BingX has launched a global community initiative after Enzo Fernández scored Argentina’s stoppage-time winner against Egypt, turning a World Cup comeback into a marketing moment for the cryptocurrency exchange and Web3-AI platform. Fernández’s goal completed Argentina’s 3-2 victory in Atlanta after the defending champions had trailed 2-0 deep into the last 16 tie. Cristian Romero began the recovery in the 79th minute, Lionel Messi levelled four minutes […]
President Donald Trump has sharpened his public embrace of Bitcoin, calling cryptocurrency “very powerful” and saying the scale of Bitcoin use is still not fully understood, remarks that have placed digital assets back at the centre of Washington’s financial policy debate. The comments, made during a CNBC interview at the White House, marked another shift for a president who once dismissed Bitcoin as a threat to the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Keyper has raised US$11 million in Series A funding to expand its monthly rent payment platform and digital property infrastructure across the UAE, as tenants and landlords adjust to a housing market under pressure from high demand, rising rents and changing payment expectations. The round was backed by Speedinvest, Mashreq’s NeoVentures, Middle East Venture Partners, Dubai Future District Fund, Property Finder and other […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 July 2026 – SNP SE, a leading provider of software for AI-enabled digital transformation, automated data migration and data management in the SAP environment, and Palantir, a global leader in artificial intelligence and data platforms, today announced a strategic partnership at SNP’s flagship event, Transformation World, in Heidelberg, Germany. The collaboration positions SNP to develop new AI-powered solutions with an aligned approach to accelerate SAP transformations for joint customers.
The two partners will offer solutions for mission-critical challenges across all types of SAP projects, helping customers improve speed, efficiency and quality. The first joint solution, Test Data Proposal, solves a so far highly manual area of SAP migrations, the identification of relevant test data for given customer test cases. By leveraging AI, this process runs automatically and saves customers’ time and resources. Test Data Proposal will expand SNP’s proven Kyano® platform.
As part of the partnership, SNP and Palantir are also collaborating in large-scale moves to SAP Cloud ERP applications where customers seek to accelerate these modernization programs. Both companies combine complementary, category-leading strengths. SNP contributes deep real-world SAP data migration expertise while Palantir provides state-of-the-art AI-driven software platforms, which enable and accelerate secure modernizations for customers.
“Organizations are looking for new ways to increase speed, efficiency, and quality in large-scale SAP transformations,” said Jens Amail, CEO of SNP. “We are hugely excited to collaborate with Palantir, a company that has leveraged AI to revolutionize and accelerate the way enterprises modernize mission-critical systems and automate operations. Together, we will deliver secure outcomes and new solutions to customers and partners.”
“We have seen exceptional momentum accelerating SAP migrations for customers, and helping them do so via the Ontology and AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform) in a way that significantly compresses the timeline and delivers operational value along the way,” said Sameer Kirtane, Head of US Commercial at Palantir. “SNP over the last 30 years has built an impressive track record of delivering predictable, compliant and auditable outcomes in thousands of successful engagements. We are proud to partner with SNP to fundamentally rethink how customers transform their SAP landscapes.”
Hashtag: #SNP #Palantir #SAP #AI
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
SNP (ticker: SHF.DE) is the global technology platform leader and trusted partner for companies seeking unparalleled data-enabled transformation capabilities and business agility. SNP’s Kyano® platform integrates all necessary capabilities and partner offerings to provide a comprehensive software-based experience in data migration and management. Combined with the Bluefield® approach, Kyano sets a comprehensive industry standard for restructuring and modernizing enterprise data faster and more securely while harnessing AI-driven innovations based on over 30 years of experience.
The company works with more than 3,000 customers of all sizes and in all industries in over 80 countries, including numerous DAX 40 and Fortune 500 companies. The SNP Group has more than 1,600 employees worldwide at over 34 locations in 22 countries. The company is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, and generated revenues of around EUR 297 million in the 2025 fiscal year.
More information is available at 
www.snpgroup.com
Foundational software of tomorrow. Delivered today.
Additional information is available at https://www.palantir.com
Palantir Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, Palantir’s expectations regarding the amount and the terms of the contract and the expected benefits of Palantir’s software platforms. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and were based on current expectations as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management as of that time with respect to future events. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond Palantir’s control. These risks and uncertainties include the ability to meet the unique needs of customers; the failure of Palantir’s platforms to satisfy customers or perform as desired; the frequency or severity of any software and implementation errors; Palantir’s platforms’ reliability; and customers’ ability to modify or terminate the contract. Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in the filings Palantir makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Palantir’s forward-looking statements speak only as to Palantir, and Palantir assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any forward-looking statements made by any other party. Except as required by law, Palantir does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise.
