Latest news with #Jann
Cision Canada
07-08-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
WSPN Brings Next-Generation Stablecoin Innovation to Conviction 2025 Vietnam
TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Aug. 6, 2025 /CNW/ -- Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN), a leading stablecoin infrastructure provider with its flagship product stablecoin WUSD, announces its participation in Conviction 2025, Vietnam's premier blockchain and Web3 conference taking place August 9-10, 2025, at Thisky Hall in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City. As part of Vietnam Tech Frontier 2025, Conviction 2025 represents a pivotal moment for blockchain innovation in Southeast Asia. The conference will gather over 5,000 attendees, 100+ industry-leading speakers, and 100+ Web3 projects under one roof, making it the region's most significant gathering of blockchain builders, investors, and innovators. Key Conference Highlights WSPN will deliver thought leadership through two strategic speaking engagements that address critical market needs. Jann Jiang, Head of Ecosystem & Strategic Partnerships, will participate in the fireside chat "Money Reimagined - Stablecoins and the Future of Financial System" on the Vision Stage (August 9, 14:40-15:05). With her unique background spanning traditional banking at DBS and Citibank to blockchain innovation during Singapore's first wave of Digital Payment Token licensing, Jann will share insights on how stablecoins are transforming global financial infrastructure. Bryan Foo, Product (Growth) Manager, will join the panel "Accelerate Stablecoin Adoption in Emerging Markets" on the Innovation Stage (August 10, 11:11-11:45). Drawing from nearly 7 years of experience in strategy consulting and digital transformation across Asia, Bryan will explore user-centric solutions and growth strategies that drive real-world stablecoin adoption in emerging markets. Interactive Booth Experience Conference participants can visit WSPN at Booth 38 to explore comprehensive stablecoin solutions and engage directly with the team about partnership opportunities. The booth will feature WUSD's core advantages: 1:1 USD backing with full collateralization, global accessibility through leading exchanges, and 24/7 near-instant settlement with complete on-chain transparency. The booth will also showcase WSPN's strategic partnership with Viction, featuring WUSD as the Native Stablecoin to Viction. Issued directly on the Viction chain for maximum performance, this collaboration enables gasless transactions and seamless global payments. Visitors can learn about cost-free WUSD transfers and instant value exchange capabilities worldwide, unlocking the full potential of finance across Banking, Payments, Real World Assets (RWAs), and DeFi applications. WSPN's participation in Conviction 2025 demonstrates the company's commitment to advancing stablecoin adoption across Southeast Asia's rapidly evolving digital payment landscape. By combining exhibition presence with thought leadership sessions, WSPN positions itself as a key contributor to the region's digital finance transformation. The conference engagement aligns with Vietnam's emergence as a blockchain innovation hub and reflects WSPN's strategy to connect global infrastructure capabilities with local market opportunities in emerging economies. Visit WSPN at Conviction 2025 to discover the future of stablecoin infrastructure and explore how WUSD is transforming digital payments across emerging markets. Join us at Booth 38 and attend our speaking sessions to be part of the conversation shaping the next generation of blockchain finance in Southeast Asia. Event Details WSPN at Conviction 2025 Conviction 2025 Information About WSPN WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, dedicated to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent global payment ecosystem. Our flagship stablecoin, WUSD, is fully backed and pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar, serving as the foundation for a suite of integrated financial solutions. These solutions support a range of financial applications from institutional treasury management to programmable payments and decentralized finance. With a strong focus on transparency, regulatory compliance, and user accessibility, WSPN bridges the gap between Web3 innovation and traditional financial systems, driving the global adoption of stablecoins at scale.
