Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group has agreed to acquire Corredor Logística e Infraestrutura, a São Paulo-based agribulk terminal operator, in an AED3.1 billion deal that gives the company its first operating platform in Latin America and a stronger position in global food supply chains. The transaction, valued at about $835 million, is the largest acquisition undertaken by AD Ports Group and is expected […]
Swiss watch exports fell sharply in April as shipments to the United States slumped from a distorted high base created last year, when brands and distributors rushed inventory across the Atlantic before higher US tariffs took effect. Exports dropped 16.6 per cent year on year to CHF2.13 billion, with the United States accounting for the largest drag on the industry’s monthly performance. Shipments to the US, still […]
The reported move, if confirmed, would mark a significant shift in the composition of India’s external buffers at a time when oil prices, foreign portfolio outflows and import demand are combining to test the country’s balance of payments position. The RBI has not publicly confirmed any gold sale of that scale, and the latest available reserve data show a fall in the value of gold holdings rather than a definitive disclosure of physical bullion sales.
India’s foreign exchange reserves fell to $681.4 billion for the week ended May 22, down $7.5 billion from the previous week. Foreign currency assets declined by about $3 billion to $543 billion, while the value of gold reserves dropped by roughly $4.5 billion. The fall came as the rupee traded near record lows, having weakened by more than 4 per cent since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict and the accompanying rise in energy prices.
The rupee has been under sustained pressure from higher crude oil and liquefied natural gas costs, wider hedging by importers and withdrawals by overseas investors from domestic equities. Brent crude has traded in the mid-$90 range, raising concern over India’s import bill because the country depends heavily on overseas energy supplies. Any prolonged disruption in Gulf shipping routes would add to inflation risks and intensify demand for dollars from refiners and importers.
The RBI has intervened through state-run banks to slow the currency’s decline, with traders indicating that the central bank has been uncomfortable with disorderly depreciation. The rupee was around 95 to the dollar this week after briefly sliding close to 97 in May. The central bank’s policy decision due this week is being watched for signals on whether it will rely mainly on liquidity tools, dollar sales and administrative measures, or consider a firmer monetary response.
The reported $12 billion gold-related action has drawn attention because India’s gold holdings have expanded in importance within the reserve portfolio. The central bank held about 880.5 tonnes of gold at the end of March, with gold accounting for nearly 17 per cent of total foreign exchange reserves. The physical stock has been broadly steady around 880 tonnes since mid-2025, suggesting that changes in the dollar value of gold reserves can reflect price movements, accounting effects and reserve operations as well as outright sales.
Gold has become a larger part of central bank reserves worldwide as monetary authorities seek diversification away from dollar assets and protection against geopolitical shocks. India has also moved more of its bullion to domestic vaults, reducing custody risks linked to overseas storage. That strategy had been seen as a long-term strengthening of sovereign reserve control, making any suggestion of sizeable gold liquidation politically and financially sensitive.
The government has moved separately to curb foreign exchange outflows. Import duties on gold and silver have been lifted sharply to about 15 per cent from 6 per cent, reversing earlier tariff relief and increasing the landed cost of precious metals. Rules around some bullion imports have also been tightened, while appeals have been made to households to reduce discretionary gold purchases.
Fuel prices have also been raised as state-run retailers pass through part of the increase in international crude costs. Petrol and diesel prices have risen after several years of limited retail adjustments, adding to household costs but reducing the burden on public-sector oil marketing companies. The step is intended to limit under-recoveries at fuel retailers and reduce the fiscal strain that would otherwise build if global prices stay elevated.
The combined policy response reflects the strain of a classic external shock: a weaker currency lifts import costs, higher oil prices widen the trade deficit, and investors demand higher compensation for risk. India enters this phase with substantial reserves, moderate inflation by past crisis standards and a financial system that remains broadly stable, but the speed of the rupee’s decline has revived comparisons with earlier episodes of currency stress.
