Nvidia and Microsoft have introduced RTX Spark-powered Windows PCs designed to run personal AI agents locally, marking a major escalation in the race to make artificial intelligence a core feature of everyday computing rather than a cloud-based add-on. The systems, unveiled around Computex and Nvidia GTC Taipei, are expected to arrive this autumn from major PC makers including Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft Surface and MSI, with […]
The stock climbed about 6 per cent on Tuesday as investors reacted to signs that Tencent is moving closer to embedding a task-performing assistant inside WeChat, the messaging, payments and social platform used by more than 1.4 billion people. The prototype is designed to help users complete everyday actions within the app, including finding venues, interacting with mini-programmes and placing customised orders, rather than merely answering questions in chatbot form.
The planned agent would mark a significant step in Tencent’s push to convert its AI investments into consumer products at scale. WeChat already functions as a digital operating system for daily life in China, covering messaging, payments, shopping, food delivery, public services, entertainment, ride-hailing and enterprise communication. That reach gives Tencent an advantage that few rivals can match: a single platform with a vast user base, heavy daily engagement and a dense network of third-party services.
People familiar with the prototype have indicated that users would be able to access the AI agent through a swipe gesture on the main WeChat screen. Tencent is expected to begin the regulatory compliance process before wider testing, with a small group of external users likely to receive access before any phased public launch. A firm release date has not been set, reflecting both regulatory uncertainty and the technical demands of deploying agentic AI across a platform of WeChat’s size.
The market response underscores how investors are reassessing Tencent’s AI position after months of concern that the company was trailing Alibaba, ByteDance and Baidu in the race to commercialise generative AI. Tencent has promoted Yuanbao, its AI chatbot, developed its Hunyuan foundation model and introduced productivity-focused AI tools, but WeChat remains the asset most capable of turning those efforts into a daily consumer habit.
Tencent’s first-quarter earnings showed both the strength and the cost of that strategy. Revenue rose 9 per cent year on year to RMB196.5 billion, while IFRS net profit attributable to equity holders increased 21 per cent to RMB58.1 billion. Marketing services revenue rose 20 per cent to RMB38.2 billion, helped by AI-driven advertising improvements, while domestic games revenue grew 6 per cent and international games revenue climbed 13 per cent. Capital expenditure reached RMB31.9 billion, up 16 per cent, as spending on AI infrastructure continued to rise.
The company has told investors that new AI products are weighing on margins, even as core businesses continue to generate strong cash flow. Excluding new AI products, non-IFRS operating profit rose 17 per cent in the first quarter, compared with a 9 per cent increase overall. That gap highlights the near-term drag from AI investment, but also explains why investors are sensitive to any sign that Tencent can place AI directly into revenue-generating services.
Competition is intensifying across China’s technology sector. Alibaba has pushed Qwen into consumer and enterprise markets, ByteDance has expanded AI features across its content ecosystem, and Baidu continues to build around Ernie and AI cloud services. The key battleground is shifting from chatbots to agents that can perform tasks, connect with apps and act across digital services with limited user input.
WeChat’s mini-programme ecosystem could be central to Tencent’s approach. Millions of merchants, developers and service providers already operate within the platform, allowing an AI agent to navigate services without pushing users outside Tencent’s environment. For merchants, an effective agent could increase conversion rates by shortening the path from search to purchase. For Tencent, it could deepen engagement, improve advertising relevance and strengthen its fintech and business services ecosystem.
Regulation remains a critical constraint. China requires generative AI services offered to the public to comply with rules covering data security, content control and algorithmic governance. Any WeChat agent would need to satisfy those requirements before broad release, especially because it could interact with payments, commerce and public services.
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.
