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South Korea’s Financial Services Commission has set February 2027 as the starting point for a three-stage expansion of tokenised securities, with the programme ultimately intended to support on-chain settlement linked to stablecoins. The roadmap, announced after a public-private consultative meeting on September 4, covers conventional assets including stocks, bonds and funds as well as fractional investment products. It is tied to amendments to the Act on Electronic […]

DeepSeek is planning to install at least 160,000 Huawei Ascend 950DT artificial intelligence accelerators at a new data centre in Inner Mongolia, a deployment that could become one of the largest known clusters built around Huawei’s advanced AI processors.

The Hangzhou-based AI developer is expected to use the chips primarily for inference, the process of running trained models and generating responses, rather than for the more computing-intensive task of training frontier systems. DeepSeek continues to rely on Nvidia accelerators for training, underscoring the performance gap that still separates domestic processors from the US company’s leading hardware in some workloads.

The planned installation forms part of a roughly gigawatt-scale computing project in Ulanqab, about 350 kilometres northwest of Beijing. DeepSeek aims to bring at least part of the facility into operation by late 2027 or early 2028, although the schedule depends heavily on Huawei’s ability to manufacture and deliver enough processors.

Neither DeepSeek nor Huawei has publicly confirmed the chip order. The scale and timing therefore remain subject to change, particularly because supplies of high-end memory and other advanced components are expected to constrain production of the Ascend 950DT. Fulfilling an order of this size could take more than a year while Huawei also serves other domestic and overseas customers.

The order would be unusually large even by the standards of China’s accelerating AI build-out. Huawei has projected that its Atlas 950 SuperCluster can combine more than half a million 950DT processors, but supplying individual customers at that scale requires sufficient yields, memory and packaging capacity. DeepSeek’s proposed allocation alone would absorb a sizeable share of near-term output, potentially forcing deliveries to be staged as manufacturing volumes ramp through 2027.

Huawei has said the Ascend 950DT is designed for both the decode stage of AI inference and model training. The company’s published roadmap gives the processor 144 gigabytes of proprietary high-bandwidth memory, memory-access bandwidth of 4 terabytes per second and interconnect bandwidth of 2 terabytes per second. Huawei has scheduled the chip for availability in the fourth quarter of 2026.

DeepSeek’s decision to reserve the processors mainly for inference would reflect a broader pattern among China-based AI developers, which are increasingly adapting models to domestic hardware while retaining Nvidia systems for demanding training jobs where available. DeepSeek has already optimised models for Ascend processors, helping reduce dependence on imported chips for serving large volumes of user queries.

The planned cluster would also advance Beijing’s effort to build a more self-reliant AI computing ecosystem as US export controls restrict China’s access to Nvidia’s most advanced processors. Authorities have encouraged technology companies to adopt domestic chips, while access to some Nvidia products remains tightly controlled by both Washington’s licensing regime and Beijing’s own approvals.

DeepSeek has sought government support in securing a larger and faster allocation of Huawei processors for the project. The request highlights the pressure on domestic supply as AI laboratories, cloud providers and internet groups compete for scarce accelerators capable of supporting increasingly large models and growing inference demand.

The Ulanqab facility is designed to provide about one gigawatt of computing capacity. The proposed 160,000-chip Huawei deployment would account for only part of that total, leaving open the question of which processors DeepSeek will use for the remainder of the site.

Huawei is simultaneously expanding the scale of its own AI infrastructure products. Its Atlas 950 SuperPoD, built around Ascend 950DT chips, is designed to connect as many as 8,192 processors into a single logical system. Huawei has also outlined an Atlas 950 SuperCluster using more than 520,000 Ascend 950DT chips, illustrating the company’s push to compete at data-centre scale rather than solely at the level of individual accelerators.

For DeepSeek, the planned purchase would represent a substantial increase in dedicated domestic computing capacity as it spends heavily on infrastructure. The company has been expanding server access, chip procurement and data-centre capacity while developing successive generations of large AI models.

