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Blockchain for Good Alliance Hosts Web3 Oscar, Celebrating Innovators Advancing UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

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DUBAI, UAE, Nov. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The highly anticipated Web3 Oscar, a prestigious event hosted by the Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), celebrating blockchain projects driving real-world impact aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Industry leaders gathered in Bangkok to honour innovators shaping a sustainable future.

The event was part of BGA’s November lineup, featuring two major initiatives for global change through blockchain: the Sustainable Innovation Summit and the Web3 Oscar Awards.

Sustainable Innovation Summit: A Hackathon for Social Impact

Held from September 9 to November 11, 2024, the Sustainable Innovation Summit hosted a hackathon with a $100,000 prize pool, inviting participants worldwide to create blockchain solutions addressing key issues such as poverty, clean water access, and gender equality. The summit concluded with a Demo Day at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok, where finalists showcased their projects to blockchain pioneers, investors, and industry leaders, with opportunities for incubation support and equity-free funding.

Rising Stars

In a cinematic presentation style, 10 shortlisted projects from across the globe, participating in the Sustainable Innovation Summit’s 17 SDGs Challenge, took the stage. Each team presented their blockchain solutions to address sustainability challenges, telling the story of a “hero” confronting a global crisis (one of the 17 SDGs), with blockchain as the “tool” they wield for change.

Winners for the 17 SDGs Challenge:

1st Place: Grand Social Impact Award 🥇 EthicHub2nd Place: Outstanding Social Innovation Award 🥈 Plastic Odyssey3rd Place: Emerging Impact Award 🥉 ResearchHub

Rising Star Awards (top 10 projects, in no specific order):

Wavy HealthLAKE (LAK3)KulaDAOerable°arkreenUCO NetworkEdu3Labs

Web3 Oscar Awards: Honouring Leaders in Blockchain for Social Good

Coinciding with the hackathon’s Demo Day on November 11, the BGA Web3 Oscar Award recognizes individual contributions to blockchain for social good across three categories, with up to 7 total winners.

Each category highlights individual efforts aligning with BGA’s mission.

The Collaboration Bridge Award honours individuals who have played a vital role in guiding the strategic direction of the Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA). This year’s recipients are:

Harn, CEO of Trigger Asset ManagementMariana de la Roche Wills from INATBA (International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications) and de la Roche W. Consulting

The Public Welfare Contribution Award celebrates individuals who have harnessed #BlockchainForGood. This award was presented to:

BreeAnne Yek, Consultant at The Verdant RoomMilica Dimitrijevic from Positiveblockchain.io

These individuals have demonstrated remarkable dedication, guidance, and pioneering work, significantly advancing the mission of the Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) in promoting sustainable development through blockchain technology.

In her closing remarks, Helen Liu, Co-founder and COO of Bybit and founder of BGA, explained how blockchain can bring people together to make a real difference worldwide. Her vision for leveraging blockchain to create worldwide impact was both inspiring and forward-thinking.

About Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA)

The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) is a long term collaborative non-profit initiative with key partners with the main aim to contribute to societal good by using blockchain technology to solve real world problems. By convening leaders, innovators, and organisations from across the blockchain community, BGA seeks to drive innovation, collaboration, and action towards a more sustainable and equitable world.

For more information

Email: hello@blockchainforgood.xyz
Website: www.blockchainforgood.xyz
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chainforgood

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SOURCE Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA)

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Securities Class Action Filings Increase for Second Consecutive Year in 2024

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AI-related filings more than double and 1933 Act filings continue to decline.

MENLO PARK, Calif., Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The number of securities class action filings increased for the second consecutive year in 2024, with artificial intelligence (AI)-related filings more than doubling from the previous year, according to a new report released today by Cornerstone Research and the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse. The increase came despite a continued year-over-year decline in federal and state filings with claims under the Securities Act of 1933.

The report, Securities Class Action Filings—2024 Year in Review, found that plaintiffs filed 225 securities class action lawsuits in federal and state courts in 2024, up from 215 filings in 2023. The number of “core” filings—those excluding M&A filings—reached 220, 14% higher than the 1997–2023 historical average of 193.

The number of AI-related filings more than doubled, from seven in 2023 to 15 in 2024. The number of COVID-19-related filings increased by 36% relative to 2023, but remained below the high of 20 in 2022. In contrast to the AI and COVID-19 trend categories, the number of SPAC and cryptocurrency-related filings fell by more than 50% as compared to 2023. Cybersecurity-related filings also continued to decline. The top three trend categories in 2024 were AI (15 filings), COVID-19 (15 filings), and SPAC (11 filings), collectively accounting for nearly 20% of core federal filings. 

“In 2024, federal and state 1933 Act filings declined 34% from 2023 and reached the lowest number since 2013,” said Alexander “Sasha” Aganin, the report’s coauthor and a Cornerstone Research senior vice president, who coheads the firm’s finance practice. “Meanwhile, federal Section 10(b)–only filings increased to the highest level on record, the number of AI- and COVID-19-related filings rose, and the total number of overall filings increased.”

