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Sci-Tech

World Economic Forum EDISON Alliance Speeding Global Digital Inclusion

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World Economic Forum’s EDISON Alliance Impacts Over 1 Billion Lives, Accelerating Global Digital Inclusion.

  • The EDISON Alliance has connected over 1 billion people globally to essential digital services like healthcare, education and finance through a network of 200+ partners in over 100 countries.
  • Investments in bridging the universal digital divide could bring $8.7 trillion usd/ $11.7 trillion cad in benefits to developing countries, home to more than 70% of the Alliance’s beneficiaries.
  • The Alliance’s 300+ partner initiatives, including digital dispensaries in India, economy digitalization programmes in Rwanda and blended learning in Bangladesh, continue to shape a digitally equitable society.
  • Follow the Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2024 here and on social media using #SDIM24.

New York, USA, September 2024 – The EDISON Alliance, a World Economic Forum initiative, has successfully connected over 1 billion people globally – ahead of its initial 2025 target – to essential digital services in healthcare, education and finance in over 100 countries. Since its launch in 2021, the Alliance has united a diverse network of 200+ partners from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society to create innovative solutions for digital inclusion.


Despite living in a digitally connected world, 2.6 billion people are currently not connected to the internet.

This digital exclusion impacts access to healthcare, financial services and education, contributing to significant economic costs for both the individuals involved and their countries’ economies.

Klaus Schwab- German mechanical engineer, economist and founder of the World Economic Forum.


“Ensuring universal access to the digital world is not merely about connectivity, but a fundamental pillar of equality and opportunity,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman of the World Economic Forum. “Let us reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of their geographic or socioeconomic status, has access to meaningful connectivity.”

The Alliance has made substantial progress in South Asia and Africa.

In Madya Pradesh, India, The EDISON Alliance fostered the Digital Dispensaries initiative, a collaboration between the Apollo Hospitals Group and a US telecom infrastructure provider. This partnership has successfully delivered quality and affordable healthcare, improving patient engagement, addressing gender health disparities and optimizing patient convenience, and making it a scalable model for delivering patient-centric healthcare through digital solutions. Other partner projects improved digital access through economy digitalization programmes in Rwanda, provided solutions for bridging the education gap in Bangladesh with blended learning techniques and explored solutions to reduce financial exclusion in Pakistan.



“Everybody, no matter where they were born or where they live, should have access to the digital services that are essential for life in the 21st century,” said Hans Vestberg, Chair of the EDISON Alliance, Chairman and CEO of Verizon. “Making sure that everybody can get online is too big a challenge for any one company or government, so the EDISON Alliance brings people together to find practical, community-based solutions that can scale globally.”

By driving digital inclusion through its 300+ partner initiatives, the Alliance contributes to unlocking the immense potential of the digital economy. Achieving universal internet access by 2030 could require $446 billion usd/ $600 billion cad, but would yield $8.7 trillion usd/ $11.7 trillion cad in benefits for developing countries. This highlights the significant potential of digital inclusion to drive economic growth and improve lives. The EDISON Alliance has made substantial contributions to this goal, with over 70% of its impact concentrated in developing nations.

The milestone of connecting 1 billion lives was initially targeted for 2025.

Achieving this ahead of schedule demonstrates the effectiveness of its partners, through collaboration and targeted projects, in bridging the digital divide and providing access to critical services to underserved communities.

Beyond digital access, the rapidly evolving technological landscape – marked by such advancements as artificial intelligence, presents opportunities and challenges. The EDISON Alliance remains committed to ensuring that marginalized communities can fully benefit from these developments and avoid being left behind. As technology continues to advance, the Alliance will focus on expanding digital access, fostering innovation and addressing the digital gender gap to create a more inclusive digital future.

About the Sustainable Impact Meetings 2024


The Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2024 are being held this week in New York. Over 1,000 global leaders from diverse sectors and geographies will come together to assess and renew global action around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a series of impact-oriented multistakeholder dialogues. The meetings are an integral part of the Forum’s year-round work on sustainable development and its progress.

Finance

Crypto and E-wallets are Future of Gaming Payments

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The gaming industry is undergoing a significant shift. The payments ecosystem is evolving towards a new era of cryptocurrencies and e-wallets and away from conventional online banking accounts. According to our friends at LotteryCritic.com, the impact of this changing payments ecosystem is multifaceted, affecting everything from the speed of transactions to how funds are stored and managed. Freddie Smith, CEO of LotteryCritic, commented:

Integrating crypto and e-wallet payments into the gaming industry is particularly advantageous because it eliminates the need for third-party payment processors. This means that users don’t have to go through traditional banking channels, which can be slow and unreliable. Moreover, crypto and e-wallet payments are more secure than traditional systems since they use sophisticated encryption algorithms.  

Advantages and Opportunities of Cryptocurrency and E-wallets in the Gaming Industry

Cryptocurrency has widespread recognition as a form of payment, and the gaming industry is no exception. Many online gaming platforms now accept cryptos. Therefore, players can use them to buy in-game items or to place bets. The use of cryptos in the gaming industry offers several benefits. They include lower transaction fees, fast and secure transactions, and anonymity for players. E-wallets have also become increasingly popular in the gaming industry. Players use them to store funds and make transactions within the gaming platform. E-wallets offer several advantages, such as ease of use, fast dealings, and storing multiple currencies in one account. With the integration of e-wallets and cryptos, players can make quick and secure transactions.

