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Experts and Law Makers Call for Health and Safety Measures as Nigeria Records the First Case of Anthrax Disease

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The Nigerian Government has been nudged to take urgent action against the outbreak of anthrax disease in the country. The bacterial infection common in livestock was reported to have been discovered in a farm at Gajiri Village, Niger State.

During plenary on Tuesday, members of the House of Representatives discussed the outbreak of the disease, calling on relevant department and agencies including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) as well as other relevant stakeholders to take critical urgent measures to control the disease.

In a motion of urgent public importance entitled “Need to curtain the Outbreak of Anthrax discovered in a farm at Gajiri Village, Suleja, Niger State” discussed at the house, it was gathered humans are vulnerable to the disease through direct contact with affected animals or exposure to contaminated products which could be in the form of ingesting, inhaling, spores or wounds.

Hon. Adamu Tanko who moved the motion disclosed the laboratory test conducted on the collected samples by the National Veterinary Research Institute confirmed the first reported case at a livestock farm located in Gajiri village.

The legislator demands a quick-witted and holistic action by the government and other relevant stakeholders towards making resources available for the containment of the disease as well as providing support to affected communities and compensating for loses recorded due to the outbreak.

According to the Vanguard, Hon. Adamu noted that similar cases of the diseases were confirmed in Northern Ghana, Burkina Faso and Togo with symptoms, including sudden death and blood oozing from natural body openings (nose, ear, mouth, and anal region) and spread through affected livestock, bush meat, and contaminated environments, Concerned over the potential spread of the disease to other livestock farms in the country and its possible impact on public health,

“Adamu called for the urgent need for proactive measures to prevent the spread of Anthrax in Nigeria and protect the health and livelihood of citizens by placing public health precautions in place such 8 strict surveillance and monitoring of livestock farms, as well as proper disposal of infected animals and contaminated materials.

“He however, acknowledges the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in promptly addressing the issue by implementing necessary measures to contain the spread of Anthrax and protect both livestock and human health.
“The House after adopting the motion, referred the matter to it’s Committee on Health when constituted to ensure compliance,”the Vanguard reported.

Speaking with TVC news on Tuesday, Yahya Disu, Head of Communication, NCDC, said the agency is already working in sync with FMARD to control the crisis. He also advised Nigerians to be very conscious of their hygiene at this time, stating that meat or animal products that have strange colour or smell should be avoided in the market.

South Korea’s Shinhan Bank Tests Stablecoin Payments on Hedera Network

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South Korea’s Shinhan Bank, one of the largest banks in the country, has announced that it is testing a new payment system based on stablecoins and the Hedera network. The bank aims to provide faster, cheaper and more secure cross-border transactions for its customers.

Stablecoins are digital assets that are pegged to a fiat currency or a basket of assets and are designed to maintain a stable value. They are often used as a medium of exchange or a store of value in the crypto space, as they offer lower volatility and higher liquidity than other cryptocurrencies.

Hedera is a public distributed ledger platform that uses a novel consensus mechanism called Hashgraph, which claims to offer higher scalability, security and efficiency than traditional blockchain systems. Hedera also supports smart contracts, tokenization and decentralized applications.

According to a press release, Shinhan Bank has partnered with Hexlant, a blockchain technology company, and Bitgo, a digital asset custody provider to develop and test the stablecoin payment system. The system will use the Korean won-backed stablecoin Terra KRW (KRT) as the payment medium and the Hedera network as the underlying infrastructure.

The bank said that the system will enable real-time settlement of cross-border transactions, as well as lower fees and enhanced transparency. The bank also said that the system will comply with the relevant regulations and standards, such as anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) policies.

Shinhan Bank is not the only financial institution that is exploring the potential of stablecoins and Hedera. In September 2020, Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets, announced that it was joining the Hedera Governing Council, a group of organizations that oversee the governance and development of the Hedera network. Standard Bank also said that it was developing a cross-border payment solution using stablecoins on Hedera.

The stablecoin payment system is part of Shinhan Bank’s broader digital transformation strategy, which aims to leverage emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and cloud computing to improve its products and services. The bank has also invested in various blockchain-related projects and startups, such as Ground X, the blockchain arm of Kakao Corp., and Blocko, a blockchain platform provider.

The bank said that the system will enable real-time cross-border payments, as well as domestic payments for e-commerce and other online services. The bank also said that the system will reduce transaction costs and risks, as well as enhance transparency and compliance.

Shinhan Bank is not the only financial institution that is exploring the potential of stablecoins and Hedera. In June, Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets, announced that it was developing a cross-border payment solution using Hedera and ZARt, a South African rand-backed stablecoin. In September, FIS Global, a leading provider of financial technology solutions, joined the Hedera Governing Council, a group of organizations that oversee the governance and development of the Hedera network.

The stablecoin payment system is part of Shinhan Bank’s broader digital transformation strategy, which aims to leverage emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and cloud computing to improve its products and services. The bank said that it will continue to collaborate with various partners to create innovative solutions for its customers.

