Year: 2024

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On each day of Hanukkah, we eat latkes, play dreidel, exchange gifts, and light the menorah to remember the Jewish people’s struggle for religious freedom. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” Hanukkah celebrates an ancient miracle: For eight long nights, a candle burned bright with just a tiny bit of oil as the Jews cleansed and rededicated their holy temple long ago.

Hanukkah is a time to reflect on the plight of all sentient beings—and that includes the suffering of our fellow animals who are used in experiments, killed for their flesh and skin, exploited for entertainment, and abused in other horrific ways. That’s why we must mark this long-held tradition by doing mitzvahs—or good deeds for others.
Here are eight actions you can take for animals on each day of Hanukkah.
The maker of Oreo has paid experimenters to conduct pointless and cruel “nutritional science” tests in which they force mice to eat human feces before killing and slicing them open. Please urge the company to end its experiments on animals and join PETA’s revolutionary Eat Without Experiments program, which makes it easy for consumers to see which food and beverage companies do or do not test on animals:
Multiple PETA Asia investigations have exposed that Thailand’s coconut industry relies on the forced labor of endangered monkeys. These highly social animals naturally live and thrive in large groups—but in the Thai coconut industry, they’re violently torn away from their families and chained in isolation at “training schools” without adequate food, water, or companionship. Handlers often whip or beat them to force them to obey.
Urge the Thai government to shut down all “monkey schools” and ban monkey labor immediately:
Animals do not want to be violently slaughtered for their flesh, forcibly manually impregnated and separated from their precious babies for their milk, or crammed into filthy, windowless sheds on misleadingly labeled “cage-free” farms. On farms and in slaughterhouses, billions of sensitive, feeling individuals suffer in these conditions every day. YOU can spare nearly 200 animals annually, reduce your carbon footprint, and boost your health by going vegan. Get started by taking PETA’s three-week vegan challenge, and encourage your friends and family to do the same:
PETA investigations have revealed filth, suffering, and abuse at all 12 “animal welfare certified” locations we’ve investigated—including Plainville Farms, where PETA’s investigators witnessed workers violently beating and sexually abusing birds. Still, representatives from self-proclaimed “animal protection” groups—including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Compassion in World Farming—sit on the board of directors for the Global Animal Partnership, the group behind misleading “animal welfare certified” labels. This humane-washing certification means nothing to the animals who suffer immensely on farms. Tell “animal welfare” organizations to stop propping up factory farming and to cut ties with the Global Animal Partnership:
Corky, the longest-held captive orca in the world, has been imprisoned at marine parks for 55 years. Today, she swims in endless circles in a tiny tank at SeaWorld San Diego, while her siblings and other members of her pod swim free in the ocean.
PETA’s extensive campaign for Corky has included bold demonstrations, public service announcements with celebrities such as Pamela Anderson and Christopher von Uckermann, a constitutional lawsuit on Corky’s behalf, and even a 150-mile relay run from Los Angeles to San Diego. More than 200,000 of our supporters have joined PETA in urging SeaWorld to release Corky into a seaside sanctuary, where she could finally feel ocean currents, hear the songs and calls of other free orcas, and possibly communicate with her siblings. Learn more about Corky and speak up for her before it’s too late:
As temperatures plummet, dogs who are left tethered or chained outside 24/7 struggle to survive without proper shelter to protect them from the elements. Unable to escape the freezing cold, these dogs are vulnerable to frostbite, hypothermia, and even death. Often, these lonely animals are deprived of even the basics—such as food, water, and veterinary care. All winter long, PETA’s fieldworkers deliver dry, fluffy straw bedding and sturdy wooden doghouses to dogs neglected outside.
Although a doghouse is no substitute for a real home in which dogs could be warm, comfortable, and surrounded by their human families, it can mean the difference between life and death to dogs who previously had no shelter. Help us continue this vital work by sponsoring a doghouse:
Every year, more than a billion gentle cows and other animals are slaughtered so that their skins can be used to make handbags and other leather accessories. A PETA exposé of the world’s largest leather processor—which has been linked to Coach—showed that workers brand calves on the face, beat cows and bulls, and shock them with electric prods. The leather industry also contributes to the climate catastrophe, land devastation, deforestation, pollution, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity. Join PETA in urging Coach to stop using animal- and planet-killing leather:
In Egypt’s tourism industry, horses and camels are forced to carry tourists at the pyramids in the sweltering heat. PETA’s latest mini documentary revealed that workers forcefully beat the exhausted animals, who were denied adequate food, rest, shade, and proper veterinary care. Injured and malnourished horses were seen eating from garbage dumps, and the bodies of dead horses were found discarded every day at trash sites outside gates to the pyramids of Giza.
Following pressure from thousands of PETA supporters, Egyptian officials launched a program that aims to provide veterinary care for animals used at archaeological sites throughout the country. While this could mark some positive change, the only reliable way to ensure that horses and camels don’t suffer is to keep them away from the pyramids altogether. Please join PETA in urging Egyptian officials to ban the use of these animals in the tourism industry:
With help from our dedicated supporters, PETA has secured numerous landmark victories for animals in laboratories, on farms, at marine parks, and in other dire circumstances. By joining PETA’s Action Team, you can stay up to date on our latest campaigns, join local protests, connect with other passionate animal rights advocates, and more. Get started today!

