Nintendo plans to lift Switch 2 prices in Japan, the United States, Canada and Europe this year as rising component costs and softer profit guidance cloud the outlook for its flagship console cycle. Kyoto-based Nintendo said the Japanese-language Switch 2 would rise to ¥59,980 from ¥49,980, a 20 per cent increase, while price increases in North America and Europe are scheduled to take effect from September 1. […]
Anthropic has struck a major compute agreement with SpaceX that will give its Claude artificial intelligence platform access to more than 300 megawatts of capacity and over 220,000 Nvidia graphics processors, marking one of the largest infrastructure moves yet in the race to support commercial AI demand. The deal, announced on May 6, gives Anthropic use of all compute capacity at SpaceX’s Colossus 1 data centre within […]
Perpetual decentralised exchanges are drawing stronger trading volumes but still face a credibility gap with institutional investors, as market participants at Consensus Miami pointed to security risk, identity checks and compliance uncertainty as the main obstacles to wider adoption. The discussion, held under the session title “Perp DEX Explosion: Bullish Volumes & Bear Market Resilience”, reflected a broader divide in digital asset markets. Banks, family offices, hedge […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s automotive data market is moving deeper into predictive intelligence after Seez entered a strategic collaboration with AutoData Middle East to strengthen vehicle valuation and market analytics across the region. The agreement brings Seez’s artificial intelligence models into AutoData Analytics, with an immediate focus on the platform’s Future Residual Value module. The integration is intended to improve projections of how vehicles retain value […]
Dubai South is pressing ahead with its 2026 property delivery programme, signalling that long-term housing demand around Al Maktoum International Airport remains strong despite short-term regional uncertainty. The master-planned city and free zone has placed one of its largest residential construction packages of the year, awarding an AED2 billion contract to Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al Kharafi & Sons for multiple phases of Hayat by Dubai South. The […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Global health officials moved to contain public anxiety over a deadly hantavirus cluster linked to the MV Hondius, a Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship that sailed from Argentina toward Cape Verde, stressing that the outbreak does not signal the start of another coronavirus-style pandemic. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization’s director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention, said the virus behaves […]
Adnoc Distribution will roll out an artificial intelligence-powered self-checkout system across 50 Oasis by Adnoc convenience stores from the second quarter of 2026, marking a new phase in the company’s push to turn its fuel-station retail network into a digitally enabled mobility and convenience platform. The agreement with UAE-based DTEK. ai will introduce SWIFT, a computer-vision and machine-learning checkout system designed to recognise products instantly and allow […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Mastercard has launched a regional resilience programme for small and medium-sized enterprises across the Middle East, bringing together banks, government bodies and business networks to help companies manage cash-flow stress, supply-chain disruption and higher operating costs. The initiative, called Built Small. Moving Strong, is being positioned as a coordinated response to pressure on smaller businesses at a time when trade disruptions, logistics costs, […]
By Saifur Rahman The Emirates Group, which operates the world’s largest airline Emirates and its ground handling and ticketing arm Dnata, reported a 7 percent growth to record $6.6 billion (Dh24.4 billion) profit before tax in its 2025-26 financial year ending March 31, 2026, despite a disruption of flight operations during the US-led attach on Iran and its fall-out on the regional aviation industry from February 28, […]
Deliveries of Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built at Tesla’s Shanghai factory reached 79,478 units in April, including exports to Europe and other overseas markets. The figure was 36% higher than a year earlier, marking a sixth straight month of year-on-year growth, though it was 7.2% lower than March as the market moved through a seasonally softer month after a stronger end to the first quarter.
The April performance signals that Tesla is regaining some stability after a difficult stretch in 2025, when competition, pricing pressure and consumer fatigue weighed on its standing in major electric vehicle markets. Shanghai remains central to that recovery because it supplies the domestic market while also serving as a major export base for Europe, Asia-Pacific and other regions. The plant produces Tesla’s two highest-volume models, leaving its monthly output closely watched as a gauge of both local demand and overseas momentum.
