On November 15th, to mark the occasion of World Recycling Day, FAMAE will officially launch its 1st Innovation Challenge seeking pragmatic, efficient, durable, universal and money-saving solutions to reduce or recycle the yearly waste generated by an urban family (using if necessary existing solutions).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171114005141/en/

Waste Reduction and Waste Recycling: the 1,000,000€ FAMAE Innovation Challenge is launched. ©Antoine Repessé - #365 Unpacked

This Innovation Challenge primarilytargets top universities (students, researchers …), enterprises (SMEs, startups, incubators …) and philanthropic actors (NGOs, social entrepreneurs …). This 1 000 000€ contest is one of the largest competitions ever launched in the world.

Inspired by the COP21 Paris Agreement ratified by 166 nations on December 12th, 2015, FAMAE is committed to making our planet green again!

The Innovation Challenge is open to everybody. Candidates are able to apply through a simple process on a secured IT platform, from November 15 (2017) to February 15 (2018). Selection of projects and nominees will occur until May 2018 while more information will be required from applicants.

A dedicated jury will review all the applicants’ projects and carry out the final selection in the spring of 2018. The members of the jury are representatives fromAgoranov, Zero Waste, other Greentech experts, FAMAE founder Eric Philippon, Cedric Villani (renowned scientist, Fields Medal winner in 2010 …), Jacques Lewiner (Scientist and renowned inventor with 1000 patents) and Geneviève Férone (Vice President of The Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind).

This 1,000,000 € contest is supported by renowned partners:Agoranov (which will incubate one of the nominee projects), Zero Waste (which will bring its waste management expertize), Viva Technology (which will host the Award ceremony), La Ruche (which currently hosts our team), Make.org (which will share the Challenge within its civic tech community).

Eric Philippon, FAMAE president : « We fund bright inventors to help them create simple and innovative solutions which can substantially improve the lives of hundreds of millionsof urban citizens while significantly alleviating their environmental footprint.Innovation Challenges help the emerging of disruptive solutions. Over the last 150 years, a trash bin has barely changed while the automotive industry has been through several quantum leaps! ».

Please see: https://famae.earth/

Contact on social networks Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Linkedin : FAMAE Challenge

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171114005141/en/

New research commissioned by Western Union shows that millennials across 15 countries are united by a belief in globalization, want the freedom to experience the opportunities it brings, and have a desire to play a role in shaping the future using technology. The survey of more than 10,000 millennials reveals that this group is confident that globalization will make the world a better place for themselves and others and are committed to leading the change.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005572/en/

Global Citizens (Graphic: Business Wire)

The world—politically, economically, socially, and technologically—is in flux. But what does this all mean for our future? The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) has commissioned a first-of-its-kind global study about millennials’ beliefs, hopes, and aspirations for the future and the world that they wish to shape for themselves and others.

The 2017 Western Union Global Study—“Globalization: A World View of the Future”—surveyed native, first-generation, and foreign-born people between the ages of 20-36 in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam through online interviews. Most countries surveyed represent significant millennial populations.

The survey shows that in sharp contrast to current geopolitics, this diverse group of tomorrow’s future shapers is united by a belief in a world of collaboration, unrestricted by geographical borders.

Western Union President and Chief Executive Officer Hikmet Ersek said, “The world is changing and there is a new economic power shift driven by a new generation of global citizens. They are shaping the future, and inspiring others to do the same. They are redefining globalization to one of ‘personal globalization’ where the pursuit of limitless cross-border movement, cross-border digital communication, and creative lifestyle drives new economic power.

“These inspiring future shapers are the leaders of tomorrow and are looking at how they want the world to be, not only for themselves, but for all. This generation is made up all kinds of future leaders—entrepreneurial, corporate, political, and social influencers. It is vitally important to understand what they think and what they want the world to look like,” said Ersek.

Western Union operates in 200 countries and territories worldwide, and commissioned the survey to gain additional insights into the younger customers it serves through its digital channels.

The following key findings are highlighted as important to millennials (please access supporting data in the Key Findings section below):

Global Citizenship: The Way of the Future

Global citizenship is pivotal for creating the world millennials want for the future, as they believe the concept of belonging to one individual country is outdated. Millennials view connection and collaboration as the most critical steps forward to achieving global citizenship.

