On Thursday February 1st, Hufvudstaden’s first fast charging station for electric vehicles (EV) was inaugurated at its NK Parkaden car park in central Stockholm. The facility currently has six fast chargers which will initially be made exclusively available to Taxi Stockholm vehicles. As the car park’s access to electricity increases, plans are being drawn up for additional fast chargers that will support the electrification of transport in central Stockholm.
NK Parkaden already has more than 320 11 kW EV chargers, among the most of any central Stockholm car park. The next step to promote the electrification of transport in the Swedish capital is underway with the installation of the six fast chargers, each with an output of up to 150 kW. The aim is to install additional fast chargers as more electrical supply is made available to NK Parkaden.
“As a growing proportion of Stockholm traffic is electrified, NK Parkaden has a key role to play – especially as commercial traffic will need access to fast charging in the city. We’re really excited to be launching this pilot project together with the City of Stockholm and Taxi Stockholm,” says Karl Palm, Director Business Development Hufvudstaden.
City of Stockholm’s Vice Mayor for Transport and Urban Environment, Lars Strömgren, attended the opening ceremony.
“A city with lower noise and fresher air makes is more welcoming. There is broad political agreement around the goal of making Stockholm’s inner city entirely emissions-free. It’s great to see how new collaborations on expanding the fast charging network can facilitate the electrification of the city’s transport system,” Strömgren says.
Hufvudstaden and Taxi Stockholm have signed a co-operation agreement that gives the taxi company’s drivers the exclusive right to charge their vehicles in NK Parkaden.
The fast charging station will make many taxi drivers’ lives easier as they will not have to leave the city to quickly charge their cars. The charging station will also benefit NK customers and others in the area, and will enable customers to simply book a taxi to the NK Parkaden charging station using the Taxi Stockholm app.
“Our conversion to an electric car fleet is going at record speed, which means we need more charging stations in the Stockholm region. The fast chargers in NK Parkaden enable us to increase our use of electric vehicles in the city centre – an investment that benefits the environment and our customers,” says Niclas Roll at Taxi Stockholm.
Network International obtains payment licence from Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to expand merchant acquiring business in KSA
SAMA licence expands commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by building long-term, collaborative partnerships with merchants across industries
Network International is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Financial Sector Development Program and accelerating digital payments
The new licence provides a compelling opportunity for Network International to play an integral role in transforming the payments landscape in KSA
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, February 01, 2024: Network International (Network), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has announced that it has obtained a Major Payment Institution (Major PI) licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) that will strengthen the acquirer’s foothold in the Kingdom.
The procurement of the licence is a milestone that aligns with Network’s strategic objectives that include expanding capabilities to offer a comprehensive suite of payment acceptance solutions within the KSA market which is the largest market in the region. The licence also enables Network to empower the expansion of their regional clients by offering an extensive range of payment solutions in this key business hub.
Network is positioned favourably to foster a dynamic and inclusive payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by building long-term collaborative partnerships with merchants, businesses including SMEs, payment networks, banks and Fintechs across diverse sectors. Aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030 priority on travel, tourism, and entertainment, Network sees the immense potential in enabling new payment pathways as the country embarks on a transformative journey to become a major global hub for advanced technologies and attract talent and business by creating the right environment for investment with a differentiated lifestyle. Tourism and residential mega development projects such as The Red Sea and Amaala as well as futuristic urban developments like NEOM are promising arenas for deployment of innovative payment solutions by Network.
Abdulaziz Al-Dahmash, Managing Director – KSA, Network International, said: “We express our deep gratitude to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for their trust in providing Network International the opportunity to significantly contribute towards expanding the payments landscape in the Kingdom. Network’s robust acquiring solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of every business, from high-volume retailers to individual entrepreneurs and SMEs. Government support further helps to foster an environment that is conducive to innovation in the financial services sector. We are proud to obtain this licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and excited to provide merchants and businesses with the solutions and expertise they need to thrive in the evolving digital landscape of Saudi Arabia.”
Network is leveraging its vast expertise to contribute to accelerating the Kingdom’s digital transformation initiatives through several ambitious goals by 2030 via boosting innovation, reducing cash reliance by increasing digital transactions, and contributing to economic diversification and developing local talent.
Building on its significant regional experience, Network International will foster strategic financial inclusion objectives within Saudi Arabia by providing secure, robust payment solutions to merchants and businesses of all sizes.
