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Riyadh — The inaugural edition of FIBO Arabia drew a total of 12,399 participants from regional and international markets to the three-day expo at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center, signalling a notable step in Saudi Arabia’s push to define itself as a wellness and fitness hub in the Middle East.

The event, held under the theme “For a Strong and Healthy Society” and aligned with the kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda, was conducted under the strategic partnership of the Ministry of Investment, the Ministry of Sport and the Ministry of Health. More than 80 exhibitors from around 18 countries participated, while attendees were presented with more than 50 industry-leading speakers across live arenas and conference forums.

One of the centre-piece announcements was the launch of the first Fitness Sector Development Report for the Kingdom, spearheaded by the Ministry of Sport in collaboration with advisory firm CAA Portas. The report projects the domestic fitness industry could expand to a value of SAR 15.5 billion by 2030, driven by policy reforms, investor interest and a growing consumer base.

International brands such as Technogym, Life Fitness, Keiser Corporation and Therabody featured in the line-up, underscoring the global interest in the kingdom’s wellness market. The conference programme included global fitness strategist Herman Rutgers and Morgan Stanley’s Alexey Naumov among its headline speakers.

Speakers and industry insiders described the event as a sign that the Gulf region is moving into a higher gear in terms of wellness infrastructure, investment and consumer engagement. “The success of FIBO Arabia’s inaugural edition reflects both the strength of Saudi Arabia’s wellness economy and the appetite for innovation, collaboration and growth across the industry,” said Vasyl Zhygalo, Managing Director of RX Middle East and Emerging Markets.

A particularly prominent feature of the expo was its emphasis on inclusivity and community participation. Female-led sessions and anecdotes of women athletes such as Nelly Attar — recognised as the first Arab woman to climb K2 — and Saudi fitness professional Rawan Al Saadi featured in discussions on access, empowerment and facility design. Meanwhile, event organisers hosted a variety of live arenas: a Performance Arena, a Strength Arena, a Tech Arena, a Calisthenics Arena, and a Group Fitness Arena powered by Les Mills.

Business-to-business networking and investment matchmaking were core to the strategy. The ecosystem included gym operators, wellness technology firms, nutrition solution providers and investors seeking access to opportunities in the region. One panel commented on how the kingdom’s younger demographic, rising female participation, and regulatory support combine to make the market appealing. The Fitness Sector Development Report cites private-sector expansion and policy reform among the key growth drivers.

Notably, the event’s timing and format reflect a regional pivot from traditional oil-led growth toward wellness, lifestyle and economy diversification. Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing its ecosystem was underscored through both government support and the presence of global industry players. Industry experts observed that the applied technology, live experiences and cross-border brand involvement distinguish FIBO Arabia from earlier regional trade shows in the fitness sector.

Visitor figures of 12,399 set a baseline for the event’s future editions. The organisers have already announced that FIBO Arabia will return to the same venue from 29 September to 1 October 2026.

The UAE Ministry of Education has entered a new partnership with Core42, a leading company in advanced technological solutions, aiming to accelerate digital learning across the country. This collaboration marks a significant step in the UAE’s broader strategy to modernise its education system and integrate innovative technologies into classrooms nationwide.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties, the Ministry and Core42 will jointly focus on enhancing the digital infrastructure in schools, universities, and other educational institutions. This partnership is set to foster digital literacy, streamline educational processes, and introduce advanced technological tools that can significantly improve the learning experience. The Ministry’s initiative is aligned with its ongoing efforts to diversify and digitalise the national education landscape.

The UAE has been increasingly prioritising the integration of digital technologies within education as part of its long-term goals. The collaboration with Core42 comes at a crucial time as the nation works towards adapting its education system to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by digitalisation. By tapping into Core42’s expertise, the UAE hopes to provide its educational institutions with cutting-edge tools and systems that will prepare students for the future of work, which will undoubtedly be more technology-driven.

Core42, known for its innovative approach to digital solutions, will bring its wealth of experience in developing and implementing advanced tech-driven educational platforms. This will include custom-built software solutions, interactive tools, and data-driven systems that improve not only learning outcomes but also operational efficiency. The company’s work is expected to play a key role in addressing the increasing demand for online and hybrid learning models in response to evolving global educational trends.

The Ministry’s vision is to ensure that both educators and students have the necessary tools to succeed in an increasingly digital world. This vision includes not just integrating digital tools for learning, but also upskilling educators to effectively use these technologies. The partnership with Core42 will focus on creating tailored professional development programmes for teachers, allowing them to enhance their digital teaching capabilities. This approach seeks to bridge the gap between traditional and modern pedagogies, ensuring that both students and educators can thrive in an ever-changing digital environment.

