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Tia Lee Deletes All Instagram Photos, Puts up Mysterious Square Grid on Instagram

Redhill Asia

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 7 November 2022 - Having kept a low profile since wishing her fans Happy New Year on Instagram in February, Tia Lee, Asian fashion icon, pop singer, film and television actress, has recently returned to her IG. However, her loyal followers are disappointed - not to see any new photo of Tia. Instead, she has deleted all her posts and uploaded a mysterious black six-square-grid with a dark-blue strike through the middle! What does all the deletion mean? And why the dramatic strike through on the grid? Tia’s profile icon was also replaced with a broken tiara? For the past three years, Tia has kept herself out of the spotlight and away from the public eye. Before this shocking deletion on Tia’s IG, she may have been immensely disappointed by all the negative news surrounding the announcement of her new single ‘Goodbye Princess’ release at the Golden Melody Awards 2022 in July. Since then, she has disappeared from the entertainment and fashion scenes. Is this the trigger for her latest move on IG? All of these have sparked widespread speculation about her next move. “Tia is finally updating her Instagram! Is it a comeback? Why all the posts disappeared” “What happened Tia” “When are you releasing a new song, is this a new teaser or what? Goodbye Princess” “It has been quite some time since your last song, miss you so much, looking forward to seeing your new release” “I love you, my girl welcome back!! Have been waiting for your appearance for so long already! I miss ya so much” “Your new song was on Golden Melody Awards…. Very brainwashing indeed!” …. Fans are going wild with speculations! Yet, there has been rumour saying Tia was spotted in Bangkok, working on her upcoming project. If this is true, then followers of Tia should be seeing Tia again very soon! Tia Lee 李毓芬Official Channels: Instagram @leeyufen: https://www.instagram.com/leeyufen/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tialeeofficial/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeyufentialee/ Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/1396928042/ About Tia Lee: Tia Lee (李毓芬), born in Taipei, is an Asian pop singer, film and television actress, model, and former member of the girl band Dream Girls. In addition to her acting roles and musical career, Tia appears frequently at major fashion shows. As a fashion icon and trend-setter, Tia has graced the covers of fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and shares her beauty and fashion tips through a number of Vogue’s social media channels. Contact Details Redhill Asia Media Contact +852 6077 7342 global@redhill.asia

November 07, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Could This Regulatory Data Company Attract More Interest As The Midterm Elections Approach?

Benzinga

What is the role of information in changing the world? For companies like FiscalNote Holdings Inc. (NYSE: NOTE), this consideration is the cornerstone of its business. As an agency specialized in collecting data on the regulatory processes in the U.S. and abroad, FiscalNote’s existence is a testament to the power of quality information. FiscalNote belongs to a growing library of companies specializing in the timely acquisition and creative distillation of information. These companies have molded information to offer a variety of services ranging from automating finances such as Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) to consumer behavioral analysis like Splunk Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLK). For FiscalNote, regulatory data is the foundation of the work. Policies can have a radical impact on how businesses operate. Take the Roe versus Wade case, which in 1973 created a whole new industry for abortion-seeking individuals. FiscalNote is dedicated to collecting valuable regulatory information and detailing how it would affect its customers’ businesses and operations. As the U.S. midterm elections creep closer, FiscalNote’s work may be more valuable than ever. Fortunately, the company has reportedly prepared for this moment. In an episode on SPACInsider, FiscalNote CEO Tim Hwang outlines the company’s recent acquisitions, its cash-rich position and the favorability of market valuations as driving forces in the company’s quest for market share. Leveraging Market Conditions The past two years have seen shifts in the requirement for large-scale data. Brewing market uncertainty and the COVID-19 pandemic provide some of the strongest catalysts for this growing demand for data. As discussed in the podcast episode, Hwang believes the pandemic increased the number of touchpoints governments at every level have on business operations. Additionally, poor market conditions and whipsawing currency valuations are posing significant risks for businesses worldwide. FiscalNote provides services that help businesses tackle and understand their issues through data. The company says it has undergone significant growth to improve its service, including prioritizing key conditions in getting the right SPAC deal for it, and that it is already taking advantage of being a publicly-listed company. Specifically, Hwang highlighted the following developments: The acquisition of DT-Global Business Consulting, an Austria-based market intelligence company, that expands FiscalNote's existing Geopolitical & Market Intelligence solutions business, shortly after its initial public offering (IPO). The expansion into alternative data — financial information covering the economic activity that isn’t covered by equities and traditional markets. Labor, wage and credit card expenditure data are some examples. The acquisition of Aicel, a South Korea-based alternative data solutions and software company that enhances FiscalNote’s Data-as-a-Service offerings on a global scale. Commenting on the business’s merger and acquisition (M&A) strategy, Hwang said, “We are expanding the scope of our products and services to be able to drive continued organic growth well into the future.” Hwang sees the M&A process as simple product development — finding companies that would enrich FiscalNote’s data collection and analysis and acquiring them is a clear-cut way to improve the business’s database and reach. Hwang says that current market conditions, which have sent business valuations well below book and cash values, represent an incredible opportunity for FiscalNote, one that the company is taking advantage of via its acquisitions. Armed with $90 million in cash and a flexible credit facility driven by the company’s annual recurring revenue, Hwang believes the company has both the right management team and the right financials to take FiscalNote to the next level. As midterm elections creep around the corner, the importance of regulatory data and information may reach new heights. Hear more about how FiscalNote is tackling the situation here. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 04, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Venture Capital and Private Equity Continue to Have a Taste for HR and HCM Tech Opportunities

