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interpark Global Rebrands as ‘NOL World,’ a New Travel Hub for Global K-Pop Fans Visiting Korea

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– Fully rebranded under the NOL Universe brand to enhance integrated travel and ticketing experiences for global customers
– Expanded K-Pop-focused products and upgraded community features to strengthen fandom-driven services

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nol Universe (CEO Bochan Bae) announced that interpark Global, its ticketing platform dedicated to international users, has been fully rebranded and relaunched as NOL World, introducing a next-generation travel hub for global fans visiting Korea.

interpark Global is rebranding as NOL World
interpark Global is rebranding as NOL World

NOL World is an integrated one-stop platform designed for international travelers, offering seamless access to activities, transportation passes, guided tours, concerts, exhibitions, sporting events, and a wide range of Korean leisure experiences. The rebrand reflects NOL Universe’s vision to break boundaries between countries and experience categories, extending greater accessibility and enjoyment to global users planning their trips to Korea.

To meet the rising global demand for K-pop, NOL World has strengthened its lineup of fan-focused offerings. Beyond concert ticketing, the platform now provides city-to-venue shuttle services and expanded on-site fan conveniences. It is also enhancing its popular “Play&Stay” packages—combining concerts by top artists such as SEVENTEEN and BLACKPINK with hotel stays and exclusive benefits—and increasing exclusive package availability to elevate stay-based experiences for global fans. Additional travel essentials, including mobile convenience-store vouchers, have also been added to broaden user choice.

NOL World is upgrading its community functions as well. Improved content structure now allows fans to browse K-pop schedules and concert information alongside their travel plans. New review and community features will also be introduced, enabling fans to leave comments on K-pop concert products and related content just as they would for attractions, restaurants, or pop-up stores. These enhancements further establish NOL World as a global hub for international fandoms to gather and share information. 

As a leading Korean travel, leisure, and culture platform, Nol Universe operates a wide range of services spanning ticketing, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences under its unified NOL brand. Through the launch of NOL World, the company continues its mission to help global audiences experience Korean content seamlessly, breaking down geographical and experiential boundaries.

To celebrate the relaunch, a global social media event is now underway across Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, and Xiaohongshu until December 24 (KST). Participants can join through comments, tagging friends, and sharing posts. Winners will be announced on December 29, followed by prize distribution by January 5, 2026. 

Bochan Bae, CEO of NOL Universe, said, “NOL World is designed to bring global fans closer to Korea, making cultural experiences more accessible and seamless.” He added, “We will continue to push innovation that removes boundaries across experience categories and expand into key Asian markets, ultimately growing NOL World into a global hub connecting leisure experiences worldwide.”

IF YOU ARE A FORMER FTX CUSTOMER WHO SENT OR DEPOSITED MONEY INTO AN FTX OR ALAMEDA RELATED ACCOUNT AT SILVERGATE BANK, A PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS, AND ENTITLE YOU TO BENEFITS AND A CASH PAYMENT

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COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The following statement is being issued by Simpluris, Inc., the court-appointed settlement administrator, regarding the Silvergate Bank class action settlement.

What is this case about?

A Settlement on behalf of former FTX customers has been reached with Silvergate Bank and other defendants (the “Defendants”) in a class action lawsuit. The people who brought the case accuse the Defendants of participating in unlawful conduct by FTX, Alameda, and Sam Bankman-Fried. The Defendants deny that they did anything wrong, and no court has decided which side is right.

The Court has appointed the plaintiffs’ attorneys to represent the Class.

A copy of the Settlement is available at www.FTXBankSettlement.com.

Who is included in the Settlement?

You are a Class Member, and eligible to file a claim if all five of the following are true: (1) you sent or deposited fiat currency (such as US dollars) into an FTX- or Alameda-related account at Silvergate Bank; (2) between April 1, 2019, and November 11, 2022; (3) as of November 11, 2022, you still had an FTX.com or FTX.us account; (4) that account contained cryptocurrency, fiat currency, or both; and (5) you had no previous employment relationship or ownership interest in Silvergate, FTX, Alameda or any of their related entities.

What are the Settlement benefits?

