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Wormhole Foundation Awards Contributor Grant to Lurk Lab to Bring Trustless Transfers to Wormhole with ZK Proofs

Wormhole Foundation

The Wormhole Foundation, a research and development organization dedicated to cross-blockchain communication, is delighted to announce a Contributor Grant to Lurk Lab. This marks a pivotal advancement in the evolution of the Wormhole platform, which, in collaboration with Lurk’s engineering team, will be incorporating trustless verification of cross-chain messages leveraging ZK (zero-knowledge) technology. Lurk Lab has distinguished itself with its innovative work in the field of zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology, particularly through its development of the Arecibo implementation of the Nova folding scheme and the Lurk programming language. Arecibo is the fastest implementation of Nova to-date, and includes advanced extensions for non-uniform IVC and parallelism. The Lurk language is a Turing-complete statically scoped dialect of Lisp, whose execution can be proved using zk-SNARKs and can directly integrate with zkDSLs such as Circom. Lurk allows developers to create succinct proofs that can attest to the correctness of a computation without revealing any other information about the computation, and without requiring specialized cryptographic expertise. Lurk presents a unique and world-class approach to verifiable computing applications in that it combines the generality of a zero-knowledge virtual machine with the performance of low-level zero-knowledge circuits. This is crucial for verifiable computing applications which require high levels of security without sacrificing performance or ease of development. The Wormhole protocol currently leverages the industry’s leading message verification system, the decentralized network of 19 Wormhole Guardian nodes. Lurk Lab's involvement in Wormhole's ecosystem now aids in introducing a new verification mechanism for any Wormhole message, leveraging zero knowledge proofs, as outlined in last week’s ZK Roadmap blog post. Lurk will focus initially on light clients for Aptos, Sui and Cosmos, and verifiers for Ethereum, Solana, Cosmos, Aptos, Sui and Near. By leveraging ZK proofs, Wormhole will begin offering new cross-chain corridors fully verified by ZK proofs, thus removing any trust on centralized parties. This integration is expected to greatly benefit decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), governance, and various other applications that operate across multiple blockchains. Wormhole Foundation Co-founder and COO, Dan Reecer, said, “the addition of Lurk Lab to the decentralized team of collaborators and the integration of Lurk's zero knowledge proof technology into the Wormhole platform is a major milestone for Wormhole. We are ecstatic to start offering our developer community trustless verification for their messages across several high volume cross-chain corridors," said Reecer. Lurk-based zk-bridges will enable permissionless growth of Wormhole by enabling new platforms such as L1 blockchains to self-integrate into the network in a decentralized fashion.” For inquiries and collaboration opportunities, please reach out to the Wormhole Foundation at hello@wormhole.foundation. About Lurk Lab Lurk Lab, renowned for its Lurk programming language, is at the forefront of zero knowledge proof technology. The Lurk language enables developers to create succinct proofs of computational integrity, significantly advancing the field of general-purpose zero-knowledge proofs. Lurk Lab is now a contributor to the Wormhole protocol. About Wormhole Wormhole is the leading interoperability platform that powers multichain applications and bridges at scale. Wormhole provides developers access to liquidity and users on over 30 of the leading blockchain networks, enabling use cases that span DeFi, NFTs, governance, and more. The wider Wormhole network is trusted and used by teams like Circle and Uniswap, and to date, the platform has facilitated the transfer of over 35 billion dollars through over 900 millions cross-chain messages. To learn more about Wormhole, visit the wormhole website, Twitter, Discord, or blog. Contact Details Ditto PR Wahaj Khan +1 630-935-7684 wahaj@dittopr.co

February 05, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Speak And Be Saved: App Detects Heart Failure Weeks Before Attack