The collaboration will also focus on leveraging data analytics to monitor progress, tailor curricula to individual student needs, and provide actionable insights into educational outcomes. By incorporating AI and machine learning into the learning process, the Ministry and Core42 aim to create personalised learning experiences that adapt to each student’s pace and learning style. This will be complemented by real-time feedback mechanisms, enabling educators to make informed decisions that foster student success.

The MoU also includes the development of digital platforms that will support a more interactive and engaging educational experience. Core42’s expertise in software development and user experience design will be crucial in creating platforms that are both intuitive and effective for students of all ages. The focus will be on ensuring that these platforms are accessible, user-friendly, and capable of supporting diverse learning needs, from primary schools to higher education institutions.

The UAE’s education system has been undergoing significant reforms in recent years, with a growing emphasis on integrating technology into learning. Initiatives like this partnership with Core42 are a clear indication of the country’s commitment to building a world-class educational infrastructure that can support its ambitious vision for the future.

Astra Nova has secured USD 48.3 million in a funding round aimed at accelerating its development of no-code, AI-driven tools for creators in the Web3 entertainment space. The capital will bolster expansion into new regions and deepen integrations among its ecosystem of mini-apps, games and community tools.

The bulk of the funding, approximately USD 41.6 million, came through a strategic investment round, building on prior backing from firms including Outlier Ventures and Middle East family offices. Astra Nova intends to deploy the funds toward global scaling, regulatory readiness and product enhancements.

Astra Nova’s core proposition rests on TokenPlay AI, a platform that enables creators to launch blockchain-enabled micro-apps without writing code. Powered by Alibaba Cloud infrastructure, it is designed to let developers spin up interactive communities and gamified utilities rapidly. In addition, Astra Nova operates NovaToon, Deviants: Fight Club, and BlackPass, all of which already draw user traction.

Crucially, major brands are integrating with Astra Nova ahead of its token launch. Shiba Inu, one of the most active crypto communities, is deploying mini-apps through TokenPlay AI, and the Simon’s Cat IP is also building live integrations. These are not mere announcements: the integrations are functional and active, driving transaction volume even before the token is fully in circulation.

Astra Nova’s native token, $RVV, is scheduled for issuance on 18 October. The token is intended as the foundational utility currency within the ecosystem, underpinning in-app upgrades, advertising, subscriptions, and community incentives. Transaction fees from ecosystem activity are programmed to trigger buybacks of $RVV, creating a feedback loop to support tokenomics.

Backing for the project includes strategic support from NEOM, NVIDIA’s Inception programme, and Alibaba Cloud. NVIDIA’s involvement is particularly significant: it provides access to GPU and AI computing capabilities that are critical to Astra Nova’s adaptive storytelling and intelligent NPC infrastructure. Alibaba Cloud offers global infrastructure scale, while NEOM’s partnership underscores sovereign interest in aligning the startup with Saudi Arabia’s broader AI and tech ambitions.

Astra Nova’s metrics already indicate early scale: the company claims more than 250,000 creators on its waitlist for TokenPlay AI, cumulative user reach across its live products exceeding 500,000, and 200,000 daily active users across the ecosystem. The ARPG built on Unreal Engine 5 has surpassed 100,000 playtest downloads, reinforcing early demand and user engagement.

Analysts see the model’s strength in its orchestration of multiple components—creator tooling, community building, content, and gaming—into a unified framework supported by AI and blockchain. The pre-launch traction with IPs such as Shiba Inu and Simon’s Cat gives the ecosystem a runway of activity even from day zero of token issuance.

By Nitya Chakraborty Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic woes are mounting as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposed visit to India on December 5 and 6 is approaching. US President Donald Trump is determined to ensure substantial reduction in Indian imports of Russian oil by November and this has been linked with the progress of the […]

The article Narendra Modi’s Mounting Dilemma Over President Putin’s Visit To India In December appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Citizens Bank has launched coverage of SharpLink Gaming, assigning it a “market outperform” rating and a price target of $50, implying upside in excess of 200 percent from current levels.

The bank’s analysis hinges on SharpLink’s positioning as a publicly traded entity that actively manages an Ether treasury, combining yield-bearing deployment strategies with equity-market mechanisms to enhance value. Citizens projects that ETH’s long-term price trajectory, together with SharpLink’s operational model, could underpin substantial growth.

Citizens expects SharpLink’s net asset value to rise as the company compounds returns from staking, liquid restaking, and other on-chain yield strategies. The bank cites management’s capacity to issue equity above NAV or repurchase shares when trading below NAV as a leverage point for shareholder value.

SharpLink is led by Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin, who serves as Chairman, and Joseph Chalom, formerly of BlackRock, as Co-CEO. The bank underscores this combination of crypto ecosystem pedigree and traditional capital markets acumen as a competitive advantage.

