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eToro Group Ltd delivered a stronger-than-expected set of financial results for the full year and fourth quarter of 2025, reporting record yearly profits and bolstering its multi-asset trading platform even as the cryptocurrency market faced sustained volatility. The trading and investment platform posted a net contribution of $868 million for the full year, up about 10 per cent on 2024, and net income under generally accepted accounting principles climbed […]

Financial markets are moving at unprecedented speed. AI and tech stocks surge on earnings momentum, then retrace on valuation concerns. Oil whipsaws on geopolitical complexities. Crypto rallies sharply on liquidity optimism, only to correct just as quickly. Currency markets adjust in real time to growth differentials and fiscal developments. There’s no doubt that investors are trying to protect and grow their wealth in an environment defined by […]

Europe has strengthened its push for technological sovereignty with the launch of the Euro Q Exa quantum computing system in Munich, marking a significant addition to the continent’s developing high-performance computing network. Unveiled on 12 February at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, part of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Euro Q Exa is designed to integrate quantum processors into Europe’s broader supercomputing ecosystem. The system forms […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities has inaugurated a 5 megawatt-peak grid-connected solar photovoltaic plant in Berbera, marking a significant step in Somaliland’s efforts to diversify its energy mix and curb dependence on diesel generation. The project, developed under a public-private partnership model, is accompanied by the launch of the Green Berbera initiative aimed at accelerating renewable energy adoption and sustainable infrastructure in the […]

Dragonfly Capital has secured $650 million for its fourth investment vehicle, pressing ahead with fresh commitments to digital asset infrastructure even as senior partners describe the current venture climate in crypto as a “mass extinction event”. The San Francisco and Singapore-based firm said the new capital will be directed towards foundational blockchain systems, stablecoins, on-chain financial services and tokenised real-world assets, signalling a long-term strategy despite persistent […]

Abu Dhabi University has surpassed 5,000 research papers indexed in Scopus, marking a significant milestone in its academic development and signalling the institution’s expanding footprint in global scholarship. The university confirmed that the achievement was recorded through its Office of Research and Sponsored Programmes, which oversees research strategy, funding partnerships and publication performance. Scopus, operated by Elsevier, is among the world’s largest abstract and citation databases of […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has begun rolling out facial recognition technology for notary transactions, marking a significant shift in how legal documents are verified and authenticated in the emirate. The first phase of the initiative, announced by the department, integrates biometric identification into selected notary services, enabling clients to complete procedures through digital platforms without the need for physical attendance. Officials describe the […]

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Brussels has thrust the European Union’s carbon market into a fresh political battle, as leaders weigh changes to the bloc’s Emissions Trading System amid economic headwinds and mounting pressure from industry. Debate intensified at a summit of EU heads of state and government last week, where divisions surfaced over how far to adjust the Emissions Trading System, widely regarded as the centrepiece of Europe’s climate policy. European […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Yango Group says its artificial intelligence-driven routing system saved users more than five million hours in 2025, with riders in Dubai and Abu Dhabi alone reclaiming over 34,000 hours through dynamic route optimisation. The mobility and technology company, which operates ride-hailing and delivery services across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Latin America, reported that its AI models analysed billions of data points […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai SHIFT has entered a strategic partnership with Amber Connect to roll out an advanced telematics platform across its fleet operations in the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant push towards data-driven mobility management in the region. Under the agreement, SHIFT will integrate Amber Connect’s real-time vehicle tracking and analytics system into its operational infrastructure, enabling comprehensive monitoring of vehicle performance, driver behaviour and […]

YIWU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 February 2026 – As red lanterns light up the streets and alleys, Yiwu is welcoming spring in a unique way. For the international community living here, the city has transformed from a foreign commercial hub into a warm “hometown.”

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This year, three expatriates shared their unique Chinese New Year experiences in Yiwu.

For Lina from Ukraine, the festival is a visual feast of “Chinese Red.” Having lived in Yiwu for five years, she immerses herself in local traditions, shopping for “Get-Rich Horse” dolls for the upcoming Year of the Horse and buying traditional red outfits to take back to her home country.

For He Lvsheng, the holiday offers a chance to find a comfortable rhythm. While he notes that the New Year isn’t celebrated with the same intensity in his home country, in Yiwu, he enjoys the festive atmosphere by buying food and toys for friends while maintaining his daily fitness routine.

For foreign businessman Weihua, the Spring Festival is about unity. He celebrates by pasting spring couplets with his Chinese employees and handing out “Hongbao” (red envelopes), turning business partners into family.

From the scent of ink on couplets to the shared joy of the holidays, Yiwu’s inclusive environment allows entrepreneurs and residents from around the world to strive, live, and turn a foreign land into home.

