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Love is in the Air – and the Mail – This Valentine’s Day as Loveland, Colorado Launches 76th Valentine Season

Loveland Chamber of Commerce

In Loveland, the nation’s Sweetheart City, valentine season starts now. The Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Visit Loveland, and partners have unveiled details and plans for the 76 th year of the valentine program including the Valentine Re-Mailing Program, Sweetheart Festival, group wedding, valentine beer, wine and coffee, love locks, and the Sweetheart City Race. All activities and events happen in the first two weeks of February. “This is a very special year for Loveland and this amazing program. Going into the second year of this pandemic, there is no greater time to help spread love, joy, and unity when people need it most,” said Mindy McCloughan, president of the Loveland Chamber of Commerce. “Our designs and verses this year reflect Loveland’s desire to share this honored tradition with the world and show that love is the greatest gift we can give or receive. Let’s work together to spread even more joy, happiness, and love this valentine season.” Loveland’s Valentine Re-Mailing Program The 2022 official Loveland valentine card, collector’s stamp (also known as a cachet) and postmark have been announced. The collector’s stamp and postmark will be stamped on every piece of mail that comes through the program. Loveland receives around 100,000 valentines from all 50 states and 110 countries across the world through its Valentine Re-mailing Program, the largest program of its kind. Sponsors & Volunteers handstamp the collector’s stamp and postmark onto each individual valentine that comes through the city. To get this special collector’s envelope artwork and the special 2022 postmark, send your pre-addressed, pre-stamped valentines in an enclosed, larger 1st Class envelope. Then send this envelope to Postmaster - Attention Valentines, 446 E. 29th St., Loveland, CO 80538-9998. Once received, valentines will be removed from the larger envelope and stamped before being re-mailed to its intended recipient. All international-destined mail must be received in Loveland by Feb. 2, all U.S.-destined mail to states outside of Colorado must be received by Feb. 7, and all Colorado-destined mail must be received by Feb. 9 to ensure delivery by Valentine’s Day. Northern Colorado residents can drop off their valentines now through Feb. 9 at the following Loveland locations during normal business hours: Loveland Chamber of Commerce, 5400 Stone Creek Circle Mueller Pye & Associates CPA, LLC - 762 W. Eisenhower Blvd. Independent Financial – 935 N. Cleveland Ave. Aims Community College - 104 East 4th St. Barnyard Vet & Pet Supply – 806 14th St SW Participants are encouraged to send their valentines to Loveland as soon as possible. 2022 valentine card on sale The 2022 card was designed by Chris Bierdeman. The watercolor card design features the word love in multiple languages, surrounding a globe, with the words, “Sending Love Around The World. Happy Valentine’s Day From The Sweetheart City.” The valentine card verse written by Cindy Mast is: “From the Sweetheart City around the lake come valentine wishes for you to take. May love and joy head out your way from the heart of Colorado on Valentine’s Day.” Valentine cards can be purchased online at loveland.org for $7 (which includes the card, printing, processing, and postage), and for $4.50 at the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Loveland Visitors Center, The Bottled Olive, Colorado Coffee Company, Loveland King Soopers locations, Loveland Museum & Gallery, Rowes Flowers, and all Loveland Safeway locations. All cards purchased through loveland.org will automatically go through the remailing program. About the Loveland Chamber of Commerce Founded in 1902, the Loveland Chamber of Commerce is northern Colorado’s “driving force for business.” Comprised of more than 750 local companies, the chamber offers a vast array of educational and networking programs to help its investors, both large and small, gain the skills and resources necessary to thrive and prosper in today's economy. As a founding member of the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance (NCLA), the chamber also serves as an advocate for business, working on behalf of entrepreneurs to lead and influence local, state, and federal policy on issues affecting the unique interests of business in northern Colorado. For more information on the Loveland Chamber, please call 970-667-6311 or visit loveland.org. Contact Details Mindy McCloughan +1 970-744-4791 mmccloughan@loveland.org Company Website https://loveland.org/

January 11, 2022 09:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Velocity Global welcomes LPGA Tour Stars Lexi Thompson and Albane Valenzuela as brand ambassadors

