Washington has sanctioned the Wellbred commodities group and businesses spanning Singapore, the UAE, Switzerland and France, expanding pressure on a global commercial network linked to Iranian oil trader Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani. The measures designate Singapore-based Wellbred Capital Pte Ltd, UAE-based Wellbred Trading FZCO and Switzerland-based Wellbred Trading SA. La Nivernaise de Raffinage SAS, a French cooking-oil refinery controlled by Wellbred Trading SA, has also been placed under […]
Partnership creates new pathways for accountancy students in Guangdong to pursue the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification and gain professional exposure in Singapore
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 August 2026 – The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen Singapore–Guangdong collaboration in accountancy education and talent development, creating greater opportunities for GDUFS students in Guangdong to connect with the accountancy profession and pursue international professional pathways.
The MOU was signed in Singapore in conjunction with the 16th Singapore-Guangdong Collaboration Council (SGCC) Meeting, underscoring the strategic significance of the partnership and the growing links between Singapore and Guangdong in education, professional services and talent development.
Under the partnership, GDUFS’ Accounting, Auditing and Financial Management programmes will apply for accreditation under the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification (SCAQ) programme. Once accredited, graduates of these programmes will be eligible for fee waivers relating to five SCAQ Foundation Programme modules, providing a more streamlined pathway towards attaining the Chartered Accountant of Singapore, or CA (Singapore) designation upon fulfilling the remaining SCAQ requirements.
The partnership will also provide GDUFS students with opportunities to connect with ISCA and the wider accountancy profession, which includes industry and professional networks, events and activities. Students will have access to relevant ISCA membership opportunities and the relevant benefits, while those pursuing the SCAQ pathway will receive study support and opportunities such as internship and job-matching recommendations, SCAQ scholarships and access to ISCA’s publications.
The partnership reflects ISCA and GDUFS’s shared commitment to developing the next generation of accountancy professionals with the capabilities, professional networks and international exposure to contribute across markets.
The two institutions will also collaborate on professional learning and development, including guest lectures, workshops and seminars for GDUFS faculty, students and alumni, as well as access to ISCA publications and online resources. Continuous professional development collaboration via ISCA’s specialisation programmes in financial forensics, sustainability and subscription-based online learning platforms for accounting professionals will ensure GDUFS graduates remain updated on evolving industry standards and best practices.
ISCA President Mr Lee Boon Teck said: “Our partnership with GDUFS is about building stronger links between Singapore and Guangdong in accountancy education and talent development. By connecting students with professional pathways, networks and industry exposure and opportunities in Singapore, we hope to equip the next generation of accountancy professionals with the capabilities and international exposure ready to contribute in an increasingly interconnected business environment.”
Professor Yu Pengyi, Dean of the School of Accountancy at GDUFS, said: “This partnership with ISCA marks an important milestone in our internationalisation journey, creating new professional pathways and opportunities for our students. By combining our strengths in language and accounting education with ISCA’s professional expertise and networks, we look forward to developing globally minded accounting professionals who can contribute across markets.”
The five-year partnership provides a framework for ISCA and GDUFS to further develop cooperation in accountancy education, professional development and engagement with the accountancy profession. Hashtag: #ISCA #CharteredAccountants #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy #MOU #GDUFS
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)
The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. Established in 1963, ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the designated entity by the Singapore Ministry of Finance to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore [CA (Singapore)] designation.
ISCA supports over 46,000 members across industries in Singapore and globally, with members in more than 40 countries. With a growing international presence, ISCA has 12 overseas chapters, 7 offices across 10 countries and a network of over 150 strategic partners, strengthening professional connections and opportunities across borders. ISCA is also a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network representing more than 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students across over 190 countries.
ISCA advances professional development and lifelong learning through ISCA Academy, its training arm and drives community impact through ISCA Cares, its charity arm.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Aramco has signed agreements with French companies carrying a potential combined value of more than $3.7 billion, expanding cooperation in drilling equipment, specialised oilfield products and industrial artificial intelligence. The agreements were announced during a Saudi-French investment roundtable in Paris on Monday, August 24, attended by Aramco president and chief executive Amin H. Nasser. They form part of a broader push by […]
Arjavi Indraneesh Iraq’s proposal for a joint security council bringing Saudi Arabia and Iran into a formal mechanism is more than another attempt at regional mediation. It reflects Baghdad’s growing conviction that diplomatic contact between the two powers, while valuable, is no longer sufficient to prevent security crises from spilling across borders. National Security Adviser […]
Alibaba Cloud has opened its third data centre in South Korea, increasing local computing capacity as businesses accelerate investment in artificial intelligence, cloud applications and data-intensive services.
The facility, launched on August 18, expands the company’s Korea region only about 14 months after its second data centre began operating. Alibaba Cloud established its first South Korean data centre in 2022 after entering the market in 2016, reflecting a faster infrastructure build-out as demand for generative AI and enterprise AI agents increases.
The third site adds capacity for computing, storage, networking, databases, security, containers and cloud-native services. It will also support workloads requiring lower latency and stronger disaster-recovery arrangements, while giving customers more options to distribute applications across separate facilities.
Alibaba Cloud has not disclosed the new centre’s power capacity, investment cost, number of graphics processing units or current utilisation rate. The company has indicated that additional computing equipment can be installed as customer demand expands.
Operating three data centres also changes the resilience of Alibaba Cloud’s South Korean infrastructure. With two facilities, disruption at one centre could leave the remaining location handling workloads alone. The addition of a third allows applications to remain distributed between two facilities if another suffers an outage.
