Taps will be turned off for 24 hours at a time in zones across Bogotá as an El Niño-fueled drought pushes Colombia’s capital into a water crisis

One of the world’s highest cities starts rationing water as reservoirs fall to critical levels | CNN

The reservoir that provides around 70% of water in Colombia&#x27;s capital is at less than 17% capacity.

Colombia drought: Four-minute showers - a parched Bogota rations water

The mayor of Bogota, Colombia, has implemented a water rationing measure which will affect nine million people as part of emergency plans after the levels of water reservoirs have reached historically low levels. Journalist Stefano Pozzebon reports.

Millions are being impacted by this country’s water crisis | CNN

Country had previously turned the tide on deforestation but armed rebels have revoked ban

Colombian Amazon deforestation surges as armed groups tighten grip | Colombia | The Guardian

Prosecutors announced this week they intended to pursue the right-wing Uribe on charges of witness tampering and fraud.

Former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe blasts impending criminal charges | Crime News | Al Jazeera

Here’s how to get off the beaten track and discover the best of the magnificent Colombian rainforest.

Lonely Plan-it: How to plan a trip to the Colombian rainforest - Lonely Planet

W﻿ater levels in the Colombian capital were already at &quot;historic lows&quot; before El Nino hit the nation.

El Nino: Colombia's capital to ration water as El Niño adds to drought

Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe on Wednesday dismissed as &quot;political vengeance&quot; a move by national prosecutors to make him stand trial.

Former Colombian president slams move to make him stand trial: 'political vengeance'

The Colombian leftist guerrilla group, ELN, has halted peace negotiations scheduled to commence this week, adding another layer of complexity to Colombia’s quest for lasting peace. Meanwhile, the United Nations’ verification committee on Colombian peace efforts presented its assessment ...

Colombia’s ELN suspends peace talks amid UN evaluation | CGTN America

An American living in Colombia distributed flyers and advertised on social media for tourists to attend a &quot;cannabis tour.&quot;

Colombia police arrest 73-year-old American for giving "cannabis tours" in his home - CBS News

