Lovable, the fast-growing AI app builder used by startups and large corporate teams alike, is facing scrutiny after security researchers said an API authorisation flaw exposed sensitive data from projects created before November 2025, including source code, credentials, chat histories and customer records. The company has disputed the characterisation of the incident as a data breach, arguing that some of the visibility tied to public projects reflected […]
Receivables financing facility enables competitive open account terms and supports international growth
SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 April 2026 – Tradewind Finance has provided a USD 2.5 million non-recourse export factoring facility to a cable manufacturer based in Vietnam. The facility, structured by Tradewind’s Shanghai office, converts export receivables into immediate liquidity and provides credit protection on buyers in the United States and Australia.
With this structure in place, the exporter maintains 90-day open account terms for its international buyers without placing pressure on working capital.
How Longer Payment Terms Strained a Manufacturer’s Liquidity
The client is a cable manufacturer with over 30 years of operating history in Vietnam. For most of that period, the company relied on advance payments and letters of credit to manage its export transactions.
As competition in global cable supply increased, buyers began requiring open account terms as a condition of continued business. The exporter transitioned accordingly, but the shift created a significant gap between production costs and the moment of payment collection.
The company had export credit insurance in place, which provided partial protection against buyer default. However, the residual risk exposure of 10 to 20 percent remained uncovered, and the insurance did not address the working capital shortfall that came with extended payment cycles. Despite a strong order book and established buyer relationships, the exporter’s cash position was under pressure.
How the Facility Works: Converting Receivables into Working Capital
Tradewind structured a non-recourse export factoring facility aligned with the client’s trade flows to the United States and Australia. The facility operates as follows:
Advance funding: Tradewind advances up to 90 percent of each invoice value shortly after shipment, converting receivables into available cash.
Credit protection: Because the facility is non-recourse, Tradewind assumes the buyer credit risk. By leveraging this structure, the exporter benefits from 100% credit protection against buyer default or insolvency.
Collections management: Tradewind manages the receivables administration and collection process, reducing the operational burden on the exporter’s finance team.
This structure replaces the partial protection previously offered by export credit insurance with a more comprehensive solution that covers both the financing gap and the full buyer credit risk on approved receivables.
What This Means for the Exporter
With the facility in place, the exporter can offer 90-day payment terms to its buyers without absorbing the cash flow impact internally. Production cycles are no longer constrained by the timing of buyer payments, and the company has a predictable source of liquidity tied directly to its shipment activity.
The non-recourse structure also removes a layer of financial uncertainty. Rather than relying on insurance with residual exposure, the exporter now operates with full credit coverage on approved buyers through Tradewind’s facility.
Why Tradewind Was Selected
Tradewind was selected for its ability to structure receivables financing solutions for cross-border trade flows involving multiple buyer markets. Key factors in the decision included:
Over 25 years of experience in international trade finance, with particular depth in export factoring across Asia, the Americas, and Europe
Local structuring capability through Tradewind’s Shanghai office, with direct knowledge of Vietnamese export markets
A financing structure tailored to the client’s specific trade corridors and buyer payment terms
Consistent execution and clear communication throughout the onboarding process
A Facility Built Around the Client’s Trade Flows
“This facility gives the client a reliable source of working capital tied directly to its export activity,” said Chris Chang, Regional Commercial Director, Far East at Tradewind Shanghai. “By structuring the solution around their specific trade flows to the United States and Australia, we were able to address both the financing gap and the credit risk exposure in a single facility.” Facing Similar Pressure from Extended Buyer Payment Terms?
Tradewind structures receivables financing solutions for exporters managing cash flow across international trade corridors. Whether you are dealing with longer payment cycles, buyer credit risk, or the operational complexity of cross-border collections, we can help you find the right structure for your situation.
Contact us at www.tradewindfinance.com to discuss how a tailored trade finance solution can support your export business.Hashtag: #Tradewind #TradewindFinance #Cable #Vietnam #Factoring #Manufacturing
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Tradewind Finance
Founded in 2000, Tradewind Finance is a global trade finance company specialising in cross-border receivables financing, export factoring, supply chain finance, and credit protection. Tradewind maintains a network of offices across Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, India, Pakistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, alongside its headquarters in Germany. By combining financing, credit protection, and collections into a single integrated solution, Tradewind helps exporters and importers manage working capital, reduce risk, and grow their international trade with confidence.
