Author: News Polite

‘Now it’s time to buy more,’ reveals Deputy Dania Gonzalez

Dania Gonzalez, Deputy of the Republic of El Salvador, was recently in Brazil to reveal her country’s experiences with the decision to adopt Bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender. Gonzalez’s invitation to Brazil came from digital influencer Rodrix Digital, who was recently in El Salvador to produce a documentary about cryptocurrencies.

Among the lawmaker’s activities in Brazil was attending Bitconf 2022 and meeting with Dape Capital CEO Daniele Abdo Philippi and Ana Élle, CEO of Agency ROE.

Between her agendas, Gonzalez spoke with Cointelegraph and revealed how Bitcoin has helped to change people’s lives in El Salvador and how the country’s federal government, led by President Nayib Bukele, has been taking advantage of the resources invested in BTC to improve the economy.

Asked about El Salvador’s investment in Bitcoin and how it can impact people’s lives as the value of BTC is falling, Gonzalez highlighted that every investment has a cost and a benefit.

“What Nayib Bukele did was buy Bitcoins and make a profit at a certain strategic moment,” she said. “In cryptocurrencies, there are times when you can make a profit and there are times when you have to invest more. Now cryptocurrency is down, this happens, it’s normal, but at this point instead of being sad, instead of thinking that you lost all your investment, it’s time to buy more Bitcoins because now the price is cheap, that’s the strategy.”

According to Gonzalez, El Salvador is already benefiting from investments made in Bitcoin; she cited two ventures — a veterinary hospital and a public school — that were made possible thanks to cryptocurrency. She explained:

“Bukele built a veterinary hospital to benefit the population where services, any service for your pet, costs US$0.25. Even an operation costs this amount and that is accessible to the entire population. Bitcoin has been converted into a benefit for the people. Now with the reserve we have in Bitcoin, we must build 20 more schools. Before Bitcoin, to do this we had to approve projects, include it in the nation’s general budget and use people’s money to construction. Now these works are done thanks to all the profits made with Bitcoin.”

Gonzalez indicated that Bukele’s strategy has already proven to be successful in terms of socioeconomic impact.

“This is the main reason why the president also buys Bitcoins,” she said. “He does this to be able to generate profits for social projects for the people […] This is not just words, it is something tangible for the population because they can see part of the public services being realized thanks to Bitcoin profits.”

CBDC

Cointelegraph also spoke with the lawmaker about central bank digital currencies, also known as CBDCs, and how their issuance by nations can impact the cryptocurrency market.

Gonzalez stated that she does not see a clash between cryptocurrencies and CBDCs, believing that both should coexist together in the digital ecosystem that will guide nations in the future. Furthermore, she stated that the proposed issuance of CBDCs by countries shows that they have understood the power of the cryptoeconomy.

Related: CBDC activity heats up, but few projects move beyond pilot stage

The deputy also highlighted that El Salvador is working to expand the effects of the Bitcoin Law and will build an ecosystem based on cryptocurrencies, with the elimination of taxes for sectors linked to the crypto economy.

In addition, she highlighted that other laws will be reformulated to meet the new demands of the digital economy and to reduce bureaucracy in public administration procedures. She explained:

“We want it to be possible to open a business in 5 minutes here in El Salvador […] We already have a national digital wallet system for cryptocurrencies and we intend to make a law so that investors from all over the world can have immediate citizenship in El Salvador if they invest in the world of Bitcoin in our country.”

Bitcoin changes people’s lives

González also revealed to Cointelegraph that the adoption of Bitcoin as a legal tender attracted investors and companies from all over the world and strengthened merchants and local communities independence from bank monopolies.

“It opened up an opportunity for independent merchants to have a new payment gateway, because the payment channels could be cash or could be credit or debit cards,” she said. “But if you go to a bank and want to apply for the [point of sales] to accept credit payments or debit, you pay a membership fee, you pay a commission that can be up to 9% for each purchase.”

Bitcoin, on the other hand, “is fully decentralized financing, there is no commission if you use the national wallet,” she explained.

Another direct benefit cited by the deputy is related to the financial remittances made by Salvadorans who live in other countries such as the United States. According to the deputy, there are 7 million Salvadorans living inside El Salvador and approximately 3 million outside the borders, mainly in the United States.

Thanks to Bitcoin, remittances from the United States can be made without fees, she said. Gonzalez also claimed that Western Union lost roughly $400 million in remittance business last year because of El Salvador’s Bitcoin Law. 

Bitcoin Beach and Surf City

Gonzalez revealed details about her country’s Bitcoin Beach and Surf City projects, both carried out in the El Zonte region. In them, Bitcoin is used as a form of social transformation that promotes crypto payments and economic development through digital assets.

She explained that Bitcoin Beach existed before the BTC law was passed. On Bitcoin Beach, “you can buy a soda or a “Pupusa,” a typical El Salvador food, on the street or go to a prestigious restaurant and you can pay with Bitcoins.”

Related: El Salvador’s Bitcoin play: What does the current slump mean for adoption?