The Star
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Unwind with handcrafted cocktails
THE RC BAR Level 1, The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur Business Hours: 11am to 11pm daily Reservations: 018-623 0036 Prepare for an extraordinary escapade as Hendrick's Gin partners with The RC Bar to wow guests with signature gin cocktails. Adding to the excitement, the bar is offering a one-for-one deal on all Hendrick's Gin cocktails until Sept 30. Guests can also try out popular creations with Hendrick's Gin as the base. Hendrick's Gin cocktails at RC Bar. These include the Spritz on the Ritz, a cocktail that features pineapple juice, lemon and Aperol. There's also the Unusual Negroni cocktail, a twist from the classic, which mixes Lillet Blanc and Aperol. Meanwhile, the classic Martinez cocktail is made with sweet vermouth and Maraschino Liqueur. Also being offered are refreshing herb-flavoured selections such as the Gin Basil Smash which is a concoction of gin, basil, lemon juice and sugar. The cucumber Blossom Spritz made with Cherry Liqueur, lemon juice as well as rose sparkling wine, sums up the five creative cocktails made with Hendrick's Gin. Cocktails are priced at RM50++ per glass. Patrons may also request for other classics to which mixologists can add unique twists. ASTOR BAR Level 2, St Regis Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Stesen Sentral 2, KL Business hours: 5pm to midnight Reservations: 03-2727 6696 Astor Bar presents its 'Raising the Bar' guest shift series this month, featuring mixologists from two cocktail hangouts. Sundowner promotion cocktails at Jann. Come July 30, Jason Julian from Soma Cocktail Bar and John Lim from The Rift District will be mixing up a storm featuring cocktails with spirits and aromatics from Angostura. Expect the mixologists' creative take on cocktails that start from RM60 nett. On July 31, the last Thursday of the month, 'Jack's Club' jazz performance at the bar will feature Elvira. During the show, patrons can enjoy two cocktails for the price of one. Complementing the jazz nights at Astor Bar are effervescent cocktails inspired by New York's iconic districts of Lower Manhattan, Midtown, Upper Manhattan, East Side and West Side. Enjoy cocktails such as A Ritual Fizz, Royal Palladium Fizz, Duke of Jazz, Roselle's Julep and Clarke Colada. A Ritual Fizz combines coffee-infused limoncello, cream, lemon, orange blossom water, sugar and soda. The Royal Palladium Fizz is a mix of Prosecco, vodka, cherry brandy, pineapple, Sakura, honey and lime. White rum, tequila, pineapple, honey water, lemon and Oleo Saccharum (infused syrup) make up the The Duke of Jazz. The Roselle's Julep, a whiskey lover's choice, is a concoction of rye whiskey, strawberry and honey shrub, mint and Angostura bitters. JANN Level 7, Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown, KL Business hours: 4pm to midnight Tel: 03-2035 7333 or 012-507 3327 (WhatsApp) Jann is offering its Sundowner promotion from 5pm to 7pm daily. Guests can mix and match two cocktails, wines or highballs from RM55+. Try out the Dear Jann cocktail, which is a mix of Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt and Lillet Rose combined with jasmine and white peach soda as well as clarified citrus blend. The Arch cocktail, meanwhile, is a mix of Martell VSOP Red Barrel, Luxardo Maraschino, Luxardo Sour Apple with dashes of Angostura aromatic bitters, and a spoonful of boba, or tapioca balls. Lee, named after Jalan Tun HS Lee, is a refreshing drink that combines Beefeater gin with yuzu kosho, tuak, absinthe and lemon. For the Sundowner Beer Specials, guests can enjoy Paperkite, the local award-winning beer at RM33+. There is also a 'buy one, get one free' promotion for Tiger bottled beers. Free upgrades to pint applies for Carlsberg, Connor's and 1664 beers. This Saturday, a mixologist from Ver, the Bar at Nadodi, will take on the 8pm guest shift at Jann. Guests can expect drinks and cocktails concocted from bold flavours and refined flair of Jameson Irish Whiskey.
