Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group has agreed to acquire Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura, a São Paulo-based agribulk terminal operator, in an AED3.1 billion deal that gives the company its first operating platform in Latin America and a stronger position in global food supply chains. The transaction, valued at about $835 million, is the largest acquisition undertaken by AD Ports Group and is expected […]
By T N Ashok The dust may have settled on the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, but the political war has only intensified. Defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched perhaps the most serious challenge yet to the legitimacy of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s sweeping victory, alleging that the saffron party manipulated electoral rolls, […]
The article Poll Results Were Out In Bengal A Month Ago, But Political Violence Is Still Continuing appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 June 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today successfully hosted its annual “Unicorn Day,” one of Hong Kong’s flagship innovation and entrepreneurship events. The event brought together over 1,800 participants, including students, faculty, and alumni, as well as international and local government representatives, industry partners, investors, innovation and technology entrepreneurs, and researchers. Participants exchanged insights on strategies to strengthen collaboration across the innovation ecosystem, foster cross-disciplinary partnerships, and accelerate the translation of research outcomes into real-world impact.
The event was officiated by Prof. SUN Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, alongside consuls-generals and senior officials from countries including Australia, Chile, France, Hungary, India, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates. They were joined by Prof. Nancy IP, HKUST President; Prof. Lionel NI, HKUST (Guangzhou) President; and Prof. Tim CHENG, HKUST Vice-President for Research and Development; in touring over 100 HKUST-nurtured startups, showcasing innovations and applications spanning areas such as healthcare, electronics, and artificial intelligence systems, as well as new materials, green energy, and sustainability.
Prof. Sun Dong remarked, “Innovation and technology (I&T) has always been at the top of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s agenda. We fully recognise the crucial role of local universities — not only as key partners, but as the bedrock of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem. In just three and a half decades, HKUST has risen to become a global powerhouse in deep tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation as demonstrated by its ability to nurture unicorns and deep-tech ventures. Hong Kong is entering a golden era of I&T development. We are building new engines to drive Hong Kong’s high-quality development, focusing on research and development in key fields and leading industry applications. I am confident that Hong Kong will rise as a leading international I&T center and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s high-quality development, and that HKUST will continue to be a driving force in this amazing journey.”
President Ip said, “As we mark the 35th anniversary of HKUST this year, we also celebrate the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that has long been embedded in our DNA. Both the Technology Transfer Center and the Entrepreneurship Center were established in the University’s early years to support faculty and students in realizing their entrepreneurial aspirations and to promote the translation of research outcomes into practical solutions. Over the past 35 years, the University has forged ahead with determination, sowing the seeds of innovation and yielding remarkable achievements across multiple frontier fields. Today, HKUST continues to broaden its horizons, strategically positioning itself in key domains. One example is medical education. The establishment of the HKUST Medical School will integrate the life sciences with cutting-edge technologies to nurture a new generation of interdisciplinary medical professionals.
Concurrently, HKUST has been actively involved in national initiatives such as the Chang’E 8 lunar exploration mission and research projects for the Tiangong Space Station, and the launch of the first commercially viable aerospace project under the RAISe+ Scheme. These achievements exemplify HKUST’s enduring ‘can do’ spirit over the past decades and echo the theme of today’s event—’From Ideas to Miracles—35 Years of Impact and Beyond’. Looking ahead, HKUST will continue to nurture bold ideas and action, working hand in hand with partners across different sectors to cultivate a vibrant innovation ecosystem, ensuring that research achievements benefit society and create lasting global impact.”
To support startups in expanding into global markets and to promote cross-border collaboration, HKUST introduced an “International Pavilion,” featuring startups and innovation organizations from various countries and regions. Participants from Thailand, Singapore and Korea were among those represented, strengthening connections between Hong Kong, and countries and regions along the Belt and Road in technology application and industry development.
The event also saw the signing of multiple partnership agreements, including six strategic collaborations with:
to advance talent development and industry–academia integration, and foster innovation-driven research and real-world technology translation.
