruction following an emergency meeting on Sunday, while stopping short of imposing a state of emergency. His intervention came as police confronted fresh disturbances in Paris and municipal authorities assessed […]
CHENGDU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 October 2026 – ISYUN, a leading professional Chinese trendy hair dyeing brand, officially announced today that renowned versatile artist and global icon Victoria has been appointed as its Global Brand Ambassador. Marking a milestone strategic move in the brand’s history, this partnership reflects a deep synergy between both parties’ commitment to professional excellence and modern fashion philosophy. The collaboration signifies ISYUN’s accelerated global expansion pace, bringing high-quality at-home hair dyeing and care solutions to the worldwide market, while delivering a brand-new, professional home-styling choice to beauty consumers across Southeast Asia.
China’s Professional Hair Care Brand ISYUN Announces Victoria song as Global Brand Ambassador, Accelerating Global Expansion with Strategic Focus on Southeast Asia
For consumers across Southeast Asia and beyond, Victoria is widely recognized as an influential Asian artist boasting immense popularity and public affinity. Having debuted early in her career as the leader of the top-tier girl group f(x), she established a profound fan base and widespread public recognition throughout Southeast Asia, backed by her solid performance skills, refreshing yet sophisticated personal image, and distinct style identity. Throughout her career, Victoria has consistently approached her artistic endeavors with a rigorous and professional attitude, expanding her footprint into diverse fields including acting, music, and fashion. By continually pushing her own boundaries across Asia, she has cemented her status as a powerhouse of both substance and aesthetic style through her exceptional fashion expression and steady delivery of high-caliber work. Whether effortlessly pulling off sharp, sophisticated professional looks or interpreting dynamic, trendy styles, her daring spirit to break boundaries and pursue meticulous detail perfectly aligns with ISYUN’s brand DNA of “Professionalism, Fashion, and Texture,” while echoing the brand’s dedicated craftsmanship in the hair-coloring sector. As Global Brand Ambassador, Victoria will join hands with ISYUN to champion the brand philosophy of “One Step Closer to Hair Color Freedom,” enabling more consumers—including those in Southeast Asia—to experience the convenience and joy of salon-quality hair care at home.
A Decade of Professional Excellence and Omni-Channel Growth Since its inception in 2013, ISYUN has consistently focused on addressing the core pain points of consumers’ at-home hair coloring experiences, deeply cultivating the niche sector of trendy hair dyes while dedicating itself to creating professional, cutting-edge hair-coloring products tailored to Asian skin tones. Over the past decade, the brand has maintained deep insights into the personalized hair color demands of diverse consumer groups, keeping pace with global beauty trends to continuously expand its trendy color matrix. Currently encompassing six major color families with over twenty distinct shades—ranging from versatile everyday brown tones to highly personalized trendy hues—the brand fully satisfies expression needs across varying scenarios and styles.
Driven by stable product quality and an exceptional user experience, ISYUN has earned widespread recognition and affection from millions of young consumers in the Chinese market. In terms of channel layout, the brand has built an integrated omni-channel sales network: its offline footprint has successfully entered over 10,000 mainstream trendy retail stores nationwide, covering core consumer touchpoints, while its online presence maintains a leading position within the hair-dye category across major e-commerce platforms, backed by sustained sales leadership and stellar user reputation. Furthermore, ISYUN serves as the exclusive official designated professional hair care brand for the China Fashion Week, a testament to its industry-wide product acclaim.
Get Victoria’s Look: Catching the Trend with the All-New “Oxygen Cool Brown” In tandem with the global ambassador announcement, ISYUN is concurrently launching the exact hair color worn by Global Brand Ambassador Victoria: the “Oxygen Cool Brown.” Addressing the industry-wide pain point where traditional hair dyes cause damage during coloring, ISYUN’s product development has always centered on the core concept of “Hair Dyeing and Care in One.” Utilizing the brand’s proprietary essential oil special blending technology, plant-derived extracts such as argan oil, jojoba seed extract, and camellia seed oil are packaged in independent capsules, ready to be poured and mixed directly into the color cream during application. This delivers a simultaneous dyeing and conditioning experience that leaves hair smooth and lustrous post-application, effectively taming frizz and ameliorating post-dye dryness.
