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Commvault has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with HPE to scale joint cybersecurity, backup and recovery services across the Gulf and wider Middle East, unveiling the pact at GITEX Global in Dubai.

The agreement mandates co-development of integrated solutions and joint market initiatives combining HPE’s infrastructure platforms — such as GreenLake, Alletra Storage MP, Zerto, StoreOnce — with Commvault’s cyber-resilience and data protection capabilities. It aims to drive enterprise adoption of hybrid cloud backup, ransomware mitigation and cross-region redundancy.

HPE previously announced a broader strategic expansion of its alliance with Commvault aimed at neutralising advanced cyberthreats, spotlighting tighter integration across cloud, storage and policy automation. The local MoU is intended to bring those capabilities closer to enterprises operating in the Gulf and MENA markets.

HPE’s Zerto platform will feed into Commvault Cloud offerings to enable near-zero recovery time and point objectives, while snapshot immutability, geographic replication, and anomaly detection powered by AI are planned as central joint features. Running side by side, HPE’s storage and infrastructure fabric supports Commvault’s orchestration layer for unified policy enforcement across hybrid deployments.

Regional leadership within both firms emphasised the growing urgency of resilience as data volumes and threat sophistication rise. Yacob Ahli, HPE’s Commercial Director for UAE, said that the Gulf’s data-centric growth narrative demands infrastructure foundations that safeguard continuity. Havier Haddad, heading Commvault’s EMEA emerging markets distribution, framed the MoU as a strategic move to reinforce customer confidence in mission-critical operations across the region.

Analysts say the new alliance helps bridge a gap many enterprises in the Middle East face: lacking in-region partner support for complex, integrated cyber resilience stacks. By localising go-to-market strategies, certification and training, the partnership may reduce friction in adoption. Still, adoption also depends on regulatory compliance, cross-border data governance, and interoperability with incumbent systems.

Commvault has also introduced new additions to its HyperScale portfolio — HyperScale Edge and HyperScale Flex — designed to support remote and edge data protection workloads, broadening its partner ecosystem to include HPE, Dell, Lenovo and others. These tools complement its flagship HyperScale X offering.

The Bank of North Dakota and payments firm Fiserv have unveiled plans for a dollar-backed digital token dubbed “Roughrider,” to be deployed among banks and credit unions in 2026 as a new instrument for interbank settlement. The token, restricted initially to participating financial institutions, aims to accelerate and modernise bank-to-bank transactions within the state.

Under the agreement, Roughrider will be built on Fiserv’s digital asset infrastructure, leveraging the platform’s framework to interoperate with other stablecoins. The Bank of North Dakota becomes the first U. S. state bank to issue a stablecoin on Fiserv’s platform. The initiative targets enhanced liquidity, streamlined payments, and potential expansion into merchant adoption.

Governor Kelly Armstrong cast the move as bold institutional innovation, positioning the state as a testing ground for blockchain-enabled finance. “We’re entering a new era,” he said, emphasising that North Dakota financial institutions must embrace evolving money-movement tools. Fiserv’s COO Takis Georgakopoulos described Roughrider as merging the stability of traditional banking with the agility of distributed ledger technology.

State officials say the Industrial Commission, which oversees the bank, must approve the pilot plan. Once greenlit, the rollout will begin with a small cohort of local institutions. BND President and CEO Don Morgan noted that any costs from development will rest on the bank’s balance sheet rather than state taxpayer funding. The legal team of Troutman Pepper Locke has advised the bank in structuring the deal.

The federal legislative environment played a crucial role: in July, Congress passed the GENIUS Act, providing stablecoin issuers with a national regulatory framework requiring full backing by high-quality assets, transparency rules, and audit requirements. North Dakota’s scheme is built to align with those standards.

While Wyoming’s Frontier Stable Token launched in August and is available for public use, North Dakota’s strategy is more conservative. Roughrider will begin as a wholesale instrument; public or consumer-facing use is not part of the first phase. Some stakeholders view it as a deliberate step to mitigate operational and financial risks before broader deployment.

Analysts say North Dakota offers a lower-complexity environment for experimentation. With BND being the only state-owned bank in the U. S., the state provides a more controlled setting to work through technical, legal, and compliance challenges. If successful, the model could be scaled beyond North Dakota’s borders or adopted by others.