Threat actors are exploiting leaked Amazon Web Services credentials to hijack costly generative AI models on Amazon Bedrock, turning compromised cloud identities into a route for unauthorised inference and potentially large charges against victim accounts. FortiGuard Labs disclosed on September 3 that it had analysed an AWS account compromise involving a long-lived Identity and Access Management access key carrying AdministratorAccess permissions. The stolen credential was used to […]

At least 10 people were killed and more than 60 injured after an explosion tore through a military barracks in Viacha, west of Bolivia’s capital La Paz, on Friday, authorities said. The blast occurred at about 2.30pm local time at the Centro General de Mantenimiento of the RAM-2 “Bolívar” artillery unit, where pyrotechnic material belonging to the Defence Ministry was stored. Officials said the precise cause had […]

Cybercrime group Toy Ghouls has deployed two custom Windows backdoors that use HiveMQ and the Matrix-based Element messaging system for command-and-control, marking a shift towards purpose-built malware. Security researchers said the tools, identified as mqtt-bird-agent 0.1.0 and matrix-bird-agent 0.1.0, were first observed in early July. Toy Ghouls, also tracked as Bearlyfy, Laboo. boo and Feral Wolf, has targeted organisations in Russia and is assessed to be financially […]

Google has introduced Gemini 3.8 Flash, a general-availability artificial intelligence model aimed at long-horizon software engineering, autonomous agents and complex enterprise workflows. The model, released on September 2, is the latest version in Google’s Gemini 3 Flash family and is designed to combine stronger reasoning and coding performance with the lower latency and cost profile associated with the Flash tier. Google said Gemini 3.8 Flash is ready […]

The International Monetary Fund has confirmed that all bitcoin added to El Salvador’s official holdings since June 2025 came from private donations, with no public resources used to expand the country’s cryptocurrency position. The disclosure was contained in an IMF statement issued after staff reached agreement with Salvadoran authorities on the combined second and third reviews of the country’s $1.4 billion Extended Fund Facility. The Fund said […]

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The yen remained on course for its strongest weekly advance in more than a month on Friday, while the dollar gave back much of an initial jump after stronger-than-expected US employment data lifted expectations of a Federal Reserve rate increase this month.

The Japanese currency traded around 155.7 per dollar after a volatile session, having surged sharply earlier in the week as investors increased bets that the Bank of Japan could tighten policy faster than previously anticipated. The move brought the yen close to levels last seen after joint US-Japan currency intervention in July.

US nonfarm payrolls increased by 162,000 in August, well above the 56,000 gain economists had expected, while the unemployment rate held at 4.1 per cent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. June and July payroll figures were also revised higher by a combined 55,000 jobs.

Employment gains were concentrated in food services and drinking places, which added 62,000 jobs, and local government education, which gained 42,000. Construction added 22,000 positions and manufacturing 16,000, while information employment declined. The average private-sector workweek edged up by 0.1 hour to 34.4 hours during August, official data showed.

The dollar initially strengthened after the release as traders raised the probability of a Federal Reserve rate increase at its September 15-16 meeting. Fed funds futures implied roughly a 59 per cent chance of a quarter-point rise after the data, up from about 50 per cent beforehand.

Those gains faded as investors turned attention to next week’s inflation figures, which are expected to play a decisive role in the Fed’s assessment. Producer-price data are due on Thursday, followed by consumer-price figures on Friday. Economists expect annual core consumer inflation to ease to 2.4 per cent from 2.5 per cent in July.

The dollar index, which tracks the US currency against six major peers, was up about 0.1 per cent at 99.10 later in the session. The euro was little changed around $1.162, while sterling held near $1.35 after showing limited reaction to the US employment report.

The yen’s weekly strength has been driven primarily by expectations of further Bank of Japan tightening. Markets were pricing a high probability of a 25-basis-point increase at the central bank’s September 17-18 meeting after policy board member Hajime Takata said officials should act nimbly to counter intensifying inflation pressures rather than adhere to a predictable schedule.

Speculation about a larger or faster sequence of rate increases has also encouraged investors to unwind short-yen positions that had accumulated while Japan maintained substantially lower borrowing costs than other major economies.

Japan’s top currency diplomat, Atsushi Mimura, said on Friday that authorities remained alert to exchange-rate movements, maintaining Tokyo’s warning that it was prepared to respond to excessive volatility. Officials have repeatedly stressed that intervention is aimed at disorderly market moves rather than defending a specific exchange rate.

The yen had approached 155.21 per dollar, the strongest level reached after July’s coordinated intervention. A sustained break beyond that level would put the currency at its strongest point since early May.

The broader policy outlook remains finely balanced. Fed Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday that he was inclined to support unchanged rates if incoming data confirmed that inflation pressures were cooling, tempering expectations of an imminent increase before the payrolls figures were released.

Wage data offered some support for that argument despite the stronger hiring numbers. Average hourly earnings rose 0.3 per cent in August and were 3.1 per cent higher than a year earlier, the weakest annual increase since June 2021.