The newly introduced “Oxygen Cool Brown” shade—matching Victoria’s stunning hair look—is crafted precisely around the product’s superior color-rendering advantages. The translucent cool brown base blended with natural misty undertones flatters all skin tones while brightening overall complexion, seamlessly adapting to both daily commuting and leisure gatherings as a versatile, high-end, yet practical trendy color. Accompanied by an elegant floral fragrance, the product comprehensively optimizes the at-home coloring sensory experience, breaking public stereotypes regarding pungent chemical odors associated with hair dyes.
Tapping into the Booming Southeast Asian Beauty Market In recent years, Southeast Asia’s beauty and personal care market has experienced continuous expansion, with the rise of younger consumer cohorts driving rapid growth in personalized cosmetic demands. Among these segments, at-home hair care products have emerged as a prominent growth driver in the Southeast Asian market, favored for their operational flexibility, high cost-performance ratio, and diverse stylistic expressions. Simultaneously, Southeast Asian consumers are raising their expectations for hair-dye formulations: demanding both precise color rendering optimized for Asian skin tones and integrated nourishing properties to minimize hair damage. ISYUN’s launch of its global ambassador strategy—exporting mature hair-dye and care portfolios to international markets—precisely meets the soaring demand for professional at-home hair solutions across Southeast Asia.
A senior spokesperson for ISYUN stated, “Signing Victoria as our Global Brand Ambassador marks a vital milestone in our journey toward broader international markets. Victoria’s professional attitude and fashion influence enable us to precisely connect with our core consumer demographic, infusing fresh, trendy vitality into the brand. Leveraging her cross-cultural influence across Southeast Asia, ISYUN will more efficiently engage local youth demographics and communicate our core professional ethos and product value.”
Looking Ahead: Expanding Global Horizons Looking ahead, ISYUN will continue to collaborate with Global Brand Ambassador Victoria to uphold its brand DNA of “Professionalism, Fashion, and Texture,” continually sharpening its product competitiveness and color innovation. The brand remains committed to delivering diverse hair-coloring solutions that integrate trendiness with deep nourishment, bringing the founding vision of “One Step Closer to Hair Color Freedom” to life. As its global footprint steadily expands, ISYUN will continue monitoring the hair characteristics and aesthetic demands of consumers across different global regions, continuously optimizing its offerings to bring professional, convenient, and healthy at-home hair care experiences to more consumers worldwide, collectively exploring new frontiers in home hair-styling aesthetics.
Hashtag: #ISYUN
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Technology companies, start-ups and financial technology ventures could help lift India-UAE bilateral trade to $200 billion, a diplomat told a Dubai forum, identifying opportunities beyond established trade.
Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Consul General of India in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, said innovation, renewable energy, defence and space technology could contribute to the next phase of economic expansion. He was addressing the Innovators and Investors Series organised by the Indian People’s Forum on October 16.
The proposal comes as both governments pursue a target of $200 billion in bilateral trade by 2032. Trade reached $101.25 billion during India’s 2025-26 financial year, exceeding $100 billion for a second consecutive year, according to official figures.
Reddy urged businesses and investors to establish partnerships capable of taking emerging enterprises into international markets. Investment in technology businesses, he argued, could create additional commercial activity while linking the UAE’s capital providers with enterprises developing products and services in India.
His remarks were an assessment, not a new government commitment or forecast backed by contracts. Achieving the target would require substantial expansion across multiple sectors, including those already accounting for the largest share of bilateral commerce. The $200 billion figure is a bilateral merchandise trade ambition, not a valuation of technology investments or start-up fundraising.
India’s exports to the UAE totalled approximately $37.36 billion in 2025-26, while imports were about $63.89 billion. The UAE remained India’s third-largest trading partner and second-largest export destination. India was the UAE’s second-largest trading partner, according to diplomatic trade data.
The technology emphasis follows a September meeting of the UAE-India High Level Joint Task Force on Investments, where officials agreed to advance work on local-currency settlement, payment-system integration and central-bank digital currencies. Those initiatives are intended to make financial transactions and cross-border commerce more efficient. Officials also discussed cooperation in financial infrastructure, an area where payment interoperability could lower friction for businesses operating in both markets.