Defendants will pay $10 million to settle this case. This money will be divided among the class members who file a valid claim form after payment of litigation fees and costs.

How do I receive a benefit?

Visit www.FTXBankSettlement.com to submit your claim. You can request a paper claim by calling 1-833-417-4936. Claims must be submitted online or postmarked by January 30, 2026.

What if I don’t want to participate in the Settlement?

If you do not want to be part of the Settlement, you must exclude yourself by January 30, 2026, or you will not be able to sue Defendants for the claims made in this lawsuit. If you exclude yourself, you cannot get benefits from this Settlement. If you want to object to the Settlement, you may file an objection by January 30, 2026. The Settlement Agreement, available at www.FTXBankSettlement.com, explains how to exclude yourself or object.

When will the Court approve the Settlement?

The Court will hold a hearing in this case on February 9, 2026, to consider whether to approve the Settlement. The Court will also consider the plaintiffs’ request for attorneys’ fees of up to $3.3 million, reimbursement of expenses up to $150,000, and service payments up to $10,000 for each of the three Plaintiffs. You may attend the hearing at your own expense, but you do not have to.

Accertify: Cyber Monday Transaction Volume Jumps 24% as Smaller Carts and Later Evening Shopping Dominate

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Data Shows Continued Shift in Consumer Behavior With Drop in Average Spend Per Transaction

ITASCA, Ill., Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Accertify, Inc., a leading unified risk decisioning platform provider, today released results from Cyber Monday 2025 showing an interesting consumer pattern: more transactions, smaller baskets, and a spike in volume at the 9 pm Central hour.

Accertify clients processed 49.3 million transactions on Cyber Monday, representing a 24% increase over 2024. The transactions were worth $5.7 billion, representing only a 6% increase over 2024. Transaction volume peaked at 9 pm CST — a shift from 2024’s 12pm CST peak.

The average transaction value fell 14% year-over-year to $114.98, closely mirroring the drop Accertify saw last week on Black Friday and reinforcing the observed trend toward lower-ticket purchases. Despite the surge in volume, clients continued to see strong performance supported by Accertify’s AI-enabled workflow, which reflected a 99.30% median approval rate among participating clients.

Accertify’s fraud detection technology flagged and helped reject $100.7 million in suspected fraudulent transactions on Cyber Monday. Of those flagged transactions, clients have already confirmed 128,914 as actual fraud attempts — a 17% increase over last year — demonstrating the growing volume of fraud attacks during peak shopping periods.

“Cyber Monday reinforced what we saw on Black Friday: consumers are making more purchases with lower values,” said Mark Michelon, President of Accertify. “Accertify’s platform helped merchants absorb this demand while maintaining strong approval rates and minimizing fraud exposure at scale.”

The trend reflects broader shifts in consumer behavior during peak digital commerce periods. Accertify data shows that shoppers are checking out more frequently with smaller transaction sizes, which challenges merchants to make fast, informed decisions at scale while still preserving the customer experience.

Cyber Monday 2025 by the Numbers

  • Transactions processed: 49.3 million (up 24% YOY)
  • Total transaction value: $5.7 billion (up 6% YOY)
  • Average transaction value: $114.98 (down 14.4% YOY)
  • Peak hour: 9 p.m. Central (shifted from 12 p.m. Central in 2024)
  • Approval rate: 99.30%
  • Suspected fraud blocked: $100.7 million in transactions
  • Confirmed fraud prevented: 128,914 incidents verified as fraud by clients (up 17% YOY)

Statistics in this release are derived from Accertify client data from Cyber Monday 2024–2025.

About Accertify

Accertify, Inc., is a leading unified risk decisioning platform provider, spanning fraud prevention, chargeback management, account protection, abuse prevention, and payment gateway solutions to clients in diverse industries worldwide. Accertify’s suite of products helps digital commerce companies grow by reducing fraud-related losses, streamlining operations, and preserving the consumer experience. To learn more, visit www.accertify.com.