Nvidia has delivered another blockbuster quarter, posting revenue of $68.1 billion and giving a next-quarter forecast of $78 billion, a result that underlined how aggressively the world’s largest technology groups are still spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Data centre sales reached $62.3 billion, up 75 per cent from a year earlier, showing that demand for high-end chips, networking gear and full AI systems remains strong despite growing […]
Bitcoin clawed back above $76,000 at the start of the week, holding firmer than much of the wider digital-asset market even as decentralised finance absorbed the shock of a major exploit tied to KelpDAO that has drained close to $300 million and triggered a sharp retreat in capital across lending and restaking platforms. Market pricing on 21 April showed bitcoin near $75,745 after touching an intraday high […]
Grinex, a Kyrgyzstan-based cryptocurrency exchange under Western sanctions, has suspended operations after losing about one billion roubles, or roughly $13.1 million, in what it described as a highly organised cyber attack. The platform said the breach was a targeted operation and alleged that intelligence services from “unfriendly” Western states were behind it, though it did not provide public evidence to support that claim. The theft has drawn […]
Windows users are facing a sharper cyber threat after researchers identified a campaign that pairs the long-running Gh0st remote access trojan with CloverPlus adware, giving attackers a mix of covert control and instant income from poisoned web traffic. The operation uses a single obfuscated loader to unpack both payloads, turning one infection into a dual-purpose compromise that can spy, persist and monetise at the same time. Two […]
A legitimate Intel storage utility has been repurposed in a highly targeted malware campaign that uses a little-known. NET mechanism to run hostile code inside a signed executable, giving attackers a quieter path into corporate networks and making detection far harder for many security products. The operation, identified as PhantomCLR, has been observed against financial institutions and other organisations across the Middle East and the wider […]
Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol, a fast-growing standard used to connect AI models with external tools and data, has come under intense scrutiny after security researchers disclosed a critical weakness that they say can open the door to arbitrary remote code execution across a broad swathe of the AI software stack. The issue, published on April 15, centres on how MCP implementations handle STDIO-based server configurations and command […]
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 April 2026 – China Unicom and Huawei capped off a series of successful 5G-A GigaUplink deployments by guaranteeing the premium connectivity at the Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon, where human and robot runners competed alongside through the E-Town in Daxing District. This marks the two companies’ latest landmark showcase for sports events, combining 5G-A and AI to provide fast uplink with huge capacity and low latency for event organization and media services, digital engagement, and humanoid participation.
China Unicom 5G-A empowering robots to sprint across the finish line
China Unicom Delivered a Masterclass in Connected Marathon Events
Marathon events typically feature high-density crowds with an extensive demand for uploads. China Unicom and Huawei turned to 5G-A 3CC on 3.5 GHz and 2.1 GHz for the event, ensuring an uplink fulfillment at 20 Mbps surpassing 99.6%, along with a peak speed of field-tested 677 Mbps. This impressive uplink performance provided consistent and reliable support for 4K/8K broadcasting and real-time collection and editing while also enabling fans to share and stream smoothly.
Such unrivalled experience is underpinned not only by high-quality networks but also flexible operations. China Unicom and Huawei used intelligent base stations to build 5G-A intelligent, elastic channels for the event. This facilitated differentiated scheduling for livestreaming, voice and video calling, and short videos to ensure smooth experiences for fans even at heavy-traffic moments.
China Unicom 5G-A GigaUplink networks integral to the success of E-Town Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon
5G-A GigaUplink Takes Embodied AI to New Heights
In a global first, the E-Town half-marathon features a pioneering format that sees human and robot runners compete simultaneously. The humanoid robots were divided into an autonomous navigation group and a remote-control group, running on the same course and evaluated using mixed timing methods. Each humanoid robot requires approximately 10 Mbps uplink for video uploads, environment sensing, gait control, and autonomous navigation. Dedicated uplink slices were reserved to ensure a positioning accuracy of up to sub-decimeter level and an average end-to-end latency of less than 30 ms throughout the racing course, which provided strong support for the video uploads, obstacle avoidance, cornering, and sprinting of humanoid robots. While offering technical upgrades to sports events, this promoted the adoption of humanoid robots on a large scale.
