Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Rosatom has agreed to form a logistics joint venture with DP World in a deal that would place Russia’s state nuclear corporation in majority control while bringing one of Dubai’s biggest global trade operators deeper into a strategically sensitive transport network centred on FESCO and Arctic shipping lanes. Under the proposed structure, Rosatom will hold 51% and DP World 49%, with Rosatom contributing […]
Opening in stages with a planned ramp-up, following the phased launch of its office towers since late 2025, Westlake 66 marks a major milestone in the Hang Lung’s Mainland portfolio and represents the latest embodiment of its “Pulse of the City” positioning. It will set a new benchmark for regional mixed-use development and redefine sophisticated lifestyle experiences in a top-tier Chinese city, leading the experiential retail trend and establishing a curated destination where culture, commerce, and community converge.
Situated in the Wulin CBD of Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province — one of China’s wealthiest provinces by GDP and purchasing power — Westlake 66 spans a gross floor area of approximately 390,200 square meters, bringing together a world-class shopping mall, five Grade A office towers, and the 194-key Mandarin Oriental Hangzhou — the first Mandarin Oriental in Zhejiang — to serve the discerning tastes of Hangzhou’s affluent and growing population.
Hashtag: #HangLungProperties
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www.hanglung.com. 
The survey found that 53 per cent of Taiwanese small businesses grew in 2025, slightly below the 57 per cent recorded in the previous survey. Looking ahead, business sentiment strengthened notably. In 2026, 63 per cent of respondents expect their business to grow, while confidence in the local economy also improved, with 61 per cent anticipating economic growth, the highest level recorded since Taiwan was first included in the survey in 2018.
Taiwan’s small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) continue to play a vital role in creating new jobs. In 2025, 31 per cent of SMEs increasing staff numbers, while 44 per cent plan to hire additional employees in 2026.
With rising costs identified as the biggest challenge facing Taiwan’s SME in 2025, many businesses identified cost control as the most positive contributor to business performance last year.
Mr Elic Lam FCPA (Aust.), Honorary Taiwan Advisor at CPA Australia, said Taiwan’s economic fundamentals continue to support small business resilience, “Rising global demand for semiconductors and AI related chips continues to create opportunities for exporters and suppliers across Taiwan’s value chain,” Mr Lam said. “While geopolitical tensions and intensifying competition are adding uncertainty, government support measures for SMEs, including targeted subsidies and tax incentives, together with Taiwan’s resilient domestic demand, are helping to lift business confidence.”
Technology adoption, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), is becoming increasingly widespread among Taiwanese small businesses. The survey found that 33 per cent of small businesses identified AI as the technology they invested in most heavily invested in 2025, up from 29 per cent in the previous year.
Cyber risk among Taiwanese small businesses fell markedly. The share of small businesses reporting losses of time or money due to cyber incidents declined sharply from 59 per cent in 2024 to 27 per cent in 2025, reflecting stronger awareness and the uptake of basic protective measures across the sector.
However, the survey also indicates there is room to strengthen the returns from digital investment. Only 40 per cent of respondents reported that their technology investment in 2025 improved profitability, compared with the survey average of 56 per cent.
Mr Lam noted that Taiwan’s SME sector is undergoing a generational transition that is influencing technology adoption patterns, “Many SMEs in Taiwan are moving from first generation ownership to second or third generation leadership, and technology adoption remains cautious and practical,” he said. “The increase in AI investment reflects both external drivers, such as changing customer expectations and government policy support for digital transformation, as well as internal factors, including younger owners’ familiarity with AI tools and rising operating and staffing costs.”
“To improve profitability, SMEs should focus on applying digital solutions in areas with the greatest impact. For example, as rising costs were identified as the most negative factor affecting performance in 2025, investing in ready-to-use and AI enabled accounting or financial management tools can help reduce operating expenses and lift productivity.”
Access to finance is another notable finding. Financing conditions in Taiwan improved significantly in 2025, even as borrowing softened. Two-thirds of businesses (66 per cent) I said it was easy to access external finance, placing Taiwan among the top three surveyed markets and representing a sharp increase from 28 per cent in 2024. Looking ahead, financing conditions are expected to remain supportive, with 63 per cent anticipating easy access to finance in 2026.
Despite the marked improvement in financing conditions, demand for finance was more subdued. In 2025, 54 per cent of SMEs sought external finance, down from 72 per cent in 2024.