HKUST’s I&T Strength Driving Economic Growth
In addition, HKUST also released the report Driving Socioeconomic Impact Through Research and Innovation: Insights from HKUST, commissioned by the University and prepared by the international research information analytics organization Elsevier. The report highlights HKUST’s outstanding performance in innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, research output has recorded an average growth of 10%, approximately 9% higher than that of other local institutions. More than 65% of the research is concentrated in engineering and computer science, while 6.2% involves academia-industry collaboration, significantly higher than the global average of 2.7%. These collaborations have translated into impactful intellectual property, with approximately 1,670 patent applications and 700 grants over the same period, and a high IP utilization rate of above 30%.
Prof. Tim Cheng noted that the findings demonstrate HKUST’s steadily strengthening capabilities in research translation and academia-industry collaboration. HKUST’s publications achieved a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 4.40, indicating that their citation impact is 4.4 times the global average. This underscores HKUST’s significant contributions to advancing Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development and enhancing its competitiveness in innovation and technology.
In addition, a “Marketplace” was also featured, showcasing products already launched by startups, including AI analytics tools, healthcare technologies, and smart city solutions, demonstrating the progress of translating research into practical applications.
Hashtag: #unicorn #unicornday #HKUST #partnership #innovation #startup #tech #AI #space #robotics #materialscience
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Financial markets are inherently complex systems shaped by price dynamics, capital flows, macroeconomic cycles, policy changes, and investor sentiment. Traditional financial modeling approaches, typically grounded in historical data, empirical assumptions, and linear analysis, face limitations in capturing such multidimensional interactions. AI for Science introduces new methodologies through simulation, advanced reasoning, and multivariable modeling, offering a broader analytical perspective.
The application of AI is not positioned as a replacement for traditional financial models, but as an enhancement to analytical capabilities in conditions of uncertainty. In areas such as asset valuation, risk exposure assessment, and macroeconomic scenario simulation, the central challenge lies in understanding variable interactions and maintaining model interpretability under extreme conditions. AI-driven approaches contribute to improved analysis by enabling more comprehensive scenario testing and deeper insight into systemic relationships.
Chow Kit Hui, founder of KitHui Growth Financial Academy, continues to monitor advancements in AI training architectures, algorithm optimization, and scientific research-grade artificial intelligence. Ongoing engagement with developments in intelligent decision-making and financial technology reflects a commitment to integrating emerging methodologies into financial research and education frameworks.
Insights from the Science x AI Summit 2026 indicate that the long-term value of AI extends beyond efficiency gains and content generation. Greater potential lies in supporting the analysis of complex systemic challenges. In financial applications, AI is not expected to eliminate risk or replace professional judgment; however, it can contribute to earlier risk identification, more robust assumption testing, and decision-making processes that more accurately reflect real-world complexity.
Hashtag: #ScienceXAI #ChowKitHui #AIforScience
https://www.kithuiacademy.com/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
KitHui Growth Financial Academy focuses on advancing structured and long-term financial understanding across key areas including global asset allocation, corporate mergers and acquisitions, private equity, derivatives, risk management, macroeconomic research, and financial valuation modeling. The academy emphasizes systematic thinking and rational analysis rather than short-term market forecasting or speculative investment strategies.
Swiss watch exports fell sharply in April as shipments to the United States slumped from a distorted high base created last year, when brands and distributors rushed inventory across the Atlantic before higher US tariffs took effect. Exports dropped 16.6 per cent year on year to CHF2.13 billion, with the United States accounting for the largest drag on the industry’s monthly performance. Shipments to the US, still […]
Nvidia and Microsoft have introduced RTX Spark-powered Windows PCs designed to run personal AI agents locally, marking a major escalation in the race to make artificial intelligence a core feature of everyday computing rather than a cloud-based add-on. The systems, unveiled around Computex and Nvidia GTC Taipei, are expected to arrive this autumn from major PC makers including Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft Surface and MSI, with […]
The renewed three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) builds on previous successful collaborations between both parties and aims to drive tourism spending by combining STB’s destination marketing resources with UnionPay’s global payment network and regional marketing channels.
