UAE authorities have rolled out a nationwide school nutrition guide that bans sugary drinks, fried foods, sweets, chocolate products, processed meats, tea and coffee across educational institutions, widening a health drive that officials say is aimed at improving children’s diets, sharpening concentration in class and cutting obesity. The framework applies across public, private, independent and vocational schools, as well as centres for People of Determination, and sets […]
Chevron has struck new agreements with Venezuela to expand oil production in the Orinoco Belt, tightening its focus on the country’s vast extra-heavy crude reserves at a time when Caracas is trying to pull foreign capital back into its energy sector and Washington has loosened some restrictions on dealings with the country’s oil industry. The agreements, reached with state oil company PDVSA, give Chevron a larger position […]
DUBAI, UAE — Red Rock Technology FZ-LLC has entered into an exclusive strategic agreement with Innobotics, securing sole rights to deploy and commercialize its robotics and automation technologies across the GCC, Africa and India. The agreement establishes a cross-regional infrastructure layer combining AI governance, automation and physical deployment systems, positioning Red Rock as a primary integrator in markets where food security, supply chain resilience and technological sovereignty […]
OpenAI has told users of its Mac software to update their applications after a third-party supply-chain incident touched the company’s app-signing workflow, prompting a wider effort to replace security certificates and tighten the process that proves its desktop software is authentic. The company said there is no evidence that user data was accessed, that passwords or API keys were exposed, or that its systems, intellectual property or […]
Booking.com has confirmed that hackers accessed customer booking information, exposing names, email addresses, phone numbers and reservation details in a security incident that has triggered fresh concern over how much personal travel data is concentrated on large online platforms. The company said it moved to contain the issue, reset reservation PINs for affected bookings and contacted impacted guests directly. It has not disclosed how many customers were […]
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 April 2026 – The 2026 Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon is scheduled to kick off on April 19. To ensure better preparation for the event, the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), also known as Beijing E-Town, organized a full-process, all-element test run for the 2026 Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon from the night of April 11 to the early hours of April 12. The drill comprehensively simulated core scenarios such as track passage, process scheduling, equipment coordination, and emergency support, serving as a combat-ready exercise to safeguard the official race. Of the registered teams, more than 70 participated in this test, including four international teams, with both autonomous navigation and remote-controlled teams conducting night trials on the course together.
From the night of April 11 to the early hours of April 12, the full-process, all-element test event for the 2026 Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon was held in Beijing E-Town. Pictured is a robot running during the test.
As the world’s first humanoid robot marathon event brand, this competition has reached new heights in terms of scale, technological innovation, and organizational requirements. Therefore, the drill was conducted to drive a further upgrade in the quality of event preparations.
In terms of scale, the number of participating teams for this year has grown by nearly five times compared to last year, exceeding 100 teams. Covering two major categories—autonomous navigation and remote control—with autonomous teams accounting for nearly 40%, the number of participants, types of technology, and scope of testing have all reached historic highs. Consequently, full-process drills are required to solidify operational links, hone team coordination, and ensure the efficient operation of the event.
Regarding technological innovation, the first large-scale application of autonomous navigation technology has become a major highlight and challenge. In complex and changing environments, robots face difficulties in perceiving and making decisions within intricate surroundings, posing huge challenges to their computing power. At the same time, long-distance running places severe tests on the robots’ endurance, specifically examining their long-range stamina and energy management capabilities. Furthermore, dynamic balance and gait control capabilities are put to the test; robots must maintain dynamic balance at all times. Especially during high-speed running or sharp turns, the requirements for adaptive gait and millisecond-level posture correction are extremely high to prevent falls caused by shifts in the center of gravity.
In terms of regulations, this year’s event has also seen systematic upgrades in five areas: stricter rules on human intervention, more scientific start and movement protocols, clearer scoring and penalty criteria, more standardized supply and equipment management, and tighter safety and emergency procedures.
Facing these numerous challenges, the main purpose of this full-process, all-element test is to conduct technical validation, process refinement, risk prevention, and standard consolidation, ensuring the official race proceeds safely, smoothly, efficiently, and in an orderly manner. This drill, adhering to the standards of “full-process, all-scenarios, and all-elements,” followed the complete official race route of 21.0975 kilometers for the first time. It followed official race timelines, track rules, and support systems, covering two categories of teams (autonomous and remote-controlled), two types of scenarios (urban main roads and eco-parks), and two major segments (technical competition and service support). Through full-chain stress testing, the organizers carried out targeted breakthrough verifications to precisely identify potential issues and optimize procedural details.
The entire event involves a full chain of operations including start-line assembly, track control, battery swapping and resupply, finish-line diversion, emergency containment, vehicle dispatch, timing and judging, and security and medical services. All these must undergo practical drills to identify risks, optimize movement lines, and unify standards. This test comprehensively inspects the stability and reliability of humanoid robot technology, laying a solid foundation for the successful hosting of the official event.