“The Taiwan government has expanded inclusive and guaranteed financing mechanisms to support SMEs, including higher guarantee ratios under the SME Credit Guarantee Fund and preferential loans offered through state affiliated banks,” Mr Lam said. “These measures have made bank financing more accessible for small businesses.”
“Even so, many SMEs remain cautious about taking on new debt. In a stable domestic environment, businesses can maintain steady growth, but external uncertainties drive them to take a prudent approach to borrowing. This aligns well with the government’s policy focus on gradual and resilient SME transformation rather than rapid, high risk expansion.”
Lam concluded, “To navigate international uncertainty and intensifying market competition, Taiwan’s small businesses should make better use of government policy support to upskill their workforce through AI adoption, foster innovation, and diversify export markets by strengthening online sales channels.”
The Asia Pacific Small Business Survey 2025–26 gathered views from 4,166 small businesses across 11 markets in the region, including Singapore, Chinese Mainland and Australia. The Taiwan survey sample comprised 311 small businesses.
Hashtag: #CPAAustralia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
CPA Australia is Australia’s leading professional accounting body and one of the largest in the world. We have more than 176,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including more than 22,500 members in Greater China. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on local, national and international issues affecting the accounting profession and public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. A CPA is a Certified Practising Accountant. More at cpaaustralia.com.au
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Nabil Fahmy is set to become the next secretary-general of the Arab League after Arab foreign ministers unanimously backed Egypt’s nominee in a virtual meeting on 29 March, clearing the way for the veteran diplomat to take over in July when Ahmed Aboul Gheit’s second term ends. The ministers’ decision still requires formal endorsement at the next Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, but […]
India has cut special excise duties on petrol and diesel after a sharp rise in global crude prices, seeking to shield consumers from a broader inflation shock as the Iran war and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz continue to unsettle energy markets. A government order issued late on Thursday reduced the special excise duty on petrol to Rs 3 a litre from Rs 13, while the levy on diesel was removed entirely from Rs 10 a litre. At the same time, New Delhi imposed fresh windfall taxes on diesel and aviation turbine fuel exports to recover part of the revenue loss and manage the fiscal hit.
The move underlines the pressure facing policymakers as oil prices remain volatile and the rupee weakens, raising the cost of imports for one of the world’s biggest crude buyers. Brent crude climbed above $112 a barrel on Friday, extending a rally driven by doubts over any near-term ceasefire and persistent fears that supply disruptions in the Gulf could deepen. Traders and analysts have said the risk premium now reflects not only lost barrels but also the strategic importance of Hormuz, through which a large share of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows.
For India, the tax cut is as much about inflation management as political optics. Retail prices at state-run fuel retailers have been largely held steady even as global crude costs have climbed, forcing public-sector oil marketing companies to absorb losses on every litre sold. Reuters reported that those losses were running at about Rs 24 a litre on petrol and Rs 30 on diesel at the time of the duty cut, a burden that had begun to raise concerns about the financial strain on the country’s dominant fuel retailers. By lowering excise duties, the government creates room for those companies to keep pump prices stable without taking the full blow on their balance sheets.
That relief, however, comes with a cost. The excise reduction is expected to trim government revenue by roughly Rs 70 billion every fortnight, with the net impact estimated at about Rs 55 billion after accounting for the new export levies on diesel and jet fuel. Those numbers matter because New Delhi is already balancing slower growth risks, higher import costs and sensitivity in bond markets. India’s 10-year government bond yield rose as investors weighed the inflationary impact of oil and the possibility that fiscal targets may come under pressure if energy turbulence persists.
Currency markets have been sending a similar warning. The rupee slipped beyond 94 to the US dollar, marking a record low and capping its weakest fiscal-year performance in more than a decade. Higher oil prices have compounded external pressures by widening import costs and fuelling worries over inflation, while signs of reduced support from the Reserve Bank of India have added to volatility in both the currency and government debt markets. The combination of a softer rupee and expensive crude intensifies the urgency for measures that can prevent fuel inflation from feeding into transport, food and manufacturing costs.
The government has paired the tax changes with broader supply assurances. Officials have said retail fuel prices will remain stable and that supplies of fuel, fertiliser and coal are adequate. India has also increased the availability of liquefied petroleum gas for industrial use, an indication that authorities are trying to prevent energy stress from spilling into factories and power demand. That broader messaging is aimed at containing panic in a market already on edge over whether the Middle East conflict could trigger a more prolonged energy shock.