OurCrowd

By Jeremy Ruden “The puppy sat on the ship.” That was one of five potentially life-saving sentences that heart patients spoke into their smartphones during a US trial for HearO, the groundbreaking app that detects signs of congestive heart failure (CHF) simply by monitoring a person’s voice. Created by startup Cordio Medical, the system’s artificial intelligence algorithms detect voice changes that indicate fluid accumulation in the lungs before any symptoms surface. When changes are noticed, the system alerts the patient’s doctor of an imminent risk that might require medication, IV therapy or hospitalization, allowing intervention before the condition deteriorates. The company is currently raising a funding round via OurCrowd, the Jerusalem-based investment platform that allows accredited investors to access privately held startups. In trials, the HearO app successfully predicted heart failure in 81% of cases, about three weeks before heart failure actually occurs, giving physicians time to intervene and scale back expensive and traumatic hospitalizations. The condition develops when the heart muscle is too weak to pump all the blood the body needs. Fluid builds up in the extremities and lungs as a result. “This approach has the potential to reduce acute decompensated heart failure hospitalizations and improve patient quality of life and economic outcomes,” says William T. Abraham, MD, of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, who reported the trial findings at the 2023 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association. The app functions by having patients record a baseline of phrases when their lungs are clear, then repeat them daily so algorithms can detect any changes. Saving lives With over 26 million people in the Western world suffering from CHF, the need to monitor patients is growing quickly. About half are at high risk of a fatal incident within five years of diagnosis. CHF patients generally require timely, personalized medical attention to avoid episodes that demand immediate medical care or hospitalization. Prevalence of CHF in the US alone is projected to increase by nearly 50% by 2030, while direct medical costs – predominantly hospitalization – are forecast to more than double between 2012 and 2030. The annual burden of CHF on the US healthcare system is some $18 billion. “The holy grail” of the heart failure monitoring industry “is to find a solution that will help a patient know in advance when they’re deteriorating so they can change their diuretics and hopefully avoid hospitalization,” says Tamir Tal, CEO of Cordio Medical. In the long run, Cordio plans to use the technology to detect other conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Tal says. The company is initially targeting heart failure, which frequently causes patients to return to the hospital for lengthy, expensive stays. “Speech carries a lot of personal information about us. When you talk to your mom, just one sentence is enough for her to know how you feel,” says Tal. “We might not be giving the same kind of support as a parent, but we are using speech to give the physician something they can objectively use to determine a patient’s medical condition, helping them avoid serious health episodes.” AstraZeneca partnership In the US, Cordio Medical’s DETECT-HF pivotal study is fully operative, with data collected from dozens of patients in 38 centers. As a result of the clinical collaborations with the centers, the company has already received commercial interest from participants. This extensive collaboration with renowned medical centers has the potential to establish a smooth pathway for future commercial traction. Some of the largest US providers and payers are among the members of the pivotal steering committee, a further sign of their faith in HearO’s clinical significance and business potential. In Europe, Cordio found a partner in pharma giant AstraZeneca. In Q3 2023, the two companies began a second pilot program in Spain at the General Hospital of Valencia in conjunction with the Valencian Society of Cardiology. The first ongoing pilot is being conducted at Bellvitge University Hospital. “AstraZeneca is committed to advancing digital tools to diagnose, monitor and treat high-impact pathologies such as heart failure,” says César Velasco, director of Innovation and Digital Strategy at AstraZeneca. “Thanks to the collaboration across Spanish hospitals and health professionals, we are closer to making life-saving digital health tools a reality for millions with chronic diseases. FDA approval The HearO system received a prestigious and coveted Breakthrough Device designation from the FDA, with approval for the CHF indication forecast in Q1 2025, around 6 months after the company is expected to complete and publish the data from the US pilot. In the EU, Cordio obtained the CE certificate for HearO’s software application. The system was also approved by the Israeli Health Ministry. Cordio has several key investors including Peregrin, Ceros, Aegis Capital and Super-Pharm. They are all participating in the company’s current SAFE, which is available to accredited investors via OurCrowd. For more information about investing in Cordio Medical via OurCrowd, click HERE. OurCrowd was started in 2013, driven by the idea that the business of building startups grows bigger and better when the global ‘crowd’ gains access to VC-level investment opportunities.Today, OurCrowd is a global venture and alternative investing platform that empowers institutions and individuals to invest and engage in emerging companies. OurCrowd vets and selects companies, invests its capital, and provides its global network with unparalleled access to co-invest and contribute connections, talent and deal flow. OurCrowd builds value for its portfolio companies throughout their lifecycles, providing mentorship, recruiting industry advisors, navigating follow-on rounds and creating growth opportunities through its network of multinational partnerships. Contact Details Lisa Graston lisa.graston@ourcrowd.com Company Website http://www.ourcrowd.com

February 05, 2024 08:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

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HTX Lunar New Year Celebration: Join the Activities to Reap Million-dollar Rewards

