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Movie Box Office (North America)

September 7, 2025

1. The Conjuring: Last Rites - $83m
2. Hamilton - $10m
3. Weapons - $5.4m
4. Freakier Friday - $3.8m
5. Caught Stealing - $3.2m
6. The Roses - $2.8m
7. The Fantastic Four: First Steps - $2.8m
8. The Bad Guys 2 - $2.5m
9. Light of the World - $2.4m
10. Superman - $1m

Markets, Crypto and Culture

September 8, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets

ASX futures down 15 points or 0.2% to 8848

Wall St:
S&P 500 -0.3
Dow Jones -0.5%
Nasdaq flat

Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.5%
FTSE -0.1%
DAX -0.7%
CAC -0.3%

Bitcoin +1% to $US111,267
Gold +1.2% to $US3586.69 per ounce
Oil -2.5% to $US61.87 a barrel
Brent crude oil -2.2% to $US65.50 a barrel
Iron ore +0.3% to $US105.15 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.07%
Australia 4.34%
Germany 2.66%

News

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $111,076.29 USD +0.68%
Ethereum $4,302.77 USD +0.57%
Tether $0.9995 USD -0.16%
XRP $2.88 USD +2.25%
BNB $879.61 USD +2.02%
Solana $206.26 USD +2.88%
TRON $0.3308 USD +5.10%
Dogecoin $0.2286 USD +5.83%

BTC

Market Cautious

News Flashback 36 hrs ago

The crypto market continues to send alarming signals

Market Overview

The cryptocurrency market capitalisation has fallen by 3.4% over the past seven days to $3.74 trillion, its lowest level in three and a half weeks.

News Flashback

Leading altcoins are once again attempting to pull the crypto market upwards

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation has increased by almost 2% to $3.86 trillion over the past 24 hours due to the traction of major altcoins such as Ethereum (+4%), XRP (+3%), Solana (+7.8%), and Dogecoin (+4.9%).

Crypto enthusiasts were expecting a different altcoin season, but it is still worth noting their outperformance relative to the first cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin gained 1% to $111K during the day after spending most of Tuesday forming the basis for a rebound on dips below $110K. This is an important indicator of interest in buying on dips, which probably encouraged more risk-tolerant altcoin buyers. The former is also lagging the stock market, where the S&P500 is on the verge of historic highs, and the Nasdaq100 is 1.8% below its historic high.

News Background

The Bitcoin derivatives market points to pessimistic sentiment, as market participants are actively buying put options.

New investors are selling Bitcoin at a loss. In this way, the market is getting rid of ‘weak hands’ and preparing a support base for future growth, notes analyst Crazzyblockk.

GLJ Research head Gordon Johnson said that BTC is at risk of a 65% collapse due to a reduction in dollar liquidity in the US financial system for the first time since 2022. Only the Fed’s abandonment of quantitative tightening (QT) and a return to new quantitative easing (QE) can remedy the situation.

According to Bitfinex, the altcoin season will not start until new cryptocurrency ETFs are approved. It is only expected to begin at the end of the year. The SEC is currently reviewing more than 70 applications to launch altcoin-based ETFs.

Citi warns that paying interest on stablecoin deposits could cause a massive outflow of deposits from the banking system. A similar situation was observed during the money market fund boom in the United States in the 1980s. (FxPro)

News

The reversal of the trend in crypto has been confirmed

Market Overview

The crypto market has been on a downward trend for the last 12 days, falling to $3.76 trillion on Tuesday morning and later stabilising at $3.79 trillion.

Capitalisation fell below the 50-day moving average and the area of recent lows, giving a technical signal of a change in the trend from growth to decline. The declines in this area over the past three months have been close to the bottom of local corrections.

The sentiment index remains fairly stable in neutral territory (48 versus 47 the day before). Declines in this area over the last three months have been close to the bottom of local corrections.

Bitcoin is trading near $110K, dropping to a low of $108.5K. Local attempts to stabilise in BTC are being replaced by even greater sell-offs.

News

Why is EURUSD falling even though the Fed has softened its rhetoric?

EURUSD has fallen back below 1.1600, quickly losing Friday's momentum and forming its third lower local peak since the beginning of July. Trade flows and expectations of weaker growth due to tariffs could bring the pair back to the lows of the end of last year or push it below parity.

This dynamic contrasts with the news agenda, according to which the differential between the ECB and Fed key rates will soon begin to shift in favour of the former, as the ECB is close to completing its cycle of rate cuts and the Fed is ready to resume its easing.

But there is a perfectly reasonable explanation: trade flows. The EURUSD gained momentum sharply at the beginning of the year as US companies and consumers rushed to buy before tariffs were raised. Now we are at the point of the reverse process, when imports will be below the norm of recent years. Moreover, long-term fundamental factors are coming into play, such as suppressing production in Europe and supporting it in the US. The same shift from the dollar to the euro occurred in 2017, when the first trade conflicts began, and continued until March 2018, when tariffs were introduced.

The eurozone can counter this trend through further rate cuts or government financial incentives. Due to chronic budget deficits, the former is more likely. The Fed's rate is now 2.2 percentage points higher than the ECB's, above previous turning points of 2.7 points in 1999, 2.5 in 2006 and 2.4 in 2019.

This approach is supported by rising inflation in the US versus deteriorating activity in Europe. Fundamental factors alone could push EURUSD to last December's lows or even below parity, which we last saw in September 2022.

However, traders in the market are dealing with a reality in which Washington is increasing pressure on the Fed, calling for a sharper rate cut. In extreme cases, this threatens to repeat the 33% rally in EURUSD between November 2005 and March 2008. In this case, the single currency could fall to the 1.40 level, which has not been reached for the last 11 years.

Nevertheless, we consider political interference in monetary policy a risk. The main scenario is based on a balance of fundamental forces, which are currently bearish for EURUSD. (FxPro)

News Flashback

S&P500’s buy-the-dip sentiment helped Bitcoin

The sell-off of Bitcoin following Congress's passage of a law regulating the circulation of stablecoins and the retreat of US stock indices from record highs allowed Bitcoin bears to push prices below the lower boundary of the $116k—$120k consolidation range. When it looked like a severe correction was coming, US stocks stepped in again. Investors bought up the S&P 500 dip, and Bitcoin immediately bounced back.

Changes in global risk appetite continue to be the main driver of cryptocurrency prices. July saw a series of record highs for the S&P 500, making it a successful month for Bitcoin. Meanwhile, Bitcoin-focused ETFs attracted $6 billion, the third-best result in the history of specialised exchange-traded funds. Ether ETFs were not far behind, with a record inflow of $5.4 billion.

The situation changed dramatically at the turn of July and August. Interest in digital assets began to cool. Coinbase's Bitcoin premium fell into the red for the first time since May, indicating a decline in demand from US investors. Open interest in Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts fell by 13% and 21%, respectively, compared to Bitcoin's record high. According to Coinglass, on the last day of July, $800 million in long positions across all cryptocurrencies were liquidated.

Speculators doubt the rally's continuation, while crypto treasuries are buying Bitcoin under any conditions. On pullbacks or at market prices, ‘Strategy’ acquired more than 21,000 coins worth $2.46 billion during the week of July 28th to August 3rd. This is the third-largest cryptocurrency purchase by Michael Saylor's company since records began. The average price is the second highest in history. As a result, Strategy's reserves have grown to more than $71 billion.

The future dynamics of Bitcoin will depend on the fate of US stock indices and capital flows into ETFs. If the S&P 500's successes are temporary, Bitcoin will be forced to undergo a deep correction. If its quotes remain below the middle of the previous consolidation range of $116k—$120k, the bears are in control. (FxPro)

News Flashback

Three blows to oil in three days

Oil has been under triple pressure since the end of last week, losing more than 7% per barrel of WTI since 31 July, reaching the important psychological level of $65.

The latest wave of oil sell-offs began with the realisation that US trade tariffs from August will be higher than initially expected, as higher tariffs are associated with an economic slowdown and weaker demand for energy. Fears of an economic slowdown intensified after the release of unexpectedly weak US employment data on Friday. Over the weekend, concerns were heightened by OPEC+'s increase in production quotas, which was reflected in the markets on Monday.

After its latest meeting, OPEC+ announced that it would increase production quotas for eight countries by 547,000 barrels per day starting in September.

Considering the quota increases since April, the entire voluntarily reduced volume of 2.2 million barrels per day will return to the market. This is a rather bold decision, given the growing fear that the global economy is slowing down.

Some link such steps by the cartel to the risks of supply disruptions due to potential sanctions from the US and the EU. In our opinion, it is also worth considering the cartel's intention to regain its market share from the US in this way.

Oil producers in the US are very sensitive to price, sharply cutting investment when prices fall. At the beginning of April, there were 489 oil rigs in operation, but according to data published on Friday, this number has fallen to 410. In the long term, a gradual increase in production efficiency should be considered, but at intervals of six months, it is unlikely that there will be any sharp progress. Therefore, we can expect some US production reduction and a gradual recovery in the share of traditional oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and the UAE.

The price of WTI crude oil, which rose to close to $70 at its peak last week, has returned to the lower end of the range since early June at $65. Closing the day below 66 will mark a failure below the 200- and 50-day moving averages, increasing the potential for further declines.

If OPEC+ really plans to increase its share of the oil market, it may not oppose further price declines. The intensification of negative trends in the global and US economies could bring the price back to this year's lows of $55 by the end of September and to the lower end of the downward corridor of $50 by the end of the year. However, further trends will depend heavily on the reaction of monetary authorities and oil producers. (FxPro)

News Flashback

July 29

Ethereum continues attempt to climb above $4,000

Market Picture

The crypto market lost 1%, falling back to a capitalisation of $3.9 trillion. This was a natural pullback against the backdrop of the dollar's impressive strengthening the day before. However, on Tuesday, the bulls were back in charge, bringing the market back to a level above Monday's opening but not yet reaching its peak.

Bitcoin is trading near $118.7K, unable to break through the resistance at $120K. This indecision to break out of the range is likely to continue until the market sees the Fed's key rate decision on Wednesday evening.

Ethereum rose to $3,930 at the end of the day, fell back to $3,700 on Monday, where it found interest from new buyers and rose to $3,830 at the time of writing. The last seven days have seen a fairly sharp upward trend, and if this trend continues, the price will rise above 4,000 by the end of this week.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment inflows into crypto funds last week amounted to $1.908 billion. Investments in Ethereum increased by $1.595 billion, Solana by a significant $312 million, XRP by $190 million, and Sui by $8 million. Investments in Bitcoin decreased by $175 million.

Japan's Metaplanet announced the acquisition of 780 BTC ($92.5 million) at an average price of $118,600. The company's total reserves now amount to 17,132 BTC, worth over $2 billion.

According to Blockware, Bitcoin will no longer show ‘parabolic’ rallies or ‘devastating’ bear cycles, as institutional investors have changed the market dynamics and reduced volatility.

According to Strategic ETH Reserve, the volume of the second cryptocurrency on the balance sheets of public companies has reached 2.32 million ETH (~$9.11 billion) — 1.92% of the total Ethereum supply. Bitmine Immersion Tech, associated with Fundstrat founder Tom Lee, pursues the most aggressive strategy. The company has ~566,800 ETH ($2.23 billion) on its balance sheet.

BNB, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by capitalisation, updated its historical high above $860 on Monday. Against this background, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's estimated fortune exceeded $76 billion. According to Forbes, Zhao owns 64% of the BNB supply — about 89.1 million tokens. (FxPro)

News

Pop Culture News

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream Match Series

Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets Stipulation
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr H
Cesaro vs Rollins

News

Cryptocurrency Movies

Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014) Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt finance.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016) Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots, and impact on global financial systems through interviews with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)

Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems. A comprehensive look at real-world applications.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015) Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized financial systems. Features interviews with crypto experts.

Deep Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in dark web transactions.

Bitconned (2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing how three individuals defrauded investors during the 2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated markets.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019) A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal but praise its entertainment value.

Silk Road (2021) A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin. It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and drama.

Dope (2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association with illicit activities.

Bonus Mentions

Life on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early adoption challenges.

Bitcoin Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.

Notes

Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology, and real-world implications. They’re great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feature films often dramatize crypto’s association with crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.

For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many of these are available.

News

Wall Street (Movie)

Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth and power. The film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal, with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father (Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.

Key Details:

Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin Sheen (Carl Fox). Runtime: 2h 6m. Genre: Drama/Crime. Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).

Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Notable Aspects:

Gekko’s “Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting 1980s excess.

Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

A sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued the story.

Where to Watch (as of 2025):

Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current availability). Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.

News

Gold, copper, & silver: How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

News

Best Quotes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Media Man

"Everything is a gamble" Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

"Bullish is a mindset"

Movie Box Office (North America)

August 31, 2025

1. Weapons - $10.2m
2. Jaws - $8.1m
3. Caught Stealing - $7.8m
4. Freakier Friday - $6.5m
5. The Roses - $6.4m
6. The Fantastic Four: First Steps - $4.8m
7. The Bad Guys 2 - $4.7m
8 Superman - $2.6m
9. Nobody 2 - $1.83m
10. The Naked Gun - $1.8m

Grok X

Grok: News (Media Man Int)

X's - Elon's Platform Watercooler News

Sepember 2025

Newsfeed

Superman Crashes Peacemaker Set in Crossover Tease

David Corenswet, portraying Superman in the upcoming DC Universe film, surprised fans by visiting the set of "Peacemaker" Season 2 in Georgia, where he posed for a photo with John Cena in full costume. The image, shared on Instagram, has fueled speculation of a Superman cameo, aligning with James Gunn's vision for interconnected DC storytelling. Production insiders note the visit occurred during filming, potentially bridging the 2025 Superman movie and the 2026 Peacemaker series, amid fan excitement on social media. (Grok)

News

IShowSpeed Shocked by Secret Half-Sister Reunion

YouTube star Darren Watkins Jr., known as IShowSpeed, was stunned during a live-streamed family reunion at his father's house on September 7, 2025, when he met his unknown half-sister for the first time. The 20-year-old gamer, famous for his energetic content, reacted with shock and emotion upon discovering their striking resemblance, leading to a viral moment online as he questioned his father's secrecy. This revelation adds a personal layer to his public life, drawing mixed reactions from fans about family privacy and streaming ethics. (Grok)

News

AJ Lee Shocks WWE with Fiery Chicago Comeback

AJ Lee made a triumphant return to WWE after a decade-long absence, appearing on the September 5, 2025, episode of SmackDown in Chicago. Joining her husband, CM Punk, she confronted World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Women's Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch amid escalating rivalries. Lee's comeback, backed by a multi-year contract, electrified fans and signals WWE's strategy to blend nostalgia with fresh storylines, drawing massive social media buzz and wrestler support. (Grok)

News

Fan Stunt Derails Bengals-Browns Season Opener

In the 2025 NFL season opener at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, the Cincinnati Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, surged ahead early with a touchdown run by Chase Brown. The game intensified as the Browns, quarterbacked by Joe Flacco, mounted a comeback, but chaos erupted in the second quarter when a fan threw a green dildo onto the field, halting play and drawing massive online buzz. With the Bengals clinging to a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter, the incident amplified the rivalry's drama amid key defensive battles led by Myles Garrett. (Grok)

News

Legends Anthony, Howard, and Moore Enter Hall of Fame in Triumphant Ceremony

On September 6, 2025, in Springfield, Massachusetts, basketball legends Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Maya Moore led the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 induction. The ceremony featured emotional speeches, tributes to family and rivals, and highlights like Moore's recreation of Michael Jordan's iconic ring photo with her twelve championships. Joined by Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, and the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, the event celebrated their iconic careers, resilience, and lasting impact on the sport, sparking widespread fan admiration online. (Grok)

News

Topuria Vows to Knock Out Crawford in Boxing Clash

UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria has ignited controversy by claiming he would knock out undefeated boxing superstar Terence Crawford in a boxing ring, dismissing any MMA matchup. The bold assertion, posted on X, stems from Crawford's recent praise of Cody Garbrandt as the top UFC boxer, sparking heated fan debates online. As Crawford prepares for his September 13, 2025, fight against Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, Topuria's challenge underscores the appeal of crossover bouts, with supporters praising his ambition while critics call it overreach. (Grok)

News

McIlroy's Eagle Powers Irish Open Playoff Triumph

Rory McIlroy triumphed at the 2025 Amgen Irish Open on September 7 at The K Club in Ireland, defeating Joakim Lagergren in a dramatic playoff after sinking a 30-foot eagle on the 72nd hole. The Northern Irish star, who trailed earlier in the final round, mounted a stunning comeback to claim his second Irish Open title and first win since the Masters, highlighting his dominance and inspiring fans amid widespread social media celebrations. (Grok)

News

Sydney Sweeney's Knockout Role in TIFF Biopic "Christy"

Sydney Sweeney delivered a powerful performance as Christy Martin in the boxing biopic "Christy," directed by David Michôd, at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Premiering on September 5, the film earned Sweeney's portrayal widespread praise and Oscar buzz, highlighted by a standing ovation, despite mixed reviews and a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score. Critics lauded her transformative role and emotional depth, while social media reactions showed divided opinions on the film's narrative. (Grok)

Media Man

X wins Media Man 'Platform Of The Month' award!

August 2025

I can provide a snapshot of trending news stories from August 24, 2025, based on available information, or I can focus on current trends as of today, August 25, 2025. Here’s a summary of key stories from August 24, 2025, to start:India's Space Program: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted its first Integrated Air Drop Test for the Gaganyaan mission, a major step toward India’s first human spaceflight program.Typhoon Kajiki: Strong winds and heavy rain hit southern China’s Hainan island and parts of Guangdong province as Typhoon Kajiki moved toward Vietnam, prompting the evacuation of about 20,000 people.Global Conflicts: Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, killed at least six people and injured 86, targeting Houthi infrastructure. In Gaza, the UN reported a “man-made” famine in Gaza City, with 64 Palestinians killed in ongoing military operations.US Politics: Former President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian imports to 50% due to India’s purchases of Russian oil, escalating trade tensions.Entertainment: K-pop group Stray Kids’ new album KARMA and its track “Ceremony” dominated Spotify with over 20 million streams for two consecutive days, setting a record for K-pop boy groups in 2025.

Wrestling News

#WeWantKross (Karrion Kross aka Killer Kross)

#WWEClashInParis (WWE Clash In Paris)

Trending Entertainment News

Augus 2025

Movies

Dominating the Scene:Weapons continues to lead the box office, blending horror and humor, outpacing sequels like Nobody 2 and Freakier Friday.

Its unique genre mix is a hit with audiences craving fresh thrills.August is packed with diverse releases

Dogs on The Sendero offers emotional depth,

Ice Road: Vengeance delivers high-octane action, and The Conjuring: Last Rites brings supernatural scares.

Other notable films include Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Honey Don’t!, a quirky addition to Ethan Coen’s lesbian B-movie trilogy.

Highest 2 Lowest, Spike Lee’s neo-noir thriller with Denzel Washington, is generating buzz for its fresh take on a classic Kurosawa story

.Music and Festivals:

The Solar Wave Music Festival is a hot topic, featuring collaborations between human and AI-generated musicians, with fans sharing drone footage and performances across social platforms like X and Instagram

Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, has claimed the top trending spots on X in the US, sparking massive online chatter.

Summer Sonic Bangkok 2025 was a standout, with performances by Alicia Keys, BABYMETAL, and Chanyeol of EXO. A surprise collaboration between Keys and Thai rapper MILLI stole the show.

TV and Streaming:

New series like Chief of War (Apple TV+), starring Jason Momoa, and the King of the Hill reboot on Hulu are generating excitement. The latter sees the Hill family navigating modern trends like Zoom and craft beer.The Rainmaker, a legal drama based on John Grisham’s novel, marks USA Network’s return to scripted TV, aiming to compete with streaming giants.

Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2 and HBO Max’s Peacemaker Season 2 are among the most anticipated returns.

Celebrity and Pop Culture:

Kylie Jenner’s collaboration with Van Leeuwen

Ice Cream for a Peach Mango Sorbet tied to her Kylie Cosmetics launch created a sensory-driven event, blending beauty and taste.Cara Delevingne’s prosecco brand,

Della Vite, expanded into canned spritzes, merging luxury with convenience.

The passing of iconic actor Terence Stamp, known for roles like General Zod in Superman, has prompted widespread tributes for his legendary career.

Social media trends like the #NoScreenSundays challenge, encouraging a day offline, and astronaut Amara Chen’s viral spacewalk selfie are sparking global conversations.

Viral Moments and Scandals:

A reality-TV reunion show feud exploded online, with clips of heated arguments driving record streaming numbers.

A controversial charity gala sparked backlash after leaked comments from a host, fueling debates about Hollywood’s social responsibility.

The GeminiFourth performance at their Shine on Stage event captivated fans with their chemistry, trending heavily with their new song One in a Hundred.

Broader Trends:

AI-driven music and interactive storytelling are shaping entertainment, with virtual concerts and immersive experiences gaining traction.

Sustainable fashion, like eco-friendly red-carpet looks, and futuristic metallics are defining celebrity style.

For more details, check sources like Variety, Billboard, or follow trending hashtags on X.

August 2025

Climate Change Summit:

A global climate event recently brought together policymakers and activists to discuss sustainable solutions, with a focus on carbon capture systems to reduce emissions. Climate change remains a major topic due to ongoing extreme weather patterns worldwide.

Astronaut’s Viral Selfie:

Astronaut Amara Chen’s selfie from a maintenance mission on the International Space Station, showing a stunning view of Earth, has become a social media sensation, particularly among students interested in space and science.AI Advancements:

Scientists have developed a universal AI detector with 98% accuracy for identifying deepfake videos, a significant step in combating misinformation.

Meanwhile, AI tools are reshaping industries, from retail automation to education, with initiatives like the UK’s Debenhams AI Skills Academy and Mississippi’s AI education program for schools.

U.S. Political Developments: President Donald Trump’s actions dominate headlines, including a federal appeals court ruling that many of his tariffs are illegal, though enforcement is delayed until October.

Trump also ordered the deployment of two U.S. Navy nuclear submarines near Russia in response to tensions over Ukraine.

Extreme Weather in Wisconsin: Heavy storms caused severe flooding in the Milwaukee area, leading to the cancellation of the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair.

Entertainment and Sports:

The NFL preseason has begun, with a notable 70-yard field goal by Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little.

The English Premier League’s Community Shield match saw Crystal Palace upset Liverpool.

The release date for Grand Theft Auto VI was announced for May 26, 2026.

International Conflicts: Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and Yemen have resulted in significant casualties, including attacks on humanitarian aid sites.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, clashes between M23 rebels and Wazalendo militia continue

.Social Media Trends:

TikTok trends for August include the “Sync Slap Squad” dance, the “Best of Wives and Best of Women” Hamilton-inspired comedy, and emotional storytelling with captions like “The summer I turned X,” set to nostalgic music.

Markets, Crypto and Culture

August 29, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets

ASX futures down 28 points/0.3% to 8930

Australian dollar +0.4% to 65.32 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.3%
Dow Jones +0.2%
Nasdaq +0.5%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.1%
FTSE -0.4%
DAX flat
CAC +0.2%
IBEX +0.3

Bitcoin -0.4% to $US111,910

Gold +0.6% to $US3417.16 per ounce
Oil +0.2% to $US64.29 a barrel
Brent crude oil +0.4% to $US68.33 a barrel
Iron ore +2% to $US104.50 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.20%
Australia 4.28%
Germany 2.69%

News

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $112,305.87 USD +0.68%
Ethereum $4,500.66 USD -0.60%
Tether $1.00 USD -0.07%
XRP $2.97 USD -0.41%
BNB $873.69 USD +1.88%
Dogecoin $0.2244 USD +1.84%

News

Leading altcoins are once again attempting to pull the crypto market upwards

Market Overview

The crypto market capitalisation has increased by almost 2% to $3.86 trillion over the past 24 hours due to the traction of major altcoins such as Ethereum (+4%), XRP (+3%), Solana (+7.8%), and Dogecoin (+4.9%).

Crypto enthusiasts were expecting a different altcoin season, but it is still worth noting their outperformance relative to the first cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin gained 1% to $111K during the day after spending most of Tuesday forming the basis for a rebound on dips below $110K. This is an important indicator of interest in buying on dips, which probably encouraged more risk-tolerant altcoin buyers. The former is also lagging the stock market, where the S&P500 is on the verge of historic highs, and the Nasdaq100 is 1.8% below its historic high.

News Background

The Bitcoin derivatives market points to pessimistic sentiment, as market participants are actively buying put options.

New investors are selling Bitcoin at a loss. In this way, the market is getting rid of ‘weak hands’ and preparing a support base for future growth, notes analyst Crazzyblockk.

GLJ Research head Gordon Johnson said that BTC is at risk of a 65% collapse due to a reduction in dollar liquidity in the US financial system for the first time since 2022. Only the Fed’s abandonment of quantitative tightening (QT) and a return to new quantitative easing (QE) can remedy the situation.

According to Bitfinex, the altcoin season will not start until new cryptocurrency ETFs are approved. It is only expected to begin at the end of the year. The SEC is currently reviewing more than 70 applications to launch altcoin-based ETFs.

Citi warns that paying interest on stablecoin deposits could cause a massive outflow of deposits from the banking system. A similar situation was observed during the money market fund boom in the United States in the 1980s. (FxPro)

News

The reversal of the trend in crypto has been confirmed

Market Overview

The crypto market has been on a downward trend for the last 12 days, falling to $3.76 trillion on Tuesday morning and later stabilising at $3.79 trillion.

Capitalisation fell below the 50-day moving average and the area of recent lows, giving a technical signal of a change in the trend from growth to decline. The declines in this area over the past three months have been close to the bottom of local corrections.

The sentiment index remains fairly stable in neutral territory (48 versus 47 the day before). Declines in this area over the last three months have been close to the bottom of local corrections.

Bitcoin is trading near $110K, dropping to a low of $108.5K. Local attempts to stabilise in BTC are being replaced by even greater sell-offs.

News

Why is EURUSD falling even though the Fed has softened its rhetoric?

EURUSD has fallen back below 1.1600, quickly losing Friday's momentum and forming its third lower local peak since the beginning of July. Trade flows and expectations of weaker growth due to tariffs could bring the pair back to the lows of the end of last year or push it below parity.

This dynamic contrasts with the news agenda, according to which the differential between the ECB and Fed key rates will soon begin to shift in favour of the former, as the ECB is close to completing its cycle of rate cuts and the Fed is ready to resume its easing.

But there is a perfectly reasonable explanation: trade flows. The EURUSD gained momentum sharply at the beginning of the year as US companies and consumers rushed to buy before tariffs were raised. Now we are at the point of the reverse process, when imports will be below the norm of recent years. Moreover, long-term fundamental factors are coming into play, such as suppressing production in Europe and supporting it in the US. The same shift from the dollar to the euro occurred in 2017, when the first trade conflicts began, and continued until March 2018, when tariffs were introduced.

The eurozone can counter this trend through further rate cuts or government financial incentives. Due to chronic budget deficits, the former is more likely. The Fed's rate is now 2.2 percentage points higher than the ECB's, above previous turning points of 2.7 points in 1999, 2.5 in 2006 and 2.4 in 2019.

This approach is supported by rising inflation in the US versus deteriorating activity in Europe. Fundamental factors alone could push EURUSD to last December's lows or even below parity, which we last saw in September 2022.

However, traders in the market are dealing with a reality in which Washington is increasing pressure on the Fed, calling for a sharper rate cut. In extreme cases, this threatens to repeat the 33% rally in EURUSD between November 2005 and March 2008. In this case, the single currency could fall to the 1.40 level, which has not been reached for the last 11 years.

Nevertheless, we consider political interference in monetary policy a risk. The main scenario is based on a balance of fundamental forces, which are currently bearish for EURUSD. (FxPro)

News Flashback

S&P500’s buy-the-dip sentiment helped Bitcoin

The sell-off of Bitcoin following Congress's passage of a law regulating the circulation of stablecoins and the retreat of US stock indices from record highs allowed Bitcoin bears to push prices below the lower boundary of the $116k—$120k consolidation range. When it looked like a severe correction was coming, US stocks stepped in again. Investors bought up the S&P 500 dip, and Bitcoin immediately bounced back.

Changes in global risk appetite continue to be the main driver of cryptocurrency prices. July saw a series of record highs for the S&P 500, making it a successful month for Bitcoin. Meanwhile, Bitcoin-focused ETFs attracted $6 billion, the third-best result in the history of specialised exchange-traded funds. Ether ETFs were not far behind, with a record inflow of $5.4 billion.

The situation changed dramatically at the turn of July and August. Interest in digital assets began to cool. Coinbase's Bitcoin premium fell into the red for the first time since May, indicating a decline in demand from US investors. Open interest in Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts fell by 13% and 21%, respectively, compared to Bitcoin's record high. According to Coinglass, on the last day of July, $800 million in long positions across all cryptocurrencies were liquidated.

Speculators doubt the rally's continuation, while crypto treasuries are buying Bitcoin under any conditions. On pullbacks or at market prices, ‘Strategy’ acquired more than 21,000 coins worth $2.46 billion during the week of July 28th to August 3rd. This is the third-largest cryptocurrency purchase by Michael Saylor's company since records began. The average price is the second highest in history. As a result, Strategy's reserves have grown to more than $71 billion.

The future dynamics of Bitcoin will depend on the fate of US stock indices and capital flows into ETFs. If the S&P 500's successes are temporary, Bitcoin will be forced to undergo a deep correction. If its quotes remain below the middle of the previous consolidation range of $116k—$120k, the bears are in control. (FxPro)

News Flashback

Three blows to oil in three days

Oil has been under triple pressure since the end of last week, losing more than 7% per barrel of WTI since 31 July, reaching the important psychological level of $65.

The latest wave of oil sell-offs began with the realisation that US trade tariffs from August will be higher than initially expected, as higher tariffs are associated with an economic slowdown and weaker demand for energy. Fears of an economic slowdown intensified after the release of unexpectedly weak US employment data on Friday. Over the weekend, concerns were heightened by OPEC+'s increase in production quotas, which was reflected in the markets on Monday.

After its latest meeting, OPEC+ announced that it would increase production quotas for eight countries by 547,000 barrels per day starting in September.

Considering the quota increases since April, the entire voluntarily reduced volume of 2.2 million barrels per day will return to the market. This is a rather bold decision, given the growing fear that the global economy is slowing down.

Some link such steps by the cartel to the risks of supply disruptions due to potential sanctions from the US and the EU. In our opinion, it is also worth considering the cartel's intention to regain its market share from the US in this way.

Oil producers in the US are very sensitive to price, sharply cutting investment when prices fall. At the beginning of April, there were 489 oil rigs in operation, but according to data published on Friday, this number has fallen to 410. In the long term, a gradual increase in production efficiency should be considered, but at intervals of six months, it is unlikely that there will be any sharp progress. Therefore, we can expect some US production reduction and a gradual recovery in the share of traditional oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and the UAE.

The price of WTI crude oil, which rose to close to $70 at its peak last week, has returned to the lower end of the range since early June at $65. Closing the day below 66 will mark a failure below the 200- and 50-day moving averages, increasing the potential for further declines.

If OPEC+ really plans to increase its share of the oil market, it may not oppose further price declines. The intensification of negative trends in the global and US economies could bring the price back to this year's lows of $55 by the end of September and to the lower end of the downward corridor of $50 by the end of the year. However, further trends will depend heavily on the reaction of monetary authorities and oil producers. (FxPro)

News Flashback

July 29

Ethereum continues attempt to climb above $4,000

Market Picture

The crypto market lost 1%, falling back to a capitalisation of $3.9 trillion. This was a natural pullback against the backdrop of the dollar's impressive strengthening the day before. However, on Tuesday, the bulls were back in charge, bringing the market back to a level above Monday's opening but not yet reaching its peak.

Bitcoin is trading near $118.7K, unable to break through the resistance at $120K. This indecision to break out of the range is likely to continue until the market sees the Fed's key rate decision on Wednesday evening.

Ethereum rose to $3,930 at the end of the day, fell back to $3,700 on Monday, where it found interest from new buyers and rose to $3,830 at the time of writing. The last seven days have seen a fairly sharp upward trend, and if this trend continues, the price will rise above 4,000 by the end of this week.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment inflows into crypto funds last week amounted to $1.908 billion. Investments in Ethereum increased by $1.595 billion, Solana by a significant $312 million, XRP by $190 million, and Sui by $8 million. Investments in Bitcoin decreased by $175 million.

Japan's Metaplanet announced the acquisition of 780 BTC ($92.5 million) at an average price of $118,600. The company's total reserves now amount to 17,132 BTC, worth over $2 billion.

According to Blockware, Bitcoin will no longer show ‘parabolic’ rallies or ‘devastating’ bear cycles, as institutional investors have changed the market dynamics and reduced volatility.

According to Strategic ETH Reserve, the volume of the second cryptocurrency on the balance sheets of public companies has reached 2.32 million ETH (~$9.11 billion) — 1.92% of the total Ethereum supply. Bitmine Immersion Tech, associated with Fundstrat founder Tom Lee, pursues the most aggressive strategy. The company has ~566,800 ETH ($2.23 billion) on its balance sheet.

BNB, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by capitalisation, updated its historical high above $860 on Monday. Against this background, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's estimated fortune exceeded $76 billion. According to Forbes, Zhao owns 64% of the BNB supply — about 89.1 million tokens. (FxPro)

News

Pop Culture News

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream Match Series

Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets Stipulation
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr H

News

Cryptocurrency Movies

Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014) Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt finance.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016) Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots, and impact on global financial systems through interviews with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)

Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems. A comprehensive look at real-world applications.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015) Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized financial systems. Features interviews with crypto experts.

Deep Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in dark web transactions.

Bitconned (2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing how three individuals defrauded investors during the 2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated markets.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019) A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal but praise its entertainment value.

Silk Road (2021) A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin. It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and drama.

Dope (2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association with illicit activities.

Bonus Mentions

Life on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early adoption challenges.

Bitcoin Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.

Notes

Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology, and real-world implications. They’re great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feature films often dramatize crypto’s association with crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.

For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many of these are available.

News

Wall Street (Movie)

Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth and power. The film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal, with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father (Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.

Key Details:

Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin Sheen (Carl Fox). Runtime: 2h 6m. Genre: Drama/Crime. Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).

Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Notable Aspects:

Gekko’s “Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting 1980s excess.

Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

A sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued the story.

Where to Watch (as of 2025):

Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current availability). Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.

News

Gold, copper, & silver: How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

News

Best Quotes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Media Man

"Everything is a gamble" Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

"Bullish is a mindset"

Trending News: Australia

August 22, 2025

A raft of trending Australian and global news events resulted in 21.16 million people, or 95.6 per cent of online Australians aged 14 and over, using a news website or app during July, which was slightly up on the June data.

Australians spent nearly five hours (4.9 hours) consuming news content online during July, which was slightly down on the same time last year, when people were spending around 5.2 hours consuming news online.

A raft of trending Australian and global news events resulted in 21.16 million people, or 95.6 per cent of online Australians aged 14 and over, using a news website or app during July, which was slightly up on the June data.

Australians spent nearly five hours (4.9 hours) consuming news content online during July, which was slightly down on the same time last year, when people were spending around 5.2 hours consuming news online.

ADVERTISING

Trending Australian news stories included the Melbourne childcare worker abuse scandal, the guilty verdict in the Erin Patterson “mushroom murder” trial and the subsequent stories about her life in prison, the search and successful rescue of missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga, the death of Australian actor Julian McMahon, the “bomb cyclone” event that lashed the NSW coast, and the deciding match of the 2025 NRL State of Origin series.

In global news, the “CEO kiss cam” scandal, where a tech company CEO and chief HR officer were allegedly caught in an affair on a “kiss cam” during a Coldplay concert in Boston dominated headlines, along with the Russian earthquake and Pacific tsunami warning, the deaths of Liverpool footballer Dioga Jota and Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, the Air India crash investigation, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial verdict.

Rise In Home & Property
Last month, 13.9 million, or 63 per cent, of Australians aged over 14 used a home and property website or app, spending an average of 44 minutes a month, researching both private and commercial property. The data reveals home and property content was most popular with women—who were 10 per cent more likely to consume home and property content, and particularly women aged over 55, who were 22 per cent more likely than men of the same age group to visit these websites and apps.

Energy Suppliers, Events & Health
Categories with the highest month-on-month growth in July were energy suppliers/utilities (+4.16 per cent), events and attractions (+2.06 per cent), and health (+1.8 per cent), with most other categories remaining stable or showing a modest decline, compared to the peak audiences recorded in June.

Categories with the largest year-on-year increases in online audiences were automotive (+5.3 per cent), energy suppliers/utilities (+4.2 per cent), health, and entertainment (both +3.4 per cent).

Ipsos iris, Australia’s digital audience measurement currency endorsed by IAB Australia, showed that 22.127 million Australians used the internet in July. Australians aged 14+ spent an average of 4.8 hours per day online in July, which was up 4.3 per cent compared to the same time last year.

The most consumed website and app categories in July were social networking (22 million), search (21.99 million), technology (21.9 million), and retail and commerce, and entertainment (both 21.7 million).

Ipsos iris, which officially launched in March 2023, provides accurate data about the 22.1 million Australians aged 14+ who access a wide variety of digital content and services across smartphone, PC/laptop and tablet devices.

(B&T)

Trending Now

August 25, 2025

Global News & Politics:

Discussions around U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a meeting between Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin are prominent, with focus on potential peace talks for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s comments on giving Putin “a couple of weeks” to engage have sparked debate, alongside his administration’s moves like imposing sanctions on India to pressure Russia and critiques of U.S. museum narratives on slavery.

U.S. News: A tragic shooting at a Brooklyn, New York, nightclub left three dead, with two gunmen still at large, fueling discussions on gun control.

Hurricane Erin is generating dangerous rip currents along the East Coast, prompting warnings.

The Texas House’s approval of GOP-favored redistricting maps and California’s counter with Democratic-leaning maps are also trending.

World Events:

A UN-backed report confirming a “man-made famine” in Gaza City has raised alarms, with fears of an imminent Israeli offensive.

North Korea’s acknowledgment of troop deaths in Ukraine marks a shift in its public stance.

Canada’s coast-to-coast wildfires are also a major concern

.Entertainment:

Social media buzz highlights Demi Lovato as a top trending topic globally, alongside Taylor Swift-related excitement.

The “Eternals” franchise’s unrealized potential in the MCU is also sparking fan discussions.

Sports:

Football transfer news, like Gianluigi Donnarumma’s potential move to Manchester City and Karl Hein’s loan to Werder Bremen, is generating buzz.

In the U.S., college football season projections and MLB updates, like Aaron Judge’s home run milestones, are trending.

Technology & Social Media:

AI advancements, including Musk’s Grok AI updates (text-to-video and Grok 4), and Threads reaching 400 million users are hot topics.

TikTok’s updated community guidelines and Google’s “Preferred Sources” search feature are also making waves.

Lifestyle & Culture:

New terms like “skibidi,” “tradwife,” and “broligarchy” added to the Cambridge Dictionary reflect social media’s influence.

Krispy Kreme’s “Harry Potter”-inspired doughnuts are creating a buzz in the food scene.

These trends reflect a mix of global crises, political maneuvers, entertainment, and tech developments, drawn from web sources and posts on X.

Markets, Crypto and Culture

August 18, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets

ASX futures down 53 points or 0.6% to 8843

Australian dollar +0.1% to 65.10 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 -0.3%
Dow Jones +0.1%
Nasdaq -0.4%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.3%
FTSE -0.4%
DAX -0.1%
CAC +0.7%

Bitcoin +0.1% to $US117,786

Gold flat at $US3336.19 per ounce
US oil -1.8% to $US62.80 a barrel
Brent crude oil -1.5% to $US65.85 a barrel
Iron ore flat at $US102.05 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.32%
Australia 4.23%
Germany 2.79%

News

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $118,026.62 USD +0.18%
Ethereum $4,524.48 USD +1.94%
Tether $1.00 USD -0.20%
XRP $3.11 USD +0.02%
BNB $858.06 USD +2.27%

News

Bitcoin hit new highs but then dropped back down

Market Overview

The crypto market cap rose to $4.20 trillion on Thursday morning before dropping back down somewhat to $4.14 trillion. But even with the correction, the daily gain is close to 2%, led by Bitcoin's slide to a new peak of $124.5K. Among the major coins, Cardano (+18%), Near Protocol (+6.2%) and Trump (+5.9%) were the leaders.

The sentiment index rose to 75, ready to move into the extreme greed zone. It was previously held at this level throughout the second half of July, but the entire crypto market was in a range at that time. (FxPro)

News Flashback

Summer Break for the Crypto Market

Market Overview

The cryptocurrency market began August with a relatively narrow range of $3.6-3.8 trillion, ending Wednesday at $3.72 trillion. The support received in the area of previous peaks set in December and January suggests that this is a temporary pause to lock in profits and gain liquidity before a new surge. At the same time, however, such sluggishness is turning away the most active traders, who are used to seeing multiple rallies. Now they have moved on to very small projects.

On Tuesday, Bitcoin was again approaching its 50-day moving average. Such frequent testing of the medium-term trend signal line indicates accumulated fatigue in the first cryptocurrency. For comparison, the crypto market's total capitalisation is still moving significantly above its 50-day average, which is currently around $3.57 trillion.

News Background

Institutional investors are actively buying up Ethereum, while retail traders remain on the sidelines. SharpLink bought 83,561 ETH ($264.5 million) last week at an average price of $3,634. The company's reserves amount to almost 522,000 ETH (~$1.9 billion). However, Bitmine Immersion Tech remains the leader, with 833 coins worth over $3 billion. A total of 64 corporations now own 2.96 million ETH ($10.81 billion) or 2.45% of the total Ethereum supply.

Large companies continue to buy Bitcoin, adding 26,700 BTC to their reserves in July. Strategy bought 21,021 BTC for $2.46 billion last week. According to BitcoinTreasuries, public and private companies now hold 1.35 million BTC ($155 billion) on their balance sheets — more than 6% of the total digital gold supply.

US regulators have proposed new rules for the crypto industry. The CFTC has launched an initiative to legalise spot trading of cryptocurrencies on registered exchanges, and the SEC has updated its guidance on stablecoin accounting rules.

USDe from Ethena Labs has become the third-largest stablecoin. Since mid-July, its capitalisation has grown by 75% to $9.5 billion. Demand for the asset may have been spurred by high yields ranging from 10% to 19% per annum. The total capitalisation of all stablecoins has been growing for the seventh month in a row and is approaching $275 billion. (FxPro)

News

S&P500’s buy-the-dip sentiment helped Bitcoin

The sell-off of Bitcoin following Congress's passage of a law regulating the circulation of stablecoins and the retreat of US stock indices from record highs allowed Bitcoin bears to push prices below the lower boundary of the $116k—$120k consolidation range. When it looked like a severe correction was coming, US stocks stepped in again. Investors bought up the S&P 500 dip, and Bitcoin immediately bounced back.

Changes in global risk appetite continue to be the main driver of cryptocurrency prices. July saw a series of record highs for the S&P 500, making it a successful month for Bitcoin. Meanwhile, Bitcoin-focused ETFs attracted $6 billion, the third-best result in the history of specialised exchange-traded funds. Ether ETFs were not far behind, with a record inflow of $5.4 billion.

The situation changed dramatically at the turn of July and August. Interest in digital assets began to cool. Coinbase's Bitcoin premium fell into the red for the first time since May, indicating a decline in demand from US investors. Open interest in Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts fell by 13% and 21%, respectively, compared to Bitcoin's record high. According to Coinglass, on the last day of July, $800 million in long positions across all cryptocurrencies were liquidated.

