Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has stepped up its backing of Lucid Group with a fresh $550 million investment through affiliate Ayar Third Investment Company, extending the sovereign wealth fund’s role as the electric vehicle maker’s financial anchor at a time when Lucid is trying to stabilise cash burn, repair operational strains and broaden its commercial reach. The commitment forms part of a […]
Starting university is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with new expectations, from independent learning to navigating a new social environment. With early access to academic support, peer networks and wellbeing resources, SIM GE aims to ensure that students do not have to navigate this transition alone.
A “First 30 Days” Guide for New Students
To help students hit the ground running, the guide focuses on four key pillars: administration, academics, community and wellbeing, offering a clear roadmap for a confident and well-rounded start to university life.
Getting setup from Day One
The first week is all about laying the groundwork. Students are encouraged to attend orientation, activate essential academic systems and familiarise themselves with campus resources that will support their journey ahead. For international students arriving in Singapore, SIM GE provides dedicated onboarding through its International Student Office (ISO). From pre-departure preparation and Student’s Pass guidance to accommodation support and buddy programmes, students are guided every step of the way. Welcome receptions and orientation activities also offer early opportunities to build connections, helping students feel at home even before classes begin.
Establishing academic habits early
As classes begin, students quickly discover that understanding expectations early can make all the difference. The guide encourages students to review module outlines, plan ahead for assessments and actively seek support when needed. SIM GE offers a range of academic resources, including workshops and consultations focused on writing, research, presentations and effective study strategies. These resources are designed not just to support learning, but to help students develop the confidence and skills needed to thrive in a university environment.
Finding community beyond the classroom
Unversity life extends far beyond lectures. In their first month, students are encouraged to explore co-curricular activities (CCAs), student clubs and peer networks that enrich their overall experience. Programmes such as student ambassador initiatives and peer mentoring provide valuable opportunities for students to learn from seniors, gain practical insights and form meaningful friendships. By getting involved early, students can build a strong sense of belonging and become part of a vibrant campus community.
Prioritising wellbeing during the transition
Adjusting to university life can be both exciting and challenging. Recognising this, SIM GE places strong emphasis on student wellbeing, providing access to counselling and wellness services that support mental health and personal development. These services help students manage academic pressures, build resilience and maintain balance, ensuring they are well equipped to navigate both the highs and challenges of university life.
Supporting students every step of the way
SIM Global Education believes that a strong start can make a lasting difference. By encouraging students to actively engage with academic resources, peer support and wellbeing services from the outset, the institution aims to create an environment where students can grow with confidence, both academically and personally.
References:
Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is a leading private education institution in Singapore and the region. We offer more than 140 academic programmes ranging from diplomas and graduate diploma programmes to bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes with some of the world’s most reputable universities from Australia, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 17,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners, of which approximately 41% are international students hailing from over 50 countries.
SIM GE’s holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with knowledge, industry skills and employability competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed as future leaders in a fast-changing, technologically driven world.
For more information on SIM Global Education, visit 
www.sim.edu.sg.
Decoupling the Battery from the Price Tag
For decades, the battery has been the most expensive single component of an electric car. It is also the component most likely to depreciate. XEV’s innovative business model fundamentally alters this equation by separating the vehicle (hardware) from the battery (service).
Customers purchase the car but lease the energy capacity. This strategy significantly lowers the initial purchase price. It makes premium urban mobility accessible to a broader demographic. This ranges from young professionals seeking their first vehicle to fleet operators managing tight margins.
“We are not just manufacturing cars. We are redefining vehicle ownership,” says the XEV leadership team. “Our goal is to make car production as flexible as smartphone manufacturing. We give users exactly what they need for city living without the financial weight of traditional ownership.”
3 Minutes to Full Power: Solving the Charging Crisis
Range anxiety remains a critical hurdle for European EVs. This is particularly true for drivers without private home charging infrastructure. XEV addresses this with its proprietary battery swapping network.
The XEV YOYO and the upcoming XEV XPRESSION are engineered with a modular battery system. Instead of waiting hours at a charging point, drivers pull into a dedicated station. They complete a fully automated battery replacement in approximately three minutes.
