Under the proposal, a qualifying digital asset would need to provide the holder with an on-demand contractual redemption right, a direct redemption right with the issuer for a known cash amount, and access to segregated reserves held in short-term, highly liquid assets that back the stablecoin at least one-to-one. The FASB said the guidance is meant to give companies a consistent way to report stablecoins used in payments or treasury operations, but it would not mean every dollar-pegged token automatically qualifies as a cash equivalent.

Proposed criteria for cash-equivalent treatment

The definition of cash equivalents under US GAAP currently refers to short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and that present an insignificant risk of changes in value. Treasury bills, commercial paper and money market funds are common examples. The FASB's proposed update would help determine whether a stablecoin can fit into that category by focusing on the rights and financial backing behind the token rather than the label or market price.

According to the proposal, a stablecoin would need to meet three conditions to be considered a cash equivalent. First, the holder must have an on-demand contractual redemption right, meaning the issuer must be obligated to redeem the token upon the holder's request. Second, the redemption right must be direct with the issuer, not merely available through an exchange or secondary market. Third, the issuer must maintain reserves that are segregated and held in short-term, highly liquid assets, with a value of at least one-to-one relative to the outstanding stablecoins.

The requirement for a direct issuer redemption right is particularly important. A stablecoin holder who can only sell tokens on a secondary market would not have the same assurance of converting the asset into a known cash amount. The FASB's proposed examples show that active secondary-market liquidity alone would not be sufficient if the holder lacks a direct issuer redemption right. This distinction is designed to align stablecoins more closely with traditional cash equivalents, which are expected to be easily convertible into cash with minimal price risk.

Examples of stablecoins that would not qualify

The FASB included illustrative examples to show how the guidance would apply in practice. One example describes a stablecoin with an active secondary market but no direct redemption right from the issuer. Even if the token trades frequently and can be sold quickly, the holder would not be able to present it as a cash equivalent because the issuer has not promised to redeem it directly for a known cash amount.

Another example addresses the quality of reserves. A stablecoin whose reserves include crypto assets and gold would not qualify, according to the proposal, because those assets carry valuation risks and are not considered short-term, highly liquid investments. This suggests that the composition of reserves is just as important as the redemption mechanism. Stablecoins backed by volatile assets, even in part, would fail to meet the standard.

These examples highlight the FASB's focus on substance over form. A token may be marketed as a stablecoin and may even trade near a dollar, but accounting treatment will depend on the contractual terms available to the holder and the liquidity profile of the underlying reserve assets. Companies would therefore need to review their stablecoin arrangements carefully, including the terms of issuance and the nature of the reserves.

Why the FASB is acting

The FASB is an independent, private-sector nonprofit organization responsible for establishing accounting and reporting standards for US companies and nonprofits that follow GAAP. Its Accounting Standards Codification serves as the single official source of authoritative nongovernmental US GAAP. The board has been examining digital assets for several years, as the use of blockchain-based tokens has expanded from retail speculation to corporate balance sheets.

One of the challenges companies have faced is that stablecoins are not uniformly addressed by existing accounting rules. Some issuers and holders have treated them as financial instruments, while others have applied different conventions. The FASB's proposed update does not create a new category of assets, but it provides a framework for applying the existing cash-equivalent definition to a relatively new type of digital asset. By adding illustrative examples, the board aims to reduce the need for companies to make subjective judgments and to make financial statements more comparable.

The proposal would also impose new disclosure requirements. Companies would be required to disclose annually the significant components of their cash equivalents and the related amounts, including Treasury bills, commercial paper, stablecoins and money market funds. These disclosures would apply to all entities that present cash equivalents, regardless of whether they hold digital assets. The goal is to give investors and other financial statement users more transparency about the instruments that companies classify as cash equivalents.

Relationship to the GENIUS Act

The accounting proposal follows the GENIUS Act, which was signed into law in July 2025. That legislation created the first US federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, setting requirements for permissible issuers. Under the GENIUS Act, issuers must maintain one-to-one reserves in assets such as US dollars and short-term Treasury securities, publish monthly reserve details and establish redemption procedures. The law also addresses capital and liquidity requirements, as well as supervisory oversight.

The FASB's proposed guidance aligns in several respects with the GENIUS Act. Both frameworks emphasize the importance of liquid reserves and redemption rights. However, the accounting proposal is broader in some ways, because it applies to any entity presenting cash equivalents and focuses specifically on financial reporting rather than market regulation. Companies will need to consider the applicable laws and regulations when deciding whether to classify a stablecoin as a cash equivalent, according to the FASB. The existence of a federal regulatory framework may make it easier for some stablecoins to meet the conditions, but it would not automatically make every token eligible for cash-equivalent presentation.

Potential impact on corporate treasuries and reporting

If adopted, the guidance could have a significant effect on companies that use stablecoins for payments, payroll, cross-border transactions or treasury management. Treating a stablecoin as a cash equivalent can improve liquidity metrics and reduce the administrative burden of measuring complex financial instruments. It can also provide assurance to investors that the asset can be converted into cash quickly and with minimal risk of loss.

At the same time, the criteria are deliberately strict. Stablecoins issued by offshore entities or platforms that do not provide direct redemption rights may not qualify, even if they trade actively on exchanges. Stablecoins backed by a mix of assets that include non-traditional holdings may also fail the test. Companies should therefore expect to perform a detailed analysis of their stablecoin holdings and the related contractual arrangements before applying cash-equivalent treatment.

The proposed update also has implications for the accounting profession. Auditors will need to verify that stablecoin issuers satisfy the conditions, including the existence of an on-demand redemption right and the segregation of reserves. This may require new procedures and greater coordination between companies, auditors and legal counsel. The disclosure requirements could also increase the level of detail companies provide in their financial statements, particularly for those that hold multiple types of cash equivalents.

Another question is how the guidance will interact with broader developments in digital asset regulation. The United States has been building a federal framework for stablecoins, and other jurisdictions are also considering their own rules. The FASB's approach, which focuses on the attributes of the asset and the rights of the holder, could serve as a model for other standard-setters. However, the board acknowledged that the accounting treatment ultimately depends on the specific facts and circumstances of each arrangement.

Next steps and public comment

The FASB is accepting public comments on the proposed update until Nov. 19. Stakeholders, including preparers, auditors, investors and regulators, are being asked to respond to the board's proposals and to suggest any refinements. After reviewing the feedback, the FASB will decide on an effective date and any transition provisions. Public comment periods are an important part of the FASB's due process, allowing the board to consider a wide range of perspectives before finalizing a standard.

Companies that may be affected by the guidance should begin assessing their current stablecoin arrangements and considering whether they meet the proposed criteria. Although the update is not yet final, the illustrative examples provide a clear indication of the board's thinking. Early preparation can help treasury and accounting teams respond to the proposal and ensure a smoother transition once the final standard is issued.

Source: Cointelegraph News

Toyota Finance said Tuesday that the one-year bond, valued at 1 billion Japanese yen (approximately $6.76 million), carries an annual interest rate of 1.72%. Investments start at 100,000 yen ($676), making it accessible to a broad range of retail investors. Unlike conventional bond offerings, this bond is distributed directly by Toyota Finance, allowing investors to buy it without opening a securities account.

The bond will be managed on blockchain infrastructure provided by BOOSTRY, a Japanese security-token firm known for its ibet platform. BOOSTRY has been at the forefront of Japan's security token ecosystem, providing the underlying technology for numerous digital bond issuances across the country.

Direct distribution and integrated ecosystem

The direct distribution model is a notable departure from previous tokenized bond offerings in Japan, which have typically been sold through securities companies. Toyota Finance said this approach will allow it to integrate applications, communications with bondholders, and investor benefits within the same ecosystem. By leveraging the Toyota Wallet app, the company can streamline the entire investment lifecycle, from application to ongoing bondholder management.

Investors in the bond may also receive Toyota Wallet balances as part of the offering. Additionally, they can qualify for benefits including Fuji Speedway tickets and test-drive experiences, which may feature Lexus vehicles and selected classic Toyota models. These perks are designed to enhance the appeal of the bond beyond its financial return, creating a more engaging experience for customers who are already part of the Toyota ecosystem.

Second security token issuance

The offering is Toyota Finance's second security token bond, following its debut issuance in March 2025. That first bond was sold through securities companies, marking Toyota's initial foray into the digital bond market. The latest issuance, however, represents a shift toward a more direct-to-consumer approach, reflecting the company's confidence in the technology and its desire to cultivate a closer relationship with retail investors.

Toyota Finance's move comes amid a broader wave of tokenized bond adoption in Japan. Several major corporations have experimented with security tokens, driven by the country's relatively progressive regulatory environment for digital assets. The Financial Services Agency of Japan has established clear guidelines for security tokens, providing a framework that encourages innovation while maintaining investor protection.

BOOSTRY and the ibet platform

BOOSTRY, the firm providing the blockchain infrastructure for this bond, has become a key player in Japan's security token market. Its ibet platform is widely used by financial institutions and corporations to issue digital bonds and other security tokens. The platform is built on enterprise-grade blockchain technology, offering features such as investor management, interest distribution, and regulatory compliance.

By using BOOSTRY's infrastructure, Toyota Finance can reduce the costs and complexities associated with traditional bond issuance. The blockchain automates many administrative processes, including the distribution of interest payments and the maintenance of bondholder records. This efficiency is particularly valuable for smaller bond offerings, where traditional issuance costs can be prohibitive.

Benefits of tokenized bonds for retail investors

For retail investors, tokenized bonds offer several advantages over traditional bonds. The ability to purchase directly through a mobile app removes barriers to entry, such as the need to maintain a brokerage account or go through a financial advisor. The low minimum investment threshold also makes it easier for individuals to diversify into fixed-income assets.

Tokenization also enables greater transparency, as investors can potentially verify the bond's details and transaction history on the blockchain. Additionally, the integration with Toyota Wallet means that benefits like loyalty points and experiential rewards can be seamlessly delivered alongside interest payments.

Context: Toyota's broader blockchain ambitions

Toyota's involvement in blockchain extends beyond tokenized bonds. The company has been exploring various use cases for blockchain technology across its operations. In a notable development, Toyota Blockchain Lab has partnered with Avalanche, a smart contract platform, to design an autonomous robotaxi infrastructure. This initiative aims to create a decentralized network for managing autonomous vehicles, potentially enabling new mobility services and data-sharing models.

The robotaxi project reflects Toyota's long-term vision of integrating digital technologies into its core automotive business. By leveraging blockchain for everything from payments to vehicle identity management, Toyota is positioning itself as a technology-forward company that embraces innovation beyond traditional manufacturing.

Japan's security token market heating up

Toyota Finance's latest offering is part of a larger trend in Japan, where security token offerings have been gaining momentum. In recent years, real estate companies, utilities, and even local governments have issued tokenized bonds to raise capital from retail investors. The Japanese government has actively promoted the use of security tokens as a way to democratize access to investments and support the growth of fintech.

The market is supported by a robust regulatory framework that distinguishes security tokens from utility tokens and cryptocurrency. This clarity has attracted both domestic and international players, making Japan one of the leading markets for security token issuance in Asia.

Analysts believe that tokenized bonds could eventually become a standard tool for corporate fundraising, especially for companies with large customer bases like Toyota. The ability to distribute bonds directly to customers through a mobile app not only reduces costs but also strengthens brand loyalty and customer engagement.

Challenges and considerations

The one-year maturity and relatively small issuance size suggest that Toyota Finance is still in an experimental phase. While the bond offers a competitive interest rate, the total amount available is limited, and the investor base is likely to be composed primarily of Toyota enthusiasts and existing app users. It remains to be seen whether the company will scale up its tokenized bond program in the future.

Additionally, security tokens are subject to market risks, and investors should be aware that the tokenized nature of the bond does not eliminate credit risk. Toyota Finance, as a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, carries a strong credit profile, but the bond is not guaranteed by the government.

The success of this offering will depend on investor appetite and the seamless functioning of the blockchain infrastructure. If the issuance proves popular, it could encourage other companies in Japan and beyond to adopt similar direct-to-consumer tokenized bond models.

Implications for the mobile payment ecosystem

By embedding investment products into Toyota Wallet, Toyota is blurring the lines between payment apps, loyalty programs, and financial services. This convergence is not unique to Toyota; other companies, such as neobanks and super apps, have also begun to offer investment products within their mobile interfaces.

However, Toyota's approach stands out because it leverages a real-world asset—the bond—as a way to deepen customer relationships. The inclusion of experiential perks like test drives and racing circuit tickets creates an emotional connection that goes beyond a typical financial transaction.

This strategy could serve as a model for other automotive companies and consumer brands looking to monetize their customer ecosystems. By offering financial products that are tightly integrated with their core products, companies can create new revenue streams and enhance customer retention.

As the tokenized bond market matures, regulatory frameworks will likely evolve to address new challenges and opportunities. Japan's proactive stance on security tokens has positioned the country as a testbed for these innovations. If successful, Toyota Finance's direct-to-consumer tokenized bond could become a blueprint for the wider adoption of blockchain-based securities in retail finance.

Source: Cointelegraph News

The senior unsecured notes were issued in a private placement, a move that underscores Ripple's ongoing transformation from a blockchain payments company into a broader financial services provider. According to the company, the note offering saw strong demand from a diverse set of institutional investors, a signal that traditional financial players are increasingly looking to bridge the gap between conventional finance and digital assets.

Expanding Ripple Prime's Institutional Offerings

Ripple Prime President Noel Kimmel said the support received during the note offering reflects growing confidence in the company's strategic direction. "The overwhelming response to this offering is a clear signal of confidence in our long-term vision for the growing intersection of traditional and digital asset financial infrastructure," Kimmel said in a statement.

The proceeds from the offering will be used to support Ripple's expansion into financial services including prime brokerage, financing, and multi-asset clearing. These are areas where Ripple has been investing heavily over the past year, as it seeks to position itself as a key player in the institutional digital asset ecosystem.

Prime brokerage is a critical service for large institutional clients, offering them a single point of access to multiple trading venues, as well as financing, custody, and clearing services. By expanding into this space, Ripple aims to provide institutions with the same level of infrastructure they are accustomed to in traditional markets, but tailored to digital assets.

Building on the Hidden Road Acquisition

A key part of Ripple's strategy in this area was the acquisition of Hidden Road, a digital asset prime brokerage, in a deal valued at roughly $1.25 billion. That acquisition, completed last year, allowed Ripple to launch its institutional prime brokerage business, which was later rebranded as Ripple Prime.

The acquisition gave Ripple access to Hidden Road's existing client base and its technology platform, which was already serving institutional clients in the digital asset space. Hidden Road had built a reputation for providing sophisticated financing and execution services to hedge funds, asset managers, and other institutional players.

Since the acquisition, Ripple has been working to integrate Hidden Road's capabilities with its own blockchain-based payment and settlement infrastructure. This integration is designed to offer clients a seamless experience that combines the efficiency of blockchain technology with the reliability and compliance standards of traditional finance.

Ripple's Broader Financial Services Push

The $275 million fundraise is just one of several moves Ripple has made to expand its institutional financial services business. In May, the company secured a $200 million credit facility from funds managed by Neuberger Berman, a major US investment manager. That credit facility was intended to expand the lending capacity of Ripple Prime, allowing it to offer more competitive financing terms to its institutional clients.

These initiatives are taking place against a backdrop of increasing institutional interest in digital assets. Many traditional financial institutions, including banks, asset managers, and hedge funds, have been exploring ways to incorporate cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based instruments into their operations. This has led to a growing demand for regulated, reliable infrastructure that can handle the complexities of institutional trading, lending, and clearing.

Launch of Ripple Mint and RLUSD Stablecoin

In July, Ripple also launched Ripple Mint, a platform designed to give institutions new ways to access, mint, redeem, and manage its US dollar-pegged stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD). The launch of Ripple Mint represents another step in Ripple's efforts to build a comprehensive suite of financial services for institutional clients.

According to data from Coingecko, RLUSD currently has a market capitalization of $1.76 billion. The stablecoin is designed to provide institutions with a reliable, dollar-denominated digital asset for use in trading, settlement, and other financial applications. By integrating RLUSD with Ripple Prime's services, the company hopes to create an ecosystem where institutions can easily move between fiat currencies, stablecoins, and other digital assets.

Institutional Demand Drives Expansion

The demand for prime brokerage services in the digital asset space has grown significantly in recent years. As institutional investors allocate more capital to cryptocurrencies, they require sophisticated services that can manage risk, provide leverage, and facilitate trading across multiple venues. Prime brokers play a crucial role in this process, acting as intermediaries that help institutions navigate the complex and often fragmented digital asset markets.

Ripple's move into prime brokerage is part of a broader trend among fintech and blockchain companies to expand their offerings beyond simple payments. Companies such as Circle, Galaxy Digital, and Coinbase have also been building out institutional-grade services, including custody, lending, and clearing. Ripple's focus on non-bank prime brokerage, however, differentiates it from many of its competitors, as it aims to offer these services without the regulatory constraints that traditional banks face.

The $275 million raised through the senior note offering adds to Ripple's already substantial financial resources. The company has been profitable in recent quarters, thanks in part to the growth of its payments business and the appreciation of its XRP holdings. This new capital infusion gives Ripple additional firepower to compete in the rapidly evolving institutional digital asset space.

Regulatory and Market Context

The timing of Ripple's expansion comes as the regulatory environment for digital assets continues to evolve. In the United States, there is ongoing debate about how digital assets and their intermediaries should be regulated. The company's decision to establish a non-bank prime brokerage may be partly driven by a desire to operate outside the traditional banking regulatory framework, while still catering to institutional clients that are subject to strict compliance requirements.

Ripple has also faced its own regulatory challenges. The company was involved in a long-running legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over whether the sale of XRP constituted an unregistered securities offering. While Ripple scored several partial victories in that case, the legal landscape remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the company has continued to expand its business, and the successful note offering suggests that investors are willing to look past these uncertainties.

The broader digital asset market has also shown signs of resilience. Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest cryptocurrencies, have seen significant price increases over the past year. This bull market cycle has renewed interest from institutional investors, many of whom had been waiting on the sidelines during the previous bear market. As a result, services like prime brokerage, which are essential for institutional participation, are seeing increased demand.

What This Means for the Future of Institutional Digital Asset Services

The successful raise by Ripple is likely to accelerate the development of institutional-grade digital asset services. With $275 million in new capital, the company can invest in technology, hire top talent, and expand its market reach. This could put pressure on other players in the space to innovate and improve their own offerings.

For institutional investors, the growth of non-bank prime brokerages like Ripple Prime offers an alternative to traditional banks that have been slow to enter the digital asset space. These brokerages can provide more flexible and innovative services, while still maintaining high standards of security and compliance.