The deputy also revealed that a project called Surf City is underway in El Zonte, which seeks to train the local community to take advantage of tourism related to surfing, as the beach has some of the best waves for the sport.

“These communities have now benefited from job opportunities in businesses or work in hotels and restaurants that now have more potential than before, now more tourists come to El Salvador because they […] can pay for everything they want with Bitcoins,” she said. “I know companies that came from Singapore a few months ago and now have about 50 Salvadorans working on their operations. This shows how Bitcoin has been changing people’s lives in El Salvador.”

In addition, the deputy highlighted how Bitcoin has been favoring the unbanked who now, through cryptocurrency, can access financial services without the bureaucracy of traditional systems:

“Traditional banks excluded 70% of the country’s population from their services for different reasons. In addition, of the 30% of the population that has access to financial services, only 23% were in banks, while 7% did so through cooperatives with very high rates. Now Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are favoring this excluded population that now has power and opportunity.”



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Active Shooter Trainings Teach the U.S. Police to ‘Stop the Killing’

During an active shooting situation, American law enforcement officers are taught that their response should focus on two principles: first “stop the killing,” and then “stop the dying,” according to a training program based in Texas that is considered the national standard. The response should center on neutralizing the gunman, the program says, and then on getting medical aid to anyone who has been injured.

As more questions emerged on Friday about the police response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, experts described those principles as the central tenets for handling such circumstances — a set of protocols that have evolved significantly over the last two decades but are widely accepted by law enforcement agencies in the United States.

Officers are taught to enter quickly in small formations — or even with only one or two officers — and act to contain and neutralize any gunman. “DO NOT waste valuable time searching areas where you know there is no violence occurring,” officers are told in a training bulletin from the Louisville Metro Police Department. “Go straight to the source of the violence.”

Rescues, the thinking goes, should begin after the gunman is stopped, or if there are additional officers to carry it out.

If the gunfire stops, the situation may change to a barricade or hostage situation, which calls for a different, slower approach, experts say. The priority becomes making contact with the aggressor and starting negotiations. Although hostage situations can require complex judgment calls — particularly if trapped victims are wounded and need treatment — law enforcement experts say negotiating has repeatedly saved lives.

Experts said that situations often are fluid and may transition repeatedly from an active shooting scenario to a hostage situation. Questions about that distinction appeared to be at issue in the questions emerging about the police handling of the shootings in Uvalde.

On Friday, Steven C. McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said in a news conference that the commander overseeing operations in Uvalde had judged the situation to be one of a “barricaded subject” — “with no more children at risk” — at the point at which police were present and ready to burst into the classroom.

“Of course it was not the right decision,” Mr. McCraw said. “It was a wrong decision, period. There’s no excuse for that.”

He continued, “When there’s an active shooter, the rules change.”

The best practices for such shootings have evolved considerably since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, when officers were trained to maintain a perimeter and wait for a tactical team.

“Columbine changed everything because they realized that although it was not a bad plan to wait, people will get killed while you’re waiting,” said Robert J. Louden, a professor emeritus of criminal justice and homeland security at Georgian Court University in New Jersey.

Some experts have suggested that officers in Uvalde did not act sooner because they were afraid of being shot themselves — and two officers suffered graze wounds on the scene. At the news conference, Mr. McCraw said, “The incident commander inside believed they needed more equipment and more officers to do a tactical breach at that point.”

Ashley Heiberger, a retired police captain who now does officer trainings, said that departments vary widely on what they require of officers in dangerous situations. Some expect them to head toward gunfire, while others give more discretion. “Most agency policy likely does not require you to go on a suicide mission,” he said. “But I would think that most officers would feel a moral obligation — protecting lives is your highest duty.”

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Destiny 2: Where Is Xur Today? Location and Exotic Items for May 27-31

Everyone’s favorite hoarder, Xûr, is now live in Destiny 2 for the weekend until next week’s reset. If you’re looking to get your some shiny new Exotic armor or weapons for your Guardian, look no further.

Each week, Xûr has a random assortment of Exotic armor, one for each Guardian class, as well as a random Exotic Weapon and an Exotic Engram available for purchase. In addition to his Exotic wares, he’s got a random collection of Legendary weapons and armor to deck out your Guardians.

We’ve rounded up all the info on Xûr for the week including where to find Xûr, which Exotic weapons and armor are available, as well as which Legendary weapons you should pick up, either for PvE or PvP.

Where Is Xûr Today?

Xûr’s location can be found at The Tower on May 27 through May 31. To reach him, travel to the landing point at The Courtyard and make your way to the Hangar. You’ll find ol’ snake-face chilling near the stairs at the back of the Hangar area.

Xûr can be found in the Hangar of The Tower.

What’s Xûr Selling Today?

Xûr has at least one good find this week. Check out this exotic gear!

Xûr’s Exotic offering this weekend.

