Luminary Times

  Visa and Revolut have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the landscape of cross-border business payments. Leveraging Visa Direct's expansive network, the collaboration promises real-time international transactions for business customers in more than 78 countries and across 50 currencies. This initiative seeks to tackle the persistent challenges associated with international money transfers, offering businesses a faster, more efficient, and cost-effective solution that could significantly enhance their global operations. Streamlining International Payments Historically, cross-border payments have been plagued by high fees, slow processing times, and varying country-specific requirements, often complicating international transactions. Businesses have had to navigate complex procedures, including the need for specific banking codes like IBAN and BIC, all while dealing with expensive fees and delays that could stretch for days. Read More:  https://luminar...

  China is now racing to dominate the humanoid robot market, a move mirroring its electric vehicle strategy. At the World Robot Conference in Beijing, numerous Chinese companies showcased their latest robots designed for factory use. These robots, aimed at replacing human workers on assembly lines, could soon transform the manufacturing landscape. China's rapid advancement in the humanoid robot industry follows its proven formula for success. Government support, fierce competition, and a deep supply chain are all contributing to this growth. A $1.4 billion fund for robotics, established by Beijing, is a testament to this commitment. Shanghai has also set up a similar fund to support the humanoid industry. Read More:  https://luminarytimes.com/china-accelerates-humanoid-robot-production-for-factory-use/

  Alphabet's Waymo has rapidly doubled its paid robotaxi rides to 100,000 per week in just over three months. This impressive growth reflects the company's aggressive expansion into new areas and its strategy to make autonomous ride-hailing more accessible. Waymo's rise comes on the heels of Alphabet's announcement of a multi-year. $; billion investment in the company. Despite ongoing skepticism and regulatory hurdles facing autonomous vehicle technology. Waymo's expansion continues at a brisk pace. In June, Waymo opened its service to all residents of San Francisco, bypassing the waitlist requirement, and has since extended its operations to the San Francisco Peninsula and parts of Los Angeles. With a fleet of approximately 700 vehicles, Waymo remains the only U.S. Company offering uncrewed robotaxi rides for lares. Read More: https://luminarytimes.com/waymos-robotaxi-rides-surge-doubling-to-100000-weekly-trips/

  SpaceX is set for a groundbreaking mission, Polaris Dawn, beginning on August 26. This six-day mission, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, includes the first private spacewalk-a significant milestone for commercial space exploration. The Polaris Dawn crew comprises four members: Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur; Scott Poteet, a retired military fighter pilot; and two SpaceX employees, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Both Gillis and Menon bring valuable experience, with Gillis leading astronaut training and Menon having worked at NASA These experts are pivotal in ensuring the mission's success. Read More:  https://luminarytimes.com/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-spacexs-first-private-spacewalk-mission/

  South Korean Al chip pioneers. Rebellions Inc. and SAPEON Korea, have announced a significant merger. This move aims to enhance their global position in the Al semiconductor industry. The merger is set to be finalized this year, with the newly merged entity operating under the name "Rebellions." Rebellions, an Al chip startup founded in 2020, has made significant strides in the Al semiconductor field. Within three years, the company successfully launched two Al chips, raising over $225 million in funding. Recently. Rebellions began mass production of its Al chip, ATOM, and plans to introduce its next-generation Al chip, REBEL, by the year's end. On the other hand, SAPEON Korea, a company spun off from SK Telecom in 2016, has also made remarkable advancements. The company developed South Korea's first Al semiconductor for data centers in 2020 and launched the next-generation Al chip, X330, last year. With this merger, the combined expertise of both companies will enh...

  Europe's economy experienced modest growth in the April-June quarter, contrasting with the U.S., which surpassed expectations, underscoring a persistent transatlantic growth divide. Germany, Europe's largest economy, continued to struggle as cautious consumers opted to save rather than invest in new homes or cars. Preliminary data on Canada's economic performance for the second quarter will be released on Wednesday. According to Eurostat, the European Union's statistics agency, gross domestic product (GDP), representing the total output of goods and services, increased by 0.3% in the second quarter across the 20 countries that use the euro. However, Germany slipped back into contraction, with output falling by o.1%. Read More: https://luminarytimes.com/germanys-slowdown-weighs-on-europes-economy-as-u-s-surpasses-expectations/

  The Marvel Cinematic Universe is set to introduce a formidable new adversary for Captain America. A recently released teaser trailer for Captain America: Brave New World features Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson, now wielding the shield, facing off against the powerful Red Hulk. This upcoming film marks the first time Mackie headlines as Captain America on the big screen. Following his character's journey in the 2021 series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Wilson has fully embraced his role as the iconic hero. The teaser trailer showcases intense action sequences, with the Red Hulk emerging as a significant threat. However, the identity of who transforms into the Red Hulk remains a closely guarded secret, adding to the anticipation. Read More: ( https://luminarytimes.com/red-hulk-joins-captain-america-in-brave-new-world-teaser/ )

  Canada and Brazil have secured their spots in the women's beach volleyball gold medal match at the Paris Olympics. The Canadians, Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson, triumphed over Switzerland in a tense semifinal clash. This victory guarantees Canada its first-ever medal in this event. The Canadians lost their first set 21-14. but they capitalized on Switzerland's errors in the following sets. This win places them on the brink of making history. Meanwhile, Brazil fought their way through a tough match against Australia, aiming for their first gold medal since 1996. Brazil's Eduarda Santos Lisboa expressed disbelief after the win, reflecting the intensity of the match. The Australians started strong but faltered as the game progressed. Brazil's decisive spike in the third set secured their spot in the final, setting up an exciting showdown with Canada. Read More: https://luminarytimes.com/canada-and-brazil-set-for-thrilling-womens-beach-volleyball-final/