In its report, Citizens forecasts ETH could exceed $7,000 by 2026, potentially pushing beyond $20,000 by 2030, and argues that SharpLink offers one of the few pure-play equity vehicles tied to Ether exposure. The bank describes SharpLink’s operating model as a “flywheel” in which yield-generated returns accelerate NAV per share, further facilitating growth capital.

Citizens’ valuation assigns a premium multiple to SharpLink’s NAV, justified by management execution and the structural optionality inherent in an actively managed ETH treasury. The report points to the possibility that investor recognition of this optionality could drive valuation multiple expansion.

SharpLink has also taken steps consistent with the thesis. It has initiated a share buyback programme, repurchasing approximately 939,000 shares at an average price of $15.98, and the board has authorised up to $1.5 billion in share repurchases for capital allocation flexibility. In tandem, SharpLink disclosed it holds around $3.6 billion in ETH, nearly all staked to produce yield.

Meanwhile, B. Riley has initiated coverage of SharpLink with a “Buy” rating and a $32 target, casting some contrast in outlook. B. Riley emphasises that the company’s discount to modified NAV is attractive — currently trading at 0.8× mNAV — and expects upward re-rating to 1.5× mNAV within 12 months, contingent on ETH accumulation and damping equity issuance dilution.

CJ Hetherington, CEO of Limitless Labs, has accused Binance of demanding 8 per cent of his project’s token supply and a multimillion-dollar deposit as conditions for listing. Binance, in a forceful rebuttal, called the allegations false and defamatory, and hinted at legal recourse.

Hetherington shared purported internal communications that outlined Binance’s demands: 1 % of the token supply for a day-one airdrop, 3 % for subsequent airdrops over six months, 1 % reserved for marketing, and another 3 % allocated to the BNB HODLer programme. He claimed Binance also asked for a $250,000 security deposit and required around $2 million in BNB as collateral. In total, he argued, these terms effectively extracted 8 % of total tokens in exchange for a listing.

Binance responded swiftly via its official X handle, stating it “does not profit” from token listings and that the content of Hetherington’s posts is “false and defamatory.” The exchange emphasised that it does not charge listing fees and that any required security deposits are typically refundable within one to two years. Binance also denied allegations of token dumping by its executives, calling them “entirely untrue and unsubstantiated.”

The exchange further asserted that Hetherington’s disclosures breached confidentiality, undermining trust and transparency in industry processes. It reserved the right to pursue legal action for what it characterised as unauthorised disclosures.

The dispute has drawn responses from industry observers. Mike Dudas, founder of 6MV, stated on X that he has seen Binance listing proposals with nearly identical terms in the past month and was able to talk about them because he did not sign a nondisclosure agreement. He implied the arrangement described by Hetherington reflects a recurring model.

Crypto analyst Howard Peng, by contrast, criticised Hetherington for publicising the discussions and labelled the move immature. Peng urged projects dissatisfied with listing proposals to walk away and suggested exploring alternative exchanges.

Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao also weighed in, arguing that successful projects should attract listings without paying “fees.” He wrote that if a project must “beg an exchange to list,” it indicates weak demand and could invite scrutiny from within the community.

The exchange’s defence comes amid broader regulatory scrutiny of centralised exchanges and their listing practices. Some market participants argue that hidden costs and opaque listing criteria undermine fairness and can stifle innovation, especially for emerging projects. Others maintain that exchanges are entitled to protective mechanisms—such as collateral or token commitments—to mitigate risk and ensure project stability.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority inked three major Memoranda of Understanding this week at GITEX Global 2025, forming strategic partnerships with KHDA, Parkin PJSC, and PayPal to deepen integration of the nol card ecosystem.

Under the agreement, RTA and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, in partnership with GTS Alive Middle East, will roll out the “Study in Dubai – nol ISIC” card, enabling students to use nol across campus services and lifestyle benefits. The nod with Parkin aligns its digital parking operations with the nol payment interface, while the PayPal deal aims to embed nol into broader digital commerce and point-of-sale systems.

Mohammed Al Mudharreb, Chief Executive Officer of RTA’s Corporate Technology Support Services Sector, led the signings on behalf of RTA. On the KHDA side, Dr Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash and Michal Lezo signed for KHDA and GTS Alive Middle East respectively; Parkin’s participation was endorsed by Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali, and PayPal was represented by Otto Williams, SVP and General Manager for PayPal Middle East and Africa.

According to RTA, the thrust of the MoUs is to position nol as more than a public transport card — it aims to transition nol into a multifunctional payment instrument across retail outlets, restaurants, parking, entertainment venues, events, and institutional services. The authority hopes that expanding acceptance will drive convenience, reduce cash reliance, and support Dubai’s smart city ambitions.

KHDA emphasized the student-centric angle: the “Study in Dubai – nol ISIC” card is expected to be accepted across higher education institutions in the emirate, granting students access to discounts, campus services, and lifestyle perks under a unified payment mechanism. Officials stated it will enhance the student experience and streamline campus operations.