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Do you know how physical or digital things acquire their prices? Or why a tomato doesn’t cost $1 million? Or why cryptocurrencies have certain values? The answer could be mostly summed up in the concepts of supply and demand that work inside and outside the crypto world. However, there are some crypto-specific things to consider as well. It’s, let’s say, the total quantity offered or produced. Conversely, demand represents the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to buy at a certain price. It’s the total quantity desired or bought. In economics, supply refers to the quantity of a good or service that producers are willing and able to offer for sale in a given market at a specific price and time. A seesaw or equilibrium + external factors There’s also a medium spot between , which we can call equilibrium. That’s the point at which the quantity supplied equals the quantity demanded in a market, resulting in a more-or-less stable price. You could picture a seesaw to understand this. supply and demand On the other hand, if there's too much of a product (increased supply) and fewer people want it, for any reason, prices tend to fall. The seesaw balances when supply and demand are equal, establishing a stable market price. An event that doesn't always happen. If more people want a product (increased demand) than is available, prices tend to rise. Other factors influence supply and demand, though. On the supply side, production costs, technological advancements, and government policies can significantly impact the quantity of goods or services available. Changes in input prices, such as raw materials or labor, can alter production costs, subsequently influencing supply. Additionally, shifts in technology can either streamline production, increase supply efficiency, or necessitate costly adjustments, affecting the overall supply. Consumer tastes and preferences can rapidly evolve, affecting demand for specific products. Changes in income levels can influence purchasing power, thereby impacting overall demand. On the demand side, consumer preferences, income levels, and external economic conditions play pivotal roles. Moreover, external factors like , geopolitical events, and natural disasters can disrupt both supply chains and consumer behaviors, creating fluctuations in supply and demand dynamics. The intricate interplay of these factors shapes the equilibrium in markets, determining prices and quantities exchanged. regulatory changes Some tomatoes As an additional example, let’s think about that tomato from the beginning. It has different prices in different countries, but never $1 million per unit. That’s because the world around 44.2 million metric tons of tomatoes every year. There’s demand for tomatoes, but also a lot of supply. If you’re in the countryside, you can even pick up some tomatoes for free. produces So, the tomato price ($0.0010 in Colombia, $0.27 in the USA, $1.5 in South Korea, etc.) is heavily determined by its intrinsic value or use (food), its supply, distribution costs, and likely local taxes. For one unit to cost $1 million it’d need to be very special in some way, like being the last-ever tomato on Earth (scarcity) and capable of curing cancer (additional intrinsic value). Now, if we created today a decentralized cryptocurrency called Tomatocoin (TMT), why or how would this one have any price? Why do cryptocurrencies have value? Usually, the interaction between supply and demand determines the market value of cryptocurrencies. The decentralized nature (without middlemen and regulations) of these digital assets means that market forces (people buying and selling) play a crucial role in establishing fair value, as opposed to centralized control seen in traditional financial systems. When demand outpaces supply, prices tend to rise, and vice versa. About the supply, contrary to most fiat currencies, crypto coins often have an intentional scarcity by design. That means they’re not limitless, but have a capped supply since the beginning. For instance, Bitcoin was designed to issue 21 million coins ever, nothing less and nothing more. Likewise, has a limited supply of 1 million GBYTEs. Our Tomatocoin could have a capped supply of 1 million TMT as well, but that’s only the beginning of acquiring a real price. We need demand, people desiring to buy it. GBYTE Then, why would people want to buy Tomatocoin? Maybe TMT is a pegged to the value of the tomato industry. Or perhaps is a representative share in a new investment model for tomato crops. Or it’s just funny, like Dogecoin (DOGE), and we can make a funny website to attract buyers. In this case, Tomatocoin would need to offer some added value to create demand. That depends entirely on what benefits or features the coin is offering. stablecoin a memecoin Bitcoin, on the other hand, is the first-ever cryptocurrency, considered secure and global. It has its value as a cross-border, pseudonymous payment method or speculative investment. is more decentralized, with smart contracts and cheaper and faster transactions. To sum it up, besides their limited supply, most cryptocurrencies need to provide some other service, benefit, or product to attract customers (demand) and raise their prices from zero. Obyte's offer More reasons for cryptocurrency demand In general, for the cryptocurrencies that already exist and provide some kind of product/service/benefit, the demand is influenced by several other factors. contribute to the rising demand worldwide. Additionally, speculative trading and the potential for high returns attract individual investors to the crypto market. Growing interest from institutional investors, increased adoption of online transactions, and a desire for financial liberty and privacy The heavy censorship and unstable economy in certain countries are also important adoption drivers. In nations where freedom of speech is restricted, and the flow of information and money is tightly controlled, cryptocurrencies offer a decentralized and censorship-resistant alternative. They provide a means for individuals to engage in financial transactions and access a global financial network without fear of interference. Besides, in countries facing economic volatility and hyperinflation, cryptocurrencies present a store of value and a hedge against currency devaluation. Citizens in these regions often experience difficulties in preserving their wealth due to the instability of local currencies. Cryptocurrencies like GBYTE, with their limited supply and decentralized nature, are perceived as a more stable and reliable store of value. Speaking of which, : all traditional currencies, stocks, and commodities (gold, oil, etc.) could be frozen or seized by third parties, for any reason —sometimes unjustified. Only cryptocurrencies provide you with full control of your own funds because only you have the keys. the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies is, likely, their main advantage. No other asset worldwide possesses that characteristic The more decentralized the network is, the more protected you are. In Obyte, for instance, we eliminated miners as powerful middlemen. We only have less-powerful (OPs) to order transactions in a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure, where everyone can register their operations without permission or interference. In a world full of surveillance and control, the demand for decentralization and privacy is going higher globally! Order Providers Featured Vector Image by vectorjuice / Freepik

From Tomatoes to Tomatocoins: Exploring the Economics of Cryptocurrency Valuation

টমেটো থেকে টমেটোকয়েন পর্যন্ত: ক্রিপ্টোকারেন্সি মূল্যায়নের অর্থনীতি অন্বেষণ

Von Tomaten zu Tomatenmünzen: Erkundung der Ökonomie der Kryptowährungsbewertung

De los tomates a las tomatecoins: explorando la economía de la valoración de las criptomonedas

Des tomates aux tomates : explorer l’économie de la valorisation des crypto-monnaies

टमाटर से लेकर टमाटर के सिक्कों तक: क्रिप्टोकरेंसी मूल्यांकन के अर्थशास्त्र की खोज