About Network International
Network International is the Middle East and Africa’s largest and leading digital payments company. Our purpose is to help businesses and economies grow by simplifying payments and commerce. We operate in 50+ countries serving governments, banks, fintechs, merchants and public sector companies. We have over 2,000 digital payments experts based in our markets serving over 200 financial institutions and over 150,000+ merchants.
Network International obtains payment licence from Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to expand merchant acquiring business in KSA
SAMA licence expands commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by building long-term, collaborative partnerships with merchants across industries
Network International is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Financial Sector Development Program and accelerating digital payments
The new licence provides a compelling opportunity for Network International to play an integral role in transforming the payments landscape in KSA
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, February 01, 2024: Network International (Network), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has announced that it has obtained a Major Payment Institution (Major PI) licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) that will strengthen the acquirer’s foothold in the Kingdom.
The procurement of the licence is a milestone that aligns with Network’s strategic objectives that include expanding capabilities to offer a comprehensive suite of payment acceptance solutions within the KSA market which is the largest market in the region. The licence also enables Network to empower the expansion of their regional clients by offering an extensive range of payment solutions in this key business hub.
Network is positioned favourably to foster a dynamic and inclusive payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by building long-term collaborative partnerships with merchants, businesses including SMEs, payment networks, banks and Fintechs across diverse sectors. Aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030 priority on travel, tourism, and entertainment, Network sees the immense potential in enabling new payment pathways as the country embarks on a transformative journey to become a major global hub for advanced technologies and attract talent and business by creating the right environment for investment with a differentiated lifestyle. Tourism and residential mega development projects such as The Red Sea and Amaala as well as futuristic urban developments like NEOM are promising arenas for deployment of innovative payment solutions by Network.
Abdulaziz Al-Dahmash, Managing Director – KSA, Network International, said: “We express our deep gratitude to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for their trust in providing Network International the opportunity to significantly contribute towards expanding the payments landscape in the Kingdom. Network’s robust acquiring solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of every business, from high-volume retailers to individual entrepreneurs and SMEs. Government support further helps to foster an environment that is conducive to innovation in the financial services sector. We are proud to obtain this licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and excited to provide merchants and businesses with the solutions and expertise they need to thrive in the evolving digital landscape of Saudi Arabia.”
Network is leveraging its vast expertise to contribute to accelerating the Kingdom’s digital transformation initiatives through several ambitious goals by 2030 via boosting innovation, reducing cash reliance by increasing digital transactions, and contributing to economic diversification and developing local talent.
Building on its significant regional experience, Network International will foster strategic financial inclusion objectives within Saudi Arabia by providing secure, robust payment solutions to merchants and businesses of all sizes.
About Network International
Network International is the Middle East and Africa’s largest and leading digital payments company. Our purpose is to help businesses and economies grow by simplifying payments and commerce. We operate in 50+ countries serving governments, banks, fintechs, merchants and public sector companies. We have over 2,000 digital payments experts based in our markets serving over 200 financial institutions and over 150,000+ merchants.
Network International obtains payment licence from Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) to expand merchant acquiring business in KSA
SAMA licence expands commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by building long-term, collaborative partnerships with merchants across industries
Network International is committed to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Financial Sector Development Program and accelerating digital payments
The new licence provides a compelling opportunity for Network International to play an integral role in transforming the payments landscape in KSA
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, February 01, 2024: Network International (Network), the leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has announced that it has obtained a Major Payment Institution (Major PI) licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) that will strengthen the acquirer’s foothold in the Kingdom.
The procurement of the licence is a milestone that aligns with Network’s strategic objectives that include expanding capabilities to offer a comprehensive suite of payment acceptance solutions within the KSA market which is the largest market in the region. The licence also enables Network to empower the expansion of their regional clients by offering an extensive range of payment solutions in this key business hub.
Network is positioned favourably to foster a dynamic and inclusive payments ecosystem in Saudi Arabia by building long-term collaborative partnerships with merchants, businesses including SMEs, payment networks, banks and Fintechs across diverse sectors. Aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030 priority on travel, tourism, and entertainment, Network sees the immense potential in enabling new payment pathways as the country embarks on a transformative journey to become a major global hub for advanced technologies and attract talent and business by creating the right environment for investment with a differentiated lifestyle. Tourism and residential mega development projects such as The Red Sea and Amaala as well as futuristic urban developments like NEOM are promising arenas for deployment of innovative payment solutions by Network.