During this test, team positioning was strictly verified and orderly arranged based on technical data submitted by each team, ensuring the process was open, standardized, fair, and orderly. As a realistic pre-race simulation drill, the test focused on process refinement, problem identification, and detail optimization. Test results were for reference only and did not count towards official rankings or race results. At the same time, speed performance and operational data of the teams during the test were within the scope of verification and do not represent their level in the official competition.
Currently, the short-distance speed of robots has improved significantly, and some teams predict that their half-marathon results may approach the level of elite human athletes. As a competition that serves as an extreme test of comprehensive performance and adaptability to complex terrain, the final results are worth looking forward to. On April 19, this human-robot co-running half-marathon will officially kick off, providing more impetus for the development of the robotics industry and accelerating the transition of humanoid robots from the laboratory to real-world applications.
Greenlogue/AP QatarEnergy has announced a hydrocarbon discovery offshore the Republic of Congo, adding fresh momentum to its international upstream drive and strengthening the case for further low-cost development around existing West African production hubs. The find was made at the MHNM-6 NFW exploration well in the Moho G structure under the Moho offshore exploration and production licence. The well encountered a hydrocarbon column of about 160 metres […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Al Ansari Exchange has expanded its partnership with Etihad Credit Bureau, enabling individuals to obtain official credit reports through more than 285 branches across the UAE in a move that broadens physical access to personal financial data and underlines a wider push towards transparency in consumer finance. The service marks an extension of a relationship that had already covered corporate credit reports, and […]
Microsoft has lifted prices across its Surface hardware range, making its premium laptops and tablets significantly more expensive as a global memory shortage ripples through the personal-computer market and forces manufacturers to pass higher component costs on to buyers. The move places Microsoft alongside other device makers that have warned of steeper bills for DRAM and NAND components, with the pressure tied largely to booming demand from […]
A tanker under U. S. sanctions has passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite Washington’s new maritime restrictions around Iranian ports, raising fresh questions over how tightly the measures can be enforced and how much disruption they will inflict on a waterway central to global energy trade. Shipping data cited by Reuters showed the vessel, Rich Starry, moving through the chokepoint on Tuesday after loading methanol at […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Countries should avoid hoarding fuel supplies and imposing export controls that deepen shortages, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Energy Agency said in Washington on Monday, as war-linked disruption in the Middle East drove oil back above $100 a barrel and sharpened fears over inflation, growth and food security. The three institutions issued the warning while opening a coordinated response aimed […]
Washington has moved from threats to enforcement, with the U. S. military beginning a blockade on shipping to and from Iranian ports across the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, in a step that sharply raises the risk of a broader regional conflict even as a temporary ceasefire remains in place. U. S. Central Command said the restrictions took effect on Monday morning U. […]
A newly disclosed security flaw in Axios, one of the most widely used HTTP client libraries in the JavaScript ecosystem, has raised concern across software and cloud security teams after official advisories warned it could be chained into remote code execution or a broader compromise of cloud infrastructure. The issue, tracked as CVE-2026-40175, affects Axios versions earlier than 1.15.0 and was published through GitHub’s advisory system on […]
Cisco is closing in on a deal to buy Astrix Security for as much as $350 million, according to multiple reports, in a sign that one of the world’s largest networking and security groups is moving faster to secure the fast-growing risks created by AI agents and other non-human identities inside large organisations. The talks, first reported on April 10, value the Israeli startup at roughly three […]
The UAE Ministry of Education has moved to stamp out social media claims that distance learning will be extended until 1 May, saying no such decision has been issued and that the existing nationwide schedule remains unchanged. For now, remote classes continue until Friday, 17 April, across nurseries, kindergartens and public and private schools, with officials insisting that any further decision will be announced only through verified […]
Kraken said on April 13 that it is being extorted by a criminal group threatening to publish videos showing parts of its internal systems and limited client data, as the cryptocurrency exchange sought to reassure users that its core platform had not been breached and customer funds remained safe. The company’s public statement said the threat followed unauthorised access tied to a small number of accounts rather […]
Michael Saylor’s Strategy has expanded its Bitcoin stockpile by another $1 billion, buying 13,927 coins between April 6 and April 12 and taking its total holdings to 780,897 Bitcoin, according to a filing lodged on April 13. The latest purchase was made at an average price of $71,902 per coin, while the company’s average cost across its entire treasury now stands at $75,577. Bitcoin treasury push gathers […]
Basic-Fit has disclosed a cyber breach affecting about one million members across several European markets, with roughly 200,000 of those accounts in the Netherlands, exposing a wide range of personal and financial details and sharpening concerns over how consumer-facing digital platforms protect routine lifestyle data. The company said the unauthorised access was detected by internal monitoring systems and halted within minutes, but not before information had been […]
By Nantoo Banerjee The country is experiencing a significant surge in commodity and transportation costs following geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf region and a weak Indian Rupee. Retail prices of daily essentials are rising rapidly. The prices of edible oils, pulses and packaged foods, including drinking water, have moved up since last month. Precious […]
Rockstar Games has confirmed that a data breach affected company information, saying a “limited amount of non-material company information” was accessed through a third-party incident and that the episode has had no impact on its operations or players. The disclosure lands at a sensitive moment for one of the world’s most closely watched game developers, with Grand Theft Auto VI still one of the industry’s biggest commercial […]
France and Britain are preparing to convene partner countries for what President Emmanuel Macron described as a peaceful multinational mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, marking a European push to keep one of the world’s most important energy arteries open without joining Washington’s new blockade of Iranian ports. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain would not support the US blockade and insisted […]
South Korea’s exports rose 36.7 per cent from a year earlier in the first 10 days of April, extending a powerful trade run driven by semiconductor demand and offering fresh evidence that the country’s technology cycle remains firmly supported by global spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Outbound shipments reached $25.2 billion in the April 1-10 period, the highest ever recorded for the opening 10 days of a month, according to Korea Customs Service data carried by Yonhap on Monday.
