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 […]
The latest figure, based on a mark-to-market valuation of listed and unlisted holdings, showed a S$49 billion rise for the financial year ended 31 March 2026. The increase reflected stronger performance from Singapore-based portfolio companies, gains from divestments and a broader recovery in public market valuations. The portfolio has doubled over the past decade, underlining the scale of Temasek’s role as one of Asia’s most influential investment groups.
Temasek invested S$51 billion during the year and divested S$31 billion, resulting in a net investment of S$20 billion. Its one-year shareholder return stood at 10.5 per cent in Singapore dollar terms, while its 10-year return was 7.1 per cent. The 20-year return was 6.8 per cent, a measure closely watched because Temasek is designed to generate long-term returns for Singapore rather than chase short-term market gains.
Artificial intelligence has become a central plank of the company’s next phase of growth. AI-related investments now account for about 6 per cent of its portfolio, with plans to raise that exposure to 10-15 per cent by 31 March 2031. Temasek has already taken positions linked to leading AI companies including OpenAI and Anthropic, while also targeting the wider infrastructure needed to support the technology.
The strategy is not limited to model developers. Temasek is looking across the AI value chain, including semiconductors, cloud service providers, data centres, energy systems, foundation models and software infrastructure. That wider approach reflects a belief that the economics of AI will not be captured only by consumer-facing platforms, but also by companies supplying chips, computing power, storage, power capacity and enterprise software.
Chief executive Dilhan Pillay has described AI adoption as a pivotal phase in the digitisation trend that Temasek has followed for more than a decade. The company’s approach is expected to combine direct investments, listed equities and private market exposure, with a preference for flexibility at a time when valuations across parts of the AI sector remain elevated.
The stronger annual performance also comes after Temasek moved to sharpen accountability within its investment structure. From April 2026, its portfolio has been organised into three broad segments: Singapore-based portfolio companies, global direct investments, and partnerships and funds. The change is intended to improve execution and give clearer visibility on how different parts of the portfolio contribute to returns.
Singapore-based companies remain an anchor of Temasek’s holdings. These include major stakes in groups tied to finance, telecommunications, transport, logistics, infrastructure and real estate. Their performance helped lift the portfolio during the year, even as Temasek continued to diversify beyond its home market.
The company has also increased attention on private credit, an asset class that has expanded as banks have retreated from some forms of lending and institutional investors have sought higher-yielding alternatives. Private credit currently accounts for about 2 per cent of Temasek’s portfolio, with a target of 5 per cent by 2031. The allocation is expected to provide recurring cash yield and a different risk profile from the predominantly equity-heavy portfolio.
Sustainable living remains another major investment theme. Temasek’s sustainable living portfolio rose to S$49 billion as of 31 March 2026, supported by commitments in renewable energy, power grids and transition technologies. Its portfolio emissions remained at about 21 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, around 30 per cent below 2020 levels, though the company has signalled that rising electricity demand, higher capital costs and exposure to emissions-intensive businesses may complicate its 2030 reduction target.
Temasek’s global exposure continues to reflect a balance between Asia and developed markets. Its earlier vulnerability to China-linked volatility had weighed on returns, prompting a more disciplined approach to capital allocation and risk management. The latest numbers suggest that portfolio adjustments, divestments and stronger listed-market performance have helped restore momentum.
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 […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 July 2026 – Prudential Singapore (“Prudential”) achieved the strongest showing globally in the 2026 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Culture of Excellence (COE) Awards, with 29 agency leaders recognised out of 68 winners worldwide. This was up from 13 winners in 2025, reflecting the strong progress made by Prudential’s agency force. Accounting for more than two in five award recipients this year, Prudential had the highest number of MDRT COE Award winners globally.
The MDRT COE Award recognises agency leaders who deliver strong outcomes across six dimensions of agency management1: production, retention, recruitment, persistency, whole person, and MDRT or MDRT Academy membership.
Mr Rom Lee, Chief Agency Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: “Having 29 agency leaders recognised on the global MDRT Culture of Excellence Awards, up from 13 last year, is a strong affirmation of the standards our leaders set for themselves and their teams. Beyond individual achievement, it reflects a culture grounded on discipline, a strong MDRT sharing culture and a deep commitment to helping customers make confident financial decisions.