Petrol Pump Price Rises to N650 Per Litre in Nigeria

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The cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has risen as much as N650 in some parts of Nigeria, following a jump in the price of crude oil in the international market and the poor performance of the naira in the forex market.

This is coming weeks after President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy, and the central bank’s decision to float the FX market.

Petrol stations have begun to adjust their pump prices to reflect the changes in the markets. In June, the National Controller Operations, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mike Osatuyi, warned that PMS prices will likely rise in July, as market fundamentals become the major determinant of the prices.

“What I am seeing is around N600 and above, depending on the exchange rate, the current crude price at the international market, and the landing cost. Those in Lagos will pay around N600, those outside Lagos around N600 plus, while those in the north would be paying anything from N700 and above,” he said.

Though the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) debunked the report, saying the association has no plans to increase pump prices for now, the jump in fuel costs has proved Osatuyi right.

In Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, the price rose to N617 and N640, while in Ondo and Kano states; it sells for N650 and N620 per liter.

The prices are expected to go up in northern states like Sokoto and Maiduguri because of higher transportation costs emanating from moving the products from Lagos to the far north.

Mele Kyari, the group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), said on Tuesday that the increase was determined by market forces.

Besides Brent crude price rising to $78.86 per barrel, naira’s performance in the forex market contributed immensely to the current price of fuel. The naira has slumped below N800/$1 in the Investor and Exporter, forcing an increase in the price of goods and services. This also means that the price of petroleum products will rise accordingly.

Marketers had in June explained that Nigerians were able to buy fuel below N600 per liter because they were still loading petroleum products at a government price of N496.50 per liter. But with the old stock out and new products arriving at higher landing costs based on current forex realities; it’s realistic to expect an increase in pump prices.

While Dangote Refinery is yet to begin operation as expected this month, consumers are counting on competition to drive the price down.

Ahmed Farouk, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), said the agency plans to issue more licenses to petrol importers. According to Farouk, more than 56 companies applied for import licenses to bring in petrol, but only 10 of them showed a commitment to import. Among these, Emadeb Energy, A.Y Shafa, and Prudent Energy successfully imported petrol into the country.

However, the increase in fuel prices means that Nigeria’s inflation is going to see a further spike as the cost of living soars. The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics announced on Monday that inflation rose to 22.79% in June, driven by the rise in the cost of goods and services that includes fuel.

The impact of this on businesses, which rely largely on generators for electricity supply, is expected to be severe. Many businesses are expected to shut down if the government does not act fast to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal.

Meanwhile, the total fuel consumed in Nigeria has since dropped, post the removal of fuel subsidy.

He added that this represents a 35% reduction when compared with the 65 million litres per day, prior to subsidy removal, citing that, the daily average truck out after the announcement of the subsidy removal on May 29, dropped to 46.38 million litres per day.  The fuel regulator chief, said this is a significant reduction when compared to previous months saying: 

“The current daily consumption has drastically reduced as against 65 million litres which had been the daily consumption before subsidy removal. 

“In January, it was 62 million litres per day; February, 62 million litres per day; March, 71.4 million litres per day; April, 67.7 million litres per day; May 66.6 million litres per day; June, 49. 5 million litres per day and July, 46.3 million litres per day,”.

 

PwN Secures $2 Million in VC Fundings, As Coinfund set to back Early Crypto Startups with $158 Million

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The decentralized finance (DeFi) sector is booming and one of the most promising startups in this space is PWN, a platform that allows users to borrow and lend crypto assets using smart contracts. pwn has recently announced that it has raised $2 million in a seed funding round led by some of the most prominent investors in the crypto industry, such as Coinbase Ventures, Pantera Capital, and Polychain Capital.

PWN aims to disrupt the traditional mortgage industry by offering a more transparent, efficient, and accessible way of financing real estate. Users can use their crypto assets as collateral to borrow stablecoins, which they can then use to pay for their property. Alternatively, users can also lend their stablecoins to other borrowers and earn interest. PWN leverages blockchain technology to ensure that the transactions are secure, fast, and verifiable.

PWN’s founder and CEO, Alice Smith, said that the funding will help the startup to scale its platform and reach more users across the globe. She also said that PWN has a vision of creating a more inclusive and fair financial system that empowers people to own their homes without intermediaries or barriers.

“We are thrilled to have the support of such reputable investors who share our vision of democratizing access to real estate financing. With PWN, anyone can use their crypto assets to get a mortgage or earn passive income by lending. We believe that this is the future of finance, and we are excited to be part of it,” Smith said.

PWN is currently in beta testing and plans to launch its mainnet in Q4 2023. The platform supports various crypto assets, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, DAI, and more. PWN also has a native token, PWN, which is used for governance and incentives. Users can stake PWN to participate in the platform’s decision-making process and earn rewards.

PWN is one of the first DeFi platforms to focus on the mortgage market, which is estimated to be worth over $30 trillion globally. By leveraging the power of DeFi, PWN hopes to create a more open and efficient way of financing real estate that benefits both borrowers and lenders.