The launch of Ripple Mint and the expansion of Ripple Prime are also significant for the broader adoption of stablecoins. Stablecoins like RLUSD are increasingly used in institutional trading and settlement, as they offer the speed and efficiency of blockchain transactions without the volatility of other cryptocurrencies. Ripple's focus on this area could help drive further adoption of stablecoins in mainstream financial markets.

Financial Details and Investor Confidence

The senior note offering was structured as a private placement, a common method for companies to raise debt capital from institutional investors without having to register with securities regulators. The fact that Ripple was able to attract a diverse base of investors for this offering is a positive signal for the company's financial health and growth prospects.

Senior notes are a type of debt instrument that ranks ahead of other unsecured debt in the event of a bankruptcy. This makes them an attractive investment for institutions seeking a relatively lower-risk way to gain exposure to the digital asset ecosystem. The successful sale of these notes suggests that institutional investors view Ripple as a credible and financially sound counterparty.

The $275 million raised is comparable to some of the larger funding rounds in the digital asset industry. For example, Circle raised over $400 million in a private funding round, and several crypto-focused companies have raised similar amounts through debt offerings. Ripple's ability to raise this amount through debt, rather than equity, means that existing shareholders do not see their ownership diluted, which is often preferable for a company that is already well-capitalized.

Ripple Prime's Services and Value Proposition

Ripple Prime offers a range of services designed specifically for institutional clients. These include prime brokerage, which allows clients to trade on multiple exchanges and venues through a single account; financing, which enables clients to borrow capital or digital assets to amplify their trading strategies; and multi-asset clearing, which ensures that trades are settled efficiently across different asset classes.

One of the key advantages of Ripple Prime is its integration with Ripple's blockchain-based payment infrastructure. This allows for faster settlement times and greater transparency compared to traditional clearing systems. For institutional clients, this can mean reduced counterparty risk and lower operational costs.

The company's acquisition of Hidden Road was a strategic move to gain access to this technology and expertise. Hidden Road had built a proprietary platform that was already being used by some of the world's largest hedge funds and asset managers. By integrating this platform into Ripple's broader ecosystem, Ripple Prime is well-positioned to capture a significant share of the institutional digital asset market.

Looking Ahead: Ripple's Strategic Priorities

Going forward, Ripple's focus is likely to remain on expanding its institutional business and strengthening its position as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets. The company has already established itself as a leading provider of blockchain-based payment solutions, with partnerships with financial institutions around the world. The addition of prime brokerage and stablecoin services represents a natural extension of these capabilities.

The digital asset industry is still relatively young, and many of the infrastructure services that are standard in traditional finance are still being built. Ripple's investment in this area positions it to be a major player as the industry matures. The successful $275 million note offering provides the company with the capital needed to compete aggressively and to continue innovating in this space.

Institutional investors who participated in the offering have shown that they believe in Ripple's long-term vision. With the proceeds from the offering, Ripple Prime will be able to expand its balance sheet, improve its technology platform, and potentially make further acquisitions. As the demand for institutional digital asset services continues to grow, Ripple appears well-positioned to meet that demand.

Source: Cointelegraph News

How Symbiotic's Liquid Lane works

Symbiotic's Liquid Lane operates as an onchain request-for-quote marketplace where market makers can tap liquidity from vaults to fill redemption requests. When an eligible investor wants to exit a tokenized fund position, they can submit a request through Liquid Lane. Market makers respond with quotes to purchase the fund tokens, and once a quote is accepted, the investor receives USDC immediately. The market maker can then redeem the acquired fund tokens through the issuer or sell them through another RFQ transaction. This structure separates the instant liquidity provided to the investor from the normal redemption cycle of the underlying fund, which can take days or longer depending on the asset class.

The arrangement allows investors to receive USDC without waiting for the fund's customary redemption process. It also introduces a more flexible capital structure compared to traditional liquidity solutions, because multiple market makers and curators can participate without needing to pre-fund and carry inventory for individual assets. According to Felix Lutsch, Symbiotic's head of ecosystem, this is a key differentiator. “We're not claiming to be first, and other liquidity routes exist. That's healthy for the market,” Lutsch told Cointelegraph. He emphasized that the distinction with Liquid Lane is the capital structure behind the transactions rather than their speed.

Background on Centrifuge and its asset manager partners

Centrifuge is an asset tokenization and vault platform where asset managers issue and manage tokenized funds. The platform has become one of the more prominent players in the real-world asset tokenization space, enabling traditional financial institutions to bring funds onchain while maintaining institutional-grade compliance and operational standards. Janus Henderson, a global asset manager with about $500 billion in assets under management, has been a significant contributor to Centrifuge's growth through its JAAA and JTRSY products. JAAA is an AAA-rated collateralized loan obligation strategy that targets institutional investors seeking high-quality, short-duration credit exposure. JTRSY is a short-duration US Treasury strategy designed for investors looking for low-risk yield in a liquid format. New York Life Investment Management's HYB fund, meanwhile, provides exposure to US high-yield corporate bonds, adding a credit-oriented component to the tokenized fund lineup.

By December 2025, Centrifuge had attracted roughly $1.3 billion in new inflows, driven primarily by the two Janus Henderson funds, according to Token Terminal data. JAAA alone had contributed about $1 billion in total value locked and was one of the largest tokenized funds in the market. This growth reflects a broader trend of asset managers moving to blockchain-based platforms to improve operational efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. Tokenized funds allow for 24/7 trading, faster settlement, and programmability, which are features not typically available in traditional fund structures.

Existing liquidity routes and the competitive landscape

Liquid Lane is not the first liquidity route available for Centrifuge's tokenized funds. Centrifuge announced a partnership with Wintermute in February 2025 to provide around-the-clock instant redemptions for JTRSY. That partnership enabled market makers to step in and provide liquidity for the treasury strategy, ensuring that investors could exit positions at any time. HYB, which launched in June, came with a separate liquidity arrangement for near-instant redemptions. The addition of Symbiotic's Liquid Lane therefore adds another layer of optionality for eligible holders, complementing rather than replacing the existing infrastructure.

Having multiple liquidity routes is generally viewed as positive for the tokenized asset ecosystem. It creates redundancy and fosters competition, which can lead to better pricing and more resilient markets. However, Lutsch noted that the wider industry still faces a fundamental challenge: the relatively low trading volumes in tokenized assets have historically given market makers little incentive to commit capital. “The bigger constraint has been flow,” he said, pointing to the fact that secondary market activity in tokenized funds remains thin compared to traditional capital markets. Without consistent buy and sell orders, market makers face higher risks of holding inventory that may not turn over quickly, which reduces their willingness to provide quotes.

The role of vaults and market makers in Liquid Lane

Symbiotic's Liquid Lane leverages vaults to source liquidity. These vaults are pools of capital committed by market makers and curators who are willing to finance redemptions. When a redemption request is submitted, the marketplace uses the vaults to ensure that there is sufficient liquidity to execute the trade. The RFQ mechanism invites competing quotes, enabling price discovery and ensuring that investors receive a fair market rate for their tokens. Market makers can then redeem the acquired tokens through the official issuer process or dispose of them via secondary trades, depending on what is more efficient. This design reduces the need for market makers to hold large inventories upfront, as they can act as intermediaries between investors and the fund issuer.

Lutsch explained that aggregating redemption demand across issuers and asset classes could improve the economics for all participants. As tokenized funds become more widely used as collateral in onchain lending protocols and as financing assets in decentralized finance markets, the demand for instant liquidity will likely grow. By creating a marketplace that pools demand across different funds, Liquid Lane aims to generate the volume needed to make market making sustainable. This could help close the gap between the promise of tokenized assets and their actual trading activity.

Implications for the tokenization industry

The integration of Symbiotic's Liquid Lane into Centrifuge's ecosystem comes at a time when tokenization is gaining momentum among traditional financial institutions. Major asset managers, banks, and stock exchanges are exploring how blockchain can reduce costs, accelerate settlement, and enable new product offerings. The ability to provide instant liquidity is often cited as a critical factor for the widespread adoption of tokenized funds. Without efficient secondary markets and redemption mechanisms, tokenized assets would remain relatively illiquid, limiting their appeal to institutional and retail investors alike.

Centrifuge's approach has been to partner with established asset managers rather than trying to replace them. Janus Henderson's JAAA and JTRSY funds have demonstrated that tokenized versions of traditional fixed income strategies can attract meaningful inflows. The involvement of a large asset manager like Janus Henderson provides credibility and regulatory familiarity, which helps bridge the gap between traditional finance and the crypto-native ecosystem. Similarly, New York Life Investment Management's participation with the HYB fund signals that major insurance-owned investment managers are also paying attention to tokenization.

For Symbiotic, the partnership with Centrifuge expands its reach beyond its core DeFi protocols. Symbiotic is best known as a restaking and shared security platform, but Liquid Lane represents a move into real-world asset liquidity infrastructure. By applying its marketplace design to tokenized funds, Symbiotic is diversifying its revenue streams and establishing itself as a key player in the growing RWA tokenization sector.

Future outlook

Looking ahead, the success of Liquid Lane will depend on whether it can attract sufficient flow from institutional investors. The current landscape of tokenized funds is still dominated by a handful of products, but the market is expanding rapidly. Several major banks have launched or announced plans to tokenize bonds, money market funds, and other financial instruments. As the number of tokenized funds grows, the need for cross-platform liquidity solutions will become more acute.

Lutsch believes that aggregating redemption demand is essential for improving market maker economics. If Liquid Lane can consolidate flows from multiple issuers and asset classes, it may be able to offer tighter spreads and more dependable liquidity. This, in turn, could encourage more asset managers to tokenize their funds, creating a virtuous cycle. The broader adoption of tokenized assets as collateral in DeFi lending markets could also boost structural demand for instant redemption mechanisms, making them a standard feature of tokenized fund infrastructure.

The Centrifuge-Symbiotic integration is therefore more than just a new liquidity route; it is another step toward building the plumbing necessary for a fully functioning tokenized capital market. With $1.6 billion in underlying assets now connected to Symbiotic's Liquid Lane, the solution has a substantial base to work from. Whether it can deliver on its promise of improved flow and capital efficiency will be a key test for the tokenization industry in the coming months.

Source: Cointelegraph News

Four MUFG entities are participating in the PoC: MUFG itself, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking, and MUFG Bank. They will collaborate with Digital Asset Holdings, the developer of the Canton Network and the smart contract language Daml, and Progmat, a tokenization platform that has its roots within MUFG but operates as an independent entity. The collaboration underscores the growing interest among Japanese financial institutions in using distributed ledger technology for real-world assets and capital markets operations.

What Are Repo Transactions and Why Do They Matter?

Repo, short for repurchase agreement, is a form of short-term borrowing where one party sells a security to another with a promise to buy it back at a later date at a slightly higher price. The difference between the initial sale price and the repurchase price represents the interest paid on the loan. Repos are a foundational component of global financial markets, providing liquidity, enabling leverage, and allowing institutions to manage their balance sheets efficiently.

Japanese government bonds are among the safest assets in the world, and the JGB repo market is critical for funding and hedging activities for banks, securities firms, and institutional investors. Traditionally, JGB repo transactions are executed through a combination of manual processes, legacy systems, and central clearing counterparties, with settlement occurring through the Bank of Japan's real-time gross settlement system. These processes are typically limited to standard business hours and are subject to operational risks and inefficiencies.

The move to bring JGB repos onchain is part of a broader push to modernize financial market infrastructure. By tokenizing both the bonds and the cash used in these transactions, MUFG aims to create a more transparent, automated, and always-available system. The Canton Network, which is designed for controlled access and privacy, allows multiple ledgers to interoperate, making it a suitable platform for such experiments.

Goals of the Proof of Concept

According to the announcement, the PoC seeks to achieve several specific objectives. First, it aims to enable real-time intraday settlement 24/7. Unlike traditional settlement systems that operate during set hours, a blockchain-based platform can process transactions at any time, including weekends and holidays. This could significantly reduce counterparty risk and improve the efficiency of liquidity management.

Second, the project aims to automate the entire transaction lifecycle. Using smart contracts, the terms of a repo trade—such as the haircut, margin call, and maturity date—can be encoded directly into the tokenized instrument. This reduces the need for manual intervention, lowers the risk of errors, and provides a real-time view of obligations and collateral. The companies said they expect this automation to lead to improved operational efficiency and capital efficiency, as collateral can be mobilized more quickly and with greater precision.

Third, the PoC will test the ability to enhance funding and capital efficiency. Tokenized repos allow for the atomistic delivery versus payment of securities and cash, meaning that the transfer of collateral and funds occurs simultaneously. This reduces the time that assets are locked up during settlement, freeing up capital for other uses. In a volatile market environment, the ability to reallocate collateral instantly is a significant advantage.

Part of Japan's Payment Innovation Project

The MUFG-led initiative is not happening in a vacuum. It is part of a larger pilot program announced by Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) in February 2026, called the Payment Innovation Project. This project is designed to allow fintech companies and banks to run proofs of concept for advanced payment technologies, including blockchain-based settlement systems, stablecoins, tokenization, and onchain solutions.

The FSA's proactive stance reflects Japan's broader strategy to remain a leader in financial technology innovation. By providing a regulatory sandbox for these experiments, the agency hopes to foster a more efficient and resilient financial infrastructure. The Payment Innovation Project allows participants to explore novel use cases without immediately having to comply with all existing regulations, while still maintaining a high bar for consumer protection and systemic safety.

MUFG's collaboration with Digital Asset and Progmat is expected to provide valuable insight not only for the companies involved but also for the FSA as it evaluates the potential benefits and risks of blockchain-based financial infrastructure. If the PoC proves successful, it could pave the way for broader adoption across the Japanese financial sector.

MUFG's Growing Blockchain Footprint

MUFG has been increasingly aggressive in its pursuit of blockchain and tokenization initiatives. In June 2023, the financial services giant announced that its stablecoin issuance platform, Progmat Coin, would be used by banks to launch Japanese yen-pegged stablecoins on several public blockchains. The platform was developed in conjunction with a consortium of leading Japanese financial institutions and aims to provide a regulated, interoperable framework for stablecoin issuance in Japan.

Progmat, the company that is now a partner in the JGB repo PoC, was initially a project within MUFG before being spun off into a separate entity. It focuses on tokenizing real-world assets, including securities, and provides a platform for the issuance and management of digital assets. The involvement of Progmat in this new PoC demonstrates the continued integration of MUFG's various blockchain efforts.

Interestingly, MUFG dropped its earlier blockchain payments project, GO-Net Japan, in February 2022, choosing to concentrate on its stablecoin initiatives. The company has likely recognized that tokenized securities and stablecoins offer a more direct path to generating revenue and reducing operational costs than the more speculative cross-border payments business. The JGB repo PoC is another step in that strategy, targeting one of the most vital markets in Japan.

The Rise of Tokenized Bonds and Real-World Assets

The MUFG initiative is part of a global trend toward the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA). By representing physical or traditional financial assets like bonds, real estate, and commodities on a blockchain, tokenization promises to increase liquidity, reduce costs, and enable fractional ownership. The market for tokenized assets has grown exponentially in recent years, with institutions like BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, and HSBC all pushing into the space.

Japan has been particularly active in the issuance of tokenized bonds, also known as digital bonds. In 2023, the city of Yamaguchi issued a digital bond for environmental projects, and in 2024, the Japanese government expanded legal frameworks to facilitate the broader issuance of digital securities. Toyotaa Finance recently opened its tokenized bonds to retail investors via a mobile payment app, and other major Japanese corporations are expected to follow suit.

The JGB repo market, however, is a particularly complex and significant use case for tokenization. Repos are a vital source of liquidity and funding for financial institutions, and their operational complexity is well-known. Bringing them onchain could reduce the risk of disputes, lower compliance costs, and enable more granular management of collateral. If the MUFG PoC succeeds, it could serve as a model for other repo markets around the world, including those for government bonds in the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom.

Technical Details and the Canton Network

The Canton Network is a blockchain protocol built by Digital Asset Holdings, the company originally known for developing the Daml smart contract language. Canton is designed to connect multiple independent ledgers in a way that preserves privacy and control, making it suitable for institutional applications. Unlike public blockchains that are open to everyone, Canton allows participants to operate their own networks while still achieving interoperability with others.

For JGB repos, the Canton Network can facilitate the issuance of tokenized JGBs and tokenized cash (likely via stablecoins) on separate sub-ledgers. The smart contracts governing the repo transaction would automatically execute the delivery versus payment when the terms are met. This ensures that both sides of the trade are settled simultaneously, eliminating the risk of one party defaulting between the transfer of securities and cash.

Digital Asset has been involved in several high-profile projects, including the Project Guardian initiative led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which tested the use of tokenized assets in wholesale funding markets. The company's experience with enterprise blockchains makes it a natural partner for MUFG in this endeavor.

Challenges and Considerations

While the potential benefits of onchain JGB repos are numerous, there are also significant challenges that the PoC will need to address. One of the primary concerns is regulatory compliance. The Japanese financial system is highly regulated, and any new system must comply with securities laws, banking regulations, and financial crime prevention measures. The FSA's Payment Innovation Project provides a sandbox, but full adoption will require a more permanent regulatory framework.

Another challenge is interoperability with existing infrastructure. JGBs are currently held and settled through the Bank of Japan's systems, and any tokenized instrument would need to coexist with or eventually replace current processes. The PoC will likely explore how the Canton Network can interface with traditional databases and payment systems to ensure a smooth transition.

There is also the issue of liquidity. For tokenized JGB repos to be effective, there must be a sufficient supply of tokenized bonds and cash in the market. This suggests that multiple institutions need to participate and that the infrastructure must be adopted across the industry, not just by MUFG. The PoC is an important first step, but broader ecosystem development will be essential.

Additionally, the use of stablecoins or central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) for the cash leg of onchain repos is still an open question. Progmat Coin, which is MUFG's stablecoin platform, could play a role, but the regulatory environment for stablecoins in Japan is still evolving. The Bank of Japan has been researching a digital yen, and there are discussions about how tokenized deposits could be used. The PoC will help shed light on the most efficient and compliant ways to represent cash onchain.

Implications for the Future of Finance

MUFG's decision to bring JGB repo transactions onchain signals a significant step toward the mainstream adoption of blockchain in traditional finance. The repo market is deeply woven into the fabric of global capital markets, and a successful pilot could demonstrate that distributed ledger technology is not just for cryptocurrencies and startups, but also for mission-critical financial infrastructure.

