OLB Group Announces Plan to Offer Cryptocurrency Payment Options via Blockchain Technology on its OMNICOMMERCE Platform and SecurePay TM Gateway -…

OLBs SecurePay TM Payment Gateway to Enable Merchants to Seamlessly Offer Cryptocurrency Payments

The OLB Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: OLB), a provider of cloud-based omnicommerce and payment acceptance solutions for small and mid-size merchants, announced it has upgraded its SecurePay payment gateway system to support Cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC and DAI across all merchant platforms. Merchants utilizing the OLB SecurePay gateway service or the OmniSoft cloud-based business management platform will immediately have the option to accept these alternative contactless payment methods without any equipment changes. Our systems will be wallet agnostic and, integrating them with third-party software, customers will be able to seamlessly pay with Cryptocurrency wallets such as MetaMask TM, Coinbase Wallet TM, Crypto.com and Trust Wallets TM.

Ronny Yakov, CEO of OLB, said, "Providing all the latest technologies and tools to merchants is our top priority. It is imperative to adjust to these times as the world becomes further integrated with digital currencies. By enabling our merchants the ability to accept digital payments, it will also help enhance the funds available for every merchant that opts in, as these forms of payments settle instantly, providing small businesses with more flexibility and agility. By 2027, the global payments industry is projected to be 8.94 Trillion USD and according to Statista there are 66 million users of Cryptocurrency wallets, according to Fortune Business Insights"

SercurePay is compatible with mobile, tablet-based and cloud infrastructure and will be integrated into the merchants current payment ecosystem, in order to enable the acceptance of Cryptocurrency payments. Merchants interested in implementing omnicommerce services or accepting crypto within their existing payment infrastructure can set up an account at https://cryptoaccept.com

For more information about The OLB Group, please visit http://www.olb.com or http://www.olb.com/investors-data .

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Future OLB Press Releases and Updates

Interested investors or shareholders can be notified of future Press Releases and Industry Updates by e-mailing investorrelations@OLB.com .

Safe Harbor Statement

All statements from The OLB Group, Inc. in this news release that are not based on historical fact are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the impact of COVID-19 on our operations and financial condition, our ability to implement our proprietary merchant boarding and CRM system and to roll out our Omni Commerce and SecurePay applications, including payment methods, to our current merchants and the integration of our secure payment gateway with our crowdfunding platform. While the Companys management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to materially differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include statements regarding the expected revenue and income for operations to be generated by The OLB Group, Inc. For other factors that may cause our actual results to differ from those that are expected, see the information under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Companys most recent Form 10-K and 10-Q filings, and amendments thereto, as well as other public filings with the SEC since such date. The Company operates in a rapidly changing and competitive environment, and new risks may arise. Accordingly, investors should not place any reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company disclaims any intention to, and undertakes no obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statement.

About The OLB Group, Inc.

The OLB Group, Inc. is a payment facilitator and commerce service provider that delivers cloud-based merchant services for web-based and brick-and-mortar organizations. OLB provides a seamless, end-to-end digital commerce solution that includes site creation, hosting, transaction processing and payment gateway, order fulfillment, customer service, outbound marketing, sales reporting, and fundraising. With services from private label shopping sites designed to maintain the unique look or feel of the merchant website, to order fulfillment and customer service, OLB remains invisible to the user and promotes the merchants brand with market-leading technology and solutions. For more information about solutions, services, or to find a reseller, please visit http://www.olb.com . Investor information is available at http://www.olb.com/investors-data .

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210005034/en/

Contacts

The OLB Group - Investor RelationsInvestorRelations@olb.com (212) 278-0900 EXT: 333

RedChip Companies Inc.Dave Gentry407-491-4498Dave@redchip.com

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OLB Group Announces Plan to Offer Cryptocurrency Payment Options via Blockchain Technology on its OMNICOMMERCE Platform and SecurePay TM Gateway -...

