Latest news with #on
Business Standard
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Lucent Industries to launch pioneering new product - "OrbitX"
Lucent Industries through its wholly owned subsidiary Mobavenue Global Holdings, is set to launch a pioneering new product - OrbitX, an AI-powered search and contextual advertising platform. OrbitX will build on this robust foundation and serve as a next-generation performance marketing engine, purpose-built for global markets such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Europe. It will leverage cutting-edge machine learning algorithms and proprietary optimization logic to intelligently acquire and monetize traffic across search, native, and social ad networks. Designed to transform undervalued ad inventories into high-value growth opportunities, OrbitX will enhance user intent mapping and deliver precision contextual targeting, enabling advertisers to achieve superior campaign performance and maximize Return on Investment (ROI) through automated, intelligent delivery systems. "This innovation is not just a product launchit represents a bold step in our global technology roadmap and reaffirms our long-term strategic vision to lead the AI-powered MarTech space. With OrbitX, we aspire to create lasting value for our shareholders, clients, and partners while contributing to the transformation of digital advertising at a global scale. We believe this development will significantly strengthen our brand equity, deepen our global footprint, and enhance stakeholder value", said the company.
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Top social, sweepstakes casinos in 2025: Play free, win real prizes
Sweepstakes casinos and social casinos offer a way for people to play online slot games and live dealer games for free. This is especially popular in states where real-money casino-style games are not legal. These casinos, sometimes called "sweeps," also provide sweepstakes coins that can be turned into cash prizes. All betting and operator information provided by Best sweepstakes casinos in 2025 reviewed There are dozens of contenders for best social casinos and best sweepstakes casinos. Here are the six that stand out in the competitive world of online casinos and casino apps. McLuck is an Irish-themed social casino that also offers sweepstakes casino options. McLuck posts new casino games each week and all from the top software providers. The slot tournaments allow players to collect free sweepstakes coins and convert them into real cash prizes. The big appeal is the McLuck casino promo code offer, one of the best Gold Coins and Sweeps Deals. Not only can users claim a no-deposit casino bonus, but they can also receive 10 million gold coins plus five SC free coins with their first purchase. High 5 has won awards for being both one of the top sweepstakes casinos as well as one of the best social casino sites. The game catalog includes titles from companies such as Pragmatic Play. It might be the largest volume of slot games among sweepstakes casinos. Those looking to play at one of the best social casino sites should consider signing up for a High 5 account. New players receive up to 200 gold coins, 40 free sweeps coins and 100 diamonds when signing up with the High 5 casino promo code, which can be used to improve odds during gameplay via the Boost on Demand feature. Pulsz gives users that Vegas-like experience. It is one of the most established social casinos in terms of providing new games every week, yet is still one of the best sweepstakes casino sites. Pulsz has a powerful sweepstakes casino offer. Users can claim gold coins and free sweeps coins just for registering, but ambitious players can take advantage of their special Pulsz promo code offer and claim 1 million gold coins and 40 free sweeps coins for $19.99 shortly after signing up. Regardless, Pulsz provides opportunities to collect gold coins and SC free coins without buying a package. Funrize has a heavy emphasis on fun social and sweepstakes casino games, but it also has many elements that make it one of the top sweepstakes casinos. There are no supported apps for Funrize, but the website is mobile-friendly. After collecting a small cache of gold coins and free sweeps coins upon sign-up, players can take advantage of the special offers available. The question is whether to spend the $19.99 and score the extra gold coins and SC free coins. Hello Millions allows social casino players to quickly and easily select which type of slot game themes to play. It specializes in hold and win games as well as Pragmatic Play titles, but the catalog is smaller than some of the higher-rated sweepstakes casinos. Granted, iPhone users might not be keen on the idea of no app and just a mobile browser (Android users get an app). But the web experience should work fine. Users can get free gold coins and free sweeps coins with the welcome package. You'll get the full spread of casino games