The adoption of cryptos and e-wallets in the gaming industry has also opened up new revenue streams for gaming companies. For example, some gaming companies now offer in-game purchases using cryptocurrencies. Thus, allowing players to buy items using their digital assets. This has created a new market for gaming companies and has provided an opportunity for them to increase their revenue.

Challenges in the Adoption of Cryptocurrency and E-wallets in the Gaming Industry

The gaming industry has seen a rise in adopting crypto and e-wallets as payment. While these payment methods offer several benefits, adopting cryptos and e-wallets has challenges. One of the significant challenges is the volatility of crypto prices. Crypto prices can fluctuate rapidly and unpredictably. Thus, it can affect the value of in-game purchases made using cryptocurrencies.

The unpredictability can create confusion for both gaming companies and players. Besides, there is also a need for more regulation in the cryptocurrency market. The lack of rules makes it difficult for gaming firms to operate within a legal framework.

Moreover, the lack of regulation also exposes players to security risks, such as hacking and theft. Integrating cryptocurrencies and e-wallets into the gaming industry can also present technical challenges. Investors must ensure systems and processes used for transactions are secure and user-friendly. This requires significant investment in technology and infrastructure. The cost implications can hinder small and medium-sized gaming firms from investing.  For the Silo, Elizabeth Kerr.

Pi- the only crypto you can mine from your smartphone.

Finance

Threat to Prosperity: Canada Should Mind Business Investment Gap

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August, 2022 – Business investment in Canada is so weak that capital per member of the labour force is falling, and the implications for incomes and competitiveness are ominous. Governments, particularly the federal government, need to get serious about growth to get workers more of the tools they require to compete and thrive, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute.

In “Decapitalization: Weak Business Investment Threatens Canadian Prosperity”, authors William B.P. Robson and Mawakina Bafale write that since 2015 Canada’s stock of capital per available worker has been declining and its rate of gross investment per worker has been well below that in the United States and other OECD countries.

Capital= Business “bread and butter”

They examine why Canada might be lagging as well as what action to take.

“Business investment and productivity are closely related: productivity growth inspires investment by creating opportunities, and investment drives productivity growth by equipping workers with more and better tools,” says Robson. “Investment per available worker lower in Canada than abroad tells us that businesses see less opportunity in Canada, and prefigures weaker growth in Canadian earnings and living standards than in other OECD countries.”

New investment per available worker in Canada, adjusted for purchasing power, was only slightly above 50 cents for every dollar of investment per available United States worker in 2021 – lower than at any point since the beginning of the 1990s. In addition, in 2022, OECD projections show that Canadian workers will likely enjoy only 73 cents of new capital for every dollar enjoyed by their counterparts in the OECD excluding the US, according to Robson and Bafale.

The authors’ calculations from OECD projections for 2022 show $20,400 of new capital per available worker this year for OECD countries excluding the United States, compared to $14,800 for Canada.

In other words, new capital per available worker in Canada will be more than one-quarter less than in those countries this year.

Declines in the stock of machinery and equipment (M&E) and intellectual property (IPP) per member of the workforce are particularly worrisome, the authors explain, because those types of capital may be particularly important for economy-wide productivity. “Whatever special messages the recent M&E and IPP numbers may convey, the message from stocks of business capital overall is clear: the average member of Canada’s labour force began 2022 with less capital to work with than she or he had in 2014,” says Bafale.

Robson and Bafale identify a few probable causes for Canada’s dismal investment performance. These include: weak business in the natural resource industries; restricted access to finance for small and mid-size firms; a loss in Canada’s competitive edge in business taxation, notably against the United States; an uncongenial environment for IP investment; regulatory uncertainly; unpredictable fiscal policy; and governments’ in-house spending and transfers to households that are steering resources into consumption and housing rather than non-residential investment.

Is business investment capital trajectory predetermined?

“The prospect that Canadians will find themselves increasingly relegated to lower value-added activities relative to workers in the United States and elsewhere, who are raising their productivity and earnings faster, should spur Canadian policymakers to action,” conclude Robson and Bafale. “The first step is to recognize that recent trends are a symptom of threats to Canada’s prosperity and competitiveness – that low business investment is a problem that governments can and should address.”

Supplemental- Are you a small Canadian business frustrated with the difficulties involved in accessing capital? For example, our experience has shown that the multitude of Business Development Corporations operate with autonomy but without accountability, poor vision and nepotism. Essentially, gleaning business plans and strategies before revealing ‘jump through these application hoops” which include personal finance and personal life details. It is sobering to discover that they also receive a hefty commission % for every applicant they ‘certify as successful’. Do you agree or have you had a more positive experience? We want to hear from you in the comments below.

Finance

Why Financial Industry Needs To ‘Get Real’ About Cyber Security

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Why the Financial Sector?