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As the incoming administration looks to trim government spending, PETA strongly suggests that President-elect Trump slash NIH funding of pointless animal experiments in a mobile billboard at Mar-a-Lago.
The action is part of PETA’s campaign urging Shriners circuses to get off the “naughty” list.
Victory! After a high-pressure PETA campaign, the National Watermelon Promotion Board has agreed to end funding of all fruitless experiments on animals.
Nearly 7 million chickens have been killed in British Columbia due to bird flu since 2022.
PETA has discovered that a Harvard Medical School experimenter is jetting down to South Carolina’s Alpha Genesis, a prison notorious for monkey escapes and violations.
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“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?”
— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind
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Click here to text ELEPHANT to 73822 to urge event organizers to cancel abusive elephant games at Nepal’s Chitwan Elephant Festival. Elephants were gouged with bullhooks!
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FSSA Celebrants
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
During the celebration of Final Professions and Jubilees by some members of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Anna (FSSA) congregation, the celebrants were reminded that their connection with God directly influences how they perceive, treat, and interact with humanity and the natural world.
In his homily during the Monday, December 9, event celebrated in Kisumu Archdiocese, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba asked the FSSA Sisters to rate their relationship with God knowing that the level of relationship with the creator defines the level of relationship with humanity and it also reveals the level of relationship with nature.
“When our relationship with God is weakened, the relationship with one another and creation weakens too,” Archbishop Muhatia said while addressing thousands of congregants who joined the celebration of ten sisters who took their final profession, six for Silver Jubilee and two for Golden Jubilee.
Reflecting on the Scriptures (Genesis 3) about the fall of humanity, in relation to the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception when the Catholic Church celebrates the belief that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin by the Grace of God, the Archbishop disclosed that “the Immaculate Conception is a lived experience in the Church.”
“In the Book of Genesis (3), God posed a question to Adam and Eve saying, ‘Where are you?’”
 Archbishop Muhatia who doubles as the Chairman for the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) said and explained the theological aspect of God’s concern, “This is more than just a question of geographical location, it is a deep question of relationship. The relationship between God and the human person, the relationship between the human persons themselves, and the relationship between the human person and the rest of creation.”
Addressing the celebrants on this concern, the Archbishop explained, “My dear sisters, when God comes asking where are you, remember he wants to know where you are in relationship to obedience, where are you in relation to the foundation of your being since you have been created in God’s image and likeness, and where are you in the relationship between you and the rest of creation.”
According to the Archbishop, when God put enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent, it was a good move since “God put enmity between the human race and the source of evil which means God did not intend to damp the human person like he did to the serpent.”
He added, “Since God had promised to put enmity between the woman and the serpent and between the offspring of the woman and that of the serpent, He announced the triumph of humanity over evil in what he did to the virgin Mary being conceived without original sin.”
He expounded further that Mary was obedient to God and submitted to him totally when she encountered the Angel Gabriel and said “I am the handmaid of the Lord let it be done to me according to your will.”
“The foundation of any religious community is doing the will of God. This explains all the vows,” the Kenyan Prelate said to the celebrants and explained, “The success of an institution of religious life is measured by how the individuals of that Institute are moved toward fulfilling the will of God. This is what defines the perpetual profession, it defines the celebration of 25 years and the 50 years of service.”
On her part, the Superior General of FSSA, Sr. Mary Benigna Aoko while addressing the celebrants stressed the virtue of humility and cautioned, “My dear sisters let it not be in your mind or heart that now you can just do whatever you want. It is now that you need to be more obedient and humbler.”
She continued, “Humility, responsibility, faith, and prayer are what the vows are calling you to respond to. That is being obedient to yourself, to those in authority, and to your fellow sisters.”
AMECEA Secretariat
P.O. Box 21191, 00505
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: (254-020) 2 444 854/935
Mobile: +254 783 189 081
Email: amecea@amecea.org