Freedom to Be Global Safeguards the Future

The idea of limitless movement empowers millennials, as they believe it will allow them to control their destiny. The majority of millennials believe that creating a more open world will unlock opportunities for better job prospects and result in economic freedom, including the ease of money movement.

Governing the Future

Today, borders going up across the world—and politicians and governments reasserting the concept of the nation state—are leading many millennials to believe that these institutions are not representing their respective views. However, a significant number of millennials are adamant that collaboration is essential and believe that shaping the future is up to them, rather than institutions.

Unity and Inclusiveness

There are mixed sentiments regarding whether the world is at peace, given concerns that increased racism and nativism may pose a threat to global citizenship and an open world. Millennials believe the most important trait to eradicate social discrimination is ensuring that there is respect for diversity.

In tribute to the future shapers of the world, please view Western Union’s #LiveMore #ShareMore. manifesto.

WU-G

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil, and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable, and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments, and to purchase money orders. As of September 30, 2017, the Western Union, Vigo, and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of over 550,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and over 150,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the capability to send money to billions of accounts. In 2016, The Western Union Company completed 268 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $80 billion of principal between consumers, and 523 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

The 2017 Western Union Global Study
“Globalization: A World View of the Future” Key Findings:

Global Citizenship: The Way of the Future

Global citizenship is pivotal for creating the world millennials want for the future, as they believe the concept of belonging to one individual country is outdated. Millennials view connection and collaboration as the most critical steps forward to achieving global citizenship.

• The majority see themselves as global citizens rather than a citizen of any one country. This view is shared regardless of if they are native, first generation, or foreign born (57%).
• Approximately 90 percent agree that a better global future can be achieved through collaboration. They believe countries need to collaborate, rather than compete with one another, leading to a better global future (88%).
• More than 8 in 10 state that the rise of social media has played a significant role in uniting the world, promoting transparency, encouraging debate on global issues, and contributing to greater community unity (84%).
• Nearly two thirds believe that the free flow of technology (60%) and information (57%) across borders will become easier, but anticipate the flow of political ideas (61%) and people (60%) to become more difficult or remain stagnant.
• The majority view connection as a critical step forward to achieve global citizenship. Staying connected to global news via social media (49%), connecting with people from different cultures (47%), travelling to new places (43%), and interacting with people that are different from themselves (42%) is their way of creating a world they want for the future.

Freedom to Be Global Safeguards the Future

The idea of limitless movement empowers millennials, as they believe it will allow them to control their destiny. The majority of millennials believe that creating a more open world will unlock opportunities for better job prospects and result in economic freedom, including the ease of money movement.

• The desire for global citizenship is also about young people safeguarding their future. Almost eight in ten agree the thought of a future with limitless movement around the world empowers them (79%).
• More than two thirds agree they are better off financially due to their ability to live and work in other countries (71%).
• More than eight in ten agree that their ability to live and work in other countries will unlock opportunities for a better job and education (86%), and is a key component to their economic and personal freedom (82%).
• There is also the hope that people and business will work together, and that the exchange of commerce and money will become easier by 2030. More than half believe that sending money to a person in another country is set to get easier by 2030 (56%), with one-third arguing that a single global currency would foster great global unity (29%).
• Eventually, they believe that the world will take on a more globalized outlook, with 79 percent believing that the future will fit with the aspirations of global citizens.

Governing the Future

Today, borders going up across the world—and politicians and governments reasserting the concept of the nation state—are leading many millennials to believe that these institutions are not representing their respective views. However, a significant number of millennials are adamant that collaboration is essential and believe that shaping the future is up to them, rather than institutions.

