• The spokesperson for Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutors denied any political motivation behind the recent investigation into Nexo’s office in Bulgaria.
• The news of the Nexo investigation comes within a month of the company’s exit from the US market in December 2022.
• Siika Mileva, the spokesperson for the Prosecutor General, argued that it has become a national sport to attack institutions in almost all cases wherein a prosecution starts an investigation that affects someone’s financial interests.

In a recent development, the spokesperson for Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutors, Siika Mileva, has denied any political motivation behind the recent investigation into Nexo’s office in Bulgaria. The news of the Nexo investigation comes within a month of the company’s exit from the US market in December 2022.

The investigation was initiated on January 12th when a group of prosecutors, foreign agents, and investigators searched Nexo’s Bulgaria office in the capital city of Sofia. The raid was related to allegations of tax evasion and money laundering.

After the news of the investigation emerged, it sparked speculation that there may be a political agenda behind the raid. But Mileva has since denied such claims. She argued that in almost all cases in recent years wherein a prosecution starts an investigation that affects someone’s financial interests, leads to accusations and attacks. „It has become a national sport to attack the institutions,“ Mileva said.

Mileva also added that the Bulgarian Police does not take orders from political parties or people. She stressed that the investigation was conducted on the basis of evidence and facts that were available.

The Bulgarian police have yet to comment on the outcome of the investigation. But it is believed that the results of the investigation could have a major impact on the crypto industry in Bulgaria.

Nexo, on the other hand, has refused to comment on the investigation. However, the company has assured its customers that all their funds are safe and secure.

The investigation into Nexo’s office has certainly raised many questions about the political motivations behind it. But it remains to be seen what the outcome of the investigation will be and how it will impact the crypto industry in Bulgaria.

• Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: VORB) has recorded a massive slump in its share price following its failed space mission from the United Kingdom.
• The mission involved launching a LauncherOne rocket from Newquay, England which would have delivered nine satellites to earth’s orbit.
• The rocket was released and fired its engine, but an anomaly caused it to not reach earth’s orbit as planned.

Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: VORB) has been the talk of the stock market recently, as the company’s shares have taken a major hit following the news of a failed space mission. The mission, which was set to take place from Newquay, England, was intended to deliver nine satellites to earth’s orbit.

In order to launch the satellites, Virgin Orbit makes use of modified 747 jets to deliver them to space. The jets are outfitted with the LauncherOne rocket, which is released mid-air and fired its engine. Despite the rocket being released and fired, an anomaly caused it to not reach earth’s orbit as planned.

The news of the mission’s failure did not bode well with the firm’s investors, as reflected in its stock performance. The rocket had tweeted after the launch that it had “successfully reached Earth orbit”, however less than an hour later, Virgin Orbit shared that an anomaly prevented it from reaching its destination.

In the wake of this failed mission, Virgin Orbit’s shares have taken a 27% hit in pre-market trading. Since then, the company has released a statement saying that it is still conducting investigations into the incident, and that it will release more information once it is available.

This failed mission has been a major setback for Virgin Orbit and its investors, as the launch was intended to be the first in a series of launches from the United Kingdom. The company had been planning to use the UK as a base for its commercial space launches, and this failure could potentially affect its future plans.

Despite the setback, Virgin Orbit is hopeful of a successful mission in the future as it continues to investigate the failed launch. The company’s management is confident that they will be able to identify the cause of the anomaly and make any necessary changes to ensure that similar issues do not occur in the future.

In the meantime, investors will have to wait and see how the company’s shares recover from this setback, and whether the failed mission will have a long-term impact on Virgin Orbit’s future plans.

• Microsoft Chief Strategy Officer Henry Bzeih believes the future will be a hybrid prototype of the real and virtual world.
• Microsoft is working on mobility cross-functionality to modify the way customers shop.
• This includes the data manufacture of the Fiat model, which is a “natural progression” according to Bzeih.

