Citizenship

Wyser Ltd Awarded £1 Million Innovate UK Grant to Continue Their Work to Reduce Bias in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Models

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Wyser is partnering with the University of Bath, the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, Acas, and AdviceUK for this project.

Key Points: 
  • Wyser is partnering with the University of Bath, the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, Acas, and AdviceUK for this project.
  • The main goal of the programme is to reduce bias in Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems –commonly known as voice recognition systems - and here’s why that matters.
  • More than half of households in the UK with internet access use voice assistant devices like Amazon Alexa.
  • Mark Pearce, CEO of Wyser states: “We are incredibly excited and proud to have been awarded this additional grant from Innovate UK.

Amazon Hosted Record-Breaking Black Friday and Cyber Monday Holiday Shopping Event, and Announces Millions More Holiday Deals to Come

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 28, 2023

In addition, Amazon Gift Cards make a popular gift for any style, size, and budget, with no fees or expiration dates.

Key Points: 
  • In addition, Amazon Gift Cards make a popular gift for any style, size, and budget, with no fees or expiration dates.
  • Other best-selling items on Amazon during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shopping event were Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original, Ring Video Doorbell, and BISSELL Little Green Multi-Purpose Portable Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner.
  • Customers bought millions of Amazon devices, including Fire TV, Echo, and Ring, which were best sellers.
  • For the first time, Prime members purchased great deals directly from Buy with Prime merchants during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday holiday shopping event.

Canada builds on pledges and partnerships at the Global Refugee Forum

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 15, 2023

This week, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, led Canada's delegation to the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva.

Key Points: 
  • This week, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, led Canada's delegation to the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva.
  • Building on previous commitments, he presented and endorsed a number of pledges that advance solutions to the global refugee crisis.
  • I am honoured to have served as a refugee advisor to the Canadian delegation at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum.
  • I hope that commitments made at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum lead to more equitable, expedited responses for refugees."

First Citizens Bank Serves as Lead Arranger on $345 Million in Financing for DataBank Data Center

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Citizens Bank today announced that its Technology, Media and Telecommunications Finance business served as lead arranger of $345 million in financing on behalf of DataBank for construction of a new hyperscale data center in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- First Citizens Bank today announced that its Technology, Media and Telecommunications Finance business served as lead arranger of $345 million in financing on behalf of DataBank for construction of a new hyperscale data center in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
  • A leading provider of enterprise-class edge colocation, interconnection, and managed cloud services, DataBank is expanding its data center capacity to meet the burgeoning demand for artificial intelligence applications.
  • DataBank's new ATL4 facility, located 20 minutes outside of downtown Atlanta, is a single-tenant, fully leased data center that will be supported with renewable power.
  • "We appreciated the agility and expertise of the First Citizens Bank team in making this financing a reality."

International Experience Canada opens the 2024 season to welcome international youth

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 11, 2023

IEC is a reciprocal program that allows Canadian and international youth aged 18–35 to work and travel in each other's countries.

Key Points: 
  • IEC is a reciprocal program that allows Canadian and international youth aged 18–35 to work and travel in each other's countries.
  • While we look forward to welcoming international youth from even more countries in 2024, Canadian youth will also have more options than ever to gain international experience and perspectives by visiting our partner countries.
  • With the opening of the 2024 season, participants will once again be able to take part in the Canadian experience through work and travel.
  • "Canada benefits when young people around the world participate in International Experience Canada.

Consumer champion Justin Gutmann Announces £3 billion plus 'Loyalty Penalty' Class Action claim against UK's largest mobile network operators

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 8, 2023

Consumer champion and former Citizens Advice executive, Justin Gutmann is bringing the case against the UK's four largest mobile phone network operators: Vodafone, EE, Three, and O2, and their respective parent companies.

Key Points: 
  • Consumer champion and former Citizens Advice executive, Justin Gutmann is bringing the case against the UK's four largest mobile phone network operators: Vodafone, EE, Three, and O2, and their respective parent companies.
  • The £3bn plus claim alleges that the companies used their market dominance to overcharge on up to 28.2 million UK mobile phone contracts.
  • LONDON, Dec. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer rights champion Justin Gutmann and the law firm Charles Lyndon have today announced that class action proceedings have been launched against Vodafone, EE, Three, and O2 (the "Loyalty Penalty Claim").
  • Mr Gutmann alleges the mobile operators have overcharged on up to 28.2 million contracts and, as a result, is seeking damages of at least £3.285 billion.