Benzinga

The Surprise: While recession risks have led VCs to press pause on many pandemic favorites, the Human Capital Management (HCM) niche has proven to be the exception. It is a crowded space - over 400 HCM companies set up shop at the 2022 HR Technology Conference in Las Vegas. There's a reason for all the competition. The need for a scientific approach to managing a company's workforce gained steam during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading HR Tech to receive a record amount of VC attention in 2021. Despite all the hype over the past two years, this trend shows signs of staying power. The global HR Tech space is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.1% through 2029 to $46.85B, which dwarfs the current size of $25.53B. Let’s provide some perspective on Human Capital Management’s dramatic rise in relevancy. HR Tech companies received a 250% increase in VC funding in Q4 2021 compared to Q4 2020. In that final quarter of 2021, VCs poured $11.2B into 212 unique HR Tech startups, which equates to an average deal size of $58.3M. In H1 2022, HR Tech was the beneficiary of $14.2B in funding across 387 deals, which equates to an average deal size of $41M. While the 2022 numbers thus far aren't nearly as eye-popping, context is everything. Recession fears in the U.S. and around the world kicked in during Q4 2021. Officials admitted inflation wasn't transitory. The public accepted the inevitability of higher borrowing costs. The stock market, being a forward-looking indicator, peaked in October of 2021. It's no surprise then that funding slowed from its peak. In fact, as of September 2022, overall VC investment has hit a two-year low. But not all industries feel the effects equally - flows into HR tech are holding up much better than the overall market. The Problem: Stubborn inflation and a fractured employer/employee relationship has put many small to midsize businesses at a crossroads. An American Express survey revealed that while the average small to midsize business enjoyed an 87% increase in revenue from July 2021 to July 2022, that same average also saw profits decrease by 4%. That’s the equivalent of running faster while falling even more behind. It’s easy to settle for top-line growth during a bull market, but downturns are when metrics like profitability and free cash flow become king. While expenses creep up, the expectations gap between employers and employees is also growing wider. As the gap expands, employee productivity, morale, & retention fall. The disconnect between both parties has become so widespread that it led to the coining of the term ‘quiet quitting’, which is an employee consciously doing just enough not to get fired. So while simply cutting costs through a reduced headcount would put a dent in the first problem, it would only exacerbate the second. A more comprehensive approach is needed to ensure a workforce is both happy and efficient. The Solution: Asure allows a small to midsize business to adopt a scientific attitude towards the management of its workforce. Asure Software’s (NASDAQ: ASUR) platform helps small and midsize businesses attract, manage, & retain the right people by automating the boring essentials - payroll, HR, & taxes. By removing administrative tasks from the equation, you free up the team’s day to do what they were hired to do. This streamlined approach saves employers money by reducing unnecessary headcount, and it ensures team members have the time to work on the business rather than just in the business. Let’s share a few examples of how the software is relevant in this climate. The tax laws in this country are more complex than ever. Under the CARES act, the Employee Retention Credit provision incentivized small and midsize businesses to keep employees on the payroll. For every employee spared, the business could receive a tax refund of up to $26,000. While the savings are significant, owners that looked to leverage this provision manually wasted hours navigating the application process. Do I fill out Form 941-X or Form 5884-A? How do I know if my business even qualifies? Am I compliant? Asure's clients didn't have to ask these questions because the company’s in-house experts and streamlining technology help to make the entire filing process smooth and without any time burden or confusion for the business owner. Asure recently integrated Equifax’s (NYSE: EFX) The Work Number technology with its platform to allow for instant verification of employment & income. Before this partnership, employees would have to fill out a verification request ahead of big applications like a mortgage or a car loan. Employers would then manually respond to each one. This Equifax integration eliminates all that back & forth at no extra cost to Asure’s clients. It's easy to miss the latest integrations or to only use a fraction of a software's capabilities. While Asure emphasizes efficiency for its clients, it's a company that believes in a personal touch. Upon subscribing, each client is assigned a dedicated team of Asure specialists in the local area. The implementation and maximization of the platform become significantly easier when help isn't outsourced to a call center. Asure offers its B2B cloud-based software via a subscription model. The company has a laundry list of individual solutions - Performance Tracking, Electronic Onboarding, Workers’ Compensation, you name it. But for small and midsize businesses that want to move beyond the a la carte approach, Asure offers comprehensive payroll & HR plans that bundle a host of services together. Asure has been around since 1985. Over those decades, Asure has earned the trust of 80,000 clients - 95% of which are SMBs. So despite being a company with vast resources, Asure markets itself to the business with say 100 employees. And as that business grows its market share, the software can scale and grow right along with it to serve 1000+ employees without expensive upgrades. As it is publicly traded, Asure is not a target for VC funding. However, VC and PE firms have certainly been active in acquiring HR tech and HCM companies during the recent market downturn. Thoma Bravo is one private equity software firm that has been on an acquisition spree recently. In October 2022 alone, the PE firm acquired ForgeRock (NYSE: FORG), Ping Identity, UserTesting (NYSE: USER) and completed a strategic investment into SMA Technologies. In addition, the strong activity in the industry by institutional investors highlights the underscoring demand is represents an overall “bullish” signal for the industry. Retail investors who believe in the secular shift to Human Capital Management would be wise to do further due diligence into the ticker symbol ASUR. Disclaimer: Spotlight Growth is compensated, either directly or via a third party, to provide investor relations services for its clients. Spotlight Growth creates exposure for companies through a customized marketing strategy, including design of promotional material, the drafting and editing of press releases and media placement. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources. Spotlight Growth and its employees are not a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker Dealer or a member of any association for other research providers in any jurisdiction whatsoever and we are not qualified to give financial advice. The information contained herein is based on external sources that Spotlight Growth believes to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Spotlight Growth may create reports and content that has been compensated by a company or third-parties, or for purposes of self-marketing. Spotlight Growth was compensated five thousand dollars cash for the creation and dissemination of this content by the company. This material does not represent a solicitation to buy or sell any securities. Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plans and objectives, projections, expectations and intentions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company’s industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. The above communication, the attachments and external Internet links provided are intended for informational purposes only and are not to be interpreted by the recipient as a solicitation to participate in securities offerings. Investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors and may not be permissible in certain jurisdictions. Spotlight Growth and its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may have bought or sold or may buy or sell shares in the companies discussed herein, which may be acquired prior, during or after the publication of these marketing materials. Spotlight Growth, its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees may sell the stock of said companies at any time and may profit in the event those shares rise in value. For more information on our disclosures, please visit: https://spotlightgrowth.com/disclosures/ The article “ Venture Capital and Private Equity Continue to Have a Taste for HR and HCM Tech Opportunities ” first appeared on Spotlight Growth. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 03, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