• More than eight in ten (88%) want to participate or have their say on future matters of global and national significance. They believe technology can enable individuals to make their voices heard more easily.
• Seven out of ten believe future governments will be hybrids of democratic institutions and individuals—representing the power of people (70%).
• More than two thirds believe that shaping the future is up to them as individuals, rather than governments (71%).
• Forty percent believe the creation of a globalized world requires shared responsibility of all. This includes global and national stakeholders, such as international organizations, governments, the private sector, local communities, and individuals, all taking responsibility.
• Many expressed concerns that governments today are not fulfilling their hopes or representing their generation’s views. Two thirds believe that global institutions like the United Nations are more representative of them, rather than national or local governments (61% vs. 48% and 44%). Out of the 15 countries surveyed, millennials in:
  • US, UK, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Germany said, after global institutions, their local government represented them better than their national governments.
  • China, Egypt, Indonesia, and Vietnam said, after global institutions, their national government represented them better than their local governments.
  • Canada, Russia, and the UAE said their national government represented them better than global institutions and their local governments.
  • And in India, they said, global institutions and national governments represent them equally, while in South Africa they believe that their national and local governments represented them equally, after global institutions.

Unity and Inclusiveness

There are mixed sentiments regarding whether the world is at peace, given concerns that increased racism and nativism may pose a threat to global citizenship and an open world. Millennials believe the most important trait to eradicate social discrimination is ensuring that there is respect for diversity.

• Millennials are more divided than they are united about whether or not the world is currently at peace. Nearly 8 out of 10 say the world is more divided now than it was in 2015. More than half believe it will be more divided by 2030 (53%), while more than four out of 10 believe the world will be more united (47%).

• Those surveyed identify racism and a fear of immigrants as the biggest threats to global citizenship and an open world (36%), followed by nationalist politics, religious differences, and outdated immigration policies.
• The most important traits for achieving global citizenship and eradicating social discrimination is ensuring that there is respect for diversity and the ability to embrace other countries. Those surveyed identify respect for diversity (46%), the ability to embrace other cultures (43%), and adaptability (39%) as the most important traits of a global citizen.
• These future shapers believe that tackling issues of racism, xenophobia, religious intolerance, gender inequality, and freedom to be anywhere in the world are important to creating an ideal future world. A future free of racism (42%); barriers based on gender, religion, culture, or nationality (38%); and the ability to live, work, and play anywhere in the world (37%) were cited as the three most important factors for success.

The study consisted of a 15-country survey of 11,060 millennials (ages 20 to 36) with a +1.0% margin of error globally. The survey was completed in the following countries: Australia (n=1,104, +3.0%), Brazil (n=660, +4.0%), Canada (1,004, +3.0%), China (n=731, +3.0%), Egypt (n=578, +4.0%), Germany (n=505, +4.0%), India (n=844, +3.0%), Indonesia (n=716, +4.0%), Mexico (n=654, +4.0%), Russia (n=654,+4.0%), South Africa (n=664, +4.0%), the United Arab Emirates (n=500, +4.0%), the United Kingdom (n=1,009, +3.0%), the United States (n=1,004, +3.0%), and Vietnam (n=523, +4.0%). A full report for each country as well as the global results is available upon request. The research was conducted by Research Now via online interviews from September 26 to October 6, 2017.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005572/en/

• Continuously following up with 40 AMCs
• Transaction related work
• Back office and Customer Services related work
• After sales services - Maintaining records, preparing account statements, etc.
• Brokerage Reconciliation
• Query Resolution

• Dedicated online desk for Partners and Clients
• Client login facility through Partner’s website
• Various analytical tools to grow business
• Secure and user friendly Online Transaction facility – FundzBazar
• Automated form filling
• Mobile App for Partners (Android and iOS) and their clients (Android and iOS)

• Alankit Ltd. records strong growth of 32% in gross revenue in Q2 FY18 as compared with Q2 FY17
• Revenue recorded in Q2 FY18 is Rs. 24.65 cr, 32% up from Rs.18.62cr in Q2 FY17
• Profit before Tax up by Rs.7.22 cr, at 168% as compared to Rs. 2.69 cr in Q2 FY17
• Profit after Tax up by Rs.5.76 cr, at 252% as compared to Rs. 1.64 in Q2 FY17
• EBITA Q2 FY18 saw a growth of 174% compared with Q2 FY17, standing at Rs 7.36 cr

• Alankit Ltd. plans to further expand its base and operations in Gulf (applying for GULF-VAT license)
• Alankit Ltd. plans to apply for two RBI licenses – P2P and FFMC

• Alankit Ltd. as part of a joint venture in the UAE, will seek license for Gulf-VAT, FFMC (Full-fledged money changer) and P2P (Peer to Peer lending).
• With Alankit Ltd. successfully equipping businesses to file and comply GST returns in India, it is taking the expertise to the Middle East with VAT being implemented in the UAE from 1^st January, 2018.
• FFMC is authorized by the Reserve Bank to deal in foreign exchange for specified purposes.
• P2P license (RBI license) will establish Alankit Ltd. as an aggregator and help individuals looking to invest small sums of money at a higher interest rate.