Abdulaziz Al-Dahmash, Managing Director – KSA, Network International, said: “We express our deep gratitude to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) for their trust in providing Network International the opportunity to significantly contribute towards expanding the payments landscape in the Kingdom. Network’s robust acquiring solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of every business, from high-volume retailers to individual entrepreneurs and SMEs. Government support further helps to foster an environment that is conducive to innovation in the financial services sector. We are proud to obtain this licence from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and excited to provide merchants and businesses with the solutions and expertise they need to thrive in the evolving digital landscape of Saudi Arabia.”
Network is leveraging its vast expertise to contribute to accelerating the Kingdom’s digital transformation initiatives through several ambitious goals by 2030 via boosting innovation, reducing cash reliance by increasing digital transactions, and contributing to economic diversification and developing local talent.
Building on its significant regional experience, Network International will foster strategic financial inclusion objectives within Saudi Arabia by providing secure, robust payment solutions to merchants and businesses of all sizes.
About Network International
Network International is the Middle East and Africa’s largest and leading digital payments company. Our purpose is to help businesses and economies grow by simplifying payments and commerce. We operate in 50+ countries serving governments, banks, fintechs, merchants and public sector companies. We have over 2,000 digital payments experts based in our markets serving over 200 financial institutions and over 150,000+ merchants.
Jorge J. Castillo, MD, clinical director, Bing Center for Waldenström Macroglobulinemia, institute physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, associate professor, medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the efficacy of treatment with iopofosine I 131 (previously CLR 131) in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia.
Topline data from the phase 2 CLOVER WaM trial (NCT02952508) were shared on January 8, 2024, showing that the agent elicited an overall response rate (ORR) of 75.6% and a major response rate (MRR) of 61% (95% CI, 44.50%-75.80%; 2-sided P < .0001), meeting the trial’sprimary end point. Furthermore, the disease control rate was 100% and at a median follow-up of 8 months, the median duration of response (DOR) has not yet been reached. Notably, these data continue to support the 2020fast track designation of iopofosineI 131, which was granted by the FDA to patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinemia.
The data presented on January 8th, 2024, exceeded expectations, Castillo begins. The ORR was also high, and the clinical benefits observed in these patients was substantial, he emphasizes. From a clinical research standpoint, these data support the continued evaluation of therapies to address unmet needs in Waldenström macroglobulinemia, particularly the lack of complete responses (CRs) seen in this disease, he emphasizes. Achieving CRs has been a challenge in Waldenström macroglobulinemia, contrasting with the efficacy of therapies for patients with other hematological conditions, in whom deep responses and minimal residual disease–negative treatment outcomes are more attainable, he states.
In the presented data, an 8% stringent CR rate with iopofosine I 131 was observed, a noteworthy development given that traditional treatments, such as chemotherapy, are the primary inducers of CRs in Waldenström macroglobulinemia clinical trials, Castillo expands.
The efficacy of the regimen is especially interesting considering the targeted patient population, which includes those previously exposed to rituximab (Rituxan)–containing regimens and BTK inhibitors, Castillo continues. This subset of patients has limited treatment options. In the trial, patients underwent a median of 4 prior treatments, according to Castillo. Notably, iopofosine I 131 demonstrated effectiveness in patients regardless of their mutational status, adding an intriguing dimension to this agent’s potential application in clinical practice, he concludes.
The five projects will further Instacart’s research on food as medicine programs. |Image courtesy of Instacart
Instacart is partnering with five higher education institutions to further its food as medicine efforts.
Meharry Medical College, The Ohio State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Pennsylvania and researchers from the Duke Clinical Research Institute and the Louisiana Public Health Institute will work with Instacart on five different research projects.
Each project will allow the grocery delivery company to conduct new research to analyze the impact food as medicine programs have on health outcomes and costs for various population groups.
As part of the partnership with The Ohio State University, for example, researchers will study the impact of food as medicine interventions on Medicaid-enrolled patients with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. The team will use Instacart Health Fresh Funds (digital, category-specific food stipends) and Virtual Storefronts (a program that allows participants to shop from medically-tailored grocery lists created by registered dietitians) for the study.
“At Instacart, we believe in the power of food as medicine, and we are committed to using our unique technology and reach to support groundbreaking research on food as medicine programs,” Sarah Fleisch, senior director of policy research and development at Instacart, said in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with researchers at these leading academic institutions to uncover the evidence needed to scale food as medicine programs and ensure they reach more patients, families, and communities.”
Sensitive to feline allergens? Our GH Institute scientists were amazed by this game-changing formula that’s proven to decrease allergens on cat hair and dander in just a few weeks.