HTX

2024 is destined to be a spectacular year for the crypto industry. There has been an observed enhancement in the overall economic situation and emerging innovations within the crypto sphere. These trends suggest an anticipation for the imminent arrival of a new bullish market cycle. Narratives surrounding cryptocurrencies have become increasingly diverse and enriched, fueled by a confluence of favorable factors. These include the anticipation of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs, the Bitcoin halving, Ethereum's Cancun upgrade, and the emergence of numerous new sectors and concepts within the crypto space. To thank the new and existing users of HTX for their companionship and support for the platform and HTX DAO and to welcome the new crypto cycle, HTX is launching the Lunar New Year Celebrations! Reward yourself on HTX! It features a series of special promotions such as $HTX spot trading, PrimePool, Shark Fin, and Mars Program. Users will have the opportunity to gain rewards by participating in these events. For event details, please click the link: https://www.htx.com/support/en-us/detail/44961434771431 Event 1: Join the $HTX Spot Trading Contest to Share in a 20,000 USDT Prize Pool According to HTX's official announcement, the $HTX Trading Contest has started. The event is from 14:00 (UTC) on February 2 to 14:00 (UTC) on February 9. Throughout the event period, users who visit the event page on any given day will be automatically enrolled in the event, and their transaction amounts during the event period will be calculated. Participants who trade $HTX spot trading pairs are eligible to share the 12,800,000,000 $HTX (worth 20,000 USDT) prize pool based on their spot trading volumes. They can win up to 1,280,000,000 $HTX. *Announcement link: https://www.htx.com.co/support/en-us/detail/54961094188096 Event 2: HTX's PrimePool #16: Lock TRX to Share 10 million SAROS According to HTX's official announcement, the sixteenth round of PrimePool commenced on January 29. Participants will have the chance to share in a prize pool of 10,000,000 SAROS by locking their TRX. According to the announcement, from 12:00 (UTC) on January 29 to 12:00 (UTC) on February 12, users who lock a minimum of 2,500 TRX for at least one hour will be eligible for rewards. * Announcement link: https://www.htx.com/support/en-us/detail/54960761520577 Event 3: Win up to 10 Billion $HTX in HTX Futures' Epic Airdrop According to HTX's official announcement, HTX Futures launched the Epic Airdrop of 100 billion HTX tokens on January 25. Participants in trading can receive up to 10 billion $HTX and unlock more benefits. In addition, a limited-time extra offer for Lunar New Year is available. Participants can register for the event and receive a random airdrop of a 3-day valid futures trial bonus worth 1 to 88 USDT. According to the announcement, the event is from 10:00 (UTC) on January 25 to 15:59 (UTC) on February 23. See below for details: 1. The first 38,888 new futures users completing trades of 1,000 USDT will be eligible to receive one million $HTX on a first-come, first-served basis. 2. Participants in futures trading can receive up to 5 billion $HTX in airdrop if their cumulative trading volume (including that of copy trading) of USDT-M futures reaches the following requirements. The total prize pool is 240 billion $HTX, which will be shared in proportion to individual trading volumes within the tier. 3. Win up to 3 billion $HTX by depositing to the futures account and meeting the requirements. Users need to click Register Now to participate in the event. * Announcement link: https://www.htx.com/support/en-us/detail/74960406694081 Event 4: Win 1,000 USDT at the Ace Lead Trader Contest According to HTX's official announcement, the HTX Ace Lead Trader Contest has officially commenced. This contest gathers lead traders on HTX's futures copy trading achieving notable PnL percentages, significant earnings, and substantial increases in copy trading followers. They will compete for rewards of up to 1,000 USDT and HTX's traffic support. *View details: https://futures.htx.com/en-us/futures/copy_trading/home/ Event 5: Triple Rewards Await: Join HTX's Copy Trading this Chinese Lunar New Year for a Share of 70,000 USDT According to HTX's official announcement, HTX's Copy Trading for this Chinese Lunar New Year has started. Join the contest for a chance to win a share of 70,000 USDT in futures trial bonuses by following our lead traders. Additionally, newcomers to HTX Copy Trading will receive additional rewards. According to the announcement, the event is from 10:00 (UTC) on February 4 to 10:00 (UTC) on February 25. See below for details: 1. During the event, participants new to HTX's Copy Trading will receive a 10 USDT trial bonus through a net deposit of at least 50 USDT to their Copy Trading accounts and completing their first copied trade of any amount. 2. Followers engaging in copied trades and reaching a margin of at least 100 USDT for copy trading will become eligible to share the total prize pool of 50,000 USDT based on the proportion of the volume of their copied trades; 3. During the event, followers who rank in the top 10 based on their total PnL achieved in copied trades will be eligible to share an additional prize pool of 2,000 USDT. The champion will be awarded a 30% share of the prize pool. * Announcement link: https://www.htx.com.co/support/en-us/detail/74960925310688 Event 6: Shark Fin 3/7-Day Term Products Open for Subscription with APY of up to over 40% According to HTX's official announcement, HTX Earn will launch Shark Fin products for subscription every Monday and Thursday at 12:00 (UTC). The new round of Shark Fin products is ready for subscription. The 3-day term products will be available for subscription starting from 12:00 (UTC) on February 5, 2024, and the settlement time is on February 9. The maximum APY is 37.98%. The 7-day term products will be available for subscription starting from 12:00 (UTC) on February 8, and the settlement time is on February 16. The maximum APY is 47.22%. * Visit the product page for details: https://www.htx.com/en-us/financial/earn/?type=limit&currentProjectType=11 Event 7: $HTX Referral Carnival: Invite Friends to Trade and Share 32 Billion $HTX According to HTX's official announcement, in celebration of the listing of the $HTX, HTX is excited to roll out a referral carnival. Users can invite friends to trade $HTX to have the chance to share a prize pool of 32 billion $HTX. According to the announcement, the event is from 12:00 (UTC) on February 3, 2024, to 15:59 (UTC) on February 19, 2024. See below for details: 1. During the event, the first 888 new users are eligible to share the 3.2 Billion $HTX Airdrop, provided that they sign up via a referral link and register for this event. Each eligible participant can receive a reward ranging from 