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Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s social development agenda has gained fresh momentum as the Department of Community Development signed a partnership with Mbank aimed at strengthening the financial resilience of families across the emirate, reflecting a broader policy shift towards preventive welfare and long-term economic stability. The agreement, announced as part of initiatives aligned with the UAE’s Year of Family, focuses on enhancing access to financial […]

Nearly a year after the Trump administration introduced the concept of a “Gold Card” visa, curiosity about the proposal continues to circulate among high net worth investors exploring U.S. residency options. On the surface, the idea appears simple: contribute a significant sum to the United States and receive expedited access to permanent residency. But immigration law is rarely that straightforward. Since the initial announcement, several developments have […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Ajman University has introduced a doctoral programme in artificial intelligence, positioning it as a research-intensive offering backed by faculty ranked among the world’s top 0.5% of scientists, as the institution seeks to strengthen its standing in advanced technology education and align with the UAE’s broader digital economy ambitions. The new PhD in Artificial Intelligence is designed to focus on high-impact research across areas […]

Japan’s latest government bond auction drew firm demand, offering a measure of stability to domestic markets as investors assessed shifting geopolitical signals tied to tensions involving Iran.

The Ministry of Finance’s sale of long-dated Japanese government bonds proceeded without disruption, with bid-to-cover ratios indicating healthy appetite among institutional buyers. Market participants pointed to a combination of steady domestic demand and easing concerns over an immediate escalation in the Middle East as key factors underpinning the auction’s outcome.

Yields on benchmark Japanese government bonds remained relatively contained following the sale, suggesting that investors were comfortable absorbing supply even as global markets remained sensitive to geopolitical developments. Traders said the absence of sharp volatility in oil prices and currency markets helped anchor sentiment, reducing the risk premium typically associated with periods of heightened uncertainty.

The auction came at a time when global bond markets have been navigating a complex mix of factors, including central bank policy adjustments, inflation expectations and geopolitical risk. Developments surrounding Iran, including diplomatic signals that hinted at a possible de-escalation, contributed to a more measured tone across financial markets, supporting demand for sovereign debt perceived as stable.

Japan’s bond market continues to be shaped by the Bank of Japan’s evolving monetary policy stance. The central bank has been gradually adjusting its approach to yield curve control, allowing for greater flexibility in long-term interest rates. While this shift has introduced some volatility in recent months, domestic investors such as banks and life insurers have remained key buyers, providing a reliable base of demand.

Analysts noted that the latest auction underscored the resilience of Japan’s domestic investor base, even as yields edge higher compared with previous years. The gradual normalisation of monetary policy has encouraged some investors to lock in returns at levels that are more attractive than those seen during the ultra-low rate environment that prevailed for much of the past decade.

At the same time, foreign participation in Japanese government bonds has shown signs of fluctuation, influenced by currency movements and relative yield differentials with other major markets such as the United States. The yen’s performance remains a crucial variable, as currency hedging costs can significantly affect the attractiveness of Japanese debt for overseas investors.

The broader global context remains a critical factor shaping investor behaviour. Tensions in the Middle East have periodically driven spikes in oil prices, which in turn influence inflation expectations and central bank policy trajectories. Any sustained escalation could lead to higher global yields, potentially affecting demand for sovereign debt across advanced economies, including Japan.

Market participants have also been closely monitoring fiscal dynamics. Japan’s high debt-to-GDP ratio remains a structural concern, although it is largely mitigated by the fact that a significant portion of government debt is held domestically. The government’s ongoing issuance programme reflects the need to finance fiscal measures while managing the cost of borrowing in a gradually changing interest rate environment.

The smooth execution of the latest bond sale is likely to be seen as a positive signal by policymakers, particularly as they navigate a delicate balance between supporting economic growth and ensuring financial stability. Japan’s economy has been showing signs of moderate recovery, with wage growth and corporate investment providing some support, although external risks continue to loom.

Police are investigating whether an arson attack on Jewish community ambulances in London is linked to Iranian state activity, as security officials warn of a persistent threat from hostile plots directed at the United Kingdom. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said officers were pursuing “multiple lines of inquiry” following the incident, which targeted emergency vehicles used by a Jewish volunteer service. The attack has raised concerns among […]

Tron’s native token is drawing renewed market attention as corporate accumulation and fresh stablecoin issuance converge, pushing the blockchain’s ecosystem into sharper focus and fuelling expectations of a further price advance. Digital asset data indicates that Tron Inc., a corporate entity aligned with the network’s broader ecosystem, has increased its holdings by acquiring more than 159,000 TRX at an average price of about $0.3135. The purchase lifts […]

XRP is showing signs of renewed upward momentum, with a combination of technical indicators and market activity pointing to a possible shift after an extended period of muted performance. Trading data indicates that buyer pressure has strengthened across major exchanges, reversing a phase marked by low volatility and cautious sentiment. Analysts tracking order books and liquidity flows report a steady increase in bid-side dominance, suggesting that accumulation […]

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Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Donald Trump has indicated that talks between the United States and Iran have reached what he described as “major points of agreement”, raising the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough after a prolonged period of tension between the two countries. Speaking after a fresh round of discussions, Trump said negotiations held on Sunday were constructive and would continue into the following day. He added […]

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 March 2026 – Etiqa Insurance Singaporeand AIA Singapore today announced a strategic distribution partnership to broaden access to Shariah-compliant, values-based Takaful solutions across Singapore. This collaboration marks an important milestone in advancing the Islamic insurance landscape locally and enabling more customers, both Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to benefit from ethical, transparent and socially responsible financial solutions.