The expanded configuration has enabled Alibaba Cloud to raise the service-level availability commitment for its Korea region from 99.95% to 99.99%, strengthening its pitch to companies running business-critical applications and AI services.
Enterprise AI is becoming an increasingly important part of that strategy. Alibaba Cloud is introducing six agentic AI services in South Korea covering development, testing, deployment, operations and cybersecurity. They include AgentRun, STAROps, ACS Agent Sandbox, Agent Security Center, AI Security Guardrails 2.0 and Agentic SOC.
The services are aimed at companies seeking to move AI agents from experimental projects into production environments, where governance, reliability and security become more demanding. Enterprises are increasingly looking beyond access to large language models towards infrastructure capable of operating autonomous or semi-autonomous software agents at scale.
Alibaba Cloud is pairing those services with its broader full-stack AI offering, including infrastructure, development platforms and the Qwen family of AI models. Qwen models have recorded more than 3 billion downloads globally, while developers have created more than 300,000 derivative models based on the family.
South Korean companies are already using parts of Alibaba Cloud’s AI ecosystem. Gwangju-based Gendive has integrated Alibaba models including Wan for video generation and HappyHorse for image generation into its DevDive enterprise automation platform. NAVER Z’s ZEPETO platform also uses Alibaba Cloud infrastructure to support real-time 3D avatar generation and immersive services across Asian markets.
Alibaba Cloud has built local partnerships with companies including Megazone Soft and Team Sparta, seeking to combine its infrastructure with consulting, implementation and industry-specific services. Such alliances are important in a South Korean cloud market where global hyperscalers compete with strong domestic technology groups.
Data sovereignty is another factor shaping cloud investment. Businesses handling sensitive information increasingly want workloads hosted within national borders, particularly as regulators pay greater attention to cybersecurity, resilience and governance surrounding AI systems. Alibaba Cloud says its South Korean infrastructure is designed to comply with applicable local data-protection and cybersecurity requirements.
The Korea expansion forms part of Alibaba’s wider commitment to spend about 380 billion yuan, roughly $53 billion when the programme was announced, on AI and cloud infrastructure over three years. The group has already committed substantial capital to computing capacity, chips and AI development as it attempts to establish cloud services as a larger growth engine.
Alibaba Cloud revenue rose sharply in the April-June quarter of 2026, with cloud and AI-related sales reaching about 48.4 billion yuan and growing 45% from a year earlier. The expansion has come at a cost: Alibaba’s quarterly capital expenditure climbed to nearly 67.7 billion yuan as spending on computing infrastructure and semiconductor components increased.
The company has also expanded cloud infrastructure in France, Japan, Malaysia and Mexico. With the new South Korean facility, Alibaba Cloud says its global network has reached 104 availability zones across 30 regions.
Bitcoin climbed back above $79,000 on Monday, extending a powerful rebound that has restored bullish momentum after weeks of pressure across cryptocurrency markets. The world’s largest digital asset briefly traded around $79,200 before encountering resistance near the psychologically important $80,000 level. The move capped a sharp recovery from levels near $63,400 earlier in the week, representing a gain of more than 20% from the trough. Bitcoin subsequently […]
The US Treasury is considering tapping its roughly $950 billion cash balance to support purchases of longer-dated government bonds, potentially giving Secretary Scott Bessent greater scope to counter pressure in the Treasury market. The Treasury General Account, or TGA, is being treated as a possible source of cash for purchases of off-the-run securities, although officials have not specified how much could be deployed or when a decision […]
Standard Chartered has become the first bank to distribute a regulated Hong Kong dollar stablecoin, opening access to Anchorpoint Financial’s HKDAP for eligible institutional clients and partners as Hong Kong pushes tokenised money deeper into mainstream financial services.
The London-headquartered banking group said it will help qualifying customers integrate HKDAP into financial and commercial operations. Planned applications include money-market fund subscriptions, settlements with asset managers, transfers between entities within the bank’s international network and cross-border payments.
The move gives HKDAP a major banking distribution channel less than two weeks after Anchorpoint began its limited institutional rollout on August 12. The stablecoin, whose name stands for HKD At Par, is designed to maintain a one-to-one value with the Hong Kong dollar and is currently available through a controlled beta programme.
Standard Chartered is the majority shareholder in Anchorpoint, which was established with HKT and Animoca Brands. The venture received one of Hong Kong’s first stablecoin issuer licences in April, alongside HSBC, following the introduction of the territory’s Stablecoins Ordinance in August 2025.
Standard Chartered’s role as distributor is distinct from Anchorpoint’s function as issuer. Under Anchorpoint’s business-to-business-to-consumer model, authorised distributors provide access to the token after conducting customer onboarding and know-your-customer checks. That structure is intended to connect regulated tokenised money with banks, exchanges, asset managers, companies and, eventually, individual users.
Access remains restricted during the beta stage to corporates and professional investors. Anchorpoint aims to broaden availability to retail users as early as the end of 2026, subject to operational and market readiness.
HKDAP currently operates on the Ethereum mainnet. Its reserves are held under a trust arrangement for token holders, with Standard Chartered Trustee acting as trustee. The token does not pay interest and is not positioned as an investment product. Instead, it is designed as digital cash for payments, settlement and movement of funds.
Early activity remains deliberately limited. Anchorpoint disclosed circulation of HK$522,000 and transaction volume of HK$658,160 as of August 19, with reserve assets of about HK$1.62 million. Issuance over the preceding 30 days totalled HK$524,130, while HK$4,170 had been redeemed. The small amounts reflect the controlled institutional testing phase rather than a mass-market launch.
