oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | actors and actresses, celebrities, denzel washington, movies, theatre
Washington [US], March 24 (ANI): The Oscar-winning actor
Denzel Washington
is presently appearing in a new Broadway production of Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’, co-starring with Jake Gyllenhaal.
In a recent interview with People magazine, Washington discussed his perspective on his acting career and emphasized that he views himself as a theater actor primarily.
When questioned about serving as a ”
Hollywood
Actor, Washington replied, “Could you please tell me what the definition of a
Hollywood
Actor? As for me, I hail from Mount Vernon, making me a ‘Mount Vernon actor.’ I’m not sure about the rest.
Hollywood
‘ means.”
Washington, an Oscar winner for his performances in movies such as ‘Glory’ and ‘Training Day,’ stressed that acting on stage remains his true passion.
“I am primarily a theater actor who also works in film; it’s not vice versa,” he clarified, further stating, “I started with theater where I honed my acting skills, rather than learning them through filmmaking.”
The actor playing Othello remarked that theater serves as an actor’s platform, while cinema belongs more to filmmakers.
“As the curtain rises, no one can assist you,” he stated, as reported by People magazine.
The production of ‘Othello’ in Washington is an actor’s ultimate aspiration, fueled by their long-standing admiration for the late James Earl Jones’ interpretation of the role.
James Earl Jones served as my guiding light during my college years,” Washington stated, further mentioning, “He was the person I aspired to become.
Collaborating with Gyllenhaal and director Kenny Leon during the production has been an exhilarating experience for Washington.
“Now I understand much less,” he admitted, contemplating his previous understanding of the part.
“He mentioned that back then, he believed himself to be all-knowing. However, he genuinely disliked that segment because he lacked the wisdom to comprehend it at the time,” he explained.
The short-lived 15-week run of ‘Othello’ is presently underway at Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre. (ANI)
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
Syndigate.info
).
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | currencies, economics, financial markets, international economics, money
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A CBK report indicated that Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves increased to $10,001 million (KSh 1.3 trillion) in March 2025.
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CBK said this represents 5.1 months of import cover, supporting importers’ demand for US dollars
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The Kenyan shilling retained its stability, exchanging at a rate of KSh 129.38 per US dollar.
The LIFEHACK.co.ke correspondent Wycliffe Musalia boasts more than six years of expertise in areas such as finance, commerce, tech, and environmental issues. This background provides him with significant understanding of both Kenya’s and international economic patterns.
Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves have reached their highest level in three months starting from January 2025.
According to data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), foreign reserves reached $10,001 million (KSh 1.3 trillion, using the present exchange rate).
How rising foreign reserves impact Kenya
This figure rose to $8,877 million (KSh 1.1 trillion), up from what was reported in January 2025.
The CBK observed that the increase in foreign currency reserves will be sufficient for approximately 5.1 months of import needs.
As of March 20, the available foreign exchange reserves were sufficient at USD 10,001 million (covering imports for 5.1 months). The Central Bank Report stated this fulfills the CBK’s legal obligation to strive for maintaining at least four months’ worth of import coverage.
In February, the foreign exchange reserves amounted to $9,142 million (KSh 1.2 trillion), which was sufficient to cover approximately four months of imports.
What is the worth of the shilling?
The report indicated that the value of the shilling remained steady over the three-month period ending in March 2025.
As of March 20, 2025, Kenya’s currency, the shilling, was trading at KSh 129.38 for one US dollar, down from KSh 129.43 recorded at the beginning of the month.
In January 2025, the shilling traded at KSh 129.31 for each US dollar, notwithstanding fluctuations in the foreign exchange market.
The U.S. dollar maintained stability throughout the month, preceding the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, whereas the shilling stayed bullish.
How CBK is maintaining shilling stability
In March 2025, the Kenyan shilling reached its highest point in six months relative to the US dollar when the Central Bank of Kenya implemented strategies aimed at stabilising it.