THE INDO-AMERICAN ARTS COUNCIL ANNOUNCES ANNUAL WEEKLONG LITERARY FESTIVAL

IAAC

- In Its 8th Year, the IAAC Literary Festival offers an intimate interaction with the leading minds and works of authors and poets writing about the Indian experience - The Indo-American Arts Council ( IAAC ), the organization dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the arts in North America, announced today the lineup for its eighth annual Literary Festival on November 7-13, 2022, in New York. Notable speakers, making in-person appearances at the Caelum Gallery (526 W 26th St.) in NY’s renowned Chelsea neighborhood, include Padma Shri, Barkha Dutt, Priya Kumari and Raza Mir. In continuation of its honored tradition, IAAC will also host a live Poetry Panel headlining Arundhathi Subramaniam and moderated by poetry curator, Dr. Ravi Shankar. Prior to the in-person weekend events, there will be a series of virtual events hosted on Facebook and YouTube each evening starting November 7-11 at 6:30 p.m. ET, which will feature ten writers including Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi; London-based restaurateur and Netflix’s “Chef’s Table” star, Asma Khan with Michelin Chef Vikas Khanna - author of the world’s first “phygital” (physical and digital) cookbook; plus, actress, dancer and choreographer, Rukmini Vijayakumar. This series also includes a dedicated Children’s Literary Panel on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 which will showcase readings of “When Blackbirds Fly” by Hannah Lalhlanpuii and “Jamlo Walks” by Samina Mishra. "IAAC's Literary Festival showcases writers who bring stories of the Indian experience and ethos to the world. Even as they set new standards of literary excellence, they excite our imagination and shape humanity's future through their thought leadership. The festival attendees will become part of extraordinary conversations. Supporting the festival will be a stellar group of moderators who themselves are literary luminaries. As always there will be a focus on first time regional translations, children's literature and poetry," said Rakesh Kaul, Vice Chairman, IAAC. IAAC’s literary festival will be an intense two-day immersive experience featuring thought-provoking conversations, readings and discussions of stories told by courageous authors. Each authors' skill and expertise cover a wide range of civilizational and cultural topics including archeology, design, dance, history, compassion, wonder and the culinary arts. A panel of four poets will showcase powerful word-play that will make imaginations soar and speak directly to hearts, young and old. Refreshments, breakfast and lunch will be served, wine and cheese will accompany the poetry session. The festival wraps on a high note with the Annual Gala on November 13th. “At IAAC, we pride ourselves on our ability to seek out and find foundational storytellers who are not only noteworthy for their skill with language but whose seminal works also weave remarkable narratives that shape the world around them. This year is no exception; I have had the privilege to work with a dedicated team of literature lovers whose hard work and energy made this festival possible,” said Preethi Urs, Literary Festival Director, IAAC. A full list of writers and featured works below. For the full schedule with dates, times and moderators, please visit IAAC.us. Virtual Events (November 7-11): Kailash Satyarthi's greater body of work Ammu: Indian Home Cooking to Nourish your Soul (Interlink Books, May 2022) by Asma Khan Sacred Foods of India in NFT format (Akshaya, June 2022) by Vikas Khanna His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 100 Anecdotes (India Penguin, December 2022) by Arthy Muthanna Singh and Mamta Nainy The Dalai Lama: Leadership and the Power of Compassion (Interlink Books, November 2022) by Ginger Chih which includes a forward by His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama Finding Shiva: An Inner Journey of the Performative Experience (INDIC, 2021) by Rukmini Vijayakumar Virtual Children’s Panel: When Blackbirds Fly (Duckbill, February 2022) by Hannah Lalhlanpuii Jamlo Walks (India Puffin, September 2021) by Samina Mishra Somnath Hore: Wounds (Art1st, August 2021) conceptualized by Ritu Khoda, written by Likla Lall and featuring illustrator, Kripa (additionally, featuring in-person on November 