Tom's Guide
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I just found the one racing movie you should watch before seeing 'F1' — and it's streaming on Hulu now
The 'F1' movie with Brad Pitt is due to hit theatres at the end of the month, and don't I know it. I feel like I'm seeing ads for this $200M sports drama flick everywhere right now, from in-cinema trailers to YouTube pre-rolls. Obviously, the marketing blitz is working because I'll be there opening night to check out this new high-octane blockbuster from Joseph Kosinski, director of 'Top Gun: Maverick,' but June 27 feels pretty far away. And my need for speed requires quenching a little bit sooner. That's why I was delighted to discover this week that 'Gran Turismo' has just arrived on Hulu (it was on Netflix previously). Based on a true underdog story, it's a pretty underrated racing movie, and incorporates the long-running PlayStation game, too. If you can't wait to see 'F1' on the big screen, "Gran Turismo" is the perfect stopgap to keep your adrenaline high before heading out to your local multiplex in a couple of weeks. Based on the story of real-life race car driver Jann Mardenborough (played by Archie Madekwe here), 'Gran Turismo' sees a gamer go from playing driving video games in his bedroom to getting behind the wheel of supercharged cars on some of the world's most iconic tracks. At first, Jann is just a dedicated Gran Turismo player, but when Nissan teams up with PlayStation to launch the GT Academy, he's given the chance to take his virtual driving skills onto real tarmac. Helmed by Nissan exec Danny (Orlando Bloom) and former racer, now trainer Jack (David Harbour), Jann's gaming skills prove surprisingly transferable. Dreaming of competing in some of the biggest races in the world, Jann faces several hurdles both on and off the track to prove that he's not just a seriously good Gran Turismo player, but also capable of becoming a professional racer. Before 'Gran Turismo' was released in August 2023, I was fairly dismissive of the concept. It came relatively early in PlayStation's push to adapt its numerous popular video game franchises into movies and TV shows, and I just didn't understand why, out of all the company's many successful IPs, they had selected 'Gran Turismo,' a sim racing series, to convert for the big screen. Well, I was definitely wrong in this case, because Jann's story proves to be perfect material for a feel-good underdog tale. There are all the usual trappings with Jann's humble beginnings, and personal obstacles, including a father who disapproves of his dreams, adding some emotional drive to the mix. One of my favorite aspects of 'Gran Turismo' is how director Neill Blomkamp incorporates the video game elements through some slick transitions and nifty effects. Viewers are constantly reminded that Jann's origins come from racing in the virtual world, which only serves to make his successful transition to real-world racing all the more impressive. It's an especially easy and enjoyable watch because of its eye-wided and almost innocent tone. There are a few deeper moments, such as when Jann is involved in a tragic on-track accident, but largely, this is a movie about chasing your improbable dreams and proving doubters wrong. As should be the case in any motorsports movie, the racing sequences are the highlight. They're tightly edited, seriously fast paced and slick as oil. Even when the narrative becomes a little cookie-cutter, it's never an issue because you're eagerly awaiting the next time that Jann gets behind the wheel and puts his foot to the floor. The ever-reliable David Harbour is also great in a supporting role. He starts as the traditional cynic, sure that gamers can't become racers, but softens as the movie progresses and becomes firmly entrenched in Jann's corner by the end. Bloom and Madekwe are also strong in their roles Critics certainly didn't trash 'Gran Turismo' at release, and it currently holds a respectable 65% score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, this probably wouldn't qualify it for a spot on the podium. One of the key criticisms was how the story reworks real-life events to better suit the structure of a movie, but this wasn't an issue for me. After all, "Gran Turismo" is far from the first movie to play a little fast and loose with the 'true story' that inspired it. It's just part of the game. Meanwhile, viewers seem to really love the film. It holds a near-perfect 98% score on RT's Popcornmeter (the site's silly name for its audience score rating), with recent reviews calling it 'excellent from start to finish,' 'very entertaining,' and 'one of the best car movies ever.' If you have a Hulu subscription and want something to bridge the gap until 'F1' arrives, then 'Gran Turismo' is a great candidate. It might lack some of the cinematic flair of rivals in the genre like 'Rush' or 'Ford v Ferrari,' but its underdog story is charming, and the high-speed races are seriously thrilling. If you're looking for more top options on the Disney-owned streaming service, here's our guide to the best movies to stream on Hulu right now. And yes, I will be spending the next few days trying to convince my colleagues that 'Gran Turismo' is worthy of inclusion on the list. Watch "Gran Turismo" on Hulu now