The focus on 24/7 settlement is particularly noteworthy. In an increasingly interconnected global economy, the ability to settle transactions in real time, any day of the week, could reduce systemic risk and make markets more resilient. Other central banks and financial institutions are likely to watch this PoC closely, as it may offer a blueprint for modernizing their own securities settlement systems.

Moreover, the collaboration between MUFG, Digital Asset, and Progmat highlights the importance of partnerships in the blockchain space. No single institution can build the necessary infrastructure alone. By working together, these companies can combine their expertise in banking, technology, and tokenization to create a more complete solution.

As the PoC progresses, market participants will be looking for tangible results: whether the system can handle high volumes, whether it can maintain privacy and security, and whether it truly delivers the promised improvements in capital and operational efficiency. The findings could influence future regulatory decisions and investment strategies for years to come.

Source: Cointelegraph News

That shift does not mean Microsoft is returning to its old role as a dominant foreign software vendor in China. Instead, it is trying to serve a specific set of customers: Chinese companies expanding or selling internationally, including ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. For these firms, Microsoft's global cloud network and AI capabilities remain attractive, even as the domestic technology ecosystem in China grows more self-sufficient.

Microsoft's long history in China

Microsoft's relationship with China dates back to the early 1990s, when the company entered the market with Windows and Office. For years, it was one of the most recognizable foreign technology brands in the country. Microsoft established research labs in Beijing and worked with local partners to distribute software, train developers, and support the growth of a domestic PC industry. At its peak, the company's presence in China was seen as an important bridge between U.S. technology and one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

But that standing eroded over time. The Chinese government increasingly favored domestic technology suppliers, encouraging state agencies and public institutions to replace foreign software with local alternatives. Microsoft attempted to adapt by building a China-specific version of Windows for government customers. That effort did not lead to measurable adoption. At the same time, the company's traditional software revenue in China shrank as consumers and businesses moved to mobile platforms and cloud services that were often dominated by local players.

Pressure from two sides

According to recent reports, China accounted for only about 1.5% of Microsoft's global revenue in 2024. That small share means Microsoft is accepting significant geopolitical, regulatory, and operational risks for a market that contributes little to its worldwide bottom line. The company has closed at least 15 offices and joint ventures in the country, and it nearly executed a complete exit in 2023. Those closures are not merely about reducing physical office space; they show a business that has become harder to justify.

Beijing's preference for domestic alternatives remains a serious obstacle. Government agencies have been encouraged to cut their dependence on foreign software, and domestic vendors have improved their products to fill the gap. Microsoft's Windows franchise, once a cornerstone of its China business, no longer carries the same weight. The company has also had to contend with tighter Chinese restrictions on foreign companies, adding another layer of complexity.

Washington has added its own pressure. U.S. export controls on advanced chips and AI technology restrict what Microsoft can offer to Chinese customers. These controls also affect Microsoft's research operations; the company has had to move some researchers outside China to maintain access to sensitive technology. The combination means Microsoft faces a squeeze from both governments, and the space for it to operate has narrowed.

The AI opportunity

AI and cloud services offer Microsoft a path to keep part of its China business alive. Chinese companies with international operations need cloud infrastructure that can scale across borders. They also need access to advanced AI models, and Microsoft's Azure platform provides that through its global network and partnerships with AI developers. For these customers, Azure can be a more practical choice than using domestic Chinese clouds, especially when their target markets are in the United States, Europe, or elsewhere.

ByteDance is one such customer. The company operates a global portfolio of content platforms and relies on cloud and AI infrastructure to serve users in many countries. Shein, another fast-growing Chinese company with a huge international e-commerce business, has similar needs. These companies often require technology that can handle global data flows, comply with multiple regulatory regimes, and support AI-driven personalization, logistics, and recommendation systems. Microsoft's cloud services are designed for those demands.

But this narrower business is not immune to the same forces that upset Microsoft's traditional China operations. Microsoft relies on third-party AI providers for some of its most advanced models. A change in U.S. policy or a decision by an AI provider to restrict access to Chinese customers could quickly weaken the value of Azure as a bridge to Western AI. That vulnerability makes Microsoft's China strategy more fragile than it might appear at first glance.

Domestic AI competition

The push for self-reliance in China also applies to AI. Chinese technology companies have developed increasingly capable homegrown models, and some have begun to rival Western systems in certain tasks. As these models improve, Chinese firms have another reason to avoid foreign providers. If a local model performs well enough, the regulatory simplicity and data sovereignty of staying with domestic services may outweigh the benefits of accessing Western AI through Microsoft.

That puts Microsoft in a delicate position. Its best argument for staying in China is that it can offer something local companies cannot easily replicate: broad global infrastructure, deep enterprise relationships, and access to advanced Western AI models. But every one of those advantages is subject to political decisions. U.S. restrictions could tighten further. China could impose its own rules on how data crosses its borders. And the gap between domestic and foreign AI capabilities could narrow more quickly than expected.

Why ByteDance and Shein matter

The importance of companies like ByteDance and Shein to Microsoft's China strategy should not be underestimated. They represent a new type of Chinese enterprise: born global, digitally native, and dependent on cloud technologies that work across many jurisdictions. For Microsoft, these companies are not just customers; they are proof that its China strategy can evolve from selling software to the domestic market to providing global infrastructure for Chinese multinationals.

This model is different from the traditional playbook. Microsoft is no longer trying to convince every Chinese consumer or government agency to use Windows. Instead, it is targeting a smaller set of high-value customers who need what only a global cloud provider can offer. The revenue potential is real, but the political risk is also concentrated. If the relationship between Washington and Beijing deteriorates further, or if regulators in either country decide to punish companies that work across the divide, Microsoft's selected China business may become even harder to sustain.

The breakdown of the old playbook

Microsoft's experience in China illustrates a broader shift in global technology strategy. For decades, multinational companies could assume that a single product line could be sold more or less the same way in every market. Localization, pricing, and partnerships were necessary, but they were not a matter of survival. That is no longer true. Technology supply chains, data flows, and AI development are becoming increasingly divided along national lines, and companies have to make operating decisions around that reality.

Microsoft's response to China can be seen as a blueprint for other multinationals. The company has not made a definitive decision to leave, according to reports, but it has reduced its footprint and kept only the businesses that still work. It has closed offices and joint ventures, moved researchers out of the country, and narrowed its customer focus. In doing so, Microsoft is trying to minimize political exposure while preserving access to a market that still matters for certain parts of its business.

That approach is not without trade-offs. By staying in China, even in a reduced form, Microsoft remains exposed to sudden policy changes and to reputational questions about doing business in a country that is increasingly at odds with Washington. By leaving, it would give up any chance of participating in the future growth of Chinese technology. The compromise is to stay where the business works, reduce exposure where politics raises the cost, and build around a technology environment that is split along national lines.

Microsoft's broader AI push

Microsoft's China dilemma is happening at a time when the company is making AI the center of its product strategy. The company has invested heavily in AI tools across its cloud, office, and security products, and it is trying to create a more unified experience for users. That effort includes merging its separate Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot apps into a single product, according to recent coverage. The consolidation reflects a broader push to make AI an everyday part of how people and businesses work.

That global momentum makes the China question more complicated. Microsoft wants to be a leader in AI everywhere, but it cannot fully translate that ambition into China because of export controls, domestic competition, and political pressures. The result is a company that is both committed to AI and constrained in one of the largest potential markets for it. How Microsoft manages that tension will shape its China strategy for years to come.

Source: TechRepublic News

A False Choice in AI Governance

Baker had appeared on a podcast and then taken to social media to argue that Amodei has “lost the argument” on AI governance. He suggested that Amodei's safety warnings have contributed to local backlash against data centers and urged him to become a more positive advocate for his own industry. Amodei's response was direct: the choice between concentrating AI in the hands of a chosen few companies and politicians via regulation or distributing it widely is a false one. He compared formal rules and regulations to a legal system that protects individuals from mob justice, arguing that well-designed institutions can prevent abuses of power without curtailing innovation.

Amodei's comments reflect a broader tension in AI policy. On one side, open-weight advocates argue that releasing model weights to the public fosters transparency, competition, and innovation. They point to open-source software as evidence that widely distributed technology can challenge incumbents. On the other side, safety-focused labs like Anthropic warn that highly capable AI systems could be misused if placed in the wrong hands. The challenge, as Amodei sees it, is to design governance mechanisms that do not simply replace corporate concentration with government concentration.

Structural Concentration of Power

The core of Amodei's argument is that AI is “structurally a technology that tends to concentrate power.” This is not because of any particular policy choice but because of the computational demands dictated by scaling laws. Training frontier-level models requires massive clusters of specialized chips, enormous energy supplies, and sophisticated data center infrastructure. Freely distributing model weights, Amodei warned, does not eliminate this concentration. It simply shifts dominance to whichever entities control the underlying chips and infrastructure, whether those are cloud providers, hardware manufacturers, or nation-states.

This perspective challenges the optimistic narrative that open-weight AI will level the playing field. Proponents of open weights often highlight the benefits of being able to inspect, modify, and run models locally. But the reality is that the most capable open-weight models still demand significant compute resources for fine-tuning and deployment. For startups and enterprises, this means that even with open software, they may remain dependent on a relatively small number of cloud and hardware providers. The infrastructure bottleneck, Amodei argued, places a hard limit on how much decentralization open weights can achieve.

Defending Anthropic's Policy Record

Amodei also used the exchange to defend Anthropic's approach to AI policy. He emphasized that the company actively designs proposals that would “disadvantage (slow down) frontier AI companies while advantaging smaller competitors.” This is a notable stance for the CEO of one of the world's leading AI labs, and it reflects a deliberate effort to avoid capturing regulation. Rather than seeking rules that would entrench incumbents, Amodei said Anthropic is focused on creating asymmetric compliance burdens that fall hardest on the largest players.

One example he highlighted was California's SB 53, a bill that would impose safety requirements on frontier AI developers. Anthropic backed the measure because its compliance thresholds include exemptions for smaller enterprises below specific revenue or training cost cutoffs. Under this framework, startups and smaller labs would be able to continue experimenting without facing the same regulatory overhead as giant corporations. Amodei argued that such targeted regulation can level the competitive playing field while still addressing the risks posed by frontier models.

Amodei also expressed support for tiered evaluation frameworks that have been proposed to the White House and developed in collaboration with the Center for AI Safety (CAISI). These frameworks would require increasingly rigorous testing and security measures as model capabilities grow. He additionally endorsed the concept of an independent, self-regulatory body similar to FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which oversees U.S. broker-dealers. The idea was originally suggested by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, and Amodei has now thrown his weight behind it as a way to ensure accountability without direct government micromanagement.

The Public Trust Deficit

Amodei pushed back against the notion that his safety warnings have turned the public against AI. Instead, he argued that skepticism toward the industry is rooted in a decades-old institutional trust deficit. People have become accustomed to technology companies making grand promises that fail to materialize, and the AI industry is now inheriting that skepticism. “I think by far the most accurate criticism of AI companies including Anthropic is that we haven't yet delivered on our big promises to benefit the world,” he wrote. He added that promising to cure cancer has become “more a cliché than it is inspiring.”

This is a striking admission from a CEO whose company has often cited medical and scientific breakthroughs as part of its mission. Anthropic has repeatedly stated that safe AI could accelerate biological research and lead to cures for diseases. But Amodei acknowledged that such promises now ring hollow without tangible results. To address this, he said Anthropic is accelerating internal research in biology and medicine. The goal is to deliver concrete clinical advancements rather than relying on promotional spin. This shift reflects a broader pressure on AI companies to demonstrate real-world value rather than just technological capability.

The Compute Bottleneck Reality

The debate between open-weight advocates and safety-focused frontier labs ultimately exposes a fundamental commercial reality: software accessibility does not equal infrastructure parity. Open-weight models can give developers more control over software by allowing them to inspect, modify, and run models independently. But training and operating the most capable systems still requires substantial compute, advanced chips, and access to large-scale infrastructure. This is especially true for models at the frontier of capability, which are defined by their scale and the enormous resources needed to produce them.

For enterprise users and startups, the practical implication is that open weights alone will not resolve their dependence on a small number of cloud and hardware providers. Even if a model is fully open and downloadable, running it efficiently at scale may require access to specialized accelerators that are only available from major cloud vendors. These vendors control the supply chain, pricing, and availability of the physical resources that make frontier AI possible. As a result, the concentration of power in AI may simply shift from model developers to infrastructure owners.

The larger policy question is whether decentralizing access to models is enough when the physical infrastructure required to build and run frontier AI remains concentrated elsewhere. Amodei's argument suggests that it is not. Without addressing the concentration of compute, chips, and energy, open-weight distribution will not achieve the democratizing effects that many hope for. Instead, it could create a new layer of dependency in which a handful of infrastructure providers wield outsized influence over who gets to use AI and under what terms.

The exchange between Amodei and Baker highlights how contested these questions have become within the AI community. Baker, who is known for his bullish views on technology investment, sees Amodei's warnings as unnecessarily negative and ultimately counterproductive. He argues that the industry needs champions, not doomsayers, and that focusing on catastrophic risks has fueled political backlash. Amodei, however, maintains that safety and equitable governance are not incompatible with innovation. He believes that well-crafted rules can channel AI development in ways that benefit everyone, rather than perpetuating existing power structures.

A Growing Divide in the AI Community

This controversy is unfolding against a backdrop of fierce competition between AI companies. The rise of open-weight models has challenged the closed-model strategies of OpenAI and Anthropic. While OpenAI and Anthropic command soaring valuations and have built massive user bases, open-weight releases from other organizations have demonstrated that capable models can be distributed freely. This has led to intense debate over whether closed labs can maintain their competitive advantages if open models continue to improve.

Amodei's position is that open-weight models are not a panacea. They may offer more transparency and flexibility at the software layer, but they do not solve the underlying concentration of physical resources. In fact, he suggests, they might obscure that concentration by creating an illusion of decentralization. For policymakers, the lesson is that any serious effort to democratize AI must address infrastructure disparities, not just model accessibility. That means considering how to expand access to compute, support smaller competitors, and ensure that the benefits of AI are broadly shared.

Source: TechRepublic News

The administration’s current safety framework applies to closed models from leading AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Under reported plans, the framework would expand to open models once they reach frontier-level capabilities. A White House official told reporters that open models could face prerelease testing when their capabilities reach the level of Anthropic’s Mythos-class systems and OpenAI’s GPT-5.6.

The framework remains voluntary and has not been publicly released. Still, the administration has generally viewed models with frontier capabilities and national security risks as requiring some form of government collaboration, regardless of whether they are open or closed, according to published reports.

Key facts at a glance

• The White House is expected to expand voluntary AI safety reviews to open-weights models.
• Prerelease testing may apply when open models reach capabilities comparable to Anthropic Mythos-class models or OpenAI GPT-5.6.
• The existing framework is voluntary and unpublished, covering closed frontier models from major labs.
• Open models differ from closed systems because their weights can be downloaded, modified, and redistributed.
• Companies including Meta, Microsoft, and Palantir have backed open-weight development, while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says the world needs both frontier closed and frontier open models.
• Officials worry that highly capable open models could be misused for cyberattacks and other national security threats.

What is changing?

For months, the White House has worked on a framework for AI safety reviews focused on frontier models developed by commercial labs. The approach was designed to ensure that the most capable systems receive security testing and national security review before release. In practice, that has largely meant closed models, because the largest frontier systems have come from companies that keep their weights private.

Open models are developed by a different community. Their weights are released publicly, allowing researchers, businesses, and individuals to download, fine-tune, and deploy them on their own infrastructure. That openness drives innovation but also creates a different risk profile. Once an open model is released, the developer cannot easily update or restrict it. Any safety defects or misuse potential become permanent and widely accessible.

The reported expansion would close that gap. Open models would not automatically fall under the framework, but they would be reviewed when their capabilities reach frontier thresholds. The exact threshold is still being discussed. The reported benchmark — Anthropic Mythos-class and OpenAI GPT-5.6 — is notable because those systems are expected to be among the most advanced models of their generation.

Why open models are different

Closed models are controlled by their developers. If a vulnerability is discovered after release, the company can push an update, restrict access, or shut down the API. For open models, those options do not exist. Once weights are public, anyone can host the model. This makes governance harder and emphasizes the importance of prerelease testing.

Open-model advocates argue that transparency improves security, because independent researchers can audit the model and identify weaknesses before deployment. They also point to the commercial benefits: open models give businesses more control over their AI systems, avoid vendor lock-in, and allow deployment in sensitive environments where data cannot be sent to external APIs.

National security officials, however, worry about misuse. A frontier open model with advanced coding and reasoning abilities could be used to develop cyberweapons, generate disinformation, or help non-state actors gain access to capabilities previously limited to large organizations. The tension between openness and security is not new, but it becomes more acute as open models approach frontier capability.

Pressure from industry

The reported policy shift comes after growing pressure to keep open models competitive in the US AI market. Companies including Meta, Microsoft, and Palantir have backed efforts to protect open-weight development. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has also argued in favor of maintaining both open and closed frontier models.

“Open models strengthen safety and cybersecurity, accelerate innovation and diffusion, and enable sovereignty,” Huang said. “The world needs both frontier closed models and frontier open models.”

The administration faces a practical concern as well. If government approval becomes associated primarily with closed models, businesses could view open models as riskier, potentially hurting US developers working on them. At the same time, officials worry that highly capable open models could be misused for cyberattacks and other national security threats.

A balancing act for Washington

Policymakers are trying to find a middle ground. Open models have become a critical part of the US AI ecosystem. They are widely used by startups, academic researchers, and enterprises that want to customize AI without relying on a single vendor. They are also increasingly viewed as a strategic response to China’s advances in the field. Restricting open models too aggressively could cede ground to overseas competitors and slow US innovation.

On the other hand, the same accessibility that fuels innovation also raises concerns about misuse. A model that can help a developer build software can also help an attacker find vulnerabilities. A model that can summarize documents can also be used to craft targeted phishing messages. As capabilities grow, the potential for harm grows as well.

The White House’s reported plan aims to address these concerns without imposing broad restrictions on all open models. Instead of classifying models as open or closed, the framework would focus on capabilities. That approach is consistent with recent statements from officials who say the government must adapt its oversight to the reality that advanced AI will no longer be limited to a handful of companies.

Implications for businesses

For businesses adopting advanced AI, the White House approach could become another signal for evaluating model risk. If open and closed models undergo similar safety reviews once they reach frontier capabilities, enterprises may have more information to weigh alongside performance, cost, and deployment flexibility.

Prerelease testing could provide greater confidence in the safety of advanced models. Companies that are hesitant to deploy open models because of security concerns might be more comfortable if those models have been reviewed by the government. That could accelerate adoption in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and critical infrastructure.