Media Contact:

Neal Stein
Technology PR Solutions
Office: (321) 473-7407
nealjstein@techprsolutions.com

OUTBREAK 2: MALL MAYHEM, THE SEQUEL YOU’VE BEEN HUNGRY FOR, NOW UNLEASHED AT ZERO LATENCY VR VENUES WORLDWIDE

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Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem is the bigger, meaner, more intense sequel to Outbreak, Zero Latency VR’s most popular immersive VR experience.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Zero Latency VR, the undisputed leader in immersive entertainment and the mastermind behind the largest true location-based VR network in the world, is thrilled to announce the launch of Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem, the zombie-stuffed sequel fans have been ravenous for.


Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem. The apocalypse that began in Outbreak has gone to the next level. The infection has a new home, the mall. And it’s crawling with mutant zombies. It’s havoc. It’s mayhem. Can you survive the chaos?

The apocalypse that began in Outbreak has exploded into full-blown chaos, and the place is heaving with mutant zombies. Spitters. Spewers. Boomers. New strains, new nightmares, and a feeding frenzy of the dead, unlike anything players have seen before. The world needs heroes willing to embrace the madness… or at least bring their crazy best.

As the first-ever official sequel developed by Zero Latency VR, Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem cranks the intensity to 11 with:

  • All-new mutated zombie variants that get bigger, meaner, and more unhinged the deeper you go
  • Iconic mall battlegrounds, packed with shattering glass floors, raining fire, and an obstacle course straight out of a horror movie
  • Chaotic interactables like exploding toys and destructible mannequins – because in the apocalypse, everything must go
  • Full immersion, powered by Zero Latency’s next-gen tech: no backpacks, no cables, 360° visuals, spatial audio, and a massive arena the size of a tennis court
  • Squad-based mayhem for up to 8 players – because zombie hunting is not a solo sport

“After the success of Outbreak, fans have been desperate for a sequel to continue the zombie-slaying action in a fresh setting,” said Tim Ruse, CEO of Zero Latency VR. “Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem delivers exactly that: a brutal, hilarious, chaotic romp through one of the most iconic battlegrounds imaginable. It takes everything players loved about the original and dials it all the way up.”

Built entirely in-house at Zero Latency VR HQ in Melbourne, Australia, Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem expands Zero Latency’s genre offering and adds a bold new dimension to its growing catalog of blockbuster immersive VR adventures.

The dead are waiting. The mall is crawling. The mayhem is real.

And the world needs a squad brave enough to take it on.

Bookings now open at: https://booking.zerolatencyvr.com 

ABOUT ZERO LATENCY:
Zero Latency VR is the global pioneer in immersive entertainment, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in location-based experiences. As the largest free-roam VR network on the planet, with 150+ cutting-edge venues across 30 countries, Zero Latency is where thrill-seekers come to live out their wildest fantasies.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Instagram and TikTok: @zerolatencyvr
LinkedIn: Zero Latency VR

Press Contact:
Luke Mitchell
PR & Communications Manager
+61 (0) 413614412
luke.mitchell@zerolatencyvr.com

Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem, available exclusively at Zero Latency VR venues worldwide
Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem, available exclusively at Zero Latency VR venues worldwide

Holiday season hazards: Allianz urges maintenance action as summer risks rise

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  • Ahead of an unseasonably warm summer, 42 per cent of surveyed Australians admit they haven’t undertaken any maintenance to prepare for seasonal weather risks[1].
  • The summer festive season is the busiest period of the year, causing many Australians to be distracted[2] and unprepared[3] for any potential home accidents or mishaps.
  • The Allianz Prevention: Summer Risk Report includes handy tips and tricks to help Australians prepare their home for a hot and busy summer season.

SYDNEY, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — From BBQs in the sun to long days at the beach, summer in Australia marks a time for relaxation and recreation. However, the home maintenance risks associated with the celebration season are going unnoticed by many Australians. 

With seasonal weather risks forecasted across the country, including above average daytime temperatures for most of Australia and above average rainfall for parts of the east[4], new research from Allianz Australia reveals 42 per cent of surveyed Australians haven’t started or completed any home maintenance ahead of summer 2025[1].

This research comes as Allianz data shows home and contents insurance claims (excluding those caused by natural catastrophes) made in summer 2024/25 incurred total costs of $84m[5].