at the only social casino on this list that offers traditional casino gaming and online sports betting in states where it is legal. Bettors will receive up to 1,000 virtual credits at every day via its "Spin to Win" promotion. There are no free sweeps coins or chances to win prizes, as this is truly a social casino only. It has an impressive game catalog and is widely available, making it one of the top social casinos for slots. Signing up for a account is a great way to play free slot games online. New players will receive a $1,000 Spin to Win virtual credit opportunity daily and leaderboard bonuses for signing up. How to determine the best sweepstakes and social casinos What are sweepstakes and social casinos? The key difference between sweepstakes and social casinos can be summed up in the difference between Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Social casinos use virtual currency such as gold coins exclusively, and the games are strictly for amusement. There is no opportunity to win real cash prizes. Sweepstakes casinos will hand out free sweepstakes coins, often as part of a welcome bonus but also through social media promotions, contests and if you buy additional gold coin packages. You can convert sweeps coins into real cash prizes. Sweepstakes casinos are legal online platforms that allow users to play casino-style games — like slots, blackjack, and video poker — for the chance to win real prizes. These casinos use a dual-currency system: Gold Coins (used for fun play) and Sweeps Coins (which can be redeemed for cash or prizes). The unique aspect of sweepstakes casinos is that they operate under U.S. sweepstakes laws, not traditional gambling regulations. This makes them legal in most states, even where real-money gambling is restricted. Players can earn Sweeps Coins for free through login rewards, mail-in entries, contests or by purchasing Gold Coin packages that include bonus Sweeps Coins. Once players win games using Sweeps Coins, they can redeem SC winnings into cash or gift cards. Social casinos are online platforms that let users play casino-style games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker entirely for free. These mobile social casino platforms use virtual currencies, such as Gold Coins or chips, instead of real money. Since no actual cash is wagered or won, social casinos are legal in nearly all U.S. states and are designed for entertainment purposes only. Players can earn virtual coins through daily login bonuses, game achievements, or optional in-app purchases. Social casinos are often available as mobile apps or on platforms like Facebook, offering a social gaming experience where players can compete with friends, climb leaderboards and unlock achievements. While no real money is won, social casinos deliver an authentic casino feel and are a great option for those who enjoy online slots and table games without the financial risk. How do sweepstakes coins work? Sweepstakes casinos use two types of currency: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins are a virtual currency used to play games for fun, while the sweepstakes model uses Sweeps Coins that can lead to real cash prizes. How are sweepstakes, social casinos legal? The social casinos' legal U.S. requirement is met because social casinos don't offer any way for players to receive cash prizes. That means those players can enjoy these social casino sites and play live dealer games and free online slots just about anywhere in the U.S. There are other legal guidelines in play when it comes to real cash sweepstakes casinos. Players can only legally play sweepstakes games in states that have specific sweepstakes laws that are separate from real-money gambling laws. This does reduce the list of sweepstake casinos' legal states, but there are still plenty of legal options in the United States. How to get started at social or sweepstakes casinos Tips to maximize free coins and wins Are social and sweepstakes casinos safe? Social and sweepstakes casinos are safe so long as you stick with licensed and regulated sites and act responsibly, which can include self-imposing limits as to how much to spend on extra coins. Free social and sweepstakes casinos have built sites with powerful software designed to protect customer information, using encryption, and it is always recommended to use a strong password and two-factor authentication. Even though these sites offer free-to-play casino games as well as a sweepstakes casino with real rewards, they still promote responsible gambling and gaming. To this end, these sites give players many ways to access help in the event of problem gambling. This includes links to websites such as the American Gaming Association and the National Council on Problem Gambling, email support and phone numbers. Social and sweepstake casinos FAQs A social casino is an online platform that simulates the experience of a real-money online casino without the need to