13) In-Person Events (November 12-13): The Way of the Goddess: Daily Rituals to Awaken Your Inner Warrior and Discover Your True Self (TarcherPerigee, September 2022) by Ananta Ripa Ajmera Tata's Leadership Experiment: The Story of the Tata Administrative Service (HarperBusiness, August 2022) by Bharat Wakhlu, Mukund Rajan, Sonu Bhasin TO HELL AND BACK: Humans of COVID (Juggernaut, February 2022) by Barkha Dutt The Greatest Telugu Stories Ever Told (Rupa, March 2022) translated by Tamraparni Dasu and Dasu Krishnamoorty A Country Called Childhood: A Memoir (Aleph Book Company, July 2022) by Deepti Naval [Block] Chain Reaction - The Future of How We Live and Work (Soul Excellence Publishing, January 2022) by Elizebeth Varghese Tomb of Sand: A Novel by Geetanjali Shree (Tilted Axis Press, August 2021), translated by Daisy Rockwell Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu (Deep Vellum Publishing, July 2022) translated by Jenny Bhatt Rajaraja Chola: King of Kings (Aleph Book Company, November 2022) by Kamini Dandapani Dava Shastri's Last Day (Grand Central Publishing, November 2021) by Kirthana Ramisetti A Matter of Trust (HarperCollins India, July 2021) by Meenakshi Ahamed The View from the Very Best House in Town (Walker Books US, February 2022) by Meera Trehan The Soul Catcher (Bodes Well Publishing, September 2021) by Monica Bhide Mirror Made of Rain (The Unnamed Press, May 2022) by Naheed Phiroze Patel The Candid Life of Meena Dave (Lake Union Publishing, June 2022) by Namrata Patel People of the Indus (India Penguin, November 2022) by Nikhil Gulati Leaf Talks Peace - Buddha's Message of Harmony (Eternal Tree Books, May 2022) by Priya Kumari Talent: The Market Cap Multiplier (Ideapress Publishing, January 2022) by Ram Charan and Anish Batlaw Murder at the Mushaira: A Novel (Rupa Publications India, January 2021) by Raza Mir Smashing the Patriarchy: A Guide for the 21st-Century Indian Woman (Rupa, November, 2021) by Sindhu Rajasekaran KALA - Essays on Contemporary Design Aesthetics (Times Group Books, 2020) edited by Padma Shri Sunita Kohli Somnath Hore: Wounds (Art1st, August 2021) conceptualized by Ritu Khoda, written by Likla Lall and featuring illustrator, Kripa Notable International Poets: Love Without a Story (Westland, April 2019) by Arundhathi Subramaniam My Body Lives Like a Threat (Flowersong Press, January 2022) by Megha Sood Time Regime (Gaudy Boy, March 2022) by Jhani Randhawa Singing in the Dark (Vintage Books, October 2020) edited by Nishi Chawla and K Satchidanandan Attendance Details: For a complete calendar of events between on November 7-13, 2022, visit https://iaac.us/iaac-literary-festival-2022/ RSVP for both in-person and online events at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/iaac-literary-festival-2022-tickets-446199724387 Social Media for IAAC: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iaac.us YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7XldGWApKYy-IvQPapxFJg Twitter: https://twitter.com/IAArtsCouncil Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iaacny Hashtag: #IAACLitFest For a full press kit including photos and posters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DtbCXBSbA25yTQmf7vfMEWcdWFOGszA-?usp=sharing For IAAC Suman Gollamudi, Executive Director, Indo-American Arts Council suman.gn@iaac.us About Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC): The IAAC supports all the artistic disciplines in classical, fusion, folk and innovative forms influenced by the arts of India. We work cooperatively with colleagues around the U.S. to broaden our collective audiences and to create a network for shared information, resources and funding. Our focus is to help artists and art organizations in North America as well as to facilitate artists from India to exhibit, perform and produce their work here. The IAAC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. For information, please visit www.iaac.us. For a full press kit including photos and posters: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DtbCXBSbA25yTQmf7vfMEWcdWFOGszA-?usp=sharing Contact Details Indo-American Arts Council Suman Gollamudi, Executive Director suman.gn@iaac.us

November 02, 2022 04:57 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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How Much Should I Spend on an Engagement Ring?