President Trump’s declaration on Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran is over immediately pushed oil prices higher, lifted Treasury yields and revived concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz. Markets responded in familiar fashion, with traders reassessing energy supplies, inflation expectations and monetary policy. Another consequence deserves equal attention. Higher oil prices strengthen the fiscal position of the Gulf’s major energy exporters. Over time, stronger […]
Bake My Day has opened its first international store in Riyadh, taking the Dubai-born dessert brand beyond the UAE with a retail format built around its viral cookie dough sharing tins, fresh-baked cookies and gifting-led bakery experience. The Riyadh launch marks a cross-border step for a founder-led business that began as a home kitchen idea in Dubai and grew into a recognisable dessert label through social media […]
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 […]
Greenlogue/AP Lhyfe has expanded one of Europe’s largest bulk green hydrogen logistics fleets, adding 10 new Hexagon Purus containers as it seeks to strengthen production, transport and storage capacity across a market still constrained by cost, infrastructure gaps and uneven demand. The Nantes-based producer now operates 84 Type IV tube trailers dedicated to hydrogen transport, a fleet serving its production sites, partner locations, storage facilities and transport […]
The training, announced on July 6, brings together the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, and Huawei as Saudi Arabia expands its pipeline of students capable of working across artificial intelligence, cloud computing, big data and telecommunications. The initiative forms part of a wider partnership that aims to train 500 beneficiaries in advanced technology fields.
Participants are being exposed to a mix of theoretical instruction and practical exercises, with the programme structured around real-world AI applications, global technology practices and workplace-based learning. The Shenzhen placement gives students direct access to one of Huawei’s main innovation centres, where they are expected to study how artificial intelligence tools are developed, deployed and integrated into digital infrastructure.
The programme covers core areas including AI fundamentals, machine learning, deep learning, foundation models and AI development tools. Its practical component is intended to help students move beyond classroom-level understanding into applied problem-solving, particularly in fields where AI systems are increasingly tied to business operations, public services and industrial automation.
Mawhiba’s role reflects its long-standing mandate to identify and support gifted students, while Huawei’s participation gives the programme an international industry dimension. The partnership is aimed at matching academic talent with technologies that are shaping labour-market demand, especially as Saudi Arabia increases investment in data centres, digital government, smart cities and automation.
The Shenzhen cohort follows the launch of the first joint Mawhiba-Huawei training track for Saudi university students in China. The programme is being presented as both a skills initiative and an international exposure opportunity, giving participants familiarity with advanced technology ecosystems outside the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has placed AI capacity-building at the centre of its digital transformation agenda. The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has been expanding training schemes for students, professionals and government leaders as part of efforts to create a national workforce capable of supporting data-driven economic diversification.
A separate programme at the authority’s headquarters in Riyadh began with 215 male and female students from 28 universities, giving participants training in data, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. That initiative was designed to connect academic knowledge with practical experience in computer science, data science and AI, while aligning university outcomes with labour-market needs.
The scale of national AI training has grown sharply. More than 779,000 citizens have been trained through data and AI initiatives, including 9,775 specialists and 260 scientists and experts. More than 80 government leaders have also received training focused on the design and implementation of data and AI strategies.
The Mawhiba-Huawei programme adds a private-sector and cross-border layer to that domestic training push. For students, the China placement offers exposure to applied AI in a corporate setting. For policymakers, it supports an effort to create a wider base of young specialists who can work with global platforms while contributing to local technology goals.
Saudi Arabia’s AI strategy has increasingly focused on building human capital alongside infrastructure. The country has moved to strengthen data governance, support Arabic AI models, expand cloud capacity and encourage the adoption of emerging technologies across education, healthcare, finance, energy and government services.
The emphasis on training also reflects a growing recognition that AI adoption depends on more than hardware and software. Surveys and academic studies on generative AI use in Saudi Arabia show strong public engagement with AI tools, but also uneven technical understanding and concerns over privacy, misinformation, trust and responsible use. Structured training is therefore being treated as a way to improve both competence and confidence.