Speculators doubt the rally's continuation, while crypto treasuries are buying Bitcoin under any conditions. On pullbacks or at market prices, ‘Strategy’ acquired more than 21,000 coins worth $2.46 billion during the week of July 28th to August 3rd. This is the third-largest cryptocurrency purchase by Michael Saylor's company since records began. The average price is the second highest in history. As a result, Strategy's reserves have grown to more than $71 billion.

The future dynamics of Bitcoin will depend on the fate of US stock indices and capital flows into ETFs. If the S&P 500's successes are temporary, Bitcoin will be forced to undergo a deep correction. If its quotes remain below the middle of the previous consolidation range of $116k—$120k, the bears are in control.

News

Bitcoin tests support at 50-day MA

Market Picture

The crypto market rolled back at the end of last week following a reduction in risk appetite in the financial markets. However, on Sunday, sentiment changed with the return of active buyers near the total capitalisation of $3.60 trillion. At the time of writing, the market is at $3.73 trillion (+3.6%). Less than 10% of the top 100 coins show gains over 7 days, among which the largest are TRON (+2.2%) and TON (+4.5%).

The crypto market sentiment index fell to 53 by Sunday morning, a six-week low, but recovered to 64 on Monday, reflecting a resurgence of bullish sentiment. However, another impressive upward move will be needed to confirm a local victory for the bulls.

On Saturday and Sunday, Bitcoin received support from buyers on declines below $112K near the 50-day moving average - the fourth touch of this curve since April. On the “buy the dip” sentiment, the first cryptocurrency recovered to $115K on Monday morning. The rebound from support is a bullish signal for the next couple of days, but the fact that it has been tested frequently raises concerns for the medium term. News Background

According to SoSoValue, net outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US amounted to $812.3 million on August 1, the highest since February 25. As a result, the weekly outflow from BTC ETFs amounted to $643 million, a record high for the past 16 weeks.

The net outflow from spot Ethereum ETFs in the US on Friday amounted to $152.3 million. However, inflows in the previous days of the week managed to keep the indicator in positive territory (+$154.3 million). The positive trend has continued for 12 consecutive weeks.

Analyst Ali Martinez says that over the past two days, Bitcoin whales have bought 30,000 BTC. According to Santiment, over the past four months, whales with balances ranging from 10 to 10,000 BTC have accumulated 0.9% of the total coin supply.

According to The Block, trading volume on centralised crypto exchanges exceeded $1.7 trillion in July (the highest since February 2025), and trading volume on decentralised exchanges (DEX) also reached its highest level since January.

Galaxy Digital warned of risks in the public company sector, which accumulates cryptocurrencies by issuing shares. The model creates systemic vulnerability and could lead to a cascade collapse.

US SEC Chairman Paul Atkins announced Project Crypto. The project’s key objective is to establish clear rules for cryptocurrencies and turn the US into the “world’s crypto capital.” (FxPro)

News Flashback

Three blows to oil in three days

Oil has been under triple pressure since the end of last week, losing more than 7% per barrel of WTI since 31 July, reaching the important psychological level of $65.

The latest wave of oil sell-offs began with the realisation that US trade tariffs from August will be higher than initially expected, as higher tariffs are associated with an economic slowdown and weaker demand for energy. Fears of an economic slowdown intensified after the release of unexpectedly weak US employment data on Friday. Over the weekend, concerns were heightened by OPEC+'s increase in production quotas, which was reflected in the markets on Monday.

After its latest meeting, OPEC+ announced that it would increase production quotas for eight countries by 547,000 barrels per day starting in September.

Considering the quota increases since April, the entire voluntarily reduced volume of 2.2 million barrels per day will return to the market. This is a rather bold decision, given the growing fear that the global economy is slowing down.

Some link such steps by the cartel to the risks of supply disruptions due to potential sanctions from the US and the EU. In our opinion, it is also worth considering the cartel's intention to regain its market share from the US in this way.

Oil producers in the US are very sensitive to price, sharply cutting investment when prices fall. At the beginning of April, there were 489 oil rigs in operation, but according to data published on Friday, this number has fallen to 410. In the long term, a gradual increase in production efficiency should be considered, but at intervals of six months, it is unlikely that there will be any sharp progress. Therefore, we can expect some US production reduction and a gradual recovery in the share of traditional oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and the UAE.

The price of WTI crude oil, which rose to close to $70 at its peak last week, has returned to the lower end of the range since early June at $65. Closing the day below 66 will mark a failure below the 200- and 50-day moving averages, increasing the potential for further declines.

If OPEC+ really plans to increase its share of the oil market, it may not oppose further price declines. The intensification of negative trends in the global and US economies could bring the price back to this year's lows of $55 by the end of September and to the lower end of the downward corridor of $50 by the end of the year. However, further trends will depend heavily on the reaction of monetary authorities and oil producers. (FxPro)

News Flashback

July 29, 2025

Ethereum continues attempt to climb above $4,000

Market Picture

The crypto market lost 1%, falling back to a capitalisation of $3.9 trillion. This was a natural pullback against the backdrop of the dollar's impressive strengthening the day before. However, on Tuesday, the bulls were back in charge, bringing the market back to a level above Monday's opening but not yet reaching its peak.

Bitcoin is trading near $118.7K, unable to break through the resistance at $120K. This indecision to break out of the range is likely to continue until the market sees the Fed's key rate decision on Wednesday evening.

Ethereum rose to $3,930 at the end of the day, fell back to $3,700 on Monday, where it found interest from new buyers and rose to $3,830 at the time of writing. The last seven days have seen a fairly sharp upward trend, and if this trend continues, the price will rise above 4,000 by the end of this week.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment inflows into crypto funds last week amounted to $1.908 billion. Investments in Ethereum increased by $1.595 billion, Solana by a significant $312 million, XRP by $190 million, and Sui by $8 million. Investments in Bitcoin decreased by $175 million.

Japan's Metaplanet announced the acquisition of 780 BTC ($92.5 million) at an average price of $118,600. The company's total reserves now amount to 17,132 BTC, worth over $2 billion.

According to Blockware, Bitcoin will no longer show ‘parabolic’ rallies or ‘devastating’ bear cycles, as institutional investors have changed the market dynamics and reduced volatility.

According to Strategic ETH Reserve, the volume of the second cryptocurrency on the balance sheets of public companies has reached 2.32 million ETH (~$9.11 billion) — 1.92% of the total Ethereum supply. Bitmine Immersion Tech, associated with Fundstrat founder Tom Lee, pursues the most aggressive strategy. The company has ~566,800 ETH ($2.23 billion) on its balance sheet.

BNB, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by capitalisation, updated its historical high above $860 on Monday. Against this background, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's estimated fortune exceeded $76 billion. According to Forbes, Zhao owns 64% of the BNB supply — about 89.1 million tokens. (FxPro)

News

Pop Culture News

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream Match Series

Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets Stipulation
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr H

News

Cryptocurrency Movies
Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014) Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt finance.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016) Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots, and impact on global financial systems through interviews with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)

Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems. A comprehensive look at real-world applications.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015) Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized financial systems. Features interviews with crypto experts.

Deep Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in dark web transactions.

Bitconned (2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing how three individuals defrauded investors during the 2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated markets.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019) A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal but praise its entertainment value.

Silk Road (2021) A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin. It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and drama.

Dope (2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association with illicit activities.

Bonus Mentions

Life on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early adoption challenges.

Bitcoin Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.

Notes

Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology, and real-world implications. They’re great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feature films often dramatize crypto’s association with crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.

For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many of these are available.

News

Wall Street (Movie)

Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth and power. The film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal, with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father (Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.

Key Details:

Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin Sheen (Carl Fox). Runtime: 2h 6m. Genre: Drama/Crime. Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).

Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Notable Aspects:

Gekko’s “Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting 1980s excess.

Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

A sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued the story.

Where to Watch (as of 2025):

Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current availability). Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.

News

Gold, copper, & silver: How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

News

Best Quotes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Media Man

"Everything is a gamble" Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

Markets, Crypto and Culture

August 15, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets

ASX futures up 2 points to 8832 at 6.41am AEST
Australian dollar -0.8% to 64.97 US cents

Wall St:
S&P 500 flat
Dow flat
NAS +0.1%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.9%, FTSE +0.1%, DAX +0.8%, CAC +0.8%

Bitcoin -4% to $US118,066

Gold -0.6% to $US3335.42 per ounce

Oil +2.2% to $US64.01 a barrel
Brent crude oil +2% to $US66.91 a barrel
Iron ore -1.1% to $US102.35 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.28%
Australia 4.21%
Germany 2.71%

News

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $117,672.99 USD -4.11%
Ethereum $4,458.95 USD -5.51%
Tether $1.00 USD +0.09%
XRP $3.05 USD -6.18%
BNB $829.16 USD -1.68%

News Overnight

Bitcoin hit new highs but then dropped back down

Market Overview

The crypto market cap rose to $4.20 trillion on Thursday morning before dropping back down somewhat to $4.14 trillion. But even with the correction, the daily gain is close to 2%, led by Bitcoin's slide to a new peak of $124.5K. Among the major coins, Cardano (+18%), Near Protocol (+6.2%) and Trump (+5.9%) were the leaders.

The sentiment index rose to 75, ready to move into the extreme greed zone. It was previously held at this level throughout the second half of July, but the entire crypto market was in a range at that time. (FxPro)

News Flashback

Summer Break for the Crypto Market

Market Overview

The cryptocurrency market began August with a relatively narrow range of $3.6-3.8 trillion, ending Wednesday at $3.72 trillion. The support received in the area of previous peaks set in December and January suggests that this is a temporary pause to lock in profits and gain liquidity before a new surge. At the same time, however, such sluggishness is turning away the most active traders, who are used to seeing multiple rallies. Now they have moved on to very small projects.

On Tuesday, Bitcoin was again approaching its 50-day moving average. Such frequent testing of the medium-term trend signal line indicates accumulated fatigue in the first cryptocurrency. For comparison, the crypto market's total capitalisation is still moving significantly above its 50-day average, which is currently around $3.57 trillion.

News Background

Institutional investors are actively buying up Ethereum, while retail traders remain on the sidelines. SharpLink bought 83,561 ETH ($264.5 million) last week at an average price of $3,634. The company's reserves amount to almost 522,000 ETH (~$1.9 billion). However, Bitmine Immersion Tech remains the leader, with 833 coins worth over $3 billion. A total of 64 corporations now own 2.96 million ETH ($10.81 billion) or 2.45% of the total Ethereum supply.

Large companies continue to buy Bitcoin, adding 26,700 BTC to their reserves in July. Strategy bought 21,021 BTC for $2.46 billion last week. According to BitcoinTreasuries, public and private companies now hold 1.35 million BTC ($155 billion) on their balance sheets — more than 6% of the total digital gold supply.

US regulators have proposed new rules for the crypto industry. The CFTC has launched an initiative to legalise spot trading of cryptocurrencies on registered exchanges, and the SEC has updated its guidance on stablecoin accounting rules.

USDe from Ethena Labs has become the third-largest stablecoin. Since mid-July, its capitalisation has grown by 75% to $9.5 billion. Demand for the asset may have been spurred by high yields ranging from 10% to 19% per annum. The total capitalisation of all stablecoins has been growing for the seventh month in a row and is approaching $275 billion. (FxPro)

News

S&P500’s buy-the-dip sentiment helped Bitcoin

The sell-off of Bitcoin following Congress's passage of a law regulating the circulation of stablecoins and the retreat of US stock indices from record highs allowed Bitcoin bears to push prices below the lower boundary of the $116k—$120k consolidation range. When it looked like a severe correction was coming, US stocks stepped in again. Investors bought up the S&P 500 dip, and Bitcoin immediately bounced back.

Changes in global risk appetite continue to be the main driver of cryptocurrency prices. July saw a series of record highs for the S&P 500, making it a successful month for Bitcoin. Meanwhile, Bitcoin-focused ETFs attracted $6 billion, the third-best result in the history of specialised exchange-traded funds. Ether ETFs were not far behind, with a record inflow of $5.4 billion.

The situation changed dramatically at the turn of July and August. Interest in digital assets began to cool. Coinbase's Bitcoin premium fell into the red for the first time since May, indicating a decline in demand from US investors. Open interest in Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts fell by 13% and 21%, respectively, compared to Bitcoin's record high. According to Coinglass, on the last day of July, $800 million in long positions across all cryptocurrencies were liquidated.

Speculators doubt the rally's continuation, while crypto treasuries are buying Bitcoin under any conditions. On pullbacks or at market prices, ‘Strategy’ acquired more than 21,000 coins worth $2.46 billion during the week of July 28th to August 3rd. This is the third-largest cryptocurrency purchase by Michael Saylor's company since records began. The average price is the second highest in history. As a result, Strategy's reserves have grown to more than $71 billion.

The future dynamics of Bitcoin will depend on the fate of US stock indices and capital flows into ETFs. If the S&P 500's successes are temporary, Bitcoin will be forced to undergo a deep correction. If its quotes remain below the middle of the previous consolidation range of $116k—$120k, the bears are in control.

News

Bitcoin tests support at 50-day MA

Market Picture

The crypto market rolled back at the end of last week following a reduction in risk appetite in the financial markets. However, on Sunday, sentiment changed with the return of active buyers near the total capitalisation of $3.60 trillion. At the time of writing, the market is at $3.73 trillion (+3.6%). Less than 10% of the top 100 coins show gains over 7 days, among which the largest are TRON (+2.2%) and TON (+4.5%).

The crypto market sentiment index fell to 53 by Sunday morning, a six-week low, but recovered to 64 on Monday, reflecting a resurgence of bullish sentiment. However, another impressive upward move will be needed to confirm a local victory for the bulls.

On Saturday and Sunday, Bitcoin received support from buyers on declines below $112K near the 50-day moving average - the fourth touch of this curve since April. On the “buy the dip” sentiment, the first cryptocurrency recovered to $115K on Monday morning. The rebound from support is a bullish signal for the next couple of days, but the fact that it has been tested frequently raises concerns for the medium term. News Background

According to SoSoValue, net outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US amounted to $812.3 million on August 1, the highest since February 25. As a result, the weekly outflow from BTC ETFs amounted to $643 million, a record high for the past 16 weeks.

The net outflow from spot Ethereum ETFs in the US on Friday amounted to $152.3 million. However, inflows in the previous days of the week managed to keep the indicator in positive territory (+$154.3 million). The positive trend has continued for 12 consecutive weeks.

Analyst Ali Martinez says that over the past two days, Bitcoin whales have bought 30,000 BTC. According to Santiment, over the past four months, whales with balances ranging from 10 to 10,000 BTC have accumulated 0.9% of the total coin supply.

According to The Block, trading volume on centralised crypto exchanges exceeded $1.7 trillion in July (the highest since February 2025), and trading volume on decentralised exchanges (DEX) also reached its highest level since January.

Galaxy Digital warned of risks in the public company sector, which accumulates cryptocurrencies by issuing shares. The model creates systemic vulnerability and could lead to a cascade collapse.

US SEC Chairman Paul Atkins announced Project Crypto. The project’s key objective is to establish clear rules for cryptocurrencies and turn the US into the “world’s crypto capital.” (FxPro)

News Flashback

Three blows to oil in three days

Oil has been under triple pressure since the end of last week, losing more than 7% per barrel of WTI since 31 July, reaching the important psychological level of $65.

The latest wave of oil sell-offs began with the realisation that US trade tariffs from August will be higher than initially expected, as higher tariffs are associated with an economic slowdown and weaker demand for energy. Fears of an economic slowdown intensified after the release of unexpectedly weak US employment data on Friday. Over the weekend, concerns were heightened by OPEC+'s increase in production quotas, which was reflected in the markets on Monday.

After its latest meeting, OPEC+ announced that it would increase production quotas for eight countries by 547,000 barrels per day starting in September.

Considering the quota increases since April, the entire voluntarily reduced volume of 2.2 million barrels per day will return to the market. This is a rather bold decision, given the growing fear that the global economy is slowing down.

Some link such steps by the cartel to the risks of supply disruptions due to potential sanctions from the US and the EU. In our opinion, it is also worth considering the cartel's intention to regain its market share from the US in this way.

Oil producers in the US are very sensitive to price, sharply cutting investment when prices fall. At the beginning of April, there were 489 oil rigs in operation, but according to data published on Friday, this number has fallen to 410. In the long term, a gradual increase in production efficiency should be considered, but at intervals of six months, it is unlikely that there will be any sharp progress. Therefore, we can expect some US production reduction and a gradual recovery in the share of traditional oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and the UAE.

The price of WTI crude oil, which rose to close to $70 at its peak last week, has returned to the lower end of the range since early June at $65. Closing the day below 66 will mark a failure below the 200- and 50-day moving averages, increasing the potential for further declines.

If OPEC+ really plans to increase its share of the oil market, it may not oppose further price declines. The intensification of negative trends in the global and US economies could bring the price back to this year's lows of $55 by the end of September and to the lower end of the downward corridor of $50 by the end of the year. However, further trends will depend heavily on the reaction of monetary authorities and oil producers. (FxPro)

News Flashback

July 29, 2025

Ethereum continues attempt to climb above $4,000

Market Picture

The crypto market lost 1%, falling back to a capitalisation of $3.9 trillion. This was a natural pullback against the backdrop of the dollar's impressive strengthening the day before. However, on Tuesday, the bulls were back in charge, bringing the market back to a level above Monday's opening but not yet reaching its peak.

Bitcoin is trading near $118.7K, unable to break through the resistance at $120K. This indecision to break out of the range is likely to continue until the market sees the Fed's key rate decision on Wednesday evening.

Ethereum rose to $3,930 at the end of the day, fell back to $3,700 on Monday, where it found interest from new buyers and rose to $3,830 at the time of writing. The last seven days have seen a fairly sharp upward trend, and if this trend continues, the price will rise above 4,000 by the end of this week.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment inflows into crypto funds last week amounted to $1.908 billion. Investments in Ethereum increased by $1.595 billion, Solana by a significant $312 million, XRP by $190 million, and Sui by $8 million. Investments in Bitcoin decreased by $175 million.

Japan's Metaplanet announced the acquisition of 780 BTC ($92.5 million) at an average price of $118,600. The company's total reserves now amount to 17,132 BTC, worth over $2 billion.

According to Blockware, Bitcoin will no longer show ‘parabolic’ rallies or ‘devastating’ bear cycles, as institutional investors have changed the market dynamics and reduced volatility.

According to Strategic ETH Reserve, the volume of the second cryptocurrency on the balance sheets of public companies has reached 2.32 million ETH (~$9.11 billion) — 1.92% of the total Ethereum supply. Bitmine Immersion Tech, associated with Fundstrat founder Tom Lee, pursues the most aggressive strategy. The company has ~566,800 ETH ($2.23 billion) on its balance sheet.

BNB, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by capitalisation, updated its historical high above $860 on Monday. Against this background, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's estimated fortune exceeded $76 billion. According to Forbes, Zhao owns 64% of the BNB supply — about 89.1 million tokens. (FxPro)

News

Pop Culture News

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream Match Series

Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Streets Stipulation
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation
Mr Paramount vs Mr Netflix
Mr ESPN vs Mr Fox
Mr Kross vs Mr H

News

Cryptocurrency Movies
Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014) Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt finance.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016) Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots, and impact on global financial systems through interviews with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)

Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems. A comprehensive look at real-world applications.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015) Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized financial systems. Features interviews with crypto experts.

Deep Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in dark web transactions.

Bitconned (2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing how three individuals defrauded investors during the 2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated markets.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019) A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal but praise its entertainment value.

Silk Road (2021) A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin. It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and drama.

Dope (2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association with illicit activities.

Bonus Mentions

Life on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early adoption challenges.

Bitcoin Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.

Notes

Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology, and real-world implications. They’re great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feature films often dramatize crypto’s association with crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.

For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many of these are available.

News

Wall Street (Movie)

Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth and power. The film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal, with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father (Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.

Key Details:

Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin Sheen (Carl Fox). Runtime: 2h 6m. Genre: Drama/Crime. Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).

Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Notable Aspects:

Gekko’s “Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting 1980s excess.

Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

A sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued the story.

Where to Watch (as of 2025):

Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current availability). Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.

News

Gold, copper, & silver: How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

News

Best Quotes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Media Man

"Everything is a gamble" Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

Markets, Crypto and Culture

August 7, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets

ASX futures down 24 points/0.3% to 8782

Australian dollar +0.5% to 65.02 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.7%
Dow +0.2%
Nasdaq +1.2%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 +0.3%
FTSE +0.2%
DAX +0.3%
CAC +0.2%

Bitcoin +1.3% to $US115,115

Gold -0.4% to $US3368.83 per ounce
Oil -1.5% to $US64.19 a barrel
Brent crude oil -1.4% to $US66.72 a barrel
Iron ore -0.5% to $US101.95 per ton

10-year yield:
US 4.23%
Australia 4.25%
Germany 2.65%

News

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $115,228.43 USD +1.52%
Ethereum $3,674.05 USD +3.25%
Tether $1.00 USD +0.02%
XRP $3.00 USD +2.50%
BNB $770.47 USD +3.07%

News

Summer Break for the Crypto Market
Market Overview
The cryptocurrency market began August with a relatively narrow range of $3.6-3.8 trillion, ending Wednesday at $3.72 trillion. The support received in the area of previous peaks set in December and January suggests that this is a temporary pause to lock in profits and gain liquidity before a new surge. At the same time, however, such sluggishness is turning away the most active traders, who are used to seeing multiple rallies. Now they have moved on to very small projects.

On Tuesday, Bitcoin was again approaching its 50-day moving average. Such frequent testing of the medium-term trend signal line indicates accumulated fatigue in the first cryptocurrency. For comparison, the crypto market's total capitalisation is still moving significantly above its 50-day average, which is currently around $3.57 trillion.

News Background
Institutional investors are actively buying up Ethereum, while retail traders remain on the sidelines. SharpLink bought 83,561 ETH ($264.5 million) last week at an average price of $3,634. The company's reserves amount to almost 522,000 ETH (~$1.9 billion). However, Bitmine Immersion Tech remains the leader, with 833 coins worth over $3 billion. A total of 64 corporations now own 2.96 million ETH ($10.81 billion) or 2.45% of the total Ethereum supply.

Large companies continue to buy Bitcoin, adding 26,700 BTC to their reserves in July. Strategy bought 21,021 BTC for $2.46 billion last week. According to BitcoinTreasuries, public and private companies now hold 1.35 million BTC ($155 billion) on their balance sheets — more than 6% of the total digital gold supply.

US regulators have proposed new rules for the crypto industry. The CFTC has launched an initiative to legalise spot trading of cryptocurrencies on registered exchanges, and the SEC has updated its guidance on stablecoin accounting rules.

USDe from Ethena Labs has become the third-largest stablecoin. Since mid-July, its capitalisation has grown by 75% to $9.5 billion. Demand for the asset may have been spurred by high yields ranging from 10% to 19% per annum. The total capitalisation of all stablecoins has been growing for the seventh month in a row and is approaching $275 billion. (FxPro)

News

S&P500’s buy-the-dip sentiment helped Bitcoin

The sell-off of Bitcoin following Congress's passage of a law regulating the circulation of stablecoins and the retreat of US stock indices from record highs allowed Bitcoin bears to push prices below the lower boundary of the $116k—$120k consolidation range. When it looked like a severe correction was coming, US stocks stepped in again. Investors bought up the S&P 500 dip, and Bitcoin immediately bounced back.

Changes in global risk appetite continue to be the main driver of cryptocurrency prices. July saw a series of record highs for the S&P 500, making it a successful month for Bitcoin. Meanwhile, Bitcoin-focused ETFs attracted $6 billion, the third-best result in the history of specialised exchange-traded funds. Ether ETFs were not far behind, with a record inflow of $5.4 billion.

The situation changed dramatically at the turn of July and August. Interest in digital assets began to cool. Coinbase's Bitcoin premium fell into the red for the first time since May, indicating a decline in demand from US investors. Open interest in Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts fell by 13% and 21%, respectively, compared to Bitcoin's record high. According to Coinglass, on the last day of July, $800 million in long positions across all cryptocurrencies were liquidated.

Speculators doubt the rally's continuation, while crypto treasuries are buying Bitcoin under any conditions. On pullbacks or at market prices, ‘Strategy’ acquired more than 21,000 coins worth $2.46 billion during the week of July 28th to August 3rd. This is the third-largest cryptocurrency purchase by Michael Saylor's company since records began. The average price is the second highest in history. As a result, Strategy's reserves have grown to more than $71 billion.

The future dynamics of Bitcoin will depend on the fate of US stock indices and capital flows into ETFs. If the S&P 500's successes are temporary, Bitcoin will be forced to undergo a deep correction. If its quotes remain below the middle of the previous consolidation range of $116k—$120k, the bears are in control.

News

Bitcoin tests support at 50-day MA

Market Picture

The crypto market rolled back at the end of last week following a reduction in risk appetite in the financial markets. However, on Sunday, sentiment changed with the return of active buyers near the total capitalisation of $3.60 trillion. At the time of writing, the market is at $3.73 trillion (+3.6%). Less than 10% of the top 100 coins show gains over 7 days, among which the largest are TRON (+2.2%) and TON (+4.5%).

The crypto market sentiment index fell to 53 by Sunday morning, a six-week low, but recovered to 64 on Monday, reflecting a resurgence of bullish sentiment. However, another impressive upward move will be needed to confirm a local victory for the bulls.

On Saturday and Sunday, Bitcoin received support from buyers on declines below $112K near the 50-day moving average - the fourth touch of this curve since April. On the “buy the dip” sentiment, the first cryptocurrency recovered to $115K on Monday morning. The rebound from support is a bullish signal for the next couple of days, but the fact that it has been tested frequently raises concerns for the medium term. News Background

According to SoSoValue, net outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US amounted to $812.3 million on August 1, the highest since February 25. As a result, the weekly outflow from BTC ETFs amounted to $643 million, a record high for the past 16 weeks.

The net outflow from spot Ethereum ETFs in the US on Friday amounted to $152.3 million. However, inflows in the previous days of the week managed to keep the indicator in positive territory (+$154.3 million). The positive trend has continued for 12 consecutive weeks.

Analyst Ali Martinez says that over the past two days, Bitcoin whales have bought 30,000 BTC. According to Santiment, over the past four months, whales with balances ranging from 10 to 10,000 BTC have accumulated 0.9% of the total coin supply.

According to The Block, trading volume on centralised crypto exchanges exceeded $1.7 trillion in July (the highest since February 2025), and trading volume on decentralised exchanges (DEX) also reached its highest level since January.

Galaxy Digital warned of risks in the public company sector, which accumulates cryptocurrencies by issuing shares. The model creates systemic vulnerability and could lead to a cascade collapse.

US SEC Chairman Paul Atkins announced Project Crypto. The project’s key objective is to establish clear rules for cryptocurrencies and turn the US into the “world’s crypto capital.” (FxPro)

News

Three blows to oil in three days

Oil has been under triple pressure since the end of last week, losing more than 7% per barrel of WTI since 31 July, reaching the important psychological level of $65.

The latest wave of oil sell-offs began with the realisation that US trade tariffs from August will be higher than initially expected, as higher tariffs are associated with an economic slowdown and weaker demand for energy. Fears of an economic slowdown intensified after the release of unexpectedly weak US employment data on Friday. Over the weekend, concerns were heightened by OPEC+'s increase in production quotas, which was reflected in the markets on Monday.

After its latest meeting, OPEC+ announced that it would increase production quotas for eight countries by 547,000 barrels per day starting in September.

Considering the quota increases since April, the entire voluntarily reduced volume of 2.2 million barrels per day will return to the market. This is a rather bold decision, given the growing fear that the global economy is slowing down.

Some link such steps by the cartel to the risks of supply disruptions due to potential sanctions from the US and the EU. In our opinion, it is also worth considering the cartel's intention to regain its market share from the US in this way.

Oil producers in the US are very sensitive to price, sharply cutting investment when prices fall. At the beginning of April, there were 489 oil rigs in operation, but according to data published on Friday, this number has fallen to 410. In the long term, a gradual increase in production efficiency should be considered, but at intervals of six months, it is unlikely that there will be any sharp progress. Therefore, we can expect some US production reduction and a gradual recovery in the share of traditional oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Russia and the UAE.

The price of WTI crude oil, which rose to close to $70 at its peak last week, has returned to the lower end of the range since early June at $65. Closing the day below 66 will mark a failure below the 200- and 50-day moving averages, increasing the potential for further declines.

If OPEC+ really plans to increase its share of the oil market, it may not oppose further price declines. The intensification of negative trends in the global and US economies could bring the price back to this year's lows of $55 by the end of September and to the lower end of the downward corridor of $50 by the end of the year. However, further trends will depend heavily on the reaction of monetary authorities and oil producers. (FxPro)

News Flashback

July 29, 2025

Ethereum continues attempt to climb above $4,000

Market Picture

The crypto market lost 1%, falling back to a capitalisation of $3.9 trillion. This was a natural pullback against the backdrop of the dollar's impressive strengthening the day before. However, on Tuesday, the bulls were back in charge, bringing the market back to a level above Monday's opening but not yet reaching its peak.

Bitcoin is trading near $118.7K, unable to break through the resistance at $120K. This indecision to break out of the range is likely to continue until the market sees the Fed's key rate decision on Wednesday evening.

Ethereum rose to $3,930 at the end of the day, fell back to $3,700 on Monday, where it found interest from new buyers and rose to $3,830 at the time of writing. The last seven days have seen a fairly sharp upward trend, and if this trend continues, the price will rise above 4,000 by the end of this week.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global investment inflows into crypto funds last week amounted to $1.908 billion. Investments in Ethereum increased by $1.595 billion, Solana by a significant $312 million, XRP by $190 million, and Sui by $8 million. Investments in Bitcoin decreased by $175 million.

Japan's Metaplanet announced the acquisition of 780 BTC ($92.5 million) at an average price of $118,600. The company's total reserves now amount to 17,132 BTC, worth over $2 billion.

According to Blockware, Bitcoin will no longer show ‘parabolic’ rallies or ‘devastating’ bear cycles, as institutional investors have changed the market dynamics and reduced volatility.

According to Strategic ETH Reserve, the volume of the second cryptocurrency on the balance sheets of public companies has reached 2.32 million ETH (~$9.11 billion) — 1.92% of the total Ethereum supply. Bitmine Immersion Tech, associated with Fundstrat founder Tom Lee, pursues the most aggressive strategy. The company has ~566,800 ETH ($2.23 billion) on its balance sheet.

BNB, the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by capitalisation, updated its historical high above $860 on Monday. Against this background, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's estimated fortune exceeded $76 billion. According to Forbes, Zhao owns 64% of the BNB supply — about 89.1 million tokens. (FxPro)

News

Pop Culture News

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream Match Series

Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Street Stipulation
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation

News

Cryptocurrency Movies
Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014) Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt finance.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016) Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots, and impact on global financial systems through interviews with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)

Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems. A comprehensive look at real-world applications.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015) Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized financial systems. Features interviews with crypto experts.

Deep Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in dark web transactions.

Bitconned (2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing how three individuals defrauded investors during the 2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated markets.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019) A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal but praise its entertainment value.

Silk Road (2021) A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin. It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and drama.

Dope (2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association with illicit activities.

Bonus Mentions

Life on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early adoption challenges.

Bitcoin Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.

Notes

Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology, and real-world implications. They’re great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feature films often dramatize crypto’s association with crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.

For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many of these are available.

News

Wall Street (Movie)

Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth and power. The film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal, with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father (Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.

Key Details:

Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin Sheen (Carl Fox). Runtime: 2h 6m. Genre: Drama/Crime. Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).

Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Notable Aspects:

Gekko’s “Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting 1980s excess.

Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.

A sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued the story.

Where to Watch (as of 2025):

Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current availability). Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.

News

Gold, copper, & silver: How metals are moving this year

Metal futures have made some pretty dramatic moves lately from safe haven gold to tariff sensitive copper. So let's take a look at the longer term trends. I'm Jared Blikre, host of Stocks in Translation. And I'm going to start by charting some of the moves in Dr. Copper because this is where we have the most zig and zags over the last 25 years. So this goes back to the beginning of the century and we can see right now, we're at $5.51 per pound. That is a record high. But if we go back to the beginning of the century, guess what? Uh we had a little bit of a slump in the wake of the dot com boom and then bust, but starting in 2003, we saw a big rise there. And that was as China actually joined the World Trade Organization or the WTO. That lasted into the global financial crisis. Then we had a pretty big bust in in Dr. Copper, and then we had another rise. And that rise was due to unprecedented stimulus, not only from the Chinese government, but also from the United States government, QE was in force, and then we saw kind of a strong dollar play. That weighed on this metal all the way into the beginning of 2016. The entire world, most of the world indices went through a bear market in 2015, and then 2016, we found the footing. And that was actually the year that Trump won, began his first presidency. And from there, we saw some zig and zags, and then we saw a shock into the pandemic. A couple of, a couple of years of deflation or a semi-deflation, disinflation, that caught up with it in 2022, but then it was off to the races again. And especially with the Trump tariffs now on copper, threatening to be threatening to be 50% on August 1st, we're seeing a lot of front running in this trade. Now, I also want to show you gold futures and I'm going to show you silver as well. And they follow a very similar pattern. We're not seeing the dramatic zig and zags that we did in copper, but we did see the same pattern of China joining the WTO, contributing to that huge rise in price to 1800, almost $2,000 an ounce by the beginning of the global financial crisis. So a little bit of a meltdown there. But in 2016 into 2018, we saw a bit of a rise into the pandemic, a little bit of a whipsaw there, and consolidation over a few years. Again, that 2022 bare market in US stocks that contributed to some deflation and disinflation globally, supply chain chain shocks came into force again, and then we saw this huge rise beginning in late 2023, and we are now at 3353. We've seen a high of as much as $3,500 per ounce. And gold is kind of unique among the precious metals and also the industrial metals, and this is because central banks have been a huge determining force in their buying of it. This is a bar chart that shows central bank buying in tons going back all the way to 2010. And what you notice here is the last three years, 2022, 2023, 2024, all of those had gold being bought by central banks of in the amount of over 1,000 tons. And so that's a pretty big dramatic increase from the prior years. And this has to do with the ongoing dedollarization in China, as well as Russia, but also a host of other countries, even some in western and eastern Europe. So this is a trend that we want to follow. Uh, I want to close out here with silver, and I'm going to just chart the price action. Again, very similar chart to gold and copper in terms of the big movements here. We saw a big price spike into almost $50 per ounce, and that was just as the global financial crisis was getting underway. And then the QE area in 2011, that's when we saw that high. Then we saw a dramatic, dramatic crash into 2016, kind of found its footing, saw a big squeeze in the early pandemic, 2020 was a great year for silver, but then we saw a little bit of a fallout. And again, silver is on the rise here at $38. It's still off of that $50 record high, but it is increasing very quickly. To round out the conversation, I want to just put on a table here. I have all three medals and just kind of grouping them together. I want to display how they are moving with their specific patterns with a trigger, and then to tell you which one of these is featured in these specific criteria. So here, under the pattern, we have acceleration. So that would be an economic acceleration. The trigger would be liquidity. And when that happens, we see all metals benefiting from that. And then when there's a safe haven scare, and that trigger would be a crisis of some sorts, you're going to see gold and silver outperforming the most, kind of leaving Dr. Copper behind. And then here's a bearish one, industrial drags, that affects copper disproportionately here, and the trigger there is typically a stronger US dollar because the US dollar surges when global global industrials tend to drag, and that's because the US is the least dirty shirt in the laundry basket of the world. And then finally here, we have a policy shock. This will affect all three medals, but especially copper and gold here. Um, arguably, the biggest reason is tariffs and debt, and we've seen both of those contribute to silver rising. So we could put all three in that basket as well. But when you put it all together, we have the perfect explosive mix for all three of these metals, including palladium and also platinum, which we didn't get to have time for, but all of these are experiencing huge thrust in 2025. And we'll have to see how these tariffs play out, especially on Dr. Copper with respect to that August 1st deadline. Remember, 50% there. So tune into Stocks in Translation for more jargon busting deep dives, new episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays on Yahoo Finances website, or wherever you find your podcast. (Transcript from Yahoo! Finance podcast)

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Best Quotes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Media Man

"Everything is a gamble" Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

Movie Box Office (North America)

July 27, 2025

1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps - $118m
2. Superman - $24.9m
3. Jurassic World: Rebirth - $13m
4. F1: The Movie - $6.2m
5. Smurfs - $5.4m
6. I Know What You Did Last Summer - $2.8m
7. How to Train Your Dragon - $2.8m
7. Eddington - $1.7m
8. Elio - $2m
9. Oh, Hi! - $1.1m
10. The Home - $1m

others ...

Lilo & Stitch
28 Years Later
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Materialists
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina

WWE Unreal: News WWE On Netflix: News WWE: News

WWE SummerSlam UFC 318: News

Legendary WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan passes away (WWE.com)

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Very Early Bird And Hulking Up Edition
Pro Wrestling News Domination By WWE's Hogan, The Rock, Cena and a cast of characters

July 26/27, 2025

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Entertainment, Sports and Media World Continues Hulk Hogan Tributes; Positive Based News Grasps Headlines As Fans, Insiders, Friends And Associates Share Personal Stories; The Legend Lives On! Real American Freestyle Wrestling Continues Under Izzy, Chad Bronstein, Eric Bischoff, Left Lane Capital and Elite Team

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide Triplemania 33 Sees WWE's Dominik Mysterio and El Grande Americano Shine; WWE's Triple H Advises Show Will Be Broadcast via YouTube on August 16

UFC: Australia's MMA Living Legend Robert Whittaker Def By Reiner de Ridder In Abu Dhabi; The Widowmaker aka The Reaper Nears Retirement From Sport

Movie Box Office: The Fantastic Four: First Steps Makes Impressive Debut: Weekend Expected To Net Approx $120m + ; Superman movie tipped to suffer and slide down rankings.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Set To Exceed $600m Global Takings

Coming Soon:

The Bad Guys 2 - August 1, 2025
Weapons - August 7, 2025
Nobody 2 - August 14, 2025
War 2 - August 14, 2025
Eddington - August 21, 2025
Kangaroo Island - August 21, 2025
The Naked Gun - August 21, 2025
The Long Walk - September 11, 2025
Kangaroo - September 18, 2025
The Smashing Machine - August 2, 2025
Tron: Ares - October 10, 2025

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Most Anticipated Movie?
Coyote vs. Acme - Ketch Entertainment Comes To Warner Bros. Rescue, so to speak ... Looney Tunes And John Cena Fans Rejoice!
August 28, 2026 (at this stage)

Netflix Rankings: Summary
Movies
1. K-Pop: Demon Hunters
2. Madea's Destination Wedding
3. Trainwreck: Balloon Boy

Series
1. Untamed
2. Amy Bradley Is Missing
3. The Sandman
4. 7 Bears
5. WWE RAW
6. Sullivan's Crossing: S1
7. The Waterfront
8. Ms. Rachel
9. Sullivan's Crossing: S2
10. Too Much: S1

Special Events

WWE SummerSlam
The Biggest Party Of The Summer
August 2 and 3!
The First Ever 2-Night SummerSlam
Killer Action, Drama, Creative Storytelling And More!!!
Cena vs Rhodes - WWE Title
CM Punk vs Gunther - World Heavyweight Title
Randy Orton and Jelly Roll vs Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul
Solo Siko vs Jacob Fatu - Steel Cage Match
Roman Reigns and Jey Uso vs Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed
Karrion Kross vs Sami Zayn - Grudge Match. "Say It"! KK
and much more!!!

Broadcasts:

Peacock in U.S
Netflix in many international markets including Australia!

*Dates may vary, especially for different international markets

*Correct to best of knowledge at time of publication

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Prime wins Media Man 'Beverage Of The Month' award

Nespresso wins Media Man 'Coffee Brand Of The Month' award; Runner-up: Claudio's Cafe

Movie and Pop Culture News

July 13, 2025

Movies

Movie Box Office (North America)

1. Superman: $122m
2. Jurassic World: Rebirth - $40m
3. F1: The Movie - $13m
4. How to Train Your Dragon - $8m
5. Elio - $3.9m
6. 28 Years Later - $2.7m
7. Lilo & Stitch - $2.7m
8. Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning - $1.4m
9. M3GAN 2.0 - $1.35
10. Materialists - $700,000

others ...

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina

News Flashback

Streaming Releases: Netflix:

Better Late Than Single, a Korean dating reality show, premiered on July 8, featuring singles navigating their first relationships with celebrity guidance.

Madea's Destination Wedding by Tyler Perry dropped on July 11. Happy Gilmore 2, a sequel to the 1996 comedy, premieres July 25 with Adam Sandler and new cameos like Bad Bunny and Travis Kelce.

The Sandman Season 2, its final season, releases Volume 1 on July 3 and Volume 2 on July 24, with a bonus episode on July 31.

Other additions include A Star Is Born and Sullivan’s Crossing Seasons 1-2 (July 8), The Gringo Hunters, and Mad Max: Fury Road.

All The Sharks (July 4) is a competition series about photographing sharks, and Building The Band (July 9) forms musical groups without visual contact.

Apocalypse in the Tropics (July 14) explores evangelical Christianity’s impact on Brazilian politics.

Aap Jaisa Koi, a romantic drama produced by Karan Johar, is also streaming.

Prime Video: Ballard, a new police procedural by Michael Connelly, and Heads of State, a comedy with John Cena, are now available.

Uppu Kappurambu and One Night in Idaho: The College Murders also premiered.

HBO Max: On Becoming a Guinea Fowl and Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado, a live-action Dora the Explorer sequel, started streaming on July 4.

Sinners, a vampire movie by Ryan Coogler, is a highlight.

BritBox: QI Series V, Death Valley (a comedic mystery), The Ex-Wife Season 2, and A Spy Among Friends are new this month.

Code of Silence, a drama about a Deaf canteen worker, is also streaming.

Peacock: Twisted Metal Season 2, Drop, and Love Island USA Season 7 episodes are available, along with The McBee Dynasty Season 2 and The Real Murders of Atlanta Season 3.

Theatrical Releases: Thammudu, an action thriller with Nithiin, and Solo Boy, a musical romance, hit theaters on July 4.

Jurassic World Rebirth and Metro In Dino are also in cinemas, with Jurassic World competing for the top Hollywood box office spot.

Saiyaara trailer launched on July 8, and Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandar has a confirmed release date.

Celebrity News: Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield were spotted in a public display of affection, sparking buzz.

The Masti franchise is returning with a new twist, with story details revealed.

Charlize Theron criticized studios for avoiding risks on female-led action films, tied to her work on The Old Guard 2.

Sean "Diddy" Combs, convicted on prostitution-related charges but acquitted on sex trafficking, faces up to 20 years, with prosecutors seeking 5-6 years. His team requested an earlier sentencing date.

LeAnn Rimes discussed being targeted during the Eddie Cibrian cheating scandal.

New details emerged about Reservoir Dogs star Michael Madsen’s cause of death.

Katie Holmes reportedly supports Tom Cruise’s rumored relationship with Ana de Armas.

Celine Song’s new film, featuring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, explores a romantic triangle with a matchmaker narrative.

Music and Events: K-pop group 2NE1 reunited for a fiery performance at WATERBOMB Seoul, thrilling fans with hits like Clap Your Hands.

J-pop band Be: First made an explosive Singapore debut with high-energy vocals.

Fans celebrated K-pop star Keena’s (FIFTY FIFTY) birthday, praising her resilience, and Sakamoto Days character Nagumo Yoichi’s birthday with fan art.

The Big ColLove Fancon ticket resale is surging for the August 10 event at Araneta Coliseum, with prices from PHP 499 to PHP 5,999.