deposit funds. The difference between social casinos and real money casinos is that players use virtual currency to play traditional casino games like slots, roulette, blackjack and poker. These sites are designed to provide an entertaining and engaging experience, often with social features that allow players to interact with friends and other players. Sweepstakes casinos are legal in most states in the U.S., though the actual number varies by operator. Social casinos are more broadly available, as there is no prize component to play there. The terms and conditions for each operator will indicate where they can be accessed legally. Yes, you can win real money at sweepstakes casinos by using Sweeps Coins. These platforms offer a legal way to play casino-style games in many U.S. states that do not have real-money gaming, and Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash prizes if you meet the platform's requirements. Gold Coins are used for fun and have no cash value, while Sweeps Coins can be used to enter sweepstakes games and redeemed for real money or other prizes. Players typically receive Sweeps Coins through a welcome offer, special promotions or purchases that include bonus coins. Sweepstakes casinos are generally safe when using reputable, licensed platforms, such as the ones recommended on this page. They follow legal guidelines, use secure payment systems and offer fair-gaming practices. Players can get started with a free SC coins casino no deposit bonus and receive a combination of gold coins (or other virtual currency) and free sweeps coins that can be used to play with and ultimately redeemed for cash prizes. They can also buy packages of regular game coins and free sweepstakes coins will be attached to the package. Players can also earn free Sweeps Coins through social media promotions, leaderboards and other gameplay. There are slight differences between social and sweepstakes casinos that are important to know. Social casinos focus on providing free-to-play games where players can enjoy casino-style entertainment without having to use their real-money funds. On the other hand, sweepstake casinos allow players to enter sweepstakes using purchased credits, where they can win real money or prizes. No, you don't need to make a purchase to play at sweepstakes casinos. These platforms offer free game coins and Sweeps Coins through mail-in entries, social media promotions and/or login bonuses. While purchasing Gold Coins packages (which is optional) may include bonus Sweeps Coins, participation without spending money is always available and legally required.
10-07-2025
Disaster and Disinformation: Spotting Fake News to Save Lives
Almost before the rumbling subsided from the Noto Peninsula earthquake on New Year's Day 2024, disinformation began to spread across social media. 'My family is trapped under a collapsed building and desperately needs help,' cried one post. Ishikawa prefectural police were alerted to the request and dispatched a rescue crew to the scene only to discover that they had been sent on a wild goose chase. The man who posted the false cry for help, a company employee from Saitama Prefecture, was later arrested by Ishikawa police for obstructing rescue efforts. He admitted to making the fake request, saying that he hoped it would get a big reaction online. This is one of many incidents journalist Hori Jun deals with in his recently published book Saigai to dema (Disaster and Disinformation), a work that draws needed attention to the consequences disinformation has during the critical hours immediately following a catastrophe. Hori, a former NHK announcer who has covered major calamities across Japan, describes how the deluge of fake news unleashed in the wake of the Noto earthquake brought attention to 'impression zombies' ( inpure zombi ), a Japanese internet slang term for accounts, particularly on X, making nonsensical comments on popular threads or posting misinformation to increase visibility with the goal of earning advertising revenue. He is strongly critical of users who capitalize on disasters, saying that 'it takes a few million views for a poster to earn a meager reward of ¥10,000. Putting others' lives at risk like that is more than reprehensible.' Lion on the Loose Hori uses the string of earthquakes that rattled Kumamoto and Ōita in 2016 as an example of the speed at which disinformation spreads on social media post-disaster. In around a half hour after the initial 6.5-magnitude temblor struck, a photo of a lion standing on a street corner was shared on Twitter with a caption exclaiming that the animal had escaped from the Kumamoto City Zoo and Botanical Gardens and was on the loose in the city. The claim stoked the flames of panic already gripping residents, and within an hour the post had been shared over 20,000 times. People worried about dangerous beasts roaming the streets phoned the zoo in droves while others vented their fears online, with