Tesla sold 85,670 China-made vehicles in March, giving it a stronger base heading into the second quarter. April’s decline from that level suggests the rebound remains uneven, but the year-on-year rise points to healthier order flow than at the same point last year. The recovery has been helped by adjustments to production, export allocation and the refreshed Model Y cycle, while Tesla has continued to use financing incentives and targeted promotions to defend its share.
China’s electric vehicle market remains the world’s most competitive, with new energy vehicles accounting for a growing majority of passenger-car retail sales. April industry estimates pointed to new energy vehicle retail sales of about 860,000 units and a penetration rate above 60%, underscoring how quickly battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models are displacing petrol vehicles. That shift benefits Tesla’s broader addressable market, but it also exposes the company to fierce price competition from domestic manufacturers with faster model cycles and wider product ranges.
BYD remains Tesla’s most formidable rival, with a broad line-up spanning mass-market cars, plug-in hybrids, premium models and exports. Geely, Chery, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Li Auto, Nio and Xiaomi are also pressing deeper into the market, competing not only on price but on software, cabin technology, driving-assistance features and charging convenience. Several of these manufacturers are expanding overseas, putting pressure on Tesla in Europe and other export markets that were once more heavily dominated by the US company.
Tesla’s challenge is sharpened by the age of its core passenger line-up. The Model Y and Model 3 remain strong global sellers, but rivals are launching fresh sport-utility vehicles, sedans and compact models at a faster pace. Tesla has been working on lower-cost products and software-led upgrades to protect volumes, but investors and customers are watching closely for evidence that the company can broaden its appeal beyond its two main models.
Europe has become a key test of whether Shanghai’s output can translate into renewed international growth. Tesla sales have improved in several European markets after a weak 2025, helped by stronger demand for electric vehicles and a recovery from earlier supply disruptions. Yet the company faces a more crowded field, with BYD, Xpeng and other manufacturers gaining visibility through competitive pricing, longer equipment lists and expanded dealer networks.
Regulatory approval for advanced driver-assistance technology remains another variable. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving package is central to its long-term positioning, but approvals in China and Europe have moved cautiously. Wider deployment could support margins and brand differentiation, though regulators continue to scrutinise safety, data handling and driver-monitoring requirements. Without a faster software rollout, Tesla’s sales recovery will depend more heavily on vehicle pricing, product updates and production efficiency.
Tesla’s first-quarter global deliveries stood at 358,023 vehicles, with Model 3 and Model Y accounting for 341,893 units. That concentration highlights the importance of Shanghai’s April result: the plant is not merely a regional asset but a major pillar of the company’s global volume strategy. Stronger China-made deliveries can ease pressure on other factories, support export flexibility and help Tesla manage inventory across markets with uneven demand.
Snap has confirmed the quiet end of its $400 million artificial intelligence partnership with Perplexity, removing a high-profile growth lever from its 2026 outlook just as the Snapchat parent faces pressure from uneven advertising demand, geopolitical disruption and a deeper push for cost discipline. The agreement, announced in November 2025, was designed to bring Perplexity’s conversational answer engine into Snapchat’s Chat interface, allowing users to ask questions […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Arada has entered the UAE healthcare market by acquiring a majority stake of more than 80 per cent in Reem Hospital, marking a decisive shift by the master developer from residential communities and branded wellness projects into clinical care. The transaction gives Arada control of one of Abu Dhabi’s specialist private healthcare assets and comes with an AED2 billion investment commitment to […]
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 May 2026 – DP World, through its joint venture Laem Chabang International Terminal Co., Ltd. (LCIT), has secured a five-year concession extension to continue operating the B5 container berth at Laem Chabang Port. The extension comes at a time of increasing intra-Asian trade and evolving supply chain dynamics, reinforcing the port’s role as a critical gateway for Thailand’s economy.
The contract, granted by the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT), will run from May 2026 to April 2031, reinforcing DP World’s central role in bolstering regional trade flows.