American multinational technology corporation Microsoft (MSFT) has high hopes for the metaverse in the future, with Microsoft Chief Strategy Officer Henry Bzeih claiming that the world would inch towards a more profound virtual arena. Bzeih has a twenty-eight-year-long stint in automotive and technology-related space, and is advocating for a more advanced customer experience and feedback with the utility of the metaverse.

Microsoft is working to modify the way customers utilize their platforms to shop, making it easier for customers to purchase cars without having to go to a local dealer. This is evident in their data manufacture of the Fiat model, which is a “natural progression” according to Bzeih. This allows customers to change the colors, features, and other details of their car from the comfort of their own homes.

The metaverse is only continuing to grow, with Microsoft making sure to stay at the forefront of the technological advancements. Bzeih outlined the importance of companies understanding the dynamics of the metaverse and how they can successfully implement it in their customer service to make it more efficient.

Microsoft is continuing to work with the firm Touchcast to make sure that the customer experience is as satisfactory as possible. They are working to make sure that the customer’s feedback is taken into account when implementing new technologies.

Microsoft’s association with the metaverse is only continuing to grow, as they look to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to technological advancements. Bzeih is continuing to advocate for a more advanced customer experience and feedback with the utility of the metaverse, as it continues to grow.

• Amazon announced its decision to layoff 18,000 employees due to global economic crisis.
• The layoffs will largely affect Amazon’s e-commerce and human resources departments.
• Amazon Chief Executive, Andy Jassy, confirmed that full details of the layoffs will emerge by January 18.

Online retail giant Amazon recently made the decision to cut down its number of employees due to the global economic situation. This decision, which was confirmed by Amazon Chief Executive, Andy Jassy, will involve the layoff of 18,000 employees. With this number, Amazon is cutting ties with nearly 6% of its 300,000-man corporate workforce.

The layoffs will largely affect Amazon’s e-commerce and human resources departments. This is particularly surprising given that Amazon recently doubled its base pay ceiling for employees. Jassy has confirmed that full details of the layoffs will emerge by January 18.

The decision to layoff employees is not exclusive to Amazon. In fact, it has become somewhat of a trend among global firms recently. This is due to the current economic situation, which has been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies are looking for ways to cut costs, and layoffs are often seen as the most effective way.

Amazon is not alone in its decision to downsize its workforce. Other major companies have announced similar decisions in recent months. However, Amazon’s decision is particularly significant given its size and its importance in global e-commerce.

Amazon’s decision to layoff 18,000 employees is sure to have a significant impact on the global economy. It is yet to be seen how this will affect Amazon’s operations and its employees. In the meantime, Jassy has stated that the company will continue to provide support and assistance to those affected by the layoffs.

• The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to seize and liquidate Sam Bankman-Fried’s (SBF) 56 million Robinhood Markets Inc (NASDAQ: HOOD) shares valued at approximately $465 million.
• The DOJ believes SBF engaged in a year-long fraud business that cost investors and customers billions of dollars.
• US attorney Seth Shapiro told US Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey that SBF’s stake in Robinhood are proceeds of FTX and the $465 million should be seized and shared between FTX stakeholders including BlockFi.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is taking action against Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) by preparing to seize and liquidate his 56 million Robinhood Markets Inc (NASDAQ: HOOD) shares valued at approximately $465 million. This move comes as a result of the DOJ’s belief that SBF has been engaging in fraudulent activities for the past year, which have cost investors and customers billions of dollars.

US attorney Seth Shapiro appeared before US Bankruptcy Judge John Dorsey to explain the DOJ’s stance on the matter. He stated that the $465 million worth of shares held by SBF are proceeds from FTX and should be seized and shared between FTX stakeholders that include BlockFi. SBF has since pleaded not guilty to the fraud charges filed against him in a United States court and the hearing is set to occur in October.

