Heathrow has today confirmed that Beijing Capital Airlines will launch a new direct service from the UK's hub airport to Qingdao, the home of Tsingtao beer and one of the fastest growing cities in China. The new route will connect passengers and cargo directly from Heathrow to Qingdao for the first time, providing three direct services every week starting this summer.

The new route has been put in place following the UK and the Chinese Governments' successful negotiation last year to significantly increase the number of permitted flights between the two countries. The new agreement also lifted previous restrictions limiting airlines to serving 6 destinations in each country, opening up the potential for more trade with a host of Chinese powerhouse cities. The new route to Qingdao will provide nearly 70,000 extra seats every year for passengers travelling to and from China and provide nearly 4,000 tonnes of new cargo space for British exports to the Shandong province, an economic powerhouse of China with a population of nine million people, similar to London's.

China is now the world's largest economy and its megacities offer a huge and expanding market for UK business. Qingdao has been ranked as a 'golden city' by the World Bank, due to its investment climate and is a major port, manufacturing base and home to Tsingtao, the best-known Chinese beer export.

With this new service, Heathrow will have direct connections to four cities in mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Qingdao) - but there are 10 others that can be flown to from EU rival hubs. As well as benefitting from additional routes, Germany exports over $29 billion of goods to China by air, compared to the UK's $4.6 billion. Today's announcement of an additional direct route from Heathrow to China provides the opportunity and extra capacity for UK businesses to be able to compete more effectively with European rivals.

This announcement follows seven years of engagement between Heathrow and Beijing Capital's parent company, Hainan Airlines Group. In 2014, the Chinese ambassador wrote to then Prime Minister, David Cameron, calling for Heathrow expansion, arguing that expansion at the UK's hub was required to facilitate more routes and increased frequency of direct flights between China and the UK - flights airlines argue are not sustainable from point-to-point airports, which rely on local demand alone to make routes viable.

Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said:

'As the UK's gateway to the world, we are delighted to welcome Beijing Capital Airlines and the tremendous, previously untapped opportunities of the Qingdao market for British business. In the future, the UK's ability to trade in the world will rely on direct access to new, expanding markets like these. But this is only the start. With expansion, Heathrow will provide British exporters access to up to 40 new long-haul destinations across the globe - including more Chinese cities- and send a powerful message that Britain is open for business and our future is stronger as a global, outward looking, trading nation.'

Xu Jun, CEO of Beijing Capital Airlines said:

'We are pleased and honoured to have this chance to strengthen the connection between the UK and China. This new route will offer more convenient and comfortable travel service to citizens in both countries than any previous experience flying from Heathrow to Qingdao. And it also will be a starting point for us to continually increase the UK's transportation capacity and further expand the UK tourism market. With the launch of the Heathrow route, we hope to contribute to the economic and culture exchange for the benefits of both countries.'

--ENDS--

Notes to editors:

About Beijing Capital Airlines

Beijing Capital Airlines operates mainly in China (including Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan), focusing on international air passenger service and cargo transport operations. It has the largest and youngest airbus aircraft fleet in China. Capital Airlines has 18 A319 planes, 35 A320 planes,11 A321 planes and 6 A330 planes. Since its establishment, Capital Airlines has opened more than 200 travel routes including 45 international routes. Capital Airlines has set up the Sanya branch and overnight bases in Beijing, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Haikou, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenyang, Lijiang and has preliminarily built a regional airline network out of Beijing.

From summer 2017, Heathrow will fly to four Chinese destinations:

There are 10 Chinese destinations served by European airports that are not served by Heathrow:

According to the UKTI, China is the great economic success story of the past 30 years and is now the world's largest economy and a huge and expanding market for UK business.

HM Revenue and Customs, Overseas Trade Statistics show China is the 6 largest trading partner with the UK. With over £11 billion carried out in trade between January and October in 2016.

Heathrow welcomed 1,151,00 passengers flying to and from Chinese destinations in 2016. This is an increase of 7.3% over the previous year.

A Hartlepool teenager is asking people from the North East to back The Sick Children’s Trust’s Big Chocolate Tea campaign to help the charity raise vital funds after it supported his parents when he was seriously ill in hospital.

Last April, Luke Allison, 13, was rushed from North Tees Hospital to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) after a scan revealed he had an abscess on his brain following a severe case of sinusitis. Luke underwent two major surgeries at the specialist hospital, where he was treated for four weeks. During this time Luke’s parents, Sue and Anthony, were supported with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation at Crawford House, just minutes away from their son’s hospital bedside.

The Sick Children’s Trust, which runs Crawford House and nine other ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, supports families with seriously ill children in hospital. While accommodation is provided free to families, it costs the charity £30 to support a family for one night. Luke, who attends High Tunstall College of Science, has already raised £400 for the charity and is hoping others will join him in supporting the charity’s Big Chocolate Tea. He says:

“I don’t remember a lot about being in hospital, but I do remember feeling frightened and not wanting my Mum and Dad to leave me. The paediatric intensive care unit can be a scary place, especially when you can’t see anything. You don’t realise how scary it is not being able to see and it made me feel a lot better to know that Mum and Dad were always with me, or just a couple of minutes away at Crawford House.

“If it wasn’t for Crawford House I wouldn’t have had my Mum and Dad with me when I was in hospital and I would’ve been alone. And I don’t think any other child in hospital should have to experience things all by themselves because it’s really frightening. If more people join in with the charity’s Big Chocolate Tea event, then we can make sure Crawford House is there for more families, so every child has their parents close by.”

Last year, Big Chocolate Tea raised £60,000 which gave 2,000 families free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, keeping them together with their seriously ill child when it mattered most. The Sick Children’s Trust hopes this year’s campaign will be an even greater success. Crawford Assistant House Manager, Linsey Brough, says:

“We are completely inspired by Luke and his determination to fundraise for The Sick Children’s Trust and to get people involved in Big Chocolate Tea.

“Big Chocolate Tea is our biggest annual fundraising campaign and such a lot of fun. By getting involved with Big Chocolate Tea and raising at least £30, you could support a family for one night at a ‘Home from Home’.”