LCIT operates both B5 and C3 berths at Laem Chabang, Thailand’s principal deep-sea gateway and the country’s largest container hub supporting international trade. The terminals can accommodate up to four vessels simultaneously along 900 meters of berth length and are supported by 4,420 sqm of on-dock container freight station (CFS) facilities. In 2025, LCIT handled a record 1.936 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), its highest annual throughput to date, reflecting sustained growth in container volumes.
Glen Hilton, CEO & Managing Director, Asia Pacific, DP World, said: “This concession extension at Laem Chabang Port ensures continuity and service stability for our customers at a time when supply chains face increasing pressure and complexity. As Thailand strengthen its position as a regional trade hub, this extension allows us to continue investing in capacity, efficiency and sustainable operations. Together with our partners at LCIT, we are well positioned to support growing intra-Asia trade and deliver long-term value for customers across the Asia Pacific region.”
This concession will enable continued investment by DP World in operational efficiency and sustainability at Laem Chabang. In 2025, five electric internal transfer vehicles (eITVs) were deployed at LCIT, reducing emissions by approximately 60% compared to diesel alternatives while supporting faster vessel handling. Further upgrades are planned in 2026, including the installation of additional eITVs, electric reach stackers, and an electric empty container handler.
Complementing its operations at Laem Chabang Port, DP World has an integrated logistics network throughout Thailand, including cross-border trucking, landside logistics and freight forwarding. The company also recently launched a rail-connected inland container yard in Khon Kaen with a dedicated thrice-weekly rail shuttle to Laem Chabang, enhancing connectivity for exporters in Thailand’s Northeastern region.
These services and solutions aim to strengthen Thailand’s domestic and export trade by enabling the seamless movement of goods and materials from port to domestic hinterlands, and to markets across the wider Asia Pacific region.
Hashtag: #DPWorld
https://www.dpworld.com
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
DP World is reshaping the future of global trade to improve lives everywhere. Operating across six continents with a team of over 125,000 employees, we combine global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver seamless supply chain solutions. From Ports and Terminals to Marine Services, Logistics and Technology, we leverage innovation to create better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.
In Asia Pacific, DP World employs over 15,000 people across 22 geographies. We operate 17 ports and terminals, complemented by a comprehensive suite of end-to-end supply chain solutions – to connect the region to the rest of the world.
WE MAKE TRADE FLOW
Anthropic has struck a major compute agreement with SpaceX that will give the maker of Claude access to all capacity at the Colossus 1 data centre, adding more than 300 megawatts of power and over 220,000 Nvidia GPUs within a month. The deal is aimed at easing capacity pressure on Claude as demand rises for AI assistants, developer tools and enterprise services. Anthropic said the extra resources […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Mubadala Investment Company has taken a significant minority stake in Power Factors, deepening Abu Dhabi’s exposure to the software layer of the global renewable energy industry as operators confront larger, more complex and increasingly hybrid clean-power portfolios. The transaction brings Mubadala alongside Vista Equity Partners, the existing investor in Power Factors, and positions the Abu Dhabi-based global investor behind a company whose systems […]
The BGI, presented Wednesday by an international group of governance scholars, analyses measurable benchmarks of democratic accountability across 145 countries.
On a 100-point scale, the global score for democratic accountability slipped slightly from 65 in 2000 to 64 in 2023, the most recent data used in the project. The wave of democratisation observed in the closing decades of the last century has stalled in the last 15 years. Democratic accountability fell in 54 countries while it improved in 48 countries.
Yet the BGI — a collaborative project of the Luskin School of Public Affairs at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Berlin’s Hertie School and the Berggruen Institute, a think tank headquartered in Los Angeles — captures remarkably widespread growth in provision of public goods.
Encompassing healthcare, education, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and conditions to foster employment and rising prosperity, public goods improved in 135 of the countries studied, while declining slightly in just four. The global average jumped from 58 to 69 points from 2000 to 2023.
