Calibre version 8.11.1 now includes an “Ask AI” tab inside its e-book viewer, enabling users to highlight text and query artificial intelligence models for summaries, context or explanations of the selected passage. The feature remains entirely optional — no AI modules are loaded unless a user configures a provider. The new capability supports a broad spectrum of AI models, including cloud services and locally hosted models via […]
Washington’s plan to sharply raise the cost of H-1B visas—the key route for skilled overseas professionals into the United States—has consequences far beyond immigration policy. It signals a potential reallocation of talent, capital and innovation that could redefine where the next wave of technology growth takes place. If the US prices out the world’s top engineers, data scientists and entrepreneurs, those individuals will gravitate toward regions offering […]
By Nitya Chakraborty In Nepal, following the tumultuous developments on September 8, 9 and 10 as a result of Generation Z uprising, the 2.9 crore nation is crawling back to normalcy . Under the leadership of interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the new administration is making sincere efforts to ensure law and order to prepare […]
The article Nepal’s Political Course Till March 5 Elections Gripped In Uncertainties appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Harrods has informed certain customers that their names and contact details were exposed after a system belonging to one of its third-party service providers was compromised, though account passwords and payment information remain unaffected. The luxury retailer emphasised the breach was isolated and has been contained, reiterating that Harrods’ core internal systems remained untouched. The compromised data is said to be limited to basic identifiers. The company […]
By K Raveendran The global oil market is once again caught between geopolitics and fundamentals, as a new set of developments forces traders, producers, and consumers to recalibrate expectations. With the United States and the European Union signalling a hardening of positions on Russian oil, and with the Middle East simmering in heightened tensions, Brent […]
The article World Oil Flows At A Critical Juncture As India, US Try To Hammer Out A Deal appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Abu Dhabi raised $1 billion from a three-year bond sale at 3.625 per cent, about 10 basis points over U. S. Treasuries, and simultaneously issued $2 billion in a 10-year tranche at 4.25 per cent, 18 basis points over Treasuries, drawing a combined order book of over $16 billion. The Reg S senior unsecured bonds will be rated AA by S&P and Fitch, matching the issuer’s credit […]
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has revealed a 15-kilometre Dubai Autonomous Zone, an integrated corridor designed to link driverless land and water transport modes. The zone will stretch from Creek Station on the Metro Green Line through Al Jaddaf toward Dubai Creek Harbour and Festival City. The plan aims to weave Metro, RoboTaxis, RoboBuses, self-driving shuttles, autonomous abras, driverless logistics vehicles and street-sweeping bots into one seamless […]
Under the new agreements, Chinese manufacturer XCMG will supply up to half of the electric 240-tonne haul truck fleet, with deliveries phased between 2028 and 2030. The remaining trucks will be produced by Liebherr, under an amended version of an earlier deal. The contracts build on an earlier framework signed in 2024 for battery-electric ancillary mining equipment.
XCMG itself refers to the Fortescue order as the largest export order for green mining equipment from China to date. The trucks may include autonomous features and use advanced software, similar to those operating in China’s open-pit mines.
Fortescue is also finalising its full takeover of Nabrawind, a Spanish wind tower and turbine technology company in which it held a minority stake since 2023. With full ownership, Fortescue plans to integrate Nabrawind’s self-lifting tower designs with turbines supplied by Envision Energy, aiming to deploy up to 2.1 GW of installed wind capacity in its Pilbara “East Pilbara generation hub.” The first wind energy is expected online by 2028, pending regulatory approval.
To support its Decarbonisation roadmap, Fortescue has signed supply agreements with several other Chinese clean-tech firms: BYD will supply energy storage systems; LONGi will provide photovoltaic modules; and Envision will deliver turbines and smart energy solutions. Fortescue describes the partnerships as a “multilateral collaboration” to access the best manufacturing capacity globally.
Andrew Forrest, the company’s Executive Chairman, emphasised that China’s ability to scale green technologies rapidly makes it a key partner in Fortescue’s strategy. He remarked that industry should “glue back” international cooperation through practical alliances rather than mere rhetoric. The company also continues to operate its R&D arm, Fortescue Zero, which is tasked with integrating and optimising power systems across its fleet and operations.
However, the pivot towards Chinese suppliers has already prompted adjustments to the Liebherr arrangement. Fortescue has scaled back Liebherr’s role to supplying at minimum half the haul trucks, down from its originally envisaged share, reallocating greater share to XCMG. Analyses suggest the move is intended to diversify risk, ensure supply chain resilience, and meet aggressive deployment timelines.