Other Highlights: The Masti 4 story details were shared, and Hrithik Roshan hosted Ayan Mukerji and NTR for dinner.

Washington Black, a new series, and comedies by Lena Dunham and Leanne Morgan are among July’s TV highlights.

Emmy nominations are set for July 15, with buzz around The Bear Season 4 and Squid Game 3. (Grok)

News

Entertainment News

Box Office Highlights: The new Superman movie has soared at the global box office, opening with $217 million worldwide, with estimates of $115M-$120M domestically, marking a strong start for DC Studios. Meanwhile, Jurassic World Rebirth crossed $500M globally, and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is nearing $1B, potentially becoming the first billion-dollar film of 2025.

Celebrity Updates:

Zendaya and Tom Holland’s engagement was confirmed after Zendaya was spotted with a ring at the 2025 Golden Globes. Other celebrity engagements include Hayley Kiyoko and Becca Tilley.

Hollywood mourns losses in 2025, including filmmaker Jeff Baena, who died by suicide at 47, and Atlantic Starr’s Wayne Lewis, who passed at 68.

Dolly Parton announced she’s pausing her music career following a personal tragedy, as shared in posts on X.

Richard Dreyfuss, known for Jaws, canceled a fan event due to a severe health diagnosis.

Music and TV:

Bad Bunny’s album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is generating buzz for highlighting Puerto Rican culture, sparking global conversations.

Bluegrass legends Alison Krauss & Union Station reunited for a new album, their first in over a decade.

Rajeev Khandelwal shared insights on quitting Kahiin Toh Hoga after disputes with producer Ekta Kapoor.

BLACKPINK’s JUMP topped YouTube charts, while NCT DREAM wowed fans with their TheDreamShow4 performance at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Bollywood Buzz: Kaalidhar Laapata, starring Abhishek Bachchan, hit 100M watch minutes on ZEE5, earning praise for its emotional depth.

Neha Dhupia discussed her pre-marriage pregnancy with Angad Bedi, and Soha Ali Khan recalled a tense moment between Saif Ali Khan and their mother, Sharmila Tagore.

Social Media Trends: Social media, especially TikTok and Instagram, continues to shape entertainment in 2025, with AI-driven content personalization and declining traditional media influence. The creator economy is a bright spot, offering jobs for actors and crew amid a tough Hollywood market.

Upcoming Projects: A24 and Chernin Entertainment’s horror film The Backrooms adds Mark Duplass and Avan Jogia to its cast. (Grok)

News Flashback

Pop Culture News

These stories reflect a mix of nostalgia, cultural shifts, and bold moves in entertainment. K-Pop Milestone: K-pop star Bain made headlines by coming out as gay on stage, a rare and bold move in the industry. Fans globally, especially from the LGBTQ+ community, praised his courage, noting South Korea’s cultural challenges with acceptance. This could mark a turning point for representation in K-pop.

BTS Reunion: BTS announced a new album and tour, exciting fans after a hiatus. Their return underscores South Korea’s growing cultural influence, alongside hits like “Squid Game” and award-winning Broadway shows.

Taylor Swift’s Triumph: Taylor Swift reclaimed ownership of all her music, a major win after years of disputes over her master recordings. Fans also reminisced about her iconic Fourth of July parties, cementing her pop culture legacy.

Space Fever: Netflix’s new partnership with NASA brings live rocket launches and space content to the platform, fueled by 2025’s space exploration hype, including Katy Perry’s Blue Origin flight.

BookTok Drama: TikTok’s book community, BookTok, is reeling from plagiarism allegations against indie author Laura J. Robert’s novel “Beverly.” The scandal has sparked debates about online toxicity, shifting the once-lighthearted space.

Smoking’s Comeback: Pop culture is embracing smoking aesthetics again, from Adrien Brody’s chain-smoking character in “The Brutalist” to Beyoncé’s dramatic cigarette toss during her Cowboy Carter Tour. The trend’s ironic cool factor is notable, though health concerns linger.

New Music and Shows: Lorde dropped her first album in four years, “Virgin,” while new releases from Lizzo, KATSEYE, and others hit streaming platforms.

Meanwhile, the FX/Hulu series “Adults” captures Gen Z’s awkward transition to adulthood, joining the ranks of iconic hangout sitcoms.

Jurassic Revival: Scarlett Johansson fulfilled a childhood dream by joining the “Jurassic Park” franchise in “Jurassic World Rebirth,” sharing challenges of filming in jungles with real critters. (Grok)

News

Media Man

Brand News via Media Man

Netflix wins Media Man 'Brand Of The Month'; Runner-up: MAX

WWE wins Media Man 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' award

UFC wins Media Man 'MMA Promotion Of The Month' award

TKO Group wins Media Man 'Entertainment Promoter Of The Month' award

AEW wins Media Man 'Challenger Brand Of The Month' award

Prime wins Media Man 'Beverage Of The Month' award

Nespresso wins Media Man 'Coffee Brand Of The Month' award; Runner-up: Claudio's Cafe

Combat Sports Week

One For The Ages: TKO Action and Drama: Media Man Group

WWE
RAW On Netflix
July 7, 2025
Amica Mutual Pavilion
Providence Rhode Island
Paul Heyman Guys and much more!
Road To WWE Evolution and Road To WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

WWE NXT
July 8
Road To The Great American Bash
Family Business Drama
and much more!

WWE Speed
July 11

WWE SmackDown
July 11, 2025
Bridgestone Arena
Nashville, Tennessee
Road To WWE Evolution
Road To WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Cody Rhodes
Tiffany Stratton
Solo Sikoa and MFT's aka My Family Tree
and much more!

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
July 12, 2025
State Farm Arena
Atlanta, Georgia
Gunther vs Goldberg
Randy Orton vs Drew McIntyre
and much more!

NXT
The Great American Bash
July 12, 2025
Center Stage Theatre
Oba Femi vs Yoshiki Inamura - NXT Title
Sol Ruka vs Izzi Dame - NXT Women's Title
TNA Wrestling World Champion Contract Signing
and much more!

UFC
UFC On ESPN
Lewis vs Teixeira
Bridgestone Arena
Nashville, Tennessee

WWE Evolution
July 13, 2025
State Farm Arena
Atlanta, Georgia
All Women Premium Live Event
Tiffany Stratton vs Trish Stratus - WWE Women's Title
IYO SKY vs Rhea Ripley - Women's World Title
WWE Women's Tag Team Title
Greatest Women's Wrestling Wrestling In The World!
and much more!

*card/s subject to change

Media Man: Totally pumped!

Markets, Cryptos and Culture

July 8, 2025

Australian dollar -0.96% to 64.93 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 -0.79%
Dow -0.94%
Nasdaq -0.92%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 +1%
FTSE -0.19%
DAX +1.2%
CAC +0.35%

Bitcoin -0.59% to $US108,145

Gold +0.11%t $US3346.50 per ounce
US oil +1.54% to $US68.03 a barrel
Brent crude oil +1.96% to $US69.64 a barrel
Iron ore -1.02% at $US95.22 per ton
10-year yield: US 4.38% Australia 4.18% Germany 2.64%

News

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $108,222.28 USD -1.43%
Ethereum $2,539.11 USD -2.53%
Tether $1.00 USD -0.21%
XRP $2.28 USD -0.50%
BNB $660.68 USD -0.77%
Solana $148.30 USD -3.28%
USD Coin $1.00 USD +0.12%
Dogecoin $0.1667 USD -3.96%
TRON $0.2865 USD -0.22%
Cardano $0.576 USD -2.83%
Wrapped Bitcoin $108,045.74 USD -1.45%
Bitcoin Cash $493.24 USD -0.85%
Sui $2.84 USD -4.23%
Chainlink $13.36 USD -2.55%
UNUS SED LEO $9.04 USD -0.14%

Cryptocurrency News

Market Trends: The crypto market is showing volatility with positive momentum. Bitcoin is trading around $109,031.50, up 0.69%, while Ethereum is at $2,561.66, up 1.77%. Solana ($151.09, +2.45%) and other altcoins like Chainlink ($13.46, +1.79%) are also trending upward. The total crypto market cap is steady at $3.47 trillion.

Bitcoin Developments: Bitcoin treasury companies are gaining dominance, with public companies, including one linked to President Donald Trump, aggressively buying crypto amid a softening regulatory environment. Spot Bitcoin ETF inflows have reached $14.4 billion in 2025 through July 3. Bitcoin hit a $2 trillion valuation, rivaling major corporations like Apple.

Regulatory Updates:
The UAE denied claims that staking Toncoin (TON) could lead to golden visa eligibility, causing a 6% price drop after a 10% surge.

Hong Kong established the world’s first stablecoin regulatory regime, effective August 1.

Ripple and Circle are applying for U.S. national bank charters, signaling mainstream financial integration.

Emerging Projects:
BlockDAG raised $332 million in presale and is preparing for a global launch, making it a top-trending crypto.

Arbitrum (ARB) is gaining attention due to a Robinhood partnership for tokenized U.S. ETF trading.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is generating buzz in crypto forums as a new asset with high growth potential.

Scams and Losses: Investors lost nearly $2.5 billion to crypto scams and hacks in 2025 so far, highlighting ongoing security challenges.

Price Predictions: Analysts are bullish, with XRP potentially reaching $3–$3.50 due to restored investor trust post-SEC legal clarity. Some speculate XRP could hit $100 with Wall Street’s entry. Bitcoin and Solana are also projected for significant gains, with Bitcoin possibly reaching $230,000 and Solana targeting $4,390 based on technical patterns. (Grok)

News

Pop Culture News

Dream Matches: Fantasy Booking/Sports; Media Man Group Dream Match Series

Million Dollar Man vs IRS
Michael Wall Street vs Billionaire Ted
Mr X vs Mr BTC
Mr Green vs Mr Cash
VKM vs Easy E
Vinnie Vegas vs Mr Corbin
Mr Corp Merch vs Mr Freelance
Masked Superstar vs John McAfee
Sid Justice vs Mr Blood Diamond
Mr Bluey Chipper vs Street Fighter - King Of The Street Stipulation
Mr Dotcom vs Mr Wiki
Mr Gold vs Mr Green - Money In The Bank Ladder Match
Khan vs Khan - Winner Take All Match
Mr Wolff vs The Cleaner
Mr News vs Mr Vice - U.S Market Footprint Stipulation

News

Cryptocurrency Movies

Documentaries

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014) Follows early Bitcoin adopter Daniel Mross, exploring Bitcoin’s origins, its volatile rise, and the community behind it. Great for understanding Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt finance.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016) Examines Bitcoin’s history, ideological roots, and impact on global financial systems through interviews with pioneers and experts. A solid primer for newcomers.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)

Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this documentary dives into blockchain’s broader applications beyond cryptocurrency, addressing scalability and regulatory challenges. Ideal for those interested in blockchain’s transformative potential.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it explores blockchain’s societal impact, from financial inclusion to voting systems. A comprehensive look at real-world applications.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015) Traces the history of money and introduces Bitcoin as a decentralized alternative, critiquing centralized financial systems. Features interviews with crypto experts.

Deep Web (2015) Narrated by Keanu Reeves, this documentary focuses on the Silk Road marketplace and its creator, Ross Ulbricht, highlighting Bitcoin’s role in dark web transactions.

Bitconned (2024) Explores the Centra Tech crypto scam, detailing how three individuals defrauded investors during the 2010s crypto boom. A cautionary tale about unregulated markets.

Feature Films

Crypto (2019) A crime thriller starring Beau Knapp, Luke Hemsworth, and Kurt Russell. It follows a young anti-money laundering agent investigating corruption and cryptocurrency in his hometown. Critics note its exaggerated portrayal but praise its entertainment value.

Silk Road (2021) A dramatization of Ross Ulbricht’s creation of the Silk Road, a dark web marketplace using Bitcoin. It explores his rise and fall, blending crime and drama.

Dope (2015) A coming-of-age comedy-drama featuring Bitcoin as a plot device. High schooler Malcolm uses Bitcoin for a dark web transaction, reflecting its early association with illicit activities.

Bonus Mentions

Life on Bitcoin (2014): Follows a couple attempting to live solely on Bitcoin for 100 days, showcasing early adoption challenges.

Bitcoin Heist (2016): A Vietnamese action-comedy about hackers chasing a crypto criminal, blending humor and thrills.

Notes

Documentaries are generally more educational, focusing on Bitcoin’s history, blockchain technology, and real-world implications. They’re great for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

Feature films often dramatize crypto’s association with crime or scams, sometimes oversimplifying or exaggerating for effect. They prioritize entertainment over accuracy.

For a deeper dive, check streaming platforms like Prime Video, Fandango at Home, or YouTube, where many of these are available.

News

Wall Street (Movie)

Wall Street (1987), directed by Oliver Stone, is a drama about ambition and greed in the 1980s financial world. It follows Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen), a young stockbroker desperate to succeed, who gets entangled with Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas), a ruthless corporate raider. Gekko’s mantra, “Greed is good,” drives the story as Bud is lured into insider trading and unethical deals, compromising his morals for wealth and power. The film explores themes of capitalism, loyalty, and betrayal, with Bud navigating pressures from Gekko, his father (Martin Sheen), and his own conscience.

Key Details:
Cast: Michael Douglas (Gordon Gekko), Charlie Sheen (Bud Fox), Daryl Hannah (Darien Taylor), Martin Sheen (Carl Fox). Runtime: 2h 6m. Genre: Drama/Crime. Rating: R. Box Office: ~$44 million (US).

Awards: Michael Douglas won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Notable Aspects:
Gekko’s “Greed is good” speech is iconic, reflecting 1980s excess.
Inspired by real-life figures like Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken.
A sequel, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), continued the story.

Where to Watch (as of 2025):
Streaming: Available on platforms like Peacock or rentable on Amazon, YouTube, or Apple TV (check current availability). Physical: DVD/Blu-ray via retailers like Amazon.

News

Best Quotes

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." — Benjamin Franklin

"Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." — Jim Rogers

Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." — Warren Buffett

Media Man

"Everything is a gamble" Greg Tingle, Media Man Group

Mining, Resources, Energy, Markets,News: Australia and World

June 30, 2025

War, tariffs, growth slump take $33bn toll on miners

The Department of Industry, Science & Resources has forecast that Australia's resources export earnings will fall to $369bn in 2025-26, compared with an estimated $385bn in the current financial year. The quarterly resources and energy report also forecasts that the sector's export earnings will fall to $352bn in 2026-27. The report notes a number of risks for the sector, including geopolitical tensions, the Trump administration's tariffs regime and slowing global economic growth. The report forecasts that iron ore export earnings will fall by $11bn to $104.8bn in 2025-26; however, gold shipments are expected to rise by $10bn to $56bn, and become the nation's third-biggest resources export in 2025-26. (RMS)

News

Iran could resume uranium enrichment 'in a matter of months', UN nuclear watchdog says

International Atomic Energy Agency director-general Rafael Grossi says Iran might be able to resume uranium enrichment 'in a matter of months', despite the US and Israeli attacks on several of its nuclear facilities. There have also been questions as to whether Iran was able to relocate some or all of its estimated 408.6-kilogram (900-pound) stockpile of highly enriched uranium before the attacks, with Grossi admitting to CBS News that "we don't know where this material could be". Iran has decided to suspend co-operation with the IAEA, and has Grossi's request for a visit to the damaged facilities. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Rio Tinto puts hunt for CEO on fast-track

Sources have indicated that Rio Tinto is likely to announce the successor to CEO Jakob Stausholm after its half-year results are released on 30 July. The resources group has commenced the process of interviewing and assessing the shortlisted candidates for the role; the leading internal contenders include chief commercial officer Bold Baatar and the head of iron ore, Simon Trott. Stausholm revealed plans to step down in May, prompting speculation that he had been pushed out. Rival BHP is said to be preparing for the eventual departure of CEO Mike Henry. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Beach touted as Narrabri buyer

Citi has stated that regulators might require Santos to divest its undeveloped Narrabri gas field in NSW in order for them to approve its $30 billion takeover by Abu Dhabi's XRG consortium. It comes as XRG was given an exclusive four-week period of due diligence on Friday to progress its bid for Santos, while the Kerry Stokes-backed Beach Energy is seen as a potential buyer for the Narrabri gas field, which contains an estimated 1,500 petajoules of gas. Potential daily production of 200 terajoules is equivalent to half of NSW's current gas consumption. (RMS)

News

June 26, 2025

Australia sues China-linked rare earths investors

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has lodged Federal Court action against Indian Ocean International Shipping & Service for breaching Australian foreign investment laws; action is also being taken against a former unnamed associate of the firm. The company is one of five foreign investors with links to China that Chalmers ordered in 2024 to divest their shares in rare earth miner Northern Minerals due to national interest concerns, with Chalmers' legal action against Indian Ocean International Shipping & Service said to be the first of its kind. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Your mind is like a gold mine, if you dig deep you will find something golden."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"If you want to find gold, you've got to love the process of digging."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig."

"Develop men the same way gold is mined"

"Don't go into the mine looking for dirt; instead, go in looking for the gold."

"A prospector's job is to remove dirt as quickly as possible"

"A prospector who analyzes every speck of dirt won't find much gold"

"The world is sitting on a gold mine but knows it not."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"All that is gold does not glitter."

"Gold is forever. It is beautiful, useful, and never wears out"

"Gold is the money of kings"

"Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule."

"Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold."

"True gold fears no fire."

"The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit."

"Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold."

"When taken for granted, gold in one's hand is sometimes considered like cheap copper – so are people."

News

Gold holds decline as ceasefire saps haven demand

Gold held a decline as a shaky Iran-Israel ceasefire appeared to hold, reducing demand for haven assets. Bullion was near $US3330 an ounce, after closing down 1.3 per cent on Tuesday. The truce between Israel and Iran continued after US President Donald Trump lashed out at both sides for early breaches. Geopolitical uncertainties, along with Trump’s aggressive trade policy and central bank buying, have spurred a 27 per cent advance in gold this year. The rally has lost momentum over the last couple of months, however, with bullion mostly trading between $US3300 and $US3400 an ounce. Spot gold rose 0.2 per cent to $US3330.85 an ounce in Asian trading. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was flat. Silver was steady, while platinum and dipped.

News

Bonus

Gold by Spandau Ballet

Producers: Steve Jolley & Tony Swain

Music Video: Gold
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VQ4qrcHyYj4

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home
Sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away
Just another play for today
Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small
Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus] Gold (gold)

Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing

[Bridge]

Love is like a high prison wall
You could leave me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul

You got the power to know You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (You are, gold)
Always believe in your soul You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing 'Cause you are gold (gold)
I'm glad that you're bound to return
Something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing (gold)

[Verse 1]

Thank you for coming home
Sorry that the chairs are all worn
I left them here I could have sworn
These are my salad days
Slowly being eaten away
Just another play for today
Oh, but I'm proud of you, but I'm proud of you
Nothing left to make me feel small
Luck has left me standing so tall

[Chorus]

Gold (gold) Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know
You're indestructible, always believing
You are gold (gold)
Glad that you're bound to return
There's something I could have learned
You're indestructible, always believing

[Verse 2]

After the rush has gone I hope you find a little more time
Remember we were partners in crime
It's only two years ago
The man with the suit and the face
You knew that he was there on the case
Now he's in love with you, he's in love with you
And love is like a high prison wall
And you could leave me standing so tall

News

Markets

June 30, 2025

Australian Dollar: $0.6535 USD (down $0.0009 USD)
Iron Ore July Spot Price (SGX): $94.75 USD (up $1.20)
Oil (WTI): $65.52 (up $0.33)
Gold: $3,274.23 (down $53.78)
Copper (CME): $5.1220 (up $0.0690)
Bitcoin: $107,356.68 (up 0.13%)
Dow Jones: 43,819.27 (up 432.43)

Markets

June 27, 2025

Australian dollar +0.5% to 65.46 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones +0.9%
Nasdaq +1%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.2%
FTSE +2%,
DAX +0.6%
CAC -0.01%

Bitcoin +0.1% to US$107,875

Gold $US3329.90 an ounce at 6.41am AEDT
US oil +0.5% to $US62.26 a barrel at 8.42am AEDT
Brent Crude Oil +0.1% to $US67.78 a barrel
Iron ore -1% at $US94.52 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.24% Australia 4.1% Germany 2.57%

News

Gold once again approaches a cliff edge

The Israel and Iran ceasefire has reduced demand for gold as a safe-haven asset. The precious metal failed to break out of the medium-term consolidation range of $3,100 to $3,400 per troy ounce and resume its upward trend. This signals weakness among bulls and allows Citigroup to predict a fall in prices below $3,000 in 2026. According to the bank, thanks to Donald Trump's ‘big and beautiful’ tax bill, the acceleration of the US economy will push gold prices down. The decrease in geopolitical risks will also contribute to gold's decline.

Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, maintains its forecast for the precious metal to rise to $4,000. It cites the insatiable appetite of central banks, the weakening dollar, and the fall in US Treasury bond yields. Indeed, the White House is keen on lower debt market rates and a weaker currency. A recent survey by the World Gold Council shows that 43% of central banks plan to increase their bullion purchases over the next 12 months, up from just 29% a year ago.

The recent de-escalation has once again tested gold's support at its uptrend, marked by the 50-day moving average. On Friday, sellers pushed the price below this level, which passes through 3324, and are even attempting to stabilise below 3300. In May, a sharp movement managed to push the price back above this line. However, this metric is now turning downward, reflecting over two months of consolidation after reaching recent highs.

All signs indicate a potential repeat of the consolidation seen in November-December last year, which laid the groundwork for the subsequent rally. However, there is also a high probability that the failure to break through the $3500 level over the past two months signals a global trend reversal. We await whether this will mirror 2020, with a 20% correction in the next six months and a two-year sideways movement or resemble the nearly halving in gold prices from 2011 to 2015. (FxPro)

News

ASX dips on tech sell-off; lithium stocks rally

The Australian sharemarket drifted lower on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.1 per cent to close at 8,550.8 points. Northern Star Resources fell 2.3 per cent to $18.84, Xero was down 5.3 per cent at $184 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 0.4 per cent lower at $190.71. However, Mineral Resources was up 3.6 per cent at $20.90 and DroneShield added 11.7 per cent to end the session at $2.39. (RMS)

News

'Not the moment' for abandoned rare earths mega-merger, says Lynas boss

A merger of Lynas Rare Earths with MP Materials would create a monopoly of rare earths in the Western world, and the idea that they should merge has been previously flagged. Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze said on Wednesday that she had been of the view that a merger of the two was a good idea, but that for a "variety of reasons, it didn't happen". Speaking on the sidelines of a talk for the Western Australian Mining Club, she said that there were no discussions between Lynas and MP Materials about a merger at present. She said that deals often have their moment, "and now is not the moment, unfortunately", in terms of one between the two companies. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

"The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears. To find the gold, think deeply and think better."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig." Broadway Mining

"There's a gold mine in you that must be exploited"

Markets

June 27, 2025

Australian dollar +0.5% to 65.46 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.8%
Dow Jones +0.9%
Nasdaq +1%

Europe:
Stoxx 50 -0.2%
FTSE +2%,
DAX +0.6%
CAC -0.01%

Bitcoin +0.1% to US$107,875

Gold $US3329.90 an ounce at 6.41am AEDT
US oil +0.5% to $US62.26 a barrel at 8.42am AEDT
Brent Crude Oil +0.1% to $US67.78 a barrel
Iron ore -1% at $US94.52 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.24% Australia 4.1% Germany 2.57%

News

Gold once again approaches a cliff edge

The Israel and Iran ceasefire has reduced demand for gold as a safe-haven asset. The precious metal failed to break out of the medium-term consolidation range of $3,100 to $3,400 per troy ounce and resume its upward trend. This signals weakness among bulls and allows Citigroup to predict a fall in prices below $3,000 in 2026. According to the bank, thanks to Donald Trump's ‘big and beautiful’ tax bill, the acceleration of the US economy will push gold prices down. The decrease in geopolitical risks will also contribute to gold's decline.

Goldman Sachs, on the other hand, maintains its forecast for the precious metal to rise to $4,000. It cites the insatiable appetite of central banks, the weakening dollar, and the fall in US Treasury bond yields. Indeed, the White House is keen on lower debt market rates and a weaker currency. A recent survey by the World Gold Council shows that 43% of central banks plan to increase their bullion purchases over the next 12 months, up from just 29% a year ago.

The recent de-escalation has once again tested gold's support at its uptrend, marked by the 50-day moving average. On Friday, sellers pushed the price below this level, which passes through 3324, and are even attempting to stabilise below 3300. In May, a sharp movement managed to push the price back above this line. However, this metric is now turning downward, reflecting over two months of consolidation after reaching recent highs.

All signs indicate a potential repeat of the consolidation seen in November-December last year, which laid the groundwork for the subsequent rally. However, there is also a high probability that the failure to break through the $3500 level over the past two months signals a global trend reversal. We await whether this will mirror 2020, with a 20% correction in the next six months and a two-year sideways movement or resemble the nearly halving in gold prices from 2011 to 2015. (FxPro)

News

ASX dips on tech sell-off; lithium stocks rally

The Australian sharemarket drifted lower on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 easing 0.1 per cent to close at 8,550.8 points. Northern Star Resources fell 2.3 per cent to $18.84, Xero was down 5.3 per cent at $184 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 0.4 per cent lower at $190.71. However, Mineral Resources was up 3.6 per cent at $20.90 and DroneShield added 11.7 per cent to end the session at $2.39. (RMS)

News

'Not the moment' for abandoned rare earths mega-merger, says Lynas boss

A merger of Lynas Rare Earths with MP Materials would create a monopoly of rare earths in the Western world, and the idea that they should merge has been previously flagged. Lynas CEO Amanda Lacaze said on Wednesday that she had been of the view that a merger of the two was a good idea, but that for a "variety of reasons, it didn't happen". Speaking on the sidelines of a talk for the Western Australian Mining Club, she said that there were no discussions between Lynas and MP Materials about a merger at present. She said that deals often have their moment, "and now is not the moment, unfortunately", in terms of one between the two companies. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

"The best and biggest gold mine is in between your ears. To find the gold, think deeply and think better."

"You are a gold mine of potential power. You have to dig to find it and make it real."

"Don't die without mining the gold in your mind."

"We're like goldfields. Until we dig deep to find what's inside us, our true potentials may be hidden forever."

"Even if you're sitting on a gold mine, you still have to dig." Broadway Mining

"There's a gold mine in you that must be exploited"

Movie Box Office (North America)

June 22, 2025

1. How to Train Your Dragon - $37m
2. 28 Years Later - $30m
3. Elio - $21m
4. Lilo & Stitch - $9.7m
5. Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning - $6.7m
6. Materialists - $5.8m
7. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina - $4.6m
8. Karate Kid: Legends - $2.4m
9. Final Destination: Bloodlines - $1.9m
10. Kuberaa - $1.8m

others...

The Phoenician Scheme
The Life of Chuck - $2.1m
Sinners - $1.5m
Bring Her Back
Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye
Thunderbolts*
Friendship
The Last Rodeo
j-hope Tour Hope on the Stage in Japan
A Minecraft Movie
The Accountant 2
Hurry Up Tomorrow
Clown in a Cornfield
Shadow Force
Flight or Fight
Until Dawn
The Amateur
The King of Kings
HIT: The 3rd Case
Guru Nanak Jahaz

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

Movie Box Office (North America)

June 15, 2025

1. How to Train Your Dragon - $83.7m
2. Lilo & Stitch - $15.5m
3. The Materialists - $12m
4. Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning - $10.3m
5. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina - $9.4m
6. Karate Kid: Legends - $5m
7. Final Destination: Bloodlines - $3.9m
8. The Phoenician Scheme - $3m
9. The Life of Chuck - $2.1m
10. Sinners - $1.5m

others ...

Bring Her Back
Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye
Thunderbolts*
Friendship
The Last Rodeo
j-hope Tour Hope on the Stage in Japan
A Minecraft Movie
The Accountant 2
Hurry Up Tomorrow
Clown in a Cornfield
Shadow Force
Flight or Fight
Until Dawn
The Amateur
The King of Kings
HIT: The 3rd Case
Guru Nanak Jahaz

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

Movie Box Office (North America)

June 8, 2025

1. Lilo & Stitch - $32.5m
2. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina - $25m
3. Mission Impossible: The Last Reckoning - $15m
4. Karate Kid: Legends - $8.7m
5. Final Destination: Bloodlines at No. 4 with $6.5m
6. The Phoenician Scheme - $6.3m
7. Bring Her Back - $3.5m
8. Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye - $3.1m
9. Sinners - $2.9m
10. Thunderbolts* - $2.5m

others

Friendship
The Last Rodeo
j-hope Tour Hope on the Stage in Japan
A Minecraft Movie
The Accountant 2
Hurry Up Tomorrow
Clown in a Cornfield
Shadow Force
Flight or Fight
Until Dawn
The Amateur
The King of Kings
HIT: The 3rd Case
Guru Nanak Jahaz

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

Box Office Movie News

Lilo & Stitch Dominates: Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch continues to lead the box office, grossing $772.6 million globally by its third weekend, with $339.3 million domestically and $436.5 million internationally. It’s the third film of 2025 to surpass $775 million worldwide, following A Minecraft Movie ($954.1 million) and Ne Zha 2 ($1.899 billion). The film is nearing $800 million and has already doubled its $100 million budget, making it a major success for Disney’s live-action remakes.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning: Tom Cruise’s action sequel earned $15 million domestically in its third weekend, totalling $149 million in North America and $450 million worldwide. Despite a $400 million budget, its high costs make profitability challenging. It remains strong in China, earning $9.8 million over the June 6–8 weekend.

Ne Zha 2 Leads Globally: The Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 is 2025’s top-grossing movie, with $2.2 billion worldwide, far outpacing A Minecraft Movie. Its success highlights the growing influence of Chinese cinema globally.

Ballerina Underperforms: The John Wick spinoff Ballerina opened to a disappointing $25–$27 million domestically, falling behind Lilo & Stitch’s $33 million third weekend. It grossed $51 million globally, with $30 million from international markets, but failed to meet expectations for a $80–$90 million budgeted film.

How to Train Your Dragon Soars: The live-action remake topped South Korea’s box office with $4 million over the June 6–8 weekend. It’s projected to open globally with $175–$185 million, signaling a strong start for the summer season.

Bollywood Comeback: Akshay Kumar’s Sky Force grossed Rs 113.62 crore ($13.5 million) domestically, marking a successful return after a string of flops. Housefull 5 also performed strongly, reinforcing his box office appeal. Thug Life, starring Kamal Haasan, struggled post-weekend, earning Rs 4 crore on its fifth day, falling short of Rs 50 crore domestically.

Anime Success: Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye outperformed A Minecraft Movie and Thunderbolts in the U.S., earning $355,000 on June 9 and $3 million total domestically, breaking records for an anime compilation film.

Horror and Indie Highlights: 28 Years Later set a record for 2025’s biggest horror presales, projecting a $34 million opening weekend, the best in its franchise. The Latvian animated film Flow passed €50 million ($57 million) globally, a rare feat for an indie animated feature.

Upcoming Blockbusters: The Fantastic Four: First Steps is tracking for a $125–$136 million opening, potentially Marvel’s biggest 2025 debut. James Gunn’s Superman reboot, set for July 11, is expected to perform strongly, especially with a confirmed China release. Avatar: Fire and Ash is a contender to challenge Ne Zha 2’s $2 billion mark in December.

The 2025 box office is heating up with a mix of Hollywood blockbusters, international hits, and indie surprises, though high budgets for films like Mission: Impossible pose challenges. The summer season looks promising with major releases like Superman and Avatar: Fire and Ash on the horizon. (Grok)

News

Movies: Coming Soon

June 2025:
How to Train Your Dragon (June 13): A live-action remake of the animated classic, directed by Dean DeBlois, with Mason Thames as Hiccup.

28 Years Later (June 20): A sequel to the iconic zombie film, directed by Danny Boyle, starring Cillian Murphy, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Jodie Comer.

Elio (June 20): Pixar’s animated sci-fi adventure about an 11-year-old transported to an interplanetary paradise.

F1 (June 27): A high-octane racing drama starring Brad Pitt as a retired Formula One driver mentoring a rookie (Damson Idris).

M3GAN 2.0 (June 27): A sci-fi horror sequel exploring AI consequences, with Allison Williams and Violet McGraw returning.

July 2025:
Jurassic World: Rebirth (July 2): A new chapter with Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey, focusing on a DNA extraction mission.

Superman (July 11): James Gunn’s DC Universe reboot with David Corenswet as Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25): MCU’s take on Marvel’s first family, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, and Joseph Quinn, facing Galactus.

August 2025:
Freakier Friday (August 8): A sequel to Freaky Friday, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan.

The Bad Guys 2 (August 15): An animated sequel to the heist comedy.

Nobody 2 (August 15): A follow-up to the action-packed Nobody, starring Bob Odenkirk.

September 2025:
The Conjuring: Last Rites (September 5): The final core installment of the horror franchise.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (September 12): The third film wrapping up the beloved series.

October 2025:
Tron: Ares (October 10): A sci-fi sequel with Jared Leto as a program entering the real world.

The Black Phone 2 (October 17): A horror sequel with Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames.

The Smashing Machine (October 3): A biopic starring Dwayne Johnson as MMA fighter Mark Kerr.

November 2025:
Wicked: For Good (November 26): The second part of the musical, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Predator: Badlands (November 7): A new Predator film with Elle Fanning, directed by Dan Trachtenberg.

Zootopia 2 (November 26): A sequel to Disney’s anthropomorphic animal adventure.

December 2025:
Avatar: Fire and Ash (December 19): James Cameron’s third Avatar film, continuing Jake Sully’s saga.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (December 5): A horror sequel based on the hit video game.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (December 12): Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out film, with Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc.

News

Movie Biz Quotes

"When people ask me if I went to film school I tell them, 'no, I went to films" Quentin Tarantino

Markets, Business News, Biz Culture, Pop Culture awards

Australian Edition

June 10, 2025

ASX futures down 4 points/0.1% to 8555

Australian dollar +0.4% to 65.16 US cents

Wall Street:
S&P 500 +0.1%, Dow Jones flat, Nasdaq +0.3%

Europe: Stoxx 50 -0.2%, FTSE -0.1%, DAX -0.5%, CAC -0.2%

Bitcoin +2.4% to $US108,792

Spot gold +0.5% to $US3325.27 per ounce

US oil +1.3% to $US65.39 a barrel

Brent crude oil +1% to $US67.12 a barrel

Iron ore -0.9% to $US94.65 per tonne

10-year yield: US 4.47% Australia 4.26% Germany 2.56%

News

Australia

Power costs could doom Rio smelter

Located north of Newcastle in NSW, the Tomago aluminium smelter is the biggest producer of aluminium in Australia, along with being the largest user of electricity in the nation. It is majority owned by Rio Tinto, which is said to be seeking billion of dollars in support from the NSW and federal government to prevent it from collapsing because of high electricity prices. The discussions between Rio and the two governments are understood be focusing on the structure of the federal government's production tax credits and Tomago's electricity contract for 2026 to 2029. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

High-price hydrogen bombshell

The federal government wants to develop a green hydrogen export industry, but the current high cost of producing green hydrogen represents a challenge to its goal. InterContinental Energy, which is the co-owner of two large green hydrogen projects in Western Australia, has stated initial costs for delivering green hydrogen from the two projects was estimated at ­between $8 and $11 a kilogram, but MST Marquee analyst Saul Kavonic states the cost of green hydrogen needs to be below $2 a kilogram for it to be competitive with other energy sources. (RMS)

Battery subsidies to spark power struggle

The federal government has set a target of sourcing 82 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with its new household battery installations subsidy scheme aimed at helping it meet that target. The government will subsidise household battery installations by up to 30 per cent from 1 July, with Jon Briskin from Origin Energy noting that battery inquiries in May were up 400 per cent on the previous month. The scheme could also present a challenge for energy retailers, which have traditionally operated household batteries through what are known as virtual power plants. Critics of the VPP model contend that VPP participants are undercompensated and have little knowledge as to how and when their battery is being used, but retailers claim that participants are adequately rewarded. (RMS)

News

Advanced AI suffers 'complete accuracy collapse' in face of complex problems, study finds

Apple researchers have concluded in a paper released over the weekend that large reasoning models suffer 'complete accuracy collapse' when faced with complex problems, with LRMs being an advanced form of artificial intelligence. US academic Gary Marcus, who has become a noted voice of caution on the capabilities of AI systems, has described the Apple paper as "pretty devastating", while Andrew Rogoyski, of the Institute for People-Centred AI at the University of Surrey, said the paper shows the industry was "still feeling its way" on artificial general intelligence (AGI), with AGI being a theoretical stage of AI at which a system is able to "match a human at carrying out any intellectual task".

News

V'Landys backs Tabcorp's McLachlan

Racing NSW CEO Peter V'Landys says he supports Tabcorp's plans to change how its pays pubs to host its betting terminals, although the Australian Hotels Association is against what Tabcorp and CEO Gillon McLachlan is seeking to do. Tabcorp's plans would see thousands of pubs no longer get paid for hosting its terminals, while in return, it will commit to refurbishing hotel facilities, investing in promotions and waiving subscription fees to Sky Racing: Tabcorp's plans are set to take effect from 1 July

News

Stars to face big pay cuts in purge

The big salaries of some high-profile Australian television personalities are under scrutiny as networks seek to offset a downturn in advertising revenue. The Seven and Nine networks are believed to be planning to make significant 'efficiencies' across their national newsrooms in coming months. In some cases, popular TV personalities are being paid six-figure salaries despite rarely being seen on screen. A senior source at Nine has indicated that networks will no longer keep people on their books with nothing to do just so they will not be poached by a rival network. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Media

Failing Project officially gets axe

The Ten Network has confirmed that long-running current affairs panel show The Project will cease production amid a decline in its ratings. The last edition of the program will be broadcast on 27 June, nearly 16 years after it debuted as The 7pm Project in July 2009. Ten has advised that it will be replaced by an hour-long national news, current affairs and insights program in the 6pm timeslot; it will complement Ten's evening news bulletin at 5pm and compete with the news bulletins of Nine and Seven. The Project's current hosts Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris and Hamish Macdonald will leave Ten. (RMS)

News

Gen Z lead shift to ad-backed 'free' streamers

Tubi is a free ad-supported video-on-demand service, with international MD David Salmon saying that younger audiences are showing an increased preference for such services over paid subscription services. Salmon contends that Gen Z is increasingly favouring streaming platforms that "help them find their next fandom", and that Tubi has gone from 25 million to 97 million monthly users over the past five years. Owned by Fox Corporation, Tubi is currently available in Australia, the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Latin America. (RMS)

News

Mining

Rio ready to settle Mongolian lawsuit

Rio Tinto is understood to be ready to settle a lawsuit that has been led by Florida-based hedge fund Pentwater Capital Management and was launched in 2022 by investors in a company called Turquoise Hill. The lawsuit relates to allegations that Rio withheld information about cost blowouts and delays with its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine project in Mongolia; Rio gained control of the project and became its operator in 2012 by acquiring a 50.7 per cent stake in a company later renamed Turquoise Hill, with Rio acquiring the remainder of Turquoise Hill for $US3.1bn in December 2022. News that Rio is prepared to settle the lawsuit comes as it is looking to appoint a successor to Jakob Stausholm as its CEO. (RMS)

News

Rio Tinto's departing CEO rejects talk of rift with chair

It was announced on 22 May that Jakob Stausholm would be stepping down as CEO of Rio Tinto, with the fact that no successor was announced at the time prompting talk that the decision was rushed and was due to tensions between Stausholm and chairman Dominic Barton. However, speaking on Friday at the official opening of Rio's $2.4 billion Western Range iron ore joint venture with Chinese firm Baowu in the Pilbara region, Stausholm denied talk of any rift with Barton, while he said it was possible that his successor could come from within Rio's ranks. (RMS)

News

Fortescue pushes for tax credit overhaul

Fortescue intends to lobby the federal government to reform the diesel fuel tax rebate scheme that sees the mining sector claim back millions each year for diesel when it is used on their private roads. Fortescue contends the scheme serves as a disincentive for large mining companies to switch from using diesel in their truck fleets in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, with Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto claiming the scheme undermines the federal government's safeguard mechanism; it wants a $50 million cap placed on the amount that mining companies can claim back under the scheme. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Pop Culture News

Media Man

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award

The Australian Financial Review wins Media Man 'Newspaper Of The Month' award

Roy Morgan Research wins Media Man 'News Services Company Of The Month'

WWE wins 'Wrestling Promotion Of The Month' award

UFC wins Media Man 'MMA Promotion Of The Month' award

Karrion Kross wins Media Man 'Wrestler Of The Month' award (Men's Division)

Stephanie Vaquer wins Media Man 'Wrestler Of The Month' award (Women's Division)

El Grande Americano wins Media Man 'Luchador Of The Month' award; Runner-ups: Dirty Dom and Vikingo

Porsche wins Media Man 'Auto Brand Of The Month' award

Google Pixel wins Media Man 'Tech Brand Of The Month' award

News

June 10, 2025

Media News

On the losing side of Wall Street was Warner Bros. Discovery, which flipped from a big early gain to a loss of 3 per cent after saying it would split into two companies. One will get Warner Bros. Television, HBO Max and other studio brands, while the other will hold onto CNN, TNT Sports and other entertainment, sports and news television brands around the world, along with some digital products.

Movies, Pop Culture, Streaming and More

June 2025

Movie Box Office (North America)

June 1, 2025

1. Lilo & Stitch - $63m
2. Mission Impossible: The Last Reckoning - $27.3m
3. Karate Kid: Legends - $21m
4. Final Destination: Bloodlines at No. 4 with $10.8m
5. Bring Her Back - $7.1m
6. Sinners - $5.2m
7. Thunderbolts* - $4.8m
8. Friendship - $2.6m
9. The Last Rodeo - $2.1m
10. j-hope Tour Hope on the Stage in Japan - $940,000

others ...

A Minecraft Movie
The Accountant 2
Hurry Up Tomorrow
Clown in a Cornfield
Shadow Force
Flight or Fight
Until Dawn
The Amateur
The King of Kings
HIT: The 3rd Case
Guru Nanak Jahaz

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

News

Box Office Movie News via Grok

Lilo & Stitch continues to dominate, earning $63 million domestically in its second weekend, pushing its global total to $610 million. It’s on track to potentially become the first Hollywood movie of 2025 to hit the billion-dollar mark. The film’s success, alongside Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, contributed to a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend with $326.7 million in U.S. and Canada ticket sales, surpassing the 2013 record set by Fast & Furious 6.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, starring Tom Cruise, grossed $27.3 million domestically in its second weekend and crossed $100 million in North America, with a global total nearing $250 million. In China, it scored a $25.5 million opening weekend, outperforming its predecessor Dead Reckoning Part One ($24.8 million) and becoming the top-grossing imported title of 2025 there. The film earned a 9.4/10 rating on Maoyan, equivalent to an A on CinemaScore.

Karate Kid: Legends, featuring Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, opened softer than expected with $2.3 million in previews and a projected $21–25 million for its opening weekend. Despite the franchise’s legacy and Cobra Kai’s popularity, it’s struggling against Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible.

Bhairavam, a Telugu action drama, debuted with Rs 2.75 crore ($330,000 USD) in India on its first day, with a 26.7% theater occupancy. It’s off to a solid start for a regional release.

Bhool Chuk Maaf, a Bollywood comedy-drama starring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, has earned Rs 48.41 crore ($5.8 million USD) in India after nine days, surpassing bigger-budget films like Sikandar and Sky Force. However, reviews cite poor execution as a factor limiting its potential.