Even weather that doesn’t fall into the natural catastrophe category can cause significant damage, with Allianz data revealing the high cost of claims related to regular storm-related weather such as lightning ($7.05m) and hail ($20.41m) in the 2024/25 summer season.[6]

Despite this, the research found nearly one in five surveyed Australians are not investing any money (19 per cent)[7] or time (18 per cent)[8] into summer home maintenance. And while Australians could be doing more to prepare their homes this summer, over two in five (42 per cent) believe their home is already safe enough[9] or they don’t think seasonal weather will affect them (14 per cent)[10]. Furthermore, almost one in four (23 per cent) surveyed Australians say they are unable to spend more on seasonal maintenance citing they cannot afford it[11] – highlighting the impact of cost-of-living pressures. 

How to safeguard your home this summer

With more than a quarter (26 per cent) of surveyed Australians saying they are concerned about the state of their home and its resilience to seasonal weather this summer[12], Allianz has released its first Allianz Prevention: Summer Risk Report – a free, online resource that includes handy tips and trick to help Australians better prepare themselves for the warmer weather. 

“At Allianz, we understand that constant weather reports and changes in forecast can be overwhelming and confusing,” said Shez Ford, Chief General Manager Consumer, Allianz Australia. “That’s why we’ve created the Allianz Prevention: Summer Risk Report, a one stop guide to help Australians prepare their homes for the risks associated with the summer season.” 

From general upkeep, home security while away to how to safely entertain outdoors, there are various tips featured within the report.

Leading property renovator and founder of Ace Property Agency, Rebecca Cardamone, added, “The key to ensuring you’re keeping up to date with home maintenance is to create a regular schedule. For example, making sure you’re checking your smoke alarms every few months, or conducting seasonal checks such as servicing your air conditioner and inspecting your BBQ on the first day of the new season. These checks will then become part of your regular routine – allowing you to enjoy the holiday season without worry or concern.”

Weather not the only risk

Preparation for the summer season goes beyond simply preparing for the elements, with many Australians avoiding general maintenance that could impact their summer events and activities.  

This inaction stems from the busy nature of summer and the holiday season, causing distraction to be more common[13]. In fact, 22 per cent of Australians confess they feel unprepared if an accident or mishap were to happen[14].

BBQ use skyrockets in summer, yet only a quarter (24 per cent) of surveyed Australians check their outdoor BBQs for fire risks and faults before using them[15]. This was a trend in Allianz claims data, with the cost of an outdoor BBQ related insurance claim sometimes amounting to tens of thousands of dollars[16].

Over the 2024/25 summer season, Allianz also paid out more than $2.6m in claims related to lithium batteries[17] – providing a timely reminder to check power tools and gardening equipment for safe use as these items become more common during warmer months.

Additionally, while most Australians mark 1 December as the first day of summer and a day to put up festive decorations, it was also the costliest day for home insurance claims across the 2024/25 summer season, totalling $5.72m[18]. And despite the popularity of plugged-in electronic festive decorations, only 9 per cent of surveyed Australians bought a surge protector in the last 12 months[19].

Then there are the Aussies planning trips to visit family or friends (40 per cent)[20] or going on day trips (24 per cent)[21] over the upcoming holiday season. Despite these plans, only half (53 per cent)[22] secure their property against robbery when away for two or more nights, and just two in five (41 per cent)[23] ask a neighbour or friend to check in.

With Allianz data revealing that theft claims spiked to $1.62m over the two weeks covering the holiday season last year[24], it’s a timely reminder to Australians of the dangers associated with leaving the home unattended without putting precautions in place.

“Our claims data clearly shows us that Australians experience a variety of risks across the summer season – from unexpected poor weather to theft and breakage. And because the season is so busy, if something does go wrong, Australians often delay fixing it until after the festive period[25],” said Luke Whenman, Chief Claims Officer, Allianz Australia. 

“Our homes are a hub of celebration and relaxation during summer, but they’re also vulnerable when left unprotected. With claims often increasing over the summer period, it’s vital to put simple precautions in place such as inspecting your BBQ for leaks and faults, securing loose outdoor items to minimise storm hazards, and ensuring all doors, windows, and locks are properly secured before heading away. These small steps can make a big difference in ensuring your home is well-maintained and you are able to enjoy the holiday season over summer.”