  Ola Electric shares have been on an impressive upward trajectory since their debut at 776. Rising rapidly, the stock has seen a 58% increase in just three days, driven by investor enthusiasm. On August 13, shares surged over 18% to 7129.40, marking a continuation of the company's strong performance. This rally comes just before Ola Electric's Qi results announcement on August 14. Investors are eagerly awaiting the company's first financial report since listing. The Bhavish Aggarwal-led company will hold a board meeting to review and approve its unaudited financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2024. Read More: https://luminarytimes.com/ola-electric-stock-jumps-as-excitement-builds-for-independence-day-launch/

  Innovative products often stem from leaders who've personally encountered their customers' challenges, inspiring solutions that address these pain points directly. Mary Harcourt exemplifies this through the creation of CosmoGlo, a lighting solution born from her own experiences in the beauty industry, enhancing functionality and aesthetics for professionals globally. Mary is not just an entrepreneur; she is a visionary who saw beyond the glare of inadequate lighting in the beauty industry. Her journey to founding and leading CosmoGlo, a company that stands at the intersection of beauty and technology, is a narrative of persistence, innovation, and a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of good ideas. From a sketch on a napkin to an innovative breakthrough, Mary revolutionised the beauty industry with the launch of CosmoGlo in 2020. Achieving exponential success early on, CosmoGlo is now poised for global distribution. holding patents in 30 countries and securing a v...

  In a groundbreaking display of technology, a flying car soared into the skies over Tokyo for the first time during an international event. This significant moment unfolded at the SusHi Tech Tokyo 2024 event, held outside the Tokyo Big Sight convention centre in Koto Ward. The demonstration, which attracted around 500 spectators, marks a significant milestone in the evolution of transportation. The flying car, known as Hexa, is manufactured by U.S.-based Lift Aircraft Inc. With its 18 propellers and single-seat design, the vehicle hovered approximately 10 metres above the ground, captivating the audience with its innovative flight. Measuring 4.5 metres in width, 2.6 metres in height, and weighing about 196 kilograms, the Hexa embodies the potential future of urban mobility. Read More: ( https://luminarytimes.com/flying-car-takes-off-in-tokyo-wows-spectators/ )

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE) this Saturday, marking a significant occasion as it is the first time in 65 years that the event has been hosted in India. The conference, which is taking place at the National Agricultural Science Centre in Delhi, has drawn attention to India's proactive stance on global food security issues. India's Role in Global Food Security During his address, Prime Minister Modi expressed his pleasure that India is hosting the conference after such a lengthy interval and extended a warm welcome to the international delegates. He discussed India's key position as a food surplus nation and its active role in addressing global food security challenges. Modi highlighted the agricultural diversity within India, noting its planning around six distinct seasons and management across fifteen different agricultural climatic zones, each with unique agricultural practices.  Read More: (h...

  Starting Thursday, Venice will limit tourist groups to a maximum of 25 people. This measure is part of the city's ongoing efforts to manage overcrowding and preserve its delicate infrastructure. By implementing these rules, Venice aims to protect the quality of life for its residents and ensure a better experience for visitors. However, there are some exemptions to this rule. Children under two years old are not counted in the group limit. Additionally, the restrictions do not apply to visiting students or educational tours. These exceptions are designed to balance tourism management with educational opportunities. Read More: ( https://luminarytimes.com/venice-implements-new-tourist-group-limits-to-manage-overcrowding/ )

  A test run intended to allow Olympic athletes to familiarise themselves with the marathon swimming course in the Seine River was cancelled on Tuesday due to concerns about water quality in the Paris waterway. World Aquatics made the decision to cancel the exercise at an early morning meeting, spokesperson Torin Koos said. Fluctuating bacteria levels in the long-polluted waterway have been a constant concern throughout the Games, with the swimming portion of the triathlon and the marathon swimming events both scheduled to be held in the river. A test run intended to allow Olympic athletes to familiarise themselves with the marathon swimming course in the Seine River was cancelled on Tuesday due to concerns about water quality in the Paris waterway. Read More: (https://luminarytimes.com/paris-2024-cancels-marathon-swim-test-due-to-seine-water-quality-concerns/)

  Google appears to be having a rough day. On the day a US judge ruled against the company in the long- running antitrust case, there was more trouble for Google. Republican nominee Donald Trump, seemingly displeased with Google, has urged his supporters to stop using the search engine. In an interview with video-game celebrity Adin Ross, Trump called for his supporters to stop using Google, labelling the search engine "illegitimate". "Something's wrong with Google," Trump stated in the interview. "Everybody should maybe just go off Google, not use it." Read More: ( https://luminarytimes.com/donald-trump-claims-somethings-wrong-with-google/ )

  Dior has once again proven its unmatched excellence in the fashion world. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony. Dior's designs took center stage, leaving a lasting impression. This grand event highlighted Dior's pivotal role in representing French Haute Couture to a global audience. Despite the rainy weather, Dior managed to shine, embodying the elegance and prestige that the city of Paris is known for. The fashion industry played a significant role in these Olympics. Many Olympic teams showcased uniforms designed by top fashion houses. Among these, the houses linked to the LVMH group, including Dior, stood out. LVMH, a major player in the luxury industry, was an official premium partner of these Games. The group ensured that its brands, especially Dior, were prominently featured, enhancing their ties to Paris and the Olympic spirit. Read More: ( https://luminarytimes.com/dior-dazzles-at-the-paris-2024-olympic-games-opening/ )