The distribution agreement nevertheless represents an important step towards commercial use. Standard Chartered plans to introduce additional HKDAP applications over the coming month, expanding beyond experiments into transactions that could demonstrate whether regulated stablecoins can reduce settlement times and connect conventional banking infrastructure with blockchain-based markets.
The bank has been accelerating its digital-asset strategy across several areas. It already provides institutional trading in deliverable spot Bitcoin and Ether, has expanded digital-asset custody services and has developed blockchain-based settlement and collateral arrangements. In July, it also launched integrated institutional access to Circle’s USDC minting and redemption infrastructure.
Standard Chartered’s scale could give HKDAP a distribution advantage. The group operates across 55 markets and reported total assets of about $993.4 billion at the end of June 2026, up from roughly $920 billion at the end of 2025. First-half operating income reached a record $11.6 billion, while pre-tax profit rose to $4.8 billion.
Hong Kong’s regulated stablecoin experiment is taking shape cautiously. The monetary authority has imposed capital, reserve-management, redemption, governance, anti-money-laundering and risk-management requirements on licensed issuers, seeking to distinguish supervised fiat-backed tokens from the less regulated stablecoins that dominate global cryptocurrency trading.
HSBC, the other initial licensed issuer, is preparing its own Hong Kong dollar stablecoin for launch during the second half of 2026. The entrance of two globally significant banks places Hong Kong among the jurisdictions attempting to develop regulated alternatives to dollar-denominated tokens such as USDT and USDC, which account for the overwhelming majority of global stablecoin activity.
HKDAP’s first commercial targets centre on areas where settlement speed can offer measurable benefits. Tokenised investment products can potentially be subscribed to and redeemed using programmable money without waiting for traditional banking hours. Cross-border corporate transactions and intragroup treasury transfers could similarly move continuously while maintaining a direct link to regulated fiat reserves.
Bitcoin held close to $78,000 on Monday after its strongest weekly advance in more than three years, while gold climbed to a three-month high and major alternative cryptocurrencies paused after sharp gains. The largest cryptocurrency was trading around $77,000-$78,000 after gaining about 23% over the week ended August 23. Bitcoin briefly rose above $79,000 during the surge, its highest level in roughly three months, before profit-taking and […]
BEIJING, CHINA– Media OutReach Newswire – 24 August 2026 – The 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games opened yesterday at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, also known as the “Ice Ribbon.” As another real-world validation of 5G Capital in robotics and embodied AI, China Unicom Beijing and Huawei have built an integrated digital foundation powered by a 5G-A GigaUplink network, supporting intelligent event operations, robot competition, and spectator experiences. The deployment also lays a connectivity foundation for humanoid robots to move beyond the arena and into everyday life. Across Beijing, 5G Capital’s region-wide GigaUplink network is providing ubiquitous, secure, and reliable connectivity for a growing range of cultural tourism, embodied AI, and Mobile AI applications and events.
China Unicom Beijing and Huawei Power the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games with 5G-A GigaUplink
This year’s Games feature major upgrades in both scale and competition design. A total of 1,301 competitions across 51 events will see 2,056 humanoid robots from 666 teams worldwide take part. The number of events has nearly doubled from 26 in the inaugural Games to 51 this year, with new high-intensity head-to-head events such as table tennis and kickboxing. Scenario-based competitions have also expanded into real-world settings including industrial production, hotels, homes, and logistics, while dance events place greater emphasis on synchronized movement across multiple robots. More autonomous competition formats and significantly higher task complexity are placing stringent demands on networks for high-capacity uplink, millisecond-level responsiveness, and high reliability, supporting real-time robot telemetry, precise control signaling, and multi-robot coordination.
To meet these requirements, China Unicom Beijing and Huawei deployed a dedicated 100 MHz network, complemented by a 300 MHz LampSite ultra-wideband indoor network, to support real-time robot telemetry and precise signaling exchange. A dedicated 5QI 7 slice combined with carrier isolation keeps end-to-end latency for humanoid robots within 30 milliseconds, supporting millisecond-level decision-making and response while helping ensure the precision of multi-robot coordination, obstacle avoidance, and fine-motion control.
By further integrating the dedicated network with BeiDou RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) positioning, the solution delivers decimeter- to sub-decimeter-level positioning accuracy, supporting autonomous navigation, agile obstacle avoidance, and precision racing in complex environments. On-site tests recorded a peak uplink speed of 1 Gbps, with average latency below 30 milliseconds.
While safeguarding mission-critical connectivity for the robots, China Unicom has also made the network experience of on-site spectators a priority. To address the high-density, heavy-traffic demands of large crowds, network resources and service assurance policies are dynamically adjusted according to different phases and areas of the event, including admission, waiting, competition, and departure. Core services such as instant messaging, ticket inquiries, QR-code admission, and mobile payments are prioritized for stable access, while the network also accommodates data-intensive services such as photo uploads, short-video sharing, and live streaming. This allows spectators to stay connected, interact seamlessly, and share highlights in real time even during peak traffic periods.
On the operations side, China Unicom has also developed China’s first embodied AI robot management platform designed for event scenarios. Through a unique network ID assigned to each robot, event staff can monitor its location within the venue, competition status, and operational metrics in real time, creating a closed-loop operations and management system.
China Unicom and Huawei Together Advancing the 5G Capital initiative
Yang Lifan, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom Beijing, said: “This network deployment is not only a real-world test of China Unicom’s network capabilities; it will also help us accumulate valuable network assurance experience for the large-scale deployment of embodied AI. China Unicom will continue to build on the experience gained through the 5G Capital initiative and turn technological innovation into tangible and replicable network capabilities for the Mobile AI era. In doing so, we aim to support industrial innovation and help bring Chinese solutions to the world with China Unicom’s expertise.”