The early-April figures reinforce a broader pattern already visible through the first quarter. South Korea, one of the world’s most closely watched export economies because of its central role in memory chips, displays and consumer electronics, has been benefiting from a steep recovery in semiconductor sales after a prolonged industry downturn. Reuters reported at the end of February that the country’s chip exports had jumped 160.9 per cent in that month alone, passing $20 billion for a third straight month as AI investment and stronger memory prices lifted demand.
Semiconductors were again the main engine in the latest 10-day release. Chip exports surged 152 per cent from a year earlier, underscoring how heavily South Korea’s trade performance is now tied to data-centre investment, high-bandwidth memory demand and the wider AI build-out led by large technology firms. That strength has helped offset a less even backdrop in other parts of the economy, where investment, household demand and external policy risks remain more mixed.
The export rebound matters well beyond monthly trade headlines. South Korea’s central bank raised its 2026 growth forecast to 2.0 per cent in February and signalled that a chip-led upswing was giving policymakers more room to hold interest rates steady while watching inflation and financial stability risks. Reuters also reported this month that central bank officials see strong semiconductor exports and an extra budget as factors easing downward pressure on growth, even as won weakness and higher energy costs complicate the inflation outlook.
Factory data has pointed in the same direction. A Reuters report on S&P Global survey findings showed South Korea’s manufacturing activity expanded in January at the fastest pace in nearly a year and a half, helped by stronger export orders from China, North America and Europe. Manufacturers reported improving optimism as orders strengthened in sectors such as autos and semiconductors, indicating that the recovery is not only statistical but also visible in production and order books.
Still, the trade picture is not free of risk. South Korea remains highly exposed to swings in global demand, to US trade policy and to supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. Reuters polling before the March trade data showed imports rising sharply as higher oil prices pushed up the energy bill, even while exports surged on semiconductor strength. That combination can support headline trade values, but it also leaves the economy vulnerable to a renewed squeeze from commodity inflation and currency volatility.
Another uncertainty lies in concentration. The same chip boom that is lifting exports also raises dependence on a narrow cluster of products and companies. South Korea’s trade resilience is being powered largely by memory and advanced semiconductor demand, especially products linked to AI servers. Investment plans such as SK Hynix’s announcement in February of 21.6 trillion won in new facilities show confidence in long-term demand, but they also underline how central the semiconductor cycle has become to the country’s broader growth model.
For now, the momentum remains hard to ignore. Reuters polling ahead of the March data had already pointed to the fastest export growth in nearly five years, with shipments to the United States and China both showing strong gains alongside the semiconductor surge. Monday’s early-April figures suggest that pace has carried into the second quarter, strengthening the case that South Korea’s exporters are entering another period of outsized performance after a weak stretch in 2025.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Global bond markets fell on Monday as the collapse of US-Iran peace talks shifted investor attention away from hopes of de-escalation and back towards a harsher inflation outlook, with oil above $100 a barrel reinforcing bets that central banks will keep borrowing costs elevated for longer. Government bond yields moved higher across major markets as traders reassessed how persistent energy-driven price pressure could […]
Britain will not back a United States blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday, drawing a firm line between protecting shipping routes and joining a wider military escalation around Iran. His intervention came after Washington announced it would block maritime traffic entering or leaving Iranian ports, while saying vessels transiting between non-Iranian ports could still pass through the strategic waterway. Starmer’s […]