The decision also appears to reflect broader challenges in the green hydrogen sector: Fortescue has walked away from planned hydrogen projects in Arizona and Queensland, absorbing write-downs, and is now emphasizing electrification and green iron production instead. Internal restructuring and leadership turnover at Fortescue Zero have raised questions about execution, but the company underscores that the new strategy remains intact.
India has engaged with Washington over the U. S. decision to impose a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, warning that the move threatens the mobility of skilled professionals and could strain bilateral trade ties.
The External Affairs Ministry affirmed it would continue talks with relevant stakeholders in the United States, emphasising that talent exchange has underpinned innovation and growth in both economies. The government noted that the new rule may disproportionately affect Indian nationals, since they constitute a significant share of the H-1B pool.
The White House announced that the fee will apply only to fresh petitions filed from September 21, 2025 onwards, not to renewals or existing visa holders. The administration framed this shift as part of efforts to prevent misuse of the visa system and prioritise higher-wage, high-skilled cases.
India’s reaction underscores deep concerns within its technology sector—many firms rely on U. S. operations staffed via H-1B sponsorship. Analysts estimate that the fee hike could reduce IT margins by 4–13 percent depending on visa intensity, while Indian IT stocks saw steep declines following the announcement.
At the same time, India is navigating friction on trade. U. S. tariffs levied on Indian goods—particularly a 50 percent cumulative duty tied to India’s oil imports from Russia—are already under scrutiny in bilateral talks. Officials assert that the visa and trade issues will be addressed as interconnected elements of the broader U. S.–India partnership.
During meetings on the sidelines of the U. N. General Assembly, India’s Foreign Minister and Commerce Minister held discussions with their U. S. counterparts, reinforcing that continued engagement is essential to manage tensions. The Indian side has also said that relevant domestic departments are evaluating options concerning the impact of the tariffs.
Despite the pushback, some U. S. industry figures support the new fee. Leaders at firms such as Nvidia, OpenAI and Netflix have welcomed the shift as a mechanism to prioritise high-value talent. Others, including JPMorgan’s CEO, have warned it risks driving skilled workers to competing nations. U. S. medical associations are lobbying for exemptions, arguing that the steep cost could impede physician recruitment, particularly in underserved areas.
India’s Finance Ministry has called for heightened monitoring of the economic fallout, citing possible impacts on remittance inflows and service exports. The ministry has described the short term as manageable but warned of long-term risks if the regime remains in place.
Within India’s tech industry, there has been a strategic pivot. Companies have invested over $1 billion in onshore training and hiring in the U. S., reducing dependence on H-1B deployment. Industry bodies argue that this shift could help absorb the shock should visa access tighten further.
Still, experts caution that such mitigation has limits. Smaller firms and startups that depend on cross-border talent mobility may feel the squeeze most acutely. Some analysts suggest that alternative destinations, including Canada, South Korea and the UK, may be more appealing to Indian professionals seeking global opportunities.
BNB has hovered near the $1,000 mark as validators on BNB Chain propose slashing gas fees by 50 per cent and accelerating block confirmation times to strengthen the network’s competitive edge.
The validator community’s draft proposal recommends reducing the minimum gas price from 0.1 Gwei to 0.05 Gwei and cutting block intervals from 750 ms to 450 ms, a change that could bring average transaction costs down to roughly $0.005. The plan reflects an effort to match or outpace low-cost rivals such as Solana and Base, which have been gaining traction in the DeFi and trading sectors.
Trading activity now accounts for about 67 per cent of all BNB Chain transactions — a sharp rise from around 20 per cent earlier in 2025 — underscoring the importance of cost and speed for users and developers. The proposal includes a guiding principle: “as long as staking APY stays above 0.5 per cent, BNB Chain should strive for the lowest possible gas fees.”
Validator groups argue that the network still has significant unused capacity, operating at under 30 per cent utilisation, leaving room for traffic growth without risking congestion. They claim the infrastructure can handle up to three times the current load.
Critics, however, warn that cutting fee revenue so sharply could weaken validator economics, potentially undermining incentives for security and stability. Some community voices stress the need for a careful balance: dramatic cost cuts must not come at the expense of decentralisation or long-term resilience.
