x8888
Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire TabletsAmerican X User Says Indian Ceos Lay Off Local Employees, Replace C-Suite With Own Countrymen, Netizens React
The world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology has taken the financial and tech industries with new opportunities, risks, and debates. Whether a beginner looking to understand the basics, an investor seeking to deepen your knowledge, or a developer trying to grasp the technical intricacies, there’s a wealth of literature that can help. Below is a list of must-reads that give a comprehensive perspective on blockchain revolution, cryptocurrency investment, and the future of digital currency. Mastering Bitcoin is a book every individual interested in knowing the basics of this currency must read. The author somehow breaks very complex technological ideas into easy ways so that developers, investors, and anyone else interested can understand what is going on inside a Bitcoin network. Mastering Bitcoin discusses the topics about cryptographic security, blockchain architecture, and transaction processing. For readers interested in understanding the economic and philosophical implications of Bitcoin, this book is a perfect fit. Saifedean Ammous argues that Bitcoin offers an alternative to traditional fiat currency systems by providing sound money not subject to inflationary pressures. It goes deep into money history, flaws in modern banking, and the possibilities in Bitcoin with regard to its uses as a global reserve currency. It's a very insightful read for those interested in Bitcoin as a revolutionary economic force. This is a fantastic book for any newcomer to blockchain. Blockchain Basics is an essential book that provides the reader with a comprehensive introduction to the technology behind cryptocurrencies. Decentralisation, smart contracts, and distributed ledger technology - Daniel Drescher sets all these key concepts out in easy language. Without getting too carried away over confusing code or cryptography, this book offers a really good foundation for understanding how it works. Cryptocurrency by Paul Vigna and Michael Casey offers an excellent narrative. These two authors are veteran financial journalists examining the social, economic, and political impacts of Bitcoin and other digital currencies. They provide insightful commentary on how these technologies are reshaping the global financial system, and therefore, this book is must-read material for anyone interested in this. In Blockchain Revolution, Don and Alex Tapscott take readers on a journey through the world of blockchain technology and its potential to disrupt industries far beyond cryptocurrency. They explore how blockchain could transform everything from healthcare to supply chain management, government systems, and beyond. This book is a forward-thinking exploration of how blockchain could change the way the world operates. The Basics of Bitcoins and Blockchains by Antony Lewis is a comprehensive but not heavy guide. This book takes the reader through everything from the basics of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum to the technical workings of blockchain and smart contracts. Antony Lewis also explains how to buy, sell, and store cryptocurrencies. Digital Gold tells the story of Bitcoin's creation and ascent to where it stands today, focusing on the most important players who helped develop and promote it. Nathaniel Popper dedicates this book to entrepreneurs, libertarians, and tech geeks who thought that the possibility of decentralized currency could be transformed into reality. A very interesting read for those wanting to know about Bitcoin's origins and how it became a global phenomenon. The Age of Cryptocurrency takes the readers through the emergence of cryptocurrencies and how they can change the money, banking, and the global economy. The authors therefore talk about the position of Bitcoin within the financial system and describe the threats and opportunities that cryptocurrencies pose for the classic financial institutions. As a book, it's an eye-opener to how some sorts of digital currencies might change finance in the future. These books provide valuable insights into the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. They delve deep into the digital financial revolution, offering knowledge and tools to better understand and navigate this transformative space.Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire Tablets
The Middle East grapples with Assad’s stunning fallChuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of 'Love Connection' and 'Scrabble,' dies at 83KNET cash withdrawals fall amid shift toward digital paymentsAvidity Biosciences Announces Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)
8th Hamidi Kashmiri memorial annual Urdu lecture deliveredOusted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media sayUnwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire Tablets
Quantum computing is a hot topic right now. Three of the four highest-performing stocks in the last six months are pure play investments in this technology. Investors expect big things from a new class of computers, with the promise of solving incredibly complex problems in the blink of an eye. Leading quantum computer builder IonQ ( IONQ -5.72% ) gained 484% in six months as of Dec. 26. Believe it or not, but that jump doesn't qualify IonQ for a top-four finish. No, IonQ lands in the 16th place on this list, far behind the 2,735% gain posted by smaller rival Quantum Computing, Inc. ( QUBT -4.63% ) . Can Quantum Computing build on its recent success? Will IonQ turn the tables and outperform the smaller company in 2025? What else do you need to know before investing in the explosive quantum computing market? Metric Quantum Computing IonQ Market Cap $2.4 billion $10.2 billion Revenue (TTM) $390,000 $37.5 million Net Profit Margin (TTM) (6,159%) (457.9%) Free Cash Flow (TTM) ($20.5 million) ($120.4 million) Cash and Short-Term Investments $3.06 million $301.8 million Data collected from Finviz and YCharts on Dec. 26, 2024. TTM = trailing twelve months. Compare and contrast the financial results These financial statements have a lot in common. IonQ and Quantum Computing's stocks are worth billions of dollars despite minimal revenues