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Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a proclamation this February to make Utah a no-kill state, which would be the first state in the West to achieve the distinction.
Best Friends Animal Society Press Release
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AN INITIATIVE OF THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS connecting leading global foreign policy institutes
 
The most pressing issues facing the world today are rapidly evolving. The environmental effects of climate change are accelerating and threatening the health and livelihoods of millions. Emerging technologies have few guardrails, despite the rapidpace of their development, causing far-reaching implications for labor, health, privacy, and ethics. Five years away from the 2030 deadline, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are abysmally off target as the world witnesses growing wealth disparity, widespread hunger, and inadequate medical infrastructure, especially in conflict zones. The past year also saw national elections in over sixty countries, leading, in some cases, to questions about the state of democracy.  
Global summits give leaders an opportunity to come together to advance solutions and prepare responses, but can they keep up with the pace at which the world’s most urgent problems are intensifying? Below are the most anticipated summits set for 2025, where newly elected leaders, increased participation from the Global South and emerging powers, and reframed conversations could help answer that question.  
 
Technology will once again be on the agenda at the World Economic Forum’s meeting in January. Global leaders in business, government, and civil society will meet in Davos to explore ways to ensure emerging technologies facilitate a more inclusive global economy, better adapt to geoeconomic shifts, increase development of human capital, spur a more sustainable and green economy, and build a more reliable and equitable global economic order. Discussions will also likely be framed by the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risks Report, released annually ahead of the conference in January. As one of the largest and most anticipated convenings of political and economic leaders, the discussions in and around this summit provide the clearest snapshots of the public and private sectors’ immediate priorities.  
 
Meeting at a venue in the Canadian Rockies, the Group of Seven (G7) summit is slated to prioritize moving toward more inclusive economies, combating the growing negative effects of climate change, and regulating emerging technologies. Host Canada made contributions on each of those fronts at the 2024 G7 summit in Puglia, Italy, including leading funding and various initiatives for the International Fund for Agricultural Development, climate resiliency and finance, the transition to global clean energy, sustainable development in the Global South, and the AI for Development program. The G7 Apulia Leaders’ Communiqué from 2024 also emphasized their commitment to cooperation with Africa on global infrastructure and security, supporting Ukraine, and addressing the root causes of migration, which are issues of paramount importance for European G7 members. While it is likely that the 2025 summit will continue where Italy’s summit left off on migration issues and Ukraine, it is also likely that security and stability in the Middle East will have a particular focus on the agenda. At the same time, new heads of government will be attending the summit, so priorities may shift as new administrations take the stage. 
 