David Li, President of Huawei’s Wireless TDD Product Line, said: “The 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games have provided a compelling real-world validation of the 5G-A 100 MHz GigaUplink network based on 3.5 GHz 2CC + 2.1 GHz SUL for embodied AI scenarios. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with China Unicom Beijing to strengthen uplink capabilities and advance spectrum coordination, building multidimensional network capabilities with tiered and differentiated service assurance for multimodal device-to-cloud transmission. This will enable real-time interaction and precise control across a wide range of embodied AI scenarios.
“Networks are about more than speed. Low latency, high reliability, and ubiquitous coverage are equally important. Building on these capabilities, we will further advance the 5G Capital initiative, continue to expand the boundaries of network performance, and lay a solid foundation for the Mobile AI era, working with industry partners to enable an intelligent future.”
Hashtag: #Huawei #WorldHumanoidRobotGames
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Iran’s rial plunged through the psychologically important barrier of two million to the US dollar on Monday, setting a record low as tighter sanctions, accelerating inflation and dwindling access to foreign currency intensified pressure on the economy. The currency traded at about 2.02 million rials per dollar on the open market, extending a sharp sell-off that has gathered pace during August. The fall marks another milestone in […]
From surging sports interest to last-minute purchase, Hong Kong users are eager for greater access to live entertainment experiences
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 August 2026 – With the excitement of football events and chart-topping concerts still reverberating across the city, Hong Kong is carrying the momentum into a vibrant summer of live entertainment. Capturing the pulse of the moment, MoreTickets, Asia’s No.1* live event ticket resale platform, releases Hong Kong’s top international and local live events[1] scheduled for the summer period (July and August), alongside consumer insights into platform users’ ticket-buying behavior.
Concerts Top Summer Searches as Sports Interest Surges
MoreTickets offers a wide range of live entertainment events worldwide, including popular concerts, sporting events, theatre performances and many more. Concerts continue to drive the summer entertainment landscape, capturing the majority of user interests. According to MoreTickets data1, the “Concert” category accounts for nearly two-thirds of all searches for live events or shows scheduled in July and August, reinforcing the city’s demand for major headline acts. Interest in “Sports” category is also rising, with searches up about 150% year on year, reflecting heightened appetite for major matches and global tournament moments this summer.
Top 10 Most–Searched Live Events Scheduled for July and August[1]:
Rank
Event Name
Category
Location
Show Date
1
AXA Presents: You & Mi Sammi Cheng Live at Hong Kong Kai Tak Stadium 2026
Concert
Hong Kong
July 10-12, 2026
2
MC Cheung E=MC² Concert 2026
Concert
Hong Kong
July 7-11, 2026
3
Hong Kong Football Festival (HKFF) 2026
Sports
Hong Kong
July 31-August 5, 2026
4
FIFA World Cup 2026
Sports
Overseas
June 11-July 19, 2026
5
CTF Life Title-sponsors: 2026 TMElive International Music Awards
Award Ceremony
Hong Kong
August 22-23, 2026
6
NMIXX 1ST WORLD TOUR <EPISODE 1: ZERO FRONTIER> IN HONG KONG
Concert
Hong Kong
July 25-26, 2026
7
The Music of Chan Fai Young: King of Pop
Concert
Macau
July 24-26, 2026
8
Hins Cheung UNPLUGGED 2 Second Movement Concert
Concert
Macau
July 24-26, 2026
9
LiSA – LiVE is Smile Always～15～ in Hong Kong
Concert
Hong Kong
July 18, 2026
10
ILLIT LIVE ‘PRESS START’ in HONG KONG
Concert
Hong Kong
August 22-23, 2026
Local Hong Kong artists and city-based performances remain highly searched, representing more than 70% of total searches, led by Sammi Cheng and MC Cheung, two renowned local singers who appeal spans generations. Fueled by global FIFA World Cup fever, the Hong Kong Football Festival emerged as a breakout hit, ranking the third among the top searches.
Hong Kong Live Event Goers Made Last-Minute Purchase, and Rise in Single-Ticket Purchases
In Hong Kong, MoreTickets users are deciding closer to the event date. MoreTickets purchase data[2] shows that nearly two out of five ticket transactions were made within seven days of the show (37%), signaling a more spontaneous approach to live entertainment planning. This last-minute pattern is strongest in event categories such as pop music concerts (55%) and fan meetings (40%). Among those last-minute buyers, 60% of the purchases opted for single-seat tickets, underscoring strong eagerness to attend live shows, supported by the platform’s real-time availability andtransparent pricing. MoreTickets helps users compare across the spectrum and secure the best fit with confidence.