Boston Globe
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
The Boston Underground Film Festival returns to the Brattle
Nicolas Cage is back in crazy Nic Cage mode in ' The Surfer ,' the fest's opening-night film. This would be at the top of my list, because it sounds like a cross between the Patrick Swayze-Keanu Reeves movie 'Point Break' and the Aussie macho horror classic, 'Wake in Fright.' In search of the tastiest of waves, Cage travels to the Australian coast with his son. Unfortunately, the guys who run the beach don't take kindly to strangers. Violence ensues, and Cage's response is perfectly in tune with the guy who made movies like 2018's blood-soaked revenge movie 'Mandy.' (Wednesday at 7 p.m.) Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Readers know Chain Reactions ' sounds right up my alley. Director Alexandre O. Phillippe ('Lynch/Oz') has assembled an exciting list of people (Stephen King, Karyn Kusama, Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike) to discuss what Tobe Hooper's groundbreaking 1974 masterpiece means to them. (Thursday at 6 p.m.) Advertisement For those awash in hometown pride, there's ' The Dunwich Horrors ,' one of several shorts programs BUFF is presenting. Shorts are movies, too! And sometimes, they're hidden gems. 'Damn Handy' is the one that caught my eye. The synopsis reads: 'When a plumber visits the remote farmhouse of two murderous sisters, he'll need a trick up his sleeve to survive.' Works for me. (Friday at 5 p.m.) Still from "The Ugly Stepsister." Marcel Zyskind As counterprogramming to this week's release of the live-action Disney remake of 'Snow White,' BUFF brings you ' The Ugly Stepsister ,' a far less family-friendly fairy tale. This Norwegian-language film crosses Cinderella with 'The Substance.' Director Emilie Kristine Blichfeldt presents a gruesome, stomach-churning treatise on beauty. Horrible images of surgical procedures and bodily fluids await the daring viewer — my former editor Advertisement Midnight madness fans will find what they want at the intriguingly named 'Trigger Warning — Midnight Shorts ' program. I'd go just because the title sounds like a dare. (Friday at 11:45 p.m.) Since I love music videos, the ' Sound + Vision ' shorts program appeals to me. I don't recognize 95 percent of the performers listed, but that's because I'm old. (Saturday at noon) I do recognize the names Ethan Embry and Michael Patrick Jann. They're the star and director of ' Alma & the Wolf ,' a BUFF world-premiere screening. Embry was in Reese Witherspoon's 2002 comedy, 'Sweet Home Alabama,' and Jann directed the 1999 comedy 'Drop Dead Gorgeous.' I'm sure people will drop dead in this gruesome tale about a mysterious wolf in the woods, and I'm equally sure that the results won't be gorgeous. (Saturday at 6:45 p.m., with Jann in attendance) Would you rather have some onscreen sexy time? BUFF has you covered with a movie whose title I can't print in this paper. It's called '[BLEEP]Toys' and is about a cursed sex worker. Comparisons to Russ Meyer, Radley Metzger and Doris Wishman are in the synopsis. If you know their movies, this one might be for you. (Sunday at 6 p.m.) If you're still able to stand up after that, look into ' Escape from the 21st Century ,' a Chinese martial-arts time travel movie that sounds a lot like something Empire Pictures would have put out back in 1981. (Sunday at 8:30 p.m.) Advertisement Still from "Re-Animator," Jeffrey Combs, 1985. © Empire Pictures/courtesy Everett Collection ©Empire Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Let's say you only have time for one movie. May I recommend the 40th-anniversary screening of the H.P. Lovecraft-based splatter classic, ' Re-Animator '? Stuart Gordon's masterful tribute to Grand Guignol once held the unofficial record for the most blood splashed all over the screen. This darkly funny take of reanimating the dead stars Jeffrey Combs and the Barbara Steele of my generation, the great Barbara Crampton. (Crampton will be in attendance.) As gory and controversial as this movie is, it earned some unexpected movie-critic fans. Tickets available at . Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