Vocalink, a Mastercard company, supports The Clearing House (TCH) in the launch of RTP®, its transformative real-time payment system in the U.S., which empowers consumers and businesses to send and receive immediate payments domestically. Financial processes that used to take days can now be concluded in seconds. Two banks – U.S. Bank and BNY Mellon – have completed the first live transactions.

At its core, the technology behind The Clearing House’s RTP system is an evolution of Vocalink’s highly successful and reliable systems developed for the U.K., Singapore and Thailand. These real-time solutions sit at the centre of the global payments infrastructure and have been designed to ‘run on their own rails’, working alongside and between conventional settlement systems.

The TCH system operates 24/7 to process credit transfers, requests for payment, requests for information, confirmation messages, returned and rejected payments and system and service related messages. It also integrates support for multiple transaction channels, including online and mobile.

“The U.S. can now claim a leading position in real-time payment solutions. Working together with The Clearing House, we have delivered a best-in-class, functionally rich system capable of meeting the demands of today’s U.S. economy while building a system robust enough and flexible enough for further innovation,” said Paul Stoddart, CEO, Vocalink, a Mastercard company. “Now the U.S. is not only aligned with other markets, but is a trailblazer in the payments sector, providing consumers, businesses, banks and governments with the choice they demand.”

The revolutionary payment system supports interoperability across the global payments landscape. It will reach the largest number of financial institutions and accounts and allows for ease of integration with TCH’s third-party services, supporting anti-fraud, and compliance processes.

“The launch of our RTP system, which was developed using Vocalink’s technology, is a significant development for America’s banks, consumers and businesses. Not only will people be able to process payments in seconds, but the system offers a suite of payment-related communications,” said Jim Aramanda, CEO, The Clearing House. “We will provide increased efficiency and solve problems for businesses large and small as they track and reconcile payments. This new capability provides an opportunity for banks and others to add value for their customers.”

About Vocalink

A Mastercard company, Vocalink designs, builds and operates industry-leading bank account-based payment systems. Our technologies power the UK’s real-time payments, settlements and direct debit systems, as well as the UK’s network of over 70,000 ATMs. In 2016, we processed over 90 percent of salaries, more than 70 percent of household bills and almost all state benefits in the UK. In addition, our proven real-time bank account-based payment solutions provide more payment choice to customers in Singapore, Thailand and, soon, the United States. For payment news and insight from Vocalink visit CONNECT - http://connect.Vocalink.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171114005866/en/

Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, one of the largest casinos in the U.S. and one of only two casinos licensed to serve the New York City metropolitan area, today announced that it has initiated a process to explore alternatives, including strategic partnerships, to best position this leading gaming and entertainment facility for the future. Empire City serves more than 16 million eligible gaming customers in southern New York and is located only fifteen miles from Times Square in Manhattan.

The Rooney family, which has owned Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway for over 45 years, seeks the right strategic partner to enable the transformation of the iconic, nearly 100-acre property into one of the world’s greatest entertainment destinations.

“Since 1899, Empire City has served its community and customers through its exceptional commitment to the creation of an unparalleled gaming and racing experience,” said Timothy J. Rooney, President and CEO of Empire City. “We believe our prime location and outstanding accessibility will serve as a unique platform to create one of the world’s leading gaming, hospitality, and entertainment venues. We are excited to explore opportunities with potential partners who can build on the strong foundation we have established.”

