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Brexit fallout:

EU trade in trouble as over a fifth of UK firms consider curbing exports

Meanwhile, 44% UK to EU exporters said they plan to increase activity in the market and 27% will consolidate rather than grow

Life of Cyborgs: Moon Ribas avant-garde artist & cyborg activist

Moon Ribas is a Cyborg who implanted a system which allows her to feel earthquakes inside her body.

Latest stories

  • Galaxy Entertainment Group Reports Q4 & Annual 2020 Results

    Galaxy Entertainment Group ("GEG", "Company" or the "Group") (HKEx stock code: 27) today reported results for the three month and twelve month periods ended 31 December 2020. (All amounts are expressed in HKD unless otherwise stated)

  • Astrazeneca denies vaccine delivery shortfall to EU, Italy - paper

    AstraZeneca will deliver 180 million COVID-19 vaccines to Europe in the second quarter, of which 20 million to Italy, the head of its Italian unit was quoted as saying on Thursday, dismissing reports of a possible shortfall. Lorenzo Wittum, the CEO and chairman of Astrazeneca in Italy, told daily Il Corriere della Sera in an interview Italy would receive more than 5 million shots by the end of March, fewer than the 8 million previously agreed, leading to a total of 25 million doses by June. Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing an EU official directly involved in talks with the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker, that AstraZeneca expected to deliver less than half the COVID-19 vaccines it was contracted to supply the European Union in the second quarter.

  • SES S.A.: Full Year 2020 Results

    SES S.A. announces financial results for the year ended 31 December 2020.

  • Veolia: Annual Results 2020

    Veolia 2020 Annual Results

  • Oxfam’s statutory supervision lifted after reforms due to Haiti inquiry

    The Charity Commission for England and Wales found a ‘culture of poor behaviour’ among staff sent to help victims of the 2010 earthquake.

  • Gulf War veterans urge others to seek help, 30 years after conflict ended

    Four former service personnel told the PA news agency about coping with PTSD and depression, and said professional help turned their lives around.

  • Saudi Wealth Fund Commits $3 Billion for Mountain Resort

    (Bloomberg) -- Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund will invest almost $3 billion on a tourism project in a mountainous region near the kingdom’s border with Yemen.The Public Investment Fund will provide 11 billion riyals to Soudah Development Co., which will build 2,700 hotel rooms and 1,300 homes in an area that includes Al-Soudah, the tallest peak in Saudi Arabia, according to Husameddin AlMadani, Soudah’s chief executive officer.The kingdom has been largely shut off to foreign tourists for decades, while citizens preferred to go on holiday abroad. That’s changed with the rise of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who’s trying to open up the country and diversify the economy from oil.“Many of us living in Saudi Arabia didn’t know this destination existed,” AlMadani said in an interview. “I lived in Riyadh for thirty years before I knew that I could take an hour flight and see this beautiful place.”Encouraging Saudis to spend more domestically by developing entertainment and tourism sites is a key part of Prince Mohammed’s plans. The government has also introduced tourist visas to make it easier for foreigners to enter the country and allowed unmarried couples to stay together in hotels. It ended a ban on female drivers and loosened strict dress codes for women.Soudah is one of a growing list of tourism-related developments in the kingdom. The PIF has committed to spending $40 billion annually in the country for the next few years. Projects it’s funding include a luxury resort on the Red Sea, a theme park and entertainment complex outside the capital of Riyadh, and a new city in the north-west called Neom that will focus on high-tech industries.AlMadani denied the project would be hindered by its proximity to Yemen, which has been mired in civil war for around six years. Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are fighting against a Saudi-backed coalition, fired missiles on Soudah’s main airport this month and set a plane on fire.“Government officials and the coalition are doing their best to ensure the safety of the airport and the nearby destinations,” said AlMadani. “I live in Al-Soudah, my wife and my kids live in Al-Soudah. So do our employees. And we feel very safe.”Foreigners Can BuyThe coronavirus pandemic forced Saudi Arabia to close its borders for much of last year. Some travelers are now allowed into the country but citizens are still barred from all but essential trips abroad until at least May. That’s encouraged the growth of domestic tourism.“The pandemic resulted in a tripling of the number of people wanting to get out and see nature,” said AlMadani. “That demand has put pressure on us to accelerate the development.”Soudah is finalizing rules that will allow foreigners to buy property in the development, AlMadani said. The company aims to attract 2 million visitors a year by 2030 and the first phase could be completed by 2023, he said in a separate interview with Bloomberg TV.(Adds additional quote in final paragraph.)For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