one user exclaiming that they were too terrified to evacuate their home. To make matters worse, the quake had knocked the zoo's webpage offline, hampering its ability to refute the claim and quell public concern. It was not until two days later, when a local newspaper ran an article debunking the post, that the story finally subsided. Three months later, Kumamoto prefectural police apprehended a 20-year-old Kanagawa man for posting the false tweet, marking the first time in Japan an individual was arrested for spreading fake information on social media. The suspect admitted to having made the post as a joke, but charges were eventually dropped after he and his parents apologized in person to the zoo. In yet another case, Hori describes interviewing a man who posted an AI-generated image of homes purportedly inundated by a typhoon that struck Shizuoka in 2022. The individual had no specialized knowledge of flooding but was still able to generate a convincing image using AI in around one minute, illustrating the power of such tools to spread disinformation. Forms of False Information Hori emphasizes how greater public awareness along with the establishment of fact-checking organizations have played a vital role in stemming the flow of fake news. He points to work by the Japan Fact-Check Center, which after the Noto earthquake established five categories to help authorities and residents better identify misinformation. The first type is a post that uses photos or footage from previous disasters to distort the actual situation on the ground. The second is false calls for help, followed by fake donation drives, unsubstantiated reports of crime, and conspiracy theories (such as unscientific claims of manmade earthquakes or massive radiation leaks). Hori says that the uneasy mental state of people during disasters makes them more susceptible to the pull of false rumors, stressing that the terrifying power of misinformation is its ability to sow suspicion and distrust by warping the truth. In extreme cases this can lead to persecution of and violence against innocent individuals, such as occurred in Japan when panic fueled the massacre of Koreans in the aftermath of the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake. Far-Reaching Impact Hori warns that such atrocities are not a thing of the past but that the toxic mixture of fear and rumors that arise in times of crisis remain a looming threat, especially when amplified through the megaphone of today's social media. Malicious actors are able to take advantage of social upheaval to spread disinformation on platforms, influencing public perceptions and behavior and undermining social order. Social media users themselves play a central role in this process by sharing or reacting to fake news posts. At the same time, they are also subject to the impact of disinformation, making them both accomplices and victims. Hori declares that the propagation of misinformation constitutes a secondary disaster by amplifying the effects of the initial event, stressing that 'we as individuals need to be acutely aware that we aren't just consumers of information but are the ones spreading it.' After the work's publication, Japan became awash in rumors of an imminent megaquake based on a 1999 manga. While Japanese authorities assured the public that there was no scientific evidence for such a disaster, the prophecy spread on social media and even deterred people in Hong Kong from visiting Japan. The purported date for the megaquake, July 5, passed without incident. In a society bombarded by nonstop media, Hori's book is a reminder that more than ever, the public as both consumers and transmitters of information needs to prevent the spread of rumors and fake news so as to limit their impact on the world we all share. Saigai to dema (Disaster and Disinformation) By Hori JunPublished by Shūeisha in 2025 ISBN: 978-4-7976-8154-3
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
From Middle East to US, Namakkal eggs break out of shells to go global
NAMAKKAL: With the export of one crore eggs to the US, a historic first, Namakkal is rewriting India's export story in transformative ways. Namakkal, widely recognised as the Egg Capital of India, produces about six crore eggs daily, of which around 50 lakh are exported every day. It continues to be the country's leading hub for egg exports, totalling 15 crore eggs every month. Some of the top export destinations include the UAE, Bahrain, Maldives, Oman and some African countries. Jahan R, secretary of Egg and Poultry Products Exporters Association, said eggs from Namakkal are exported in refrigerated containers, each carrying 4,72,320 eggs valued at around $35,000 per container or approximately `30 lakh based on the current exchange rate. 