Yup. Just as the heading reads, it seems our good ol' Franklin has joined other financial institutions to apply for a spot Bitcoin ETF.
Mainstream Assets manager, Franklin Templeton has applied to the US SEC to float a full fledged Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund(ETF) product. This product, dubbed "The Franklin Bitcoin ETF" is a remarkable investment and this could open more doors for a new era of institutional participation in the crypto space.

Franklin Templeton is one of the world's largest independent investment manager with a combined $1.4trn in assets under management across one of the broadest ranges of investment teams in the industry.
The company has highlighted it's choice of custody provider and it's assets are to consist primarily of Bitcoin which is in custody of Coinbase Custody Trust Company.

This move by Franklin Templeton coincides with the growing trend of other financial giants who have files for a spot Bitcoin ETF like BlackRock who are eager for a future where the SEC will approve of their applications.
This is a good move by the Asset management company especially as it's CEO, Jenny Johnson was quoted in the past referring to Bitcoin as a "great distraction from the greatest disruption in financial services".. Is this something to celebrate over or are these applications just going to continue piling on Gary's desk without receiving a favorable response?

https://www.investopedia.com/frankling-templeton-files-for-bitcoin-etf-7968500

[The Mandate]

Miss Orire Agbaje nah the 400l Economics student of Ibadan wey don gain employment under Tinubu regime as member of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms and some people go dey wonder why she dey so special to gain such a favor. Here nah few reasons;

1- She get a strong interest in tax policy
2- President of the Nigerian Universities Tax Club Association of Accounting Technicians
3- One of the Nigerians selected for Nigeria Higher Education Foundation
4- She get passion for crunching numbers and that's the reason for studying Accounting/ Taxation.

This na welcome development becos we presido don at least recognize the youths and she dey passionate about using her skills to making a difference using this Tax Reforms as a platform. Una feel say dis na over ambition for her side? Considering as nah just member and not chairman wey she be?

how tax reform take come about

The Mandate

Them get the mandate to address the challenges faced by Nigerians in the areas of fiscal governance, tax reforms and growth facilitation.

How una see dis appointment? Godfatherism get hand or she just get the right qualifications for the job?

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/08/tinubu-appoints-400-level-ui-student-agbaje-as-member-of-tax-reforms-committee/

In a webX conference held in Tokyo, Japan, the PM, Fumio Kishida reaffirmed the country's desire to foster the Web3 industry, stating his plan to transform the internet and bring about social change.

In early April of 2023, Japan's ruling party's web3.0 project team published a white paper that highlighted the government's appetite to participate in the Web3 world.
Well it looks like Japan is more interested in embracing Web3 in the hopes to compete with China economically.
Also, Japan became the first country to recognize and accept Bitcoin as a legal mode of payment in 2017 and has created a friendly environment, making it one of the leaders in exploring the use cases of the Blockchain technology, so this could also help in moving

In light of this, Binance have offered to open up it's services to crypto users in Japan under the local exchange platform, Sakura Exchange Bitcoin which was acquired by the company in 2022.
Changpeng CZ Zhao praised Japan's innovation friendly approach to the sector, labelling the country as a leader in the Web3 regulatory environment.

This approach of the Japanese is quite a surprise, considering they are a nation who have had a frustratingly, over cautious step to financial development.
What do you guys make of this?

https://cointelegraph.com/news/binance-web3-japan-to-promote-web3-as-binance-announces-imminent-launch

I say make I bring this mata come here make we discuss. I wan hear our different opinions on how we fit stop this menace. We no be strangers to the dangers wey tanker wey dey carry fuel come get accident dey cause. The issue of bad roads nah another thing to consider and also, sometimes carelessness of the driver becos him go dey drive like say nah sports car him dey use.

But where the gbese dey nah on how people go dey rush to go collect fuel wey dey spill, not minding the possible danger to life wey if small spark happen, dem fit roast.
Recent incidence wey happen for Ondo state of how tanker wey dey carry fuel get accident and people go rush to pack fuel, e no end well as 15 people kpai for the ensuing explosion wey take place not too long after..

Some go say na due to the fuel scarcity nai make them rush, others go say dis na opportunity to take get money after them sell am, but my question be say how we fit stop out loved ones from this sort of risky movement? You feel say our government dey partly to blame or nah just lack of common sense dey worry us so??

Okay. So I was pondering on this little issue and decided to bring it up here to hear our different opinions. If this is not the right board for it, it would be moved.
In the society we've found ourselves, people go through a lot of issues that cannot be aired out and some choose to bottle it inside. Some fight depression as a result of this and other many reasons but to mention a few; lack of money to provide for the necessary needs, having the constant feeling of not being enough and some, heartbreak over the loss of a relationship or loved one or even a business investment gone wrong..

So I'm curious, have you ever found yourself in such a situation? And how where you able to move yourself from such a state? Your opinions could help someone..

The earlier we understand that bitcoin is not for everyone, the better because it saves us the time and energy that we would have used to convince those who are uninterested, to move on to those who are interested and it can also drive adoption faster. I've read some threads here of some people trying to convince their family members on the positives of Bitcoin and get enraged if the said members don't share the same opinion as them but I feel everyone is entitled to his opinion and while some regard Bitcoin with outright disgust like Charlie Munger, there are some who care less of it's existence.

Bitcoiners have the opportunity to stand for something and that's eliminating the need for central authorities such as the government and banks and rather than forcing everyone to confirm to their beliefs, it's better to find an audience worth serving. What's your take, guys?

I keep seeing this on the forum and I'm a bit puzzled. I know that this is a place where knowledge is shared and gotten, services are also rendered and for you to render your service here you must have at least built a (good) reputation for yourself before someone can do business with you.