Purina Pro Plan Purina Pro Plan with Probiotics, High Protein Dry Cat Food, LIVECLEAR Chicken & Rice Formula – 16 lb. Bag
Purina Pro Plan Purina Pro Plan with Probiotics, High Protein Dry Cat Food, LIVECLEAR Chicken & Rice Formula – 16 lb. Bag
Credit: amazon
WHY IT EARNED THE GH SEAL
A perfect pet food choice for homes with animal lovers who are susceptible to cat allergens, Pro Plan LiveClear cat food is backed by 10 years of cutting-edge research and a dedication to ingredient integrity, animal welfare and safety. Plus, cats love the taste!
BREAKTHROUGH INNOVATION. LiveClear is coated with a specific protein, derived from eggs,that carries antibodiesfor a common allergen found in cat saliva (Fel d 1). This allergen is transferred to fur when cats lick themselves while grooming. When cats eat LiveClear, the antibodies bind to the allergen and neutralize it —before it gets on their fur.
FAST-ACTING, LONG-TERM RESULTS. In a clinical study of 105 cats, 97% showed a reduction in allergens on hair and dander, with an average decrease of 47% during week three. GH’s consumer study echoed these benefits. “Brody loves to be right in my face, and that was easier to deal with these past few weeks,” raved one tester.
IMPRESSIVE NUTRITION. In GH tests, 94% of at-home users were impressed by the added nutrients in the formula, which include omega-6 fattyacids, probiotics, vitamins and minerals. “My cats seem to be thriving on the new food,”said a tester. “I’ll definitely look for it in the store when I need more cat food.”
PICKY-EATER FRIENDLY. Many testers noted that the food did not upset their cats’ stomachs, and 89% of them reported that their cats enjoyed eating the food.“Kitty loved it. He’s superpicky, and I was surprised that he didn’t turn up his nose a tit,” said one. “This is my go-to cat food now,” said another.
Birnur (she/her) led the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute from 2007 to 2023. In addition to overseeing product testing and GH Seal applications, she conducted our annual Beauty Awards selection process and was an active leader in GH’s green initiatives, including the Sustainable Innovation Awards and Raise the Green Bar Summit. In addition to earning M.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees in chemical engineering, she also has a professional certificate in sustainability management from Columbia University.
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 31, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Flourishing-Life-Of-Wish Virtual Reality Therapy (FLOW-VRT)-Relaxation, which has a special focus on relaxation, outperforms traditional relaxation for patients in palliative care, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in Frontiers in Virtual Reality.
Olive Kit Ling Woo, from the University of Hong Kong, and colleagues presented a structured, personalized, and innovative psychological intervention, FLOW-VRT, which makes use of VRT for symptom management. FLOW-VRT-Relaxation was designed for patients in need of palliative care to enhance end-of-life coping through personalized VR relaxation. The efficacy of FLOW-VRT-Relaxation was examined by comparing it to traditional relaxation practice in palliative care in a randomized trial involving 128 participants.
The researchers found that the symptoms of distress, physical or emotional in nature, which patients in palliative care have to endure, were significantly reduced following a FLOW-VRT-Relaxation session.
“Here we show that relaxation assisted by virtual reality outperforms traditional relaxation therapy in terms of physical and psychological symptom management in palliative care,” Woo said in a statement.
If you own one of the relatively few residential properties designed by modern-day starchitects, it’s a big deal. Not only because of the designer’s status as one of the world’s most influential contemporary contributors to the built environment, but because in many parts of the world, most homes aren’t truly designed at all. It’s assumed that as little as 2% of residences around the world are spearheaded by an architect. So if you get any architect to artfully craft a home for you, it’s a pretty exciting experience—one that only grows if it’s a legendary designer too.
While many of today’s starchitects have solidified their names through towering contributions to global skylines, striking concert halls, world-class hotels, and other projects of the like, many also have a small—but mighty—portfolio of private residences. No surprise that they’re pretty astonishing places. Below, AD visits six residential properties designed by modern-day starchitects around the world.
AI streamlines process. AI simplifies digital advertising tasks, enhancing campaign asset selection.
Conversational experience. Google’s Gemini AI facilitates ad creation with chat-based interface, improving workflow.
Emerging trends noted. Increased emphasis on image quality in ads correlates with higher conversion rates.
The anticipated pot of gold from AI lies in any conversational experience that simplifies tasks on a particular platform, with digital ads being especially ripe for streamlining and simplification. Marketers are confronted with a plethora of asset choices, each designed to entice customers to make purchases, ranging from a new watch to an insurance plan. The pressing question now is how conversational AI can enhance the process of choosing campaign assets. Let’s take a look at the impact of Google’s Gemini AI model on Google Ads.