'While Andhra Pradesh leads India in egg production, Namakkal ranks first in exports due to its proximity to ports, resulting in shorter transit times. For instance, shipping eggs from Andhra Pradesh to Middle Eastern countries can take up to 14 days, whereas from Namakkal, it takes just 4 days,' he said. Vangili Subramaniam, president of the Tamil Nadu Egg Poultry Farmers Marketing Society, said, 'Only a tenth of Namakkal's 1,300 farms export eggs, but the region's export market has expanded due to disruptions caused by the Ukraine war and bird flu outbreaks in major egg-producing countries like Turkey and US. Namakkal has not been affected by bird flu, largely due to its decentralised poultry farm model which helps contain the spread of diseases effectively.' Further, he added that before 2014, a transport assistance subsidy of about 7% of the Free on Board (FOB) value was provided by the central government, making Namakkal's eggs more competitive internationally through reduced export costs. However, since then, this subsidy has dropped to nearly one per cent. 'If the government brings back these subsidies, Namakkal exporters can compete better with countries like Turkey.' Subramaniam said, 'The egg export business will grow steadily only if our government secures permanent trade agreements with countries that aren't self-sufficient in production.' 'The opening of the US market is a significant development for us,' said C Sasikumar, a local poultry owner. In terms of infrastructure, most exporting farms in Namakkal operate both production facilities and dedicated setups for cleaning, processing, grading and packing eggs. However, countries like UAE require eggs from biosecurity-certified farms with a compartment licence, and building such infrastructure requires major investment. Further, obtaining this state and central-approved certification is also a lengthy process, discouraging new exporters and local players. Additionally, stricter standards in markets like Qatar — which now demand only 'AA' or 'A' grade eggs weighing at least 60 grams — pose difficulties, as Namakkal eggs typically weigh around 55 grams, he added.
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Namakkal eggs break out of shell, go to US
NAMAKKAL: With the export of one crore eggs to the US, a historic first, Namakkal is rewriting India's export story in transformative ways. Namakkal, widely recognised as the Egg Capital of India, produces about six crore eggs daily, of which around 50 lakh are exported every day. It continues to be the country's leading hub for egg exports, totalling 15 crore eggs every month. Some of the top export destinations include the UAE, Bahrain, Maldives, Oman and some African countries. Jahan R, secretary of Egg and Poultry Products Exporters Association, said eggs from Namakkal are exported in refrigerated containers, each carrying 4,72,320 eggs valued at around $35,000 per container or approximately `30 lakh based on the current exchange rate. 'While Andhra Pradesh leads India in egg production, Namakkal ranks first in exports due to its proximity to ports, resulting in shorter transit times. For instance, shipping eggs from Andhra Pradesh to Middle Eastern countries can take up to 14 days, whereas from Namakkal, it takes just 4 days,' he said. Vangili Subramaniam, president of the Tamil Nadu Egg Poultry Farmers Marketing Society, said, 'Only a tenth of Namakkal's 1,300 farms export eggs, but the region's export market has expanded due to disruptions caused by the Ukraine war and bird flu outbreaks in major egg-producing countries like Turkey and US. Namakkal has not been affected by bird flu, largely due to its decentralised poultry farm model which helps contain the spread of diseases effectively.' Further, he added that before 2014, a transport assistance subsidy of about 7% of the Free on Board (FOB) value was provided by the central government, making Namakkal's eggs more competitive internationally through reduced export costs. However, since then, this subsidy has dropped to nearly one per cent. 'If the government brings back these subsidies, Namakkal exporters can compete better with countries like Turkey.' Subramaniam said, 'The egg export business will grow steadily only if our government secures permanent trade agreements with countries that aren't self-sufficient in production.' 'The opening of the US market is a significant development for us,' said C Sasikumar, a local poultry owner. In terms of infrastructure, most exporting farms in Namakkal operate both production facilities and dedicated setups for cleaning, processing, grading and packing eggs. However, countries like UAE require eggs from biosecurity-certified farms with a compartment licence, and building such infrastructure requires major investment. Further, obtaining this state and central-approved certification is also a lengthy process, discouraging new exporters and local players. Additionally, stricter standards in markets like Qatar — which now demand only 'AA' or 'A' grade eggs weighing at least 60 grams — pose difficulties, as Namakkal eggs typically weigh around 55 grams, he added.
