Category: 3. Business

The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Registration Authority (RA) has issued a discussion paper and proposed guidance that formalise how crypto mining will be licensed and supervised as a commercial activity conducted in or from ADGM.

While crypto mining remains outside the financial services perimeter, the proposals set clear expectations on licensing, corporate transparency, operational resilience, and supervision.

Classification and scope

Crypto mining is not a regulated financial service within ADGM; no Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) authorisation is required. 

Under the discussion, crypto mining is a licensable commercial activity. Entities must obtain and maintain an RA Commercial Licence for “Crypto Mining”, and comply with ADGM’s Commercial Licensing Regulations, Companies Regulations, and applicable UAE Federal laws. 

Small scale, non commercial activity by individuals is generally out of scope.

Legal status of mined assets

The guidance confirms that digital assets lawfully generated through mining are recognised as property under ADGM law. Consequently, mined assets fall within the ordinary rules of property and commercial transactions. Although taxation is a federal matter and not governed by the RA, the proposals acknowledge potential tax implications underscoring the need for early tax and accounting alignment.

Recognising mined assets as property does more than confirm that mining rewards can be owned and transferred, it also creates a foundation for more sophisticated commercial arrangements. Once digital assets are treated as property, operators can structure financing, collateral, and security interest arrangements over predictable future reward flows. This allows lenders and investors to assess the value and enforceability of those rights with far greater confidence. However, such arrangements only work if the operator can evidence a clear and traceable record of how those assets were generated. This is why consistent valuation methods, and detailed records of activity become essential. Without well maintained ledgers; capturing timestamps, wallet addresses, and valuation points; counterparties may view the mining operation as opaque or difficult to verify, which can limit funding options or increase the cost of capital. Precise record keeping also reduces the potential for tax disputes where federal tax obligations apply, since regulators and auditors will expect mining entities to substantiate the origin, quantity, and value of mined assets with accuracy.

Licensing expectations and pre application evidence

Applicants, particularly entities conducting larger or more complex mining operations, should expect the RA to request detailed materials that go beyond basic trade licence filings. These may include:

• Detailed Operational Plans
• Infrastructure, Security, and Resilience Plans: 
• On chain Disclosure

Corporate transparency and client facing services

Under the proposal, mining entities must maintain up to date records of ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO), governance, and corporate structure with the RA, notifying it promptly of material changes. Where services are offered to third parties, the RA expects clear, accurate, and accessible information on terms of service, fees, risks, and any handling of client assets. The RA maintains a public register of licensed entities and may publish anonymised, aggregated sector data.

Risk-based supervision and enforcement

Supervision is suggested to be risk sensitive. The RA’s toolkit, as part of the discussion paper includes periodic reporting, thematic reviews, third party audits, and on site inspections, potentially unannounced and, where applicable, at overseas locations managed from ADGM. Enforcement options range from warnings and remediation directions to financial penalties and licence suspension or revocation.

in our view, ADGM’s latest guidance on crypto mining marks a meaningful elevation in the regulatory treatment of digital asset infrastructure. By setting out a technology neutral, commercially focused licensing regime, the framework has the potential to finally bring structure and predictability to an activity that has rapidly scaled but often without clear supervisory anchors. The proposed requirements, ranging from beneficial ownership transparency and rigorous governance standards to operational resilience, cybersecurity expectations, and risk based oversight, reflect a deep understanding of both the innovation and the vulnerabilities inherent in mining operations. The guidance also addresses a long standing industry gap by clarifying how entities headquartered in the jurisdiction should manage and supervise their global mining portfolios, reinforcing the need for consistent standards across borders. Overall, this is a significant step toward aligning global mining operations with mature regulatory principles while preserving space for responsible technological evolution.

Conclusion

ADGM’s proposals elevate crypto mining to a professionally governed, transparently supervised commercial activity. For serious operators, the framework offers legal certainty on asset status, a credible licensing route, and a robust platform for regional or global headquarters balanced by heightened expectations on governance, security, disclosure, and cross border oversight. Proactive preparation during the consultation window will position market participants to meet, and help shape, the final standards.