5 Things To Consider When Choosing A Cryptocurrency Exchange – Yahoo Finance

TipRanks

Were well into the first quarter of 2021 now, and its a good time to take stock of whats behind us, and how it will impact what lies ahead. Goldman Sachs strategist Jan Hatzius believes that we are on an upward trajectory, with better times ahead. Hatzius sees the developed economies expanding as the corona crisis recedes. For the US, particularly, he is impressed by the very substantial fiscal support implies in the latest COVID relief package. Even with that, however, Hatzius believes that Q4 was a weaker period, and we are still not quite out of it. Hes putting Q1 growth at 5%, and says that were going to see further expansion concentrated in the spring, and an acceleration to 10% growth rate in Q2. And by accelerations, Hatzius means that investors should expect Q2 GDP in the neighborhood of 6.6%. Hatzius credits that forecast to the ongoing vaccination programs, and the continued development of COVID vaccines. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are already in production and circulation. Hatzius says, in relation to these programs, That fact that we are developing more options and that governments around the world are going to have more options to choose between different vaccines [means] production is likely to ramp up in pretty sharply in incoming months Its definitely a major reason for our optimistic growth forecast. In addition to Hatzius' look at the macro situation, analysts from Goldman Sachs have also been diving into specific stocks. Using TipRanks' database, we identified two stocks that the firm predicts will show solid growth in 2021. The rest of the Street also backs both tickers, with each sporting a Strong Buy consensus rating. Stellantis (STLA) Weve talked before about the Detroit automakers, and rightly so -- they are major players on the US economic scene. But the US hasnt got a monopoly on the automotive sector, as proven by Netherlands-based Stellantis. This international conglomerate is the result of a merger between Frances Groupe PSA and the Italian-American Fiat-Chrysler. The deal was a 50-50 all stock agreement, and Stellantis boasts a market cap exceeding $50 billion, and a portfolio of near-legendary nameplates, including Alpha Romeo, Dodge Ram, Jeep, and Maserati. The deal that formed Stellantis, now the worlds fourth largest automotive manufacturer, took 16 months to accomplish, after it was first announced in October 2019. Now that it is reality the merger was completed in January of this year the combined entity promises cost savings of nearly 5 billion euros in the operations of both Fiat-Chrysler and PSA. These savings look to be realized through greater efficiency, and not through plant closures and cutbacks. Stellantis is new in the markets, and the STLA ticker has supplanted Fiat-Chryslers FCAU on New York Stock Exchange, giving the new company a storied history. The companys share value has nearly tripled since its low point, reached last March during the corona recession, and has stayed strong since the merger was completed. Goldman Sachs analyst George Galliers is upbeat on Stellantis future, writing, We see four drivers which, in our view, will enable Stellantis to deliver. 1) PSA and FCAs product portfolios in Europe cover similar segment sizes at similar price points 2) Incremental economies of scale can potentially have a material impact on both companies... 3) Both companies are at a relatively nascent stage [in] electric vehicle programs. The merger will prevent duplication and deliver synergies. 4) Finally, we see some opportunities around central staffing where existing functions can likely be consolidated... In line with this outlook, Galliers rates STLA a Buy and his $22 price target indicates room for 37% growth in the year ahead. (To watch Galliers track record, click here) Overall, this merger has generated plenty of buzz, and on Wall Street there is broad agreement that the combined company will generate returns. STLA has a Strong Buy consensus rating, based on a unanimous 7 buy-side reviews. The stock is priced at $16.04, and the average target of $21.59 is congruent with Galliers, suggesting a 34.5% one-year upside potential. (See STLA stock analysis on TipRanks) NRG Energy (NRG) From automotive, we move to the energy sector. NRG is a $10 billion utility provider, with dual head offices in Texas and New Jersey. The company provides electricity to more than 3 million customers in 10 states plus DC, and boasts a over 23,000 MW was generating capacity, making it one of North Americas largest power utilities. NRGs production includes coal, oil, and nuclear power plants, plus wind and solar farms. In its most recent quarterly report, for 3Q20, NRG showed $2.8 billion in total revenues, along with $1.02 EPS. While down year-over-year, this was still more than enough to maintain the companys strong and reliable dividend payment f 32.5 cents per common share. This annualizes to $1.30 per common share, and gives a yield of 3.1%. Analyst Michael Lapides, in his coverage of this stock for Goldman Sachs, rates NRG a Buy. His $57 price target suggest an upside of 36% from current levels. (To watch Lapides track record, click here) Noting the recent acquisition of Direct Energy, Lapides says he expects the company to deleverage itself in the near-term. After NRGs acquisition of Direct Energy, one of the larger electricity and natural gas competitive retailers in the US, we view NRGs business as somewhat transformed. The integrated business model owning wholesale merchant power generation that supplies electricity that gets used to serve customers supplied by NRGs competitive retail arm reduces exposure to merchant power markets and commodity prices, while increasing FCF potential," Lapides wrote The analyst summed up, "We view 2021, from a capital allocation perspective, as a deleveraging year, but with NRG creating almost $2bn/year in FCF, we see a pick up in share buybacks as well as 8% dividend growth ahead in 2022-23." Were looking at another stock here with a Strong Buy analyst consensus rating. This one based on a 3 to 1 split between Buy and Hold reviews. NRG is trading for $41.84 and its $52.75 average price target suggests a 26% upside from that level on the one-year time frame. (See NRG stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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5 Things To Consider When Choosing A Cryptocurrency Exchange - Yahoo Finance