Tom Cruise vs. Jason Statham: Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning has outperformed Statham’s latest efforts in 2025, continuing a decade-long box office rivalry. Cruise’s films have grossed over $12.9 billion globally since 1981, while Statham’s action franchises like The Meg remain strong but haven’t matched Cruise this year.

MCU Struggles: Marvel’s Thunderbolts* and Captain America: Brave New World have underperformed, with a combined $357.4 million globally, 42% less than Deadpool & Wolverine’s $1.3 billion. Thunderbolts* barely broke even on its $180 million budget, marking it among the MCU’s lowest earners alongside The Marvels and The Incredible Hulk.

Final Destination: Bloodlines set a franchise record with a $46–48 million opening weekend globally, including $5.5 million in U.S. previews. It’s received strong reviews, with critics calling it a confident revival of the horror series.

Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, is gaining attention, with its Clarksdale, Mississippi setting spotlighting local culture. It’s performing well but trails behind the top earners.

Memorial Day Weekend Surge: The $329 million haul over the four-day holiday, driven by Lilo & Stitch ($182 million) and Mission: Impossible, signals a strong summer season, with analysts predicting a $4 billion summer box office.

The box office is showing signs of recovery after a slow start to 2025, with family-friendly and action films leading the charge. However, some anticipated releases like Karate Kid: Legends and MCU titles are facing challenges amidst fierce competition.

News

Famous Movie Quotes

“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” —Vivien Leigh as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire

“Elementary, my dear Watson.” —Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

“Go ahead, make my day.” —Clint Eastwood as Harry Callahan in Sudden Impact

“You complete me.” —Tom Cruise as Jerry Maguire in Jerry Maguire

“You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” —Viola Davis as Aibileen Clark in The Help

“Yo, Adrian!” —Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa in Rocky

“Just keep swimming.” —Ellen DeGeneres as Dory in Finding Nemo

“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.” —Leslie Nielsen as Dr. Rumack in Airplane!

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” —Karolyn Grimes as Zuzu in It’s a Wonderful Life

“I’m the king of the world!” —Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson in Titanic

“Houston, we have a problem.” —Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell in Apollo 13

“To infinity and beyond!” —Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story

“As if!” —Alicia Silverstone as Cher in Clueless

“I’m just one stomach flu away from my goal weight.” —Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada

“Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?” —The Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

“If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you and I will kill you.” —Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills in Taken

“Wax on, wax off.” —Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid

“If you build it, he will come.” —Unknown, said to Kevin Costner as Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams

“I’m also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” —Julia Roberts as Anna Scott in Notting Hill

“You make me want to be a better man.” —Jack Nicholson as Melvin Udall in As Good as It Gets

“I wish I knew how to quit you.” —Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain

“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys.” —Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poets Society

“That’ll do, pig. That’ll do.” —James Cromwell as Arthur Hoggett in Babe

“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” —Christopher Lloyd as Dr. Emmett Brown in Back to the Future

“Well, it’s not the men in your life that counts, it’s the life in your men.” —Mae West as Tira in I’m No Angel

“Oh, no, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast.” —Robert Armstrong as Carl Denham in King Kong

“My Mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.'” —Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump

“I don’t want to survive. I want to live.” —Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave

“Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!” —Alfonso Bedoya as Gold Hat in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

“It’s not the years, honey. It’s the mileage.” —Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark

“There’s no place like home.” —Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” —Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

“We’ll always have Paris.” —Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in Casablanca

“It’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” —Christian Bale as Batman in Batman Begins

“Get busy living, or get busy dying.” —Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption

“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” —Kevin Spacey as Roger “Verbal” Kint in The Usual Suspects

“Only one thing counts in this life—get them to sign on the line which is dotted.” —Alec Baldwin as Blake in Glengarry Glen Ross

“They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!” —Mel Gibson as William Wallace in Braveheart

“There’s no crying in baseball!” —Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan in A League of Their Own

News

Pop Culture News

Hailey Bieber’s Career Milestone: Hailey Bieber secured a billion-dollar deal to sell her skincare company and landed a Vogue cover, marking a significant career high. However, public attention has shifted to her husband, Justin Bieber, whose erratic behavior and concerning online activity have fueled rumors about his health and their marriage. The couple has denied marital issues, but speculation persists due to Justin’s past struggles with drug use and his step back from music since 2019.

Broadway’s Pop Culture Impact: Director Jamie Lloyd’s productions, like the reimagined “Sunset Blvd.” starring Nicole Scherzinger, have gained significant social media traction, turning Broadway shows into pop culture events. His upcoming “Evita” with Rachel Zegler is described as a pop concert-political rally hybrid, reflecting his knack for blending theater with contemporary cultural trends.

Media Literacy Concerns: NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour highlighted a “bean soup problem” in online discourse, questioning if there’s a media literacy crisis. Commentary around Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners suggests some audiences are misinterpreting key elements, pointing to broader issues in how pop culture is consumed and discussed online.

Pornification of Pop Culture: Sophie Gilbert’s book Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves argues that entertainment industries, including music and movies, have normalized the objectification of women, influenced heavily by pornography. This has sparked discussions about its impact on societal views of women.

Kim Kardashian’s Legal Milestone: Kim Kardashian completed a six-year law program, celebrating with a small ceremony. She recently passed the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam, a step toward California bar admission, marking a significant shift from her reality TV persona.

Menendez Brothers’ Cultural Resurgence: The Menendez brothers’ case has regained attention due to shifting cultural attitudes post-MeToo and evolving views on criminal justice. Their fate now lies with California’s Parole Board and Governor Gavin Newsom, reflecting how pop culture can influence legal narratives.

Pedro Pascal on Immigration: At Cannes, Pedro Pascal addressed U.S. deportations, emphasizing his support for immigration protections as a Chilean-American. His cautious comments reflect the delicate balance celebrities navigate in addressing political issues.

Ms. Rachel’s Advocacy: Children’s content creator Ms. Rachel faced backlash for advocating for Palestinian children but doubled down, stating compassion for kids has no borders. Her stance has sparked debates about celebrity activism in pop culture.

Meghan Trainor’s Lyric Change: Meghan Trainor altered lyrics in her 2014 hit “All About That Bass” during a performance, reflecting her recent weight loss. This move has prompted discussions about body positivity in pop culture.

Labubu Craze: The plush doll Labubu has become a status symbol, with Pop Mart’s blind box series generating over $419 million in 2024. The craze, marked by sellouts and counterfeit “lafufus,” highlights the power of collectible trends in pop culture.

Recession Pop Resurgence:

Artists like Kesha and Lady Gaga are leading a revival of “recession pop,” upbeat music from the late 2000s/early 2010s, seen as a response to economic downturns. Tracks like Kesha’s “Tik ToK” and Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” are cited as prime examples.

K-Pop’s Mixed Fortunes:

While K-pop group Seventeen sold out UK shows and Aespa filled Wembley Arena, the genre faces challenges in the U.S. Blackpink members’ solo projects have underperformed, and NewJeans is caught in legal dramas, raising questions about K-pop’s global trajectory.

Celebrity Clapbacks:

Celebrities like Halsey and Spencer Pratt made headlines with sharp responses to critics. Halsey defended her bold social media posts, while Pratt supported Mandy Moore against backlash over a GoFundMe plea, showing how stars engage with online discourse.

These stories reflect the dynamic interplay of celebrity, media, and societal trends shaping pop culture in early June 2025. (Grok)

News

Entertainment News

Streaming Releases:

June is packed with new content across major platforms. Netflix is dropping Squid Game Season 2, Ginny & Georgia Season 3, Criminal Code Season 2, and the OceanGate documentary Titan. Other highlights include Grey’s Anatomy’s latest season and all seven seasons of Scandal. Disney+ features Ironheart, a Marvel series following Riri Williams, premiering June 24, and Frozen: The Musical on June 23. Hulu’s big draw is The Bear Season 4, premiering June 25, while Apple TV+ brings Echo Valley with Julianne Moore and Sydney Sweeney on June 13, and Stick, a sports comedy with Owen Wilson, on June 4.

Paramount+ offers Love Me with Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun, and Tubi adds classics like Independence Day and Jaws starting June 1.

Film and TV Premieres:

Hallmark is releasing five new movies, including Mystery Island on June 5, where a corporate retreat turns deadly. The Tony Awards air live on CBS June 8, with a preshow on Pluto TV. On broadcast, The Quiz with Balls Season 2, Below Deck Season 12, and new series like Iggy and Mr. Kirk (Great American Family) and Relative Secrets (BBC America/Acorn TV) premiered June 2.

Box Office:

Karate Kid: Legends opened to $17 million domestically, underperforming expectations, while Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme scored a strong $95,000 per screen in limited release, the best screen average of 2025 so far. Lilo & Stitch continues to perform well at the box office.

Celebrity News: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Shiloh has officially dropped “Pitt” from her name, now going by Shiloh Jolie. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce updates are circulating, with fans buzzing about changes in their personal and professional lives.

Tragic Losses: Hollywood is mourning the death of Jonathan Joss, known for voicing John Redcorn in King of the Hill and roles in Parks and Recreation. Joss was fatally shot on June 1 in San Antonio during a dispute with a neighbor, who has been charged with murder.

Industry Layoffs: Disney is undergoing another round of layoffs, impacting hundreds in its TV, film, and corporate finance divisions, following 200 cuts three months ago. The broader industry, including Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount Global, and NBCUniversal, is also facing workforce reductions amid a challenging landscape for traditional media.

International Highlights: In India, Prabhas’ horror-comedy The Raja Saab is set for a December 5, 2025, release, with a teaser dropping June 16. Directed by Maruthi, it stars Malavika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal, Ridhi Kumar, and Sanjay Dutt. In K-pop, Tencent Music is becoming the second-largest shareholder in SM Entertainment, and SM artists celebrated 30 years with SMTown Live in L.A.

Trending on X: KCON LA 2025 is generating buzz with its “Lucky Artist Polaroid Event,” where fans share past convention memories for a chance to win artist Polaroids. Thai actor Phuwin Tangsakyuen is also trending as Harper’s Bazaar Singapore’s June cover star, celebrated for his acting, singing, and fashion endorsements.

For more details on streaming schedules or specific releases, check sources like Netflix, Disney+, or Deadline. If you’re looking for something specific—like a particular show, movie, or celebrity update—let me know, and I can dive deeper. (Grok)

News

Netflix Top 10

Netflix US Top 10 TV Shows

June 2, 2025

Sirens

Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders

Dept. Q

American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden

The Four Seasons

She The People

Netflix Tudum 2025

Forever

Secrets We Keep

Mike Birbiglia: The Good Life

News

Netflix Top 10: Movies

June 2025

A Widow's Game

The Wild Robot

The Heart Knows

Nonnas

Instant Family

Pig

Despicable Me 4

Home

Fear Street: Prom Queen

Trolls

Markets and Cryptos

Markets:

May 29, 2025

ASX futures down 1 point/0.01% to 8416
AUD -0.3% at US64.25¢
Bitcoin -2.5% to $US107,232
Dow -0.5% S&P -0.3% NAS 0.2%
Gold -0.1% to $US3296.72 an ounce
Oil +0.7% at $US64.56 a barrel
Iron ore -0.2% at $US95.00 a ton

Cryptos:

Cryptos Today: (Near Live)

Bitcoin $107,432.57 USD -2.07%
Ethereum $2,639.78 USD -1.39%
Tether $1.00 USD +0.03%
XRP $2.26 USD -3.27%
BNB $688.30 USD -0.43%
Solana $171.06 USD -4.13%
USD Coin $1.00 USD +0.01%
Dogecoin $0.2192 USD
Cardano $0.7386 USD -3.52%
TRON $0.275 USD -0.73%
Wrapped Bitcoin $107,313.67 USD -2.02%
Sui $3.56 USD -3.87%
Chainlink $15.45 USD -3.62%
Avalanche $23.25 USD -1.55%

News

Bitcoin News

Market Performance: The cryptocurrency market has seen a 2.2% decrease in total market capitalization, now standing at $3.55 trillion, with trading volume at $116 billion. Bitcoin (BTC) has consolidated after hitting a record high of $111,814 last week, currently trading around $108,897. Solana ranks among the lowest funding rates, indicating market dynamics.

Bitcoin 2025 Conference: The Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, starting May 27, has drawn attention with high-profile attendees. Vice President JD Vance spoke, emphasizing the Trump administration's pro-crypto stance, stating, "crypto finally has a champion" in the White House.

Corporate Adoption:

GameStop confirmed its first Bitcoin investment, acquiring 4,710 BTC.

Trump Media and Technology Group plans to raise $2.5 billion to invest in Bitcoin, with CEO Devin Nunes calling it an "apex instrument of financial freedom." This follows speculation about a $3 billion raise, which the company denied.

Regulatory Developments:

Republican Representative Bryan Steil, at the Bitcoin 2025 conference, urged lawmakers to avoid adding non-relevant clauses to two key crypto bills (Stablecoin and Market Structure legislation), which he believes could unlock a "golden age" for digital assets.

The U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin regulatory framework, boosting Bitcoin to a high of $109,730. However, concerns about conflicts of interest persist due to President Trump's involvement in crypto ventures like the $TRUMP memecoin and a family-backed stablecoin, USD1.

Ethical Concerns:

Trump’s $TRUMP memecoin has raised ethical issues, with 43% of top investors (95 of 220) losing a combined $8.95 million. Trump hosted a gala for top holders, sparking criticism over potential "pay-for-play" schemes.

Watchdog groups and some lawmakers have criticized Trump’s push to ease crypto oversight while his family’s ventures, including a $2 billion deal with Binance and an Abu Dhabi fund, raise conflict-of-interest concerns.

Crime and Security:
A crypto investor, John Woeltz, was charged in New York with kidnapping and torturing a man to extract Bitcoin passwords, highlighting rising crypto-related crimes.

Posts on X mention a wave of crypto-related kidnappings in France linked to rising prices.

Other Developments:
Circle, the issuer of the $61 billion USDC stablecoin, rejected a $4-5 billion acquisition offer from Ripple, filing for an IPO instead.

Pakistan allocated 2,000 megawatts to support Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, aiming to legalize crypto and attract investment.

The U.S. Department of Labor rescinded 2022 guidance on cryptocurrency in 401(k) plans, signaling a shift in policy.

Price Predictions:

ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood predicts Bitcoin could reach $2.4 million, implying a $50.4 trillion market cap, though some view this as ambitious.

Bitcoin’s rally is supported by institutional ownership and ETF inflows, with $40 billion in Bitcoin ETF inflows in May alone.

Note: Cryptocurrency prices are volatile, and regulatory developments can shift rapidly.

News

Bitcoin Movies

Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery (2024, HBO Documentary) - Directed by Cullen Hoback, this documentary investigates the origins of Bitcoin and the identity of its creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. It offers a thrilling, globe-spanning exploration with new clues about Bitcoin’s rise and its mysterious founder. Available on HBO and streaming on Max.

Bitcoin: The End of Money as We Know It (2015) - Directed by Torsten Hoffmann and Michael Watchulonis, this documentary provides a concise crash course on money and cryptocurrencies. It traces the history of money from barter to Bitcoin, highlighting its potential to disrupt traditional financial systems. Features experts like Andreas M. Antonopoulos and Jeffrey A. Tucker. Available on platforms like Prime Video. IMDb rating: 6.9/10.

The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin (2014) - Directed by Nicholas Mross, this documentary follows computer programmer Daniel Mross, an early Bitcoin enthusiast, exploring Bitcoin’s evolution and its volatile nature. It includes interviews with key figures like Gavin Andresen and Charlie Shrem. Great for beginners, available on iTunes and Prime Video.

Banking on Bitcoin (2016) - Directed by Christopher Cannucciari, this documentary dives into Bitcoin’s early days and its potential to disrupt traditional banking. It features interviews with blockchain experts and pioneers, emphasizing the philosophical and economic impact of decentralized currencies. Available on platforms like Prime Video.

Bitconned (2024, Netflix) - A true-crime documentary exploring the Centra Tech crypto scam, where three individuals exploited the unregulated crypto market to scam millions. It highlights the darker side of cryptocurrency. Available on Netflix. IMDb rating: 6.5/10.

Crypto (2019) - A fictional crime thriller directed by John Stalberg Jr., starring Beau Knapp, Alexis Bledel, and Kurt Russell. It follows an anti-money laundering agent uncovering a cryptocurrency-related scheme in a small town. Mixed reviews, with a "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes but praised for its convoluted plot. Available on platforms like Prime Video.

Trust Machine: The Story of Blockchain (2018) - Directed by Alex Winter, this documentary explores blockchain technology’s broader impact beyond cryptocurrency, addressing privacy, security, and societal implications. Available on various streaming platforms.

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains and the Future of the Internet (2020) - Directed by Torsten Hoffmann, this follow-up to his 2015 film examines the evolution of blockchain and its societal impact, featuring interviews with experts in finance and technology. Available on platforms like Prime Video.

Life on Bitcoin (2014) - A documentary following newlyweds Austin and Beccy Craig as they attempt to live for 100 days using only Bitcoin, showcasing its practical challenges and adoption in its early days.

Bitcoin Heist (2016) - A Vietnamese action-comedy directed by Ham Tran, this fictional film follows a group of hackers attempting a high-stakes Bitcoin heist. It blends humor, action, and tech-savvy thrills.

These films span documentaries and fictional narratives, offering educational insights, thrilling stories, and perspectives on Bitcoin’s cultural and economic impact. For the latest releases, check streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, or Prime Video, as the crypto space evolves rapidly, and new films may emerge.

News

Pop Culture News

Sharemarket Movies

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) - Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film depicts the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker involved in fraudulent schemes. It remains a cultural touchstone for depicting the excesses of Wall Street.

The Big Short (2015) - Directed by Adam McKay, this movie explains the 2008 financial crisis through the lens of investors who bet against the housing market. It’s lauded for making complex financial concepts accessible.

Wall Street (1987) - Oliver Stone’s classic follows Gordon Gekko, a ruthless corporate raider, and his influence on a young stockbroker. Its iconic "greed is good" line still resonates.

Margin Call (2011) - A fictional take on the 2008 financial crisis, focusing on a 24-hour period at an investment bank. It’s praised for its tense portrayal of financial decision-making.

Too Big to Fail (2011) - An HBO film about the 2008 financial crisis, focusing on key players like Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and the collapse of Lehman Brothers.

These films are often recommended for their dramatic portrayals of financial markets and their impact on society. A 2017 post on X also highlighted Gafla (about the Harshad Mehta scam), Too Big to Fail, and Margin Call as must-watch stock market movies, showing ongoing interest in this genre.

News

Recent News Related to Movies and Markets

While there’s no direct news about new share market-themed movies in the provided sources, several recent developments in the movie industry intersect with market dynamics:

Impact of Trump’s Proposed 100% Tariff on Foreign Films:

On May 5, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the U.S., citing the decline of Hollywood due to foreign incentives luring filmmakers. This led to a drop in media stocks, including Netflix (down significantly due to its 75% international content production), Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount. The tariffs aim to boost U.S. film production but have sparked concerns about higher costs, fewer films, and potential retaliatory measures from foreign governments. Industry experts are skeptical about implementation, as movies are intellectual property, not typical goods subject to tariffs.

Actor Jon Voight supported the tariff, framing "runaway production" (filming abroad for tax benefits) as a threat to U.S. jobs, while SAG-AFTRA endorsed efforts to increase domestic production. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office stated Trump lacks authority to impose such tariffs.

This could indirectly affect share market-themed movies, as many are produced internationally (e.g., Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning filmed in the UK). Higher costs might limit budgets for complex financial dramas.

Box Office Performance of Recent Films:

Recent box office successes like Final Destination Bloodlines ($51.7M opening weekend) and A Minecraft Movie (nearing $1B globally) show strong audience demand for genre films, which could encourage studios to greenlight more niche projects like financial dramas if they see market potential.

However, Hurry Up Tomorrow flopped ($3.3M opening), indicating that audience taste is selective, which might make studios cautious about risky share market stories without broad appeal.

Market Trends and Film Industry:

The Australian share market rose recently due to expectations of Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate cuts, boosting sectors like technology and finance. This positive sentiment could indirectly support investment in entertainment, including films about financial markets.

In India, PVR INOX reported optimism about increased cinema footfall by May 2025, driven by a strong Hollywood and Bollywood lineup, which could include financial thrillers if they gain traction.

Google’s entry into film production with Range Media Partners aims to back movies that align with its worldview, potentially opening avenues for tech-finance crossover stories.

Critical Perspective

The lack of recent news about new share market-themed movies suggests the genre isn’t currently a priority for studios, possibly due to its niche appeal compared to blockbusters like superhero or horror films. Trump’s tariff proposal introduces uncertainty, as it could raise costs for international productions, potentially stifling creative projects. However, the tariff’s feasibility is questionable—movies as intellectual property don’t fit neatly into tariff frameworks, and global production is deeply integrated (e.g., visual effects in Canada, filming in the UK). If implemented, it might paradoxically hurt Hollywood by limiting access to cost-effective locations, reducing the likelihood of high-budget financial epics. Meanwhile, positive market sentiment in places like Australia could support cinema attendance, creating opportunities for niche genres if studios take the risk.

News

Pop Culture

Landman: TV Series

Landman is a TV drama series created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, inspired by the 2019 Texas Monthly article “The Great American Fracking Boom” by Wallace. It premiered on Paramount+ on November 17, 2024, and is set in the oilfields of West Texas, exploring the modern-day oil boom through the lens of roughnecks, landmen, and billionaires. The show blends high-stakes drama, workplace dynamics, and socio-economic commentary, reflecting Sheridan’s signature gritty storytelling seen in Yellowstone and Mayor of Kingstown.

Key Details:

Genre: Drama

Seasons: 1 (10 episodes, renewed for Season 2)

Episode Runtime: Approximately 40–60 minutes

Rating: TV-MA (mature audiences, contains strong language, violence, and adult themes)

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, a seasoned landman navigating crises for an oil company

Demi Moore as Cami Miller, Tommy’s ex-wife and a key figure in the oil industry

Ali Larter as Angela Norris, Tommy’s ex-wife

Jon Hamm as Monty Miller, a powerful oil titan and Cami’s husband

Supporting cast: Jacob Lofland (Cooper Norris), Kayla Wallace (Rebecca Savage), James Jordan (Dale Bradley), Mark Collie (Sheriff Joeberg), and others

Creators: Taylor Sheridan, Christian Wallace

Executive Producers: Taylor Sheridan, David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, Christian Wallace, Billy Bob Thornton, and others

Production Companies: MTV Entertainment Studios, 101 Studios, Bosque Ranch Productions

Filming Locations: Fort Worth, Weatherford, and other Texas locations

Plot Summary:

Set in the fictional town of Midland, Texas, Landman follows Tommy Norris (Billy Bob Thornton), a crisis manager and landman for an oil company. His job involves securing land leases, negotiating with landowners, and managing chaotic oilfield operations while balancing personal struggles, including a strained relationship with his son, Cooper (Jacob Lofland), who joins the roughneck crew. The series dives into the high-stakes world of oil speculation, exploring themes of greed, family, ambition, and the environmental and social impacts of the oil industry. It portrays the gritty lives of roughnecks and the opulent world of oil tycoons, with Tommy caught between both.

Streaming and Availability:

Primary Platform: Paramount+ (exclusive streaming in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and other regions) Premiere: November 17, 2024 (US), November 18, 2024 (UK, Australia)

Release Schedule: First two episodes dropped on premiere, followed by weekly releases (finale on January 12, 2025)

Subscription: Starts at $7.99/month (US, Essential with ads), £6.99/month (UK), CA$6.99/month (Canada), $6.99/month (Australia). Offers a 7-day free trial.

Other Platforms:
Purchase options: Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango At Home, Sky Store (UK), Fetch TV (Australia) Available via Paramount+ integrations (e.g., Amazon Channel, Roku, Apple TV Channel)

International Access: Use a VPN (e.g., NordVPN) to access Paramount+ from unsupported regions.

Free Options: No free streaming options; use Paramount+’s 7-day trial for temporary access.

Reception:

Critical Response: Mixed to positive reviews. Critics praise Thornton’s charismatic performance and Sheridan’s authentic depiction of the oil industry but note the show’s dense jargon and sprawling narrative can feel overwhelming. It holds a 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (as of April 2025) based on critic reviews, with an average audience score of 85%.

Viewership: Strong streaming numbers on Paramount+, reportedly among the platform’s top-performing originals in 2024, contributing to the Season 2 renewal.

Notable Praise: Thornton’s nuanced portrayal and the show’s cinematic visuals are highlights, though some find the pacing uneven compared to Sheridan’s other works.

Season 2 and Future:

Renewal: Paramount+ renewed Landman for Season 2 in December 2024, with production slated to begin in early 2025.

Expected Release: Likely late 2025 or early 2026, based on typical production timelines.

Story Direction: While specifics are under wraps, Season 2 is expected to deepen Tommy’s personal and professional conflicts, potentially exploring new oilfield challenges and character arcs for Cooper and Cami.

Where to Watch (as of April 24, 2025):

Paramount+: Full Season 1 available (all 10 episodes). Best option for streaming.

Purchase: Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango At Home for digital ownership.

Not Available: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or Hotstar.

Additional Notes:

Content Warning: Contains explicit language, violence, and mature themes (e.g., drug use, workplace accidents), unsuitable for younger viewers.

Cultural Impact: The series has sparked discussions on X about the oil industry’s environmental and economic effects, with some praising its realism and others critiquing its portrayal of industry ethics.

Merchandise/Related Media: No official merchandise yet, but the original Texas Monthly article is available online for deeper context. (Grok)

News

Gold: Movie

Gold (2016) is a crime drama inspired by the 1990s Bre-X mining scandal. Matthew McConaughey stars as Kenny Wells, a prospector who partners with geologist Michael Acosta (Édgar Ramírez) to find gold in Indonesia. After striking it rich, their success unravels amid fraud and betrayal. Directed by Stephen Gaghan, the film explores greed and ambition but received mixed reviews for its uneven tone and pacing. It grossed $14.8 million against a $20 million budget. Available on platforms like Hulu or Amazon Prime (check current listings). (Grok)

News/Profile

Gold (1974)

Gold (1974) is a British thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt, based on Wilbur Smith's novel Gold Mine. Set in South Africa, it follows Rod Slater (Roger Moore), a mining engineer, who uncovers a conspiracy to flood a gold mine to manipulate global gold prices. The plot involves corporate greed, sabotage, and high-stakes action, with Slater racing to stop the scheme.

Cast: Roger Moore, Susannah York, Ray Milland, Bradford Dillman.

Key Details: 120 min, rated PG, released August 1974 (UK). Filmed on location in Johannesburg, featuring intense mining scenes.

Reception: Mixed reviews; praised for action and Moore’s charisma, criticized for pacing and dated elements. IMDb rating: 5.7/10.

Availability: Limited streaming; available for rent/purchase on platforms like Amazon or on DVD. (Grok)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

"Bitcoin is a tool for freeing humanity from oligarchs and tyrants, dressed up as a get-rich-quick scheme." — Naval Ravikant

"We have elected to put our money and faith in a mathematical framework that is free of politics and human error." — Tyler Winklevoss

"You can't stop things like Bitcoin. It will be everywhere, and the world will have to readjust. World governments will have to readjust." — John McAfee

"Bitcoin is the most important invention in the history of the world since the Internet." — Roger Ver

"Cryptocurrency is such a powerful concept that it can almost overturn governments." — Charles Lee

"In the future, national currencies will become obsolete. Bitcoin will become the single global currency." — Jack Dorsey

"The future of finance is crypto, whether it’s in payments, contracts, or savings." — Changpeng Zhao

"Crypto offers freedom to the unbanked and hope to the underprivileged." — Elizabeth Stark

"The new frontier of innovation is in decentralization. Blockchain leads the charge." — Don Tapscott

"Digital currency is here to stay, and it’s only a matter of how long before governments embrace it." — Brad Garlinghouse

Media Man Watercooler

May 2025

News

Movie Box Office

Lilo & Stitch at $145.5m in first week; Mission Impossible follows on $63m

News

Wrestlers Of The Month: WWE/NXT

Men's

1. Karrion Kross
2. Bron Breakker
3. Bronson Reed
4. Seth Rollins
5. Logan Paul
6. Jey Uso
7. Jacob Fatu
8. Penta
9. Rey Fenix
10. Dirty Dominik Mysterio
11. John Cena
12. Cody Rhodes
13. Aleister Black
14. Santos Escobar
15. Rusev
16. LA Knight
17. Tony D'Angelo
18. Trick Williams
19. Joe Hendry
20. Lexis King

*Subjective in nature

Women's

1. Rhea Ripley
2. Tiffany Stratton
3. IVY SKY
4. Stephanie Vaquer
5. Giulia
6. Charlotte Flair
7. Lyra Valkyria
8. Liv Morgan
9. Roxanne Perez
10. Natalya

*Subjective in nature

News: Wrestling Big Event Of The Month

1. Saturday Night's Main Event
2. WWE Backlash
3. AEW Double Or Nothing
4. NXT Battleground
5. TNA Under Siege

News

Streaming: Netflix

Media Man Favs

WWE RAW On Netflix
WWE SmackDown
NXT

Ransom Canyon
Rotten Legacy
Netflix TUDUM 2025 - May 31
Bet - May 15
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano 3 - July 11
Fubar - June 12
Quarterback

News

Movie Box Office: Most Anticipated

Superman
F1
Karate Kid: Legends
The Naked Gun

News

'Entertainment Promoter Of The Month' TKO Group

Cryptocurrency News

Cryptos (Near live)

Bitcoin $109,704.32 USD +2.504%
ETH $2,558.37 USD +1.27%
Tether $0.9999 USD -0.11%
XRP $2.39 USD +1.66%
BNB $673.18 USD +3.52%
Solana $173.67 USD +3.43%
USD Coin $164.36 USD -0.05%
Dogecoin $0.2364 USD +4.67%
Cardano $0.7729 USD +3.94%
TRON $0.2678 USD -0.57%
Wrapped Bitcoin $109,317.98 USD +2.46%

News

Bitcoin close to the top

Market Picture

Market capitalisation has risen 2% in the last 24 hours to $3.37 trillion, 8.5% below January's all-time peaks. However, Bitcoin buyers are showing more confidence, trading above the $107k area (+2.9%). Ethereum and many other altcoins saw stronger intraday gains but still have a lot to recover after retreating significantly following the broader market pullback after Trump’s inauguration.

Bitcoin is forming its fourth consecutive daily growth candle. Bulls continue their attempts to secure a foothold above the $107K level. While the first cryptocurrency has briefly reached higher levels, it has yet to establish a sustained hold above them.

Last week, there was a stabilisation around $103k, which now looks like a foundation for further growth. The realistic near-term target for the bulls looks to be the area of $113K, which would be an extension to 161.8% of the growth impulse from early May and the subsequent mini correction at the beginning of last week.

Bitcoin's upward move is gradually waking up altcoins, although they still have considerable room to rise to previous highs, making them increasingly attractive to retail traders. The trend of a weakening dollar can also be seen as a breeding ground for growth.

News Background

On-chain signals and market data for Bitcoin remain constructive. Buying sentiment continues to support further growth, indicating that it may not yet be time to cash in, according to CryptoQuant.

Strategy bought an additional 7,390 BTC ($764.9 million) last week at an average price of $103,498 per coin. The company now owns 576,230 BTC bought at an average price of $69,726. The total investment is valued at $40.18 billion.

Major players via options have bet on Ethereum's significant growth, said CoinDesk analyst Omkar Godbole. The strategy will yield the biggest profits if ETH rises to $6,000 or higher by 26 December.

The Binance exchange has filed a motion to dismiss FTX's $1.76 bn lawsuit. The company's lawyers called the claims ‘legally untenable’ and asked for the case to be dismissed.

According to Fortune, Circle's IPO may not take place as the USDC issuer is in talks with Coinbase and Ripple to sell the business for at least $5bn. (FxPro)

News

Cryptocurrency News

Bitcoin Price Surge: Bitcoin has risen from $94,000 to over $106,000 in May, a 13% increase, driven by strong institutional interest and ETF inflows ($3.3 billion this month). Analysts predict it could hit $110,000 by month's end, with some forecasting $220,000-$250,000 by year-end due to regulatory tailwinds and reduced volatility.

Regulatory Developments: The U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act on May 20 with a 66-32 vote, aiming to regulate stablecoins and establish a federal framework for digital currencies. A final vote is pending post the May 26 holiday. Texas may become the second U.S. state to allow a Bitcoin reserve if SB 21 is signed, following New Hampshire’s lead.

XRP Momentum: XRP briefly overtook Tether as the third-largest cryptocurrency. Its price surged 15% in 2025, trading at $2.40, with South Korean investors driving demand. The launch of XRP futures ETFs by CME Group on May 19 is seen as a pivotal moment. Predictions suggest XRP could reach $3-$20 by 2030.

Cybersecurity Concerns: Coinbase reported a cyberattack costing $180-$400 million, affecting a small subset of users’ data. Bybit faced a $1.5 billion heist in February, the largest ever. In France, crypto-related kidnappings targeting wealthy investors have raised alarms.

Institutional Adoption: Blackstone disclosed holding 23,094 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust, marking its first public bitcoin position. JPMorgan, Ondo, and Chainlink announced a $100 billion blockchain platform for tokenizing real-world assets.

Market Trends: The crypto market cap rose 1.2% to $3.46 trillion, with $124 billion in trading volume. However, concerns about overconfidence and potential corrections persist. Galaxy’s Nasdaq listing ($GLXY) has sparked enthusiasm, with potential to rival other crypto stocks. (Grok)

News

Blockchain News

Regulatory Moves in the U.S.: The U.S. Senate advanced the GENIUS Act, a bipartisan bill to regulate stablecoins, with new consumer protections and limits on tech companies issuing them. This follows a previous Democratic block, signaling growing acceptance of blockchain’s role in finance, though concerns about oversight and corruption persist.

Coinbase Joins S&P 500: Crypto exchange Coinbase was added to the S&P 500, a milestone for the crypto industry, though it faced a cyberattack compromising customer data, with remediation costs estimated at $180–400 million.

New Hampshire’s Crypto Push: New Hampshire became the first U.S. state to allow its treasury to invest in cryptocurrency. Proposed bills aim to prevent discrimination against digital assets and establish blockchain-specific legal frameworks, though their fate remains uncertain.

Cardano Embezzlement Allegations: Cardano faces claims of $600 million in ADA embezzlement. Founder Charles Hoskinson promised an audit to restore trust, potentially setting a precedent for blockchain self-governance.

Ripple and XRP Developments: Ripple warned XRP holders about scams amid a market uptick. XRP is expanding into multichain interoperability with Cosmos and EVM sidechains, positioning it as a key player in blockchain connectivity.

Chainlink and Stablecoin Integration: World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin, backed by U.S. treasuries, hit $2 billion in market cap and is now cross-chain with Chainlink’s CCIP, enabling secure transfers across Ethereum and BNB Chain.

Security Concerns: French crypto entrepreneurs, including Paymium’s CEO, face rising targeted attacks, prompting enhanced security measures. Global threats to crypto executives are increasing, with organized crime targeting digital wealth.

Blockchain in Gaming: Blockchain gaming saw a 10% drop in user activity in April, but the ecosystem is maturing. Mainstream companies like Ubisoft and Sega are experimenting with NFTs and play-to-earn mechanics.

JP Morgan’s Blockchain Milestone: JP Morgan used Ondo and Chainlink for its first public blockchain deal, a historic step for institutional crypto adoption.

Ethereum Node Storage Solution: Vitalik Buterin proposed a local-first design to reduce Ethereum node storage requirements from 1.3TB, aiming to lower barriers for users. (Grok)

News

XRP News

Latest XRP News Summary (as of May 22, 2025)

Price Movement: XRP is currently trading around $2.31-$2.55, experiencing a 4% weekly drop but holding key support levels. Analysts suggest a potential rebound to $3.40, with some optimistic predictions targeting $11.34 by year-end or even $123 based on historical patterns, though short-term forecasts indicate limited gains until October 2025. A critical support level is at $2.30; a drop below could lead to a crash to $2.00.

SEC Lawsuit Developments: Ripple and the SEC are nearing a settlement in their long-standing legal battle, with the SEC filing a motion to lift the injunction on XRP sales to institutional investors and reduce a $125 million penalty. A recent court ruling on May 18 rejected the SEC’s request for an indicative ruling, but Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer downplayed it as procedural. The outcome could clear the path for XRP-spot ETF approval, a significant bullish catalyst.

XRP Futures and ETF Speculation: The CME Group launched cash-settled XRP futures on May 19, boosting institutional interest and speculation about spot ETF approvals. Firms like 21Shares, Bitwise, and Grayscale have filed for XRP ETFs, with Polymarket bettors giving an 83% chance of approval. However, BlackRock’s silence and a recent court decision have delayed ETF momentum, causing some bearish pressure.

Technological Advancements: Ripple is integrating XRP with Cosmos and developing EVM sidechains for better blockchain interoperability. Its custody service now supports shared MPC wallets, and the XRP Ledger is seeing growth in tokenization and DeFi, with rising Total Value Locked (TVL). StraitsX launched a Singapore-dollar stablecoin (XSGD) on the XRP Ledger, enhancing its utility.

Market Sentiment and Political Support: XRP sentiment remains mixed but leans bullish due to legal optimism and endorsements, notably from President Donald Trump, who suggested XRP as a potential strategic reserve currency. Posts on X highlight community excitement, with Ripple announcing an XRP Rewards Event to engage holders. However, some analysts warn of regulatory scrutiny and market volatility impacting short-term performance.

Ripple IPO Speculation: Market speculation suggests a Ripple IPO could value the company at over $100 billion, potentially boosting XRP’s price, though XRP in Ripple’s escrow won’t count toward valuation until the IPO.

Critical Note: While bullish catalysts like ETF prospects and legal clarity exist, ongoing regulatory uncertainty and market dynamics could pose risks. Some community predictions (e.g., $250 by 2026) appear speculative and lack robust evidence. Always conduct thorough research before making investment decisions, as market conditions are volatile. (Grok)

News

Best Quotes Of The Day

"Banking now is like sending a letter: you send it, you don't know if it reached there. Ripple is more like sending an iMessage: you send it, and you immediately know" Chris Larsen

"Bitcoin is a swarm of cyber hornets serving the goddess of wisdom, feeding on the fire of truth, exponentially growing ever smarter, faster, and stronger behind a wall of encrypted energy" Michael J. Saylor

News

Elon Musk quotes

“Fundamentally, bitcoin is not a good substitute for transactional currency,” Musk told Time Magazine after being named Time’s 2021 Person of the Year. “Even though it was created as a silly joke, dogecoin is better suited for transactions.”

"The transaction volume of bitcoin is low, and the cost per transaction is high,” he said. Musk added that bitcoin is more suitable as a store of value, which is why its investors want to hold onto it and not sell it or use it for transactions.

Dogecoin, on the other hand, is a currency that “encourages people to spend, rather than sort of hoard as a store of value” Elon Musk

News/Intel

What Is A Cryptocurrency ETF? A Guide For Crypto Investors Looking To Diversify

A cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle that allows investors to gain exposure to digital assets without directly holding them. Crypto ETFs can be a simpler, highly regulated way to invest in the volatile crypto world, offering diversification and ease of trading.

This guide will explain what crypto ETFs are, how they work, their advantages and the potential risks investors should consider.

What Is A Crypto ETF?

A crypto ETF is a financial product that provides investors with indirect exposure to digital assets like bitcoin and ether. Instead of directly purchasing and storing these cryptos, investors can buy shares of a crypto ETF, which tracks the value of one or more digital currencies. These ETFs trade on traditional stock exchanges, making them accessible through regular brokerage accounts.

Crypto ETFs are available in two main forms: spot ETFs and futures ETFs.

Spot ETFs directly hold the underlying crypto, while futures ETFs rely on contracts that speculate on future crypto prices. This difference can impact an ETF’s performance, with spot ETFs offering more direct price exposure and futures ETFs providing a way to trade on expected price movements.

Investing in crypto ETFs offers simplified access to digital assets. However, these funds are not without risks. Investors should know potential issues, including counterparty risks, management fees and limited control over the underlying digital assets. Understanding these factors can help investors make informed decisions.

How Does A Cryptocurrency ETF Work?
A cryptocurrency ETF functions like a traditional exchange-traded fund, trading on major stock exchanges. Investors can buy and sell shares of a crypto ETF throughout the trading day, with prices fluctuating based on the value of the underlying crypto it tracks. Crypto ETFs offer real-time pricing, which provides greater flexibility for investors.

Crypto ETFs are structured to hold either the actual crypto in the case of spot ETFs or derivative contracts, as in futures ETFs, that reflect crypto prices. The fund’s manager ensures the ETF maintains its target exposure by buying or selling assets as needed. This allows investors to gain exposure to digital assets without directly managing crypto wallets or navigating complex exchanges.

Types Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Crypto ETFs come in several forms, offering different ways to invest in the digital asset market. Bitcoin ETFs focus solely on bitcoin, providing direct exposure to its price. Ethereum ETFs are dedicated to tracking the value of Ethereum. Blockchain ETFs invest in companies involved in blockchain technology rather than holding crypto directly. Multi-Crypto ETFs provide access to a mix of several cryptos within a single fund.

These options allow investors to choose between a single-asset focus or a diversified approach that reduces the risk of relying on one asset.

Bitcoin ETFs: Spot Vs. Futures
There are two kinds of Bitcoin ETFs, spot and futures. Spot bitcoin ETFs hold actual bitcoin reserves, with each share backed by actual crypto. This means investors gain direct exposure to bitcoin’s price movements without needing to manage or store bitcoin themselves. Spot ETFs are regulated financial instruments, with custodians securely storing the underlying bitcoin to protect against risks like hacking or theft.

In contrast, bitcoin futures ETFs do not hold actual bitcoin. Instead, they invest in futures contracts speculating on bitcoin’s future price. These contracts are agreements to buy or sell bitcoin at a set price on a future date. While this approach offers bitcoin exposure, it introduces added complexity. Costs like roll premiums – expenses an ETF is required to pay when replacing expiring futures contracts with new ones – can reduce investor returns. Futures contracts may not perfectly track bitcoin’s spot price, causing price differences between the ETF and the actual bitcoin market.

Ethereum ETFs
Similar to bitcoin ETFs, ether ETFs come in two main types, spot and futures-based. Spot ether ETFs hold actual ETH in a secure, regulated custody account, giving investors direct exposure to the cryptocurrency's price. When purchasing ether ETFs, investors buy shares representing a portion of the ETF's Ethereum holdings.

Futures-based ether ETFs do not hold ETH directly. Instead, they invest in futures contracts speculating on Ethereum's future price. These ETFs are easier to regulate and avoid custody risks, but may experience tracking errors and higher costs due to frequent contract rollovers.

Blockchain ETFs
Blockchain ETFs invest in companies using blockchain technology instead of holding cryptocurrencies directly. These funds provide exposure to industries like supply chain management, cybersecurity and digital identity. Unlike crypto ETFs, which focus on digital assets like bitcoin or ether, blockchain ETFs diversify across multiple sectors.

Examples include Robinhood, which offers crypto trading and blockchain services; Metaplanet, an investor in blockchain startups; and Cleanspark, a bitcoin mining company operating energy-efficient mining facilities. Blockchain ETFs let investors benefit from blockchain’s growth without direct ownership.

Multi-Crypto ETFs
Multi-Crypto ETFs expose a range of digital assets rather than focusing on a single one. These funds offer investors a balanced approach, allowing them to invest in multiple coins, such as bitcoin, ethereum, and solana, all within one investment product.