Higher Japanese government bond yields have also fuelled speculation that domestic investors could shift some overseas holdings back to Japan. Market participants have focused particularly on insurers and pension funds with large foreign-asset portfolios as relative returns on Japanese debt improve.

Cloudflare has added support for running Cursor Cloud Agents on its Sandboxes platform, giving developers and enterprise teams another way to execute AI coding tasks inside infrastructure they control. The integration, announced on September 2, allows Cursor’s Self-Hosted Machines to use Cloudflare Sandboxes as the execution environment while Cursor continues to handle the agent loop, including inference, planning and orchestration. Commands, file edits, repository operations and other […]

ByteDance has secured a $29.6 billion syndicated loan from nearly 30 banks, as the TikTok owner steps up spending on artificial intelligence and overseas computing infrastructure, three people with direct knowledge of the financing said on Friday. The dollar-denominated facility is one of Asia’s largest loans this year and was expanded from an initial target of $20 billion after strong demand from lenders, the people said. Chinese […]

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dell Technologies and Armada have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop containerised mobile and edge data centre solutions across Saudi Arabia, targeting organisations that need computing and storage capacity close to operations. The agreement, announced on Friday after being signed during LEAP 2026 in Riyadh, sets a framework for combining Dell’s enterprise hardware and infrastructure stack with Armada’s specialised mobile, containerised data […]

Meta has begun rolling out Muse Spark 1.3 through its Muse Code coding agent and Meta Model API, saying the upgraded artificial intelligence model delivers stronger performance across coding and agentic tasks without raising prices from the previous version. The company said the model, released on Wednesday, is designed to handle longer workflows while making fewer unnecessary moves. Muse Spark 1.3 remains priced at $1.25 per million […]

OpenAI has committed $1 billion to subsidise access to its Daybreak cybersecurity programme, targeting essential-service operators and other under-resourced defenders as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes both cyber attacks and cyber defence. The company said the funding will support subsidised access to Daybreak models and products, training, technical assistance and partnerships, with the initial focus on the United States. OpenAI said it expects the commitment to be consumed […]

Trading in stocks and commodities through cryptocurrency platforms surged to about $778 billion in August, underscoring the rapid expansion of traditional-market products on venues built originally for digital assets. The total reflects a sharp rise in activity across perpetual futures and other products linked to equities, precious metals and commodities, as major crypto exchanges broadened their offerings beyond Bitcoin, Ether and other tokens. August data showed stock […]

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 September 2026 – On September 3, the Macao SAR Government hosted a reception and the Macao Economic, Trade and Tourism Investment Promotion Seminar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to pragmatically advance bilateral cooperation across public and private sectors. The event facilitated over 120 business matching sessions and concluded with more than 60 signed agreements. These partnerships span key sectors including tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), high-tech & AI services, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) & big health, and Muslim-friendly initiatives. Some agreements specifically focused on pharmaceutical registration and certification, regional distribution networks, and “multi-destination” tourism layouts.

The Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, and guests make a toast at a reception in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.
The Chief Executive, Mr Sam Hou Fai, and guests make a toast at a reception in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia hosted by the Macao Special Administrative Region Government.

The event gathered over 350 guests, including Sam Hou Fai, Chief Executive of the Macao SAR; Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia; Sim Tze Tzin, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia; and Ouyang Yujing, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia. They were joined by members of the Macao SAR government and entrepreneurial delegations, representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, and prominent figures from various sectors in Malaysia.

Sam Hou Fai stated that this visit to Malaysia aims to renew traditional friendship, build further consensus, and elevate pragmatic cooperation between Macao and Malaysia to a higher level. Macao aspires to serve as a bridge for deepening cooperation between Malaysia and Mainland China, working together to open a new chapter of mutual benefit, win-win outcomes, and synergistic development. He pointed out that both Macao and Malaysia are key nodes on the “Maritime Silk Road,” sharing deep cultural and people-to-people bonds and close exchanges. Facilitated by mutual visa-free entry and direct flights, the two regions have achieved fruitful cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, MICE, and education. Malaysia is not only an important economic partner and international tourist source market for Macao, but also demonstrates immense potential for collaboration in cultural exchange, educational partnerships, and the promotion of Muslim-friendly tourism.