Cryptocurrency bill: Individuals, corporates to be fined for using digital money – Business Today

The government's draft bill on cryptocurrencies is likely to bar Indian companies and individuals from using digital currencies if cleared by parliament.

The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 is expected to be introduced soon in the ongoing Budget session (of parliament).

People, traders, exchanges, and other financial systems' participants will not be permitted to deal in cryptocurrencies, with penalties proposed in the draft law for any violation by corporates as well as individuals, NDTV reported.

Also Read: Inter-ministerial group recommends ban on Bitcoin, private cryptocurrency in India: FM

The decision was taken after an inter-ministerial panel, including representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), felt that private cryptocurrencies will pose a risk to the financial stability of the country.

The bill, which proposes a blanket ban on all private cryptocurrencies, will also lay the basis for an official digital currency with ties to the RBI, which can regulate it, the report added.

The Centre's draft bill comes days after car manufacturer Tesla, led by billionaire Elon Musk, announced a $1.5 billion investment in Bitcoin with plans to accept the cryptocurrency from customers purchasing its electric vehicles. This drove the digital money to an all-time high.

Also Read: Sell or hold - investors on edge as India mulls cryptocurrency ban

Both the Centre and the central bank have been cautioning against digital currencies and have advised all banks and financial institutions not to deal in them.

The RBI, through a circular in April 2018, had advised all entities regulated by it not to deal in virtual currencies or provide services for facilitating any person or entity in dealing with or settling them.

In mid-2019, a government committee had suggested banning all private cryptocurrencies, with a jail term of up to 10 years as well as heavy penalties for anyone dealing in digital currencies.

However, the Supreme Court in March 2020 overturned RBI's circular, permitting banks to handle cryptocurrency transactions from traders and exchanges.

As per the official estimates, around 7 million Indians hold cryptocurrencies worth more than $1 billion.

Also Read: Cryptocurrencies are neither currency nor commodity; will bring bill soon: Anurag Thakur

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Cryptocurrency bill: Individuals, corporates to be fined for using digital money - Business Today

If cleared, Cryptocurrency Bill will impose ban on cryptocurrency deals – India Legal

TheCryptocurrencyand Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, ifcleared by the parliament, willimpose a blanket ban on the transaction ofcryptocurrencyby corporations and individuals.The bill is likely to be placed before the ongoing budget session of the Parliament.

In May 2018, the RBI via a circular directed allinstitutions regulated by itnottodeal in virtualcurrenciesandnottoprovide any facility to persons dealing with them.

The Supreme Court, however, in March 2020 overturned the RBIs circular permitting banks to handle crypto transactions from individuals, corporations or any other entity.

This bill comes as a bold move as there are no other governments around the world that have expressed the intention to ban virtual currencies all-together as a strategy to maintain the stability of the economy.

There is no doubt that the new form of digital currency has posed different problems for the existing financial system while illuminating the possibility ofprivatisationof monetary systems around the world. This according to some experts is a threat to the stability of the economy.

In Parliament, Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs AnuragThakur said,Regulatory bodies like Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) dont have a legal framework to directly regulatecryptocurrenciesas they are neither currencies nor securities or commodities issued by an identifiable user.

Thakurhasfurthersaidthat the existing laws are insufficient to deal with this matter and that an inter-ministerial panel has been formed by the government.

This committee has submitted a report, following which there will be a meeting of the empowered technology group. The committee of secretaries has also given its report, and now the bill is beingfinalizedbefore its sent to the Cabinet, saidThakur.