Why I'm bringing this question up here is to actually know what can cause you to get a neutral feedback because I know you can be slapped with a negative feedback if you've been caught breaking the rules or you were reported to have scammed someone or another offense, but I don't really get the reason for a neutral one? Is it like a warning or something?

The Nigerian police fall under the the executive arm of govt charged with the responsibility of enforcing laws and executing the policies and decisions of the government.

But if we critically analyze the definition, e go be like "what I ordered vs what I got" situation. We all know the issue wey bin happen for 2020. Even doh no be police be the reason for the protest, at least them follow due to the way dem dey take harrass motorists and commuters alike.

In recent news , Senate don put am for their oga kpatakpata body say make e tell e boys to mellow for this their character as e no dey paint the country well.
There's the saying that " nah were man dey work, e dey chop" and e come be like say them dey take the saying too seriously. How una reason this mata? 

With recents upsets to crypto exchanges, Coinbase and Binance, by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) it looks as of they are more invested in going after exchanges who they feel are not meeting or following their criteria for operation. With such a development, there are individuals who feel the SEC are slowly losing sight of what they stand for and this was further proven after the SEC served Coinbase a Wells notice that could not be clarified.

US congressman, Warren Davidson, has introduced a bill that would see the SEC being restructured and it's chairman, Gary Gensler being removed and citing concerns over his seemingly tyrannical rulership, stating his intentions to protect the crypto market from heavy regulatory actions. He further outlined seven failures of the SEC chairman, which led him to him believe Gary is incapable of remaining in that position.

1- he averages more than two rules proposals a month
2- he provides inappropriately short comment periods
3- he has unfavorable and unlawful ESG disclosure mandates on the market.
4. He operates a "check-in and never leave" rule for crypto
5- he has endless discoveries with no clarity and resolution
6- he has unworkable proposals for overhauling equity market structure
7- a high staff turnover rate and unhappy individuals leaving office.
Gary's failures as SEC chairman
These are valid factors to oust someone from his position but will it be passed into law? Others feel that with the risks associated with crytocurrencies, the strident measures taken by Gary Gensler is necessary. What are your thoughts?

https://en.cryptonomist.ch/2023/06/13/crypto-secs-gary-gensler-fired/

Nah for we contry wey dis saying "wonders shall never cease" dey really work. None of us be strangers to d suffering of the masses and even our civil servants wey for a long time don dey earn #30,000 and bin dey beg govt to increment the tin but notin don show instead we presido dey promise " living wage"

News wey reach us dis morning na say them don dey urge pipo for The House of Rep say make dem hurry amend the rule wey go see highly placed individuals to receive a 114% increase in salary. To me, dis na highly unfair treatment to the poor masses and subjugation of the rights and privilege of the civil servants and masses. How una see this development? E make sense or Presido dey do wetin e dey try preach against??

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/06/tinubu-shettima-govs-judges-others-to-get-114-salary-increase-rmafc/

I'm in a bit of a bind and don't know what to do so I decided to bring this issue up here and ask for advice. Just like the heading reads, I received that amount of Bitcoin from an unknown address and don't know what to do about it. Should I spend it or let it be?

The issue of oil theft no be news to us as naija pipo and e dey dey worrisome to a point because e go affect the oil economy and cause insecurity  and also affect the business of prospective investors in the oil and gas sector.

Stakeholders of the Niger Delta don advise our presido to calm down in him bid to crush oil thieves as to do such, e go gats step on powerful toes. Why e be say don tok like dis na say most of the rotten eggs wey dey participate in this crude oil theft na top ranking officers like the Police, Air force, DSS, Navy amongst others and say dis oil thieves dey use technology and instead of always fixing breached pipelines,  make e use tech solve d mata.

The way I see dis one, if Tinubu achieve am, e go go a long way to solving economic problems and fixing corruption. How una see dis advice? E fit dey achievable or Presido just dey do gara gara?

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/06/to-crush-oil-thieves-you-must-step-on-toes-niger-delta-stakeholders-tell-tinubu/

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele has been suspended with immediate effect on Friday over an ongoing investigation into the matter of the new naira redesign policy and in his absence, deputy governor, Folashodun Shonubi has been put as acting governor.

For every naija person, dis issue of the naira redesign policy no be new tin as we all experience the hardship wey the tin cause and for one news wey bin release, former presido dey beg naija pipo to no vex, say e no no say d naira wahala go cause kata kata

 For Godwin's defense, e say d naira redesign purpose na to stop mago mago for election wey go stop am from bin free and fair.
As mata dey like dis, e go dey probed for him actions. How una see dis issue? This him suspension nah case wey dey long over due or he's just being the sacrificial lamb?

https://www.channelstv.com/2023/06/09/tinubu-suspends-emefiele/

 I'd like to know your takes on this matter because I found it a little over the top and a bit late, I don't know if I've got similar thinkers. So the question is; do you think a ban on smartphones for kids and early teenagers till they get to certain age help retain a little of their innocence? Can it help bridge the gap peer pressure has on our young ones?
 
The teachers in Greystones, a town in Ireland, decided that the best way to retain a little innocence amongst their kids is by saying 'no' to smartphones.
Now while the importance of smartphones can't be overemphasize especially as it can help with homeworks and all that, it can also be a go-to spot for unhealthy vices like a chronic dependence on social media, games and even adult material.

They also believe that by adopting a town wide policy, it would reduce the chance of a child having a peer who has a smartphone and it can inturn stop peer pressure.
This looks a bit funny as from my pov i see it as delaying the inevitable.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/03/much-easier-to-say-no-irish-town-unites-in-smartphone-ban-for-young-children