Within the global sector of cyber security, the two major areas that are constantly under attack are financial and governmental. Financial organizations that hold consumer data, in particular those that provide financial services to retail and commercial customers, including banks, investment companies, real estate firms, retail banking and insurance companies, are an obvious target for the simple fact that this is where the money is. At the end of the day, unless an attack is of a personal nature, in which the reputation of an individual or business is targeted, monetary assets are the endgame.

Now imagine a cyber threat the same as you would a burglar walking down the street. When a thief leaves their home, they do not necessarily know what they are going to target, unless they have done some reconnaissance and are after something specific. In most cases, however, the target itself is not premeditated. And a house which is more vulnerable and has less defences, will always be the first point of call. Given the choice between a house with an open window and lights out, and a house with attack dogs, security cameras and search lights, nine times out of ten a burglar will take the opportunity to infiltrate the house with the open window. Why? Because it is easier and quicker to break into this house successfully.

Image result for cyberattack

The same applies within the finance industry. If there is a vulnerability, it will be the first target. In response, banks and financial institutions require tailored and sophisticated security to support their systems and people, and to defend against an onslaught of complex and aggressive cyber-attacks. Not only must security compliance within the financial sector be tenfold, but it is essential that security precautions evolve, to mirror the growing threat landscape.

But as new cyber threats develop daily, this is easier said than done.

Anti-Fraud Systems 

To uphold compliance, and elements such as GDPR, antifraud systems within the finance industry have developed significantly over the last few years to safeguard credentials. To do this a combination of key codes, two factor authentication, voice ID, behavioral analysis, one-time passcodes, protective messaging, and digital fingerprinting have been widely integrated.

In fact, if you look at the document, ‘Comparison of banking providers’ fraud controls’, from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the majority of banks use a combination of these systems. With organisations including the Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax and HSBC, using touch identification. An element that would seem almost impossible to recreate virtually.

But cyber criminals have a concerningly accurate knowledge of the internal workings of banking and banking systems. And, in 2019, an arena known on the dark web as Genesis Market was uncovered. Within Genesis Market, digital fingerprints, stolen from PC’s, were/are sold. And, with each fingerprint, a user’s digital identity provides the means to bypass security measures and gain access to accounts.

According to darknetstats, Genesis Market is accessible by invitation alone. Once in, not only are fingerprints available, but so are passwords, credit card information, cookies and more.

Captain Kirk eye scanned in Wrath of Khan.
Admiral Kirk retina scan in progress. Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

It is no wonder that retina scanners are developing in the biometrics/banking sphere.

Internal Threats

It can be argued that the reason why many cyber criminals know so much about the inner workings of financial organisations is because, at one point or another, many worked legitimately within the industry. Internal teams pose as much of a threat as external attacks. In every Bond film there is always an insider guy.

Sean Bean Thomas Mason Ludlow Solid Shirt from GoldenEye | TheTake | Sean bean, Ludlow, Image
The Insider guy in 1995’s James Bond film GoldenEye. Alec Trevelyan (006), aka Janus.

But whether an attack is malicious or accidental, internal security breaches are regular occurrences. Which us why User Behavior Analytics is crucial to understand the actions within a team, and to highlight and stop unusual activity before the damage is done. 

Another element that is important to recognize with regards to internal threats, is that many employees/insiders are completely unaware that they are a threat in the first place. Take, for instance, an employee working remotely. This employee may be sat at a local café where they decide to work on a company device. If this device was unknowingly hacked while using a different Wi-Fi, the user may be completely unaware that they are spreading malicious malware via their device throughout the company.

Ransomware

Say a crime group has gained access to personal accounts. The next logical step is to blackmail the victim/organization via ransomware. Unfortunately, as a public security breach would cause mass panic and many potential lawsuits, banks will often pay off cyber criminals into an anonymous cryptocurrency account, rather than lose client data. Crime groups know this.

Sometimes victims speak out, but this does not always end well.

Take Travelex, the currency exchange company, for instance. Following an attack by a Sodinokibi ransomware in January, $6 million usd was demanded in exchange for 5GB of personal data. Since the attack, Travelex has fallen into administration, with PwC saying that the ‘foreign exchange firm was acutely impacted by COVID and the recent cyber-attack.’

Dubai Airports extends Travelex foreign exchange contract for five years - The Moodie Davitt Report - The Moodie Davitt Report

For financial organisations, ransomware can and will destroy a whole business. And, if they lock you out of an account, you are finished.

App Developments

Apps surrounding investment and finance have grown substantially in 2020. This, in part, is a good thing, as the ability to invest online is quick and easy, and accessible to all. But due to the demand, many of these apps were developed quickly and are underprepared for cyber-attacks.

For instance, many do not provide two-factor authentication, are not supported by the appropriate regulations, are not patched or maintained properly, and do not have contingency plans in place to mitigate the effects of a cyber-attack. As a result, personal information of app users is relatively easy to steal and sell. This can be done by creating duplicate fraudulent apps to trick the user. On these duplicate apps, the imagery and language of the genuine app is mirrored. And, once the personal information is supplied, both real and virtual money is then accessible. Thus, the circle of ransomware ensues. 