Along with an increase in overall filings, the size of core filings, when measured by the Disclosure Dollar Loss Index® (DDL Index®), rose 23% to $438 billion in 2024, far above the historical annual average of $237 billion. Conversely, the aggregate filing size, as measured by the Maximum Dollar Loss Index® (MDL Index®), declined sharply to $1.6 trillion in 2024, a 52% drop from $3.3 trillion in 2023. There were 35 mega MDL filings (filings with more than $10 billion in MDL) in 2024, which accounted for $1.3 trillion in MDL, nearly 80% of total MDL.

“Retrospectively, ‘no news’ is the big news in the world of securities litigation. The U.S. Supreme Court initially agreed to hear two cases involving private securities litigation but then dismissed both with no decision on the underlying questions of law. The concern among practitioners is that the Court will, in the future, be even more selective in deciding whether to hear securities cases,” commented former SEC Commissioner Joseph Grundfest, now professor emeritus at Stanford Law School. “Prospectively, crypto is the elephant in the room. How will the statutes and regulations be reformed? If much of crypto is redefined as not constituting a security, then securities litigation in that sector will obviously plummet. Stay tuned, is about all one can say.”

Key Trends

Of the 15 AI-related filings in 2024, eight were in the Technology sector, four were in the Communications sector, two were in the Industrial sector, and one filing was in the Consumer Non-Cyclical sector.The number of filings in the Consumer Non-Cyclical sector increased from 54 in 2023 to 67 in 2024,  largely driven by an increase in filings against Biotechnology companies in 2024 H2.While the likelihood of core filings targeting U.S. exchange-listed companies increased to 3.9% in 2024 from 3.2% in 2023, the probability of an S&P 500 company being the subject of a core federal filing dropped one percentage point to 6.1%.The count of mega DDL filings (27) in 2024 was the highest on record, and the total index value of mega DDL filings was the third highest on record.For the second year in a row, the number of core federal filings in the Ninth Circuit (69) exceeded those in the Second Circuit (64). The number of core federal filings in the Ninth Circuit was relatively flat compared to 2023, but the number of core federal filings in the Second Circuit increased from 49 to 64.The share of core federal filings with Rule 10b-5 claims rose to the highest level in more than five years.

About Cornerstone Research
Cornerstone Research provides economic and financial consulting and expert testimony in all phases of complex disputes and regulatory investigations. The firm works with an extensive network of prominent academics and industry practitioners to identify the best-qualified expert for each assignment. With a reputation for high quality and effectiveness, Cornerstone Research has consistently delivered rigorous, state-of-the-art analysis since 1989. The firm has more than 1,000 professionals in nine offices across the United States, UK, and EU.

About the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse
The Securities Class Action Clearinghouse is an authoritative source of data and analysis on the financial and economic characteristics of federal securities fraud class action litigation. The SCAC maintains a database of more than 6,500 securities class action lawsuits filed since the passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The database also contains copies of complaints, briefs, filings, and other litigation-related materials filed in these cases.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/securities-class-action-filings-increase-for-second-consecutive-year-in-2024-302362752.html

SOURCE Cornerstone Research

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Msheireb Properties Partners with Yardi to Streamline Operation & Enhance Tenant Experience

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Qatar-based real estate company to utilise cloud-based asset management platform

DOHA, Qatar, Jan. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Msheireb Properties, Qatar’s leading smart and sustainable real estate developer, has partnered with Yardi® to elevate its operational efficiency and enhance tenant services.

The adoption of Yardi’s cloud-based solutions will help Msheireb Properties centralise its data, allowing the company to manage its diverse portfolio from one integrated platform. With Yardi, Msheireb Properties can provide greater value to both customers and tenants by simplifying lease administration, and optimising accounting, billing, and reporting processes.

Through Yardi’s self-service portal and app, tenants can easily submit maintenance requests, access invoices, upload sales data, and make payments online, freeing up staff to focus on higher value tasks.

Commenting on the partnership, Msheireb Properties Senior Director of Commercial Assets, Mubarak Al Boanin, said: “Our partnership with Yardi aligns perfectly with our mission to rethink urban living through innovation that enhances quality of life. Yardi’s comprehensive solutions will help improve operational efficiency, tenant engagement and deliver services that are aligned with our vision of creating an innovative, environmentally responsible urban experience.

“This collaboration will advance our journey to setting new benchmarks for smart living. By integrating Yardi’s advanced capabilities, we continue to redefine sustainable urban development and provide our tenants with a seamless, technology-driven experience that supports their evolving needs.”

“We are proud to collaborate with Msheireb Properties as they adopt Yardi’s fully integrated asset management platform,” stated Said Haider, senior director for Yardi. “Our platform is designed to empower forward-thinking organisations like Msheireb Properties, streamlining operations and delivering exceptional experiences for its clients and tenants.”

See how you can enhance the tenant experience with Yardi.