For more information and to access the Allianz Prevention: Summer Risk Report, visit Allianz.com.au/Prevention.

Allianz’s top tips for summer:

  • Cooling systems – Service air conditioners before peak heat; clean filters and check wiring; consider surge protection to prevent fusion damage; air your home on dry, sunny days to reduce humidity.
  • Outdoor entertaining – Inspect BBQs for leaks or faults; clean grease trays; check gas connections; store outdoor furniture securely to prevent storm damage.
  • Home security while away – Perform lock checks; install smart cameras or motion lighting; ask neighbours to monitor your property; trim hedges around entry points to maintain visibility.
  • General upkeep – Test smoke alarms at the start of the season; keep fire blankets and extinguishers accessible; check gutters and downpipes for blockages; secure loose items outdoors to minimise storm hazards.
  • Insurance readiness – Review your home and contents insurance policy regularly to ensure you are adequately covered.

[1] 42% of surveyed Australians said they have not started or completed any maintenance in the last 12 months in order to prepare their home for seasonal weather risks this upcoming summer.

[2] 35% of surveyed Australians agree they are more distracted during summer gatherings than at other times.

[3] 22% of surveyed Australians agree they are unprepared if an accident or mishap happened in their home during the summer and/or festive season.

[4] https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/overview/summary/

[5] According to Allianz Home & Contents and Landlords insurance claims that occurred between 1 December 2024 and 28 February 2025, excluding natural catastrophe claims.

[6] According to Allianz Home & Contents and Landlords insurance claims that occurred between 1 December 2024 and 28 February 2025, excluding natural catastrophe claims.

[7] 19 per cent of surveyed Australians agree they do not plan to invest any money into maintaining their home for the upcoming summer season.

[8] 18 per cent of surveyed Australians agree they do not plan to invest any time into maintaining their home for the upcoming summer season.

[9] 42 per cent of surveyed Australians believe their home is already safe enough, when asked about seasonal weather risks experienced in summer.

[10] 14 per cent of surveyed Australians don’t think seasonal weather will affect them, when asked about seasonal weather risks experienced in summer.

[11] 23 per cent of surveyed Australians say they are unable to spend more on seasonal maintenance citing they cannot afford it.

[12] 26 per cent of surveyed Australians agreed that they are concerned about the state of their home and its resilience to seasonal weather this summer.

[13] 35 per cent of surveyed Australians feel more distracted during summer gatherings compared to other times of the year.

[14] 22 per cent of surveyed Australians agree they are unprepared if an accident or mishap happens in their home during the summer and festive season.

[15] 24 per cent of surveyed Australians are checking their outdoor BBQs for damage or issues before using them in the summer season.

[16] According to Allianz Home & Contents and Landlords insurance claims that occurred between 1 December 2024 and 28 February 2025.

[17] According to Allianz Home & Contents insurance claims that occurred between 1 December 2024 and 28 February 2025.

[18] According to Allianz Home & Contents and Landlords insurance claims that occurred on 1 December 2024.

[19] 9% of surveyed Australians bought surge protectors in the last 12 months ahead of the summer period.

[20] 40% of surveyed Australians plan to visit a family or friend at their home, restaurant or outdoor location during the festive season this year.

[21] 24% of surveyed Australians plan to go on day trips during the festive season this year.

[22] 53% of surveyed Australians secure their home to prevent robbery e.g. locking all windows and doors when leaving their home unattended for 2+ nights in summer.

[23] 41% of surveyed Australians ask a neighbour or friend to check in when leaving their home unattended for 2+ nights in summer.

[24] According to Allianz Home & Contents and Landlords insurance claims data, in the 14 days over the Christmas/NY holiday season (23 December – 5 January) in 2024-2025, Allianz recorded total theft claims costing $1.62m, 31% higher than the $1.24m seen in the 14 days following (6 January – 19 January) and 60% higher than the $1.01m incurred in the second half of January (20 January – 2 Feb).

[25] 20 per cent of surveyed Australians put off fixing household mishaps until after Christmas/New Year.

