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Riyadh is advancing its push into artificial intelligence, sidestepping some of the previous fanfare around the massive urban-megaproject Neom, and signalling a new strategic pivot by its sovereign wealth arm Public Investment Fund. The fund is repositioning to attract global AI investment, deepen partnerships with major tech players and harness data-centre infrastructure at scale.

The kingdom’s leadership is steering resources away from grand construction ambitions to technology-driven growth. The newly formed Humain — a PIF-backed AI company — was launched in May with the mission of establishing Saudi Arabia as a global hub for AI. The firm plans to build advanced data centres, cloud services and one of the world’s most powerful Arabic large-language models.

Strategic deals have followed. U. S. chip-maker Nvidia has agreed to ship some 18,000 Blackwell chips to Saudi Arabia to support a 500-megawatt data-centre facility coordinated by Humain. PIF and international analysts say the move reflects a shift in focus: less emphasis on sprawling “giga-projects” of construction, more on the digital-infrastructure layer that underpins a future knowledge-economy.

Globally, transformative AI applications — from generative-AI language models to edge computing in industries — require vast compute power, energy and state coordination. PIF’s governor Yasir Al‑Rumayyan has said the kingdom is well-placed, given its energy resources and large-scale capital, to become a “hub outside the U. S.” for AI development. Analysts suggest the pivot acknowledges market realities: mega-cities like Neom have proved slower to materialise than envisaged, while digital-economy bets offer faster, more measurable returns.

The megacity Neom and its flagship component – The Line – have faced scepticism over timelines, cost-overruns and foreign investor pull-back. Executive reshuffles in Neom’s leadership and recalibrated investment priorities have signalled the shift. Meanwhile, PIF has begun trimming the proportion of its portfolio allocated to global investments — moving foreign-allocation toward 18 per cent from previous targets — to double-down on domestic strategic sectors like AI.

The investment case for Saudi Arabia is sizeable. Humain aims to tap into the Arab-language market of over 450 million people, while deploying data-centre capacity measured in gigawatts. Academic and industry voices say the kingdom has already built one of the strongest AI-ready physical infrastructures in the Middle East: multiple super-computers, data centres and training programmes are in motion. On the human-capital front, programmes to train 20,000 data/AI experts by 2030 are underway through partnerships with international firms such as Microsoft, Accenture and Huawei Technologies.

For global tech firms and investors, Saudi Arabia’s offer now centres around “sovereign AI infrastructure” rather than purely construction or real-estate play. The deal with Nvidia is seen as precedent-setting: Nvidia’s CEO told reporters that AI infrastructure is “essential infrastructure” akin to power and internet. Moreover, the shift aligns with the kingdom’s broader strategic framework Vision 2030 — which seeks to reduce oil-dependence and build a diversified economy.

Nevertheless, risks remain. Observers caution that the AI ambition is spectacular in scale yet faces operational and regulatory challenges — from data-governance to talent retention and ideological scrutiny. The push may also attract geopolitical scrutiny given the involvement of U. S. technology in Saudi infrastructure. The earlier mega-project model illustrates how bold vision can be slowed by delivery hurdles.

The world’s largest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, vaulted above $111,000 after a steep dip earlier this week, triggering sharp gains across major tokens including Ethereum, XRP and Solana. On-chain metrics signalled accumulating momentum while traditional equity markets in Asia registered fresh highs, boosting risk-assets overall.

Bitcoin climbed to around $111,223, representing a gain of approximately 3.7% within 24 hours, after briefly touching a low near $103,602. Other digital assets followed: Ethereum reached roughly $4,062, XRP $2.47 and Solana approximately $193.33, with 24-hour gains of between 3% and 5%.

Analysts highlight several factors underpinning this recovery. On-chain data show the realised value-to-transaction ratio for Bitcoin has declined — a historical marker of heightened accumulation rather than passive holding. A crypto-analytics firm noted that “strong declines in the RVTS have preceded major bull phases, as they indicate that Bitcoin is being used, accumulated, and transferred — not just held.”

Broader market dynamics provided further tailwinds. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index soared past 49,000 for the first time, advancing the year-to-date gain to 25%. The move followed media reports indicating that the country’s leading opposition party plans to join coalitions which position its fiscal-dove leader for the prime ministership — one with a policy inclination towards low interest rates and expansionary fiscal measures.

Meanwhile, China’s third-quarter gross domestic product growth of 4.8% year-on-year narrowly exceeded forecasts of 4.7%, providing support for risk assets globally.

Beyond macro-signals, institutional behaviours also deserve attention. A leading publicly listed company with large Bitcoin holdings, Strategy, has signalled fresh crypto purchases — adding a layer of institutional demand to the structural thesis.

Within the crypto space, major platforms tied to tokenisation and stable-coin activity are also part of the narrative. Analysts at Galaxy Digital emphasise three structural drivers: increased AI-capex from tokenised assets, accelerating stable-coin infrastructure, and the migration of real-world assets onto blockchain networks. These are seen as propositions that may sustain momentum beyond short-term price moves.