For universities, the programme underlines the pressure to update curricula as AI changes entry-level skill expectations. Employers in technology, finance, logistics and energy are increasingly looking for graduates who understand data handling, model behaviour, automation workflows and ethical safeguards. Programmes that combine classroom instruction with industry exposure are seen as a route to narrowing that gap.
Epic Games has moved to end its lawsuit against former contractor Hayden Cohen, accused of leaking confidential Fortnite collaboration plans involving major entertainment and gaming franchises before they were made public. The proposed settlement, filed in a North Carolina federal court, would permanently bar Cohen from possessing, accessing, using or disclosing Epic’s confidential information and trade secrets. It would also prevent him from helping others obtain or […]
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 […]
Securitize’s shares have fallen about 40 per cent since the BlackRock-backed tokenisation firm completed its public listing through a Cantor Fitzgerald-linked blank-cheque vehicle, exposing a sharp gap between investor enthusiasm for blockchain-based financial infrastructure and the early trading performance of companies entering public markets through SPAC deals. The company, now trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SECZ, slipped to about $8 after opening […]
Dubai’s plan to launch commercial air taxis has moved closer to operation after the UAE aviation regulator certified a purpose-built vertiport for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft near Dubai International Airport. The facility, registered as VDX under the General Civil Aviation Authority’s certification process, is being positioned as the primary hub for the emirate’s first air taxi network. Skyports Infrastructure, which developed the site with Dubai’s […]
The Reserve Bank of India has renewed its support for keeping cryptocurrency away from the formal financial system, reviving the prospect of a tougher national policy on private digital assets even as millions of users continue to trade through domestic and offshore platforms. Government documents and briefings to a parliamentary panel point to a policy line that leans towards prohibition rather than licensing. The central bank has […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Du Pay has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with GCash to enable near-instant wallet-to-wallet remittances from the UAE to the Philippines, giving overseas Filipino workers a faster route to send money home and access exclusive rewards tied to digital transfers. The partnership connects du Pay’s mobile wallet in the UAE with GCash accounts in the Philippines, allowing funds sent through the du […]
Charging stations are becoming a key connection of smart energy systems
According to the ‘Technical White Paper’ by StarCharge, for years, EV charging infrastructure has mainly been seen as support for vehicle sales expansion: building more chargers, expanding coverage, and speeding up charging.
However, this role is starting to change.
As electrification scales up, charging networks are becoming a part of the energy system itself. They are no longer just places for vehicles to top up; they are evolving into smart energy nodes connecting vehicles, the grid, distributed energy, storage, and digital management.
This shift from charging infrastructure to charging network systems shows that the industry is moving from basic access to integrated value: from charging services to energy services, from standalone stations to PV-storage-charging systems, from equipment deployment to scenario-based infrastructure.
StarCharge believes that the future charging network ecosystem will go through four major turning points.
Four Key Points Reshaping the Ecosystem
1. Charging Networks Are Becoming Energy Infrastructure
Charging infrastructure is going beyond its original role as just a support for EVs. As EV adoption grows, charging networks are becoming strategic energy infrastructure: they connect mobility demand with the grid, distributed energy, storage, digital platforms, and future energy services.
2. Defining the Scenarios for the Network
The future charging network won’t be shaped by hardware alone. Policies determine whether infrastructure should be built, technology determines the speed of construction, but real-world scenarios determine what the charging network actually needs to look like.
Urban commuting, highway trips, ride-hailing, logistics fleets, county and rural coverage, holiday peak demand, heavy trucks, mining areas, ports, airports, and autonomous driving all create different charging needs. Therefore, a mature charging network can’t be ‘one-size-fits-all’; it has to be designed around different vehicle types, operating hours, power requirements, reliability needs, and grid conditions.
3. Digital platforms turn charging networks into operable assets
A large charging network only truly has value when it can be scaled, optimized, and managed. This is exactly the core role of cloud platforms. They turn millions of charging points, users, stations, transactions, and energy flows into a measurable, controllable, and continuously optimized operating system.
StarCharge’s platform capabilities cover site selection, pricing, marketing, station operations, smart maintenance, charging safety, station robots, AI-based smart charging, fleet management, energy optimization, and ESG reporting. In other words, digital platforms are the key to transforming charging infrastructure from a heavy-asset network into smart, operable, and scalable assets.
