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PTCL Group has approved an equity investment of Rs15 billion (around $53 million) in U Microfinance Bank Limited (U Bank), its microfinance subsidiary.
The group said the investment is intended to support U Bank’s growth plans and accelerate the development of its digital banking platform to broaden outreach.
U Microfinance Bank Chairman and PTCL Group CEO Hatem Bamatraf said the investment reaffirmed the group’s commitment to financial inclusion and digital transformation in the microfinance sector.
Read: PTCL-backed MergeCo eyes 5G rollout
U Microfinance Bank President and CEO Toran Asif said the capital injection comes as the bank prepares for the next phase of its digital transformation strategy in 2026, acknowledging support from PTCL Group and the State Bank of Pakistan.
He said the strategy centres on new digital products and services designed to expand access to financial services across the country.
The bank has received the first tranche of Rs4 billion, which was disbursed on December 31, 2025.
Separately, the planned integration of Ufone and Telenor Pakistan into a merged operator known as MergeCo is expected to alter the competitive landscape ahead of Pakistan’s first full-scale 5G rollout, according to industry officials.
Speaking at the announcement, Bamatraf said the merger would enable the group to deliver “seamless, secure and digitally enabled services” in line with Pakistan’s digital agenda.
Industry observers said the consolidation could enhance PTCL-backed operators’ capacity to invest in next-generation infrastructure at a time when high spectrum costs and fragmented holdings have constrained sector growth.
Credit unions across the country have launched creative holiday initiatives, redefining holiday giving with creative, community-centered initiatives that go beyond traditional toy and food drives. From doorstep food collection in California to member-directed donations in the Midwest, these efforts highlight how the cooperative model turns seasonal generosity into lasting community partnerships.
Among the examples shared in a new America’s Credit Unions Blog post, Redwood Credit Union in California launched a “porch-to-pantry” food drive that removed barriers to participation, while FourLeaf Federal Credit Union in Long Island held its 17th annual Turkey Drive, collecting thousands of turkeys and tens of thousands of pounds of food in a single day.
Other credit unions activated their full branch networks as collection sites; partnered with hospitals, nonprofits, and even professional athletes; or worked to empower their members and employees to decide where donations should go.
The blog highlights how these holiday initiatives illustrate what sets credit unions apart from other financial institutions. As member-owned cooperatives, credit unions reinvest in the communities they serve through authentic partnerships rooted in local needs.
Read the full blog post
What started with a single $5 donation has now become an annual tradition for Owen Hewett, a 12-year-old from Napanee, Ont., who is passionate about ensuring less fortunate children have appropriate winter wear each Christmas.
When Owen was three, his dad, Darren, mentioned that there were families who couldn’t afford to provide their children with proper cold-weather attire. Moved after hearing that, Owen decided to donate $5 for mittens.
“I felt bad for kids who had cold hands and ears all the time, so I wanted to help,” Owen shares.
A Yearly Tradition
His father thought it would be a one-time donation, but as they enter the 10th year of their annual fundraiser, that has clearly not been the case.
“A friend of mine who is a local business owner donated $50 towards our efforts that first year. At that moment, we thought it would be a good idea to raise funds every year and here we are 10 years later,” Darren says.
Each year, donations increase, and the initiative continues to gain momentum. In 2025, Owen collected just over $4,400 to purchase mittens, toques and other cold-weather essentials for children in need.
“Usually around mid-November, we record a video reminding people about the fundraiser. My dad posts it on Facebook and the donations just start to come in,” Owen adds.
Partnership with The Salvation Army
To ensure these items reach children from families experiencing financial insecurity, Owen has partnered with The Salvation Army in Napanee in the past couple of years to assist with distribution.
“We reached out to Abigail Mills at The Salvation Army and asked her if our donation would fit any initiative they were doing. She said they were collecting snowsuits and boots, but they didn’t have mittens, so we decided that is exactly how we wanted to help,” Darren says.
Owen’s donation of hats and mitts helped The Salvation Army, in part, to provide winter gear for 250 local children this year.
Large fundraisers such as Owen’s help The Salvation Army redirect additional funds toward other programs and services within the community.
Community Impact
Although Owen has not had the opportunity to meet any of the kids he has helped, he has heard from school staff who described his initiative as heartwarming.
Despite the high cost of living in Napanee in recent years, the generosity of its people has remained strong.
“No matter how much people may struggle, they still always help this cause. It’s amazing,” Darren shares.
“We tend to get an additional $500 each year,” Owen says. “The custodian at my school donated this year.”
