President Donald Trump has moved to cancel $810 million in spending authorised by Congress, invoking a disputed budget mechanism days before the federal fiscal year ends. The White House announced the package on Friday, saying the administration was using a “pocket rescission” to eliminate unspent money across 11 funding accounts at seven departments and agencies. The largest reduction is $567 million from Health and Human Services programmes […]
Hawaii’s Big Island braced for life-threatening flooding and damaging surf as Hurricane Nolo moved slowly north towards the state, prompting emergency preparations and warnings that exceptionally heavy rain could persist through the weekend. Nolo was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of about 105 mph early Saturday, positioned roughly 155 miles south of South Point and moving north at only a few miles per hour. […]
A identified Android banking trojan called RemControl is giving operators remote control over infected phones while stealing banking credentials through overlays, according to research published by cybersecurity firm Group-IB. The malware, described as a previously undocumented banking trojan operating through a malware-as-a-service model, abuses Android’s Accessibility Service after persuading victims to grant permissions. Once enabled, it can monitor screens, capture input, inject gestures and text, and place […]
By Ashok Nilakantan Ayers NEW YORK: September 24, 2026, the third day of the high-level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly, turned the UN podium into something of a geopolitical courtroom on Thursday, with Iran’s war with the United States and Israel, Gaza, terrorism, sovereignty and the credibility of the international system crowding […]
By Ashok Nilakantan Ayers NEW YORK: The second day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly saw diplomatic spotlight shifting from the opening-day clash of competing worldviews to the harder business of finding common ground — over Gaza, Ukraine, Iran, development, climate, artificial intelligence and the future of multilateral institutions. For India, this was an […]
A malicious Firefox extension posing as a PDF identity-verification tool has been found hijacking Google accounts by stealing authenticated session cookies and remotely automating account changes after installation. Security researchers at Socket said the add-on, identified as PDF Identity Verifier and carrying the extension ID pdf-para-texto@extensao. local, was published on Mozilla’s Firefox Add-ons store on September 3. Malicious functionality appeared in version 1.4 on September 11, while […]
Bitcoin traders are bracing for a major derivatives reset on Friday, when about $15.7 billion of options tied to the cryptocurrency are due to expire on Deribit, putting the durability of this week’s rally under scrutiny. The September 25 quarterly expiry is the largest concentration of Bitcoin options on the exchange, with open interest equivalent to roughly 179,000 to 183,000 Bitcoin depending on the market snapshot. Deribit […]
By Dr. Gyan Pathak Two Election Commissioners of India, out of three, have put on record their objections against certain decisions of the Election Commission under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar Gupta, and labeled them even ‘illegal’ and ‘unauthorised.’ An Indian Express investigation has found that objections were raised at least […]
By Ashok Nilakakntan Ayers WASHINGTON: The confrontation between Donald Trump and the American press has entered a new phase. What began on Friday as a presidential declaration against three news organizations — CNN, MS NOW and Politico — became a physical ban on Saturday, when reporters from the three organizations were stopped at the White […]
Google has been fined €403 million by Ireland’s Data Protection Commission after the regulator found breaches of European Union privacy rules in the way the company processed users’ location data. The watchdog said Google Ireland Limited failed to meet requirements under the General Data Protection Regulation covering lawfulness, fairness, transparency, accountability and data retention. The inquiry examined practices linked to Web & App Activity, Location History and […]
Gold edged higher on Tuesday as falling crude prices eased inflation concerns and reduced expectations that the US Federal Reserve would need to deliver repeated interest-rate increases. Spot bullion traded around $4,360 an ounce during Asian hours, recovering from Monday’s decline, when prices posted their biggest fall in a week. The move followed a sharp retreat in oil, which steadied after losing more than 9 per cent […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday, snapping a four-session decline as traders balanced persistent Middle East supply risks against the possibility of diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran during the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Brent crude futures for November rose $1.14 to $101.48 a barrel in early trading, while US West Texas Intermediate for October gained 87 cents […]
The yen weakened against the dollar on Monday as traders remained alert to possible intervention by Japan after sharp currency swings late last week, while the US currency held firm following a run of interest-rate increases and hawkish signals from major central banks.
