June 13, 2022 - The Chicago Journal

Stibits Crypto App Provides a System to Understand and Enjoy Trading in the Digital Industry

Leah Cooper on June 13, 2022

The Blockchain industry has been gaining traction in the last few years, sparking the interest of countless people who are now considering joining the community. However, they are repelled by the seemingly intimidating and complex terminologies, processes, trends, and many other things. That is why Stibits is on a mission, not just to bring as many people as they can into the industry but to dispel the wrong perceptions about cryptocurrency.

The Stibits app can help upcoming, and new crypto enthusiasts get a better hold on their digital resources while expanding the networks of established users. The algorithm and platform of Stibits provide seamless, simple, and secure transactions through various ways like personifying Blockchain technologies intended for optimal use. With the Stibits app, the numerous security risks attached to the Blockchain, along with all other coins and platforms, no longer exist and have no effect because user data is concealed through encryption in the most secure way possible, making it nearly impossible to hack.

The Stibits app provides security and convenience to crypto users and has a complete ecosystem of features that allows enthusiasts to grow and expand their digital assets. Their interface is first-time user-friendly, which makes it enjoyable and hassle-free. The Stibits app is also a great tool to integrate with business. Of course, the convenience that Stibits offers is becoming an avenue where one can manage their digital resources and assets all in one place.

Ben Roshi Moataz is a senior Blockchain development engineer who, at an early age, had a brewing passion for technology and discovering how it works. “My interest in technology led me to start learning to program. Although many years have passed since then, I still have the same passion for technology and computer programming that I’ve always had.” says the development engineer.

Ben built Stibits’s technology team and personally led the development of software that allowed the company to be launched. He has made direct and significant contributions to most of the major technical systems, both server and client. Until today, he has dedicated much of his time to designing and coding high-value and high-technical-risk systems. These serve as the base for executive decisions with deep technical knowledge.

“I believe blockchain is what our increasingly interconnected world needs to ensure a fair and just digital society,” says the brilliant app designer. In the Stibits’ specialized platform, users can send and receive cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based assets by providing basic information such as name, phone number, or email address. By doing so, Stibits revolutionized the process of sending and receiving cryptocurrencies far easier for users without technical proficiency in the new and emerging world of blockchain technology and crypto.

Stibits has made it so simple to send and receive cryptocurrency that users with no prior knowledge or understanding of the underlying blockchain technology would be able to access, navigate, and enjoy the systems on the same level as those who already possess the technical experience.

To know more about Stibits, you can visit this website.

NFT and Blockchain Technology Allows Ukraine to Preserve Cultural DNA

Claire Peterson on June 13, 2022

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has cost many lives, but it also presented a new danger – the loss of Ukraine’s architectural beauties and museums. The fear that these cultural sites would be lost to time pressured citizens into action in order for them not only survive themselves but pass on their culture as well by preserving what they can through NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).

Last Saturday, Michael Chobanian announced that the Blockchain Association of Ukraine plans to digitize “every single piece” they can at Consensus 2022. This includes art and history pieces as well.

“Today, we are announcing a new project [aimed at] how we can save the DNA of the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian culture, and Ukrainian history,” said Chobnian. “Right now, they are bombing museums, churches, and cultural sites. So before they are destroyed, we’re going to digitize every single piece of art or history that we have in museums. We’re going to NFT it and put it on the blockchain.”

Crypto and blockchain are playing a significant role in helping Ukraine improve its defenses against Russian invasion, generating over $135 million from donors worldwide, according to analytics firm Crystal Blockchain

The development of this project is a joint effort between Ukraine’s blockchain community.

Illia Polosukhin, co-founder of NEAR Protocol revealed that they are working on a project with the aim to improve supply chains using blockchain technology.

“It is extremely important to bring all the Ukrainian heritage on-chain and offer it to the world and preserve it forever,” said Polosukhin.

The project aims to create an online window into Ukraine’s rich cultural heritage, allowing anyone with internet access and a little curiosity about their country’s history to explore the items in one place.

“It’s a national project; it’s a private project,” said Chobanian. “It’s what we do as the Blockchain Association of Ukraine, and this way, no one can delete it.”

Chobanian has been a major player in the cryptocurrency world, managing donations for the Crypto Fund of Ukraine and founding Kuna Exchange.

The first government NFT project was created to preserve facts about the war and serves as a defiance against Putin’s disinformation campaign called MetaHistory NFT Museum. NFTs bought on MetaHistory will direct profits to fund the latest NFT preservation project.

Crypto Market Volatility Leads to Bitcoin Value Falling Down 21.33%

Claire Peterson on June 13, 2022

The crypto market crash last month left its mark on the world, and it is still being felt today as some coins continue their downward trajectory. Bitcoin has been hit especially hard, losing more value than ever before in recent weeks.