640,000 $HTX to 32,050,000 $HTX; 2. During the event, invitees will receive an additional commission of up to 30% based on the $HTX trading volume of their referred friends. (The maximum commission percentage during the event will reach up to 60%). * Announcement link: https://www.htx.com.co/support/en-us/detail/74960924786520 Event 8: Invite Friends to Unlock Mystery Boxes Each Worth up to 1,500 USDT in the Lunar New Year Giveaway According to HTX's official announcement, the "Lunar New Year Giveaway: Unlock Mystery Boxes Each Worth up to 1,500 USDT" event has commenced. According to the announcement, participants will receive three Mystery Boxes, and invitees will receive two Mystery Boxes every time participants make a referral, and the invitees log in to the HTX app within 14 days of signup and trade at least 200 USDT in spot trading or at least 300 USDT in futures trading. Each Mystery Box contains cryptocurrencies worth up to 1,500 USDT. You may discover popular cryptos such as BTC, ETH, HTX, and more. Rewards for this event grow as participants invite more, with no cap! Event details: https://www.htx.com/microapps/en-us/double-invite-retail/h5 Event 9: Hold $HTX to Share 20,000 USDT in 100% Margin Interest Vouchers According to HTX's official announcement, HTX Margin is excited to present an amazing promotion where users can hold $HTX to share a prize pool of 100% Margin Interest Vouchers worth 20,000 USDT. The event is from 12:00 (UTC) on February 2, 2024, to 12:00 (UTC) on February 15, with the snapshot taken for users with $HTX holdings at 12:00 (UTC) on February 15. This event offers a total of 5,000 100% Margin Interest Vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis. Each eligible participant will receive a 100% Margin Interest Voucher worth up to 20 USDT based on the quantity of their $HTX holdings. * Announcement link: https://www.htx.com.co/support/en-us/detail/44961095316177 Event 10: Win Triple Rewards at HTX DAO × HTX Mars Program #6 According to HTX's official announcement, HTX officially launched the 6th round of the Mars Program on January 31 at 12:00 (UTC). According to the announcement, the task period is from 12:00 (UTC) on January 31 to 15:59 (UTC) on February 21. The space NFT minting period is from 12:00 (UTC) on January 31 to 15:59 (UTC) on February 26. The prize drawing time is 12:00 (UTC) on February 28. Lucky users from this round enjoy triple rewards. The prize package includes the eligibility of a space traveler candidate, a round-trip experience on a private jet, and 6,000,000,000 $HTX tokens. Additionally, each successful NFT minting grants users one platform lottery chance. * Announcement link: https://www.htx.com.co/support/en-us/detail/74960933688342 Event 11: Lunar New Year Affiliate Special: Trade Designated Cryptos to Share an $HTX Prize Pool Worth $30,000 According to HTX's official announcement, the Trade to Win $HTX event is from 16:00 (UTC) on February 6, 2024, to 15:59 (UTC) on February 17, 2024. Participants engaged in spot trading or futures trading with designated cryptos like BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, LTC, FIL, TRX, WIN, and JST will have the chance to share in an HTX prize pool worth $30,000 and potentially earn up to $4,000 in HTX tokens. This event is exclusively open to HTX Affiliates and users referred by them. Participants are required to click Register Now to enroll in the event. * Announcement link: https://www.htx.com/support/en-us/detail/54961364999235 Event 12: Complete P2P Tasks to Win New Year Rewards and Share a Prize Pool of 50,000 USDT According to HTX's official announcement, participants completing P2P tasks during 16:00 (UTC) on January 30 and 15:59 (UTC) on February 17 can claim Lunar New Year benefits and share a prize pool worth 50,000 USDT based on their fortune points. According to the announcement, there are three ways to obtain fortune points: Users can earn one fortune point for daily P2P deposits of 100 USDT or more; by inviting friends for P2P transactions, both inviters and invitees can get one fortune point for each transaction completed; in addition, new users completing P2P deposits of 100 USDT or more on the day of the registration can earn additional one fortune point. Fortune points can be accumulated. The more the fortune points, the more the rewards. The prize pool includes TROLL, RATS, and SATS tokens, worth 50,000 USDT in total. At the end of the campaign, the prize pool will be distributed according to the proportion of the fortune points obtained to the fortune points obtained by all users. Furthermore, the top 15 users with the highest cumulative P2P deposits during the event period will have a chance to win a special prize, a 500ml bottle of Moutai Feitian. *Announcement link: https://www.htx.com.co/support/zh-tc/detail/104960910076622 Event 13: Lunar New Year HTX Fiat Promo: Use Quick Trade and Split 10,000 USDT According to HTX's official announcement, HTX Fiat will launch a New Year celebration tailored for users from China's Hong Kong and Taiwan. By using the Quick Trade feature of HTX Fiat, users will be eligible to share a prize pool of 10,000 USDT. According to the announcement, the event is from 02:00 (UTC) on February 7, 2024, to 14:00 (UTC) on February 21, 2024. Specifically, it includes two activities: 1. The top 5 users with the highest trading volume in Quick Trade will share a prize pool of 5,000 USDT. The event will last 15 days, and a total of 75 users will have the opportunity to share in the prize pool; 2. The first 1,000 users who complete their Quick Trade orders during the event will become eligible to share a prize pool of 5,000 USDT in the form of cashback vouchers. * Announcement link: https://www.htx.com.co/support/en-us/detail/74961178881742 2024 has arrived. As HTX joins HTX DAO ecosystem builders and the crypto market picks up steam, in this new competitive cycle, HTX is set for a revival and to reintroduce itself to the market with a focus on liberating from constraints through community governance and decentralization. It has demonstrated a stronger competitive edge. About HTX Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved over a decade from a simple cryptocurrency exchange to a comprehensive blockchain business ecosystem. This expansion covers a wide range of services including digital asset trading, financial derivatives, wallets, research, investments, incubation, and more. As a world-leading portal to Web 3.0, HTX is committed to a growth strategy focused on global expansion, ecological prosperity, wealth effect, and safety and compliance. This approach enables us to offer comprehensive, safe, and reliable services and value to virtual currency enthusiasts around the world, reinforcing our position as a global gateway to Web3. Contact Details Michael Wang glo-media@htx-inc.com Company Website https://www.htx.com/

