The International Olympic Committee has announced it will no longer collaborate with Saudi Arabia to host the Olympic eSports Games. This move, described as a “mutual” decision, signifies the conclusion of the partnership between the two entities, which had initially planned to join forces in promoting digital sports at the Olympic level. In a statement issued on its official website, the IOC explained that both parties would […]
The US stock market continues to surge, its strength underpinned by robust earnings and an easing policy stance from the Federal Reserve. AI remains the defining force, lifting productivity expectations and propelling capital spending. Wall Street is still the engine of global growth, but attention is beginning to turn elsewhere. A growing number of market participants see the next major wave forming in Asia, led by China […]
—Hong Kong brand DR H fuses Eastern philosophy and cutting-edge innovation to reshape the global smart wearables landscape. HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 October 2025 – In today’s smart wearables market, the hottest segment of the Consumer Electronics industry, leading brands dominate resources, while endless spec races and price wars leave consumers overwhelmed and uninspired. Beneath this seeming prosperity lies a landscape of […]
A flurry of strategic manoeuvres has placed Warner Bros. Discovery at the heart of one of the media industry’s most consequential displacement moves, as multiple major technology and entertainment companies evaluate possible acquisition bids. The company said it has opened a formal review of strategic alternatives after receiving unsolicited interest for its full or partial business, setting the stage for what may become a landmark consolidation. Executives […]
The International Court of Justice in The Hague issued an advisory opinion stating that Gaza Strip’s occupying power must facilitate humanitarian relief efforts by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and other UN bodies, and ensure the civilian population’s essential needs for food, water, shelter, fuel and medical care are met. Presiding Judge Yuji Iwasawa declared that Israel “is […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 October 2025 – For Hong Kong tertiary students, pursuing dreams often comes with financial pressures. While applying for the government’s Student Financial Assistance Scheme (“Grant Loan”) is a common option, its complex application process and strict deadlines frequently catch students off guard, potentially leading to missed tuition payments and penalties. uFinance, a dedicated student loan platform, addresses this […]
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.
Tether has agreed to pay $299.5 million to the Celsius Network bankruptcy estate, resolving long-standing disputes over Bitcoin collateral transfers tied to Celsius’s collapse in 2022. The deal was announced by the Blockchain Recovery Investment Consortium, a joint venture between GXD Labs and VanEck, acting as litigation administrator and asset recovery manager for Celsius’s creditors.
The settlement brings closure to adversary claims filed in August 2024 in the U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Celsius had contended that Tether improperly liquidated Bitcoin collateral backing loans denominated in USDT, executing sales when Bitcoin’s market value closely matched Celsius’s debt — thereby undermining the lender’s position. Under the agreement, those claims will be dismissed, though the broader wind-down of Celsius remains ongoing.
BRIC was appointed by Celsius’s debtors and the unsecured creditors committee in January 2024 to steer recovery efforts of illiquid assets and litigation claims. According to BRIC’s announcement, the payment reflects a negotiated resolution consistent with maximizing returns for creditors. David Proman of GXD Labs remarked on the “timeliness” of the settlement and the objective of concluding contentious matters against Tether.
While $299.5 million is a substantial sum, it accounts for a relatively small fraction of the total claims Celsius had pursued—estimated at approximately $4 billion. Tether’s side had resisted full liability, positioning its role as merely transactional rather than one bearing responsibility for downstream collateral use, a stance it has maintained in past legal challenges. Some observers interpret the settlement as signalling heightened legal risks for stablecoin issuers in future insolvency contexts, where courts may scrutinize the proximity of collateral actions to debtor collapse.
The settlement does not necessarily foreclose other claims linked to the Celsius wind-down. BRIC remains responsible for managing a portfolio of residual litigation and illiquid digital assets, with the aim of continuing creditor recovery. The deal, in effect, removes one major legal obstacle in a broader restructuring process that has spanned years.
Market reaction has been muted. Crypto stakeholders and legal analysts are now closely watching whether regulators or courts will treat this settlement as a template—potentially influencing how stablecoin issuers are held to account in distressed scenarios. Some argue that issuers will face increased pressure to adopt stronger governance and compliance frameworks to mitigate similar exposures. Others caution against overinterpreting the settlement as an admission of liability.
What first inspired you to pursue your current industry or professional path? Was there a defining moment or influence that shaped your direction? My journey into financial technology began during my early days at Banque Misr, Egypt’s second-largest bank, where I witnessed firsthand the inefficiencies of traditional paperbased banking systems. The defining moment came when I was tasked with spearheading the digital transformation initiative, converting traditional transactions […]
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.