Coinfund to back Early Crypto Startups with with fresh $158 million

CoinFund, a leading crypto asset investment firm, announced today that it has raised $158 million for its third fund, which will focus on early-stage startups in the blockchain and decentralized web space. The fund, dubbed CoinFund III, was oversubscribed and attracted institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals from around the world.

CoinFund was founded in 2015 by Jake Brukhman, a former software engineer and tech entrepreneur, who saw the potential of crypto assets as a new asset class that could enable novel business models and social coordination mechanisms. CoinFund has since invested in over 100 projects across various sectors, such as decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), gaming, social media, infrastructure, and more.

Some of the notable portfolio companies of CoinFund include Rarible, a leading NFT marketplace; The Graph, a decentralized protocol for indexing and querying blockchain data; Livepeer, a decentralized video streaming network; and Audius, a decentralized music streaming platform.

CoinFund III will continue to support innovative and visionary founders who are building the next generation of decentralized applications and platforms. The fund will also leverage CoinFund’s extensive network and expertise in the crypto space to provide strategic guidance and operational support to its portfolio companies.

Brukhman said in a press release: “We are incredibly grateful to our investors for their support and trust in our team and vision. CoinFund III is a testament to our conviction in the long-term potential of crypto assets and the decentralized web. We believe that this technology will have a profound impact on the future of the internet and society at large, and we are excited to partner with the best entrepreneurs who are driving this transformation.”

Coinbase Brian Armstrong to hold Meeting with House Democrats

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Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is scheduled to meet with several members of the House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday, according to a report by Politico. The meeting comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny of the cryptocurrency industry and Coinbase’s recent clash with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its proposed lending product.

Armstrong, who has been vocal about his frustration with the lack of clarity and innovation-friendly policies in the U.S. crypto regulation, will likely use the opportunity to advocate for a more balanced and supportive approach from lawmakers and regulators. He will also likely face questions and concerns from some of the lawmakers, who may be wary of the risks and challenges posed by the rapidly evolving crypto space.

Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto exchange by market capitalization, has been at the center of several regulatory disputes in recent months. In September, Armstrong publicly criticized the SEC for threatening to sue Coinbase if it launched its Lend program, which would allow users to earn interest on their crypto holdings. Armstrong accused the SEC of engaging in “sketchy behavior” and creating an “unfair market” for crypto innovation.

Coinbase later announced that it would delay the launch of Lend indefinitely and cooperate with the SEC’s investigation. However, the company also filed a legal complaint against the SEC, seeking to obtain documents and information related to the agency’s decision-making process and communications with other crypto platforms that offer similar products.

Coinbase has also faced pushback from other regulators, such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which fined Coinbase $6.5 million in March for allegedly reporting false or misleading information about its trading volume and liquidity. Additionally, Coinbase has been sued by several customers who claim that the company mishandled their personal data and failed to protect them from hackers and fraudsters.

Despite these challenges, Coinbase remains one of the most influential and successful companies in the crypto industry, with over 68 million verified users and a market value of about $65 billion as of Tuesday. The company went public in April through a direct listing on Nasdaq, marking a historic milestone for the crypto sector.

Coinbase is committed to fostering a healthy and transparent ecosystem for the crypto industry. We believe that regulation is necessary to protect consumers, investors, and innovators, and to ensure the long-term viability of this emerging technology.

However, we also recognize that regulation is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different types of crypto assets and activities may require different approaches and frameworks. That is why we advocate for a principles-based and risk-based approach to regulation, rather than a prescriptive and rigid one.

We believe that regulators should focus on the outcomes and objectives they want to achieve, rather than on the specific means and methods. This would allow for more flexibility and innovation, while still ensuring a high level of consumer protection and market integrity.

We also believe that regulators should take into account the inherent differences and risks of various crypto assets and activities, rather than applying the same rules across the board. This would avoid creating unnecessary barriers and costs for low-risk or beneficial use cases, such as stablecoins, DeFi, or NFTs.

We welcome the opportunity to engage with regulators and policymakers around the world to share our insights and perspectives on the crypto industry. We believe that through constructive dialogue and collaboration, we can create a regulatory environment that supports the growth and development of the crypto economy, while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders.

Armstrong’s meeting with the House Democrats could be a chance for him to build bridges and foster dialogue with some of the key policymakers who will shape the future of crypto regulation in the U.S. It could also be an opportunity for him to showcase Coinbase’s vision and values, as well as its contributions to the economy and society.

However, Armstrong may also face some skepticism and resistance from some of the lawmakers, who may have different views and priorities regarding crypto regulation. Some of them may be more inclined to support stricter rules and oversight to protect consumers, investors, and financial stability from the potential harms and abuses of crypto activities. Others may be more sympathetic to Armstrong’s call for more clarity and flexibility but may also have questions and suggestions on how to balance innovation and regulation in a responsible and sustainable way.