This “SWAPPING” technology does more than save time. It improves operational efficiency for commercial users and ensures the vehicle is immune to battery degradation. Since the driver does not own the battery, they never have to worry about the cell’s lifespan affecting the car’s resale value. This creates a “Zero Usage Anxiety” experience for the owner.
Data-Driven Customization: The End of “One Size Fits All”
The XEV lineup is purpose-built for the narrow streets and high congestion of European cities. With a compact footprint of roughly 2.5 meters, the YOYO navigates historic city centers with ease. However, small size does not mean limited options.
Unlike legacy automakers that push stock inventory, XEV utilizes a data-driven C2M model. Users configure their vehicles via an online platform. They select distinct exterior colors, interior materials, wheel designs, and specific features. This user input triggers a flexible production process that creates a customizable car tailored to specific tastes. XEV uses the massive data generated from these customization choices to refine future designs and forecast market trends with precision.
Commercial Application: Powering the Last-Mile Economy
The flexibility of the XEV platform extends well beyond personal commuting. It is designed to serve the booming last-mile economy. The platform supports last-mile delivery vehicles and shared mobility fleets.
XEV provides specialized enclosed cargo options for logistics companies. The vehicle can even be customized for small business applications, such as mobile coffee carts or retail trucks. For small business owners, the vehicle serves as a mobile asset that can be configured for specific trades, effectively lowering the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs.
XEV has already initiated pilot projects with major European logistics firms to prove the model’s viability for high-frequency urban commuting and commercial delivery. For car-sharing services, the high utilization rates and low maintenance needs of the YOYO make it an ideal asset for time-based rental fleets. The modular design further supports this eco-friendly lifecycle by facilitating easy repair and part upgrades. This extends the product lifespan and reduces waste compared to traditional vehicles that are often scrapped when a single major system fails.
A Strategic Supply Chain for a New Era
XEV achieves this level of flexibility through a strategic manufacturing model. The company adopts a capital-light approach that relies on deep collaboration with mature Asian automotive supply chains. This ensures rigorous quality control and cost efficiency without the bloating of traditional manufacturing.
Simultaneously, XEV is committed to European localization. The company is currently establishing assembly hubs and battery swapping networks across Europe to better serve local demand. This dual approach allows XEV to combine global manufacturing power with local market responsiveness. It ensures that while the technology is global, the support and infrastructure are local.
Availability
Sales and deliveries of the XEV YOYO have commenced in selected European markets, including Italy and Germany. The company continues to expand its infrastructure to support the growing network of users who demand a smarter and cleaner way to move through their cities.
For more information on the YOYO and the battery-swapping network, visit https://www.xev-global.com/yoyo or explore the upcoming XPRESSION model at https://www.xev-global.com/xpression.
Hashtag: #XEV
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
XEV is an innovative electric vehicle company committed to transforming the way cars are designed, built, and owned. Through its direct-to-consumer (DTC) online customization platform and a flexible production system, XEV integrates personalized user demand with modular smart manufacturing. The company’s mission is to make electric vehicles accessible and lifestyle-aligned for everyone. It drives the transition toward sustainable and personalized mobility. XEV positions itself not just as a manufacturer but as a global leader in urban electric mobility solutions.
Reducing cement‑related emissions without compromising performance
Implementing this innovative technology supports Hongkong Land’s target of achieving a 22% reduction in Scope 3 carbon intensity by 2030. It also aligns with Tomorrow’s CENTRAL project’s sustainability objectives, including using 100% low carbon concrete, 100% green rebar, and 100% sustainable timber during construction, and to divert 75% of construction waste.
Tomorrow’s CENTRAL: a project with sustainability at its core
Eddie Tse, Group Sustainability Manager, Gammon Construction, said: “We are delighted to partner with Hongkong Land on Hong Kong’s first application of CarbonCure concrete. Their strong commitment to sustainability and openness to pioneering solutions have been instrumental in making this milestone possible. By permanently mineralising carbon within building materials and reducing cement use, lower carbon concrete represents a meaningful step forward in embodied‑carbon reduction. With this successful deployment, we look forward to extending similar innovations across the industry and collaborating with more clients to drive low‑carbon construction in Hong Kong.”