Ocean conservation efforts are taking on growing urgency with climate change’s effects felt increasingly around the world, especially by millions of people living in coastal regions and island nations. The ocean is absorbing an exorbitant amount of heat due to global warming, which poses a severe threat to biodiversity and can cause bleached coral reefs, reduced fish supply, rising sea levels, and an increased threat of natural disasters. Cohosted by France and Costa Rica on the Mediterranean coast, the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will be the first since the 2022 conference in Lisbon, Portugal. The 2025 conference will also be the first since the historic Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction—commonly known as BBNJ or the High Seas Treaty—opened for signature; the treaty and its provisions will likely be a topic of discussion at the summit. The High Seas Treaty is the first international treaty focusing on governance measures for ocean conservation in waters beyond national boundaries.  UNOC3 aims to support the implementation of the fourteenth SDG focused on conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources. The conference’s Ocean Action Panels will bring together member states, UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private companies to encourage commitments to ocean conservation. The conference will culminate in adopting the Nice Ocean Action Plan as a voluntary declaration. Planned alongside UNOC3 will be three side events in Nice and Monaco—the One Ocean Science Congress, the Ocean Rise & Resilience Coalition, and the Blue Economy and Finance Forum—all aimed at focusing high-level attention to rising sea levels, the ocean economy, and ocean health and sustainability. 
 
When the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meets this year in The Hague, Netherlands, defense spending commitments and continued Russian aggression will be on the minds of decision-makers. Moreover, the state of transatlantic relations under a new administration in Washington and other capitals will be closely watched. 
The alliance has recently made strides in defense spending, with twenty-three of the thirty-two member countries now meeting the defense spending commitment of 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). But as the conflict in Ukraine wears on and the resolve of U.S. politicians to continue the same levels of material support runs thin, increasing this commitment past the 2 percent expectation could be up for discussion. The summit will also be an opportunity for NATO to refine its messaging under new leadership. In his first major speech as NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte said that the group must “shift to a wartime mindset and turbo charge our defense production and defense spending.”  
 
This year marks the eightieth meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), and the world’s largest annual convening of high-level leaders and civil society will have much to discuss. Displacement, conflict, poverty, and hunger are on the rise, and the SDGs set out by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are woefully off-track.  
The UN is taking steps to bolster multilateral cooperation on the SDGs and recommit member countries to meeting these goals. This year’s summit will be an opportunity to take stock of the impact of last year’s Pact of the Future, adopted to address issues of development, peace and security, technology, and youth empowerment. To further bolster momentum, the UN will be hosting a Second World Summit for Social Development in November. Hosted by Qatar, this convening will revisit commitments made at the first summit of the same name held thirty years ago. 
This year’s UN summit also marks the return of Donald Trump to the forum. His past speeches at the assembly have stressed his America First policy, the might of the U.S. military and economy, and his administration’s achievements. Exactly what posture the new Trump administration will take toward the body remains to be seen, but if past serves as prologue, we may expect a leader who is skeptical of the global organization and the dues the United States contributes.  
 
 The thirtieth meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), known as COP30, meets in Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest to put special emphasis on the threat rising greenhouse gas emissions pose to the crucial habitat. The host country, headed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has indicated he will expect state representatives to come into the conference with renewed plans for emissions reduction.   
Expectations will be high for COP30 after a disappointing COP29 that, despite agreements made on energy storage and carbon markets, resulted in developing nations feeling let down by the financial pledges from richer countries, rushed negotiations, and an open letter calling for COP reform signed by notable current and former UN officials, heads of state, NGO executives, and other civil society stakeholders.    
Based on the first Trump administration, many climate experts do not expect the U.S. to take a leadership role in this year’s negotiations, and the President-elect has signaled that he will once again withdraw the United States from the Paris agreement.  
 
