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Xinhua recently published an article about the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) partnering up with 11 banks to build a blockchain-based platform to combat financial crime. The platform, Distributed Economy and Exploration for Embracing Legitimate Industries (DEEP) Fintech Lab, is expected to launch in June this year.

According to Xinhua, DEEP Lab was established in early 2018, and there has been 11 banks involved including Bank of America Merrill Lynch, HSBC, Standard Chartered, and UBS. The SFC has stated that the plan is to create a “closed-loop” system for the sharing and analysis of suspicious activities. The SFC’s director of fintech, Kenneth Lam Kin-leung, commented that “By introducing the new technology to the securities and futures industry through the Fintech Lab, we will increase the overall efficiency of the existing surveillance system and enhance its ability to process, analyze and verify data.”

DEEP Lab’s focus extends to fintech applications, with specific attention given to initial coin offerings (ICOs) public fundraising, and other financial schemes. Additionally, the platform will put forward blockchain standards, best practices, and regulatory guidelines.

The SFC’s involvement in a blockchain-based initiative and partnership with notable banks across the world is a significant move, with potential for the development of the regtech and regfintech sectors. In this context, it echoes the sentiment put forth by SFC chairman Carlson Tong Ka-shun that a “collaborative” approach is required for the proper use of fintech and the development of relevant standards, especially with respect to AFICs.

The development of an open solution along with regulatory guidelines behind it could create regulatory clarity on the blockchain application in financial markets and drive adoption for those taking part. The launch of DEEP Lab will provide a testing ground for blockchain’s benefits in improving regulatory efficiency and effectiveness, a prospect that will no doubt be attractive to banks who stand to benefit the most from the proposed standards, best practices, and regulatory guidelines.

It is interesting to note that Xinhua specified Ripple as one of the players to contribute to the lab’s initiatives – it could be a strong indication on the DEEP Lab’s preference for distributed ledger technology powered by consensus mechanisms, rather than both proof-of-work and proof-of-stake. Additionally, Ripple’s partnerships with banks could also put it in a favorable position for serving as a preferred fintech solutions provider in view of its fintech assets including enterprise solutions, developer platform, and a Xpring (formerly known as Open Coinvention) initiative.

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“New Victory Introduces New Play From ‘The Lion King’ Producer”
Song of the North, written by Christopher Dimui and presented in partnership with the award-winning team behind The Lion King, is the latest addition to the New Victory Theater’s 2025-2026 season. The New Victory is an internationally recognized theater institution that caters to families and young audiences since 1995. This season’s lineup, which will span from March to October 2025, features shows that push artistic boundaries, challenge reflexive reactions, and broaden intellectual perspectives. Song of the North will preview on February 17, 2025, and officially open on February 21, 2025. It will run until April 13, 2025. The play, directed by Tina Landau, is an adaptation of Franz Kafka’s stagescript, Collodi’s Pinocchio, and August Strindberg’s Dance Plays. Set in a defined future, the story of the play revolves around a group of artists who come together during an Arctic cultural shift to confront a larger threat to the collective lifeworld. The cast includes Tom Phelan, Christopher Ramirez, Karen Offereins, Maeve Corren, Cassius DeVore, Wade Gardner, Tia James, Maria Judice, Andrew Mueller, and Brain Sgambati. Designers for the show include An Docktor (sets), Jan Hartley (costumes), and Tammy West (puppets). Lighting design is handled by Jeff Sugg, sound design is done by Michael Keck, projection design by Ben Pearcy, and music design is the work of Matt Tamanini. Song of the North has been developed in collaboration with Hedwig Dances and was originally produced for Hedwig Dances through its NEW ARK commissions program, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. Song of the North will be the New Victory’s third production originating from the Chicago-based Hedwig Dances, following After (A Dance) and Tesseract. The play’s previews will be performed every afternoon at 2:00 PM and selected evenings at 7:30 PM from February 17 to February 19, 2025, with added matinee performances on February 18 and 19. Regular performances will take place Tuesdays through Saturdays at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, some Wednesdays at 11:00 AM only, and select Saturdays at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Based on the text material above, generate the following tags: theater, new tickets, kid and family, nyc theater, spring 2025, nytkids, theater shows, franz kafka, collodi’s pinocchio, august strindberg, august strindberg’s dance plays, the lion king, hedwig dances, tina landau, an docktor, jan hartley, tammy west, jeff sugg, michael keck, ben pearcy, matt tamanini, christopher dimui, chicago, usa.

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The article details the tragic aftermath of a fire that devastated the Hôpital Bernard Mévé in California, Haiti. The hospital was built and funded by the United States Agency for International Development in 2007, in response to conditions that led to Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans hospitals. The hospital’s machinery was state-of-the-art for Haiti, but it struggled to cope with a shortage of staff and equipment, leaving it underfunded and understaffed. Despite these challenges, the hospital provided life-saving care to the 500,000 people within its catchment area. When the hospital burned down in January 2025, killing up to two dozen patients and all of its employees, it was a loss felt keenly by the community. The article reflects on the failures that led to the disaster and questions whether the United States is finally learning from its mistakes in international development.

The original article

Categories : Politics. Tags : 2028, buttigieg, candidates, democrats, newsom, o’rourke, walz.
Summary : The article discusses the potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential election and explores the idea of a “ticket swap” between various front-runners, with California Governor Gavin Newsom and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro gaining momentum. However, other potential candidates such as Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke are also mentioned as potential contenders.