“We have worked to create an environment where financial representatives can grow their careers, perform at a high level and be recognised for their achievements. As customer needs continue to evolve, this culture of excellence will remain central to how we develop a trusted, future-ready agency.”
MDRT COE Award winner Mr Bryan Phang, Financial Services Director, Prudential Singapore, is the only Diamond Agency recipient globally to achieve this distinction for a fourth consecutive year. This year, the agency went a step further by achieving all six criteria of the Award. Said Mr Phang: “Earning this recognition for a fourth consecutive year is meaningful. The best teams make each other better. For us, it’s about developing people, building leaders and creating a culture that can sustain success over time. We hope this recognition raises the bar for what strong agency culture and high standards can achieve.”
New MDRT COE Award winner, Ms Chiam Shu Yi, Wealth Director, Prudential Financial Advisers Singapore, Platinum Agency, is recognised for developing the careers of young and mid-career financial representatives. Said Ms Chiam: “Success is never built alone. The greatest fulfilment in leadership is investing in people, helping them discover hidden confidence, and reach milestones which they thought were out of reach. By supporting others, you empower them to grow, succeed, and build lives and careers they are proud of.”
Agency leaders awarded the MDRT Culture of Excellence Award include:
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Diamond Agency (five out of six criteria met)
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Platinum Agency (four out of six criteria met)
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Gold Agency (three out of six criteria met)
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Three-time consecutive Award winners
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Prudential’s agency force has continued to deliver strong results and a consistently growing number of qualifiers. In 2026, it had 1,425 MDRT qualifiers, including 186 Court of The Table (TOT) and 73 Top of the Table (TOT) qualifiers, as well as 29 MDRT COE Award winners.
Prudential continues to invest in capability building across its agency force through training and professional development pathways. These include the Financial Consultant Induction Programme (FCIP) for new joiners, which leads to an Institute of Banking and Finance Qualified (Level 1) certification, as well as leadership development tracks such as the Chartered Insurance Agency Manager designation.
The company also equips financial representatives to serve affluent and high-net-worth customers through its in-house High Net Worth Skill Up Series and external programmes including the Certified Affluent Wealth Adviser and Advanced Affluent Wealth Adviser courses by the Wealth Management Institute. In 2024, Prudential also enhanced its Management Associate Programme (MAP) to support fresh graduates and young professionals pursuing a career as financial representatives2.
Prudential has 5,400 financial representatives with its tied agency and financial advisory arm, Prudential Financial Advisers Singapore, as of 31 December 2025.
1 For more information on criteria for MDRT Culture of Excellence Awards, please visit: https://www.mdrtcenter.org/culture-of-excellence-awards
2 For more information about the enhanced Management Associate Programme, visit: https://www.prudential.com.sg/about/newsroom/press-release/2024/prudential-ramps-up-hiring
Hashtag: #Prudential #PrudentialSingapore #MDRTCOE #MDRTCultureofExcellenceAward
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Prudential Assurance Company Singapore (Pte) Ltd is one of the top life and health insurance companies in Singapore, serving the financial and protection needs of the country’s citizens for 95 years. As at 31 December 2025, it has S$66.3 billion funds under management. The company has an AA Financial Strength Rating from leading credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s and delivers a suite of well-rounded product offerings in Protection, Savings and Investment through multiple distribution channels including a network of 5,400 financial representatives.
The MDRT Center for Field Leadership was created exclusively for financial services field and home office leaders. As a separate, individual membership association with innovative leadership development strategies, the MDRT Center provides its members with exceptional value and leadership growth opportunities. MDRT Center membership allows increased engagement within the MDRT community while allowing leaders to develop a culture of excellence within their respective organizations. To learn more visit mdrtcenter.org.
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group will remove daily price limits on exchange-traded funds and futures contracts from 3 August 2026, marking a fresh step in its push to deepen liquidity, improve price discovery and align its listed products more closely with global market practice. The change applies to ETFs and futures contracts listed on the exchange, allowing their prices to move without the daily trading bands that […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai ADNOC Distribution has agreed to buy Shell Downstream South Africa from Shell South Africa Holdings in a transaction that values the business at about $1 billion, giving the Abu Dhabi-listed fuel retailer a large platform in one of Africa’s most developed downstream markets. The definitive agreement covers 100% of SDSA’s share capital, before adjustments for net debt and working capital. Completion is expected […]
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
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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.”