About Msheireb Properties
Msheireb Properties is a subsidiary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Sciences and Community Development and Qatar’s leading sustainable property developer, supporting the goals of Qatar’s 2030 Vision and Qatar Foundation’s objectives. Its mission is to change how people think about urban living and improve their overall quality of life through innovations that encourage social interaction, respect for culture, and greater care for the environment.

Its signature project, Msheireb Downtown Doha, is one of the smartest, most sustainable city districts, which employs a new approach to urban planning by combining traditional methods and modern technology to preserve Qatar’s environment and cultural identity. All buildings are either Gold or Platinum LEED-certified.

It is an integrated city that embraces modern, fully furnished residential units, a range of mixed- use and commercial buildings that offer a wide array of retail and business services, and cultural facilities. It is also the home to Msheireb Museums, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Al Wadi Hotel – MGallery by AccorHotels, Park Hyatt Hotel, Msheireb Galleria, and Barahat Msheireb- the biggest open-air covered pedestrian square in the region. For more information, visit msheirebproperties.com.

About Yardi
Yardi® develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. With over 9,500 employees, Yardi is working with clients globally to drive significant innovation in the real estate industry. For more information on how Yardi is Energised for Tomorrow, visit yardi.ae.

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Temu and EMX Form Strategic Partnership to Elevate E-Commerce Fulfillment in the United Arab Emirates

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Introducing Sea Shipping and PUDO Services to Enhance Affordability, Flexibility, and Convenience for UAE Shoppers

DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 29, 2025  /PRNewswire/ — Temu, the direct-from-factory online marketplace, today announced a strategic partnership with EMX, the logistics arm of 7X, to enhance e-commerce fulfillment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and across the Middle East.

Under the partnership, Temu and EMX are expanding the sea shipping capability and introducing PUDO (Pick-Up and Drop-Off) services to ensure a seamless online shopping experience for Temu’s growing customers in the region.

Sea Shipping Capability: By managing logistics based on varying shipping needs, Temu can lower costs, ensuring customers enjoy even more affordable pricing. Expanding sea shipping with EMX also enables comprehensive logistics coverage across all Gulf countries, improving accessibility and delivery options for regional customers.

PUDO services: By integrating 7X’s PUDO services fulfilled by EMX, Temu provides customers with greater delivery flexibility. With convenient pick-up and drop-off options, customers can leave or retrieve their parcels at times and places of their convenience. This feature also minimizes delivery failures, offering peace of mind to consumers while reducing associated costs, all contributing to more efficient and sustainable logistics operations.

“Temu’s mission is to make quality products affordable to consumers of all walks of life. By partnering with reliable fulfillment partners like EMX, we are able to continuously optimize our logistics solutions, broaden product offerings and ensure a convenient and seamless shopping experience for customers,” a Temu spokesperson said.

Since launching services in the UAE in September 2023, Temu has rapidly expanded its footprint across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Jordan. Temu offers a diverse range of products across over 200 categories, from household essentials to electronics, catering to the unique needs of consumers in these markets.

“We are excited to partner with Temu to bring our reliable and high-quality delivery services to its online shoppers in the UAE and beyond, driving a strategic transformation in the regional logistics landscape. By leveraging our advanced sea shipping capabilities and scalable PUDO services, together with Temu, we aim to redefine affordability and flexibility in delivery operations, setting a new standard for convenience and customer satisfaction as well as elevating the fast-growing e-commerce fulfillment for the GCC region,” said Tariq Al Wahedi, General Manager at EMX.

The partnership is facilitated through MailAmericas. As a gold member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Advisory Committee, MailAmericas makes full use of its advantages in cross-border e-commerce to facilitate connections between both parties.

Temu is known for pioneering an innovative direct-from-factory model that streamlines the supply chain by eliminating unnecessary layers of intermediaries and their costs, passing on savings to consumers.

About Temu

Temu is a global e-commerce company that connects consumers with millions of business partners, manufacturers and brands with a mission to enable them to live a better life. Temu is committed to offering affordable products to enable consumers and business partners to realize their dreams in an inclusive environment. Temu began operations in the United States in September 2022 and is now available in 90 markets worldwide.

About EMX

EMX, the logistics arm of 7X, delivers bespoke logistics services and last-mile delivery solutions to meet the needs of government, banking, e-commerce, and corporate entities. EMX offers reliable domestic door-to-door delivery services in the UAE while fostering global business connections through its international network. Focused on tailored, efficient, and convenient solutions that empower businesses and bridge distances, EMX ensures a world within reach.

About MailAmericas

MailAmericas is a global logistics company specializing in customized international mail solutions. With over two decades of experience, the company helps postal operators and logistics companies strengthen their delivery capabilities, especially in emerging markets. MailAmericas has become a key player in consolidating international mail for over 60 countries across Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. Focused on innovation and cutting-edge technology, MailAmericas is dedicated to providing reliable, cost-effective logistics services for eCommerce platforms, sellers, and businesses worldwide.

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