Bitcoin is currently valued at $24,677.65 as of this writing. It has been down 21.33% in the last seven days, sitting at a market cap of $472.55 billion.

The entire crypto market is reeling in fear as Bitcoin refuses to stabilize, with many investors worried it will lead them away from putting any money into more investments.

The recent crash of Bitcoin has been felt by many other cryptocurrencies as well.

Ethereum has seen another setback following its record-setting fall last year. The coin is currently trading at $1,269, crashing down 33% in the past seven days. Other coins like Dogecoin or Cardano have also lost double digit amounts in just seven days.

The crypto market lost more than $100 billion in a single day this past weekend, following United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s dim outlook for cryptocurrencies.

The Bitcoin market cap is currently sitting at $472 billion, giving bulls a silver lining and a chance to increase their control over alternative cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin has seen its value steadily decline for the past seven days, dropping from around $32,000.

“Crypto appears to be losing the ideal opportunity to illustrate its forgotten function as a hedge against inflation,” said Rich Blake of cryptocurrency startup Uphold.

The rise in inflation rates led to an increase of Bitcoin’s volatility and played a role with the coin plunge.

The crypto market has also fallen victim to the volatility of traditional markets in recent months. For example, when the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 2.5% last week while Nasdaq went down by 3.5%.

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates next week. Janet Yellen has warned against placing cryptocurrency in 401k plans, saying it’s not clear how regular investors would be compensated for their risks if they invest into these digital coins or tokens.

The Philippines May See Binance Operating Within as CEO Changpeng Zhao and Team Work to Obtain Licenses

Claire Peterson on June 13, 2022

In light of recent events, Binance has shifted its focus to obtaining a virtual assets service provider and e-money issuer license from the Philippines’ bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (The Central Bank of the Philippines).

The CEO of Binance has revealed that he plans on acquiring two licenses which will be crucial for their future operations in the Philippines

The Binance team is working towards obtaining a license that will allow them to legally facilitate exchange of digital assets in their native country. This means people can convert crypto into fiat currencies.

The CEO of Binance has announced that the company is close to acquiring an e-money issuer license from within their borders, which would allow them to create electronic cash for customers.

Zhao sought to form partnerships and invest in banks operating within the Philippines. He also announced his intention of expanding operations into this market, which would mark an expansion for their business.

“We are interested in investing in traditional financial service centers, including payment service providers and banks,” said Zhao. “We want to help bring those businesses into the blockchain world.”

The CEO of Binance highlighted that the platform’s expansion into the Philippines can be attributed to both its payment services and people’s advanced understanding about crypto.

Reacting to the recent reports by international news agency Reuters, Binance CEO Zhao Xianlong expressed his frustrations regarding their negative coverage of Binance operations after announcing his plans in the Philippines.

In his address to the audience, he said that Reuters published rumors without providing concrete evidence and urged people not be swayed by them. He assured the audience that Binance is not involved in any illicit activities.

In a surprising move, Binance published an open letter on their blog two days ago addressing the allegations Reuters raised. The post accused this news outlet of writing articles with malicious intent and spreading misinformation.

AC Milan Sees RedBird Take Over Elliott Management As New Owners

Claire Peterson on June 13, 2022

RedBird Capital Partners has shown heavy interest in European football, having invested in England club Liverpool and second-tier team Toulouse. Recently they shifted their attention to Italy by securing AC Milan as one of the biggest deals yet with the recently crowned Serie A champions.

The AC Milan club was under the management of yet another New York based investment fund Elliott Management, which took over after former owner Li Yonghong defaulted on €300 million worth high-interest debt.

RedBird’s first project was Toulouse, a French club that recently won the second division to earn a promotion into France’s top flight. The hunt for more European football teams continued as Redbird looked at clubs throughout Europe with executives investing two years in looking at different places until they found what was right for them.

The fund saw an opportunity when talks between Elliott Management and Investcorp continued for months without producing a deal.

Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird, swooped in with a €1.2 billion deal to acquire the club. As a result, Elliott Management was provided with €600 million of the funding and will retain a minority stake.

The Italian giants have been revitalized under new management. After more than a decade-long drought, they won their first Scudetto in eleven years thanks to manager Stefano Piolo and technical director Paolo Maldini’s astute decision making skills. RedBird seeks to help the club maintain its momentum.

Although there were concerns regarding Maldini’s role following the takeover, Cardinale has met with the director to discuss his extension with the club.

The stadium has not been remodeled in years, and RedBird plans on building a new, state-of the art venue that will increase club revenue streams while also making matches more exciting for supporters.

“A brand of this scale, like AC Milan, should have infrastructure that is indicative of its football prowess and global potential,” said Cardinale. “We’ve had a lot of experience with stadium projects in the U.S. Milan and Italy deserve a world-class stadium that houses the best of sports and entertainment on a global scale.”