Qin Yang, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom in Beijing spoke proudly of the excellent connections his company provided for the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games as a global strategic partner and the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon event as the exclusive official communications sponsor. “5G-A and AI are essential digital infrastructure, enabling us to bring embodied AI to sports. Given the new dynamics of AI development, we will double down on our priorities over connectivity, computing power, services, and security to sharpen our competitive edges as a preferred telecom partner for intelligent sports and a core enabler for intelligent industry transformation. Moving forward, we will accelerate our innovation-driven push to strengthen our digital infrastructure and drive the high-quality growth of embodied AI in China and beyond.”
Samuel Chen, Vice President of Huawei’s Wireless Network Business Marketing, said this humanoid robot half-marathon offers a good example of deepening integration between mobile technology and embodied intelligence. “Beyond redefining connectivity for sports, it has shown us what intelligent production and life will look like in future. We are always dedicated to building excellent 5G-A networks together with operators based on user-centered innovation to ensure GigaUplink, low latency, and high reliability for differentiated mobile AI services. This will enable us to continuously drive the high-quality growth of the digital economy.” Hashtag: #Huawei #ChinaUnicom
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
By Nantoo Banerjee Pakistan may be right that peace in Lebanon is essential for talks between the US and Iran. But, the key question is: will Iran’s theological regime ever ask its terror sponsor, Hezbollah, to go soft on Israel which lately launched massive waves of airstrikes across southern Lebanon, hitting over 200 Hezbollah targets, […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 April 2026 – The Institute of ESG & Benchmark (IESGB) proudly announces the launch of the ESG Achievement Awards 2025/2026, marking another milestone in recognising outstanding achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Building on its established legacy, this year’s Awards will spotlight organisations and individuals that are strengthening resilience and long-term competitiveness through people-centric ESG strategies, responsible leadership, and measurable impact. The Early Bird application period is open until 15 May 2026.
This year’s ESG Achievement Awards are centred around the theme “Shaping a Resilient Future Through People and ESG,” placing a strong emphasis on ESG education and human capital development. In today’s fast-evolving landscape, organisations are increasingly recognising that sustainable success depends not only on strategy, but on equipping people with the right skills, capabilities, and mindset. This year, entrants are invited to showcase how they embed ESG into their culture, invest in talent development, and foster accountability and employee engagement in ESG across all levels of the organisation.
In addition to continuing to recognise holistic ESG excellence across environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance, the Awards introduce new award that reflect evolving market priorities. And the newly launched Outstanding Women Empowerment Awards will celebrate organisations that drive measurable progress in gender equality, workplace inclusion, and leadership representation.
Mr Paul Pong, Co-Founder of IESGB, highlighted the significance of this year’s theme, stating, “As ESG continues to mature, we are seeing that resilience is built not only through strategy, but through people who understand how to turn ESG principles into action. This year’s Awards are designed to recognise organisations that are investing in human capital, reinforcing ESG ownership, and embedding sustainability into the way they work every day.”
Mr Vincent Pang, Chairman of the Jury Panel, shared his perspective, saying,”What truly distinguishes the strongest entries is not just ambition, but tangible evidence — measurable progress, genuine execution, and long-term impact. Under this year’s theme ‘Shaping a Resilient Future Through People and ESG,’ we are especially looking for organisations that embed ESG into their culture, invest in human capital development and ESG education, and drive meaningful inclusion and women’s empowerment.”
The Awards will continue to honour excellence across a comprehensive range of categories, covering corporate ESG performance, innovative projects, sustainable vision, talent development, and individual leadership. With a distinguished and diverse jury panel comprising experts from academia, finance, corporate governance, and sustainability, submissions will be evaluated based on impact, innovation, transparency, and alignment with ESG principles. Winners of the ESG Achievement Awards 2025/2026 will be celebrated at the prestigious Awards Ceremony Luncheon, scheduled for September 2026. The Awards continue to serve as a leading platform for knowledge exchange, peer learning, and recognition of best practices that contribute to a more sustainable and resilient economy.