Velocity Global

Velocity Globa l, the leading provider of global talent solutions, welcomed 11-time LPGA Tour champion, Lexi Thompson, and former Stanford collegiate standout and rising LPGA star, Albane Valenzuela, as global golf brand ambassadors. Both 2021 Olympians will display the Velocity Global logo on their hats throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Thompson and Valenzuela join six-time PGA TOUR champion and 2021 DP World Tour BMW PGA champion, Billy Horschel, and four-time Advocates Pro Golf Association (APGA) Tour champion, Kevin Hall, as global brand ambassadors for Velocity Global. “Studies are backed by stories from our clients and employees on how important ‘work anywhere’ is to women, and it was time for us to welcome two of the best professionals in the world of golf to help us tell that story,” said Rob Wellner, Velocity Global chief revenue officer. “Lexi and Albane carry our message to a global audience that embraces the opportunity to work for anyone, anywhere. We can’t wait to support both of them as they compete around the world.” Thompson is one of the biggest stars on the LPGA Tour and across all of sports, and has been a top performer since she turned pro in 2010 at the age of 15. She owns 14 worldwide professional victories, including one major championship, and she is currently ranked 12th on the Rolex Rankings. She has represented the U.S.A. five times at the Solheim Cup and twice as an Olympian in Rio and Tokyo. She turned her passion for fitness and self-care into businesses as an entrepreneur with her LEXI Skin and LEXI Fitness brands. “I’m blessed to apply my talents all over the world, and that’s what Velocity Global makes possible for other professions,” said Thompson. “They help people work for anyone, anywhere around the world. And as an entrepreneur, I love their passion for helping businesses grow. Velocity Global is a perfect fit and I’m proud to represent them.” Valenzuela is truly a global citizen of the game as she was born in New York, moved to Mexico at a young age, and later grew up in Switzerland. Her father is from Mexico and her mother is from France, which led to her fluencies in English, French, Spanish, and German. She had a historic collegiate career at Stanford University where she competed in 11 major championships as an amateur, was the 2019 Pac-12 Golfer of the Year, and was a two-time runner-up in the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Albane turned pro in 2020 and represented Switzerland in the last two Olympic games. She uses her platform on the LPGA Tour to support her other passion, Alexis for Autism, a foundation established with and named after her brother that raises funds for associations, foundations, and medical research for autism. “I grew up in a family that knows what it means to be global citizens, and I found a partner in Velocity Global that aligns with that world view,” said Valenzuela. “Golf is truly a global sport. To achieve success, you must perform against anyone, anywhere. That’s exactly what Velocity Global enables for businesses and talent.” Thompson and Valenzuela begin their 2022 seasons at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio on January 27. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work beyond borders. Its global work platform simplifies the employer and employee experience to employ any talent anywhere with just a click through its proprietary cloud-based workforce management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. As the largest global Employer of Record (also known as International PEO) in 185 countries and all 50 United States, more than 1,000 brands rely on Velocity Global to build global teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. The company offers additional services including Independent Contractor Compliance to assess a workforce, and Agent of Record (AoR) to streamline payments to contractors. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Velocity Global John Hall +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com For Lexi Thompson Brett Falkoff, VP, Golf, GSE Worldwide bfalkoff@gseworldwide.com For Albane Valenzuela Jon Heaton, VP, Excel Sports Management jheaton@excelsm.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

January 11, 2022 07:01 AM Mountain Standard Time

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Duality Robotics awarded DARPA project for photorealistic environmental simulation and sensing for autonomous UGVs