トマトからトマトコインまで: 暗号通貨評価の経済学を探る

토마토에서 토마토코인까지: 암호화폐 가치 평가의 경제학 탐구

Dos tomates aos tomates: explorando a economia da avaliação das criptomoedas

От помидоров к томатокоинам: изучение экономики оценки криптовалюты

Domateslerden Domatescoinlere: Kripto Para Değerlemesinin Ekonomisini Keşfetmek

Từ cà chua đến cà chua: Khám phá tính kinh tế của việc định giá tiền điện tử

从西红柿到西红柿币：探索加密货币估值的经济学

Bogota, Colombia, October 24th, 2023, FinanceWire With the platform, enterprises can send and receive payments worldwide, enabling them to expand their global business using a single account. This new product is a low-cost solution that can provide enterprises with unparalleled access to Web 3.0. Thanks to this solution, companies will have independence and freedom to carry out their mass payroll payments. Airtm, the world's most connected digital dollar account, primarily working with LatAm, South Asia and Africa markets, is announcing the launch of its new self-service Enterprise Platform. With this cutting-edge platform, enterprises can effortlessly send and receive payments worldwide, enabling them to expand their business and tap into the vast potential of the digital economy. This new solution enables businesses to instantly distribute, or collect, payments from over 100 countries without the need for their own foreign exchange or local banking connections. On average, enterprises can send payments to global account users within 6 minutes and for under 5% fee end-to-end, through Airtm’s Enterprise Platform*. Airtm’s global community of millions of account users, referred to as digital entrepreneurs, also have access to more than 400 payment rails for adding and withdrawing funds locally, including through Airtm’s proprietary automated peer-to-peer marketplace. Thanks to this, businesses can instantly collect or distribute international payments in over 100 markets, including micro-payments as low as $0.10. Also, by integrating with Airtm, businesses will get a customized growth plan to help them expand to countries where they are limited by lack of payment infrastructure and rails and will receive access to Airtm’s community of a million digital entrepreneurs. This new platform empowers enterprises to have freedom over their payment processes. Whether they need to pay a few individuals or a large group, there are no minimum or maximum limits. They can either use this new self-service platform to manually make their payments with simplicity and ease or automate the whole process using Airtm’s API and services. Partnerships and Previous Results: A Closer Look Airtm has been in the market for 8 years. Throughout this time, the company has specialized in offering financial freedom by connecting local talent with the global market. It serves as a bridge for individuals who receive payments in digital currencies. Thanks to this experience, Airtm has managed to develop a payment infrastructure in emerging markets where finding a partner in the digital economy ecosystem is difficult. “In recent years, we have observed a growing trend of companies seeking to hire remote collaborators, regardless of their physical location. Given this evolving landscape, we have recognized the considerable challenges that companies face when it comes to paying a growing population of users. Therefore, we saw an opportunity to become allies by assisting them in processing their massive payroll payments and helping them out to expand their business,” mentioned Ruben Galindo, Airtm’s CEO. With this innovation, the company is establishing the necessary infrastructure to facilitate international payments in the global digital economy. In fact, to date, over one hundred companies have used Airtm to process their mass payments. Also, the platform offers process automation thanks to the onramp infrastructure provided by different partners. “We aim for the Enterprise product to stand out due to its transaction speed, enabled by connections with other payment methods and peer-to-peer functionality”, Ruben added. About Airtm and enterprise Airtm is one of the most connected digital dollar accounts in the world. It aims to connect emerging economies with the global market, eliminating borders and reducing fees. It is a North American company that operates simultaneously in more than 190 countries worldwide and has hundreds of thousands of monthly active users. With Airtm, users can access a wide range of payment solutions, including the ability to send, receive, and withdraw funds internationally at competitive rates. Airtm currently supports over one hundred enterprise clients executing millions in payments per month. Most of Airtm’s clients are far outside of the cryptocurrency or blockchain space. They include non-profits, tasker companies and AI companies to name a few. * . Enterprise platform services are subject to certain limitations and eligibility criteria Contact Head of Communications Lina Diaz lina@airtm.io This story was distributed as a release by FinanceWire via HackerNoon’s Business Blogging. Learn more about the program . here

Airtm To Launch A New ‘Enterprise Platform’