The third component of what the BGI authors refer to as the “governance triangle” is state capacity, defined as the ability to tax, borrow and spend, control territory, operate scrupulous, competent bureaucracies and administer predictable rule of law. The index finds the global average ticking up from 48 to 49 points; 56 countries had increased state capacity while 57 declined.
“What does it tell us about the world ahead?” Prof. Helmut K. Anheier, a Luskin School sociologist and BGI principal investigator, asked during the public release of the 2026 BGI on the UCLA campus.
“Countries are not really improving in their governance performance in significant ways. … We’re not really having forward-looking investment in governance capacity. There is considerable inertia.”
The largest improvements across all three BGI components occurred in Gambia, which the report groups with “low-capacity developing states.” These states score low across the board, particularly in the provision of public goods. This cluster constitutes the poorest countries with the least developed economies, which face the most serious challenges.
“They have the greatest exposure to likely future crises, whether it’s global warming, whether it’s a new pandemic, whether it’s another financial crisis, whether it’s the impact of AI,” Anheier said. “And they have the least capacity to respond to it.”
Bhutan, Georgia, Iraq and Tunisia — which make up the remaining top five countries with the largest improvements in the BGI — are classified as “capacity-constrained states.” They tend to be middle-income with struggling democracies. These countries score higher across the board than the low-capacity developing states, but their state capacity tends to lag compared to public goods and democratic accountability.
The capacity-constrained states risk falling into “a cycle that erodes the institutions they have built,” Anheier said.
“Consolidated democratic states”, a cluster of most of the world’s richest countries, which score highly in all three BGI components, have to confront domestic complacency. Further, in the United States and some others, “political dysfunction” is leaving mounting problems unaddressed and risking erosion of state capacity, Anheier said.
At the other end of the spectrum, the country with the farthest fall on the BGI since 2000 is Nicaragua. Second from last is Venezuela, followed by Hong Kong, Hungary and Turkey. The rest of the bottom 10 are Russia, Iran, Poland, El Salvador and Belarus.
Since 2023, which is the last year of data available for the study, Poland and Hungary have both seen government changes via election, despite serious democratic backsliding. Both had fallen out of the group of “consolidated democratic states” by 2023 and moved into the capacity constrained cluster.
The other eight countries at the bottom of the list are all places that once had some semblance of competitive elections, but by now have little or no remaining pretense of democracy. They are grouped by the authors among the “authoritarian and hybrid states”, which have by far the lowest democratic accountability but outperform even some struggling democracies in delivering public goods.
These regimes have tended toward faster economic growth in the period observed. But that seeming prosperity, typically fueled by extractive industries or overreliance on exports, masks “serious institutional weaknesses in these countries, including divided elites,” Anheier said.
Relatively few countries — 21 of the 145 — changed enough for better or worse to be classified in a new group by the end of the 23-year study period.
“Movement between them is rare, but this is largely what we should expect,” said Stella Ghervas, a UCLA historian on a panel of experts who discussed the BGI findings Wednesday. “Government systems are not created in a moment. They evolve over long periods of time.”
Local conditions shaping governance in each country can rarely be quickly reset through political will or even external shocks, Joseph C. Saraceno, a Luskin School data scientist and BGI co-author, said Wednesday.
“Despite all the talk of major transformations happening in global affairs, the underlying configuration of governance simply doesn’t appear to change very much,” Saraceno said. “We use the term inertia to describe this reoccurring pattern. In other words, the structures of global governance are resistant to movement as the conditions beneath them are quite sticky: political economies, demographics, resource endowments. These are deeply layered, and they push each country toward the world that it already inhabits.”
But the challenges lurking around the world may not wait for the slow and difficult processes of political change and development to catch up.
“With the few exceptions of those countries in the consolidated democratic world,” Anheier said, “the great majority of the countries in the world is ill-prepared for the future.”
The full report, ‘ 2026 Berggruen Governance Index – The Four Worlds of Governance‘, can be viewed and downloaded from the website of the UCLA’s Luskin School.