Hashtag: #Ogilvy
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.
G42 and Microsoft have deepened their artificial intelligence alliance through a new collaboration linking Inception42’s Catalyst agentic AI platform with Microsoft Copilot, a move designed to shift AI agents from limited trials into day-to-day government and enterprise operations. The agreement, announced on Monday, allows organisations to build, govern and monitor AI agents on Catalyst while making them available through Microsoft 365 applications including Teams, Outlook and Word. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai DMCC has launched a dedicated cybersecurity vertical as part of a wider restructuring of its technology ecosystem, bringing more than 4,000 technology companies under the newly formalised DMCC Tech platform. The new unit, DMCC Cyber, is designed to support businesses working across cyber resilience, digital trust, data protection, identity management, and governance, risk and compliance. It will sit alongside the DMCC AI Centre, […]
Nissan Americas has disclosed a cyber breach involving employee records after attackers exploited a critical Oracle PeopleSoft flaw used in a wider data-theft campaign linked to the ShinyHunters extortion group. The carmaker said personnel information belonging to current and former staff in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil may have been accessed through Oracle PeopleSoft, the enterprise platform it uses for payroll, tax administration and other […]
Ripple has secured full authorisation under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, clearing the San Francisco-based blockchain payments company to expand regulated crypto services across the European Economic Area. The approval, granted through Luxembourg’s financial regulator to Ripple Payments Europe S. A., gives the company a Crypto Asset Service Provider licence and allows it to passport services across 30 EEA markets. It follows a preliminary clearance […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai BARQ Systems has formed a regional partnership with ServiceNow to speed up digital transformation and enterprise automation across the Middle East and North Africa, targeting organisations that are moving from isolated technology upgrades to AI-enabled operating models. The collaboration is designed to help enterprises use the ServiceNow AI Platform to convert complex workflows into automated, data-led processes across IT, customer service, human resources […]
A newly identified cyber-espionage group has targeted government agencies and electricity-sector organisations in Russia, Brazil and Kazakhstan, using phishing emails to deploy a Windows information stealer designed to extract credentials, documents and browser data. The group, named Armored Likho and provisionally linked to a cluster known as Eagle Werewolf, has emerged as a notable threat because its operations combine espionage against institutions with financially motivated attacks against […]
Securitize began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SECZ after completing its merger with Cantor Equity Partners II, giving the tokenisation platform a public-market foothold at a time when Wall Street is testing blockchain rails for regulated securities. The Miami and New York-based company closed its business combination on 1 July, with trading starting the following day. The deal is expected to raise […]
Scammers are using fake Google Play Store pages and paid social media adverts to push gambling-linked Progressive Web Apps, exploiting consumer trust in well-known retail, banking and streaming brands. The campaign uses polished advertisements on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Threads and TikTok, with some creatives carrying simple “Brand Slots” labels and others mimicking official product launches. The adverts borrow logos, colour schemes, app-style layouts and fabricated testimonials […]
The Asian Excellence Awards is one of Asia’s most prestigious accolades in the fields of corporate governance, ESG, and investor relations. Organized annually by Corporate Governance Asia since 2011, the awards are recognized for their rigorous evaluation standards and stringent selection criteria.
This year, VinFast received recognition in three major categories: Best Investor Relations Company, Asia’s Best CFO awarded to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, and Best Investor Relations Professional awarded to Ms. Amandae Baey.
VinFast was the only Vietnamese company recognized at the 2026 awards. Other recipients this year were leading corporations from several key Asian markets, including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
In the Best Investor Relations Company category, VinFast was highly regarded for its transparency in information disclosure, its ability to maintain regular engagement with investors and analysts, and the effectiveness of its communication and outreach initiatives with financial communities.
For the Asia’s Best CFO award, the organizers recognized the critical role of corporate finance leaders in maintaining strong financial foundations, developing effective capital-raising strategies, and navigating market volatility. The award honors CFOs who demonstrate exceptional leadership in guiding their companies toward stable and sustainable growth across varying economic conditions.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Chief Financial Officer of VinFast, said: “This series of recognitions at the Asian Excellence Awards 2026 is a meaningful acknowledgment of VinFast’s journey in building a global enterprise founded on advanced and sustainable governance standards. VinFast will continue to strengthen governance capabilities, enhance transparency, and foster open dialogue with stakeholders to build long-term trust in international markets.”