Google aims to tackle this challenge in digital advertising by introducing a conversational experience in Google Ads. This feature marks the first application of Google’s Gemini AI model specifically for Google Ads.
Google aims to tackle this challenge in digital advertising by introducing a conversational experience in Google Ads.IB Photography on Adobe Stock Photos
The conversational AI experience enhances the creation of search campaigns through a chat-based interface. Marketers start by selecting a landing page.
How It Works
Then, Google AI analyzes the page, summarizing its content and generating relevant keywords. It also crafts ad headlines, descriptions, images and other assets. This process results in a campaign primed for review and modification. Before deployment, the AI can also provide additional suggestions.
The conversational AI experience for Google Ads will feature images watermarked with SynthID, a system that embeds an invisible watermark. These images will also carry open standard metadata, indicating their AI-generated origin.
AI Insights As Needed
In short, the conversational AI experience allows advertisers to use chat to generate relevant ad content from a landing page URL, with an AI assistant on hand to provide insights as needed. By improving the campaign selection process, Google has streamlined keyword and asset selection for a quicker workflow. This also enables advertising teams to easily approve assets before campaigns go live online.
Google initially announced the integration of AI into Google Ads at the company’s Google Marketing Live event last May. Since then, Google has been actively working to incorporate the Gemini AI model into its platforms, including Bard. The company is keen to demonstrate how Gemini can assist in various use cases encountered by marketers.
The AI Paradigm Shift
The AI feature signifies a paradigm shift in the features that augment the use cases for using ads. Historically, Google has concentrated on adding features that emphasize media elements on the screen, like the introduction of lead forms in 2019. However, images have now emerged as a crucial factor in enticing customers to click on their online searches, significantly influencing conversion behavior. This trend can be chalked up to consumer segments increasingly engaging with video reels on their preferred platforms.
Google acknowledged this trend in its research. On its blog about the conversational experience for Google Ads, the company detailed its testing outcomes with a select group of advertisers. Google noted, “We observed that it helps them build higher quality Search campaigns with less effort.” The blog post explained further, “One of the ways we measure this is with a metric called Ad Strength that looks at the relevance, quality, and diversity of your ad copy…” Through its research, Google found a correlation between improved image quality and increased conversion rates.
More Digital Ad Features With AI Expected as Advertising Spend Remains Competitive
Google’s introduction of a new AI feature for digital ads coincides with a period of overall flat ad spending in 2023. As reported by Media Post, citing 2023 data from Guideline’s spend tracker, there was a notable decrease in ad spending during the first quarter. However, a recovery in the following quarters led to a slight overall increase of 0.5% in ad spend compared to the previous year.
An Increasingly Competitive Market for Ad Dollars
Ad campaigns remain in vogue, yet the data suggests a trend of slow spending growth, indicating an increasingly competitive ad market for marketers’ budgets. In addition to traditional online platforms such as social media and search engines, marketers now contend with an expanding variety of retail platforms competing for their advertising dollars. Many of these platforms both collaborate and compete with traditional choices. This evolving market landscape is pressuring industry leaders like Google to innovate solutions that not only cater to advertisers’ workflows but also enhance the options available on their platforms.
AI Solutions
This also implies that the market offerings for advertisers are set to become more intricate. Brand managers will be in search of solutions that most effectively streamline their workflow from these varied choices. AI features, such as those offered by Google, are poised to become these sought-after solutions.
The Next AI Steps in Digital Ad Campaign Management
The AI-driven conversational experience is currently available in beta to advertisers in the US and UK. Plans for a global rollout are underway, initially focusing on English-speaking territories, followed by regions with a diverse range of languages.
Looking out for New AI Tools
Meanwhile, marketers should remain vigilant for other platforms introducing AI tools that enhance their workflow. Considering Microsoft’s investment in and integration of ChatGPT into Bing, they are likely to closely follow Google’s strides in incorporating Gemini into its Google Ads offerings. Additionally, marketers shouldn’t overlook major retailers such as Walmart and Amazon, who have launched their own advertising platforms.
The Ultimate Measure
Regardless of emerging competitive strategies, the ultimate measure for marketers will be the enhancement of conversion metrics within analytics reporting. The challenge lies in achieving this improvement while judiciously managing advertising budgets. It remains to be seen which player will emerge as the frontrunner in the conversational AI and advertising heap.
