Visa and USAID have entered a significant partnership to enhance digital government systems and payment processes to promote financial inclusion and economic growth worldwide. That collaboration reflects a shared commitment to developing innovative solutions that connect constituents with local government services.
Over the next five years, the two organisations will focus on creating and implementing programs that facilitate digitising government services, ensuring that communities have secure and convenient access to essential resources. Initially, efforts will target regions in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Caucasus to foster transparency and efficiency in government interactions, ultimately creating a favourable environment for entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises.
In addition, the partnership seeks to empower communities through digital and financial literacy initiatives, enabling individuals to navigate digital systems effectively and fully participate in the digital economy. The long-standing relationship between the two organisations has led to various successful projects, including the Diia mobile application in Ukraine, which effectively connects millions with government services.
Furthermore, through initiatives like the Climate Gender Equity Fund, they are actively addressing gender disparities in business, thereby supporting an estimated 1.4 million gender-equitable and climate-smart small enterprises worldwide.
As environmental concerns mount, the tech industry is increasingly focusing on making software more carbon-efficient. This trend is partly motivated by software’s impact on both the environment and consumers’ wallets, with solutions like /e/OS, a free Android-based operating system, emerging as a sustainable choice for extending device lifespan. By supporting over 200 aging devices, /e/OS lets users keep their phones longer, reducing the need for frequent hardware replacements and lessening the carbon emissions associated with device production.
The Green Software Foundation, which includes major tech players like Microsoft and Google, has introduced the Software Carbon Intensity (SCI) specification, a tool to help developers measure and minimise their software’s carbon footprint. The SCI specification tracks emissions from software operation and the embodied carbon in the devices it runs on, encouraging developers to be more eco-conscious by using fewer physical resources and aligning with cleaner energy sources.
Research also highlights the need for efficient coding practices, as “code smells” patterns that suggest inefficient code can waste energy. While the push for sustainable software has grown, only a small fraction of large enterprises currently prioritise software sustainability. Yet, with the ICT sector’s emissions forecasted to rise, green software initiatives may soon become a central component of the industry’s environmental strategy.
According to Deputy Central Bank Governor Pal Longva, Norges Bank is preparing to decide next year whether to introduce a digital currency. While other countries, like Switzerland, have already moved forward with their CBDC plans, Norway’s central bank continues to evaluate its options and is in no rush, Longva assured.
The bank is considering retail and wholesale digital currencies, though there is an increasing focus on wholesale options used between banks. However, a retail CBDC, meant for everyday consumers, poses complex issues requiring cooperation with private banks and stakeholders.
Norway, being one of Europe’s most cashless societies, is still moving forward cautiously. A final decision on the introduction of a CBDC is expected by 2025, once the ongoing pilot programme concludes.
Nvidia has deepened its ties with major Indian firms, including Reliance Industries, as it seeks to capitalise on the country’s growing AI market. At an AI summit in Mumbai, CEO Jensen Huang announced the launch of a new Hindi-focused AI model, Nemotron-4-Mini-Hindi-4B, designed to help businesses develop language-specific AI tools. This is part of Nvidia’s broader strategy to boost computing infrastructure in India, which Huang said will expand nearly 20 times by the end of this year.
The new model is tailored for Hindi, one of India’s 22 official languages, and aims to support companies in creating AI-driven solutions for customer service and content translation. Tech Mahindra is the first to adopt Nvidia’s offering, using it to develop a custom AI model, Indus 2.0, which also focuses on Hindi and its various dialects. Nvidia is also working with major IT players like Infosys, TCS, and Wipro to train half a million developers in AI.
In addition, companies such as Reliance and Ola Electric will use Nvidia’s “Omniverse” technology for virtual factory simulations, enhancing their industrial planning capabilities. The summit highlighted India’s growing significance in the global AI landscape as the country accelerates efforts to develop its semiconductor industry and AI infrastructure.
Kalshi, a prediction market platform, has cleared legal hurdles for electoral betting contracts in the US after a court victory over the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. With this win, the platform plans to introduce USD Coin (USDC) deposits just ahead of the US presidential elections, adding a major crypto feature for its users.
As the US election approaches, prediction markets are experiencing rapid growth. Kalshi aims to capture a larger share of this market but faces strong competition from Polymarket, which currently holds 99% of the market share and saw over $1 billion in election-related bets in September alone.