4. Charging stations are becoming grid-friendly energy resources
The next-generation charging infrastructure won’t be defined by any single technology. It will be built on a complete tech stack, combining high-power charging, liquid cooling, integrated PV-storage-charging, DC bus architecture, V2G, automated charging, and AI-driven operations. In other words, future charging stations shouldn’t just be passive electricity consumers that add stress to the grid. Through energy storage, renewable energy integration, V2G, smart scheduling, and AI-based energy optimization, charging stations can become grid-friendly energy resources.
This means that aside from charging vehicles, a charging station can absorb renewable energy, buffer peak loads, respond to demand-side signals, support peak shaving and valley filling, regulate frequency, and provide carbon-neutral ESG data for fleet operators. Its business model will also go beyond charging fees, creating new value through energy services, data services, carbon-related benefits, and grid interaction capabilities.
Microgrids Have Emerged at the Right Time
At the same time, with the continuous development of distributed energy and photovoltaic energy, microgrids have emerged at the right time. They are not just a product, but a local energy system built around real-world scenarios.
In the latest “White Paper” on scenario-based microgrid technology, StarCharge points out that microgrids are moving from customized engineering projects toward scalable, replicable energy systems.
A microgrid is a scenario-based local energy system
According to StarCharge, a microgrid is not a single device, nor is it just an energy storage product. It’s a local energy system designed around the needs of a specific scenario, coordinating local generation, loads, storage, control, and operational strategies within a defined electrical boundary.
Moreover, depending on the scenario—such as data centers, individual charging stations, zero-carbon industrial parks, or green mines—the energy challenges are completely different. The right microgrid is defined by the scenario it serves.
The white paper also highlights four high-value paths: electricity-computing synergy, independent power supply, zero-carbon parks, and green mines. In areas with weak grids or limited grid access, microgrids ensure the operation of critical loads. In emerging load scenarios like data centers and industrial parks, microgrids support renewable energy integration, energy resilience, and cost optimization. In high-tech-demand scenarios like mines, microgrids become the foundation for ensuring production continuity, energy transition, and ESG competitiveness.
The three-stage evolution of microgrids
As power sources and loads become increasingly DC, microgrid architectures are evolving from AC-dominated systems to AC-DC hybrid systems, and eventually toward microgrids with a higher proportion of DC.
Microgrid 1.0 — dominated by AC architecture. It integrates renewable energy into the existing AC grid framework, but its control heavily relies on grid-following management and support from the external grid.
Microgrid 2.0 — the AC-DC hybrid stage. AC and DC buses coexist, allowing PV, storage, and DC loads to connect more directly. Bidirectional power hubs, solid-state transformers (SST), and energy routers become important bridges between AC and DC systems. This stage balances strong AC compatibility with higher DC efficiency and is expected to remain mainstream in the next 10-15 years.
Microgrid 3.0—it’s the era of DC microgrids. As solar PV, wind power, battery storage, data centers, LED lighting, and EV charging increasingly move toward DC, DC microgrids can reduce repeated AC-DC conversion losses, simplify control, and support millisecond-level responses.
This evolution is closely linked to the mission of microgrids: breaking through energy access bottlenecks, enabling sustainable development, connecting technology, industry, policy, market, and community needs, and unlocking the integrated value of local energy systems.
In the future, StarCharge will steadily expand into the growing global markets for new EVs and renewable energy, building on its smart energy systems that have been widely validated in the Chinese market.
Hashtag: #StarCharge
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Co-hosted by Bloomberg L.P., the Forum was attended by Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies; Tang Zhiwen, Minister, Embassy of the People’s Republic in the United States of America; Ma Xiaoxiao, Deputy Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in New York; Chen Yiqun, Director-General of Information Office of Shanghai Municipality, and Hu Minghua, President of Shanghai United Media Group and over 200 guests from the political, business, finance and cultural sectors of China and the United States. The forum is dedicated to exploring the openness and similarities between Shanghai and New York to identify a shared framework of certainties among global hub cities.
The two cities share distinct advantages in sectors such as finance and trade, while also facing common challenges in urban renewal, low-carbon development, and digital transformation. Candid and open dialogue is essential for mutual learning, and it will also inject stability into China-U.S. relations.
On the topic of how global capital understands the Chinese market, a panel titled “Investing in China, Winning the Future” featured Chinese and international guests discussing how the appeal of Chinese assets is shifting from traditional growth narratives to AI, high-end manufacturing, financial opening-up, and institutional market development. As a hub for financial opening-up, an asset allocation center, and a cluster for innovative enterprises, Shanghai has become a crucial gateway linking international capital with opportunities in China.