The dollar rose about 0.2 per cent against the yen to around 157.20, with trading conditions thinner because Japanese markets were closed for a three-day holiday. The limited liquidity kept attention on whether authorities in Tokyo might act if volatility intensified.
The yen had come under pressure despite the Bank of Japan raising its policy rate on Friday to 1.25 per cent, the highest level in 31 years. Two policymakers dissented from the decision and the central bank stopped short of delivering the stronger guidance some investors had expected on the pace of further tightening.
The currency fell sharply after the decision before recovering part of its losses when Japanese officials were reported to have conducted rate checks with market participants. Such checks are closely watched because they can signal that authorities are assessing market conditions ahead of possible intervention.
Lee Hardman, senior currency analyst at MUFG, said the rate check should help restrain expectations over how far the yen might be allowed to weaken in the near term. Traders nevertheless continued to test the currency as they weighed the Bank of Japan’s policy stance against a comparatively hawkish Federal Reserve.
The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six major peers, was broadly steady at about 100.23 after gaining more than 1 per cent last week. The advance followed the Federal Reserve’s latest rate increase and indications that additional tightening could be needed if inflation pressures remain persistent.
Market pricing showed investors assigning about a 55 per cent probability to another Federal Reserve rate rise at its October meeting, compared with roughly 43 per cent a week earlier. The shift underscored how expectations for US monetary policy continued to support the dollar despite tightening moves elsewhere.
The European Central Bank has also raised rates this month and signalled that further action may be required to contain inflation pressures. Those moves, combined with the Federal Reserve’s stance, have reinforced expectations that borrowing costs in major economies may remain elevated for longer than investors had anticipated.
Against the euro, the dollar was little changed, with the single currency near $1.149. Sterling was also broadly flat at around $1.339, leaving the yen as the main focus in otherwise subdued foreign-exchange trading.
The yen had strengthened to a seven-month high earlier in September as investors positioned for faster Bank of Japan tightening and signs that Japanese investors were repatriating funds. Some of those gains have since unwound as traders reassessed how aggressively the central bank is prepared to raise rates.
US regulatory positioning data showed speculative net-long yen positions had climbed to about $9.7 billion in the week to September 15, the largest such exposure since July 2025. The build-up left the currency vulnerable to a sharper reversal when the Bank of Japan’s message failed to match the most hawkish market expectations.
Fred Neumann, chief Asia economist at HSBC, said the central bank faced a high bar in convincing investors that its policy stance had become decisively hawkish, particularly after the Federal Reserve delivered a unanimous rate increase.
Thomas Mathews, head of markets for Asia-Pacific at Capital Economics, said traders continued to regard the Federal Reserve as more hawkish than the Bank of Japan. He added that the yen might have to weaken further before intervention again became an immediate consideration.
Japan has already shown its willingness to enter currency markets when moves become disorderly. The yen fell to 163.99 per dollar in July, its weakest level in four decades, before coordinated action by Tokyo and Washington helped lift the currency.
European electricity prices for the coming winter have risen to their highest levels since the 2022 energy crisis, with German January contracts trading above €180 a megawatt-hour as gas supply concerns and geopolitical disruption tighten the market across the continent now. The German benchmark on the European Energy Exchange is more than 60 per cent higher than a year ago, signalling growing concern over the cost of […]
Bitcoin’s network hashrate is showing signs of recovery, prompting CryptoQuant analysts to flag a pattern that has historically coincided with stronger prices. The improvement comes as Bitcoin trades back near $80,000 after a volatile week, while estimates of the computing power securing the network have moved higher from early-September lows. Trackers placed hashrate around 900 to 930 exahashes per second on Friday, with estimates varying because the […]
Best Things to Do in Bangkok This Golden Week: Discover Authentic Thai Cuisine, Luxury Shopping, Cultural Experiences and Iconic Chao Phraya River Attractions at ICONSIAM
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 September 2026 – As Golden Week inspires millions of travelers across Asia to embark on international journeys, ICONSIAM, the global landmark on the Chao Phraya River, is inviting visitors to discover why Bangkok continues to rank among Asia’s most revisited destinations, offering an unrivaled blend of luxury shopping, cultural immersion, world-class gastronomy and distinctive riverside experiences in one destination.