Hashtag: #HongkongLand
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Hongkong Land is a major listed property development, investment and management group. It focuses on developing, owning and managing premium and ultra-premium mixed-use real estate in Asian gateway cities, featuring Grade A office, luxury retail, residential and hospitality products. With over US$50 billion in assets under management, Hongkong Land’s ultra-premium mixed-use real estate footprint spans over 1.97 million sq. m. lettable area in operation and 1.43 million sq. m. lettable area under development, with flagship mixed-use projects in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. Its properties hold industry leading green building certifications and attract the world’s foremost companies and luxury brands. Established in 1889, Hongkong Land takes a long-term view, investing significantly alongside its capital partners and concentrating its portfolio where it can create the most value for tenants, customers and investors. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary listings in Singapore and Bermuda. Hongkong Land is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.
The partnership brings together DFIQ Media’s extensive omnichannel retail media ecosystem with WPP Media’s advanced programmatic and predictive intelligence capabilities. By integrating customer audience insights through InfoSum – WPP’s privacy-first, no-data-movement collaboration platform – advertisers can activate high-value audiences while ensuring strict data privacy and regulatory compliance.
Through this initiative, advertisers will gain access to aggregated customer insights from the yuu loyalty ecosystem and retail platforms across DFI Retail Group banners, enabling more precise and effective targeting strategies. These audience segments can be securely matched and activated via WPP Media’s Open Intelligence, and delivered through WPP Open – WPP’s agentic marketing platform. This enables brands to unlock new growth audiences, improve targeting accuracy, and access deeper performance insights across digital and in-store environments, including incremental sales, new-shopper contribution, and audience-level effectiveness.
“Retail media is the fastest growing media channel globally and rapidly becoming one of the most important channels for brands to connect with consumers in meaningful and measurable ways,” said Wee Lee Loh, Group Chief Digital & yuu Rewards Officer from DFI Retail Group. The partnership also includes WPP Media’s investment in DFIQ Media’s omnichannel retail media inventory. This includes digital advertising opportunities across the e-commerce and mobile apps of yuu, Wellcome, 7-Eleven, and Mannings, as well as DFIQ Media’s in-store digital screen network of more than 6,000 screens across these retail locations in Hong Kong. “Our collaboration with DFIQ Media represents an important step in shaping the future of commerce-driven media in Hong Kong,” said Michael Beecroft, CEO of WPP Media North East Asia.
Collectively, these retail touchpoints generate more than 60 million store visits every month, giving brands a powerful platform to connect with consumers across the full shopping journey — from digital discovery to in-store purchase.
“By partnering with WPP Media and leveraging privacy-safe technology from InfoSum, we are unlocking the next phase of retail media in Hong Kong – one that combines powerful first-party data with omnichannel activation across digital and physical retail environments,” said Chandana Sunder, Group Retail Media Director from DFI Retail Group.
WPP Media will also bring its advanced programmatic advertising, predictive modelling, and Open Intelligence capabilities to the partnership, enabling automated buying, real-time optimization, and sophisticated audience targeting powered by DFIQ Media’s retail signals.
“By connecting DFIQ Media’s rich retail audiences with our Open Intelligence framework, we can deliver high-yield, privacy-safe, and outcome-driven advertising solutions that reduce waste and drive measurable growth for brands,” said Kenny Ip, Vice President, Media and Partnership Management at WPP Media Hong Kong.
Together, DFIQ Media and WPP Media aim to push the boundaries of retail media innovation – building a more advanced and future-ready retail media landscape in Hong Kong. The partnership marks a significant milestone in next-generation retail media development, combining privacy-first data collaboration, predictive intelligence, and large-scale omnichannel activation to create new opportunities for brands to engage shoppers and measure incremental impact.
Hashtag: #DFIRetailGroup #DFIQ #yuuRewards #Mannings #7-Eleven #Wellcome
https://www.dfiretailgroup.com/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
DFI Retail Group is a leading Asian retailer driven by its purpose to ‘Sustainably Serve Asia for Generations with Everyday Moments’. As at 31 December 2025, the Group and its associates operated 7,580 outlets and employed more than 79,000 people across 12 markets. The Group is committed to delivering quality, value and service to consumers across the region through trusted brands, strong local market positions, and a broad retail ecosystem supported by extensive store networks, digital capabilities and efficient supply chains. DFI Retail Group and its associates operate a portfolio of well-known brands across five key divisions: health and beauty, convenience, food, home furnishings and restaurants.