Hashtag: #Yiwu

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

Microsoft has completed the global rollout of a new AI Workflows feature within the Teams Workflows app that uses Microsoft 365 Copilot to help users automate complex tasks and daily operations, marking a significant advance in intelligent productivity tools for organisations worldwide. Users with Microsoft 365 Copilot licences can now access preset workflow templates that harness scheduled Copilot prompts to handle repetitive actions like project summaries, data […]

Leading British boarding schools are set to deepen educational engagement with Nigerian parents and students this March through a series of exhibitions and interactive events in Abuja and Lagos, as part of UK Boarding Schools Week 2026. The initiative, driven by Mark Brooks Education, aims to provide a platform for direct dialogue between families and school leaders about admissions, academic pathways and boarding life. The programme is […]

Singapore’s drive to harness artificial intelligence as an engine of economic growth is entering a decisive phase marked by abundant ambition and clear signs of strain across company ranks. Government fiscal policy and private-sector deployment are converging on AI, but weak data infrastructure, skills gaps and uneven returns are tempering expectations even as enterprises escalate investments and policy support grows.

Last week, the nation’s Budget for the 2026 fiscal year unveiled a suite of measures aimed at elevating AI adoption across multiple industries. Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong confirmed the establishment of a National AI Council, to be chaired by himself, tasked with coordinating research, regulation and investment to align public and private interests in developing AI capability. The plan also includes National AI Missions focused on advanced manufacturing, connectivity and logistics, finance and healthcare, sectoral areas where government and business leaders see the most potential for productivity gains and value creation. The budget expands fiscal incentives with enhanced tax deductions for AI-related expenditures over the next two assessment years and widened grant schemes to support adoption, workforce training and enterprise transformation. Leaders of major consultancies said these measures signal a shift from experimentation to enterprise-scale adoption and give firms a clearer pathway to embed AI into core operations.

Despite this policy momentum, data from industry surveys and corporate research paint a more nuanced picture of utilisation and outcomes. Adoption of AI tools in Singapore is now near universal among larger firms, with about 96 per cent reporting some level of use. But a significant gap remains between deployment and measurable returns on investment. Only a minority of organisations consider themselves leaders in achieving strong, sustained ROI, indicating an emerging disconnect between AI deployment at scale and operational readiness to turn it into business value. Executives widely acknowledge that sprawling and complex data environments, coupled with cybersecurity concerns, are contributing to operational friction and risks that constrain potential gains.

Private forecasts and vendor research suggest that enterprises are committed to accelerating AI spending even as returns lag. Surveys of business leaders show average investments in AI of around SG$18.9 million, with expectations for investment growth of roughly 38 per cent over the next two years and ROI projections rising to an average of 29 per cent during the same period. Yet analysts note that these returns will depend significantly on firms’ ability to bridge gaps in data readiness and workforce capability. Many Singapore companies acknowledge limited internal training, fragmented data integration and widespread informal use of ungoverned AI tools, all of which undermine robust enterprise-level strategy and governance structures.

Structural issues are as salient as technical ones. Industry leaders point to weaknesses in reliable data foundations and the need for stronger leadership alignment to embed AI into strategic operations rather than relegated to pilot projects or isolated business functions. Senior executives contend that competitive advantage over the coming decade will be determined less by technology choice and more by how effectively organisations build hybrid human-AI teams and integrate AI into everyday workflows.

Talent acquisition and retention also feature prominently in conversations around Singapore’s AI trajectory. Advanced AI, cloud and cybersecurity skills are in high demand globally and Singapore is no exception, with firms reporting difficulty scaling teams with the specialised expertise needed to support complex AI systems. This talent shortage both drives up costs and slows the pace at which organisations can absorb and leverage new technologies.

Cloud infrastructure and advanced digital foundations are another determinant of success. Financial services institutions in Singapore, for example, are among the most advanced globally in cloud adoption, with a majority running core workloads in cloud or hybrid environments that facilitate large-scale AI deployment. This infrastructure supports use cases ranging from compliance and risk management to fraud detection and transaction monitoring. However, budget constraints, talent gaps and integration challenges remain headwinds even in these relatively strong pockets of adoption.

Commentators outside the corporate sphere emphasize the importance of inclusive growth, noting that small- and medium-sized enterprises must not be left behind in the national AI push. Business federation and consultancy leaders warn that without targeted support for smaller firms to sustain, not just adopt, AI technologies, widening capability divides could undermine broader economic innovation and productivity goals.

Researchers tracking more than 400 toddlers have found no evidence that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during or just before pregnancy increases the risk of autism spectrum disorder or developmental delays, offering what clinicians describe as strong reassurance for expectant mothers. The large prospective study, conducted across multiple clinical centres and involving detailed follow-up assessments of infants born during the pandemic, examined speech and language development, motor […]

ByteDance is said to be in advanced negotiations to sell Shanghai-based game developer Moonton Technology — the studio behind Mobile Legends: Bang Bang — to the Saudi-backed Savvy Games Group in a transaction valued at between $6 billion and $7 billion, with talks progressing toward a possible deal this quarter. Both parties have reportedly agreed on broad commercial terms, marking a significant shift in ByteDance’s strategy and […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s education landscape is set for a major expansion as Dubai Holding Investments and global operator Nord Anglia Education announced a strategic partnership to develop and operate a network of premium K-12 schools across the emirate, responding to surging demand driven by population growth and an expanding expatriate community — a move that adds momentum to the broader Gulf private education boom while […]

