US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to “get smart soon” and sign a deal, sharpening pressure on Tehran as efforts to end the conflict remain stalled and Washington weighs keeping a naval blockade of Iranian ports in place for months. Trump used a Truth Social post on Wednesday to accuse Iran of failing to reach what he called a “non-nuclear deal”, saying Tehran “couldn’t get its […]
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has sharpened scrutiny of Sam Altman-linked World, accusing the biometric identity and crypto project of using a low-float token structure and incentives that placed poorer users at the centre of a controversial data-gathering model. The criticism, posted on X and amplified across crypto markets, focused on Worldcoin’s WLD token distribution, its iris-scanning sign-up system and the risk that verified accounts could be traded through […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s decision to leave OPEC and the wider OPEC+ framework from May 1, 2026 has introduced a new fault line in global oil diplomacy, raising questions over the future discipline of a producer alliance that has shaped crude supply policy for decades. The move ends nearly six decades of UAE participation in OPEC and removes one of the group’s most important Gulf […]
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said ships could resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz without every mine being removed, raising hopes of a faster reopening of one of the world’s most important energy corridors while leaving unresolved questions over risk, insurance and maritime security. Wright said a workable channel could be created for vessels moving in and out of the Gulf, rather than waiting for […]
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 April 2026 – Ant International is introducing the Agentic Mobile Protocol (AMP) for the agentic commerce industry to enable secure, AIOps-native agentic payment connection to mobile services including digital wallets, banking apps, super apps, and mobile portals from phones to wearable devices.
“We are deeply grateful for partners, acquirers and developers who contributed to this project. An agentic protocol for mobile commerce that ensures superior efficiency and security results will be key for businesses large and small expanding into the world’s fastest growing markets. We look forward to expanding our multi-layered partnerships to enable real-world successes of AI commerce,” said Jiang-Ming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer, Ant International.
Wallets and mobile payment key driver for agentic commerce
The global agentic commerce market could reach around USD 28 billion by 2030 with a 46% CAGR as the industry fast-forwards from pilot AI agent programs to full-scale autonomous transaction systems[1]. The number of global digital wallet users reached 4.4 billion in 2025, and is expected to exceed 6 billion – over 75% of the global population – by 2030[2].
While the new payment rails are positioned to become a primary interface for AI commerce, current AI payments protocols are designed largely for card rails. Merchants and digital wallets need to be able to offer smooth payment experience, authenticate trusted agents and verify credentials without disruption, as well as seamlessly handle post-checkout settlement and transaction management tasks in a mobile- and AI-native environment.
With the Agentic Mobile Protocol, merchants – LLMs, AI platforms, merchants with self-developed agents, and agent builders – and digital wallets can embed agentic payment functionality directly into their workflows, eliminating the need for system overhauls.
Ant International has open-sourced the AMP to help establish a universal, auditable standard to ensure that AI agents can transact securely and seamlessly across any global platform.
The AMP framework features:
A 40 member-strong wallet ecosystem in cross-sector coordination
Ant International is working with wallet partners of Alipay+, the company’s global wallet gateway, to implement the AMP. Alipay+ now connects over 40 digital wallet partners, covering 1.8 billion user accounts and 150 million merchants globally.
Building on this payment partnership network that spans wallets, acquirers, super apps and cards, Ant International is among the first partners of Mastercard and Visa to pilot card-based transaction capabilities for AI agents, while collaborating with Google on its protocols for agentic commerce and payments.