  • Biggest Qatari Property Developer Faces Default Risk, S&P Says

    (Bloomberg) -- Qatar’s biggest property developer Ezdan Holding Group faces the risk of a default or debt restructuring as it is yet to obtain credit-lines to meet upcoming maturities, according to S&P Global Ratings.“Despite discussing payment option plans, the company is still in the negotiation stage of securing a committed credit line to address its significant upcoming debt maturities and amortization schedule,” the ratings agency said.S&P cut Ezdan’s rating to CCC from B- with a negative outlook, reflecting narrowing liquidity and high debt balances, which it said “could lead to a distressed exchange, debt restructuring, or default over the next 3-12 months.”“Without a committed refinancing plan or an equity contribution from its shareholder, we do not believe that Ezdan has sufficient cash or liquid assets on its balance sheet to repay its debt,” S&P said.Ezdan’s $500 million senior unsecured sukuk matures on May 18. The property developer also has about 900 million riyals ($245 million) of secured debt maturing in 2021 and 2.7 billion riyals of sukuk and debt maturing next year, according to S&P.The bond due in May was steady at about 97 cents on the dollar on Wednesday, having recovered from an all-time low of 78.45 cents in May 2018.S&P expects Ezdan’s operating performance to “improve slightly” in 2021-2022, but not enough to materially reduce the very high leverage”For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

  • Decrease in gender pay gap partly due to more men in lower-paid work

    Decrease in gender pay gap partly due to more men in lower-paid work. Data does not reflect structural changes to women’s position in the workforce and gap could increase in post-Covid world, equality advocate says

  • Arsenal vs Benfica: Europa League prediction, team news, h2h, TV channel, live stream, latest betting odds

    Arsenal face their most important match of the season so far tonight, as they take on Benfica in search of a place in the Europa League last-16. Mikel Arteta’s side are currently down in 11th in the Premier League, 11 points off the top four, and as such this competition represents their best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, not to mention ending this campaign with silverware. The Gunners were the better side in last week’s first-leg but have only a slender advantage to show for it in the shape of Bukayo Saka’s away goal in a 1-1 draw.

  • TV tonight: celebs are given two weeks to deliver a standup routine

    TV tonight: celebs are given two weeks to deliver a standup routine. Rev Richard Coles and other celebs are paired up with professional comics to test their comedy skills. Plus: the last of Back. Here’s what to watch this evening

  • Thursday briefing: Teachers make the grades

    Thursday briefing: Teachers make the gradesGavin Williamson to lay out plans to give teachers power to set exam grades … EU to debate vaccine passports … and the frustrations of pandemic dating Pupils celebrating GCSE results last year. With exams scrapped, this year’s results will be decided by teachers. Photograph: Chloe Parker/Alamy

  • Helicopters, firefighters battle 2 forest fires in Japan

    A forest fire broke out in a rural area north of Tokyo on Thursday, near another blaze burning for a fourth day. One man suffered burns and was hospitalized, and firefighters have been deployed, said Hitomi Hirokami, an official at Kiryu in Gunma prefecture, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Tokyo. Another fire has been raging in nearby Ashikaga in Tochigi prefecture, where 207 households have been asked to evacuate, said spokesman Minoru Takayama.