Under the partnership, both parties will jointly launch tourism and payment campaigns targeting key visitor markets including China and other regional outbound travel segments. Campaigns will promote Singapore tourism offerings alongside UnionPay’s payment privileges, merchant promotions, and acceptance network across shopping, dining, attractions, transportation and hospitality sectors.
The collaboration will also focus on premium travel and MICE segments through partnerships with banks, luxury travel platforms and tourism stakeholders to introduce tailored privileges and curated experiences for UnionPay cardholders visiting Singapore.
According to STB, Singapore welcomed approximately 16.9 million international visitors in 2025, with China’s mainland remaining the country’s largest source market. As international travel demand continues to recover, seamless and secure payment experiences are playing an increasingly important role in enhancing visitor satisfaction and driving tourism consumption.
Over the past cooperation period, UPI and STB jointly launched multiple tourism campaigns through leading travel and digital platforms, generating more than 40 million impressions and strengthening UnionPay’s presence among travelers visiting Singapore.
Moving forward, both parties will continue to explore new opportunities in tourism marketing, merchant collaboration, and consumer engagement to further support Singapore’s tourism growth and cross-border travel ecosystem.
Hashtag: #Unionpay
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC, known as e&, has agreed to sell part of its stake in Careem Technologies to Uber Technologies for $100 million in cash, reducing its majority position in the Dubai-based platform while keeping a sizeable exposure to one of the region’s best-known technology businesses. The binding agreement covers 12.5 per cent of e&’s 50.03 per cent holding in Careem Technologies. Once the transaction […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Sobha Realty delivered about 3,000 residential units ahead of schedule and launched nearly 15,000 new homes during 2025, marking one of its strongest expansion phases in the UAE property market. The UAE-headquartered developer said at a media briefing that the year’s activity was driven by four major master developments across Dubai and Umm Al Quwain, reinforcing its shift from single-tower launches to larger […]
The MoUs were signed during the Vietnam–Philippines Business Forum, held as part of the official visit by Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm to the Republic of the Philippines.
The partnership with CAITO aims to enhance Vinpearl’s brand awareness within the Philippines’ travel trade community while creating additional opportunities to develop hospitality, entertainment and MICE offerings in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang. CAITO is currently one of the Philippines’ leading tourism organizations, with an extensive network of travel businesses across the region.
With Klook, one of Asia’s leading travel experience platforms, Vinpearl and VinWonders aim to expand their strategic collaboration across distribution, communications and tourism promotion in key international markets, particularly the Philippines and broader Southeast Asia. The partnership is expected to expand the presence of the Vinpearl–VinWonders ecosystem in major international markets, while further elevating Vietnam’s tourism image across global travel and digital media platforms.
Ms. Ngo Thi Huong, Chief Executive Officer of Vinpearl, shared: “Through these agreements in the Philippines, alongside a series of partnership initiatives in Thailand and Singapore, Vinpearl aims to drive high-quality inbound tourism to Vietnam, strengthen connectivity among ASEAN markets, and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism industry. With an integrated ecosystem spanning hospitality, entertainment, golf, and commercial services, Vinpearl remains committed to pioneering world-class experiences that contribute to positioning Vietnam as a leading destination in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Mr. Michelle Ho, Chief Executive Officer of Klook Philippines, said: “Vinpearl currently operates one of the region’s most distinctive tourism and entertainment ecosystems, with strong capabilities in integrating hospitality, theme parks and premium leisure experiences. We believe our partnership with Vinpearl will further enhance the appeal of Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang among travelers across the region.”
Previously, during its business engagements in Thailand and Singapore, Vinpearl also entered into MoUs with Agoda, AirAsia MOVE, BeMyGuest and GlobalTix to expand international distribution channels for its hospitality, resort and travel experience offerings.