Frank Fuhrig, DNA
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This text and the accompanying material (photos and graphics) are an offer from the Democracy News Alliance, a close co-operation between Agence France-Presse (AFP, France), Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA, Italy), The Canadian Press (CP, Canada), Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa, Germany) and PA Media (PA, UK). All recipients can use this material without the need for a separate subscription agreement with one or more of the participating agencies. This includes the recipient’s right to publish the material in own products.
The DNA content is an independent journalistic service that operates separately from the other services of the participating agencies. It is produced by editorial units that are not involved in the production of the agencies’ main news services. Nevertheless, the editorial standards of the agencies and their assurance of completely independent, impartial and unbiased reporting also apply here.
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TON has moved to the front of the Layer-1 speed debate after a fresh comparison of blockchain finalisation times placed The Open Network ahead of major rivals on the time required for transactions to become irreversible. The assessment, conducted in April 2026, compared leading Layer-1 networks by finalisation time and put TON’s block finalisation at about 0.6 seconds, with total transaction finality under one second when […]
A second ADNOC-linked liquefied natural gas tanker has cleared the Strait of Hormuz, signalling that Abu Dhabi is cautiously restoring limited export movement through one of the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoints despite the war involving Iran. Ship-tracking data on Wednesday showed the LNG carrier Mraweh, managed by ADNOC Logistics & Services and chartered by ADNOC Gas, had reappeared loaded off Indonesia after losing its automatic identification […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai’s financial free zone has strengthened its standing as a global insurance centre after gross written premiums climbed to $4.2 billion in 2025, up 20 per cent from $3.5 billion a year earlier. Underwriting volumes at Dubai International Financial Centre have doubled since 2022, marking a sharp expansion in the emirate’s role as a booking, structuring and specialist underwriting platform for risks flowing […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Almarai has signed a one-year agreement in Riyadh to provide essential medication for children living with rheumatism, widening private-sector support for families facing long-term treatment costs and limited access to specialised care. The agreement with the Charitable Association for Rheumatism Patients is aimed at children whose health can deteriorate when diagnosis, medication and follow-up care are delayed or interrupted. The initiative is […]
Edelman Smithfield has announced a series of senior promotions and appointments across its Middle East business, reflecting its focus on building talent and leadership in the region. These moves underscore the firm’s commitment to developing senior expertise and strengthening its capabilities across key client accounts. Dhanya Issac has been promoted to Managing Director, Edelman Smithfield Middle East. In this expanded regional role, she will continue to lead […]
Dubai’s property market has absorbed a sharp geopolitical jolt without sliding into a systemic downturn, with transaction data pointing to a bruised but functioning sector after two months of regional conflict. The market entered 2026 with exceptional momentum. January produced AED104.1 billion in transactions, marking a historic high and reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most active property investment destinations. That pace was disrupted when […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai ADNOC Drilling is targeting an equal revenue split between its core drilling business and manufacturing-linked oilfield services within five years, signalling a deeper push into local industrial capacity as Abu Dhabi’s energy sector widens its role beyond upstream operations. Youssef Salem, Chief Financial Officer of ADNOC Drilling, said the company aims to generate about 50 per cent of revenue from drilling and 50 […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 6 May 2026 – The highly anticipated quadrennial major football event will kick off in mid-June, igniting excitement among fans citywide. Committed to supporting international sporting events, Sino Group announces that its shopping malls will be screening the tournament in full for the fourth consecutive edition. The Group will invest over HK$8 million in promotional spending. Its three flagship malls — Olympian City, tmtplaza and Citywalk — will broadcast all 104 matches live in high definition on giant LED screens, offering the public an immersive stadium-like experience and uniting fans across Hong Kong in celebration of global football fever.