Looking ahead, for Owen, the goal remains the same.
“I just want to see people with enough winter clothes and be warm,” he says.
By Juan Romero
Munich. The transfer of the Alpina trademark rights
on 1 January 2026 marks the launch of BMW ALPINA as an exclusive
standalone brand under the BMW Group umbrella. The initial focus will
be on brand activation. Key elements of the BMW ALPINA brand are its
unique balance of maximum performance and superior ride comfort,
combined with hallmark driving characteristics. This is complemented
by an exclusive portfolio of bespoke options and custom materials
along with unmistakeable details.
Tradition meets future.
Given the storied history of the brand, the BMW Group is aware
of its tremendous responsibility and committed to making the new BMW
ALPINA chapter one that meets the highest expectations. The new
wordmark provides a first indication. It radiates clarity, calm and
confidence. Positioned at the centre of the rear, it underlines the
standalone character of the new exclusive brand and its independent
personality within the BMW Group. It is consciously inspired by the
brand’s asymmetrical wordmark from the 1970s. The elegant,
contemporary design provides a link between history and future.
New direction for modern exclusivity.
BMW ALPINA vehicles are manufactured according to rigorous
standards for materials selection and craftsmanship. They fulfil the
most demanding expectations in terms of visuals, acoustics and feel.
Moreover, buyers can choose from a remarkable portfolio of bespoke
options. These ensure that every BMW ALPINA has its own, unmistakeable
character. Each vehicle will be an exclusive object for connoisseurs
in pursuit of the extraordinary, without compromises on performance,
comfort and individuality.
www.bmwalpina.com
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported an increase of $4.2 billion in its foreign exchange reserves during 2025, although the pace of growth slowed in the year’s second half.
Official data shows that SBP reserves were at $11.7 billion on January 3, 2025, and rose to $15.915 billion by the end of December. However, the second half of the year saw a more modest increase of $1.4 billion, from $14.5 billion on June 30 to $15.9 billion by year-end.
While the overall rise in reserves bolstered external buffers and supported exchange rate stability, a substantial portion of the reserves consists of loans from friendly countries. The SBP aims to increase its reserves to over $18 billion by the end of FY26. However, the slower pace of accumulation in recent months has raised concerns.
Malik Bostan, Chairman of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan, said that 2025 has been relatively more stable compared to 2024, with the rupee holding firm against the US dollar. He attributed this stability to the IMF agreements, which have helped contain dollar volatility.
However, Bostan also pointed out that stagnant export growth continues to be a key concern for the economy.
Despite record remittance inflows providing some breathing room for dollar purchases from the interbank market, reserve growth remained limited. Between January and September 2025, the SBP purchased $4.2 billion from the market, lower than last year’s total purchases of $9.7 billion. These earlier purchases played a significant role in rebuilding reserves.
The increased reserves contributed to exchange rate stability, helping maintain relative economic steadiness despite weak growth and rising poverty. However, analysts caution that the second half of FY26 may pose challenges, with large loan rollovers, the need to curb the trade deficit, and efforts to stimulate GDP growth and create jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers.
In its weekly statement, the SBP reported that its reserves rose by $13 million to $15.915 billion during the week ending December 26, 2025. Total liquid reserves held by the country stood at $21.012 billion, including $5.097 billion held by commercial banks.
Josh Newhouse
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2025
This rug has been a huge hit for my 1 1/2 year old! I wanted a car rug that didn’t have all the bright and obnoxious colors on it so I found this one and my son absolutely loves it! He plays on it every single day. It’s decorative and such a great play mat. Good quality too! Easy to fold to and move around as well
Amira
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on August 28, 2024
Excellent quality with perfect dimensions for a toddler. My son is absolutely thrilled to race his toy cars on it!
Nazih J.
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on December 17, 2024
The item is fake and poor quality and came folded in a box instead of being rolled also it is very toxic smelling, i dont recommend at all!
rachelle
Reviewed in Canada on November 30, 2024
Wish I read other reviews, not worth it…It comes folded, not rolled so it has crease lines. The rubber backing is not heavy enough to weigh it down and just slides around on the floor.
WiseMom
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on November 17, 2024
The item has good quality and child friendly
keith
Reviewed in Canada on October 18, 2024
Get what you pay for.
April June
Reviewed in Canada on January 30, 2024
Very happy with this item although it would be fantastic if you change your packaging and roll it instead of folding it. Takes a few days to properly flatten. With that being said it is what it is! It’s a carpet, a nice modern carpet. The picture is very clear. The carpet is soft and decent thickness.