Reference:

New York Investment Fund RedBird Takes Over Italian Football Giants AC Milan

Inbound International Flight Travelers No Longer Required to Take COVID Test in the U.S.

Claire Peterson on June 13, 2022

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it made traveling abroad difficult for many people. This led countries to close their borders until they could be properly vaccinated while others put up a strict COVID test requirement.

During Trump’s administration, the country put up a testing requirement in 2021. With Biden’s presidency, the requirement grew stricter.

The airline industry required travelers from abroad to present a negative COVID test. Those who were traveling by car were not required to undergo the test.

However, the Biden administration recently lifted a requirement on Sunday ending one of most prolonged travel restrictions during pandemic times.

The administration was asked to abandon this requirement by airlines because it significantly reduced demand for international trips.

The CEO of American Airlines, Robert Isom expressed his frustration with the current flight rule in Washington D.C., calling it “nonsensical.”

Several figures in the industry have celebrated this decision, which will undoubtedly be good news for many people looking to travel again.

“The Biden administration is to be commended for this action, which will welcome back visitors from around the world and accelerate the recovery of the U.S. travel industry,” said Roger Dow, president of the U.S. Travel Association. “International inbound travel is vitally important to businesses and workers across the country who have struggled to regain losses from this valuable sector.”

Mike Liptak, the vice president of government relations for the Travel Technology Association, said that travel and tourism are crucial to recovering from pandemic

The CEO of Airlines for America, Nick Calio announced his excitement about the decision and said they are looking forward to working with the Biden administration in order to make sure air travel policies prioritize safety as well as customer experience.

Senior Biden administration officials have announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will reassess their decision after 90 days.

“If there is a need to reinstate a pre-departure testing requirement – including due to a new, concerning variant – CDC will not hesitate to act,” said the official.

Read also: Shift in Grocery Shopping Habits Can Be Attributed to Soaring Food Price

Reference:

The U.S. Lifts COVID-19 Testing Requirement for Inbound International Air Travelers

Ezra Miller Accused By Activist Parents of Grooming Their Daughter

Edward Anderson on June 13, 2022

Ezra Miller, the subject of recent attention for all wrong reasons, is facing more trouble as accusations arose that he groomed Tokata Iron Eyes– a prominent activist’s daughter who filed paperwork this week revealing their relationship put her at risk.

Miller’s parents accused him of being cult-like and psychologically manipulative. They said that he uses violence, intimidation or threat towards them for his own gain.

Miller was 23 when he first met Tokata at Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota in 2016. The actor quickly took an “apparently innocent” liking to Tokata.

When Ezra Miller offered to pay for her college tuition, the girl’s parents alleged that he would use this as leverage against their daughter in an attempt to control her.

However, Tokata dropped out of school in December 2021. Tokata’s parents traveled to Miller’s home in Vermont without her bank cards, license, or keys.

When Tokata finally made it home, she needed to detox for three weeks before reuniting with Miller. However, she would reunite with the actor, and the two flew over to Hawaii.

Sara could not contain her emotions and expressed them through this social media platform Twitter.

“My family is living a nightmare,” she tweeted. “#EzraMiller has brainwashed my daughter Tokata Iron Eyes, physically assaulted her, is perpetuating cult-like behaviors and emotional abuse. Ezra’s dangerous behaviors are escalating with no accountability from #WarnerBros #MMIW”

In the last seven days, Tokata joined Instagram and quickly built up a following of thousands. In one video, it was shown that she is with Miller. Another post gave context to the ordeal with a lengthy statement.

On June 8, Sara Jumping Eagle tweeted that Tokata has not had her phone since January. She accused the actor of controlling her daughter’s social media account and asked the help of the Twitter community for information on Tokata’s whereabouts.

The judge has issued a protective order that will prevent Miller from harassing or approaching the Iron Eyes family. However, he cannot be served due to his unknown location.

A hearing is scheduled for July 12.

Reference:

Ezra Miller Accused of Grooming a Girl For Six Years

The USMNT Stood in Solidarity for Gun Control During Their Friendly Against Uruguay

Claire Peterson on June 13, 2022

The recent shootings have prompted many celebrities, musicians, and athletes to voice their concerns to Congress, asking for stricter gun control legislation. The United States Men’s National team let the world know about their call for gun control in their friendly draw against Uruguay when they wore orange armbands to stand in solidarity for the cause.

Following the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the national soccer team penned a letter to Congress.

“We are often asked how in a place like the United States there can be such horrific gun violence,” the letter started. “We are also asked why the representatives of the people do nothing even though most Americans want them to take action. Those of us who play professionally abroad experience none of these things in our daily lives, yet we return home to a place where mass shootings are frighteningly common, and the victims are often defenseless children.”