For markets, the key question is whether the central bank can preserve confidence without exhausting liquid dollar assets or signalling panic. A calibrated use of reserves can smooth volatility, but heavy intervention may raise doubts if investors see it as a defence of a particular exchange-rate level. The RBI’s challenge is to keep currency markets orderly while allowing enough flexibility for the rupee to adjust to the oil shock and global risk aversion.
The Provisions on the Protection of Trade Secrets, issued by the State Administration for Market Regulation under Order No. 126, came into force on 1 June 2026 and replace rules first introduced in 1995. The overhaul gives regulators clearer authority to handle disputes involving digital assets that now sit at the centre of corporate value, from AI model architecture and training datasets to platform recommendation systems, software code and commercially valuable operational data.
The change marks a significant shift in China’s treatment of intangible technology assets. Earlier rules were drafted before cloud computing, AI systems and large-scale data operations became central to business competition. The new framework defines trade secrets as technical or business information that is not publicly known, has commercial value and has been subject to confidentiality measures by the rights holder. Technical information now expressly covers data, algorithms, computer programs and code, while business information can include management, sales, finance, planning, customer and operational data.
The timing gives the regulation wider strategic weight. China and the United States are locked in a prolonged technology rivalry involving semiconductor controls, restrictions on advanced computing hardware, limits on investment in sensitive sectors and scrutiny of cross-border technology transfers. Washington has tightened export controls on high-end chips and chipmaking equipment, while Beijing has expanded its own legal toolkit to protect critical technology, secure data flows and prevent overseas transfer of capabilities it regards as strategically important.
The new rules do not create a separate trade secret law, but provide more detailed administrative guidance under China’s Anti-Unfair Competition Law. They clarify how regulators should assess whether information is secret, whether it has commercial value, what counts as reasonable confidentiality measures and how infringement should be investigated. For companies, the central message is that protection will depend not only on the value of the information, but also on whether internal controls, access limits, confidentiality agreements, digital safeguards and evidence trails are in place.
The provisions also recognise that unsuccessful research can have commercial value. Stage-by-stage technical results, failed experimental data and development paths that save time or cost in future research may qualify for protection if they meet the legal conditions. That is especially relevant for AI labs, pharmaceutical developers, electric vehicle makers, chip design firms and advanced manufacturing groups, where failed trials can reveal important technical boundaries and prevent competitors from repeating expensive mistakes.
Regulators have been given practical enforcement tools, including powers to inspect business premises, question individuals, copy documents, examine electronic records and take action against materials linked to suspected infringement. Penalties can include orders to stop unlawful conduct, confiscation of illegal gains and fines that may reach CNY5 million in serious cases. The framework also covers improper acquisition, disclosure, use or permission to use trade secrets obtained through theft, bribery, fraud, coercion, electronic intrusion or breach of confidentiality obligations.
For multinational companies operating in China, the new rules create a mixed picture. Stronger protection could help firms defend proprietary data, software systems and industrial processes in a market where trade secret disputes have often been difficult to pursue. At the same time, wider protection for data and algorithms may increase compliance complexity, particularly in joint ventures, outsourced research, cloud services, employee mobility, cross-border collaboration and licensing arrangements.
Technology companies are likely to face tougher expectations over documentation. Firms seeking protection will need to show that the information was not easily accessible, carried economic value and was actively protected. Generic claims that an algorithm or dataset is confidential may not be enough. Companies will be expected to classify sensitive assets, restrict access by role, track downloads and transfers, maintain logs, use encryption or watermarking where appropriate, and ensure that employment and partnership contracts define confidentiality obligations with precision.
The rules also sit alongside China’s broader data and security regime, including laws on data security, personal information protection, cybersecurity and export control. That overlap could make enforcement more powerful but also more complicated. A dataset may be a trade secret, a regulated data asset and a cross-border transfer concern at the same time. Businesses handling AI training material, user behaviour data or industrial performance data will need to assess those obligations together rather than treating trade secret protection as a standalone issue.
