iWorld
Facebook reveals plan to launch cryptocurrency Libra
MUMBAI: Social media giant Facebook moves ahead in the direction of entering the e-commerce sector as it revealed plans on Tuesday to launch a cryptocurrency called Libra. According to media reports, Facebook has linked with 28 partners in a Geneva-based entity called the Libra Association which will govern its new digital coin. It is due to arrive in the first half of 2020.
A subsidiary called Calibra has been created by Facebook which will not only offer digital wallets to save, send and spend Libras but will be connected to Facebook's messaging platforms Messenger and WhatsApp.
The FAANG company hopes it will power transactions between established consumers and businesses around the globe along with offering unbanked consumers access to financial services for the first time.
However, the move comes at a time when Facebook is already devastated with security-related controversies across the world. It seems the new step may face strong opposition from privacy advocates, consumer groups, regulators and lawmakers. It is very unclear right now how Facebook’s entry into the unregulated world of cryptocurrency will be perceived by lawmakers.
According to reports, company executives said it has engaged with regulators in the United States and abroad about the planned cryptocurrency. Kevin Weil, who runs product for the initiative in Facebook, hopes it can bring global regulators to the table by publicising Libra. "It gives us a basis to go and have productive conversations with regulators around the world," he said.
Facebook said that Calibra will conduct compliance checks on customers who want to use Libra, using commonplace verification and anti-fraud processes. Moreover, the company plans to refund customers who lose money because of fraud.
eNews
Aaj Tak launches video-integrated VPaper with Dailyhunt
Free, early-morning ePaper combines print layout with click-to-watch video
NEW DELHI: Aaj Tak has launched vPaper, a video-integrated ePaper developed in collaboration with Dailyhunt, as it seeks to rework the morning news habit for digital-first audiences.
The product, unveiled on 19 February, 2026, is a 12-page ePaper available free of charge and delivered to readers ahead of traditional newspapers. It combines the structure and editorial depth of print with the immediacy of digital delivery.
What sets vPaper apart is its built-in video functionality. Readers can tap on stories within the ePaper to watch related video reports, integrating Aaj Tak’s television journalism into a newspaper-style format. The “click-to-watch” feature aims to turn passive reading into an interactive experience.
The ePaper spans news, business, sports, education, travel and national affairs, positioning itself as a comprehensive morning briefing for mobile users. Aaj Tak brings editorial credibility and broadcast-scale reporting to the venture, while Dailyhunt provides reach across tier 2, tier 3 and Bharat markets through its distribution network and personalisation technology.
“With vPaper, we are reimagining the morning news experience,” said India Today Group CEO, digital business Salil Kumar. He said the format blends authority, speed and video storytelling while remaining accessible by being free and available before print.
Verse Innovation senior vice-president Sunil Mohapatra, said the partnership strengthens Dailyhunt’s premium news offering and bridges print habits with interactive digital consumption.
The launch reflects a broader push by Indian news publishers to experiment with formats that combine credibility, scale and engagement as audiences increasingly shift to mobile-led news consumption.
(Note: The cover image is AI-generated and meant for representational purposes only)