Ecouteur
Reviewed in Canada on January 3, 2024
Très bien
kendrabelokon
Reviewed in Canada on January 1, 2024
Love how it came folded not rolled much easier to wrap ! It was perfect
Customer
Reviewed in Canada on June 21, 2023
I was expecting this rug to be a bit bigger, I can probably fit two in the space I want them. Otherwise it’s a good mat, it’s not too thin and has a good nonslip material underneath. Not too many wrinkles from shipping!
Makayla miller
Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2023
Absolutely love this and so will my little one!
Customer
Reviewed in Canada on November 12, 2023
My vehicle obsessed boy loves it! It’s non slip So works great on floors that aren’t carpets!
نوره
Reviewed in Saudi Arabia on July 31, 2022
جميلة و خامتها جداً ممتازة
Major currencies extend 2025 gains against dollar as markets await US data and Fed leadership signals
The US dollar made a feeble start to 2026 on Friday after struggling against most currencies last year, while the yen steadied near a 10 month low as traders awaited economic data to predict how central bankers direct interest rates this year.
A narrowing interest rate difference between the US and other economies cast a shadow over the market last year, resulting in most currencies gaining sharply against the dollar, with the Japanese yen an exception.
Worries about the US fiscal deficit, a global trade war and concern about Federal Reserve independence took a toll on the greenback, and those issues are likely to linger into 2026.
The euro EUR= was steady at $1.1752 on the first trading day of the year after surging 13.5% last year, while sterling GBP= last bought $1.3473 following a 7.7% increase in 2025. Both clocked their steepest annual increases since 2017.
Markets in Japan and China were closed on Friday, making for light trading volume and little movement.
Dwindling Dollar dominance
The dollar index =USD, which measures the US currency against six other units, was at 98.186 after registering a 9.4% decline in 2025, its biggest drop in eight years.
“We have seen the peak in dollar supremacy,” said Kyle Rodda, senior market analyst at Capital.com. Even so, there has not been two consecutive years of decline in the dollar index for two decades, he said.
“I believe its demise has been overstated and that the relative strength of the US economy will mean we see it bounce back this year.”
Economic data including US payrolls and jobless figures are due next week, providing clues on the health of the labour market and where the Fed’s policy rate may end up this year.
Much of the focus at the start of the year will be on who US President Donald Trump picks to be the next Fed chair as the term of current head Jerome Powell ends in May.
Investors are bracing for Trump’s pick to be more dovish and cut rates after the president repeatedly criticised Powell and the Fed for not cutting rates more swiftly or deeply.
Traders are pricing in two cuts this year compared to one projected by a currently divided Fed board.
“We expect that concerns around central bank independence will extend into 2026, and see the upcoming change in Fed leadership as one of several reasons why risks around our Fed funds rate forecast skew dovish,” Goldman strategists said.
Yem remains the exception
The yen JPY= was at 156.85 per US dollar after rising less than 1% against the greenback in 2025. It hovered close to the 10 month low of 157.90 touched in November that drew policymaker attention and raised the prospect of intervention.
The Bank of Japan hiked interest rates twice in last year but that did little to improve yen performance as the cautious pace frustrated investors, with speculators reversing significant long yen positions held in April.
There has also been growing investor unease about fiscal expansion under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, though she has sought to ease some of that concern.
Traders are pricing the next BOJ rate hike as being toward the end of 2026. Min Joo Kang, senior economist at ING, expects the most likely timing to be October.
“A further fiscal push could backfire on the economy, but the current government is expected to maintain its expansionary policy stance, posing a significant risk to the economy in 2026,” Kang said in a client note.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars started the new year on the front foot. The Aussie AUD= was 0.35% higher at $0.66975 after a nearly 8% rise in 2025, its strongest yearly performance since 2020.
The kiwi NZD= snapped its three-year losing streak with a nearly 3% gain last year. On Friday, it firmed a touch to $0.5761.
Originally known as the Swimming Baths and Dispensary, the extensive health facility was built in 1891 for Great Western Railway (GWR) workers living nearby.
It offered a more holistic approach to care and featured baths and pools, a dispensary and consulting rooms for doctors and dentists.
Restoration plans began in 2018 when Swindon Borough Council commissioned an options appraisal for the future of the listed building.
In partnership with leaseholder GLL, Swindon Heritage Preservation and Historic England, the authority has secured about £8.6m worth of funding.
Beyond the main pool hall, future phases aim to revive the smaller pool area, Turkish baths and dispensary – but this remains dependent on further funding.