Exotic Engram

The Colony – Exotic Grenade Launcher

Wormhusk Crown – Exotic Hunter Helmet

  • 17 Mobility
  • 6 Resilience
  • 7 Recovery
  • 9 Discipline
  • 11 Intellect
  • 10 Strength
  • Total: 60

Heart of Inmost Light – Exotic Titan Chest Armor

  • 4 Mobility
  • 29 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 8 Discipline
  • 9 Intellect
  • 12 Strength
  • Total: 64

Karnstein Armlets – Exotic Warlock Gauntlets

  • 22 Mobility
  • 7 Resilience
  • 3 Recovery
  • 7 Discipline
  • 2 Intellect
  • 21 Strength
  • Total: 62

The Titan chest piece, Heart of Inmost Light, isn’t my favorite exotic in the world, but the roll this week is undeniably spiky in a major way, especially with the importance of Resilience in the current season. Pick it up just in case it ever becomes good if for no other reason. The Warlock Karnstein Armlets are especially good gloves for the current season and this is a pretty spiky roll that could work well with some Warlock builds, so I’d recommend picking that up as well.

Exotic Weapons

Each week Xûr sells Hawkmoon & Dead Man’s Tale.

Hawkmoon – Exotic Hand Cannon

  • Paracausal Shot
  • Fluted Barrel
  • Alloy Magazine
  • Moving Target
  • Heavy Grip

Dead Man’s Tale – Exotic Scout Rifle

  • Cranial Spike
  • Arrowhead Brake
  • Steady Rounds
  • Moving Target
  • Composite Stock

Neither of these weapons has a particularly incredible roll this week, so I’d recommend waiting for better rolls unless for some reason you still don’t have one or both in your collections.

Legendary Weapons

Xûr’s Legendary Weapon offerings this weekend.

Long Shadow – Sniper Rifle

  • ATD Raptor/ZTA Scout
  • Tactical MAg/Alloy Mag
  • Hip-Fire Grip
  • Explosive Payload
  • Stability Masterwork

Seventh Seraph Saw – Machine Gun

  • Fluted Barrel/Full Bore
  • Appended Mag/Light Mag
  • Field Prep
  • Firing Line
  • Reload Speed Masterwork

Seventh Seraph SI-2 – Sidearm

  • Arrowhead Brake/Full Bore
  • Extended Mag/Flared Magwell
  • Hip-Fire Grip
  • Snapshot Sights
  • Range Masterwork

Whispering Slab – Combat Bow

  • Agile Bowstring/Natural String
  • Carbon Arrow Shaft/Fiberglass Arrow Shaft
  • Archer’s Tempo
  • Demolitionist
  • Accuracy Masterwork

Widow’s Bite – Sniper Rifle

  • Arrowhead Brake/Corkscrew Rifling
  • Alloy Magazine/Flared Magwell
  • Firmly Planted
  • Eye of the Storm
  • Range Masterwork

Royal Entry – Rocket Launcher

  • Countermass/Quick Launch
  • Black Powder/High-Velocity Rounds
  • Field Prep
  • Unrelenting
  • Velocity Masterwork

Eternal Blazon – Scout Rifle

  • Signal MS5/Jolt PS
  • Extended Mag/Alloy Magazine
  • Full Auto Trigger System
  • Distruption Break
  • Stability Masterwork

The highlights for me this week are the Seventh Seraph Saw, which has a killer combo of Field Prep and Firing Line that works well for a machine gun, and the Seventh Seraph SI-2 sidearm with an awesome PvP-focused set of perks. Everything else is either just okay, or completely laughable, especially that trash-tier Long Shadow roll.

Warlock Legendary Armor

For Warlocks, Xûr is selling the Xenos Vale IV set which includes:

Xûr’s Legendary Armor for Warlocks this week.

Xenos Vale IV Gauntlets

  • 2 Mobility
  • 12 Resilience
  • 14 Recovery
  • 16 Discipline
  • 2 Intellect
  • 13 Strength
  • Total: 59

Xenos Vale IV Chest Armor

  • 9 Mobility
  • 9 Resilience
  • 12 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 15 Intellect
  • 14 Strength
  • Total: 61

Xenos Vale IV Helmet

  • 9 Mobility
  • 17 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 14 Discipline
  • 6 Intellect
  • 12 Strength
  • Total: 60

Xenos Vale IV Leg Armor

  • 22 Mobility
  • 2 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 9 Discipline
  • 18 Intellect
  • 6 Strength
  • Total: 59

Xenos Vale Bond

Warlocks drew the short end of the Xur stick this week, with very few interesting rolls and no spikiness. That’s what you get for winning Guardian Games, Warlocks!

Titan Legendary Armor

For Titans, Xûr is selling the Shelter In Place set which includes:

Xûr’s Legendary Armor for Titans this week.