COVID-19

Another element to take into consideration over the past two years and counting is, of course, COVID-19. According to an article by ComputerWeekly, ‘what has been referred to as an “unprecedented anomaly”, cyber criminals were and to some degree still are increasingly targeting the financial services sector during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, with attacks on banks and other financial institutions spiking by 38% between February and March of 2020 to account for 52% of all attacks observed by VMware’s Carbon Black Cloud.’

COVID-19 has altered cyber security on a global scale and in every vertical.

Third-Party Risk

These days, few organisations work on their own. The majority use third parties, including vendors, partners, e-mail providers, service providers, web hosting, law firms, data management companies, subcontractors and so on. With regards to many of these, from IT systems to sensitive information shared with legal teams, these third parties could easily be a backdoor into your financial systems for attackers to infiltrate.

According to Ponemon Institute, ‘53% of organisations have experience one or more data breaches caused by a third party, costing an average of $7.5 million to remediate.’ For a large organisation, this can be crippling. And can wipe out a small organisation in a matter of minutes.

To manage third parties, financial organisations must have the ability to detect threats, and the capability to respond to them. Which requires the right combination of people, processes, and technologies.

But half the battle is locating vulnerabilities in the first place. Which is why cyber resiliency needs to be sharp, and why investing in the best managed security services is essential. From Firewall Management, to Decoy Deception and Honeypots, it is important to know what services will support an organisation best. This will depend on factors including location, company size, current security measures and more.

Considerations

Cyber threats will continue to grow into 2023. That much is clear.

Financial organizations have either already tackled a cyber-attack, will tackle one in the very near future, or may be a target of one currently, but are simply unaware of the fact.

Effective security comes down to three key elements. Processes, people and technology. Processes must run seamlessly alongside the organisation. Security experts must have the capability to detect, react and understand the context of a risk. And the technology must be superior, to keep up with cyber threats.  All elements are equally as important, and you must have all three to ensure security.

In times like these security measures are more crucial than ever. Especially for those within finance. So that our life savings are secure, the security of our loved ones is maintained, and the livelihoods of those employed within the financial world continues. Contact SecurityHQ for a free consultation to learn more. For the Silo, Eleanor Barlow.

Finance

Should You Take Out a Second Mortgage?

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With housing prices cooling off a bit but still generally soaring in cities across Canada, many homeowners are asking themselves how they can cash in on the market without actually having to sell their property. For many, a second mortgage will be the ideal way to do so.  

Second mortgages are one of the perfect mortgage solutions for homeowners who want to tap into their home equity to get lump-sum cash payments at low rates of interest. If you want to know if a second mortgage is right for you, here are three questions you should ask yourself. 

1. How Much Home Equity Do I Have? 

Before you start approaching mortgage brokers about a second mortgage, it’s a good idea to do some calculations around home equity, as the amount of money available to you through a second mortgage is determined by how much home equity you have.  

Fortunately, home equity is easy to calculate: simply subtract your existing mortgage from the current market value of your property. The difference is your home equity — the amount of your home value that you own outright.  

If you don’t know how much your home is worth, you can use a free calculator like this one to get a general estimate based on the going rate for properties in your neighbourhood. 

2. Should I Get a Home Equity Loan or Refinance? 

Generally speaking, there are two ways a homeowner can cash out a percentage of their equity: through refinancing or through a second mortgage. Both can be good ways to unlock capital, but which option you go for will depend in part on your financial situation. 

  • Refinancing: When you refinance your home, you replace an existing mortgage loan with a new mortgage loan. This new loan can be negotiated to include a cash payout based on your home equity, and while cashing out will likely extend the time it takes to pay off your mortgage, you will still only be dealing with a single mortgage loan.  
  • Second Mortgage: A second mortgage is an additional mortgage loan taken on against your home equity. Because it is an additional loan, it will usually come at a higher interest rate. 

In Canada, most mortgages are refinanced every five years, but they can also be refinanced more frequently. But if you already have a low interest rate on your existing mortgage and rates are increasing, a second mortgage may be the cheapest way to turn equity into cash. 

3. Will this Loan Save Me Money? 

A second mortgage can be a powerful financial tool, but it isn’t free money: you will still need to pay it back with interest, so you should be careful about how you use it.  

Taking out a second mortgage to consolidate debt, or to build an addition on your house, are smart investments because they put your money to work by reducing your interest payments or enhancing the value of your property. This puts you in a better financial position than you would have been if you didn’t borrow the money.  

Doing a cost/benefit analysis and working out how much money borrowing against home equity will save you is the key to making a strategic decision. 

Given how much real estate values have gone up over the past few years, figuring out how you can use your newfound wealth to improve your financial situation is essential for good money management. If you want to know more about whether a second mortgage is right for you, get in touch with a local mortgage broker to explore interest rates and options.  

Feautured image: Precondo CA Via Unsplash/ Silo Content Production

Finance

Crypto Currency Pop Quiz

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Which digital currency originated from the Doge meme and was originally introduced as a joke?

Is it the same currency that quickly developed into an online community and that was capitalized a few years ago at over $240 Million USD? Take this pop quiz challenge and find out.



Featured image via- darkwebnews.com

UPDATE- How Pi aims to democratize digital currency.