Duality Robotics

DARPA’s RACER-Sim program leverages advanced simulation to accelerate development of autonomous off-road vehicles that strive to match soldier driving abilities Duality to provide 20 km x 4 km photoreal and tunable virtual environment to simulate vehicle’s diverse operating conditions Precise digital twin of the vehicle is capable of streaming high fidelity, real time synthetic data from virtual sensors Duality and Neya Systems to close the loop between real and virtual worlds for virtualized validation in complex terrain Duality Robotics has been selected as a provider of advanced environmental simulation technology to help bridge the gap from virtual to real-world environments as part of DARPA’s (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) RACER-Sim program. Over the next four years, the goal of DARPA’s Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency – Simulation (RACER-Sim) program is to ensure that algorithms can be developed, validated and deployed more efficiently to enable autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) that meet or exceed soldier driving abilities in diverse terrains and operating conditions. To help meet this goal, Duality Robotics will leverage its expertise in bridging the physical and virtual worlds, as well as its Falcon platform for advanced digital twin simulation. The Duality Robotics team is also tasked with building a 80 km 2 realistic environment wherein autonomous vehicle systems can be designed and validated, ensuring their ability to maneuver off-road landscapes as precisely as humans. To capture the natural variations of a physical environment, no two square meters of this environment will be identical. In addition, the environment can be tuned to increase or decrease vegetation cover, rock sizes and other operating conditions using Pixar’s open-source Universal Scene Description (USD) format — the interoperable 3D data model that forms the backbone of Duality’s platform. The other key building block of Duality’s platform is the Unreal Engine from Epic Games which functions as a 3D operating system for the Falcon simulator as well as an authoring ecosystem with readily available 3D assets and talent. Duality has partnered with Neya Systems, a division of Applied Research Associates, to leverage Neya’s autonomy expertise to validate the developed technologies through testing, data collection, machine modeling, and integration with autonomy stacks. By connecting to the data streams from virtual sensors in Falcon, the autonomy algorithms will make complex driving decisions in real time and pass back machine actuation commands to the digital twin of the UGV. This closed loop simulation will also allow RACER participants to more quickly understand the implications of algorithm and code changes in their autonomy software, run regressions to ensure system stability, and collect synthetic data to train their machine learning (ML) models. “In partnership with DARPA and the other RACER program participants, Duality Robotics and Neya Systems will help accelerate innovation in environmental simulation and autonomy software for mission critical UGV applications,” said Michael Taylor, Chief Product Officer, Duality Robotics. “Duality is building foundational infrastructure for improving automated unmanned vehicles’ safety, reliability and adaptability in and around complex operating environments.” “With these tools and capabilities, Neya can quickly create a range of scenarios, validate new software builds and measure system performance parameters at a fraction of the cost,” said Mike Formica, Division Manager, Neya Systems. About DARPA’s Robotic Autonomy in Complex Environments with Resiliency – Simulation (RACER-Sim) Program The RACER-Sim program is seeking to develop technologies that bridge the gap from simulation to the real world and significantly reduce the cost of off-road autonomy development. While the past decade has seen increased use of simulation in developing field robotics, the military off-road environment is especially challenging and complex. Requirements include re-creating three-dimensional surfaces, compliant soils and vegetation, hundreds of obstacle classes, and unique platform-surface interactions. In addition, modeling the high speed off-road performance of sensors/modalities and their interaction with the environment remains a software and processing challenge. Over a four year timeline, RACER-Sim will develop technologies that are applicable to the off-road environment in the areas of algorithm development, simulation element technologies, and simulator content generation. About Neya Systems Neya Systems, a division of Applied Research Associates, is a leader in advanced off-road autonomy and high-level multi-robot mission planning. Neya provides innovative solutions to customers in the defense, mining, construction, and security industries. Neya’s full-stack autonomy includes capabilities in low-level control, perception, safeguarded teleoperation, full autonomy, and multi-agent mission planning. To learn more, visit www.neyarobotics.com About Duality Robotics With over 50 patents across robotics, simulation and visualization, Duality’s multidisciplinary team is building the enterprise Metaverse for solving real world problems. Accurate digital twins of environments and operating systems result in high-fidelity data and predictive behavior modeling that enables Duality’s customers to deploy automated systems robustly and at scale. For more information, visit www.duality.ai. Contact Details Jenna Beaucage press@duality.ai Company Website https://www.duality.ai

January 10, 2022 08:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Cityneon Holdings and Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment Partner To Bring Unique Immersive Themed Art Experiences inspired by DC and the Wizarding World