This proposal builds on prior gas reductions. In April 2024, gas was cut from 3 Gwei to 1 Gwei, and in May 2025, it was further reduced to 0.1 Gwei. Those moves contributed to a roughly 75 per cent drop in median transaction fees and a jump of 140 per cent in daily transaction volume.
Beyond fees and speed, the proposal is intended to enhance BNB Chain’s positioning in a crowded landscape. As rival chains push for lower latency and micro-costs, BNB’s validator-led initiative signals an attempt to reclaim appeal among traders and protocol builders.
By Nitya Chakraborty CPI general secretary D Raja who has been granted his third term at the recently concluded 25th congress of CPI in Chandigarh faces a stupendous task in rejuvenating the stagnating party organisation and steer it with dynamism and vision to play a proper role in building a Left Democratic Alternative to fight […]
The article Third Term CPI General Secretary D Raja Faces Main Task Of Rejuvenating The Party appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
The European Commission plans to issue a formal charge sheet to Meta Platforms, accusing the company of failing to adequately police illegal content on Facebook and Instagram, a move that could trigger fines of up to 6 per cent of Meta’s global annual turnover. The charge stems from findings that Meta lacks an effective “notice-and-action” mechanism allowing users to flag illegal posts, as required under the Digital […]
BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 September 2025 – As China celebrates the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, CGTN published an article underscoring the region‘s extraordinary socioeconomic advancements over the past seven decades. It traces Xinjiang‘s astonishing transformation under the leadership of the CPC, highlighting unprecedented achievements in development and concrete improvements in the lives of its people. A […]
By Satyaki Chakraborty The Communist Party of India(CPI) concluded its five day Party Congress at Chandigarh on September 25 reelecting D. Raja as the general secretary of the CPI for another three year term. Raja is the first dalit leader to head the CPI in 2019 after the then party secretary S Sudhakar Reddy sought […]
The article CPI’s 25th Party Congress Elects D Raja As The General Secretary For The Third Time appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
Abu Dhabi is marketing a three-year and a 10-year US dollar Reg S/144A bond offering, aiming to capitalise on robust investor demand and reinforce its global funding outlook. The three-year tranche is pitched at approximately 40 basis points over US Treasuries, while the longer 10-year issue is offered at around 55 bps.
By mid-morning in Dubai, books had swelled past $10 billion, excluding joint lead manager interest, with slight tilt toward the 10-year line. The bonds will be senior, unsecured and rated AA/AA by S&P and Fitch, matching the issuer’s prevailing Aa2/AA/AA credit standing. Listings are planned in both London and Abu Dhabi.
Investors see this transaction as a test of global appetite for Gulf sovereign credits amid a cautious backdrop of moderate US interest rates and evolving geopolitical risk. Despite volatility in energy prices and external debt markets, Abu Dhabi’s strong fiscal and balance sheet metrics underpin confidence in its sovereign name. The credit ratings assigned reflect the emirate’s resilient fiscal policy, substantial hydrocarbon reserves, and large sovereign wealth fund buffers.
Structurally, the Reg S/144A setup allows the issuer to access both non-US and US institutional investor pools. Regulation S permits offers outside the United States, while Rule 144A enables sales to qualified institutional buyers within the US, offering dual reach while maintaining issuance flexibility. The base offering circular explicitly restricts transfers and resales to be compliant with those regimes.
Observers note that the pricing levels—40 bps for three years and 55 bps for 10 years over Treasuries—are ambitious but not unprecedented within Gulf sovereign borrowing. Prior precedent includes a multi-tranche Abu Dhabi sovereign bond of $5 billion in April 2024, which achieved strong oversubscriptions and favourable pricing benchmarks. That deal underlined investor appetite for Gulf issuers with strong credit credentials.
Market participants closely monitor skew and order distribution between tenors. That the books are marginally skewed toward the 10-year suggests appetite for duration, perhaps reflecting yield scarcity in core markets. Should the order book widen further, the issuer may flex uncertainty concessions or tighten spreads modestly before final pricing. Co-ordinating banks are likely adjusting intermediate guidance as allocations firm.
Analysts flag that appetite for Gulf sovereign issuance is tempered by global headwinds: tighter US credit spreads, sticky inflation, and competition from other supranational and sovereign issuers. Some international investors may demand additional premium for regional or geopolitical exposures. Yet Abu Dhabi’s entry with a dual-tranche issuance signals intent to extend its credit curve, deepen investor relationships, and enhance liquidity in its sovereign bonds.