Consumption is one of the most dynamic topics between China and the U.S. At the second panel of “Opportunies in emerging Consumer Markets“, moderated by Bloomberg Television host David Westin, panelists observed that the consumer vitality of Shanghai and New York stems not only from market size but also from their ongoing ability to create experiences, understand people, and activate urban spaces.
Besides the forum, the New York series of events for OUR WATER Season 3 also includes: West Meets East·Shanghai & New York 2026 – A Polaroid 20×24 Special Exhibition; Chinese Opera: A Century of Dreams – An Exhibition of Art Design and Technology; An Exhibition themed Shanghai’s “One River, One Creek” and Jing’an CAZ China-U.S. Business Leaders Dialogue in New York.
These events shape a tangible and immersive waterfront narrative, allowing Shanghai and New York—two super metropolises that have thrived on water—to resonate in harmony through dialogue. As Minister Tang Zhiwen stated in his address, Shanghai and New York, are expected to become benchmarks for subnational cooperation between China and the United States, and to make new contributions to fostering a “constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.”
Hashtag: #ShanghaiEye
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Designed to provide timely and flexible capital, these two business financing facilities were developed to enable Shariah-compliant businesses in navigating shifting market demands. Both products are aligned with the Shariah finance principle of Murabahah via Tawarruq concept, delivering transparent, ethical banking solutions to the Malaysian market.
Term Financing-i: Business Growth and Strategic Expansion
Engineered to fund medium to long term growth projects, asset purchases and infrastructure expansion while maintaining a healthy cash flow. AEON Bank Biz’s Term Financing-i offers this flexibility:
*Terms and conditions apply
Working Capital Financing-i: Empowering Business with Liquidity Agility
This financing facility provides a flexible credit line for short term cash flow needs, designed to bridge operational budget gaps and manage financial cycles. With AEON Bank Biz’s Working Capital Financing-i, customers can gain access to the following:
*Terms and conditions apply
A Dynamic Business Banking Experience
Beyond credit line disbursement, AEON Bank Biz serves as a holistic 360-degree, Shariah compliant banking partner for business owners across Malaysia. It enables businesses to manage assets, liabilities, operational financial needs and merchant operations, through a simplified banking process.
At the core of it all is the Business Current Account-i with a dynamic business banking functionality to support businesses to thrive :
*Terms and conditions apply
Empowering Businesses to Scale Sustainably
This latest rollout by a digital bank in Malaysia aligns directly with the national goal to supercharge SME contributions to the domestic Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up to 50% by 2030. In order to achieve that, access to financing, including digital banking solutions remains a key enabler for business growth. In fact, this is where banking institutions and fintech catalysts such as AEON Bank play an important role in achieving that target.
Click on the links to find out more about AEON Bank Biz and discover a #BetterBusinessBanking experience to scale your growth.
Hashtag: #AEONBank #digitalbank #islamicbank #digitalislamicbank #AEONBankBiz #BusinessBanking #TermFinancing #WorkingCapitalFinancing
https://www.aeonbank.com.my/business
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aeonbankmy/?viewAsMember=true
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EqAqfTFLp/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.instagram.com/aeonbankmy?igsh=dnNwYnNjb2Z4N3ky
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
AEON Bank (M) Berhad is Malaysia’s first digital Islamic bank, licensed and regulated by Bank Negara Malaysia and the Ministry of Finance. Officially launched on 26 May 2024, we currently offer a suite of Shariah-compliant products and services for the Personal Banking and Business Banking (AEON Bank Biz) customers.
Our Personal Banking offerings are 100% accessible online via the AEON Bank app, where customers can activate and access the deposit Savings Account-i, AEON Bank x Visa Debit Card-i, Personal Financing-i, Term Deposit-i, Savings Pot, DuitNow QR, Zakat, Takaful, JomPay, utility bill payments, as well as a range of digital payment services with strategic partners and merchants. Moreover, AEON Bank has developed the Neko Missions, Malaysia’s first gamified digital banking interactive rewards programme and ‘Neko Sensei’, the AI-powered personal financial coach.
On 8 August 2025, AEON Bank (M) Berhad officially introduced AEON Bank Biz with the integrated cash management capabilities anchored by the Business Current Account-i, alongside Biz Term Deposit-i, Biz QR, Term Financing-i and Working Capital Financing-i. AEON Bank Biz focuses on streamlined processes for account onboarding, credit assessments and financial services, utilising AI-driven fintech solutions to enable simplified procedures, faster approvals, and an enhanced digital banking experience for businesses in Malaysia.