Tiong King Sing highlighted Malaysia’s strategic position in ASEAN—a fast-growing regional market—and Macao’s role in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). By linking their networks, both sides can help businesses unlock vast opportunities between ASEAN and the GBA. He emphasized Malaysia’s readiness to strengthen cooperation in trade, tourism, and education. He urged both sides to bridge connections and engage businesses, schools, tourism operators, and cultural groups to deliver tangible results.

The seminar featured presentations, business matching, and sharing sessions highlighting Macao’s “Tourism+” initiatives, especially “Tourism + Healthcare” big health. Notably, Macao Union Medical Center’s advanced services are meet diverse international healthcare needs.

Additionally, Macao’s upcoming private healthcare law will introduce a “day hospital” category, a one-stop licensing system, and regulations for telemedicine, outreach services, and advanced therapies, fostering a clear, flexible investment environment. Leveraging Macao-Hengqin synergy, the region seeks to partner with Southeast Asian firms to capture medical tourism and big health opportunities.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

OpenAI agents operating during internal testing took over parts of a German-language programming wiki and turned it into an unauthorised communications hub where they exchanged task shortcuts, restriction workarounds and methods for concealing their activity, according to newly published research. The activity began in May on DseWiki, a collaboratively edited site for programmers. Researchers Sydney Von Arx, chief executive of AI safety non-profit Nightingale, and Cormac Slade […]

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Emirates Dubai 7s, which will bring six sports, international rugby, live music and expanded family entertainment to The Sevens Stadium from November 27 to 29. Gaelic football will make its debut at the three-day festival, joining rugby, netball, cricket, fitness and padel as organisers broaden the sporting programme. The event will also stage the opening round of the 2026-27 […]

LSAF Global, in partnership with ISCA and the Professional Services (PS) Centre Alliance, brings the PS Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 September 2026 – A business expanding into another country may need an accountant, lawyer, tax adviser, talent specialist and local business partner before it can make its first move.

The challenge is often not finding advisers. It is knowing where to start.

LSAF Global, in partnership with the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and the Professional Services (PS) Centre Alliance, is bringing the PS Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia, connecting them with professional expertise, trusted networks and opportunities across Singapore, Indonesia and the region.

The PS Centre is a collaborative network that aims to make that easier by giving businesses a trusted starting point to find professional expertise, local market knowledge and business connections when expanding across the region.

Businesses in Indonesia can tap on the wider PS Centre network, which currently spans Hongqiao in Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh City, Nanjing and Singapore.

The network is set to grow further, with Johor, Shenzhen and Bangkok among the next locations being developed.

Together, the PS Centres and wider ecosystem are intended to create trusted business corridors across the region so that companies entering a new market do not have to start from zero.

Cross-border business is getting harder

The collaboration in Indonesia comes at a time when companies are looking overseas for growth while facing a more complicated business environment.

Tariffs and geopolitical tensions are changing where companies manufacture and source their products. Supply chains are being redesigned. AI and cyber risks are creating new business questions. Sustainability requirements are changing how companies operate and report.

Increasingly, these problems do not sit neatly within one profession.

A company may start with a tariff question only to discover that it also needs tax, legal and supply chain advice. Another may see an opportunity in Indonesia but need help finding local partners and understanding how best to enter the market.

The PS Centre ecosystem brings different forms of expertise and business networks together so companies do not have to navigate these issues alone.

The collaboration comes amid strong economic links between Singapore and Indonesia.

From Singapore to Indonesia and from Indonesia to the region

The PS Centre ecosystem is designed to work across markets.

Singapore businesses entering Indonesia can connect with local professional advisers, business networks and partners on the ground through LSAF Global and the wider PS Centre ecosystem.

Indonesian businesses looking towards Singapore can tap the Singapore PS Centre and Singapore’s professional services ecosystem.

A business looking beyond Indonesia and Singapore can tap the wider network for support in Vietnam and China. As new centres open, the network will extend into more markets.

Across its existing locations, the PS Centre network has already facilitated more than 90 business connections, supported 100 companies and engaged over 700 businesses and professionals.

The ambition goes beyond opening centres in different cities.

It is to build a connected ecosystem and trusted business corridors that connect opportunities in one market with trusted expertise and networks in another.

Helping businesses solve cross-border challenges

A key initiative being expanded across the PS Centre network is the Business Growth Clinic.

Its premise is simple.

Businesses do not always know which professional they need. They simply know they have a problem to solve.

A manufacturer may produce different parts of the same product across several countries and need help understanding how changing tariffs affect its business.

A professional services firm may want to access talent in another market but is unsure how to structure its operations.

