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“Thank you to all the fans who made #TheWomanInMe a #1 @nytimes bestseller,” Spears tweeted along with a mind-blown emoji. “It means the world to me!!! Love you all [three kiss emoji] !!!” Spears has refrained from engaging in traditional promotional activities for the book, such as late-night appearances and interviews. She has only used her social media platforms to promote it. On the day of its release, the singer claimed on Instagram that the book had achieved the title of «the highest-selling celebrity memoir in history.» However, according to the Associated Press (AP), it was noted that this claim did not hold true, as it wasn't even the best-selling memoir of the current year. In fact, Prince Harry's memoir, titled "Spare," had sold 1.6 million copies in the U.S. during its first week on sale in January. In a statement released by publisher Gallery Books on Wednesday, Spears expressed her gratitude to her fans and readers around the world for their unwavering support. She mentioned, «I poured my heart and soul into my memoir.» The book delves into Spears' journey to stardom, her connection with fellow child star Justin Timberlake, which involved her experiencing a pregnancy and subsequently undergoing an abortion while they were together. It also sheds light on her life during a 13-year conservatorship marked by stringent control. The anticipation surrounding the book additionally boosted Spears' music catalog, leading to a 21% increase in streaming activity in the days preceding its launch.

Indian retailers surveyed do not feel e-commerce is threatening their operations, with only 18 per cent saying that their sales have been impacted by online selling platforms, claims a study. The top industries witnessing the highest contribution from offline sales are FMCG & Retail (97 per cent), Food & Beverage (95 per cent), and Consumer Durable & Electronics (93 per cent). MSME-focused digital lender in India NowGrowth surveyed around 3,000 Indian retailers and shoppers across more than 25 top cities in India, wherein it was found that at-home delivery remains a top priority for shoppers, with 60 per cent of offline retailers receiving customer requests to start home delivery services.

Stablecoin issuer Circle is discontinuing support for consumer Circle Mint accounts.

Adidas and Bugatti have partnered to announce the auction of a select quantity of soccer boots through Adidas’ web3 platform.

The pilot, called Helvetia Phase III, marks the first time the central bank has moved from test environments into production, making wholesale CBDC available for the settlement of real bond transactions. The banks involved will carry out the transactions on the DLT platform as intermediaries for issuers and investors.

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Walt Disney Company has said that it will acquire Comcast Corporation-owned NBC Universal's (NBCU) 33% stake in streaming platform Hulu for $8.61 billion at a valuation of $27.5 billion. Disney hopes to complete the transaction by December 1. Walt Disney said the acquisition of Comcast’s stake in Hulu at fair market value will further Disney’s streaming objectives.

YES BANK has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Accelerated Computing Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. (trading as “Cloud Ace India”), a leading provider of cloud solutions. The agreement signifies a pivotal step in YES BANK’s commitment at facilitating tech innovation and global digital transformation. It also emphasises the Bank’s endeavour of using advanced cloud tech and financial expertise to assist businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs. 

Walt Disney said it will acquire a 33% stake in Hulu from Comcast for approximately $8.6 billion, a deal that will give Disney undisputed control of the streaming service. Disney has actually run Hulu since 2019, when Comcast ceded its authority to Disney and effectively became a silent partner.

Housing.com has decided to make a strategic investment in EASILOAN, a fintech start-up focusing on digitizing the home loan journey. Although the specific investment sum remains undisclosed, this partnership aims to lay the foundation for Housing.com’s plans to create India’s largest digital home loan origination platform.

Circle, a global financial technology firm, has taken steps to simplify blockchain interactions for developers and businesses with the beta launch of two new Web3 Services products: Gas Station and Smart Contract Platform. These new services come as a follow-up to Circle's recent Programmable Wallets offering. Gas Station aims to ease the cost burden associated with blockchain transactions for end users. Typically, Web3 users are required to pay a «gas fee» to conduct transactions on the blockchain. These fees have long been a point of friction for developers and businesses looking to integrate blockchain functionality into their apps.

On 17 October 2023, The Sandbox (crypto symbol: SAND), a leading decentralized virtual world platform and a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, welcomed Nicola Sebastiani as its new Chief Content Officer, marking a significant stride in its global content development endeavor. The announcement also introduced two other executive reshuffles within the organization.

The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has solidified its position in the digital asset sphere by confirming its intention to acquire Securrency, a firm renowned for its expertise in digital asset infrastructure development. This acquisition aligns with DTCC's strategic vision of seamlessly integrating digital assets with its pre-existing products and services. The specifics of the deal remain confidential, but indications suggest a closure «in the coming weeks.»

Elon Musk. The founder of Tesla and SpaceX is expected to attend the entire summit before his discussion with Sunak, which is set to be live-streamed, to contemplate the advancements and dangers of AI technology. Sunak, in an interview with POLITICO, has defended his choice to involve Musk, given the latter's long-standing emphasis on the need for AI regulation.

MCX share price continued its upward trend for the fourth consecutive session on Thursday and hit a 52-week high led by strong buying interest in the stock. MCX shares have rallied over 7% in the past one week. On Thursday, MCX shares gained as much as 2.43% to a record high of ₹2,447.40 apiece on the BSE.

Can “engagement" mean “addiction", especially where children and teenagers are concerned? There appears to be bipartisan consensus in America that this could be the case, going by a couple of big lawsuits recently filed against Meta. A consortium of 41 US states and the District of Columbia has alleged that the social media giant deliberately used algorithms designed to get youngsters addicted to platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, and also concealed internal research that linked high social media use to higher levels of anxiety, despair, eating disorders and insomnia. The lawsuits also allege that Meta harvested and monetised the data of minors without proper consent, and asks for compensation and restitution for individuals and families that have suffered harm.

Amidst the $213 million scandal involving the cryptocurrency exchange JPEX, the Hong Kong government has maintained its commitment to advancing its Web3 vision for the region.

By Helen Reid

The Indian financial system has undergone a remarkable tech-backed revolution in the past decade in providing ease of accessibility to liquid capital to its citizens. The digital revolution has ushered in a new era of convenience and efficiency. One of the most significant advancements is digital lending, which allows individuals to apply for paperless loans with the promise of instant approval. This financial innovation has the potential to reshape the way we access credit, making it imperative to understand the ins and outs of this transformative process.

real estate platform, Housing.com, owned by REA India has invested undisclosed amount in Easiloan, a fintech start-up focusing on digitizing the home loan journey. Established in 2021 by Pramod Kathuria, Easiloan is a digital home loan marketplace offering personalized, end-to-end home loan solutions through collaborations with over 20 banks across India.