Benzinga

Buying an engagement ring signifies a lifelong emotional investment in your future with your partner. An engagement ring purchase is also a significant financial investment. According to a 2021 BriteCo™ survey, 38% of respondents said that buying their engagement ring was the biggest purchase outside of buying a home or vehicle. Making such a significant financial decision requires considering how much to spend on an engagement ring. Find out how much you should spend on this sentimental piece of jewelry by exploring the average engagement ring cost and how to budget for a ring you and your partner love. What’s the Average Cost of an Engagement Ring in 2022? Engagement ring shopping can be stressful and confusing, so to help you determine how much an engagement ring should cost, it’s helpful to know the average price of an engagement ring to use as a baseline. The average engagement ring price in 2021 was approximately $7,011, an increase of 6.1% over 2020. Respondents of the BriteCo™ survey reported a slightly lower median price of $3,250, with 61% spending between $2,500 and $10,000 or more. BriteCo research showed the average spend on earth-mined diamonds increasing 11.9%, from $7,197 to $8,053 in 2021. The average spend for engagement rings with lab-grown diamonds, by comparison, was $4,383, up 8.6% over 2020 prices. BriteCo data also showed that lab-grown diamonds increased their market penetration in the past year from 18.7% of engagement ring sales in 2020 to 28.4% of sales in 2021. The average cost of an engagement ring also varies based on the buyer’s location. In the Mid-Atlantic region, including New York, rings cost an average of $9,343. States in the Pacific region, including California, saw an average spend of $8,626, and people in the central parts of the U.S. spend about $5,530 on average. Deciding on Your Engagement Ring Budget Deciding how much you should spend on an engagement ring involves understanding your budget for the purchase. Your income level, ring preferences and ring-related expenses like jewelry insurance all factor into how much you can and want to spend on your partner’s engagement ring. You can also use an engagement ring calculator tool to find out how much it will really cost to buy a stunning ring for your partner. What Can You Afford? The No. 1 consideration for buying an engagement ring is how much you can afford. In the past, many people determined how much to spend on an engagement ring based on salary. A 1930s De Beers Group marketing campaign suggested that a man had to spend at least three months’ salary on a diamond engagement ring or wedding ring to prove his devotion. While this rule may have worked in past decades, many modern ring buyers choose to spend much more conservatively. Most buyers forgo the salary-based budgeting method altogether. But if you are wondering, “How much should an engagement ring cost according to salary?” CNBC recommends only 5% of your income go toward the purchase. If you make close to the median household income of $70,784, that would mean a reasonable ring budget of about $3,539. What Materials Do You Prefer? Ring materials such as metals and diamonds affect the amount you’ll spend on your engagement ring. When deciding how much to spend, you’ll need to consider what ring materials you and your partner prefer, how much they cost and how to choose an option that matches your aesthetic desires with a price you can afford. Metals In general, platinum and palladium rings are the most expensive metals, with gold, including yellow, rose and white, coming in second. Cobalt and tantalum are less costly metals, and stainless steel and titanium rings are the most affordable, which can help cut engagement ring costs and save money. Diamond The most crucial consideration in most engagement rings is the diamond — the most expensive element. Diamonds are typically priced according to the 4Cs: cut, clarity, color and carat. Cut refers to the way a jeweler cuts a diamond to reflect light. More intricate cuts, rated 10 on the American Gem Society (AGS) scale, will be more expensive than lower-rated cuts. Diamonds with better clarity ratings or unique colorings may cost more than those with lower ratings. For example, a vivid yellow diamond ring may cost upward of $16,000 per carat, while a regular white diamond might sell for $1,000 per carat. Generally, the more a diamond weighs in carats, the more it will cost. Diamond prices typically move between weight groupings. For example, a diamond weighing between 0.01 to 0.90 carats will cost the same, but the price jumps for diamonds weighing between 0.98 to 1.5 carats. Where Will You Buy Your Engagement Ring? Where you buy your engagement will factor into how much you plan to spend. A ring from a high-end jeweler like Harry Winston Inc. or Tiffany & Co. may cost tens of thousands more than one from a brand-name retail store or local jeweler. Additionally, buying in-store versus online may offer different pricing options for engagement rings. The BriteCo™ survey showed that 81% of ring buyers prefer in-person sales, with 9% opting for online-only retailers and 11% purchasing from a known jeweler’s website. Because of distribution costs, an engagement ring online may be 30% to 40% cheaper, but buying from a trusted brand or local jeweler offers more security. Should You Insure Your Engagement Ring Purchase? Your insurance premiums should also factor into your budget for an engagement ring. High-value pieces require higher monthly premiums. But compared to other types of insurance, getting specialty jewelry coverage is very affordable, ranging from 0.5% to 1.5% of your ring’s appraised value. Many people believe that their homeowners or renters insurance will fully cover their engagement ring if something happens to it. But the average coverage provided by homeowners or renters insurance for fine jewelry is approximately $1,500. This falls significantly short of the average cost of an engagement ring, leaving you with substantial out-of-pocket costs if your ring is damaged, lost or stolen. Dedicated or specialty jewelry insurance ensures that you are covered for the full replacement cost of the piece. Look for a policy with no deductible that also covers preventative maintenance and repairs. It’s easy to get affordable engagement ring insurance online. Before applying for jewelry insurance, you must have your engagement ring appraised. You can get an appraisal online, at the jewelry store where you purchased the ring or through a professional certified appraiser. You will pay a small fee for the appraisal, typically between $50 and $150. Buy a Ring Your Partner Will Love Your engagement ring represents your commitment and connection to your partner. So, while there are archaic ideas about how much you should spend on an engagement ring, the ideal ring price ultimately depends on your budget and your partner’s style preferences. Regardless of how much you spend on a ring, ensure that you get comprehensive jewelry insurance to protect your investment. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 02, 2022 01:03 PM Eastern Daylight Time

