Epic Games said late on Friday that it has asked a court to stop what it saw as Apple’s retaliation against the “Fortnite” creator after the iPhone maker terminated Epic Games’ account on its App Store.
Epic Games filed for a preliminary injunction that would put its game back in the App Store and restore its developer account. The filing was made in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
It argued that Epic Games is “likely to suffer irreparable harm” in the absence of a preliminary injunction and that “the balance of harms tips sharply in Epic’s favor.”
The filing described the iPhone maker as a “monopolizt” that maintains its monopolies by “explicitly prohibiting any competitive entry.”
Late last week, Apple terminated Epic Games’ account on its App Store amid a legal battle over the iPhone maker’s in-app payment guidelines and accusations they constitute a monopoly.
Apple said last week its move will not affect Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, a software tool relied on by hundreds of other app makers.
But the move meant iPhone users will not be able to download “Fortnite” or other Epic titles through the Apple App Store.
“This was a clear warning to any other developer that would dare challenge Apple’s monopolies: follow our rules or we will cut you off from a billion iOS consumers — challenge us and we will destroy your business,” Epic Games said in Friday’s filing.
Apple pulled Epic Games after the popular games creator implemented a feature to let iPhone users make in-app purchases directly, rather than using Apple’s in-app purchase system, which charges commissions of 30 percent.
Apple had said it would allow “Fortnite” back into the store if Epic removed the direct payment feature. But Epic refused to do so, saying complying with Apple’s request would be “to collude with Apple to maintain their monopoly over in-app payments on iOS.”
Epic Games asks court to prevent what it describes as Apple’s ‘retaliation’
https://arab.news/y4vce
Epic Games asks court to prevent what it describes as Apple’s ‘retaliation’
- iPhone maker terminated Epic Games’ account on its App Store
Islamic finance in Oman poised for 25% growth: Fitch
RIYADH: Oman’s Islamic finance sector is on track to reach $45 billion this year, rising from $36 billion at the end of 2025, supported by a favorable macroeconomic environment, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.
The rating agency said the anticipated 25 percent year-on-year growth will be underpinned by increasing demand for sukuk as both a funding mechanism and a public policy tool, alongside government-led initiatives and growing grassroots demand for Shariah-compliant financial products.
Sukuk accounted for around 60 percent of US dollar-denominated debt issuance in 2025, a sharp decline from 94.3 percent previously, with the remaining share comprising conventional bonds. Despite this progress, Fitch highlighted ongoing structural challenges, including the absence of Islamic treasury bills and derivatives, an underdeveloped Omani rial sukuk and bond market, and the limited role of Islamic non-bank financial institutions.
The performance of Oman’s banking sector continues to reflect steady advancement toward Vision 2040, the country’s long-term development strategy focused on economic diversification, private sector expansion, and enhanced financial resilience.
Operating conditions remain supportive for both Islamic and conventional banks in Oman, buoyed by elevated, though gradually moderating, oil prices, the report noted.
Expanding credit flows — particularly to non-financial corporates and households — are helping drive the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and boost domestic investment. These trends are reinforcing Oman’s efforts to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons and build a more diversified economic base.
Fitch projects loan growth of 6 to 7 percent in 2026, fueled by rising demand across both retail and corporate segments. In addition, the proposed 5 percent personal income tax, scheduled for implementation from 2028, is expected to have only a limited overall impact on banks, according to the agency.
Islamic banking in Oman was introduced following the Central Bank of Oman’s preliminary licensing guidelines issued in May 2011, which allowed the establishment of full-fledged Islamic banks and Islamic banking windows operating alongside conventional institutions.
This regulatory framework was formally entrenched in December 2012 through a royal decree amending the Banking Law, requiring the creation of Shariah supervisory boards and granting the central bank authority to establish a High Shariah Supervisory Authority.