The Group of Twenty (G20) summit will be held in an African nation for the first time and follows the admission of the African Union last year to this annual meeting of leading and emerging economies. Taking place in Johannesburg, this will be the fourth consecutive year that a country in the Global South has held the presidency. To that point, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has put forth an agenda under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability” that builds on items addressed at recent G20 meetings in Brazil, India, and Indonesia.  
South Africa’s G20 agenda seeks to address issues that are especially important to emerging economies and will focus on climate change-related disaster resilience, debt relief for developing countries, and the mobilization of finance for a just energy transition. There will also be task forces on inclusive economic growth, food security, and technology governance.  
However, 2026’s agenda could look quite different for the bloc, whose economies account for around 75 percent of international trade, as the G20 presidency shifts to the United States. When asked about potential disruption if the new Trump administration brings an America First and climate skeptic agenda, Ramaphosa responded that there are sufficient shock absorbers put in place for the G20 to be able to function. 
 
The 2025 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit will set in motion a twenty-year roadmap prioritizing sustainable development, climate change, digitalization, and gender equality—all urgent topics for the bloc. The summit is also expected to have an economic focus, with Malaysia announcing fifteen priority economic deliverables, as well as the expected conclusions to updated trade agreements, such as the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement. 
At the same time, the ASEAN members will have to find ways to address other pressing issues, most notably civil war in Myanmar and tensions in the South China Sea. The outlook for advancing any positive change in Myanmar is bleak considering the impotence and poor implementation of ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar. Malaysia will likely find it difficult to navigate the fraught dynamics in the South China Sea, but it stands a relatively greater chance of improving tensions due to its position as the current country coordinator for ASEAN-China relations. At the same time, Malaysia’s relative closeness to China could exacerbate tensions among ASEAN countries who are more distrustful China, such as the Philippines or Vietnam.  
The East Asia Summit (EAS), which typically follows the annual ASEAN summit, will provide an opportunity for the United States and China to meet among a broader range of nations. This EAS will be the first of President-Elect Donald Trump’s second administration, so watching potential outcomes between his conversations with China’s President Xi could be worthwhile. 
 
Brazil, which hosted the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in 2024, will host the BRICS summit in the next year. The summit will welcome its four newest members and thirteen “partner countries,” for the second time and will likely look into further expanding the bloc. Over thirty other countries, such as Bangladesh and Venezuela, have expressed interest in joining, demonstrating the rapidly growing interest in the bloc from the Global South, which largely sees the group as an alternative to Western-dominated institutions. However the group continues to expand, it will be looking to further solidify its connections with Global South countries. 
Much of Brazil’s G20 agenda is expected to carry over into the BRICS summit, particularly its economic priorities. Brazil’s finance minister has said that while official proposals for the summit’s priorities will be outlined in the new year, it is expected that modernizing the Bretton Woods institutions and further developing projects from the New Development Bank to invest in Global South infrastructure and local currencies, such as the BRICS Cross-Border Payment System, will be top of mind. Tax reform, climate finance and sustainability, and fighting systemic poverty are also expected to remain on the agenda. 
 
Despite widespread dependence on access to satellites, the world lacks the governance and international frameworks to protect those assets and access to them. The UN World Space Forum brings governments, companies, and nongovernmental organizations together for an opportunity to engage in much-needed dialogue on how to best integrate all stakeholders’ voices in an equitable and inclusive way. The 2025 UN World Space Forum is expected to build on the 2024 forum—“Sustainable Space for Sustainability on Earth”—and discuss implementing sections of the Pact of the Future pertaining to space. The 2025 forum will also likely feature the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) conducting its 2025 midterm review of the Space2030 Agenda, which lays out ways that space assets can be used to achieve the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. 
 