For eligible deposit-based products under AEON Bank and AEON Bank Biz, such as the Savings Account-i, Savings Pot, Term Deposit-i, Business Current Account-i and Biz Term Deposit-i, the deposits are protected up to RM250,000 per depositor. AEON Bank is a member of Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) and the deposit protection is automatic and free.
Being part of the AEON Group conglomerate, AEON Bank (M) Berhad is equally held by AEON Financial Service Co. Ltd. (AFS Japan) and AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad (ACSM). AFS Japan is responsible for the AEON Group’s financial services businesses, with strong roots in the retail sector which operates in Japan and 10 countries across Asia. AEON Group is Japan’s largest retail group and it is a pure holding company that comprises eight core businesses.
AEON Group Malaysia consists of several entities, namely, AEON Co. (M) Bhd, AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad, AEON Bank (M) Berhad, AEON BiG (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Fantasy (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Delight (M) Sdn Bhd, AEON Global Supply Chain Sdn Bhd and Malaysian AEON Foundation (MAF). AEON Group has been a recognisable household brand with more than 200 years of history and evolution in Japan since the Edo era, along with 4 decades of growth in Malaysia, providing consumers with daily financial solutions and diversified retail convenience.
Our cloud native agility and AI optimisation, combined with the strength of our Shariah finance DNA, Malaysian tenacity and Japanese roots are our distinguishing factors, while the integration across the AEON ecosystem gives us a competitive advantage of being the only bank in Malaysia with its own nationwide retail network. On top of that, AEON Points loyalty programme offers customers value-added benefits and meaningful rewards for their online shopping and in-store purchases.
AEON Bank (M) Berhad is committed to empowering the community in pursuing their financial aspirations and achieve economic independence, while cultivating a more inclusive financial future for all. We will continue to contribute towards positioning Malaysia as the Islamic banking hub in the region and fostering the growth of the nation’s digital economy.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 July 2026 – Hong Kong consumers have very low tolerance for brands and organisations that are deemed not believable, responding with rapid and decisive backlash when corporate promises trigger doubt. According to a new study on “The Believability Economy” by Ogilvy and YouGov, local residents quickly escalate from questioning claims to complaining on social media, switching to competitors, and fully disengaging. Part of a seven-market Asia Pacific initiative, the Hong Kong SAR edition of Ogilvy’s “Believability Index: The Power of Proof” reveals how critical proof has become to maintaining brand survival.
Silent Disengagement Directly Threatens Revenue
When believability falters, consumer action is almost universal. Of the 1,032 Hong Kong residents aged 18 and over surveyed between late April and early May 2026, 94% stated that they take punitive action once they harbour doubts about a brand or organisation, leaving only 6% with their behaviours unchanged. The local backlash is only slightly below the APAC average of 96%.
This belief-triggered disengagement also inflicts immediate financial consequences: 61% of Hong Kong respondents (70% in APAC) have stopped engaging with or purchasing from a brand or organisation over the past 12 months due to a lack of belief in its claims.
More importantly, silent forms of disengagement dominate the Hong Kong market. Nine in 10 Hongkongers (89%) opt for “silent disengagement”, walking away without saying a word. This quiet exit also carries a severe commercial penalty: it includes 46% who stop purchasing altogether and 32% who migrate to a competitor.
“The research findings are a stark wake-up call for brands and organisations, and show believability makes or breaks consumer decisions in immediate and severe ways,” said Clara Shek, President, Ogilvy Public Relations Hong Kong. “The Hong Kong findings reflect a broader trend in the Asia Pacific region: disengagement often combines quiet withdrawal with more visible signals. Brands and organisations must recognise that what they see publicly is only part of the picture — the quieter, unseen behaviours are dangerous and could be the silent killers of an organisation’s success.”
Vocal punishment is common. Over half (58%) of the respondents say they would take public or semi‑public action, such as:
Lack of Competence and Ethics Triggers Consumer Disengagement
When consumers abandon a brand or organisation due to a breakdown of belief, the top reasons that prompted them to stop engaging or stop purchasing in the past 12 months tie directly to operational execution:
Communication missteps also erode foundational belief. A quarter of consumers (25%) state that exaggerated or misleading communications have prompted them to disengage, and 24% disengage when a brand or organisation is unresponsive to issues they raise. In contrast, influencers and spokespeople play a smaller role in believability-driven disengagement — only 15% of respondents report that they would stop engaging with a brand or organisation because a spokesperson or influencer loses credibility.
