DuckChain collaborates with prominent cryptocurrency entities
DuckChain collaborates with prominent cryptocurrency entities to propel the next generation of decentralized applications and announces the Yellow Duck Mission hackathon. Notable investors such as dao5, Offchain Labs, Kenetic Capital, DWF Ventures, Oak Grove Ventures, Skyland Ventures, GeekCartel, Gate.io, and Presto have participated in a $5 million funding round for DuckChain, a layer-2 project within the TON ecosystem.
As DuckChain aims to enhance the scalability and functionality of the TON blockchain, this investment marks a significant milestone for the initiative. The funding will facilitate improvements in EVM compatibility, enabling it to attract new users from various blockchain communities, increase liquidity, and cultivate a diverse ecosystem for both DuckChain and the broader TON network.
It has announced strategic partnerships with prominent industry players such as Arbitrum, OKX Wallet, and OnePieceLab to enhance its presence in the blockchain sector. In collaboration, they are launching the Yellow Duck Mission hackathon, which aims to attract developers, creators, and innovators to design the next generation of decentralized applications within the ecosystem.
The hackathon, scheduled to run from December 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025, features a total prize pool of $1 million in DuckChain Tokens, with the objective of fostering innovative solutions across various domains, including DeFi protocols, AI-driven applications, and meme-centric platforms.
Participants will have access to various tracks, including Meme dApps, DeFi applications, Telegram-powered dApps, AI solutions, and infrastructure tools. The submission period will commence on December 15, 2024, and interested individuals can register through the DuckChain Hackathon Portal.
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DuckChain serves as a layer-2 solution that is EVM-compatible and designed specifically for the TON blockchain. Developed with the support of TonScale Labs and Arbitrum, it aims to enhance scalability and liquidity. By bridging the TON network with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and Bitcoin ecosystems, seeks to attract a diverse user base, addressing scalability challenges and enhancing interoperability.
With robust financial backing and strategic alliances, It is strategically positioned to make a substantial impact on the growth of the TON ecosystem by fostering decentralized solutions that are efficient, scalable, and inclusive.
Party City, which has faced significant challenges since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
Party City has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States for the second time in two years, as it intends to cease its retail and wholesale operations. The retailer, established for over four decades and known for offering a wide range of party supplies, including themed decorations and holiday costumes, announced that all of its 700 stores across the nation will remain operational while it initiates a liquidation sale.
The company, along with certain subsidiaries, submitted its Chapter 11 filing to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. In its court documents, Party City Holdco reported assets and liabilities estimated between $1 billion and $10 billion, with more than 10,000 creditors.
According to a statement from the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based company, senior lenders will provide the necessary financial support to sustain operations throughout the winding-down process.
Retailers in distress frequently pursue bankruptcy protection during the holiday season to capitalize on potential cash flow from recent sales.
Party City, which operates both physical stores and an online platform, indicated that it plans to retain the majority of its 12,000 employees during the liquidation period to facilitate the wind-down process.
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The company initially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January of the previous year. Later that year, it successfully implemented a plan to exit bankruptcy, which included the cancellation of approximately $1 billion in corporate debt.
Tech Mahindra is part of the US $15.4 billion Mahindra Group and is a leading global systems integrator and business transformation consulting organization, focused primarily on the telecommunications industry. Tech Mahindra helps companies innovate and transform by leveraging its unique insights, differentiated services and flexible partnering models. This has helped customers reduce operating costs, generate … Read more
The beta testing phase is scheduled to commence early next year, enabling T-Mobile users to send text messages in areas lacking cellular coverage by connecting to SpaceX’s orbiting satellites.
T-Mobile customers can now register to participate in the trial of SpaceX’s satellite-based Starlink service
The service will facilitate messaging via satellite starting early next year. Carrier has officially launched registration for a beta program designed to evaluate satellite connectivity for mobile devices. This initiative follows the recent approval from the FCC for SpaceX’s Starlink satellites to operate commercially.
“The T-Mobile Starlink beta program is available at no cost to all T-Mobile postpaid voice customers with compatible devices,” the carrier announced. “This beta offers a groundbreaking preview of a future largely devoid of cellular dead zones.”
The Starlink “direct to cell” service aims to eliminate dead zones by utilizing SpaceX’s satellites as orbiting cell towers, thereby providing customers with a means to receive signals even in rural and remote locations. T-Mobile specifically notes that the satellite connectivity will be effective across “500,000 square miles of land in the United States that are not served by terrestrial cell towers.”
Tests conducted by SpaceX have demonstrated that the satellites can deliver download speeds of up to 17Mbps and transmit signals that can reach devices located near windows or within users’ pockets. “Among other findings, the satellites have successfully communicated with various models of unmodified Samsung, Apple, and Google devices using [T-Mobile’s] PCS G Block spectrum,” the company reported in March. Furthermore, this technology was employed in October to facilitate emergency SMS messaging for hurricane victims in the southeastern United States.
For individuals seeking an iPhone that features a larger display and an enhanced battery capacity at an affordable price, the iPhone 15 Plus is an excellent option. This previous-generation model is currently offered at a significant discount on the e-commerce site Flipkart. It boasts several enhancements, including the Dynamic Island, USB Type-C connectivity, and additional features. Initially priced at Rs 89,900, the iPhone 15 Plus is now available on the platform with a reduction exceeding Rs 15,000. Below are the details of the pricing offer for the iPhone 15 Plus.
iPhone 15 Plus Offer Price in India
The current price of the iPhone 15 Plus on Flipkart is Rs 63,999. Typically, the device is priced at approximately Rs 79,900, allowing customers to benefit from a discount of Rs 15,000. For those holding a Flipkart Axis Bank card, an extra 5 percent discount is available, reducing the price to roughly Rs 60,000.