BrainCo expects a sharp rise in sales of its robotic hands this year as China’s humanoid robotics industry pushes beyond laboratory demonstrations into factory trials, logistics pilots and commercial component sourcing. The Hangzhou-based prosthetics and neurotechnology developer, founded in 2015, is seeing demand broaden from medical bionic hands to dexterous hands designed for humanoid robots. Its latest Revo hand models place the company in a fast-growing supply […]
Johannesburg has become the opening stage for a European Union push to turn a pledged €12 billion investment package for South Africa into bankable projects, with about 200 companies joining the bloc’s first investment roadshow in the country as competition intensifies over critical minerals. The event, hosted at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Monday, marked the first major effort to mobilise private capital under the EU-South Africa […]
Hackers are using targeted spearphishing emails to deploy AZUREVEIL, an Adaptix-based command-and-control agent, against government and enterprise-linked targets in the Czech Republic and Taiwan, underscoring the growing use of trusted cloud services to mask cyber-espionage activity. The campaign, tracked as Operation Dragon Weave, begins with a malicious ZIP archive carrying files designed to appear as official documents. Once opened, the archive can trigger a multi-stage infection chain […]
SolyxImmortal, a Python-based information-stealing malware, is drawing attention from cyber defenders because of its ability to combine browser credential theft, document harvesting, keystroke logging and screen surveillance inside a single Windows implant. Technical analysis shows the malware is designed to operate quietly on compromised machines, using common Python libraries, Windows features and multi-threaded execution to run several data-collection functions at the same time. Its targets include saved […]
Binance has launched regulated dirham bank transfers for users in the UAE, giving customers a local-currency route to buy and sell selected stablecoins through a framework designed to strengthen protection for client funds. The service allows eligible users to transfer UAE dirhams through a regulated financial channel and convert funds into USDT and USDC, reducing reliance on dollar-linked payment routes, card transactions and informal transfer methods. Transactions […]
Russia has imposed a temporary ban on aviation fuel exports until 30 November, tightening control over domestic supplies as repeated Ukrainian attacks on refineries and energy infrastructure strain the country’s fuel system. The measure, announced by the Russian government on Monday, is aimed at stabilising the internal aviation fuel market after a series of refinery disruptions affected output across several regions. The restriction covers aviation kerosene and […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they targeted a US-linked airbase after American strikes hit military sites on Iran’s Gulf coast, adding fresh pressure to a fragile ceasefire that has failed to stop intermittent exchanges between Washington and Tehran. The latest confrontation followed US military strikes on radar, drone control and launch facilities near Qeshm Island and Goruk after the downing of an American MQ-1 […]
The MoUs were signed during the Vietnam–Philippines Business Forum, held as part of the official visit by Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm to the Republic of the Philippines.
The partnership with CAITO aims to enhance Vinpearl’s brand awareness within the Philippines’ travel trade community while creating additional opportunities to develop hospitality, entertainment and MICE offerings in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang. CAITO is currently one of the Philippines’ leading tourism organizations, with an extensive network of travel businesses across the region.
With Klook, one of Asia’s leading travel experience platforms, Vinpearl and VinWonders aim to expand their strategic collaboration across distribution, communications and tourism promotion in key international markets, particularly the Philippines and broader Southeast Asia. The partnership is expected to expand the presence of the Vinpearl–VinWonders ecosystem in major international markets, while further elevating Vietnam’s tourism image across global travel and digital media platforms.
Ms. Ngo Thi Huong, Chief Executive Officer of Vinpearl, shared: “Through these agreements in the Philippines, alongside a series of partnership initiatives in Thailand and Singapore, Vinpearl aims to drive high-quality inbound tourism to Vietnam, strengthen connectivity among ASEAN markets, and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism industry. With an integrated ecosystem spanning hospitality, entertainment, golf, and commercial services, Vinpearl remains committed to pioneering world-class experiences that contribute to positioning Vietnam as a leading destination in the Asia-Pacific region.”
Mr. Michelle Ho, Chief Executive Officer of Klook Philippines, said: “Vinpearl currently operates one of the region’s most distinctive tourism and entertainment ecosystems, with strong capabilities in integrating hospitality, theme parks and premium leisure experiences. We believe our partnership with Vinpearl will further enhance the appeal of Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Da Nang among travelers across the region.”