Award Categories
Category
Sub-Categories
1. ESG Benchmark Awards
1.1) Outstanding Performance in Environmental Responsibility
1.2) Outstanding Performance in Social Responsibility
1.3) Outstanding Performance in ESG Governance
2. Outstanding ESG Awards
2.1) Listed Company
2.2) Non-Listed Company
2.3) NGO /NPO
3. (New) Outstanding Women Empowerment Awards
3.1) Company /Organisation
4. Outstanding ESG Product and Service Awards
4.1) Company /Organisation
5. Outstanding Fund Manager’s Choice Awards
5.1) Only applicable to entrants from Category 1 &2.1 (Listed Company).
6. Outstanding Sustainable Vision Awards
6.1) Company /Organisation
7. Outstanding ESG Innovative Project Awards
7.1) Company /Organisation
8. Outstanding ESG Talent Development Awards
8.1) Company /Organisation
9. ESG Elite Awards
9.1) Individual
10. Honorary Awards (By invitation only)
10.1) Company /Organisation
10.2) Individual
10.3) Outstanding Sustainability Dividend Awards
Key Dates (Subject to change)
Date
Key Milestone
20 April
Awards Launch & Open for Application
Early Bird: 15 May
Standard: 15 June
Application Deadline
July
Judging Period
July
Presentations to the Jury Panel
*Upon confirmation for applicants requiring presentation
August
Finalist Announcement
September
Award Ceremony Luncheon *Subject to venue availability
Jury Panel (in alphabetical order of last name)
Full Name
Post
Chairman of Jury Panel
Mr Vincent Pang
Managing Partner AVISTA Group
Vice Chairman of Jury Panel
Ms Ashley Khoo
Past President CFA Society Hong Kong
Jury Panel Members
Ms Fanny Chan
Chief Human Resources Officer CTF Life
Ms Mabel Chan
Veteran of mutual fund industry Co-host of Metro Finance Radio HK Accredited Mediator AALCO Sports AMed
Ms Lovinia Chiu
Founder, Chairman & CEO Medialink Group Limited (2230.HK)
Prof Rebecca Choy Yung
Founder & Chair Golden Age Foundation
Mr Roy Fan
Head of Sustainability, Climate Change and ESG Services SWCS Corporate Services Group (Hong Kong) Limited
Ms Loretta Fong
Sustainability Assurance Leader PwC Hong Kong
Ms Grace Kwok
Chairman and Executive Director Allied Sustainability and Environmental Consultants Group Limited
Ir Prof C.F. Lam
Organizing Committee Member Hong Kong Green Strategy Alliance
HON Robert Lee, JP
Legislative Council Member Functional Constituency – Financial Services
Ir Edmund K H Leung
Vice-President Hong Kong Institute of Director
Ms Nana Li
Head of Sustainability & Stewardship, Asia-Pacific, Director Impax Asset Management
Dr Kenny Tang
Chairman The Hong Kong Institute of Financial Analysts and Professional Commentators
Dr Aries Wong
Senior Lecturer, Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance Associate Director of Centre for Sustainable Development Studies Hong Kong Baptist University
Mr Mike Wong
Chief Executive Officer The Chamber of Hong Kong Listed Companies
Ms Jessie Yu BBS, MH, JP
Chief Executive Hong Kong Single Parents Association
Hashtag: #IESGB
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
IESGB
The Institute of ESG & Benchmark (IESGB) is a non-profit organization founded in 2020, dedicated to advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices in Hong Kong and beyond. Through professional training, certification, and industry collaboration, IESGB promotes ESG education and fosters the development of a robust and sustainable ecosystem that drives long-term value and positive impact.