Banks and credit unions participating in the pilot stand to benefit from faster settlement, reduced settlement costs, and simpler liquidity management. But industry voices warn of potential downsides: deposit flight is a concern if stablecoins siphon off customer balances, and state regulators may need more capacity to oversee digital assets.

Fiserv, which serves roughly 10,000 financial institutions and 6 million merchants globally, sees this as an opportunity to embed stablecoin rails within its ecosystem. It launched its own white-label stablecoin platform earlier this year, with FIUSD as its internal token, and views Roughrider as a use case within that infrastructure.

Amin H. Nasser, President & CEO of Aramco, told delegates at the Energy Intelligence Forum in London that the company will pursue “energy addition” to cope with intensifying global demand, underlining its steadfast ambition to maintain dominance in oil. He argued that conventional energy sources will remain critical even as the energy transition narrative evolves.

Nasser projected that global oil demand will grow by 1.1–1.3 million barrels per day this year and by 1.2–1.4 million bpd in 2026. He added that Aramco, having kept extraction costs at about $2 per barrel of oil equivalent for oil and $1 for gas, is well-positioned to meet the incremental demand. Speaking to a gathering of energy executives, he said the company can sustain maximum crude output of 12 million bpd for a full year without incurring extra cost.

He stressed that while many promises of the energy transition have fallen short, three shifts are now underway. First, he said the market is conceding that underinvestment in supply has risks. Second, cost pressures on alternative technologies are forcing a reevaluation of pace. Third, energy security is reclaiming a central role in policy-making. “Much of the promised progress has not been delivered, with many unintended consequences. Thankfully, it is finally shifting the narrative in three key ways,” Nasser said.

Behind the rhetoric lies a more cautious reality: Aramco has pared back its previous ambition to reach 13 million bpd, reverting instead to a 12 million bpd sustainable ceiling. That policy shift reportedly followed directives from Saudi energy authorities in early 2024.

In his remarks, Nasser also affirmed Aramco’s push into downstream and petrochemicals. He cited the company’s recent majority acquisition of Petro Rabigh, a 10 percent stake in China’s Rongsheng Petrochemical, and a joint $11 billion ethylene complex with TotalEnergies that is slated to come online by 2027. These moves, he said, diversify revenue streams beyond crude.

His stance echoes his commentary at earlier industry events. At CERAWeek in Houston, Nasser had cast doubt on the viability of green hydrogen and questioned the assumption that renewables alone can displace fossil fuels. He then quipped that there was “more chance of Elvis speaking” than seeing the current transition plans succeed.

Analysts say that Aramco’s optimism hinges on its low-carbon upstream intensity and vast reserves, which give it flexibility against higher-cost producers. The International Energy Agency’s estimates place Saudi spare capacity at about 2.43 million bpd, part of OPEC+’s total idle capacity of around 4.05 million bpd.

Still, external pressures persist. Governments worldwide face competing goals of emissions reduction, energy access, and geopolitical security. In many markets, renewables and storage technologies remain maturing, requiring heavy capital and regulatory support before they can scale. Critics argue that overreliance on fossil fuels could lock in carbon-intensive infrastructure and slow the path to net zero.

At the London forum, however, Nasser signalled that Aramco sees its role as not merely supplying more oil but shaping the discourse. “We are determined to remain dominant in oil thanks to a massive resource base, low costs, and one of the lowest upstream carbon intensities across the industry,” he said. He urged policymakers and financiers to support broad energy investment rather than prematurely dismiss conventional sources.

By Nantoo Banerjee There is little to be excited about the recent inauguration of predominantly mountainous Arunachal Pradesh’s first commercial coal mine at Namchik-Namphuk in the Changlang district jointly by Union Coal & Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy and Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu, marking the state’s first coal mine project. With an officially estimated […]

The article India Must Cut Down Coal Consumption appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Dubai — DOOGEE is rolling out a bold “Tech For Nature” showcase at GITEX GLOBAL 2025, positioning itself at the intersection of rugged devices and sustainability. From 13 to 17 October, the company will host its exhibit at booth A40 in Hall 13, where its outdoor-oriented hardware and eco-aware design features will be on full display.