Crypto currencies exchange has seen a huge increase of over 310% in 2020 withbitcoinbeing the most popular (valued around INR 34,33,476.81)Crypto experts have given the good news to the crypto holders in India that even if the ban is implemented they will still have the option of international exchange to trade their holdings and there will be no loss of money. However, the experts have warned that the ban will significantly reduce the value ofcrypto currenciesas it will directly impact the demands. So, it could be a wise move for Indians to trade their crypto holdings as soon as possible to prepare for the eventuality of the ban coming into force and their being huge losses in terms of the value of their holdings.

An estimated 70,00,000Indians have crypto holdings worth over $1 Billion.

Kevin Lim, Assistant Professor of Economics,Universityof Toronto, believes the ban on crypto currencies would merely mean a ban on its usage in transactions in the real economy for exchange of goods and services and its usage for transferring value between persons.

This would mean it would be perfectly legal for individuals to hold and trade crypto as an investment transaction.

-India Legal Bureau

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If cleared, Cryptocurrency Bill will impose ban on cryptocurrency deals - India Legal

Cryptocurrency Market to be Driven by Increasing Adoption of e-financial Services, says Fortune Business Insights – Yahoo Finance

List of the Companies Profiled in the Market: Microsoft Corporation, BitFury Group Limited, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Ripple Labs Inc., Intel Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, Coinbase Ltd., AlphaPoint Corporation, Xilinx Inc., BitGo, and BTL Group Ltd

Pune, India, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global cryptocurrency market to gain from increasing Internet penetration worldwide. Recently Fortune Business Insights has announced a report titled, Cryptocurrency Market Size, Share and Global Trend by Component (Software, Services), Process (Transaction, Mining), Type (Bitcoin, Etherum, Litecoin, Ripple, Dashcoin), End User, and Geography Forecast till 2025. As per the report North America was leading the global cryptocurrency market in 2017. The growth witnessed is attributable to high adoption of digital currency in the region. The trend is unlikely to change and North America may lead the global cryptocurrency market through the forecast period.

Request To Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/cryptocurrency-market-100149

The rising demand for online financial services in the region is likely to contribute the growth of the market in North America. Besides this, North America holds 27% participants, 39% of wallets, 18% transactions, and 19% of cryptocurrency paymen companies. This is a primary reason behind the high demand witnessed in the region. It also facilitates the higher adoption of cryptocurrency. The cryptocurrency market in Asia pacific is anticipated to expand at a relatively higher CAGR. The growth witnessed is attributable to increasing number of cryptocurrency transactions taking place in the region. Japan is known for major investments in cryptocurrency. Rising investments cryptocurrency have resulted in the formation of new laws for legalization of cryptocurrency under financial service agency. This is a major step taken by Japan and is expected to boost the Asia Pacific cryptocurrency market.

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Europe is also amongst the leading regions in the global cryptocurrency market. The growth witnessed is attributable to high adoption of e-financial services in the region. Moreover, Germany issued a statement to consider cryptocurrency as private currency without any payable taxes, unless held for a year or more. Tax and other benefits from cryptocurrency is expected to fuel the demand for cryptocurrency and increase the number of owners globally.

Adoption of e-wallets to Drive Market

Government initiated awareness programs regarding cryptocurrency in developing and undeveloped nations are anticipated to enable growth in the global cryptocurrency market, said a lead analyst at Fortune Business Insights.

Some of the chief factors expected to drive the global cryptocurrency market during the forecast period 2018-2025 are rising adoption of e-wallets and consumer shift towards online platforms. Additionally, cashback, promotional, and other offers on e-currency is a factor anticipated to fuel the demand in the global market.

On the contrary, requirement of a good network connection and high cost data tariff plans are a few factors that may hamper the growth in the global cryptocurrency market.Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Cryptocurrency Market.

Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/cryptocurrency-market-100149

Increasing Focus on Acquisitions aimed at Leading the Global Market

Rapid technological developments taking place in e-currency and its services is a factor anticipated to propel the growth in the global cryptocurrency market. Additionally, mergers and acquisitions taking place in the global market are likely to propel the growth rate. For instance, Tron acquired a California based company, BitTorrent in 2018 for US$ 150 Mn. In October, 2018 a Belgian based investment firm NXMH acquired Bitstamp a crypto exchange for US$ 350 Mn. The competition among the global cryptocurrency market players is very high.