Following reports of heightened demand in February 2025, the regulator offloaded dollars to traders.
The reserves held by the CBK saw a decline from KSh 1.19 trillion ($9.256 billion) to KSh 1.16 trillion ($9.057 billion) over the previous week, partly due to dollars flowing out of the CBK’s treasury.
The sale was prompted by a rise in dollar inflows, notably from the recently issued infrastructure bond.
What other measures does CBK use to strengthen shilling
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In February 2025, the regulatory body called for tenders for Treasury bonds as part of an effort to secure KSh 25 billion through local borrowing.
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In March, CBK urged investors to lend the government KSh 70 billion through a newly launched bond offering aimed at providing budgetary assistance. The bank stated that the subscription window would be open from March 18, 2025, until March 26, 2025, with an auction planned for March 27, 2025.
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | business, currencies, economics, financial markets, money
On Monday morning, the U.S. dollar gained strength compared to the Vietnamese dong, simultaneously hovering slightly beneath a three-week peak relative to key currencies.
At Vietcombank, the selling rate for the US dollar was set at VND25,825, marking a 0.25% increase from the previous weekend. In contrast, on the unofficial market, the dong depreciated by 0.04%, trading at around VND25,900 per dollar.
The State Bank of Vietnam increased its reference rate by 0.07%, setting it at VND24,831.
Worldwide, the dollar edged slightly beneath a three-week peak against key rivals on Monday as investors waited nervously for more details on U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming tariff announcements.
Reuters
reported.
The U.S. dollar index, which assesses the currency’s performance relative to a group of six major currencies, remained steady at 104.03 following an earlier peak of 104.22 on Friday—the highest level since early March. The previous week saw the index climb by 0.4%, marking its first positive weekly showing for the month.
The dollar has been under pressure for most of this year as the market’s assumptions that Trump would quickly usher in pro-growth policies transformed into worries that the president’s aggressive and erratic trade policies could trigger a recession.
The euro gained modestly after three consecutive days of losses, whereas the yen weakened further against the dollar, influenced by an increase in U.S. Treasury yields.
The U.S. currency increased by 0.3% to reach ¥149.77. Meanwhile, the euro strengthened by 0.24%, trading at $1.0836 after reaching a low of about $1.0795 on Friday. Additionally, sterling climbed by 0.15% to stand at $1.2934.
The upcoming round of tariffs is set for April 2, when the White House plans to introduce retaliatory charges on numerous nations.
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | bitcoin, cryptocurrency, investing company news, money, north korea
According to recent cryptocurrency data, North Korea’s alleged Bitcoin holdings—which are said to have been acquired via cyberattacks carried out by government-backed hacking units—are now greater than those owned by Tesla.
On March 23rd (local time), CoinDesk reported, referencing blockchain analytics company Arkham Intelligence, that the Lazarus Group—a cybercrime unit allegedly linked to North Korea—currently holds around 13,441 bitcoins. These assets are estimated to be worth roughly $1.14 billion, equivalent to about 1.67 trillion Korean won.
In contrast, under CEO Elon Musk, Tesla owns 11,509 bitcoins, which makes North Korea’s holdings about 16% bigger. Tesla ranks as the fourth-largest holder of bitcoins among public companies globally.
North Korea’s increase in Bitcoin holdings seems connected to the recent breach at Bybit, one of the biggest global crypto trading platforms. This incident occurred on February 21st, leading to the loss of around $1.46 billion (approximately 2.1 trillion won) worth of digital assets. It is believed that the cyberattack may have been carried out by the Lazarus Group.
Although the majority of the pilfered funds were denominated in Ethereum, it is suspected that North Korea quickly transformed a substantial part of these assets into Bitcoin following the security breach.
The report was issued shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump restated his commitment earlier in the week to position the United States as a dominant force globally and at the forefront of cryptocurrencies. As reported by CoinDesk, there has been an increasing focus on understanding potential reactions from North Korea’s cyber activities amidst these evolving geostrategic and digital monetary dynamics.
