Regulated stablecoin infrastructure provider Bastion raised an additional $14.6million in a strategic financing round, bringing its total funding to date to over $40million. The round was led by Coinbase Ventures, with participation from Sony Innovation Fund, a16z crypto, Samsung Next, and Hashed.The new capital will be used to support the adoption of Bastion’s product offerings, which provide enterprises and financial institutions with the tools to issue, hold, and utilise stablecoins at scale in a complia ...

1 of 5 | Idina Menzel, seen at the November "Wicked" premiere in Los Angeles, starred in "Rent." File Photo by John McCoy/UPI | License PhotoOct. 3 (UPI) -- Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced Friday that Rent will make its 4K debut Nov. 18. Next month is the 20th anniversary of the film's Nov. 23, 2005 release.The stage musical premiered in 1996 after 1993 workshops. It ultimately went to Broadway, the West End and toured.Stage stars Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Jesse L. Martin, Wilson J ...

Thayil Jacob Sony George, popularly known as TJS George, passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Friday, October 3. He was 97.A Padma Bhushan awardee, George was widely respected for his incisive writings, often marked by satire and sarcasm.He is survived by his children, Sheba Thayil and author-poet Jeet Thayil.Who was TJS George?TJS George was a renowned journalist and author.He was the Editorial Advisor of The New Indian Express and gained acclaim for his widely read weekly column, Point of Vie ...

Core Insights - Microsoft has significantly raised prices for Xbox Game Pass and current-generation hardware, which is seen as incomprehensible given the current economic climate [2][4] - The Xbox Series X now costs $600, which is $100 more than its launch price five years ago, and the Xbox Series X 2TB is priced at $800, making it more expensive than the PS5 Pro [3] - Xbox has been losing the console sales war against Sony, with estimates suggesting a starting ratio of 2:1 against Sony, which has worsened over time [4] Pricing Strategy - The price hike for Xbox Game Pass contradicts Microsoft's claims of profitability, raising questions about the company's motives—whether it is a greedy move or a sign of desperation due to stagnating subscription growth [4][5] - The subscription service's price increase of 50% to $360 per year lacks coherent justification, potentially alienating both existing and new players [5] Market Position - The current strategy appears to repel consumers, as the Xbox ecosystem feels unnecessary with many games available on rival platforms like PlayStation and PC [5] - For Microsoft to become a gaming leader through Game Pass, it would need to focus on high-quality first-party games, partnerships with third-party titles, and a reasonable subscription price [6][7] Future Outlook - Without significant changes, the long-term viability of the Xbox brand is in question, given the current decisions being made by Microsoft [7]

England have been in a transitional phase this year. They began with a heavy 3-0 defeat to Australia in the Women’s Ashes but bounced back with a commanding 3-0 series win over the West Indies. Their form dipped again against India, losing 1-2 at home, but they made a strong statement in the World Cup warm-up matches, hammering India by 152 runs and chasing down 248 against defending champions Australia.Also Read: Eng W vs SA W Live Score, ICC Women's World Cup 2025South Africa, meanwhile, have shown resil ...

Core Insights - The 2025 Corporate Reputation Index reveals the UK's top 100 companies based on consumer perceptions, with Lego, Lush, Patagonia, and Sony leading the rankings, while X, Evri, Royal Mail, and Ryanair are at the bottom [1][2][3] Company Rankings - The top-ranked companies include: - Lego (1st, score: 81.8) - Lush (2nd, score: 81.6) - Patagonia (3rd, score: 80.2) - Sony (4th, score: 80.1) - M&S (5th, score: 80.1) [7] - The bottom-ranked companies include: - X (100th, score: 56.6) - Evri (99th, score: 60.8) - Royal Mail (98th, score: 61.9) - Ryanair (97th, score: 62.0) [9] Industry Trends - A divide is noted between companies that produce tangible products and those where consumers are the product, with technology and consumer electronics companies performing strongly [3] - Challenger banks like Chase (19th) and Monzo (21st) are gaining ground against traditional banks, indicating a shift towards digital-first innovation in financial services [5] - Discount retailers such as Aldi (17th) and Lidl (28th) are perceived positively, leveraging price as an ethical act, contrasting with traditional grocers [5] Consumer Sentiment - Companies perceived as adding value through reliable products and services are rewarded, while social media companies like X, Meta, and TikTok face reputational challenges due to issues related to content, safety, and governance [3][5] - The report emphasizes that reputation is crucial for companies to navigate crises and maintain consumer trust, especially in the current economic climate [4]

Japan’s Nikkei jumped 721 points or 1.6% reaching 45,675. Kospi also traded 2.7% higher, gaining 93 points to 3,549.Shanghai and Shenzhen also added 0.5% and 0.3% respectively.HSI, on the other hand, was down 0.87% or 237 points to reach 27,049 at 10:00 AM IST.This year’s global market rally has been driven largely by companies investing billions in artificial intelligence, as traders rush to get a piece of the action.The surge has pushed valuations of some of the world’s biggest firms to eye-watering level ...

HONG KONG: Tech stocks propelled Tokyo’s Nikkei higher on Friday as most Asian markets advanced amid optimism about US interest rate cuts. Investors maintained positive sentiment heading into the weekend despite ongoing concerns about a partial US government shutdown. Global market rallies this year have been primarily driven by massive corporate investments in artificial intelligence technologies. Traders continue chasing AI-related opportunities, pushing some major company valuations to unprecedented leve ...

Core Viewpoint - LG Electronics India's IPO of Rs 11,607 crore is not merely a fundraising effort but a strategic move to enhance its market position and prepare for future growth in an underpenetrated market [1][3]. Company Overview - The IPO, priced between Rs 1,080 and Rs 1,140 per share, could value the company at approximately Rs 77,400 crore, making it one of India's most valuable consumer durables firms [4]. - The offering is an offer-for-sale by the South Korean parent company, reducing its stake by 15 percent [5]. - LG ranks as the second-largest appliance and electronics company in India, following Samsung, and is investing in expansion with a $600 million (around Rs 5,000 crore) plant in Andhra Pradesh [6]. Financial Position - The company is described as cash-rich, debt-free, and generating free cash flow year-on-year, with plans to utilize its own accruals for capacity expansion [7]. - For FY25, LG India reported a net profit of Rs 2,203 crore on a revenue of Rs 24,631 crore [9]. Market Dynamics - Recent GST rate cuts on televisions, air conditioners, and dishwashers have improved affordability and driven premiumization in the market [8]. - The sector is projected to grow at an annual rate of 12 percent over the next five years, supported by rising incomes, urbanization, and deeper appliance penetration [10]. Growth Prospects - The company expects continued momentum through the Diwali and wedding seasons, with significant growth potential due to low penetration across various product categories [9].

The Xbox Console Is Almost Certainly DeadMURRRAAAAY6 min read·Just nowJust now--Press enter or click to view image in full sizePhoto by Billy Freeman on UnsplashI hate to say it, but the Xbox console as we know it is done. Microsoft has reduced the brand to little more than an expense line on its balance sheet, and it no longer delivers the value to justify its existence. This company has a long history of shutting down projects that don’t perform — Zune, Windows Phone, Kinect — and all the signs suggest Xb ...