Shelter In Place Gauntlets

  • 2 Mobility
  • 26 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 7 Discipline
  • 16 Intellect
  • 8 Strength
  • Total: 61

Shelter In Place Chest Armor

  • 9 Mobility
  • 7 Resilience
  • 15 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 18 Intellect
  • 11 Strength
  • Total: 62

Shelter In Place Helmet

  • 8 Mobility
  • 16 Resilience
  • 8 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 8 Intellect
  • 19 Strength
  • Total: 61

Shelter In Place Leg Armor

  • 2 Mobility
  • 18 Resilience
  • 12 Recovery
  • 7 Discipline
  • 9 Intellect
  • 15 Strength
  • Total: 63

Mark of Shelter

Titans have some decent rolls this week, especially those very Titan-friendly boots, but nothing that’s a must-have this week. Pick up what you need and forget the rest!

Hunter Legendary Armor

For Hunters, Xûr is selling the Took Offense set which includes:

Xûr’s Legendary Armor for Hunters this week.

Took Offense Gauntlets

  • 14 Mobility
  • 2 Resilience
  • 16 Recovery
  • 8 Discipline
  • 16 Intellect
  • 8 Strength
  • Total: 64

Took Offense Chest Armor

  • 10 Mobility
  • 2 Resilience
  • 18 Recovery
  • 6 Discipline
  • 16 Intellect
  • 12 Strength
  • Total: 64

Took Offense Helmet

  • 13 Mobility
  • 6 Resilience
  • 9 Recovery
  • 10 Discipline
  • 17 Intellect
  • 2 Strength
  • Total: 57

Took Offense Leg Armor

  • 2 Mobility
  • 24 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 7 Intellect
  • 20 Strength
  • Total: 57

Took Offense Cloak

Hunters are getting a lot of love this week and not just from their ridiculous Solar 3.0 builds. The guantlets and chest armor this week are especially delightful, so pick them up if they pair well with your new fire-based build.

That’s a wrap on Xûr for this week, Guardians! How are you enjoying the Season of the Haunted so far? Let me know in the comments! For more on Destiny, check out some of the new weapons and gear you can find in The Witch Queen and read about how Sony’s purchase of Bungie fits into its larger plans.

Travis Northup is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @TieGuyTravis and read his games coverage here.



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Agent of Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek speaks out over Sarri reunion claims


 

The agent of Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek has, on Friday, provided a fresh insight into his client’s future at Stamford Bridge.

Recent weeks, of course, have seen speculation begin to mount that midfielder Loftus-Cheek could be in line for a fresh summer departure from west London.

RLC endured something of a hit-and-miss campaign with Chelsea in 2021/22, racking up a respectable 39 appearances across all competitions.

Less than half of these outings, though, came in the form of starts, culminating in fresh chatter in the media of late that those in a position of power at Stamford Bridge could opt to cash in on the club’s academy product in the case of a reasonable offer being tabled.

And one such club, in turn, tipped as a potential landing spot comes in the form of Lazio.

Murmurs have begun to spread that Maurizio Sarri would be keen to reunite with Loftus-Cheek in the Italian capital, amid ongoing speculation surrounding the future of the Biancocelesti’s star midfielder, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

ROME, ITALY – 2022/04/24: Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic controls the ball during the Serie A football match between SS Lazio and AC Milan.
Milan won 2-1. (Photo by Antonio Balasco/KONTROLAB/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Speaking on Friday, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of his client’s Serie A links were put to none other than Loftus-Cheek’s agent.

During an interview with Italian outlet Tuttosport, though, Jonathan Barnett was quick to shoot down rumours of a potential Sarri reunion, hinting that RLC’s focus remains firmly on all things Chelsea:

“He and [Maurizio] Sarri have an excellent relationship, but for the moment there is nothing [with Lazio].”

“Despite the club being in a transformative phase [owing to a change in ownership], Chelsea are still a top club. It is difficult to leave such a club.”

 

Tottenham and Chelsea dealt blow as centre-back target ‘expected to stay’ this summer

Chelsea learn fee they will have to pay for Brighton star Marc Cucurella

 

Chelsea betting odds, next game:



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WB Changes Batgirl’s Gotham Knights Biography Following Criticism

WB Montreal has responded to criticism that Batgirl’s official biography for Gotham Knights is a harmful trope of disabled people, and has made adjustments to her description accordingly.

In a Discord Q&A, as reported by Eurogamer, Gotham Knights developers acknowledged the controversy around Barbara Gordon, whose biography was published to the game’s website recently. The initial criticism of her backstory centered on her ending up in a wheelchair after an unspecified “face-off” but returning to “active duty” as Batgirl following training.

While it’s unclear what her injury in Gotham Knights entails, in the comics, Barbara is shot in the spine, and many fans pointed out that overcoming a disability through sheer training and determination is an inaccurate and harmful trope throughout media.

During the Q&A, however, creative director Patrick Redding said that the Gotham Knights team “worked with the awesome folks at AbleGamers to learn about different types of spinal injuries and the potential for someone to regain mobility.”

He then noted that her biography on the official website has since been adjusted to read, “With extensive training and rehabilitation, she recovered from her wounds, and returned to active duty as Batgirl.” Additionally, he clarified that the specifics of her injury in Gotham Knights would differ from the comics, and that she had undergone multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and pain management. She also wears clothing with “back bracing integrated,” and some of her rehabilitation process will be depicted in Gotham Knights itself.