Supporters can choose to take part in Big Chocolate Tea at any point during the year and will receive a free fundraising pack full of goodies to hold the perfect event. Luke’s Mum, Sue, adds:

“We honestly don’t know how we would have coped without Crawford House – they really looked after all of us. All the staff were lovely to our family, always making an effort to say ‘hello’ and asking about Luke's progress. We knew that they were there if we needed them.

“I truly believe knowing we were so close helped Luke to recover faster. We will always be grateful to The Sick Children’s Trust.”

For further information on Big Chocolate Tea and to request your free fundraising pack, please visit: http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/bigchoctea.

TEDxUniversityofBolton returns to the Queen’s Specialist Building on Friday when 19 engaging and distinguished speakers will grapple with the theme “Innovate, Integrate, Educate”.

TEDxUniversityofBolton, a student-led conference brings together innovative thinkers from across the University and the larger community to explore ideas for our collective future under the TED ethos of ‘ideas worth spreading’.

The aim of the event is to bring together bright minds to give talks that are idea-focused, and on a wide range of subjects, to foster learning, inspiration and wonder – and to provoke conversations that matter.

This year’s event will be include a diverse set of speakers including staff and students from the University of Bolton, and invited guests.

Vice Chancellor and President of the University, Professor George E Holmes DL will open the Conference on Friday morning.

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dr Kondal Reddy Kandadi; Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Quality) Professor Patrick McGhee and Professor of Psychology, Professor Jerome Carson will all return after delivering enlightening talks at last year’s event.

Other speakers will include Dr Tim Sprosen, Associate Professor & Head of Communications, Regulation & Knowledge Transfer at Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford; Professor David Thacker, Professor of Theatre at the University of Bolton and Professor Steve Fuller, Auguste Comte Professor of Social Epistemology in the Department of Sociology at the University of Warwick, UK.

The audience will consist of up to 100 students, academics and members of the local community.

TED, standing for Technology, Entertainment & Design, is a globally recognised brand that was started in 1984. TED Talks are short, powerful talks that share an idea, in less than 18 minutes. Every second 17 TED Talks are viewed online at www.ted.com in over 100 languages, free-of-charge.

A full list of speakers is available by clicking here

Tickets are still available and can be bought for £15 by clicking here

- See more at: http://www.bolton.ac.uk/MediaCentre/Articles/2017/Apr2017-11.aspx#sthash.agNqdjv1.dpuf

Schroders has expanded its Maximiser range with the launch of the Schroder US Equity Income Maximiser Fund.

The fund, which launches today, aims to deliver 5% income per year, paid quarterly, by investing in some of the largest companies in the US. The fund will hold a portfolio of equities which aims to provide an exposure similar to that of the largest US companies weighted by market capitalisation.

As with other funds in the Maximiser range, the fund will add a covered call option overlay to enhance the yield.

The fund will be managed by Schroders' Risk Managed Investments team. Mike Hodgson, Head of Risk Managed Investments & Structuring, will be responsible for managing the portfolio including the call option overlay strategy and will be supported by a team of four dedicated structured investment managers.

Mike has nearly 30 years of experience, while the four managers have a further 53 years of experience between them, with £6.2 billion* in assets under management across the Maximiser range.

James Rainbow, Co-Head of UK Intermediary at Schroders said:

'Schroders' Maximiser strategy has a proven track record in enhancing equity yield in all market conditions.

This is the first time the Maximiser strategy has invested solely in the US market and we are excited to be offering an attractive solution for investors who not only want to invest in large US companies but also require a higher income from their investments. For example, the Maximiser strategy enables us to include those tech stocks which are currently paying little or nothing in the way of dividends and generate this income from them. We have been managing similar strategies covering the UK and international equity markets since 2005 giving us many years of experience and expertise in delivering this income while still providing capital growth potential.'

* As at 28 February 2017

Making a final push for sales and ending the week on a high is a mentality being adopted by Privilege Promotions CEO Will Ross. Here he reveals why he has been introducing a bit of friendly competition into the company's Friday proceedings.

For more information, visit www.privilegepromotions.co.uk.

Business owner Will Ross likes to take advantage of the firm's perfect location right in the middle of Birmingham's bustling town centre and has begun promoting Super Challenge Friday, in a bid to end the week on a fun note.

The concept of Fun Friday Challenge is asking for two people to volunteer to challenge each other. These two individuals will then head out into the field, competing for the prize of top sales person. Whoever achieves the most amount of sales is granted the prize of finishing their Friday early.

“It has always been important for me to create a fun working environment, as this has always been the kind of atmosphere I want to work in and how I want to run my business,” Will Ross explains. “Asking my workforce to challenge one another every so often encourages friendly competition and is a great way to improve their goal setting skills, and allows them to work together and bond with others in the office who they might not normally work with.”

Due to the enormous success of Super Challenge Fridays so far, Mr Ross is considering other competition ideas, in the hope of propelling the efforts of his workforce and offering more enticing incentives to work towards. “Challenges are just a bit of fun which not only drives sales but also motivates people,” he explains. “Having the Super Challenges fall on a Friday has proven to eradicate any end of the week slacking, and I think it's played a vital role in motivating people to make that last minute push, finishing the week on a well deserved high.”

Privilege Promotions is a direct sales and marketing firm which provides clients with a vast and diverse customer base while offering a unique and personalised service to each one of those customers, leaving them feeling valued and respected by the brand. Through providing this service, the firm has managed to expand their clientele 15% since their establishment in 2014.

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Privilege Promotions, founded in April 2014, is a lively, dynamic, thriving direct marketing company based in the centre of Birmingham and is expanding throughout the West Midlands. Follow on Twitter and Facebook.

Global tyre giant Apollo Tyres today announces its debut in the notoriously competitive Truck and Bus Radial (TBR) tyre segment in Europe, and has also become the first and only manufacturer to launch its TBR range exclusively online, with a new go-to-market approach.

Apollo Tyres is no stranger to the sector: founded in 1972, it is the market leader in India, with 25% of the TBR market; truck and bus tyres constitute almost half of its production output; the company boasts six manufacturing plants globally, including a brand new, state-of-the-art factory in Hungary (opened this month), along with four R&D centres spread around the world.