Yet, market participants remain cautious. Liquidity remains thin and residual risks — such as further macro headwinds, regulatory tightening or a reversal in risk appetite — continue to warrant vigilance. As one analyst put it: “The near-term message is caution — respect thinner liquidity, post-crash psychology and a ‘wall of worry’ mood. The medium-term message is resilience.”

Within altcoins, XRP is gaining renewed focus ahead of potential ETF-related developments, while Solana is benefitting from its association with on-chain tokenisation flows. Market-data platform CoinGecko shows that XRP trades at around $2.46, with volume flows increasing as sentiment rebuilds.

By K Raveendran     When Google announced that Visakhapatnam would be home to its $15 billion project to build the company’s first artificial intelligence hub in India, the news landed like a thunderclap across the southern states. For Andhra Pradesh, it was nothing short of a jackpot — a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rewrite the […]

The article Google’s AI Hub: Visakhapatnam’s Jackpot, South India’s Heartburn appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Sharjah Economic Development Department and Sharjah Digital Department have introduced an AI-powered Trade Name Issuance Service at GITEX Global 2025 that can cut name issuance time by as much as 98 per cent. The initiative, built into the DS Assistant tool on the Digital Sharjah platform, analyses business activity data and generates compliant trade name suggestions without human intervention.

The system assesses a company’s industry, preferred naming style and regulations, then offers tailored naming options. By automating the approval workflow, it dramatically reduces processing delays and human error. Officials say this service marks the world’s first fully AI-based trade name issuance mechanism.

Hamad Ali Abdallah Al Mahmoud, Chairman of SEDD and member of the Sharjah Executive Council, said the move underscores the emirate’s goal to streamline business setup and reinforce its position as a regional innovation hub. He noted that SEDD is deepening collaboration with other government entities to expand digital transformation across regulatory and business services.

The service dovetails with broader efforts at the Sharjah Government Pavilion to showcase human-centred digital governance. Among other highlights at GITEX, the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority unveiled a Remote Company Formation project using a Vision LLM to validate identities and documents via live video calls. SDD’s pavilion also featured infrastructure systems for energy management, smart building monitoring and citizen-oriented digital welfare platforms.

Across the UAE, government agencies at GITEX are unveiling AI systems to modernise public services. Dubai Customs launched its “Voice of Customer” platform, which ingests feedback from multiple channels, applies sentiment analysis, and converts insights into action points to improve operations. The platform supports strategic decision-making by flagging emerging client concerns in real time.

Meanwhile, the broader GITEX 2025 agenda focused heavily on sovereign AI, data sovereignty and smart city ecosystems. The event drew over 6,800 exhibitors, 2,000 startups and delegates from 180 countries. Tech firms rolled out next-generation AI, quantum computing and biotechnology solutions aimed at accelerating public sector transformation.

Analysts view Sharjah’s trade name issuance system as filling a niche in the process of company formation—one that has typically remained manual and fragmented in many jurisdictions. By embedding naming rules, business-activity semantics and regulatory checks into algorithmic logic, the system could reduce friction for entrepreneurs. Yet its success will depend on the AI’s ability to interpret diverse naming preferences, local culture, language nuance and prevent politically or culturally sensitive outputs.

By K Raveendran Oil prices fell to their lowest level in five months on Tuesday, continuing a slide that has gathered pace over the past several weeks. The benchmark Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude futures have both dipped significantly, erasing much of the year’s earlier gains. In stark contrast, gold has soared to an […]

The article Gold Feeds On Oil’s Misfortune; One Hits The Roof, The Other Down In The Dumps appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

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).

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has asserted that only Bitcoin, gold and land will endure as reliable monetary instruments as fiat systems unravel. He framed those three assets as hedges against systemic collapse and said they will outlast any rival currency, reflecting Tether’s ongoing pivot from pure stablecoin backstop to diversified asset allocator.

Speaking during appearances at Bitcoin 2025 and in media interviews, Ardoino has emphasised that Tether will continue to channel a portion of its profits into Bitcoin accumulation and expand gold exposure. He described gold not merely as a relic but as a “natural Bitcoin” and strategic complement to digital reserves. Ardoino also dismissed claims that Tether was liquidating Bitcoin to fund gold purchases, suggesting any shifts in allocation are incremental and disciplined.

Tether’s balance sheet already demonstrates the alignment between rhetoric and action. As of mid-2025, it held around US$8.93 billion in Bitcoin and US$8.72 billion in precious metals, alongside the core swathe of U. S. Treasury allocations. Ardoino has disclosed that gold assets reside in a Swiss vault, underlining both security and the company’s intent to position gold holdings more prominently. His remarks come amid reports that Tether has held discussions with gold mining and royalty firms as part of a broader commodity strategy.

The company’s asset diversification bid is playing out amid intensifying regulatory clarity. With the U. S. Senate having passed the GENIUS Act—legislation meant to regulate stablecoins—Ardoino is charting Tether’s path to compliance while preserving its global reach. He has portrayed the bill as presenting “high but fair” standards for reserve disclosure and anti-money laundering. While it is branded as beneficial to onshore issuers like Circle, Ardoino contends Tether’s offshore structure can adapt via comparable systems or U. S.-based subsidiaries.