February 05, 2024 08:24 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Comcast Expanding Network in Minnesota

Comcast Twin Cities

Comcast announces expansions of its smart, fast, reliable fiber-rich network to seven new cities in Minnesota by the end of 2024. The cities of Corcoran, Cologne, Nowthen, and parts of Grant, Hugo, Rogers and Stillwater Township will see 5x-10x faster upload speeds and smoother connections with the Xfinity Network. The 2024 planned expansion is part of the company’s nationwide rollout of multi-gig Internet speeds and adds to Comcast’s ongoing $473 million investment across Minnesota over the last three years. The new planned expansions fulfill a need for fast, reliable, secure broadband service across the state. In June 2023, Comcast completed an expansion to more than 2,300 homes and businesses in the City of Wayzata. Area businesses enjoy broadband speeds of up to 100 Gbps and speeds faster than 1 gigabit per second for residents over standard connections in the home. By the end of 2024 Comcast will also expand into Cologne and extend its network into Nowthen, Corcoran, and throughout parts of Rogers, Grant, Hugo and Stillwater Township with funding support from the State of Minnesota’s Border-to-Border Broadband program. “Access to reliable, high-speed broadband is a powerful driver of economic growth and development in our community,” said Corcoran Mayor Tom McKee. “Internet access is at the center of our modern lives and the quality of those lives will be greatly enhanced thanks to the partnership with Comcast, Hennepin County and the Minnesota Office of Broadband. Together we will be bringing broadband to nearly 500 unserved homes and businesses in Corcoran.” These locations will have the foundational next-generation network in place to begin deploying DOCSIS 4.0, setting the stage for the introduction of new symmetrical multi-gigabit Internet options that will enhance performance across Comcast’s existing networks. “The Internet has increasingly become the epicenter of our existence, influencing many aspects of our lives, and people and businesses are consuming more data,” said Kalyn Hove, Senior Vice President, Comcast Midwest Region. “We are building a future of unlimited possibilities in the Twin Cities and across the Midwest. These expansions, plus planned networks enhancements, will service nearly 14,000 additional homes.” Powered by Xfinity Comcast’s network and Internet experience are powering homes and businesses today and into the future: Ultimate Capacity: Xfinity customers connect more than 1 billion devices across the company’s network annually. With the next-generation Xfinity gateways we deliver the most advanced WiFi technology carrying three times more bandwidth to power streaming, gaming, videoconferencing, and more, simultaneously. Fastest Internet: More than a third of Xfinity Internet customers subscribe to gigabit speed products. Recently, Comcast connected the first customers in the world to a DOCSIS 4.0 connection, delivering symmetrical gig speeds over existing connections in customers’ homes with plans to continue to rollout these speeds across the country, including the Twin Cities, over the coming years. Unprecedented Coverage: The latest Xfinity Gateway provides a more reliable connection throughout the home. Customers can get wall-to-wall WiFi coverage with a powerful WiFi Boost Pod that extends coverage to hard-to-reach areas of the home. Most Reliable Connection: Comcast is scaling the nation’s largest and most reliable network that passes 62 million homes and business and counting. The company launched Storm-Ready WiFi, a new device that comes powered with cellular and battery backup to help keep customers connected even when the power goes out. Ultra-Low Latency: The Xfinity Network and the latest Xfinity Gateway are a powerful combination that deliver ultra-low latency for those moments when response times matter most like video games, a fast-growing category with Xfinity households averaging more than one gaming console per home. The Xfinity Network is also self-monitoring and uses AI to detect potential problems before they arise, delivering a reliable connection that is up and running in customers’ homes 99% of the time. Visit Xfinity to learn more and sign up for these exciting new products. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Jill Hornbacher +1 651-425-1695 Jill_Hornbacher@comcast.com Company Website https://midwest.comcast.com/

February 05, 2024 07:00 AM Central Standard Time

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digiDirect Launches Marketplace Expanding Range of Innovation

Marketplacer

digiDirect, one of Australia’s leading retail destinations catering to the consumer electronics needs of content creators, has now launched the digiDirect Marketplace, called digiMarket. With a thriving community of over 500,000 customers and over 18 years commitment to delivering exemplary shopping experiences both online and in stores, digiDirect has been a leader in the industry, catering to a diverse consumer base, including photographers, videographers, podcasters, social media creators, gamers, filmmakers, students and businesses. The digiMarket Marketplace launch is the latest example of digiDirect leading with its technology-first focus, and dedication to sustaining a positive shopping experience, delivering greater choice in products for its online consumers. Integrating robust security features and offering diverse customer support options, the digiDirect Marketplace is powered by the Marketplacer platform, the Adobe Commerce/Marketplacer connector. This integration streamlines the incorporation of third-party seller inventory into the existing e-commerce platform, significantly reducing complexity and time-to-market for the addition of online marketplace functionality. "We are thrilled to join forces with digiDirect, embarking on a journey to elevate their business by offering an ever-expanding spectrum of products. Together, we aim to make digiDirect the go-to destination for electronic, tech, and digital shopping experiences,” commented Jason Wyatt, CEO of Marketplacer. Addressing the opportunity to enhance customer offerings, the digiDirect Marketplace adds depth across various categories, including Consumer Electronics, Home Appliances, Digital Wellness, Digital Baby and Kids Care, Pet Tech, Office Tech, and the company’s core focuses of Photo & Video, Computers & Mobile and Gaming & Streaming. With an enriched shopping experience featuring an additional 2,500 products, digiMarket seamlessly complements digiDirect's physical stores, creating a unified omnichannel experience for customers. General Manager of digiDirect, Haig Kayserian said: “The launch of our online Marketplace marks a milestone in digiDirect’s journey, enhancing depth across current categories by thousands of products while staying rooted in our consumer electronics focus.” “This expansion complements our greater online and bricks-and-mortar strategy across Australia, creating greater choices for our customers, with an experience that is carefully curated to always prioritise quality meeting convenience at every click,”Kayserian added. In anticipation of this launch, digiDirect appointed experienced retail and technology leader, Luke Goldsworthy as their digiMarket Division Manager. He and his team are in the process of onboarding dozens of sellers who have signed up to list their thousands of items on the digiDirect Marketplace. “We have been greatly encouraged by our burgeoning seller community, who recognise the opportunity of opening up their consumer-base through digiDirect’s loyal community, who purchase large average carts regularly on our website,” Goldsworthy said. “To maintain the absolute trust of our customers, we have been very selective in the sellers and products we have onboarded, to ensure our service levels are maintained and we continue to provide a range of products that fit our consumers’ broader expectations when shopping at digiDirect,” he added. The digiMarket Marketplace continues to set itself apart by offering an extensive range of categories, enabling targeted advertising, and ensuring a seamless omnichannel experience for its community. With the added AI integration into the digiDirect Marketplace, the user experience is further enhanced, providing their sellers with valuable insights. The benefits for digiDirect include, but not limited to: The ability to quickly and easily integrate third-party seller inventory into its existing e-commerce platform, Develop and showcase a curated shopping experience for its online visitors; Attract new customers and nurture existing ones with a newly expanded inventory of available products, and; Grow revenue more rapidly in a highly competitive and steadily expanding Australian market. As digiDirect solidifies its place as a pioneer, the Marketplace symbolises innovation, customer commitment, and community empowerment. Customers are invited to explore the new Marketplace, while sellers are encouraged to inquire about joining this groundbreaking platform. ABOUT digiDirect – where everything clicks. digiDirect is one of Australia's largest retailers of consumer electronics. Having started as a retailer specialising in cameras and imaging, digiDirect's seven brick-and-mortar stores across the country maintain that speciality with expert staff and the widest range of products. Their website, digidirect.com.au is one of the most popular online retail destinations in Australia, offering tens of thousands of products shipped to thousands of loyal customers from the company's state-of-the-art Sydney headquarters. Founded by Managing Director Shant Kradjian in 2005, digiDirect employs over 150 staff across multiple states and enjoys important relationships with multinational supplier partners, payment, loyalty rewards, logistics and other service providers. ABOUT Marketplacer: Marketplacer is a global technology Software as a Service (SaaS) platform equipped with all the tools and functionality needed to build successful and scalable online marketplaces, at speed. To date, Marketplacer has helped build and deploy over 100 Marketplaces connecting over 13,000 businesses worldwide. The Marketplacer platform exists to make growth simple, from implementing marketplace strategies such as shipment from drop-ship sellers, adding new categories or third-party range extension, through to consolidating markets and rolling out modern revenue models such as recurring memberships that allow businesses to grow faster and beyond the constraints of capital inventory. For more information, visit www.marketplacer..com. Note: This press release is accurate as of the date of issuance and is subject to change without notice. For media inquiries, please contact: Luke Goldsworthy Head of Marketplace digiDirect luke.g@digidirect.com.au Livia de Beaurepaire Marketing Manager Marketplacer livia.beaurepaire@marketplacer.com About Marketplacer Marketplacer is a global technology Software as a Service (SaaS) platform equipped with all the tools and functionality needed to build successful and scalable online marketplaces, at speed. To date, Marketplacer has helped build and deploy over 100 Marketplaces connecting over 13,000 businesses worldwide. The Marketplacer platform exists to make growth simple, from implementing marketplace strategies such as shipment from drop-ship sellers, adding new categories or third-party range extension, through to consolidating markets and rolling out modern revenue models such as recurring memberships that allow businesses to grow faster and beyond the constraints of capital inventory. Born and bred from the award-winning BikeExchange, the biggest online marketplace for anything and everything bike, founders Jason Wyatt and Sam Salter saw the opportunity to license the online software platform and apply it to new marketplaces. Marketplacer is responsible for the creation of online eCommerce solutions and business transformations of companies around the world. Visit www.marketplacer.com for more information. Contact Details Marketplacer Livia de Beaurepaire +61 423 948 002 livia.beaurepaire@marketplacer.com Company Website https://www.marketplacer.com/