Top 10 Events Purchased Within 7-Days of Event Date in May 2:
Rank
Event Name
Category
Location
Show Date
1
FAMA (Nongfu): The Funniest Concert in All Hong Kong
Concert
Hong Kong
May 8-10, 2026
2
Sun Life Presents: SANDY LAM RESONANCE
Concert
Hong Kong
May 16-17, 2026
3
Laufey: A Matter of Time Tour in Hong Kong
Concert
Hong Kong
May 12, 2026
4
Hang Seng Insurance Presents: 25+ EEG Family Concert
Concert
Hong Kong
May 3-4, 2026
5
b.balance Presents Live Band Concert｜<3 symbol of love | MC Cheung x CONSTANCE x Gareth.T
Concert
Hong Kong
May 16, 2026
6
K-SPARK in MACAU
Music Festival
Macau
May 2, 2026
7
EXO PLANET #6 – EXhOrizon in MACAU
Concert
Macau
May 22-23, 2026
8
IVE WORLD TOUR <SHOW WHAT I AM> IN MACAO
Concert
Macau
May 23-24, 2026
9
2025-26 TREASURE TOUR [PULSE ON] in Hong Kong
Concert
Hong Kong
May 9, 2026
10
UFC Fight Night Macau and Road to UFC
Sports
Macau
May 28-30, 2026
A Safer Way to Find Tickets with MoreTickets
As live entertainment demand becomes more immediate and fragmented, many consumers still struggle when trying to secure tickets through various channels. MoreTickets offers an alternative as a safer platform with real-time availability, transparent-priced listing, and a secure refund guarantee, making it a reliable choice for live-event goers. It operates with two core safeguards – vetted sellers supported by a verified ticket-sourcing network, and escrow-based payment held until successful event entry.
Trusted by millions of users, MoreTickets helps users secure ticket access safely, ensuring they can enjoy the live entertainment moments that matter.
[1] The analysis is based on H1 2026 search activity on MoreTickets platform, filtered to events scheduled in July and August 2026.
[2] The analysis is based on purchase activity during 1 to 31 May 2026 on MoreTickets platform.
Hashtag: #MoreTickets
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About MoreTickets
MoreTickets is Asia’s No.1* live event ticket resale platform, dedicated to providing convenient, secure, and hassle-free ticketing services. The platform covers a wide range of live entertainment, including popular concerts, sporting events, theatre performances, and more. To date, MoreTickets is trusted by millions of users in Hong Kong and Macau, with its ticket sourcing network spanning major global live events across Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, as well as Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas.
By integrating comprehensive event information and ticket sources, MoreTickets helps users quickly search and compare options while offering end-to-end services, including secure payment, order protection, and post-sale support. The platform is committed to delivering a seamless, intuitive, and reliable ticketing experience, ensuring users never miss out on their most anticipated shows.
*Measured by GMV of live event ticket resale platform in Asia in 2025 (According to Frost & Sullivan’s research on the live event resale platform industry in Asia, as of May 2026
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 24 August 2026 – A Vietnamese men’s grooming brand is preparing to enter the U.S. market with a business model that has been developed and scaled across Asia. The move will be an important test of East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop)’s ability to expand internationally, taking one of Asia’s leading men’s grooming chains into the world’s most competitive barbershop market.
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has established a presence in several overseas markets, including Thailand, China, Uzbekistan and Europe.
From a Vietnamese barbershop to an international network of more than 130 locations
In the global men’s grooming industry, building an international brand requires barbershop chains to solve a fundamental challenge: How can they standardize services, train staff, maintain a consistent customer experience and scale their model without losing their identity?
This is the formula behind many of the world’s leading names in the hair and grooming industry, including Great Clips, Supercuts, Sport Clips Haircuts, TONI&GUY, QB House and Jawed Habib Hair & Beauty. These brands have transformed a service industry traditionally dependent on individual craftsmanship into scalable business systems.
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) is pursuing a similar path. Founded in Vietnam in 2018, the company has grown into a network of more than 130 locations, with over 1,000 barbers, while gradually expanding into international markets. At this scale, East West operates in a different league from independent barbershops.
The value of a barbershop chain with hundreds of locations lies in its ability to deliver a consistent experience across the entire network. This is also why East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has been ranked among the Top 10 large-scale grooming brands in the world.
But as it prepares to enter the U.S. market, the key question is whether this model can be successfully transferred and operated in a completely different market.
Beyond the haircut: When a barbershop becomes an experience
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) seeks to differentiate itself by developing an “Experiential Barbershop” concept, combining grooming with relaxation and entertainment.
From the moment customers walk through the door, they are greeted by a space filled with greenery, along with relaxation areas featuring pool tables, chess, a piano, a bar and bookshelves. The chain, which caters exclusively to men and boys, also features car-themed barber chairs and dedicated play areas for its younger customers.
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) — The ultimate destination for men to relax and unwind
Its services extend well beyond a haircut, including hair washing, ear cleaning, massage, hair restoration treatments, perming, coloring, nail care, shoe cleaning and phone sanitization.
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) aims to change the way customers perceive a barbershop. Rather than simply purchasing a grooming service, customers can take time to relax, look after themselves or bring their children along to a space designed around the overall experience.
As consumers increasingly value the overall experience alongside service quality, this approach reflects the changing dynamics of the men’s grooming market.
The United States: East West Barbershop’s next major test
The United States is no random choice. It represents the next step in East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop)’s international strategy, building on a business model that has already been tested in Vietnam and several overseas markets.
Mr. Nguyen Hoai Thanh, Chairman of Dong Tay Barbershop Vietnam Joint Stock Company, said: “We chose the United States not because it is the easiest market to enter, but because it is one of the most demanding and competitive barbershop markets in the world. If a model built in Vietnam can succeed in the U.S., it would be the clearest testament to East West Barbershop’s ability to take its brand and business model to the international stage.”
The U.S. is home to many major barbershop and salon brands and is one of the world’s most mature markets for franchising in the service sector.
Great Clips is a prime example. With thousands of salons across the United States and Canada, the brand demonstrates the scale a haircut business can achieve when its model is standardized and successfully replicated.
Supercuts, Sport Clips and many other chains have likewise spent years building strong brand recognition and extensive customer networks.
