May 9, 2022

[INVNT GROUP] The Global BrandStory Project® Drives Web3 Innovation in World-First Collaboration with Lamborghini, Steve Aoki, Krista Kim, and RM Sotheby’s

The 1:1 NFT plus the last physical Aventador Coupé auction closed at $1.6MM – placing the purchase price in the top 10 brand new Lamborghinis ever sold at auction.

New York, NY, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — [INVNT GROUP] The Global BrandStory Project, in collaboration with Lamborghini, leading metaverse artist Krista Kim, 2x Grammy-nominated artist Steve Aoki, and the historied collector car auction house, RM Sotheby’s, sold the world’s first supercar 1:1 NFT connected to the last physical production supercar Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae Coupé ever produced. Leading brands and organizations into the future of Web3, [INVNT GROUP] curated the strategic partnership and developed, designed, and produced the ‘Lamborghini Ultimate’ campaign globally.

Achieving 562MM+ Global Media Reach Impressions and 4.65MM+ Social Media Impressions, the exposure resulted in a closing auction bid of $1.6MM – over 3x the standard suggested retail of a Lamborghini Aventador Coupé – making it one of the 10 most expensive brand new Lamborghini’s ever sold at auction.

To achieve these results, [INVNT GROUP], led by President and CEO Scott Cullather, leveraged the skills and services of its digital innovation division, INVNT.ATOM™, its digital content studio, HEVĒ™, and team members across four of its nine offices, around the globe.

Committed to brand storytelling and boundless innovation, driven by strategy, design, and technology, The GROUP recently announced its expanding global presence through the Web3-focused digital innovation division, INVNT.ATOM, which powered the ‘Lamborghini Ultimate’ project, including the NFT production. INVNT.ATOM helps brands and organizations navigate, activate, and create new storytelling opportunities at the digital frontier. The team, located in INVNT’s Singapore office, consists of strategists, creators, and community-builders specializing in digital-first campaigns, emergent technologies, and engaging brand experiences calibrated for the new era of Web3.

“This collaboration, sitting at the intersection of art, music, entertainment, design, and technology, was an epic project for our group. It represents every aspect of our ongoing commitment to helping brands and organizations tell stories that connect with their most important audiences in engaging and relevant ways. Leveraging Web3 technology in partnering with Lamborghini, Steve, Krista, and RM Sotheby’s, we brought communities from around the world together in unimaginable ways,” Scott Cullather President and CEO of [INVNT GROUP]

INVNT.ATOM together with HEVĒ, [INVNT GROUP]’s creative agency and production studio, led the creative, strategy, design, content, and marketing communications. Through public relations, and social and influencer partnerships, the campaign reached a global audience of over 500MM+. HEVĒ spearheaded the creative direction and production of the Behind the Drop video featuring exclusive interviews with Krista Kim, Steve Aoki, and Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

In the historic campaign, Automobili Lamborghini auctioned the last production Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé with a 1:1 NFT. Lamborghini and [INVNT GROUP] united three forms of art: design, music, and cutting-edge technology, to create a never-before-seen collaboration that will go down as one of the most prolific 1:1 NFT drops of the year.

The Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé exclusive one of one was brought to life in both the NFT and physical car by contemporary artist Krista Kim, who created the visual artwork and her signature gradients. The gradients also appear in the bespoke customization of the physical Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé, and NFT visionary artist Steve Aoki who consulted on the design of the NFT, physical car and provided a custom-developed soundtrack.

“We had this approach of: “how do we bring upon the higher states of consciousness, and how does that translate and transmute the beauty of the power in the V12 engine of Lamborghini. As a luxury super sports car company, I think that this company is really pioneering web3,” said Krista Kim.

Steve Aoki continues, “I’m honored to be partnering with Lamborghini, Krista Kim, and [INVNT GROUP] on this historic project. It truly has its own story, & therefore I wanted my music track to reflect its soulful energy – the vibe, the spirit, and the power. The digital imprint of who we are has a serious meaning to our lives. As we step into web3, having identity through things like NFTs, like this car, are going to be more and more important to us.”