DOOGEE describes the exhibit as centred around its “Tech Impact” zone, a curated space meant to demonstrate how its devices can withstand extreme conditions while serving the needs of explorers, scientists, and rescue personnel. The lineup includes models engineered for shock, heat, immersion, and drops — with features aimed at bridging utility and resilience.

Among the highlight products is the V Max Play, which pairs a high-capacity battery with a 200 MP main camera and integrates a mini projector for on-the-go displays. DOOGEE also plans to exhibit the S200 Ultra, built with aluminium-titanium alloy framing and a rear display for rapid glanceable information. Wearables and peripheral devices are similarly designed for outdoor resilience: the Anywise W1 Pro watch offers dual-band GPS, 5ATM water resistance, and offline map capability, while BoneAir Swim provides bone conduction audio under IP68 waterproof rating.

The firm frames “Tech For Nature” as both a mission and a product philosophy—suggesting that its devices should “coexist with nature” rather than merely tolerate it. In its public communications, DOOGEE emphasises use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient design elements. For instance, it references the use of recycled coffee grounds in casing composites and UV-responsive surfaces that shift hues with ambient light.

DOOGEE is no stranger to rugged or niche technology showcases. Earlier in 2025, the company participated in GITEX Europe, where it spotlighted AI-enhanced rugged devices and wearables built for industrial and outdoor environments. The Dubai event, by contrast, marks its largest commitment yet to the consumer-facing “outdoor tech” narrative.

Analysts note that DOOGEE is entering a competitive space where brands like CAT, Ulefone, and Blackview already target the rugged market segment. To distinguish itself, DOOGEE appears to lean into hybrid positioning: ruggedness plus eco credentials. “The idea is to appeal to users who don’t want to sacrifice environmental sensibility for durability,” commented one industry observer.

GITEX GLOBAL 2025 is itself a major platform: this 45th edition of the event draws participants across AI, quantum, data centres, and startup ecosystems. DOOGEE’s exhibit is aligned with the trend of hardware firms emphasizing sustainability, resilience, and experience-driven product showcases.

Visitors at booth A40 will have hands-on access to the full “Tech For Nature” suite, including tablets, phones, wearables, and audio gear. DOOGEE is also promoting discounts on first orders for attendees and encouraging media and partners to trial devices on-location. Beyond demonstration, the firm is signalling intention to gear up distribution and service channels in regions where demand for rugged outdoor gear is rising.

Lyft Inc. has entered into a partnership with the autonomous vehicle company Tensor Auto Inc. to introduce a fleet of robotaxis across North America and Europe by 2027. The companies aim to reshape the transportation landscape, focusing on the future of urban mobility. Lyft’s venture into the robotaxi market signals a significant step towards embracing fully autonomous driving technologies, which could revolutionise urban transport systems globally.

Under the terms of the agreement, Tensor Auto will provide the necessary technology to power the autonomous vehicles, while Lyft will manage the operations, including fleet logistics, ride-hailing services, and customer-facing platforms. The collaboration is set to leverage Lyft’s extensive experience in the ride-hailing industry, which already covers a wide range of urban markets in both regions. This partnership marks a key milestone in the journey towards making driverless cars a reality, aiming to deliver more efficient and eco-friendly transportation alternatives.

Lyft’s move into robotaxis comes as the autonomous vehicle market is experiencing a rapid surge in interest, with several major players such as Tesla, Google’s Waymo, and others investing heavily in the technology. These vehicles are designed to operate without human intervention, using a combination of sensors, cameras, and advanced artificial intelligence to navigate city streets. By eliminating the need for drivers, robotaxis promise to cut costs, reduce congestion, and lower emissions, aligning with the growing demand for greener urban transport solutions.

The rollout of robotaxis is expected to be gradual, with Lyft planning to initially deploy a limited number of vehicles in select cities. The fleet will be integrated with Lyft’s existing app, allowing customers to book rides as they would with traditional cars. While the service will begin with a small fleet of vehicles, Lyft and Tensor Auto anticipate expanding the network as regulatory frameworks for autonomous vehicles evolve and urban infrastructure adapts to accommodate driverless cars.