February 04, 2024 10:43 PM Eastern Standard Time

News Release

Investors Scoop Up Millions of $GFOX Tokens Just Before Stage Closes

RoundHouse Media

The feeling that Galaxy Fox will exceed many top altcoins this year has been pervasive, given that it has already broken several milestones in its ongoing presale. For this reason, investors are buying up millions of $GFOX tokens to seal their positions when it launches on the retail market. $GFOX: Most-Wanted Coin of the Year Many cryptocurrency presales have launched lately, but Galaxy Fox tops them in convincing investors with its unique features and potential for excelling in the industry. While many view it as an ordinary meme, Galaxy Fox has shown it is more than that by breaking presale records, so far raising an impressive $3 million within a few months of its ongoing presale stages. $GFOX has pressed on to stand out as one of the best play-to-earn (P2E) tokens. In the P2E gameplay of its ecosystem, you’ll find a fantastic runner game, which earns you a $GFOX token by maintaining top performance. The most exciting part of the games is that you can increase your winning advantage simply by buying Galaxy Fox NFTs. These NFTs have varying attributes like increase, speed, agility, power, and weaknesses to make the competition more interesting. Galaxy Fox is also a key player when it comes to staking, where it grants investors the opportunity for earning income passively. When investors stake their $GFOX tokens, they get a share of rewards from the platform's reward pool called Galaxy Fox Stargate. The funds in Galaxy Fox Stargate will not run out because the platform replenishes it with 2% of every transaction that occurred within the ecosystem. Galaxy Fox also implements a token burn feature, allowing the permanent elimination of the $GFOX token and decreasing its circulation. This feature aims to create scarcity of the $GFOX tokens, which currently have a limited supply of 5 billion tokens, so they can skyrocket in value as quickly as possible. Galaxy Fox has a smartly designed presale structure, which enabled the platform to gain increasing attention recently. The presale has ten different stages and from the first to the last stage, the price of $GFOX is bound to rise. Galaxy Fox has completed six stages, and the 7th stage is currently ongoing with more than 95% of the tokens allocated for the stage sold already. Investors who had bought $GFOX at the start of its presales would have gained around 230% on their investment and this ROI is expected to increase by almost 10% again by the time the presale stage 8 starts in the next couple of days. More interestingly, with three more stages left to the end of the presale, investors who invested from stage one will realize a significant ROI totaling about 450%. Conclusion On a final note, the swift and successful presale journey of $GFOX, coupled with its enticing innovative features and multiple use cases has been a key factor in enticing big investors into the Galaxy Fox's ecosystem. Judging from its impressive success so far, it's not surprising that $GFOX has been tipped to be one the best tokens to buy this year. Looking for a token that can give you maximum returns this year? Join Galaxy Fox today and get a 15% discount. Visit the website and join the telegram community for more updates. Learn more about $GFOX here: Visit Galaxy Fox Presale | Join the Community Contact Details Galaxy Fox media@galaxyfox.io