Furthermore, customers interested in trading in their old devices can receive an exchange value that varies according to the model and condition of the device, which can further decrease the overall cost. Additionally, customers have the option to take advantage of no-cost EMI plans based on their bank’s offerings.
iPhone 15 Plus Features
The iPhone 15 Plus features an expansive 6.7-inch OLED display equipped with ProMotion technology, although it operates at a refresh rate of 60Hz. This smartphone is powered by the A16 Bionic chipset, delivering commendable performance alongside efficiency and multitasking capabilities. It is equipped with a 4,383 mAh battery, providing satisfactory battery life.
In terms of photography, the iPhone 15 Plus is fitted with a 48 MP primary camera and a 12 MP ultrawide sensor. For capturing selfies and conducting video calls, it includes a 12 MP front-facing camera.
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The device supports a range of connectivity options, including 5G, 4G VOLTE, 4G, 3G, 2G, and Bluetooth v5.3. Additionally, Apple provides a one-year warranty for the phone and a one-year warranty for the included accessories.
The year 2024 presented a varied landscape for Hollywood, where substantial budgets did not necessarily result in significant box office returns.
Animated features dominated the market, with four films securing positions in the top 10 highest-grossing list. Additionally, nine out of the ten films were sequels, while the remaining entry was an adaptation of an established intellectual property.
Below is the list of the top 10 highest-grossing films in Hollywood:
Inside Out 2 – $1.69 billion
Deadpool & Wolverine – $1.33 billion
Despicable Me 4 – $969.36 million
Moana 2 – $717.80 million (Currently still in theaters)
Dune: Part Two – $714.44 million
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – $571.75 million
Kung Fu Panda 4 – $547.69 million
Wicked – $525.33 million (Currently still in theaters)
Venom: The Last Dance – $475.50 million (Approaching the end of its theatrical run).
10. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – $451.10 million
Among the Hollywood films set to be released soon, only Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King appear to have a chance of securing a position in the top five. This outcome would likely result in Venom: The Last Dance and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice falling out of the top ten by year’s end.
It is also worth noting that several high-budget Hollywood productions, which were anticipated to perform exceptionally well at the box office, ultimately ended up being significant letdowns.
Here is a list of 11 high-budget Hollywood films that debuted with promising expectations but ultimately failed to meet them.
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Argyle
Scheduled for release on February 2, 2024, Matthew Vaughn’s spy action Hollywood comedy proved to be a lackluster form of entertainment, further compounded by a deceptive marketing strategy that prominently featured Henry Cavill as a leading actor, despite his actual role being limited to a cameo.
Featuring performances by Sam Rockwell and Bryce Dallas Howard, Argyle was produced with an estimated budget of $200 million but managed to generate only $96 million in global box office revenue.
Madame Web
Released on February 12, 2024, as part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (SSU), Madame Web, which is inspired by a well-known Spider-Man supervillain, failed to make an impact. With a production budget of $100 million, the film garnered only $100.49 million, resulting in a financial disappointment in Hollywood.
The Fall Guy
Featuring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, The Fall Guy, directed by David Leitch, was an entertaining film that had the potential for significant success. However, despite its $125 million budget, it managed to earn only $181.07 million at the global Hollywood box office.
IF
Directed by John Krasinski and starring Ryan Reynolds and Steve Carell among others, IF received moderate reviews but fell short at the box office, earning $190.30 million against a budget of $110 million.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
It is unfortunate that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, one of the standout films of the year, underperformed at the box office. Directed by George Miller and featuring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Hemsworth in leading roles, the film had a budget of $168 million but concluded its theatrical run with a disappointing $173.77 million in global earnings.
Joker: Folie à Deux
As a sequel to the 2019 billion-dollar hit, Joker 2 received mixed reactions and ultimately generated only $206.40 million on a $200 million budget.
Borderlands
The video game adaptation directed by Eli Roth, featuring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jamie Lee Curtis, had a production budget ranging from $110 to $120 million. However, it only garnered $32 million at the global box office.
Megalopolis
Francis Ford Coppola, the esteemed filmmaker, directed the self-financed Megalopolis, a project he had envisioned for decades. Unfortunately, the film received unfavorable reviews upon its release and earned merely $13.86 million against a budget of $120 million.
Fly Me to the Moon
Directed by Greg Berlanti, Fly Me to the Moon starred Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, set during the Apollo 11 mission. With a budget of $100 million, the film managed to collect only $42.22 million worldwide.
Red One
Featuring Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, and JK Simmons, Red One is a high-budget Christmas film that was originally intended for direct-to-OTT release but was later shifted to theaters, where it underperformed despite positive audience feedback. The film, now available for streaming on Prime Video, reportedly had a budget exceeding $250 million and earned only $175.06 million at the global box office.
Kraven the Hunter
In Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, the only films that have achieved significant box office success are the three Venom installments: Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and Venom: The Last Dance. In contrast, other spin-offs centered on Spider-Man villains, such as Madame Web, Morbius, and the recent Kraven the Hunter, have performed poorly. The film starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson has only made $26 million globally against a budget of $110 million. Although it is still in theaters, it is unlikely to reach $50 million by the conclusion of its Hollywood box office run.
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