At the same time, businesses need to understand that a government review is not a guarantee of perfection. The framework is voluntary, and safety reviews cannot catch every possible vulnerability. Enterprises will still need to perform their own assessments, monitor their deployments, and maintain safeguards around sensitive data.

Implications for open-model developers

For developers of open-weight systems, broader oversight could introduce new friction. Prerelease testing may slow launches, increase compliance costs, and make it harder for smaller developers to compete with companies that have larger legal and policy teams. A small open-model project with limited resources could face significant delays if it must coordinate with the government before release.

There is also uncertainty about how the threshold would be measured. Capability evaluation is not a simple, objective process. Different benchmarks produce different results, and models can be fine-tuned to perform well on safety tests. Developers may not know in advance whether their model will be considered frontier until they submit to evaluation. That uncertainty can make planning difficult.

Some open-model developers may decide to keep their models below the threshold or delay certain capabilities to avoid triggering review. That could limit the pace of innovation. Others may choose to release their models from jurisdictions outside the United States, raising questions about the effectiveness of a national framework.

The regulatory shift

The bigger shift is regulatory. Rather than treating open and closed AI as separate categories, Washington appears increasingly focused on what a model can do and the risks those capabilities create. If that approach takes hold, capability thresholds could become a much more important factor in how advanced AI is developed, released, and adopted.

This is not just a US debate. Other governments are also working on AI governance frameworks that target capabilities. The European Union’s AI Act classifies systems by risk, with high-risk applications subject to stricter requirements. The United Kingdom has explored a capability-based approach. China has introduced rules targeting generative AI services. The movement toward capability-based oversight reflects a broader consensus that the dangers of advanced AI depend more on what systems can do than on how they are distributed.

For the open-source community, the challenge is to prove that openness and safety are compatible. Transparency allows more eyes on the code and more opportunities to audit behavior. But openness also means less control after release. The future of open AI may depend on developing new tools for model evaluation, watermarking, and post-release monitoring.

Looking ahead

The White House has not publicly confirmed the details of the expanded framework. The reported plan remains under discussion, and the timing is uncertain. However, the direction is clear: open models are no longer outside the scope of national security review.

For businesses and developers, the coming months will be important. Companies that rely on open models should monitor policy announcements and prepare for potential changes in the release process. Developers should consider how they can build safety evaluation into their workflows now, rather than waiting for regulation.

For the broader AI ecosystem, the move represents a recognition that frontier capability is no longer limited to closed labs. Open models have become genuinely powerful. As they continue to improve, they will face the same questions that have been asked of closed systems: who is responsible for safety, what should be tested before release, and how can society benefit from AI while reducing the risk of harm.

The administration appears to be moving toward an approach that answers those questions by looking at capabilities rather than business models. Whether that approach will strike the right balance remains to be seen. What is clear is that open-weight AI is now central to the conversation about the future of AI governance.

Source: TechRepublic News

Best E Ink tablets for 2026

reMarkable 2: Best E Ink tablet for most people

Screen: 10.3 inches | Battery: Two weeks | Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Storage: 8GB | Stylus: Not included in some bundles | Supported files: PDF, EPUB

The reMarkable 2 is the most balanced E Ink tablet for most people. It has a 10.3-inch monochrome digital paper display and weighs less than a pound. The build is sleek, with beige bezels and a slim silver edge for accessories. Writing feels close to real paper because the latency is very low. The Marker Plus has an eraser, but both stylus options are tilt- and pressure-sensitive and need no charging. For reading, the device supports PDFs and EPUBs, and files can be added through reMarkable's desktop or mobile app, or by connecting Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox. A Chrome extension can send online articles directly to the tablet. The software is easy to learn, and a Connect subscription adds cloud sync and mobile editing. The tablet costs $399 with the standard Marker, or $449 for a bundle with the Marker Plus.

Pros: Great reading and writing experience; Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox support; easy to use.

Cons: Marker can cost extra; expensive; unlimited cloud storage requires a subscription.

reMarkable Paper Pro: Best premium E Ink tablet

Screen: 11.8 inches | Battery: Two weeks | Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Storage: 64GB | Stylus: Not included | Supported files: PDF, EPUB

The reMarkable Paper Pro is a significant upgrade over the reMarkable 2. It has an 11.8-inch color display using Canvas Color technology, which can produce thousands of colors. The processor is faster, the pen latency is only 12ms, and the 5.1mm-thick body feels premium. The software remains clean and distraction-free, matching the simplicity of the reMarkable 2. The optional Connect subscription costs $3 per month or $30 per year and provides unlimited cloud storage and mobile editing. The Paper Pro is priced at $629 with the standard Marker. It is expensive, but it delivers one of the most refined E Ink writing experiences available.

Pros: Color is a welcome addition; backlight works well in dark environments; vastly improved performance.

Cons: Expensive.

Amazon Kindle Scribe: Best e-reader E Ink tablet

Screen: 11 inches | Battery: Months | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Storage: Up to 64GB | Stylus: Included | Supported files: AZW3, AZW, TXT, PDF, MOBI, PRC, and more

The latest Amazon Kindle Scribe improves on an already strong formula. It has a larger 11-inch screen, a faster processor, and a refined front light system. Writing latency is lower than before, and the included pen feels better in the hand. The device integrates seamlessly with Kindle books, so you can highlight text, add sticky notes, and use notebooks. However, marking up Kindle books is still not as natural as writing in the margins of a physical book. The new Home page makes it easy to jump back into recent books and notes. AI Search is a mixed bag, but it can be useful for students and researchers. The Scribe line starts at $430 for a model without a front light, while the recommended model with the improved front light costs $500. There is also a $630 Scribe Colorsoft with a color display.

Pros: Fast and smooth performance; low-latency writing; seamless Kindle integration; premium pen included.

Cons: AI Search could use work; marking up Kindle books is inconsistent.

Supernote A6 X2: Best E Ink tablet for writing and note-taking

Screen: 7.8 inches | Battery: Weeks | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Storage: 32GB, expandable up to 2TB | Stylus: Not included | Supported files: PDF, EPUB, Word, TXT, PNG, JPG, CBZ, FB2, XPS

The Supernote A6 X2 is a compact E Ink tablet built for serious note-takers. It has a 7.8-inch screen and a FeelWrite 2 screen protector that feels smoother than most competing tablets. There are dual sidebars for left- and right-handed users, and the screen can auto-rotate. The device is user-repairable, with a replaceable battery and microSD card slot. It supports many file formats and offers powerful organizational tools like keywords, bookmarking, and handwriting recognition. The Atelier painting app adds artistic options. The software is not as polished as that of the reMarkable or Kindle Scribe, so some tinkering is required. The Nomad A6 X2 costs $329, while the larger Manta A5 X2 costs $505. Pens cost $89 or more. There is no backlight, which can make reading in dim light more difficult.

Pros: Excellent writing experience; tons of notebook customization options; good handwriting recognition.

Cons: Pen costs extra; no backlight.

Onyx Boox Note Air4 C: Another color-display option

Screen: 10.3 inches | Battery: Weeks | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Storage: 64GB | Stylus: Included | Supported files: PDF, PPT, EPUB, TXT, DJVU, HTML, RTF, FB2, DOC, MOBI, CHM, PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP

The Onyx Boox Note Air4 C is a color E Ink tablet that runs Android 13, giving you access to the Google Play Store. You can install Kindle, Kobo, web browsers, and other Android apps. The writing experience is low-latency, and the Notebook app includes multiple brush types, color ink options, and shape tools. AI recognition can convert handwritten pages into typed text. You can also add web pages and voice recordings to notes, then share them as PDFs or PNGs. The tablet is versatile, but it is not as user-friendly as other options. The bundle with a stylus and folio case costs $529. Because it is an E Ink device, it is not ideal for watching videos, but it is excellent for reading and writing across many apps.

Pros: Color E Ink display; Android 13 with Google Play access; many ways to add files; stylus included.

Cons: E Ink screen limits video use; not as user-friendly as others; expensive.

Onyx Boox Note Max: A big-screen option

Screen: 13.3 inches | Battery: Weeks | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Storage: 128GB | Stylus: Included | Supported files: PDF, PPT, EPUB, TXT, DJVU, HTML, RTF, FB2, DOC, MOBI, CHM, PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP

The Onyx Boox Note Max has a massive 13.3-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display with a sharp 300dpi resolution. It is one of the few large-format E Ink tablets from a major manufacturer. The note-taking and doodling experience is remarkable because the screen gives you plenty of room for sketches, diagrams, and long-form writing. One standout feature is the Calendar Memo app, which lets you attach notes to individual days and see your reading and writing history in one place. The tablet runs Android 13 and supports Google Play. It costs $689 and includes a stylus and cover. There is no front light, and the software requires some adjustment for new users.

Pros: Sharp E Ink Carta 1300 display; large 13.3-inch screen; Android 13 with Google Play access; stylus and cover included.

Cons: No front light; not as user-friendly as other options; expensive.

reMarkable Paper Pro Move: Honorable mention

Screen: 7.3 inches | Battery: Two weeks | Connectivity: Wi-Fi | Storage: 64GB | Stylus: Included | Supported files: PDF, EPUB

The reMarkable Paper Pro Move is a smaller and more portable version of the Paper Pro. It has a 7.3-inch Canvas Color display and a steno-pad-like design. The build quality is excellent, with solid ridged edges and a comfortable writing surface. The marker attaches magnetically to the side, and an optional folio protects the screen. Software features include drag-and-drop toolbar, note search, and handwriting-to-text conversion. The Move costs $449 with the standard marker. It is a good choice for people who want a premium reMarkable experience in a more compact size, though the lack of a keyboard folio and limited file format support may be drawbacks.

Pros: Compact size; excellent build quality; good battery life.

Cons: Expensive for a small tablet; no keyboard folio option; limited to on-screen keyboard.

Kobo Libra Colour: Honorable mention

Screen: 7 inches | Battery: Up to 40 days | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Storage: 32GB | Stylus: Not included | Supported files: EPUB, EPUB3, FlePub, PDF, MOBI, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, CBR

The Kobo Libra Colour adds a color display and stylus support to Kobo's popular e-reader design. You can highlight text, write in the margins of ebooks, and create notebooks. The seven-inch screen is crisp and has warm light controls. The stylus is responsive and offers multiple pen styles plus a highlighter. The device integrates with Dropbox and Google Drive, making it easy to get files on and off. The Libra Colour costs $219, but the stylus costs an additional $70, bringing the total to around $300. It is a strong alternative to the Kindle Scribe for those who prefer Kobo's ecosystem and margin annotations.

Pros: Color display; low-latency stylus performance; can write in the margins of any ebook.

Cons: Smaller screen; stylus costs extra.

Are E Ink tablets worth it?

E Ink tablets are a worthwhile purchase for a specific group of people. If you prefer the look and feel of an e-paper display over an LCD, or if you want a paper-like writing experience without using a traditional tablet, they make a lot of sense. They are also valuable for people who want fewer distractions because they are not designed for social media, games, or endless video streaming. However, E Ink displays have noticeable refresh rates and muted colors compared with modern LCD and OLED panels. If you need a full-featured tablet for browsing, video, and a wide range of apps, an iPad or Android tablet is still a better choice. The real advantage of E Ink is focus: these tablets do fewer things, but they do reading and writing exceptionally well.

What to look for in an E Ink tablet

Writing and latency

The most important factor is the writing experience. Latency, or the delay between your pen strokes and the appearance of ink, should be low enough to feel natural. Most modern E Ink tablets have made huge progress in this area, but there are still differences. Some devices also include a stylus in the box, while others require a separate purchase. Consider your budget and whether the stylus feels comfortable in your hand.

Reading

Think about how much you plan to read on the device. Larger screens are better for writing and reading documents, but they can be heavier and less comfortable for long reading sessions. File format support is also critical. Tablets from Amazon and Kobo automatically work with their respective ebook stores, while Android-based tablets like the Boox Note Air4 C can install Kindle and Kobo apps. If you already own many ebooks, check whether those titles can be transferred to the E Ink tablet you are considering.

Search functionality

Search features vary widely. Some tablets let you search handwritten notes, while others only search typed text. If you plan to refer back to notes and highlights, look for a device with handwriting recognition and easy navigation. The Supernote and reMarkable tablets both have useful tools for organizing notes, while the Kindle Scribe keeps annotations attached to the pages where you made them.

Sharing and connectivity

Most E Ink tablets support Wi-Fi, and some offer cloud sync or companion mobile apps. If you want to access your notes on your phone or laptop, check whether the device supports automatic syncing or manual export. The reMarkable Connect subscription adds cloud storage, and Kobo and Supernote devices support Dropbox and Google Drive. None of these tablets integrate directly with Evernote or OneNote, so plan to export notes manually if you rely on those apps.

Price

E Ink tablets generally cost between $300 and $800, which is similar to mainstream tablets. Price usually increases with screen size and features like color displays and backlighting. Some manufacturers have recently raised prices due to supply chain and operational costs. The reMarkable Paper Pro, for example, now costs $629, while some Supernote and Boox models have also become more expensive. Determine which features matter most to you and how much you are willing to spend.

Other E Ink tablets we've tested

Onyx Boox Tab X C

The Boox Tab X C is a color-screened version of the Tab X with a 13.3-inch Kaleido 3 E Ink display. It runs Android 13, has an octa-core processor, 6GB of RAM, and a slim 5.3mm body. The device is powerful and great for large-format writing, but it is expensive at $820 with the standard case and $970 with the keyboard case. It is best for people who want a premium, full-featured E Ink tablet.

Lenovo Smart Paper

Lenovo's Smart Paper has solid hardware and good Google Drive integration, but it is too expensive and too dependent on Lenovo's companion cloud service. In the UK, the service costs £9 per month for three months, which adds up quickly. The software is less flexible than that of the reMarkable 2 or Supernote Nomad, so it did not earn a place on our top list.

Onyx Boox Tab Ultra

The Boox Tab Ultra runs Android 11 and can be paired with a magnetic keyboard case, turning it into a low-powered 2-in-1 laptop. You can browse the web, check email, and even watch YouTube videos, but the E Ink screen is not ideal for those activities. A traditional 2-in-1 laptop with a responsive display is a better fit for people who need an all-purpose device. The Tab Ultra is specifically for people who prioritize reading comfort and eye health above all else.

Source: Engadget News

Some handhelds are built for quick sessions and classic libraries, prioritizing simplicity, long battery life, and pocketable designs. Others blur the line between console and PC, offering large screens, powerful chips, and access to massive game libraries, often at the cost of size, price, or endurance. There are even experimental options focusing on unique controls or intentionally limited experiences.

We've spent months testing and tracking this fast-moving space to identify which devices are worth your money right now. Whether you want a versatile all-rounder, a premium gaming PC for your backpack, or a dedicated retro machine, these are the gaming handhelds that stand out.

Best handheld gaming PC for most: Steam Deck OLED

Valve's Steam Deck remains the best balance of price, performance, and usability. The OLED model is a thorough upgrade over the original, featuring a 7.4-inch HDR OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 1,000 nits peak brightness, and significantly richer colors. It also offers longer battery life thanks to a more efficient AMD APU and a larger 50Whr cell, lasting between three and twelve hours depending on the game. The OLED model is lighter and quieter, with a larger fan for better cooling.

The entry-level Steam Deck LCD, at $399, delivers the same core experience for $150 less, making it an excellent budget option. While its 7-inch IPS panel and 60Hz refresh rate are more basic, it still plays thousands of PC games, making it a phenomenal value.

Both models have limitations in 2026. The most graphically demanding recent releases may not run well, and Linux compatibility with anti-cheat software makes some live-service games like Destiny 2 and Apex Legends unplayable. But the Deck can handle tons of games impossible on a Switch, from Elden Ring to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and its emulation performance via tools like EmuDeck is superb. The main downsides are its bulk and the mushy d-pad, but the contoured grips, responsive buttons, and dual touchpads make it a comfortable, sturdy device.

Best premium handheld gaming PC: Lenovo Legion Go S (SteamOS, Z1 Extreme)

The Lenovo Legion Go S is the closest thing to a Steam Deck 2. It's the first third-party device to natively run SteamOS, offering all the conveniences of Valve's handheld with more modern hardware. The Z1 Extreme configuration we tested includes a beefy AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, with a maximum power draw of 33W in handheld mode and 40W plugged in. This translates to noticeably better performance in resource-intensive games, allowing for higher settings and a 60 fps target in many recent AAA titles.

Its 8-inch LCD display has a sharper 1920x1200 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and variable refresh rate (VRR) to minimize screen tearing. The display is large and crisp, though colors aren't as vivid as the Steam Deck OLED's panel and there's no HDR support. The Legion Go S is chunkier and heavier than the Deck, but its rounded edges, textured grips, offset joysticks, and Hall effect sensors make it comfortable to hold. It has dual USB-C ports and decent ergonomics, but the fans are loud, and the battery life is often shorter than the Deck's, especially when pushing higher power limits.

The Z1 Extreme version costs $899.99, which is expensive, but for gamers focused on playing recent blockbusters on the go, it delivers. A lower-tier Z2 Go configuration is available for $650, though we haven't tested it yet.

Best Windows gaming handheld: ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X

For software flexibility and maximum performance, the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is our top Windows pick. It runs Windows 11 and ships with a new 'Xbox full screen experience' that aggregates games from multiple storefronts into a gamepad-friendly interface. It's not an Xbox console, but rather a powerful handheld PC with a Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, 24GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.

It outperforms the Steam Deck, especially with its Turbo mode that boosts power draw up to 35W when plugged in. The 7-inch 1080p LCD display has a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR, which keeps gameplay smooth even when frame rates fluctuate. The biggest advantage is Windows compatibility: you can play games from Steam, Epic, GOG, Xbox Game Pass, and anti-cheat reliant titles like Destiny 2 without workarounds.

The device itself is comfortable, with pronged grips, tight face buttons, and a large 80Whr battery that lasts longer than most Windows handhelds. It still suffers from typical Windows quirks, such as occasional navigation frustrations and unnecessary pre-installed apps. At $999.99, it's a luxury purchase, but a compelling one for gamers invested in multiple PC storefronts.

Best mobile gaming handheld for most: Retroid Pocket 5

If you mainly want to emulate older consoles, the Retroid Pocket 5 is excellent. This Android-based handheld uses a Snapdragon 865 chip and 8GB of RAM, providing enough power to play most PS2 and GameCube games at full speed with upscaled resolution. Titles like Gran Turismo 4, Super Mario Sunshine, and The Wind Waker run flawlessly after some setup. Lower-end systems like PSP, Dreamcast, PS1, and N64 are easy, and even some Wii and 3DS games work smoothly.