The QRNW Global Ranking of Transnational Universities 2027 has placed Swiss International University (SIU) in third position among all transnational universities worldwide. The recognition was awarded to the university because it operates extensive international programs while offering flexible academic options and worldwide educational access for all its students. The ranking reflects SIU’s continuous efforts to build an inclusive learning environment for students from diverse countries and backgrounds. […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 April 2026 – Brother proudly announces the launch of its new flagship 10-needle commercial automatic embroidery machine, the PR1060W. As the latest addition to the PR series, this machine combines high-efficiency multi-needle embroidery, intelligent positioning, and advanced matrix copying technology. It delivers a more powerful and competitive production solution for professional creators, small and medium-sized embroidery studios, and businesses looking to expand their operations.
Compared to the previous flagship model PR1055X launched in 2021, the new PR1060W brings significant upgrades in operational smoothness, embroidery precision, and overall productivity.
Intelligent Matrix Copy Function – Handle Large Orders with Ease
The PR1060W is equipped with an advanced matrix copy function that automatically calculates and arranges the maximum number of repeated patterns according to different hoop sizes, making full use of the available embroidery space. This feature effectively reduces fabric waste and repeated hooping procedures, significantly boosting productivity — ideal for handling high-volume orders.
For example, when using a 180 x 130mm embroidery hoop, the machine automatically duplicates the design into 4 identical patterns. When switched to the larger 360 x 200mm hoop, it can automatically replicate the design into up to 20 identical patterns.
Expanded Embroidery Area with Wireless Workflow
The PR1060W features a spacious 360 × 200mm embroidery field and comes with over 1,280 built-in designs and more than 100 fonts (including 3D fonts), offering greater creative freedom.
Once the design is ready, users can wirelessly transfer the file directly from a laptop or smartphone to the machine, eliminating complicated file transfer steps and making the workflow more efficient for both personal creations and bulk enterprise production.
10-Needle System – Multi-Color Embroidery in One Go
Equipped with 10 needles and 10 spool stands, the PR1060W can automatically switch between up to ten thread colors during embroidery, eliminating the need for frequent manual thread changes. This greatly reduces production time for complex multi-color designs.
Combined with auto-threading, auto-trimming, and jump stitch functions, the entire embroidery process becomes smoother and more stable, allowing users to complete high-quality work faster.
Advanced Camera Positioning – Significantly Enhanced Accuracy
The PR1060W is upgraded with optical camera positioning technology. Through the machine’s LCD screen, users can see the exact needle drop position in real time, enabling clear preview of the design before stitching. Even on small areas such as caps and sleeves, precise positioning is achievable, greatly reducing the risk of misalignment.
Versatile Embroidery Accessories
Brother offers a wide range of accessories* for the PR series, including specialized hoops designed for caps and socks. The machine supports automatic hoop detection, which instantly recognizes the installed hoop size and displays the available embroidery area on screen — no manual input required, making operation safer and more reliable.
In addition, the quick-release magnetic hoops secure fabric with simple magnetic attachment. They are particularly suitable for thick or delicate materials, preventing clamp marks or damage while improving embroidery quality and saving preparation time.
*Additional purchase required
Hong Kong Exclusive Local Support
Purchasers of the PR1060W enjoy Brother Hong Kong’s official warranty service, covering comprehensive repair and maintenance. Optional professional on-site installation and basic operation training services are also available, delivered by experienced local technical teams to help users quickly master the machine and start production without delay.
BE1 Embroidery Studio – Professional Design Partner
The powerful BE1* Embroidery Studio software supports high-precision complex pattern creation and fully integrates with CorelDRAW® vector editing tools. Users can easily convert photos into embroidery designs and apply various special effects, including hand-stitched and sparkling styles — ideal for highly customized projects.
*Additional purchase required
Opening a New Chapter in Embroidery Business
With its intelligent positioning, high productivity, and versatile functions, the new PR1060W makes embroidery work smoother and more efficient. Whether you are expanding a personal embroidery business or enhancing enterprise-level production capabilities, this flagship machine can be the key enabler to unlock greater commercial possibilities.
For more information on the PR1060W or to arrange a product demonstration, please feel free to contact Brother
Where To Buy
Customers can WhatsApp 3187 0505 or email [email protected] to contact a sales manager for detailed quotations, inquiries about purchasing details, product information, and after-sales service. If you are interested in learning more about product operations, you are welcome to schedule a product demonstration, and we will arrange for a product manager to assist you. For more details, please stay updated via the official website or the Brother Love DIY HK Facebook page.