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Proud to be celebrating 20 years in Abu Dhabi

A&O Shearman advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) in connection with the financing arranged by the joint venture Baltic Storage Platform. This financing supports two battery energy storage projects located in Estonia: Hertz 1, inaugurated in Kiisa on February 2 and now fully operational, and Hertz 2, currently under construction in Aruküla.

Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has published a new insights paper, Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Türkiye, examining the drivers of gender pay disparities in one of Europe’s most important fashion sourcing hubs. Launched during a closed-door industry roundtable at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector in Paris, the insights paper explores how structural factors, including occupational segregation, care responsibilities, and limited data visibility, continue to shape pay outcomes for women in Türkiye’s textile and apparel sector, while highlighting opportunities for coordinated action across policy makers, brands, other buyers, and suppliers.

 

The insights paper draws on a facility-level survey of 43 Turkish textile and apparel manufacturers, interviews with trade unions and worker associations, and input from social sustainability experts including the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), the Fair Labor Association (FLA), and the Anker Research Institute (ARI). The findings offer a nuanced picture of pay equity in a sector that employs nearly one million formally registered workers and contributes approximately 7.8% of Türkiye’s national GDP.

 

Key Findings:

Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Türkiye highlights several key insights into pay equity within the Turkish fashion manufacturing industry:

 

• Türkiye’s gender pay gap is estimated at between 15.6% and 17.4%. The EU average of around 12%. The insights paper cautions, however, that headline pay gap figures alone can mask deeper structural inequalities within the sector.
• Gender pay disparities are driven largely by structural factors rather than unequal pay for the same work, including occupational segregation, differences in career progression opportunities, cultural norms, access to training, and the distribution of care responsibilities.
• Women remain concentrated in lower-paid production, sewing and quality control roles, while men are more prevalent in higher-paid technical and supervisory positions – a key driver of persistent pay inequalities.
• The insights paper finds that limited measurement and disclosure of gender-disaggregated wage data continues to hinder companies’ ability to identify where inequality sits – and therefore to address it effectively.
• Ongoing economic pressures, including inflation and rising production costs, have placed sustained strain on the sector. Despite this, many manufacturers are making concerted efforts to maintain formal employment, comply with labour laws and protect jobs, demonstrating resilience in challenging conditions.

 

Closing gender pay gaps is not only a social imperative but a business one.  Improving pay equity can strengthen workforce morale, retention and long-term resilience, while supporting alignment with evolving EU regulatory and buyer expectations. As EU pay transparency and due diligence requirements increasingly affect global supply chains, brands sourcing from Türkiye require greater visibility into wage practices across their supply chains.

What is GDP?published at 06:34 GMT

06:34 GMT

Today’s figures show how the UK economy is performing, using a measure called GDP – Gross Domestic Product.

GDP measures the size and health of a country’s economy by assessing how much is produced, spent and earned over a period of time.

But the measure doesn’t tell the whole story, especially important aspects of people’s living standards or how wealth is shared.

Generally, economists, politicians, and businesses prefer GDP to grow steadily – as it means people are spending more, more jobs are being created, and more tax is being paid.

If GDP shrinks for two quarters in a row, this is known as a recession, which can lead to pay freezes and job losses.

SHANGHAI, Feb. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shanghai Ark Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“ArkBio”) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for AK3280, a novel anti-fibrotic therapy for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This clearance enables ArkBio to initiate a Phase 2 proof-of-concept (PoC) clinical trial of AK3280 in the United States.

The Phase 2 study is a multi-center, randomized, partially double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of oral AK3280 in patients with IPF. Authorization to proceed with a U.S. Phase 2 study represents a significant milestone in the global clinical development of AK3280.

IPF is a progressive, irreversible, and ultimately fatal interstitial lung disease characterized by fibrotic remodeling of lung tissue that leads to respiratory failure. The median survival following diagnosis is approximately 2–5 years. Currently approved therapies, including pirfenidone, nintedanib, and nerandomilast, can slow disease progression; however, their clinical benefit remains limited and they are frequently associated with gastrointestinal adverse events such as diarrhea and nausea. These tolerability challenges contribute to poor long-term adherence in a substantial proportion of patients. There remains a significant unmet need for therapies that provide improved efficacy with enhanced safety and tolerability profiles.