  • Juniper Systems Limited Introduces New Mesa 3 Smart Card Reader for High-Security Industries

    Mesa 3 Rugged Tablet with integrated Smart Card Reader from Juniper Systems Limited. 25 February 2021 Juniper Systems Limited announces its new Mesa® 3 Smart Card Reader, providing the ultimate two-tier authentication solution for rugged industries. 25 February 2021 BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom, Feb. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juniper Systems Limited announces its new Mesa® 3 Smart Card Reader. This military-grade, CAC/PIV-compatible smart card reader (SCR) integrates with Juniper’s Mesa 3 Rugged Tablet, providing the ultimate two-tier authentication solution for data protection in high-security, rugged industries. The Mesa 3 Smart Card Reader offers a compact, integrated design that allows the device to be used in-hand all day. The SCR has been integrated into the existing design of the Mesa 3 Rugged Tablet using the same mounting points as the Mesa’s corner bumpers. Ports for charging, USB, and headphones have been relocated to the bottom of the SCR for easy access. ‘Our Smart Card Reader on the Mesa 3 Rugged Tablet is perfect for controlling access in volatile locations, such as nuclear facilities, power generation plants, and airports’, said Simon Bowe, managing director at Juniper Systems Limited. ‘The Mesa 3’s ultra-rugged, waterproof and dustproof design stands up to extreme environments whilst the SCR provides extra levels of security’. Flexibility in the design allows the Smart Card Reader to control access to resources by reading a variety of cards, including military common access cards (CAC), employee Personal Identity Verification (PIV) credentials, and smart cards (Integrated Circuit Cards or ‘chip cards’). It features card insertion/removal detection with an automatic deactivation sequence, and supports both synchronous and asynchronous protocols. Developed for industries that require additional authentication, organisations can use the Mesa 3 Smart Card Reader to easily verify employee identities and control access to sensitive information or locations. Common smart card authentication standards have been built in, offering versatility to organisations that issue identity credentials to employees and contractors. Once an image of an organisation’s existing OS or software program requiring smart card authentication has been installed on the Mesa 3 Smart Card Reader, the proper validation measures are required to access the device or its programs. Applications for the Mesa 3 Smart Card Reader include the military, government agencies, law enforcement, nuclear facilities, airports, public utilities/critical infrastructure, emergency services, medical facilities, and others. The Mesa 3 Rugged Tablet with integrated Smart Card Reader is a powerful Microsoft® Windows 10 device offering the security organisations need when users must access sensitive locations or information. The rugged design ensures the device can be used in any environment. Juniper Systems’ Mesa 3 Smart Card Reader is now available worldwide. About Juniper Systems LimitedBased out of Logan, Utah, USA, and Birmingham, UK, Juniper Systems (https://junipersys.com) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of ultra-rugged handheld computers and provides field data collection solutions for use in extreme environments. Since 1993, professionals have utilised Juniper Systems’ innovative mobile technology in the geomatics, industrial, natural resources, military, utilities and public services markets. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d430fd02-f3be-4870-bb5f-ae09f2ac9fc4 CONTACT: Contact: Simon Bowe, Managing Director +44 (0) 1527 870773 simon@junipersys.com https://junipersys.com Barbara Sanner, Media Contact +1 480 980 0298 barbara.sanner@junipersys.com

  • LGBTQ+ Ghanaians ‘under threat’ after backlash against new support centre

    LGBTQ+ Ghanaians ‘under threat’ after backlash against new support centre. Accra community urged to stay safe after rise in death threats and online abuse, as politicians renew calls to restrict LGBTQ+ rights

  • Brisbane leads race to host 2032 Olympics

    Brisbane has emerged as the frontrunner to host the 2032 Olympic Games.The Australian city was named as the preferred partner by the IOC president during a press conference in Switzerland on Wednesday.The designation means talks will begin between Brisbane and the organisers of the games, before a final vote sometime this year.Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:"We are very excited by this development. It puts Queensland in the box seat and I know that every level of government is absolutely united in working together to make this happen."Budapest, Indonesia, China, and Doha, had all expressed interest in hosting the event.But Brisbane stood out, with its high number of existing venues, experience in organising major events and favourable weather.The Head of the Future Host Commission, Kristin Kloster Aasen, said Brisbane had a good legacy and venue plan.In 2019, the IOC overhauled its bidding rules to reduce costs and make the application process easier for cities.There are now no official candidate cities campaigning ahead of the IOC's vote.Should Brisbane go ahead as the host city, it will become the third Australian city to host the Summer Games after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.