The task force also examined investment proposals involving manufacturing, food processing and logistics. Projects discussed included an integrated aluminium complex proposed for Odisha, a food park in Gujarat and opportunities for aviation and logistics development at Dholera.
At the Dubai forum, speakers called for greater participation by UAE investors in start-ups seeking financing, commercial partnerships and access to international customers. The gathering connected entrepreneurs with businesses and potential financial backers.
Two enterprises, JE Plus Healthcare and University Living, presented their business models. JE Plus Healthcare focuses on distribution and logistics for healthcare products, while University Living provides accommodation services for students studying away from home. Both were seeking investment to expand their operations. Their presentations illustrated the range of businesses seeking support, from physical supply chains to digital services for international customers.
Actor and investor Vivek Oberoi told participants that unsuccessful investments were part of entrepreneurship and that investors needed to recognise the lessons associated with business failures. He said he had invested in 35 companies, with mixed results across his portfolio.
Jitendra Vaidya, national president of the Indian People’s Forum, said stronger two-way investment could support commercial ties between the countries. The organisation’s business representatives encouraged investors to examine opportunities in technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics.
Mahesh Advani, convenor of the forum’s business council, urged UAE investors to consider start-up financing. Piyush Jhunjhunwala, co-convenor of its business and professional council, identified technology-led businesses as a potential destination for private capital.
Figures circulated at the event described a substantial start-up and venture investment ecosystem in India, including companies operating in financial services and advanced technology. However, the figures covered different categories of businesses and financing activity, making direct comparisons difficult without consistent definitions and reporting periods.
The bilateral trade framework rests on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force in May 2022. It reduced trade barriers across numerous product categories and provided a platform for wider business cooperation. Trade volumes nevertheless remain sensitive to energy prices, demand conditions and changes in the composition of imports and exports.
Government initiatives now include Bharat Mart, intended to support access to markets, and a Virtual Trade Corridor designed to simplify trade processes. Both form part of efforts to improve the movement of goods and information between the two economies.
The Dubai forum was organised by the Indian People’s Forum, a community organisation that also conducts business and professional networking activities in the UAE.
MILAN, ITALY – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 October 2026 – When Eastern car‑making heritage meets Italian‑infused lifestyle, a new China‑Europe mobility dialogue is set to unfold in Milan. On October 20, FAWCAR will host its new‑model launch event in Milan, Italy. Bringing a portfolio of five SUVs, FAWCAR officially enters the Italian market, drawing on seven decades of car‑making expertise to address diverse local mobility and lifestyle needs.
Five SUVs unveiled together, with product positioning covering multiple scenarios
The launch will showcase SUVs spanning three powertrain options: ICE (internal‑combustion engine), BEV (battery‑electric) and plug‑in hybrid (PHEV).
Three ICE‑powered models target finely‑defined market segments: BESTUNE B70S, featuring sporty styling and robust performance, caters to young users who prioritize handling and aesthetic appeal; BESTUNE T77, with compact dimensions and high space efficiency, is tailored for urban commutes and day‑to‑day family use; BESTUNE T90, boasting generous interior space, is ideal for long‑distance family road trips and intercity travel.
The new‑energy offerings are equally compelling: the JOYEE S04, a battery‑electric SUV purpose‑built for urban commuting, leverages restricted‑zone (ZTL) access and low energy consumption to address Italy’s urban mobility pain points. The JOYEE S08 plug‑in hybrid SUV delivers ultra‑long driving range and robust power output to banish range anxiety, tackling challenging mountain terrain and standing as the perfect option for all‑scenario family journeys.
More than a car unveiling, a brand experience journey
FAWCAR empowers the Italian market with its seven‑decade car‑making heritage and multi‑energy technology portfolio. Centered on local mobility scenarios, FAWCAR delivers locally‑adapted products, meets diversified demands and brings high‑quality, full‑coverage mobility solutions to local users.
Media, KOLs and automotive professionals from multiple fields will gather in Milan to witness FAWCAR’s entry into the Italian market. The brand will also reveal its sales‑and‑service network across Italy as well as delivery plans.
October 20, see you in Milan.
Hashtag: #FAWCAR #SUV #Milan
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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