A Simple Guide to Permanent Jewelry

Benzinga

One glance at TikTok and you’re likely to see stories about permanent jewelry. This trend is taking over the jewelry scene, and people are waiting in line for hours just to have a piece of jewelry welded to their body. What is permanent jewelry, and why is it so popular? You’ll learn everything you need to know about the trend in this guide to permanent jewelry. What is Permanent Jewelry? Permanent jewelry is a type of jewelry that is welded onto the wearer, a popular example being forever bracelets or friendship bracelets. Getting the jewelry put on is an easy and totally pain free process. The jewelry is made from dainty, delicate chains and can be put on your wrist, neck, finger or ankle. You can add small charms to personalize the jewelry even more. The idea behind permanent jewelry is that it never comes off, and it becomes a part of your everyday wear. You wear it night and day. For instance, a permanent or forever bracelet is welded together at both ends on your wrist, and you will never have to worry about taking it off and putting it back on. If you decide that you no longer want to wear the jewelry, you will have to cut it off. But as long as you have it on, it’s like having your favorite jewelry with you at all times! Where Can You Get Permanent Jewelry? Not all jewelry stores offer permanent jewelry, so if you want a welded bracelet, ankle bracelet, ring or necklace, you will have to do a little research in your local area. You can look online for jewelry stores that offer permanent jewelry, talk to specialty stores in your area or keep a watch on social media for pop-up stores that offer the product. Where Are the Most Popular Areas to Wear Permanent Jewelry? The most popular places to get permanent jewelry are on the wrists, ankles, and fingers. However, you can get it done anywhere on your body. Some people even get it welded onto their teeth! Advantages of Permanent Jewelry Things don’t become hot trends unless there are advantages that people can identify with. And the welded bracelet trend has plenty of them. Here are a few you may not have considered. Effortless Jewelry Addition Have you ever lost your favorite piece of jewelry? If you have, you understand one of the biggest advantages of permanent jewelry. Because you won’t have to put it on and take it off every day, the chances of losing it are minuscule. And that effortlessness extends into other aspects of jewelry wearing. You will no longer have to struggle with the clasp every day as you put on your bracelet. Instead, it will already be sitting ever-so-pretty on your wrist. Commemorating Special Occasions Some people get tattoos to commemorate special occasions. They may get a tattoo when their child is born, on the day they married or to remember some special occasion. But tattoos aren’t the only way to commemorate a special person or occasion. When you get a permanent bracelet welded onto your wrist, it can serve as a special reminder of a friendship, a major life event or an occasion you want to remember such as bridal showers and bachelorette parties. The same is true for a permanent necklace, ring or ankle bracelet. And by adding a special charm, it can add even more meaning. Representing an Important Time or Person Everyone remembers loved ones in their own way. They may keep mementos from someone they loved who is no longer with them, or they may celebrate their life at a certain time of year. The same is true for celebrations — when you reach a difficult goal or get that promotion you’ve been vying for, you likely want a way to remember it. Permanent jewelry is a great way to remember someone who is no longer with you and mark an important milestone such as getting through a difficult time. The jewelry can also be used to mark joyous times in your life. Disadvantages of Permanent Jewelry Along with advantages, permanent jewelry has a few disadvantages you should be aware of. Not Interchangeable When you wear a permanent necklace and it doesn’t quite go with the top you want to wear, you won’t have the option of trading it out for one that does. Permanent jewelry is just that — permanent — and that’s why you should choose jewelry you can wear with a variety of clothes and styles. The only Removal is to Break it What happens when you get tired of wearing your permanent jewelry? You have to cut it off — literally. Because the jewelry is welded onto you, the only way to remove it is to cut it off. Luckily, the chains that are used in this type of jewelry are thin and delicate, so you can cut off the jewelry with a pair of scissors. But once you cut it off, you can’t put it back on. The good news? You can take it to a jeweler who does permanent fine jewelry and have it welded to your arm, leg, ankle or finger again. How Long Will Permanent Jewelry Last? Permanent jewelry is made to last. Because people want to wear the jewelry for a long time, it is made with high-quality materials like solid gold, sterling silver, stainless steel and other metals that are durable and long-lasting. You can even swim with your permanent jewelry. However, you should be careful not to pull on it or catch it on anything. As long as you take care of your jewelry, it should last for as long as you want to wear it. Keep Your Permanent Jewelry Protected Do you have a special occasion or person to commemorate? Do you want to create something special to mark the date when you reached a goal? Or maybe you just want to enjoy the ease of being able to wear beautiful jewelry every day without having to struggle with clasps or remember where you left it. If you decide permanent jewelry is right for you, don’t forget to insure it. Jewelry insurance is an affordable way to ensure your investments are protected. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