Under the partnership, Etiqa Insurance Singapore’s suite of Shariah-compliant Family Takaful products will be distributed through AIA Singapore and AIA Financial Advisers, the nation’s largest tied distribution channel comprising more than 6,300 highly professional, qualified AIA insurance representatives. This expanded reach significantly increases accessibility and choice for customers seeking principled and values-aligned protection and savings options.

Growing Demand for Values-Based Financial Solutions

Global demand for Takaful continues to rise as consumers increasingly prioritise financial solutions aligned with their personal values. The global Takaful market is projected to grow from US$36.5 billion in 2025 to US$63.6 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.7%[1]. Since launching its Takaful offerings, Etiqa Insurance Singapore has seen strong and accelerating momentum, supported by rising consumer awareness and growing confidence in Shariah-compliant financial protection.

Creating a Unified Takaful Ecosystem in Singapore

The partnership brings together the complementary strengths of both insurers to build a more cohesive and accessible Takaful ecosystem:

  • Etiqa Insurance Singapore — The pioneer in reintroducing Takaful insurance to Singapore after more than a decade, with deep expertise and a dedicated Shariah advisory framework.
  • AIA Singapore — One of the nation’s leading life and health insurers with extensive distribution capabilities, broad community reach and a diverse customer base.

Together, the two organisations are positioned to significantly expand the availability, understanding and adoption of Takaful solutions in Singapore.

“This partnership marks an important step in advancing access to Shariah-compliant protection and savings solutions in Singapore,” said Claudia Soh, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Etiqa Insurance Singapore. “By leveraging AIA’s extensive distribution network and strong presence within the Muslim community, we can scale Takaful solutions more effectively and reach customer groups that have historically been underserved. As demand for values-aligned financial planning grows, this collaboration reinforces our commitment to inclusive and responsible insurance.”

“This partnership with Etiqa is a pivotal step in our commitment to inclusivity and we are excited to work together,” said Alvin Fu, Chief Distribution Officer, AIA Singapore. “By integrating Etiqa’s Shariah-compliant expertise with our highly professional AIA insurance representatives, we can serve a wider customer base, close protection gaps and help more families live Healthier, Longer, Better Lives.”

Bringing Takaful to the Masses

While rooted in Islamic principles, Shariah-compliant, values-based Takaful solutions serve a broad spectrum of customers and appeal to increasingly values-driven consumers seeking ethical, transparent and socially responsible financial protection and savings solutions beyond the Muslim community.

Beyond distribution, Etiqa Insurance Singapore shares a long-term commitment to raising awareness, understanding and adoption of Takaful solutions across Singapore. Through educational programmes and community engagement initiatives, the partnership aims to enhance financial literacy, deepen understanding of Takaful principles and bring Takaful education directly to underserved communities, empowering consumers to make informed decisions on protection and savings.


[1] https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/takaful-global-market-report

Hashtag: #EtiqaSingapore #EtiqaSG

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

About Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd (Etiqa Insurance Singapore)

Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (EIPL) is a life and general insurance company licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and governed by the Insurance Act 1966. Having protected customers in Singapore since 1961 under the name United General Insurance Co. Sdn. Bhd., the company transitioned into the Singapore branch of Etiqa Insurance Berhad in 2009. Today, EIPL in Singapore stands as the pivotal operating entity of Etiqa Insurance Group, a leading insurance and takaful provider in ASEAN.

EIPL offers a comprehensive range of life and general insurance products accessible through its diverse distribution channels, including bancassurance, agents, brokers, financial advisers, partnerships, direct and online sales via Tiq by Etiqa. Etiqa is rated ‘A’ by credit rating agency Fitch for the group’s ‘Favorable’ business profile. EIPL is owned by Maybank Ageas Holdings Berhad, a joint venture combining local market expertise with international insurance knowledge, with 69% ownership by Maybank, the fourth largest banking group in Southeast Asia, and 31% by Ageas, an international insurance group operating across 13 countries.

About AIA

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR[2], Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR[3], and a 49 per cent joint venture in India. In addition, AIA has a 24.99 per cent shareholding in China Post Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$345 billion as of 31 December 2025.

AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 44 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.

AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock codes “1299” for HKD counter and “81299” for RMB counter with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol “AAGIY”.


[2] Hong Kong SAR refers to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
[3] Macau SAR refers to the Macau Special Administrative Region.

