United States lawmakers have set out a package of digital asset tax measures aimed at reducing compliance burdens for crypto users while giving tax authorities clearer rules for staking, mining, stablecoins, trading losses and charitable donations. The House Ways and Means Committee has placed six numbered bills and a related discussion draft before a full committee hearing on digital asset taxation scheduled for June 9 at 2pm […]
Access to finance for industrial startups is becoming a sharper policy test for the UAE as high-growth manufacturing ventures confront longer revenue cycles, heavier capital needs and risk profiles that often sit outside conventional lending models. Shaker Zainal, head of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund, has placed the financing gap for industrial startups within a wider challenge of alignment between founders, banks, government-backed platforms and ecosystem […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai UAE nationals building new private homes can claim VAT refunds on a wider range of construction-related expenses under a Federal Tax Authority initiative that broadens relief for citizens at a time of elevated residential building costs. The initiative, now active, applies to eligible refund claims submitted on or after 1 January 2026 and is expected to lift the value of approved homebuilding VAT […]
Dubai has launched a new phase of its Content Creators Programme to train emerging talent in cultural storytelling, digital production and responsible online communication, placing the initiative at the centre of the emirate’s push to expand its creative economy. The programme, led by Dubai Press Club in partnership with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, focuses on helping creators produce cultural and creative content that reflects Dubai’s identity, […]
Coinbase and Cardless have moved to widen access to crypto-linked consumer credit by adding a stablecoin-secured version of the Coinbase One Card for applicants who cannot be approved on an unsecured basis. The product allows eligible Coinbase One members in the United States to pledge USDC held in, or purchased through, their Coinbase wallet as security for a credit card issued by First Electronic Bank and offered […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Riyadh Air has opened ticket sales for daily flights between Dubai and Riyadh from 18 June, adding a new premium operator to one of the Gulf’s busiest business and leisure corridors as Saudi Arabia accelerates plans to turn its capital into a global aviation hub. Flights will operate between Dubai International Airport and King Khalid International Airport using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, placing wide-body […]
The hiring programme would expand the workforce of One 97 Communications, Paytm’s parent, by about 10 per cent from a base of roughly 40,000 employees. The company is also expected to reduce about 1 per cent of its staff, or nearly 400 employees, as it removes overlapping functions and redirects resources towards areas tied to revenue growth, automation and financial services distribution.
The planned additions will run through March 2027 and cover product, technology, artificial intelligence and senior leadership roles. Paytm has already added more than 800 employees over the past two months and is in the process of recruiting the next tranche as it widens its merchant network and builds AI-led tools across its platform.
The move reflects a broader recalibration inside the Noida-based fintech company after two years of regulatory pressure, cost discipline and business restructuring. Paytm is seeking to convert its large base of users and merchants into higher-value customers for loans, investments, insurance and other financial products, while keeping a tight watch on employee costs and operating expenses.
Chief Executive Officer Vijay Shekhar Sharma has been working to rebuild confidence after the Reserve Bank of India imposed severe restrictions on Paytm Payments Bank in 2024 and later cancelled the licence of the independently held affiliate in April 2026. One 97 Communications holds 49 per cent in the payments bank, while Sharma owns the remaining 51 per cent.
The banking affiliate’s closure has continued to shape staffing decisions. Most of Paytm Payments Bank’s employees have already exited over the past two years, with some absorbed into other parts of the fintech group. The remaining few hundred employees at the bank are expected to leave as the winding-down process advances.
Paytm’s latest hiring plan comes after a year in which the company sharply reduced headcount. Average on-roll employees fell from 43,960 in FY24 to 39,368 in FY25, a decline of about 4,600 people. A large portion of the workforce remains tied to sales, underlining the importance of merchant acquisition and field distribution in Paytm’s model.
The company’s restructuring has coincided with an improvement in profitability. Paytm posted four consecutive profitable quarters and reported its first full-year profit since listing, with FY26 net profit of about ₹552 crore compared with a loss of ₹663 crore in FY25. Revenue for FY26 rose to about ₹9,291 crore from ₹7,625 crore a year earlier.
For the March 2026 quarter, One 97 Communications reported a consolidated net profit of about ₹184 crore, compared with a loss of about ₹540 crore in the year-earlier period. Revenue from operations rose 18.4 per cent year-on-year to ₹2,264 crore, supported by payments services and financial services distribution.