November 02, 2022 12:58 PM Eastern Daylight Time

GoBubble and World-Cup Winner-backed Striver Launch Partnership to Tackle Online Abuse

GoBubble Media Centre

SPORTS stars and fans can safely interact thanks to a partnership with World Cup Winners, Striver, and global AI provider GoBubble. Striver, which is the brainchild of Entrepreneur Tim Chase and international football legends Gilberto Silva and Roberto Carlos, is a user-generated content platform that aims to change the way people use social media by creating a toxicity-free online environment that allows users to engage in meaningful discussions and share their progressing talents, without the fear of online abuse and bullying. Safety is the core ingredient and Striver selected global AI provider GoBubble after extensive market assessment. Online safety and protecting users from digital harm are of huge importance, ensuring that user profiles, user-generated content, and comments are moderated. GoBubble are pioneers in content moderation technology with their Emotion AI. Instead of keywords or context analysis, Emotion AI scans for UGB (user-generated behaviour) across multiple languages in text, image, video, audio, and emojis to identify and block toxic and potentially harmful content. Co-Founder and CEO at the majority female-run GoBubble, Danielle Platten, said: “We’re proud of the global impact Emotion AI is having in reducing revenue-harming experiences in platforms and saving the human cost of toxic content, for both users and the need for human moderators. “It’s wonderful to unveil the power of Emotion AI at Web Summit through its integration with Striver. We’ve already seen a massive impact from supporting clients in esports, gaming, sports, and corporates, so to be able to help future generations of football enthusiasts in this way is fantastic.” Tim Chase, Striver CEO, said: “For us, there was only one provider we wanted to work with, GoBubble. Their pedigree in innovation and the fact we can use their easy system to build our own content moderation AI meant we could achieve our ambition of changing the way people use social media, creating new ways for fans to interact with their heroes and giving users an online community where they can share their talents without the fear of being abused. Using GoBubble’s Emotion AI we have been able to gamify sentiment, allowing users to build a sentiment rating based on their positive interactions on the platform.” GoBubble’s global-patent-pending AI offers above 90% accuracy (market average is between 70 and 80%) and is fully bespoke to a client. They have the user-friendly building blocks to know they can shape their very own AI to support their commercial objectives. All this includes a personalised analytics dashboard for a deeper understanding of the sentiment within their platform. The technology was created to address the ever-increasing issue of online abuse, by experts in the field of digital safeguarding, law enforcement, online trust and safety, and big tech including Google, Facebook, and Twitter. About GoBubble GoBubble’s Emotion AI technology helps organisations around the globe to create safer, healthier, kinder digital communities. The company is majority female-run, with the Chair and CEO being Danielle Platten (Global Tech Entrepreneur and former Safety Advisor Member at Twitter) and Patricia Cartes-Andres as Board Advisor for Trust and Safety (former Head of Trust and Safety at Twitter, Facebook and previously Google). Facebook’s first Director of Public Policy, Tim Sparapani, is Board Legal Consultant and Co-Founder and Innovation Lead Henry Platten was previously a Police Sergeant and is a global digital safeguarding specialist and Safeguarding Advisor to the Global Esports Federation. Twitter @GoBubbleTeam LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/gobubble Instagram @GoBubbleTeam For GoBubble media enquiries or for more information about the tech, please contact GoBubble - Chief Communications Officer, Laura Watson at laura@gobubblehq.com or +44 (0)7379 388 110 (UK) Contact Details GoBubble Laura Watson - GoBubble - Chief Communications Officer +44 7379 388110 laura@gobubblehq.com

November 02, 2022 04:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Baby Shark BubbleFong Friends Secures Capital Investment from GSR

Bubblefong

BBF Limited (Foundation of the upcoming P2E game Baby Shark BubbleFong Friends) announced that it has secured a capital investment from global blockchain investment powerhouse GSR to help grow the Baby Shark BubbleFong Friends’ operations, infrastructure, and game ecosystem. The funds will be utilized to secure the platform’s pathway to a successful launch in gaming markets all over the globe later this year. GSR is one of the world’s most successful blockchain and crypto financial service firms. Having offices across the globe, they focus on finding cryptocurrency projects that are building the future of finance. Baby Shark BubbleFong Friends is a gaming project that aims to pioneer the popularization and generalization of Play-to-Earn (P2E) gaming through their world-renown representative IP: The Pinkfong Company’s Pinkfong and Baby Shark. Baby Shark BubbleFong Friends already has an impressive resume being one of the featured games at South Korea’s largest game convention G-STAR 2021, forming a partnership with the famous K-pop group, being selected as one of the featured projects at the NFT, METAVERSE, GAMEFI 2022 conference in Manila, Philippines, and collaborating and holding an NFT pre-sale that sold out in 30 minutes with the world’s largest NFT marketplace: Binance NFT. With this capital backing from GSR, the project's already long list of achievements gets even stronger. “We are extremely excited to be receiving this investment from such a prestigious firm, and their confidence in Baby Shark BubbleFong Friends’ success speaks miles about the potential of our project,” commented Joseph Kim, CEO of BBF Limited. “Not only will this investment help carry us through to our launch later this year, but also the strong relationship that we’ve been building with GSR will open many opportunities for us that may not have been accessible before.” To learn more about the game and stay up-to-date on any more announcements related to its launch, visit their official Whitepaper and Social Media and Community Channels. To learn more about GSR and their services, visit their website. About BBF Limited: BBF Limited, a foundation located in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, oversees the Baby Shark BubbleFong Friends game business. Contact Details Bubblefong Frank Yun contact@bubblefong.io