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh has served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of VinFast Auto Ltd since 2024. Having joined Vingroup in 2020, she brings extensive knowledge of the Company’s operations through her leadership experience across multiple functions, including finance, manufacturing, and supply chain management. She is a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and a Certified Practising Accountant of CPA Australia.
Ms. Amandae Baey has served as Vice President of Investor Relations at VinFast since 2024, where she leads the Company’s global investor engagement, analyst relations, and capital markets positioning. She is a CFA charterholder.
The awards highlight VinFast’s increasing integration into global capital markets and reaffirm its commitment to adopting international governance standards, enhancing disclosure quality, and strengthening engagement with shareholders and investors through a professional, proactive, and sustainable approach.
Over the past year alone, VinFast has received dozens of prestigious international awards spanning investment and finance, corporate communications, electric mobility, technology, design, and sustainability. Notable recognitions include the “Outstanding Innovation in Sustainable Electric Mobility” and “Remarkable Contribution to Energy Independence” awards at the CNN Indonesia Awards; the “Best Value Car of the Year” award at the Autocar India Awards 2026; ranking 101st in TIME magazine’s “Asia-Pacific’s Best Companies of 2025” list; and six awards at the APAC Effie Awards.
Hashtag: #VinFast #AsianExcellenceAwards #InvestorRelations
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Corporate Governance Asia is Asia’s leading publication covering corporate governance, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), investor relations, and sustainability. Since its launch in 2002, it has become a trusted source of insights and analysis for corporate leaders, investors, regulators, and financial professionals across the region.
The Asian Excellence Awards, organized annually by Corporate Governance Asia since 2011, recognize outstanding companies and business leaders across Asia for excellence in corporate governance, ESG practices, and investor relations.
Global equities advanced after weaker US employment figures reduced expectations of an imminent Federal Reserve rate increase, pushing investors back into risk assets while lifting gold and easing pressure on the dollar. The rally followed the June employment report, which showed non-farm payrolls rising by 57,000, well below market expectations of roughly 110,000. The unemployment rate eased to 4.2 per cent, but the decline was clouded by […]
By K Raveendran The alleged theft of donations from the Ayodhya Ram Temple has pushed a long-simmering question into the national foreground: who should guard the wealth of religious institutions when faith, money and power converge without adequate public accountability? The issue is not confined to Ayodhya, nor to Hindu institutions. Across denominations, religious endowments, […]
The article Faith Assets Need Secular Oversight As Temple Fraud Exposes Governance Vacuum appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
The inaugural India–Mali Forum for the Promotion of Exports was held in Bamako under the theme “Reinforcing Trade and Strategic Partnerships”, bringing together senior officials, export agencies and about 30 business leaders from India. The two-day initiative marks an attempt to move commercial engagement beyond commodity flows and towards sector-specific projects in cotton, mining, energy, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, health and education.
The forum was jointly organised by Mali’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Embassy of India in Bamako and the Malian Agency for the Promotion of Exports. It was presided over by Mali’s Transition Government Prime Minister, Major General Abdoulaye Maïga, with the delegation from India led by Amit Kumar, Joint Secretary for FT-Africa in the Department of Commerce. Dr N. Nandakumar, Ambassador of India to Mali, represented the mission through the proceedings.
Bilateral trade crossed $326.61 million in 2025–26, a 55 per cent increase over the previous financial year. Mali’s exports to India include raw cotton, finished leather, cashew, lead, gum arabic and sesame. India’s exports to Mali include pharmaceuticals, cotton fabrics, two-wheelers, three-wheelers and bicycles. Officials see the current trade base as narrow but expandable, particularly because Mali’s global exports stand at about $4 billion and its untapped export potential in the market of India is estimated at nearly $3.96 billion.
The Duty-Free Tariff Preference Scheme has been a central driver of trade growth, offering least developed countries preferential access to the market of India. For Mali, the scheme provides a policy opening at a time when Bamako is seeking to diversify export destinations and reduce dependence on raw commodity shipments. For New Delhi, the forum fits a wider push to deepen commercial links with Africa through trade facilitation, capacity building and private-sector participation.
Business-to-business, business-to-government and government-to-government meetings formed the operational core of the forum. Exhibition stands featured products from both countries, including tractors and vehicles manufactured by Sonalika, Mahindra and Tata Motors. The format was designed to connect firms with regulators, identify bankable projects and address procedural bottlenecks that often slow trade between developing markets.
