Hajj costs for 2026 lowered without reducing service quality

October 29, 2025 Raj Patel

Indonesia's House Commission VIII and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah have set the hajj service cost for 2026 at Rp87.4 million per pilgrim, down about Rp2 million from the previous year. This reduction does not compromise service quality for pilgrims. Pilgrims pay Rp54.2 million directly, with the rest covered by hajj fund management.

Austrac fines crypto ATM operator Cryptolink in scams crackdown

Australia's financial crimes regulator AUSTRAC has fined cryptocurrency ATM operator Cryptolink $56,340 as part of efforts to combat scams and money laundering. The action highlights growing concerns over crypto ATMs, which have been linked to significant losses for victims, including elderly Australians. While new restrictions were imposed in July, advocates continue to call for an outright ban.

Mastercard in late-stage talks to acquire Zero Hash

Mastercard is reportedly in late-stage negotiations to buy blockchain startup Zero Hash for up to $2 billion, amid growing interest in stablecoin payments. The deal values the acquisition between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, according to sources cited by Fortune. This move comes as the payments giant competes in the evolving crypto infrastructure space.

Reasons the US dollar stays below $4,000 pesos in Colombia

October 29, 2025 Carlos Ramírez

The US dollar has completed eight weeks without exceeding $4,000 pesos in Colombia, driven by global and local factors like the Federal Reserve's rate cut and increased dollar inflows. Analysts point to the DXY index's weakness and government operations strengthening the peso. This stability benefits imports and travel to the United States.

Bmv hits new record after fed decision

October 29, 2025 Juan Pérez

The Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) hit a new all-time high above 63,000 points, driven by a 0.89 percent gain. Wall Street showed mixed results after the Federal Reserve's rate cut, with the Nasdaq reaching a new record. The Mexican peso depreciated slightly amid expectations of pauses in future cuts.

Finance minister explains reasons for issuing PP 38 of 2025

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa explained that Government Regulation Number 38 of 2025 was issued to help local governments address temporary funding shortages. The regulation also opens possibilities for long-term loans for clear projects. The Chairman of DPR RI Commission XI welcomed this step as a financing breakthrough.