DFIQ Media is the retail media arm of DFI Retail Group, connecting brands with millions of shoppers through a powerful omnichannel ecosystem that spans loyalty, e-commerce, and in-store media across leading retail banners. Established in 2025, it aims to deliver everyday omnichannel customer experience through full funnel media solutions powered by first party data intelligence.
A new study by Pearson and Amazon Web Services has sharpened concerns over whether universities are keeping pace with the demands of an AI-driven labour market, finding that 53% of employers say their main difficulty is hiring graduates with the right AI skills. The report, released on April 13, surveyed 2,711 learners, higher-education leaders and employers across the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia […]
DUBAI, UAE — Red Rock Technology FZ-LLC has entered into an exclusive strategic agreement with Innobotics, securing sole rights to deploy and commercialize its robotics and automation technologies across the GCC, Africa and India. The agreement establishes a cross-regional infrastructure layer combining AI governance, automation and physical deployment systems, positioning Red Rock as a primary integrator in markets where food security, supply chain resilience and technological sovereignty […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Apple is testing four design directions for smart glasses as it weighs a more fashion-led push into wearable computing, with premium materials and a 2027 target emerging as central themes in the company’s plans to challenge Meta in a market that is moving from novelty towards a more serious consumer category. The designs under consideration are said to include two rectangular frames and […]
Booking.com has confirmed that hackers accessed customer booking information, exposing names, email addresses, phone numbers and reservation details in a security incident that has triggered fresh concern over how much personal travel data is concentrated on large online platforms. The company said it moved to contain the issue, reset reservation PINs for affected bookings and contacted impacted guests directly. It has not disclosed how many customers were […]
The slowdown matters because overseas sales have been doing much of the heavy lifting for China while the property downturn and soft household spending continue to restrain growth at home. Economists surveyed by Reuters expect the economy to have expanded 4.8 per cent in the first quarter, up from 4.5 per cent in the previous three months, but they also see the outlook dimming as the Middle East conflict pushes up input costs and clouds demand in key markets.
March’s figures suggest that what had looked like a strong start to the year is becoming harder to sustain. Earlier gains had been supported by front-loaded shipments, strong demand for artificial intelligence-linked electronics and a rebound in some advanced manufacturing exports. That mix is now facing a harsher external backdrop. The conflict involving Iran has disturbed energy markets, with the Strait of Hormuz under severe strain and oil prices climbing towards the $100 a barrel mark, a level that raises transport, production and logistics costs across Asia and Europe.
Imports into China, by contrast, jumped 27.8 per cent in March, the strongest increase since late 2021. Part of that rise reflected demand tied to semiconductors, components and technology supply chains, but it also pointed to stockpiling and shifting trade flows as businesses prepared for a more volatile energy and freight environment. The divergence between softer export growth and surging imports may complicate Beijing’s effort to keep its large trade surplus intact through 2026.
Pressure from the Iran conflict is being transmitted through more than one channel. China remains heavily exposed to imported energy, and although it has reserves and a diversified supply base, higher crude and gas costs squeeze manufacturers’ margins and can erode the price competitiveness that has underpinned the country’s export machine. Reuters reported that March also brought the first rise in factory-gate prices in more than three years, indicating that cost pressures are building just as external demand becomes less predictable.
There are also direct trade effects. Reuters reported that crude and natural gas imports fell as the regional conflict disrupted flows. OPEC, in its first formal assessment of the war’s economic effect, cut its forecast for second-quarter global oil demand by 500,000 barrels a day, saying the conflict had become a meaningful drag on consumption and trade. For export-oriented economies such as China, that points to a tougher environment in which customers abroad may curb discretionary spending while producers face steeper energy bills.