Lyft’s decision to enter the autonomous ride-sharing market comes at a time when the company is looking to diversify its services beyond traditional ride-hailing. The potential of robotaxis could be a game changer in terms of profitability and service efficiency. As the global shift towards sustainability grows stronger, self-driving electric vehicles like these offer a promising solution to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

Tensor Auto, a leader in autonomous driving technology, has been a key player in the development of self-driving solutions for both private and commercial transportation. The company has been refining its autonomous system, focusing on the safety, reliability, and efficiency of its vehicles. Tensor Auto’s vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and machine learning algorithms designed to enable smooth navigation in complex urban environments. These innovations are expected to be central to the success of the Lyft robotaxi initiative.

While many of the logistics regarding the fleet’s operation remain in development, key challenges will include regulatory approvals, vehicle safety standards, and ensuring that autonomous systems can navigate the dynamic nature of urban environments. Several regions, including parts of Europe and North America, have already started the process of revising their traffic laws to accommodate self-driving vehicles, with pilot programs and test sites being established in cities like San Francisco and London.

Experts suggest that the integration of robotaxis could lead to significant shifts in how people approach urban mobility. With the promise of safer, more reliable, and more affordable transportation, the expansion of driverless cars could be particularly beneficial in densely populated cities, where congestion and pollution are persistent challenges. Lyft and Tensor Auto’s collaboration could set a new benchmark for the future of transportation, one that is driven by sustainability and technological advancement.

Tesla has introduced stripped-down “Standard” versions of its Model Y and Model 3 in China, priced at about US$39,990 and US$36,990 respectively, in an effort to stem declining demand. The clean, steep drop into affordability came with a catch: several key features have been removed. The move has triggered wide disquiet and mixed sentiment across Chinese social media platforms as observers weigh its significance for Tesla’s China fortunes.

Tesla said the new models omit elements such as leather seats, a rear-passenger screen, radio functionality and the “Autosteer” feature of Autopilot. The price cut—roughly a 10 per cent reduction from higher-end trims—aims to broaden appeal without launching an entirely new product line. Many Chinese users responded sharply, dubbing the launch a “beggar version” of Tesla. Some highlighted that domestic EV rivals already offer more complete features at similar or lower price points.

Discussions on Weibo ranged from dismissive to cautiously optimistic. One commenter asked, “The beggar’s version of the Model Y costs 230,000 yuan. Would one actually buy it?” Another compared it to offerings from Li Auto, arguing that a similarly priced Li model delivers more “intelligent” content. Others countered that buyers often criticise products online yet still purchase them, suggesting Tesla might yet move significant volume.

Analysts see the move as a double-edged sword. While it could generate volume and help defend market share, it risks cannibalising Tesla’s own higher-margin variants. According to one industry strategist, the success of this strategy depends heavily on Tesla’s ability to squeeze out cost in manufacturing, battery sourcing and logistics. If it fails to manage margins, the gambit could backfire.

Tesla’s share price dropped by about 3.6 per cent in daytime trading following the announcement. One market observer described the shift as symbolic: “Tesla is slipping into a mainstream volume play rather than remaining a luxury-tech halo.” The automaker is being cast less as a disruptor and more as a mass-market player trying to straddle both prestige and affordability.

The pressure on Tesla is mounting. Its China market share has slipped amid surging competition from local automakers such as BYD, Nio and Xiaomi, which are aggressive on both pricing and feature bundles. Earlier this year, Xiaomi unveiled its YU7 SUV boasting strong range, 800-volt architecture and performance metrics designed to challenge Tesla directly. Tesla’s market share in China fell sharply, in part because local brands are better able to integrate battery innovations, in-vehicle entertainment, and smart-home integration.

Tesla’s strategy in China is complicated further by macro and regulatory tension. The company has already suspended orders for its U. S.-imported Model S and Model X in China, possibly in response to trade tensions. Meanwhile, the Gigafactory in Shanghai remains Tesla’s main hub for local and export production of Model 3 and Model Y, representing one of its rare wholly foreign-owned plants in China.

A proposed ETF tracking the TRUMP meme coin has appeared on the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s system — an infrastructural step that signals intent, though it falls short of regulatory approval.