Standard Chartered has slashed its forecast for the digital asset XRP by about 65%, lowering the anticipated year-end 2026 price to around $2.80 from a previous projection above $8, underscoring deepening stress across broader cryptocurrency markets. That adjustment, communicated in an investor note led by Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, reflects enduring selling pressure and fading liquidity that have weighed on XRP […]

The Al-Khayyat family, a Syrian-Qatari business dynasty that rose to prominence in Doha through ventures such as Baladna dairy and Power International Holding, is accelerating its involvement in rebuilding Syria’s economy as Damascus opens up to foreign investment after years of conflict. Brothers Moutaz and Ramez Al-Khayyat, chairing sprawling conglomerates that span food, construction, energy and financial services, are spearheading a wave of deals that could shape […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai   Indian authorities have seized three oil tankers that were under United States sanctions and linked to Iranian oil networks, intensifying surveillance of the country’s maritime zones to stem illicit trade and enforce sanctions compliance, officials familiar with the matter said. The vessels, operating under multiple identities to evade detection, were intercepted about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform Khorfakkan into a city encircled by dense forests designed to enhance air quality and promote a sense of wellbeing among residents. Addressing an audience that included environmental planners and gardening enthusiasts, the Ruler outlined a long-term vision in which the coastal city, […]

China is set to eliminate import tariffs on goods from 53 African nations from 1 May 2026, a sweeping policy shift that extends duty-free access to almost the entire continent and aims to deepen trade ties and economic cooperation between Beijing and Africa. The government announcement confirms that the move will apply to all tariff lines for countries with which China has formal diplomatic relations, excluding only […]

OpenAI’s chief executive Sam Altman has said that India now has 100 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, elevating the country to the position of the platform’s second-largest market globally after the United States and underscoring its growing influence in the artificial intelligence ecosystem. Altman disclosed the figure in an opinion piece published ahead of the Global AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, where government officials and global tech leaders are convening to discuss the future of AI and its integration into education, enterprise and public services.

This milestone reflects not just a vast user base but also a distinct pattern of adoption: students in India now represent the largest single demographic of ChatGPT users worldwide, according to Altman, who highlighted the role younger generations are playing in embedding generative AI into daily workflows for learning and productivity.

The 100 million figure forms a significant share of ChatGPT’s global weekly active user count, which stood at about 800 million as of October 2025 and is widely projected to edge closer to 900 million as platforms refine their offerings and expand reach. OpenAI’s decision to open an office in New Delhi in August 2025 and tailor pricing, including a lower-cost subscription tier later made free for a year, is seen as part of a strategy to deepen engagement in what many technology firms regard as a key growth market.

Altman underscored India’s demographic advantages, including a population exceeding one billion internet users and a large proportion of English speakers outside native English-speaking countries — factors that have made the country fertile ground for generative AI adoption. Many students have turned to ChatGPT for support with research, coding, examination preparation and language practice, reflecting a broader trend of digital tools being woven into educational routines.

Despite this surge, translating sheer user numbers into sustained economic returns poses challenges for AI firms. India’s price-sensitive market and uneven internet access complicate monetisation, causing some companies to adjust their strategies to balance affordability with revenue generation. OpenAI’s tailored pricing and promotional offers have helped lower entry barriers, but broader monetisation across emerging markets may require further innovation in business models.

The competitive landscape in India’s AI space is intensifying. Alphabet’s Google has made inroads with its Gemini AI suite, aggressively targeting younger users through free one-year subscriptions and partnerships with telecom firms to broaden adoption among students and professionals. These efforts are part of a broader contest among technology giants to capture share in a market that has vast potential due to its size and digital engagement.

The presence of global tech leaders and politicians at the New Delhi summit highlights the geopolitical and economic significance of India’s AI trajectory. Policy discussions span topics from responsible AI governance and equitable access to scaling infrastructure and boosting domestic innovation capacity. Indian policymakers, alongside industry executives, are advocating approaches that leverage technology to enhance education, public services and economic participation, while grappling with concerns over job displacement and digital divides.

Altman has outlined priorities for fostering inclusive AI growth in India, emphasising the need for practical digital literacy, robust computing infrastructure and frameworks that ensure ethical deployment. Such an approach, he argues, will empower users to harness AI’s potential effectively rather than just expanding access to tools.

The prominence of India’s student base on ChatGPT has broader implications for how AI products are developed and tailored. Feedback from a large and diverse user community helps shape feature enhancements and localisation efforts, influencing global development roadmaps. For companies like OpenAI, this dynamic underscores a strategic shift from traditional markets in Europe and North America toward regions where usage patterns reflect unique demographic and cultural needs.

By Nantoo Banerjee There is little to be excited about the defence ministry’s latest clearance for the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France at a huge cost of Rs.3.25 lakh crore (nearly $40 billion), branded as ‘mother of all defence deals’. It is a matter of major concern that even 78 years after […]

The article India’s Reliance On Imported Arms For Defence Is A Concern appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

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