There can be no assurance that the process will result in a transaction, or on the terms or timing of such a transaction, if undertaken. No definitive schedule to complete the search has been set. To assist in the process, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC has been retained as the financial advisor. Any developments with respect to the review of alternatives will not be disclosed until a definitive agreement has been reached, and all reviews are concluded.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005117/en/

Visa (NYSE:V) today announced the addition of three athletes who make up the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team to Team Visa, currently training to become the first ever African representatives, men or women, to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games in the sport of Bobsled. Together, Bobsled pilot Seun Adigun, and brakemen Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga, combine their elite track backgrounds to chase their bobsled dreams.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005320/en/

Visa Welcomes the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team to Team Visa for the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. From left to right: brakeman Ngozi Onwumere, pilot Seun Adigun, and brakeman Akuoma Omeoga. (Photo: Business Wire)

Without access to proper training equipment or valuable ice time to perfect their skills, the members of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team started their journey on the snow-less grounds of Houston, Texas, in a wooden sled they nicknamed ‘The Maeflower.’ Once the team set their sights on the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, they established a crowdfunding website hoping to raise the much-needed funds to get to PyeongChang. Upon discovering the page, Visa was inspired by their story and determination to carve out a place in history and pledged to help solidify the team’s trip to the Olympic Winter Games.

“When we first heard their story we recognized the collective spirit of these athletes as a perfect fit for Team Visa,” said Chris Curtin, chief brand and innovation marketing officer at Visa. “By joining Team Visa, we hope to provide this group of determined athletes with a global stage to tell their story and inspire athletes all over the world to follow their dreams and never give up.”

The athleticism and determination of each member of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team is palpable, as they push to rewrite history in their sport:

• Seun Adigun (Nigeria, Bobsled Driver): Adigun represented Nigeria in the 100m hurdles at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Wanting to get back on the Olympic stage, she began training for bobsled in 2014.
• Ngozi Onwumere (Nigeria, Bobsled Breakmen): Onwumere, a former competitive sprinter, clinched a Silver and Gold medal at the 2015 African Games in Republic of the Congo in the 200m and 4x100m relay, respectively. Onwumere started training after being recruited by Adigun in 2016.
• Akuoma Omeoga (Nigeria, Bobsled Breakmen): Omeoga is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where she was a sprinter for the university’s track and field team, competing in the 100m and 200m races. The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 will be the first time she is representing Nigeria.

“Already the support and encouragement we have felt as part of Team Visa has been a dream come true,” said Seun Adigun, driver of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team. “We are proud to be part of a team that shares our mission and has connected us with the resources we needed to reach our goal, and hopefully empower others to do the same.”

Since the program began in 2000, Team Visa has supported over 400 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes and hopefuls by providing them with the tools, resources and support they need to reach their highest potential, regardless of origin or background. Team Visa features a diverse group of Olympic and Paralympic athletes who embody our core values – acceptance, partnership and innovation – and was cultivated with the global reach of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in mind.

The women of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team joins Team Visa’s diverse roster of athletes, which includes: Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Chloe Kim (USA), Gus Kenworthy (USA), Hilary Knight (USA), Oksana Masters (USA), Mark McMorris (Canada), Lee Sang-Hwa (South Korea), Kamil Stoch (Poland) and others.

For additional information on Team Visa, follow along at @VisaNews on Twitter and visit www.visa.com.

About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and a driving force behind the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/aboutvisa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005320/en/

IDEMIA, the global leader in trusted identities for an increasingly digital world, announced that MOTION CODE™ cryptograms can be deployed faster reducing drastically the time to market for banks so that they can immediately begin offering this unique payment solution to consumers.

Based on the Visa’s dCVV2 specification, MOTION CODE™ will be seamless for issuers to get started with a dynamic payment card by removing the need for any system upgrade. It will facilitate the deployment of MOTION CODE™ payment cards from IDEMIA to secure Card-Not-Present (CNP) payments such as online transactions.

“This is a major step in protecting online transactions. Card issuers will now be able to easily use the Visa dCVV2 Authenticate service rather than having to integrate a dedicated server, which can take time and resources. This means MOTION CODE™ cards will be deployed faster, and consumers’ identification and payments will be better protected,” said Eric Duforest, Executive Vice-President for Financial Institutions activities at IDEMIA.

MOTION CODE™ adds a new layer of security to online transactions. It reduces CNP fraud and it is completely frictionless to the cardholders and retailers. The static printed code (CVV2) is replaced by a mini-screen that displays an automatically refreshed code generated by an algorithm (dynamic CVV2). It significantly reduces the value of stolen codes, as the issuer can identify old codes and decline the transaction.

In addition, MOTION CODE™ has proven during the ongoing roll outs to be a great customer acquisition product. Consumers like the innovation and this card becomes very quickly their “Top of Wallet” preferred card.