ICONSIAM_ A Global Landmark Along the Chao Phraya River
As travel trends shift from traditional sightseeing toward more immersive and experience-led journeys, destinations that offer a strong sense of place and a diverse range of experiences are increasingly capturing the attention of global travelers. In this landscape, ICONSIAM embodies The Best of Thailand Meets the Best of the World, bringing together the country’s cultural heritage, creativity and craftsmanship with international luxury, gastronomy and lifestyle. Set along the historic Chao Phraya River, ICONSIAM offers visitors a distinctive perspective on contemporary Thailand, where the country’s traditions and global influences come together in one iconic waterfront destination.
SOOKSIAM_ Thailand’s first co-creation space to empower local communities from all 77 provinces of Thailand across the nation’s four regions
“Today’s travelers are looking for destinations that offer a deeper connection to the places they visit—experiences that are authentic, memorable and meaningful,” said Mrs. Suma Wongphan, Executive Vice President and Division Head of Marketing at ICONSIAM Company Limited. “Bangkok has a unique ability to inspire repeat visits because there is always another side of the city to discover. As a Global Experiential Destination, ICONSIAM is proud to contribute to this appeal by creating a platform where visitors can experience the many facets of Thailand while enjoying the standards and diversity of a truly international destination. This Golden Week, we look forward to welcoming travelers from around the world and giving them even more reasons to make ICONSIAM a highlight of their Bangkok journey.”
A Culinary Journey Through Thailand and Beyond
Food remains one of the strongest motivations for travelers returning to Bangkok, and ICONSIAM offers a diverse culinary journey that reflects the city’s reputation as one of Asia’s leading gastronomic capitals. At SOOKSIAM on the G Floor, visitors can experience the atmosphere of Thailand’s floating market where visitors can explore the flavors of Thailand’s four regions through authentic cuisine. Beyond SOOKSIAM, ICONSIAM’s culinary offering extends from the acclaimed flavors of Nara Thai Cuisine and ThongSmith to beloved Thai favorites such as After You, Cha Tra Mue and Pang Cha, giving visitors the opportunity to discover the diverse tastes and culinary traditions that continue to make Bangkok a compelling destination for food lovers.
Complementing its retail and dining offerings are ICONSIAM’s signature riverside attractions along the legendary Chao Phraya River. Visitors can enjoy sweeping waterfront views, experience the spectacular ICONIC Multimedia Water Features Show (G Floor), marvel at the iconic Alangkarn Waterfall (6th Floor), and discover art exhibitions, cultural showcases and immersive attractions throughout ICONSIAM.
Discovering Thailand Through Creativity and Craftsmanship
For travelers looking to bring home a meaningful piece of Thailand, ICONCRAFT located on the 4th and 5th floors, offers a carefully curated showcase of contemporary Thai craftsmanship, artisan products and creative enterprises from across the country. The immersive retail concept celebrates local creativity while providing visitors with unique souvenirs and design-led products that reflect Thailand’s rich cultural heritage and evolving creative landscape.
Discover ICONLUXE, Home to Global Fashion Houses, Fine Jewelry and Prestigious Watchmakers
At the center of this offering is ICONLUXE, one of Southeast Asia’s premier luxury hubs, home to an extraordinary collection of internationally renowned luxury houses and flagship boutiques, including Bottega Veneta, Celine, Dior, Gucci, Hermès and Loewe, alongside prestigious jewelry and watchmakers such as Breguet, Bvlgari, Cartier, Chopard, Chaumet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega and Patek Philippe. Complementing its luxury offering is an extensive selection of international lifestyle and fashion brands, including ALO, LOFT, MUJI, UNIQLO, ZARA as well as leading Thai wellness and fragrance brands such as Antidotes, PANPURI and THANN. Together, these offerings underscore ICONSIAM’s ability to curate an exceptional mix of international luxury, contemporary lifestyle and distinctive Thai brands, creating a destination that continues to elevate Bangkok’s position as a leading global shopping and lifestyle capital.