and deeply negative bottom-line profits. Neither company is attempting to make a profit at this point. They are development-stage businesses set up to deliver new and improved technologies that might support a profitable business someday. I'm not speculating here. Here's what IonQ said about its business prospects in regulatory filings before entering the public stock market in 2021: Quantum Computing offered another sobering self-analysis in 2020: "We incurred negative cash flows from operating activities and recurring net losses in fiscal years 2019 and 2018. [...] These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern ." Wall Street's ditches are littered with the remains of development-stage businesses that never lived up to their early expectations. IonQ and Quantum Computing are the first to admit that they might be next in line for financial disaster, bankruptcy, and crumbling investor value. I'm not saying that the two companies are doomed to fail, but you should be aware of the substantial risks involved in owning these stocks. Even if you don't mind risky investments , it's best to make smallish bets on any stock in this volatile industry. Some of the most promising research projects may never result in commercial-grade computing systems, after all. What makes these quantum computing specialists unique IonQ is a leading manufacturer of quantum computing systems. So far, its customer list includes several branches of the U.S. military, South Korean vehicle maker Hyundai , and industrial machinery giant Caterpillar . Anyone can access IonQ hardware through popular cloud-computing platforms from Amazon , Microsoft , and Alphabet . The IonQ Forte system hit the market a year ago. Its trapped ion architecture provides 32 qubits of quantum computing power. That's enough to perform some simple calculations, though the error rate is still high. Estimated to cost about $13 million, the Forte system is still not useful for any real-world business task. Quantum Computing (the company, not the technology itself) started out with a tight focus on providing software and algorithms to run on quantum computing hardware from other companies. Since then, the company has merged with a quantum hardware researcher and is now looking for opportunities to sell computing systems, too. This company is not shipping any hardware yet, though. The third-quarter report in November highlighted several partnerships and research programs, looking forward to potential system sales in 2025. How to invest in quantum computing stocks today All things considered, I think it's too early to pick long-term winners in the promising but risky field of quantum computing. I would approach this game-changing technology from a safer angle. Some of the largest tech giants are also developing quantum computing systems these days, including some of the IonQ partners mentioned earlier. These deep-pocketed businesses are better equipped to manage the unpredictable nature of risky research projects. But I promised to pick a winner in this specific duel, and the choice is very clear. IonQ has already proven its ability to win long-term development contracts and actually deliver a few systems to real-world customers. Moreover, this company has enough cash reserves to make it a couple of years without being forced to raise extra cash in uncomfortable ways. The Quantum Computing company doesn't have that luxury. So I would much rather own IonQ stock than Quantum Computing shares. Your mileage may vary, but the smaller company is too risky for my blood.Mumbai: South Mumbai’s most affluent constituencies of Colaba and Malabar Hill gave a clear mandate to their incumbent MLAs. While both the BJP legislators won by a huge margin, the credit goes to Maha Vikas Aghadi for fielding weak candidates who could not even give a decent fight to these strong MLAs. Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar Wins From Colaba Constituency Maharashtra Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar won from the Colaba constituency for the second time as he received 81,085 votes against his competitor Heera Nawaji Devasi from Congress, who received 32,504 votes. Notably, the votes received by the Congress candidate was even lower than the lead received by Narwekar. In 2019 election, Narwekar became an MLA for the first time after he won the election with a lead of 16,195 votes. However, this year he saw a three-fold rise in his lead to 48,581 votes. Mangal Prabhat Lodha Wins Election For 7th Time From Malabar Hill Constituency Similarly, Mangal Prabhat Lodha won the election for the seventh time from Malabar Hill constituency as he received 1,01,197 votes against his candidate Bherulal Choudhary from Shiv Sena (UBT), who received 33,178 votes. Lodha received the highest vote share in Mumbai by securing 73.38% of the total votes polled. His lead of 68,019 was two times higher than the total votes received by his opponent. Although Lodha received the highest number of votes in his career, his vote share dropped by 2.49% compared to the 2019 election. Notably, the candidates fielded by the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance on both these constituencies were undoubtedly too weak to contest against political bigwigs like Lodha and Narwekar. While Choudhari was an unknown face, Dewai was known only for losing the 2019 election against Lodha from Malabar Hill constituency. Mangal Prabhat Lodha Expresses Gratitude Post victory, Lodha said, "I am deeply grateful to every citizen of Malabar Hill for giving me the opportunity to serve as an MLA for the seventh time. I have been working tirelessly for the development of this area for years, and I will continue to do so. Inspired by the thoughts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I will fulfill my promise to the citizens of Malabar Hill for its development." Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar Expresses His Gratitude Narwekar said, “This historic win is not mine alone and it belongs to each of the voters who believed in our shared vision of a better Colaba. I promise to honour this trust by working tirelessly to address the concerns and fulfill our collective dreams for Colaba. We will continue striving toward bringing a change and building a Colaba that we can all be proud of.”