Yet the picture is not uniformly bleak. China’s technology and clean-energy manufacturers still have areas of strength that could cushion the blow. Overseas demand for electric vehicles, batteries and solar equipment has been supported by the same oil shock that is hurting traditional exporters. Associated Press reported that Chinese new-energy vehicle exports continued to surge in March, while another AP analysis said the energy crisis was sharpening global interest in Chinese clean-tech supply chains. Those sectors are unlikely to offset every weakness, but they do show that the country’s export story is becoming more uneven rather than simply weaker across the board.
That unevenness is visible across product categories. Lower-value consumer goods such as clothing, furniture and other labour-intensive shipments were hit by seasonal factors and softer foreign demand, while higher-end electrical and AI-linked exports remained more resilient. South Korea’s sharp rise in exports to China, driven by chip demand, underlined the point that advanced technology supply chains are still expanding even as broader goods trade loses pace.
Beijing now faces a familiar policy dilemma made more acute by war. It wants to preserve growth without adding excessive leverage, support exporters without worsening trade tensions, and stabilise domestic demand while avoiding another debt-fuelled property cycle. Current forecasts still place full-year growth within the official 4.5 to 5 per cent target range, but many analysts now expect a weaker second quarter than they did before the Iran crisis deepened. Fiscal support, bond issuance and selective easing remain on the table, though officials appear cautious about deploying a large stimulus immediately.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism has signed a strategic agreement with HSBC Bank Middle East Limited aimed at drawing more multinational companies, institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals to the emirate, in a move that fits Dubai’s wider push to deepen capital inflows and strengthen its standing as a global business centre. The agreement was announced on April 13 and positions HSBC’s regional […]
Microsoft has lifted prices across its Surface hardware range, making its premium laptops and tablets significantly more expensive as a global memory shortage ripples through the personal-computer market and forces manufacturers to pass higher component costs on to buyers. The move places Microsoft alongside other device makers that have warned of steeper bills for DRAM and NAND components, with the pressure tied largely to booming demand from […]
Sánchez, on his fourth trip to China in four years, arrived with a message that mixed engagement with caution. On the eve of meeting Xi, he told an audience at Tsinghua University that China should assume a larger role in tackling climate change, inequality, global health, responsible artificial intelligence and major conflicts, while also arguing that Europe must step up as the United States pulls back from several fronts. That language reflected Madrid’s attempt to deepen economic relations with Beijing without ignoring the strategic unease that still colours China’s ties with much of the West.
For Xi, Spain offers a politically valuable counterpart inside the European Union. Beijing has been looking for reliable European interlocutors as Brussels tries to defend industrial interests, scrutinise state-backed Chinese investment and manage disputes over electric vehicles and market access. Spain has often sounded less confrontational than some other European capitals. Sánchez has previously urged compromise over tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles and has continued to frame China as a strategic partner rather than only a rival. That posture does not place Madrid outside the EU mainstream, but it does make Spain one of the more open major economies for Chinese diplomacy.
Trade remains the hardest fact beneath the warmer language. Sánchez acknowledged in Beijing that China accounts for 74 per cent of Spain’s overall trade deficit, and Reuters reported that Spain’s deficit with China approached $50 billion in 2025 after more than doubling over four years. Madrid wants better access for agricultural and manufactured exports while preserving inward investment that could help its green transition and industrial base. Chinese capital has already been tied to projects in batteries, hydrogen and manufacturing in Spain, underlining why the government sees practical gains in staying engaged even as the imbalance in trade grows harder to ignore.
That commercial logic is colliding with a tougher geopolitical climate. Sánchez’s visit has drawn scrutiny because it comes as China seeks stronger European ties during a period of strain with Washington. Reuters reported before the trip that Sánchez’s independent line on China had already irritated U. S. President Donald Trump, while Spain also rejected sharp U. S. criticism of moves to expand trade with Beijing. Chinese officials, for their part, signalled before the visit that they wanted to use it to deepen strategic trust, cooperation and multilateral coordination. The result is a diplomatic balancing act in which Madrid is trying to protect its autonomy, retain access to both superpowers and avoid being forced into a binary choice.