PR1060W Specifications
PR1060X
Embroidery speed
1,000 spm
Large embroidery area
360X200mm
Built-in designs
1,280
Built-in lettering styles
51
LCD size
10.1inch
On-screen editing
Yes
USB
Yes
Number of needles
10
Pointer
Camera positioning sensor
Jump stitch and wiper function
Yes
Included embroidery frames
-300×200mm embroidery frames -180×130 mm embroidery frames -100 x100 mm embroidery frames -60×40 mm embroidery frames
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Brother Hong Kong
Founded in 1908, Brother is now a leading brand that produces quality innovative products for the print and imaging, labelling and sewing markets. Key products include laser printers, Multi-Function Centers (MFCs), fax machines, labelers, label printers, and a wide range of home and industrial sewing machines.
Brother International (Hong Kong) is one of the leading suppliers of home, office, and industrial products in Hong Kong. Established in 1994, it has been serving customers in Hong Kong and Macau for over 30 years. According to IDC’s Global Hardware Peripheral Tracker report, Brother’s A3 multifunction colour inkjet printer has been the number one in shipment volume in Hong Kong for 18 consecutive years from 2008 to 2025, reaffirming Brother’s business success in the region.
For more information about Brother, please contact us via WhatsApp at 3187 0505 or visit www.brother.com.hk.
Scientists have developed a soil-powered fuel cell that uses naturally occurring microbes to generate enough electricity for low-power underground sensors, opening a possible route to battery-free monitoring systems in agriculture, wetlands and other outdoor settings. The device, created by a team led by Northwestern University, is designed to run sensors that track soil moisture or register touch while operating in both dry and waterlogged ground. The underlying […]
OVHcloud has added Quandela’s Belenos quantum computer to its cloud platform, giving customers on-demand access to a second physical quantum machine as Europe pushes to turn research strength into commercial computing capacity. The announcement, made on April 17 at the Quantum Defence Summit, expands OVHcloud’s Quantum Platform less than six months after the French cloud group launched it as a European Quantum-as-a-Service offering. Belenos is a 12-qubit […]
Asteroid, a little-known meme coin tied to a Shiba Inu character called “Asteroid”, surged after a social media chain involving broadcaster Glenn Beck and Elon Musk drew intense attention to the story of Liv Perrotto, a 15-year-old from Pennsylvania whose design had been linked to SpaceX symbolism. Crypto trackers and market sites showed the token posting a violent jump before giving back part of the move, underlining […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE officials used the World Bank Group and IMF Spring Meetings in Washington to press a broader case for stronger multilateral coordination, flexible fiscal policy and wider financial partnerships, as the gatherings unfolded against a darker global backdrop of slower growth, energy-market strain and rising uncertainty. The delegation, led by Mohamed bin Hadi Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said the […]
Bitcoin held above $74,000 through the latest stretch of trading, finding support from a softer-than-feared U. S. inflation reading while still facing a macro backdrop that remains far from comfortable for risk assets. The token’s ability to stay near that level has drawn attention because it came as March consumer prices in the United States rose 3.3% from a year earlier, a pace that was below some […]
Iranian authorities have arrested four people, including two foreign nationals, over the alleged import of SpaceX Starlink terminals, sharpening a crackdown on one of the few remaining channels for uncensored internet access inside the country. Iranian state-linked reporting, carried by Reuters on Sunday, said the arrests were made in the north-west and linked by officials to an alleged espionage network tied to the United States and Israel. […]
Fresh financing for an experimental therapy targeting brain injury in newborns has sharpened attention on one of neonatal medicine’s hardest gaps: the absence of any approved drug for hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, or HIE. The trigger this month was ReAlta Life Sciences’ $40 million financing round to push pegtarazimod through its mid-stage STAR trial in babies with moderate or severe HIE, alongside the standard cooling treatment that remains the […]
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has cast Amaravati’s quantum push as a test of whether the country can build strategic technology capacity at home rather than remain tied to foreign platforms, using the launch of two indigenous open-access facilities to argue that partnership with global companies need not mean dependence. The remarks came days after the state unveiled Amaravati 1S and Amaravati 1Q on World Quantum Day, presenting the project as both a technology milestone and a political statement about capability.