 

Sustainable Markets Initiative Hosts Landmark Private Capital Mobilization Convening in London, with a report back session attended by His Majesty King Charles III

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LONDON, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Yesterday, the Sustainable Markets Initiative hosted a gathering of Heads of States and Government, the Presidents of major multilateral development banks and leading development finance institutions, and chief executives from the world’s most influential banks, asset owners, insurers, alongside energy and infrastructure companies.

Sustainable Markets Initiative Hosts Landmark Private Capital Mobilization Convening in London, with a report back session attended by His Majesty King Charles III
Sustainable Markets Initiative Hosts Landmark Private Capital Mobilization Convening in London, with a report back session attended by His Majesty King Charles III

The shared mission is clear and urgent: to turn the transition to a sustainable global economy into the largest, most inclusive growth story of the 21st century by unleashing trillions of dollars of private capital into emerging and developing economies at speed and at scale.

This closed-door, delivery-oriented roundtable marks a decisive turning point. The models that work – guarantees at scale, originate-to-distribute, debt-for-Nature and transition swaps, blended first-loss structures and replicable blueprints – already exist and are proven.

Following the roundtable, participants attended a report back session with His Majesty The King, sharing their plans for action and the commitments they had made.

The Sustainable Markets Initiative is committed to supporting:

  • Ambitious private capital mobilization ratios, scorecards and disclosure – transforming every public dollar into a powerful multiplier for private investment.
  • A step-change in the scale of guarantees, political risk insurance and FX solutions, backed by deeper partnership with the global reinsurance industry.
  • A predictable, securitization pipeline that the world’s largest asset owners can access.
  • Rapid replication of Debt-for-Nature and Debt-for-Transition swaps, with a bold new “Debt-for-Transition Accelerator” to be launched at the SMI Annual Flagship CEO Summit in March 2026.
  • Standardization of approaches and blueprints so private capital can move faster and with greater confidence than ever before.
  • Tech-neutral blended finance that accelerates clean energy abundance – from renewables and nuclear to grids, storage and responsible fossil fuel transition – while creating millions of new jobs and new industries.
  • The systematic use of government procurement and cutting-edge AI, data and space-based monitoring to slash perceived risk and make projects bankable..
  • Country transition, adaptation and resilience through our government training programme and project training toolkit.

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, M.V.O., CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, said: “The transition to a sustainable future is not a cost – it is in fact the world’s greatest economic opportunity. Today we are moving decisively from billions to trillions, from pilots to systemic scale, and from talk to delivery.  The private sector has already committed, and is delivering, trillions for transition by 2030.  Emerging and developing economies will not be left behind – they will lead the most exciting growth story of our time, powered by  private capital, AI empowered solutions, innovation and jobs.”

This convening sends an unmistakable signal to markets worldwide: the era of incremental progress is over. The world’s leading public and private institutions are now aligned and accelerating together. The outcomes agreed yesterday will be translated into major new commitments and initiatives at the SMI’s Annual Flagship Global CEO Summit from 11-12 March 2026, heralding a new age of prosperity built on clean energy, advanced technologies, resilient infrastructure and restored Nature.

The sustainable transition is no longer a distant hope – it is the defining growth engine of the coming decade.

About the Sustainable Markets Initiative

Founded by His Majesty King Charles III, the SMI is the world’s pre-eminent CEO-led coalition accelerating the transition to a sustainable future. www.sustainable-markets.org

 

Adyen Processes Record $43 billion as Black Friday/Cyber Monday Weekend Sets New Benchmark for Global Payments

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  • Contactless is the Standard: The share of contactless in-store POS transactions rose from 81% last year to 85% this year
  • Shopper behavior varies globally, with online peaks ranging 12 p.m. on Black Friday in the US to 8 p.m. on Sunday in France
  • At peak demand, Adyen seamlessly processed 199,000 transactions per minute

NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This year’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday (BFCM) proved to be another record-breaking holiday shopping weekend, where consumer traffic and demand spiked, and the Adyen platform delivered, processing a total volume of $43 billion across the BFCM weekend (up 27% vs. last year), while maintaining an exceptional 99.9999% uptime. Transactions per minute on the Adyen platform reached a peak of 199,000 on Black Friday. Additional insights from this year’s BFCM are available on Adyen’s BFCM Unboxed Insights page.