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As cryptocurrency gains popularity, it may come as no surprise that digital currency is trickling down into more aspects of life, including travel. More travelers and businesses are adopting cryptocurrency for travel payments. This technology provides several advantages as digital currency changes the travel experience.
Tourists ride a longtail boat past Wat Arun temple along the Chao Praya river in Bangkok on December … [+] 19, 2024. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP) (Photo by LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images)
Today’s technology allows one to retain self-custody of their digital assets, engage in more secure transactions, and sidestep costly currency conversion fees.
An evolving trend is using crypto-backed payment cards instead of the typical banking system for international transactions. Clients fund purchases and transfers with a supported cryptocurrency instead of converting their home currency to the local currency.
WeFi is a fintech platform at the core of this burgeoning industry. It provides individuals and businesses with spending accounts. Customers can pay with crypto using virtual and physical Visa debit cards with high payment limits.
It’s possible to connect personal digital wallets to retain cold storage or create a WeFi wallet for instant transaction settlements. The platform engine supports multiple crypto tokens. Users can also swap for the in-house native token, WeFi (WFI). The second option can have cheaper fees and earn rewards, ensuring ample liquidity to complete transactions at low costs.
In crypto-friendly destinations, more travel providers and online booking sites accept cryptocurrency as a payment method. Crypto purchases can include:
Reasons include an increase in tech-savvy travelers preferring alternative currencies, virtual payments for payment flexibility, and minimizing fees. Payments are accepted online or in-person by paying directly with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and more.
Plus, travelers may receive transaction discounts and more affordable fares thanks to decentralized platforms that facilitate direct payments, thereby avoiding intermediary platforms that can cause an increase in processing fees.
Additionally, several travel booking sites offer discounts to encourage crypto payments or to increase the use of their native token.
However, cryptocurrency laws differ by country. As a result, payment options vary widely.
Due to the extra complexity and fraud risk, cross-border payments are typically pricier than local transactions. On the other hand, blockchain technology has been around for several years and continues to improve efficiency and foster a friendlier business environment in countries prone to fraud.
For example, WeFi co-founder Maksym Sakharov launched the neobank as a natural progression from his experience in the financial technology space. Sakharov incorporates blockchain technology to solve the traditional system’s insufficiencies and outdated practices.
WeFi co-founder Maksym Sakharov
WeFi also benefits from the knowledge of co-founder Reeve Collins. He is the former co-founder of Tether and helped launch the world’s largest stablecoin, which seamlessly integrates traditional currencies with blockchain technology.
The company utilizes smart contracts to automate the payment process, enabling near-instant transactions that are less susceptible to human error. It also partners with LayerZero to support multiple cryptocurrency tokens and wallet networks, ensuring secure transactions.
The platform processes millions of transactions and can detect fraud worldwide. Additionally, the system can implement zero-knowledge (ZK) policies for optimal privacy or know-your-customer (KYC) protocols to ensure compliance with local regulations.
This technology also makes it easier to transact in hard-to-reach countries that may not have access to traditional transaction clearing systems like SWIFT. Crypto payment platforms may be the first electronic system some places implement. Low costs may also make adoption more inviting.
Nearly any smartphone can accept or initiate crypto-based payments since it is borderless and does not require extensive hardware or infrastructure. Crypto debit cards and wallets can also integrate with many digital wallet platforms to pay vendors or send cryptocurrency.
The primary advantage of cryptocurrency payment methods is lower transaction fees, ranging from 0% to 2%. In comparison, traditional credit card fees incurred by merchants range from 1.5% to 6%, which may be passed on to the price.
It’s also possible to avoid these global payment fees:
Avoiding these fees increases spending ability and reduces overall travel costs.
Less fees for travelers and vendors can encourage repeat crypto travelers and others seeking efficiency to use the service more. However, when paying in a local currency is preferable, programs like WeFi offer competitive rates for fiat conversion.
It’s common practice to self-custody crypto assets in an offline wallet for optimal security, shielding keys from public exposure. The alternative is leaving them on-chain for instant trading or transfer, which is more susceptible to fraud.
Self-custody makes traveling with crypto more realistic. Protecting private keys allows for the safe storage of balances that are not ready for spending. The app’s proprietary WeChain layer technology lets users move assets and make fast transactions.
This service partners with Cosmos, Ledger, and Gemini to enable payments across numerous networks and to pay vendors wherever debit cards are accepted, which maintains more control over one’s finances.
Liquidity is pivotal for any crypto payment platform to be affordable and transact quickly. WeFi runs its Pendulum rewards program to achieve operating efficiency.
First, users can convert cryptocurrency into WeFi tokens, powered by Tether, to earn swap rewards that reduce processing fees. This practice provides collateral for a non-custodial payment card that can be used worldwide.
Second, WeFi lets node operators generate tokens that users who don’t want to swap existing crypto can use to complete transactions. Operators collect interest in exchange for providing liquidity.
When users and operators are ready to make a purchase, the WeFi engine can convert its proprietary tokens into the appropriate local currency to fund the transaction via bank transfer, card, or digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Keeping a particular balance on-chain while traveling or at home helps provide rewards to defray future transaction costs. The platform is also more likely to grant higher spending limits to users with more network activity.
Modernizing payment options for international travel makes it easier and more affordable to explore crypto-friendly countries and support local economies. Using cryptocurrency for travel is another way to find deals without sacrificing financial control.