The 5.5-inch OLED display is vibrant and sharp. The device feels sturdy, with textured grips, responsive buttons, a good d-pad, and hall effect joysticks. Battery life ranges from three to ten hours depending on the workload. However, getting emulators working optimally requires significant tinkering, including setting up third-party GPU drivers and adjusting resolution and rendering settings for each game. The joystick layout also places the left stick under the d-pad, which can be awkward for modern games.

At $219, it's a fantastic value for dedicated retro gamers who don't mind the effort.

Another good option: Retroid Pocket Flip 2

The Retroid Pocket Flip 2 is essentially a clamshell version of the Pocket 5, with the same chip, display, and performance. It's thicker and heavier, but the clamshell design provides natural screen protection and separates the controls more comfortably. The joysticks are recessed to avoid pressing against the display, which feels somewhat awkward, and the face buttons and d-pad could be larger. It costs $229 and is ideal for those who prefer a DS-style form factor.

Best mobile gaming handheld overall: AYN Odin 2

The AYN Odin 2 offers a step up in performance and comfort. Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it plays all PS2 and GameCube games at 2-3x resolution, with better reliability than cheaper devices. It also handles 3DS, Wii, and even some Switch titles more effectively. The 6-inch 1080p IPS display is bright and well-sized, while the curved grips, offset hall effect joysticks, and responsive d-pad make it comfortable to hold.

Battery life is superb, exceeding eight hours with demanding emulation and over 20 hours with lighter tasks. It includes useful extras like a fingerprint scanner, micro-HDMI out, and clear front-facing speakers. Starting at $299, it's pricey for a mobile handheld, but it's the most polished and powerful option in this category. The Odin 2 Portal, a larger OLED model, is also available for those who want a wider screen.

Best Game Boy-style handheld: Analogue Pocket

The Analogue Pocket is the ultimate Game Boy. It uses FPGA hardware to emulate original cartridges with near-perfect accuracy, offering a level of responsiveness and visual authenticity that software emulation can't match. It plays Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games natively, with adapters for Sega Game Gear, TurboGrafx-16, Neo Geo Pocket, and Atari Lynx. The 3.5-inch display is incredibly sharp (615 ppi) and can simulate classic screen filters. It also has a microSD slot for ROM-based emulation, plus features like a USB-C port and a rechargeable battery rated for 6-10 hours.

At $220, it's not cheap, and the shoulder buttons are a bit spongy. But for collectors and purists, it's the most elegant way to play classic portable games. Stock shortages and shipping delays are common.

Honorable mention: Playdate

The Playdate is a tiny, quirky handheld with a 2.7-inch black-and-white display and a side crank. It features a curated library of oddball indie games, with a couple dozen included in the box. It's well-built and fun, but at $229, it's a niche device for those who appreciate experimental game design and don't mind the lack of a backlit screen.

What about the Nintendo Switch 2?

The Switch 2 is immensely popular, but we haven't made it a formal pick because it exists in its own world. It's the only way to legally play new Nintendo exclusives, and it offers a more polished, powerful version of the original Switch's hybrid design. However, the library of must-play exclusives is still limited. If you're not worried about potential tariff-related price hikes, there's no urgent need to buy one right now.

Other gaming handhelds we've tested

We've also tested several other notable devices. The Lenovo Legion Go 2 features a gorgeous 8.8-inch OLED display with VRR and detachable controllers, but its two-pound weight and $1,100 starting price make it a hard sell. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ offers 10-15% higher frame rates than the ROG Ally X in some tests, but at $1,100 it's also expensive. The ModRetro Chromatic is a premium Game Boy-style device with a metal frame and bright display, but it requires AA batteries, lacks save states, and is tied to Palmer Luckey's defense company. The Ayaneo Flip DS is a dual-screen clamshell Windows handheld that's more of a concept than a practical product. Other devices like the Retroid Pocket Mini, Classic, and various Anbernic models offer cheaper alternatives but often require more tinkering or have software compromises.

Understanding the market

The gaming handheld market breaks down into three broad tiers. At the top are x86-based portable PCs like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally X, which offer the most power, can play modern PC games, and can emulate a wide range of retro consoles, but are large, expensive, and have limited battery life. Below them are mobile handhelds like the Retroid Pocket and AYN Odin, which run Android or Linux, are more compact and affordable, and are ideal for emulation and cloud streaming. Finally, there are unique devices like the Switch 2 and Playdate that run customized software and offer distinct experiences, prioritizing simplicity and curated libraries over flexibility. Understanding these categories makes it easier to choose the right device for your needs.

Staying on top of this market is a constant effort. As of late 2025, new devices like the Retroid Pocket 6, AYN Odin 3, and updated ROG Ally models are emerging. Our current recommendations should still satisfy most shoppers, but those who want the absolute latest should know that the landscape is continually shifting.

Source: Engadget News

Gemini Intelligence Takes Center Stage

At the heart of the Pixel 11 experience is Gemini Intelligence, Google's computer-use agent that can understand context, reason about tasks, and take action on behalf of the user. The new devices leverage this technology to generate glance-able cards inside apps, offering relevant information exactly when it's needed. For instance, if a friend messages you about an upcoming trip, a card may appear with your flight details, highlighting whether the flight is on time, delayed, or canceled. This proactive assistance aims to reduce the back-and-forth of searching for information across multiple apps.

Beyond travel, contextual help extends to everyday scenarios. Consider texting with a friend about dinner plans. Your Pixel 11 might offer to secure a reservation at a restaurant mentioned in the conversation, all without leaving your messaging app. Google emphasizes that this type of proactive help will appear in many places across the phone, including suggestions to save events to Calendar, add locations to Maps, or store relevant information in Google Wallet, such as membership numbers from airline or hotel apps.

Location-Based Proactive Suggestions

One of the most intriguing additions is a preview feature that delivers proactive suggestions based on your physical location. Imagine you're waiting for a seat at a new restaurant. Your lock screen could display insights about the spot, including menu highlights, popular dishes, and even tips on where to sit for the best view. This feature is designed to enrich real-world experiences by layering digital intelligence onto your surroundings. Google notes that a subscription may be required for higher usage of these proactive features, hinting at a potential tiered service model.

Breaking Down Barriers with SL2T

Google is also expanding accessibility with a new sign-language-to-text model developed by DeepMind. Named SL2T, this model will debut on the Pixel 11 line before rolling out to other Android devices. It allows deaf and hard-of-hearing users to sign at their phone to search the web, compose messages, and converse with Gemini. The technology uses the phone's camera to recognize sign language gestures and translates them into text in real time. This is a major step forward in making AI assistants truly inclusive, and it underscores Google's commitment to leveraging its AI research for social impact.

Magic Capture: Redefining Mobile Photography

No Pixel launch would be complete without a flagship camera feature, and this year introduces Magic Capture. The tool uses a combination of AI models to ensure users never miss a fleeting moment. When photographing a dynamic subject—like a smiling baby, a pet mid-jump, or a buzzer-beating three-pointer—a single tap on the button triggers the system. Behind the scenes, Google's models analyze approximately 400 frames from the camera sensor, selecting the sharpest and most expressive moment to create the perfect 12-megapixel snapshot. Magic Capture can also automatically apply edits, such as cropping, color enhancement, and tone mapping, to produce a polished image without any manual work. Additionally, users can capture a short video of the same moment without switching modes, giving them the flexibility to choose between photo and video after the fact.

The Context Behind the AI Push

The Pixel 11's software-centric approach is partly a response to the skyrocketing cost of memory components, which has forced smartphone makers to be more cautious with hardware changes. By concentrating on AI and software, Google can deliver meaningful feature improvements while keeping hardware iterations more conservative. This strategy aligns with broader industry trends, as competitors like Samsung and Apple also emphasize AI-driven experiences in their flagship devices. However, Google's deep integration of Gemini Intelligence into the operating system sets the Pixel apart, creating a seamless and anticipatory user experience.

The proactive notifications and suggestions are powered by on-device machine learning, with some tasks processed in the cloud via Google's Tensor processing units. This hybrid approach balances speed and privacy, although users may need to opt into higher usage tiers for more demanding AI requests. The subscription model mentioned by Google could mirror offerings like Google One AI Premium, suggesting that basic features remain free while advanced capabilities require a paid plan.

Implications for Daily Use

For everyday users, the Pixel 11 promises to simplify routines by reducing app-switching and manual input. The glance-able cards are designed to be non-intrusive, appearing only when contextually relevant. Similarly, the sign-language integration has the potential to transform communication for a significant portion of the population, making smartphones more accessible than ever before. The camera's Magic Capture feature may also appeal to parents, sports enthusiasts, and anyone who values spontaneity in photography, as it eliminates the need for burst mode and manual settings.

Google's focus on proactive AI also raises questions about privacy and control. While the company assures users that these features are customizable and can be disabled, the depth of context required for such assistance means the phone will analyze conversations, locations, and usage patterns. Transparency and consent will be critical as these features evolve.

Looking Ahead

The Pixel 11 launch marks a bold step forward in practical AI integration. By embedding Gemini Intelligence into the core phone experience, Google is positioning the Pixel as not just a smartphone, but an intelligent lifestyle assistant. With features like SL2T and Magic Capture, the company is addressing both accessibility and creativity, ensuring that the AI revolution benefits a wide range of users. As the technology matures, we can expect even deeper integration with third-party apps and services.

For now, the Pixel 11 offers a compelling glimpse into the future of mobile computing—where your phone doesn't wait for your commands, but actively helps you navigate your day. Whether it's securing a dinner reservation, keeping you informed about a flight, or capturing the perfect photo, the Pixel 11 is designed to be one step ahead. The full impact of these features will be realized as users integrate them into their daily lives, but the potential is undeniably exciting.

Source: Engadget News

Né à Dakar, élevé à Chivasso, dans la banlieue de Turin, Khaby Lame a transformé une période de chômage et d'ennui en un succès planétaire. Avec plus de 128 millions d'abonnés sur TikTok, il dispute la première place du classement mondial avec l'Américaine Charli D'Amelio. Mais son influence dépasse désormais le cadre du réseau social. Les footballeurs, les clubs, les marques et même les institutions sportives veulent tous une part de sa popularité.

Un style universel, entre Mr Bean et la bienveillance

Le principe est simple. Khaby Lame reprend des vidéos jugées souvent trop compliquées et les exécute de manière évidente, sans dire un mot. Son expression, son regard caméra et son geste emblématique suffisent. Cette forme d'humour muet, proche du slapstick, traverse toutes les cultures. Elle explique en grande partie pourquoi il a conquis un public bien plus large que les habitués de TikTok.

Ses saynètes ont été comparées à l'univers de Mr Bean, personnage interprété par Rowan Atkinson. Comme lui, Khaby Lame n'a pas besoin de parler pour faire rire. Il lui suffit d'une situation du quotidien, d'un objet détourné et de son célèbre geste. Cette universalité lui a permis de devenir une figure majeure du divertissement en ligne, suivie par des millions de personnes, des adolescents aux adultes.

Les footballeurs se bousculent

Le premier grand rendez-vous avec le monde du football a eu lieu en mai 2021. Alessandro Del Piero, légende de la Juventus et idole absolue de Khaby Lame, a été le premier à l'inviter dans une vidéo. Ce moment a marqué un tournant. La popularité de Lame a explosé, et les footballeurs ont compris l'intérêt de s'associer à lui.

Depuis, la liste est longue. Paulo Dybala, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kylian Mbappé, Achraf Hakimi ou encore Paul Pogba ont tous participé à ses vidéos ou l'ont croisé lors d'événements. En octobre, Mbappé et Pogba ont rencontré Khaby Lame à Turin, à l'occasion d'un match de Ligue des nations. Leurs échanges ont été massivement partagés et commentés.

Le cas de Neymar est particulièrement révélateur. Son manager, Alessandro Riggio, a raconté que le Brésilien avait appelé Khaby Lame en visioconférence et qu'il pleurait de rire devant ses grimaces. Ce témoignage montre à quel point les stars du ballon rond sont sensibles à son humour. Elles y voient aussi un moyen de toucher une audience plus jeune et plus connectée.

Un allié de choix pour les clubs

La Juventus, club dont Khaby Lame est supporter, a très vite compris le potentiel marketing. L'été dernier, la Vieille Dame a réalisé un mini-sketch avec lui pour présenter sa nouvelle recrue Manuel Locatelli. L'opération a été un succès. Elle a permis au club de moderniser son image et de prouver qu'il était en phase avec la culture numérique.

Cette stratégie s'inscrit dans un mouvement plus large. Les clubs de football cherchent constamment de nouveaux moyens d'engager leur communauté sur les réseaux sociaux. S'associer à des créateurs de contenu comme Khaby Lame est devenu un outil aussi important que les sponsors traditionnels. Le tiktokeur incarne une authenticité qui plaît aux supporters, en particulier aux plus jeunes.

Les organisateurs d'événements sportifs se l'arrachent également. En septembre 2021, il était présent au Grand Prix de Formule 1 d'Italie, où il a été photographié aux côtés des pilotes et des personnalités du paddock. Sa présence génère une couverture médiatique importante et attire l'attention d'un public qui ne suit pas nécessairement la compétition.

Un parcours semé d'embûches

Khaby Lame est né à Dakar, au Sénégal, mais il a quitté son pays à l'âge d'un an pour s'installer en Italie, à Chivasso, une commune ouvrière de la banlieue de Turin. Son enfance n'a pas été facile. Il a connu trois redoublements à l'école, avant d'enchaîner les petits

Source: L'Équipe News

Kendall Jenner’s Latest Look: Minimalist With a Statement Shoe

On a warm Los Angeles evening, Jenner met up with Hailey Bieber before the pair headed to a concert hosted by their friend Justine Skye. For the occasion, the model stayed true to her signature aesthetic: understated, polished, and fashion-forward. She paired a black baby tee with a pair of relaxed blue jeans, and carried a brown bowling bag. The silhouette was deliberately simple, but the styling was elevated by her choice of footwear: a pair of black platform pumps from The Row.

The pumps, known as the Liisa, immediately became the focal point of the outfit. With their extended pointed toe and sculptural curved wedge heel, they gave the otherwise casual ensemble a sophisticated, retro feel. Jenner’s ability to turn a basic combination of a T-shirt and jeans into a fashion statement is exactly why she remains one of the most watched style stars in the industry. She draws attention to the details, and in this case, the details are all about the shoe.

The Row’s Liisa Pumps: A Retro-Inspired Silhouette

The Liisa pumps are not your average black high heels. The first thing you notice is the elongated toe, which adds a sleek, almost exaggerated line to the foot. The second is the heel: a wedge-like block that curves inward slightly, giving the shoe a sense of movement and a distinctly vintage character. It is a design that feels plucked straight from the 1960s, yet reinterpreted with a modern eye.

Wedge heels have a long history in fashion. They first gained popularity during the 1930s, when designer Salvatore Ferragamo created the bottle-heel wedge for a Spanish shoemaker, and later became an iconic silhouette in the 1970s. The wedge offers something that a stiletto cannot: height with greater stability and comfort. This practical advantage is likely why designers are embracing it again for fall 2026, moving away from the razor-thin stiletto in favor of something more wearable.

Kendall Jenner has a track record of adopting pieces before they hit mainstream saturation. Her choices often signal what fashion editors and street style photographers will latch onto in the coming months. By wearing the Liisa pumps with such a simple outfit, she made a strong case for the wedge heel as the must-have accessory of the season. It is not about wearing the loudest item; it is about wearing the right item that transforms everything else.

The Wedge Heel Comeback: Why It’s Gaining Momentum

The return of the wedge heel has been building for some time. This summer, wedge sandals and espadrilles made a noticeable comeback, appearing in stores and on fashion insiders. But the trend is not limited to warm weather. The fall collections show that wedge heels are moving from sandals to closed-toe pumps, ankle boots, and mules, proving that the style has staying power.

Designers seem to be responding to a broader desire for shoes that combine style and comfort. For years, the fashion industry has been experimenting with chunky soles, low heels, and ergonomic silhouettes. The wedge heel fits neatly into this movement. It elongates the legs, adds a few inches of height, and allows the weight to be distributed more evenly across the foot. For women who still want the dramatic effect of a heel without sacrificing their ability to walk, the wedge is an ideal compromise.

Fashion weeks have already showcased numerous interpretations of the wedge trend. At the high end, luxury houses are offering black patent leather wedges, sculptural heel designs, and minimalist leather versions that can be worn to the office or out to dinner. The common thread is a focus on clean shapes and high-quality materials, rather than the chunky platform styles of previous decades. The 2026 wedge is sleek, polished, and undeniably chic.

How Designers Are Styling the Wedge for Fall 2026

Several brands unveiled wedge heel shoes as part of their fall 2026 collections, giving shoppers plenty of options to consider. Louis Vuitton, for instance, showed a black wedge pump with a very high heel and a graphic, sculptural profile. This version is bold enough to anchor a tailored oversized suit, adding a fashion-forward edge to classic tailoring.

Loro Piana took a more understated approach with a brown wedge shoe featuring an almond-shaped toe and a subtly inclined heel. This model feels refined and sophisticated, ideal for pairing with a satin skirt and a simple white baby tee for a chic office look. The neutral tone makes it easy to mix into a fall wardrobe, whether worn with trousers, dresses, or denim.

Reformation offered a patent leather version with a delicate ankle strap, perfect for giving an outfit a touch of polish. Stylists have already suggesting wearing them with a leather skirt and a crisp shirt for a dinner date or an after-work event. Massimo Dutti, meanwhile, introduced a mule with a very elongated toe, designed to be worn with straight-leg jeans and a basic tank top. The mule format adds an easy, slip-on element to the wedge trend, making it accessible for everyday wear.

These diverse interpretations show that the wedge heel is not a one-note trend. It can look corporate, bohemian, romantic, or edgy depending on how it is styled. That versatility is exactly what makes it so appealing for the fall season. A single pair of wedge pumps can transition from a daytime meeting to an evening event with a simple change of outfit.

How to Wear Wedge Heels for Fall 2026

For those looking to adopt the trend, there are a few key styling strategies to keep in mind. The first is to treat the shoe as the statement piece. Because wedge heels often have distinctive shapes, they serve as the most interesting element of an outfit. A pair of plain jeans and a white T-shirt, for example, becomes immediately more fashion-forward when you add a sculptural wedge heel.

Wearing a heel with jeans is one of the easiest ways to make it feel current. A loose-fitting pair of blue jeans, like the ones Kendall Jenner wore, creates a nice contrast with the elegant lines of a pointed-toe pump. The combination of casual and refined is a signature of contemporary style, and it works especially well with wedge heels. The shoe adds height and sophistication while the jeans keep the look grounded.