Sci-Tech

Why App Developers Are Focusing On The Metaverse

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Mobile apps using ‘metaverse’ in their description surge fivefold in 3 months

Various mobile application developers are increasingly aligning their products with the growing metaverse concept after Facebook popularized the term following the company’s rebranding to Meta. Although metaverse is a work in progress, several appsol are associating with the concept in their descriptions. 

Data presented by Burga indicates that between November 2021 and January 2022, a monthly average of 28 mobile applications added metaverse to their description, a fivefold growth or 460% spike from the five average recorded between June 2021 and October 2021. The highest number was registered in December 2021 at 30. 

Elsewhere, games with 107 applications lead in the number of app categories referencing the ‘metaverse’ keyword. Finance ranks second at 101, followed by social at 70. In the tenth slot, there is education with 11 apps. Data on mobile apps referencing metaverse is provided by mobile intelligence platform Sensor Tower.

Why app developers are focusing on metaverse 

Mobile phone applications adding metaverse to their description were seemingly triggered by Facebook’s rebranding to Meta in October 2021. Most companies and applications have followed suit after the social media giant also announced that it plans to invest heavily in the metaverse. The apps are aligned with the metaverse even as players in the sector explore industry standards.

Generally, the metaverse concept is a network of virtual worlds focused on social connection as a hypothetical iteration of the Internet as a single, universal virtual world supported by virtual and augmented reality headsets. 

Although the metaverse is still gaining ground, app developers are using the concept as a critical marketing tool as different sectors await the actual technical requirements for the metaverse to emerge. It can be argued that the applications are working towards having an edge once the technology’s full potential is realized. 

A significant share of the metaverse will likely be enabled by apps, which explains developers’ decision to associate with the virtual concept. Notably, apps in the metaverse are touted to potentially harness the most critical features of smartphones, wearables, headsets, and IoT. 

Furthermore, virtual interactions offer enticing financial opportunities for businesses and could potentially open new revenue streams for companies diving into this new venture. At this point, with the shift towards a digital life, the opportunities offered by the metaverse are limitless.

Why gaming apps are leading the metaverse 

It is no surprise that the gaming apps are leading in adding metaverse to their description. Notably, games have long been associated with VR and AR technology which is at the core of the metaverse. Game engines are likely to be foundational technologies and a critical building block for creating virtual world applications.

In this line, some of the big players in the tech space led by Microsoft are increasing their involvement in the metaverse. According to the company, the metaverse is all about creating games, a key driver for its acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard. Additionally, gaming platform Roblox has long been viewed as the metaverse frontrunner. 

Besides games, the metaverse is also expected to have several implications for different industries. Metaverse technologies have found practical applications among sectors like finance. For instance, VR and AR can be deployed in finance in data visualization, which can aid in analyzing financial risks providing more precise services to customers.

Although app developers are getting ready for metaverse, realizing the concept on a large scale might be extensive. For instance, access to high-speed Internet and the cost of reliable VR hardware remains a challenge. 

Additionally, the high scale of interoperability required to build various aspects of the metaverse is yet to be achieved. In this line, tech companies will have to partner with other entities on factors such as metaverse laws.  For the Silo, Gytis Gelzinis/BURGA.

Finance

NFTs meteoric rise in 2022

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2021 was the year of the NFT. We saw amazing levels of interest in NFTs arise as people began to recognize their usefulness as digital assets. Thanks to the rush of development and interest from this year, we can expect interest and adoption levels in 2022 to easily meet or even eclipse those that we have seen in 2021. 

2021 has really laid the groundwork for development in the Crypto industry as a whole and nowhere is this more apparent than with NFTs. Now that these digital assets have become recognized and appreciated as tangible assets; we can expect adoption rates to rise across the industry. Furthermore, developments across the industry will come into their own in 2022. Blocto, the digital wallet and Crypto provider, for instance, will continue to update its services including in the NFT field in the new year.

Mark Cuban Will Continue Paying His Employees Amid Coronavirus-Induced Economic Downturn
Mark Cuban. Image: Forbes

Mark Cuban, Dallas Mavericks owner and famous Shark Tank investor, sees the dual benefits of NFT development as well as the services that Blocto offers and has invested heavily in both Blocto and in the creation of NBA TopShots, which offers NFTs in the form of clips of NBA games that give person a literal piece of the game to own. 

CEO of Blocto, Hsuan Lee, sees the coming year as potentially one of the most important years in history for Crypto, especially when it comes to NFTs. AS NFTs grow in 2022, it is clear that their impact on the financial industry and their value as digital assets will surge as well. 

Culture

5 Home Renos That Add The Most Home Value

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Whether you wish to improve your living space or you are going to sell your home, a home renovation will add instant value to your property. 

Many home buyers are looking for homes that are ‘move in ready’ and don’t require much or any work prior to moving in. Because of this desirability, many homeowners are deciding to make upgrades to their home to increase the resale value. If you have a number of projects in mind that are on your ‘wish list’, but aren’t sure which one to start with, you might find these suggestions helpful. 