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TronWeekly
Crypto World News
December 21, 2024 by Vaigha Varghese
As the world embraces artificial intelligence, certain cryptocurrencies linked to this technology are set to skyrocket. By early 2025, a select group of AI-focused altcoins may see unprecedented gains. This article unveils five such digital assets that could potentially deliver massive returns, capturing the attention of savvy investors seeking the next big opportunity in the crypto space.
CYBRO is taking the crypto world by storm. Fresh off its launch on Gate.io and MEXC, the token’s price shot up from $0.06 to $0.16 in just 24 hours—a whopping 260% gain. The trading volume hit an impressive $15 million at its peak.
This explosive debut is backed by CYBRO’s solid fundamentals and the buzz it built before the launch. During its presale, CYBRO raised $7 million and attracted almost 20,000 early investors, showing strong market interest even before going public.
Despite this incredible rally, $CYBRO is still at a low price point, leaving room for higher highs. In the medium term, the token could add more 500-600% to its value, depending on broader crypto market conditions and adoption within its ecosystem. In the most optimistic scenario, $CYBRO could surge 1100%.
Grab the Undevalued Gem Now Before It Surges 1100%
CYBRO is a multichain DeFi platform that uses AI to optimize earnings. Whether you’re new to DeFi or a seasoned pro, CYBRO makes investing easier and more effective.
Here are the privileges for $CYBRO holders:
CYBRO is staying true to its promise to early investors and already delivering real results. Looking ahead, the team is gearing up to roll out new AI features, open more vaults, and develop additional one-click strategies to streamline DeFi investing.
Combined with its strong launch performance and ambitious roadmap, CYBRO is shaping up to be a leader in decentralized finance.
Join CYBRO Now Before the Next Big Jump
NEAR Protocol is a platform designed to support developers in building decentralized applications. It uses sharding to improve efficiency and scalability. NEAR operates on a distributed network that is similar to centralized data storage systems but is decentralized. It was founded by Alex Skidanov and Illia Polosukhin and raised over $20 million from major venture firms. NEAR features the Nightshade sharding solution for scalability. It also includes the Rainbow Bridge, which allows Ethereum token transfers, and Aurora, a Layer 2 solution that uses Ethereum’s technology for better performance and lower fees. This technology may appeal to developers and users looking for scalable and efficient decentralized applications.
Fetch.ai is an artificial intelligence lab building an open network for decentralized machine learning. It allows anyone to access secure datasets and use autonomous agents to perform tasks across its global data network. This technology aims to improve services like finance trading, transportation, energy grids, and travel systems. By connecting data and devices in a decentralized way, Fetch.ai seeks to optimize complex digital systems without the need for central control. Its approach democratizes AI technology, making it accessible to more people and industries. Fetch.ai offers potential for enhancing efficiency and innovation in various sectors through collaborative artificial intelligence.
Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) aims to transform the internet into a global computing platform. Developed by the DFINITY Foundation, it enables decentralized applications to run at web speed. By reducing computing costs and increasing efficiency, ICP envisions a decentralized web where software and digital services operate securely and autonomously. This approach eliminates the need for traditional cloud services and big tech companies. ICP could reshape the digital landscape, offering a more open, secure, and user-friendly internet experience.
Render Token (RENDER) is the utility token of The Render Network. This platform offers decentralized GPU-based rendering solutions. It allows creators to access GPU power for rendering tasks more efficiently and at lower costs. Node operators contribute their spare GPU capacity to the network and receive RENDER tokens in return for their services. This system facilitates the production of animation, motion graphics, and visual effects. By leveraging a distributed network of processing power, it aims to make high-quality rendering more accessible and affordable for artists and designers.
While NEAR, FET, ICP, and RENDER show promise for significant growth by 2025, their short-term potential may be less dynamic. In contrast, CYBRO stands out as a technologically advanced DeFi platform offering investors unparalleled opportunities to maximize earnings through AI-powered yield aggregation on the Blast blockchain. With features like lucrative staking rewards, exclusive airdrops, and cashback on purchases, CYBRO ensures a superior user experience with seamless deposits and withdrawals. Emphasizing transparency, compliance, and quality, CYBRO emerges as a promising project with strong interest from crypto whales and influencers. Given the current bullish market conditions of 2024, CYBRO presents a compelling option for investors seeking immediate and substantial returns.
Site: https://cybro.io
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cybro_io
Discord: https://discord.gg/xFMGDQPhrB
Telegram: https://t.me/cybro_io
Filed Under: News, Press Release
Copyright © 2024 · Tron Weekly. All Rights Reserved. NOTE: Tron Weekly is an independent crypto news site that adheres to the strict journalism policy anchored on transparency, trust, and objectivity, we have no affiliation with the TRON Foundation, its founder Justin Sun or any other cryptocurrency firm.