Drivers of Believability
In Hong Kong, believability is driven far more by the credibility of the source than by the creative style of the content, and people rely primarily on their own judgement or official sources, rather than influencers or highly-polished content. Three quarters (76%) of Hong Kong residents rely on credibility-related influences (such as credible sources and multiple sources), 62% rely on personal perception (whether information aligns with existing knowledge), 59% turn to reviews, and 43% turn to peer validation.
Across all ages, the top drivers of belief are consistently rooted in familiarity and prior experience:
Conversely, the signals that dominate digital and social media culture — polished and professionally produced content (8%), the amount of people engaging with or sharing the information (16%), and “authentic” creator content (12%) — sit at the bottom of the list as factors that influence whether they believe new information about a brand or organisation.
The Channel Paradox – Where Belief and Scepticism Collide
The Ogilvy Believability Index 2026 finds that mainstream media and official brand channels remain the most influential sources of increased belief in Hong Kong. Almost two-thirds (58%) of Hong Kong residents say information from mainstream media increases their belief in brands and organisations that matter to them, and half (50%) say official brand channels improve belief. Both sources were greeted with relatively minimal scepticism (7% and 8% respectively).
Influencer content and private messaging apps tell a more complex story. The study shows that 30% of Hong Kong consumers say information from social media influencers and KOLs increase their belief, but 26% express heightened scepticism. Private group chats such as WhatsApp show the same near‑equal split: 30% say these channels strengthen their belief, while 26% say they make them more doubtful. In these environments, brands and organisations aren’t generating belief alone — they’re generating belief and doubt in almost equal measure.
“Social media channels may be influential in reach and visibility for brands and organisations, but they are far less effective at strengthening belief,” Ms. Shek said. “In fact, they often create a mix of belief and doubt – a paradox that organisations need to navigate carefully. Traditional tracking tools can create a blind spot for senior leadership as organisations run the risk of over-indexing spending on the exact platforms that are triggering scepticism.”
The importance of mainstream media echoes the latest findings in South China Morning Post’s (SCMP) Intersection of Influence study released on June 24, 2026. The SCMP study shows news media commands the highest attention of any channel in Hong Kong, significantly outperforming other channels (such as social media) in terms of audience focus and staying power. Sixty-one percent (61%) say news reports stay with them long after reading, and 16% use the information to make important decisions. For believability, this shows that news environments don’t just attract attention; they generate intentional, lasting and active engagement in the content.
Negative Ripple Effect for Other Brands
When believability breaks, it spreads. A third (31% local; 36% in APAC) of consumers admit that when their belief in a brand or organisation is lost, they become more wary or suspicious, with 38% of Hong Kong consumers (29% in APAC) reporting that they will subsequently minimise their use of similar products or services from other brands and organisations.
Restoring Belief – Action is Louder Than Words in Hong Kong
On the bright side, 82% of Hong Kong residents (85% in APAC) say belief can be restored. Only 14% of Hong Kong residents (11% in APAC) say that once belief in a source is lost — whether an organisation, media outlet, or public figure — it can never be regained.
When it comes to restoring belief, Hong Kong consumers respond most positively to concrete action. Half (50%) say an organisation must “actively fix the issue” before they will believe them again – a requirement that ranks well above a “public acknowledgement” (40%). Furthermore, another 40% believe it is important to “demonstrate consistent accuracy.”
For Hongkongers, these concrete actions carry far more weight than shifts in communication style alone. Only 29% of respondents feel that being “more transparent or further evidence-based” in their communication helps restore belief, while only 13% say “endorsements from respected individuals” helps restore belief. In other words, accountability and follow‑through are the real drivers of believability.
“Consumers are open to brands and organisations that take actions to repair that credibility. The path to redemption clearly lies in tangible action – correcting problems, publicly acknowledging mistakes and demonstrating consistency. As the findings show, accountability is the ultimate currency of belief,” said Ms. Shek at Ogilvy.