The listings in London and Abu Dhabi are intended to enhance secondary market trading, improve visibility to European and global investors, and cement Abu Dhabi’s status in global bond markets. The London listing, especially, provides access to a deep pool of international fixed income investors and a regulatory framework well understood by global asset managers.
Defence stocks will rally and global investors will be paying attention, I believe. The reason the bullish analysis is a catalyst came the moment President Donald Trump, after meeting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the UN General Assembly, declared that Kyiv can reclaim all territory seized by Russia, an abrupt and market-moving pivot from his earlier calls for compromise. In a single statement, the world’s largest economy […]
By Nitya Chakraborty India’s South Asia diplomacy is proving a disaster as the neighbouring countries of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are discussing in details the issue of the revival of SAARC which has been lying inactive in the political arena since 2016 due to India’s decision not to deal with Pakistan […]
The article How Narendra Modi’s Ego Has Destroyed India’s South Asian Diplomacy In The Recent Past? appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
As medicine keeps changing, regenerative science is becoming an exciting area for doctors who want to help their patients even more. Imagine being able to fix damaged tissues and organs, heal long-lasting wounds, and treat serious diseases with new and powerful methods. This science could change the way patients are treated and help them feel better faster. Doctors who want to keep up with these new ideas […]
By Dr. Gyan Pathak Ban order on caste based political rallies issued by the Uttar Pradesh government on September 21, 2025 has significantly raised the political heat in the state, since it is likely to impact all political parties and political alliances,.. Nevertheless, the BJP led government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has opted for […]
The article Ban On Caste Based Political Rallies Raises Political Heat In Uttar Pradesh appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).
By Nantoo Banerjee Few will disagree that India should keep investing substantially in both onshore and offshore oil search as the country is becoming increasingly dependent on the import of petroleum crude to meet its energy needs. Currently, almost 86 percent of India’s annual crude petroleum needs are being met through imports. During his recent […]
The article Higher GST Will Hurt Oil-Starved India’s Exploration Drills appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.
Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala is exploring a full exit from its Turkish operations with Getir, which would include its delivery, financing and car-rental units, say people familiar with the matter. It is in advanced negotiations to offload Getir Arac, the car-rental arm, to Turkish firm Tiktak. Other units, including Getir Finans and the main delivery business, are also under consideration for sale.
Mubadala is Getir’s largest shareholder and obtained controlling interests across Getir’s Turkish subsidiaries in 2021 and 2024. The fund’s deliberations follow an ongoing dispute with the founders of Getir over how the company should be restructured. The founders resisted Mubadala’s plans, describing some actions by the fund as an “illegal coup”, and launched legal challenges in the Netherlands and elsewhere. The courts have, in some instances, sided with Mubadala.
Talks on Getir Arac are said to be well-advanced, although Tiktak has declined to comment. Meanwhile, in the delivery business, U. S.-based DoorDash has been identified as one of the potential buyers, among others. The details of ownership stakes in each Getir unit—delivery, financing, car rental—remain unclear. Mubadala has not offered public comment on these possible divestments.
Getir’s financial trajectory has weakened since its peak valuation of approximately $12 billion in 2022. The company expanded rapidly during the pandemic across several Western European markets and into North America, only to withdraw from those operations as demand waned and operational costs rose. As part of restructuring, non-core businesses were intended to be separated from profitable local grocery delivery operations.
Chill Lab has positively impacted 146,161 people across Hong Kong 187 secondary schools were engaged via augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) sessions, creative workshops and capacity building for students, teachers and parents The latest student-led “We Can” program trained 40 youth leaders who delivered 17 projects benefiting 17,005 members of the public Z Zurich Foundation youth mental wellbeing white paper urges school‑based youth interventions, where […]
By T N Ashok The Trump administration’s latest immigration directive has stunned employers, foreign workers, and higher-education leaders alike: a $100,000 surcharge on each H-1B visa application, announced by executive order on 19 September 2025. What might appear on the surface as a routine adjustment to visa fees is, in reality, a dramatic escalation in […]
The article Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee Redefines U.S. Liberal Immigration Policy appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on IPA Newspack.
Lusaka remains locked in negotiations over whether the African Export-Import Bank and the Trade and Development Bank must take losses in Zambia’s debt restructuring, a matter posing a serious barrier to the country exiting default. Zambia struck a writedown agreement with its major private creditors last June after more than three years of negotiations, but failure to settle the issue with these regional lenders means the process […]
