The most important news from last week
Warner Bros delayed Dune and Lord of the Rings
Due to the ongoing Hollywood actors' strike, the release of the highly anticipated Dune sequel by Warner Bros movie studio, originally planned for November, has been postponed to March. This decision poses a setback for cinema chains such as AMC Entertainment, Cineplex, and Cinemark, striving to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, an animated Lord of the Rings film, originally scheduled for April, has been rescheduled to December.
Movement of Warner Bros in the last five years. (Source: Trading Economics) *
Mastercard and Binance will end partnership
Mastercard and cryptocurrency exchange Binance will conclude their four cryptocurrency card initiatives in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Bahrain, as confirmed by a Mastercard representative in an email on Thursday. These Binance cards enable users to carry out transactions using conventional currencies. Amidst legal and regulatory complications, Binance is currently contending with challenges; it faced a lawsuit from U.S. regulators in June, alleging deceptive operations.
Amazon is in talks with Disney
Amazon has initiated preliminary discussions with Walt Disney regarding potential collaboration on the streaming version of ESPN that Amazon is currently developing. The talks also encompass the prospect of Amazon acquiring a minority interest in the sports network. Both Disney and ESPN are in the process of determining an appropriate pricing structure for the upcoming service. It is reported that ESPN is contemplating a monthly subscription fee ranging from 20 to 35 USD for the new streaming service.
Stellantis expanded SPOTiCAR to the US
Stellantis declared its intention to extend the SPOTiCAR initiative to the United States. Having made its debut in Europe in 2019, SPOTiCAR is a manufacturer-endorsed program for certified pre-owned vehicles, spanning 11 countries. This program encompasses prominent brands such as Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, FIAT, Jeep®, Ram, and Wagoneer by Jeep. Designed to cater individual consumers and businesses, SPOTiCAR offers a streamlined solution by exclusively providing approved used vehicles.
Digital World did not react good to Trump rejoining X
Trump reappeared on X, previously known as Twitter, after an absence of over two-and-a-half years, posting his mug shot from his booking at Georgia's Fulton County Jail along with appeals for contributions. Prior to the ban, he boasted over 88 million followers on Twitter, while his Truth Social account held 6.39 million followers. It's noteworthy that the ban was rescinded by billionaire Elon Musk in November after his acquisition of Twitter.
* Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Sources: Reuters, Trading Economics, Investing
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