“Quality, reliability and performance are central to Apollo Tyres’ philosophy. The company benchmarks against the best in the market and, often, outperforms them,” says Chief Retail & Marketing Officer, Marco Paracciani. “However, for the European TBR market we felt that a strong product offering was not enough as we saw an opportunity to innovate in the go-to-market approach.”

Apollo’s ambition to establish itself as a radial truck tyre technology leader in Europe is supported by its innovative approach to the market. Unique among tyre manufacturers, products are exclusively available through an online platform - ApolloTyresDirect.com - directly from Apollo, where pricing is completely transparent, with no hidden costs or complicated deals. Stripped of all unnecessary ancillary expenses, customers (whether dealers, large or small fleets, or owner-operators) can choose the service they prefer, and only pay for what they need. Paracciani explains: “Thanks to our cutting-edge business model, we can offer performance tyres at cost-effective prices. Indeed, our value proposition is nicely summed up by “Performance Tyres. Your Price. Your Way.””

“This launch today, is the culmination of our five-year testing and development programme for the Apollo brand of truck-bus radials in the UK and Europe,” says Benoit Rivallant, Apollo Tyres’ Group Head of Global Product Management for Commercial Vehicles. “The new range was designed for Europe and extensively tested over 250 million kilometers across six European countries, in a wide range of applications, by around 50 fleets and driver partners.”

“Streamlining the process was paramount to the success of this project,” continues Rivallant. “We are finding new ways to provide premium tyres how and when our customers need them, whether directly to the end user or providing new service opportunities for dealers. And of course, even though we are completely online, our Customer Service teams are always available to help customers, wherever they may be.”

Apollo’s revolutionary strategy is centred around providing the best deal for users: direct from the manufacturer, online, with transparent pan-European pricing, and leaving out anything the customer does not need or wish to pay for. The lean approach ensures that the tyres are cost-effective to produce, stock and deliver, so Apollo can pass its savings onto end customers.

This means that at ApolloTyresDirect.com customers create a personalised price based on order volume, delivery slot and payment method. Criteria such as large orders, advanced planning for orders or delivery, payment in advance or on credit, and even collection from the warehouse in Hamburg, all enable further reductions in the cost-per-tyre. And buying directly from the manufacturer means that once an order is accepted, it is guaranteed to be fulfilled.

Apollo Tyres pilots the delivery of its new TBR European tyre range in UK, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands, with Germany and other countries soon to follow. However, countries currently outside the scope of delivery, can take advantage of the cost-effective pricing at ApolloTyresDirect.com by arranging collection from Apollo’s Hamburg warehouse.

To find out more about Apollo Tyres’ new TBR range, and the brand new online platform, visit stand C80, Hall 3, at the Commercial Vehicle Show, NEC, Birmingham, 25-27 April.

Click here to download assets

THE END

PALO ALTO, April. 25, 2017 - The Cybersmile Foundation have announced the launch of a global Official School Partnership program. Schools, Colleges and educational institutes can now partner with Cybersmile in bringing students, staff and parents closer together to promote inclusion, diversity and positivity online. Cybersmile is also providing exclusive educational tools and learning materials available to partnering schools all year-round.

The Official School Partnership program provides educational institutions around the world with access to exclusive multimedia content and materials that comprehensively address the many areas of digital security and online safety including digital footprint, netiquette, personal security, positive gaming, digital citizenship, e-safety and more. Program features include live expert broadcasts, webinars, videos, education modules and other interactive learning experiences to help schools prepare their students and staff for safe, productive use of the internet while fostering an inclusive and diverse environment. Schools will also have access to partner activity programs, exclusive giveaways, official digital certificates and press releases to promote their work.“Launching our first truly global school partnership program has been something we’ve always dreamed of doing. We want schools to be able to create a safe digital environment for their students, teachers and parents by providing access to a wealth of knowledge and fun activities that everybody can get involved in.” - Dan Raisbeck, Co Founder, The Cybersmile FoundationPartnering schools will also be included in Cybersmile campaigns and promotions throughout the year. Positive engagement with audiences around the world with campaigns such as Stop Cyberbullying Day will enable schools to participate in raising awareness of online issues such as cyberbullying, online abuse and harassment while participating in a global mission for a truly diverse and inclusive internet – free from fear, threats and abuse.

In line with Cybersmile’s truly inclusive policy, the partnership is available to all schools regardless of their location or budget limitations. Schools have the option to pay an annual fee or choose the ‘Fundraise Option’ which gives them the opportunity to receive full ‘Official School Partner’ status in exchange for holding an awareness/fundraising event in aid of Cybersmile – with no minimum amount needed to be raised.

“When developing the Official School Partnership Program we wanted to be able to offer the same level of partnership to all schools around the world regardless of their location or budgets. by choosing to fundraise instead of paying for the partnership, schools will be able to enjoy all the benefits of being an official partner without the need to use any funds from their already stretched budget.” - Scott Freeman, CEO, The Cybersmile Foundation

Schools will also become official partners to Stop Cyberbullying Day automatically when participating in the new program and feature alongside celebrities, public figures and some of the world’s biggest brands.

To get more information about the partnership program visit: https://www.cybersmile.org/schools

About The Cybersmile FoundationThe Cybersmile Foundation is a multi award winning non-profit organization committed to tackling all forms of digital abuse and bullying online. They work to promote diversity and inclusion by building a safer, more positive digital community.Through education and the promotion of positive digital citizenship, The Cybersmile Foundation reduces incidents of cyberbullying and provides professional help along with support services to children and adults.ConnectTwitter: https://twitter.com/CybersmileHQFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCybersmileFoundationWebsite: http://www.cybersmile.org/Community support website: http://www.cybersmile.org/cyberbullying-support-communityContactpressoffice@cybersmile.org

Green and sustainable lifestyle movement EcoBit has partnered with the Kelantan state government in Malaysia to manage 1 million acres of tropical rainforest for 30 years and finance through carbon credit/ ICO the implementation of eco-friendly projects.

Having already raised over US$ 1 million dollars during the first 10 days, EcoBit is inviting participants to continue contributing towards its sustainable environmental movement through its Initial Coin Offering (ICO).