The political symbolism runs beyond bilateral ties. Sánchez’s stop in Beijing follows a succession of other European leaders visiting China this year, suggesting that even governments wary of Beijing’s security posture and industrial policies still see a need for direct dialogue. China is encouraging that trend, presenting stable relations with Europe as proof that it is not isolated despite mounting tension elsewhere. Spain’s government has echoed part of that argument, with Sánchez saying in Beijing that Europe and China had prospered together before and could do so again. That sentiment fits neatly with Xi’s effort to frame China as a pillar of order against a backdrop of war, protectionism and institutional drift.
A tanker under U. S. sanctions has passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite Washington’s new maritime restrictions around Iranian ports, raising fresh questions over how tightly the measures can be enforced and how much disruption they will inflict on a waterway central to global energy trade. Shipping data cited by Reuters showed the vessel, Rich Starry, moving through the chokepoint on Tuesday after loading methanol at […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Countries should avoid hoarding fuel supplies and imposing export controls that deepen shortages, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Energy Agency said in Washington on Monday, as war-linked disruption in the Middle East drove oil back above $100 a barrel and sharpened fears over inflation, growth and food security. The three institutions issued the warning while opening a coordinated response aimed […]
Washington has moved from threats to enforcement, with the U. S. military beginning a blockade on shipping to and from Iranian ports across the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, in a step that sharply raises the risk of a broader regional conflict even as a temporary ceasefire remains in place. U. S. Central Command said the restrictions took effect on Monday morning U. […]
“Service is the foundation of our business, and innovation in how service is delivered is increasingly important as customers seek greater reliability and better visibility into performance,” said Judy Marks, Chair, CEO and President, Otis Worldwide Corp. “WeMaintain has built a strong technology platform and agile operating model that reflects how quality service is delivered in a fast-paced, digital and customer-centric environment. We are confident in their growth potential and believe this investment supports their continued success while creating long-term value for both organizations.”
“Otis’ investment allows us to stay focused on what we do best – continuing to build and advance our technology and scale our business as an independent company,” said Benoit Dupont, WeMaintain CEO. ” With the stability and support of the global industry leader, we are well positioned to strengthen our offering while maintaining the close customer relationships and high standards that have always defined our approach.”
Otis and WeMaintain will operate as separate entities, and WeMaintain will continue to offer its agnostic IoT and AI-based solution to its current and future customers.
Hashtag: #Otis #WeMaintain
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation, service and modernization of elevators and escalators, we move 2.5 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.5 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 45,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on 
LinkedIn, 
YouTube, 
Instagram and 
Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.
About WeMaintain
WeMaintain was founded in 2017 by Benoit Dupont and Jade Francine on the belief that building maintenance could be smarter, more transparent, and more impactful. We combine AI-driven insights, IoT-powered data, and on-the-ground expertise to deliver real-time visibility, enhanced operational efficiency, and increased asset reliability for building owners and operators.
With operations across Asia and Europe and more than 350 employees, we provide services and solutions for elevators, escalators, automatic doors, and fire safety systems.
Our human + tech approach sets a new standard for service quality, customer experience, and growth.
To learn more, visit WeMaintain.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Dubai still delivers, even in the shadow of war. I’ve just arrived back in the city where we have our headquarters and several core offices, and what strikes me immediately is not disruption, but continuity. The US-Iran conflict has injected real tension into the region, with the Strait of Hormuz under pressure and the wider Middle East adjusting to a far more uncertain backdrop. Yet here in […]
Apple’s higher-memory Mac mini and Mac Studio models are becoming harder to buy in several markets, as pressure on the global memory supply chain collides with strong demand for AI hardware and growing industry talk of fresh desktop upgrades later this year. Apple continues to sell both desktop lines, but availability has tightened most visibly around customised configurations with larger memory allocations rather than entry-level machines. That […]
By Nantoo Banerjee The country is experiencing a significant surge in commodity and transportation costs following geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf region and a weak Indian Rupee. Retail prices of daily essentials are rising rapidly. The prices of edible oils, pulses and packaged foods, including drinking water, have moved up since last month. Precious […]
The article Prices Are Fast Shooting Up Fanning Inflation appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Starting from April 13, 2026, owners and renters of VinFast electric vehicles in Indonesia and the Philippines can register to become service partners on the Green SM Platform. Developed within GSM’s fully electric mobility ecosystem, the platform is designed to expand driver and vehicle supply, while ensuring all operations are delivered under consistent, professional service standards.