Every country possesses unique abilities and advantages, leading them to excel in specific areas. For instance, France is renowned for producing high-quality wines, while Japan is famous for its cutting-edge technology. Through international trade, countries can exchange their finest products, services, or resources with one another. This process involves buying and selling goods on a global scale. To capitalize on these opportunities, we can leverage the ArbStore. Resources, products, and services, besides varying in quality, also differ significantly in price from country to country. Surprisingly, price disparities aren't always tied to differences in quality. Sometimes, identical or similar products can be much cheaper to produce in certain locations while being scarce and expensive in others. Tropical fruits are likely a great example of this. An avocado is an avocado, no matter how you see it. However, a kilogram of avocados will cost around $5 in South Korea, while it’s around $0.8 in Colombia. That’s a difference of 525% for the same product. And why? Because Colombia is a top avocado producer, while South Korea has to import (buy) most of them from abroad. That involves distribution charges, custom duties, and more along the long way. Sometimes, though, importing directly from manufacturers is the best path to find cheaper things. Even dealing with taxes, import, and delivery fees, the offer could be so enticing (and legit) that it’d be worth it. Electric Vehicles (EVs) and other products from China are the case for most countries. Let’s explore some rough profit figures and how the ArbStore could improve the deal. A risky deal in a box Jason Torchinsky, a US citizen, bought a small EV from China a few years ago. It’s a somewhat slow and pretty thing dubbed “Changli Freeman”, and it costs around $1,000. Even if it’s not very potent, that’d be quite the deal for any kind of vehicle in most countries. surprisingly useful and durable, and he bought it through the online marketplace Alibaba. The car arrived at his house in a box. He found it The whole deal, including unavoidable fees (taxes, batteries, delivery, etc.) . Probably by then and without a doubt by now, the cheapest EV in the United States $20,000 per unit. A stunning difference of over 566%, because China controls the battery supply line and no Chinese company building EVs in the USA. settled at around $3,300 per one delivered electric car to his door in 2020 is around is currently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxl_vgYP3Rg&embedable=true Of course, this isn’t a unique case. In 2022, for instance, bought eight automotive lifts from China for $1,200 a piece, while on local US markets like Walmart, they’d be between $4,500 and . After adding the delivery, taxes, and other legal fees, he found out that every lift from China increased its price to $3,000. Still, the deal was up to 166% cheaper than just buying the lifts nationally. Rob Ferretti $8,000 per unit Why is not everyone buying cheaper stuff from Asia and other countries, then? Well, the risk is considerable. As Ferretti pointed out, . The company established a reputation system and acts as a neutral intermediary. But, sometimes, that could not be enough. There’s a about the expectations and reality of shopping online, indeed. The results are often disappointing. the vendor could have been a scammer, because marketplaces like AliExpress only connect the parties, and don’t sell the products themselves popular joke Potential costs from the risk The issue with online marketplaces is that, in most of them, you should pay first for the product. Afterward, if you never receive it or receive something faulty, it’s unlikely that you will recover all your money. If you do recover the money, it’ll never be without a lot of wasted time, filled claims, uncertainty, and even a high arbitrage fee. In the case of companies (let’s say that your company bought wholesale from Asia), the fees for international dispute resolution are very high. Escrow agents and arbiters are typically experienced lawyers whose fees may vary depending on numerous factors like the complexity of the case, the country, and the funds involved in the contract. According to , “For a relatively simple [international] arbitration requiring 1,500 hours of legal work, for instance, if billed at the rate of USD 300/hour, legal fees would equal USD 450,000 per arbitration.” Aceris Law LLC Some companies offer the service including a filing fee between $2,000 , besides a high percentage to properly manage the case. and $6,000 That’s if you signed a proper contract and found the other party to be accountable for their actions. If you didn’t sign something legally binding, you can lose all your invested money. Yet, that’s no longer an issue with the ArbStore. Contracts with Arbitration: A Trade The , which is used in the ArbStore solution, offers an easy option to prepare and send a contract with arbitration to any other connected party. They’re smart contracts that offer secure decentralized escrow protection for two-party agreements, eliminating the need for mutual trust. They can work for individuals as well as businesses, and they’re particularly well-suited for international trade. Obyte wallet However, if one of the parties misbehaves, the other can call an expert arbiter to solve the dispute. They’re (human) professionals registered in the new ArbStore with their real names and are available to solve certain types of disputes in exchange for a reasonable fee. That’s currently between 2% and 5% of the involved contract, with no other requirements or tariffs. These contracts can lock the funds until pre-set conditions are met by the parties. An example with automotive lifts Let’s imagine here that an American automotive Company A wants to cut costs and increase its profits by buying 20 of those Chinese lifts to increase its storage space. They can’t trust an online marketplace, so they decide to contact the manufacturer directly and offer them a contract with arbitration. If the supplier agrees, both parties connect their through the Chat Tab, prepare the shared terms, and select a well-suited arbiter from the . Their address is included in the contract from the beginning, but no fees are required if there’s no dispute. Then, Company A pays the agreed amount to the contract, and the funds are locked. Obyte wallets ArbStore If the Chinese supplier had any kind of problem, they can refund the whole amount with a click of a button as well. Now, if one of the parties misbehaves, the other can call the arbiter and pay for their fees to start reviewing the case. They would be able to release the funds locked in the smart contract to the winning party. If Company A receives the products without issue, they can release the funds with a click of a button. To sum it up: the funds will always be safe in the whole process, and safety is offered to both parties from the start. Company A would be paying $1,200 per piece directly to the seller, without intermediaries and high transfer fees. Of course, they’d have to take care of the taxes and customs themselves, outside the contract. Meanwhile, the Chinese supplier would receive the funds after the buyer’s inspection, and with protection against buyer’s misbehavior. It’s a win-win situation for both parties. This way, we can say that the By using smart contracts and expert arbiters, it ensures secure and efficient transactions, making buying cheaper products from abroad a viable and profitable option for all parties involved. provides a solution for individuals and small and medium businesses to engage in international trade with drastically reduced risks. ArbStore Featured Vector Image by Freepik

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