February 03, 2024 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Successful Launch of HTX DAO and People's Exchange 2024: Justin Sun Aims to Build HTX as the People's Exchange

HTX DAO

Singapore, February 3, 2024 - The HTX DAO 2024 and People's Exchange Launch Ceremony took place in Singapore on February 2. The event marked the beginning of the HTX exchange's journey on decentralization and signaled the People's Exchange as its core ethos. At the event, Justin Sun, a core supporter of HTX DAO and member of HTX's Global Advisory Board, delivered a keynote speech, unmasking the first People's Exchange in the cryptocurrency space and highlighting the need for decentralization. He also shared his vision for HTX DAO and the exchange, along with the HTX DAO Governance Committee, ecosystem participants, and media outlets. HTX DAO: Empowering the Community Justin Sun pointed out that only a decentralized governance model can prevent tragedies like FTX and Mt. Gox from happening again and ensure the long-term security of users' assets while raising the asset ceiling, under the continuous growth of the industry. Moreover, only through decentralization can the blockchain and exchange industries reach a trillion-dollar level of asset scale. HTX DAO will lead the industry's evolution and create a new paradigm for protecting user assets in the exchange industry. It is reported that HTX DAO was officially established on January 18, with the aim of being a leading decentralized autonomous organization in the blockchain ecosystem and focusing on open finance and tokenized economy. The name of HTX DAO encapsulates its identity and strategic direction as a decentralized autonomous organization: The "H" symbolizes the HTX exchange, highlighting its noteworthy role within the HTX DAO ecosystem as the largest contributor to ecosystem liquidity. The "T" signifies the TRON blockchain, the technological foundation driving the HTX DAO ecosystem forward. The "X" embodies change and potential that blend in a multitude of beliefs at the heart of HTX DAO's vision. The "X" also stands as a symbol of the broad spectrum of reputable entities that will form the bedrock of this DAO ecosystem. Sun stated that HTX aims to transform into a decentralized, democratic, and autonomous exchange, which will be achieved through HTX DAO. This unique approach will empower $HTX holders to vote on listings, raise questions, and participate in decision-making and governance, propelling HTX towards decentralization. Ultimately, they will become the true owners of the platform. HTX DAO Gives the HTX Exchange a Second Life During the ceremony, Sun expressed that HTX DAO has given the HTX exchange a new lease of life. With a decentralized governance approach leading the next decade of development, HTX can operate sustainably for generations to come. As per Sun, with the support of HTX DAO and the HTX token, HTX will retain its centralized operational structure while embracing decentralized governance, branding, and decision-making, showcasing vitality and competitiveness as a democratic community. Sun also highlighted HTX DAO's strengths in community decision-making, governance, and operations. It will establish the HTX Senate, igniting active debate and decision-making regarding the development of HTX. With the principle of "From the Community, For the Community," HTX is poised to be a true people-centric exchange. It is worth noting that besides HTX, HTX DAO has attracted more builders for its ecosystem, including projects and institutions such as Ankr, Spark Digital Capital, Double Peak Capital, Zebec, Merkle 3s Capital, TRON, BitTorrent, JustLend DAO, Poloniex, Sun.io, Spark, Stratified Capital, stUSDT, APENFT, etc. At the same time, as co-builders, HTX, TRON, BitTorrent, and APENFT will contribute funds to support HTX DAO's liquidity, jointly promoting the development of HTX DAO. Summing up, Sun stated that HTX has gone through a decade as a centralized entity and hopes to accomplish its transformation to decentralization over the next decade, reaching long-term stability with a mechanism of complete democracy and transparency as a true People's Exchange. It is reported that this ceremony has garnered widespread attention from the HTX community and the cryptocurrency market. Web3 leading institutions attended the ceremony, such as Fireblocks, HashKey, Bithumb, and Paradigm, as well as media outlets like The Wall Street Journal, The Korea Times, FT Chinese, The Straits Times, Golden Finance, PANews, and others. About HTX DAO As a multi-chain deployed decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), HTX DAO demonstrates an innovative governance approach. Unlike traditional corporate structures, it adopts a decentralized governance structure composed of a diversified group, jointly committed to the success of this organization. This unique ecosystem advocates open values and encourages all DAO participants to propose collaborations and protocol enhancements that can promote the development of HTX DAO. Contact Details HTX DAO media@htxdao.com