For a more office-appropriate appearance, consider pairing wedge heels with tailored trousers or a pencil skirt. The elongated toe and block heel give the silhouette a polished feel without the discomfort of a stiletto. A satin blouse or a structured jacket completes the outfit, making it suitable for a full day of meetings. The wedge heel offers the same elongation effect as a stiletto, but it feels more grounded when you are on your feet all day.

Wedge ankle boots are another strong option for the fall. They combine the warmth and coverage of a boot with the visual interest of the wedge heel. These can be worn with dresses, skirts, or cropped trousers. A chunky or curved wedge on an ankle boot gives an outfit a distinctly modern edge, while still being practical for walking on city streets.

For the evening, look for wedge heels in patent leather or metallic finishes. They pair well with slip dresses and tailored separates. A slim ankle strap can help hold the shoe in place and add a decorative element. The key is to let the shoe provide the architectural interest, so keep the rest of the look simple.

Why the Wedge Heel Is Here to Stay

The wedge heel is no longer a summer-only style. It has evolved into a year-round staple that works with a wide range of silhouettes. Kendall Jenner’s recent appearance demonstrates that the wedge can effectively replace the stiletto or kitten heel in outfits that require both style and ease. As more designers release wedge shoes across all categories, consumers will have the chance to make the trend their own.

Fashion is always cyclical, and the return of the wedge heel is part of a larger shift toward comfortable elegance. From the curved heel of The Row to the graphic versions on the runways, the 2026 wedge is redefining what it means to wear a heel. It is a shoe that makes a strong visual impact without demanding a compromise in comfort. That is a powerful combination, and it is likely to stay on the style radar well beyond the first weeks of autumn.

Source: MSN News

Squad Overview and Key Expectations

In recent years, Pakistan's squad has undergone considerable transformation. Several senior players have retired or moved on, creating space for a new generation. However, the core of the team remains strong, with players who have consistently performed at the highest level. The management has focused on building a balanced side with depth in both batting and bowling. The expectations are high, given Pakistan's rich cricketing history and their ability to surprise any opponent on their day.

Below is a snapshot of the key players who are expected to play crucial roles in Pakistan's campaign:

Key Stars of Pakistan National Team

Babar Azam: Run Machine and Batting Icon

Babar Azam is widely regarded as one of the finest batsmen in modern cricket. His impeccable technique, combined with a calm demeanor, allows him to score runs consistently across all formats. As Pakistan's captain, he has grown into a mature leader, navigating the team through challenging situations with composure. Babar's ability to anchor innings while accelerating when needed makes him the backbone of Pakistan's batting lineup. His average of 59.07 in ODIs is a testament to his class and consistency. Over the years, he has broken numerous records and drawn comparisons with legendary batsmen like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. With Babar at the crease, Pakistan always has a chance to post a competitive total.

Mohammad Rizwan: Consistency and Leadership

Mohammad Rizwan has emerged as one of Pakistan's most reliable cricketers. As an opener and wicketkeeper, he provides stability at the top of the order and behind the stumps. Rizwan's ability to absorb pressure and rotate the strike makes him an invaluable asset in limited-overs cricket. His batting average of 50.14 in T20Is reflects his consistency in the shortest format. Beyond his on-field contributions, Rizwan is known for his calm and focused approach, often guiding younger players. He has also taken on leadership responsibilities in the absence of Babar Azam, showcasing his tactical acumen. His partnership with Babar at the top of the order has formed the foundation of many Pakistan victories.

Shaheen Shah Afridi: Pakistan's Strike Bowler

Shaheen Shah Afridi is Pakistan's primary wicket-taking bowler and a genuine threat with the new ball. His ability to swing the ball at high pace makes him dangerous in the opening overs. Shaheen's knack for breaking partnerships at crucial moments has turned many matches in Pakistan's favor. With a bowling average of 3.51 in T20Is, he consistently picks up wickets and maintains economic pressure. Despite injuries disrupting his career at times, Shaheen remains a world-class bowler. His tall frame and smooth action allow him to extract extra bounce from any surface. When fully fit, Shaheen is one of the first names on the teamsheet and a bowler opposition batsmen dread facing.

Haris Rauf: Raw Pace and Aggression

Haris Rauf brings raw speed and aggressive intent to Pakistan's bowling attack. Known for his express pace, Rauf can rattle batsmen with sharp bouncers and toe-crushing yorkers. His approach is straightforward: attack the stumps and force mistakes. Rauf's wicket-taking ability in T20 cricket is remarkable, as he averages 7.0 wickets per match in major leagues. He thrives in high-pressure situations and often delivers when the team needs a breakthrough. In the fast-paced world of T20 cricket, Rauf's energy and intensity are infectious. He forms a formidable pace duo with Shaheen Afridi, giving Pakistan a lethal opening combination.

Emerging Talents in Pakistan's Cricket Team

Pakistan has always had a deep talent pool, and the current generation is no exception. Several young players are knocking on the doors of international cricket, and a few have already made a mark. These emerging stars bring fresh energy and enthusiasm, ensuring the team remains dynamic.

Shahnawaz Dahani: The Next Big Thing

Shahnawaz Dahani is a young fast bowler who has taken the cricketing world by storm with his fiery pace and accurate yorkers. He first gained attention in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with his impressive performances for the Multan Sultans. Dahani made his T20I debut for Pakistan and quickly made an impact, taking 22 wickets in just 12 matches. His ability to bowl toe-crushing yorkers at the death makes him a valuable asset in the shortest format. With his energetic celebrations and never-say-die attitude, Dahani has already become a fan favorite. He is seen as a future leader of Pakistan's pace attack and someone who can replace the legends once they hang up their boots.

Fakhar Zaman: Aggressive Opener

Fakhar Zaman is a powerful left-handed opener who can change the course of a match within a few overs. His aggressive style compares to some of the greats of limited-overs cricket. Fakhar's most memorable innings came in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where he scored a magnificent century against India. He averages 40.35 in ODIs, and his ability to dominate the powerplay overs gives Pakistan strong starts. While consistency has sometimes been an issue, Fakhar's match-winning potential makes him a crucial member of the squad. When he gets going, few bowlers can contain him, and he has the capability to take the game away from the opposition single-handedly.

Mohammad Hasnain: Pace Sensation

Mohammad Hasnain is another young fast bowler with immense potential. He has been clocked at speeds exceeding 150 km/h, making him one of the fastest bowlers in the world at his age. Hasnain made his international debut in 2019 and has since shown flashes of brilliance. His ability to generate steep bounce and his hostile pace make him a tough proposition for any batsman. Although he is still raw and needs to work on his consistency, Hasnain has impressed in various T20 leagues around the world. He is a genuine prospect for Pakistan's future in all formats and could form a devastating pace trio with Shaheen and Rauf.

Strengths and Challenges for Pakistan

Pakistan possesses several undeniable strengths. The pace attack is the envy of many nations, with multiple bowlers capable of touching 150 km/h. The batting lineup, anchored by Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, provides stability, while players like Fakhar Zaman add firepower. The team also has a good mix of young and experienced players, allowing for knowledge transfer and squad depth.

However, challenges remain. Inconsistency in performance has been a recurring issue for Pakistan cricket. The team can be brilliant on one day and lackluster the next, often struggling in high-pressure matches. Another challenge is the development of young players. While talents like Dahani and Hasnain are promising, they need more opportunities to gain international experience. Pakistan also needs to build a strong support staff and provide adequate infrastructure to nurture these players.

Fielding is another area that requires improvement. Dropped catches and misfields have cost Pakistan crucial matches in the past. To compete consistently with the top teams, Pakistan must tighten their fielding standards and improve their overall athleticism.

Despite these challenges, the future looks bright. The emergence of young stars, combined with the guidance of experienced campaigners, gives Pakistan a solid foundation. The team's passionate fan base remains hopeful that this generation can bring more silverware to the country. As Pakistan prepares for upcoming series and tournaments, the focus will be on building a cohesive unit that can perform under pressure and deliver results on the global stage.

The combination of Babar Azam's calm leadership, Rizwan's resilience, and the fiery pace of Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf makes Pakistan a formidable opponent. Add to that the youthful exuberance of Shahnawaz Dahani and Mohammad Hasnain, and the future of Pakistan cricket looks promising. The road ahead is challenging, but the talent and determination within the squad are undeniable. With the right support and continued development, Pakistan can once again rise to the top of world cricket and make their nation proud.

Source: MSN News

Une ascension fulgurante

Charli D'Amelio est née le 1er mai 2004 à Norwalk, dans le Connecticut. Rien ne prédestinait cette jeune fille discrète à devenir une star planétaire. Tout commence en 2019, lorsqu'elle se met à publier des vidéos de danse sur TikTok, une application alors encore méconnue du grand public. Ses chorégraphies, souvent reprises de danses virales, rencontrent très vite un succès spectaculaire. En quelques mois, chacune de ses publications génère des millions de vues, de likes et de partages. Son visage angélique, sa spontanéité et son apparente simplicité séduisent une communauté essentiellement composée d'adolescents.

Son envol est fulgurant. En janvier 2020, elle devient le compte le plus suivi de la plateforme, détrônant la star américaine Loren Gray. À l'époque, elle compte déjà près de 25 millions d'abonnés, mais sa progression ne fait que commencer. En quelques mois, elle double puis triple son audience, portée par des vidéos virales et une présence constante sur le réseau. En novembre 2020, elle atteint le cap des 100 millions, une première dans l'histoire de TikTok. Aucun autre créateur n'était parvenu à un tel niveau sur cette application, pas même les plus grandes stars mondiales.

Un phénomène générationnel

Le succès de Charli D'Amelio dépasse le simple cadre de TikTok. Elle incarne une génération de jeunes créateurs qui ont bâti leur notoriété hors des circuits traditionnels, sans passer par la télévision ou le cinéma. Sa popularité repose sur une relation directe et authentique avec ses fans, qu'elle appelle souvent sa « famille ». Elle partage son quotidien, ses joies, ses doutes, et même ses moments difficiles, ce qui renforce un sentiment de proximité rare chez les célébrités établies.

Sa famille est également devenue célèbre grâce à elle. Sa sœur aînée, Dixie D'Amelio, est elle aussi une immense star des réseaux sociaux, avec des dizaines de millions d'abonnés sur TikTok et Instagram. Ensemble, elles ont lancé une chaîne YouTube commune, un podcast, et même une ligne de vêtements. Leur maison, partagée avec d'autres créateurs de contenu, est devenue un véritable phénomène médiatique. En novembre 2019, les deux sœurs ont intégré la Hype House, une villa de Los Angeles qui réunit une vingtaine de spécialistes de la création de contenus. Cette communauté, filmée en permanence, a popularisé le concept de « collab house » et a contribué à l'essor de TikTok aux États-Unis.

Un business florissant

Derrière cette réussite se cache aussi une véritable machine économique. En janvier 2020, Charli D'Amelio a signé avec l'agence de talents UTA (United Talent Agency), l'une des plus prestigieuses de Hollywood. Depuis, les marques se bousculent pour collaborer avec elle. Une seule publication sponsorisée sur son compte se monnaie plusieurs centaines de milliers de dollars. Elle a notamment travaillé avec des géants comme Dunkin' Donuts, Morphe, Hollister ou encore Procter & Gamble. Son influence est telle qu'elle peut faire exploser les ventes d'un produit en quelques heures, comme lorsqu'une boisson a été renommée « The Charli » chez Dunkin' Donuts.

Son image est soigneusement gérée, mais elle conserve une part d'authenticité qui plaît à ses abonnés. Elle a su diversifier ses activités sans s'éloigner de sa base. En décembre 2020, elle a publié son premier livre, intitulé « Essentially Charli : The Ultimate Guide to Keeping It Real », dans lequel elle revient sur son parcours exceptionnel et donne des conseils à ses fans. Ce livre, très attendu, s'est rapidement hissé en tête des ventes, confirmant l'étendue de son pouvoir d'attraction.

Un record qui laisse des traces

Dépasser les 100 millions d'abonnés sur TikTok est un exploit que certains n'auraient jamais imaginé possible il y a encore quelques années. La plateforme chinoise, lancée en 2016 sous le nom de Douyin puis internationalisée sous le nom de TikTok, a connu une croissance exponentielle, notamment pendant la pandémie de Covid-19. Des millions d'utilisateurs confinés se sont tournés vers l'application pour se divertir, découvrir de nouvelles tendances et suivre leurs créateurs préférés. Charli D'Amelio, déjà très populaire, a bénéficié de cet effet d'aubaine. Son compte a gagné des dizaines de millions de nouveaux abonnés en quelques mois seulement.

Ce record a toutefois une particularité : il ne s'applique qu'à TikTok. Sur Instagram, la jeune femme comptabilise environ 24 millions d'abonnés, soit bien moins que les 200 millions de la mannequin Kylie Jenner. Cette différence s'explique par la nature même des plateformes. TikTok est dominé par des créateurs de contenu natifs, souvent très jeunes, tandis qu'Instagram reste le royaume des célébrités traditionnelles, des influenceurs de mode et des marques. Charli D'Amelio est une star de TikTok avant tout, et son immense succès sur cette plateforme ne se transpose pas automatiquement ailleurs.

Une présence sur tous les fronts

Malgré tout, Charli D'Amelio a compris l'importance d'être présente sur plusieurs réseaux sociaux. Sur Twitter, elle compte près de 3,4 millions d'abonnés. Elle y partage des messages personnels, des photos, des vidéos et interagit régulièrement avec ses fans. Sa biographie, non sans humour, indique qu'elle n'est « pas douée avec Twitter » mais qu'elle fait de son mieux. Cette franchise désarmante est l'une des clés de son succès. Sur YouTube, elle et sa sœur Dixie ont lancé une chaîne qui cumule des centaines de millions de vues. Leur contenu, souvent filmé à la maison, montre leur vie quotidienne, leurs défis, leurs voyages et leurs collaborations avec d'autres stars du web.

Son influence dépasse les réseaux sociaux. Elle a participé à des émissions télévisées, des cérémonies de remise de prix, et a même été invitée à rencontrer des personnalités politiques. En 2020, elle a rejoint une campagne de sensibilisation au vote destinée aux jeunes Américains. Son soutien a été considéré comme un atout majeur pour mobiliser cette tranche d'âge, souvent abstentionniste. Ce rôle d'ambassadrice auprès de la génération Z est devenu un véritable phénomène sociologique, étudié par les spécialistes de la communication.

Les défis de la célébrité précoce

Cette célébrité précoce n'est toutefois pas sans conséquences. Charli D'Amelio a souvent été la cible de critiques et de harcèlement en ligne, un fléau auquel elle a appris à faire face. Elle a également dû gérer la pression médiatique, les attentes de ses fans et les exigences des marques. Dans plusieurs interviews, elle a confié ressentir une certaine fatigue, et a même pris des pauses dans sa publication de contenu. Sa santé mentale est devenue un sujet important à ses yeux, et elle n'hésite pas à en parler ouvertement, contribuant à briser un tabou parmi les jeunes créateurs.

En dépit de ces difficultés, Charli D'Amelio continue de dominer TikTok. En 2021, son record semblait difficilement battable à court terme. D'autres créateurs, comme Khaby Lame ou Bella Poarch, ont depuis grimpé dans le classement, mais aucun n'a réussi à détrôner l'ancienne reine de la plateforme avant qu'elle ne décide de prendre du recul. Aujourd'hui, même si son rythme de publication a ralenti, elle demeure l'une des figures les plus emblématiques de l'histoire des réseaux sociaux. Son nom est connu dans le monde entier, et son influence a ouvert la voie à toute une génération de jeunes créateurs qui rêvent de connaître le même destin.

Cette réussite exceptionnelle soulève aussi des questions plus larges sur la nature de la célébrité à l'ère numérique. Charli D'Amelio n'a pas de talent de chanteuse ou d'actrice, ni de patrimoine familial, ni de titre de noblesse. Elle est devenue célèbre grâce à son charisme, sa danse et sa capacité à créer du lien avec son public. C'est un phénomène inédit, qui illustre la transformation radicale de l'industrie du divertissement. Les plateformes comme TikTok permettent désormais à des inconnus de devenir des stars mondiales en quelques mois, sans intermédiaire, sans investissement de départ, et parfois sans même le vouloir vraiment. Charli D'Amelio incarne cette nouvelle ère, où la viralité prime sur la tradition, et où l'influence se mesure en abonnés, en likes et en partages.

Au fil des mois, l'histoire de Charli D'Amelio a été ponctuée de records, de collaborations prestigieuses et de moments de grâce, mais aussi de polémiques et de controverses, comme lorsqu'elle a été accusée d'avoir mal réagi à une vidéo de ses fans ou lorsqu'elle a quitté la Hype House dans des conditions tendues. Ces péripéties n'ont pas entamé sa popularité. Au contraire, elles ont renforcé son image de jeune femme imparfaite, accessible, parfois maladroite, mais profondément humaine. Cette authenticité est sans doute la clé de son succès durable. Ses abonnés ne suivent pas seulement une danseuse ; ils suivent une personne dont ils se sentent proches, une amie virtuelle qui partage ses réussites comme ses échecs.

Le cap des 100 millions d'abonnés n'est pas seulement un chiffre. C'est le symbole d'une révolution culturelle. Il montre que les frontières entre célébrité et anonymat sont devenues poreuses, que le talent n'est plus un prérequis pour accéder à la gloire, et que la popularité peut se bâtir sur du vide ou sur un simple hobby. Charli D'Amelio a transformé un passe-temps en empire, et son parcours inspire des milliers de jeunes à travers le monde qui se disent que, peut-être, eux aussi pourraient devenir célèbres en dansant devant une caméra. Reste à voir si cette gloire éphémère ou durable sera capable de survivre à l'évolution des tendances et à l'émergence de nouvelles plateformes. Pour l'instant, la jeune femme continue de régner sur TikTok, et son nom restera à jamais associé à l'âge d'or de l'application.

Source: Journaldunet News

Verra-t-on Tiger Woods au départ du Masters, le 9 avril ? Le Tigre (50 ans) fera un premier retour à la compétition ce mardi soir à l'occasion de la dernière soirée des finales de la TGL, entre les Jupiter Links GC et Los Angeles Golf Club à Palm Beach Gardens, en Floride. Présent auprès de son équipe, les Jupiter Links GC, tout au long de la saison de TGL en tant que conseiller et supporter, l'ancien numéro un mondial sera cette fois-ci joueur pour la deuxième manche de la finale, alors que son équipe a perdu la première manche 5-4, lundi.