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List of the Companies Profiled in the Cryptocurrency Market:

Quick Buy - Cryptocurrency Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100149

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Have a Look at Related Research Insights:

Blockchain Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Component (Platform/Solution and Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS)), By Blockchain Type (Public, Private, and Consortium), By Deployment (Proof of Concept, Pilot, and Production), By Application (Digital Identity, Payments, Smart Contract, and Others), By Industry (BFSI, Energy & Utilities, Government, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Telecom), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

Blockchain in BFSI Market Size, Share And Global Trend By Type (Private Blockchain, Public Blockchain, Consortium Blockchain), By Application (Smart Contracts, Security, Trade Finance, Digital Currency, Record Keeping, GRC Management, Identity Management and Fraud Detection), And Geography Forecast Till 2021-2028

Blockchain in Retail Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Component (Platform, Services), By Provider (Application and solution provider, Middleware provider Infrastructure, Protocol Provider), By Organization Size (Large Enterprises, Small & Medium Enterprises) Others and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

Quantum Cryptography Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Component (Hardware & Services), By Services (Consulting, Support and Maintenance, Integration and Deployment), By Applications (Application Security, Network Security, Database Encryption), By Industry Verticals (Banking, Finance Services, Insurance, Consumer Good and Retail, Government & Defence, Healthcare and Life sciences, Telecom and IT) and Geography Forecast till 2021-2028

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Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.

At Fortune Business Insights, we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges.

Contact Us:Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd.308, Supreme Headquarters,Survey No. 36, Baner,Pune-Bangalore Highway,Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India.Phone:US: +1-424-253-0390UK: +44-2071-939123APAC: +91-744-740-1245Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.comFortune Business InsightsLinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs

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Cryptocurrency Market to be Driven by Increasing Adoption of e-financial Services, says Fortune Business Insights - Yahoo Finance

US government appeals UK ruling against Julian Assange’s extradition – The Guardian

The US government has appealed a UK judges ruling against the extradition of the WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange, according to a justice department official.

The appeal made clear that Joe Biden intends to have Assange stand trial on espionage- and hacking-related charges over WikiLeaks publication of hundreds of thousands of US military and diplomatic documents.

The justice department had until Friday to file an appeal against the ruling on 4 January that Assange suffered mental health problems that would raise the risk of suicide were he extradited to the US for trial.

Yes, we filed an appeal and we are continuing to pursue extradition, a justice department spokesperson, Marc Raimondi, told AFP.

Human rights groups had called on Biden to drop the case, which raises sensitive transparency and media freedom issues.

After WikiLeaks began publishing US secrets in 2009, the Obama administration in which Biden was vice-president declined to pursue the case. Assange said WikiLeaks was no different than other media outlets constitutionally protected to publish such materials.

Prosecuting him could mean also prosecuting powerful US news organisations for publishing similar material legal fights the government would probably lose.

But under Donald Trump, whose 2016 election was helped by WikiLeaks publishing Russian-stolen materials damaging to his opponent, Hillary Clinton, the justice department built a national security case against Assange.

In 2019, Assange, an Australian national, was charged under the US Espionage Act and computer crimes laws on multiple counts of conspiring with and directing others, from 2009 to 2019, to illegally obtain and release US secrets.

In doing so he aided and abetted hacking, illegally exposed confidential US sources to danger and used the information to damage the US, according to the charges. If convicted on all counts, the 49-year-old faces a prison sentence of up to 175 years.

John Demers, an assistant attorney general, said at the time: Julian Assange is no journalist.

Assange has remained under detention by UK authorities pending the appeal.

This week 24 organisations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International USA and Reporters Without Borders, urged Biden to drop the case.

Journalists at major news publications regularly speak with sources, ask for clarification or more documentation, and receive and publish documents the government considers secret, they said in an open letter. In our view, such a precedent in this case could effectively criminalise these common journalistic practices.

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US government appeals UK ruling against Julian Assange's extradition - The Guardian

DNB Says Authorities Have Ended Probe Into Money-Laundering Allegations – The Wall Street Journal

Norwegian bank DNB AS A said Friday that an investigation into its alleged involvement in handling payments from an Icelandic fishing company embroiled in a bribery probe has been dismissed.

The Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime, known as Okokrim, launched a probe in November 2019 following a WikiLeaks data dump and subsequent allegations made in Icelandic media.

