Author: Sam Allcock

MultiBank Group, the world’s largest financial derivatives institution, has reported $209 million in revenue for the first half of 2025, a 20% increase compared with the same period last year. Profit reached $170 million, supported by record trading volumes. In April, the company set a single-day trading record of $56 billion, driven by strong client activity across its global platforms. This performance has underpinned the Group’s expansion into the digital asset sector, which it entered in July with the launch of the $MBG Utility Token. Listed on MultiBank.io, MEXC, Gate.io and Uniswap, the $MBG token has risen to about seven…

The 2025–26 English football season begins this Sunday with Crystal Palace making their Community Shield debut against Liverpool at Wembley. Palace earned their place in the season’s traditional curtain-raiser after ending a 120-year wait for major silverware in May, defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The South London club have developed a strong record at Wembley in recent years, winning four of their last six matches at the national stadium. The fixture is also a chance for Palace to build momentum ahead of their European campaign, though uncertainty remains over which competition they will contest due to an…

Syrian singer and YouTuber Bessan Ismail has spoken about her first solo performance in Beirut, describing the milestone as both exciting and nerve-racking. The artist, who recently made headlines over her split from fiancé Mahmoud Maher, said stepping onto the stage alone marked a significant moment in her music career. “It’s my first step performing on stage by myself,” she said. “There is a lot of excitement and good feelings, but also some worry. I’m sure the nerves will go away once I sing the first two words.” The concert, which drew a large crowd and strong fan engagement, was…

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Tu Lam have pledged to raise bilateral trade to $150bn by 2030, as both nations seek to strengthen economic and strategic ties amid global market uncertainty. The agreement was reached during a summit in Seoul, where the two leaders signed a joint declaration to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2022. The expanded cooperation will span trade, security, science and technology, and official communications. The commitment underscores both countries’ ambitions to boost economic resilience and broaden engagement beyond commerce. At a conference marking the anniversary of the Korea-Vietnam…

LG Electronics (LG) has reinforced its commitment to the United Arab Emirates’ professional community with the continued development of its LG MEA Hub Academy in Jebel Ali, Dubai — one of the largest HVAC training centres in the region. The facility provides hands-on technical training to contractors, facility managers, and HVAC specialists, covering installation, troubleshooting, and maintenance. LG says the initiative aims to improve after-sales service quality and ensure optimal performance for customers’ heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Bridging Technology and Application The LG MEA Hub Academy is designed to equip professionals with practical skills that link advanced HVAC…

Samsung has launched the Galaxy Z Fold7, the thinnest and lightest device in its foldable flagship series, introducing the most advanced camera system yet for the range. For the first time, the Z Fold series features a 200-megapixel wide-angle main camera, paired with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor. It also incorporates the company’s ProVisual Engine, with more than 160 AI-powered imaging technologies. The combination promises to deliver sharper photography, enhanced night video, and professional-grade editing tools — all in a device that folds into a pocket-sized form. Sharper, Brighter Photography The 200MP main sensor, also used in the…

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) welcomed more than 1,100 new companies in the first half of 2025, bringing total membership to almost 26,000. The growth was driven by strong overseas demand, expanded licensing, and continued investment in technology and real estate. The DMCC Crypto Centre surpassed 700 firms after a 38% year-on-year increase, pushing the total number of technology companies in the district to over 3,300. The DMCC Gaming Centre grew to more than 140 companies, while the recently launched AI Centre reached over 110 members. Together, these three hubs now account for almost 1,000 businesses. Executive Chairman and Chief…

Ooredoo, in partnership with Tamimah Telecom, has unveiled ERSAL, a next-generation unified communication platform aimed at transforming business engagement in Oman and beyond. Announced as part of Ooredoo’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the nation’s digital transformation, ERSAL integrates multiple communication channels — including SMS, WhatsApp, push notifications, voice, email, and video — into a single system accessible through one API. Saied Sadiq Al-Lawati, Acting Chief Business and Wholesale Officer at Ooredoo, said the launch addresses the needs of businesses operating in an increasingly fast-paced and competitive environment. “The launch of ERSAL reflects our commitment to accelerating Oman’s digital transformation by…

Emirates will ban the use of all power banks during flights from 1 October 2025, introducing new safety measures aimed at reducing risks linked to lithium battery devices. While passengers will still be permitted to carry one power bank under specific conditions, the devices can no longer be used to charge electronics or be charged themselves while in the aircraft cabin. The Dubai-based carrier said the decision follows a comprehensive safety review and reflects growing concerns over lithium battery-related incidents in the aviation industry. Under the updated regulations, Emirates customers may carry one power bank rated under 100 watt hours,…

Mubadala Energy, the Abu Dhabi-headquartered international energy company, has finalised its first significant investment in the United States energy market, acquiring a 24.1% equity stake in Caturus through a strategic partnership with Kimmeridge, an energy-focused alternative asset manager. The deal, which follows approval from the US Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS), marks a major step in Mubadala Energy’s strategy to expand its global gas portfolio and reinforce its role in the energy transition. Caturus, the rebranded SoTex HoldCo, is building what it describes as the leading integrated natural gas and LNG export platform in the US. The platform combines upstream…