How People Are Paying
Consumer habits have permanently changed, and flexibility at checkout is no longer a luxury—it’s essential: 54% of consumers globally will leave a store or abandon an online checkout if they cannot pay using their preferred method. This BFCM, the data revealed some clear trends:

  • Mobile Wallets Soar: Digital wallets are establishing themselves as a key payment method at the Point-Of-Sale (POS). During this year’s Black Friday, the share of POS revenue paid with digital wallets reached 33%, up from 21% last year, and this momentum is expected to accelerate.
  • Contactless Continuing as the Undisputed Norm: Contactless payments continue to gain ground worldwide. During last year’s Black Friday, 81% of in-store POS transactions were contactless, rising to 85% this year, further cementing contactless as the standard.
  • Local Payment Methods Remain Highly Relevant: Their share is stable at 14-15% year-on-year across channels, underscoring the necessity for merchants to implement fitting regional options like Carte Bancaire, iDeal, and PayPal.
  • Shoppers Continued to Embrace Flexible Payment Options During the Peak Period: The volume of online payments made via Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) on Black Friday rose 43% compared to the previous month and matched last year’s Black Friday levels, underscoring consumers’ preference for flexible financing during major spending events.

The Value of In-Store Purchases
Physical retail continues to hold a key advantage for high-value purchases during holiday sales. In 2025, the average basket size (ATV) from in-store Black Friday purchases was 28% higher than online. Overall, the ATV in Retail increased by 22% on Black Friday 2025 in comparison to a typical Friday.

From the US to Everywhere: The Global Embrace of Black Friday
While Black Friday originated in the US, it has grown in significance across other markets as well. This year, we tracked significant transaction volume uplifts compared to typical Fridays across key international markets:

  1. Denmark – 6.11x
  2. Spain – 4.47x
  3. Iceland – 3.75x
  4. Norway – 3.53x
  5. Finland – 3.51x
  6. Sweden – 3.36x
  7. Portugal – 3.33x
  8. US – 2.80x
  9. Canada – 2.77x
  10. Brazil – 2.75x

Pinpointing Peak Hours
Peak online shopping hours during the BFCM weekend vary globally, though most markets hit their local peak on Black Friday:

  • US: Black Friday, 12 p.m.
  • Sweden: Black Friday, 5 p.m.
  • Poland, UK & Australia: Black Friday, 6 p.m.
  • Netherlands & Italy: Black Friday, 7 p.m.
  • Germany: Black Friday, 9 p.m.
  • France: Sunday, 8.p.m.

Across most markets, the peak hour for in-store shopping falls on Saturday: 12 p.m. in Australia, 1 p.m. in Sweden and Poland, 2 p.m. in Germany, Canada, and the UK, 4 p.m. in France, and 5 p.m. in Italy. The only exception is the US, where the peak occurred on Black Friday at 1 p.m. Overall, peak in-store shopping times showed virtually no year-on-year change.

Shoppers buy more on Black Friday—but they also return more
While the average refund rate for online retail purchases across the whole past year was 8.33%, online retail purchases made during Black Friday last year saw a significantly higher refund rate of 11.32%.

About Adyen
Adyen (ADYEN:AMS) is the financial technology platform of choice for leading companies. By providing end-to-end payments capabilities, data-driven insights, and financial products in a single global solution, Adyen helps businesses achieve their ambitions faster. With offices around the world, Adyen works with the likes of Meta, Uber, H&M, eBay, and Microsoft.

About the Data Analysis
The analysis underlying this article compares received and authorized transaction counts, total transaction volumes, and average transaction values (ATV, equivalent to cart value) processed via the Adyen platform globally between BFCM 2024 (Thursday, November 28, 2024, 12 p.m. CET to Saturday, November 30, 2024, 9 a.m. CET) and BFCM 2025 (Thursday, November 27, 2025, 12 p.m. CET to Saturday, November 29, 2025, 9 a.m. CET), unless stated otherwise. “Black Friday” refers to the period from Thursday at 12 p.m. to Saturday at 9 a.m. CET. For market-level transaction volumes, the same time span is applied in local time. References to “the month before” are based on the average for September 17–October 14, 2025. References to a “typical Friday” use the average of the five Fridays preceding Black Friday 2025. The analysis includes breakdowns by payment method, sales channel, market, and hourly performance. References to sub-industries correspond to the respective merchant verticals. All figures represent only volumes processed through the Adyen platform.