February 03, 2024 03:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

Industrials ETF 'XLI': Potential Catalyst for Growth and Expansion

Select Sector SPDR

The industrial sector, traditionally the backbone of any robust economy, is currently experiencing a resurgence. As a nation, we are focusing on revitalizing our infrastructure, which includes railroads, aviation, and heavy machinery. This renewed focus has increased demand for industrial space and sparked job creation in these sectors. An exchange-traded fund (ETF) such as the Industrials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLI) provides investors with an efficient, cost-effective* way to gain exposure to this expanding sector. XLI offers access to key sub-sectors of the US economy which may fuel this growth. The XLI tracks a market cap-weighted index of industrial-sector stocks drawn from the S&P 500. Currently holding over $15 billion in assets under management, it has a low annual expense ratio of 0.10%, making it one of the most efficient and tradable ways to gain access to the industrial sector. The top 10 holdings** for XLI are: Caterpillar Inc. (4.28%) Union Pacific Corp. (4.25%) Boeing Co. (4.20%) General Electric Co. (3.94%) Honeywell International Inc. (3.92%) Uber Technologies (3.59%) RTX (3.43%) United Parcel Service, Inc. Class B (3.22%) Deere & Co. (3.04%) Lockheed Martin Corp. (2.84%) Dominant Market Players Caterpillar Inc., Union Pacific Corp., Boeing Co., General Electric Co., Honeywell International Inc., and Uber Technologies dominate the sector by market capitalization, representing industries such as aerospace and defense, building products, construction and engineering, electrical equipment, conglomerates, machinery, commercial services and supplies, air freight and logistics, airlines, marine, road, and rail. Investors ranging from institutional, broker-dealers, financial advisors, and retail are adding diversification to their portfolios with XLI. This actively traded ETF can be an attractive option for investors and traders seeking exposure to the sector. The foundation of any strong economy lies in the manufacturing and distribution of goods to businesses and consumers. XLI provides investors with exposure to this fundamental process that is essential to the daily operations of commerce, retail, and services. The Role of XLI in Portfolio Diversification A key aspect of building a portfolio is understanding the significance of each of the core 11 sectors of the S&P 500. The industrial sector, represented by XLI, can serve as a viable starting point for investors of all sizes seeking diversified investments. As we move forward, XLI can open doors to manufacturing and transportation, serving as a gateway to the infrastructure revitalization and industrial expansion that is currently driving our economy. DISCLAIMER: This is a work of research and should not be taken as investment or financial advice. Therefore, Select Sector SPDRs or the publisher is not liable for any decision made based on the publication. About the Company: Select Sector SPDR ETFs offer flexibility and customization opportunities. Many investors have similar outlooks, but no two are exactly alike. Select Sector SPDR ETFs let investors select the sectors that best meet their investment goals. *Ordinary brokerage fees apply **Holdings, Weightings & Assets as of 12/31/23 subject to change DISCLOSURES The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The index is heavily weighted toward stocks with large market capitalizations and represents approximately two-thirds of the total market value of all domestic common stocks. The S&P 500 Index figures do not reflect any fees, expenses or taxes. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses before investing. One may not invest directly in an index. Transparent ETFs provide daily disclosure of portfolio holdings and weightings All ETFs are subject to risk, including loss of principal. Sector ETF products are also subject to sector risk and nondiversification risk, which generally will result in greater price fluctuations than the overall market. Diversification does not eliminate risk. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 1-866-SECTOR-ETF (732-8673) or visit www.sectorspdrs.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for the Select Sector SPDR Trust. Media Contact: Company: Select Sector SPDRs Contact: Dan Dolan* Address: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203 Country: United States Email: dan.dolan@sectorspdrs.com Website: https://www.sectorspdrs.com/ *Dan Dolan is a Registered Representative of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is the distributor for the Select Sector SPDR Trust. SEL007228 EXP 3/31/24 Contact Details Dan Dolan +1 203-935-8103 dan.dolan@sectorspdrs.com Company Website https://www.sectorspdrs.com/

February 02, 2024 05:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

National Day of Action Spurs 280,000+ Calls, Emails, and Tweets to Save Critical Broadband Subsidy

Raynor Ave.

Today, the Affordable Broadband Campaign shared the outputs from its national day of action: Americans made more than 280,000 calls, emails, and social media posts to Congress in support of funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The program provides discounts to nearly 23 million American households and needs $7 billion in funding from Congress to ensure people aren’t disconnected from the internet this year. Don’t Disconnect US Day, which took place on January 25, spurred those who care about affordable internet to contact their congressional representatives by phone or email by visiting www.dontdisconnectus.org or partner platforms. The resulting actions from supporters calling for Congress to fund the program included: More than 281,000 emails, calls, and tweets to Congress in one week More than 225,000 emails and calls to Congress in one week More than 114,000 emails and calls to Congress on one day alone (January 25) More than 55,000 posts on social media, including from Sen. Peter Welch (VT) and Rep. Yvette Clark (NY-09) Dozens of op-eds, blogs, and news reports published in a variety of publications, including The Dallas Morning News, News Center Maine, Broadband Breakfast, Benton Institute, and more Don’t Disconnect US also coincided with the date the Federal Communications Commission instructed internet service providers to inform customers that the ACP credit on their bill is ending. One in six U.S. households is currently enrolled in the program, including approximately 960,000 veterans, 3.1 million families with a K-12 student receiving free or reduced-price lunch, and 5 million seniors. “Phones were ringing off the hook in Congressional Offices, plus inboxes were flooded with emails from all 50 states,” said Gigi Sohn, spokesperson for the ‍Affordable Broadband Campaign. “We launched Don’t Disconnect US Day because the situation facing 23 million American households is dire: unless Congress acts now, approximately 50 million Americans could be without their internet. Members of Congress need to listen to their constituents and fund this program now.” A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers has introduced a path forward with the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024, which would provide $7 billion to extend the ACP through the end of the year. The effort is led by Sen. Peter Welch (VT), Sen. J.D. Vance (OH), Sen. Jacky Rosen (NV), Sen. Kevin Cramer (ND), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (NY-04), Rep. Marcus Molinaro (NY-19), and Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17). Don’t Disconnect US was led by the Affordable Broadband Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring affordable and robust broadband for all. About the Affordable Broadband Campaign The Affordable Broadband Campaign is a group of like-minded nonprofit, industry, civil society, and public interest groups that have come together around one issue: sustainable broadband affordability. The U.S. needs a sustainable policy solution to the problem, and the Affordable Broadband Campaign is focused on securing that through an informed, deliberate strategy. Contact Details Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.dontdisconnectus.org/

February 01, 2024 03:05 PM Eastern Standard Time

Technology