Against this backdrop, the Vietnamese brand must answer a fundamental question: Why would American consumers choose a brand from Vietnam over names they already know and recognize?
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop)’s answer is not simply to compete on price. Its goal is to “export” a business model that combines customer experience, workforce training, operating standards and franchising.
This requires the company to turn its operational experience into a transferable system while addressing the many differences between Vietnam and the United States.
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) identifies barber training, skills standardization and the ability to adapt to a new environment as key foundations of this process. International expansion also creates opportunities for Vietnamese barbers to gain exposure to international working environments.
East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) has also linked its development with social initiatives, including free vocational training for young people, mobile haircut programs offering free services, and contributions to charitable activities. These efforts contribute to a distinctive brand story: a service business seeking to develop its brand, its profession and its community at the same time.
After nearly a decade of establishment and development, East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop) is gradually proving that a business model built in Vietnam can be standardized, franchised, and compete on the same playing field as the major players in the global hair industry.
If successful in the U.S., East West Barbershop (Dong Tay Barbershop)’s story will go beyond being a Top 10 brand or a network of more than 130 locations. It will be the story of how a Vietnamese service business transformed capabilities built at home into a model capable of reaching the global stage.
Iran is preparing for a sharp escalation in US economic pressure as President Masoud Pezeshkian says the country is fighting an “all-out economic, military and security war” and Washington readies another sanctions package. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to outline the measures on Monday, with the Trump administration signalling that the campaign will seek to isolate Tehran from international trade and financial networks. The measures […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai ADNOC Distribution has agreed to bring South Africa’s Reatile Group into its planned acquisition of Shell Downstream South Africa, giving the local energy investor a minority interest after the $1 billion takeover is completed. The two companies signed a long-term Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment agreement on August 20, advancing the ownership structure for ADNOC Distribution’s entry into South Africa’s fuel retail market. The […]
Dubai has added a new community shopping and lifestyle destination with the opening of The Grand at Nad Al Sheba Gardens, bringing grocery, retail and everyday services to the expanding residential district. The two-storey centre began its phased opening on August 19 and is anchored by the first Waitrose & Partners supermarket in Nad Al Sheba. The initial line-up also includes MMI, Heart Cottage Lane, Maple Bear […]
Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun’s individual claims against World Liberty Financial are set to remain before a California federal court after a hearing over the crypto venture’s attempt to shift substantial parts of the dispute into private arbitration. US District Judge James Donato heard arguments on August 20 in the Northern District of California over World Liberty Financial’s motion to compel arbitration and stay portions of the lawsuit. […]
TDCX has opened a second campus in Hyderabad as the global customer experience company scales its operations in the country after increasing its local workforce by more than 600% over three years.
The new facility at Meenakshi Eco Park strengthens Hyderabad’s position within TDCX’s international delivery network and makes the country its fourth-largest operations base. The expansion is aimed at supporting global technology and digital economy clients requiring customer experience, sales, digital support and technology-enabled services.
The campus was formally opened on August 20 by TDCX founder and chief executive Laurent Junique, alongside Group chief information officer and executive vice-president Byron Fernandez and country director Ananth Premkumar.
The move marks a substantial expansion from TDCX’s initial entry into the market in 2022, when it established a 45,000 sq ft operation at Skyview 20 in Hyderabad’s technology corridor. That facility was designed both as a customer experience delivery centre and a digital innovation hub, with the company initially targeting specialists in software development and emerging technologies.
TDCX said the expansion reflects strong demand for services delivered from Hyderabad and the availability of skilled employees across technology, sales and customer operations. Its local business has developed from a relatively small start-up operation into a significant delivery centre serving international accounts.
The company’s growth also points to a wider shift in the outsourcing sector. Customer experience providers are increasingly moving beyond conventional voice-based support towards higher-value work covering digital sales, content operations, artificial intelligence-assisted customer service, trust and safety and technical support.
Hyderabad has benefited from that transition because of its established technology ecosystem and large pool of engineering and multilingual talent. Global technology, financial services and digital businesses have expanded operations in the city, while major property transactions during 2026 have underlined continued demand for large technology campuses.
TDCX operates in sectors including technology, e-commerce, digital advertising, financial services, travel, gaming and social media. Its services range from customer acquisition and sales to customer support and online community protection, placing its delivery centres at the intersection of the business process outsourcing and technology services industries.
The company currently operates dozens of locations across Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas and has more than 20,000 employees globally. Its network has expanded beyond its traditional Southeast Asian strongholds as clients seek greater geographic diversification and access to specialised talent.
The Hyderabad investment comes as the outsourcing industry adapts to rapid advances in generative artificial intelligence. Automation is increasingly handling routine customer queries, prompting service providers to focus employees on more complicated interactions, sales activity, problem resolution and specialist support.
Rather than eliminating the need for large delivery centres, the shift is changing the skills expected within them. Providers are investing in analytics, automation tools, AI-assisted workflows and employee training while competing for workers capable of managing sophisticated customer interactions.
For TDCX, the scale-up in Hyderabad offers access to a workforce that can support those higher-value functions while maintaining the cost and operating advantages associated with major outsourcing locations. The company has previously identified the city’s technology talent as a factor behind its decision to establish its first operation there.
The new campus also gives TDCX additional capacity as global companies review the resilience of their service networks. Businesses increasingly spread operations across several locations to reduce concentration risks and ensure uninterrupted customer support across different time zones.
That trend has strengthened the position of established technology hubs capable of handling large international accounts. Hyderabad competes with Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune and the National Capital Region for investment from technology companies, global capability centres and business services providers.