A destination of ‘firsts’ flagship store and ‘bests’ that brings immediate global attention to Bangkok
At the heart of Bangkok’s dynamic riverside lies ICONSIAM, a destination of “firsts” and “bests” that continues to attract global attention to Thailand. Recognized as Thailand’s Firstism Leader, ICONSIAM has introduced some of the world’s most sought-after first-to-Thailand brands and experiences, including the country’s first flagship Apple Store, Thailand’s first Blue by Alain Ducasse, a Michelin-starred restaurant by Alain Ducasse, and the POP MART BANGKOK ICONSIAM FLAGSHIP STORE, and HAUS NOWHERE Bangkok, the first HAUS NOWHERE destination in Southeast Asia, home to TAMBURINS’ first Southeast Asia store and Thailand’s largest Gentle Monster store. Together, these globally recognized brands and flagship experiences continue to reinforce ICONSIAM’s position as a leading destination where international culture, innovation, fashion and lifestyle converge on Bangkok’s iconic Chao Phraya River waterfront.
Exclusive Golden Week Privileges for Tourists visiting ICONSIAM
To make the Golden Week experience even more memorable, ICONSIAM is launching “Discover Thailand at ICONSIAM“, an interactive social media campaign taking place from 25 September to 7 October 2026 at the ONESIAM Global Visitor Lounge (1st Floor). International visitors are invited to share their favorite moments at ICONSIAM, from food and cultural discoveries to shopping finds, local craftsmanship and iconic riverside experiences, by posting at least 2 original photos or 1 video on social media. Participants who complete the challenge will have the opportunity to play a capsule machine and receive complimentary Thai-inspired souvenirs, including ICONSIAM’s exclusive scarf, ICONCRAFT’s Thai-Inspired Mini Bag, handheld electronic fan, bracelet and a Siam Gift Card voucher. The campaign is designed to encourage travelers to explore, experience and share the many dimensions of Thailand that come together at ICONSIAM.
As Bangkok continues to attract travelers seeking meaningful, experience-led journeys, ICONSIAM stands at the heart of the city’s appeal, offering an unparalleled blend of shopping, dining, culture and riverside experiences. This Golden Week, visitors are invited to discover why Bangkok remains one of Asia’s most beloved and revisited destinations, and to experience the very best of modern Thailand in one extraordinary destination.
The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum has named Rania Al-Mashat, Magda Wierzycka and Judy Dlamini as keynote speakers for its 2026 conference in Cape Town, setting the headline line-up for the annual gathering focused on women-led enterprise and economic participation. The two-day Conference, Expo and Awards will take place on November 10 and 11 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, with organisers expecting more than […]
Nigeria’s fixed-income market appears to be crossing an important threshold. For much of the past two years, yields were principally shaped by a familiar combination of aggressive government borrowing, restrictive monetary policy and investors demanding substantial compensation for inflation and currency risk. That hierarchy is changing. AAG Capital argues that liquidity is becoming the more powerful force behind pricing, potentially pushing government yields lower even while fiscal […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 – Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, today (September 16) announced his fifth Policy Address, putting forward a series of measures to create development opportunities and enhance the well-being of the people.
“This year marks the opening year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. In the thick of accelerating global changes not seen in a century, the vibrant momentum driven by our country’s robust strength, enormous market and high-quality development presents Hong Kong with boundless opportunities. We will better develop our economy and boost social well-being, starting a bright new chapter for Hong Kong,” Mr Lee said.
Entitled “A Strategic Vision for a Bright New Era, Driving Reform and Boosting Development, Unleashing Opportunities and Enhancing Livelihood”, the Policy Address takes the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) as its blueprint, and proposes numerous key measures focusing on five major development opportunities to advance high-quality development.
To attract and retain high-calibre talent, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town to strengthen the city’s position as an international education hub. The HKSAR Government will also increase the research postgraduate places by around 30 per cent and the quota for government scholarships by 200, and establish five new major academies for training international talent: the International Clinical Trial Academy, Maritime Academy, Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, Hong Kong Intellectual Property Academy and Hong Kong International Academy of Policing.