  1. Kitchen Remodel – This is probably the biggest project that you will undergo, but the one that has the most impact. The kitchen is the most used room in a house and the central hub for most activities. Thus, it makes sense to have a kitchen that is both functional and attractive. If the cabinets are old looking and the countertops are in poor condition, it is hard to overlook. For some, a major renovation might be out of reach, but there are smaller scale options that will also work to spruce up the appearance. You can add a fresh coat of paint or even just reface the cabinetry with new wood panels and hardware. Overall, you can likely recoup 60% to 80% of the cost of the kitchen remodel. 
     
  1. Garage Door Replacement – A garage door makes a great design element to your home as it is one of the first things people see when they come to your home. Although it doesn’t always top the list of most popular projects, it should not be overlooked in terms of overall home value and curb appeal. Over 80% of Realtors believe a new garage door can impact home value – all the more reason to take on this project. 
     
  1. Fiberglass Entry Door Replacement – Nothing makes a more impactful statement than the attractiveness of your front door. Replacing the standard fiberglass entry door to something more stylized to your home will add to the ‘first impression’ element of your home. There are many attractive alternatives for a front door and finding a suitable design that goes with the home will add value straight away without having to undergo a major renovation. According to a recent study, replacing your front door has an average ROI of 75%.   
     
  1. Window Replacement – Having old windows with cracked or chipped frames greatly affects the look of your home. Potential buyers will notice them and so do appraisers. If you’ve got questions about buying new windows, get the answer from a reputable company before you buy. Replacing the windows in your home can add thousands of dollars to its market value, and with an average  ROI of up to 85%, so it makes sense to consider it as a priority upgrade option, especially if you are planning on selling in the near future.  
     
  1. Deck Addition – A wood deck addition falls on the inexpensive side of remodeling projects, but it’s one of the more valuable. In fact, some experts claim that installing a deck can increase the value of your home significantly more than if you were to add another bathroom or living room at a fraction of the cost. The overall cost of installing a deck will largely depend on the size of the deck and material you use. However, most homeowners will recoup nearly 70% of the build cost after they have sold their home.  

If you want to take on any of these home improvement projects, but don’t have the immediate cash on hand to make them a reality, then a home improvement loan might be something to consider.  

3 Best Steps To Find The Best Home Renovation Contractor For Your House | listofinformation

What is a home improvement loan? 

A home improvement loan can be a home equity loan, a HELOC loan, or any loan using home equity used for home improvement purposes. Borrowers will typically use these types of loans to access the capital they need to build on their investment. 

According to a recent study, the value of residential mortgage loans from alternative lenders is steadily growing. Canadians are choosing to opt-out of traditional lenders’ extended waiting periods and paperwork and are finding that working with a mortgage broker is an easier, more streamlined process that saves time, effort and money. If you are a homeowner considering a renovation to your home, a reputable broker such as Burke Financial can help you with every stage of the process.  

Finance

formula 1: $100 Million Cryptocurrency Sponsorship

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Cryptocurrency partnerships and sponsorships entered the world of sports back in 2014. Teams can expand their advertising budget with cryptocurrency platforms to get more popularity for the brand. In 2014, the first crypto-backed campaign – ESPN events made a contract with Bit Pay (Bitcoin payment processor) worth $350 000 in a year. In addition, arsenal made 3-year sponsorship with Sportsbet.oi with the value of £1.5m per season. 

Teams like to explore other non-standard partnerships. The most common ones are coming from the igaming and casino industries (an example of one – Canadian online casino real money Betsafe). But, on the other hand, they occasionally steer away into new waters, and cryptocurrency sets a new precedent here. Of course, there’s a lot to go by in the igaming and casino industry, but crypto-investing space can also offer substantial funding, as you’ll now see. 

Cryptocurrency 

Improves Fan User Experience 

Cryptocurrency benefits sports teams with new and improved marketing activities. Fans are in the first place, while tickets, streams, and merchandise make money. Secure and transparent marketing activities provide excellent customer service for sports fans. In addition, fan engagement tokens are on the rise. A fan token is a kind of membership card. They can vote on essential questions in the club. If you would like to choose a kit design, charity initiative, or similar stuff, purchase a token of your favourite club.  
 
Above all, cryptocurrency provides users with low-cost money transfers, transparency, and easy 24/7 accessible platforms that make it easy to purchase wherever users want to.  

Formula One – $100 Million Worth Crypto Deal 

Formula One made a 5-year contract with Crypto.com. $100 million sponsorship will provide F1 with great marketing tools. In addition to that, Crypto is getting trackside places on every race. Presence at every race will remind of their global partnership deal. Crypto.com is one of the fastest-growing crypto platforms at the moment. They have more than 10 million users. Sponsorship between Crypto and Formula One will grow awareness on the global stage. Crypto.com has leading applications on App Store and Google Play. Also, their Crypto Visa card is one of the most popular cards for using cryptocurrencies. This card is available in more than 30 countries. Formula One is one of the most followed sports, and they are always in search of new ways to make their fans more engaged.

2021 British Grand Prix Qualifying report and highlights: Hamilton digs deep to beat Verstappen in qualifying and seal top grid slot for F1 Sprint | Formula 1®
2021 British Grand Prix sponsor Crypto

Formula One got a new audience with engagement with Crypto. Crypto is trying to make cryptocurrencies more available and understandable for fans to use. Following that, Crypto announced a brand new award that fans would see on the Belgian Grand Prix. 