Upon successful registration, driver partners will undergo structured training programs covering operational procedures and service standards to ensure a consistent and high-quality customer experience. The platform offers a competitive revenue-sharing model of up to 90%, along with performance-based incentive schemes, enabling driver partners to maintain stable income and pursue long-term development opportunities.
In parallel, Green SM Indonesia and Green GSM Philippines are introducing comprehensive support policies to help partners access vehicles more easily through VinFast electric vehicle purchase and rental programs. These initiatives reducebarriers to entry and accelerate the expansion of the driver network.
In Indonesia, partners can register for the program and quickly gain access to VinFast electric vehicle models such as VF 5, VF e34, VF 6, and Limo Green, enabling them to begin operation as soon as the required procedures . are completed. The model requires no loans or significant upfront investment, enabling drivers tobuild stable income streams.
In the Philippines, Green GSM is rolling out the program with VF 5 and Limo Green models, supported by comprehensivepolicies covering registration, insurance, and operations. This enables drivers to join the platform with ease and gradually build stable operations, with income potential aligned with local market conditions and business needs.
Notably, drivers operating VinFast electric vehicles will continue to benefit from free charging policies through March 31, 2029, significantly reducing operating costs and improving income efficiency.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Global CEO of GSM, said: “Green SM Platform is not only a step forward in service expansion, but also a solution to accelerate the transition to green mobility across Southeast Asia. By building an open platform with high service standards, we aim to rapidly increase the number of electric vehicles in operation, delivering a sustainable, modern, and reliable mobility experience for the community. This is a strategic move toward shaping a comprehensive green transportation ecosystem across the region.”
Amid growing demand for flexible employment in major cities, the Green SM Platform enables workers to quickly access vehicles, start earning, and generate stable income withoutlarge upfront investments or complex financing schemes. The platform rollout in Indonesia and the Philippines not only strengthens Green SM’s regional presence but also helps shape a sustainable urban mobility model, where technology, environmental responsibility, and livelihoods can grow in parallel.
| Further information on the Green SM Platform, including partner registration and vehicle leasing programs, is available at:
Indonesia: Philippines: |
Hashtag: #GreenSM #GSM
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
France and Britain are preparing to convene partner countries for what President Emmanuel Macron described as a peaceful multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a European push to keep one of the world’s most important energy arteries open without joining Washington’s new blockade of Iranian ports. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would not support the US blockade and insisted […]
The early-April figures reinforce a broader pattern already visible through the first quarter. South Korea, one of the world’s most closely watched export economies because of its central role in memory chips, displays and consumer electronics, has been benefiting from a steep recovery in semiconductor sales after a prolonged industry downturn. Reuters reported at the end of February that the country’s chip exports had jumped 160.9 per cent in that month alone, passing $20 billion for a third straight month as AI investment and stronger memory prices lifted demand.
Semiconductors were again the main engine in the latest 10-day release. Chip exports surged 152 per cent from a year earlier, underscoring how heavily South Korea’s trade performance is now tied to data-centre investment, high-bandwidth memory demand and the wider AI build-out led by large technology firms. That strength has helped offset a less even backdrop in other parts of the economy, where investment, household demand and external policy risks remain more mixed.
The export rebound matters well beyond monthly trade headlines. South Korea’s central bank raised its 2026 growth forecast to 2.0 per cent in February and signalled that a chip-led upswing was giving policymakers more room to hold interest rates steady while watching inflation and financial stability risks. Reuters also reported this month that central bank officials see strong semiconductor exports and an extra budget as factors easing downward pressure on growth, even as won weakness and higher energy costs complicate the inflation outlook.
Factory data has pointed in the same direction. A Reuters report on S&P Global survey findings showed South Korea’s manufacturing activity expanded in January at the fastest pace in nearly a year and a half, helped by stronger export orders from China, North America and Europe. Manufacturers reported improving optimism as orders strengthened in sectors such as autos and semiconductors, indicating that the recovery is not only statistical but also visible in production and order books.