Previously, during its business engagements in Thailand and Singapore, Vinpearl also entered into MoUs with Agoda, AirAsia MOVE, BeMyGuest and GlobalTix to expand international distribution channels for its hospitality, resort and travel experience offerings.
Together with the agreements established in the Philippines, this series of partnerships with leading regional players across aviation, travel trade, digital tourism, and travel distribution reflects Vinpearl’s ongoing efforts to build a comprehensive international market development network across Southeast Asia.
Beyond expanding its partner ecosystem, these collaborations provide a foundation for Vinpearl to strengthen its presence in key markets, engage more effectively with international travelers, and enhance the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism industry within the region.
Hashtag: #Vinpearl
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
CAITO (Calabarzon Alliance of Independent Tour Operators, Inc.) ONE CALABARZON is an association of independent travel businesses and tourism partners in the Philippines, established in 2020. With a rapidly expanding member network and close collaboration with the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT), CAITO has become one of the country’s most dynamic tourism organizations, playing an active role in tourism promotion, business connectivity and international collaboration, particularly in the areas of MICE and B2B. The organization is anchored in a vision to promote Philippine destinations, tourism products, cultural heritage, cuisine, and services while strengthening the country’s tourism identity through collaboration, shared promotion, and collective growth.
About Klook
Klook is one of the leading travel experience platforms in the Asia-Pacific region, offering attractions, tours, transportation, accommodation, and travel services on a global scale. To date, Klook has recorded more than 65 million bookings across over 200 markets, supporting more than 40 payment methods alongside e-ticketing services and 24/7 customer support.
The platform currently operates a community of more than 30,000 content creators across 88 markets, helping promote tourism and inspire exploration for millions of travelers worldwide.
Vinpearl is Vietnam’s leading tourism, hospitality and entertainment brand, currently operating 60 properties across 20 provinces and cities nationwide. Its ecosystem includes a network of five-star hotels and resorts with more than 17,500 rooms; 16 VinWonders theme parks offering a wide range of attractions for all audiences; six world-class golf courses; and three international-standard convention centers and theaters under the VinPalace brand. The ecosystem also features two semi-wildlife conservation and care parks, an equestrian academy, and million-dollar live-action shows in Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, attracting millions of visitors each year.
Florida has filed a civil lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman, accusing the artificial intelligence company of knowingly releasing ChatGPT to the public despite safety warnings and alleged risks to children, vulnerable users and wider public safety. The complaint, filed in state court by Attorney General James Uthmeier, marks the first lawsuit brought by a US state against OpenAI over alleged harms linked to […]
Shareholders of ČEZ have approved a far-reaching plan to separate key customer and network assets from the Czech Republic’s dominant power utility, advancing a government-backed strategy to secure full control over the company’s core electricity generation business. The vote at the group’s general meeting marks a pivotal step in one of Central Europe’s most closely watched energy restructurings. The plan will carve out electricity and gas distribution […]
OpenPayd has agreed to merge with Titan Acquisition Corp in a deal that would take the London-based financial infrastructure company public on Nasdaq at a pro-forma equity value of $1.145 billion, giving the payments group fresh capital to expand across the United States and deepen its stablecoin-linked services. The proposed combination with Titan, a Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company, has been approved by both boards and is […]
The measures apply to online platforms with at least 8 million users in Malaysia, bringing Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube within the scope of the rules. Companies must introduce age-verification systems for new users and checks for existing account holders, while strengthening safeguards against harmful content, cyberbullying, grooming, scams, child sexual abuse material and other online risks identified by regulators.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has framed the move as a child-protection measure rather than a general restriction on internet access. Children under 16 are not being cut off from the internet, but they are no longer permitted to own private social media accounts in their own names. Parents will not face penalties if children bypass the rules, but platforms that fail to comply can face fines of up to 10 million ringgit.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil had signalled the age floor last year, arguing that children were being exposed to online harms at a scale that demanded firmer platform accountability. He has said the policy is aimed at stopping under-16s from opening accounts independently, while allowing supervised access under parental control. Officials have also pointed to the spread of scams, online gambling, predatory contact and bullying as risks that existing moderation systems have failed to contain.