Canary Capital, which filed an S-1 registration with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the ETF, now sees its TRUMP Coin fund listed in DTCC systems alongside other altcoin ETF candidates. The DTCC listing enables clearing and settlement readiness should approval arrive.

Analysts view the development as a technical milestone. Bloomberg ETF specialist Eric Balchunas observed that once a ticker appears on DTCC’s eligibility file, it rarely retracts — underscoring the forward momentum for the product. Nonetheless, he and others caution that DTCC inclusion is procedural and does not guarantee SEC consent.

Canary’s filing proposes that the ETF would offer exposure to the price dynamics of TRUMP token without requiring investors to self-custody the asset. To cover transaction costs inherent in the blockchain architecture, the filing permits the fund to hold up to 5 percent in Solana’s native token SOL, although it will not treat SOL as a core investment.

The TRUMP coin is a Solana Program Library token whose market value hinges heavily on political sentiment, community engagement and volatility rather than fundamental utility. Critics have raised concerns about the blending of political interests with speculative finance, warning of conflicts of interest and reputational risks to the broader crypto ecosystem.

This development coincides with DTCC’s addition of other altcoin ETFs — namely Fidelity’s Solana ETF and Canary’s XRP and Hedera funds — to its eligibility files. These moves have injected renewed optimism into altcoin ETF markets, though all such listings still await the SEC’s green light.

Momentum for altcoin ETFs has accelerated since spot Bitcoin and Ethereum funds gained approval. Still, the SEC has kept other proposals on ice, deferring decisions and delaying rulings. The regulator’s patience underscores the risk-management pressures it faces in balancing innovation and investor protection.

Canary’s TRUMP ETF filing follows earlier efforts by Trump Media & Technology Group, which has sought SEC approval for a suite of thematic “Truth Social Funds” ETFs covering areas such as energy, infrastructure and American icons.

Kocha village in the Khunti district of Jharkhand has been wired into a 40 kW solar micro-grid with IoT-enabled smart management, marking the third Climate Smart Village established under Schneider Electric India Foundation in partnership with PRADAN. The grid now supports irrigation pumps, agro-processing units, households, street lighting, a primary health centre and an e-vehicle.

The pilot builds on earlier deployments in the Gumla district’s Sehal and Chatti villages, where solar arrays of 40 kW and 45 kW were integrated with load-balancing systems to power productive use in agriculture and local enterprises. That model delivered doubling of household incomes and emission reductions of around 60,000 kg of CO₂ annually for those communities.

Officials at the inauguration in Kocha included Jharkhand’s Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Dipika Pandey Singh, Khunti MP Kali Charan Munda, Torpa MLA Sudeep Gudhiya, and Damini Chaudhari, Vice President for Strategy, M&A & CSR at Schneider Electric. Deepak Sharma, MD & CEO of Schneider Electric India, emphasised the initiative’s aim to fuse renewable energy with local entrepreneurship and digital systems to empower self-sufficient rural economies.

Before the grid installation, farmers in Kocha were restricted to a single rain-fed cropping cycle each year, lacking the electricity required to operate processing machinery or irrigation pumps. Many households lacked reliable power, and migration was common owing to the scarcity of local jobs. Under the new scheme, farmers are experimenting with multi-crop production and in-village processing. A women-led Farmer Producer Organisation, Torpa Mahila Krishi Bhagwani Saykari Swalambhi Samiti, is central to aggregating, processing and marketing produce locally.

The mini-grid design employs smart energy management software that monitors demand and allocates energy dynamically, aiming for close to full utilisation of the solar capacity throughout the day. The system aggregates essential loads—agricultural, domestic and community—so that surplus power is diverted to where demand is highest at any given time.

In the Gumla villages, the success of this load-diversion strategy allowed continuous operation of irrigation pumps, oil expellers, rice hullers and small mills, effectively removing dependence on diesel backups. The result was a consistent power supply, reduced fuel costs and increased productivity. That template is now being scaled to Kocha.

SEIF intends to use the Kocha rollout as a replicable blueprint for scaling further in Jharkhand and across other states with energy-poor rural communities. The target is to reach 100,000 farmer families by 2025 through distributed, decentralised energy systems that combine renewable generation, digital control and demand flexibility.