Washington Commanders
It's no secret that Akbar V's love for Nicki Minaj goes way back . For this reason, it doesn't come as a major surprise that the femcee took to social media today to wish the "FTCU" rapper a happy birthday. She turns 42 today, and in honor of the occasion, Akbar wrote her a heartfelt message on X. In it, she refers to Nicki as her big sister, and thanks her for all she's done. "Happy birthday to my big sister @NICKIMINAJ i love you thank you for all you do for female rap thank you for the tips behind the scenes you have given me thank you for not being who they try to [portray] you to be," she wrote. "Love you." Read More: Nicki Minaj Throws Shots At Spotify Amidst Drake's UMG Legal Drama This is far from the first time Akbar V has honored Nicki, however. Last summer, she even dropped a song seemingly dedicated to her, which sparked some controversy among fans. While some thought it was a nice gesture, others thought she took things too far. Regardless, she stood by the track and came to her own defense on X. “The fact that folks think she gotta like my post or comment is cr*zy. I’m a fan of hers. I want to follow in her steps in music, period. I love her, I’m inspired [and] [I] don’t care who says it’s [d**k] riding. I don’t care, I rap. I’m a rapper. I looked up to her and still do , every rap [b**ch] [does]," she wrote at the time. “They just don’t like to admit [it] [because] [they’re] so obsessed with the ‘Nicki hate train,’" she continued. "Nicki never told me to do [nothing] just like when I was in the streets, my friends never told me to dislike people If they didn’t like them... Me, Akbar V is loyal and always will be ." Read More: Nicki Minaj Shares Shady Message For Kai Cenat’s Mother After Thanksgiving Shout-Out [Via]
Residents of border communities in Ogun State have called for a review of the Federal Government’s policy banning food imports into Nigeria. In a statement released on Saturday, some indigenes under the aegis of the Yewa Youths Progressive Movement stated that Ogun Westerners are predominantly farmers, traders, and business owners, not smugglers. The statement, jointly signed by its Chairman and Publicity Secretary, Adeoye Akinola and Sunday Adeyemi, respectively, said, “The border communities have grown from being havens for smugglers who thronged the areas from across the country to locations where legitimate inter-border businesses now thrive.” The YYPM further stated that after the immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari announced a ban on rice imports via land borders, traders and residents in the border communities quickly diversified into other forms of business. The statement revealed that several entrepreneurs in the region invested heavily in cultivating and producing local rice, aligning with the Federal Government’s policy of promoting homegrown food. The group added, “Residents of these border communities, especially the youth, have continued to collaborate with the Nigerian Customs Service to curb smuggling and other inter-border economic sabotage.” Similarly, a non-governmental organisation, Vanguard of Liberty & Social Justice, criticised the food importation ban, arguing that it has failed to positively impact Nigeria’s economy or improve the lives of ordinary citizens. Related News Anti-Tinubu comments: ACF suspends chairman as Afenifere, others back President Onnoghen’s A’Court verdict fails to tackle key points –Lawyers Tragic incidents: Buhari visits Borno, Jigawa, condoles with victims The group condemned social media reports labelling Ogun border residents as smugglers, stating that such claims are detrimental to national unity during these challenging times. According to a statement by the group’s National Coordinator, Olugbenle Fadina, “The current economic situation in Nigeria, where inflation is at a ‘galloping stage,’ has impoverished the majority of households. “The intensity of hunger in Nigeria is extremely alarming and unbearable, making life meaningless for many Nigerians and calling for urgent measures to ease the mounting tension. “The Federal Government’s policy banning foreign goods, especially food items, has not yielded positive results for the critical sectors of the Nigerian economy or the welfare of ordinary Nigerians. There is an urgent need to review this policy, which appears irrational and outdated.” The group urged the media to report on the plight of border residents and hold the government accountable, emphasising the need for journalism to prioritise the common good. “The salient question remains: how has the average Nigerian benefited from the Federal Government’s policy on food importation? How does importing food threaten national security and welfare?” the statement queried. The group concluded by calling for pressure on the government to reverse its “illogical” food importation policy in the face of widespread hunger.