Dubai-based Dubizzle Group Holdings has unveiled plans to float about 30.34 % of its share capital via an initial public offering on the Dubai Financial Market. The offer comprises 1.25 billion ordinary shares, of which 196.1 million are fresh issues from the company and 1.05 billion are existing shares sold by current shareholders. Subscription will be open from 23 to 29 October, the price will be fixed on 30 October, and trading is expected to begin on 6 November 2025.
The firm has appointed Rothschild & Co. as Independent Financial Advisor and Emirates NBD Capital as Listing Advisor. The IPO will be co-managed by banks including Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Barclays, EFG-Hermes UAE, Emirates NBD, Goldman Sachs International, HSBC Middle East and Morgan Stanley. Dubizzle’s largest shareholder, Prosus N. V., is committing USD 100 million to the issuance, signaling continued backing after initially investing in 2011.
Dubizzle operates across two main platforms: dubizzle, which handles automotive and general classifieds, and Bayut, focused on real estate. In the 18 months leading up to the IPO, the group pursued strategic acquisitions such as Drive Arabia, Hatla2ee, and most recently Property Monitor, a UAE real estate data and analytics provider. The acquisition of Property Monitor, which delivered a revenue CAGR of 55 % from 2022 to 2024, is expected to deepen Dubizzle’s insight offering in its property vertical.
Financially, the group has improved its performance. In 2024, revenues reached USD 222 million, with the net loss narrowing. For the first half of 2025, revenue rose to USD 133 million, while adjusted profit stood at USD 14 million. The more constrained net loss of USD 8.9 million in H1 2025 marks further progress in reducing deficits.
Market conditions have played in Dubizzle’s favour. Dubai’s real estate market has surged, with prices climbing over 70 % over four years, boosting transaction activity and demand for online classifieds. Analysts view the Dubizzle IPO as one of the largest tech offerings this year in the UAE, designed to attract capital inflows into the growing digital marketplace sector.
Yet challenges lie ahead. Investor scrutiny of valuations and corporate transparency will intensify, and Dubizzle must show sustainable path to profitability beyond growth. Some analysts estimate the IPO value in the USD 500 million to USD 1 billion range, consistent with its fundraising and valuation aspirations. Liquidity and free float requirements—especially for inclusion in indices like MSCI—may pressure the group to deliver consistent operational metrics.
In preparing for the public listing, Dubizzle has restructured its syndicate. It previously engaged banks such as Emirates NBD, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, and now rotated in Morgan Stanley, replacing former links to Citigroup. The reconfiguration suggests an adaptive approach designed to secure stronger placement and institutional interest.
Dubizzle and many other UAE firms are benefiting from momentum in the IPO pipeline. According to regional capital markets observers, between 25 IPOs were recorded in the first half of 2025, generating about USD 4.5 billion. Brokers like Citi assert that the pipeline remains healthy, even amid macro and geopolitical headwinds, and highlight investor demand for exposure to unlisted technology, fintech, and real estate-adjacent sectors.
The French presidency announced that President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, tasking him with forming a viable government and shepherding a 2026 budget through a fragmented parliament. The move follows the abrupt collapse of Lecornu’s earlier cabinet, which lasted scarcely hours. Lecornu’s renewed mandate comes after he resigned on 6 October, mere hours after unveiling a cabinet, citing opposition across ideological lines to […]
Washington pressed Beijing to adopt a more conciliatory stance in an intensifying trade dispute over rare earths, as Vice President JD Vance asserted that President Donald Trump holds superior leverage in any escalating confrontation. Speaking on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures, Vance warned that China’s reaction will largely decide whether the standoff becomes a full-blown trade war or returns to negotiation. China responded with defiance. Its Ministry […]
By Girish Linganna In a move that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on October 9 for an eight-day official visit that marks a watershed moment in India’s foreign policy. His meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, followed by visits to […]
The article The Price Of Pragmatism: What India Gains (And Loses) By Courting The Taliban appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
By Nitya Chakraborty The Israel-Hamas peace deal announced by the US President Donald Trump on Wednesday night in Washington is a welcome development, however limited it be at the moment as the agreement between the two warring parties is only for the first phase of Trump sponsored deal involving the release of all hostages by […]
The article Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal Is Welcome But The Follow Up Is Crucial For Enduring Peace appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
By Nitya Chakraborty Just forty eight hours within the external affairs minister Dr. S Jaishankar’s candid statement that Trump has to respect red lines drawn by India at trade talks, Indian officials joining China, Russia, Taliban government of Afghanistan and even Pakistan denouncing President Trump’s bid to take over Bagram air base in Afghanistan, is […]
The article India’s Opposition To Trump Bid To Take Over Bagram Airbase Has Special Significance appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Turkish authorities reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining energy ties with Russia, dismissing US appeals to cut off Moscow from the country’s gas supply network. The Turkish Energy Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, emphasised that existing contracts and technical dependencies render any abrupt withdrawal impractical. Bayraktar told CNNTurk that “we cannot tell our citizens: We have run out of gas,” adding that Turkey must ensure continuous supply from Russia, Azerbaijan, […]
Google has chosen Saudi startup Lahint for inclusion in its Growth Academy: AI for GovTech 2025 cohort, positioning the company among 24 global government-technology innovators supported by Google. The move aims to strengthen Lahint’s capacity to deliver AI-enabled public services and further Saudi Arabia’s push for digital transformation under Vision 2030.