The DOJ is alleging that SBF used funds borrowed from Alameda Research to purchase 7.42 percent of HOOD stock via Emergent Fidelity Technologies Ltd. This is an unprecedented move for the DOJ and could have wide-ranging implications for both Robinhood and FTX.

At this time, the exact details of the case remain unclear. However, it is clear that the DOJ will be taking a hard approach to the case in order to hold those responsible accountable. The outcomes of this case could have a profound impact on the financial markets and the way that companies are regulated in the future.

It remains to be seen how this case will play out and what the final verdict will be. However, it is clear that the DOJ is taking a strong stance in order to protect investors and customers from fraudulent activities.

• CATASTROPHY has unveiled MultiPass, a revolutionary NFT solution for WEB3 BUIDLers.
• MultiPass repurposes NFTs as decentralized identities (DIDs) and serves as a cross-chain, cross-application membership token.
• CATASTROPHY launched a batch of 3,360 NFTs with a WEB3 BUIDLer theme, of which 360 were retained by the team.

CATASTROPHY, a WEB3 platform, has recently unveiled a pioneering offering, MultiPass, which has been designed to revolutionize the process of obtaining memberships to various tools necessary for product development and management. This innovative solution provides WEB3 BUIDLers with a streamlined process for acquiring and utilizing these memberships, allowing for increased productivity and reduced production costs.

The MultiPass solution is based on repurposing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into decentralized identities (DIDs). These NFTs are utilized as cross-chain, cross-application membership tokens, allowing users to easily access and use the various tools necessary for their projects. To demonstrate the potential of this technology, CATASTROPHY launched a batch of 3,360 NFTs, each with a WEB3 BUIDLer theme and priced at Free Mint. Of this initial release, 360 NFTs were retained by the team. These BUIDLer cats are depicted wearing T-shirts and caps emblazoned with slogans such as „CODE IS LAW,“ „DMOR (Do My Own Research),“ and „BUIDLER Never Rug,“ and brandishing a variety of „deadly“ weapons.

The launch of the MultiPass solution has been met with widespread approval from WEB3 BUIDLers, with many praising CATASTROPHY’s insightful portrayal of BUIDLer culture within the WEB3 sphere. Following its launch, the project team has continued to refine its multi-pass solution, striking partnerships with various platforms and tools, such as MAP Protocol. The team is also actively working to expand the list of partners, allowing for an even more seamless experience for WEB3 BUIDLers utilizing the MultiPass solution.

In summary, CATASTROPHY’s MultiPass solution is an innovative offering that serves to revolutionize the process of obtaining and utilizing memberships for various WEB3 BUIDLer tools. By streamlining this process, WEB3 BUIDLers are able to increase their productivity and reduce their production costs, leading to a more efficient and cost-effective development process. The MultiPass solution has already garnered the approval of many WEB3 BUIDLers, and the CATASTROPHY team is actively working to expand the list of partners and further refine their offering.

• ByteDance, the parent firm of the social media platform TikTok, has cut hundreds of jobs across multiple departments by the end of 2022.
• The layoffs come as TikTok plans to streamline its operations and the job cuts affect employees at Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
• ByteDance is one of the largest employers in China with a total workforce of over 100,000 employees worldwide.

ByteDance, the parent firm of the popular social media platform TikTok, has recently announced that it has laid off several hundred jobs across multiple departments. This news comes as TikTok plans to streamline its operations and the job cuts are expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

The layoffs have affected employees at Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, which has over 600 million daily active users. ByteDance is one of the largest employers in China with a total workforce of over 100,000 employees worldwide. The job cuts represent a very small percentage of its workforce.

The Chinese tech sector has been facing major turbulence due to the major policy changes initiated by the government. Companies have been forced to make tough decisions such as layoffs in order to stay afloat in the market. ByteDance is no exception to this trend and has been forced to layoff employees as part of its plan to streamline its operations.