The improved performance has given Paytm more room to invest in growth areas, but the company is still balancing expansion with caution. Its shares have gained around 7 per cent over the past year, though they remain more than 50 per cent below the 2021 initial public offering price, a reminder of investor concerns over profitability, regulation and the durability of its business model.
Artificial intelligence has become central to Paytm’s operating strategy. The company has used automation to reduce repetitive work in customer support, risk management, merchant servicing and internal processes. The next phase appears focused less on replacing headcount across the board and more on redeploying resources towards AI-enabled products, data-driven lending, fraud control and personalised financial offerings.
That shift mirrors a wider trend in the technology and fintech sectors, where companies are cutting roles in legacy or routine functions while hiring for engineering, machine learning, product design, compliance technology and platform operations. For Paytm, the challenge is sharper because its business relies on both software capability and a large physical merchant network.
The company began in 2010 as a mobile recharge platform before expanding into wallets, QR-code payments, Soundbox devices, payment gateways and financial services. Its growth accelerated after the 2016 currency note withdrawal pushed millions of merchants and consumers towards digital payments.
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Orange Jordan and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit have convened private-sector roundtables under the PASS programme, widening efforts to connect startups with established companies as Jordan pushes entrepreneurship-led job creation and digital growth. Three sessions were held in Amman, Irbid and Aqaba under the title Private Sector Roundtable – PASS Project, bringing together startups, corporate representatives and ecosystem partners to examine how young […]
MetaMask has launched Agent Wallet, a self-custodial product designed to let AI agents trade and manage crypto activity while keeping users in control of funds, approvals and risk limits. The Consensys-owned wallet provider introduced the service on 8 June through a limited early-access programme, initially aimed at traders and developers testing autonomous finance tools. A wider rollout is planned over the coming months as crypto firms race […]
Citrini Research has placed Hyperliquid among its more compelling crypto ideas, arguing that the decentralised exchange stands apart from much of the digital asset market because it generates meaningful cash flow and channels a large share of trading fees into token buybacks. The research firm’s attention carries unusual weight after its February essay on artificial intelligence and market risk helped trigger a sharp sell-off across technology and […]
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 June 2026 – Disney magic blooms anew at Singapore’s premier horticultural destination Gardens by the Bay as the second edition of Disney Garden of Wonder, opens today. Featuring 23 vibrant topiaries inspired by beloved Disney and Pixar characters, the enchanting showcase transforms Floral Fantasy into a world of floral artistry and imagination through 14 March 2027.
Organised in collaboration with Disney and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, Disney Garden of Wonder is inspired by Disney and Pixar stories that have charmed generations of fans around the world, inviting people of all ages to re-discover their favourite stories of courage, kindness, friendship and love through the beauty of plants. Following the success of its debut at Gardens by the Bay in 2024, the enthralling floral showcase returns in an even more special second edition.
Visitors can look forward to five themed areas:
Outside Floral Fantasy, a 4m-tall Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey marks the entrance and welcomes visitors to Gardens by the Bay.
The hand-assembled topiaries are crafted from more than 40 species of preserved and dried floral materials, which took more than 16,000 man hours.
Each material was selected for its colour, texture and form, helping to reflect each character’s features. Plenty of flowers are used for the Disney princesses for example, while Rapunzel’s hair is crafted from Stipa, a perennial grass that has fluffy or oat-like flowerheads.
The surrounding landscapes also use plant palettes that reflect the mood of each zone — sunflowers and marigolds reflect the honey-toned meadow setting of Winnie the Pooh, while lilies and roses bring out the romantic and jewel-toned settings of Disney Princess stories. Hydrangeas and dusty miller evoke the icy blues, whites and silvers of Frozen.
Throughout the duration of Garden of Wonder, visitors can enjoy select weekend Meet and Greet sessions with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in outfits inspired by Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim. Donald Duck and Daisy Duck will also join the experience on select weekends, dressed for a sunny getaway on our tropical island. Meet and Greet dates are available at www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/disneygardenofwonder.
Visitors can round off their experience with shopping at the gift shop, which carries items launching exclusively at Disney Garden of Wonder.