Hashtag: #AntInternational
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Ant International is a leading global digital payment, digitisation and financial technology provider. Through collaboration across the private and public sectors, our unified techfin platform supports financial institutions and merchants of all sizes to achieve inclusive growth through a comprehensive range of cutting-edge digital payment and financial services solutions. To learn more, please visit 
https://www.ant-intl.com/
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is preparing a major expansion into the United States natural gas sector, with plans that could commit tens of billions of dollars to assets spanning production, pipelines, liquefaction, export infrastructure and downstream supply. The push is being led through XRG, ADNOC’s international investment arm, which is examining 29 potential transactions as it seeks to build a vertically integrated […]
By Nantoo Banerjee Only six months in power, Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has emerged as the world’s most powerful woman reshaping the country’s domestic social and economic policies and international relations, taking a hard line on China. Takaichi has taken a firm stance on China suggesting that a “Taiwan contingency is a […]
The article Japan’s Pro-India Takaichi Is The World’s Most Powerful Lady appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gulf bourses posted modest gains on Sunday even as hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran weakened, leaving investors to balance fragile ceasefire expectations against higher oil prices, inflation risks and slowing global growth. Trading was cautious across the region, with market moves reflecting selective buying rather than broad confidence. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index rose 0.1 per cent, supported […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Nokia has chosen Egypt as its support hub for the Middle East and Africa, setting up a centralised operational centre in Cairo to handle regional support activities and customer services across one of the world’s most diverse telecoms markets. The move places Egypt at the centre of Nokia’s service delivery model for operators, enterprises and public-sector customers across the region. The Cairo hub […]
UAE aviation fuel supply chains are set for tighter coordination after ENOC Group and Emirates Petroleum Company, Emarat, signed an agreement to build a joint business continuity planning framework for Jet A-1 operations. The memorandum of understanding is designed to protect fuel availability at key aviation hubs during operational disruption, supply pressure or logistics constraints. It sets out a structured mechanism for cooperation between the two […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai President Donald Trump has cancelled a planned visit to Pakistan by two of his senior envoys for negotiations over the Iran conflict, leaving a fragile ceasefire under deeper strain and casting doubt on the next phase of diplomacy aimed at halting a war that has unsettled energy markets and widened security risks across West Asia. Trump told Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, and special […]
Dubai’s flagship carrier expects demand to recover quickly once the Iran conflict eases, with president Sir Tim Clark signalling confidence that operational disruption will not leave a lasting dent in the airline’s growth trajectory. Speaking by videolink at the CAPA Airline Leader Summit in Berlin on Thursday, Clark said Emirates could regain momentum by the end of the summer if a political or military settlement emerges within […]
“Retail today demands more than scale, it requires agility, digital precision and deep customer trust,” said Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson. “Being ranked among the world’s top 15 retailers is a timely affirmation that we are focusing on the right priorities: disciplined allocation of capital, an unwavering focus on customers, empowered by technology and executed with discipline.”
“As we celebrate our 185th anniversary this year, this recognition is especially meaningful. Since 1841, AS Watson has evolved through generations of change – economic cycles, technological revolutions and shifting consumer expectations. Our presence across Asia and Europe has strengthened our ability to combine the speed and digital dynamism of Asia with the operational excellence and retail heritage of Europe.”
“In an increasingly digital retail world, we believe our true differentiation lies in combining advanced data, AI and seamless O+O (Offline plus Online) integrated capabilities with something far more enduring – the human touch. That combination of digital precision and human service drives stronger conversion, deeper loyalty and long-term trust. It is this balance that has sustained us for 185 years, and will continue to define our leadership in the years ahead.”
Scaling AI and Personalisation at Global Reach
AS Watson has accelerated investments in AI-powered personalisation, advanced analytics and digital ecosystems across its brands. By integrating loyalty data, online platforms and in-store engagement, the Group continues to enhance customer relevance while improving operational efficiency.
This data-driven approach enables:
– A strengthened focus on customer needs
– More precise assortment and pricing strategies
– Enhanced loyalty engagement
– Faster supply chain responsiveness
Resilient Growth in a Volatile Environment
Amid ongoing supply chain volatility, cost pressures and shifting consumer behaviour, AS Watson has demonstrated resilience through diversified geographic exposure, strong local market execution and disciplined cost management.
The Group’s scale, combined with agile regional operations, positions it to respond swiftly to market dynamics while sustaining long-term growth.
Hashtag: #ASWatson
https://www.aswatson.com/our-company/o-and-o-strategy/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aswatson/
https://www.facebook.com/ASWGroupofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/aswatsongroup_corp/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Established in 1841, AS Watson Group is one of the world’s longest-standing and most recognised retail companies with roots in Asia. Today, the company operates over 17,000 stores across 12 retail brands in 31 markets, employing 130,000 people globally. This makes AS Watson Group the largest international health and beauty retailer in the world.