Ms. Bella Chhoa, Chief Commercial Officer of Sino Group, remarked: “Sino Group has long been dedicated to promoting local sports development and major international sporting events. This year, over 40% of the matches will kick off in the morning Hong Kong time, creating a unique ‘morning sports economy’. Beyond core football fans, the early kick‑offs are ideal for families, allowing parents, children and even three generations to enjoy breakfast together while watching matches. A dedicated family viewing zone and morning match viewing parties will be introduced at Olympian City to encourage football culture across generations. In total, over 50 football‑themed activities will be organised across the malls, catering to toddlers, families, hardcore fans and e‑sports enthusiasts alike, seeking to unite the city and share the excitement. In addition, nearly 100 merchants will roll out special promotions in phases across dining, sportswear and electronics categories and more.” She added that the Group expects the football frenzy to significantly boost local consumption, with double‑digit year‑on‑year growth anticipated in both mall footfall and sales performance of sports‑related retailers.
To enhance the viewing experience, matches will be broadcast on the 430‑inch and 540‑inch giant LED screens at Olympian City and tmtplaza respectively, with Citywalk also offering simultaneous HD live broadcasts, bringing fans from across the city together to cheer on their favourite teams.
Olympian City: “Classic x New” Football Fun for All Generations
Yapp Hung Fai Appears with Three Generations of Family | Classic “Watermelon Ball” Meets the New Football Challenges
As the main broadcasting hub, Olympian City will screen all 104 matches in full and, in view of the strong appeal of morning fixtures, will set up a dedicated Family Zone with family seating and cheering props for all 44 morning matches, bringing families together to jointly experience a world‑class sporting spectacle. 3 special morning match viewing parties will offer breakfast menus including Chinese dim sum, Hong Kong-style pineapple buns and Western fast food, allowing fans to enjoy breakfast while cheering for their favourite teams.
Under the theme of “Classic x New”, Olympian City welcomes the Hong Kong Footballer of the Year, Yapp Hung Fai, who will attend with his father and four‑year‑old son to share stories of football heritage across generations, alongside a series of interactive highlights including a 3.5-metre-tall classic “Watermelon Ball” photo spot, retro arcade football game on a 430-inch LED screen, traditional tabletop football, innovative under-table football and a 2-on-2 mini match featuring age-grouped competitions, allowing children and adults alike to experience the joy of football from multiple perspectives.
tmtplaza: Clear 10 Rounds to Win Up To HK$40,000 in cash vouchers at “Football King Challenge”
tmtplaza will partner with PlayStation to present the highlight weekend event “Football King Challenge”, featuring PlayStation®5 EA SPORTS FC™ 26 gameplay in a classic knockout format. Participants who clear 10 consecutive rounds can win HK$10,000 S Coupons, with no quota limit. The top 16 finalists will advance to the grand finale to compete for the Football King title and HK$30,000 worth of S Coupons, also a chance to challenge well‑known KOLs onsite. A dedicated PS5 football gaming experience zone will be open to the public, allowing e-sports players and football fans alike to showcase their skills in the virtual arena.
Beyond e‑sports, the mall actively promotes youth sports development. In collaboration with local football academy LBRO, football experience sessions and regular interest classes for children aged 3 to 10 will be held from May at tmtp commons, led by professional coaches to nurture interest, teamwork and perseverance.
Additionally, the mall atrium will transform into a giant football field, featuring 11 international football stars reimagined by local designers as 2‑metre‑tall Q‑style inflatable “Football Stars” for photo‑taking.
Citywalk: Kick-Off for All Ages – From Babies to Seniors
In addition to live match broadcasts, Citywalk will roll out a series of football‑themed activities designed to engage participants of all ages, launching with “Baby Football Mania”, which features football‑inspired crawling and obstacle courses for babies, alongside “Senior Football Adventures”, offering football fitness exercises tailored for elderly participants. The programme will be rounded out by the “Goddess of Goals Challenge”, a pop‑up interactive game inviting shoppers of different generations to join in, ensuring that children, families and seniors alike can share in the excitement of the football spectacle together.
More exciting programmes will be announced soon. Stay tuned for more.
Hashtag: #SinoGroup #OlympianCity #tmtplaza #Citywalk
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