Lahint, established in 2023 by Ahmed Saber and Mohamed Ibrahim, secured a $1 million pre-seed investment earlier this year to scale its AI and automation offerings in government services. The platform currently manages more than 60 digital government services and serves over 200 businesses, integrating robotic process automation and AI to streamline licensing, permits and administrative workflows.
By integrating Lahint into its accelerator, Google pledges technical support, mentorship and access to cloud infrastructure—tools that could accelerate Lahint’s roadmap to full automation of priority public services. Lahint has already earned multiple ISO certifications and is accredited by the Saudi Data & AI Authority with a Waee badge for AI ethics compliance.
Lahint has advanced its internal timeline for key automation milestones. The company is now targeting completion of its GovTech automation program by early 2026, a shift from an earlier 2027 target. This acceleration comes alongside newly signed partnerships with government entities to deploy real-time status reporting and predictive compliance tools covering domain areas such as licensing, taxation and corporate registration.
Saudi Arabia’s broader AI landscape is scaling rapidly. In 2025, the kingdom announced over $14.9 billion in investments at LEAP and pursued MoUs under SDAIA to reinforce its data and AI infrastructure. The establishment of HUMAIN, a state-backed AI company under the Public Investment Fund, is central to that strategy. HUMAIN, launched in May 2025, has already inked collaboration agreements with Nvidia, AMD and Qualcomm to develop AI factories and Arabic large language models.
Google’s AI programme in Saudi Arabia is part of a wider arrangement. A $10 billion joint investment by Google Cloud and the Public Investment Fund backs a national AI hub to reinforce the local ecosystem and serve regional demand.
Lagos welcomed commissioners for Innovation, Science and Technology from states across Nigeria to a high-level roundtable held under the aegis of the GITEX Africa tech gathering. The objective: align digital agendas, forge inter-state partnerships, and drive inclusive growth in a rapidly evolving ICT landscape.
The meeting convened key figures including Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cybersecurity, and Lagos Commissioner Olatunbosun Alake, together with commissioners from Enugu, Cross River, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Yobe, Nasarawa, Ogun, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Zamfara and Ondo. Lagos State’s Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Science and Technology, Ibilola Kasunmu, also participated in framing the discussions. Observers noted that the roundtable sought to embed state-level digital initiatives into Nigeria’s broader national strategy.
Alake emphasised Lagos’s ambition to serve as a model for digital infrastructure, talent development and regulatory innovation. He proposed that states engage in exchange programmes, technical cooperation, and peer learning in domains ranging from broadband deployment to digital skills training. Salisu urged the participants to tie ICT plans to each state’s development priorities—education, healthcare, finance—to ensure sustained political will and funding. He flagged work underway in the National Assembly on bills to strengthen cybersecurity, data protection, and innovation regulation.
The roundtable in Lagos marks a shift toward greater coordination among sub-national actors in Nigeria’s digital transition. Until now, many states have pursued ICT policies in isolation, often duplicating efforts or confronting resource gaps. This initiative signals more strategic collaboration.
Beyond the roundtable, Lagos reiterated its commitment to leading the digital transformation. The state has pledged to sustain investment in fibre networks, smart city systems, regulatory reform and innovation hubs. Officials announced that Lagos will increase support for start-ups through grants, incubators and mentorship programmes. The state also seeks to broker partnerships between academic institutions, the private sector and state governments to expand capacity in AI, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
Voices from attending states expressed cautious optimism. Cross River’s commissioner described the roundtable as “the first step toward removing silos” and noted plans to adopt digital identity and analytics platforms in her jurisdiction. Enugu’s commissioner underscored the need for shared platforms rather than bespoke solutions in each state, to reduce costs and foster interoperability.
