Author: kumbhorg

Vilma Santos in a scene from Dan Villegas’ ‘Uninvited’ (Photo: Mentorque Productions, Project 8 Projects and Warner Bros. Pictures, 2024). This year’s Metro Manila Film Festival boasts of a lineup of films that—finally—have begun focusing on quality as much as commercial value. While it has received criticisms over the years for fielding in entries that cater to the moviegoing masses, critical acclaim be damned; the past few years have seen the festival slowly regaining its footing. The films this year range from family dramas and your standard Filipino thrillers, to dramedies and musicals. Below, I write a few thoughts on…

US President Donald Trump has proposed supplying Ukraine with ongoing military aid in exchange for access to its abundant reserves of rare earth minerals — elements critical to high-tech industries and defense applications. This proposal aligns with Trump’s long-standing perspective on leveraging foreign natural resources to offset US military expenditures. Notably, in 2011, he criticized the US strategy in Iraq, suggesting that seizing oil assets could have reimbursed the United States for its military involvement. Such payments-in-kind are not without precedent. Historically, nations have engaged in similar deals, particularly involving oil. For instance, during the 1980s, the United States entered…

Source : Brooklyn Investor

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has predicted the potential winner of  highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from February 19 to March 9.Return of the tournament after eight-year hiatusThis edition will mark the return of the Champions Trophy after a long eight-year hiatus, making it one of the most awaited international cricket events. Pakistan, the defending champions, won the last edition in 2017, defeating arch-rivals India by 180 runs in a historic final at The Oval. Now, under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan will aim to replicate…

Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola defended his goalkeeper, Ederson, who was judged by many as the culprit in their 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid. The Brazilian was considered at fault for two Los Blancos’ late goals in that game, which saw Carlo Ancelotti’s men surging to a comeback win at the Etihad. Guardiola Refuses to Blame Ederson for Madrid Defeat Man City were close to grabbing a hard-fought win against Madrid as they were 2-1 up until the 85th minute before Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham changed the script with their goals. Diaz’s goal came from Ederson’s poor pass which…

The New York Islanders are telling teams they want to re-sign Brock Nelson, but is Nelson going to want to re-sign with the Islanders? Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on the 32 Thoughts: The Podcast – Hold Outs, Opt Ins, and Potential Trades episode, on the New York Islanders and pending UFA Brock Nelson. The Islanders are telling teams they want to re-sign Nelson, but is Nelson going to want to re-sign with the Islanders? ** NHLRumors.com transcription Bukauskas: “Brock Nelson, Elliotte. So we’ll see him at Four Nations with Team USA. And he may be one of the…

New York CNN Business  —  General Electric is turning to an outsider to clean up a mess that took decades to create. Larry Culp, 55, is a proven leader known for his hands-on approach. He received a hero’s welcome from Wall Street on Monday after suddenly being installed as GE’s new boss. GE’s (GE) beaten-down share price spiked 10%. Culp, who became CEO of industrial manufacturer Danaher at just 37, faces a monumental task in restoring GE to greatness. The iconic maker of light bulbs, MRI machines and jet engines is bleeding badly from poorly timed deals, needless complexity in…

What if every click you made online cost just a fraction of a penny? What if your favorite news site, your go-to streaming service, or even your daily email usage could be paid for at tiny increments, rather than one big chunk at the end of the month? This vision—where nearly every digital interaction could be monetized by “micropayments”—has hovered over the internet economy since its earliest days. But as Nick Szabo’s seminal 1999 paper, Micropayments and Mental Transaction Costs, pointed out, there’s a lot more than technology standing in the way.Twenty-five years on, Szabo’s warnings about mental transaction costs—the…

Conclave stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini, and is leading the nominations in the BAFTAs on SundayAs a young boy, film editor Nick Emerson’s fascination with 1970s American political thrillers, and watching the unfolding peace talks in Northern Ireland, set him on a path that would lead to him working on one of the most acclaimed films of last year. Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini, is leading this year’s Bafta nominations, receiving nods in 12 categories, including Best Editing.The film is also thought to be a strong contender for the best picture award at…

By Terry Ashton, updated February 12, 2025In recent years, the rise of cryptocurrencies has sparked discussions about the future of money. One of the key debates is stablecoins vs. fiat currencies. While both serve as mediums of exchange, they have fundamental differences in structure, stability, and control. Stablecoins reshape financial stability by offering an alternative to traditional money, reducing reliance on government-backed currencies. This article will explore these distinctions, focusing on USDT, USDC, and DAI, and compare their advantages and drawbacks to traditional money.Understanding Stablecoins and Fiat CurrenciesGovernments issue fiat currencies, such as the US dollar or the euro, and…