Cityneon

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 16 December 2021 - Cityneon Holdings is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment to produce two brand-new, unique global touring themed art experiences inspired by DC and the Wizarding World, slated to launch in 2023. Audiences around the globe will be awestruck as they are able to engage in an all-new way with their favorite Super Heroes and the beloved Wizarding World, through immersive themed art environments. Both experiences will fuse cutting-edge media, sound, and technology together to create a truly sensorial visitor experience. "We're excited to announce our partnership with Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment to deliver two unique experiences based on two of their most successful and globally acclaimed franchises, the DC Universe and the Wizarding World," said Mr Ron Tan, Executive Chairman & Group CEO of Cityneon. "This strategic relationship is a testament to our determination to scale greater heights in the arena of IP experiences. With Cityneon's strong track record of delivering large-scale and innovative experiences globally, I am confident that the DC and Wizarding World experiences will be truly unique and immersive experiences that fans of all ages will enjoy." "We are thrilled to be partnering with Cityneon on these two new cutting-edge immersive themed art experiences," said Peter van Roden, SVP Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment. "Each of the new experiences will help us further continue to reach our DC and Wizarding World fans with fresh, innovative and immersive experiences where guests can interact with the franchises like never before." Additional details will be announced at a later date. About Cityneon Holdings Cityneon is a global experience entertainment company that holds global partnerships with billion-dollar studios such as Disney and Marvel for Marvel Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. and Marvel Avengers Station Evolution, Hasbro for Transformers: The Experience, Universal for Jurassic World: The Exhibition, Lionsgate for The Hunger Games: The Exhibition and 20th Century for Avatar: The Exhibition. The company also partners the governments of Peru and Egypt for their original artifact IP experiences, Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru and Ramses the Great and the Gold of the Pharaohs respectively. These partnerships have enabled the Group to bring compelling experiences that leave lasting memories to visitors in more than 50 cities to date globally. With its global reach and international partnerships, Cityneon has the capability to serve its clients anywhere in the world. Cityneon was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Stock Exchange since 2005, and was privatized on February 2019 by West Knighton Limited, a company wholly owned by Cityneon's Executive Chairman and Group CEO, Ron Tan, together with Hong Kong veteran entrepreneur and investor, Johnson Ko Chun Shun. Johnson is a capital markets veteran and has held controlling interests and directorships in many listed companies. In May 2019, Cityneon welcomed CITIC Capital as a new shareholder, who holds approximately 9% shares in Cityneon. CITIC Capital is part of CITIC Group, one of China's largest conglomerates, and has over US$29B of assets under its management across 100 funds and investment products globally. Other institutional shareholders of the Group include EDBI – a Singapore government-linked global investor, and Pavilion Capital - a Singapore-based investment institution which focuses on private equity investments, that made strategic investments to the Group in August and October 2019 respectively. In April 2021, Cityneon welcomed new investors Seatown Holdings International, Qatar's Doha Venture Capital, which will now own approximately 4% of the Group, and other financial institutions and family offices in Singapore and China, joining the already strong stable of shareholders to support the Group's further expansion globally. For more information, please visit www.cityneongroup.com. About Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment (WBTE), part of WarnerMedia Global Brands and Experiences, is a worldwide leader in the creation, development and licensing of location-based entertainment, live events, exhibits and theme park experiences based on WarnerMedia's iconic characters, stories, and brands. WBTE is home to the groundbreaking global locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, WB Movie World Australia, and countless other experiences inspired by DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby, Game of Thrones, Friends and more. With best-in-class partners, WBTE allows fans around the world to physically immerse themselves inside their favorite brands and franchises. About Wizarding World In the years since Harry Potter was whisked from King's Cross Station onto Platform nine and three quarters, his incredible adventures have left a unique and lasting mark on popular culture. Eight blockbuster Harry Potter films based on the original stories by J.K. Rowling have brought the magical stories to life and today, the Wizarding World is recognised as one of the world's best-loved brands. Representing a vast interconnected universe, it also includes two epic Fantastic Beasts films, (the third releasing in 2022), Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – the multi-award-winning stage-play, state-of-the-art video and mobile games from Portkey Games, innovative consumer products, thrilling live entertainment (including four theme park lands) and insightful exhibitions. This expanding portfolio of Warner Bros. owned Wizarding World experiences also includes Harry Potter New York – a brand new flagship store, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo, and the Platform 9 3⁄4 retail shops. The Wizarding World continues to evolve to provide Harry Potter fans with fresh and exciting ways to engage. For the worldwide fan community, and for generations to come, it welcomes everyone in to explore and discover the magic for themselves. About DC DC, a WarnerMedia Company, creates iconic characters, enduring stories, and immersive experiences that inspire and entertain audiences of every generation around the world and is one of the world's largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. As a creative division, DC is charged with strategically integrating its stories and characters across film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, interactive games, DC UNIVERSE INFINITE digital subscription service and community engagement portal. For more information visit dccomics.com and dcuniverseinfinite.com. WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR. (s21)All DC characters and elements © & ™ DC Comics. (s21) Contact Details Cityneon Holdings Wong Yi Lin +65 6571 6338 ir@cityneongroup.com Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment Phyllis Liu Phyllis.liu@warnerbros.com Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment Lindsay Kiesel Lindsay.Kiesel@warnerbros.com

December 16, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

COMCAST COMPLETES MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR BROADBAND EXPANSION TO MORE THAN 9,100 RURAL HOMES & BUSINESSES IN LAS VEGAS, NM