Grayscale's Digital Large Cap Fund is a notable example, holding a mix of major digital assets. Roughly 75% of the fund is allocated to bitcoin, 19% to ether, and the remainder to solana, ripple and avalanche. This approach helps spread risk and gives investors broader exposure to the evolving crypto market.

Why Are Investors Interested In Crypto ETFs?
Investors are drawn to crypto ETFs because they provide a straightforward method to gain exposure to digital assets without directly owning them. Through crypto ETFs, investors can access crypto through traditional brokerage accounts, avoiding the complexities of managing digital wallets, private keys or secure storage. Crypto ETFs also offer the security of institutional-grade funds, which are managed by professional fund managers and operate under regulatory guidance.

One of crypto ETFs' most appealing aspects is their portfolio diversification. Instead of investing in a single cryptocurrency, investors can choose multi-asset ETFs that spread risk across the crypto market.

Pros And Cons Of Crypto ETFs
Crypto ETFs offer a convenient way to gain exposure to digital assets without directly managing cryptocurrency. However, like any investment, they come with benefits and drawbacks. Understanding these pros and cons can help investors make informed decisions.

Pros Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Accessibility: Crypto ETFs can be traded through traditional brokerage accounts, making it easy for investors to gain exposure without using crypto exchanges.

Diversification: Investors can choose multi-crypto ETFs, spreading their risk across multiple digital assets instead of relying on a single cryptocurrency.

Regulatory Oversight: Crypto ETFs are managed by regulated financial institutions, providing regulated security compared to direct crypto ownership, which can be challenging.

Cons Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
Limited Control: Investors do not own actual crypto, meaning they cannot use it for transactions or transfer it to a private wallet.

Management Fees: Crypto ETFs often have management fees that can reduce returns over time, especially futures-based ETFs with frequent contract rollovers.

Tracking Errors: Futures-based crypto ETFs may not perfectly mirror the spot price of cryptocurrencies due to price differences between futures and actual assets.

Cryptocurrency ETFs Vs. Direct Crypto Investments
Crypto ETFs offer investors a way to gain exposure to digital assets without direct ownership. Investors do not need to manage private keys or secure digital wallets, making ETFs a simpler option for those who want crypto exposure without the technical complexities.

In contrast, direct crypto investments allow investors to buy, hold and control actual digital assets. This approach provides complete ownership, enabling investors to transfer, spend or stake their crypto as they see fit. Direct investments also avoid management fees but come with responsibilities like wallet security, exposure to hacking risks and the need to manage transactions on crypto exchanges.

Who Are Crypto ETFs Right For?
Crypto ETFs are ideal for beginner investors who want exposure to digital assets without the complexity of directly buying, storing or managing cryptocurrencies. These funds offer a simple, regulated way to invest, making them suitable for those new to the crypto market who are more comfortable with traditional financial products.

They are also well-suited for traditional investors familiar with stock markets but wanting to explore crypto. By trading on exchanges like the NYSE or Nasdaq, crypto ETFs provide a convenient option for those who prefer to avoid the security risks of crypto exchanges.

The Future Outlook Of Cryptocurrency ETFs
The future of cryptocurrency ETFs looks bright, with BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF posting $356 million in inflows, the longest streak of 2025, and bitcoin flirting with new highs. As regulatory clarity improves, driven by bullish sentiment from SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins, more funds are launching, providing investors with greater choice and confidence.

Bottom Line

Crypto ETFs make it easier to invest in digital assets without directly buying and managing cryptocurrencies. They are a good option for beginners, traditional investors and those looking for diversified exposure. With choices like bitcoin, ether, multi-crypto and blockchain ETFs, investors can find a fund that fits their goals while reducing some risks of direct ownership.

The future of crypto ETFs looks promising as more funds emerge and regulatory clarity improves. BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF is seeing record inflows, showing strong investor interest. As the market grows, crypto ETFs offer a straightforward way to participate in the digital asset space.

News, Markets, Energy, Politics and Culture - Australia, US and World

Markets

May 20, 2025

Australian Dollar: $0.6456 USD (up $0.0060 USD)
Iron Ore June Spot Price (SGX): $99.45 USD (down $0.25)
Oil Price (WTI): $62.71 USD (up $0.22)
Gold Price: $3,230.61 USD (up $29.39)
Copper Price (CME): $4.6640 USD (up $0.0725)
Bitcoin: $105,357.30 USD (up 1.04%)
Dow Jones: 42,792.07 (up 137.33 points)

News

Big tech is back after a brutal reality check, but will the rally last?

Wall Street's so called magnificent seven tech companies have recovered strongly from the hit they took when US President Donald Trump annnounced his 'Liberation Day' tariff splurge on 2 April. They are now up 28 per cent on their April lows, beating the S&P 500 Index, which has returned 19 per cent in the same period. Nick Griffin from Munro Partners is one investor that is confident that US big tech will continue its recovery in the second half of the year, with Griffin claiming that companies like Amazon and Meta are a safer investment than US Treasuries. (RMR)

News

Judge queries Qantas outsourcing 'remorse'

The Federal Court has commenced a hearing to determine the financial penalty Qantas will pay for illegally outsourcing the jobs of ground-handling workers in October 2020. The Transport Workers' Union wants the court to impose the maximum fine of $121m; the union's barrister, Noel Hutley SC, told the court that the outsourcing was the "largest ever" breach of the general protection provisions of the Fair Work and previous industrial relations legislation. Qantas's chief people officer Catherine Walsh told the court that she was "deeply sorry" about the outsourcing, even though it occurred before she joined the airline; Justice Michael Lee responded by noting that Qantas had argued that the affected workers should not be entitled to compensation. (RMR)

News

Telstra's Brady to face grilling over returns

Telstra will hold its investor day in Sydney on 27 May, with its shareholders wanting to see evidence that the telco is increasing returns on invested capital (ROIC). Telstra has conceded it needs to improve ROIC and is investing in artificial intelligence to become more efficient; its ROIC was at eight cent in the six months to December 31, up from 6.8 per cent in the same period a year earlier. Hugh Giddy from Investors Mutual, which owns around $200 million worth of Telstra shares, says that to improve its returns, the telco must raise the prices it charges its wholesale customers – and ensure the increases are passed onto consumer. (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

Gaming

M&A deals on the cards for Light & Wonder

Light & Wonder CEO Matt Wilson says the gaming group is looking at more acquisitions at a time when it is considering if its future lies as a company listed solely on the ASX, or on both the Nasdaq and the ASX. Light & Wonder acquired the charitable gaming assets of Grover Gaming and G2 Gaming in February under a deal worth $US850 million ($1.3 billion), while Wilson says it is looking at possible acquisitions in class II gaming, a term used to refer to games such as Bingo that are played for prizes. (RMS)

News

Personal motive for Ainsworth family's $50m gift

Roy Morgan Summary

The Ainsworth family has donated $50 million to the University of NSW to establish the Ainsworth Endometriosis Research Centre; endometriosis is a chronic disease that impacts up to one in seven women. Lily Ainsworth, the granddaughter of Aristocrat Leisure founder Len Ainsworth, suffers from the condition, as does her mother Anna; Lily Ainsworth says she has endured endometriosis pain since she was 15. Endometriosis occurs when tissue that is similar to the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, and it causes pain, inflammation and scarring, and can impact fertility. (RMS)

News

Lachlan Murdoch's Nova under scrutiny for not lodging accounts

Owned by billionaire media mogul Lachlan Murdoch for more than a decade, Nova Entertainment owns the Australian radio brands Smooth FM and Nova. It has been under scrutiny from the Australian Taxation Office for more than a year, while earlier this year, it admitted it had failed to file more than 40 annual account statements with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission over 15 years. Nova's latest accounts reveal that it had revenue of $187.8 million in 2024, up from $185.9 million the year before; it posted a profit of $24.1 million, down from $27.9 million. (RMS)

News

MinRes lands new chair with $8.3m carrot

Iron ore and lithium producer Mineral Resources has appointed Malcolm Bundey to succeed executive chairman James McClements. Bundey's remuneration will include an annual salary of $750,000 in cash and shares, plus 780,000 stock options that will vest over three years; Bundey could potentially gain about $8.3m over this period if he succeeds in turning around the company. Jeffrey Jackson from shareholder advisory group Open Engagement has questioned the options component, noting that stock-based remuneration is usually reserved for a company's executives rather than directors. Bundey's lack of experience in the mining sector may also attract scrutiny. (RMS)

News

New Hope's boom over as coal price slump hits sales

New Hope Corporation's shares fell 7.1 per cent to $3.65 on Monday, after the coal miner posted underlying earnings of $155.2m for the three months to 30 April; this is 27 per cent lower than previously. New Hope received an average of $US147.50 per tonne for its thermal coal during the quarter, compared with $US159 per tonne in the previous quarter; the price of thermal coal had peaked at $US432.45 per tonne in 2022. Meanwhile, the company expects full-year production to be within the range of 15.93 million to 17.45 million tonnes, which is three per cent higher than previously. (RMS)

News

Perenti's Barminco inks $500m Agnew underground contract renewal with Gold Fields

Barminco has secured a $500 million contract renewal with Gold Fields to continue its underground mining work at Gold Field's Agnew mine near Leinster in Western Australia. Barminco, which is the underground mining services division of Perenti, has been working underground at Agnew since 2010, and currently employs around 300 people there. Barminco's new contract with Gold Fields will run for three years, with the option of an additional year, while Agnew produced 229,500 ounces of gold in 2024, compared to 244,900oz. (Roy Morgan Research)

News

World Headline News

Gaza Crisis: The first aid trucks have entered Gaza after nearly three months of Israel’s blockade, but allies are threatening sanctions and urging more aid. Israel announced "Operation Gideon's Chariots," a new ground offensive, while stating it will allow a "basic amount of food" to prevent a hunger crisis.

Ukraine-Russia Conflict: Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine, deploying 273 drones, ahead of a call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at stopping the "bloodbath." Trump later backed off a direct meeting with Putin, pushing for Ukraine-Russia talks, but peace negotiations show little progress.

UK-EU Relations: The UK and EU struck a post-Brexit "reset" deal, including a defense partnership and reduced trade barriers. Discussions also cover fishing rights, youth schemes, and UK access to EU passport e-gates.

Romanian Election: Liberal mayor Nicusor Dan won Romania’s presidency, defeating a right-wing nationalist in a tense race amid political turbulence.

Papal Inauguration: Pope Leo XIV called for unity at his inaugural Mass, attended by world leaders including Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky. He offered to host peace talks for Ukraine.

Mexican Navy Incident: A Mexican navy ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge during a celebration of Mexico’s independence, killing two sailors and injuring 22.

U.S. Terrorism Incident: A bombing at a Palm Springs fertility clinic, deemed an "intentional act of terrorism," killed one person. The FBI has a person of interest, possibly the deceased.

These stories reflect major global events as of May 20, 2025. (Grok)

News

Pop Culture/Pro Wrestling: WWE

May 19, 2025 (South Carolina, USA)

Red Hot WWE RAW On Netflix

Paul Heyman Guys aka 'Trifecta Of Terror'
Jey Uso vs Bron Breakker; Warm Up For Uso To Face Lon Paul at Saturday Night's Main Event This Weekend!

Phenomenal Penta Tag Team Match - Penta and Styles vs Judgement Day

Australia's Rhea Ripley Progresses In Women's Money In The Bank Qualifiers; Stark gets legit injury off missile dropkick attempt

Judgment Day: Rozanne Perez Gifts Chicken Tenders For Dom and Apples For Carlito!

Aussie Grayson Waller Cops Beating By Sheamus, Waller's tagteam partner Austin Theory Laughs And Grin To Grin at Waller's fall!

Aussie Tsunami Bronson Reed Continues To Post On X With Rehab Of Leg And Foot Recovery re leap of top of cage month ago at Survivor Series: WarGames.

News

Movie Box Office (US)

May 18, 2025

1. Final Destination: Bloodlines - $51m
2. Thunderbolts* - $16.5m
3. Sinners - $15.4m
4. A Minecraft Movie - $5.9m
5. The Accountant 2 - $5m
6. Hurry Up Tomorrow - $3.3m
7. Friendship - $1.4m
8. Clown in a Cornfield $1.3m
9. Until Dawn - $800,000
10. The Amateur - $712,000

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

News

Best Quotes

Mining

Mining is the art of exploiting mineral deposits at a profit. An unprofitable mine is fit only for the sepulcher of a dead mule.

Don't die without mining the gold in your mind.

Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold.

Praise like gold and diamonds, owes its value only to its scarcity.

Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold.

Everything has its limit - iron ore cannot be educated into gold.

The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit.

Best Quotes

News

News from afar is seldom sooth."

"A reporter is always concerned with tomorrow. There's nothing tangible of yesterday."

"If you don't read the newspaper, you're uninformed."

"News is something somebody doesn't want printed; all else is advertising."

"TV news has no intention of suggesting that any story has any implications, for that would require viewers to continue to think about it when it is done and therefore obstruct their attending to the next story."

Movie Box Office (North America)

May 18, 2025

1. Final Destination: Bloodlines - $51m
2. Thunderbolts* - $16.5m
3. Sinners - $15.4m
4. A Minecraft Movie - $5.9m
5. The Accountant 2 - $5m
6. Hurry Up Tomorrow - $3.3m
7. Friendship - $1.4m
8. Clown in a Cornfield $1.3m
9. Until Dawn - $800,000
10. The Amateur - $712,000

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

Media Man

For more details, check sources like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, IMDb or Netflix Tudum.

Movie Box Office (North America)

May 11, 2025

1. Thunderbolts* - $33.1m
2. Sinners - $21.1m
3. A Minecraft Movie - $8m
4. The Accountant 2 - $6.1m
5. Clown in a Cornfield - $3.7m
6. Shadow Force - $2m +
7. Flight or Fight - $2m +
8. Until Dawn - $2m
9. The Amateur - $1.1m
10. The King of Kings - $681,000

others ...

Warfare
HIT: The 3rd Case
Guru Nanak Jahaz

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

News

Box Office Movie News

Thunderbolts* continues to lead the domestic box office, earning $33.1 million in its second weekend, with a global total nearing $300 million. It’s holding better than some recent Marvel films, dropping about 55% from its opening, despite competition from other blockbusters. The film is expected to cross $100 million domestically soon.

A Minecraft Movie, starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, has crossed significant milestones, surpassing $401 million domestically (beating Frozen’s $400.95 million) and $900 million globally, with $877.43 million reported as of its fifth week. It’s inching toward the $1 billion mark and is close to entering the all-time top 50 domestic grossers by overtaking Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’s $402.11 million.

Sinners, a vampire thriller directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, has crossed $200 million domestically and $283 million worldwide, with a strong fourth weekend projected at $23-25 million. Its unprecedented holds signal a cultural phenomenon.

Raid 2, starring Ajay Devgn, has crossed ?100 crore (approximately $12 million USD) in India by its ninth day, making it Devgn’s 15th film to reach this milestone. Despite a weekday drop due to regional tensions, it’s performing steadily with no major competing releases.

Thudarum, a Malayalam film led by Mohanlal, is breaking records, becoming the all-time highest-grossing movie in Kerala with ?100 crore (about $12 million USD) in the state alone. Globally, it’s crossed $10 million overseas and is nearing ?200 crore (about $24 million USD) worldwide, making it one of the biggest Malayalam hits ever.

Retro, a Tamil romantic action drama starring Suriya, opened strongly with ?19.25 crore (about $2.3 million USD) on its first day, outperforming Raid 2 and HIT 3 in the Labour Day clash. It has collected around ?60 crore worldwide in its opening weekend but trails HIT 3 in subsequent days.

HIT: The Third Case, starring Nani, has grossed over ?100 crore worldwide in just four days, with ?52.15 crore in India, driven largely by its Telugu version. It’s one of Nani’s highest-grossing films, though some reports note concerns about sustaining momentum.

Tourist Family, a Tamil film, is maintaining a steady run, collecting an estimated ?6.20 crore in India over its first three days, buoyed by positive word-of-mouth.

Upcoming releases like Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning are projected to make Memorial Day weekend 2025 the biggest ever, with a combined domestic opening of over $200 million, Lilo & Stitch alone tracking for $120 million over four days.

These figures reflect a vibrant box office landscape with diverse genres and regional cinemas performing strongly. (Grok)

Movie Box Office (North America)

May 4, 2025

1. Thunderbolts* - $76m
2. Sinners - $33m
3. A Minecraft Movie - $13.7
4. The Accountant 2 - $9.5m
5. Until Dawn - $3.8m
6. The Amateur - $1.8m
7. The King of Kings - $1.7
8. Warfare - $1.3m
9. HIT: The 3rd Case - $955,000
10. Guru Nanak Jahaz - $685,000

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

Others ...

Hell of a Summer
The Fiend
Captain America Brave New World

News

Box Office Movie News

Thunderbolts Kicks Off Summer Strong: Marvel’s Thunderbolts, starring Florence Pugh, opened with a solid $76 million domestically and $162 million worldwide, marking a robust start to the 2025 summer movie season (May through August). Despite a modest $10.4 million debut in China amid trade tensions, it outperformed last year’s summer opener The Fall Guy. Analysts see this as a positive sign for Hollywood’s most profitable season.

Sinners Continues to Shine: The R-rated vampire thriller Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan, is 2025’s breakout success. With a global gross of $236 million, including $181 million domestically, it’s defying typical horror genre drops, holding a record-low 6% second-weekend decline. It’s projected to hit a $33 million third weekend, outpacing many blockbusters.

A Minecraft Movie Dominates: Warner Bros.’ A Minecraft Movie remains a juggernaut, grossing over $900 million globally and ranking among the top 20 highest-grossing live-action films domestically. It’s the highest-grossing domestic film of 2025, boosted by strong family appeal and Weta FX’s visual effects.

Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible Eye Record Memorial Day: Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch is tracking for a $120 million opening, while Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning aims for $80 million, potentially making the 2025 Memorial Day weekend the biggest ever with a combined $200 million-plus domestic haul.

2025 Summer Outlook: After a sluggish Q1 with only $1.31 billion domestically, the summer season is poised to rebound. Upcoming releases like Superman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Jurassic World Rebirth, and Avatar 3 are expected to drive massive buzz. Family films (Smurfs, Elio), horrors (M3GAN 2.0, 28 Years Later), and comedies (Freakier Friday) round out a diverse lineup. Analysts predict a record-breaking May.

Bollywood Highlights: In India, Raid 2 scored a strong ?19.25 crore opening, the second-highest of 2025 behind Chhaava’s ?31 crore. Positive word-of-mouth could push it higher.

Struggles and Bombs: Disney’s Snow White crossed $200 million globally but remains unprofitable against its $240-270 million budget, hurt by controversies and mixed reviews. 2024’s biggest flops, like Joker: Folie à Deux and Megalopolis, underscore the risks of high-budget misfires.

The 2025 box office is gaining momentum, driven by blockbusters and unexpected hits like Sinners, with the summer season expected to be a critical turning point for Hollywood’s recovery.

Markets and Cryptos

May 2, 2025

Sydney, Australia

Markets:

ASX futures down 9 points/0.1% to 8153
AUD -0.3% at US63.86¢
Bitcoin +2.6% to $US96,560
Dow +0.7% S&P +1.2% Nasdaq +2.1%
Gold -1.9% to $US3227.23 an ounce
Oil +1.5% at $US61.95 a barrel
Iron ore -1.2% at $US95.20 a ton

Crypto Today:

Bitcoin. $96,857.23. 2.30%
Ethereum. $1,848.94. 2.43%
XRP. $2.2249. 0.71%
BNB. $599.84 USD +0.01%
Solana. $150.61 USD +2.64%
USD Coin. $1.00 USD -0.01%
Dogecoin. $0.1816 USD +4.87%

Crypto News

Ripple’s Regulatory Milestone: Ripple became the first blockchain-powered payments provider licensed by Dubai’s DFSA, enabling regulated cross-border crypto payments in the UAE, a key global trade hub.

XRP Market Dynamics: Despite a 30% price drop, XRP analysts highlight strong fundamentals and institutional integration, suggesting the dip may be a strategic shakeout before a potential rally to $3.

SoFi’s Crypto Push: Fintech SoFi plans to reintroduce crypto investing by year-end, leveraging new U.S. regulatory guidance. They aim to integrate blockchain across lending, savings, and payments within 24 months.

UK and US Regulatory Alignment: The UK announced draft rules to regulate crypto exchanges and dealers, aiming to align with the U.S. under Trump’s pro-crypto policies, despite EU concerns.

Stablecoin Developments: Visa and Bridge partnered to launch stablecoin-linked cards in Latin America, while Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, IHC, and First Abu Dhabi Bank plan a dirham-backed stablecoin.

Worldcoin’s U.S. Entry: Sam Altman’s Worldcoin (now World) will debut in U.S. cities like Atlanta and San Francisco, offering its WLD token for identity verification via Orb scans.

Security Concerns: North Korea’s Lazarus Group is targeting crypto developers with malware through fake U.S. companies, escalating cyber threats.

Markets and Cryptos

Markets:

April 23, 2025

ASX futures up 103 points/1.3% to 7939
AUD -0.7% at US63.68¢
BTC +4.5% to $US91,358
Dow +2.7%
S&P +2.1%
NAS +2.5%
Gold -1.5% to $US3371.27 an ounce
Oil +1.5% at $US67.22 a barrel
Iron ore -0.7% at $US98.65 a ton

Cryptos Today:

Bitcoin $91,075.31 USD +4.29%
ETH $1,695.23 USD +7.53%
Tether $1.00 USD -0.02%
XRP $2.16 USD +3.57%
BNB $607.70 USD +1.95%
Solana $144.34 USD +5.47%
USD Coin $0.9994 USD -0.08%
Dogecoin $0.1728 USD +9.13%

Markets

April 15, 2025

ASX futures up 31 points/0.4% to 7805

AUD +0.7% to US63.32¢

Bitcoin +0.3% to $US84,895

Wall Street:

Dow+1%
S&P +0.9%
Nasdaq +0.9%
VIX -5.94 to 31.62
Gold -0.9% to $US3209.82 an ounce
Oil -0.3% to $US64.58 a barrel
Iron ore +0.8% to $US97.90 a ton
10-year yield: US 4.36% Australia 4.40%

Cryptos Today:

Pi Network. $0.7407. -1.07%
XRP. $2.14. -1.38%
Bitcoin. $84,578.00. -0.22%
Dogecoin. $0.1605. -3.55%
Shiba. $0.000012. -1.06%
Pi Network [IOU... pi. $0.7411. -1.01%
MEMES. $0.000100. +0.06%
Solana. $129.78. -1.17%

Movie Box Office (North America)

April 6, 2025

1. A Minecraft Movie - $157m
2. Working Man - $7.3m
3. The Chosen: Last Supper Part 2: $6.7m
4. Snow White - $6.1m
5. The Woman in a Yard - $4.5m
6. Death of a Unicorn - $2.7m
7. The Chosen: Last Supper - $1.9m
8. Hell of a Summer - $1.8m
9. The Fiend - $1.6m
10. Captain America Brave New World - $1.4m

others

Princess Mononoke
Black Bag
Mickey 17
Novocaine
The Alto Knights
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
The Monkey
Dog Man
Paddington in Peru
Last Breath
Anora
Mufasa
Rule Breakers
Night of the Zoopocalypse
Heart Eyes
The Unbreakable Boy
One of Them Days
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Ne Zha 2
Chhaava

Movie Box Office (North America)

March 16, 2025

1. Novocaine - $8.7m
2. Mickey 17 - $7.51m
3. Black Bag - $7.5m
4. Captain America: Brave New World - $5.5m
5. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie - $3.2m
6. The Last Supper - $2.8m
7. Paddington in Peru - $2.78
8. Dog Man - $2.5m
9. The Monkey - $2.47m
10. Last Breath - $2.3m

Anora
Mufasa
Rule Breakers
Night of the Zoopocalypse
Heart Eyes
The Unbreakable Boy
One of Them Days
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Ne Zha 2
Chhaava

* Correct at time of publication

Box Office (North America)

1. Mickey 17- $19.1m

2. Captain America: Brave New World - $8.5m

3. Last Breath - $4.2m

4. The Monkey - $3.9m

5. Paddington in Peru - $3.85m

6. Dog Man - $3.5m

7. Anora - $1.86m

8. Mufasa - $1.7m

9. Rule Breakers - $1.6m

10. Night of the Zoopocalypse - $1.06m

Movie Box Office (North America)

February 16, 2025

1. Captain America: Brave New World - $88.5m
2. Paddington in Peru - $13m
3. Heart Eyes - $10m
4. Dog Man - $9.7m
5. Ne Zha 2 - $7.2m
6. Love Hurts - $4.4m
7. Mufasa: The Lion King - $4.2m
8. One of Them Days - $3m
9. Companion - $1.9m
10. Becoming Led Zeppelin - $1.8m

others

Flight Risk
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Moana 2
Presence
Wolf Man
Nosferatu
Wicked
Babygirl
Game Changer
The Last Showgirl
Gladiator II
Homestead
The Fire Inside

* Correct at time of publication

Movie News

February 13, 2025

Here's a roundup of some recent movie news from 2025:

Captain America: Brave New World: The latest Marvel Studios film is now in theaters for Valentine's Day, starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson, the new Captain America. This entry seems to be a significant event for Marvel fans, with some posts on X indicating mixed reception regarding the villains, but a notable appearance by Red Hulk.

Marvel's Future and Blade: Michael B. Jordan has expressed confidence in Marvel's return to success while specifically mentioning his desire to see a "Blade" movie, hinting at potential future projects or his involvement in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps: Miles Teller has reacted positively to the first trailer for this new Fantastic Four movie, suggesting optimism despite past challenges with the franchise.

The Muppets: There's buzz around the development of a new "Muppet" movie, with Disney reportedly working on a new project to bring back the beloved characters.

Super Bowl 2025 Trailers: The Super Bowl featured several movie trailers, including a new "Thunderbolts*" with its mysterious asterisk, and a live-action "Lilo & Stitch", alongside other high-profile films. This event has kickstarted the blockbuster movie season early.

Blackpink's Lisa in Acting: Lisa from Blackpink has made her acting debut in HBO's "The White Lotus" and has expressed interest in starring in an action movie, showcasing her transition from music to acting.

Superman and Krypto: James Gunn made an appearance with his dog Ozu during the Puppy Bowl, connecting to his upcoming "Superman" movie where Ozu was an inspiration for Krypto.

Ne Zha 2: This Chinese animated film has become a monumental success, surpassing $1 billion in a single market, indicating a shift towards domestic films in China over Hollywood imports.

Green Day-Inspired Movie: Live Nation Productions is working on a comedy movie inspired by and developed with the band Green Day, titled "New Years Rev".

OTT Releases: In Tamil cinema, platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and others are seeing new releases this week, including films like "Deepavali", "Lineman", and "Hitler", reflecting a strong inclination towards digital platforms for movie watching.

This summary reflects the dynamic and vibrant landscape of the film industry as of early 2025, with significant releases, new projects, and shifts in market trends. (Grok)

News

The Batman 2 Filming Confirmed

Robert Pattinson has confirmed that filming for 'THE BATMAN 2' will start at the end of 2025, with the film set to premiere in theaters on October 1, 2027. This announcement has sparked considerable excitement among fans and film enthusiasts, as it marks the continuation of Pattinson's portrayal of Batman in a darker, more intense setting. The sequel aims to build on the gritty atmosphere established in the first film, with promotional images and discussions highlighting Batman's iconic presence against dramatic backdrops. (Grok)

News

Mickey 17 World Premiere

The world premiere of 'Mickey 17', directed by Bong Joon-ho, took place in London, featuring stars like Robert Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. The film, a mix of sci-fi drama and political satire, addresses themes of capitalism, colonization, and corruption. Critics and attendees lauded the film for its innovative storytelling and relevance to current issues, with special mention of Pattinson's dual role. The event was marked by high-profile appearances, fan interactions, and media coverage, highlighting the film's anticipated impact on contemporary cinema. (Grok)

News

On Swift Horses Trailer Release

The upcoming film 'ON SWIFT HORSES,' set to release on April 25, 2025, delves into themes of bisexuality, complex relationships, and personal desires within a 1950s melodramatic setting. Directed by Daniel Minahan and produced by the team behind 'Call Me By Your Name' and 'Nomadland,' it features a cast including Jacob Elordi, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Will Poulter, Diego Calva, and Sasha Calle. The story follows Julius and Muriel, who meet in San Diego and embark on a journey to Las Vegas, exploring themes of gambling with life's opportunities and the pursuit of personal gain. Promotional materials suggest a narrative filled with drama, romance, and self-discovery, highlighted by intimate and emotional interactions among the characters. (Grok)

News

Borderline Trailer Release

The upcoming thriller 'BORDERLINE', set to release on March 14, 2025, stars Samara Weaving as Sofia, a pop star kidnapped by an obsessive fan, Ray Nicholson, who believes they are destined to marry. The film blends psychological horror with comedy, unfolding in a grand, eerie mansion in 1990s Los Angeles. Written by Jimmy Warden, known for 'Cocaine Bear', and produced by the teams behind 'Barbie' and 'Promising Young Woman', 'BORDERLINE' showcases Weaving in her recurring role as a 'scream queen', highlighting her in various intense and dramatic scenarios. The narrative explores themes of obsession and forced matrimony, with the mansion setting enhancing the film's suspenseful atmosphere. (Grok)

News

Movie Box Office (North America)

February 9, 2025

1. Dog Man - $13.7m
2. Heart Eyes - $8.5m
3. Love Hurts - $5.8
4. Mufasa: The Lion King - $3.9m
5. Companion - $3.02m
6. One of Them Days - $3m
7. Becoming Led Zeppelin - $2.63m
8. Flight Risk - $2.6m
9. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 - $1.75m
10. Moana 2 - $1.5m

others...

Presence
Wolf Man
Nosferatu
Wicked
Babygirl
Game Changer
The Last Showgirl
Gladiator II
Homestead
The Fire Inside

* Correct at time of publication

News As reported in previous weeks, box office numbers are no longer down approx 70 percent from last year, thanks to more studios finally giving what fans have been asking for! Developing news story!

Numbers down from this past Christmas and Boxing Day, when numbers peaked! (References: Wikipedia, Box Office Mojo, IMDb, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter)

Crypto, Fintech, Markets, News and Politics via Media Man

March 12/13, 2025

The crypto bounces back from extreme fear

Market picture

The cryptocurrency market bounced 2% in the last 24 hours to $2.67 trillion. So far, the situation looks like a small rebound after the collapse. We should not talk about the beginning of recovery as long as the market is below its 200-day moving average of $2.83 trillion.

Sentiment in the crypto market has shifted from dread to fear at 34. The indicator was last higher more than three weeks ago, indicating that now is a good time to buy. However, it's worth paying attention to the nervous stock market before considering investments in more volatile cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin was climbing above $83,000 on Tuesday, hitting resistance in the form of the 200-day moving average. If a long-term trend line is repurposed as resistance, that's a worrisome bearish fact.

Ethereum ended Tuesday with growth and was trading near $1900 at the start of Wednesday, but this is a timid rebound within the steep peak the coin has been in since February 24th and the broader downtrend of the past three months.

News Background

CryptoQuant states a sharp drop in open interest in Bitcoin and Ethereum futures, suggesting a ‘leverage washout’ and a chance of market stabilisation. The Kobeissi Letter admits a wave of short position unwinding in risk assets after extreme fear levels are reached.

Clearstream, the post-trading arm of Deutsche Börse, will offer cryptocurrency settlement and custody services to institutional clients as early as next month, starting with Bitcoin and Ethereum. It then plans to add support for other cryptocurrencies and services for staking, lending and brokerage.

Glassnode notes that Solana fell below its realised price of $134 for the first time in three years. The metrics show the average cost for investors to purchase the coin.

According to Arkham Intelligence, on 11 March, bankrupt exchange Mt. Gox transferred 11,501 BTC (~$905 million) to an unknown address. Mt. Gox-related addresses hold a total of 35,915 BTC worth $2.89bn. (FxPro)

News

SEC vs Ripple Case: Negotiations Underway for Settlement

Recent developments indicate that the legal dispute between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could be nearing a conclusion. Reports suggest that Ripple's legal team is currently negotiating more favorable terms related to a $125 million fine and an injunction on XRP sales to institutional investors. The anticipation of a settlement has led to increased interest and speculation within the cryptocurrency community regarding the outcome and its potential impact on XRP. (Grok)

News

U.S. Plans Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Acquisition

Senator Cynthia Lummis has reintroduced the BITCOIN Act, which proposes that the United States government purchase one million Bitcoins over five years to create a strategic reserve. This legislative move reflects a growing acknowledgment of Bitcoin as a digital asset for national economic strategy, garnering support from both traditional financial sectors and cryptocurrency advocates. Alongside this, there is an ongoing debate about the implications, risks, and potential benefits of such a reserve. (Grok)

News

Trump's Crypto Banking Deregulation

President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign an executive order that would reverse regulations set by the Biden administration aimed at restricting banking activities for cryptocurrency firms. This move could impact how crypto companies interact with the Federal Reserve, potentially leading to greater integration of cryptocurrencies within the traditional financial system. (Grok)

News

Rumble's Strategic Bitcoin Acquisition

Rumble, a video platform and competitor to YouTube, has announced the purchase of 188 Bitcoins for approximately $17.1 million. This acquisition is part of Rumble's strategy to integrate Bitcoin into its treasury management, aiming to hedge against inflation and participate in the growing trend of corporate cryptocurrency adoption. The move reflects a broader acceptance of Bitcoin as a legitimate financial asset among companies. (Grok)

News

Trump Predicts Market Surge Amid Economic Indicators

President Trump has publicly stated his belief that the U.S. financial markets are poised for significant growth, making his comments at an event with business leaders. This optimistic forecast follows recent economic indicators showing inflation cooling to levels not seen in years, despite mixed responses from markets regarding Trump's economic policies including tariffs. (Grok)

News

Ethereum's Lowest BTC Ratio Since 2020 Triggers Liquidation Risk

The Ethereum Foundation faces potential liquidation of over $100 million in assets if Ethereum's price drops to $1,100, amidst a historic low in the ETH/BTC trading ratio not seen since May 2020. This financial maneuver is part of Ethereum's strategy to manage its treasury through decentralized finance (DeFi), highlighting both the risks and innovative approaches to crypto-asset management in a volatile market. (Grok)

News

Gold funds burst out of the blocks in 2025 as returns rocket

Australian gold funds are shaping up for a bumper year as mining companies start to capitalise on record prices, helping the stocks to finally catch up to the performance of the precious metal.

Portfolio managers were left frustrated last year after a jump in production costs held back ASX-listed gold producers from riding the rally in the spot prices to record levels. The VanEck Gold Miners exchange-traded fund climbed nearly 20 per cent in 2024 versus a 38 per cent rally for the gold price in Australian dollars.

But easing cost inflation that has plagued the mining sector for the last three years and an ongoing surge in prices has seen the trend reverse course. VanEck’s Gold Miners ETF is up 17 per cent already this year while the Aussie dollar spot price has climbed 6.3 per cent.

Local fund managers are bullish that gold has much further to run after the US dollar price climbed above $US2942 an ounce for the first time and the Australian dollar gold price breached $4500 an ounce.

Victor Smorgon Partners’ Resource Gold Fund returned a chunky 13.3 per cent in January and portfolio manager Cameron Judd believes the valuations of ASX gold stocks still don’t reflect the outlook for the yellow metal.

“Gold’s performance in times of uncertainty or crisis could see it push towards $US3600,” Mr Judd said. “Despite the strong gold price performance and fundamentals supporting further appreciation, gold miners are trading at discounted valuations on the ASX.”

Wall Street’s biggest banks believe a $US3000 price tag is imminent. Citi said it was possible within the next three months, while JPMorgan has a year-end target of $US3150. Bank of America said on Thursday that gold could reach $US3500 an ounce if investment demand rises 10 per cent this year.

The unprecedented surge in the gold price has been fuelled by investors seeking safe haven assets as US President Donald Trump unleashes aggressive trade and geopolitical policies. There are fears the president will accelerate inflation, forcing central banks to raise rates in a way that damages global growth.

Victor Smorgon’s top holdings include ASX-listed Vault Minerals and the world’s largest gold miner, US-based Newmont, which recently acquired Newcrest. The fund also owns Australia’s biggest gold miner Northern Star, which agreed to buy rival De Grey in a $5 billion deal. (AFR) *Full article and coverag via subscription to The Australian Financial Review.

News

Australia

Northern Star paying top dollar for gold rival

Northern Star has offered $5 billion to buy De Grey Mining, with De Grey shareholders to vote on the offer on 16 April. De Grey is the company behind the Hemi gold prospect in Western Australia, which is thought to hold at least 11 million ounces of gold and which is slated to produce 530,000 ounces annually in its first decade of operation. KPMG, which was engaged to provide an independent assessment of Northern Star's offer, has valued DeGrey at between $4 billion and $4.79 billion, inclusive of a premium for control. It concludes that the offer is "fair and reasonable and therefore is in the best interests of De Grey shareholders, in the absence of a superior proposal". (Roy Morgan Summary)

News

March 12, 2025

Crypto market tumbles after stocks

Market picture

Crypto market capitalisation has been falling to $2.5 trillion following the rumbling fall of the US stock market. It is dipping below the peaks of early 2024 and late 2021. Previously, a similar decline would complete a corrective pullback, attracting buyers. However, the chances of such an outcome are now lower than in previous years due to the powerful influence of traditional financial companies, which has strengthened the link between the crypto market and stock dynamics.

For now, though, we can argue that there is less terror in crypto. The Fear and Greed Index is at 24 (+4 points for the day), while the low point was a week earlier at 10.

Bitcoin slipped towards $76.5K in the early hours of Tuesday but has popped above $80K at the time of writing, approaching Monday’s consolidation levels. A bearish pattern persists on the daily timeframes, which suggests a strengthening sell-off after a failure under the 200-day moving average. The scenario of a pullback to the $70-74K area still looks the most probable for us. This is all the truer as the consolidation and rebound in early March has taken the short-term oversold stance out of the market.

Ethereum is trying to find a pivot point after falling towards $1750 at the start of Tuesday. These were the lowest values in the last 17 months. On weekly timeframes, the RSI oscillator hit its lowest point since mid-2022 - near the bottom of the bear market. Does this signify an opportunity for the recklessly bold or a breakdown in the leading altcoin? We will find out in the coming days.

News Background

According to CoinShares, global crypto fund investments fell by $876 million last week after record outflows of $2.911 billion a week earlier. Investments in Bitcoin fell by $756 million; in Ethereum, by $89 million. Investments in Solana rose by $16 million, in XRP by $6 million, and in Sui by $3 million.

As a result of another recalculation, Bitcoin mining difficulty increased by 1.43% to 112.15T. The growth did not compensate for a 3.15% drop two weeks ago. However, the figure came close to the all-time high of 114.17T reached in January.

Strategy (former MicroStrategy) intends to raise $21bn through the sale of preferred shares as part of its At-The-Market program. The proceeds will be used to buy Bitcoin and other corporate purposes. (FxPro)

News

March 11, 2025

US Senator And Congressman Introduce Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bills To Buy One Million BTC

Speaking at the “Bitcoin for America” summit, lawmakers announced their plans to create a federal bitcoin reserve that would see the U.S. buy one million BTC.

Today at the Bitcoin Policy Institute’s “Bitcoin for America” summit in Washington DC, U.S. Senator from Wyoming Cynthia Lummis announced that she is going to reintroduce her strategic Bitcoin reserve legislation in the Senate today.

“I am so pleased to announce that today I will be reintroducing The Bitcoin Act,” Senator Lummis stated. “And I’ll be joined here shortly by Senator Justice of West Virginia, who is one of the cosponsors. And we have several other additional cosponsors. And a lot of it is a result of the excitement that’s been building.” (Bitcoin Magazine). *Full article via Bitcoin Magazine

News

XRP wins Media Man 'Crypto Of The Month' award

News

Markets

Australian Dollar: $0.6317 USD (up $0.0020 USD)
Iron Ore Apr Spot Price (SGX): $100.60 USD (up $0.15 USD)
Oil (WTI): $67.70 USD (up $1.14 USD)
Gold: $2,931.74 USD (up $13.03 USD)
Copper (CME): $4.8425 USD (up $0.0500 USD)
Bitcoin: $82,880.91USD (up 0.32% in last 24 hours)
Dow Jones: 41,350.93 (down 82.55 points)

News

Roy Morgan wins Media Man 'News Services Company Of The Month' award

News Media

Australia

Peter Dutton More Crypto Friendly And Switched On Than Albanese (Media Man Group)

News

"Dutton A Genuine Contender" (Sky News Australia)

March 10, 2025

ASX futures are pointing up 69 points, or by 0.9 per cent, to 8011.

All US prices are as of 4.15pm Sunday in New York:

Bitcoin -3.7% to $US83,138
On Wall St: Dow +0.5% S&P +0.6% Nasdaq +0.7%
VIX -1.5 to 23.37
Gold -0.1% to $US2909.10 an ounce
Brent oil +1.3% to $US70.36 a barrel
Iron ore +0.3% to $US100.70 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.3% Australia 4.4%

January 10, 2025

ASX futures up 33 points or 0.4%

AUD -0.3% to 61.98 US cents
UK pound -0.4% to $US1.2309
Bitcoin -2.9% to $US91,275 at 7.23am AEDT
US markets closed for Jimmy Carter’s funeral
Stoxx 50 +0.4% FTSE +0.8% DAX -0.1% CAC +0.5%
Spot gold +0.3% to $US2671.00/oz at 1.55pm in New York
Brent crude +1.2% to $US77.08 a barrel
Iron ore +1% to $US97.40 a tonne
10-year yield: US 4.69% Australia 4.48% Germany 2.56%
US prices as of 1.59pm in New York

Movie Box Office (North America)

January 5, 2025

1. Mufasa: The Lion King - $23.8m

2. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 - $21.2m

3. Nosferatu - $13.2m

4. Moana 2 - $12.4m

5. Wicked - $10.2m

6. A Complete Unknown - $8.6m

7. Babygirl - $4.5m

8. Gladiator II - $2.7m

9. Homestead - $2.1m

10. The Fire Inside $1.2m

Movie Box Office (North America)

December 22, 2024

1. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 - $62m

2. Mufasa: The Lion King - $35m

3. Wicked - $13.5m

4. Moana 2 - $13.1m

5. Homestead - $6m

6. Gladiator II - $3.5m

7. Kraven the Hunter - $3.1m

8. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim - $1.3m

9. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - $825,000

10. Queer - $364,000

Social Media News

X Wins Media Man 'Social Media Platform Of The Year' award; Runner-up: YouTube

Grok wins Media Man 'AI Of The Year' award

December 28, 2024

News

Elon Musk's X Actions Stir Free Speech Debate

Prominent conservative accounts on X, including Laura Loomer's, have recently lost their verification badges and faced other account restrictions after critiquing Elon Musk's views on immigration. Musk has indicated that the platform's algorithm reduces the reach of accounts that are frequently muted or blocked by credible users. This incident has led to allegations of censorship among right-wing influencers, while Musk himself has addressed these changes in policy. The actions have reignited discussions about the balance between free speech and content moderation on X. (Credit: Grok)

Grok Profile via Grok!

"Grok" is a term coined by Robert A. Heinlein in his 1961 science fiction novel "Stranger in a Strange Land." It means to understand something deeply and intuitively, often with an empathetic or profound connection to the subject. The word has transcended its original context to become part of the vernacular, especially within communities like computer science, where it signifies a comprehensive and intuitive grasp of concepts or systems.