An exclusive preview of the NFT was hosted on BZAR Future of Community™, [INVNT GROUP]’s patent-pending, decentralized, content-led metaverse; established as a marketplace for physical and digital transactions, NFTs, entertainment, social, and gaming experiences.

The owner of the world’s first super sports car 1:1 NFT now holds in their possession the first-ever Lamborghini luxury super sports car for Web3; with capabilities via the exclusive GLB files, the winner can drive the one of a kind NFT in the Web3 platform of their choice pending platform mechanics.

Marking the end of an incredible era for Lamborghini; the brand is now looking to the future and electrifying its complete line-up by 2024. As Lamborghini charges into the digital era the lucky owner will be part of the brand’s legacy, owning the last naturally aspirated V12 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé, and the exclusively designed NFT – the first Lamborghini luxury super sports car for Web3.

“Partnering with [INVNT GROUP], Steve Aoki and Krista Kim on the design and production of this incredible moment in Lamborghini’s history – the very last Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Coupé ever produced was amazing. These creative minds coming together to design and produce, the 1:1 physical super sports car and NFT package with one of a kind utilities, has created something very special that can be shared for generations to come – making it part of Lamborghini’s iconic legacy,” Christian Mastro, Marketing Director, Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.

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About [INVNT GROUP]

[INVNT GROUP] was established in 2020, as an evolution of the founding global live brand storytelling agency INVNT in 2008, with a vision to provide consistent, meaningful, well-articulated BrandStory across all platforms. With offices in New York, Sydney, London, Singapore, Dubai, San Francisco, Stockholm, Detroit, and Washington D.C.; headed by President and CEO, Scott Cullather, [INVNT GROUP], THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward-thinking organizations everywhere, impact the audiences that matter, anywhere. The GROUP consists of modern brand strategy firm, Folk Hero; creative-led culture consultancy, Meaning; production studio & creative agency, HEVĒ; events for colleges and universities, INVNT Higher Ed; digital innovation division, INVNT.ATOM; and the original live brand storytelling agency, INVNT. For more information visit www.invntgroup.com

About Lamborghini

The name Lamborghini signifies not only the most coveted and exceptional cars, with technology and rarity, but true masterpieces that have made history. For more information visit www.lamborghini.com

About Krista Kim

Dubbed as a pioneer in bridging the gap between the real and virtual world. Krista creates immersive digital art through technology as an artistic medium to produce next-gen masterpieces for a new world. For more information visit www.kristakimstudio.com

About Steve Aoki

Hailed as NFT royalty in the crypto community and on the global stage, Steve Aoki is a 2x – Grammy-nominated music producer, artist, fashion designer, entrepreneur, Guinness World Record holder, NFT visionary, and one of the most successful cross-genre artists in the world, with a 77 million average monthly reach across all his platforms he is a leading creator that embodies innovation and exceptional masterpieces. For more information visit www.steveaoki.com

About RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s is the world’s leading collector car auction house. With over 40 years of proven results in the collector car industry, RM’s vertically integrated range of services, from auctions (live and online) and private sales to estate planning and financial services, coupled with an expert team of Car Specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. RM Sotheby’s is currently responsible for the most valuable motor car ever sold at auction. For more information visit https://rmsothebys.com/

Media Kit

“Lamborghini Ultimate” Campaign Photos and Videos. Access here.
Never before seen behind-the-scenes images & interview soundbites with Krista Kim, Steve Aoki, and Stephan Winkelmann (Chairman & CEO of Automobili Lamborghini) Access here.