Comcast New Mexico

Comcast today announced the company completed a multi-million-dollar expansion to bring broadband and the entire suite of Xfinity services to more than 9,100 homes and businesses in Las Vegas, N.M. "The City of Las Vegas joins Comcast in celebrating the completion of this considerable investment in our community. An investment of this magnitude will support workforce development, virtual education, overall quality of life, and greater access to high-speed Internet for our residents. It also improves our Internet infrastructure in a way that may be attractive to businesses interested in locating or expanding their operations here," said Mayor Louie Trujillo of Las Vegas. “I am grateful for Comcast’s commitment to expanding broadband access in critical areas of New Mexico like Las Vegas.” This expansion is another example of Comcast’s investment in New Mexico to ensure residents and businesses have access to innovative, reliable, fast, and secure broadband services. In October, Comcast completed a network upgrade in Gallup, N.M. to bring Gig speeds to the community. In the last three years, Comcast has made $149.4 million investments in technology and infrastructure across the state. “This investment in Las Vegas will bring improved broadband services to thousands of homes and businesses -- expanding educational access and driving economic development opportunities within the community. Together with industry leaders like Comcast, New Mexico will continue to close the digital divide and address the needs of New Mexicans in communities large and small across the state,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Residential consumers in Las Vegas will have access to all Xfinity Internet service offerings with speeds faster than 1 Gig, as well as the award-winning Xfinity X1 video platform, Xfinity Home, Comcast’s professionally installed home security solution, and Xfinity Mobile. Comcast provides unmatched value to Xfinity Internet customers through superior WiFi coverage, control of connected devices with xFi in the Xfinity App, xFi Advanced Security for cyber security protection at the gateway level, a free Xfinity Flex 4K streaming device, as well as access to Peacock Premium and thousands of hours of free content. Businesses will have access to the full suite of Comcast Business services including Internet speeds up to 1 Gbps, Business TV, Phone, SmartOffice TM technologies, and dedicated business support. Comcast previously provided video-only services in Las Vegas. “Reliable broadband services are essential for healthy communities. With expanded broadband access, our community members can access telehealth, education, and other resources they need to stay connected and engaged” said Elmo Baca, Chair, Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation. This expansion provides low-income families and individuals across the Las Vegas area with access to Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, the nation’s largest and most successful broadband adoption initiative. The program provides 50 Mbps Internet service for $9.95 per month and the option to purchase a new Dell laptop for $150. Additionally, Comcast has participated in the federal government’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program since its inception in May 2021 and in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which extends and modifies the EBB. All Internet Essentials customers are eligible for ACP and can enroll in the program to receive their service for free. Since 2011, Internet Essentials has connected 296,000 low-income New Mexicans to the power of the Internet at home, many for the first time. “We welcome Comcast to our area. Having the services provided will be an incredible boost to our economy. Additional broadband options, including Gig Internet speeds, is critical for Las Vegas’ economic development goals. We know that relocating and expanding businesses need cutting-edge speeds,” said Philip Martinez, President, Las Vegas San Miguel Chamber of Commerce. “Technology is a powerful driver of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, and we recognize our company plays an important role in connecting New Mexicans to all the opportunities broadband offers,” said Chris Dunkeson, Area Vice President, Comcast. “Completing this expansion in Las Vegas is another example of our investment in New Mexico and our commitment to bringing more opportunities to communities around the state.” About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Julianne Phares +1 505-218-0961 julianne_phares@cable.comcast.com Comcast Kyle Biederwolf +1 505-264-5966 kyle_biederwolf@comcast.com Company Website https://newmexico.comcast.com/

December 13, 2021 08:29 AM Mountain Standard Time

Cityneon Expands its Presence in Middle East at Qatar Free Zones, Enhancing the Region’s Entertainment Technology Industry