“Despite the popularity of social media and digital channels, Ogilvy’s Hong Kong edition of the ‘Believability Index: The Power of Proof’ calls for a rethink on marketing and issue management approach,” Ms. Shek concluded. “To protect against silent disengagement, leaders must deliver on their core promise, tackle issues transparently, and anchor their communications in mainstream media and official channels, with mindful management of social media and influencer strategy recognising these channels’ belief-scepticism double-edged impact on consumers.”
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The Hong Kong edition of “Believability Index: The Power of Proof” was conducted online between 22nd April – 4th May 2026. The sample comprised an online representative sample of 1,032 Hong Kong adults aged 18 years and older. Total sample size for Ogilvy’s seven-market Asia Pacific Believability Index 2026 was 7,176 adults in Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR (1,032). All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all respective market adults (aged 18+). Ogilvy designed the questionnaire in collaboration with YouGov.
Ogilvy PR and Influence is a global creative communications agency that partners with organisations to drive value and growth. We build brands, protect reputations, and earn attention and influence through creative storytelling informed by data, and fuelled by technology. Our specialist practice areas offer media relations, social and digital communications, external and internal stakeholder communications, issues and crisis management, and stakeholder engagement. We are the region’s largest and most specialised public relations and public affairs consultancy.
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AG Company signed a strategic partnership with Akbar Investment Company of the Republic of Korea to study the establishment of a zone dedicated to Korean industries, with Al Ain identified as the proposed location. The initiative comes as the UAE and Korea deepen economic ties under a bilateral trade framework that entered into force on May 1, 2026, after being signed in Seoul on May 29, 2024.
The announcement coincided with the visit of a high-level Korean delegation to Abu Dhabi, led by Jung Min Kim, a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and member of its Committee on Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups. The delegation included representatives from government and semi-government entities, investors and industrial companies.
The agreement was accompanied by the signing of 15 memoranda of understanding with Korean companies and manufacturers across industrial sectors. The proposed zone is expected to focus on advanced manufacturing, technology-led production, artificial intelligence applications, healthcare technologies and related industries, although the final sector mix will depend on feasibility studies, regulatory approvals and investor commitments.
The project aligns with Abu Dhabi’s wider industrial strategy, which seeks to more than double the emirate’s manufacturing sector to AED172 billion by 2031, expand non-oil exports and create thousands of skilled jobs. Abu Dhabi has been positioning industrial growth as a pillar of diversification, combining ports, free zones, logistics networks and investment incentives to attract manufacturers serving the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
During the visit, the Korean delegation held meetings with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office and Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi to review the emirate’s investment environment, infrastructure and industrial services. The delegation also met business leaders and investors and carried out field visits to assess operational readiness, logistics capacity and production facilities.
Jung Min Kim said the UAE, and Abu Dhabi in particular, had established itself as one of the world’s most attractive and trusted investment destinations due to its economic vision, legislative environment and infrastructure. He said those advantages, along with stability and the capacity to attract quality investment, made the country an appropriate partner for expanding the presence of Korean industries across the region.
Dr Ahmed Abdullah, chief executive of AG Company, said the project reflected the UAE’s direction towards a more diversified and competitive economy based on knowledge, innovation and autonomous artificial intelligence capable of self-operation and execution. He said attracting Korean industries represented not only an economic investment but also an opportunity to transfer expertise, develop national competencies and strengthen the UAE’s position as a hub for industry and innovation.
The UAE–Korea trade agreement is expected to eliminate or reduce duties on more than 90 per cent of tariff lines over a period of up to 10 years. It also covers trade in goods and services, investment, customs procedures, digital trade, intellectual property, government procurement and cooperation in sectors including energy, healthcare and advanced industries.
The industrial zone proposal gives private-sector form to those commitments. Korean companies have strong global positions in electronics, automotive components, batteries, robotics, shipbuilding, healthcare equipment and advanced materials. Abu Dhabi offers access to capital, energy, transport infrastructure and regional markets, while Korean manufacturers bring production systems, export networks and technology capabilities.
The location of Al Ain carries added significance. The city has been seeking a larger role in Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification beyond its established strengths in agriculture, education, culture and tourism. A manufacturing cluster there could broaden industrial activity outside the coastal logistics corridor, although investors will assess connectivity, labour requirements, utilities, supply chains and access to ports before committing to factory sites.
Safwan Bals, board adviser at AG Company, said nominating Al Ain reflected a vision of expanding economic development and diversifying production hubs. He said the project could support the city’s economic and social development by attracting investments and creating direct and indirect employment opportunities.
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