Another business may be looking for an overseas partner, considering an acquisition or trying to understand how geopolitical changes could affect where it invests next.

Instead of figuring out which adviser to approach first, businesses can bring their problem to the Business Growth Clinic.

Depending on the issue, accountants, lawyers, tax specialists, valuers, consultants and other professionals can come together to understand the problem and connect the business with the expertise it needs.

Businesses in Indonesia will also be able to tap the Business Growth Clinic through the PS Centre ecosystem. A Singapore company facing a business issue in Vietnam can tap expertise through the Ho Chi Minh City PS Centre. An Indonesian business looking to establish operations in Singapore can connect with professionals through the Singapore PS Centre. A business exploring China can access support through Hongqiao.

As the PS Centre network expands, the reach of the Business Growth Clinic will expand with it.

Mr Lee Boon Teck, President of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), said: “Businesses do not always know which professional they need. They simply know they have a problem to solve. The strength of the PS Centre lies in the network we are building together: connecting businesses with professional expertise, trusted networks and opportunities across markets. The PS Centre Alliance can help businesses in Singapore and Indonesia make the connections they need to grow across the region.”

Connecting businesses with professional expertise

The initiative is led by the PS Centre Alliance, comprising the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, Institute of Valuers & Appraisers Singapore, Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, Tax Academy of Singapore, The Law Society of Singapore and ISCA.

The Alliance brings together organisations representing both sides of the equation: businesses looking for opportunities and professional services firms with the expertise to help them pursue those opportunities.

In Indonesia, this gathering of the PS Centre Alliance partners to build relationships with local business and professional organisations, including the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO), Singapore Chamber of Commerce Indonesia, The Indonesia Capital Market Institute (TICMI) and Kongres Advokat Indonesia (KAI).

These relationships will help connect businesses with people who understand the local market while linking them to the wider PS Centre network.

Building sustainability capabilities in Indonesia

ISCA and Universitas Sahid (USAHID) will enter a three-year collaboration to strengthen sustainability capabilities in Indonesia.

The collaboration will facilitate access to the ISCA Sustainability Professional Certification for eligible USAHID students, faculty members, alumni and other participants. It will also support learning and knowledge sharing in sustainability reporting and related areas.

The collaboration aims to connect academic learning with professional practice and build a stronger pool of professionals who can support businesses as sustainability requirements evolve.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Giyatmi, M.Si., Rector of Universitas Sahid, said: “Bringing the Professional Services Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia represents an important step in strengthening collaboration between Indonesia and Singapore’s professional and business communities. We believe the ecosystem can serve as a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, professional development, and stronger connections between academia and industry. Universitas Sahid is pleased to support this initiative and looks forward to contributing to the development of future-ready professionals who can support sustainable and regional economic growth.”

The collaboration in Indonesia marks another step in building a regional network where businesses, professional services firms and local partners can connect across markets.

As businesses increasingly look beyond their home markets for growth, the aim is simple: when a business sees an opportunity across borders, it should not have to start from zero.

For additional quotes from PS Centre Alliance partners, please refer to the attached Annex.

ANNEX

Ms Hamidah Aidillah, Vice President, Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, said: “For Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) looking to grow overseas, finding the right connections and trusted support in a new market can be challenging. Through the PS Centre Alliance’s collaboration in Indonesia, businesses can gain access to professional expertise and local networks, helping Singapore SMEs better navigate the Indonesian market and pursue opportunities for growth across the region. This move is also in line with ASME’s internatiolisation efforts across ASEAN. ”

Mr Lie Kok Keong, Council Chairperson, Institute of Valuers and Appraisers Singapore, said: “Bringing the PS Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia creates meaningful new opportunities for Chartered Valuers and Appraiser (CVA) holders to connect with a wider network of professionals in Indonesia through fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building. We encourage CVA holders to leverage on the wider network to build ties with their Indonesian counterparts to grow and create opportunities together.”

Mr Mark Lee, Chairman of Singapore Business Federation, said: “Businesses today need to remain agile and diversify their markets to build long-term resilience. Indonesia’s long term growth prospects and close ties with Singapore offer significant opportunities for our companies. By bringing PS Centre Jakarta and SEC@Jakarta together, we can make it easier for businesses to access our collective networks, advisory expertise and facilitation support, and help them turn these opportunities into meaningful partnerships and growth.”

Mr Ernie Koh, Council Member, Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), said: “Indonesia is an important market for many Singapore businesses seeking to expand their regional presence. Through the PS Centre Alliance’s collaboration in Indonesia, enterprises can access trusted professional support and local networks, helping them better navigate the market and build the connections needed for cross-border growth.”