Gotham Knights – 6 New Screenshots

Gotham Knights is headed to PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC on October 25, but will skip PS4 and Xbox One. It’s set in a different universe from the Arkhan games, and includes a combat system specifically designed for co-op.

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.



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The Late Late Show: Harry Styles Debuts “Daylight” Music Video

Some lucky fans’ apartment just turned into Harry’s House!

During a recent appearance on The Late Late Show promoting his new album, Harry Styles took to the streets of Brooklyn, New York, along with host James Corden to find an apartment to film a music video for his new song “Daylight.”

But with three hours, a budget of $300 and no location, it seems like an impossible task, right? Wrong. Nothing can stand in the way of this world-renowned pop star. Oh, or Harry either.

Harry and James knock on a few doors and ask if they can film inside their apartment. But after a few “no’s,” James says to Harry, “I thought this would be easier Harry, I’ve got to be honest. I thought your face would open a lot of doors.”

Finally, a group of four girls (very happily) agree to let the duo transform their space into a production room.

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More of PlayStation’s Biggest Games Are Becoming Movies, TV Shows – Beyond 751

On this week’s episode of IGN’s weekly PlayStation show, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Mark Medina and Jada Griffin to check in on Mark’s perilous journey atop Splash Mountain, and also discuss the biggest PlayStation news of the week.

The crew digs into PlayStation confirming it is adapting God of War, Horizon, and Gran Turismo into TV shows or movies (note: we recorded before reports suggested GT will be a movie, not a show!), our hopes and expectations for what Netflix’s Horizon show may be, how God of War on Amazon could shake out, and if the classic Need for Speed film is a good blueprint for Gran Turismo.

The History of PlayStation’s State of Play

We also discuss some of PlayStation’s future ambitions for not just PlayStation’s biggest games becoming movies and TV shows, but also their plans to expand their PC experiences, as well as their mobile games output. We look into their plans for the next few years, what they likely mean for PlayStation’s focuses, and while we think the great PlayStation games we love aren’t going anywhere.

We also dig into the leaks of a Death Stranding 2, some PS Plus updates, Jada’s impressions of Multiversus, and more!

Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Intro
00:05:55 – PlayStation Bets On Big TV Shows
00:33:33 PlayStation Investments Report
00:48:36 – Death Stranding 2 Speculation
01:09:51 – News Roundup
01:11:40 – What We’ve Been Playing
01:17:20 – Outro

Follow us all on Twitter:
twitter.com/jmdornbush
twitter.com/mark_medina
twitter.com/jada_rina

And if you’re looking for more places to enjoy this PlayStation podcast show, check out Podcast Beyond! on all available platforms: https://linktr.ee/podcastbeyond.

Jonathon Dornbush is IGN’s Senior Features Editor, PlayStation Lead, and host of Podcast Beyond! He’s the proud dog father of a BOY named Loki. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush



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BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, ADA, SOL, DOGE, DOT, AVAX, SHIB

Equities markets in the United States rallied sharply on May 25 and May 26 but Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins have not followed a similar trajectory. This suggests that traders are not confident that the crypto markets have bottomed out yet. 

On-chain analytics firm Glassnode said that the number of Bitcoin whales has been reducing and on May 27, the metric fell to the lowest level since July 2020.

On May 24, Miller Value Partners founder and chief investment officer Bill Miller backed Bitcoin investing and called it an “insurance policy against financial catastrophe.”

Daily cryptocurrency market performance. Source: Coin360

In a note to its clients on May 25, JPMorgan said that Bitcoin’s fall looks like capitulation and they anticipate Bitcoin and the crypto markets to rally. The bank’s analysts believe Bitcoin’s fair value is $38,000 which is about 30% higher than the current level.

Could Bitcoin follow the U.S. equities markets higher or will it decouple and continue to languish at lower levels? Let’s study the charts of the top-10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

BTC/USDT

Bitcoin plunged below the strong support of $28,630 on May 26 but the bulls could not sustain the lower levels. The long tail on the day’s candlestick shows that the bulls aggressively purchased the dip.

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

The bulls are again trying to defend the support at $28,630, which is an important level to keep an eye on. If the price rises from the current level and breaks above the 20-day exponential moving average ($30,868), it will suggest that the BTC/USDT pair may have bottomed out. The pair could then rally to the 50-day simple moving average ($35,721).

Conversely, if the price turns down from the current level or the overhead resistance, it will suggest a lack of demand at higher levels. That may increase the possibility of a break below $28,630. If that happens, the pair could retest the crucial level at $26,700. A break and close below this level could intensify selling and the pair may plummet toward $20,000.

ETH/USDT

Ether (ETH) dipped and closed below the uptrend line on May 25 suggesting that bears were attempting to re-establish their supremacy. The selling picked up momentum on May 26 and the price plunged below the May 12 intraday low at $1,800.