TDCX’s expansion is significant because its workforce growth in the country has occurred even as parts of the global technology and outsourcing industries have faced pressure to improve productivity and restrain costs. The company has continued to build capacity in markets where it sees demand for specialised digital customer experience services.
The Meenakshi Eco Park operation will complement the existing Hyderabad facility rather than replace it, giving TDCX a larger local platform from which to support international clients.
The company is also positioning workplace design and employee development as elements of its expansion strategy as competition for skilled customer experience and technology professionals intensifies. Its campuses combine operational delivery areas with training and collaborative spaces intended to support technology-enabled working.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – MyRepublic is expanding its GAMER lineup with its first co-branded collaboration – Dreamcore x MyRepublic RTX 5060 Ti Gaming PC, plus a limited-edition ASUS T1 GeForce RTX 5070 Graphics Card Broadband Bundle, bringing new gaming-focused hardware to its GAMER offering.
Dreamcore x MyRepublic exclusive gaming bundle
The collaboration with Dreamcore goes beyond adding another PC to the GAMER lineup. It brings together MyRepublic and Dreamcore to create a gaming setup for gamers who value performance, combining a gaming-focused PC with MyRepublic’s GAMER broadband offering.
Dreamcore x MyRepublic RTX 5060 Ti Gaming PC
Powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 7500F processor and an RTX 5060 Ti graphics card, this Co-branded Gaming PC is designed to deliver 1080p gaming performance with smooth, immersive 1440p gaming across modern titles. It is positioned as an entry-level Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) for gaming and is suited for competitive games such as Counter-Strike 2, DOTA2, Valorant, and more.
The Co-branded Gaming PC is built with 16GB DDR5 6400MHz low-latency memory for responsive gameplay and smooth multitasking, alongside a 1TB Gen4 NVMe SSD with read speeds of up to 6,000MB/s for fast boot times and game loading. Completing the design is a Dreamcore LCD 360mm AIO featuring an animation with MyRepublic’s mascot, Coco, Chief Paw Officer.
The first 10 customers who sign up for the Co-branded Gaming PC Bundle will receive an MSI MAG 274F gaming monitor (worth S$219). The 27-inch monitor features a Full HD (1920×1080) Rapid IPS display, a 200Hz refresh rate, and 0.5ms response time.
Limited Edition ASUS T1 Graphics Card Broadband Bundle
Bundled with the MyRepublic GAMER 10Gbps broadband plan, the limited-edition ASUS T1 Graphics Card is a collaboration between ASUS and T1, the League of Legends World Champions. It combines ASUS’s performance and cooling technology with T1-inspired design elements, featuring silk-screened artwork of T1 players and the T1 logo on both the front and backplate. Designed for T1 fans, the graphics card is also built to fit a wide range of systems, allowing more fans to bring the limited-edition design into their existing setups.
The bundle also comes with exclusive T1 merchandise, including exclusive stickers, exclusive magnets, and the 2026 T1 Uniform Jacket.
With the addition of the Dreamcore x MyRepublic RTX 5060 Ti Gaming PC and ASUS T1 GeForce RTX 5070 Graphics Card Broadband Bundle, MyRepublic continues to develop its GAMER proposition with new gaming-focused products and collaborations. These latest launches follow the recent revamp of MyRepublic’s GAMER plans with its refresh of gaming routers in the line-up.
“Our latest collaboration with Dreamcore represents our dedication to the gaming community. We aren’t just offering broadband connectivity, we are providing high-performing gamers with the precision-engineered tools required to dominate in their favorite titles, backed by the seamless network performance they expect from MyRepublic,” said Lawrence Chan, Managing Director and Chief AI Officer, MyRepublic.
“The response to our previous RTX 5090 and 5080 builds with MyRepublic showed us what’s possible when meticulously engineered hardware and a network built for gaming come together. Every Dreamcore system is hand-assembled and stress-tested here in Singapore. With the RTX 5060 Ti, we’re bringing that same premium build quality to gamers who want serious performance without the flagship price tag, backed by the low-latency, always-ready connectivity MyRepublic’s GAMER 10Gbps delivers. This launch is about giving gamers the full package: premium craftsmanship and network performance working as one.” Shaun Tan, CEO, Dreamcore.
The Dreamcore x MyRepublic RTX5060Ti Gaming PC will be available from 21 August 2026 at 10am, while the ASUS T1 RTX 5070 Graphics Card Bundle will be available from 19 August 2026 at 10am.
For more information about MyRepublic’s GAMER offerings, visit MyRepublic’s website.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
MyRepublic Broadband Pte Ltd
MyRepublic Broadband Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based telecommunications provider delivering high-speed broadband, managed services, and connectivity solutions to consumers and businesses. MyRepublic serves the SME segment with business internet plans, managed IT services, and cybersecurity solutions designed for growing companies. For more information, visit https://myrepublic.net/sg/
MacSync Stealer has been linked to more than 30 rotating web domains as its operators broaden a macOS credential-theft campaign designed to evade conventional defences while maintaining recognisable execution, collection and data-transfer patterns. The malware targets passwords, browser credentials, authentication cookies, macOS Keychain material, SSH keys, cloud access credentials, cryptocurrency wallets and sensitive files stored on compromised machines. Its operators repeatedly replace command-and-control infrastructure, making individual domain […]
Cisco has released security updates for a high-severity BroadWorks vulnerability that could allow unauthenticated remote attackers to read sensitive configuration files from affected systems. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-20320, affects the Open Client Interface XML parser used by Cisco BroadWorks, a communications platform widely deployed by service providers for cloud calling and unified communications. It carries a CVSS severity score of 7.5 out of 10 and has […]
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig has instructed agency staff to prepare a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency markets that could be advanced if Congress fails to enact the Clarity Act, signalling that the regulator will not allow the legislative impasse to leave digital assets without clearer rules. Selig outlined the approach on Thursday as the CFTC convened the inaugural meeting of its Innovation Advisory Committee […]
Collaboration could extend Singapore-developed AI training to ICAI’s members and students, alongside greater recognition of relevant professional learning
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 August 2026 – The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) are deepening their longstanding collaboration through two initiatives focussed on strengthening AI capabilities among accounting professionals and enhancing professional qualification recognition.