Crypto and F1 – Environmentally Sensitive 

Formula One announced that by the year 2030, Formula One racing would become a Net Zero Carbon sport. Likewise, Crypto announced that it would become carbon negative within the next 18 months in the spirit of the new partnership. A clean crypto business will be a great example to lead for all other companies in the industry. To have carbon-neutral or carbon-free vehicles and the crypto industry would be a great example from these two big names in the sports and business industry. Sponsorship looks promising, and great things might be ahead. 

Formula One as a sport wants to be more fan engaged and follow new technologies. Here is what CEO said: “We are pleased to welcome Crypto.com to the Formula 1 family as we continue to attract progressive global brands anchored in performance and innovation.”  For the Silo, Ika.

Culture

Why High Heels Are Still One Of Business World’s Most Powerful Symbols

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4 Reasons Why Women Will Lead The Business World In The 21st Century

When you let women be women in the business world, they do better. That’s according to a recent report from the Harvard Business Review, which makes the case that traditional thinking – that women should be treated no differently than men in corporate settings – is simply flawed and regressive.

A major point the post makes is that only about 20 percent of businesswomen make partner. By expecting from women what you would expect from men, the corporate world is consciously and unconsciously excluding female leadership. That’s a very bad thing, according to many. For example, Kevin O’Leary of “Shark Tank” fame says that of his 27 companies, only the ones with female CEOS make him money.

“Women are good for business, so it follows that what’s good for your best women will be good for your bottom line,” says Debora McLaughlin, CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching and Consulting Group (www.TheRenegadeLeader.com), and author of “Running in High Heels: How to Lead with Influence, Impact & Ingenuity.” 

“I’ve long advocated this position, and that symbols of female business identity, like high heels, are signs of a businesswoman’s ability to elevate business results, consistently providing a better return for stakeholders.”

McLaughlin discusses why women will be essential for leading businesses into a new paradigm this century.

• The old way doesn’t work. Since 1955, more than 90 percent of the companies on the Fortune 500 list have gone bankrupt, shrunk in size, become inconsequential, been mopped up by their rivals or closed their doors. Sixty percent of CEOs think their current business model is only sustainable for another three years. Sticking too closely to your old guns, including discouraging a woman’s nature in the corporate world, will likely involve your company in that 90-plus percent failure rate.

• The business world has already changed. While technology continues to revolutionize how we do business, it has also changed the workforce. Today’s employees are smarter, more innovative, more creative and full of potential – and it’s not only due to technology. As Generations X and Y emerge as tomorrow’s leaders, Millennials are proving to be very resourceful workers. Old models like “command-and-control” don’t fit with a company’s most precious resource, its people.

• Women are more social and excel in collaboration. We shouldn’t generalize to strictly regarding gender norms. However, it’s probably fair to say that women are more nurturing for in-group members. Much of the traditional management method centralized authority; a woman’s leadership is more prone to sharing influence and, perhaps, fostering a creative culture of collaboration.

“Of course, this is not a strict gender rule,” McLaughlin says. “But I think it’s the experience of many that women are, in the aggregate, more nurturing.

• Momentum will continue to build for women leadership. Momentum tends to build upon itself, and that includes social change. While that change has been slower in the corporate world, we’re already seeing signs and opinions of change, as exemplified by Kevin O’Leary.

“More importantly, if the Harvard Business Review’s post is an indicator, women in business will feel more comfortable being themselves in a professional environment,” she says. “Unlocking those invisible shackles from a woman’s high heels will be a game-changer.”

About Debora McLaughlin

Debora McLaughlin is the best-selling author of “The Renegade Leader: 9 Success Strategies Driven Leaders Use to Ignite People, Performance and Profits.” Her new book, “Running in High Heels: How to Lead with Influence, Impact & Ingenuity,” is a how-to leadership companion for women in business. She is CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching and Consulting Group (www.TheRenegadeLeader.com). As a certified executive coach, McLaughlin helps business owners, executives and managers nationwide ignite their inner renegade leader to unleash their full potential, drive their visions and yield positive results, both in business and in life. 

Supplemental-  Top 10 Female CEOs & Influential Business Women of North American Companies

Finance

PC’s- Canada Realty Market Fueled by Money Laundering

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Ottawa, ON – Brad Vis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Housing, and Gérard Deltell, House Leader of the Official Opposition, issued the following statement after the Liberals voted against a Conservative motion to address the housing crisis in Canada:

“Canada’s Conservatives are disappointed that the Trudeau government voted against addressing the growing housing and affordability crisis in Canada. 

“Conservatives asked for commonsense solutions to combat money laundering and foreign money pouring into the real estate market and called for measures to increase rental housing units and supply. 

“Experts say the government has ‘ignored’ calls to action and the cost of housing will jump another 13 per cent this year, making it even more impossible for first time home buyers to enter the market. Instead of supporting these commonsense solutions that experts have been calling for, the Trudeau Liberals instead chose to let down Canadians and continue their support for a system that favours foreign buyers and unaffordability for Canadians. 