Still, the trade picture is not free of risk. South Korea remains highly exposed to swings in global demand, to US trade policy and to supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. Reuters polling before the March trade data showed imports rising sharply as higher oil prices pushed up the energy bill, even while exports surged on semiconductor strength. That combination can support headline trade values, but it also leaves the economy vulnerable to a renewed squeeze from commodity inflation and currency volatility.
Another uncertainty lies in concentration. The same chip boom that is lifting exports also raises dependence on a narrow cluster of products and companies. South Korea’s trade resilience is being powered largely by memory and advanced semiconductor demand, especially products linked to AI servers. Investment plans such as SK Hynix’s announcement in February of 21.6 trillion won in new facilities show confidence in long-term demand, but they also underline how central the semiconductor cycle has become to the country’s broader growth model.
For now, the momentum remains hard to ignore. Reuters polling ahead of the March data had already pointed to the fastest export growth in nearly five years, with shipments to the United States and China both showing strong gains alongside the semiconductor surge. Monday’s early-April figures suggest that pace has carried into the second quarter, strengthening the case that South Korea’s exporters are entering another period of outsized performance after a weak stretch in 2025.
TCL Electronics is exploring the sale of a stake in its television manufacturing business in India to local buyers, in a move that could help the Chinese consumer electronics group expand more deeply in one of the world’s fastest-growing electronics production bases, according to people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg reported the company is working with an adviser and is seeking to raise at least $200 million from the proposed stake sale.
The deliberations point to a broader shift in strategy for global electronics groups operating in India, where policy support for domestic manufacturing, supply-chain localisation and greater local participation in ownership are increasingly shaping investment decisions. India approved more than $750 million in projects for electronic component manufacturing at the end of March and has set a target of lifting electronics output to $500 billion by fiscal 2031, up from $125 billion in the year to March 2025.
TCL has spent years building out its industrial footprint in the country. The group’s Tirupati manufacturing base, unveiled as its largest such facility outside China, was designed to produce TV and mobile phone screens at scale. Economic Times reported the plant was built with annual capacity for eight million large-sized TV screens and 30 million small-sized mobile screens.
That industrial push has since been reinforced by TCL CSOT India, the company’s display-panel arm, which said it had completed three production lines with monthly capacity of 1.2 million units and was moving towards full bonding, lamination and assembly operations with capacity reaching two million units a month. The company said the India operation was supplying panel modules to customers including Samsung, underscoring that the business is not only about selling finished televisions under the TCL brand but also about embedding itself in the wider supply chain.
A partial stake sale to domestic investors would therefore carry strategic weight beyond capital raising. It could give TCL stronger local alliances, improve regulatory comfort, and help the company navigate a market where manufacturing, sourcing and ownership are increasingly entwined with industrial policy. It may also position the business more favourably in dealings with state governments, suppliers and large retail channels as competition intensifies across the television segment. The company has not publicly announced any transaction, and the talks may not lead to a deal.
For TCL, India matters not just as a sales market but as a production and export platform. The company’s 2024 annual report showed it shipped 29 million televisions worldwide last year, with global market share by shipments rising to 13.9%, placing it among the top two TV brands globally, according to Omdia data cited by the company. The same report said TCL ranked among the top three in retail sales volume in nearly 20 overseas markets and recorded strong growth across emerging markets, including the Middle East and Africa.
Those figures help explain why TCL may be seeking a structure that allows it to preserve momentum in India while adapting to local realities. India is becoming harder to treat as a simple import destination. Policy incentives are encouraging assembly, component manufacturing and deeper supply-chain integration, while geopolitical tensions and tariff shifts are prompting multinational groups to diversify production beyond a single geography. For television makers, that means scale alone is no longer enough; local manufacturing depth and political acceptability also matter.
The move also reflects a wider pattern among Asian electronics manufacturers, many of whom have expanded capacity in India to reduce dependence on imports and align themselves with official manufacturing goals. Reuters reported in late March that New Delhi’s incentive programmes are aimed at cutting import dependence and strengthening local supply chains. That policy environment has created room for both foreign and domestic investors, but it has also made partnership structures more attractive than wholly externally controlled operations in sensitive or high-volume sectors.