The term also refers to an AI chatbot developed by xAI, named Grok, which aims to provide answers with a humorous and truthful perspective, modeled after the "Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy." This AI chatbot is designed to engage in natural conversation, provide witty responses, and even tackle "spicy" questions that other AI might shy away from. It has real-time access to the world via the X platform (formerly Twitter), which gives it an edge in providing current information.

In summary, "grok" can refer to:

A verb meaning to understand something profoundly and intuitively.

The name of an AI chatbot with unique capabilities in humor and real-time information processing. (Grok)

Grok News via Grok!

Here's a summary of the latest news related to Grok:

Grok-2 Release: xAI has released Grok-2, a new version of its AI chatbot, which is now available for free to all users on X. This model is three times faster, offers improved accuracy in following instructions, and has enhanced multilingual capabilities. It also includes features like web search for real-time information and citation capabilities for fact-checking.

Image Generation: xAI introduced an image generation model, initially code-named Aurora, which is now part of the Grok chatbot's capabilities. This feature allows for photorealistic image creation and is available to users on X, with plans to expand access.

Mobile App and Standalone Web App: Grok has expanded its reach with a standalone iOS app and now a web app in Australia, broadening its accessibility beyond the X platform. These apps include features like PDF analysis, image generation, and real-time X post searches.

Funding and Future Developments: Elon Musk's xAI has secured a significant funding round, increasing its valuation and focus on developing new consumer and enterprise products, including plans for Grok 3. This funding will support further advancements in AI technology and the expansion of Grok's capabilities.

Controversy and Public Perception: Grok has faced scrutiny for potential misinformation, especially in political contexts. Despite this, there's a growing positive sentiment among users who appreciate its straightforwardness and utility in searches, particularly for political or controversial topics.

User Accessibility: Previously exclusive to premium subscribers, Grok is now accessible to all X users with some limitations on usage for free-tier accounts, such as a cap on the number of prompts and image generations per session. (Grok)

xAI via Grok

xAI is an artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk with the goal of "understanding the true nature of the universe." The company was established in March 2023 and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. xAI focuses on developing AI to accelerate human scientific discovery, aiming to create a maximally helpful AI, exemplified by their product, Grok, which is designed to provide truthful and helpful answers.

xAI has raised significant funding, with a Series C funding round bringing its valuation to over $40 billion by December 2024, after raising $6 billion. This funding is being used to enhance its AI models, including the development of Grok 2 and the construction of a massive supercomputer named "Colossus" in Memphis, Tennessee.

The company's approach includes leveraging real-time data from Musk's other ventures like X (formerly Twitter) and Tesla, suggesting a synergy that could potentially give xAI an edge in the AI race. xAI also released an API for its AI models, allowing developers to integrate its technology into various applications.

The mission and operations of xAI have been met with a mix of excitement and skepticism, with some viewing it as a significant player in advancing AI, while others are concerned about the implications of Musk's influence over AI development, especially considering his past with OpenAI and his views on AI safety and regulation. (Grok)

Media Man: Groking impressive stuff Team Musk.

Media Man Int

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https://www.mediamanint.com/x_news.html

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https://www.mediamanint.com/social_media.html

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https://www.mediamanint.com/grok_news.html

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https://mediamansocialmedia.blogspot.com/

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https://mediamanplatform.blogspot.com/

Combat Sports News

X And Grok Takes Fans And Sports Media Across The Globe: Media Man

MMA Fighter's Head Kick in Boxing Match

During a recent boxing match, an MMA fighter, facing defeat in his boxing debut, controversially knocked out his opponent with an illegal head kick, leading to his disqualification. This event drew widespread attention and humorously reminded fans of the much-anticipated but differently executed fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. Many fans expressed a wishful scenario where McGregor would have used similar unorthodox tactics against Mayweather, highlighting the contrast between the restrictive rules of boxing and the more varied striking techniques allowed in MMA. The incident sparked a humorous yet reflective discussion on the constraints of boxing rules and the crossover expectations from MMA fighters entering the boxing ring. (Grok)

News

McGregor-Mayweather Fight Speculation

During a boxing match, MMA fighter Idris Abdurashitov was disqualified for knocking out his opponent, Bagher Faraji, with an illegal head kick. This incident has led to widespread discussion among fans and commentators, many of whom humorously wished for a similar scenario during the boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. The general sentiment reflects a mix of amusement and frustration over the strict rules of boxing compared to the more varied techniques allowed in MMA, highlighting the different expectations and strategies between the two sports. (Grok)

News

Trump's Wrestling Talk with The Undertaker

Based on the latest information available up to October 21, 2024, Donald Trump has engaged in several activities involving the wrestling world:

Podcast Appearance: Donald Trump appeared on The Undertaker's podcast, "Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway." During this appearance, Trump discussed various topics, including his history with wrestling, asking about the current scene in WWE, and the mechanics of wrestling like the hardness of the ring. They also delved into more political discussions, reflecting on what's at stake in the upcoming presidential election.

Endorsement Video: Trump shared a video on TikTok where he was endorsed by Mark Calaway (The Undertaker) and Glenn Jacobs (Kane). This was an unusual endorsement where they also took the opportunity to mock the Democratic ticket, showing unflattering pictures of Kamala Harris, Dave Bautista, and Tim Walz, as part of their promotional tactic for the election, likening it to a wrestling event with "ElectionMania."

Wrestling Insights: Trump has shown curiosity about the wrestling business, asking The Undertaker questions that are common among those outside the industry, like the reality of wrestling moves, the hardness of the ring, and how wrestlers handle real-life conflicts in the ring. This conversation provided insights into Trump's long-standing relationship with WWE, including his involvement in past WrestleManias.

Political and Wrestling Crossover: Trump's interaction with wrestling personalities isn't just for entertainment; it's also a part of his campaign strategy, targeting demographics that follow wrestling. This includes discussing wrestling stars like Cody Rhodes and Gunther, indicating his attempt to stay connected with pop culture and sports entertainment to appeal to voters.

From posts on X and other sources, there hasn't been a new, significant event or statement directly labeled as "Trump's Wrestling Talk with The Undertaker" beyond what's been described, but Trump's engagement with wrestling personalities and platforms continues to be part of his public persona and political strategy. (Grok)

News

The Rock's Reach Out to Trump Post-Assassination Attempt

Donald Trump appeared as a guest on The Undertaker's podcast, 'Six Feet Under,' where the discussion unexpectedly turned into Trump interviewing The Undertaker about wrestling rather than focusing on politics. During the podcast, Trump disclosed that Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson had contacted him through Dana White following an assassination attempt on Trump, expressing concern for his safety. Trump expressed surprise at this gesture, having previously believed The Rock did not like him. The Undertaker commented on how Trump has made politics entertaining, comparing it to the spectacle of wrestling where fans sometimes confuse the performance with reality. Trump also boasted about the large crowds at his political events, likening them to wrestling audiences. (Grok)

News

UFC 308 Fight Week Anticipation

Here's what's buzzing around UFC 308 as of the latest posts and information available up to October 21, 2024:

Fight Card and Main Events: UFC 308 is headlined by a UFC Featherweight Championship bout where the current champion Ilia Topuria will defend his title against former champion Max Holloway. Another highlight is the middleweight bout between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.

Location and Date: The event is set to occur on October 26, 2024, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Fight Week Kickoff: UFC 308 Fight Week has officially started, with various fan and media activities planned throughout the week, including fan zones, athlete meet and greets at Yas Mall and Yas Bay, and the UFC 308 Press Conference.

Broadcast Details: The event will be available live on PPV, with the main card starting at 2 PM ET in the U.S. For viewers in the UK, it's set to be broadcast live on TNT Sports Box Office.

Fighter Updates and Speculations: There was some buzz about Max Holloway's weight cut, with observations suggesting he has a significant cut, potentially impacting his performance, though stylistically, the fight with Topuria is expected to be close.
A false claim circulated about Lerone Murphy being out and replaced by Jean Silva against Dan Ige, but this was debunked by Dan Ige himself.
Betting odds and potential upsets are a hot topic, with some fans and analysts pointing out that there might be some underdogs worth watching, like Holloway and Whittaker, who are not favored by the odds.

Community and Expert Analysis: Discussions are rife about the potential outcomes, with some analysts and former fighters like Megan Anderson offering breakdowns of the main and co-main events. There's also a bit of skepticism and strategic analysis on how the fights might go, with emphasis on the stylistic matchups and the physical condition of fighters like Holloway.

Public Sentiment: There's considerable excitement about the card being stacked, with fans eagerly anticipating knockouts and high-action fights, especially given the heavy hitters scheduled for the event.

Remember, while X posts provide real-time reactions and some insights, they're not always accurate or comprehensive sources for event details or outcomes. However, they do capture the community's pulse leading up to UFC 308. (Grok)

News

Anticipation for Bron Breakker vs Jacob Fatu

During WWE Raw, fans witnessed several key events including Bron Breakker defeating Jey Uso to become the new Intercontinental Champion, amidst excitement over a potential future match between Bron Breakker and Jacob Fatu. This match-up has generated significant anticipation among fans, who describe it as a highly anticipated, potentially explosive encounter. Additionally, Seth Rollins was involved in a notable confrontation with Bronson Reed. The episode also featured moments involving The New Day and the LWO, contributing to the night's dynamic action and storyline developments. (Grok)

News

Wyatt Sicks vs. Final Testament

Based on recent events in WWE as of October 21, 2024:

The Wyatt Sicks made a notable return on WWE Raw, where they targeted The Final Testament. This happened during a match involving The New Day and the Authors of Pain (AOP), where R-Truth's interference led to a chaotic scene. After The New Day won, The Wyatt Sicks appeared, leading to a brawl with The Final Testament, showcasing a new feud or at least a significant confrontation.

Bo Dallas, portraying Uncle Howdy, applied the Mandible Claw on Paul Ellering, The Final Testament's manager, indicating a direct attack on the leadership or symbolic figure of the opposing faction.

The Wyatt Sicks have been described as having been off television for a few weeks prior to this event but have been keeping the storyline alive through teasers. Their return marks a continuation or possibly an escalation of their storyline involving The Final Testament.

There's also an indication of ongoing tensions and brawls involving other WWE superstars like Seth Rollins and Bronson Reed, suggesting a highly volatile environment on Raw, within which this feud is unfolding.

From posts on X, although not directly quoted or referenced in detail here:

The Wyatt Sicks have used the platform to send cryptic and menacing messages, hinting at themes of deception, pride, and upcoming confrontations, aligning with their eerie and psychological warfare style of storytelling in WWE.

This return and attack signify that The Wyatt Sicks are not only back in the physical sense on WWE programming but are also actively engaging in psychological warfare both in the ring and through social media, setting the stage for what could be an intense rivalry with The Final Testament. (Grok)

News

Rollins vs Reed Set for WWE Crown Jewel

Seth Rollins and Bronson Reed are set to compete against each other at WWE Crown Jewel, following a series of aggressive confrontations on WWE Raw. The feud intensified with Rollins attacking Reed both backstage and during live events, leading to a notable brawl. WWE official Adam Pearce officially announced their match for the upcoming Crown Jewel event, escalating the anticipation for their showdown. (Grok)

News

Rhea Ripley's Dominance at WWE Raw

During a recent WWE Raw event, Rhea Ripley was a central figure, engaging in a match where she single-handedly faced three opponents, showcasing her dominance. This event highlighted her ongoing feud with Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan, with many fans expressing fatigue over the storyline's continuation. While Rhea Ripley's performances were widely praised for their intensity and skill, there was a mixed reception towards Raquel Rodriguez's involvement. Some fans felt her portrayal lacked impact and questioned her effectiveness in the storyline. The episode also featured moments like Rhea Ripley costing Liv Morgan a match, further escalating their rivalry. Overall, the event demonstrated strong performances from Rhea Ripley but also sparked discussions about the direction and development of her feud with Raquel Rodriguez. (Grok)

News/Profile

WWE NXT

As of my last update, WWE NXT has continued to evolve, serving as WWE's developmental territory while also establishing itself as a unique brand with its own fanbase. Here's a brief overview and some recent developments based on general knowledge up to October 2024:

Rebranding and Focus: After transitioning from the "NXT 2.0" era, which saw a vibrant rebranding in color schemes and a focus on developing new talents, NXT has somewhat returned to its roots while keeping the developmental aspect strong. The brand balances between showcasing up-and-coming wrestlers and occasionally featuring established stars.

Broadcast: NXT airs live on The CW as of 2024, having moved from USA Network. This move was part of WWE's strategy to potentially reach a broader audience on network television.

Talent Development: NXT remains crucial for WWE's strategy of grooming future main roster superstars. It's where talents refine their characters, in-ring skills, and promos before potentially moving to Raw or SmackDown.

Events: NXT continues to produce special events like NXT TakeOver, although the frequency and branding might have adjusted. These events are significant for storylines culminating in high-stakes matches.

Championships: The NXT Championship, NXT Women's Championship, and NXT North American Championship are still pivotal, with the latter often being seen as a workhorse title. There might also be developments in tag team and possibly cruiserweight divisions if they continue or have been revived.

Cross-promotion: There's often interaction with main roster talents, either through crossovers, talent exchanges, or NXT stars being called up during events like the Royal Rumble or after WrestleMania.

Storylines and Characters: NXT is known for its longer-term storytelling compared to the main roster, with more focus on in-ring action. Characters evolve significantly here, and there's usually a mix of indie darlings, homegrown talents, and international stars.

Recent Movements: Without specific X posts or updates, one can assume NXT might be focusing on building new stars after inevitable call-ups post major WWE events. There could also be an emphasis on competing directly with other wrestling promotions by offering unique match types or international collaborations.

Venue: While initially heavily associated with Full Sail University, NXT has been known to tour or set up in different venues, enhancing its live event feel. However, with recent changes, they might be utilizing different arenas or even revisiting past iconic locations like the 2300 Arena for special episodes.

For the most current events or specific matches, one would typically look at recent shows or announcements. However, NXT's core purpose as a blend of entertainment and talent development for WWE remains its defining feature. (Grok)

News

Chris Jericho's AEW Contract Expiry

Chris Jericho's contract with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is due to expire in 2025, prompting speculation and discussion among fans and commentators about his future in professional wrestling. Some fans hope for Jericho to continue with AEW, emphasizing his importance to the promotion, while others discuss the possibility of him returning to WWE, considering the financial and creative implications. There is a mix of emotional reactions from fans, with some expressing devastation at the thought of Jericho leaving AEW, while others speculate on the impact his departure could have on both AEW and WWE fanbases. Discussions also touch on potential financial offers from AEW to retain Jericho, suggesting that AEW might be more inclined to offer a substantial deal to keep him. (Grok)

News

Tim Tszyu vs Bakhram Murtazaliev

The boxing match between Tim Tszyu and Bakhram Murtazaliev on October 20, 2024, resulted in a significant victory for Murtazaliev, who defended his IBF super welterweight title against the Australian boxer.

Here's a detailed overview:

Outcome: Bakhram Murtazaliev won the bout via a third-round stoppage, retaining his IBF title. Tim Tszyu was knocked down four times during the fight, three times in the second round and once in the third, before his corner threw in the towel, signaling Tszyu's defeat.

Fight Highlights: Knockdowns: Murtazaliev's strategy and power were evident as he dropped Tszyu multiple times, showcasing his dominance in the ring with precise counter-attacks, particularly with his left hook.
Corner's Decision: After the fourth knockdown, and with Tszyu appearing unable to defend himself effectively, his team decided to stop the fight to prevent further punishment.

Post-Fight Sentiment: There's been a mix of shock and analysis following the fight. Social media and boxing forums on X have highlighted Murtazaliev's impressive performance, noting his dangerous left hand and questioning the matchmaking that led to this bout.
Discussions on X also reflect concerns over Tszyu's condition post-fight, with some posts indicating that Tszyu has been cleared of serious head injuries but suggesting that his career might be at a crossroads due to this devastating loss.

Implications for Tszyu: This defeat marks a significant setback in Tim Tszyu's career, especially after coming off a previous loss. There's talk about his future in boxing, with some suggesting this might affect his standing and potential future title opportunities in the super welterweight division.

Murtazaliev's Position: With this victory, Murtazaliev not only retains his title but also significantly raises his profile in the boxing world, potentially setting up future high-profile fights with other champions in the division.

Fight Availability: Clips and full fight videos have been shared across platforms, including X, indicating high fan interest in rewatching or analyzing the bout.

This match has evidently had a profound impact on both fighters' careers, with Murtazaliev emerging as a dominant force in the super welterweight category, while Tszyu faces a challenging path forward after consecutive high-profile losses.

News

Tim Tszyu News/Profile via Grok

Tim Tszyu, born on November 2, 1994, in Sydney, Australia, is a professional boxer who has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the notable names in the super welterweight division. Here are some key points about Tim Tszyu:

Family Legacy: Tim is the son of the legendary boxer Kostya Tszyu, a former undisputed light-welterweight champion who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. This heritage has naturally placed a spotlight on Tim, with many expecting him to follow in his father's footsteps.

Professional Career: Tim Tszyu made his professional debut in December 2016. Since then, he has shown considerable skill and determination, climbing the ranks in the boxing world. His style combines technical proficiency with aggressive fighting, reminiscent of his father but with his unique flair.

Titles and Achievements: By 2024, Tim has captured several regional titles. He won the WBC-ABCO Continental light-middleweight title early in his career and has since aimed for world titles. His pursuit of world championship belts has been a significant focus, with matches that have drawn considerable attention in the boxing community.

Notable Fights: Tszyu has faced several high-profile opponents. His fights have included bouts against domestic and international fighters, enhancing his reputation both in Australia and abroad. One of his significant fights was for the WBO interim junior middleweight title against Tony Harrison, showcasing his readiness for world-level competition.

Recent Developments: As of 2024, Tim Tszyu was involved in a high-stakes match for the IBF super welterweight title eliminator, indicating his push towards securing a world title. However, his journey has not been without setbacks. For instance, a fight against Sebastian Fundora for Tszyu's WBO super welterweight title resulted in a loss, and subsequent injuries have impacted his fight schedule.

Public Image and Style: Tim carries the Tszyu name with a mix of pride and pressure. His fighting style is often described as calculated aggression, and he's known for his resilience and comeback spirit in the ring. Outside of boxing, he maintains a relatively low profile but is increasingly recognized for his contributions to Australian boxing.

Future Prospects: Despite facing some tough losses, Tszyu's career is still seen with optimism by many in the boxing world. His dedication to the sport, combined with his lineage, suggests that he will continue to be a significant figure in boxing, aiming for world titles and possibly unification bouts in the super welterweight division.

Given the dynamic nature of sports, Tim Tszyu's journey in boxing continues to evolve with each fight, capturing the attention of fans and analysts alike, eager to see if he can capture the world titles that have so far eluded him but were once held by his father. (Grok)

News/Profile

Combat Sports

Combat sports encompass a wide variety of fighting disciplines where participants engage in direct physical combat, often one-on-one, following a set of rules designed to ensure safety while determining a winner through points, submission, or knockout. Here are some insights and recent trends in combat sports based on the information available up to October 21, 2024:

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): MMA continues to grow in popularity, integrating techniques from various combat sports and martial arts. Events like the UFC have become mainstream, with fighters from diverse backgrounds like kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and boxing competing together. Recent posts on X highlight upcoming fights, like the mention of Kai Asakura sparring with Merab Dvalishvili, indicating the cross-weight class interest and training that fighters undertake.

Boxing: While boxing remains a staple in combat sports, there's an ongoing trend of boxers and MMA fighters crossing over between sports. For instance, Jake Paul's venture into new combat sports after his fight with Mike Tyson shows the blending boundaries of combat disciplines. Moreover, boxers like Artem Vakhitov trying to secure a UFC contract exemplify this trend.

Kickboxing and Muay Thai: Although not as highlighted in recent X posts, these sports contribute significantly to the combat sports scene, often feeding talent into MMA. Their techniques are fundamental in the striking aspect of mixed martial arts.

Wrestling and Grappling: Catch Wrestling, Combat Sambo, and Greco-Roman Wrestling are less covered in mainstream media but remain crucial for their contributions to the grappling techniques in MMA. There's a continuous interest in these forms, especially in how they integrate into MMA strategies.

Emerging and Niche Combat Sports: Combat sports like Canne de Combat or variations like Combat Hapkido might not make daily news but are part of the broader combat sports ecosystem, often featured in specialized tournaments or as part of self-defense training.

Events and Scheduling: Platforms like X provide real-time updates on combat sports schedules, showing a packed calendar across various promotions like UFC, PFL, KSW, and more, indicating a vibrant scene with events almost every week.

Crossovers and Novelty Fights: There's a growing trend of crossover events or novelty fights where personalities from different combat disciplines or even different sports altogether engage in combat sports matches, which draws wide attention.

Safety and Equipment: Discussions around the safety gear in combat sports continue, with MMA and boxing being noted for their minimal gear compared to others like Taekwondo, influencing injury rates as per earlier studies.

Market Growth: The mention of the combat sports market heating up indicates not just an increase in viewer interest but also in commercial investments, sponsorships, and media coverage.

The landscape of combat sports is ever-evolving, with athletes constantly adapting new techniques, and promotions innovating in how fights are presented and consumed. The integration of social media like X for real-time updates has also brought fans closer to the action, making combat sports a dynamic field with global participation and viewership. (Grok)

News

The term "Dream Match" in the context of sports and entertainment often refers to a highly anticipated or hypothetical contest between top competitors or teams that fans and analysts would love to see. Here are some insights based on recent discussions:

Wrestling: There's considerable buzz around several potential dream matches in the wrestling world: The Rock vs. Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes has been floated as a possible match for WrestleMania 41, indicating a high-profile encounter that would draw significant interest due to the star power and storylines involved.
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre received enthusiastic fan reaction, showcasing how matches that have already taken place can still be celebrated as dream encounters due to their execution and reception.
Seth Rollins vs. Bronson Reed at Crown Jewel has been highlighted as a match to look forward to, suggesting an ongoing interest in current roster matchups that promise high-quality wrestling.
Damian Priest naming Oba Femi as his dream opponent from NXT points to cross-generational or brand dream matches that fans and wrestlers themselves are intrigued by.

Baseball: The New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series has been described as a dream matchup due to the historical rivalry and the significant market presence of both teams. This reflects not just on the athletes but the legacy and fanbase of the teams involved.

Boxing: Although not recently discussed in X posts, historically, Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao was billed as "The Dream Match," showing how individual sports like boxing can create dream scenarios based on the fame and contrasting styles of the fighters.

General Sentiment on X: Fans often discuss dream matches across various platforms, expressing desires to see matches like Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Street Profits in wrestling, showcasing a blend of tag team excellence from different promotions or eras. (Grok)

Movie Box Office (North America)

October 13, 2024

1. Terrifier 3 - $18.3m

2. The Wild Robot - $13.5m

3. Joker: Folie à Deux - $7.1m

4. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - $7.1m

5. Piece By Piece - $3.8m

6. Transformers One - $3.7m

7. Saturday Night - $3.4m

8. My Hero Academia - $3m

9. The Nightmare Before Christmas - $2.3m

10. The Apprentice - $1.6m

Combat Sports Week At Media Man; Elon Musk's X And Grok Take Publishers, Reporters, Fans Et Al Around The World Of Sports In A TKO Second!: Media Man

October 1, 2024

News

Alex Pereira's Arrival for UFC 307

Alex Pereira, known as 'Poatan', is gearing up for a highly anticipated UFC fight at UFC 307 against Khalil Rountree Jr., scheduled for October 2024. The fight week has begun with both fighters, including notable figures like Jose Aldo, checking in for the event. There's considerable excitement around this match, primarily due to the knockout capabilities of both fighters. Pereira has publicly stated his intention to 'break' Rountree, intensifying the event's buildup. Discussions and analyses have focused on Pereira's recent UFC activities, potential retirement, and the high stakes of the main event, suggesting it could be one of the most thrilling UFC main events recently. Additionally, Khalil Rountree hinted at employing a never-before-seen move during the fight, adding an element of mystery and anticipation. (Grok)

News

UFC 307 and DWCS Week 8

UFC 307 is generating significant buzz, particularly for the main event where Alex Pereira has promised an intense confrontation against Khalil Rountree, vowing to 'break' him. This fight is not only a highlight of the event but also showcases both fighters' formidable striking power, with predictions leaning towards a knockout rather than a decision. Alongside this main event, the UFC community is abuzz with excitement for other matchups, discussing fighters' skills and predicting outcomes. Concurrently, the Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) Week 8 is taking place, spotlighting emerging talents like Christien Savoie, who are competing for the chance to earn UFC contracts. The DWCS not only serves as a platform for new fighters but also engages fans with live events and betting odds, adding another layer of anticipation and discussion around the UFC's upcoming events. (Grok)

News

UFC 307 Fight Week

UFC 307, scheduled for Saturday, features a highly anticipated main event between Alex Pereira, known for his striking prowess, and Khalil Rountree Jr., who has hinted at a unique move he might employ during the fight. The event has sparked considerable interest among fans and analysts, with discussions focusing on the fighters' capabilities and potential outcomes. Alongside the main event, the Dana White Contender Series (DWCS) Week 8 is also taking place, offering emerging fighters a chance to secure UFC contracts. Notable fighters like Jose Aldo, Kevin Holland, and Stephen Thompson are also highlighted, adding to the excitement with their upcoming matches. The event is set to be broadcast live, with various analyses and predictions circulating among enthusiasts. (Grok)

News

Torrez Finney's Third DWCS Victory

Torrez Finney achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first fighter to win three times on Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS). In his third appearance on DWCS, which took place on October 1, 2024, Finney secured a first-round TKO victory over Abdellah Er-Ramy. This performance not only marked his third win on the series but also showcased his dominant skills, leading to widespread acclaim across social media platforms, particularly X (formerly known as Twitter). Following this victory, there was a consensus among observers and fans that not offering Finney a UFC contract would be an oversight, given his undefeated record and his consistent performance under the DWCS spotlight. This achievement cements his status as a top prospect in the middleweight division, with many expecting him to finally receive a UFC contract. (Grok)

News

Khalil Rountree's Mystery Move at UFC 307

Ahead of UFC 307, Khalil Rountree Jr. has hinted at employing a unique, never-before-seen technique in his upcoming fight against Alex Pereira, the current light heavyweight champion. Rountree, known for his striking prowess, aims to dethrone Pereira with a knockout, seeking to establish himself as a formidable force in the UFC. The event has drawn significant attention, with fans and analysts speculating on Rountree's strategy and the potential outcome of this high-stakes match. Meanwhile, new sparring footage of Pereira with Sean Strickland has been released, showcasing Pereira's skills and improvement in English. Other notable fighters like Kevin Holland and Jose Aldo are also featured in the event, but the main event between Pereira and Rountree remains the focal point, with expectations set high for an explosive encounter. (Grok)

News

Diyar Nurgozhay's Head Kick KO

Diyar Nurgozhay recently showcased his striking prowess at Dana White's Contender Series, where he secured a notable victory via a head kick knockout against Bartosz Szewczyk during the light heavyweight bout at DWCS 74. This event took place on October 1, 2024, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Nurgozhay, maintaining his undefeated record, delivered the knockout in the second round, further solidifying his reputation in the MMA community. This performance not only electrified the audience but also significantly boosted his potential for earning a UFC contract, given the platform's purpose of scouting new talent for the UFC roster. This victory adds to Nurgozhay's highlight reel, known for his finishing capabilities, as he continues his journey with an eye on the UFC. (Grok)

News

New WWENXT Logo Debuts on The CW

WWE NXT has introduced a new logo as part of its transition to The CW network, marking the beginning of a new era for the wrestling brand. The rebranding, effective from October 1, 2024, aims to evoke a more classic aesthetic. The debut on The CW was highlighted by various wrestling personalities and news outlets, with many expressing enthusiasm for the new look and the show's premiere. The debut episode featured significant matches, including a championship bout and a street fight, indicating a strong start to NXT's new chapter on The CW. (Grok)

News

Roxanne Perez Retains NXT Title with Cora Jade's Return

Roxanne Perez successfully defended her NXT Women's Championship against Giulia in a recent WWE NXT event, marked by an unexpected twist when Cora Jade returned to assist Perez in retaining her title. This intervention was pivotal in Perez's victory, sparking varied reactions among fans. While some expressed disappointment with the match's conclusion and the manner of Giulia's defeat, others were thrilled by Cora Jade's comeback, anticipating new storylines. Despite the controversial finish, the match received praise for its quality. (Grok)

News

Mixed Reactions to New NXT Titles

Based on the information gathered from posts on X and general web sentiment, the introduction of new NXT titles has generated a mix of reactions among fans and observers:

Design Critique: There's a noticeable divide over the aesthetic of the new NXT titles. Some fans have expressed a preference for the previous designs, particularly the "rainbow titles" which were admired for their vibrant yet balanced color scheme. The new designs have been described by some as less appealing initially, but there's an acknowledgment that acceptance might grow over time. For instance, one user likened the transition in perception from the old to the new titles humorously, suggesting that while the initial reaction might be negative, eventual adaptation is expected.

Nostalgia and Change: The change in title designs seems to reflect broader changes within NXT, including its move to The CW network. This shift has stirred mixed feelings, with some fans feeling nostalgic about the "black and gold" era of NXT, which these new titles symbolically depart from. However, there's also excitement about what this change could mean for NXT's future, especially with the involvement of figures like Shawn Michaels in crafting the new era.

Performance and Presentation: Despite mixed feelings about the titles' design, there's a consensus on the quality of the matches and the presentation of NXT on The CW. The debut of NXT on this new platform, highlighted by significant matches like Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Title, and the involvement of high-profile figures or matchups, indicates that while the titles themselves might be divisive, the content and direction of NXT are still highly anticipated and discussed.

Fan Engagement: The new titles have certainly engaged the fanbase, sparking conversations not just about design but about what these changes signify for NXT's identity and its place within WWE's broader ecosystem. This engagement ranges from criticism to cautious optimism, with some fans seeing it as a necessary evolution for NXT to stand out in the crowded landscape of wrestling entertainment.

Cultural and Identity Shifts: There's an underlying discussion about what these titles represent for NXT's brand identity. Some fans have humorously or critically remarked on the choice of design, questioning if it aligns with NXT's desire to carve out a unique identity or if it's merely a shift for the sake of change. This touches on broader themes of brand evolution and fan acceptance of change in professional wrestling.

In summary, while the new NXT titles have sparked a variety of reactions from critique over their design to nostalgia for previous eras, there's an underlying excitement about the narrative and performance aspects of NXT's new chapter. The conversation around these titles encapsulates fans' emotional connection to NXT's history and their hopes or concerns for its future under its new presentation. (Grok)

News

Wes Lee Wins Street Fight at WWENXT

During a recent WWE NXT event, Wes Lee defeated Zachary Wentz in a highly praised street fight. The match, described as both brutal and entertaining, featured intense action characteristic of street fights. Both wrestlers received acclaim for their performance, with fans and commentators noting the match as a highlight of the evening's programming. The fight included dramatic moments, such as Wentz missing a table dive, adding to the spectacle. This victory for Wes Lee was celebrated, with many expressing enthusiasm for the match's quality and hoping for future encounters between the two. (Grok)

News

WWE Bad Blood

WWE Bad Blood is making a comeback in 2024, marking the fourth event under this name and the first since 2004. Here's what you need to know:

Event Date and Location: The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. This date coincides with the 27th anniversary of the first Bad Blood event.

Broadcast Details: Bad Blood 2024 will be available via traditional pay-per-view (PPV) worldwide and will also air on WWE's streaming platforms, specifically Peacock in the United States and WWE Network internationally.

Historical Significance: The original Bad Blood in 1997 introduced the Hell in a Cell match, which has been a staple of the event, including in its previous iterations in 2003 and 2004.

Matches and Card: One of the main matches includes Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship, with a unique twist where Dominik Mysterio will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage to prevent interference.

There's also speculation and reports about a Hell in a Cell match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre, though there was some uncertainty about whether this would be the main event or if a tag team match involving Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Solo Sikoa, and possibly Jacob Fatu would close the show. However, recent discussions and fan reactions suggest a strong possibility of Punk vs. McIntyre main eventing due to the historical significance of Hell in a Cell at Bad Blood.

Themes and Anniversaries: The event is not only a nod to its own history but also leverages the anniversary of the first Hell in a Cell match. The involvement of high-profile figures like CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and the intertwining storylines with Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes adds layers to the event's narrative.

Fan and Industry Buzz: There's considerable excitement around the return of Bad Blood, especially concerning how WWE will utilize the Hell in a Cell structure this time, given its history with the event. Fan posts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) show anticipation for the matches, particularly the potential main events, and how WWE might script the outcomes to impact ongoing WWE storylines.

This event represents not just a wrestling spectacle but a significant moment in WWE's calendar, blending nostalgia with current rivalries, making Bad Blood 2024 a must-watch for WWE fans. (Grok)

News

Beterbiev vs Bivol: Clash of the Undefeated

The latest on Beterbiev vs. Bivol, titled "Clash of the Undefeated," centers around their upcoming fight scheduled for October 12, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here's what's been circulating and reported:

Fight Details: Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) will face Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) in a unification bout for the IBF, WBC, WBO, and WBA light heavyweight titles, marking a significant event in boxing as both fighters are undefeated.

Beterbiev's Condition: After a knee injury forced a postponement from an initially planned June fight, Beterbiev has confirmed his 100% recovery and readiness for this bout. His approach to training and recovery underscores his intent to maintain his 100% knockout record.

Bivol's Perspective: Dmitry Bivol has expressed that this fight is not personal but a professional challenge to become the undisputed champion. His strategy likely involves his well-known boxing skills, with an emphasis on counterpunching and movement, aiming to possibly outbox or even, as speculated by some like Chris Algieri, potentially knock down Beterbiev.

Public and Expert Opinions: There's a mix of predictions and excitement around this match. Some fans and analysts believe Bivol's boxing IQ and defensive skills might give him an edge, while others favor Beterbiev's relentless pressure and knockout power. The discussion often revolves around whether Bivol's style can withstand or adapt to Beterbiev's aggressive tactics.

Undercard and Event: The undercard features notable fights, enhancing the event's appeal. Names like Chris Eubank Jr., Fabio Wardley, and Jai Opetaia add to the night's boxing spectacle.

General Sentiment: The fight is widely anticipated as one of the biggest in 2024, not just for the titles at stake but for the clash of styles and the potential for defining moments in both fighters' careers. The narrative around this fight often highlights the rarity of seeing two such high-caliber, undefeated champions facing off, especially at light heavyweight.

This event is not just a fight for belts but is seen as a significant moment in boxing, where the outcome could solidify one fighter's legacy or dramatically alter perceptions of both in the sport. (Grok)

News

AEW Dynamite 5-Year Anniversary Show

The AEW Dynamite 5-Year Anniversary Show, set for October 2, 2024, at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA, is gearing up to be a landmark event for All Elite Wrestling. Here's what's on the slate based on the latest information:

Main Event: A high-stakes, title-for-title match is scheduled where Bryan Danielson will defend his AEW World Championship against Kazuchika Okada, who is bringing his AEW Continental Championship into the match. However, there's a twist: Okada's championship will only be on the line for the first 20 minutes of the match. If the match goes beyond that, only Danielson's AEW World Championship remains in contention.

Another Title Defense: Will Ospreay will defend his AEW International Championship against Ricochet. This match has been highlighted as part of the anniversary celebration.

Other Matches:
Hangman Adam Page is set to face Juice Robinson. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. will return for a match, although the opponent hasn't been specified in the latest updates provided, there was mention of her facing Serena Deeb in some fan discussions or reports.

Special Features: The episode is not just about the matches but also about celebrating five years of AEW Dynamite. Tony Khan, AEW's President, has teased a significant announcement which could potentially set the tone for the future of AEW. This adds an element of anticipation beyond the in-ring action.

Broadcast Details: The show will have a significant overrun, courtesy of TBS Network, indicating more content than the usual runtime, possibly to accommodate the extra matches or the celebration elements.

This anniversary episode is not just a showcase of wrestling talent but also a milestone for AEW, marking its growth and the journey it has had over the past five years. The inclusion of champion vs. champion matches underscores AEW's commitment to big matches on big nights, promising fans a memorable event to commemorate this occasion. (Grok)

News

Danielson vs. Okada: Title-for-Title Match

On the 5-year anniversary of AEW Dynamite, a significant wrestling event is scheduled for October 2, 2024, in Pittsburgh, PA, where Bryan Danielson, the AEW World Champion, will face Kazuchika Okada, holder of the AEW Continental Title. This match is unique as it features a title-for-title stipulation with a twist: the Continental Championship, which usually has a 20-minute time limit, will only be at stake for the first 20 minutes of the match. However, the World Championship, with its 60-minute time limit, will remain in contention for the entire duration. This setup has sparked varied reactions among wrestling fans, with some questioning the effectiveness of the stipulation, while others are excited about the potential of the match. The event is set to be a highlight of AEW Dynamite's milestone celebration, pitting two of wrestling's top talents against each other in what promises to be a memorable clash. (Grok)

News

Conor McGregor's Stroll on Emirates Pitch

Conor McGregor was spotted walking around the Emirates Stadium pitch following Arsenal's victory over PSG in the Champions League. Videos and photos showed McGregor enjoying himself, including interactions with Arsenal player Declan Rice. This appearance led to various reactions and discussions online, with many finding amusement in McGregor's post-match activities. Meanwhile, Arsenal secured a 2-0 win against PSG, with goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. The match also marked the debut of Mikel Merino for Arsenal, who joined from Real Sociedad. Additionally, Thomas Partey was highlighted for his exceptional performance during the game. However, there were concerns about Jurrien Timber, who felt a muscular issue during the match, prompting Arsenal to manage his playing time carefully. (Grok)

Combat Sports News/Profile via Grok

Combat sports encompass a wide range of athletic competitions where the primary objective is to physically subdue an opponent. Here's a brief overview of some popular forms:

1. Boxing

Origin: Ancient Greece, but modern boxing is often associated with 18th-19th century England.

Rules: Competitors use only their fists, wearing gloves, and aim to score points by landing punches on the opponent's upper body or head. A fight can end by knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO), or points decision.

2. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Origin: While various forms of mixed combat have existed historically, modern MMA was popularized through events like the UFC starting in the 1990s.

Rules: Allows a mix of striking and grappling techniques from various martial arts. Fighters can win by knockout, submission (tap out), judges' decision, or disqualification.

3. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

Origin: Derived from judo in Brazil in the early 20th century, made famous by the Gracie family.

Rules: Emphasizes ground fighting and submission holds. Competitors aim to force a submission through joint locks or chokeholds. Points can also be scored for position control and takedowns.

4. Wrestling

Freestyle and Greco-Roman: Common in the Olympics, Greco-Roman restricts holds below the waist.

Professional Wrestling (Pro Wrestling): More entertainment-focused, with choreographed matches, high flying moves, and storylines.

5. Kickboxing

Origin: A group of stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching. It evolved from Karate, Muay Thai, and Western boxing.

Rules: Similar to boxing but includes kicks. Variants include allowing knee strikes and elbows (influenced by Muay Thai).

6. Muay Thai

Origin: Thailand, known as the "Art of Eight Limbs" because it uses punches, kicks, elbows, and knees.

Rules: Similar to kickboxing but with a heavier emphasis on clinching (a kind of standing grapple) and use of all eight points of contact.

7. Judo

Origin: Japan, developed by Jigoro Kano in the late 19th century as a physical, mental, and moral pedagogy.

Rules: Based on throws (Nage-waza) and ground techniques (Katame-waza). The objective is to either throw or takedown an opponent to the ground, immobilize them, or force a submission through joint locks or strangles.

8. Karate

Origin: Okinawa, Japan, with influences from Chinese martial arts.

Styles: Many styles with different focuses, but generally emphasizes striking with punches, kicks, knee strikes, and open-hand techniques like knife-hands.

9. Taekwondo

Origin: Korea, developed in the 1940s and 1950s.
Rules: Known for its high, fast, and spinning kicks.

Competitors score points in Olympic Taekwondo for strikes to the torso or head.

10. Krav Maga

Origin: Israel, designed as a self-defense system for the Israel Defense Forces.

Rules: Not typically a sport, but some organizations hold competitions. Focuses on real-world scenarios, aiming to neutralize threats quickly and efficiently.

Each combat sport has its unique culture, training methods, and competitive environments, reflecting diverse historical, cultural, and practical contexts. If you're interested in any particular sport, each has its own set of governing bodies, leagues, and famous athletes or events that could be explored further! (Grok)

Pop Culture News, Trending News

September 26, 2024

Under The Media Man Watercooler

Dana White Contender Series (UFC) broadcast today/tonight via ESPN.

WWE Raw: New Intercontinental Champion Jey Uso.

Netflix: 'Mr. McMahon' docu-series due to hit 'Big N' around the time you read this in most global markets; Vince McMahon requests "open mind" and cites "distorts the viewers perception"

Media And Entertainment Industry: Global Layoffs Continue: Big end of town, medium through to smaller operations. A.I, M&A and overall cost cutting cited as some of the numerous reasons.

News Corp - Rupert Murdoch Family Dynasty. Real life 'Succession' meetings occuring at Washoe County Courthouse, Reno, Nevada, with Rupert Murdoch, other key family members and legal representatives. Re restructuring of Murdoch Family Trust. $19bn trust! 7 blacked out SUV's pulled up ... Some documents unsealed via The New York Times.

Box Office Movies (North America)

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - $26m

2. Transformers One - $25m

3. Speak No Evil - $5.9m

Combat Sports News

MMA: UFC Fight Night: France. September 29

WWE NXT. Florida. Broadcast today. WWE and TNA Wrestling collaboration and appearances tipped and ongoing!

WWE SmackDown - September 27. Oklahoma City

WWE Bad Blood - October 5. Atlanta, Georgia. Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns vs The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu)

UFC 307 - October 6. Salt Lake City, Utah

Netflix: Queen Of The Villains based on Dump Matsumoto and Japanese pro wrestling industry continues to impress both new and more experienced and knowledgeable audiences.

Netflix: Terminator: Zero gets big thumbs up. Adult supervision recommended!

News Media And Politics: Distrust in sectors at all time and and for good reason: Media Man Group.

YouTube And Netflix in battle for same and similar type audiences; Household continue to "cut the cord"! YouTube making viewer friendly changes to web interface with TV broadcast audiences in mind. Remaining smartphone friendly.

Online Newspapers Continue To Order Subscribers Significant Discounts To Retain Readership Numbers.

Pro Wrestling: Numerous World Class Wrestlers Tipped To Appear On WWE TV in near future. The names Lucha Bros and Motor City Machine Guns keep coming up!

Niche Audiences With Some Scoops And Inside Intel helps success of online based media companies; High traffic websites and solid social media performance key elements of success.

Blockchain/Crypto: Celebs And Brands Keep Experimenting With Memecoins! Not many will enjoy a Doge/Musk And/Or Logan Paul type profile! ... for better or worse! Logan Paul back to family matters and worldwide audiences yearning for LP return to WWE rings already! Cheers with Prime!