The enforcement places Malaysia among a growing group of governments testing age-based restrictions on social media. Australia has moved ahead with a comparable under-16 model, while the United Kingdom and several European governments are examining tougher obligations on platforms, age checks and design features that can encourage prolonged use by minors. Indonesia and Turkey have also discussed stronger limits for children’s access to social platforms.
Malaysia’s approach marks a significant shift in Southeast Asia’s digital regulation, where governments have increasingly moved from voluntary platform pledges to statutory obligations. The country has already required large social media and messaging platforms to obtain operating licences, with authorities saying the regime is intended to combat cybercrime, harmful content and misuse of online services. The under-16 rule adds a more targeted child-safety layer to that broader regulatory framework.
The most difficult part of implementation is likely to be age verification. Platforms may need to rely on identity documents, digital identity systems, facial estimation technology, parental confirmation or other mechanisms. Each option raises trade-offs. Stronger verification can reduce false age declarations, but it can also require users to hand over sensitive personal data. Privacy advocates have warned that age checks could create wider data-collection risks unless platforms limit retention, secure information properly and avoid using identity data for advertising or profiling.
Child-rights and free-expression groups have also questioned whether a blanket age rule will protect vulnerable users or push them towards less visible online spaces. Critics argue that determined teenagers may use virtual private networks, borrowed accounts, false birth dates or overseas registration routes to evade the restriction. They say a safer approach would combine age-appropriate design, stronger default privacy settings, rapid removal of harmful content, limits on addictive features and meaningful complaint channels.
Supporters of the policy counter that age limits give parents a clearer standard and force platforms to accept responsibility for systems that have often treated children as ordinary users. They argue that voluntary parental controls have not kept pace with algorithmic recommendation systems, private messaging risks and the commercial incentives behind engagement-driven platforms. The new rules are expected to test whether large technology companies can apply credible safeguards without excluding legitimate educational, civic and social uses of digital services.
Global economic leaders have warned that the Middle East war is tightening energy supplies, disrupting trade routes and placing the heaviest burden on poorer economies already struggling with inflation, debt and food-security pressures. The heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization issued the warning on Friday as the U. S.-Israel war on Iran continued to unsettle commodity markets and […]
Copper prices advanced in New York and London as traders moved into a decisive month for the US tariff review that could reshape global flows of the metal used across power grids, construction, electronics and defence manufacturing. Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 0.4 per cent to $13,687.50 a tonne on Monday morning in Shanghai trading, while the US Comex contract climbed 1 per cent […]
A sweeping overhaul of the UAE’s civil law takes effect on June 1, lowering the age of legal adulthood to 18 and reshaping how residents, families, companies and young people handle contracts, assets, liabilities and disputes. Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 on the Civil Transactions Law replaces Federal Law No. 5 of 1985, the country’s four-decade-old Civil Code. The new framework is one of the most […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Tehran has warned it will reject any settlement with Washington unless the agreement delivers verifiable protection for the rights and interests of its people, sharpening the terms around negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with the United States. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s Parliament speaker and a central figure in talks with Washington, said no agreement would be approved without certainty that Iran had […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE real gross domestic product expanded 6.2 per cent in 2025 to AED1.9 trillion, underscoring the country’s strongest evidence yet that diversification is becoming the central driver of national output rather than a supporting pillar. The Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre said non-oil GDP rose 6.8 per cent to AED1.5 trillion, outpacing headline growth and reinforcing the shift towards trade, finance, construction, manufacturing, […]
Organized jointly by AsianNet and the global B2B marketplace TradeAsia (www.e-tradeasia.com), ASSOE 2026 provides suppliers with long-term international exposure while helping buyers efficiently discover products, compare suppliers, and submit sourcing inquiries online. Through TradeAsia’s B2B matchmaking platform, the exhibition supports cross-border procurement opportunities and strengthens business connections between global buyers and Asian manufacturers.