“The Trudeau Liberals continue to double down on their ineffective, barely-used First Time Home Buyer Incentive, and pump billions of taxpayer dollars into a National Housing Strategy that has only seen Canadian housing become more unaffordable under its operation. The Trudeau government’s failures are ensuring the dream of homeownership is even more out of reach for Canadians. 

“If you are not worried about the cost of purchasing a home, you have three parties to choose from. If you are, you only have one choice – Canada’s Conservatives.”

The Conservative Opposition Day motion can be found here.

Office of Brad Vis, M.P.
Blair.Kesteven.817@parl.gc.ca
613-992-1275 Please mention The Silo when contacting.

Office of Gérard Deltell, M.P.
Nathan.Ellis@parl.gc.ca 
613-720-9245 Please mention The Silo when contacting.
 
Les libéraux votent contre le rêve de l’accès à la propriété des Canadiens 
 juin 2021


Ottawa (Ontario) – Gérard Deltell, leader de l’opposition à la Chambre, et Brad Vis, ministre du Cabinet fantôme conservateur responsable du Logement, ont fait la déclaration suivante après que les libéraux ont voté contre une motion conservatrice visant à répondre à la crise du logement au Canada :

« Les conservateurs du Canada sont déçus que le gouvernement Trudeau ait voté contre une réponse à la crise grandissante du logement et de l’abordabilité au Canada. 

« Les conservateurs ont demandé des solutions sensées pour lutter contre le blanchiment d’argent, l’apport des capitaux étrangers sur le marché immobilier, ainsi que des mesures pour augmenter le nombre et l’offre de logements. 

« Les experts disent que le gouvernement ‘ignore’ les appels à l’action et que le coût des habitations va augmenter de 13 pour cent cette année, rendant encore plus difficile pour les premiers acheteurs d’entrer sur le marché. Au lieu de soutenir les solutions sensées que réclament les experts, les libéraux de Trudeau préfèrent laisser tomber les Canadiens et continuer à soutenir un système qui favorise les acheteurs étrangers et augmente l’inabordabilité pour les Canadiens. 

« Les libéraux de Trudeau continuent de renchérir sur leur Incitatif à l’achat d’une première propriété, qui est inefficace et peu utilisé, et à mettre des milliards de dollars des contribuables dans une Stratégie nationale sur le logement qui fait en sorte que le coût des propriétés est de plus inabordable. À cause des échecs du gouvernement Trudeau, le rêve de l’accès à la propriété est encore plus hors de portée pour les Canadiens. 

« Si vous ne vous préoccupez pas du coût des habitations, vous avez le choix entre trois partis. Si vous vous en préoccupez, vous n’avez qu’un seul choix – les conservateurs du Canada. »

La motion de la journée de l’opposition conservatrice figure ici.
Finance

How a small independent online business can benefit from advertising

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Source: Pexels

Recent research has found that over 70% of people research a small business online before making a first purchase. The online space is therefore crucial in creating traction for a new business, product, or service since it is the place where a good first impression is made. Implementing a good website and marketing strategy is paramount here since they have the ability to create a presence within the desired market and communicate with potential customers. One particular activity that is evidently successful in creating visibility for a brand and its website is advertising. Developing an advertising strategy that not only promotes a brand but ensures a valued customer journey is essential, and we’ll take a look at why below.

Considering the consumer journey

Before even exploring advertisement options, a small business must first consider their potential customer, since they will essentially drive the business. Understanding the needs of an audience will be useful in deciding what advertisement options to pursue, as a business will gain an understanding of what platforms they can be found on, such as Facebook vs Instagram. In understanding their journey, a business will be more able to make customers’ experience with the brand more enjoyable and memorable, which means the customer will be more likely to consider and complete a purchase.

As a business, it’s also essential to safeguard customers on their journey, as this will prevent them from coming into any harm and consequently avoiding the brand. This can mainly be done by preventing harmful ads from reaching customers via anti-malvertising software found on Geoedge. This can be considered as a business investment for every organisation on the internet as it puts the customer first, in turn giving the company the potential to create more revenue via increased purchases. After all, it’s typical of most people to leave a site when they are bombarded with ads: prevention is better than cure in this instance.

Advertisement type

Source: Pexels

When it comes to creating a business ad, there’s more than one option to choose from and you can select a few or implement them all. Among the most popular are PPC, Display and SEO, not to mention social media. Whereas PPC and Display are essentially visual advertisements like banners that are displayed on websites across the internet to create attention and create traffic, SEO is a bit more technical.

SEO stands for search engine optimisation and essentially makes a website more visible among an array of competitors on search engine platforms like Google. By utilising this as an advertisement opportunity, it will help a domain’s authority ranking to increase, making a brand more visible to its audience. Plus, advertisements are also trackable and software like Comscore enables a small business to trial what advertisements work for them in order to modify them in the future.

Since the internet is accessed by millions daily, it’s easy for a new independent business to disappear within the plethora of businesses. Yet, by implementing an advertisement strategy that caters to and safeguards potential customers while creatively and strategically placing ads online, small businesses will start to see an increase in traffic.