By utilising NEM blockchain technology, EcoBit will create a public supply chain for all produce created through its green projects in Carey Island with a key focus on transparency, immutability and accountability, ensuring people know exactly what they are buying, where it is coming from and under what ethical circumstances.

EcoBit coins can also be traded for other cryptocurrencies after the ICO ends (8th June 2017) in public exchanges.

‘Unlike many other cryptocurrency projects, EcoBit is backed by real world needs and assets. Within 12 months time, we will become an industry leader and many people will start to question which cryptocurrency is backed by real projects?’ said Mr Tang Too Siah, CEO of Climate Protector/EcoBit.

Phase 1

Having already secured the project on 9 Jan 2017, EcoBit will now manage and maintain 1 million acres of tropical rainforest to protect the area from illegal activities, reduce CO2 emissions and increase carbon stocks for trading purposes through the REDD/REDD+ Carbon Trading/Offset Market. The 1 million acres is also home to the world’s second oldest rainforest located in Kelantan.

Phase 2

The second phase will see sustainable projects being implemented at the EcoBit Sanctuary Asia located in Carey Island. The sanctuary will implement spirulina farms, aquaponics farms, organic vegetables, free-range chicken, coconut plantations and eco-tourism projects to bolster greener thinking and education (subject to each project milestone being fulfilled).

The company has completed their own EcoBit Blockchain Card that enables members to “earn” EcoBit via recycling program and also to “pay” merchants for their goods and services.

Projects will use self-sustaining contracts based on the NEM blockchain that ethically manage and monetise natural resources to help reduce carbon emissions. The blockchain technology is configured to create a transparent digital supply chain ledger that cannot be altered and enables anyone to track and monitor the carbon credits/impact and the project’s yield such as fish, vegetables and produce using the supply blockchain. The end consumer can be 100% assured on the quality and transparency of EcoBit’s produce.

By using specialist aquaponics organic farms, both animals and produce will be stored in an immutable ledger to track where and how food is produced and managed, with the aim of not only improving the quality of organic food, but also ensuring ethical handling.

The ICO offers an attractive early opportunity for investors who want to not only contribute to the cryptocurrency revolution, but also fight global warming and climate change. As the project grows, early adopters will also have the opportunity to receive free organic produce.

Phase 3

In Phase 3, EcoBit hopes to expand the EcoBit sanctuary presence globally into Europe, US, China, Australia and rest of the world.

You can participate in the ICO at: http://ecobit.io/

Internationally-renowned chocolate company, Valrhona, has pledged its support to The Sick Children’s Trust’s Big Chocolate Tea fundraising campaign for the third consecutive year to help families with seriously ill children.

Valrhona, which has been producing the world’s finest chocolate since 1922, has been named as the charity’s official campaign partner following three years of generous support. And now, the company is asking others to join in with Big Chocolate Tea between Friday 21 April and Monday 1 May to help The Sick Children’s Trust raise over £65,000 to give families with seriously ill children in hospital a ‘Home from Home’ minutes from their child’s bedside.

As well as sponsoring the campaign, the company which produces the finest artisan-quality chocolate, has also lent support by providing exclusive chocolate tasting tips and luxury dark chocolate squares to help promote the campaign.

Big Chocolate Tea is The Sick Children’s Trust’s biggest annual fundraising campaign aimed at chocolate and tea lovers. People can take part by holding a cake sale, tea party or bake-off during the last week of April and donating the proceeds to The Sick Children’s Trust. Last year, Big Chocolate Tea raised £60,000 – enough to support 2,000 families with ‘Home from Home’ accommodation. The Sick Children’s Trust is hoping it will be an even bigger success this year. Chief Executive, Jane Featherstone, says:

“Valrhona produces the finest chocolate and are true experts in their field, so for our Big Chocolate Tea event which combines chocolate and tea, they are the perfect partner. After a successful relationship last year, we are delighted to welcome them as our official campaign partner for this year’s Big Chocolate Tea.

“Big Chocolate Tea is our biggest fundraising campaign, raising vital funds to support families with critically ill children in hospital in the UK. Thanks to Valrhona’s support, we are sure this year’s campaign will be our most successful yet, enabling us to be there for families with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation, keeping them together just minutes from their sick child’s bedside.”

Supporters can choose to take part in Big Chocolate Tea at any point during the year and will receive a pack full of goodies which includes tea and chocolate pairing tips, recipe cards, cake labels, balloons, a cupcake stencil and much more. Stéphanie Perrot, UK and Ireland Sales Manager at Valrhona, says:

“Valrhona chocolate is the perfect ingredient for all your chocolate applications from entremets, glass desserts to petits gateaux – ideal for hosting your own Big Chocolate Tea with friends or for that winning cake in your office bake off.

“We’re delighted to support Big Chocolate Tea as not only can supporters indulge in chocola-tea treats, but they can raise money for a very worthy cause at the same time.”

If participants raise at least £30 during Big Chocolate Tea, they will be able to support a family with ‘Home from Home’ accommodation for one night.

For further information on how to get involved with Big Chocolate Tea, please visit: http://www.sickchildrenstrust.org/bigchoctea

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) is delighted to have been selected as one of this year’s beneficiaries of Global’s Make Some Noise – just one of over 30 charities they will be supporting across the UK.

CHECT is the only charity in the UK exclusively supporting families affected by retinoblastoma (Rb), a rare and aggressive form of eye cancer that affects babies and young children, mainly under the age of six.

Every week one child in the UK is diagnosed with retinoblastoma, as well as providing help and support to affected by Rb throughout the UK, regardless of their location, CHECT provides clinic-based support at the Royal London Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital (the only two UK hospitals to diagnose and treat Rb).

Global’s Make Some Noise is the official charity of Global, the media and entertainment group. The charity unites some of the UK’s best-loved radio stations - Heart, Capital, LBC, Classic FM, Smooth, Radio X, Capital XTRA and Gold – to raise money and give a voice to small projects across the UK, supporting youngsters and their families living with illness, disability or lack of opportunity.