  • The 17 '00s Trends We’re Still Wearing Today

    Yep, they're still relevant.

  • GameStop share price soars 100% as Reddit site goes down

    No exact reason has been given for Reddit being down, but it was back within hours

  • Bonds Slide; Asia Stocks Rally on Reflation Buzz: Markets Wrap

    (Bloomberg) -- Bonds sold off and Asian stocks rallied as investors focused on the prospects of a stronger-than-expected recovery and the Federal Reserve’s pledges of prolonged support. U.S. and European equity futures advanced.The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to the highest in a year, while Japan’s longer-dated benchmarks rose to multiyear records. Australian yields jumped despite the central bank buying bonds for the second time this week to defend its three-year yield target. Stocks rose across the region, led by Hong Kong and South Korea. Earlier, the S&P 500 closed the U.S. session higher despite weakness in tech shares. Crude oil remained close to a one-year peak as traders see supply tightening with demand returning. Base metals advanced on the recovery optimism, with copper and aluminum both spiking to the highest since 2011.Powell pushed back on inflation concerns in his second day of Congressional testimony, and Fed Vice Chair Richard Clarida said he sees the central bank maintaining its current pace of bond purchases for the rest of the year. The equity market is focusing on the benefits to corporate earnings of a post-pandemic surge in economic activity, while mindful that higher inflation and interest rates could dent the appeal of stocks.“Owners of risk assets should breathe a sigh of relief that the Fed will not disrupt an environment benefiting from very low discount rates on their investments, and consequently some of the recent market volatility is likely to moderate from here,” said Rick Rieder, BlackRock’s chief investment officer of global fixed income.Adding to the optimism, Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE’s Covid-19 vaccine was overwhelmingly effective against the virus in a study that followed nearly 1.2 million people in Israel. Public-health experts said the results show that immunizations could end the pandemic.Elsewhere, Bitcoin climbed back above $50,000 after a plunge earlier this week.Some key events to watch this week:Finance ministers and central bankers from the Group of 20 will meet virtually Friday. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will be among the attendees.These are some of the main moves in markets:StocksS&P 500 futures rose 0.2% as of 6 a.m. in Tokyo. The S&P 500 Index rose 1.1%.Topix index jumped 1.2%.Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.8%.Kospi index advanced 3.1%.Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 2.1%.Shanghai Composite Index rose 1%.Euro Stoxx 50 futures climbed 0.6%.CurrenciesThe yen traded at 105.89 per dollar.The offshore yuan traded at 6.4513 per dollar.The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed.The euro was at $1.2178, up 0.1%.BondsThe yield on 10-year Treasuries jumped two basis points to 1.40%.Australia’s 10-year bond yield rose 12 basis points to 1.73%.CommoditiesWest Texas Intermediate crude rose 0.4% to $63.47 a barrel.Gold fell 0.3% to $1,800.47 an ounce.For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.©2021 Bloomberg L.P.

  • Hong Kongers snap up UK homes and do what they excel at: being landlords

    Hong Kong residents are buying more houses and apartments to lease out for income in Britain, property agents say, a trend that coincides with what many expect to be a wave of emigration after China passed a national security law last year. Hong Kongers became the fifth largest foreign investors in central London as of last August and have been driving up prices in some popular districts outside the UK capital. But the new wave of buying also includes some Hong Kong residents who are pooling money to invest, a trend property agents expect to continue as more middle-class Hong Kong residents consider leaving for Britain and look to establish a source of revenue in advance.