Expanding International Sourcing Opportunities Through Global Industry Exposure
To increase global visibility and sourcing opportunities, ASSOE 2026 aligns its exhibition period with several major international industry events, including INTERSCHUTZ 2026, Expo Seguridad México, NSC Safety Congress & Expo, SECURITY ESSEN, and FISP. By running alongside major international industry exhibitions, ASSOE 2026 helps increase global exposure for participating suppliers and creates more sourcing opportunities for international buyers.
Through the ASSOE 2026, buyers can review supplier information, browse product catalogs, and directly contact exhibitors for sourcing inquiries. ASSOE 2026 helps suppliers increase global exposure while giving buyers convenient access to qualified manufacturers and a wide range of safety and security solutions.
Comprehensive Product Categories Across the Safety & Security Industry
The exhibition also features a strong lineup of participating suppliers and manufacturers from across Asia’s safety and security industry. International buyers can explore products and sourcing solutions presented by companies including A-BELT-LIN INDUSTRIAL, PAN TAIWAN ENTERPRISE, DORIS INDUSTRIAL, MODERN AUTO, JI JUSTNESS INDUSTRIAL, CLEVER INTELLIGENCE UNITY, PERFECT MEDICAL INDUSTRY, LITEFILM TECH, ET&T TECHNOLOGY, FORMOSA GLOVE INDUSTRIAL, YAU YOUNG AUTO PARTS and HARCO ENTERPRISE.
These exhibitors showcase a diverse range of products and applications covering smart security technologies, industrial safety equipment, protective products, automotive safety solutions, access control systems, and related safety and security applications.
Supporting Global B2B Trade Through Digital Sourcing Solutions
Powered by TradeAsia’s B2B platform, ASSOE 2026 provides exhibitors with online product showcases, supplier profiles, and digital e-catalogs designed to increase international exposure and sourcing opportunities.
International buyers can browse products and communicate with suppliers online regardless of location or time zone, making it easier to compare products, evaluate supplier capabilities, and submit inquiries efficiently. The exhibition’s long-term online format also enables participating companies to maintain continuous visibility throughout the five-month exhibition period.
By integrating online sourcing, digital promotion, and buyer-supplier matchmaking services, ASSOE 2026 creates an efficient environment for global B2B trade and international procurement across the safety and security industry.
Start Sourcing Now
Explore suppliers, discover products, and connect directly with exhibitors through the official ASSOE 2026 online exhibition platform:
https://www.etradeasia.com/online-show/46/Asian-Safety-Security-Online-Exhibition-2026.html
Hashtag: #TradeAsia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The web-based marketplace located at 
www.eTradeAsia.com functions as an essential vehicle for global B2B matchmaking by prioritizing transactional outcomes for procurement professionals and corporate vendors worldwide. This expansive network unifies an extensive audience of millions of registered buyers alongside more than 600,000 active manufacturing entities within a constantly evolving product database. Beyond its digital architecture, the enterprise leverages formal partnerships with hundreds of transnational trade federations and industrial expo organizers. This strategic framework merges cloud-based positioning with on-site promotional operations to optimize international market penetration and drive high-impact marketing results across geopolitical boundaries.
Paris Hilton and journalist Laurie Segall have launched a 14-part TikTok investigation that names a Canadian pharmacist linked to MrDeepFakes, the shuttered website that became one of the world’s largest hubs for non-consensual AI-generated explicit videos. The series, Searching for Mr. Deepfakes, began streaming on Hilton’s TikTok channel on 27 May and follows Segall’s multi-year effort to identify the people behind the site. It places fresh public […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Washington has tightened its warning to shipping, energy and insurance companies, saying US-linked parties cannot seek safe-passage arrangements from Iran for vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, even when no money changes hands. The updated position, issued on 29 May, broadens earlier sanctions guidance that focused on tolls, donations, offsets, digital assets and other indirect payments demanded in connection with passage through […]