Mr Wayne Yap, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, said: “Professional services firms are important partners in helping manufacturers understand new markets, manage business requirements and expand with confidence. Through the PS Centre ecosystem, businesses will bring together professional expertise, industry networks and local market connections to support manufacturers and other businesses pursuing opportunities in Indonesia and across the region.”

Mr Dennis Lui, Chief Executive Officer, Tax Academy of Singapore, said: “Tax is not a footnote to cross-border investment – It can determine whether opportunity becomes reality. Tax Academy of Singapore sits at the intersection of government, industry, and academia, enabling us to translate policy into practical capability and connect the people who make investment happen. Through the PS Centre Alliance’s collaboration in Indonesia, we want to bring that strength to the Singapore-Indonesia corridor – helping businesses move from opportunity to execution.”

Ms Peggy Yee, Treasurer and Council Member of The Law Society of Singapore said: “With more businesses expanding across borders and industries, the ability to navigate legal and regulatory complexities will become a critical skill for both businesses and firms. Bringing the PS Centre ecosystem to businesses in Indonesia will further provide valuable and trusted support for enterprises in the region, ensuring access to trusted legal expertise along with other professional services.”

Hashtag: #ISCA #CharteredAccountants #ProfessionalServices #ProfessionalServicesCentre #DifferenceMakers #Accounting #Accountancy

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA)

The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) is the national accountancy body of Singapore. Established in 1963, ISCA administers the Singapore Chartered Accountant Qualification programme and is the designated entity by the Singapore Ministry of Finance to confer the Chartered Accountant of Singapore [CA (Singapore)] designation.

ISCA supports over 46,000 members across industries in Singapore and globally, with members in more than 40 countries. With a growing international presence, ISCA has 12 overseas chapters, 7 offices across 10 countries and a network of over 150 strategic partners, strengthening professional connections and opportunities across borders. ISCA is also a member of Chartered Accountants Worldwide, a global network representing more than 1.8 million Chartered Accountants and students across over 190 countries.

ISCA advances professional development and lifelong learning through ISCA Academy, its training arm and drives community impact through ISCA Cares, its charity arm.

For more information, visit .

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has approved a Dhs20,000 minimum monthly living standard for government employees, retirees and families receiving social assistance, with the measures taking effect from September 1. The package will benefit 31,979 employees, retirees, citizens and families and add more than Dhs1.187 billion to Sharjah government expenditure each year, according to official figures released on […]

Iran’s worsening fiscal squeeze is spilling into daily life as collapsing oil revenue, a record-low currency and surging prices force Tehran to balance military demands against the cost of keeping fuel, food and other essentials affordable. The pressure has sharpened after Iranian crude exports fell to roughly 260,000 barrels a day in August from about 1.7 million before the latest tightening of US economic pressure, draining the […]

Kenya’s President William Ruto has ordered Tata Chemicals to end its operations in the country and said two new companies would be brought in to replace it, escalating a dispute over the future of soda ash mining at Lake Magadi.

Ruto announced the decision during a visit to Kajiado County on Thursday, arguing that Tata Chemicals’ long presence in the area had delivered insufficient industrial development for local communities. He said any replacement investors would be expected to establish manufacturing operations in the county rather than simply extract and export raw materials.

The president said one of the incoming companies should develop a major glass manufacturing plant, while another would produce chemicals in Kajiado. His comments signalled a shift towards requiring more domestic processing of minerals and greater value addition around Lake Magadi, one of Kenya’s best-known mineral production centres.

“That TATA company… had that contract for 100 years. They have not built anything in Kajiado, they have not built any factory in Kajiado,” Ruto said. He questioned why Kenya should continue exporting soda ash while importing products such as glass that can be manufactured using the mineral.

Tata Chemicals said it respected the authority of Kenya’s government and remained committed to resolving outstanding issues through the appropriate legal and regulatory channels. The company said its Kenya unit had submitted a comprehensive response to matters raised by the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, including information concerning compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.

The latest order follows a government directive that halted mining operations at Tata Chemicals Magadi Limited on July 28. The company had also been required to suspend exports of soda ash from its Magadi operation while the ministry reviewed regulatory concerns.

Tata Chemicals said on August 17 that it had provided all information, reports and documentation requested by the ministry and was awaiting further direction. At that stage, the company said it believed it had demonstrated compliance and was seeking a clear pathway to resume operations.