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

The bears are trying to defend the crucial support at $1,700 but the rebound lacks momentum. This suggests that bulls are not aggressively buying at the support. That could embolden the bears who may attempt to sink and sustain the price below $1,700. If they succeed, the ETH/USDT pair could plummet to $1,300.

Conversely, if bulls successfully defend the support at $1,700, the pair could start an up-move toward $2,159. That could keep the pair range-bound between $2,159 and $1,700 for some more days.

BNB/USDT

The long wick on Binance Coin’s (BNB) May 25 candlestick shows that bears are selling on rallies nearing the critical overhead resistance at $350. The selling continued on May 26 and the price broke below the 20-day EMA ($320).

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

There is a minor support at $286 where the bulls will attempt to arrest the decline. If they succeed, it will suggest that the sentiment has changed from selling on rallies to buying on dips. The bulls will then again strive to push the price to $350.

Alternatively, if the price breaks below $286, it will suggest that the aggressive bulls who may have been trapped after buying the break above $320 may be exiting their positions. That could sink the BNB/USDT pair to $260.

XRP/USDT

Ripple (XRP) broke below the immediate support at $0.38 on May 26 but the long tail on the day’s candlestick suggests strong buying at lower levels. The buyers will try to push the price toward the downtrend line.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

If the price turns down from the downtrend line, the bears will again attempt to sink the XRP/USDT pair below $0.38. If that happens, the pair could drop to the May 12 intraday low at $0.33 where the bulls are likely to mount a strong defense. The bears will have to pull the price below this support to indicate the resumption of the downtrend.

On the other hand, if bulls push the price above the downtrend line, the pair could rally to the 20-day EMA ($0.44). This level may again act as a stiff resistance but if bulls overcome this barrier the recovery could reach the psychological level at $0.50.

ADA/USDT

Cardano’s (ADA) tight-range trading between $0.49 and $0.56 resolved to the downside on May 26. The bulls are attempting to defend the minor support at $0.46 but if they fail, the drop could extend to $0.40.

ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

The downsloping moving averages and the RSI near the oversold territory suggest that bears are in command. If bears sink and sustain the price below $0.40, the selling could pick up momentum and the ADA/USDT pair may plummet to $0.33.

Conversely, if the price rebounds from the current level or the support, it will suggest strong buying at lower levels. The bulls will then try to drive the price above the 20-day EMA ($0.56). If they succeed, the pair could rally to $0.61 and later to $0.74.

SOL/USDT

Solana (SOL) broke below the immediate support at $47 on May 26 suggesting that traders who may have bought at lower levels are closing their positions. This opens the doors for a possible drop to the crucial support at $37.37.

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

If the price rebounds off $37.37, the buyers will attempt to push the price to the 20-day EMA ($55). This is an important level for the bears to defend because a break and close above it will suggest that the SOL/USDT pair may have bottomed out. The pair could then attempt a rally to the overhead resistance at $75.

Alternatively, if bears sink the price below $37.37, it will suggest the resumption of the downtrend. The pair could then extend its decline to the next support at $32.

DOGE/USDT

Dogecoin’s (DOGE) tight-range trading resolved to the downside on May 26 and bears pulled the price below $0.08. This suggests that supply exceeds demand.

DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

If bears sustain the price below $0.08, the DOGE/USDT pair could drop to the vital support at $0.06. As this level had acted as a strong support on May 12, the bulls may again try to defend it. If the level holds, the pair could climb toward the 20-day EMA ($0.09).

Another possibility is that if bulls push the price back above $0.08, it will suggest demand at lower levels. The buyers will then try to propel the price toward the 20-day EMA. A break and close above this resistance will suggest that the bears may be losing their grip. The pair could then rally to the psychological level at $0.10.

Related: 3 reasons why Bitcoin is regaining its crypto market dominance

DOT/USDT

Polkadot’s (DOT) failure to climb and sustain above the breakdown level at $10.37 attracted selling by traders. The bears pulled the price below the immediate support of $9.22 on May 26 but are struggling to sustain the lower levels.

DOT/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

The price rebounded off the immediate support at $8.56 and the bulls are attempting to clear the overhead hurdle at the 20-day EMA ($10.88). If they manage to do that, it will suggest that the downtrend may be weakening.

Contrary to this assumption, if the price once again turns down from the overhead resistance, the bears will try to pull the DOT/USDT pair below $8.56. If they do that, the next stop could be $7.30.

The bulls are likely to defend this level aggressively but if they fail in their endeavor, the pair could start the next leg of the downtrend.

AVAX/USDT

Avalanche (AVAX) continued lower and plunged below the important support of $23.51 on May 26. This indicates the resumption of the downtrend.

AVAX/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

Although the downsloping moving averages favor the bears, the RSI in the oversold territory suggests a relief rally or consolidation in the near term. If the price turns up and rises above $23.51, it may trap several aggressive bears, resulting in a short squeeze. That could push the AVAX/USDT pair to the 20-day EMA ($34).

Alternatively, if bears sustain the price below $23.51, the selling could pick up momentum and the pair may decline to the psychological support at $20.