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Two classic first-person shooters preserved by fans
by Ian Walker
Unreal, the first-person shooter that introduced Unreal Engine to the world, and its multiplayer-focused follow-up Unreal Tournament have been preserved via the Internet Archive and are freely available for download with the blessing of developer Epic Games.
Old Unreal first shared the news with its longstanding community of diehard Unreal fans on October 29 and, more recently, released special installers that streamline the process of getting these decades-old games ready to play on modern Windows operating systems. Of course, getting online will take further finagling — neither game has had official servers since Epic shut them down on January 24, 2023 — but community servers are still plentiful.
“We can confirm that Unreal and Unreal Tournament are available on Archive.org and people are free to independently link to and play these versions,” an Epic spokesperson told Polygon.
Unreal debuted in 1998. Designed by Cliff Bleszinski, who would go on to games like Gears of War and LawBreakers, and programmed by Tim Sweeney, the now-billionaire founder and CEO of Epic Games, the first-person shooter was an almost immediate hit thanks to its detailed graphics and fast-paced gameplay. Unreal Tournament followed in 1999, shifting the focus to multiplayer arenas and leading to multiple sequels. A reboot of sorts was planned but never moved past a 2014 public pre-alpha that ended in 2017, due to Epic’s development priorities shifting to Fortnite. And we all know how that turned out.
Despite a complete disappearance from the zeitgeist, unfortunately helped along by Epic itself delisting the games from all online storefronts when the servers were taken down in 2023, the Unreal series is an iconic piece of video game history that’s worth preserving for future generations. And while dedicated fans will always be ready to step in and do the hard work to save these abandoned classics, it’s great to see a major corporation like Epic at the very least do nothing to stymie those efforts.
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