The burden of holding down prices has not been distributed evenly across the sector. State-run retailers, which control more than 90 per cent of the country’s fuel stations, have largely refrained from raising pump prices, while private players have begun adjusting. Nayara Energy, for example, increased gasoline and gasoil prices this week, citing the combined impact of a weaker rupee and surging global crude prices. The divergence highlights the structural challenge for the government: keeping inflation contained without unduly damaging the finances of state-backed refiners and marketers.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Motorists in the UAE are likely to pay more for petrol and diesel in April after the Iran war sent crude prices sharply higher and intensified disruption across the Gulf’s main energy and shipping routes, raising the cost base that feeds into the country’s monthly fuel-price adjustment. April rates were due to be announced on March 31, and local pricing remains tied […]
Rocketlane has raised $60 million in a Series C round led by Insight Partners, as the software company moves to expand an AI-driven platform aimed at professional services teams that are increasingly being asked to turn enterprise AI spending into measurable operating results. The funding, announced on March 25, takes the company’s total capital raised to $105 million and comes as more corporate buyers shift attention from […]
Distributed denial-of-service attacks gathered dangerous momentum in the second half of 2025, with a new industry report showing incidents rising 150 per cent year on year as both volume and velocity increased, underscoring how quickly cyber disruption is moving from episodic nuisance to board-level operational risk. The findings point to a sharp escalation in late 2025, when total attacks climbed to about 1.3 million in the fourth […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Gold prices climbed sharply on Friday, reversing part of this week’s slide as investors stepped back into the market after bullion fell to a four-month low, while traders also watched for any sign that tensions in the Middle East might ease. Spot gold rose more than 3% at its intraday peak before trading about 2.6% higher at $4,491.78 an ounce by afternoon dealings […]
Erythritol, a low-calorie sweetener widely used in sugar-free drinks, protein bars, keto snacks and diabetic-friendly foods, is facing renewed scrutiny after new research found it can harm cells lining tiny blood vessels in the brain in ways that may favour clotting and reduce normal vessel relaxation. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that has raised questions over whether one of the food industry’s most […]
Disneyland Paris has formally opened a new phase of its long-running expansion, using the March 29 debut of World of Frozen to relaunch its second gate as Disney Adventure World, a move the company says marks the biggest transformation in that park’s history. Official announcements from Disneyland Paris, backed by Reuters and Associated Press reporting, show the renamed park now centres on a large new Frozen-themed land, […]
Blippo+ has arrived as one of the stranger releases to gain traction across independent gaming, presenting itself not as a conventional narrative title but as a faux television service from an alien world. Built around channel surfing, short-form live-action broadcasts and a deliberately warped retro aesthetic, the project has drawn attention for turning the language of late-20th-century television into an interactive spectacle that feels equal parts parody, […]
U. S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded their heaviest one-day net withdrawals in three weeks on Thursday, with investors pulling about $171.2 million as Bitcoin slid below the $70,000 mark and broader market nerves rose over the risk of a fresh flare-up in the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The outflow, based on market data compiled by SoSoValue and widely tracked across the crypto […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US Vice President JD Vance has sought to reassure voters and markets that Washington does not intend to become locked into a prolonged military commitment in Iran, arguing that higher fuel costs are a temporary consequence of a campaign the administration expects to wrap up rather than harden into another open-ended Middle East war. His remarks come as the Trump administration faces a […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Exeed has opened a new showroom in Jeddah through Arabian Heritage Motors, part of Al Ghurair Mobility, extending the premium vehicle brand’s physical presence in Saudi Arabia as competition intensifies among Chinese carmakers across the Gulf. The Jeddah launch was disclosed by Al Ghurair in a corporate post and comes after Exeed appointed Al Ghurair as its exclusive distributor in the Kingdom in […]
Komodo dragons use a brutal combination of flesh-ripping teeth and venom-laced oral secretions to overpower prey, with newer anatomical work reinforcing a scientific view that has steadily displaced the old claim that their bite kills mainly through toxic bacteria. Researchers say the world’s largest lizard is built to inflict catastrophic blood loss, while venom compounds appear to amplify shock and prevent clotting. That matters because the “dirty […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Banishing delivered a polished front-end result for the United States and Saudi Arabia at Meydan on Saturday, winning the $1 million Group 2 Godolphin Mile and handing a notable success to trainer David Jacobson, jockey Silvestre de Sousa and owners Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri, David Jacobson and Lawrence Roman. The Godolphin-bred six-year-old beat Commissioner King by 2¼ lengths over the mile on dirt, […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 March 2026 – Following last year’s “The World’s 50 Best Bars” Award Ceremony in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) this year brought the “Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026” Awards Ceremony to Hong Kong for the first time. The event today (25 March) brought together over 1,000 culinary industry representatives, renowned chefs and media worldwide. Top local Cantonese restaurant The Chairman and contemporary Cantonese restaurant Wing secured first and second places respectively on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list, once again highlighting the leading position of Hong Kong’s dining scene in Asia.
HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said: “We extend our sincere gratitude to the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants team for selecting Hong Kong for the first time as the host city for the Awards Ceremony. This international award recognises the outstanding achievements of the culinary sector. I am very proud of Hong Kong’s remarkable accomplishments in this year’s Awards. Together with the ‘MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2026’ and ‘The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide’, over 200 restaurants have been listed in these internationally acclaimed gourmet guides, reaffirming Hong Kong’s position as a “Culinary Capital” in Asia. We are delighted to welcome the esteemed Asian chefs and other culinary professionals attending the Awards Ceremony to Hong Kong, and we warmly invite everyone to explore the city’s unique and diverse gastronomic charm by following the master chefs’ curated recommendations featured in the citywide ‘Taste Hong Kong’ Gourmet Guide.”
Danny Yip, owner of The Chairman, said “Being named The Best Restaurant in Asia for the second time is a huge honour for our entire team, and to achieve it here in Hong Kong makes it even more meaningful. This recognition — as well as the strong results for the city on this year’s list — reflects the depth and diversity that define Hong Kong’s dining culture today. It’s a privilege to represent our city in this way and to continue sharing the traditions and stories that shape our cuisine.”
Hong Kong Leads Asia Culinary Landscape with Two Restaurants in the Top Three
Together with the previously announced extended list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants (51th – 100th), a total of ten Hong Kong restaurants were recommended in the Asian edition of the prestigious list. These include six restaurants in the top 50: while The Chairman and Wing topped the list at first and second spots, Neighborhood (No. 24), Estro (No. 32), Caprice (No. 35), and Mono (No.46) stayed strong on the list. Four other restaurants were also feature in the extended list, namely Ta Vie (No. 68), Vea (No. 70), Andō (No. 88), and Amber (No. 90). With this stellar performance, Hong Kong reaffirming its leading position in the regional culinary scene. The winning restaurants cover a diverse range of cuisines, demonstrating Hong Kong’s unique appeal as a melting pot of global flavours and a hub for star-rated dining establishments.
In the recently announced “Black Pearl Restaurant Guide”, the number of Hong Kong entries increased to 39, up from last year, including four first-time entries – Mosu Hong Kong, founded by three-Michelin-star South Korean chef Sung Anh; Jee, a Cantonese-French fusion restaurant; contemporary Indian restaurant Leela, and Cantonese fine-dining establishment Man Ho Chinese Restaurant. In addition, homegrown chef Vicky Cheng of Chinese-French restaurant VEA, and Terry Ho, Chef de Cuisine of French restaurant Amber, received the Master Chef Award and the Young Chef Award respectively in the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, affirming the distinguished reputation of Hong Kong’s culinary talent in the Asian dining scene. In the “MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2026”, more Hong Kong establishments were awarded MICHELIN stars than in the previous year, bringing a total to 77 Michelin-starred restaurants in one destination, further demonstrating the world-class standard of the city’s culinary scene.
Top Asian Chefs and Global Media Gather in Hong Kong to Experience the City’s Culinary
Capitalising on the opportunity presented by major culinary event being hosted in Hong Kong, HKTB arranged exchanges between leading Asian chefs and renowned local culinary talent, enabling them to experience the city’s diverse gastronomic offerings and produce promotional videos dedicated to “Taste Hong Kong”. In addition, HKTB leveraged its global network to invite media representatives from the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, South Korea, Southeast Asia and other key markets to visit Hong Kong. In addition to attending the award ceremony for media coverage of the event, HKTB curated a series of immersive culinary experiences to fully showcase Hong Kong’s unique charm as a Culinary Capital.
Highlights of the itinerary included engaging with local master chef Vicky Cheng to gain firsthand insight into his exceptional culinary skills and cooking philosophy; participating in a dim sum workshop led by master chef Wong Lung-to, Executive Chef of Forum Restaurant, to learn how to make classic Cantonese dim sum such as siu mai (Cantonese pork dumplings) and har gow (shrimp dumplings); and joining an egg tart baking workshop. Media representatives were also invited to dine at several listed restaurants and visit emerging bars to experience Hong Kong’s diverse food and beverage culture in full. Through in-depth media coverage, the media trip will help promote Hong Kong’s distinctive culinary appeal to audiences worldwide, attracting more visitors to explore “Taste Hong Kong” and further consolidating the city’s status as a Culinary Capital.