SHIB/USDT

Shiba Inu (SHIB) continues to be under pressure. Although bulls are defending the support at $0.000010, the rebound lacks strength. This suggests weak demand at current levels.

SHIB/USDT daily chart. Source: TradingView

The bears will attempt to pull the price below $0.000010 and if they succeed, the SHIB/USDT pair could decline to the critical support at $0.000009. This is an important level to keep an eye on because a break and close below it could indicate the resumption of the downtrend. The pair could then decline toward $0.000007.

Alternatively, if the $0.000010 level holds, the pair could rise to the 20-day EMA ($0.000013). This level may again act as a resistance but if crossed, the upward move could reach $0.000017.

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision.

Market data is provided by HitBTC exchange.

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5 things you should know about the UN Ocean Conference, a chance to save the planet’s largest ecosystem — Global Issues

With delegates from Member States, non-governmental organizations, and universities attending, as well as entrepreneurs looking for ways to sustainably develop the “Blue Economy”, there are hopes that this event, taking place in the Portuguese city of Lisbon between 27 June and 1 July, will mark a new era for the Ocean.

1. It’s time to focus on solutions

The first Conference, in 2017, was seen as a game changer in alerting the world to the Ocean’s problems. According to Peter Thomson, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Lisbon “is going to be about providing solutions to those problems”.

The event is designed to provide a space for the international community to push for the adoption of innovative, science-based solutions for the sustainable management of the oceans, including combating water acidification, pollution, illegal fishing and loss of habitats and biodiversity.

This year’s conference will also determine the level of ambition for the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). The Decade will be a major theme in the conference, and will be the subject of several important events, laying out the vision of a healthier, more sustainable Ocean.

The UN has set 10 ocean-related targets to be achieved over this decade, as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Organisation’s blueprint for a fairer future for people and the planet. They include action to prevent and reducing pollution and acidification, protecting ecosystems, regulating fisheries, and increasing scientific knowledge. At the conference, interactive dialogues will focus on how to address many of these issues.

© Ocean Image Bank/Brook Peters

Fish swim in Red Sea coral reef.

The role of youth will be at the fore in Lisbon, with young entrepreneurs, working on innovative, science-based solutions to critical problems, an important part of the dialogue.

From 24 through 26 June, they will participate in the Youth and Innovation Forum, a platform aimed at helping young entrepreneurs and innovators to scale up their initiatives, projects and ideas, by providing professional training, and matchmaking with mentors, investors, the private sector, and government officials.

The forum will also include an “Innovathon,” where teams of five participants will work together to create and propose new ocean solutions.

2. The stakes are high

The Ocean provides us all with oxygen, food, and livelihoods. It nurtures unimaginable biodiversity, and directly supports human well-being, through food and energy resources.

Besides being a life source, the ocean stabilizes the climate and stores carbon, acting as a giant sink for greenhouse gases.

According to UN data, around 680 million people live in low-lying coastal zones, rising to around one billion by 2050.

Plus, latest analysis estimates that 40 million people will be employed by ocean-based industries by the end of this decade.

3. Spotlight on Kenya and Portugal

Although the Conference is taking place in Portugal, it is being co-hosted by Kenya, where 65 per cent of the coastal population lives in rural areas, engaging primarily in fisheries, agriculture, and mining for their livelihoods. 

© UNDP/Amunga Eshuchi

A local fisherman in Kenya who depends on fish for food and livelihood.

For Bernadette Loloju, a resident of Samburu County, Kenya, the ocean is important for her country’s people because it allows them to get many of the goods they need. “The ocean contains many living organisms including fish. It also gives us food. When we go to Mombasa city, we enjoy the beach and swim, adding to our happiness”.

Nzambi Matee, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Young Champion of the Earth winner, shares the same vision. Nzambi lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and is the founder of Gjenge Makers, which produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic waste.

Ms. Matee takes plastic waste from the ocean, fished by fishermen, and converts it into paving bricks – “my work of recycling plastic waste from the ocean has enabled me to employ over 113 youth and women, whom together have produced 300,000 bricks. I get my livelihood from the ocean, and therefore the ocean is life to me”, she said.

The passion for the ocean is shared with Portugal, the largest coastal European Union Member State with some four million kilometers of continuous coastline, and as such, a country that plays a central role in the Atlantic basin.

© Unsplash/Tamas Tuzes-Katai

Nazaré beach in Portugal.

“Our expectations for the UN Oceans Conference are that it will be a conference about action and not just about commitment”, says Catarina Grilo, Director of Conservation and Policy at Associação Natureza Portugal (ANP), a non-governmental organization working in line with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). ANP runs several projects in the areas of marine protection, sustainable fisheries, and ocean conservancy.

“The previous conference in New York was a really good moment to raise awareness about the role of the oceans for humanity’s well-being. At the time we had a lot of voluntary commitments from Member States and non-state organizations, but now it’s time to move from words to actions”.

4. The ocean and the global climate are intrinsically linked

The ocean and global climate heavily influence one another in many ways. As the climate crisis continues to pose an existential threat, there are some key metrics scientists are watching closely.