Attachment

[INVNT GROUP] x Lamborghini : The Lamborghini Ultimate 1:1 NFT

Jhonathan Mendez de Leon
 [INVNT GROUP]™
3478192089
jmendezdeleon@invnt.com

May 9, 2022

$BioFi Ecosystem Announcement – Biometric Financial (BioFi) Announces a New Integration Partnership with Tel Solutions Africa LTD

$BioFi Safeguards Your Personal data while Leveraging the Blockchain and Decentralized Web 3.0 services

WELDON SPRING, MO / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2022 / Biometric Financial (BioFi), an innovative ecosystem and TelSolutions Africa LTD, owner of the BroadSpectrum mobile money platform announce today an integration partnership that will combine BioFi biometrics into the BroadSpectrum mobile money platform, and include Tel Solutions as an official Provider in the Biometric Financial ecosystem.

The BroadSpectrum mobile money platform serves a community size of approximately 2.5 million users across Ghana, with a further reach of 12 million potential users across the African continent. The BioFi biometric solution will be utilized to authenticate participants on the BroadSpectrum platform, while leveraging the $BioFi token as the method of payment for authentication services.

Tel Solutions will also be appointed as official distributor of the Phenix X1 smartphone for the Western region in Africa, including sales and electronic distribution of the UniSafeBox password manager.

The BioFi project represents a Utility Token and a secure set of solutions that leverages biometric security to provide decentralized finance (DeFi) products and services riding on the blockchain. The Phenix X1 smartphone is designed with a highly secure area to protect against fraudsters and to ensure security when running financial apps, transacting online, mining cryptocurrencies, and storing digital assets. UniSafeBox combines biometric encryption technology with blockchain hashing algorithms to secure passwords and a wide array of personal sensitive information.

The Broadspectrum mobile money platform provides the right infrastructure that gives clients a choice on how to manage and use their money to do more. It also helps the client to avoid disconnections and disruptions using reminders of payments due and updates on expenditure. It is a powerful and robust African payment platform which enables clients to also track expenses, save, and access loans from the comfort of their phone.

Brian Maw, CEO and Co-Founder of Finnovant, Inc., stated, “I am very excited for this partnership as the BioFi team and TelSolutions share the values of helping make the lives of customers better by creating simple, user-friendly access to a range of utility and secure solutions.”

Providers of the BioFi ecosystem can integrate easily with biometric API’s, highlighting the unique utility advantage that the entire service can bring.  The Biometric Financial website showcases many examples of utility currently available or in development, while providing services to tens of thousands of users globally.

BioFi is truly global in nature, not bound by a single language or territory, and designed to be user friendly with the added benefit of helping people feel more secure as access is tied to them individually.

Biometric Financial website:  https://biometricfinancial.org/home/

“The TSA digital payments aggregator platform provides the right infrastructure that gives clients a choice on how to manage and use their money to do more with convenience,” says Maxwell Dodd, COO at TelSolutions Africa, Ltd. “Our partnership with Finnovant will add best-in-class biometric security to our highly acclaimed platform, delivering greater security while maintaining ease of use.”

About FINNOVANT

Finnovant Inc. was founded with the vision of helping business leaders dramatically improve the way they interact with their critical information and customers. Our focus is on developing emerging technologies with secure blockchain solutions in the areas of Financial Services, Governance, IoT, Healthcare, and more and improving digital security for our customers. Finnovant provides biometric authentication which helps thwart Identity Theft and Fraud.

Follow the company at Finnovant.com, Twitter, LinkedIn , Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Discord

Chris Benedict
Finnovant, Inc.
1-844-724-8911
cbenedict@finnovant.com

About TELSOLUTIONS AFRICA LTD

Tel Solutions Africa is positioned with the right leadership with the knowledge and skill to launch and drive penetration of digital and M2M solutions. Founded in 2017 by former Airtel and Vodafone Telecom executives, offering communication solutions, Fintech and mobile money solutions, and serving as a manufacturer’s rep for Western Africa.

Maxwell Dodd
Tel Solutions Africa
+233 (0) 26 600 0014
dmaxwell@telsolutionsafrica.com
https://broadspectrumdigitalpayments.com/

SOURCE: Finnovant Inc.