From Parkin’s standpoint, the collaboration enables interoperability between its parking systems and the nol platform — motorists may use nol directly for parking payments, potentially eliminating the need for separate digital wallets or parking apps. Meanwhile, PayPal’s role is to act as a bridge for merchants and service providers to adopt nol-based transactions, especially in digital and brick-and-mortar payment contexts.

These moves come amid a broader push by Dubai authorities to accelerate digital payment adoption and integrate city services under unified ecosystems. The expansion from transit to wider commerce mirrors trends in other global cities, where transport payment cards or mobile passes are becoming de facto urban wallets.

A challenge will lie in merchant adoption and technological integration. To be effective, retail outlets, parking operators, education institutions, and event venues must invest in infrastructure to accept nol-based payments, whether via terminals or backend systems tied to PayPal’s network. RTA has framed these partnerships as a pathway to co-developing nol-linked products and value-added services, creating new revenue streams and customer experiences.

Customer satisfaction is a recurring pillar in RTA’s narrative: by enabling one card to handle multiple daily transactions, the authority expects to reduce friction and improve uptake. Sustainability is also a stated goal — shifting transactions away from paper tickets and cash is presented as an environmental benefit.

Notably, Dubai is also spotlighting innovations in mobility at GITEX: the Trackless Tram, an AI-driven, driverless tram solution, is among projects on display. The new MoUs dovetail with such transport-led technology investments, reinforcing Dubai’s intent to integrate mobility and payments as part of its future city blueprint.

Within the education sector, KHDA’s endorsement of nol for student services signals a bridging of infrastructure between municipal systems and institutions — a model that, if successful, could serve as a template for other smart city programmes. The partnership with PayPal is particularly significant, since its global payments reach gives nol a pathway into cross-border and e-commerce transactions, beyond typical fare or local merchant payments.

Abidjan — The World Food Programme has secured a US$9.3 million grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency to support a five-year school meals and resilience programme across northern Côte d’Ivoire. The initiative will target 200 primary schools and 50,000 pupils from 2025 to 2029, backed by support for local farmers and community health efforts.

Under the partnership, WFP will channel the Korean funding into locally sourced, nutritious meals intended to enhance students’ concentration, health and retention. Alongside direct school feeding, 100 farmer groups will receive training and technical assistance to improve crop quality and yield, while forging supply links with school kitchens — aiming to stimulate rural markets and buttress food systems. The programme also includes capacity-building in hygiene and nutrition education, investment in hand-washing stations, and multisectoral coordination with national ministries of education, health and agriculture.

Olivia Hantz, WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire, described the cooperation as “an investment in the country’s future”, noting that bolstering national systems and empowering local producers helps advance both nutrition and resilience. Kim Sangjun, the KOICA Country Director in Côte d’Ivoire, emphasized that linking schools with nearby farmers ensures the programme’s sustainability and reflects Korea’s own experience in leveraging school meals to support development.

Government agencies in Côte d’Ivoire will play a leading role in implementation. The Ministries of National Education and Literacy, Agriculture and Food Production, and Health and Public Hygiene will work through departmental directorates such as the Directorate of School Canteens to integrate this project with national plans. WFP already operates school feeding across 733 schools nationwide, reaching over 166,000 pupils, and this new injection will focus on underserved northern regions.

The strategy centres on what is often called a “home-grown school feeding” model: meals are locally procured, thereby linking educational support with rural livelihoods. This approach is intended not only to support children, but to stimulate smallholder agriculture, strengthen supply chains and reduce dependency on external imports.

Côte d’Ivoire faces persistent inequalities in food access. In rural and northern areas, food insecurity and chronic malnutrition remain major challenges. According to WFP’s internal data, more than 30% of children in those regions suffer from stunting, and households face high post-harvest losses, limited access to credit or inputs, and exposure to climate stresses. WFP’s country briefing from mid-2025 highlights programmes aiming to strengthen climate resilience among women and youth in zones such as Poro by promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

WFP’s school feeding and resilience operations in Côte d’Ivoire are embedded in a broader strategy. The agency seeks to scale national social protection systems, enhance disaster preparedness, and support agriculture-led recovery. The KOICA-funded project aligns with both Côte d’Ivoire’s national development plan, which emphasises human capital and inclusive growth, and with global objectives on nutrition, education and resilience.

Analysts view the agreement as part of a broader trend of South–South development cooperation. Korea has expanded its development financing across Africa in recent years, often emphasising education, agriculture and infrastructure. The model adopted here reflects that emphasis: combining direct welfare support with investment in domestic capacity. For WFP, the strategy offers a way to reduce long-term dependency on donor aid by anchoring programmes in national institutions and markets.