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The original article

This article in The New York Times, published on March 15, 2025, focuses on a policy proposed by the Trump administration to cut funding for scientific research. The authors conclude that these cuts are short-sighted, risk public safety, and will harm not only research but also American businesses and maintaining US leadership in the field of science and technology. The 10-year roadmap of the White House Office of Management and Budget to eliminate or significantly scale back targeted programs will reduce the number of basic scientific research grants from federal agencies, causing small businesses to suffer and potentially lose their competitive advantage. The authors suggest that the administration is ignoring the fact that government-funded basic research provides unintended good returns in the long term, as seen in previous examples like the development of the transistor, the internet, and GPS. They emphasize that chosen ones, particularly in the private sector, have often benefitted from federal funding, but cutting scientific budgets will prevent other innovations from emerging.

The original article

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In the world of theatre, there’s thrilling news to share. Starting March 28th, William Shakespeare’s Otello, considered as one of his most powerful tragedies, will grace Broadway once again. This top-class production, directed by Tony Kiser (Angels in America), will feature two titans of American cinema, Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal.

For this performance, Gyllenhaal will change from his usual troubadour roles to make his Broadway debut as the poetic and spirited Cassio. However, the headliner is Washington, who will play the role of the Venetian general beloved by Shakespeare. His contribution to the stage over the past decade through renowned productions such as Death of a Salesman and A Raisin in the Sun has been exceptional, and this latest project echoes his ambition to delve deeper into the facets of the craft.

These actors come at a perfect time since March 2020 saw live theatre being suspended suddenly, causing paints and curtains to gather dust. This latest production, which has been re-tooled in part for Omicron, is part of a more significant bid for the entertainment industry to resurrect following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ticket prices range from $150 to $175 each, and since it will run both on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, there’s no excuse for denying yourself the chance to witness this stunning performance. With top-tier talent, a revered Shakespearean play like Otello, and a sense of renewal and restorative beauty that is bringing life back to the Great White Way, the Broadway season for 2021-2022 is sure to be unforgettable.

The original article

realestate-housing-market-factors-commissions-realtors-remax-sellers-listing-prices-buyers-nytimes-business

According to the New York Times in their article titled “Why Buyers and Sellers in Hot Market Are Still Paying Realtors High Commissions,” the real estate industry in the current state of the housing market is experiencing increased demand and supply imbalance, leading to higher home prices and fewer real estate agents competing for the same pool of homes. This situation has enabled certain high-commission real estate brokerages to capitalize on the trend and maintain their own high commission rates through aggressive marketing and dependence on volume sales. Without strong national listsings or affiliations, buyers and sellers often feel powerless to negotiate the high commission fees during the transaction process. Some critics argue that uncertain market conditions and fierce competition have not been enough to lower these commissions. However, others suggest that online listing services and alternative or reduced-fee real estate services could be a viable alternative for prospective buyers and sellers. Notably, some brokerages have adapted to the market by changing their business models or offering slightly lower commission rates to improve their competitiveness in the market.

The original article

The New York Times published an article titled “In U.S., Scientific Approach to Virus Botched by Politics” on March 13, 2025. This article investigates the crucial issue of how political ideologies have interfered with the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the effectiveness of public health measures and potentially costing lives.
To summarize the article in terms of tags, we can use the following: Health Policies, Political Interference, COVID-19, Pandemic Response, Public Health, Scientific Approach, Obstructive Politics, Stakeholder Engagement, Ethical Healthcare, Economic Impact, and Global Pandemic.
The article highlights how the politicization of public health decisions has led to consequences that are detrimental to public safety. It discusses the irresponsible decisions made by elected officials, such as undermining health recommendations, ignoring expertise and scientific evidence, and failing to adequately allocate resources.
According to the article, political figures have prioritized their own political goals and gained financial advantages over deterring the spread of the virus. This has led to a delay in implementing necessary measures and putting people at risk as a result. The article also notes that state governors have shown initial resistance to the implementation of emergency measures, which ultimately led to the closure of schools and larger spread of the virus.
The article highlights the roles of researchers, health scientists, and other stakeholders in the pandemic. By consulting experts, policymakers can improve their strategy and achieve better health outcomes. However, it is evident that immediate action and direct response from political figures have been subpar.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only had significant economic and financial consequences but also a significant impact on public health and well-being. The article notes that orthodox economic approaches and capitalist agenda have come at the cost of public health. The sacrifices of frontline healthcare workers have been overshadowed by profits.
In conclusion, the politicized approach to public health policies during the pandemic has had catastrophic effects. The outcome of decision-making hinges on current political ideologies, instead of scientific expertise and evidence-based policies. Policy-makers should consult experts to ensure better outcomes, while ensuring that political ideologies do not overshadow public health in times of crisis. To address the economic and financial impact of the pandemic, public-private partnerships and governance over essential commodities such as vaccines should be prioritized.

The original article

Tag: covid, pandemic, public health, vaccines
This article, published in the New York Times on March 14, 2025, discusses the lessons that public health officials have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and how this knowledge can be applied to future health crises. The piece analyzes factors that have been instrumental in the pandemic’s effectiveness, both negative, such as vaccine hesitancy, and positive, such as improved disease surveillance and contact tracing. The article also delves into the role of race and income in the pandemic’s impact on disparate communities, exploring the systemic causes of health inequities. Overall, the article reinforces the importance of proactive public health measures and the need to prioritize access to preventative care and effective vaccines for all.

The original article