Samsung is deepening its collaboration with Coinbase to integrate cryptocurrency services directly into its Wallet app. Users with Galaxy devices in the U. S. will now be able to make crypto purchases using Samsung Pay, and enjoy enhanced access to Coinbase’s premium offerings.
Wallet users will gain special access to a three-month subscription to Coinbase One, and early users may receive a $25 credit after placing their first trade. The alliance bridges Samsung’s digital wallet ecosystem with Coinbase’s crypto infrastructure to simplify onboarding for mainstream consumers.
The rollout begins with U. S. Galaxy customers, where Samsung says more than 75 million device owners could benefit. Samsung executives have signalled plans to extend the integration to other markets globally.
This isn’t the first foray for the two companies. The integration was first announced in July, enabling Samsung Pay within the Coinbase app, allowing users to fund crypto purchases without leaving the app or switching payment methods.
Under the new details, Samsung Wallet becomes a conduit not just for payments and identity, but also crypto trading, staking, and portfolio oversight. The partnership emphasises security, leveraging Samsung’s Knox platform and tokenisation to protect user assets and data.
Shan Aggarwal, Coinbase’s Chief Business Officer, said the tie-up aligns with the firm’s mission to bring “more than a billion people on chain” by meeting them on devices they already use. Drew Blackard, Senior Vice President at Samsung, noted that Galaxy users already rely on their phones for payments, identity verification and digital storage—and crypto access is a natural extension.
The push is part of Coinbase’s broader strategy of embedding crypto capabilities across consumer channels. In August, the company disclosed $1.5 billion in Q2 revenue and underscored its ambition to become what it calls “the everything exchange” — a unified gateway to trading, payments, and on-chain finance.
In parallel, Coinbase has struck partnerships with financial institutions. Notably, it is collaborating with JPMorgan Chase to let customers link their bank accounts to Coinbase wallets, enabling crypto trading and the conversion of credit card points into digital assets.
Industry observers view the Samsung integration as one of the most ambitious consumer-level crypto distribution moves to date. By embedding exchange functionality directly into a widely used mobile wallet, Coinbase and Samsung seek to lower structural barriers that often frustrate new crypto users.
That said, challenges remain. The U. S. regulatory environment around crypto remains volatile, with the SEC and other agencies scrutinising exchanges, token listings, and taxation. Skeptics warn that bundling crypto into everyday apps could expose users to market risk without full awareness.
Meanwhile, the phased rollout in the U. S. and Canada will test adoption rates, user behaviour, cross-border compliance, and competition from rival wallets like Apple Pay or Google Wallet, some of which may pursue their own crypto plans.
By K Raveendran Bill Gates’ recent revelation about how a critical recruitment drive of fifteen Indian engineers had once saved Microsoft from slipping into irrelevance comes at a time when the United States under Donald Trump is imposing restrictive visa measures that are designed to block the very talent pool that had proven indispensable for […]
The article Trump’s Visa Tariff May Be Blessing In Disguise For India’s Talent Reservoir appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Global private equity heavyweight KKR has acquired a minority share in the company that leases Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s gas pipelines, deepening its commitment to the UAE’s energy infrastructure. The financial terms and precise percentage of the stake were not disclosed. The deal gives KKR exposure to ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets LLC, which holds the lease rights for a network of 38 pipelines across the UAE, […]
A joint venture between UAE grocer Spinneys and Philippines conglomerate Ayala Corporation aims to introduce premium supermarkets across the archipelago, with the first outlet slated for the fourth quarter of 2026. Ayala will control 60 per cent of the venture, with Spinneys holding the remaining 40 per cent, launching the Dubai-based brand’s first expansion beyond the Gulf Cooperation Council. The two-phase deal calls for Spinneys to bring […]
Governments, tech firms and international bodies are intensifying efforts to structure artificial intelligence oversight, with sharp divergence emerging between innovation-led and precaution-based models. The European Union has begun implementing core provisions of its AI Act, the United States has unveiled a sweeping federal strategy prioritising deregulation, and Asia—with China leading—has laid out a coordinated global governance agenda. The EU’s AI Act, formally effective since August 2024, is […]