Emma Bradley, director of Global’s Make Some Noise, said: “Global’s Make Some Noise is all about shining the spotlight on small charities across the UK. They can often get overlooked, but we’re in the fantastic position to be able to raise money and awareness about their brilliant work through Global’s much-loved brands. We’re thrilled to be able to support The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust and look forward to making lots of noise for them this year.”

Patrick Tonks, chief executive of CHECT, said ”We are delighted Global’s Make Some Noise has chosen CHECT as one of their charities to support this year. As one of our core aims is to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of retinoblastoma to help to drive earlier diagnosis, we are particularly excited to be working with Global and to be part of what looks like a really exciting opportunity.”

““Every week one child in the UK is diagnosed with retinoblastoma but quite often the child seems happy and well, so it can be hard to know when something is wrong. The most common symptoms are a white glow in a child’s eye or pupil in dim lighting or when a photo is taken using a flash, and a squint.

“Retinoblastoma can be successfully treated and some 98% of children in the UK will survive but early diagnosis is essential in order to save a child’s eyes, sight and life.”

- ENDS -

As the AI ecosystem continues its global expansion, NVIDIA is expanding its portfolio of startup investments, adding six companies in three countries over the past year.

In addition to providing funds for future growth, we offer these startups NVIDIA's advice and perspective as the world's leading AI computing company. This can take the form of technical guidance, joint marketing and strategic direction, among other efforts.

Our new investments, which we'll talk about at next month's GPU Technology Conference, in San Jose - the world's most important AI conference, set for May 8-11 - include the following:

In addition, as previously announced, we just last month made our third investment in MapD, one of the most exciting startups we've ever seen, which uses GPUs to query massive databases. Plus, we'll be announcing at GTC the seventh AI startup we've recently invested in.

If you'd like to review all the disclosed investments in our GPU Ventures portfolio, you can check out our new website.

Our investment portfolio is only one element of NVIDIA's extensive involvement in the AI ecosystem.

Launched less than a year ago, NVIDIA's Inception Program has grown to include some 1,300 startups from around the world, which we support with a team that provides access to technology, experts and our global marketing platform.

We invited 14 of the most promising ones to pitch themselves in a competition last week judged by a panel from Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, SoftBank, Microsoft and Coatue, as well as NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang. A total of $1.5 million will be handed out to six winners at an awards gala at GTC on May 10th.

NVIDIA also runs a series of conferences and private events around the world for the world's leading VC funds, where we introduce companies and discuss the future of AI and data analytics. The next one will be at GTC, on May 10. If you're a VC actively investing in AI and would like to request an invite, please contact us here.

The entertainment industry is huge, and it encompasses a wide range of media and activities such as music, videos, movies, festivals, and casinos. When looking at the evolution of the entertainment industry we can see that almost every different form has improved qualities over time, and once again we can see how this evolution leads to greater things in the casino industry.

Players all around the world visit these venues, sometimes for entertainment, other times for the unrealistic idea of achieving a profit, but whatever the reason, these people are the customers that casinos need to satisfy in order to succeed. Today, more than ever, consumers are highly intelligent and perceptive constantly looking for better cost-efficient solutions for their needs or troubles.

Physical casinos often have impressive house advantages in order to be able to achieve profits, due to the fact that maintaining these casinos is nothing less than expensive. On the other hand, this is not the case with online casinos, and especially not with cryptocurrency or bitcoin casinos, that don't have a lot of overhead. Development, maintenance, and marketing costs are all that is necessary to keep these casinos running. It is safe to say that these casinos are able to provide a better environment for players, and this is reflected in the house advantage which is usually so small, it would be inconceivable for traditional casinos to implement.

Another aspect is the concept of fairness. One trend in the industry is to include and share the algorithm that is used to produce randomized outcomes on each bet that is made by players. Players can use this algorithm to verify that the outcome was produced in a fair manner. This is probably one of the best inventions that increases consumer satisfaction to a new level in the casino industry.

One great examples for a well-made crypto-currency casino is Crypto-Games.net, a casino that accepts eight different crypto-currencies, including Bitcoin, but also other less popular currencies. It features various games, such as the Bitcoin Dice game, Roulette, Slots, Video Poker, and Lottery. The casino also generates a lot of promotional campaigns to attract new and reward loyal customers. Additionally, they have a faucet system in place, which allows new players to test the casino website without actually making a deposit.

For more information you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter, where they regularly post content about their promotions, and if you have any questions or business inquiries feel free to use contact information below to establish communications with them.

United Kingdom can still be THE place for international Businesses , says Mr Dehghan ,Founder And CEO of DPPM HOLDINGS.

Alireza Dehghan, Founder and CEO of DPPM Holdings and Bridge To the west and 70 more companies internationally is global entrepreneur and business man who has developed a lot of international businesses, the most notable one is BRIDGE TO THE WEST , which is the largest provider of education Worldwide with more than 533 schools .

"United Kingdom will always be Home to LOTS of international Businesses including all of mine even after BREXIT " said Mr Dehghan In a statement ."United Kingdom is the best place on Earth to start a business, specifically for entrepreneurs, there is no better place on earth to start a business, doesn't matter i there is a BREXIT, the structural type of establishing a business in the United Kingdom is one of a kind in the world from LIABILITY to taxation" Mr Dehghan added.

Mr Dehghan started all of his businesses in the United Kingdom without any investors, "I honestly owe a lot to the UK, it gave me so much flexibility to start a run my businesses, even though my business is all around the world, from the united states to Europe and DUBAI, i advise Entrepreneurs to start their business in the UK , grow it in the US." . "I hear a lot about Business in the UK after BREXIT, But from my point of view UK will stay a stronghold for businesses in the world, and don't get me wrong, Do i prefer that the United Kingdom stays in the EU, absolutely, but am i gonna leave UK or bring money out of my businesses in London ,Absolutely not." Mr Dehghan said in a separate statement.

The UK has tier 1 educated professionals, with an average wage of 35000 USD per year, while the amount is 50000 USD per year in the US, The UK offer a great taxation plan for onshore and offshore companies, while in the United states you pay way more. The UK is strategically located near Europe ,nearest Time zone to EST (New York) and also near Dubai.

