Pakistan Inflation Slows, Dollar Slides, Tether Buys Bitcoin | The Integrity Ledger

Welcome to The Integrity Ledger — where Pakistan’s cooling inflation, a weakening US dollar, Bitcoin accumulation by Tether, tightening tech regulation, and shifting global power dynamics set the tone for markets, policy, and accountability in 2026.

Pakistan’s consumer price inflation slowed notably to 5.6% year-on-year in December, down from 6.1% in November, driven by a 1.7% monthly decline in food prices across urban and rural regions. The data follows the State Bank of Pakistan’s surprise 50 basis point cut to its key policy rate at 10.5% after several months on hold.

The slowdown in inflation and recent rate cut may ease borrowing costs and support economic growth, but elevated non-food inflation and sticky core prices pose ongoing challenges. Policymakers and investors should watch for potential temporary inflation rises due to base effects toward fiscal year-end and heed IMF warnings against premature monetary easing.

Dawn

The US dollar posted its steepest annual decline since 2017, falling about 8% against a basket of currencies according to the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index. The selloff accelerated after President Trump’s April tariff imposition and persisted amid stubborn inflation and Federal Reserve rate cuts in late 2025. Treasury yields declined from above 4.5% early in the year to near 4.1% by December, eroding the dollar’s yield advantage.

The dollar’s weakness reflects growing market uncertainty over US monetary policy amid anticipated Fed leadership changes and trade tensions. Businesses and investors should prepare for continued currency volatility and possible further Fed easing in 2026, which may affect global trade dynamics and capital flows.

New York Post

Sapphire Foods India announced a merger with Devyani International, consolidating Yum Brands' KFC and Pizza Hut franchise operations in India. Devyani will issue 177 shares for every 100 Sapphire shares, with the merger subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals expected to take 12-15 months. The combined entity aims to become one of India's largest quick-service restaurant operators.

The merger addresses slowing sales and margin pressures in India's fast-food sector by unifying franchise operations for greater scale and profitability. It positions the merged company to accelerate expansion of KFC, revitalize Pizza Hut, and grow emerging brand portfolios, enhancing competitiveness in a challenging consumer environment.

The Economic Times

Tether increased its Bitcoin reserves by 8,888.8888 BTC in Q4 2025, bringing total holdings to 96,185 BTC valued at approximately $8.42 billion. This accumulation follows Tether’s treasury policy to allocate up to 15% of realized operating profits to Bitcoin quarterly and reflects purchases averaging $51,117 per BTC with unrealized gains over $3.5 billion.

Tether’s disciplined Bitcoin accumulation enhances its balance sheet stability and supports the USDT stablecoin peg amid market volatility. Its position as the world’s fifth-largest Bitcoin holder underscores growing corporate adoption and offers a transparent model for stablecoin issuers seeking digital asset diversification and long-term value preservation.

Bitcoin Ethereum News

In 2026, global technology regulation is expected to shift from abstract frameworks to enforceable laws addressing AI governance, data privacy, post-quantum cryptography, cyber incident reporting, and youth online safety. Europe leads with comprehensive AI rules, while the U.S. deals with fragmented state-level regulations following a federal executive order. Data privacy restrictions are reshaping app monetization, and new mandates enforce faster cyber breach disclosures, impacting major tech firms and startups alike.

Businesses deploying AI must navigate increasing compliance risks amid evolving legal frameworks, potentially benefiting large firms over smaller startups. Data privacy regulations will pressure ad-driven platforms to adapt monetization strategies, while post-quantum cryptography deadlines could accelerate demand for cybersecurity investments. Heightened cyber incident reporting and youth protection laws may increase costs and litigation risks for technology companies.

Benzinga

China has deployed a pioneering AI system capable of independently conducting complex scientific research via its national supercomputing network, SCNet. Officially launched in December 2023 and expanded nationwide in April 2024, the platform serves over 1,000 institutions and accelerates research workflows across materials science, biotech, and AI industrial applications. This move intensifies the AI competition with the US Genesis Mission, announced months earlier.