May 9, 2022

St Kitts and Nevis: Fund option offers most straightforward route to alternative citizenship

Basseterre, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The smallest country in the western hemisphere, St Kitts and Nevis is the pioneer of citizenship by investment programme. Established in 1984, it is now regarded as the “platinum standard” of CBI globally. The country’s 53,192 population directly and indirectly benefits from the revenue that arrives from prestigious CBI Programme.

Dubbed as the “Paradise of the Caribbean”, St Kitts and Nevis has also established itself as the most desired location for cruise ship travellers. It is small enough to see in a day but big enough to explore for a lifetime. The mesmerizing white sand beaches and the sheer blue water makes it even more attractive.

Earlier in the 80s, St Kitts and Nevis derived major revenue from the “Sugar Industry”, but slowly and gradually, it closed in 2005. Following the closure, the country started to utilize the citizenship by investment programme to support the social-economic activities of the twin-island country.

In 2018, the government established Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) popularly known as Fund Option, which is now assisting the government in running social programmes, providing income support to people and more. The option allows the investors an option to make a contribution to the social prosperity as well as the economy of the twin-island Federation.

How Sustainable Growth Fund is assisting St Kitts and Nevis
• Enhancing the quality of education
• Ensure the health and well-being of a growing population
• Develop climate resilience, protecting the twin island against the future effects of climate change
• Construct solid and resilience infrastructure that will stand the test of time
• Promote St Kitts and Nevis’ thriving tourism industry
• Publicize the different cultural savour of the people
• Asset the indigenous entrepreneurship

“As the first country to offer economic citizenship globally, St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme is a feat of longevity and constant creation. It has moved the nation, and certainly people around the world, in a positive way. As the Programme joins a new era, the nation offers you a promising future and refined plan for continuous prosperity,” said the Prime Minister Timothy Harris during the launch of Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) in 2018.

The CBI Programme of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has been ranked as the world’s, fastest, most secure in CBI Index, published by Financial Times’ Professional Wealth Management magazine.

The country has topped the Citizenship Timeline pillar by virtue of the Accelerated Application Process. The country has bagged the perfect score in the Ease of Processing and Due Diligence pillars. Furthermore, the Sustainable Growth Fund gathered praise for the family pillar facility.

The CBI of St Kitts and Nevis has gained popularity because of the rigorous and stringent due diligence checks conducted to make sure that the alternative citizenship has been granted to the reputed and honest applicant.

The individuals who are keen to attain the alternative citizenship of the twin-island Federation may acquire one by financially donating to the “Sustainable Growth Fund” option. An investor can contribute a minimum USD 150,000 to be part of the citizenship by investment programme, under the Sustainable Growth Fund option.

Another major highlight of the Citizenship by Investment Programme is the Accelerated Application Process (AAP). It is a unique feature which in which after paying certain amount of fee, the applicant can accelerate the processing on his/her application. In some cases, AAP process applications in 60 days or less.

St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme offers the citizenship to the applicant’s family members, including the dependent’s spouse, children (under the age of 30) and parents as well as grandparents (over the age of 55).

One of the best features of the programme of the twin-island Federation is “Global Mobility”. Citizenship provides access to more than 156 countries across the globe.

Some other benefits of the CPI of St Kitts and Nevis can be listed as:
• St Kitts and Nevis’s dual citizenship has been considered the most powerful in the Caribbean and 24 globally.
• The alternative citizenship helps in becoming a global citizen by providing visa-free access to over 150 countries.
• It offers stable and prosperous access to the Caribbean haven.

The second citizenship of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis can be attained if the investor qualifies some of the eligibility criteria, which are:

• The applicant must be of outstanding character.
• The investor must not have any criminal record.
• The investment must have excellent health.
• The applicant must have a high personal net worth.
• The minimum age of the investor must be more than 18 years.
• The individual must prove their outstanding character through bank statements and employer references.