Mali presented ready-made business plans to potential investors and placed emphasis on agro-industry, shea processing, mining-linked services, renewable energy and social infrastructure. The country is seeking more value addition in cotton and agricultural commodities rather than relying mainly on exports of raw or semi-processed products. Cotton remains a significant sector for Mali, while shea, sesame, cashew and gum arabic offer scope for processing, branding and direct export partnerships.
Pharmaceuticals emerged as another key area. Mali sought quicker registration of approved products from India, a move that could expand access to affordable medicines and medical supplies. Health and education infrastructure were also discussed as areas where companies and institutions could provide services, equipment and training support.
The mining dimension is more complex. Mali is one of Africa’s leading gold producers and is working to tighten oversight of its precious metals trade after identifying large gaps between declared exports and import data reported by partner countries. A new state entity has been created to centralise and regulate precious-substances flows, reflecting Bamako’s effort to capture more value from gold and reduce informal trade. Industrial mines export about 60 tonnes of gold annually, while artisanal mining employs nearly 2 million people across hundreds of sites.
Security remains a central concern for investors. Mali has faced instability and militant violence, and economic assets have been among the risks flagged by foreign governments and companies. Earlier this year, security concerns stalled participation by government-backed firms from India in a Russian-backed lithium exploration project in Mali. That episode underlined the challenge of matching mineral ambitions with investor confidence.
BlueFive Capital has co-led a near $3 billion funding round for Kling AI, marking one of the largest capital injections into a generative video company and giving the Abu Dhabi-based investment platform a prominent position in China’s fast-growing artificial intelligence race. The financing values Kling AI at about $18 billion after investment and brings together a heavyweight group of backers including CPE, Guofang Investment, Tencent and CITIC […]
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 July 2026 – Recently, XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border trade payment platform, officially inaugurated its new office in Malaysia. This marks XTransfer’s continued investment in localised operations across Southeast Asia and lays a solid foundation for further strengthening its regional trade finance services.
Leaders and partners from several major local Malaysian banks and financial institutions attended the event to witness this important milestone. The opening ceremony began with a lively lion dance performance, followed by a ribbon-cutting session led by distinguished guests in a festive atmosphere. Ribbon-cutting guests included Ms Winnie Wong, Director of Financial Institutions Group at Maybank; Ms Sylvia Wong, Regional Head at CIMB; Ms Daphne Yoo, Director at OCBC; along with representatives from various institutions and associations, and the head of XTransfer’s Malaysia team.
Guests warmly congratulated XTransfer on the opening of its new office and expressed their expectation that XTransfer will continue to support the development of local trade by providing Malaysian SMEs with more efficient and secure cross-border payment solutions. Representatives from multiple banks also noted that they look forward to deepening collaboration with XTransfer, further improving localised settlement networks, and jointly promoting the development of the cross-border payments ecosystem.
As a fintech company deeply focused on global trade finance, XTransfer has consistently adhered to a technology-driven and compliance-first approach. It is committed to providing global trade enterprises with secure, convenient, and cost-effective cross-border payment and collection solutions. With the launch of its new Malaysia office, XTransfer will position Malaysia as a strategic hub for its Southeast Asia operations, extending its reach across the Asia-Pacific market and further accelerating regional business expansion. Going forward, XTransfer will continue to advance its internationalisation strategy to better serve global trade companies.
It is also worth noting that in February this year, XTransfer received conditional approval from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for key payment licenses. Upon completing the pre-issuance conditions and being permitted to launch, XTransfer will introduce digital payment services to support businesses, particularly SMEs engaged in international trade. With the official opening of the new office, XTransfer will leverage stronger local service capabilities together with its global network resources to continue helping regional trade businesses seize global opportunities and expand into broader international markets.
Hashtag: #XTransfer #Crossborder #Payment #SMEs #Malaysia
https://www.xtransfer.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/xtransfer.cn
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Gulf banking systems remain well placed to absorb near-term shocks from the US-Iran conflict, but their credit strength is now tied closely to whether the ceasefire holds and whether the Strait of Hormuz returns fully to dependable commercial use. Fitch Ratings says the durability of the truce between Washington and Tehran will be central to the outlook for banks across the Gulf Cooperation Council, where lenders entered […]