Un retour progressif après de longs mois d'absence

La décision de Tiger Woods de rejouer en compétition, même dans un format innovant comme la TGL, constitue un signal fort pour ses fans et pour le monde du golf. L'ancien numéro un mondial n'a plus participé à un tournoi officiel depuis The Open 2024, où il n'avait pas passé le cut. Depuis, il a subi une nouvelle opération du dos, la sixième de sa carrière, pour soulager des douleurs qui l'avaient contraint à réduire drastiquement son calendrier. Ce retour sur le parcours de Palm Beach Gardens, même s'il s'agit d'un environnement intérieur et d'une rencontre par équipes, marque une étape clé dans sa préparation pour le Masters.

La TGL (Tiger Woods League), cofondée par Woods et Rory McIlroy, est une ligue de golf virtuelle qui se joue dans une arène avec un simulateur géant et des zones de jeu réel pour les approches et les putts. Ce concept novateur, lancé en janvier 2025, a permis à Woods de rester impliqué dans le golf compétitif sans subir les contraintes physiques d'un parcours traditionnel. Cependant, le fait de le voir s'aligner comme joueur lors de la manche décisive de la finale indique qu'il se sent physiquement capable d'enchaîner les coups dans des conditions de compétition.

Un test décisif à deux semaines du Masters

Le timing de cette annonce n'est pas anodin. À deux semaines du premier Majeur de la saison, Woods doit valider sa capacité à tenir le choc sur 72 trous, avec les longues marches et les coups puissants qu'exige le parcours d'Augusta. La TGL, avec son format plus court et moins exigeant physiquement, représente un premier test. Si tout se passe bien mardi soir, il pourrait ensuite enchaîner avec des séances d'entraînement et peut-être un ou deux trous d'échauffement à Augusta avant le début du tournoi.

La semaine dernière, le quintuple vainqueur à Augusta restait flou au sujet de sa participation. Interrogé lors d'une conférence de presse de la TGL, il avait déclaré qu'il devait « voir comment son corps réagissait » et qu'il prendrait une décision « à la dernière minute ». Cette annonce de sa présence dans la formation des Jupiter Links GC pour la finale change la donne. Elle suggère que les douleurs au dos se sont suffisamment atténuées pour lui permettre de swinguer librement, du moins sur un format réduit.

Historique de Tiger Woods au Masters

Le Masters est le tournoi qui a le plus marqué la carrière de Tiger Woods. Il y a remporté sa première victoire majeure en 1997, à seulement 21 ans, avec une avance record de 12 coups sur le reste du field. Cette victoire avait révolutionné le golf, attirant des millions de nouveaux fans et imposant Woods comme l'héritier de Jack Nicklaus. Il a ensuite ajouté les vestes vertes en 2001, 2002, 2005 et 2019. Ce dernier sacre, à 43 ans, reste l'un des plus grands retours de l'histoire du sport, quatre ans après une opération du dos qui aurait pu mettre fin à sa carrière.

En tout, Woods compte 15 victoires en Majeurs, à trois longueurs du record de Nicklaus (18). Ses cinq titres à Augusta le placent actuellement en deuxième position derrière Nicklaus, qui en compte six. Le parcours d'Augusta, avec ses fairways vallonnés et ses greens rapides, exige une précision et une gestion de jeu que Woods a toujours su démontrer. Sa dernière apparition au Masters remonte à 2024, où il avait réussi à passer le cut avant de déclarer forfait lors du troisième tour en raison d'une maladie. En 2025, il était absent, tout comme à l'US Open et à l'Open Championship.

Son dernier titre majeur reste le Masters 2019. Cette victoire avait été saluée comme un chef-d'œuvre de stratégie et de détermination. Woods avait su garder son calme face à la pression de Francesco Molinari et de Brooks Koepka, avant de s'envoler dans le dernier tour. Si les spécialistes doutent qu'il puisse rééditer une telle performance en 2026, personne n'ose l'écarter complètement. Le mystère qui entoure sa condition physique alimente toutes les spéculations.

La TGL, un banc d'essai idéal

La TGL a été conçue pour offrir un spectacle télévisuel attractif, avec des matchs en soirée, des commentaires en direct et une ambiance de stade. Pour Woods, c'est aussi un moyen de rester en contact avec le jeu compétitif sans les contraintes des tournois traditionnels. Il a joué une poignée de rencontres en début de saison, mais a progressivement réduit sa participation en raison de douleurs au dos. Finalement, il a endossé le rôle de capitaine et de coach pour Jupiter Links, tout en se tenant prêt à intervenir.

La finale oppose Jupiter Links GC à Los Angeles Golf Club, une équipe emmenée par Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood et Sahith Theegala. Los Angeles a remporté la première manche 5-4, lundi, après une soirée très disputée. La deuxième manche, ce mardi, permettra à Jupiter Links d'égaliser et de forcer une belle, ou bien de laisser le titre à Los Angeles. La participation de Woods pourrait faire basculer la rencontre, tant par son niveau de jeu que par l'effet psychologique sur ses coéquipiers et ses adversaires.

Le format de la TGL est différent du golf classique : des triples, des simples et des duels en alternance, avec un chronomètre pour chaque coup. Cela oblige les joueurs à s'adapter rapidement et à rester concentrés sur de longues périodes. Pour Woods, qui a l'habitude des longs parcours, ce format est moins éprouvant physiquement mais exige une précision chirurgicale sous pression. Une bonne performance pourrait lui donner la confiance nécessaire pour aborder le Masters.

Les enjeux d'une participation au Masters

Si Tiger Woods se présente au premier tee du Masters le 9 avril, l'événement médiatique sera gigantesque. Les télévisions du monde entier suivront chacun de ses swings, et les bookmakers lui donneront des cotes attractives malgré ses 50 ans et ses blessures. Mais au-delà de l'aspect symbolique, il y a des enjeux sportifs réels. Woods reste le joueur le plus expérimenté du circuit dans les Majeurs, et son intelligence de jeu sur Augusta est inégalée. Il connaît chaque recoin du parcours, chaque pente des greens, chaque position de drapeau.

Cependant, son corps reste le principal obstacle. Depuis son accident de voiture en 2021, il a subi de multiples interventions sur sa jambe droite, et sa mobilité est réduite. Il marche avec une légère claudication et utilise parfois un chariot de golf. Sur un parcours vallonné comme Augusta, la marche représente un défi physique énorme. Pour réduire la fatigue, il pourrait arriver plus tôt, faire des reconnaissances en voiturette et économiser son énergie pendant les tours d'entraînement. La règle qui autorise les golfeurs à utiliser une voiturette sur le circuit senior ne s'applique pas au Masters, mais Woods pourrait demander une dérogation exceptionnelle.

En 2023 et 2024, il avait réussi à jouer les quatre tours du Masters malgré ses douleurs. Certes, ses performances étaient loin de ses standards : il avait terminé 45e en 2023 et abandonné en 2024. Mais le simple fait de terminer le tournoi avait été vu comme une victoire personnelle. Cette année, avec une préparation plus progressive grâce à la TGL, il espère être plus compétitif. Il a répété à plusieurs reprises qu'il ne reviendrait que s'il avait une chance de gagner, mais cette déclaration doit être prise avec prudence.

Les autres joueurs et l'impact médiatique

La présence de Woods au Masters aurait également un impact significatif sur les autres joueurs. Pour les jeunes générations qui ont grandi en le regardant dominer le golf, jouer à ses côtés reste un rêve. Scottie Scheffler, qui est aujourd'hui numéro un mondial, a souvent cité Woods comme une source d'inspiration. Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, tous ont exprimé leur admiration pour le Tigre. Leur réaction à une éventuelle participation de Woods serait à la fois respectueuse et motivante.

Les organisateurs du Masters, eux, savent que Woods est une machine à audience. Ses trois victoires en 2001, 2002 et 2005 ont coïncidé avec des pics d'audience télévisuelle, et son retour en 2019 a battu des records. En 2024, malgré son abandon, les audiences étaient en hausse de 15 % par rapport à l'année précédente. Une participation en 2026 pourrait attirer des téléspectateurs du monde entier, notamment ceux qui suivent le golf uniquement pour voir Woods. CBS et ESPN, diffuseurs officiels, préparent déjà des dispositifs spéciaux.

En dehors du terrain, la présence de Woods relance aussi le débat sur la retraite. Certains estiment qu'il devrait arrêter pour préserver sa santé et sa légende. D'autres considèrent que chaque apparition est un cadeau pour les fans. Lui-même répète qu'il aime toujours concourir et qu'il veut transmettre sa passion. Sa participation à la TGL en tant que joueur, plutôt que simple spectateur, montre qu'il a encore la flamme.

Préparation physique et mentale

Dans les jours qui viennent, Tiger Woods va s'entraîner intensivement. Il doit retrouver ses automatismes sur le putting et le jeu court, essentiels à Augusta. Son équipe, composée de son préparateur physique, de son médecin et de son entourage proche, a élaboré un programme sur mesure. Les séances de marche sur parcours, les exercices de mobilité et les pratiques sur simulateur sont au programme. Woods est connu pour sa discipline hors du commun et sa capacité à se préparer mentalement. Il utilise la méditation, la visualisation et des routines de respiration pour gérer la pression.

Son état d'esprit, selon ses proches, est plus serein que par le passé. Il a accepté les limites de son corps et aborde chaque tournoi comme un bonus. Il a déclaré récemment : « Je n'ai plus rien à prouver, mais j'ai encore des choses à vivre. » Cette philosophie lui permet de jouer sans la pression du classement, tout en gardant une exigence de performance.

La TGL de mardi soir sera observée à la loupe par les amateurs et les médias. Chaque swing, chaque grimace, chaque échange avec ses coéquipiers sera analysé. Si Woods montre des signes de douleur ou un manque de vitesse, les doutes sur le Masters s'amplifieront. En revanche, s'il réussit des coups spectaculaires et dégage une impression de contrôle, alors la hype montera d'un cran. Les bookmakers, qui ont déjà ouvert des marchés sur sa participation et son score final, ajusteront leurs cotes en conséquence.

Le monde du golf retient son souffle. Tiger Woods, 50 ans, cinq fois champion du Masters, s'apprête peut-être à écrire un nouveau chapitre de sa légende. La route est encore longue et semée d'embûches, mais chaque pas compte. Mardi soir, dans l'arène de la TGL, le Tigre sortira de sa tanière. Les Jupiter Links GC comptent sur lui pour égaliser. Et les fans d'Augusta croisent les doigts pour que cette apparition soit le prélude à un retour triomphal le 9 avril.

Source: L'Équipe News

Key Facts

• Céline Dion was the 14th of 14 children in a Quebecois family.
• Her family lived and breathed music, running a small piano bar.
• She did not experience a conventional childhood, singing on professional stages from the age of five.
• Her early career was driven by the collective dream of lifting her family out of poverty.
• This episode is the first of five looking at the milestones of her career ahead of her comeback.

A Household That Never Stood Silent

In the small town of Charlemagne, just east of Montreal, the Dion household was a deafening and harmonious place. There were fourteen children, and every one of them was expected to contribute to the family's daily life. That meant setting the table for more than twenty people, doing chores before dawn, and, most importantly, practicing a musical instrument or a vocal part. The house was not isolated from the world; it was a small concert hall, a rehearsal space, and a community hub combined.

Adhemar Dion, the father, was a factory worker and an accordion player. His wife, Therese, was a violinist and the family's true captain. The couple had decided early on that music would be their path. They opened a neighborhood piano bar called Le Vieux Baril, where they and their children performed nightly. For the family, music was not an escape—it was a way of life, a means of survival, and a source of pride.

In such an environment, a child who could sing with extraordinary power was noticed immediately. Celine, the youngest, had a voice that seemed to come from nowhere. It was broad, emotional, and far beyond her years. Neighbors and local musicians spoke of a miracle, and the Dion family, with the good humor typical of large families, accepted the miracle as their due after years of sacrifice.

The Price of the Limelight

Céline herself has always been candid about the fact that she missed the ordinary games of her peers. She never went to school in a traditional sense. She was taught by correspondence and by a few tutors hired by her parents. Instead of recess, she had sound checks. Instead of sleepovers, she had recording sessions. One might assume this was a tragic loss of innocence, but Céline corrects that assumption in nearly every interview. She believes that her childhood was not taken from her—it was given away voluntarily to something bigger than herself.

What made this possible was the absolute interdependence of the Dion clan. The older siblings helped raise the younger ones. Every paycheck from a gig went into the common pot. Celine was the star, but the entire family was the engine. Her mother sewed the sequined dresses that she wore on television. Her brother Jacques played guitar and set up the instruments. Her sister Claudette contributed backing vocals. There was a sense of a small army moving together toward a single goal: to see one of them make it through the glass ceiling of Quebec province and into the wider world.

A Mother's Dream, A Daughter's Voice

The turning point came in 1980 when Céline was just twelve years old. Her mother, Therese, had written a song, "Ce n'était qu'un rêve," inspired by a dream she had about her daughter's future success. With Céline singing and one of her sons playing the accompaniment, they recorded a demo on a basic cassette player. The tape was sent to a well-known music manager in Montreal, René Angélil, who had been impressed by the young singer's vocal range when he heard a previous recording. Angélil, a former pop singer himself, was so moved by Celine's voice that he wept. He realized that this was not just another young talent—this was a once-in-a-generation voice.

Angélil took a significant risk. He mortgaged his own home to finance Céline's first album, "La voix du bon Dieu," released in 1981. The title itself was a statement: 'The Voice of God.' In a deeply Catholic Quebec, the phrase resonated. The album sold thousands of copies quickly, and Celine became a regional sensation. But this was only the beginning. Angélil locked her in a rigorous development plan, insisting that she perfect her head voice, her breath control, and her stagecraft. It was a professional schooling of a sort, far removed from a playground.

Adolescence in the Studio

While other teenagers in Charlemagne were learning to drive on country roads, Céline was navigating the corridors of recording studios and television stations. She had her first major television appearance at the age of 13, singing a popular French song with a composure that stunned the hosts. The Quebec press called her a 'prodigy' and a 'phenomenon.' Some critics were skeptical, wondering if such pressure would harm the child. But Céline proved to be extraordinarily resilient, a quality that would become her trademark.

Her parents remained her anchor. They insisted that she not become arrogant and that she never forget the family that carried her. Every Sunday, no matter where she was performing, she was expected to call home. That discipline instilled in her a work ethic and a humility that allowed her to endure the loneliness of fame. In this way, her family fulfilled their side of the contract: they gave her roots, and she gave them wings.

The Dream Realized, Again and Again

By the late 1980s, Céline had won international awards, including the Yamaha Song Festival in Tokyo and the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1988, representing Switzerland with the song "Ne partez pas sans moi." That victory gave her entry into the European market. Still, the dream that had started at Le Vieux Baril continued to evolve. The family no longer needed money, but they needed each other. Céline continued to include her siblings in her touring entourage, and her brother Michel was part of her security team for years.

This old-fashioned family loyalty is often lost in the glitzy stories of pop superstars. It is also the key to understanding Céline Dion today. The same little girl who sang to quiet her family's anxieties now sings to comfort millions. The childhood may have been unconventional, but it was rich in purpose. Every time she steps onto a stage, she recreates that cramped living room in Charlemagne, where everyone had a part and the music never stopped.

A Star Preparing to Shine Again

The context of this episode is Céline Dion's planned return to the stage. After a series of health issues, including a rare neurological condition, she has announced that she will perform again. The excitement surrounding this comeback is monumental. But to truly appreciate her return, we must understand her beginning. The little girl with no childhood but a voice full of dreams has become an icon, and yet she is still the same person in many ways: nervous before a performance, guided by the memory of her parents, and devoted to the gift she was given.

This five-part series will explore the other milestones that have marked her journey—her vocal breakthrough in English-language pop, the global dominance of "My Heart Will Go On," her legendary Las Vegas residency, and the personal trials that tested her courage. Each of those moments is built on the foundation laid in this first chapter: a family that believed a young girl's voice could change their lives. And it did.

The story is far from over. As Céline dusts off her microphone and prepares to greet her public once again, she carries with her the spirit of the Dion household. In her eyes, we still see that 12-year-old girl sending a demo tape to a stranger. In her voice, we hear the echoes of a piano bar where no one was alone. That is the heart of this first episode: a childhood sacrificed, a family rewarded, and a star born.

Source: Le Nouvel Obs News

These concerts mark a significant return to the stage for Roan, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight since wrapping her Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things tour in March. The upcoming performances will be her second and third live appearances since that tour concluded. Before heading to Los Angeles, Roan is set to perform at Olivia Rodrigo's Daisy Chains festival later this month, adding another high-profile date to her calendar. The Super Graphic Spectacular thus serves as a bridge between festival season and a more intimate, cause-driven engagement with her fans.

A Night of Entertainment for a Cause

The Super Graphic Spectacular promises to be a vibrant celebration of queer culture, with an eclectic lineup that reflects Roan's artistic vision. According to the event's official website, the shows will feature drag performances, dance numbers, special guest appearances, and unexpected surprises throughout the evening. Roan herself described the event as a "spectacular" experience, and fans are eagerly anticipating what she has in store. The choice of the Shrine Auditorium adds a layer of grandeur to the proceedings, as the venue has a rich history of hosting major award shows, concerts, and theatrical productions.

All net proceeds from the two concerts will go directly to the Midwest Princess Project, the organization Roan founded in 2025. The nonprofit is dedicated to providing welcoming spaces, meaningful connections, and essential resources for transgender youth. The project has already made a substantial impact, having raised more than $800,000 and supported over 60 organizations working toward a healthier, happier, and safer world for LGBTQ+ individuals everywhere. The event's website emphasizes that the funds will "fuel the next chapter" of the organization's work, ensuring that its mission can continue to expand and reach more young people in need.

Chappell Roan: A Rising Star with a Heart

Chappell Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, has become one of the most compelling voices in pop music over the past few years. Bursting onto the scene with her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, she quickly captured audiences with her theatrical style, unapologetic lyrics, and magnetic stage presence. Her music often explores themes of identity, desire, heartbreak, and self-discovery, resonating deeply with LGBTQ+ listeners who see their own experiences reflected in her art. Songs like "Pink Pony Club" and "Naked in Manhattan" became anthems for a generation navigating the complexities of modern life and love.

Roan's commitment to LGBTQ+ advocacy is not a recent development. She has been vocal about her own identity and experiences, using her platform to speak out on issues affecting queer communities. The creation of the Midwest Princess Project is a natural extension of her artistry and her personal values. Named as a nod to her Midwestern roots and her loyal fanbase, the organization focuses on tangible support for trans youth, who often face disproportionate challenges in accessing affirming care and safe spaces. By channeling her success into direct action, Roan has positioned herself as not just a musician, but a community leader.