By automating computationally intensive tasks and providing direct AI access to vast supercomputing resources, China is reshaping scientific research organization and speed. This development may heighten technological rivalry and cybersecurity risks, especially given potential exposure of sensitive data and classified information within AI-managed networks.

Interesting Engineering

Following its acquisition by Chinese firm Picea, iRobot CEO Gary Cohen reassured customers that Roomba user data will remain stored and encrypted on US servers, contradicting concerns raised by co-founder Helen Greiner about data transfer to China. iRobot confirmed no changes to data collection or security protocols are planned amid the ownership transition.

This reassurance underscores iRobot's commitment to data privacy and security despite foreign acquisition, easing consumer concerns over potential cross-border data transfers. Businesses should note the company's emphasis on compliance with privacy laws and encrypted data housing as a model for maintaining trust during ownership changes.

Tech Radar Au

ChowChow Cloud International Holdings Limited reported a first half 2025 revenue of HK$178.2 million (US$22.8 million), up 81.3% year-over-year. Net income rose 80.0% to HK$12.5 million (US$1.6 million), driven by new cloud CDN and server farm projects from three key clients. The gross profit margin remained stable at 12.3%, supported by effective cost control despite increased operational expenses.

The strong revenue growth underscores ChowChow's expanding customer base and successful market penetration in the Asia Pacific region. Investors and stakeholders can expect continued focus on cloud service innovation and strategic marketing investments to sustain growth momentum. The company's solid liquidity position and operational cash flow support its ability to fund ongoing expansion initiatives.

Globe Newswire

A Kalaburagi court sentenced revenue officer Ningamma Hanumanthraya Biradar to four years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a ₹20,000 fine for accepting a ₹5,000 bribe to facilitate housing mutations. The conviction follows a Lokayukta police sting based on a complaint by applicant Shivakumar Bhagappa Sadhu in 2016.

The ruling underscores enhanced vigilance against corruption in municipal offices, highlighting the effectiveness of Lokayukta interventions. It sends a strong message deterring bribery in public service operations related to housing registrations.

The Hindu

An organised cyber fraud network defrauded former IPS officer Amar Singh Chahal of ₹8.10 crore, with the main kingpin operating from Dubai, according to Punjab police. Investigations have led to freezing ₹3.5 lakh in linked bank accounts and detentions of two suspects, as police work to dismantle the network involving fake investment platforms and multiple SIM cards.

This case underscores the growing sophistication of cyber fraud rings exploiting online investment scams and highlights the crucial role of prompt reporting and inter-agency coordination in recovering defrauded funds. Investors need heightened vigilance and verification before engaging with digital investment schemes.

Hindustan Times

Bulgaria adopted the euro on January 1, becoming the 21st country to join the eurozone after nearly 20 years in the EU. While leaders hail this as a step to boost the economy and integration, almost half of Bulgarians fear inflation and political instability amid ongoing protests and an impending election. The move aims to strengthen ties to the West and combat Russia's influence.

Euro News

President Donald Trump has escalated his political assault on Colorado by vetoing a pipeline project intended to deliver clean water to 50,000 residents in the eastern plains, a move criticized even by local Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert. This veto aligns with other federal actions targeting the Democratic-led state, seen as retaliation for Colorado's refusal to free Tina Peters, a convicted election denier. The veto disrupts a decades-long effort to address contaminated groundwater, primarily affecting conservative areas and revealing deep federal-state tensions.

The Boston Globe

Iranian security forces fired shotguns and tear gas at protesters attacking a government building in Fasa amid widespread anti-government demonstrations triggered by economic crisis and rial currency collapse. Protests spread to at least 10 cities, with arrests and injuries reported, while government offices and markets closed amid unrest. New IRGC deputy commander Ahmad Vahidi was appointed as protests continue amid political tensions.

The Sydney Morning Herald

The US has granted an annual export license to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) for its Nanjing facility, allowing import of crucial chip-making equipment and ensuring uninterrupted operations. TSMC has also begun mass production of advanced 2nm chips, promising higher performance and better power efficiency for mobile and AI devices.

The Times Of India

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— The Integrity Ledger Team