Together with the agreements established in the Philippines, this series of partnerships with leading regional players across aviation, travel trade, digital tourism, and travel distribution reflects Vinpearl’s ongoing efforts to build a comprehensive international market development network across Southeast Asia.
Beyond expanding its partner ecosystem, these collaborations provide a foundation for Vinpearl to strengthen its presence in key markets, engage more effectively with international travelers, and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism industry within the region.
Hashtag: #Vinpearl
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
CAITO (Calabarzon Alliance of Independent Tour Operators, Inc.) ONE CALABARZON is an association of independent travel businesses and tourism partners in the Philippines, established in 2020. With a rapidly expanding member network and close collaboration with the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT), CAITO has become one of the country’s most dynamic tourism organizations, playing an active role in tourism promotion, business connectivity and international collaboration, particularly in the areas of MICE and B2B. The organization is anchored in a vision to promote Philippine destinations, tourism products, cultural heritage, cuisine, and services while strengthening the country’s tourism identity through collaboration, shared promotion, and collective growth.
About Klook
Klook is one of the leading travel experience platforms in the Asia-Pacific region, offering attractions, tours, transportation, accommodation, and travel services on a global scale. To date, Klook has recorded more than 65 million bookings across over 200 markets, supporting more than 40 payment methods alongside e-ticketing services and 24/7 customer support.
The platform currently operates a community of more than 30,000 content creators across 88 markets, helping promote tourism and inspire exploration for millions of travelers worldwide.
Vinpearl is Vietnam’s leading tourism, hospitality and entertainment brand, currently operating 60 properties across 20 provinces and cities nationwide. Its ecosystem includes a network of five-star hotels and resorts with more than 17,500 rooms; 16 VinWonders theme parks offering a wide range of attractions for all audiences; six world-class golf courses; and three international-standard convention centers and theaters under the VinPalace brand. The ecosystem also features two semi-wildlife conservation and care parks, an equestrian academy, and million-dollar live-action shows in Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, attracting millions of visitors each year.
Florida has filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, accusing the artificial intelligence company of knowingly releasing ChatGPT to the public despite safety warnings and alleged risks to children, vulnerable users and wider public safety. The complaint, filed in state court by Attorney General James Uthmeier, marks the first lawsuit brought by a US state against OpenAI over alleged harms linked to […]
Parcel-locker group InPost will invest a further €500 million in France by 2030, strengthening its out-of-home delivery network as e-commerce growth and consumer demand for flexible collection points reshape Europe’s parcel market. The commitment adds fresh weight to the expansion strategy of the Poland-based logistics company, which has been building France into one of its most important markets outside its home base. The investment is intended to […]
OpenPayd has agreed to merge with Titan Acquisition Corp in a deal that would take the London-based financial infrastructure company public on Nasdaq at a pro-forma equity value of $1.145 billion, giving the payments group fresh capital to expand across the United States and deepen its stablecoin-linked services. The proposed combination with Titan, a Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company, has been approved by both boards and is […]
Greenlogue/AP Green GSM Philippines has secured a strategic financing and digital banking partnership with Philippine National Bank, giving the all-electric ride-hailing operator fresh support for fleet expansion, driver payroll and nationwide growth as the Philippines accelerates its shift towards cleaner urban transport. The partnership centres on P2 billion in credit facilities extended by PNB to finance the acquisition of electric vehicles and support working capital requirements. The […]
The May figure, based on provisional operational data for the month ended 31 May, came against a monthly target of 66.28 million tonnes. Coal offtake, the volume supplied to power utilities and other customers, rose 2.26 per cent to 66.18 million tonnes, showing that dispatches continued to outpace production as the company worked down inventories rather than pushing output at full pace.
The fall marks the second straight month of reduced production after April output dropped 9.7 per cent to 56.1 million tonnes. The pattern points to a deliberate balancing act by Coal India, which remains central to electricity security but is also facing the consequences of heavy stock accumulation at mines and the growing role of solar, wind, hydro and nuclear generation in meeting demand.