According to the latest climate change report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) global mean sea levels increased at an average of 4.5 mm per year between 2013 and 2021, due to ice sheets melting at an increasing rate.

The ocean absorbs around 23 per cent of CO2 generated by human activity, and when it does, chemical reactions take place, acidifying the seawater. That puts marine environments at risk and, the more acidic the water becomes, the less CO2 it is able to absorb.

Samuel Collins, a project manager at the Oceano Azul Foundation, in Lisbon, believes that the conference will serve as a bridge to COP27, due to take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt this November.

“The ocean is fundamentally integral to climate. It houses 94 per cent of the living space on the planet. I could reel off statistics that shock us all.”, says the 27-year-old Scot.

“The reason why the products that we buy in the shop are so cheap is because shipping transports 90 per cent of the goods in our homes, so there are many reasons why we are connected to the ocean, whether you’re a landlocked country or not. There’s no living organism on earth that is unaffected by the Ocean”.

© FAO/Kurt Arrigo

Different fish species swim in a marine protected area outside the coast of Malta.

5. What can you do to help?

We asked some experts – including Catarina Grilo and biologist Nuno Barros at ANP, as well as Sam Collins at Oceano Azul Foundation – what citizens can do to promote a sustainable blue economy, while waiting for decision-makers and world leaders to move into action. Here are some ideas that you can incorporate to your daily lives:

  1. If you eat fish, diversify your diet in terms of seafood consumption, do not always eat the same species. Also avoid consuming top predators and make sure what you eat is coming from responsible sources.
  1. Prevent plastic pollution: with 80 per cent of marine pollution being originated on land, do your part to stop pollution reaching the sea. You can help by using reusable products, avoid consuming disposable products, and also making sure that you are placing your waste in the appropriate bins.

UN News/Teresa Salema

Beach clean-up at Praia da Poça, a popular little beach at the start of the Estoril – Cascais coast, in Portugal.

  1. Pick up trash from the beach, and do not litter. But also think that any step you can take to reduce your environmental footprint will help the ocean in an indirect way.
  1. Continue to advocate for solutions, whether that’s on the streets, writing letters to decision-makers, signing petitions, or supporting campaigns that aim to influence decision makers, at the national level or at a global level.

UN News will be in Lisbon to cover the Ocean Conference, so you can expect news stories, interviews, and features with experts, youth, and UN voices.

Look out for the latest updates on our page, and also on Twitter.



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‘Think resilience’ to protect against climate and other catastrophes — Global Issues

Delegates from some 184 countries gathered in Bali for the 2022 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction where they reviewed efforts to protect communities against a rising number of climate hazards and other catastrophes globally.

The summit concluded with an outcome document entitled the Bali Agenda for Resilience, which aims to prevent the world from facing 1.5 disasters a day by 2030, as cited last month in the Global Assessment Report.

“Early warning systems should be inclusive of communities most at risk with adequate institutional, financial and human capacity to act on early warnings,” said the co-chairs’ summary.

State of affairs

During the meeting, only 95 countries had reported having multi-hazard early warning systems that give governments, agencies and the general public notice of an impending disaster. Coverage in Africa, Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing Countries was particularly low.

Early warning systems are a critical defence against disasters such as floods, droughts and volcanic eruptions.

In March, Secretary-General António Guterres had called for the warning systems to cover every person on the planet within five years.

Early warnings

A core recommendation of the Bali Agenda is to “apply a ‘Think Resilience’ approach to all investments and decision making, integrating disaster risk reduction with the whole of government and whole of society,” the co-chairs spelled out in their summary.

The outcome document also highlighted the need to reassess how risk is governed and policy is designed, as well as institutional arrangements that need to be put in place at global, regional, and national levels.

COVID influence

The meeting was the first international UN disaster forum to be convened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Against that backdrop, the co-chairs observed that current approaches to recovery and reconstruction are “not sufficiently effective in protecting development gains nor in building back better, greener and more equitably.”

“Transformative lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic must be applied before the window of opportunity closes.”

Sendai input

In parallel, the Midterm Review – which measures progress towards global targets of the UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction – got underway.

Sharing advancements since the last Global Platform in 2019, delegates revealed a 33 per cent increase in the number of countries developing disaster risk reduction strategies and reporting through the Sendai Framework Monitor.

However, the Bali Agenda showed that “less than half of the countries reporting against Sendai Framework targets indicate having fit-for purpose, accessible and actionable disaster risk information.”

And while there has been some progress – such as developing new financing mechanisms and better linkages with climate action – “the data still points to insufficient investment and progress in disaster risk reduction in most countries, especially in investing in prevention.”

UNDRR/Antoine Tardy

The seventh session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bali, Indonesia.

Moving ahead

The Bali Agenda will be carried through to the next UN climate conference, known as COP 27, as well as the next meeting of the G20 leading industrialized nations and Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework.

This year the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, commemorated annually on 13 October, will be dedicated to early warning systems.



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