The company has not publicly disclosed any information related to its business due to its private ownership. However, sources familiar with the matter have said that the layoffs are part of ByteDance’s plan to remain competitive in the market.

The news of these layoffs has garnered a lot of attention from the media and the public. It remains to be seen how this move will affect the future of TikTok and ByteDance. Some experts are of the opinion that the layoffs might have a negative effect on the company’s growth and development.

The job cuts at ByteDance are certainly going to have a significant impact on the Chinese tech sector. Companies are facing difficult financial decisions due to the changing market conditions and the job cuts at ByteDance are just a reflection of this. It will be interesting to see how the company fares in the future.

• Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of bankrupt FTX Exchange, is set to appear in court today to start the criminal proceedings on his fraud charges.
• SBF is set to plead not guilty before US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan, a move that has been under intense analysis by lawyers observing the case.
• SBF’s co-executives Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang have both pleaded guilty to their 7 and 4 count charges respectively.

Today marks the start of the criminal proceedings for Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of bankrupt FTX Exchange. SBF is set to appear in court before US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan, where he is expected to plead not guilty to the 8 count charges levied on him by Federal prosecutors. This move has been under intense analysis by lawyers observing the case, as it appears to be a surprising decision considering the fact that his co-executives Caroline Ellison and Gary Wang have both pleaded guilty to their 7 and 4 count charges respectively.

SBF remains under house arrest after posting a $250 million bail bond back in December. He is currently facing charges of securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities fraud, where the charges allege that he and his co-defendants had created a scheme to defraud FTX investors. The prosecutors have argued that the defendants had misled investors by providing false and misleading information about the company’s financials, operations, and the performance of the company’s products.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has accused SBF of violating federal securities laws, which carries with it significant penalties. If convicted, SBF could face up to 25 years in prison and/or fines of up to $5 million. Furthermore, the SEC is seeking to recover all ill-gotten gains from SBF and his co-defendants.

The trial is expected to last several weeks, and will no doubt be closely watched by the legal community, as well as by investors and those who have been affected by the fraud. It remains to be seen whether SBF will be able to convince the court of his innocence and beat the charges against him, or if he will be found guilty and face the consequences of his actions.

• Gold price has surged to a six-month high, with analysts predicting further growth in 2023.
• The rally has been fueled by market turbulence, increasing recession expectations, and a rise in gold purchases from central banks.
• Analysts anticipate the price of gold could reach record highs in 2023.

The price of gold has climbed to a six-month high, with analysts predicting further growth in 2023. As of Tuesday morning, spot gold had peaked just shy of $1,850 per troy ounce before easing off to trade at $1,834 per ounce. US gold futures, meanwhile, were trading up 0.72% at $1,839.40 by 6 am Eastern Time.

The rally in gold prices has been fueled by a combination of macro and microeconomic factors. Market turbulence, increasing recession expectations, and a rise in gold purchases from central banks have all contributed to the surge. Echoing analyst projections that gold price will attain record highs in 2023, Ole Hansen, head of the commodity strategy at Saxo Bank, said: „In general, we are looking for a price friendly 2023 supported by central bank quantitative easing and negative real yields. This should be combined with increased investment demand as investors diversify into gold as a form of insurance.“

Gold has proven to be a safe haven asset in uncertain times. It’s perceived to be a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation, as well as a store of value in times of economic uncertainty. Gold has also benefited from a weaker US dollar in recent months, which has made the precious metal relatively cheaper for holders of other currencies.

Analysts anticipate the price of gold could reach record highs in 2023. A survey of 39 analysts, traders and fund managers conducted by Reuters showed the median forecast for gold prices at the end of 2023 is $2,020 an ounce. This would represent an increase of 10.8% from current spot prices.

The demand for gold is expected to remain strong in 2023 due to its safe-haven status and its appeal as a hedge against inflation. With investors seeking to diversify into gold, and central banks continuing to accumulate the precious metal, gold prices are likely to remain on a steady upward trajectory.