In the fiscal year 2025, AS Watson Group reported revenue of over US$26 billion. The company’s technology-enabled O+O (Offline plus Online) platforms serve over 6 billion shoppers annually, seamlessly integrating physical and digital retail experiences.
AS Watson Group supported over 180 charitable and non-profit organisations every year, dedicating over 40,000 hours of volunteer work to serve over 370,000 people in need in our operating markets.
AS Watson Group is also a member of the world-renowned multinational conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, which has four core businesses ‐ ports and related services, retail, infrastructure and telecommunications in over 50 countries.
Please visit www.aswatson.com/our-company/o-and-o-strategy/ for more information.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Global gas markets face a deeper supply squeeze after the International Energy Agency estimated that conflict in the Middle East could remove about 120 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas from world supply between 2026 and 2030, a loss equal to roughly 15% of expected LNG availability over the period. The warning marks a sharp reversal for a market that had been […]
Washington’s push for renewed face-to-face talks with Tehran has slowed as President Donald Trump’s combative social media messages and continuing naval blockade of Iranian ports deepen distrust around a fragile ceasefire. Officials familiar with the negotiations say the tone of Trump’s Truth Social posts, combined with military pressure in and around the Strait of Hormuz, has complicated efforts by Pakistan and other intermediaries to bring the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oil climbed for a fifth straight session as stalled efforts to revive US-Iran de-escalation talks left traders bracing for a prolonged disruption to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important crude and gas corridors. Brent crude rose about 0.5% to trade near $106 a barrel, lifting its gains for the year to roughly 74%. The benchmark […]
Two fully laden Iranian tankers have slipped out of the Persian Gulf with their tracking signals muted, underscoring how Tehran’s oil trade is adapting to a tightening US-led maritime squeeze even as warships, seizures and threats of interception raise the stakes across one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Reports circulating on Wednesday said the vessels were part of a broader flotilla that has moved millions […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Washington’s suggestion that the United Arab Emirates might need outside financial support has drawn a swift rebuttal from Abu Dhabi, with the country’s envoy in the United States saying such claims misread the strength of the federation’s economy and balance sheet. The response followed remarks by President Donald Trump that a currency swap arrangement with the UAE was under consideration and that he […]
Oil traders are warning that the prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is no longer just a supply crisis but an escalating threat to global growth, as high fuel costs begin to erode consumption, strain industry and darken the outlook for the world economy. Shipping through the waterway remains severely restricted, with only a handful of vessels moving through compared with the normal daily flow, while […]
Arjavi Indraneesh While demand for shisha smoking is steadily going up, air quality regulations, fire safety concerns and the operational burden of managing charcoal-based systems have historically presented challenges to hospitality venues. Ronan Barry, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs at AIR, the global leader in hookah and pioneer in advanced inhalation technologies, spoke to the Arabian Post on the emerging shisha trends and the company’s future plans. […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai International Financial Centre has unveiled plans to remake itself as what it describes as the world’s first AI-native financial centre, tying the ambition to a projected $3.5 billion contribution to Dubai’s economy and the creation of 25,000 jobs as artificial intelligence is woven into regulation, operations, talent development and the district’s built environment. The move marks a step beyond the common industry […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Donald Trump has warned that large-scale bombing of Iran will resume if no agreement is reached before the ceasefire expires on Wednesday evening in Washington, sharpening pressure on Tehran at a moment when diplomacy remains uncertain and the risk of a wider regional shock is still high. The US president has said his sole fixed demand is that Iran must not acquire a […]
Strategy has stepped up its bitcoin buying spree with a $2.54 billion acquisition of 34,164 tokens, marking one of the largest purchases in the company’s history and pushing its total holdings to 815,061 bitcoin. The purchase, made between April 13 and April 19, was funded through sales of perpetual preferred stock known as STRC and the company’s common stock, extending a capital-raising model that has turned the […]
Reabold Resources has moved to calm a political and environmental backlash after signalling that gas from its West Newton project in East Yorkshire could be used in an initial Bitcoin-mining trial, while insisting the wider field remains focused on domestic energy supply and future data-centre development. The London-listed company said the idea under review is a small-scale power generation facility using early gas flows from the site […]