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An integral part of Singapore’s “City in Nature” vision, Gardens by the Bay is a national garden and premier horticultural attraction that showcases the best of garden and floral artistry for all to enjoy. Spanning 101 hectares in the heart of Singapore’s downtown Marina Bay, it comprises three waterfront gardens – Bay South, Bay East, and Bay Central. Bay South, the largest at 54 hectares, officially opened on 29 June 2012.
Guided by the vision to be a world of gardens for all to own, enjoy and cherish, the Gardens’ extensive plant collection, ever-changing floral displays, and myriad of engaging programmes have captured the imagination of many, while its Gift of Gardens community initiative, with Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore as Patron, reaches out to people from all walks of life.
Since opening, Gardens by the Bay has welcomed more than 115 million visitors and garnered numerous international accolades including the third Top Attraction in the World in Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best 2026, Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2024, Best Theme Attraction at TTG Travel Awards 2022 and 2023, and Best Attraction Experience at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2019. The Gardens continues to refresh and refine its offerings, to be a place that everyone can enjoy – a garden where wonder blooms.
For more information, visit www.gardensbythebay.com.sg.
Dubai’s premium fitness market has gained a new large-format health club with the opening of FITCODE Q-East in Al Quoz, bringing a performance-led training, recovery and wellness model to one of the city’s emerging lifestyle districts. The flagship mixed health club spans nearly 24,000 sq ft at Q-East, a luxury destination positioned around creative, retail, food, entertainment and wellness concepts. The opening marks FITCODE’s third Dubai location […]
By Asad Mirza Marking exactly 100 days since a catastrophic conflict reordered the Middle East, a fragile, US-brokered truce violently collapsed as Israeli jets struck deep inside Iranian territory. By directly defying President Donald Trump’s explicit warnings to exercise restraint, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed the region into uncharted waters, leaving a heavily […]
The article Israel’s Defiance Of Trump Shatters The Truce In The US-Iran War appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Facebook’s creator payment system has become entangled in Alberta’s separatist politics after an investigation identified overseas-run accounts impersonating local activists and publishing content that promoted breaking away from Canada. The accounts presented themselves as voices from inside Alberta’s independence movement, using names, profile images and language designed to appear local. Several were linked to operators outside Canada who appeared to be using divisive political material to attract […]
Security teams are facing a fresh warning over enterprise use of AI coding agents after researchers identified a man-in-the-middle attack path that can redirect Claude Code traffic, capture OAuth tokens and preserve access to connected software-as-a-service platforms. The technique targets the way Anthropic’s Claude Code interacts with Model Context Protocol servers, a fast-growing mechanism used to connect AI agents with external systems such as Jira, Confluence, GitHub, […]
Global airlines are facing a sharp downgrade in earnings expectations for 2026, with industry profit forecasts almost halved as the Middle East war drives up fuel costs, disrupts Gulf air corridors and weakens demand across one of the world’s most strategically placed aviation regions. The International Air Transport Association’s latest financial outlook puts combined airline net profit at about $23 billion this year, down from an earlier […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has opened talks with Russia’s Sistema investment group in St Petersburg as Riyadh seeks to deepen industrial partnerships, localise advanced technologies and strengthen supply chains under its wider economic diversification programme. Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef met senior Sistema executives during a visit to the Russian city, with discussions centred on cooperation in high-priority industrial sectors and the […]
The demand has gathered pace across student networks, parent groups and coaching circles after candidates reported unusually low marks, unchecked answers, blurred scanned copies, payment failures and difficulty accessing the board’s post-result services. Many students say the burden of paying for verification and re-evaluation should not fall on candidates if the discrepancies arose within the evaluation system.
The dispute is centred on the board’s On-Screen Marking system, introduced for Class 12 answer books in the 2026 main examinations. CBSE has described the system as a technology-led reform intended to improve standardisation, accuracy, confidentiality and speed in evaluation. Students and parents, however, argue that the transition has exposed gaps in implementation at a time when even small changes in marks can affect eligibility, merit lists, counselling and scholarship decisions.
By June 5, CBSE had received more than 60,000 applications for verification and re-evaluation from Class 12 students across the country. The volume of requests has underlined the scale of unease after the declaration of results, particularly among students applying for engineering, medicine, commerce programmes and overseas universities, where documentation deadlines can be tight.