Cityneon

New facility in Ras Bufontas Free Zone will cater to growing entertainment technology markets in the EMEA region Facility to include an international experience and entertainment technology centre, innovation lab and a large-scale production workshop DOHA, QATAR - Media OutReach - 1 3 December 2021 - Cityneon Holdings, a global entertainment company based in Singapore that specializes in unique, immersive, and large-scale experiences, signed in Doha a strategic partnership agreement with Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) to establish a facility in Qatar Free Zones. The facility will cater to growing entertainment technology and experience markets in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. QFZA and Cityneon Holdings officials during the signing ceremony held on 8th December 2021 Artist impression of Cityneon's new facility spanning 15,000 square meters in Ras Bufontas Free Zone The agreement was signed during a ceremony at Ras Bufontas Free Zone in the presence of H.E. Ahmad Al-Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of QFZA, H.E. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Secretary-General of Qatar's National Tourism Council and H.E. Jai S Sohan, Singapore’s Ambassador to Qatar, as well as QFZA senior management. It was signed by QFZA CEO Lim Meng Hui and Cityneon General Manager of Middle East Feroz Siddiqui. Cityneon’s senior management team, including Executive Chairman and Group CEO Ron Tan, joined virtually from Singapore. Cityneon’s new facility will be built across 15,000 square meters in Ras Bufontas Free Zone, and will include an international experience and entertainment technology centre, an innovation lab focused on R&D in animatronics and robotics, and a large-scale production workshop. Cityneon will produce large-scale experiences in Qatar as they have done around the world, such as their Jurassic World: The Movie Exhibition in Chengdu, China, and their Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. exhibition in Las Vegas and many more. Lim Meng Hui, CEO of QFZA, said, “We are delighted to welcome Cityneon, a leading entertainment technology company that designs and manufactures equipment and robotics for the sector. Cityneon’s decision to open its first such facility in the Middle East at Qatar Free Zones is testament to the strength of our offering and the exciting trajectory of the entertainment technology industry and the tourism sector in Qatar and across the region, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar Free Zones provide an ideal environment for international and local companies with the skills and innovation to help build a better future.” Cityneon’s Executive Chairman and Group CEO Ron Tan said, “We are pleased to be working closely with QFZA to fast-track our expansion plans in the EMEA region, which is a strategic and important market for the company. We see immense potential for our IP business in the EMEA region and the strategic location of our new facility in Qatar will be pivotal in addressing the markets that we plan to serve, as well as for us to reach out to potential partners and collaborators for the Group.” Feroz Siddiqui, who will lead the new facility as General Manager - Middle East, added, “With this new office we embark on our middle eastern journey in bringing cheer, joy, laughter and smiles to awe our audiences with our large, immersive and technologically advanced entertainment assets to the region.” Singapore’s ambassador to Qatar H.E. Jai S Sohan, who witnessed the ceremony, added, “It is my delight to see Cityneon set up base in Qatar Free Zones, a leading hub for innovation in the region, as the latest of many Singaporean companies with operations in Qatar. The new facility will not only boost tourism across the region but also attract a new talent pool to the developing entertainment technology industry.” The new venture is expected to bring varied benefits to Qatar. Cityneon is a global leader in immersive experiences and will help develop the regional entertainment technology and Intellectual Property (IP) industry to generate new jobs in robotics and animatronics, costume design and fabrication, and sculpting and moulding, among others. Qatar Free Zones’ technology and research ecosystem will enable Cityneon to enhance its IP business operations for the region and benefit from a growing community of like-minded organizations, dedicated research and innovation facilities, and partnership opportunities. The partnership between QFZA and Cityneon will also support Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which aims to create a knowledge-based economy and promote economic diversification. It will expand the significant skilled labour pool in Qatar and support the ongoing digital transformation of the country. About Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) started its operations in 2019 and it oversees and regulates world-class free zones in Qatar and secures fixed investments within the zones. QFZA offers outstanding opportunities and benefits for businesses seeking to establish operations and expand regionally and globally, providing quality infrastructure, a skilled workforce, 100% foreign ownership, access to investment funds, tax exemptions and partnership opportunities with Qatari entities. For more information on QFZA, visit https://qfz.gov.qa/. About Cityneon Holdings With its global reach and international partnerships, Cityneon has the capability to serve its clients anywhere in the world. Cityneon was listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Stock Exchange since 2005, and was privatized on February 2019 by West Knighton Limited, a company wholly owned by Cityneon’s Executive Chairman and Group CEO, Ron Tan, together with Hong Kong veteran entrepreneur and investor, Johnson Ko Chun Shun. Johnson is a capital markets veteran and has held controlling interests and directorships in many listed companies. In May 2019, Cityneon welcomed CITIC Capital as a new shareholder, who holds approximately 9% shares in Cityneon. CITIC Capital is part of CITIC Group, one of China’s largest conglomerates, and has over US$29B of assets under its management across 100 funds and investment products globally. Other institutional shareholders of the Group include EDBI - a Singapore government-linked global investor, and Pavilion Capital - a Singapore-based investment institution which focuses on private equity investments, that made strategic investments to the Group in August and October 2019 respectively. In April 2021, Cityneon welcomed new investors Seatown Holdings International, Qatar’s Doha Venture Capital, which will now own approximately 4% of the Group, and other financial institutions and family offices in Singapore and China, joining the already strong stable of shareholders to support the Group's further expansion globally. For more information, please visit www.cityneongroup.com. #Cityneon Contact Details Wong Yi Lin +65 6571 6338 ir@cityneongroup.com

December 13, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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How A Camp Network Founded By Paul Newman Continues To Serve Sick Children

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/n0Seg6W1dME Over three decades ago, Paul Newman, the Hollywood icon and founder of Newman’s Own food company and Newman’s Own Foundation, envisioned a camp where kids living with serious and life-limiting medical conditions could break away from the everyday challenges of their illness to, as he said, “raise a little hell.” Today, Serious Fun Children’s Network, made up of 30 camps and programs around the world, has delivered more than 1.4 million life-changing camp experiences to kids living with more than 50 medical conditions and their families, totally free of charge. On November 30 th, live from New York City SeriousFun CEO Blake Maher and Newman’s Own Foundation President & CEO Miriam Nelson conducted a media tour discussing how Paul Newman’s vision has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of camp alumni who are living fuller lives because of their camp experiences. A key focus of the media tour was a first-of-its-kind study conducted by SeriousFun that examined the influence and lasting impact of residential camp participation With the help of the American Institutes for Research, SeriousFun set out to look at personal, social, and health-related outcomes that are influenced by SeriousFun camps, as well as the elements of the camp and camper's experiences that affect those outcomes Most notably, that SeriousFun camp experience had meaningful impacts that lasted throughout their adolescent and adult lives. Among 2,200 alumni campers aged 17-30, significant findings included: More than 80% reported that the SeriousFun camp experience had positive and lasting impacts on a variety of aspects of their life, including the willingness to try new things, appreciation for diversity, and self-identity and confidence. And, when it comes to health-related outcomes, more than 65% reported that camp influenced their health-related quality of life, medical self-advocacy and medical-related self care. For more information, visit SeriousFun.org About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 08, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Holiday Season Survival Guide