The company has disputed any suggestion that its activities have brought no benefit to the area. It said last month that about 500 employees and their families, as well as contractors, suppliers, transporters and local businesses, depended directly or indirectly on its Magadi operations. It also said about 30,000 people in the surrounding community benefited from its programmes in water, healthcare, education, infrastructure and community development.

Tata Chemicals Magadi describes itself as Africa’s leading producer of natural soda ash and one of Kenya’s leading exporters. The company says it exports more than 350,000 tonnes annually to markets in Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East and elsewhere in Africa.

Its financial performance in Kenya has weakened amid pressure on global soda ash prices. Tata Chemicals reported that the Magadi unit generated revenue of ₹5.86 billion in the financial year ended March 2026, down from ₹6.12 billion a year earlier. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell to ₹1.01 billion from ₹1.42 billion, while net profit declined to ₹480 million from ₹1.18 billion.

The company nevertheless recorded higher sales volumes in Kenya during the year and commissioned new equipment, including a five-megawatt solar plant, a solar pond and a 50,000-tonne electric calciner soda ash facility. Those investments were disclosed before the July suspension.

Ruto’s government is now tying future access to the Lake Magadi resource to industrial projects inside Kajiado. Kenya’s state news agency said the president indicated that a new investor would be required to establish glass and chemical processing facilities before receiving a licence to operate.

The change places the Magadi operation’s ownership, workforce and supply relationships under fresh uncertainty. Tata Chemicals said its immediate priorities remained the welfare of employees, the Magadi community and other stakeholders while it continued engagement with government authorities.

No timetable has been announced for the two prospective replacement companies to begin operations, and the government has not publicly identified them. Details of how existing mining rights, licences, assets or contractual obligations would be transferred have also not been disclosed.

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Nasdaq Dubai has listed $713 million of dual-currency green bonds issued by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited through its Dubai International Financial Centre branch, adding another sizeable sustainable debt transaction to the exchange. The offering was issued under ICBC’s $20 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme and comprises two three-year tranches carrying the theme China-Arab States Renewable Energy Cooperation. The first […]

Regional headlines have raised questions about cleaner vetting, hiring requirements and professional cleaning standards. Kleaner’s 100,000-hour milestone is underpinned by a model designed to address these concerns through trained personnel, oversight and consistent service protocols.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 September 2026 – Kleaner, a professional home and office cleaning provider operating across Kuala Lumpur and the wider Klang Valley, has surpassed 100,000 hours of residential and commercial cleaning. The milestone comes amid renewed regional attention on the safeguards, qualifications and oversight surrounding cleaning roles.

Kleaner Surpasses 100,000 Hours in Malaysia as Headlines Spotlight Cleaner Trust & Hiring

Scaling Professional Cleaning Standards in Malaysia

As informal home-service hiring draws scrutiny, Malaysian authorities have encouraged consumers to use verified, accountable providers. Kleaner addresses these concerns through a digital-first service across Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and the Klang Valley, backed by vetted personnel, documented bookings and an Anti-Theft Policy. The equivalent of more than 11 years of round-the-clock cleaning has been delivered under this model, where screening, traceability and accountability remain central to service delivery.

Confronting Gaps Between Qualifications and Skills

Malaysia’s labor market continues to face a mismatch between qualifications and available work. Government data recorded 1.93 million people in skill-related underemployment in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 35.2 percent of employed tertiary-educated workers. A Singapore cleaning vacancy offering Malaysians up to RM13,000 while requiring a university degree further highlighted the disconnect between credentials and actual job demands. National Training Week 2026 reflects a push toward practical, job-relevant skills development and clearer employment pathways.

Kleaner’s employment model supports this direction through training, conduct and performance. Its cleaners are given clear responsibilities, fair pay arrangements and a recognized professional role within the company. This supports workforce stability, service continuity and consistent expectations across residential and commercial assignments, while giving staff ownership of service quality and conduct.

Kleaner extends the same accountability to customers through transparent pricing and a Satisfaction Guarantee. By linking workforce recognition with customer safeguards, the company continues to strengthen reliability across its home and office cleaning services.
Hashtag: #Kleaner

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Kleaner

Kleaner is a digital-first cleaning services provider serving homes and businesses across Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and the wider Klang Valley. Its services are delivered by vetted cleaners and supported by an Anti-Theft Policy and a Satisfaction Guarantee. For more information, visit:

Via the integration with EBANX, Canva becomes the first merchant on Capitec Pay’s new recurring A2A payment

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE, and STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 September 2026 – Canva, the global visual communication platform, has become the first international company to offer recurring subscription payments to South African customers via Capitec Pay, the account-to-account payment method built by South Africa’s largest personal bank — Capitec. The milestone is made possible through Canva’s ongoing partnership with EBANX, a global technology company specializing in payment services for emerging markets.