Speaking in Amaravati, Naidu pushed back on questions over reliance on companies such as IBM, saying the starting point mattered less than whether domestic institutions could absorb, adapt and eventually build. He described the new facility as proof that companies and researchers in the country are capable of producing quantum systems, while acknowledging that the path to scale will involve collaboration. That framing is central to the state government’s pitch: use foreign alliances where useful, but ensure design, testing, skills and manufacturing depth are developed locally.
The immediate trigger for that argument was the April 14 launch of the Amaravati Quantum Reference Facility, or AQRF, spread across SRM University-AP in Amaravati and Medha Towers in Gannavaram. Andhra Pradesh has described the systems as the country’s first indigenously built, open-access quantum computer test beds, intended to let researchers, startups and industry users test hardware under operating conditions rather than rely only on closed imported machines. Officials say the site is designed to validate processors, cryogenic systems, amplifiers and control electronics, with access for hands-on study and benchmarking.
That matters because quantum computing remains a field in which much of the world’s high-end hardware is controlled by a small number of companies and laboratories. Andhra Pradesh officials and syndicated reports on the launch said about 85 per cent of the facility’s components were manufactured domestically, a claim being used to support the government’s assertion that a “sovereign hardware ecosystem” is now possible. The systems were developed with support from institutions including the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, the Indian Institute of Science and the Defence Research and Development Organisation, alongside younger firms working on hardware integration.
Yet the sovereignty message sits alongside a second reality: Amaravati’s longer-term quantum ambitions still rely on international corporate participation. IBM, Tata Consultancy Services and the Andhra Pradesh government announced in May 2025 that the planned Quantum Valley Tech Park in Amaravati would seek to host an IBM Quantum System Two with a 156-qubit Heron processor, subject to export licences and final agreements, while TCS would work on algorithms and applications. Naidu himself described that project at the time as part of the National Quantum Mission and a route to job creation and industrial use cases.
That leaves Andhra Pradesh trying to strike a careful balance. On one hand, the state wants the credibility, tooling and developer ecosystem that come with IBM and TCS. On the other, Naidu is signalling that strategic depth cannot rest on access alone. His comparison with the telecom sector was meant to make that case: the country did not master mobile and network technologies overnight, but built capability over time through policy support, local firms and institutional confidence. In quantum, he appears to be arguing for the same sequence — collaborate first where necessary, but move steadily towards domestic competence.
The wider national backdrop supports that ambition. The National Quantum Mission, approved in April 2023 with an outlay of Rs 6,003.65 crore running through 2030-31, is meant to seed research, industrial development and applications across computing, communications, sensing and materials. The Department of Science and Technology says the mission aims to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers in the 50 to 1,000 physical qubit range and has already set up four thematic hubs led by IISc Bengaluru, IIT Madras, IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi. Amaravati’s project is therefore not operating in isolation; it is seeking to attach itself to a national push that is still in its build-out phase.
A rumour that distance learning in the UAE would continue beyond April 17 has been formally denied, with education authorities making clear that no decision had been issued to extend the current remote-learning period to May 1 and urging families to rely only on official channels for updates. Existing schedules, as communicated by the authorities, remained unchanged at the time of the clarification. The clarification matters because […]
Quantum computing has taken a meaningful step from theory towards application after researchers showed that a hybrid system combining quantum hardware with artificial intelligence can improve predictions of chaotic physical systems, a class of problems that has long frustrated scientists because small errors grow quickly over time. The work, led by University College London and published in Science Advances on April 17, found that the method delivered […]
Hackers exploited a cross-chain bridge tied to liquid restaking protocol Kelp DAO on Saturday, draining about $290 million in rsETH and sending shockwaves through decentralised finance markets as the losses spread into lending platforms and renewed questions over the security of multichain infrastructure. Bloomberg reported the theft at nearly $300 million, while market and on-chain reports put the value at roughly $292 million to $294 million. […]