The U.S. government presently possesses 198,109 bitcoins, which are valued at over $16 billion (approximately 23 trillion won), having been confiscated during multiple money-laundering probes. It is said that Trump is considering developing a cryptocurrency reserve plan focused on these holdings.
oleh admin | Mar 24, 2025 | artificial intelligence, business, machine learning, technology, technology companies
Startups from South Korea that focus on enhancing images and videos through artificial intelligence (AI) technology are achieving significant global recognition. These companies are excelling in specific sectors within AI where major U.S.-based corporations have typically held sway.
LVMH, a luxury group, employs AI for spotting fakes from their premium labels. This artificial intelligence monitors online marketplaces and social platforms, pinpointing illicit luxury items, gathering proof, and flagging breaches. Developed by MarqVision—a firm started in 2019 by South Korean entrepreneur Lee In-sup in America—the tech aids over 300 international brands and content providers globally. Led by this ex-McKinsey advisor, MarqVision’s platform identifies both knockoff products and unapproved merchandise transactions like stolen comics and videos. In just last year, they uncovered more than 50.41 million instances of infringement and piracy activities, amassing approximately $17 million ($25 billion KRW) annually across the globe.
Although major players in large language models (LLMs) include prominent US-based technology corporations such as OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Meta, South Korean start-ups boasting extensive knowledge in visual artificial intelligence have carved out a niche for themselves in specific sectors. Industry experts anticipate that AI-powered imaging and videography capabilities will be crucial components in areas such as self-driving vehicles.
The South Korean startup Twelve Labs, which was the first to secure significant funding from AI hardware company NVIDIA, has garnered notice for its advanced AI-driven video search capabilities. This technology enables the identification of particular scenes—such as “a person grasping a pen inside an office”—within extensive recordings in merely one second. Major entities like MLSE, the leading sports entertainment organization in North America, along with the NFL, utilize this AI system developed by Twelve Labs to examine game videos, extract pivotal instances, and produce fresh material.
Korean artificial intelligence firms are advancing significantly in the field of medical imaging, which relies heavily on non-verbal data such as MRIs and CT scans. AIRS Medical, an AI-driven healthcare firm, has created specialized software designed to improve MRI clarity, expedite scanning processes, and enhance overall image quality. This innovative solution is utilized by over 460 health facilities spanning 26 nations worldwide—including locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan—with international earnings accounting for more than fifty percent of their total income.
Another Korean startup named Inocras specializes in using AI to scrutinize individuals’ complete genetic makeup for both diagnosing cancers and tailoring treatments accordingly. They collaborate closely with the Broad Institute—a renowned genomics institute linked to MIT and Harvard—to reassess information derived from what is globally recognized as one of the most extensive databases dedicated to cancer patients’ genomic profiles known as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).
The achievements of Korean start-ups in non-language-based artificial intelligence (AI) can largely be credited to easier development processes relative to those involving language models. Unlike language-focused systems, these do not require large volumes of textual information—often available predominantly in English—which presents obstacles for nations lacking abundant resources of this type of content. According to Lee Kang-joon, CEO at Dunamu & Partners—an investor in companies like AIRS Medical and Inocras—the advantage lies in Korea’s ability to leverage centrally managed healthcare datasets sourced from leading institutions within Seoul along with the national Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service; conversely, American counterparts face greater complexity due to needing dispersed collections from various regional facilities.
Additionally, focusing specifically on industry-oriented AI solutions has shown significant advantages. As stated by a spokesperson from MarqVision, “Asian markets characterized by robust online retail sectors gain an edge through their capability to compile comprehensive databases related to counterfeiting images.” This approach enables them to develop advanced technologies much earlier than competitors—in MarqVision’s case even prior to platforms similar to ChatGPT gaining prominence—and achieve global recognition today.