Tether is not simply a passive holder of assets. Ardoino has also announced the company’s ambition to become one of the world’s largest Bitcoin miners by year-end, arguing that supporting network security reinforces the value of its reserve holdings. He claimed that while direct Bitcoin investment can outpace mining returns in many scenarios, mining offers strategic hedging benefits. Tether is preparing to open-source its Bitcoin Mining Operating System to enable broader participation in the network, potentially lowering barriers to entry for smaller mining operators.

Macau has unveiled an integrated resort-hospital at Studio City, combining high-end medical services with entertainment in a move aimed at redefining medical tourism. The facility, operated by Hong Kong’s iRad in partnership with Melco Resorts, features on-site MRI and CT capabilities within a 15,000 sq ft footprint — a first of its kind globally.

This development marks a deliberate pivot in Macau’s strategy to reduce its dependence on gambling revenues by cultivating alternate growth sectors. The resort hospital offers health screening, diagnostic imaging, longevity treatments, aesthetic services and medical concierge offerings, positioning itself as a premium healthcare destination linked to leisure.

Melco’s chairman and CEO, Lawrence Ho, described the facility as both “the world’s first and Macau’s only hospital with MRI and CT facilities within an integrated resort,” emphasising its alignment with the local government’s “1+4” economic diversification framework. The facility is located inside Studio City, one of Melco’s flagship casino-resorts.

The Macau administration has endorsed the venture as part of a broader push to transform the city into “one centre” that integrates tourism, medical services and other growth industries. The hospital is expected to attract visitors who might extend their stays and spend more across the city’s hospitality and leisure ecosystem.

While the resort hospital is a novel concept, Macau already maintains a public health infrastructure comprising three hospitals: Conde S. Januário, Kiang Wu and Macau University of Science and Technology Hospital. The new facility, however, is unique in being embedded within a casino resort environment and dedicated primarily to elective, wellness and diagnostic services.

Industry observers note that iRad’s entry signals confidence in the region’s potential to capture high-value medical travellers — especially those seeking convenience, privacy and a fusion of health and leisure experiences. Hong Kong’s leading imaging diagnostics group, iRad, became part of Black Spade Capital’s portfolio in 2021, positioning it to spearhead this cross-border integration.

Some specialists caution that success will depend on regulatory approvals, insurance linkages, and quality accreditation. Converting high net-worth travellers into medical tourists requires trust in outcomes, cost transparency and continuity of care. Macau’s public hospitals already contend with capacity pressures; the resort hospital will need to clarify patient referral protocols and emergency support linkages.

Abu Dhabi’s government will lead a major showcase at GITEX Global 2025, unveiling a new era of AI-native public services under its Digital Strategy 2025–2027. The Department of Government Enablement will coordinate over 30 government and academic institutions in a pavilion displaying 55 flagship initiatives.

The event, held from 13 to 17 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will feature the launch of TAMM 4.0, positioning it as a flagship AI-driven government platform. Other key displays include AI Supervisor and Smart Investigator by the Abu Dhabi Police, Smart Hotel Check-In by the Department of Culture and Tourism, QMobility’s barrier-free parking pilot, the Personal AI Recruitment Companion, and Rayah, a student-parent tracking app from the Department of Education and Knowledge. The DGE expects many projects to be shown publicly for the first time, alongside immersive VR experiences aimed at portraying the impact of AI on diverse stakeholders.

Chairman of the DGE, Ahmed Tamim Hisham Al Kuttab, emphasised that public services are being designed around human needs, saying the “AI-Native by Design, Community-Driven by Purpose” approach drives a reimagined, intuitive government. DGE Director General Wesam Lootah added that over 100 high-impact AI solutions have already been deployed across the emirate, following assessments of nearly 400 options, moving toward the vision of being the world’s first fully AI-native government by 2027.

Abu Dhabi’s announcement underscores more than a display of technological ambition—it highlights strategic public sector transformation at scale. The emirate claims to have rolled out AI across more than 40 government entities, automating predictive service delivery, compliance analysis, and multilingual assistance. The upcoming pavilion will also showcase Sahatna, a health services initiative, and AI Majlis forums intended to foster public dialogue on ethical and inclusive AI adoption. Workforce transformation forms a core pillar: over 95 percent of Abu Dhabi’s 30,000 government employees have reportedly undergone extensive AI awareness and skills training, with AI leadership roles now embedded in all Abu Dhabi entities.

The Digital Strategy 2025–2027 backs this push with an investment of AED 13 billion dedicated to creating an AI-first government. Key transformation axes include lifecycle orchestration of public services, predictive governance, intelligent infrastructure, and a talent ecosystem to support long-term innovation. Abu Dhabi’s approach draws attention not only for local modernization but for its ambition to set a benchmark in government digital transformation globally.

GITEX Global 2025 is positioned as a pivotal stage for these ambitions. Now in its 45th edition, the event spans multiple intersecting tech domains—including AI, blockchain, sustainability, and digital infrastructure—and serves as a convergence point for technology, policy and innovation. Abu Dhabi’s participation marks its 14th consecutive presence, reinforcing continuity in its evolving digital narrative.