AK3280 is an optimized, small-molecule, broad-spectrum anti-fibrotic agent. In a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study conducted in China, AK3280 demonstrated encouraging clinical activity, including a statistically significant, dose-dependent absolute increase from baseline in forced vital capacity (FVC) at Week 24. Improvements were also observed across additional lung function parameters, suggesting meaningful clinical benefit. Importantly, AK3280 exhibited a favorable safety and tolerability profile, with no apparent increase in the gastrointestinal adverse effects commonly associated with currently available IPF therapies.

FDA clearance of the IND marks a pivotal step in the global development of AK3280. The upcoming international Phase 2 PoC trial is expected to generate critical clinical data to support future regulatory submissions and potential commercialization in the United States and other major markets. ArkBio remains committed to advancing AK3280 globally and to delivering more effective and better-tolerated treatment options for patients living with IPF.

About ArkBio

ArkBio is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for respiratory and pediatric diseases. Founded in 2014, the company has established proprietary technology platforms and a differentiated R&D pipeline through internal innovation and strategic collaborations.

Key pipeline assets include: Ziresovir (AK0529), the first direct-acting antiviral for RSV with positive pivotal Phase 3 results; AK3280, a potentially best-in-class anti-fibrotic agent with positive Phase 2 results in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; AK0901, approved in China for the treatment of ADHD and currently commercialized.

ArkBio has established strategic partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutions, including Roche, Genentech, The Scripps Research Institute, and the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as domestic and international biotech companies and venture capital partners.

For more information, please visit: www.arkbiosciences.com
Investor Inquiries: [email protected]

SOURCE Arkbio

Samsung Electronics Australia has reclaimed its title for having best-in-class customer satisfaction across smartphone users, winning the 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Smartphones from Canstar Blue, Australia’s best-known and respected comparison website.

 

In the lead-up to Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco for the Galaxy S series, this latest award builds on a strong history of recognition for providing unmatched customer satisfaction for Samsung’s extensive range of smartphones. An award-winning brand, Samsung recently won Canstar’s 2025 Innovation Excellence Award for its glare-free TV technology, and had previously scooped up back-to-back Canstar Most Satisfied Customers Awards for Smartphones in 2024 and 2023.

 

The 2026 award followed a nationwide survey of more than 1,100 Australians, which asked consumers who had purchased a brand new smartphone in the last two years to rate their satisfaction in key categories including durability, design, camera quality, battery and charging performance, user friendliness, value for money and overall satisfaction.

 

Eric Chou, Vice President of Mobile eXperience at Samsung Australia, said, “This latest accolade once again showcases Samsung’s commitment to driving meaningful innovation that’s shaped by real customers’ needs, and we’re proud to be honoured with this customer satisfaction award.”

 

“Our goal is to redefine what’s possible when it comes to mobile hardware and software, improving convenience and functionality, and making sure our whole range of products moves to match the evolving needs of Australians. In an increasingly competitive smartphone market, we’re thrilled to see that our customers are overwhelmingly happy with their experience when using a Samsung phone.”

 

Tara Donnelly, Canstar Blue’s Managing Editor, Utilities, added, “Samsung has won over public opinion to secure Canstar’s 2026 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Smartphones.

 

“Canstar’s research shows the cost of living is influencing purchasing decisions, with price the most important factor when choosing a new phone – shaping both the timing of phone upgrades and the type of device they buy.

 

“Australians gave Samsung strong ratings across the board, identified for offering value and with standout performance in durability and battery life – alongside its AI features that have transformed how Australians work, create and stay connected. The award gives credit to Samsung’s ability to deliver life-changing innovation while meeting consumers’ expectations for long-term value.”

 

2025 saw Samsung release an exciting range of new smartphones, leaning on cutting edge hardware and AI evolution with the Galaxy S series, hardware innovation with the launch of the Galaxy Z series, as well as an emphasis on boosted functionality in an accessible package with the Galaxy A series. Across the board, a blend of innovation and delivering value for customers has propelled Samsung’s recent suite of devices and set the groundwork for what is to come in 2026. The exciting next chapter begins with Galaxy Unpacked on February 26.