PR St Kitts and Nevis
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
pr@csglobalpartners.com

May 9, 2022

Minimum Expenditure Basket in Malawi – Round 52: 04-08 April 2022 – A Look at Food Prices and Availability in Times of COVID-19

Highlights

• During this round of data collection, the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB) increased in rural areas, while expenditure in urban areas remained unchanged. The household SMEBs increased by an average of 12.6 percent in the rural Northern Region; 4.8 percent in the Central Region; and 1.8 percent in the rural Southern Region. The rising SMEBs observed during this round are mostly due to increases in the prices of maize, cooking oil, fish, and soap in all regions.

• The price of maize increased by 8.9 percent to MK 206 per kg in this round (early April) from MK 189 per kg in the previous round (late March). Maize grain prices unexpectedly increased during this period mostly because producers and traders adjusted their prices upwards in anticipation of poor production and high prices this year. The Government also revised upwards to MK 220 per kg the Minimum Farmgate Price for maize, which will likely elevate maize prices further in the coming weeks.

• The price of beans eased by 1.7 percent to MK 1,325 per kg, down from MK 1,348 per kg in the last round. Although the price of beans has been less predictable in the last three months, the dip in the price of beans in the current round was likely due to the increased supply of fresh beans from this year’s harvest, which began in late February.

• The price of cowpeas remained stable between the last two rounds, hovering at MK 793 per kg, while the price of pigeon peas marginally increased by 0.4 percent to MK 777 per kg compared to last round.

Source: World Food Programme

May 9, 2022

Shanghai Tightens Lockdown Despite Falling COVID Cases

Authorities in Shanghai have again tightened anti-virus restrictions, just as the city was emerging from a month of strict lockdown due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Notices issued in several districts said residents were ordered to stay home and are barred from receiving nonessential deliveries as part of a “quiet period” lasting at least until Wednesday. The tightened measures could be extended depending on the results of mass testing, the notices said.

“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Together we can lift the lockdown at an early date,” said one notice issued in the city’s Huangpu district and posted online.

It wasn’t clear what prompted the renewed tightening, with numbers of new COVID-19 cases in the city continuing to fall.

Shanghai on Monday reported 3,947 cases over the previous 24 hours, almost all of them asymptomatic, along with 11 deaths. Authorities have been gradually lifting isolation rules on the city’s 25 million residents, but the new orders appear to be returning to conditions at the early stage of the outbreak.

Shanghai originally ordered mass testing along with a limited lockdown, but extended that as case numbers rose. Thousands of residents have been forced into centralized quarantine centers for showing a positive test result or merely having been in contact with an infected person.

Two Shanghai residents reached through social media said they’d had no prior notice of the new restrictions, which they were told could last for up to a week.

“We’re unprepared,” said Zhang Chen, a researcher with a technology company. “I packed my luggage thinking it would be my turn next” to be taken to a quarantine facility.

“I don’t know what will happen in May, but after the lockdown, I think I’ll need psychological help,” Zhang said.

A marketing professional in the western Pudong district said quality of life has been declining even as living expenses continue to rise under lockdown.

“Every time, they say lockdown will be eased after a few days, but there seems to be no end,” said the woman, who asked that she be identified only by her surname, Lu, to avoid repercussions from authorities who have cracked down heavily on dissent.

“All aspects of work are affected. I don’t know when it will be time for the lockdown to come to an end,” Lu said.

In Beijing, authorities closed down the largest city district, with residents told to stay home and stores closed. Beijing has ordered daily testing of all residents, closed parks and other leisure venues and limited restaurants to takeout business only.

The usually bustling Sanlitun area crammed with restaurants, boutiques and an Apple store was all but deserted. Despite that, retiree Yang Xiaochang said Beijing appeared to be far better prepared to weather the surge than its southern cousin.

“Even though at the beginning there were some panic buying … Beijing will not be like that,” Yang said, referring to Shanghai.

Still, companies and investors worry the ruling Communist Party’s “zero-COVID” strategy that closed most businesses in Shanghai and other industrial centers is disrupting global trade and activity in autos, electronics and other industries.

China’s export growth tumbled in April as global demand weakened, adding to pressure on the world’s second-largest economy.