Coal India, through its subsidiaries, accounts for about four-fifths of domestic coal output. Its production in the first two months of the 2026-27 financial year stood at 112.19 million tonnes, below the target of 127.85 million tonnes. The company’s annual production target for the year is 815 million tonnes, a demanding goal at a time when the power market is becoming more seasonal and less dependent on continuous coal expansion.
Demand for coal has not collapsed. Peak electricity demand touched a record level of about 270.8 gigawatts in May as a severe heatwave lifted cooling needs across several regions. Coal-fired plants remain the backbone of the grid, generating more than 70 per cent of electricity despite the rapid expansion of non-fossil capacity. Yet the pressure on Coal India is no longer simply to mine more. It is to supply coal to the right locations at the right time while avoiding excessive stock build-up at pitheads.
Inventories have become a key concern. Coal stocks across the system stood at about 168 million tonnes in late May, including 47.6 million tonnes at power plants and 113.5 million tonnes at Coal India mine-heads. The company has said those reserves are enough for 19 days of consumption. Mine-head stocks were about 10 per cent higher than a year earlier, creating operational and financial incentives to moderate production while dispatches catch up.
The May subsidiary-wise data showed a mixed picture. Mahanadi Coalfields produced 14.26 million tonnes, about 20.1 per cent lower than a year earlier, while Northern Coalfields fell 23.69 per cent to 9.47 million tonnes. Bharat Coking Coal declined 25.51 per cent to 2.28 million tonnes. Western Coalfields dropped 8.4 per cent and Eastern Coalfields was down 3.63 per cent. South Eastern Coalfields was the exception, increasing output 4.53 per cent to 14.42 million tonnes, while Central Coalfields edged up 0.44 per cent to 6.2 million tonnes.
The company’s offtake profile was more resilient. Mahanadi Coalfields dispatched 18.34 million tonnes in May, up 5.77 per cent, while Central Coalfields rose 17.45 per cent and Eastern Coalfields gained 6.48 per cent. South Eastern Coalfields increased dispatches by 3.18 per cent. The weaker areas included Bharat Coking Coal, where offtake fell 16.16 per cent, and Northern Coalfields, down 8.44 per cent.
The wider power sector is changing quickly. Non-fossil fuel capacity reached 283.46 gigawatts by the end of March, including 150.26 gigawatts of solar, 56.09 gigawatts of wind, 51.41 gigawatts of large hydro and 8.78 gigawatts of nuclear power. Renewable energy additions in 2025-26 were driven mainly by solar, which has become a significant contributor during daylight peaks. Even so, the grid still leans heavily on coal after sunset and during periods when renewable output weakens.
That split has created a more complex operating environment. Coal India is being asked to ensure reliability during heatwaves, support power plants with low stocks and maintain supplies to non-power consumers, while policymakers are also pushing cleaner energy, storage and transmission upgrades. The result is a coal market where peak demand can be exceptionally strong even as average growth in coal consumption becomes less predictable.
Alongside the credit facility, the two parties also implemented digital account management and payment systems for Green GSM’s driver network. Through PNB’s corporate banking platform and digitized onboarding processes, account opening and activation times are significantly reduced, helping Green GSM strengthen operational management as it expands driver network.
As cities continue to seek lower-emission transport solutions, financial systems, digital payments, driver management and operating standards are becoming increasingly important to supporting mobility platforms at scale.
In the Philippines, Green GSM is building mobility model through the integration of technology, an all-electric fleet, and standardized operating systems. Following its strategic partnership with Xentro Group in 2025 and the launch of the Green Xentro fleet in Rizal earlier this year, the company continues to expand its presence through long-term collaborations with local partners and domestic financial institutions.
“We appreciate Green GSM’s long-term development direction in the Philippines, not only in advancing low-emission mobility, but also in the way the company is building an operating model with scalability and clear governance foundations,” said Mr. Edwin R. Bautista, President and Chief Executive Officer of PNB. “The transition toward sustainable transport will require ecosystems capable of supporting stable long-term growth, together with the financial and operational foundations needed to enable that expansion.”