Kalshi is also up against new crypto-native platforms, though its US court approval gives it a potential edge. The platform hopes to attract more US users as prediction market betting volumes continue to soar.
Vietnam officially launched its National Blockchain Strategy on 22 October, aiming to lead blockchain technology across Asia by 2030. The plan includes developing blockchain platforms, services, and products, with a target of establishing 20 prominent blockchain brands by 2025.
A key part of the strategy is the creation of at least three blockchain testing centres in major cities to foster innovation, enhance security, and build a national blockchain network. To achieve these goals, the government will focus on improving legal frameworks, infrastructure, human resources, and international cooperation.
Various ministries, including the Ministry of Information and Communications, will guide these initiatives, with the Vietnam Blockchain Association leading efforts to boost blockchain development and encourage collaboration among tech companies.
Apple has introduced ChatGPT integration with the release of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, allowing developers to explore new features tied to its Apple Intelligence system. The integration enables ChatGPT to enhance Siri’s knowledge and power new writing tools, along with other features like image generation and cleanup tools.
Users who opt into both Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT will be able to leverage OpenAI’s models without needing a separate ChatGPT account, though non-premium users will face limitations on the number of queries. Siri can now call on ChatGPT for certain tasks, such as generating recipes or helping with travel plans, making the virtual assistant more versatile.
Apple Intelligence also includes ‘Compose,’ which lets users generate text based on prompts in supported apps. Alongside this, users can experiment with OpenAI’s image generation or create customised emojis through Apple’s Genmoji tool, offering a more creative and intuitive user experience.
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and global partners Bayer, Microsoft, and GSMA published a study on rural digital connectivity in rural Latin America and the Caribbean. The report, titled ‘Breaking down barriers, narrowing gaps,’ focuses on rural women and youth’s significant roles in adopting new technologies, drawing on data from prior studies and 31 interviews across 14 countries.
The report identifies three models of technology adoption – intensive adoption linked to higher education levels, value chain support utilisation common among the youth, and non-use due to geographic or environmental constraints. Policymakers, including Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Honduras’ Agriculture Secretary Laura Suazo, highlighted digital solutions’ crucial role in transforming rural agriculture.
Why does it matter?
The report calls for joint private and public sector initiatives to close the digital divide, ensuring rural communities actively participate in a digitally inclusive agricultural future. It also stressed the development of public policies that address agricultural challenges, focusing on technology access for women and youth and highlighting digital technologies as essential tools for reducing poverty and enhancing food security in rural areas.
Mongolia is strengthening its digital economy through a promising alliance with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The Mongolian government is prioritising digital development as part of its larger developmental agenda by undertaking two major projects focused on digitalisation. Central to these efforts is the development of a legal framework for big data and artificial intelligence to safeguard and efficiently manage digital processes.
At a recent event Minister Baatarkhuu underscored plans to modernise public services by improving data exchange systems such as XYP and the National Identification and Authentication System (DAN). These efforts aim to reduce reliance on paper-based documentation, supported by the EBRD’s recommendations to enhance the system’s security. Another ambitious step towards integrating new technologies includes establishing a ‘drone zone’.
The Ministry of Digital Development of Mongolia proposed a collaboration with the EBRD on the Esign Client Program Development Project, which seeks to normalise digital signatures over four years, enhancing the efficiency of document authentication.
Why does it matter?
This partnership demonstrates a strong bilateral commitment to advancing Mongolia’s digital infrastructure, leveraging EBRD’s expertise and resources for sustainable digital growth. EBRD expressed readiness to provide advisory support to navigate opportunities and challenges in the digital economy.
Moro Hub and the UAE Space Agency have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership to enhance digital transformation within the space sector. The collaboration seeks to leverage Moro Hub’s advanced digital solutions to support the operational goals of the UAE Space Agency.
The key objectives of the MoU include improving operational efficiency through cloud services and cybersecurity, enhancing customer engagement with innovative digital platforms, and creating a competitive advantage that positions the UAE Space Agency as a leader in both the regional and global space sectors. That partnership marks a milestone in the technological evolution of the UAE Space Agency, as it aims to accelerate digital capabilities essential for successful space missions and aligns with the broader vision of the UAE government to reinforce innovation across various sectors.
The enthusiasm surrounding this collaboration highlights its potential to reshape operations and drive advancements, ultimately contributing to the UAE’s ambition to explore new frontiers in space and technology.