November 01, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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MEXC lists CHANGE token for trading in the Innovation Zone

ChangeX

Global centralized exchange MEXC has listed the multi-chain CHANGE token for trading in its Innovation Zone. MEXC made the CHANGE/USDT trading pair available to its 10+ million user base at 12:00 UTC on Monday, October 31. On MEXC, CHANGE trades on the HydraChain blockchain. The MEXC listing comes in light of significant new features making their way to Changex - the CeDeFi project behind the token. The app now offers fiat-crypto purchases thanks to the integration of Ramp Network’s on-ramp technology, which enables an easy-to-use interface for bank transfer and debit/credit card crypto transactions. Changex has also enabled ERC20 token swaps, allowing users to acquire any token on the Ethereum network in the app via swapping. “ MEXC listing CHANGE is a great first step for the project in terms of CEX partnerships and serves as proof of Changex’s potential and integrity ”, said CEO Nick Iliev, commenting on the listing. “MEXC is one of the most well-known exchanges in the world and, being there, CHANGE will be exposed to a much wider user base, not to mention that users will have access to tools like margin and spot trading, as well as various payment options to acquire CHANGE. It’s going to make a huge difference in terms of accessibility and exposure. ” Mr. Iliev added. Before the MEXC listing, the options to buy CHANGE included in-app swaps via several trading pairs in the app, and trading on the UniSwap and HydraDEX decentralized exchanges. As Changex strives to offer an uncomplicated crypto and DeFi experience even to non-native crypto users, the MEXC listing presents another option to acquire CHANGE on easier terms. Changex’s recent integration of Ramp Network’s fiat-to-crypto interface also serves this purpose, simplifying how tokens can be acquired. With the added functionality of ERC20 token swaps in the app, users can now swap to any ERC20 token much more easily and without knowledge of DEX’s, by using a simple swap function instead. “ It’s what we strive to achieve in the long run. We want to provide all users with a simple interface into Web3’s vibrant ecosystem, and ease of access to assets is paramount, because not everyone knows what slippage, DEX or liquidity mining is. Yet we want to offer our DeFi services to any interested party. For this to happen, it has to be simplified to the core, i.e. an intricate and sophisticated backend with a very accessible interface where users can benefit from the best of DeFi, banking, and crypto. ” concludes Mr. Iliev. Next in line for the CeDeFi project is the launch of banking services in the app, which will offer users SEPA IBANs for easy fiat/crypto functionality and access to traditional banking in the non-custodial DeFi wallet. The first months of 2023 will also see the start of the issuance of the Changex crypto debit cards, which will enable mobile fiat and crypto spending in all places that accept card payments. About ChangeX ChangeX is a hybrid personal finance mobile app which fuses crypto, DeFi, and banking into a single package. Users can access multi-chain crypto and an array of DeFi investing tools, including first-ever Leveraged Staking, while benefiting from traditional fiat banking, thanks to personal IBANs and SEPA functionality. The ChangeX Crypto Debit Card completes the offering, allowing users to spend crypto and fiat anywhere, and thus experience true financial freedom. Follow the project on Twitter and Telegram for more information and regular updates. The Team ChangeX founders Nick Iliev and Gary Guerassimov have a rich history in developing successful crypto and fintech products, among them xChange.bg - Bulgaria’s leading crypto exchange. HydraChain and LockTrip co-founders Nikola Alexandrov and Hristo Tenchev are also on board, each bringing seven years of blockchain experience to the project. The project’s CTO Martin Kuvandzhiev is one of the core developers at Bitcoin Gold - a hard fork of the source Bitcoin code, which brought decentralization back to retail traders and made mining via common GPUs possible again. The Advisers ChangeX’s advisory board features industry experts from some of the biggest names in crypto, DeFi, and finance. SoftBank Vision Fund’s Neil Cunha-Gomes, whose crypto investments include Consensys and Elliptic, has been working alongside seasoned experts Dimiter Gurdjilov and Stefan Ivanov in outlining the company’s strategy and vision. Dimiter Gurdjilov has more than 15 years of investment banking, private equity and business development experience from Merrilll Lynch, JPMorgan, George Soros’ Bedminster Capital, NBGI Private Equity, and Challenger Capital Management. Stefan Ivanov has 25+ years of experience at Citibank, Banque Paribas, and Challenger Capital Management, and has also served as the CEO of Citibank in Bulgaria. Contact Details ChangeX Dimitar Rahtaliev dimitar@changex.io

November 01, 2022 01:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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