YourUpdateTV

With the holiday season well underway, it’s time to talk holiday gifting, decorating, entertaining, personalization, home styling, and more. And with in-person gatherings resuming, time spent with family and friends this holiday season is more precious than ever before. Recently, Lifestyle Expert and Star of Netflix’s Queer Eye, Bobby Berk, teamed with Shutterfly on a nationwide SMT to discuss his tips on gifting, decorating, and more. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/hjidEp0O0Zs More than two thirds of consumers are planning in-person gatherings, more holiday parties, and bigger celebrations this year and Shutterfly makes it easy to unleash your creativity after a year of being apart. According to Bobby, it’s all about giving something a bit more personal rather than something generic or store bought. It’s more meaningful and is such a great way to connect with friends and family after being apart. Shutterfly has so many good options that for people to customize. For example, if your friends love a good game night, create personalized playing cards, pencils and notebooks to really elevate game play. Not only is a personalized gift more meaningful to the recipient, it’s also easy to make whether you’re adding a photo, name, monogram, or unique saying. From custom blankets and candles to coffee mugs and wall art, Shutterfly has something for everyone. Some of Bobby’s favorite ways to add the perfect personal touches to holiday entertaining and decorating include color. Choose a color pallet of 2-3 colors and use them throughout your home. Lighting is also so important. Keep the lighting simple by using white lights and candles that are great for any space and candles can add a nice personal touch as well. Additionally, photos are a great way to decorate for the holidays. Whether that’s adding temporary photo tiles with your favorite holiday memories or decorating your tree with customized ornaments. Or finding the best photos of your party guests and using them as name tags or place cards. For more information, visit Shutterfly.com About Bobby Berk: Berk is best known as the design guru on Netflix’s Queer Eye, but his rise to fame didn’t happen overnight. After years in the creative and design field, he took the leap to start his own brand. Epitomizing hip, urban luxury, Berk’s designs reflect a stylish and youthful spirit that perfectly fits any lifestyle. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 08, 2021 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

Video

Expo 2020 Dubai Enters The Metaverse World Connecting Millions Across The Physical & Digital Globally