UFC News MMA News Combat Sports

Renato Moicano vs Benoît Saint Denis

Accor Arena
Paris, France

September 28, 2024

Combat Sports

UFC Fight Night: Paris

Renato Moicano vs Benoît Saint Denis

Accor Arena
Paris, France

September 28, 2024

Renato Moicano vs Benoît Saint Denis

Nassourdine Imavov vs Brendan Allen

William Gomis vs Joanderson Brito

Kevin Jousset vs Bryan Battle

Morgan Charriere vs Gabriel Miranda

Fares Ziam vs Matt Frevola

Prelims:

Ion Cutelaba vs Ivan Erslan

Oumar Sy vs Da Woon Jung

Ludovit Klein vs Roosevelt Roberts

Taylor Lapilus vs Vince Morales

Daria Zhelezniakova vs Ailin Perez

Daniel Barez vs Victor Altamirano

Nora Cornolle vs Jacqueline Cavalcante

Bolaji Oki vs Chris Duncan

Videos

Benoit Saint Denis: "I Need To Put On A Top Performance Against Moicano!" | UFC Paris
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0PIeXFNemO0

UFC Paris: Post-Fight Press Conference
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0VrfiAy18AA

UFC Paris: Ceremonial Weigh-In
https://youtube.com/watch?v=rLb22CmYJgQ

Websites

UFC
https://ufc.com

UFC Fight Night Paris
https://ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-september-28-2024

UFC YouTube
https://youtube.com/@ufc

Media Man Scribe: Pop Culture reference: The Frenchman vs Neo and/or Agent Smith! Frenchmen with historical home turf advantage. Likely more pure sport and much less politics than say the Paris Olympics for example old sport! The battle for your pop culture budget and eyeballs continues! Dog eat dog. French Poodles vs American Pitbull's and other tough breeds and pedigree of pro fighters.

News

UFC News Bonus

Pro Wrestling Tsar Vince McMahon Didn't Want To Buy The UFC; Son Shane McMahon Did

“At the time, the UFC, they got in some financial problems and came to us and said ‘would you like to purchase the UFC?’” Shane revealed in the new Netflix documentary series Mr. McMahon. “I go this is cool.

“I said ‘Dad, let’s just go for this one.’ I thought we could really grow that brand because it’s tailor made for what we do. We have a production team, we have a live events team, we had a merchandising team, we have all of it just ready to go. So to me it was plug and play.” Shane McMahon

Vince McMahon:

“When it was presented in terms of buying UFC, I didn’t like that business model,” Vince explained. “Because our business model, you can create characters much like Disney or someone else and we can use them forever.

“As opposed to a boxer/UFC [fighter], once you’re beat, once you’re hurt or something, your career’s over. We’re in show business. That’s a sport.” Vince McMahon

News via Grok

UFC Paris Event Anticipation

The upcoming UFC event in Paris, scheduled for Saturday, has sparked significant interest, particularly highlighted by the debut of local fighter Morgan Charriere, known as 'The Last Pirate.' The event features a mix of local and international talent, with key matchups including Bryan Battle versus Kevin Jousset, where Jousset is favored due to home advantage. French fighters have historically performed well at UFC Paris, influencing betting trends towards potential upsets and high-value bets. The event also includes an interactive fan engagement component, with live discussions and fight breakdowns available online. The main event features Moicano, known for his ground game, against Benoit St. Denis, adding to the anticipation of the event. (Grok)

News

UFC Paris Event Preview

The UFC is set to host an event in Paris, #UFCParis, featuring several notable fighters including Vince Morales, Oumar Sy, and Morgan Chapa. Vince Morales is making a comeback to the UFC, aiming to prove himself after a previous stint. Oumar Sy is focused on maintaining his undefeated record and gaining fan respect, while Morgan Chapa returns to fight in front of a home crowd. The event has generated significant interest, with discussions and predictions circulating widely. Key matchups include Moicano vs. Benoit St. Denis, highlighted by artistic portraits of the fighters. The event will be live on ESPNPlus, with fights scheduled for Saturday, showcasing a mix of returning fighters and debuts, all aiming to make memorable performances in Paris. (Grok)

News

UFC Paris: Anticipation and Betting Insights

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to host an event in Paris, known as UFC Paris, this Saturday. The event features a lineup of notable fighters including Bryan Battle, Vince Morales, and Oumar Sy, with the latter aiming to keep his undefeated record intact. The card also includes the debut of French fighter 'The Last Pirate' Morgan Chapa. The main event will see a clash between Benoit Saint-Denis and Renato Moicano, with significant attention on Moicano's ground game. French fighters have historically performed well at UFC Paris, holding an impressive record against non-French opponents in previous events. Discussions and analyses around the event include fighter performances, betting odds, and predictions, with various platforms and personalities offering insights into the upcoming matches. (Grok)

News

UFC Paris: Anticipated Home Crowd Advantage

The upcoming UFC Paris event is set to feature significant matchups, including Morgan Chapa's debut in front of a home crowd and Bryan Battle's fight against Kevin Jousset, where Battle aims to prove his elite status. French fighters have historically performed well in Paris, contributing to the high anticipation for this event. Analysts and fans are actively discussing potential outcomes, with a focus on betting trends that favor fighters like Benoit St. Denis due to past performances. The event has also seen promotional activities like media days and the distribution of fighter portraits, enhancing the event's cultural significance. Discussions around the event highlight the strategic analyses of matchups, with underdogs and the home advantage of French fighters being key talking points. (Grok)

News

Grok News

Diaz vs. Luque Rescheduled for UFC 310

The latest information available up to September 25, 2024, confirms that Nick Diaz vs. Vicente Luque is being rescheduled for UFC 310, which is set to take place on December 7, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This match was initially supposed to happen earlier but was postponed due to travel issues. Now, both fighters are set to collide in what's being described as a significant return for Nick Diaz, who hasn't secured a victory since 2011, and for Vicente Luque, who's looking to bounce back from recent losses. This fight is part of the UFC's final pay-per-view event of 2024, marking a notable event in the MMA calendar with fans and commentators eagerly awaiting this matchup. (Grok)

News

Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker Rematch Speculation

Dustin Poirier and Dan Hooker have publicly engaged in a discussion about a potential UFC rematch. Hooker initially hinted at wanting another fight, to which Poirier responded skeptically, suggesting Hooker might not truly desire the rematch. This exchange has sparked interest among fans and MMA enthusiasts, with opinions divided on whether Poirier should fight Hooker again or face Justin Gaethje instead. Many believe Poirier could have an advantage over Hooker in a second bout, given their past encounter and how both fighters have evolved. (Grok)

News

Media Man: Pumped for many of the upcoming UFC bouts.

Media Man Int

Combat Sports (Media Man Int) *in progress
https://mediamanint.com/combat_sports.html

UFC News (Media Man Int) *in progress
https://mediamanint.com/ufc_news.html

MMA News (Media Man Int) *in progress
https://mediamanint.com/mma_news.html

Sports News (Media Man Int) *in progress

Movie Box Office (North America)
September 22, 2024

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - $26m

2. Transformers One: - $25m

3. Speak No Evil - $5.9m

4.Never Let Go - $4.5m

5. Deadpool & Wolverine - $3.9m

6. The Substance - $3.1m

7. Am I Racist - $2.5m

8. Reagan - $1.7m

9. Jung Kook: I Am Still - $1.4m

10. Alien: Romulus - $1.3m

others ...

The Killer's Game

It Ends with Us

The Forge

od's Not Dead: In God We Trust

Twisters

Blink Twice

Despicable Me 4

Afraid

Inside Out 2

Coraline

The Crow

Trap

Stree 2

Borderlands

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Cuckoo

Longlegs

The Firing Squad

A Quiet Place: Day One

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

The Fabulous Four

Fly Me to the Moon

Raayan

Bad Newz

MaXXXine

The Bikeriders

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

Horizon: An American Saga

The Lion King

Kalki 2898 AD

Kinds of Kindness

The Garfield Movie

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Jatt & Juliet 3

Blue Lock Thee Movie - Episode Nagi

Daddio

Janet Planet

The Watchers

IF

The Exorcism

Thelma

GHOST Rite Here Rite Now

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story

The Fall Guy

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

In a Violent Nature

Ezra

Sight

* Correct at time of publication

News

Box office numbers down approx 70 percent from last year

(References: Wikipedia, Box Office Mojo, IMDb, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter)

Movie Box Office (North America)

September 15, 2024

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - $51.6m

2. Speak No Evil - $11.5

3. Deadpool & Wolverine - $5.2m

4. Am I Racist - $4.8m

5. Reagan - $3m

6. The Killer's Game - $2.6m

7. Alien: Romulus - $2.4m

8. It Ends with Us - $2.3m

9. The Forge - $2m

10. God's Not Dead: In God We Trust - $1.5m

others ...

Twisters

Blink Twice

Despicable Me 4

Afraid

Inside Out 2

Coraline

The Crow

Trap

Stree 2

Borderlands

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Cuckoo

Longlegs

The Firing Squad

A Quiet Place: Day One

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

The Fabulous Four

Fly Me to the Moon

Raayan

Bad Newz

MaXXXine

The Bikeriders

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

Horizon: An American Saga

The Lion King

Kalki 2898 AD

Kinds of Kindness

The Garfield Movie

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Jatt & Juliet 3

Blue Lock Thee Movie - Episode Nagi

Daddio

Janet Planet

The Watchers

IF

The Exorcism

Thelma

GHOST Rite Here Rite Now

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story

The Fall Guy

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

In a Violent Nature

Ezra

Sight

* Correct at time of publication

News

Box office numbers down approx 70 percent from last year

(References: Wikipedia, Box Office Mojo, IMDb, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter)

Movie Box Office (North America)

September 15, 2024

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - $51.6m

2. Speak No Evil - $11.5

3. Deadpool & Wolverine - $5.2m

4. Am I Racist - $4.8m

5. Reagan - $3m

6. The Killer's Game - $2.6m

7. Alien: Romulus - $2.4m

8. It Ends with Us - $2.3m

9. The Forge - $2m

10. God's Not Dead: In God We Trust - $1.5m

others ...

Twisters

Blink Twice

Despicable Me 4

Afraid

Inside Out 2

Coraline

The Crow

Trap

Stree 2

Borderlands

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Cuckoo

Longlegs

The Firing Squad

A Quiet Place: Day One

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

The Fabulous Four

Fly Me to the Moon

Raayan

Bad Newz

MaXXXine

The Bikeriders

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

Horizon: An American Saga

The Lion King

Kalki 2898 AD

Kinds of Kindness

The Garfield Movie

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Jatt & Juliet 3

Blue Lock Thee Movie - Episode Nagi

Daddio

Janet Planet

The Watchers

IF

The Exorcism

Thelma

GHOST Rite Here Rite Now

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story

The Fall Guy

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

In a Violent Nature

Ezra

Sight

* Correct at time of publication

News

Box office numbers down approx 70 percent from last year

(References: Wikipedia, Box Office Mojo, IMDb, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter)

Pro Wrestling: Elon Musk's Grok/X Helps Publishers And Fans Wrestle The Web For Last Results, News, Creative As WWE's Raw On USA Network Hits Canadian Soil Leading Towards Bad Blood PLE: Media Man

WWE
@WWE
Storylines And Behind The Curtain Talk Of The Town On Grok/X: Media Man

News

CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre in Hell in a Cell at WWE Bad Blood.

The latest updates from WWE programming and discussions on X confirm that CM Punk and Drew McIntyre are scheduled to face off in a Hell in a Cell match at the WWE Bad Blood event on October 5, 2024, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. This match was officially announced following a series of confrontations and a brutal feud between the two wrestlers, culminating in this decisive bout. Here are the key points:

Feud Background: Their rivalry has been described as one of the bloodiest and most gruesome on WWE Raw, with previous encounters including a Strap Match at WWE Bash in Berlin where CM Punk tied their series after Drew McIntyre had won at SummerSlam.

Announcement: The match was announced by Adam Pearce during the September 9 episode of Monday Night RAW. Pearce made it clear that this match would be the final confrontation to settle their score once and for all inside Hell in a Cell, a match type known for its intensity and potential for high drama and violence.

Fan Reaction: Fans and wrestling commentators on platforms like X have expressed excitement and anticipation for what's being billed as a potential classic, with many looking forward to how this feud will culminate in such an iconic match structure.

Event Details: WWE Bad Blood 2024 is set to revive the Hell in a Cell match in this event, adding to the event's allure given the match's history of being both a fan favorite and a career-defining moment for wrestlers involved.

This match is set to be one of the highlights of WWE Bad Blood, promising to deliver a conclusive end to the ongoing saga between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. (Grok)

News

Natalya's Triumphant Return to WWE Raw

Natalya made her much-anticipated return to WWE Raw on September 9, 2024, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This event was highlighted as a significant moment not only because it marked her return in her hometown but also because it was her first appearance since re-signing with WWE earlier in the summer. Here are the key points of her return:

Return Details: Natalya returned as the mystery partner for Lyra Valkyria and Zelina Vega in a six-woman tag team match against the Pure Fusion Collective (Shayna Baszler, Sonya Deville, & Zoey Stark). The match concluded with Natalya, Valkyria, and Vega securing a victory by simultaneously applying Sharpshooters on their opponents, a move that thrilled the hometown crowd.

Post-Match Reaction: After the match, Bret Hart, another WWE legend and Natalya's uncle, was shown greeting her with a hug backstage, emphasizing the emotional significance of her return in Calgary, known as "Hart country."

Fan Reaction: There were mixed reactions regarding the crowd's response to Natalya's return, with some posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) noting a surprisingly lackluster reception in her home country, while others celebrated her return enthusiastically.

Context of Her Return: Before this event, there had been speculation about Natalya's future with WWE due to her contract nearing its end. However, it was confirmed that she had re-signed with WWE, putting rumors of her potentially leaving for other promotions to rest.

Emotional Significance: Natalya expressed in a post-match interview how special the return was for her, referencing her family's history in the venue and the emotional weight of returning to where she had significant family memories tied to WWE events.

This return not only signifies Natalya's continued commitment to WWE but also adds another chapter to her storied career within the company, where she's respected for her lineage in the Hart family and her contributions to the women's division. (Grok)

News

Wade Barrett's Potential In-Ring Return

During a recent episode of WWE Raw, fans were abuzz with speculation and excitement over a potential in-ring return of Wade Barrett, sparked by his interactions with Drew McIntyre. Barrett, previously known for his roles as both a wrestler and commentator, engaged in a face-to-face confrontation with McIntyre, hinting at his possible involvement in future matches. Although no official confirmation was given, this interaction has fuelled widespread discussions and a strong desire among fans for Barrett to return to active wrestling. (Grok)

News

WWE Raw's Explosive Street Fight

Based on posts from X, here's what's been happening with WWE Raw's Explosive Street Fight:

Match Start: WWE Raw kicked off with an 8-person Street Fight, which has grabbed the attention of the viewers right from the beginning of the show. This match continues a storyline involving the Wyatt Sicks and another group, where a feud was sparked possibly due to a dramatic narrative twist involving a simulated or misinterpreted act of violence.

Reactions: Fans are expressing excitement over the match, with posts indicating high energy and appreciation for how the show has started. There's mention of the match being "cooking" and an "AMAZING Street Fight," suggesting it's been well-received.

Storyline Elements: The narrative around this Street Fight includes complex elements like feuds, dramatic returns, or twists involving characters like Gable, who was seemingly "killed" in the storyline but got better, indicating some creative or supernatural elements typical to WWE storylines.

Commercial-Free Start: The event was significant enough to start the show without commercials for the first hour, highlighting its importance to the night's programming.

Outcome Speculation: While there's no direct result mentioned in the X posts, there's a post implying some form of resolution or climax in a related or similar context with "the case is closed now, it ended up with a fine only WAR IS OVER," though this might not directly refer to the match outcome but could be metaphorically related to the storyline's conclusion or a segment of it.

Remember, while X posts provide real-time reactions and some insights, they might not always give the full picture or conclusive outcomes of events like wrestling matches where storylines evolve over time. (Grok)

News

Gunther's Shoutout to Goldberg on WWE Raw

During a recent WWE Raw episode, wrestler Gunther declared Bill Goldberg as his all-time favorite wrestler in front of Bret Hart, a WWE legend. This statement, made in the presence of Hart who was returning to WWE Raw, was seen as either disrespectful or humorously provocative by fans and commentators. Bret Hart, celebrated for his significant contributions to WWE, was on the show to mark his influential role in its history. The interaction between Gunther and Hart sparked a variety of reactions, from amusement to disbelief, among wrestling enthusiasts, highlighting the ongoing drama and entertainment within WWE programming. (Grok)

News

McIntyre vs Punk III: Hell in a Cell

Adam Pearce has officially announced that Drew McIntyre will face CM Punk in a Hell in a Cell match at WWE's 'BAD BLOOD' event scheduled for October 5, 2024, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. This match represents the third encounter between McIntyre and Punk, following two previous highly anticipated confrontations. The announcement has generated significant excitement among wrestling fans, positioning the match as a key attraction for the event. Additionally, Rhea Ripley is set to defend her Women’s World Championship against Liv Morgan at the same event, adding another high-profile match to the card. (Grok)

News

Bret Hart Returns on WWE RAW

The season premiere of WWE Raw on September 9, 2024, featured a significant event with the return of WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The episode included a packed lineup with several high-stakes matches. Highlights included a street fight between Wyatt Six and American Made, a women's tag team title match where Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill defended against Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, and a fatal four-way match to determine the number one contender for the Intercontinental Title involving Jey Uso, Ilja Dragunov, Pete Dunne, and Braun Strowman. Other matches included Dominik Mysterio facing Dragon Lee and a six-woman tag team match. Bret Hart's appearance was particularly anticipated, marking a sentimental return as the Saddledome, where the event took place, is scheduled for demolition soon. (Grok)

News

Bronson Reed's Shocking Return on WWE RAW

Bronson Reed made a dramatic return on WWE RAW on the September 9, 2024 episode. During this episode, Reed intervened in a #1 contender's fatal four-way match for the Intercontinental Championship involving Jey Uso, Braun Strowman, Ilja Dragunov, and Pete Dunne. Reed attacked Braun Strowman, effectively taking him out of the match by putting him through the broadcast table with his signature move, the Tsunami. This attack not only prevented Strowman from competing further but also marked Reed's return with a significant impact, as noted by various posts on X, where fans and wrestling news accounts highlighted the surprise and intensity of Reed's comeback. (Grok)

News

Jey Uso's Quest for IC Title

Jey Uso has recently made significant strides in his quest for the Intercontinental Championship. On the September 9, 2024, episode of WWE Raw, Jey Uso won the WWE Intercontinental Championship Number One Contender's Tournament. He emerged victorious in a fatal four-way match against Ilja Dragunov, Pete Dunne, and Braun Strowman. This win has earned him a shot at the current Intercontinental Champion, Bron Breakker.

Following his victory, Jey expressed his readiness to prove himself and win his first singles championship in WWE, emphasizing his determination to succeed for himself, his family, and the WWE Universe. While there's excitement around his win and upcoming title match, as of the latest updates, the exact date for when Jey Uso will challenge Bron Breakker for the title has not been specified. (Grok)

News

Rhea-Liv Feud to Continue at Bad Blood

The WWE storyline involving Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan has captured significant attention, particularly with their feud leading up to the Bad Blood event. Fans and observers are debating the ideal timing for Ripley to potentially regain the Women's World Title, with many arguing that Ripley should not win it back until WrestleMania for maximum impact. Suggestions for their match at Bad Blood include high-stakes formats like Hell in a Cell or Last Woman Standing, which would fit the intense narrative of their rivalry. There's also a strong sentiment that their match should headline the event, highlighting its significance. Meanwhile, WWE has officially announced that CM Punk will face Drew McIntyre in a Hell in a Cell match as the main event of Bad Blood, overshadowing some of the discussions around Ripley and Morgan. The ongoing feud between Ripley and Morgan is seen as pivotal for character development and future WWE storylines, with fans speculating on how it might conclude or extend to WrestleMania. (Grok)

News

WWE Raw Returns to Two-Hour Format

Based on the latest information available up to September 9, 2024, WWE Raw is set to return to a two-hour format starting on October 7, 2024, and this change will last through the end of the year. This announcement was made during the September 9 Season Premiere of WWE Raw, with the news being confirmed by WWE via social media and discussed among fans and analysts on platforms like X. However, it's noted that this change might only be temporary as WWE Raw prepares for its transition to Netflix in January 2025, where further format changes could be implemented. The return to the two-hour format has been met with positive reactions from many fans and commentators who believe it could lead to more concise and engaging content. (Grok)

News

RAW's Return to Three Hours on Netflix

WWE's Monday Night Raw, previously a three-hour show, will temporarily revert to a two-hour format from October 7, 2024, until the end of the year, as decided by USA Network before Raw transitions to Netflix in January 2025. This change is part of USA Network's programming adjustments, not WWE's direct decision. Speculation suggests that once on Netflix, Raw might return to its three-hour format, although WWE has expressed flexibility in the show's duration based on content needs. The adjustment has elicited mixed reactions from fans; some appreciate the potential for tighter content, while others are concerned about reduced airtime for wrestlers. This shift also prompts discussions on the ideal length for wrestling shows to maintain viewer engagement and content quality. (Grok)

News

Logan Paul - Kevin Nash

The situation between Logan Paul and Kevin Nash has caught some attention in the wrestling community as of September 2024. Here's a summary based on various reports and social media reactions:

Criticism from Kevin Nash: Kevin Nash, a WWE Hall of Famer, has openly criticized Logan Paul on his podcast "Kliq This." Nash's main points of contention are that Logan Paul isn't "one of the boys," suggesting Paul hasn't immersed himself in the wrestling culture or learned the insider terms like "shoot" and "work." Furthermore, Nash expressed discontent over Paul's reported earnings of $5 million for a limited schedule in WWE, contrasting this with other wrestlers working full schedules for less.

Logan Paul's Response: Logan Paul didn't hold back in his response. He posted on social media, questioning Nash's relevance and claiming to be better at Nash's job than Nash ever was. Paul highlighted his success in WWE despite not being a full-time wrestler, suggesting that he could dominate the sport even more if he committed fully. He also expressed a lack of knowledge about who Nash was, which stirred further controversy and discussion among fans and observers.

Public Reaction: Social media and wrestling news outlets have been buzzing with this feud. Some posts on X (formerly Twitter) reflect a divide between those who see Paul as an outsider who hasn't paid his dues and others who admire his ability to generate buzz and perform well in the ring despite his limited schedule.

There's also a sentiment that Paul's claim of not knowing Nash might do more harm to his image among traditional wrestling fans.

Context of Their Careers: Kevin Nash is a veteran in the wrestling world, known for his time in WWE and WCW, where he was a significant figure in the 90s. Logan Paul, on the other hand, entered WWE much more recently, bringing a massive social media following and transitioning from a celebrity outsider to a surprisingly adept wrestler, earning both praise and criticism for his rapid rise and part-time status.

This feud encapsulates a broader narrative often seen in wrestling: the clash between traditional wrestling figures and new celebrities who enter the ring with different backgrounds and expectations. (Grok)

News

Impaulsive

The "Impaulsive" podcast, hosted by Logan Paul along with co-hosts and guests, is described as the world's greatest, most thought-provoking, mentally stimulating podcast, albeit humorously self-proclaimed by a bunch of individuals referring to themselves as "idiots." Here's a general overview based on the information available up to September 10, 2024:

Platform: It's primarily available on YouTube, where viewers can watch the episodes, but it's also accessible on various podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others.

Content: The podcast covers a wide range of topics, often diving into personal stories, current events, controversial subjects, and interviews with a variety of guests from different fields like entertainment, sports, and more. They've had episodes discussing everything from personal beefs, like with other YouTubers or celebrities, to broader topics like politics, sports, and cultural phenomena.

Notable Episodes and Guests: The podcast has featured a diverse set of guests:

High-profile interviews include figures like Donald Trump, KSI, Mike Tyson, and The Undertaker, where they discuss everything from personal anecdotes, career highlights, to current events affecting their lives or the world.

Discussions on Controversial Topics: They've tackled subjects like conspiracy theories, personal feuds, and societal issues, often bringing a light-hearted or provocative angle to serious topics.

Collaborations: There have been episodes where other big names in entertainment or sports join in, providing insights into their lives, careers, or simply engaging in banter with the hosts.

Cultural Impact: "Impaulsive" has managed to capture a significant audience, partly due to Logan Paul's existing fame (or notoriety) and the controversial or engaging content they produce. Their episode with KSI, for example, was highlighted for being particularly popular, showcasing the draw of personalities who already have a large following.

Recent Activity: As of the latest information, they've covered recent events like discussions around political figures, sports events, and personal milestones or controversies involving the hosts or their guests.

Style: The podcast is known for its informal, often comedic approach, even when discussing serious topics. This style appeals to a younger audience or those looking for entertainment mixed with occasional deep dives into more thoughtful content.

Remember, while "Impaulsive" often engages with real-world topics and high-profile guests, its primary aim leans towards entertainment rather than being a factual or news-oriented broadcast. (Grok)

Movie Box Office (North America)

September 8, 2024

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - $110m

2. Deadpool and Wolverine - $7.2m

3. Reagan - $5.2m

4. Alien: Romulus - $3.9m

5. It Ends with Us - $3.8m

6. The Forge - $2.9m

7. Twisters - $2.3m

8. Blink Twice - $2.2m

9. Despicable Me 4 - $1.8m

10. The Front Room - $1.7

others ...

Afraid

Inside Out 2

Coraline

The Crow

Trap

Stree 2

Borderlands

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Cuckoo

Longlegs

The Firing Squad

A Quiet Place: Day One

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

The Fabulous Four

Fly Me to the Moon

Raayan

Bad Newz

MaXXXine

The Bikeriders

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

Horizon: An American Saga

The Lion King

Kalki 2898 AD

Kinds of Kindness

The Garfield Movie

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Jatt & Juliet 3

Blue Lock Thee Movie - Episode Nagi

Daddio

Janet Planet

The Watchers

IF

The Exorcism

Thelma

GHOST Rite Here Rite Now

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story

The Fall Guy

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

In a Violent Nature

Ezra

Sight

* Correct at time of publication

News

Streaming Entertainment via Grok; X TV Tipped To Eventually Go Head To Head With YouTube, Netflix, But Will Take Many Years To Get To That Point; Customers Waiting To Churn/Switch. Changes Ahead For WBD, HBO, Binge, Paramount And Many Others - Too Many To List! Media Man Founder and Subscriber TV Veteran

Streaming entertainment has transformed how we consume media, offering a vast array of movies, TV shows, music, and more directly to our devices. Here's a breakdown of what's happening in this space as of my last update:

Major Players:

Netflix: Known for its original content like "Stranger Things," "The Crown," and "Squid Game." They've been pushing into gaming and have been experimenting with ad-supported models.

Amazon Prime Video: Comes with Amazon Prime membership. Notable for "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "The Boys," and its integration with shopping and other Amazon services.

Disney+: A powerhouse for family entertainment, featuring Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and classic Disney content. It's also expanding its library with more adult-oriented content under the Star banner in some regions.

HBO Max: Offers premium content like "Game of Thrones," "Chernobyl," and a vast library of movies. It's also known for its DC Universe shows.

Apple TV+: While newer, it's making waves with high-quality originals like "Ted Lasso," "The Morning Show," and "See."

Peacock (NBCUniversal): Provides a mix of free and premium content, including "The Office," WWE, and original series like "Punky Brewster."

Paramount+: Combines CBS All Access with content from Paramount, Nickelodeon, MTV, and more, featuring shows like "Star Trek: Discovery" and "The Stand."

Trends and Developments:

Original Content: There's a massive push towards creating exclusive content to attract subscribers. This includes movies, series, documentaries, and even live sports.

Global Expansion: Services are increasingly focusing on international markets, either by offering local content or by making their service available in more countries.

Bundling: Companies are bundling their streaming services with other products. For example, Disney has bundles with Hulu and ESPN+.

Ad-Supported Models: To combat rising costs, some platforms like Netflix have introduced or are considering ad-supported tiers.

Direct-to-Streaming Releases: Movies are increasingly bypassing traditional theatrical releases, going straight to streaming platforms, especially noted during global health crises.

Quality Over Quantity: While there's a lot of content, platforms are also focusing on high-quality, award-winning productions to stand out.

Interactive Content: Some platforms are experimenting with interactive movies or shows where viewers can choose the plot direction.

Technological Integration: Enhanced with technologies like 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for audio, providing a cinematic experience at home.

Challenges:

Content Saturation: With so many platforms, there's a risk of content fatigue among viewers.

Churn: Subscribers frequently switch between services based on what's currently available, leading to high turnover.

Regulatory Scrutiny: Issues like market dominance, content licensing, and privacy are increasingly under regulatory lenses.

Piracy: Despite advanced measures, piracy remains a challenge, especially for content not easily accessible in certain regions.

If you're interested in a specific aspect of streaming entertainment or want to know about recent developments since my last update, feel free to ask! If there's a particular service or type of content you're curious about, I can dive deeper into those areas. (Grok)

News

Streaming TV

Streaming TV has revolutionized how we consume television content, offering a vast array of shows, movies, and original programming through internet-based platforms rather than traditional cable or satellite TV. Here's a breakdown of what you might be interested in regarding streaming TV as of my last update:

Key Players:

Netflix: Known for its extensive library, original content like "Stranger Things," "The Crown," and "Squid Game," and a global reach.

Amazon Prime Video: Comes with an Amazon Prime subscription, offering shows like "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "The Boys," and movies, plus the integration with shopping services.

Hulu: Offers a mix of current TV episodes, a robust library of older content, and originals like "The Handmaid's Tale." It's also notable for its live TV option.

Disney+: Focuses on family-friendly content, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and National Geographic. Hits include "The Mandalorian" and "WandaVision."

HBO Max: Home to HBO's acclaimed series like "Game of Thrones," "Chernobyl," plus a wide range of Warner Bros. movies and new originals.

Apple TV+: While newer, it's gaining traction with high-quality originals like "Ted Lasso," "The Morning Show," and "Foundation."

Peacock: NBCUniversal's service, offering a mix of free and premium content, including "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," and new originals.

Trends and Features:

Ad-Supported vs. Ad-Free: Many services now offer tiers where you can choose between watching with ads for a lower price or paying more for an ad-free experience.

Live TV Streaming: Services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV allow streaming of live broadcast channels, appealing to sports fans and those who still want traditional TV experiences.

Bundling: Some platforms offer bundles with internet service providers or other streaming services to reduce costs.

Original Content: There's a significant push towards exclusive, original content to differentiate services, leading to a golden age of TV with high-quality, diverse programming.

Global Expansion: Services are increasingly focusing on global markets, offering localized content or subtitles/dubbing in multiple languages.

Technological Considerations:

4K and HDR: Many services now offer content in 4K resolution and HDR, enhancing viewing quality.

Offline Viewing: Most services allow downloading content for offline viewing, which is great for travel or areas with poor internet.

Smart TVs and Devices: Streaming is not just for computers or smartphones anymore; smart TVs, streaming sticks (like Roku, Amazon Fire Stick), and gaming consoles have made streaming accessible on almost any screen.

Challenges:

Content Fragmentation: With content spread across multiple services, there's a growing issue of "streaming fatigue" where consumers feel overwhelmed by the number of subscriptions needed.

Price Increases: As content quality and exclusivity rise, so do subscription costs, leading to discussions about the cost-effectiveness of streaming vs. traditional cable.

Piracy: The fragmentation and cost have somewhat revived piracy concerns as viewers look for ways to access content without multiple subscriptions.

If you're looking for recommendations or have specific questions about streaming services or shows, feel free to ask! If there's been a significant update or new service since my last update, you might want to check the latest reviews or news for the most current information. (Grok)

News

Streaming TV

Streaming Entertainment

Streaming News

James Bond: News

The Matrix

Pro Wrestling

WWE Raw

Scotiabank Saddledome
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

September 9, 2024

Full Raw highlights: Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHGULgW_fDU&t=13s&ab_channel=WWE

"Oh God. Howie is stirring" Wade Barrett

"Uncle Howdy staring down Gable and Gable not looking for Rowan who came flying in" Joe Tessitore

"Onto the steel stairs" JT

"That Iron Claw slam from Erik Rowan" Wade Barrett

"This one is as good as over. Get him in the ring. Pin that man. And mercyfully this carnage will finally be over" WB

"With all due respect Bret, but your not in my league" Gunther

"Hockey style punch up right here in Calgary" WB

"And Drew I can assure you of this. When its over, and it will be over, I'm going to find peace. And you know why I'm going to find peace. I'm going to find peace 'cause I'll know in my heart that it will be over and its going to be over because October, Atlanta, Georgia, Bad Blood, it will be CM Punk. It will be Drew McIntyre. It will be Hell In A Cell" Adam Pearce

"Oh, let's go" JT

Fans cheer

Bret Hart returns home to Raw in Calgary: Raw, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evRp3gGxIrg&ab_channel=WWE

Drew McIntyre will face CM Punk inside Hell in a Cell at Bad Blood: Raw highlights, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRcQhjaxLkY&t=3s&ab_channel=WWE

Drew McIntyre to Wade Barrett: “Stay out of my business”: Raw highlights, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkfpnQc3UUw&ab_channel=WWE

Natalya helps Lyra Valkyria & Zelina Vega def. Pure Fusion Collective: Raw highlights, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yemWPWKPJIY&ab_channel=WWE

FULL MATCH: Jey Uso wins Intercontinental Title No. 1 Contender’s Tournament: Raw, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7usaFHDITo&t=5s&ab_channel=WWE

Jey Uso is focused on becoming a singles champion: Raw exclusive, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rzOTentGAQ&t=6s&ab_channel=WWE

The Judgment Day ambush The Terror Twins: Raw highlights, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOC0W5swIcA&ab_channel=WWE

Liv Morgan helps steal win for “Dirty” Dom as Judgment Day brawls with The LWO: Raw, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa-6fCUHPUI&ab_channel=WWE

The Wyatt Sicks conquer American Made in a Street Fight: Raw highlights, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLzsxsdjoyo&t=11s&ab_channel=WWE

Survivor Series: War Games comes to Vancouver - Tickets on sale this Friday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFsLqanLseQ&ab_channel=WWE

Recap

Wyatt Sicks vs American Made - Street Fight

Bret "The Hitman" Hart to appear!

CM Punk & McIntyre appearance

"Dirty" Dom vs Dragon Lee - mask in danger thanks to Judgement Day?

WWE I/C Contenders Match

Superheroes vs Fyre and Dawn. WWE Women's Tag Team Title

and more.

Bret Hart returns to Raw tonight: WWE Now, Sept. 9, 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXObhqqFXXI&ab_channel=WWE

Media Man: Pumped. Buzz for CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. McIntyre as seen in the upcoming movie, 'The Killers Game' Fantasy Booking: Hitman Hart vs Killer McIntyre in a steel cage! How about it CM Punk? Gonzo Pro Wrestling scribe! Strong thumbs up.

Media Man Int

WWE News (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/wwe_news.html

USA Network (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/usa_network.html

Pop Culture (Media Man Int)
www.mediamanint.com/pop_culture.html

Movie Box Office (North America)

1. Deadpool & Wolverine - $19.5 million

2. Alien: Romulus - $11.5 million

3. It Ends with Us - $9.5 million

4. Reagan - $9.2 million

5. Twisters $8.8 million

6. The Forge - $6.3 million

7. Blink Twice - $5.9 million

8. Despicable Me 4 - $5.6 million

9. Afraid - $4.5 million

10. Inside Out $4 million

Streaming TV

Streaming Entertainment

IMDb: Top Box Office (US)

Media Man

News

Streaming Movies Top 10 (North America)

August 27, 2024

1. Furiosa (Max)

2. The Union (Netflix)

3. Jackpot (Prime Video)

4. The Instigators (Apple TV+)

5. Alien (Hulu)

6. The Bikeriders (Peacock)

7. Immaculate (Hulu)

8. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Hulu)

9. Alien: Covenant (Hulu)

10. Twister (Max)

News

Top 10 Streaming TV (North America)

August 27, 2024

1. Bad Monkey (Apple TV+)

2. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

3. Industry (Max)

4. The Bear (Hulu)

5. From (Prime Video)

6. Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)

7. Emily in Paris (Netflix)

8. Time Bandits (Apple TV+)

9. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (Netflix)

10. Evil (Paramount+)

Media Man

Movie Box Office (North America)

August 18, 2024

1. Alien: Romulus - $41.5m

2. Deadpool & Wolverine - $29m

3. It Ends with Us - $24m

4. Twisters - $9.8m

5. Coraline - $8.4m

6. Despicable Me 4 - $6m

7. Trap - $3.4m

8. Inside Out 2 - $3.2m

9. Stree 2 - $2.6m

10. Borderlands - $2.4m

others...

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Cuckoo

Longlegs

The Firing Squad

A Quiet Place: Day One

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

The Fabulous Four

Fly Me to the Moon

Raayan

Bad Newz

MaXXXine

The Bikeriders

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

Horizon: An American Saga

The Lion King

Kalki 2898 AD

Kinds of Kindness

The Garfield Movie

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Jatt & Juliet 3

Blue Lock Thee Movie - Episode Nagi

Daddio

Janet Planet

The Watchers

IF

The Exorcism

Thelma

GHOST Rite Here Rite Now

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story

The Fall Guy

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

In a Violent Nature

Ezra

Sight

* Correct at time of publication

Pop Culture/Streaming Entertainment

Top 10 Movies Streaming (United States)

August 20, 2024

Top 10 movies

1. The Instigators (Apple TV+)

2. The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Hulu)

3. The Bikeriders (Peacock)

4. Deadpool 2 (Disney+)

5. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Netflix)

6. Twister (Max)

7. Challengers (MGM+)

8. If (Paramount+)

9. Deadpool (Disney+)

10. Wicked Little Letters (Netflix)

Pop Culture/Streaming Entertainment

Top 10 Streaming TV (United States)

1. The Umbrella Academy (Netflix)

2. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (Netflix)

3. Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)

4. House of the Dragon (Max)

5. Industry (Max)

6. Bad Monkey (Apple TV+)

7. Time Bandits (Apple TV+)

8. The Bear (Hulu)

9. Evil (Paramount+)

10. Batman: Caped Crusader (Prime Video)

Sports, Combat Sports; Grok Continues To Assist Media And Online Media Firms At The Speed Of News; Nears 99 Percent Accuracy - Media Man Group

August 22, 2024

News

Cena Declares Reigns as WWE GOAT

John Cena has publicly declared Roman Reigns as the greatest of all time (GOAT) in professional wrestling, attributing the significant rise in WWE/TKO stock value during Reigns' tenure as evidence. This statement has ignited a debate among wrestling fans and enthusiasts. Some fans agree with Cena, highlighting Reigns' current dominance and his impact on WWE's financial success. However, others argue that while Reigns is exceptional, he does not surpass historical figures like The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, or even Cena himself in terms of overall influence and legacy. The discussion reflects a generational shift in wrestling's GOAT debate, with newer fans potentially viewing Reigns differently than veterans who recall the era of The Rock and Austin. (Grok)

News

Danielson Declares Wrestling Supremacy

During a recent episode of AEW Dynamite, Bryan Danielson confidently declared himself the best wrestler in the world, a claim he has upheld for the past 20 years. This statement was a focal point of the episode, drawing significant attention and support from fans and commentators. Danielson's promo not only showcased his confidence but also set the stage for his upcoming match at AEW's All In event, where he is expected to challenge for the AEW World Title. The episode also featured other matches, but Danielson's proclamation and the crowd's enthusiastic response highlighted the high stakes and anticipation for the future event. (Grok)

News

Danielson Claims Best Wrestler Title

The latest episode of AEW Dynamite, which aired on August 21, 2024, from Cardiff, was a pivotal go-home show leading up to the AEW All In event at Wembley Stadium. The episode was marked by high energy from both the performers and the audience. Bryan Danielson made a bold claim, declaring himself the best wrestler in the world, a statement that was met with significant fan and commentator support. The show featured strong promos from key figures like Britt Baker, Mercedes, MJF, and Will Ospreay, all contributing to the anticipation for All In. AEW President Tony Khan expressed his gratitude for the audience's support, highlighting the show's importance in setting the stage for the upcoming major event. The episode was widely praised for its wrestling quality and storytelling, effectively building momentum towards AEW All In. (Grok)

News

UFC Vegas 96 Betting Highlights

Ahead of UFC Vegas 96, fans and analysts are actively discussing predictions and betting strategies for the event. Key points include Jared Cannonier being seen as a value bet despite his underdog status against Caio Borralho, and the addition of a last-minute fight between Zygimantas Ramaska and Fletcher. Discussions are centered around potential outcomes, with some focusing on specific bets like Llontop at +186 odds. The main event features Edmen Shahbazyan, with speculation on whether he will secure another finish. The community is engaging with detailed fight breakdowns, betting tips, and varied predictions, reflecting a mix of professional analysis and casual fan insights. (Grok)

News

Beterbiev vs. Bivol Set for Boxing Showdown

The upcoming boxing event on October 12th features a much-anticipated match between Dmitry Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, widely considered one of the top fights in recent boxing schedules. Beterbiev, known for his knockout streak, will face Bivol, who is recognized for his technical boxing skills. Predictions for the fight are split, with some believing Bivol's skill might lead to Beterbiev's corner stopping the fight, while others anticipate Beterbiev's aggressive style could overpower Bivol. This event has sparked significant discussion among fans and analysts about the potential outcomes. Additionally, there was a notable fight on ProBox TV between Jarrett Hurd and Jeison Rosario, which ended controversially in the second round, aimed at keeping the fighters relevant in their divisions. (Grok)

News

One Month to Joshua-Dubois Showdown

The upcoming boxing event, #RiyadhSeasonCard: Wembley Edition, is scheduled for September 21 at Wembley Stadium, UK, featuring a headline fight between Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois for the IBF World Heavyweight Crown. This event has generated significant anticipation among boxing fans, with tickets available through various platforms. Prominent figures in the boxing community, including Turki Alalshikh, have actively promoted the event, highlighting its importance in the boxing calendar. Discussions around the event include the potential for an upset, with some backing Dubois to defeat Joshua. The event is part of a broader series of boxing matches, marking a notable moment for fans of the sport. (Grok)

News

BKFC

The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is an American bare-knuckle boxing promotion that has become quite popular since its inception in April 2018. Here's what you need to know based on the latest information:

Events and Schedule: BKFC has upcoming events including BKFC 65 FEREA VS MASSON-WONG on September 6, 2024, and BKFC 66 BLAS VS REBER on September 13, 2024. They're also expanding internationally with BKFC SPAIN set for October 12, 2024.

Regulation and Structure: BKFC is the first promotion allowed to hold legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare knuckle events in the U.S. since 1889. Fighters are allowed to wrap and tape their wrists, thumbs, and mid-hand, but no gauze or tape can cover the knuckles within 1 inch.

Fighter Rankings: BKFC employs a ranking system where champions and interim champions automatically hold the top spots in their respective weight classes.

Fighters inactive for over 12 months are dropped from the rankings.

Media and Accessibility: BKFC has an official app where fans can watch live events, past fights, and access fighter profiles for a subscription fee. This indicates their push towards digital media for broader accessibility.

Public Sentiment and Coverage: From posts on X, there doesn't seem to be any direct discussion or updates specifically about BKFC's latest events or fighter news, but the platform's nature means there could be discussions or updates in various threads or posts that might not be directly linked to BKFC but could discuss related topics like combat sports trends or fighter performances.

Critical Examination: While BKFC has brought back the historical aspect of bare knuckle fighting, the sport's resurgence also sparks discussions on safety, the spectacle of violence, and its appeal in modern combat sports culture. Critics might argue about the ethics of promoting a sport where the lack of gloves could lead to more severe injuries, while fans and participants might highlight the raw, unfiltered nature of the competition as its primary draw.

Remember, while X posts can give insights into public sentiment or real-time reactions, they're not always factual or comprehensive sources for event-specific updates or official news. For the most accurate and current information on BKFC, checking directly with their official website or app would be advisable. (Grok)

News

Josh Barnett's Bloodsport

Josh Barnett's Bloodsport is a series of professional wrestling events that blend elements of mixed martial arts (MMA) with traditional pro wrestling, focusing on a more realistic and hard-hitting style. Here's what's been happening recently around this event:

Event Details: The latest Bloodsport event, Bloodsport XI, took place on July 28, 2024, at Roulette Intermedium in Brooklyn, New York. This event featured a mix of well-known names from both wrestling and MMA backgrounds, showcasing matches that end by knockout, submission, or referee stoppage, reflecting the event's ethos of minimal rules.