Ms. Le Thi Thu Trang, Chief Executive Officer of Green GSM Philippines, said: “For Green GSM, developing an all-electric mobility model is not only about expanding the fleet, but also about building an operating system that is stable, standardized, and capable of sustainable long-term growth. Our partnership with PNB will help strengthen the financial and operational foundations needed to enhance service quality and support Green GSM’s continued expansion in the Philippines.”
Green GSM develops its all-electric mobility model through the combination of technology, standardized operating systems, and professionally trained drivers. The platform is supported by real-time monitoring and operational systems designed to maintain service consistency across major urban areas.
The partnership with PNB further reinforces Green GSM’s long-term direction in the Philippines, where the company continues to strengthen its operating foundations, service standards, and driver support systems in order to maintain service quality as operations scale further.
Hashtag: #GreenSM
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
GSM (Green Smart Mobility) is a pioneering multi-platform company operating all-electric ride-hailing services. With a focus on sustainable transport development, GSM operates a mobility model powered entirely by VinFast electric vehicles, combining technology, service standards, and operational ecosystems to support the future of low-emission urban mobility.
Green GSM is GSM’s official brand in the Philippines and is part of the broader Green SM global ecosystem, alongside Xanh SM in Vietnam and Laos, and Green SM in Indonesia. Across all markets, the brand focuses on delivering modern mobility experiences through VinFast electric vehicles, professional drivers, and operating systems built around safety, consistency, and service quality.
About Philippine National Bank (PNB)
Philippine National Bank (PNB) is one of the Philippines’ largest private commercial banks in terms of assets and deposits. The bank provides a full range of financial and banking services to individual customers, businesses, institutions, and overseas Filipino communities. With a history spanning more than a century, PNB continues to focus on growth strategies driven by digital transformation, operational efficiency, and sustainable development in the financial sector.
Positron AI has opened its first office outside the United States at Dubai International Financial Centre, placing the AI infrastructure developer inside one of the region’s fastest-growing technology and financial ecosystems. The move gives the US-based company a licensed presence in DIFC as it seeks to expand demand for AI inference systems across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Positron AI has raised more than $300 […]
Cybercriminals are exploiting trust in artificial intelligence platforms by abusing shared ChatGPT and Claude content links to steer users towards malware disguised as legitimate OpenAI software. The campaign, tracked by security researchers as LLMShare, uses malicious search advertisements and search-engine manipulation to lure victims to pages that appear to be hosted on trusted AI domains. Once users click through, they are shown a fully designed web page […]
Sharjah’s eastern coast is preparing for a new high-altitude tourism landmark as “Above the Clouds”, a crescent-shaped retreat on Mount Deem in Kalba, moves towards opening by late 2026 or early 2027, adding a dramatic mountain destination to the emirate’s expanding nature-led visitor economy. The project, positioned 850 metres above sea level, covers 4,700 square metres across two levels and is designed to offer panoramic views of […]
Shares in Masayoshi Son’s technology investment group surged in Tokyo trading, lifting its market value to about ¥47.2 trillion, or roughly $296 billion, ahead of Toyota’s ¥45.7 trillion after the carmaker’s stock fell nearly 5 per cent. The move placed SoftBank at the top of Japan’s corporate valuation table for the first time in more than two decades and added momentum to a Nikkei 225 rally that pushed the index above 67,000.
The change is more than a stock-market milestone. It reflects how the AI boom has reshaped capital allocation in Japan, where investors are assigning higher value to companies with exposure to semiconductors, data centres, power infrastructure and generative AI platforms. Toyota remains one of the world’s largest and most profitable carmakers, but its valuation is now being weighed against a slower earnings outlook, tariff pressure, currency swings and the heavy cost of electrification.
SoftBank’s advance has been driven by a powerful combination of portfolio gains and expectations that its AI-linked holdings could generate fresh liquidity. The group’s exposure to Arm, the British chip-design company it took public in 2023, has become a key pillar of its market value. Arm’s technology is used widely across smartphones, cloud computing and increasingly AI-related chips, giving SoftBank a central position in the semiconductor supply chain.