“Those who have lost their lives to senseless gun violence — and their families and friends that are left grieving — are very much in our thoughts and prayers. But like the all-too-often moments of silence that we use at our matches to honor the victims, our thoughts and prayers won’t solve this problem. Beyond the death and crippling injuries, the gun violence causes so much more damage to the mental health of children, their parents, teachers, and all Americans who worry whether they or someone they love will be among the next victims of a mass shooting.”

“Our ability to affect change is limited, but yours is not. You could vote this week to address gun violence in America, and in fact, you will be given that opportunity. In the coming days, the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on several bills that would address this serious issue. Please vote yes on all the bills being considered.”

The USMNT was not alone on the weekend as other teams across various professional sports in the United States wore orange armbands to stand in solidarity with “Wear Orange Weekend,” an annual event that calls for the end to gun violence.

The team drafted the letter after U.S. manager Greg Berhalter suggested it. The manager was motivated by the shooting of Hadiyah Pendleton, who was only 15 when she died in 2013.

“It’s not only about the mass shootings that you see every day, but it’s just about the needless gun violence and the kids and the people that are dying every day,” he explained.

It was not the first time such a movement made waves across the sport, as the United States Soccer Federation has worked hard in the past to incorporate social justice messaging with the senior national teams. For example, the USMNT adopted the “Be the Change” slogan, which was echoed in the letter and has worn warmup gear that supports the Black Lives Matter movement.

Americans’ Wealth Takes a Hit from Stock Market Collapse

Edward Anderson on June 13, 2022

America’s wealth took a massive dip thanks to the stock market’s continuous downward spiral.

The Federal Reserve Bank’s data on Thursday revealed that the net worth of households and non-profit organizations dropped in Q1, from $0.5 trillion to just over $149.3 trillion dollars. This is a notable turnaround compared with gains starting in mid-2020 when prices for homes went up, as well as equity stocks, doing well after being sold at higher rates.

The recent stock market movement reflects a sharp decline in the value of corporate equities, with $3 trillion lost from directly and indirectly held stocks. As a result, the holdings have a total value of $43.6 trillion.

The US stock market is in turmoil and there’s no sign of it letting up. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 fell nearly 5% within the first three months, while the Nasdaq composite index plummeted nearly 9%. This makes this quarter one for all time lows since 2020 when the pandemic struck.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most significant factors behind this economic downturn, but it’s not the sole factor. Oil prices have skyrocketed as well; inflation continues its upward trend with each passing day, and there were even some interest rate hikes by The Federal Reserve which might’ve had an effect on things too! In addition, Russia began their invasion into Ukraine,complicating matters further.

The Federal Reserve has released data that shows the rise in real estate values was a contributor to the stock market crashes, reaching a $1.7 trillion increase. The consistent high rate of personal savings also contributed to the decline.

The household net worth to disposable income ratio continues to be near its record high. In addition, this figure is much higher than before pandemic levels were reached during 2019.

However, the Fed revealed the strong growth in home mortgages and consumer credit, leading to an annual pace of 8.3%.

Home prices continue to rise, mortgage debt increases by 8.6%. Americans are taking out more credit cards and auto loans in a bid for financial security, leading consumer credit to increase by 8.7%.

Reference:

Stock Market Among Other Factors to a Wealth Decline in Early 2022

Apple’s iOS 16 Update to Finally Bring Always-On Display

Jason Robinson on June 13, 2022

People have been eagerly awaiting the next big thing from Apple, and this year is no exception. The anticipation only builds as people anticipate what new devices will be released with iOS 16 set for a release.

iPhones have been running on iOS 15 for quite some time now but many are eager to see what’s coming next. At WWDC this year, it was announced that an upcoming update will bring one of the most significant changes – always-on display on lock screen

The always-on display has been a feature that’s long missing from iPhone lineups but is available on Android phones for a couple of years now.

The new feature allows a portion of the phone’s screen to light up, even when locked. This can be used as an alert for notifications like messages and calls.

The AOD feature was originally scheduled for the iPhone 13 lineup, but they decided to push this plan further. One factor in delaying an update is how much energy it can drain from the phone’s batteries.

The AOD is a feature that was available for the Apple Watch Series 5 but it came at the cost of reduced brightness.

iOS 16 offers a number of features that will change the way you use your phone. The long-awaited display option and new lock screen customization are two such changes, allowing users to customize what they see when glance at their locked screens.

The software is currently in its beta stages and will be set to release this fall.

The AOD will be available exclusively for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone Pro Max models, excluding the regular iPhone 14.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests the iOS 16 will include improvements to the system’s multitasking and windowing features, along with the AOD. Developer Steve Troughton-Smith tweeted that Apple is also in the process of engineering iOS to benefit iPad users.

Reference:

What the Always-On Display Brings to Apple’s iOS 16

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© 2023 The Chicago Journal.
All Rights Reserved