Business
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Bail Denied In The Bahamas
(CTN NEWS) – a Bahamian judge denied Sam Bankman-Fried, the creator of FTX, bail on Tuesday.
Hours after, U.S. authorities accused the 30-year-old of stealing billions of dollars and breaking campaign laws in what has been called one of the largest financial frauds in American history.
When the judge decided that the former CEO of the defunct cryptocurrency exchange’s risk of the flight was “too severe”.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried's bail application was denied by a magistrate judge in the Bahamas.
Bankman-Fried to be sent to the Bahamas Department of Correction till Feb. 8, judge says.
— unfolded. (@cryptounfolded) December 13, 2022
And ordered that he be sent to a Bahamas correctional facility until February 8; the man bowed his head and gave his parents a tight embrace.
The day’s events culminated in Bankman-remarkable Fried’s fall from grace in recent weeks.
Before FTX abruptly failed this year, he had acquired a fortune worth over $20 billion by riding the cryptocurrency bubble to expand it into one of the biggest exchanges in the world.
U.S. authorities claimed in an indictment that Bankman-Fried had used a scheme to defraud FTX’s clients by stealing their deposits to pay for costs.
And debts and to invest money on behalf of his bitcoin hedge fund, Alameda Research LLC.
UPDATED. Prosecutors say Sam Bankman-Fried engaged in a scheme to defraud FTX's customers by misappropriating their deposits to pay for expenses and debts and to make investments on behalf of his crypto hedge fund, Alameda Research LLC. https://t.co/sgJfUubr4h
— Rappler (@rapplerdotcom) December 14, 2022
By giving incorrect and misleading information about the state of the hedge fund, he also cheated Alameda’s lenders, according to the prosecution, who also said that he tried to hide the money he had made through wire fraud.
They said that Bankman-Fried contributed “tens of millions of dollars” to political campaigns using the stolen funds.
According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in New York, the inquiry is “ongoing” and “moving fast.”
“While this is our first official announcement,” he added, “it won’t be our last.”
The collapse was one of the “greatest financial frauds in American history,” according to Williams.
T-SHIRTS AND SHORTS
Before his arrest, Bankman-Fried, who created FTX in 2019, was an eccentric figure who frequently appeared on panels with world leaders like former U.S. President Bill Clinton while sporting wild hair, t-shirts, and shorts.
By giving $5.2 million to President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, he rose to become one of the greatest Democratic donors. Forbes estimated his net worth to be $26.5 billion last year.
“In the sun, you can steal in shorts and a t-shirt. It’s possible,” Williams told journalists as an advocate.
Bankman-Fried previously expressed regret to customers and acknowledged supervisory shortcomings at FTX, but he insisted that he does not believe he is directly responsible for any criminal activity.
According to the prosecution, he may receive a term of up to 115 years in jail if found guilty on all eight counts.
Williams declined to comment on whether any FTX officials would face prosecution and whether any company insiders were helping the investigation.
On Tuesday, legal action was also brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Alleging fraud involving digital commodities assets, the CFTC filed lawsuits against Bankman-Fried, Alameda, and FTX.
The SEC claimed that throughout a years-long “brazen, multi-year conspiracy” in which Bankman-Fried allegedly disguised FTX as moving client monies to Alameda Research.
FTX raised more than $1.8 billion from stock investors.
United States Attorney announces charges against FTX founder Samuel Bankman-Friedhttps://t.co/gBSA4mBmzD
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) December 13, 2022
Bankman-Fried made his first in-person public appearance since the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange on Tuesday at a court proceeding in The Bahamas.
Where FTX is headquartered and where he was detained at his gated enclave in the capital.
When he arrived at the tightly guarded Bahamas court, Bankman-Fried seemed unconcerned. He informed the court that he could contest his extradition to the U.S.
If Bankman-Fried contests extradition, Bahamian prosecutors had requested that bail not be granted.
According to an earlier statement from his attorney, Mark S. Cohen, “Mr. Bankman-Fried is studying the charges with his legal team and contemplating all of his legal alternatives.”
On February 8, Bankman-Fried is anticipated to make another court appearance in the Bahamas.
‘ONE-TIME’ STRATEGY
On November 11, FTX declared bankruptcy, causing an estimated 1 million clients and other investors to suffer losses of billions of dollars.
Bitcoins and other cryptos fell due to the collapse, which echoed across the crypto world.
The day before FTX filed for bankruptcy, Bankman-Fried announced his resignation as CEO.
After surreptitiously using $10 billion in customer funds to finance his personal trading firm Alameda, FTX experienced a liquidity problem, according to Reuters. Customer cash totaling at least $1 billion had disappeared.
The fall was only one of several failures that the cryptocurrency sector experienced this year as the value of digital assets fell from its peak in 2021.
A cryptocurrency exchange is a marketplace where investors may swap digital coins like bitcoin.
The company lost $8 billion in customer funds, according to FTX’s current CEO, John Ray.
Who also told lawmakers that the corporation demonstrated “total concentration of control in the hands of a tiny group of extremely incompetent, unsophisticated persons.”
The U.S. Congress is considering drafting laws to control the laxly regulated business as legal challenges multiply.
FTX is investigating whether Bankman-parents Fried was involved in the scheme after sharing its findings with the SEC and American prosecutors.
RELATED CTN NEWS:
U.S. Prosecutors Criminally Charge Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
SEE ALSO:
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
SEE ALSO:
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
-
News3 years ago
Let’s Know About Ultra High Net Worth Individual
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Mabelle Prior: The Voice of Hope, Resilience, and Diversity Inspiring Generations
-
Health3 years ago
How Much Ivermectin Should You Take?
-
Tech2 years ago
Top Forex Brokers of 2023: Reviews and Analysis for Successful Trading
-
Lifestyles2 years ago
Aries Soulmate Signs
-
Health2 years ago
Can I Buy Ivermectin Without A Prescription in the USA?
-
Movies2 years ago
What Should I Do If Disney Plus Keeps Logging Me Out of TV?
-
Learning2 years ago
Virtual Numbers: What Are They For?