Magnopus

From today, anyone anywhere can experience the magic of Expo 2020 Dubai with friends and family. The World Expo has teamed up with Magnopus to offer an enriching digital experience for millions of on-site and remote visitors from around the world. Expo Dubai Xplorer sets a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity to large events and expands the World Expo’s vision of ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ into the virtual world of Metaverse. The multi-player experience is available on iOS and Android powered by cloud-hosted services developed by Magnopus. Unique features include: Real-time connectivity between on-site and remote users across the physical and digital divide. One of the largest deployments in the world of persistent Cloud Anchors which allow millions of on-site visitors to experience AR spectacles aligned accurately to real world locations. A social, interactive digital twin of the 4.38km² Expo site—a living world built from the architectural files of the site and enriched with content and experiences. Uniting The Physical & Digital Users can customize their own AI-powered avatar and connect with others in real-time across the physical and digital divide. Standing on the Expo site, a visitor may see a friend from the other side of the world (viewed through the lens of their phone) as an avatar they can share experiences with, and communicate with via group creation and messaging. On-site hardware will also link the physical and digital worlds. Smart screens called “Digital World Viewers” show views of digital content to enhance the physical landscape for visitors. The desktop application is designed to mimic the capabilities of the mobile applications by connecting to the same cloud services for local content and avatar display. Augmented Reality Aligned To Real World Locations By using ARCore Cloud Anchors by Google for hundreds of location-specific activations around the site, visitors will experience entertaining and educational AR content relevant to wherever they are at Expo 2020 Dubai. AR activations including mysterious portals to far-off places, treasure hunts through history, and magical creature encounters are all aligned to real world locations with centimeter accuracy. This is currently one of the largest deployments of ARCore Cloud Anchors in the world. Geospatial authoring interfaces and global content delivery networks for updating and publishing new content in real-time enable designers to release new interactive AR experiences anywhere on the site during the run of Expo 2020 Dubai. Powered by a set of cloud-hosted services, content is automatically streamed down to the user's device when they approach a location or interact with an experience, without impacting the application’s install size. This enables users to experience any number of magical AR moments, all from a relatively small application on their device, and new or updated experiences can be pushed while the visitor is still in the app. Remote visitors can access the same AR content and experiences, over a connected digital twin of the site, via an interface similar to popular mobile games like Fortnite or Roblox. A Live, Social Digital Twin The digital twin of the Expo site covers more than 200 buildings from the world’s leading architects across a huge 4.38km 2 site, including 192 unique country pavilions. Hundreds of artists working around the world spent more than two years creating the living digital replica, enhancing it with dynamic lighting, art installations, animated experiences, and stunning spectacles. Virtual reality was used to collaboratively develop the designs and experiences so they could be tested before the physical site was even built. The visitor experience geolocates content on the site in real-time, so the digital twin has been built to a high degree of accuracy, at 1:1 scale from the architect’s CAD files, and confirmed with “as-builts”. Due to the size and detail of the site, it can’t be stored on visitor’s devices in its entirety and is streamed to visitors based on their location and proximity. The system also accounts for the performance capabilities of the visitor’s device to deliver the highest quality representation possible. Ben Grossmann, CEO of Magnopus, says, “This is the biggest space to date, connected across the physical and digital worlds. These ‘connected spaces’ are the building blocks of the new immersive web, or Metaverse. We’ve been working on these kinds of experiences and technologies for many years, and it was thrilling to take things to the next level to bring this grand vision to life with the Innovation and Future Technologies team at Expo 2020 Dubai." Rehan Asad, Chief Program Officer for Expo 2020 Dubai, says, “The Virtual Expo is an important part of delivering Expo 2020 Dubai’s promise and purpose— ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future ’. In 2013, Expo 2020 Dubai promised the world to host not only the best ever physical Expo but also the very best virtual Expo. That commitment and COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us to find innovative ways to share the Expo experience and content of our once-in-a-lifetime World Expo with a larger global audience who may not be able to travel from around the world. Magnopus and the wider team have unified the most innovative technologies into one integrated experience that truly brings Expo 2020’s creative vision to life in the digital and virtual world.” Daisy Leak, the project’s Executive Producer, says, “The global pandemic has affirmed that events can no longer be purely physical, or with only a perfunctory video streaming presence. By uniting 200 countries in a common experience, and making that experience available to visitors both on-site in Dubai and around the world, in an engaging and spatial context, we hope to serve as an example of what the future offers to unite people and places in a better way.” The multiplayer experience has been in development for nearly three years with world-class partners including Google, Unity Technologies, and Amazon Web Services with key contributions from: REWIND (experience design and platform development) Virtuos (3D asset development) Hexagram (quest narrative design and technology) Pinscreen (avatar technology with AI-driven face synthesis) Dog Studio (web development for Virtual Expo connected to content databases) VIM (BIM conversion technology) Terahard (activation development) Activated Realities (activation development) Source Sound (audio design and development) Expo Dubai Xplorer is available to download now on iOS and Android. About Magnopus Founded in 2013, Magnopus creates experiences and technologies that unite the physical and digital worlds. Magnopus is known for its continuous innovation in the entertainment industry; its Emmy-nominated VR projects; its role as a leader in virtual production through its groundbreaking work on Disney’s The Lion King (2019); and its pioneering work in AR. This year Magnopus acquired REWIND, a UK spatial design and innovation company, to further its mission to merge the physical and digital and lay the foundation for the new immersive web. About Expo 2020 Dubai From 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai welcomes visitors from every corner of the globe to join the making of a new world, as it brings together the planet in one place to reimagine tomorrow @ www.virtualexpodubai.com With the purpose of ‘ Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, Expo 2020 is the world’s most impactful global incubator for new ideas, catalysing an exchange of new perspectives and inspiring action to deliver real-life solutions to real-world challenges Expo 2020 is the biggest cultural gathering in the world, presenting a visually striking and emotionally inspiring 182 days, as more than 200 participants – including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses, and educational institutions, as well as millions of visitors – create the largest and most diverse World Expo ever Expo 2020’s sub themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability inspire visitors to preserve and protect our planet, explore new frontiers and build a better future for everyone For six months, Expo 2020 is be a must-visit family destination, with thousands of events, amazing exploratory experiences, and free entry for children up to age 18 Expo is committed to building a more equitable and just world for everyone, while keeping visitors safe by following the latest guidance of the world’s leading medical, science and health experts Expo 2020 is the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, located on a 4.38 sqkm site adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South Built with a meaningful and measurable long-term legacy in mind, the Expo site will transform into District 2020 – a model global community that will rethink the cities of the future – after Expo 2020 closes its doors Contact Details Clear Andrew Graham +1 646-385-0189 asg@agencyclear.com Rewind Jude Forbes +44 1727 261007 jude@rewind.co Company Website https://www.magnopus.com/

December 07, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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