UK will remain a great place to start a business,and Run one Internationally Even after BREXIT

CEO at Goldstream Incorporated Dan Coolican has taken up the gauntlet as he accepts the challenge from one of his transatlantic business associates, and enters a growth competition.

For more information, visit www.goldstreamincorporated.co.uk.

Entrepreneur and business owner Dan Coolican has a network of fellow professionals than spans worldwide. In a recent networking call he and another sales and marketing professional made an agreement to participate in a growth competition, with the winner being the first to reach 500% growth. The winner will claim the prize of a Rolex Submariner, paid for by the losing participant.

As an ambitious business owner, Mr Coolican argues that competition is healthy and that there are a number of benefits.

1) Creative thinking

Having a finishing line to run to and a competitor to beat instigates creative thinking, and often spurs people to put their thinking cap on for better strategies. Mr Coolican believes that creative thinking is the foundation for any success-minded business or brand, and insists competition drives that.

2) Eradicates complacency

“I have seen it for myself where people reach a certain level and become comfortable which results in their business becoming stagnant,” said Mr Coolican. The CEO at Goldstream Incorporated argues that competition automatically pushes people to strive to do better and often acts as the catalyst to force people out of their comfort zone.

3) Growth

One of the biggest benefits of competition is growth. Competition keeps people at the top of their game and striving to consistently achieve optimum productivity which organically results in growth.

4) Helps you work smarter

Goldstream Incorporated is a young firm with big goals and one of their business philosophies is to work smarter not harder. Mr Coolican believes that competition is a driving factor for people to stay at the top of their game. “Without competition pushing people, some will work at a snails pace, and lack urgency,” commented Mr Coolican.

5) Thirst for knowledge

At Goldstream Incorporated they believe that continued education is the secret to success. When in competition there is something at stake and that carrot at the end of the stick can act as a motivator for people to expand their knowledge. “One of the best ways to outdo the competition is to have a thirst for knowledge and an incredible student mentality,” said Mr Coolican.

Goldstream Incorporated is an outsourced sales and marketing firm based in Nottingham. As direct marketing specialists, the firm works closely alongside their clients to create unique marketing campaigns, which will accurately represent their products or services to consumers. Mr Coolican is excited by the challenge and is confident he can win.

###

SOURCE: http://businessgross.com/2013/01/21/business-competition/

Marketing is evolving as consumers are becoming increasingly savvy. Goldstream Incorporated utilise face to face marketing techniques to educate your customer base and increase purchases. Follow on Twitter or on Facebook.

London-based outsourced sales and marketing firm Monarch Movements are advocates of mentorship, and argue that mentors play a crucial role in someone’s ability to achieve success.

For more information, visit www.monarchmovements.co.uk.

Managing Director at Monarch Movements Damian Crofts attributes much of his business success to his group of mentors. “Having people to turn to for advice and guidance is invaluable. It’s about quality over quantity and identifying the right people to help your path to success,” said Mr Crofts.

One of Mr Crofts biggest passions is his role as a coach and mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs and fellow professionals. “I love to help people learn, grow and develop and nothing brings me more joy than seeing someone fulfil their potential,” said Mr Crofts.

With this in mind, Monarch Movements have shared the five types of mentors every entrepreneur should have:

THE COMPETITOR

Forming a connection with someone who shares a similar skill set and growth goals can lead to valuable relationships. Having a mentor on the same level will result in healthy competition with competitors pushing each other and questioning each other's decisions. It also provides a sense of camaraderie having someone who understands and is on the same journey.

THE PUSHER

"It’s important to have coaches and mentors who have achieved the level of success you aspire to," said Mr Crofts. Monarch Movements argue that it's important to have someone to turn to for advice and guidance that have already travelled the same road “I have a number of coaches and mentors who are some of the most high-profile and influential individuals within the sales and marketing industry and they keep pushing me to do better,” said Mr Crofts.

THE TEAMMATE

The entrepreneurial journey is full of ups and downs, and it’s important to have a teammate to turn to on the days where it’s not all going right claim Monarch Movements. The sales and marketing experts believe it's crucial to find someone who will lend a sympathetic ear and give uplifting advice. “Find people who can help you regain your attitude after a bad day and set you on a positive path,” said Mr Crofts.

THE CONNECTOR

There’s a common philosophy in life that suggests it’s all about ‘who you know’. Monarch Movements believe that having a mentor who is a connector is imperative. The firm contends that to build a strong list of contacts, finding a connector who knows people and can help establish a relationship is critical. “Cold-calling potential connections can be daunting, having someone who can act as a connector by making introductions is beneficial.” Said Mr Crofts.

Monarch Movements is a dynamic and cultured sales and marketing firm based in Angel, London. The company specialises in customer acquisition through face-to-face promotional marketing and sales campaigns. The firm encourages networking, and they promote the importance of networking to their staff and contractors to forge connections and build a network of coaches and mentors to assist them on the road to success.

###

SOURCE: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/225184

By understanding
your ideal customers and target market as well as your short and long-term
goals, Monarch Movements are able to develop unique marketing campaigns for
your brand. Follow on Twitter or on Facebook.

Samsung Electronics today celebrates the continued growth and enthusiasm for Samsung Pay around the world by expanding in four markets over two days. Samsung Pay officially launches in Sweden and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and enters early access in Hong Kong and Switzerland.

With these market expansions, Samsung Pay continues to both bring mobile payments to new regions of the world and expand to new markets in regions where the service is already available. Launches in the UAE and Sweden showcase Samsung Pay's first markets in the Middle East and the Nordics respectively, while Hong Kong and Switzerland demonstrate continued commitment and strength in Asia and Europe.

'Less than two years ago, Samsung Pay came to life in Korea with a simple mission: To empower customers with mobile payments that are simple, secure and available almost anywhere,' said Thomas Ko, VP and Global General Manager of Samsung Pay. 'Today, Samsung Pay is so much more. Our launches in different parts of the world demonstrate governments' and consumers' changing attitudes towards progressing to a cashless society. It is through the interest and support of our partners that we are able to answer their needs by offering Samsung Pay in these markets. We are incredibly proud of our rapid expansion and growth in such a short period of time, and look forward to bringing the most comprehensive digital wallet to all our users around the world.'