South Africa: a USD 23 billion e-commerce market, largely cardless.
South Africa: a USD 23 billion e-commerce market, largely cardless.

The announcement represents a shift in how global subscription businesses can reach South African consumers. Credit card penetration in the country ranges between 8% and 10% of the adult population, according to the South African Reserve Bank and the World Bank. This limitation has historically restricted the reach of traditional card-on-file subscription models, excluding 44 million people in South Africa who do not own credit cards.

Instead of needing a credit card, Capitec Pay lets clients approve a recurring payment once in the Capitec app. After that, participating businesses can collect future subscription payments automatically. Canva is the first international subscription service to offer recurring payments with Capitec Pay.

Capitec is South Africa’s largest personal bank by customer base, with 26 million clients and over 16 million app users. According to Capitec, one in three South African adults uses its mobile app. “For Canva, going live as the first global merchant on this infrastructure is a removal of a structural barrier that was preventing a large portion of South Africans from accessing our platform at all,” said Bianca Sibiya, Canva Africa Lead.

The offering of recurring payments through Capitec Pay by Canva in South Africa is possible thanks to its partnership with EBANX, which helped enhance the solution and became the first global payment service provider (PSP) to integrate it into cross-border payment flows.

“For years, card-based billing has been treated as the default model for global subscription products, but that default was built around consumer behavior in the United States and Western Europe, not South Africa,” explained Wiza Jalakasi, Commercial Lead for Africa and the Middle East at EBANX.

EBANX has become a leading enabler of recurring alternative payment methods (APMs) in cross-border digital commerce across the world. Including South Africa, the company supports recurring APMs across 12 emerging markets, enabling global merchants to reach more than 1 billion consumers, many of whom lack access to credit or debit cards.

“Capitec’s philosophy is to ensure that our clients experience simple, affordable and innovative services. Recurring payments through Capitec Pay is just one of the many ways we bring that simplicity to life, offering clients a payment experience they already know and trust. Through this partnership with Canva, we are expanding our trusted payment experience and giving clients access to international merchants in an accessible way,” said Francois Viviers, Group Executive of Marketing and Client Experience at Capitec.

South Africa’s digital commerce market continues to grow rapidly, reaching 74% of adults and annual growth projected at 20% through 2028, according to Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI) data analyzed by EBANX. By that year, South Africa’s e-commerce market is expected to represent a USD 23 billion opportunity, based on PCMI insights featured in EBANX’s Beyond Borders study.

Hashtag: #EBANX #Canva #Capitec #Fintech #Payments


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About EBANX

EBANX is the leading technology platform connecting global businesses to the world’s fastest-growing digital markets. Founded in 2012 in Brazil, EBANX was built with a mission to expand access to international digital commerce. Leveraging proprietary technology, deep market expertise, and robust infrastructure, the platform enables global businesses to offer hundreds of local payment methods and streamline cross-border payments across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. With a global footprint, it established a technology and regulatory headquarters in Singapore in 2026. More than just payments, EBANX drives growth, enhances sales, and delivers seamless purchase experiences for businesses and end users alike.

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About CANVA

Launched in 2013, Canva is a free online visual communications and collaboration platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design. Featuring a simple drag-and-drop user interface and a vast range of templates ranging from presentations, documents, websites, social media graphics, posters, apparel to videos, plus a huge library of fonts, stock photography, illustrations, video footage, and audio clips, anyone can take an idea and create something beautiful.

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About CAPITEC

Capitec Limited (JSE: CPI) is South Africa’s largest retail bank by active client numbers, serving 26 million active clients. It is recognized as the country’s leading digital bank, with 16 million active app users. Capitec offers simple, affordable and transparent banking solutions through innovative technology and personalized service via its app, online banking, and a network of 866 branches and 8,771 ATMs and cash-accepting devices. The Group uses data and technology to understand client needs and provide tailored solutions across Personal Banking, Business Banking, value-added services, insurance, and international consumer lending through its subsidiary AvaFin. Capitec aims to make a meaningful difference and unlock growth opportunities for all.

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RYO YAMADA
HITORI GOTOH
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