OpenAI has become the second major driver of investor attention. SoftBank has committed tens of billions of dollars to the ChatGPT developer and is positioning itself as a core financier of AI infrastructure. Expectations that OpenAI could move towards a public listing have intensified interest in SoftBank’s asset base, even as analysts continue to debate how much of the group’s valuation depends on private-market pricing and future monetisation.
The latest surge followed SoftBank’s plan to invest up to €75 billion in AI infrastructure in France, including data centres and power-intensive computing capacity. The first phase is expected to involve about €45 billion of investment to build 3.1 gigawatts of capacity by 2031, with further expansion potentially taking the total to 5 gigawatts. The project places France at the centre of Europe’s push to develop sovereign AI infrastructure, helped by its nuclear-heavy power system and available industrial sites.
SoftBank is also moving to create public-market vehicles around AI infrastructure. SB Energy, its power and data-centre platform, is preparing for a potential US listing and has been linked to a valuation above $50 billion. The company is involved in large-scale power projects designed to support AI workloads, including a 1.2-gigawatt data-centre development in Texas. A separate robotics venture, Roze, is also being prepared for a possible listing, highlighting SoftBank’s attempt to build an ecosystem around energy, construction automation and computing capacity.
Toyota’s fall in ranking does not signal operational weakness. The carmaker reported operating income of ¥3.8 trillion for the financial year ended March 2026, supported by vehicle sales and pricing power despite tariff costs and rising expenses. It remains a global force in hybrid technology, production efficiency and supply-chain management. However, investors have become more cautious about its growth outlook as the auto sector faces higher regulatory costs, slower battery-electric vehicle adoption in some markets, and intensifying competition from China-based manufacturers.
The contrast between SoftBank and Toyota captures a broader reordering of Japan’s equity market. AI-linked names, chip suppliers and infrastructure companies are drawing strong inflows, while parts of the auto sector and older industrial groups face questions over margin durability. Kioxia, the memory-chip maker, has also climbed sharply this year, showing how investor enthusiasm has spread beyond SoftBank into companies tied to storage and high-performance computing.
The rally has strengthened the profile of Son, whose investment record has swung between spectacular gains and painful losses. SoftBank’s Vision Fund suffered heavy write-downs after the collapse in technology valuations in 2021 and 2022, while earlier bets such as WeWork damaged confidence in the group’s risk controls. Its comeback has been powered by a more concentrated AI narrative, but that also leaves the shares vulnerable if expectations around OpenAI, Arm or infrastructure listings are revised lower.
Millions of Ethiopians began voting on Monday in the country’s 7th General Election, a high-stakes parliamentary and regional contest expected to consolidate Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s ruling Prosperity Party while testing public confidence in the electoral process. More than 50 million people are registered to vote across Africa’s second most populous country, where polling stations opened after months of voter registration, candidate nominations, political campaigns, public debates […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gartner has warned that enterprises risk a sharp retreat from autonomous AI agents by 2027 as weak governance, poor access controls and unclear accountability expose companies to operational, security and compliance failures. The technology research firm expects 40% of enterprises to demote or decommission autonomous AI agents by 2027 after governance gaps are discovered only through production incidents. The warning marks a tougher […]
Global economic leaders have warned that the Middle East war is tightening energy supplies, disrupting trade routes and placing the heaviest burden on poorer economies already struggling with inflation, debt and food-security pressures. The heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization issued the warning on Friday as the U. S.-Israel war on Iran continued to unsettle commodity markets and […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Finnish-listed Hiab has agreed to buy Labrie Environmental Group for $1.04 billion, moving into North America’s refuse collection vehicle market through one of the sector’s established manufacturers and adding a higher-margin platform to its load-handling equipment business. The all-cash acquisition values Labrie at $1.035 billion on a cash- and debt-free basis, equivalent to about €890 million using end-May European Central Bank exchange rates. […]