Samsung Pay on the Galaxy S8, S8+ and Gear S3

With the availability of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, users will be able to exclusively take advantage of several new features for an enhanced experience with Samsung Pay.

In addition to the existing authentication methods, Galaxy S8/S8+ users can make use of iris scanning as a new form of biometric authentication to access Samsung Pay, enabling a secure, yet more convenient way to pay.

To continue the evolution to a digital wallet, Samsung Pay continues to expand its availability beyond smartphones by introducing Samsung Pay on the Gear S3 in three additional markets. Beginning in April, Samsung Pay is newly supported on the Gear S3 in Russia, Sweden and the UAE, in addition to the US, Singapore and Australia, enabling an even more convenient way for users to pay with their smartwatches. Details on additional Gear S3 support elsewhere will be available soon.

Attaining the Vision of a Digital Wallet

Since the initial launch of Samsung Pay, Samsung has remained committed to the vision of building more than just a mobile payment solution through the introduction of value-added services tailored to local audience preferences.

Samsung Pay continues to enhance and add even more value-added services worldwide, bringing custom solutions and partnerships to users wherever they are.

With the latest launches, Samsung Pay now also integrates loyalty and membership cards in Sweden and the UAE, which can be added to users' mobile wallets without requiring physical cards. In Switzerland, pre-paid cards will also be supported, allowing users to pay from their preferred cards outside of the normal credit and debit options.

Value-added services continue to be a critical differentiator for Samsung Pay in the mobile payments market. More custom services for users around the world will be made available in respective markets shortly.

About Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay, a mobile payment service from Samsung Electronics, is simple, safe and available almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your card. Combining NFC (Near Field Communication) with Samsung's proprietary MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) technologies, Samsung Pay provides consumers a way to pay almost anywhere you can swipe or tap a card at merchant locations. Samsung continues to strategically expand its partnership ecosystem for Samsung Pay to provide greater flexibility, access, and choice for customers while enabling an easy and safe payment experience. Samsung Pay is now available in 14 markets, including South Korea, the United States, China, Spain, Singapore, Australia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Sweden and the UAE.

Bank holiday motorists are heading toward the worst day of the year for accidents, according to the latest statistics from Accident Exchange.

In 2016, Friday April 29 recorded the biggest spike in accidents of the year, recording a rise of more than 75% on the average.

A combination of spring showers, possible snow and Northern Rail strike action could be the root cause, after data analysed by accident aftercare specialists Accident Exchange identified that the Friday of the May bank holiday sees more accidents than on any other day.

The surge in crashes suggests that there will be over 10,500 accidents on the 28th April this year, compared to 6,000 on an average day, as motorists take to the road for their long weekends.

With the average repair costing motorists around £2,050, the charge toward the first May bank holiday weekend could end up costing motorists’ insurers more than £21 million.

Scott Hamilton-Cooper, Director of Operations at Accident Exchange, commented: “A high volume of motorists rushing onto the roads to take advantage of the long weekend and traditionally poor weather conditions means that a spike in accidents comes as little surprise.”

The accident doomsday also saw nearly eight times the number of accidents than the least accident-prone day, December 25th.

The study examined 27,000 accidents recorded by Accident Exchange between January and December 2016.

Ends

From Thursday 27 April, Nationwide Building Society is cutting rates on selected 2 and 5 year fixed and 2 year tracker rate mortgage products by up to 0.10%.

Rates in the 2 year fixed rate product range available up to 75, 80, 85 and 90 per cent loan to value (LTV) have been reduced by up to 0.10%, with the 75 per cent 2 year fixed rate product starting at 1.34% with a £999 fee and 1.74% with no fee. For those with a 10 per cent deposit, predominantly first time buyers, rates have been reduced to 2.19% with a £999 fee and 2.59% with no fee, the lowest rates in this range ever offered by Nationwide.

The 5 year fixed rate product with a 40 per cent deposit now starts at 1.84% with a £999 fee and 2.04% with no fee – also a historic low for the Society.

Selected 2 year tracker rates have also been reduced, with those at up to 85 per cent LTV starting at 1.54% with a £999 fee and 1.94% with no fee and those at up to 90 per cent LTV starting at 2.19% and 2.59% respectively.

All Nationwide tracker mortgage products currently have no Early Redemption Charges (ERCs). Existing mortgage customers benefit from a 0.10% discount on the new customer rate.

The Society also offers a range of additional benefits for both first time buyers and home movers. All standard mortgage valuations are fee-free, while first time buyers receive a £500 cashback to help with the cost of moving. Remortgage customers are able to benefit from a free standard valuation and the choice between free standard legal work and £250 cashback.

Henry Jordan, Nationwide's Director of Mortgages, said: “We are making further reductions to selected rates across our fixed and tracker rate ranges, with a number of Nationwide mortgage rates reaching historic lows. As well as offering a wide range of competitive mortgage rates, Nationwide also offers additional benefits to first time buyers, home movers and those remortgaging to the Society.”

-Ends-

Contact:

Jill Parsons, 01793 655064, jill.parsons@nationwide.co.uk

Deborah Isaac-Taylor, 01793 655354, deborah.isaac-taylor@nationwide.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Key features of Nationwide's fixed and tracker mortgage product range for new applications

Overpayments (maximum of 10% of the initial amount borrowed per annum where an ERC applies to the product. Where a product is not subject to an ERC, there is no maximum overpayment allowance).

Apply for a Further Advance, the additional borrowing facility.

All standard valuations are fee free. Cashback is payable one month after completion of the mortgage, with the exception of the following:

For Flex customers applying through the introduced channel the cashback is payable up to three months after completion of the mortgage

95% LTV mortgages are available to:

Maximum 75% LTV on new build flats and 85% LTV on new build houses

Any mortgage products reserved on or before 29 April 2009 will revert to the Base Mortgage Rate (BMR). If the borrower chooses to switch to a new Nationwide mortgage product, the new product will currently revert onto our Standard Mortgage Rate (SMR).

Both are variable rates which we may vary in accordance with our mortgage terms and conditions. However, the BMR is guaranteed to be no more than 2% above the Bank of England base rate, whilst the SMR has no upper limit or cap. If the borrower chooses to switch to a new product from a BMR, it is not possible to switch back to the BMR at a later date.