Exports rose 3.7% over a year earlier to $273.6 billion, down sharply from March’s 15.7% growth, customs data showed Monday. Reflecting weak Chinese demand, imports crept up 0.7% to $222.5 billion, in line with the previous month’s growth below 1%.

Source: Voice of America

May 9, 2022

Rare Cases of COVID Returning Prompt Questions About Pfizer Pill

As more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug.

Paxlovid has become the go-to option against COVID-19 because of its at-home convenience and impressive results in heading off severe disease. The U.S. government has spent more than $10 billion to purchase enough pills to treat 20 million people.

But experts say there is still much to be learned about the drug, which was authorized in December for adults at high risk of severe COVID-19 based on a study in which 1,000 adults received the medication.

Why do some patients seem to relapse?

Doctors have started reporting rare cases of patients whose symptoms return several days after completing Paxlovid’s five-day regimen of pills. That has prompted questions about whether those patients are still contagious and should receive a second course of Paxlovid.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration weighed in. It advised against a second round because there’s little risk of severe disease or hospitalization among patients who relapse.

Dr. Michael Charness reported last month on a 71-year-old vaccinated patient who saw his symptoms subside but then return, along with a spike in virus levels nine days into his illness.

Charness says Paxlovid remains a highly effective drug, but he wonders if it might be less potent against the current omicron variant. The $500 drug treatment was tested and approved based on its performance against the delta version of the coronavirus.

“The ability to clear the virus after it’s suppressed may be different from omicron to delta, especially for vaccinated people,” said Charness, who works for Boston’s VA health system.

Could some people just be susceptible to a relapse? Both the FDA and Pfizer point out that 1% to 2% of people in Pfizer’s original study saw their virus levels rebound after 10 days. The rate was about the same among people taking the drug or dummy pills, “so it is unclear at this point that this is related to drug treatment,” the FDA stated.

Some experts point to another possibility: The Paxlovid dose isn’t strong enough to fully suppress the virus. Andy Pekosz of Johns Hopkins University worries that could spur mutations that are resistant to the drug.

“We should really make sure we’re dosing Paxlovid appropriately because I would hate to lose it right now,” said Pekosz, a virologist. “This is one of the essential tools we have to help us turn the corner on the pandemic.”

How well does Paxlovid work in vaccinated people?

Pfizer tested Paxlovid in the highest-risk patients: unvaccinated adults with no prior COVID-19 infection and other health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. The drug reduced their risk of hospitalization and death from 7% to 1%.

But that doesn’t reflect the vast majority of Americans today, where 89% of adults have had at least one shot. And roughly 60% of Americans have been infected with the virus at some point.

“That’s the population I care about in 2022 because that’s who we’re seeing — vaccinated people with COVID — so do they benefit?” asked Dr. David Boulware, a University of Minnesota researcher and physician.

There’s no clear answer yet for vaccinated Americans, who already have a hospitalization rate far below 1%.

That may come from a large ongoing Pfizer study that includes high-risk vaccinated people. No results have been published; the study is expected to wrap up in the fall.

Pfizer said last year that initial results showed Paxlovid failed to meet the study’s goals of significantly resolving symptoms and reducing hospitalizations. It recently stopped enrolling anyone who’s received a vaccination or booster in the past year, a change Boulware says suggests those patients aren’t benefitting.

At a minimum, the preliminary data should be released to federal officials, Boulware said. “If the U.S. government is spending billions of dollars on this medicine, what’s the obligation to release that data so that they can formulate a good policy?”

Can Paxlovid be used to help prevent COVID-19 infection?

Pfizer recently reported that proactively giving Paxlovid to family members of people infected with COVID-19 didn’t significantly reduce their chances of catching it. But that’s not the end of the story. Pfizer is studying several other potential benefits of early use, including whether Paxlovid reduces the length and severity of COVID-19 among households.

“It’s a high bar to protect against infection, but I’d love to see data on how Paxlovid did against severe disease because it may be more effective there,” Pekosz said.

Source: Voice of America