ISCA today signed a Letter of Cooperation setting out a framework for proposed Global AI Fluency Initiative centred on ISCA’s AI Fluency Programme. The proposed cooperation will explore how ISCA and ICAI can work together to extend practical and responsible AI learning to ICAI members and students, subject to relevant approvals and mutually agreed implementation arrangements.
ISCA also announced its approval of a proposed Module Exemption Agreement (MEA) with ICAI relating to their professional qualification pathways.
Extending Singapore-developed AI capability internationally
The proposed AI collaboration builds on the early momentum of ISCA’s AI Fluency Programme. Through the proposed collaboration, ISCA and ICAI will explore opportunities to extend access of the programme to ICAI’s professional community of more than 1.5 million members and students, broadening the international reach of Singapore-developed AI capability building for the accountancy profession.
The approximately 30-hour programme comprises 180 hands-on cases based on workplace applications, structured around three areas:
AI Fluency Foundations: Building essential AI confidence for everyday professional work;
AI for Accounting Specialisations: Applying AI across accounting, audit, finance, tax and related professional functions; and
AI Leadership & Governance: Developing the capability to lead AI adoption responsibly, with appropriate governance and oversight.
The practical approach is designed to help learners identify where AI can add value while continuing to exercise professional judgement, appropriate oversight and responsibility for their work.
The proposed collaboration will explore:
Programme promotion: Supporting the promotion of respective AI programmes to each institute’s members through mutually agreed arrangements;
Member outreach and promotion: Promoting the AI Fluency Programme to ICAI members in India and, where appropriate, across ICAI’s global network through mutually agreed communications;
Professional application: Exchanging views and use cases on the application of AI in accounting, audit, finance, tax and related professional work;
AI leadership and responsible adoption: Sharing perspectives on appropriate governance, oversight and responsible adoption of AI within the profession; and
Knowledge exchange: Exploring further opportunities for thought leadership, professional learning and capability development relating to AI.
Strengthening professional recognition
ISCA has approved a proposed Module Exemption Agreement (MEA) with ICAI. The proposed arrangement would provide specified exemptions under the respective qualification pathways for eligible ICAI and ISCA members, supporting greater recognition of professional qualifications.
While the MEA has yet to be formally executed, ISCA will implement the specified exemptions from the SCAQ for eligible ICAI members with effect from 21 August 2026. Eligible candidates must continue to meet the applicable entry, assessment and remaining qualification requirements. ¹
The AI initiative and proposed module exemption arrangement collaborations are built on the longstanding relationship between ISCA and ICAI and their shared commitment to developing a future-ready, internationally connected accountancy profession.
Mr Lee Boon Teck, President of ISCA, said: “AI is reshaping the accountancy profession and building AI fluency alongside strong professional expertise will be critical to enabling the profession to adapt and create greater value. Through the proposed Global AI Fluency initiative, we hope to share Singapore’s experience in practical and responsible AI capability development with a wider professional community and contribute to responsible AI adoption across the global accountancy profession. Our longstanding relationship with ICAI also provides opportunities to strengthen the recognition of relevant professional learning and reduce extent of duplication for qualified professionals. Together, these initiatives contribute to a future-ready and internationally connected accountancy profession.”
Mr Prasanna Kumar D, President of ICAI, said: “The exchange of letters between ICAI and ISCA on 21st August marks a defining step in our shared journey and a clear statement of intent to work towards strengthening recognition between our professional qualifications. For our members, this opens up the potential for greater opportunities and professional recognition. At the same time, our discussions on Artificial Intelligence capability building reflect our shared commitment to strengthening AI capabilities across the profession. We look forward to working closely with ISCA to explore mutually beneficial opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity building and preparing a future ready profession.”
¹ The formal execution of the MEA remains subject to the necessary approvals in India and completion of the remaining formalities. Hashtag: #ISCA #CharteredAccountants #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)
The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. Established in 1963, ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the designated entity by the Singapore Ministry of Finance to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore [CA (Singapore)] designation.
ISCA supports over 46,000 members across industries in Singapore and globally, with members in more than 40 countries. With a growing international presence, ISCA has 12 overseas chapters, 7 offices across 10 countries and a network of over 150 strategic partners, strengthening professional connections and opportunities across borders. ISCA is also a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network representing more than 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students across over 190 countries.
ISCA advances professional development and lifelong learning through ISCA Academy, its training arm and drives community impact through ISCA Cares, its charity arm.
CoinShares has expanded the mandate of its WGMI exchange-traded fund beyond bitcoin mining, giving investors exposure to artificial intelligence data centres, power infrastructure and high-performance computing as miners increasingly reposition their energy-heavy businesses around AI. The Nasdaq-listed fund was renamed the CoinShares Bitcoin Mining and Digital Power ETF on August 18, replacing its former CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF identity while retaining the WGMI ticker. The change substantially […]
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