DNB said in a statement Friday that it had been informed that the investigation hasnt generated any information that gives grounds for criminal prosecution of individuals and the public prosecutor isnt of the view that a corporate penalty is applicable in this case. The case has therefore been dismissed, DNB said.

WikiLeaks published over 30,000 documents it called the Fishrot Files, which suggested that Icelandic fishing group Samherji hf had for years paid millions of dollars in bribes to Namibian officials for fishing quotas in the countrys waters.

Icelandic media then claimed that Samherji used DNB to funnel over $70 million to a shell company in the Marshall Islands, made up partially of proceeds from its Namibian activities.

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DNB Says Authorities Have Ended Probe Into Money-Laundering Allegations - The Wall Street Journal

Developers: This is the one skill most likely to get you hired, according to IBM – ZDNet

In every career, some skills will land you a better job than others and developers are no exception. According to IBM, there is one ability that will make a real difference in the interview room: developers who can create the open-source technologies that underpin the cloud are by far the ones most likely to get a call-back.

New research published by the company shows that developers who can boast skills in open-source cloud technologies are likely to have higher wages and more professional opportunities. Instead of focusing on capabilities that are related to a specific vendor's cloud, therefore, IBM recommends that developers start building skills around the open-source software that is used to run those clouds.

SEE: Hiring Kit: Computer Hardware Engineer (TechRepublic Premium)

Big Blue commissioned a survey that was carried out last year by O'Reilly Media among over 3,400 developers, and technology managers across different industries and companies large and small. The findings were clear: over two-thirds of respondents reported preferring skills related to the cloud's underlying open-source technologies, while only 36% preferred skills related to a specific cloud platform.

New research published by the company shows that developers who can boast skills in open-source cloud technologies are likely to have higher wages and more professional opportunities.

In fact, knowledge of proprietary software seems to have taken a backseat compared to open-source technologies. More than nine in ten (94%) of respondents rated open-source software skills as equal or better to proprietary software; and the majority of developers surveyed (54%) reported that learning cloud-computing skills specific to a single cloud provider limits their professional growth.

The past two decades have seen cloud technologies and open-source software grow in tandem, and this is partly because the two technologies complement each other well. Businesses tend to steer away from the risk of vendor lock-in, and have, therefore, increasingly turned to multi-cloud or hybrid cloud services. In many cases, it makes a lot more sense to rely on open-source software that can run everywhere instead of on a single vendor's proprietary tools.

A previous study published by IBM found that a typical enterprise uses nearly eight clouds from multiple vendors, andanticipates that hybrid cloud adoptionwill grow by 47% in the next three years; and most companies will adopt an open cloud approach, based on open-source technologies, to create a flexible IT infrastructure.

In fact, as IBM noted, almost all cloud platforms are now leveraging open-source technologies in one way or the other. For example, Kubernetes, a Google-designed open-source container orchestration system, already underpins most cloud services, including IBM's own OpenShift platform, whichthe company developed alongside Red Hat.

Nearly all of the companies represented in IBM's latest survey reported using open-source software in some aspect of their operations; and 70% of respondents specifically said that they prefer cloud providers based on open source. "These findings all point to one thing," said IBMin a blog post summarizing the report. "Open source skills are in demand. Developing skills in open-source software that supports cloud technologies will do the most to advance your career.

"Whether you're a solo developer, work for a start-up, or a large enterprise, contributing to an open-source community will help you achieve your professional and business goals."

SEE:Developer: Rust programming language is being used for bigger projects

The conclusion falls in line with the findings of a recent study by the Linux Foundation, which found that hiring managersare 70% more likely to hire a professionalwith knowledge of open cloud technologies. At the same time, the same report showed that 93% of respondents were struggling to find sufficient talent with open-source skills.

Mastering open-source tools and programming libraries can add a lot of value to a developers' CV, therefore. Among the most important tools to add to developers' skillset, Linux featured prominently, with an overwhelming 95% of developers saying they considered the technology to be important to their career; but the understanding of containers and databases also ranked high.

IBM's latest research comes in the midst of increasing interest in open-source software, and a desire to tap the technology to create value. Not-for-profit think tank the OpenForum Europe recently found that the open-source ecosystemwas contributing up to 95 billion ($113.7 billion) per year to the EU's GDP; and that even a marginal increase of activity could boost the continent's wealth by hundreds of billions of euros.

