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On March 8th, local time, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Naini stated that Iran has stockpiled a large-scale arsenal of weapons, including heavy missiles, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, various types of drones, and attack vessels, sufficient to cope with a broad and protracted war, and there is no need to worry. Naini claimed that the Iranian armed forces have the capability to sustain a high-intensity war for at least six months at the current pace. The missiles currently in use are mainly first- and second-generation models. In the coming days, Iran will employ new attack methods, using advanced missiles with longer ranges and fewer deployments, which will pose a heavier and more targeted threat to adversaries.Israeli military: We have detected Iran launching a new type of missile.On March 8th, Wang Yi stated that President Xi Jinpings proposal to build a community with a shared future for mankind demonstrates the vision and broad-mindedness of a leader of a major power, answering the question of our time: where is humanity headed? It aims to tell the world that humanitys enemies are not each other, but war, poverty, hunger, and injustice. Overcoming these challenges cannot be achieved through individual efforts or by remaining isolated; it requires unity, cooperation, and global solidarity. Isolation leads to helplessness, while unity brings strength. People around the world are increasingly recognizing the contemporary value and power of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, which acts like a lighthouse illuminating humanitys path forward.On March 8, Wang Yi, in response to a question about building a community with a shared future for mankind, said that the Chinese people have always had a vision of a world where all under heaven are interconnected and pursue a world of great harmony. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the rise of a great power with 1.4 billion people will never replicate the old path of great power rivalry and expansion. Instead, we will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development and promote all countries to jointly pursue peaceful development, building a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and a clean and beautiful environment.On March 8th, Wang Yi stated that Taiwan has been Chinese territory since ancient times, and it has never been, is, or will ever become a "country." Taiwans return to China was a result of the Chinese peoples victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and also a fruit of victory in World War II. A series of international legal documents, including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Declaration, the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, have firmly established Taiwans status. Any attempt to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" internationally is doomed to failure.

Bitcoin Lightning Network-Based Strike Can Rival Visa – MS

Cory Russell

Apr 25, 2022 09:49

Morgan Stanley is optimistic about the bitcoin Lightning Network's potential as a consumer payment option.


They believe Strike, a Lightning Network-based payment technology, can compete with or even outperform Visa in the digital payments market.


Strike has partnered with Shopify and NCR, the world's leading supplier of point-of-sale payment solutions.


Morgan Stanley published a new analysis on the Lightning Network, bitcoin's Layer 2 fast payment system, and its potential to enable a "long-term move towards payments and settlements utilizing digital and cryptocurrencies rather than fiat currencies like the US dollar."


Morgan Stanley's positive analysis on the Lightning Network's potential for broader adoption comes after Strike, a US-based digital payments platform built on top of bitcoin's Lightning Network, announced earlier this month a new integration agreement with e-commerce giant Shopify.


Customers who paid in bitcoin will now be able to receive payments in US dollars from US Shopify businesses. Strike has announced collaborations with NCR, the world's leading supplier of point-of-sale (PoS) payment services.

Morgan Stanley Believes That Lightning Network Will Be Able to Compete With Visa

Morgan Stanley outlined why it believes Strike, a Lightning Network-based digital payment network, can compete with or perhaps exceed Visa in its recent study.


Morgan Stanley observes that "in essence, Strike is directly competing with Visa Direct, which provides real-time settlement," adding that "the primary distinction for merchants will be paid a significantly lower transaction cost."


"The customer advantage is that they may, if they choose, host their bitcoin on a private, secure network, enabling an element of secrecy connected with their transaction," the bank says.


Morgan Stanley emphasizes the importance of Strike's cooperation with NCR. "NCR software is used by one in every six PoS devices worldwide," the bank says, "so this news is important even if just a tiny percentage of retail businesses opt to add crypto capabilities."

Cons of Making Bitcoin Payments

The Morgan Stanley analysis points out some of the disadvantages of utilizing a bitcoin-based payment system, such as the cryptocurrency's underlying volatility on a day-to-day basis, which makes forecasting future buying power problematic.


Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley says that existing tax regulations, which require users to pay capital gains taxes on cryptocurrencies they sell, are a barrier to greater acceptance of bitcoin as a widely used means of exchange.


The bank, on the other hand, mentions the Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act, which has been introduced in the US Congress. If passed, the law would exclude personal bitcoin transactions from taxation as long as the profits are less than $200.


Morgan Stanley, on the other hand, cautions that this plan may meet criticism, particularly from anti-crypto members of Congress, since it serves to establish bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) as credible alternatives to the US currency.


The Morgan Stanley analysis "suggests we are at the beginning of an age when more and more people may opt to pay for items using Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies over time," according to Alex Gladstein, who summarized it on Twitter.