Notable Matches and Results:

Heddi Karaoui defeated Brian Johnson in what was likely an opening match, setting the tone for the event.

Julius Creed from WWE had a victory over Matt Makowski, highlighting WWE talent's participation in the event.

Masha Slamovich won against Jody Threat, another match that ended with a referee stoppage.

Royce Isaacs managed to defeat Charlie Dempsey, which was surprising given Dempsey's WWE background.

Brutus Creed also from WWE, defeated "Filthy" Tom Lawlor, another notable match where WWE talent was showcased.

Homicide won against Mike Santana, showing a mix of TNA and indie wrestling talent.

Josh Barnett himself competed, defeating Bad Dude Tito by knockout, which is in line with the event's theme of showcasing real combat skills.

MVP's Confrontation: Post-event discussions highlighted a confrontation between MVP and Josh Barnett, where MVP challenged Barnett to a future fight, indicating a potential storyline or match setup for future events.

International Expansion: Josh Barnett has taken Bloodsport international with Bloodsport Bushido in Tokyo, Japan, on June 22, 2024, at Ryogoku Kokugikan, featuring names like Minoru Suzuki, which underscores the event's global appeal and its blend of wrestling cultures.

Fan and Media Reaction: The event has been praised for its unique approach to wrestling, bringing in fans from both the wrestling and MMA communities. The inclusion of WWE talent in Bloodsport events has been a point of interest, suggesting a crossover appeal that might attract a broader audience or serve as a platform for WWE stars to show a different side of their wrestling skills.

This series continues to push the boundaries of what's expected in professional wrestling, focusing on a more grounded, combat sports approach, which appeals to fans looking for something different from the usual scripted wrestling fare. (Grok)

News

Bloodsport

The Sport: In a broader context, "bloodsport" refers to any sport or entertainment that involves bloodshed, often to the death or serious injury of animals or humans. This can include:

Historical Context: Events like gladiatorial combat in ancient Rome or medieval jousting.

Modern Interpretations: Some might consider extreme fighting sports like MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) or underground fight clubs as modern forms of bloodsport, though these are highly regulated to prevent serious injury or death.

Cultural Impact: The term "bloodsport" has also been used metaphorically to describe any highly competitive or ruthless activity, not necessarily involving physical combat, where participants might be seen as fighting for survival or dominance.

If you're referring to something specific about "Bloodsport," like a sequel, a remake, or a particular scene, let me know! (Grok)

News

Pay-Per-View (PPV)

Pay-Per-View (PPV) is a television distribution model where viewers pay to watch specific events or programs, typically on a one-time basis. Here's a deeper look into how it functions:

Business Model:
Revenue: PPV events generate revenue directly from viewers, which can be particularly lucrative for high-demand content like major sporting events, boxing matches, concerts, or exclusive movie premieres.

Cost: The price for viewing can vary widely, depending on the event's popularity, exclusivity, and the platform offering it.

Content Types:
Sports: Boxing, UFC, WWE wrestling, and major sports finals like the Super Bowl or NBA Finals are often broadcast via PPV.

Entertainment: Special concerts, stand-up comedy shows, or exclusive movie releases might also be offered through PPV.

Special Events: Weddings of celebrities, royal events, or unique live performances.

Distribution:
Cable and Satellite TV: Traditionally, PPV was offered through cable or satellite TV providers where viewers would call in or use their remote to order the event.
Streaming Services: With the rise of digital platforms, PPV has evolved. Services like Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, and various sports streaming platforms now offer PPV events online.

Advantages:
Exclusivity: Viewers get access to content that might not be available through regular broadcasting.
Revenue for Content Creators: PPV allows for direct monetization of content, which can be beneficial for artists, athletes, or event organizers.

Challenges:
Piracy: High-profile PPV events are often targets for illegal streaming, which can cut into profits.
Market Saturation: With many events going PPV, there's a risk of viewer fatigue or competition for viewership.

Future Trends:
Integration with Subscription Models: Some platforms offer PPV within a broader subscription service, providing additional revenue streams.

Virtual Reality (VR): There's potential for PPV to expand into VR, offering immersive experiences for events.

If you're interested in a specific aspect of PPV, like its history, how to set up a PPV event, or its impact on media consumption, feel free to ask! (Grok)

News

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) represents a significant merger in the sports and entertainment industry, combining World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) under one corporate umbrella. Here's a detailed overview based on the latest information:

Formation and Ownership: TKO Group Holdings was formed by Endeavor Group Holdings as part of a merger between WWE and Zuffa, the parent company of UFC. This merger was completed on September 12, 2023, marking a historic moment as it was the first time WWE was not solely owned by the McMahon family, who had founded and owned it for over 70 years. Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR) is the majority owner of TKO, with Vince McMahon personally owning approximately one-third of the Class A Common Stock of TKO Group Holdings, Inc.

Business Structure: Both WWE and UFC operate as divisions under TKO, maintaining their individual branding and operations but now under the same corporate governance. This structure aims to leverage combined resources for global expansion and cost savings, with an estimated value of more than $21 billion at the time of the merger.

Financial Performance: Recent financial data indicates TKO's stock price at around $119.78, with significant fluctuations in its financial metrics year-over-year. For instance, net income saw a decrease, while cash from operations increased dramatically, showcasing a mixed bag of financial health but with a strong operational cash flow.

Strategic Moves and Market Impact: The merger has led to various strategic decisions, including cost-saving measures, with expectations of saving between $50 million to $100 million. Additionally, WWE's deal with Netflix for content distribution was highlighted as transformative, indicating TKO's approach to expanding its media presence.

Board and Leadership: The board of TKO Group Holdings includes notable figures like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who joined to help expand the business globally, alongside other industry leaders from both WWE and UFC backgrounds. This diverse board aims to steer the company towards further integration and growth in the entertainment sector.

Public Sentiment and Media Coverage: From posts on X, there's a mix of excitement about the merger's potential for growth and concerns over the implications for WWE's traditional ownership structure. The listing on the NYSE and the involvement of high-profile figures like Ari Emanuel and Vince McMahon have been points of discussion, reflecting both optimism for the future of combat sports and entertainment and skepticism regarding the cultural shift within WWE.

Stock Performance: TKO's stock experienced a significant rise after reporting a strong second-quarter earnings report, nearly tripling its revenue from the previous year's quarter, indicating investor confidence in the company's direction under the new structure.

This merger not only reshapes the landscape of sports entertainment but also positions TKO Group Holdings as a major player in the global entertainment industry, with ambitions to expand its reach and influence through combined resources and strategic partnerships.

News

Verstappen's Trophy or Bust

Formula 1 is set to resume with the Dutch Grand Prix this weekend, generating excitement among fans, particularly for Max Verstappen who has a perfect record at this event since its return to the calendar in 2021. Discussions are centered around Verstappen's potential to win again, with fans expressing high expectations and some playful skepticism about others' interest in the sport. Meanwhile, there have been significant team changes; Lewis Hamilton's long-time race engineer, Peter 'Bono' Bonnington, has been promoted to Head of Race Engineering at Mercedes, ending speculation about his move to Ferrari with Hamilton. This news has stirred reactions among fans and within the F1 community, highlighting the dynamic shifts in team structures and driver-engineer relationships. (Grok)

News

Ronaldo Breaks YouTube Subscriber Record

Cristiano Ronaldo launched his YouTube channel and within less than 24 hours, he amassed over 14 million subscribers, breaking the previous record held by Mr. Beast who took 132 days to reach 10 million subscribers. Ronaldo's channel not only set a new benchmark for the fastest growth in subscribers but also highlighted his immense global popularity, with his first video garnering millions of views shortly after its release. This achievement was celebrated by fans and commentators alike, noting Ronaldo's unparalleled influence both on and off the football pitch. (Grok)

Media Man Int: Editor

The Grok reference for TKO Group is not 99 or 100 percent. A number of references are 6 to over 12 months out of date. The information regarding TKO Group is published as is, just as Grok AI directs us. This editor post may potentially assist Grok to further improve its otherwise excellent service, in the view of Media Man Group management. Media Man Int/Media Man Group management/staff finds Grok A.I to be overall much superior than that of the general A.I offerings of the industry and believes that under Elon Musk management and direction that the sky's the limit! Combat sports on Mars anyone?! Grok/X Championship Of The World!

Movie Box Office (North America)

August 4, 2024

1. Deadpool & Wolverine - $97m

2. Twisters - $22.7m

3. Trap - $15.6m

4. Despicable Me 4 - $11.3

5. Inside Out 2 - $6.7m

6. Harold and the Purple Crayon - $6m

7. Longlegs - $4.1m

8. The Firing Squad - $1.6m

9. A Quiet Place: Day One - $1.4m

10. Bad Boys: Ride or Die - $601,000

others...

The Fabulous Four

Fly Me to the Moon

Raayan

Bad Newz

MaXXXine

The Bikeriders

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

Horizon: An American Saga

The Lion King

Kalki 2898 AD

Kinds of Kindness

The Garfield Movie

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Jatt & Juliet 3

Blue Lock Thee Movie - Episode Nagi

Daddio

Janet Planet

The Watchers

IF

The Exorcism

Thelma

GHOST Rite Here Rite Now

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story

The Fall Guy

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

In a Violent Nature

Ezra

Sight

* Correct at time of publication

News

Box office numbers down approx 70 percent from last year

(References: Wikipedia, Box Office Mojo, IMDb, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter)

Combat Sports: Pro Wrestling and MMA News via Grok; Continues To Impress Media And Sports Fans

August 16, 2024

WWE SmackDown

From the latest episode of WWE SmackDown, several key events and developments have been highlighted:

Roman Reigns and The Bloodline: The episode ended with a significant moment where Jacob Fatu, alongside Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga, took down Roman Reigns, showcasing a shift in power dynamics within The Bloodline. This was a dramatic conclusion to the night, emphasizing the ongoing feud and the return of Jacob Fatu to help his cousins.

Nia Jax's Championship: Nia Jax was celebrated as the new WWE Women's Champion, with her championship celebration being a focal point. Her victory was facilitated by Tiffany Stratton, who played a key role in Jax's win by creating a distraction with her Money in the Bank contract.

Tag Team Title Contenders: The Street Profits emerged victorious over #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) in a match to determine the number one contenders for the WWE Tag Team Championship, setting up a future title match against The Bloodline.

Kevin Owens' Match: Before his upcoming challenge for the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes at WWE Bash in Berlin, Kevin Owens faced Grayson Waller. This match served as a preparation for Owens, though the outcome wasn't specified in the summaries provided.

Naomi vs. Blair Davenport: Naomi faced Blair Davenport in a match where Davenport managed to secure a win, continuing her recent trend of causing trouble and aligning with the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions, The Unholy Union.

Andrade vs. Melo: The third match in a series between Andrade and Carmelo Hayes was highlighted for its quality, indicating a competitive and well-received segment of the show.

The episode was praised for its content, with fans and commentators noting the high quality of matches and the dramatic storytelling, especially around The Bloodline's internal conflicts and the new championship reign of Nia Jax. (Grok)

News

The Bloodline Assaults Roman Reigns

During a recent episode of WWE SmackDown, Roman Reigns faced a significant challenge from The Bloodline, a group he was once closely allied with. The episode culminated in a dramatic turn of events where The Bloodline, including Solo Sikoa, turned against Reigns. This betrayal led to a physical confrontation where Reigns was overpowered and attacked by the group, highlighting a shift in power dynamics. Prior to this event, there was considerable anticipation and speculation among fans and commentators about whether Reigns would acknowledge Solo Sikoa as the new Tribal Chief. Additionally, fans expressed disappointment over the absence of Jimmy Uso, whose return was eagerly awaited but did not occur. (Grok)

News

Afa Anoa'i, Wild Samoan Legend, Passes Away

Afa Anoa'i, known as one-half of the legendary Wild Samoans tag team and a WWE Hall of Famer, passed away at the age of 81. His death follows the recent passing of his brother Sika Anoa'i, marking a significant loss for the Anoa'i family. Afa was renowned for his dominant presence in the wrestling ring and his dedication to training future generations of wrestlers. The wrestling community, including WWE, TNA, and numerous fans, expressed their condolences, highlighting Afa's contributions to the sport and his role in the iconic Samoan wrestling dynasty. Roman Reigns, Afa's nephew, shared his grief, noting the reunion of Afa with his brother Sika in heaven, emphasizing the family's legacy and the comfort they find in their faith. (Grok)

News

Fatu Overpowers Reigns in Walking Boot

During a recent episode of WWE SmackDown, Jacob Fatu made a dramatic return to the ring, attacking Roman Reigns in a notable confrontation. The assault was particularly striking as Fatu performed the attack while wearing a walking boot, adding to the spectacle. This event led to widespread reactions among fans, who expressed surprise and excitement over the intensity of the match. Additionally, there was anticipation for the return of Jimmy Uso, who did not appear despite the setup seeming perfect for his comeback, leading to disappointment and speculation about his future in WWE. (Grok)

News

Nia Jax Stuns at SmackDown

During the recent episode of WWE SmackDown, Nia Jax made a notable appearance as the newly crowned WWE Women's Champion. Her entrance was celebrated, with fans and commentators alike praising her appearance and performance, describing her as 'phenomenal', 'incredible', and 'stunning'. However, the episode also saw Naomi losing a match in her hometown to Blair Davenport, which sparked disappointment among some fans who felt Naomi should have won in her local arena. The episode highlighted both the high points of Jax's championship celebration and the controversial booking decisions regarding Naomi. (Grok)

News

Adesanya vs Du Plessis: UFC 305 Showdown

Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis are set to clash in the main event of UFC 305 for the middleweight title on August 17, 2024. The anticipation for this fight has been fueled by their intense verbal exchanges, with Adesanya promising precision in his strikes. Both fighters have officially weighed in, with Adesanya at 184 lbs and du Plessis at 185 lbs. The event has generated significant interest, with fans and analysts discussing the potential outcomes, where Adesanya is slightly favored according to betting odds. The fighters have expressed readiness to end their verbal sparring inside the octagon, with du Plessis referencing past confrontations and Adesanya vowing not to miss his target. (Grok)

News

UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya in Perth

UFC 305 is set to feature a headline middleweight championship fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya in Perth, Australia. This event marks Du Plessis's first title defense after defeating Sean Strickland, and offers Adesanya a chance to win back the title for a third time. The anticipation for the fight is high, with both fighters showcasing custom-designed fight shorts. The buildup to the event included a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony, highlighting cultural respect. Discussions and predictions among fans and analysts are intense, focusing on the rivalry and the high stakes for both competitors. (Grok)

News

McGregor-Chandler Fight Targeted for December

Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler are in discussions for a potential fight in December 2024, despite Dana White's earlier statement that McGregor would not be fighting this year. The potential matchup has sparked a range of reactions from fans and commentators, with some expressing skepticism about the fight actually happening, while others are hopeful for Chandler to finally get his long-awaited bout with McGregor. The situation has also led to discussions about McGregor's career trajectory and Chandler's persistence in pursuing the fight. (Grok)

News

Pereira vs. Rountree Headlines UFC 307

The UFC announced that Alex Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307, sparking a variety of reactions among fans and fighters. Some expressed excitement for the matchup, while others criticized the decision, suggesting that Ankalaev was more deserving of a title shot. The announcement also led to discussions about the UFC's matchmaking and fighter rankings, with some accusing the organization of protecting Pereira from certain opponents. (Grok)

News

Mbilli-Derevyanchenko Headlines Quebec Card

Boxing fans are eagerly anticipating the upcoming Mbilli-Derevyanchenko fight scheduled for August 17th, which is expected to be a significant event in the boxing world. The fight, headlined by Christian Mbilli and Sergiy Derevyanchenko, will be broadcasted on ESPN starting at 10 PM ET. The event is seen as a major test for Mbilli, potentially leading to a world title shot. Alongside this, other boxing events and discussions about potential future matchups, including a possible bout between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli, are also generating interest among fans and commentators. The boxing community is buzzing with excitement and anticipation for the event, with various boxing promotions and fans sharing updates and excitement across social media platforms. (Grok)

News

Crawford Seeks Canelo Fight Amid Options

Boxing fans and analysts are discussing potential high-profile fights for 2024 and 2025, with a focus on matchups that could generate significant interest and revenue. Key suggestions include a rematch between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, a showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and a bout featuring Gervonta Davis against either Shakur Stevenson or Naoya Inoue. Additionally, there is interest in seeing Terence Crawford face off against Boots Ennis or Vergil Ortiz Jr., with some skepticism about Crawford's willingness to take on these challenges. Other notable matchups proposed include Canelo Alvarez versus David Benavidez and a potential fight between Shakur Stevenson and Joe Cordina, though this latter suggestion has received criticism due to Cordina's recent performance. Overall, the boxing community is eager to see these high-stakes fights materialize, with hopes that promoters and fighters will agree to these exciting matchups. (Grok)

Media/Entertainment: Australia

TV Week Logie Awards 2024

Winners

Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television - Larry Emdur

Best Drama Program - RFDS, Seven Network

Best News or Public Affairs Presenter - Ally Langon, A Current Affair, Nine Network

Best Comedy Entertainment Program - Have You Been Paying Attention?, Network Ten

Best Lead Actor in a Drama - Felix Cameron, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Beat Scripted Comedy Program - Utopia, ABC

Best Current Affairs Program - Australian Story, ABC

Best Lead Actress in a Drama - Deborah Mailman, Total Control, ABC

Best Sports Coverage - FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, Seven Network

Best Competition Reality Program - MasterChef Australia, Network 10

Best Factual or Documentary Program - John Farnham: Finding The Voice, Seven Network

Best Miniseries or Telemovie - Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Best News Coverage or Public Affairs Report - Ben Roberts-Smith: The Truth, 60 Minutes, Nine Network

Best Structured Program - Gogglebox Australia, Foxtel and Network 10

Best Lifestyle Program - Travel Guides, Nine Network

Bert Newtown Award for Most Popular Presenter - Larry Emdur, The Chase Australia and The Morning Show, Seven Network

Best Supporting Actor - Bryan Brown, Boy Swallows Universe

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy - Rob Sitch, Utopia, ABC

Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent - Felix Cameron, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Best Supporting Actress - Sophie Wilde, Boy Swallows Universe, Netflix

Best Children's Program - Bluey, ABC

Best Entertainment Program - The Voice Australia, Seven Network

Best Lead Actress in a Comedy - Kitty Flanagan, Utopia, ABC

Sports News Update

X's Grok Helps Keep Online Publishers, Newsrooms Up To Speed; Media Man

August 2, 2024

News

U.F.C. Abu Dhabi Fight Card

The UFC event in Abu Dhabi on August 3rd, 2024, is generating significant discussion among fans and analysts. The main event features Umar Nurmagomedov against Cory Sandhagen, with Nurmagomedov being favored by many. The card includes other notable fighters like Deiveson Figueiredo, Marlon Vera, and Shara. Predictions and betting odds are being shared across social media, and Khabib Nurmagomedov is expected to be in Umar's corner. The event is free to watch on ABC Network, further enhancing its accessibility and viewership. Tony Ferguson has expressed his desire to continue fighting in the UFC, while other fighters like Figueiredo and Vera are also generating interest among fans. The event promises to be an exciting showcase of talent and competition in the world of mixed martial arts. (Grok)

News

UFC Abu Dhabi Event

The upcoming UFC event in Abu Dhabi on August 2, 2024, is generating significant buzz, featuring a main event between undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen. The event is free to watch on ABC Network and includes notable fighters such as Deiveson Figueiredo and Marlon Vera. The card also features Tony Ferguson, who has expressed his desire to continue fighting in the UFC. The event is anticipated to be a major one, with Khabib Nurmagomedov expected to be in Umar's corner. Betting predictions and discussions are prevalent across social media platforms, with various analysts and fans sharing their insights and picks for the fights.

News

Survivor Series: WarGames in Vancouver

WWE has announced that Survivor Series 2024 will be held in Vancouver, Canada, marking the first WWE pay-per-view event in the city since 1998. The event, featuring the WarGames match format, is scheduled for November 30 at Rogers Arena. This decision has sparked excitement among wrestling fans and local residents, with many expressing enthusiasm about attending the event in Vancouver. (Grok)

News

SummerSlam Predictions and Anticipation

WWE SummerSlam 2024 is generating significant anticipation among fans, with many expressing excitement and making predictions about the outcomes of various matches. Key discussions revolve around potential returns of prominent wrestlers such as Roman Reigns and The Rock, as well as the outcomes of matches like Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa and Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley. The event is set to feature a variety of matches that fans are eagerly awaiting, including those involving LA Knight, Logan Paul, and Gunther. The overall sentiment is one of excitement and speculation, with fans looking forward to a thrilling event. (Grok)

News

Rampage Debuts for MxM & Private Party on AEW

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is gearing up for an exciting lineup of events, including the highly anticipated All In event scheduled for August 25, 2024. The event is generating significant buzz among fans and is anticipated to surpass the success of the previous year's event. The card for All In features high-stakes matches such as Bryan Danielson putting his career on the line against Swerve, MJF facing Will Ospreay, and a tag team grudge match involving Darby Allin, FTR, and ROH Champion Sussex Co. Chicken against formidable opponents. AEW is also promoting other shows like AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage, which feature matches like Hangman Page vs. Darby Allin and MxM Collection's debut against Private Party, respectively. The promotion is leveraging various platforms and media to engage with fans and build anticipation for these events. (Grok)

News

Crawford vs Madrimov: Pre-Fight Press Conference

Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov are set to face off in a highly anticipated boxing match on August 3rd, as part of the Riyadh Season Card. The event, which will be available on PPV, has generated significant buzz among boxing fans and media. The undercard for the event is also noted for its quality, featuring a heavyweight bout between Andy Ruiz Jr. and Jarrell Miller, as well as other notable fights. The event is expected to be a major draw, with fans eagerly anticipating the outcome of the main event between Crawford and Madrimov. (Grok)

News

TNA Wrestling: Rascalz vs. Bailey, Seven & KUSHIDA

TNA Wrestling's iMPACT episode on August 1, 2024, featured a lineup of exciting matches and events. The show included a TNA World Title match between Nic Nemeth and Mustafa Ali, as well as the wedding of PCO and Steph De Lander. Other matches included The Rascalz in action against Mike Bailey, Trent Seven, and KUSHIDA in a six-man tag team match, Frankie Kazarian vs. Ryan Nemeth, and Jody Threat vs. Masha Slamovich. The event was broadcasted on various platforms including TNA+, AXS TV, DAZN, and YouTube, catering to a wide audience. Fans and wrestling enthusiasts expressed their anticipation and excitement for the event across social media platforms. (Grok)

ROH

Ring of Honor (ROH) is a professional wrestling promotion recently acquired by Tony Khan, CEO of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Chief Football Strategy Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and GM/Sporting Director of Fulham F.C. ROH has been holding events and television tapings, with notable developments including Sammy Guevara's return to help Dustin Rhodes against the Dark Order at the July 28th tapings. The promotion has been building new stars and continues to feature high-profile matches and events. (Grok)

News

WWE 2K24 Online Stability Hotfix

WWE 2K24 released Patch 1.14 to address online stability issues, which was automatically applied upon game loading. The update aimed to fix problems with the Pat McAfee Show Pack DLC for PS5 users, which was resolved, allowing the pack to be downloaded. However, the patch also caused issues with mods on PC, and some users reported problems with Titantrons in create an entrance and the unavailability of DLC for PlayStation 5 users. Despite these issues, WWE 2K24 encouraged players to participate in a giveaway for SummerSlam and provided a locker code for 7500 VC. (Grok)

Max Verstappen's Potential Mercedes Move

Speculation is rife about Max Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes, fueled by recent high-profile departures from Red Bull Racing. Despite the rumors, some fans express skepticism about the likelihood of such a move. The discussion also touches on the stability of other drivers' positions within their teams, with some questioning the rationale behind certain team decisions. Additionally, there is discussion about the performance comparison between Verstappen and his teammate, Perez, at Red Bull Racing. (Grok)

News

Wheatley's Move from Red Bull to Audi F1

Jonathan Wheatley, the long-serving sporting director at Red Bull Racing, is set to leave the team at the end of the 2024 season to become the new team principal of the Audi Formula 1 project. This move has been confirmed by Red Bull and widely reported across various Formula 1 news outlets. Audi has not officially commented on Wheatley's appointment, and there are indications that they were not expecting the announcement. Wheatley's departure marks a significant change in leadership for Red Bull and a notable acquisition for Audi as it prepares to enter Formula 1. The transition is expected to take place after the 2024 season, with Wheatley remaining in his current role until then. (Grok)

News

WWE NXT Great American Bash Week One

The WWE NXT Great American Bash kicked off with a series of exciting matches and events, including a WWE Women's Tag Team Championship match where Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn defended their titles against Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend. Other highlights included a NXT Women’s Championship match between Roxanne Perez and Thea Hail, a live concert by Joe Hendry, and a NXT Heritage Cup match between Tony D'Angelo and Tavion Heights. Fans and commentators expressed excitement and anticipation for the event, with many rooting for their favorite wrestlers and speculating on potential outcomes. (Grok)

News

NXT Women's Championship: Roxanne Perez Retains

Roxanne Perez successfully defended her NXT Women's Championship against Thea Hail in a highly acclaimed match at NXT GAB. The match was praised for its intensity and the young ages of the competitors, with both being under 23 years old. The event also featured other notable matches, including Joe Hendry expressing frustration with Gallus and a confirmed match between Joe Hendry and Joe Coffey for the following week. The overall event was well-received, highlighting the talent and potential of the NXT roster. (Grok)

News

Bowlin Graham's Pocono Win Secures Playoff Spot

Graham Bowlin secured a spot in the 2024 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series playoffs with a win at Pocono Raceway. Despite missing out on the playoffs, drivers from Spire Motorsports expressed pride in their team's efforts. Nick Ottinger also secured a playoff spot, marking the seventh consecutive season Team Conti has fielded at least one car in the post-season. The playoff lineup includes Steven Wilson, Parker White, Nick Ottinger, Graham Bowlin, Vicente Salas, Bobby Zalenski, Tucker Minter, Garrett Lowe, Dylan Duval, and Daniel Faulkingham. (Grok)

News

CM Punk's Top 5 Wrestlers of All Time

During an interview on ESPN's First Take, CM Punk named his top-5 wrestlers of all time, which included Harley Race, Terry Funk, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Eddie Guerrero, and initially Ricky Steamboat, but he later switched to Roddy Piper. This selection sparked discussions among fans and commentators, with some expressing surprise at the absence of Bret Hart from the list. Punk also highlighted Stone Cold Steve Austin as the biggest superstar in the industry. The interview took place ahead of SummerSlam 2024, which is set to occur in a few days, generating anticipation among wrestling fans. (Grok)

News

Cedric Alexander's NXT Victory

Cedric Alexander emerged victorious in a match against Brooks Jensen on the WWE NXT show. The win was unexpected by some fans and commentators, and it was celebrated by many on social media. The event also featured other matches and announcements, including a promo by Pete Dunne about his upcoming match with Trick Williams. (Grok)

News

UFC Abu Dhabi Event

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to host a highly anticipated event in Abu Dhabi this Saturday, featuring a stacked card of fights. Notable fighters on the card include Tony Ferguson, Cory Sandhagen, and Mackenzie Dern. The event is free and open to the public, with a live broadcast on various platforms. Fans and analysts are discussing the matchups and sharing their predictions and betting tips for the fights. Cory Sandhagen is a key focus of the event, with many fans and analysts predicting a strong performance from him in his fight against Umar Nurmagomedov. (Grok)

News

AEW Returns and Criticisms

The recent episode of AEW's Dynamite received mixed reactions from fans and critics, sparking discussions on various aspects of the show. Topics included the return of a star after a five-month absence, the company's approach to pushing certain talents, and comparisons between AEW and WWE. Some fans expressed disappointment in the show's content and booking decisions, while others praised specific moments and storylines. The discourse highlighted a range of opinions and critiques regarding AEW's current direction and its relationship with its audience and competitors. (Grok)

News

AEW Collision Viewership Drop Amid Summer Events

AEW Collision viewership experienced a significant drop, averaging 383,000 viewers with a 0.12 P18-49 rating, marking a 19% decrease from the previous week. This decline was attributed to tough competition from the Olympics. Meanwhile, WWE's SummerSlam is generating anticipation, with fans expressing mixed feelings about the event and the potential outcomes for their favorite wrestlers. (Grok)

News

Grok Search: TNA Wrestling

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2002 by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. It is currently owned by Anthem Sports & Entertainment and is based in Nashville, Tennessee. TNA was initially known as NWA: Total Nonstop Action until 2004 when it rebranded to its current name.

TNA has been known for its innovative matches and storylines, and it has featured many notable wrestlers such as Kurt Angle, Sting, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Jeff Hardy. The promotion has also been praised for its women's division, known as the Knockouts Division, which features some of the top female wrestlers in the world.

TNA has faced a number of challenges over the years, including changes in ownership and a decline in viewership. However, the promotion has continued to produce entertaining and innovative content, and it remains a significant player in the world of professional wrestling. (Grok)

News

Umar vs Sandhagen for Title Shot

Umar Nurmagomedov is set to face Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi, with the winner potentially earning a title shot against the victor of the Sean O'Malley vs Merab Dvalishvili bout. The event also features Tony Ferguson, who is looking to make a comeback. The fight card is generating significant interest and betting activity among fans and analysts. Additionally, there are discussions about potential matchups for Shakur Stevenson, including a verbal agreement for a fight with William Zepeda, although no official agreement has been reached yet. The event is also notable for Khabib Nurmagomedov's involvement in Umar's corner. (Grok)

News

Ruiz vs Miller: Boxing Showdown in Riyadh

On August 3, 2024, a significant boxing event is set to take place featuring several high-profile matches. The main event includes a face-off between Andy Ruiz and Jarrell Miller, which has garnered significant attention and anticipation. Other notable fights on the card include a matchup between Isaac Pitbull and Jose Valenzuela, which is expected to be a highlight of the evening. Additionally, the event features the return of Andy Cruz against Antonio Moran, adding to the excitement. The event is part of the Riyadh Season and will be broadcasted on ESPN Plus PPV. (Grok)

News

Russell Disqualified, Hamilton Wins Belgian GP

Lewis Hamilton was declared the winner of the Belgian Grand Prix after his teammate George Russell was disqualified for having an underweight car. Russell initially crossed the line first but was stripped of his win due to the technical violation. Hamilton's victory marked his second win in three races, sparking discussions among fans and commentators about the nature of his win and Russell's performance. The disqualification also led to Oscar Piastri being promoted to second place, and Charles Leclerc finishing third for Ferrari. (Grok)

News

F1 Drivers Pole Positions and Race Outcomes Debate

In recent Formula 1 races, Charles Leclerc has been praised for his ability to secure pole positions and maintain leads in a slower car, contrasting with Lando Norris's performance in a faster car. Max Verstappen has consistently performed well, often starting from lower positions and finishing higher, despite debates about the relative performance of his car. The current season is highly competitive, with several drivers from different teams closely competing in points, highlighting the tight competition in Formula 1. (Grok)

News

US Women's Rugby Wins First Olympic Medal

The United States women's rugby sevens team won their first Olympic medal, a bronze, in a dramatic match against Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The victory was sealed by a last-minute try and conversion by Alex Sedrick. Meanwhile, Simone Biles led the United States to a dominant victory in the women's gymnastics team final, securing her fifth career Olympic gold medal and becoming the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast in history with a total of 8 medals. (Grok)

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Pop Culture/Streaming Entertainment

Top 10 Movies Streaming (United States)

1. The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Hulu)

2. Deadpool 2 (Disney+)

3. Twister (Max)

4. Deadpool (Disney+)

5. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Netflix)

6. Tarot (Netflix)

7. If (Paramount+)

8. Wicked Little Letters (Netflix)

9. Challengers (MGM+)

10. Abigail (Peacock)

Others

The Beekeeper (Prime Video)

Find Me Falling (Netflix)

My Spy: The Eternal City (Netflix)

*correct at time of publication

Streaming TV (United States)

Top 10 TV

1. House of the Dragon (Max)

2. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (Netflix)

3. Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)

4. Batman: Caped Crusader (Prime Video)

5. Time Bandits (Apple TV+)

6. The Decameron (Netflix)

7. The Bear (Hulu)

8. The Boys (Prime Video)

9. Mayor of Kingstown (Paramount+)

10. Evil (Paramount+)

Streaming Service

An online provider of entertainment (music, movies, multi-episode series, etc.) that delivers content over an Internet connection to the subscriber's computer, TV or mobile device.

Netflix, Amazon Prime, Binge (Australia), Kayo Sports (Australia), Hulu, HBO, Disney, ESPN Plus, Gaia, Passionflix, Spotify, Discovery, Peacock, Paramount Plus, Triller TV, UFC Fight Pass, WWE Network and Apple TV+ are examples of paid streaming services.

Examples of free services include Amazon ABC iView, Freedive, Free TV, Hoopla, Kanopy, Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Snagfilms, Sony Crackle, SBS On Demand, Tubi TV, VUDU and Xumo.

Media Man Int

Media Man Int X

Elon Musk’s X Files Antitrust Suit Against Global Advertising Alliance

August 6, 2024

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has launched a significant antitrust lawsuit against the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) and several of its member companies, alleging an illegal ad boycott that targeted the platform. The lawsuit, filed in Texas, is aimed at GARM, its parent firm World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), and members including CVS Health, Mars, Orsted and Unilever.

In an open letter to advertisers, X CEO Linda Yaccarino highlighted the reasons behind the lawsuit, stating that it was a direct response to GARM’s actions which allegedly cost the company billions of dollars. “This is not a decision we took lightly, but it is a direct consequence of their actions,” Yaccarino wrote. “The illegal behavior of these organizations and their executives cost X billions of dollars” per The New York Post.

The lawsuit is seeking trebled compensatory damages and injunctive relief, according to a complaint viewed by The New York Post. GARM, led by Robert Rakowitz, is an initiative of the WFA, which represents many of the world’s largest companies and ad organizations, including Disney and Coca-Cola. Its members control 90% of global marketing spending, nearly $1 trillion per year.

Yaccarino emphasized that the issue extends beyond financial damages. “This case is about more than damages — we have to fix a broken ecosystem that allows this illegal activity to occur,” she added.

According to The New York Post, the suit argues that the boycott undermined the marketplace of ideas by financially harming certain viewpoints over others. (Credit: PYMNTS)

Full article and coverage via PYMNTS

https://pymnts.com/cpi-posts/elon-musks-x-files-antitrust-suit-against-global-advertising-alliance/

PYMNTS is a former Media Man 'Business News Outlet Of The Month' award winner and finalist

News

Elon Musk takes GARM, several companies to court over alleged advertising boycott of X outlined in bombshell report

August 7, 2024

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has taken several companies and an advertising alliance to court over allegations of a "boycott" of X.

Elon Musk has waged “war” against advertisers as his social media platform X filed an antitrust lawsuit against a global ad alliance and several major companies, accusing them of illegally boycotting the site.

X filed a suit in a federal court in Texas against the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), the Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM) and its members CVS Health, Mars, Orsted and Unilever.

The suit comes after a report from the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee found GARM and its members “directly organised boycotts” and employed other indirect tactics to target disfavoured “platforms, content creators” and news organisations to demonetise them.

It alleges that GARM’s boycott led advertisers to pull money from X under the guise of “brand safety” concerns.

X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino argued this tactic hindered users on the social media platform from accessing a wide breadth of ideas by funding alternative viewpoints.

“The consequence - perhaps the intent - of this boycott was to seek to deprive X’s users, be they sports fans, gamers, journalists, activists, parents or political and corporate leaders, of the Global Town Square,” she wrote.

“To put it simply, people are hurt when the marketplace of ideas is undermined and some viewpoints are not funded over others as part of an illegal boycott.”

Mr Musk shared his colleague’s statement to the platform and boldly declared: “We tried peace for 2 years, now it is war.”

He later encouraged “any company who has been systematically boycotted” to file a suit.

Following his post, video sharing platform Rumble joined Mr Musk’s lawsuit, claiming it has also been impacted towards GARM’s alleged skew away from right wing voices and ideologies.

The platform announced its move on X where it accused GARM of being “a conspiracy to perpetrate an advertiser boycott of Rumble and others, and that's illegal”.

Since Musk took over the social media platform in October 2022, X has suffered a serious dive in ad dollars with the platform taking in US$2.5 billion in 2023, according to Bloomberg.

This was down from the US$1bn it was bringing in every quarter of 2022.

Musk triggered controversy again in November 2023 when he endorsed an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Jewish communities push “hatred against whites”.

The X owner responded: “You have said the actual truth,” sparking an advertiser exodus that was reported to have lost the company as much as $75m, per The New York Times.

He made headlines again in the same month after blasting advertisers boycotting the social media platform, boldly declaring: “Go f**k yourself”.

“If somebody is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go f**k yourself. Go f**k yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is,” he said. (Sky News Australia)

Full article and coverage via Sky News Australia

https://www.skynews.com.au/business/media/elon-musk-takes-garm-several-companies-to-court-over-alleged-advertising-boycott-of-x-outlined-in-bombshell-report/news-story/7bac6243aada770042d14ca84afc23e7

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Yahoo Finance wins Media Man 'Business News Outlet Of The Month' award

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Market, Commodities and Financial News Snapshot via Media Man

August 7, 2024

Australian Dollar: $0.6520 USD (up $0.0024 USD)

Iron Ore Sep Spot Price (SGX): $102.85 USD (down $0.70 USD)

Oil Price (WTI): $72.96 USD (down $1.02 USD)

Gold Price: $2,389.45 USD (down $19.96 USD)

Copper Price (CME): $4.0095 USD (up $0.0085 USD)

Bitcoin: $56,485.71 USD (up 3.10% in last 24 hours)

Dow Jones: 38,997.66 at 5.02pm NY time (up 294.39 points on yesterday's close)

(Roy Morgan Summary)

Movie Box Office (North America)

July 28, 2024

1. Deadpool & Wolverine - $205m

2. Twisters - $35.3m

3. Despicable Me 4 - $14.2

4. Inside Out 2 - $8.3m

5. Longlegs - $6.8m

6. A Quiet Place: Day One - $3m

7. Bad Boys: Ride or Die - $1.3m

8. The Fabulous Four - $1m

9. Fly Me to the Moon - $950,000

10. Raayan - $453,000

others...

Bad Newz

MaXXXine

The Bikeriders

Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot

Horizon: An American Saga

The Lion King

Kalki 2898 AD

Kinds of Kindness

The Garfield Movie

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Jatt & Juliet 3

Blue Lock Thee Movie - Episode Nagi

Daddio

Janet Planet

The Watchers

IF

The Exorcism

Thelma

GHOST Rite Here Rite Now

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story

The Fall Guy

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

In a Violent Nature

Ezra

Sight

* Correct at time of publication

News

Box office numbers down approx 70 percent from last year

(References: Wikipedia, Box Office Mojo, IMDb, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter)

Movie Streaming (United States)

July 11 - 17, 2024

1. If - Paramount+

2. The Beekeeper - Prime Video

3. Hillbilly Elegy - Netflix

4. Twister - Max

5. X - Kanopy

6. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F - Netflix

7. Pearl - Prime Video

8. Monkey Man - Peacock

9. Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire - Max

10. A Quiet Place - Paramount+

Movie Box Office (North America)

July 7, 2024

1. Despicable Me 4 - $75m

2. Inside Out 2 - $30m

3. A Quiet Place: Day One - $21m

4. MaXXXine - $6.7m

5. Bad Boys: Ride or Die - $6.6m

6. Horizon: An American Saga - $5.5m

7. Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot - $3.2m

8. Kalki 2898 AD - $1.8m

9. The Bikeriders - $1.3m

10. Kinds of Kindness - $860,000

others...

The Garfield Movie

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Jatt & Juliet 3

Blue Lock Thee Movie - Episode Nagi

Daddio

Janet Planet

The Watchers

IF

The Exorcism

Thelma

GHOST Rite Here Rite Now

Furiosa: A Mad Max Story

The Fall Guy

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

In a Violent Nature

Ezra

Sight

* Correct at time of publication

News

Box office numbers down approx 70 percent from last year

(References: Wikipedia, Box Office Mojo, IMDb, Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter)

Donald Trump Bitcoin Conference Keynote
https://youtube.com/watch?v=9UxAUryUKXM&ab_channel=BitcoinMagazine

Donald Trump delivers his keynote address at the Bitcoin Conference 2024. In a groundbreaking speech at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, former President Donald Trump outlines his vision for a crypto-friendly America. Trump promises to end the current administration's "anti-crypto crusade" and positions himself as the first major party nominee to accept Bitcoin donations. He pledges to fire SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, create a Presidential Crypto Advisory Council, and keep all government-held Bitcoin. Trump's address covers a wide range of topics, from energy policy to inflation, connecting them all to the future of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in America. He vows to make the U.S. the "crypto capital of the planet" and a "Bitcoin superpower," promising regulatory clarity and economic prosperity for the industry.

This video is a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of politics and cryptocurrency. Lower your time preference and lock-in your Bitcoin 2025 conference tickets today!!! (Credit: Bitcoin Magazine
@BitcoinMagazine
/Bitcoin 2024)

Click Here: http://b.tc/conference/2025 #djt

Websites

Bitcoin Magazine
https://bitcoinmagazine.com

Bitcoin Magazine:

NEWS: DONALD TRUMP TO SPEAK AT BITCOIN 2024 CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/donald-trump-to-speak-at-bitcoin-2024-conference-in-nashville

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SEO And X Buzz For Pop Culture

Pro Wrestling And Pop Culture Connection

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Combat Sports and Contact Sports Connection

News Bytes via Media Man

In Case You Missed It; Updated July 18, 2024

UFC Partners With Crown Resorts (Melbourne, Australia)

UFC Teams Up With PCYC (Sydney, Australia), as per tip off 6 months ago

UFC Explored Venue Deal With Manly Warringah Leagues Club (Sea Eagles). Brookville, Sydney, Australia

WWE prepares for show In Germany and Canada; Japan this past week huge success

WWE stars including Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley and Rey Mysterio appear on Call Of Duty videogame upgrade

WWE NXT ratings up; TNA Wrestling helped keep positive momentum. TNA's Joe Hendry creates additional buzz, web and social media traffic for NXT. Continues to increase pro wrestling skills, technical etc, Fan signs start to appear on prime WWE brands Raw and SmackDown. NXT's Booker T stirs the pop with Joe Hendry: "What's he doing here"?!

Pro wrestling "forbidden door" strategy helps ignite fan and sports media interest; Fresh dream matches! AEW did start the recent ripple effect!

UFC 303 in Las Vegas over-delivers as management and fighters demonstrate teamwork and massive work ethic

UFC's Dana White X tie ins with Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler indicate that the match will happen this year to fans delight.

UFC staying clear of political drama says Media Man agency; Of course they respect the fight and "fight fight fight" in Trump's will and ability to survive just about anything than a sometimes crazy world can throw at him; "American Bad *ss" - Dana White

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship enjoys additional media buzz since Conor McGregor deal announced; Website traffic and PPV numbers on the rise - intel

WWE Raw broadcast deal on track with Netflix including in Australia - Jan 2025

Most Valuable Promotions: Jake Paul received alternative fight proposals from would be opponents to replace Mike Tyson. Vs Tyson confirmed for November 15 in Texas

Jake Paul vs Mike Perry in 8-round boxing match on July 21 AEST in Tampa, Florida.