All mortgages reserved on or before 3 March 2010 include the option to apply for a payment holiday and borrow-back facility. Any mortgages reserved after this date will no longer include these facilities.

If the borrower is currently letting their property they will be unable to switch to a new mortgage deal and their mortgage will automatically revert to the Nationwide variable rate as stated in their mortgage offer.

If you repay a mortgage early or make an overpayment of more than your overpayment allowance, you may need to pay an Early Repayment Charge. For Nationwide mortgages reserved after 8 October 2014, you would need to pay a percentage of the outstanding loan amount as follows:

Fixed Rate Deal Period

2 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

10 years

Year 1

2%

3%

4%

5%

7%

Year 2

1%

2%

3%

4%

7%

Year 3

1%

2%

3%

7%

Year 4

1%

2%

7%

Year 5

1%

6%

Year 6

5%

Year 7

4%

Year 8

3%

Year 9

2%

Year 10

1%

ERCs don't currently apply to our Tracker Rate mortgages.

*Flexclusive mortgages are available to Nationwide main current account holders who:

Been paying in £750+ a month for the last 3 months (excluding internal transfers);

Or

Completed an account switch to us (from a non-Nationwide account) using our Current Account Switch Team in the last 4 months; or

About Nationwide Building Society:

Nationwide is the world's largest building society as well as one of the largest savings providers and a top-three provider of mortgages in the UK. It is also a major provider of current accounts, credit cards, ISAs and personal loans. Nationwide has around 15 million customers.

Customers can manage their finances in branch, on the telephone, internet and post. The Society has around 17,000 employees. Nationwide's head office is in Swindon with administration centres based in Northampton, Bournemouth and Dunfermline. The Society also has a number of call centres across the UK.

National problem gambling support charity GamCare officially launched their national Youth Outreach programme on London’s South Bank today.

The charity’s national programme has created three new ‘youth hubs’, with a fourth planned, where regional outreach workers will provide free of charge workshops for young people and training for frontline professionals in their local areas.

These hubs, in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool/Manchester and now expanding to Hull, will also provide materials and screening tools to assist local youth services and teachers in identifying young people at risk.

Each youth hub will provide a structure for referrals to treatment for young people who are experiencing or vulnerable to gambling related harm.

Mike Kenward, Business Development Manager at GamCare, says: “International evidence consistently indicates that young people are disproportionately at risk of developing problems with gambling, as well as being harmed by problematic gambling in their family or friends circle. Our work aims to give young people the facts about gambling and ensure they know where to seek help for themselves or their loved ones if needed.”

GamCare’s Strategy for Young People focusses on education, advice, treatment and communication to minimise gambling-related harm for young people. For more information visit www.gamcare.org.uk

ENDS

For more information or accompanying images please contact Catherine Sweet, Marketing and Communications Manager, at catherine.sweet@gamcare.org.uk or on 020 7801 7000.

Notes to editors:

GamCare – Working to minimise gambling-related harm

Auriens is bringing brilliant minds together from across the 300,000 strong London tech-sector, Europe’s strongest tech-city, who are giving their free time over the May bank holiday to challenge themselves to respond to the Auriens brief surrounding ageing. London’s pioneering tech community will use their varied skills and forward thinking approaches to break down barriers for our elder generations when it comes to engaging with technology.

This first-of-a-kind event is designed to challenge the conventions around old age and hack new ideas to improve the quality (and quantity) of all aspects of later life for this generation and the next. Considering everything from hospitality and healthcare to travel, fashion and retail, this event is expected to excel in creating age-defying ideas.

During the event, participants will be invited to consider imaginative solutions across three main themes:

1.Living

Imagining technology tools that will enrich a residential living environment, considering everything from ergonomic architecture to embedded technology, lifestyle and concierge services to healthcare, hospitality and wellbeing.

2.Caring

Devising dynamic ideas around the provision of care, from the perspectives of hospitality and technology.

3.Connecting

Considering avant garde solutions around technology that will enable residents to communicate with friends and family as well as staying connected to the world of business. Exploring the social side of life, imagining innovation across events, entertainment and relationships.

The hackathon is not only an opportunity for tech and creative minds to come together to create some inspiring new technology for later lifers, but also to experience technology developed by others surrounding ageing, including GERT age simulation suits and Sebastian Conran’s MiRo dog.

This is the robotic dog developed by Sebastian Conran Associates in conjunction with Sheffield University. MiRo is a biomimetic companion robot with an advanced brain to learn from its surroundings and can develop a unique personality. It will make decisions, display emotions and respond to others in a unique and autonomous way with a view to providing companionship and emotional engagement to older generations, similarly to the Paro seal robot.

PARTICIPANTS

Auriens is encouraging a diverse range of people to take part, from developers and designers, to marketers and innovators. Age is certainly not a barrier and later lifers are actively encouraged to participate with up to 70 people expected to take part in the event.

To help participants fully understand the needs of older generations, Auriens will also be providing age simulation suits (GERontologic Test Suits) to enable participants to experience the sensor and motor impairments of older age. These state of the art suits are broadly used to train medical healthcare professionals but are now also used in corporate training for business who work closely with the elderly.

MENTORS, JUDGES AND REWARDS

A specialist team of mentors will be on hand throughout the process to inspire and advise participants, and an expert judging panel will then review the concepts and select the winners.

Judges include Rama Gheerawo, Director of The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design and Eric Khilstrom, Aging 2.0 London plus others.

The winner will receive £5,000 and second prize of £2,000 will also be awarded at the event. An additional discretionary ‘idea incubation’ reward has been identified should a suitable concept be generated.

DATES AND TIMES

Starts: 28 April, 2017 - 6.30pm

Ends: 30 April, 2017 – 7.00pm

VENUE

OXO2

Level Two, Oxo Tower Wharf

Bargehouse Street

London

SE1 9PH

EVENT WEBSITE

auriens.bemyapp.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow the Auriens Hackathon via social media and join the conversation using the hashtag #LaterLifeHacks

Twitter: @auriensliving

Instagram: @auriensliving

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Auriens