Citizen Watch America Celebrates Opening of Fifth Avenue CITIZEN FLAGSHIP STORE NEW YORK

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 7, 2023

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizen Watch America (CWA), a leader in accessible luxury timepieces, marked the official opening of the group's first-ever U.S.-based multi-brand flagship store yesterday evening. CITIZEN FLAGSHIP STORE NEW YORK, situated within one of Manhattan's premiere shopping destinations at 605 Fifth Avenue, steps from Rockefeller Center, is a new retail concept inviting customers to shop the full range of timepiece offerings across the group's portfolio of brands that includes Citizen, Bulova, Accutron, Frederique Constant, and Alpina.

Key Points: 
  • The premiere retail destination offers an immersive shopping experience with Accutron, Alpina, Bulova, Citizen, and Frederique Constant brands
    NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizen Watch America (CWA), a leader in accessible luxury timepieces, marked the official opening of the group's first-ever U.S.-based multi-brand flagship store yesterday evening.
  • A seamless 20ft-long branded wall showcasing the company's rich legacy in watchmaking leads you through the flagship toward dedicated shop-in-shop destinations for each brand.
  • "We are proud to join the ever-growing Fifth Avenue shopping district and introduce Citizen Watch America group brands through an innovative and immersive experience," says Jeffrey Cohen, President of Citizen Watch America.
  • A premiere collection sought after by watch enthusiasts worldwide, The CITIZEN will be available in the NYC flagship location.

Southern New Hampshire University President Paul LeBlanc to Step Down after Transformative 20 Years of Leadership

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 6, 2023

MANCHESTER, N.H., Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than two decades of leadership, President Paul J. LeBlanc announced today that he will step down as president and CEO of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) on June 30, 2024. The SNHU Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Lisa Marsh Ryerson, the current university provost, as president for a two-year term effective July 1, 2024.

Key Points: 
  • MANCHESTER, N.H., Dec. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After more than two decades of leadership, President Paul J. LeBlanc announced today that he will step down as president and CEO of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) on June 30, 2024.
  • "It has been the honor of a lifetime to be the president of SNHU for the past 20 years," LeBlanc said.
  • Throughout LeBlanc's tenure, SNHU was named to the "World's Fifty Most Innovative Companies" list and was the only university included.
  • Paul has not just led, but he has redefined what it means to be a true innovator in higher education.

Darkhive Inc. Closes $4M Seed Round to Scale Development of Low-cost Autonomous Drones for Defense and Public Safety

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 30, 2023

This round of financing will enable Darkhive to accelerate production of both hardware and software product lines in support of high-profile Department of Defense initiatives.

Key Points: 
  • This round of financing will enable Darkhive to accelerate production of both hardware and software product lines in support of high-profile Department of Defense initiatives.
  • Matt Bigge, Partner at Crosslink Capital and Darkhive Board Member, commented "Darkhive represents the future of uncrewed systems.
  • Their open hardware and software architecture enables the first truly scalable, interoperable and cost appropriate approach to US-made drones.
  • Crosslink is excited to work with the Darkhive team to facilitate this strategic architectural approach at a critical time for US National Security."

Millions of US Workers Can Move their Direct Deposit in Seconds with Pinwheel's Breakthrough Direct Deposit Switching (DDS) Product, Powered by the Industry's First-ever API-Driven Payroll Provider Partnership with Workday Service Provider OneSource Virtu

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Pinwheel, the fintech helping banks win primacy through automated direct deposit switching and instant account funding, and One Source Virtual (OSV), a top 5 payroll provider and one of the fastest-growing payroll providers in the United States, formed the industry's first announced partnership between an API company and a payroll company. The partnership is the start of Pinwheel's creation of a first-of-its-kind network of payroll providers, which will power a frictionless, login-free DDS experience. This alliance marks a significant inflection point for financial services and responds to growing consumer demand for more transparency, control, and portability over their banking relationships.

Key Points: 
  • This completely frictionless experience will power easy direct deposit switching for millions of US workers at approximately 1,000 employers across America.
  • The partnership is the start of Pinwheel's creation of a first-of-its-kind network of payroll providers, which will power a frictionless, login-free DDS experience.
  • Today, the addition of OSV to Pinwheel's Partner-Based Direct Deposit Switching network frees nearly 30M U.S. workers from these constraints.
  • I'm proud of our work at Pinwheel and excited to announce the continued expansion of our payroll partnerships network."