UAE motorists are paying more for petrol in June, but pump prices remain below many major global markets, cushioning households and businesses from the full impact of higher international energy costs. The latest monthly adjustment raised Super 98 petrol to Dh3.95 a litre from Dh3.66 in May, while Special 95 increased to Dh3.83 from Dh3.55. E-Plus 91 moved up to Dh3.76 from Dh3.48. Diesel, however, fell to […]
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 […]
Mette Frederiksen has secured a third consecutive term as Denmark’s prime minister after reaching a coalition agreement that ends nearly 10 weeks of political deadlock following the March 24 parliamentary election. The Social Democratic leader will head a centre-left minority administration made up of the Social Democrats, the Moderates, the Green Left and the Social Liberal Party. The deal keeps Frederiksen in power despite a weakened election […]
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 […]
KLM has cancelled flights to and from Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport after Ebola-related travel controls made crew movements difficult, adding pressure on East Africa’s aviation links as governments tighten health screening for travellers connected to affected areas. The Dutch carrier halted Entebbe services scheduled for May 30 and June 1, saying passengers would be contacted for rebooking or refunds. The affected flights linked Amsterdam with Entebbe via […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Yango Ride and Shell Oman Marketing Company have launched a dedicated benefits programme for partner drivers across Oman, offering fuel discounts, food and beverage deals and vehicle-care offers through Shell’s service-station network. The tie-up gives Yango Ride partner drivers access to exclusive offers at 216 Shell service stations using dedicated promo codes through the Shell Asia App. The package includes discounted fuel, tailored […]
A critical weakness in Flowise has exposed self-hosted AI workflow servers to full compromise, after technical details and working exploit code showed that a logged-in user could trigger command execution by importing a crafted chatflow. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-40933, affects Flowise deployments before version 3.1.0 and carries a 9.9 severity score. It stems from the way Flowise handles Model Context Protocol, or MCP, configurations in its […]
Palo Alto Networks customers are facing renewed pressure to patch internet-facing security systems after attackers began exploiting a high-severity authentication bypass flaw in PAN-OS GlobalProtect, a product widely used to provide remote access to corporate networks. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-0257, affects GlobalProtect portal and gateway deployments in PAN-OS where authentication override cookies are enabled alongside a specific certificate configuration. Successful exploitation can allow a remote attacker […]
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 […]
The renewed three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) builds on previous successful collaborations between both parties and aims to drive tourism spending by combining STB’s destination marketing resources with UnionPay’s global payment network and regional marketing channels.
Under the partnership, both parties will jointly launch tourism and payment campaigns targeting key visitor markets including China and other regional outbound travel segments. Campaigns will promote Singapore tourism offerings alongside UnionPay’s payment privileges, merchant promotions, and acceptance network across shopping, dining, attractions, transportation and hospitality sectors.
The collaboration will also focus on premium travel and MICE segments through partnerships with banks, luxury travel platforms and tourism stakeholders to introduce tailored privileges and curated experiences for UnionPay cardholders visiting Singapore.
According to STB, Singapore welcomed approximately 16.9 million international visitors in 2025, with China’s mainland remaining the country’s largest source market. As international travel demand continues to recover, seamless and secure payment experiences are playing an increasingly important role in enhancing visitor satisfaction and driving tourism consumption.
Over the past cooperation period, UPI and STB jointly launched multiple tourism campaigns through leading travel and digital platforms, generating more than 40 million impressions and strengthening UnionPay’s presence among travelers visiting Singapore.
Moving forward, both parties will continue to explore new opportunities in tourism marketing, merchant collaboration, and consumer engagement to further support Singapore’s tourism growth and cross-border travel ecosystem.
Hashtag: #Unionpay
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC, known as e&, has agreed to sell part of its stake in Careem Technologies to Uber Technologies for $100 million in cash, reducing its majority position in the Dubai-based platform while keeping a sizeable exposure to one of the region’s best-known technology businesses. The binding agreement covers 12.5 per cent of e&’s 50.03 per cent holding in Careem Technologies. Once the transaction […]
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 […]
Parcel-locker group InPost will invest a further €500 million in France by 2030, strengthening its out-of-home delivery network as e-commerce growth and consumer demand for flexible collection points reshape Europe’s parcel market. The commitment adds fresh weight to the expansion strategy of the Poland-based logistics company, which has been building France into one of its most important markets outside its home base. The investment is intended to […]
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 […]
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has moved mission-critical IT infrastructure to Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization, strengthening the computing foundation behind deep space operations as robotic missions place rising demands on data handling, resilience and automation. The migration gives JPL a unified platform for running traditional virtual machines alongside containerised applications, allowing teams to modernise core workloads without forcing an abrupt break from legacy systems that support highly specialised […]
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