To promote industry development, the Policy Address proposes to accelerate development of an international gold trading market and to explore a proposal to provide tax concessions for qualifying activities within the gold and commodity trading ecosystem. The HKSAR Government will also announce details of the new Renminbi-denominated and physically settled gold futures contracts; explore the possibility of increasing the Exchange Fund’s gold holdings, and gradually transfer its physical gold holdings to designated vaults appointed by the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company Limited.
A number of policies are proposed to promote industry development, including introducing specialty insurance (e.g. commodity, commercial aerospace, etc.); injecting funding into the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme to support the development of the intelligent computing industry; accelerating the adoption of medical innovation and industry chain development to enable the public to benefit from better and newer drugs; and fostering a new economic landscape for the low-altitude and emerging industries, such as commercial aerospace.
The Government is developing six special industry parks, including the Loop Hong Kong Park, San Tin Technopole, Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park, Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster and Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen modern logistics cluster. Land is also earmarked for building an advanced construction industry park to increase investment opportunities for enterprises.
To attract enterprises to establish a foothold in Hong Kong, tax concessions will be granted on the basis of the value brought by enterprises, instead of solely considering the industry sector. The Government will introduce an amendment bill this year, providing preferential tax rates of 5 per cent, or half-rate, for selected enterprises operating in key sectors such as finance, advanced manufacturing, innovation and technology, as well as research and development, headquarters activities and logistics and supply chain management.
The HKSAR Government will fully support the work of the International Organization for Mediation headquartered in Hong Kong, and build a global capital of mediation. It will also drive the establishment of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law in Hong Kong, support the Judiciary to advance the development of the International Commercial Court, and establish the “Strategy Committee on Intellectual Property Trading Development” to assist the Government in formulating strategies and support measures for the promotion of intellectual property trading.
Regarding international co-operation, two United Nations (UN) organisations, the centre of excellence on global advanced manufacturing and the Office on Drugs and Crime’s GlobE Network Asia Pacific Regional Bureau, will establish their presence in Hong Kong respectively. Elsewhere, the new WestK Performing Arts Centre, scheduled to open next year, will feature four performance venues built to the highest international theatre standards, while Asian and international sports associations will be encouraged to establish a presence in Hong Kong.
“Today, Hong Kong is at a critical juncture in advancing from stability to prosperity. We are fully aware that formulating a comprehensive, strategic roadmap is integral to our long-term development. The Government has been persistent in mapping our way by driving development through reform. The primary goal of our policies is to enable economic development that can benefit the people of Hong Kong, and meet their aspirations for a better life,” Mr Lee said.
Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, is pursuing a route to offer US traders perpetual futures linked to Hyperliquid’s HYPE token, but publicly available regulatory and Kraken product information indicates the proposed expansion has not yet been confirmed as a live US offering. The move would broaden Payward’s regulated derivatives business and give eligible American customers exposure to one of the crypto market’s most actively […]
Monaco is poised to leave the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list next month after completing an on-site review of reforms aimed at strengthening controls against money laundering and terrorist financing, with Bulgaria and Côte d’Ivoire also moving towards removal. The Paris-based watchdog is expected to consider the three jurisdictions at its plenary meeting from October 26 to 30, after determining in June that each had substantially […]
Netflix, Amazon and YouTube have created a Washington-based lobbying coalition to press for policies favouring consumer choice and technology-neutral treatment of streaming services as political scrutiny intensifies over the migration of live sport from traditional television. The Streaming Access and Choice Alliance, or SACA, was announced on Monday with the three companies as founding members and TechNet, a technology industry advocacy group, leading the organisation. Mike Ward, […]
President Donald Trump has rejected calls for tougher artificial intelligence safeguards, arguing that existing US powers are sufficient even as security specialists warn that faster AI systems are widening the attack surface for cryptocurrency platforms and decentralised finance. Trump said on September 14 that additional safeguards were unnecessary and dismissed warnings from technology executives about uncontrolled development. His position places the White House at odds with industry […]
A browser extension used by nearly 31,000 Twitch viewers has been found forwarding live OAuth session tokens to proxy infrastructure controlled by the operator of a Russian-language commercial bot service, exposing credentials that can grant access to account functions without requiring passwords or two-factor authentication. Security company Socket said the extension, “Twitch Enhanced Viewer | JeetBot”, was available through both the Chrome Web Store and Mozilla’s Firefox […]
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