11 Exclusive Collaborative Signature Sessions around the Awards Ceremony to Share Hong Kong’s Gastronomic Experiences
To encourage locals and visitors to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere surrounding the award ceremony, HKTB partnered with the organiser for the first time this year to invite 40 internationally renowned and local award-winning restaurants to present 11 limitedtime collaborative Signature Sessions covering various global cuisines, bringing multiple tasting surprises to locals and visitors. The events attracted many locals and visitors, allowing everyone to experience the charm of global cuisines converging in Hong Kong at a single table.
Popular Variety Shows Drive Tourism and Encourage Visitors to Experience Hong Kong’s Diverse Culinary Delights through “Taste Hong Kong”
In line with the “Taste Hong Kong” Gourmet Guide launched in January, which covers all neighbourhoods across the city and features chef-recommended restaurants, HKTB has stepped up its promotional efforts in key source markets, such as the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, New Zealand, South Korea and Southeast Asia. By collaborating with popular local food variety shows, HKTB showcased Hong Kong’s diverse dining culture to wider audiences, further enhancing international interest in Hong Kong’s culinary tourism.
In the Chinese Mainland, HKTB promoted culinary travel to Hong Kong through a Chinese New Year food programme on Shenzhen Satellite TV, with master chefs introducing restaurants recommended in the Guide and visiting specialty streets such as “Dried Seafood Street” and Shanghai Street, locally known as “Kitchenware Street”, to explore the charm of Hong Kong’s neighbourhoods. HKTB also partnered with New Zealand’s popular programme Seven Sharp, inviting media to visit Sham Shui Po to taste authentic local snacks, such as pineapple buns, milk tea, tofu pudding and dumplings, and to dine at a time-honoured Western restaurant to sample Swiss chicken wings and soufflé, showcasing Hong Kong’s diverse food culture. In addition, HKTB collaborated with Taiwan’s Super Taste, South Korea’s Boss in the Mirror, and multiple travel and food programmes in Thailand and the Philippines, featuring visits to recommended restaurants and exchanges with local master chefs. Through the broad influence of these variety shows, HKTB is actively showcasing the unique charm of “Taste Hong Kong”, attracting more visitors to embark on a culinary journey in Hong Kong.
Full results of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026: https://www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/list/1–50
Hashtag: #HKTB
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Oracle WebLogic operators are under pressure to close a critical security gap after attackers began probing and exploiting a newly disclosed flaw on the same day public exploit code appeared, according to a honeypot study that tracked activity against a vulnerable WebLogic environment over 12 days. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-21962, carries a CVSS severity score of 10.0 and affects Oracle HTTP Server and the WebLogic Server […]
Zimbabwe has turned a long-signalled restriction on second-hand clothing into formal law, tightening its effort to shield domestic manufacturers even as economists and traders warn that the move could squeeze low-income consumers and deepen pressure on an already fragile apparel market. The measure is now enforced under Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026, which bars the import of second-hand clothes unless an importer holds a government permit issued […]
Gulf tensions are sharpening the risks for African health systems already reliant on imported medicines, as disrupted shipping routes, higher freight bills and delayed emergency supplies expose how vulnerable the continent remains to external shocks while governments push to expand local drug production. The strain has moved beyond theory. Aid officials said this week that cholera supplies for countries including Chad and South Sudan were being […]
Seychelles has used two high-level forums in Malabo to press for stronger backing for small island states and to elevate youth priorities within the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, with Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Minister Barry Faure taking a visible role in both meetings. The government said Faure addressed the Small Island Development States forum and later served as rapporteur at the youth forum, […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear-linked and industrial sites on Friday widened the Middle East war and triggered a fresh market sell-off, as Tehran answered with attacks across the Gulf and on regional targets, stoking fears that a longer conflict could deepen the hit to growth, trade and energy supplies. Oil climbed sharply, Wall Street fell again and investors moved into traditional […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank has secured regulatory approval to establish a wholly owned subsidiary in Kazakhstan, opening the way for one of the UAE’s biggest lenders to deepen its footprint in Central Asia and broaden access to conventional and Islamic banking services in one of the region’s most closely watched financial markets. The approval was granted by Kazakhstan’s Agency for Regulation and Development […]