CBSE reduced the cost of post-result services after concerns were raised over access and affordability. The fee for obtaining a scanned copy of an evaluated answer book was cut from ₹700 to ₹100. The verification fee was lowered from ₹500 to ₹100, while the re-evaluation charge was reduced from ₹100 to ₹25 per question. The board has also said the fee will be refunded if marks increase after re-evaluation.
Students seeking redress must first obtain their scanned answer sheets before applying for verification or re-evaluation in the relevant subject. Applications are being handled through the official post-result portal, with Aadhaar-based verification added for security. CBSE has said answer sheets are available in candidate accounts and may also be sent to registered email addresses.
The fee reduction has not ended the dispute. Students argue that a refund after marks increase does not address the wider issue of upfront cost, uncertainty and loss of admission time. Families applying in multiple subjects may still have to pay for several stages of the process, while those waiting for revised marks risk missing cut-off dates at universities and professional institutions.
Technical concerns have widened the controversy beyond marks alone. CBSE acknowledged vulnerabilities linked to a portal used for scanned answer sheets after claims that answer booklets and examination papers had been exposed through an unsecured cloud storage route. The board said cybersecurity professionals from government agencies and IITs were being deployed to strengthen digital assets and move systems to a safer infrastructure.
The episode has also triggered questions about the service provider handling the digital evaluation process. Coempt Edutek Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based company associated with the On-Screen Marking framework, has come under scrutiny as students, parents and political figures call for greater transparency in the tendering, scanning, storage and review process. CBSE has maintained that the digital system includes quality checks and is meant to make evaluation more consistent.
Admission-related pressure has sharpened the demand for swift relief. Engineering aspirants are especially concerned because Class 12 marks remain relevant for eligibility in several routes. IIT Roorkee, which is handling JEE Advanced admissions, has allowed candidates below the 75 per cent Class 12 threshold to participate in the seat allocation process, provided they submit a revised qualifying scorecard by July 15 if their marks change after re-evaluation.
Parents’ associations have sought a one-time package covering grace marks for affected students, fee waiver for post-result services and flexibility in admission documentation deadlines. Teachers and education consultants have urged CBSE to publish clearer data on how many answer sheets are revised after verification and re-evaluation, arguing that transparency would help restore confidence in the system.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is due to travel to North Korea on June 8 for a two-day state visit aimed at reinforcing Beijing’s leverage over Kim Jong Un at a moment when Pyongyang has expanded its nuclear posture, tightened defence ties with Russia and shown less dependence on its long-standing patron. The trip, Xi’s first to North Korea in nearly seven years, places China at the centre […]
Dubai’s GameExpo has shifted attention from global gaming brands to the local talent building games, art and digital content, giving developers, designers, artists and small businesses a larger platform at Dubai World Trade Centre. The three-day event, running from June 5 to 7 as part of the Dubai Esports and Games Festival, has become a showcase for the UAE’s expanding gaming economy, combining esports tournaments, cosplay contests, […]
By K Raveendran Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government may have done itself a favour by allowing the Cockroach Janta Party protest led by Abhijit Dipke to proceed without turning it into another confrontation between the state and restless young citizens. For a government that has often preferred firmness over accommodation, the decision to let anger […]
The article Cockroach Protest Exposes A Youth Challenge Modi Cannot Brush Away appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Côte d’Ivoire is set to extend electricity access to more than 100,000 households after the African Development Bank Group approved €103.14 million in financing for a major grid-expansion programme aimed at strengthening the country’s power system and narrowing remaining access gaps. The financing, approved by the bank’s Board of Directors in Abidjan on 15 May 2026, will support the second phase of the Project to Strengthen the […]
Hola Browser’s Windows installer was compromised to deliver an undeclared cryptocurrency-mining executable to some users, exposing a supply-chain weakness in a product that had passed application certification checks before the anomaly was detected. The affected version, Hola Browser for Windows 1.251.91.0, wrote an unexpected file named me. exe to C:Program FilesHola on some systems. The executable was not part of the certified software footprint, was not digitally […]
Amazon has unveiled an upgraded version of its Proteus warehouse robot that can take plain-language instructions from workers, marking a major step in the company’s push to automate heavier tasks across its European fulfilment network. The next-generation Proteus was shown at Amazon’s Dartford fulfilment centre east of London as part of a wider investment programme of more than €10 billion, equal to about $11.6 billion, aimed at […]