By Nantoo Banerjee With the US-Israel military conflict against Iran continuing through the fourth week, severely disrupting global supply of oil and gas, petro-fuel prices may shoot up to record highs this year threatening economic stability across the world. India’s economy, which is 90 percent import dependent on oil, may be among the worst hit. […]

The article No End Of Iran-US-Israel War Is In Sight appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Malicious Google advertisements linked to tax-related searches are being used to distribute a sophisticated attack chain that disables endpoint security tools before granting attackers remote control of compromised systems, according to cybersecurity researchers. The campaign, identified by Huntress, combines social engineering with a “bring your own vulnerable driver” technique to bypass detection systems and establish persistent access. Investigators found that sponsored search results tied to queries such […]

Malicious actors are exploiting search engine rankings to distribute trojanised software installers that deploy the AsyncRAT remote access tool, in a campaign that has expanded steadily since October 2025 and now targets more than two dozen widely used applications. Security analysts tracking the operation say attackers are manipulating search optimisation techniques to push fraudulent download portals to the top of results pages, increasing the likelihood that unsuspecting […]

Cybersecurity researchers are tracking an expansion of the MioLab infostealer targeting macOS systems, signalling a shift in cybercrime operations towards Apple devices as their adoption widens across corporate and consumer environments. The malware, also known in underground circles as Nova, is being marketed as a Malware-as-a-Service offering, allowing threat actors with limited technical expertise to deploy sophisticated attacks against macOS users. Analysts describe MioLab as a modular […]

Messaging platform Telegram has fully repaid bonds issued five years ago, marking a significant financial milestone as the company signals sustained profitability and stronger investor confidence, according to a statement from its founder Pavel Durov. Durov confirmed that the debt raised in 2021 has now been cleared in full, underscoring a turnaround in the platform’s financial trajectory. The repayment follows a period during which Telegram introduced a […]

Matein Khalid The past eight weeks have seen a multi-trillion-dollar market cap meltdown. Wall Street developed a sudden aversion to software companies, viewing them as victims of the AI revolution. At the same time, the war in the Gulf has led to a sharp rise in the Volatility Index, the US dollar and US Treasury bond yields. These are macro headwinds for high-beta Nasdaq sectors, including software, and have […]

Global bond markets are sending a message to the White House, and it’s one that cannot be ignored. This comes even as President Donald Trump hails “productive” talks with Iran aimed at ending the conflict, signalling a potential diplomatic off-ramp. Yet despite this, markets remain unconvinced that tensions will ease quickly. As tensions escalate between the US and Iran, investors aren’t responding in the way many would […]

A man has admitted orchestrating a large-scale fraud that used artificial intelligence to generate songs and automated bots to stream them on digital platforms, earning more than $8 million in illicit royalties, according to prosecutors. Michael Smith, 52, entered a guilty plea in a United States federal court to charges linked to wire fraud and money laundering after authorities uncovered what they described as one of the […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Currency markets shifted sharply on Monday as investors sought safety in the US dollar amid intensifying tensions in the Middle East, triggering a broad sell-off in equities and risk-sensitive assets. The greenback strengthened against major peers, reflecting a flight to liquidity as geopolitical uncertainty deepened and hopes for de-escalation appeared increasingly fragile. Trading in Asia and Europe saw the dollar index climb, reversing […]

A sharp wave of liquidations swept through cryptocurrency markets after comments by Donald Trump signalling progress in talks with Iran triggered a rapid shift in investor sentiment, forcing traders betting on falling prices to unwind positions at speed. Market data showed that more than $265 million worth of short positions were liquidated within minutes as major digital assets surged. Bitcoin and Ethereum both recorded abrupt upward movements, […]

Organisations faced a steep escalation in cyber threats targeting application programming interfaces, with average daily API attacks per enterprise climbing to 258 in 2025, marking a 113% increase from 121 the previous year, according to industry cybersecurity assessments tracking enterprise network activity. The data underscores a widening attack surface as businesses deepen reliance on APIs to connect cloud services, mobile applications and third-party platforms. Analysts say the […]

Resolv’s USR stablecoin has plunged by more than 70 per cent within days after an exploit drained roughly $25 million in Ether, leaving the decentralised finance protocol struggling to meet liabilities that significantly exceed its remaining assets. Data from blockchain trackers and market activity show USR trading near $0.27, far below its intended dollar peg, following a rapid loss of confidence among holders. The collapse has triggered […]

A network of coordinated social media accounts has been identified exploiting geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran conflict to manipulate cryptocurrency markets, funnelling unsuspecting users into pump-and-dump schemes that have generated substantial on-chain profits. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT detailed how at least 11 accounts on X, formerly Twitter, orchestrated a campaign designed to manufacture panic-driven narratives around developments involving Iran. These accounts, often appearing credible or posing as […]

Bitcoin miners are facing a widening gap between production costs and market prices, yet data shows a marked slowdown in selling activity, raising questions about strategy and resilience across the sector. Bitcoin has been trading near $68,000, while estimates of the average cost to mine a single coin have climbed towards $85,000 or higher for many operators. The divergence has been driven largely by a sharp rise […]

Daily life across Cuba has become increasingly precarious as prolonged power cuts, dwindling fuel supplies and unreliable access to water combine to strain households already grappling with a fragile economy. Residents in Havana and provincial cities describe a routine shaped by uncertainty, with electricity outages stretching for hours and, in some regions, extending through entire days. The disruptions have intensified following tighter constraints on oil shipments, a […]

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