The interest in open-source is unlikely to be waning anytime soon, therefore; for developers ready to catch that wave, the technology could open up some bright career prospects.

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Developers: This is the one skill most likely to get you hired, according to IBM - ZDNet

Ohio State offers Apple app development and coding certificate courses to the public – The Ohio State University News

The Ohio State University is making its popular Swift Coding and App Development certificate program available to the public. By expanding access to learners everywhere, participants gain cutting-edge skills for todays modern economy.

Additionally, the university is working with local businesses to provide workforce development opportunities for their employees through Ohios TechCred program.

In just over a year since it launched, more than 3,000 students, faculty, staff and alumni have enrolled in the certificate program, completing self-paced modules on their schedule and building valuable skills. This new, public set of courses expands the opportunity to anyone interested in learning how to code and build apps that are ready for the App Store.

Horizon Two Labs, a Columbus-based venture studio that helps launch, develop and operate technology startups, supported its employees enrollment in the courses. Chief Technology Officer Zak Dziczkowski said the courses help build the knowledge base of the Horizon Two team.

Horizon Two Labs focus is on bringing big new ideas to life. The ability to build and iterate quickly and efficiently on new ideas is a necessity at this early stage. We build a lot of consumer-facing products and the Ohio State Swift Coding coursework helps to build up our teams front-end skills, he said. Our team all strives to be polyglots. This requires constant learning and training on all aspects of the business.

The four-course series is designed to make it easy for participants to learn to code and develop apps with Swift Apples open-source programming language. They also walk away with a series of stackable certificates and real-world skills.

This coding and app development certificate program allows anyone, regardless of their background or prior knowledge with coding, the opportunity to learn a tangible, applicable digital skill that will not only provide them immediate skills to utilize and explore, but also a foundation for future learning, innovation and creativity in the digital world, said Cory Tressler, director of learning programs and Digital Flagship.

The self-paced curriculum enables participants to move through lessons on their schedule, speed through what comes easily and spend more time in areas they want to develop. Courses are fully online so lessons can be accessed and completed from anywhere. The courses are built around Apples coding curriculum and its development tool, Xcode, which is used by students and professional developers alike to create apps for Apple platforms. Xcode is available as a free download for the Mac.

Once participants have completed the courses, they can take their new skills and go on to complete Apples App Development with Swift certification as a complement to their Ohio State credential.

Ohios TechCred Program gives employers the chance to upskill current and future employees in todays tech-infused economy. Employers may submit applications to be reimbursed up to $2,000 when current or prospective employees complete the Ohio State courses.

Course details for the general public are available on the universitys ScarletCanvas platform.

Employers who would like to participate in the courses through Ohios TechCred program can find additional details on the Ohio State Digital Flagship website.

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Ohio State offers Apple app development and coding certificate courses to the public - The Ohio State University News

Master Python, JavaScript, HTML, and more with this $39 coding bundle – ZDNet

One of the hardest lessons we had to learn in 2020 was that we need to take every opportunity available to secure our careers and be the most competitive worker around. One skill that is only going up in demand due to the mass move to online work is coding. With the enormous demand for strong, intuitive web design, coding is more than just an interesting skill, it is a key to jumpstarting your career. If you want to use the challenges of the last 12 months as an opportunity for growth, then look to The Master Learn to Code 2021 Certification Bundle and learn to be an expert coder for $34.99.

The average income for a working adult in the United States is approximately $30,000. The average salary for computer programmers is approximately $60,000. Coding is not just a skill, it is a way to give your career real, positive growth. With The Master Learn to Code 2021 Certification Bundle, you will learn some of the most commonly used programming languages including C++, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, and C# among others. With this comprehensive overview and expertise in a variety of coding languages, you will be an asset to any programming team.

With this bundle, you will have a lifetime to access over 1,000 lessons, giving you the time to work and learn at the pace that best suits your personal and professional growth. Taught by expert programmers like Tony Staunton, a Python development and productivity consultant, these courses will guide you into your next steps as an expert programmer.

After absorbing all the lessons this bundle has to offer, watch your new career take off, or combine it with a masterful knowledge of business analyticsand become a force of your own. The Master Learn to Code 2021 Certification Bundle is on sale now for $34.99, a discount of 98% from its normal price of over $2,000.

Prices subject to change

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Master Python, JavaScript, HTML, and more with this $39 coding bundle - ZDNet