Her decision to price tickets higher than usual for the Super Graphic Spectacular is a deliberate one. In her announcement, Roan explained, "We've priced the tickets higher than usual, for a good cause." This move ensures that the benefit concerts generate substantial revenue for the Midwest Princess Project while also discouraging scalpers and bots. The event will utilize the Fair AXS system, a ticketing platform designed to "help get rid of bots and resellers," allowing genuine fans to purchase tickets at face value. Registration for the ticket lottery is already open on the Super Graphic Spectacular website, giving fans an equal opportunity to secure their spots.

The Midwest Princess Project: Making a Difference

The Midwest Princess Project has quickly become a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ youth, particularly those in the Midwest and beyond. Since its launch in 2025, the organization has worked tirelessly to create environments where young people can feel safe, accepted, and empowered. Its initiatives include providing direct financial assistance, funding community programs, and partnering with established nonprofits that share its vision. The project's emphasis on "connection" is particularly vital, as many trans youth experience isolation and lack of support from their families or local communities.

By supporting over 60 different organizations, the Midwest Princess Project has taken a broad approach to advocacy, addressing everything from mental health services to housing security. This strategy allows the organization to adapt to the diverse needs of LGBTQ+ individuals across different regions and circumstances. The $800,000 raised so far is a testament to the generosity of Roan's fanbase and the broader community's willingness to invest in the well-being of marginalized groups. The upcoming Super Graphic Spectacular is expected to significantly boost these numbers, enabling the project to expand its reach and develop new programs.

Roan's involvement in the project goes beyond just lending her name. She has been actively engaged in fundraising efforts and has used her social media platforms to highlight the work being done by grassroots organizations. Her transparency about the challenges facing trans youth has helped humanize these issues for her millions of followers, many of whom have been inspired to contribute or volunteer. This level of dedication is rare in the entertainment industry, where celebrity activism often stops at a tweet or an Instagram post.

Looking Ahead: What's Next for Chappell Roan?

While fans are eagerly awaiting new music, Roan has remained relatively quiet on that front since releasing the singles "The Giver" and "The Subway" in 2025. The lack of a full-length album or major tour has not diminished her cultural impact, however. Her existing body of work continues to find new listeners, and her live performances are still talked about months after the fact. The Super Graphic Spectacular offers a rare opportunity to see Roan in a more intimate, cause-driven setting, stripped of the pressure of promoting a new record.

In the months since her tour ended, Roan has been spending time away from the relentless pace of the music industry. She has spoken in interviews about the importance of rest and maintaining boundaries, especially after experiencing a meteoric rise that brought both fame and scrutiny. This period of relative quiet has allowed her to recharge creatively and focus on personal projects, including the Midwest Princess Project. The upcoming shows suggest that she is ready to re-engage with her audience on her own terms, prioritizing community and cause over commercial success.

The choice of the Shrine Auditorium is also significant. The venue has a capacity of over 6,000, making it a substantial undertaking for a charity event. Roan's ability to fill such a space speaks to her enduring popularity and the deep connection she has forged with her fans. The two-night format, à la a residency, creates a sense of occasion and allows more people to participate in the fundraising effort. It also gives Roan the chance to craft a unique experience for each night, with rotating guests and surprises that will keep even the most dedicated fans guessing.

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, these shows are more than just concerts. They are a celebration of resilience and visibility, a chance to come together in a time when trans rights are increasingly under threat. The funds raised will go directly toward supporting young people who are often the most vulnerable. Roan's advocacy is a reminder that art and activism are not mutually exclusive, but rather intertwined. By putting her talent to work for a cause she believes in, she is setting an example for other artists who are considering how to use their platforms for good.

Tickets for the Super Graphic Spectacular are being distributed through a lottery system, and fans are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Given the high demand and the charitable nature of the event, tickets are expected to sell out quickly. The Fair AXS system will help ensure that seats go to real fans rather than bots or resellers, maintaining the integrity of the experience. Roan has emphasized that everyone involved, from the performers to the crew, is working on the event because they believe in the mission.

As the dates approach, more details about special guests and the evening's lineup are likely to be revealed. For now, the announcement alone has generated considerable buzz, with fans taking to social media to express their excitement and share their plans to attend. The Super Graphic Spectacular is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated charity events of the fall, not just for the star power involved, but for the meaningful impact it will have on the lives of LGBTQ+ youth. Chappell Roan continues to prove that she is not afraid to take risks, both artistically and philanthropically, and her latest endeavor is a testament to her character and commitment.

Source: Rolling Stone News

Une enfant Disney

Née en 1999 dans une petite ville de Pennsylvanie à la bordure d'une forêt, Sabrina Carpenter, la cadette d'une famille composée de quatre sœurs et de nombreux chats, est depuis toujours obsédée par l'idée de devenir chanteuse. "Je mangeais, je dormais et je respirais musique et chant", confie-t-elle. "J'étais au piano toute la journée, ou je faisais mes échauffements pour ma voix." Scolarisée à la maison, la jeune fille a tout le loisir de se consacrer à sa passion, sans être tourmentée par les aspects les plus péjoratifs de l'école. Son père va jusqu'à construire un studio d'enregistrement dans le foyer familial afin de nourrir les rêves de sa fille. Dès l'âge de 10 ans, elle poste des vidéos d'elle sur YouTube, reprenant des chansons de Christina Aguilera, d'Adele ou même de Taylor Swift. Sa toute première vidéo est une reprise de "Picture to Burn", single issu du premier album de son idole. Ambitieuse, elle participe à de nombreux concours de chant, comme le Next Miley Cyrus Project, organisé par Miley Cyrus elle-même, où elle se classe troisième. Une performance qui incite ses parents à déménager en Californie.

Chez elle, la musique est une affaire de famille. Ses sœurs partagent son amour pour la mélodie, et l'une d'elles, Sarah, est d'ailleurs devenue actrice. Sabrina, elle, ne jure que par la scène. "Lorsque j'étais plus jeune, beaucoup de gens pensaient que c'était le rêve de mes parents et qu'ils essayaient de le réaliser à travers moi. Je devais toujours dire aux gens que cela n'avait rien à voir avec quelqu'un d'autre que moi-même !" confie-t-elle à Interview Magazine. Cette détermination précoce la mène à signer un contrat majeur avec Hollywood Records, une maison de disques appartenant au mastodonte Disney, à seulement 12 ans. Elle se retrouve alors propulsée dans d'immenses salles de réunion, entourée d'adultes qui pensent pour elle la carrière qui s'offre à elle. "Sans doute la chose la plus étrange que j'ai pu vivre, et ce à un très jeune âge", glisse-t-elle en 2023 à Who What Wear.

Son premier single, "Can't Blame a Girl for Trying", co-écrit avec Meghan Trainor, voit le jour en 2012. Au même moment, elle enchaîne les petits rôles : des productions Disney auxquelles succèdent des films comme Tall Girl (2019) ou Work It (2020), et même une courte apparition sur les planches de Broadway dans la comédie musicale Mean Girls. Elle ne se produit que deux fois sur scène, le spectacle prenant fin suite au premier confinement en 2020. Ces expériences variées forgent sa polyvalence et lui apprennent les rouages de l'industrie du divertissement, tout en lui laissant le temps de mûrir son propre univers musical.

L'ascension fulgurante

"Mon style ? C'est celui d'une fille au début de la vingtaine qui se cherche encore !" confiait Sabrina Carpenter. Consciente d'avoir débuté très tôt, la jeune femme n'est pourtant qu'à l'aube de sa carrière. Ce n'est que récemment qu'elle a repris les rênes de sa destinée et de sa création artistique. À Interview, elle glisse : "19 ans est un âge incroyable pour commencer à contrôler pleinement ce que l'on fait." En témoigne la direction prise avec son quatrième album, Emails I Can't Send, paru en 2022. "Skinny Dipping", son premier single, est une ballade sentimentale et minimaliste à la guitare acoustique. Bien que très éloignée des rivages R'n'B, Carpenter se plaît à citer LEMONADE, le sixième album de Beyoncé, comme une influence majeure dans ce qu'il a permis à la jeune artiste de se libérer des frontières entre les genres musicaux. Ainsi, Emails I Can't Send emprunte presque autant à la pop qu'à la country, nourri par les sonorités de Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Carole King ou encore Patsy Cline.

L'audace de Sabrina Carpenter a porté ses fruits. En l'espace d'un an, la jeune chanteuse américaine a accédé au statut de pop star mondiale. "Je considère donc cet album comme mon premier album. Et j'ai vraiment de la chance d'avoir pu passer ces années à explorer afin de me trouver et arriver à la personne que je suis aujourd'hui", expliquait-elle à Glamour en mars 2023. À mesure que la jeune femme grandit, sa musique se fait plus honnête, vulnérable et émotive, à l'instar d'un morceau comme "because i liked a boy". De quoi permettre à qui l'écoute de s'identifier aux expériences vécues par la chanteuse, qui reflètent beaucoup celles de ses auditrices, majoritairement des jeunes femmes. Des mécanismes d'écriture qu'elle a empruntés à Taylor Swift, qu'elle a accompagnée en tournée entre 2023 et 2024, assurant les premières parties du Eras Tour, avant de performer pour la première fois sur la scène du festival Coachella en avril 2024. Une belle rampe de lancement pour la nouvelle ère musicale de l'artiste.

Short n' Sweet, bonbon sucré

Lancé par l'irrésistible single "Espresso", bien placé pour occuper le haut des classements mondiaux tout l'été et source de nombreux mèmes sur Internet, Short n' Sweet, le dernier album de Sabrina Carpenter, a permis d'installer la jeune femme en nouvelle princesse de la pop. À de nombreux égards, l'artiste semble avoir compris comment utiliser les communautés en ligne pour propulser son succès. Le titre même de son opus s'amuse de sa petite taille, tout comme le clip de "Please Please Please" mettait en scène Barry Keoghan, son ancien partenaire dans la vraie vie et acteur irlandais largement apprécié depuis la sortie de Saltburn (2023), dans le rôle du voyou pour lequel elle serait prête à sombrer. Chacun de ses mouvements semble astucieusement pensé, et Carpenter se plaît à anticiper chacune de ses apparitions médiatiques, comme son apparition surprise sur le podium de Vogue World : Paris en véritable pin-up des années 1940, vêtue d'un ensemble rayé rouge et blanc signé Jacquemus.

Dévoilé en 2024, Short n' Sweet s'accompagne d'un casting de premier plan, à commencer par Jack Antonoff, l'un des plus fidèles collaborateurs de Taylor Swift. Celui-ci fait partie des producteurs de ce nouvel opus, aux côtés de Julian Bunetta, à qui l'on doit de nombreux tubes des One Direction, dont "Story of my Life" ou "Perfect". En résulte un album aux influences diverses, rythmé par des mélodies pop tout droit sorties des années 80 et 90 et des ballades plus organiques, comme la très jolie "Coincidence" et sa guitare sautillante. La chanteuse défend actuellement cet opus sur scène au cœur d'une tournée mondiale, avec la brillante Rachel Chinouriri en première partie.

Le phénomène Sabrina Carpenter ne se limite pas à la musique. Son style vestimentaire, qui revisite les codes de la pin-up avec une touche de modernité, fait sensation sur les réseaux sociaux. Ses tenues, souvent signées de grands créateurs comme Jacquemus, sont scrutées par des millions de fans. Cette image de blonde pulpeuse, assumée et malicieuse, contraste avec l'innocence des débuts chez Disney, et participe à la construction d'une artiste complète, tour à tour chanteuse, actrice et icône de mode. Son humour, notamment sur sa petite taille, désarme et séduit. "Je suis peut-être petite, mais mon ambition ne l'est pas", pourrait-elle résumer.

Sabrina Carpenter a su conquérir le public avec une recette simple : des mélodies accrocheuses, des paroles sincères et une personnalité affirmée. Depuis ses reprises sur YouTube jusqu'aux grandes scènes internationales, son parcours inspire une génération de jeunes artistes. Son succès fulgurant n'est pas le fruit du hasard, mais celui d'un travail acharné et d'une vision claire de ce qu'elle veut accomplir. Alors qu'elle se produit à l'Accor Arena de Paris les 16 et 17 mars, la pop star prouve une fois de plus qu'elle n'a pas fini de faire parler d'elle.

Source: Vogue France News

Jisoo has always been more than just a K-pop idol. She has dabbled in acting since early in her career, starting with a cameo appearance in the 2015 drama The Producers. She later took on a supporting role in the hit fantasy drama Arthdal Chronicles, but it was her lead role in the 2021-2022 JTBC drama Snowdrop that truly showcased her potential. In Snowdrop, she played a university student caught in a political upheaval, earning praise for her emotional depth. Now, as she enters her thirties, she is set to build on that foundation with a diverse slate of projects.

Newtopia: A Zombie Romance

One of the most anticipated K-dramas of early 2025 is Newtopia, based on Han Sang Woon's novel Influenza. The series is a unique blend of romance and horror. Jisoo stars opposite Park Jeong Min, a critically acclaimed actor known for his work in films like Deliver Us from Evil and the series The Devil Judge. The drama is directed by Yoon Sung Hyun, who previously directed the films Feast and The Rhapsody of Summer.

Newtopia follows the story of Lee Jae Yoon, a soldier in the South Korean military, and his girlfriend Kang Yeong Ju, an engineer. When a mysterious flu strain triggers a zombie outbreak in Seoul, the city descends into chaos. Jae Yoon encounters the beginning of the outbreak during his military service, while Yeong Ju, played by Jisoo, is forced to fight for her survival in the city. The couple, who had actually broken up before the outbreak, find themselves separately battling the undead while trying to reunite amid the apocalypse.

The series is generating significant buzz for its fresh take on the zombie genre, which has been popularised by projects like Train to Busan and All of Us Are Dead. Unlike those, however, Newtopia places a strong emphasis on the relationship between the protagonist couple. Jisoo's character is not a damsel in distress; she is an engineer who uses her intellect and resourcefulness to survive. This is an exciting departure for the idol, who is eager to portray strong, independent women in her acting roles. Newtopia is scheduled to premiere on February 7, 2025, on Coupang Play and Amazon Prime Video, making it available to a global audience.

Boyfriend on Demand: Modern Love in a Virtual World

Later in 2025, Jisoo will appear in Boyfriend on Demand, a romantic comedy that was previously titled Monthly Boyfriend. She stars opposite Seo In Guk, a popular actor and singer known for his roles in Reply 1997, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, and Doom at Your Service. The drama is directed by Kim Jung Shik, who has previously helmed projects like The Secret Life of My Secretary and Perfume.

The plot of Boyfriend on Demand explores the complexities of modern love and how technology changes the way people connect. Jisoo plays Seo Mi Rae, a webtoon producer who wants to experience romance without the emotional baggage, heartbreak, or risk of real relationships. She discovers a virtual dating simulation app called Monthly Boyfriend, which allows her to date hundreds of men in a controlled digital environment. Through this experience, she is forced to confront her understanding of love and intimacy.

This role offers Jisoo a chance to blend her comedic timing with a poignant message about the digital age. The drama is expected to resonate with viewers who have grown accustomed to online interactions and the paradoxes of contemporary dating. Seo In Guk, who is known for his charismatic screen presence, is expected to share strong chemistry with Jisoo. While the exact release date is yet to be announced, the series is slated for later in 2025 and will likely be picked up by a major streaming platform given the star power involved.

Omniscient Reader: The Prophet — A Cinema Debut

Perhaps the most headline-grabbing project on Jisoo's 2025 slate is Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, her debut in the world of cinema. The film is based on the enormously popular webtoon Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, which itself is adapted from a web novel by Sing N Song. The story has garnered millions of readers worldwide for its intricate plot and metacommentary on storytelling. The film adaptation is directed by Kim Byung Woo, whose previous works include the hit series Mr. Sunshine and the film Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead.

Jisoo is joined by a star-studded cast that includes Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Min Ho, and Chae Soo Bin, among others. Ahn Hyo Seop plays the protagonist Kim Dok Ja, an ordinary office worker who is the sole reader of a story titled "Three Ways to Survive an Apocalypse." When the fictional world of that novel suddenly becomes reality, he is the only one who knows how the plot ends. Lee Min Ho plays Yoo Joong Hyuk, a character from the novel who appears in the real world. Together, they must navigate a world overrun by monsters and other calamities.

In this monumental story, Jisoo takes on the role of Lee Ji Hye, a character described as Yoo Joong Hyuk's trainee. While details about her role are limited, the casting is significant. Omniscient Reader: The Prophet is one of the most expensive Korean films ever produced, with high expectations from both domestic and international audiences. The film's production team has spared no expense to bring the webtoon's fantastical elements to life with state-of-the-art VFX. Jisoo's involvement elevates the project's commercial appeal, and fans are eager to see her hold her own alongside seasoned actors in such a massive cinematic undertaking. The film is scheduled for release in July 2025.

Jisoo's Growth as an Actress

These three projects highlight Jisoo's desire to avoid being typecast. From the zombie horror-comedy of Newtopia to the tech-driven romance of Boyfriend on Demand and the high-concept fantasy of Omniscient Reader: The Prophet, she is actively seeking roles that challenge her range. The leap from streaming dramas to a blockbuster film is a natural progression for a star of her magnitude, but it also comes with risks. Critics will be watching closely to see whether her acting can match the hype, especially after the mixed but generally favourable response to Snowdrop.

Additionally, Jisoo's career is not limited to acting. In 2023, she released her solo single album ME, featuring the tracks Flower and All Eyes on Me. The project was a commercial success, matching the solo achievements of her bandmates Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. When BLACKPINK eventually returns from its hiatus, Jisoo will have expanded her portfolio in ways that could influence the group's future direction. She has also become a fashion icon, serving as a global ambassador for luxury brands like Dior and Cartier, further cementing her status as a multifaceted global star.

The fact that Jisoo is taking on such varied roles in a single year speaks to her work ethic and ambition. At just 30, she is already a veteran entertainer, but the world of acting offers her an opportunity to grow and evolve. Every project slated for 2025 represents a different genre, era, and character type, giving her an exceptional showcase to demonstrate her versatility. Whether she is battling zombies, navigating virtual dating, or fighting alongside legendary characters, Jisoo's upcoming slate is a testament to her commitment to her craft.

As her fans mark her 30th birthday, there is much to look forward to. The first few months of 2025 will be dominated by Newtopia, followed by the highly anticipated Boyfriend on Demand, and culminating with her big-screen debut in July. If these projects succeed, Jisoo will have solidified her position not just as a K-pop superstar, but as one of the most compelling young actresses in Korean entertainment. The next chapter of her career has officially begun.

Source: News18 News