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/logo__adyen_green_rgb_logo.jpg 

One NZ and Ribbon Partner to Deliver Cloud Native Voice Network

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Driving secure, scalable, and future-ready voice services for Aotearoa (New Zealand)

PLANO, Texas, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global leader in real-time communications technology and IP optical networking solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with One New Zealand (One NZ) to introduce cloud native voice technology across Aotearoa (New Zealand). The collaboration underscores Ribbon’s commitment to helping service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure operators worldwide modernize and secure their networks and services.

“Calling remains central to how Kiwis connect every day,” says Ian Sutton, Head of Network Services at One NZ. “By working with Ribbon, we’re making our voice services smart, secure, and future-ready. It’s about giving our customers the best possible experience today, and the resilience they’ll need tomorrow.”

One NZ is leveraging cloud native instances of Ribbon’s Session Border Controller (SBC), Policy and Routing Engine (PSX), Application Management Platform (RAMP), and Analytics to enhance its voice services with smarter, more secure, and highly scalable connectivity designed for today’s cloud environments. These solutions leverage Ribbon’s modern, cloud native software architecture, designed to be easier to scale and manage for both private and public cloud deployments.

Ribbon’s cloud native SBC and PSX work together to provide One NZ with a secure, scalable, and intelligent voice architecture. The SBC enables flexible call capacity, advanced security, and seamless integration with collaboration tools such as Calling for Microsoft Teams, while its microservices and Kubernetes foundation ensure reliability and efficiency.

Complementing this, PSX serves as a centralized control point for network policy, delivering consistent and dynamic routing decisions and applying fraud controls across all regions and points of presence (POPs). A continuous feedback loop between the SBC, PSX, and Ribbon Analytics enables the network to adapt to emerging fraud and spam tactics, paving the way for AI and machine learning capabilities that enable proactive threat detection.

The solution also delivers enhanced fraud detection, identifying and blocking an average of 500,000 suspicious calls every month to mitigate toll fraud, spoofing, and robocalls before they reach customers.  

“We’re proud to partner with One NZ to deliver the cloud native voice services that meet the demands of today’s digital-first world to Aotearoa (New Zealand),” said Pierre-Jean Chalon, Vice President Asia Pacific Sales at Ribbon Communications. “Together, we’re enabling a safer, smarter calling experience for New Zealanders, reflecting One NZ’s commitment to innovation and its ongoing investment in technology to deliver superior outcomes for customers nationwide.”

About Ribbon
Ribbon Communications (Nasdaq: RBBN) delivers secure cloud communications and IP and optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises and critical infrastructure sectors globally. We engage deeply with our customers, helping them modernize their networks for improved competitive positioning and business outcomes in today’s smart, always-on and data-hungry world. Our end-to-end portfolio of communications software and IP Optical networking solutions delivers superior value and innovation by leveraging cloud-native architectures, automation and analytics tools, and leading-edge security.  We maintain a keen focus on our commitments to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters, offering an annual Sustainability Report to our stakeholders. To learn more about Ribbon, please visit rbbn.com

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements  
The information in this release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including those regarding the expected benefits from use of Ribbon Communication’s products, are forward-looking statements. The actual results of Ribbon Communications may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with Ribbon Communications’ business, please refer to the “Risk Factors” section of Ribbon Communications’ most recent annual or quarterly report filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements represent Ribbon Communications’ views only as of the date on which such statement is made and should not be relied upon as representing Ribbon Communications’ views as of any subsequent date. While Ribbon Communications may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point, Ribbon Communications specifically disclaims any obligation to do so.

Investor Contact 
+1 (978) 614-8050
ir@rbbn.com       

Media Contact
Catherine Berthier
+1 (646) 741-1974
cberthier@rbbn.com 

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