MOTION CODE™ is already in the hands of cardholders in Europe and Asia. Card issuers in most regions of the world will now be able to rapidly deploy MOTION CODE™.

About IDEMIA

OT-Morpho is now IDEMIA, the global leader in trusted identities for an increasingly digital world, with the ambition to empower citizens and consumers alike to interact, pay, connect, travel and vote in ways that are now possible in a connected environment.

Securing our identity has become mission critical in the world we live in today. By standing for Augmented Identity, we reinvent the way we think, produce, use and protect this asset, whether for individuals or for objects. We ensure privacy and trust as well as guarantee secure, authenticated and verifiable transactions for international clients from Financial, Telecom, Identity, Public Security and IoT sectors.

With close to €3bn in revenues, IDEMIA is the result of the coming together of OT (Oberthur Technologies) and Safran Identity & Security (Morpho). This new company counts 14,000 employees of more than 80 nationalities and serves clients in 180 countries.

For more information, visit www.idemia.com / Follow @IdemiaGroup on Twitter

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115006453/en/

On November 15th, to mark the occasion of World Recycling Day, FAMAE will officially launch its 1st Innovation Challenge seeking pragmatic, efficient, durable, universal and money-saving solutions to reduce or recycle the yearly waste generated by an urban family (using if necessary existing solutions).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171114005141/en/

Waste Reduction and Waste Recycling: the 1,000,000€ FAMAE Innovation Challenge is launched. ©Antoine Repessé - #365 Unpacked

This Innovation Challenge primarilytargets top universities (students, researchers …), enterprises (SMEs, startups, incubators …) and philanthropic actors (NGOs, social entrepreneurs …). This 1 000 000€ contest is one of the largest competitions ever launched in the world.

Inspired by the COP21 Paris Agreement ratified by 166 nations on December 12th, 2015, FAMAE is committed to making our planet green again!

The Innovation Challenge is open to everybody. Candidates are able to apply through a simple process on a secured IT platform, from November 15 (2017) to February 15 (2018). Selection of projects and nominees will occur until May 2018 while more information will be required from applicants.

A dedicated jury will review all the applicants’ projects and carry out the final selection in the spring of 2018. The members of the jury are representatives fromAgoranov, Zero Waste, other Greentech experts, FAMAE founder Eric Philippon, Cedric Villani (renowned scientist, Fields Medal winner in 2010 …), Jacques Lewiner (Scientist and renowned inventor with 1000 patents) and Geneviève Férone (Vice President of The Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind).

This 1,000,000 € contest is supported by renowned partners:Agoranov (which will incubate one of the nominee projects), Zero Waste (which will bring its waste management expertize), Viva Technology (which will host the Award ceremony), La Ruche (which currently hosts our team), Make.org (which will share the Challenge within its civic tech community).

Eric Philippon, FAMAE president : « We fund bright inventors to help them create simple and innovative solutions which can substantially improve the lives of hundreds of millionsof urban citizens while significantly alleviating their environmental footprint.Innovation Challenges help the emerging of disruptive solutions. Over the last 150 years, a trash bin has barely changed while the automotive industry has been through several quantum leaps! ».

Please see: https://famae.earth/

Contact on social networks Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Linkedin : FAMAE Challenge

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171114005141/en/

New research commissioned by Western Union shows that millennials across 15 countries are united by a belief in globalization, want the freedom to experience the opportunities it brings, and have a desire to play a role in shaping the future using technology. The survey of more than 10,000 millennials reveals that this group is confident that globalization will make the world a better place for themselves and others and are committed to leading the change.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005572/en/

Global Citizens (Graphic: Business Wire)

The world—politically, economically, socially, and technologically—is in flux. But what does this all mean for our future? The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) has commissioned a first-of-its-kind global study about millennials’ beliefs, hopes, and aspirations for the future and the world that they wish to shape for themselves and others.

The 2017 Western Union Global Study—“Globalization: A World View of the Future”—surveyed native, first-generation, and foreign-born people between the ages of 20-36 in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam through online interviews. Most countries surveyed represent significant millennial populations.

The survey shows that in sharp contrast to current geopolitics, this diverse group of tomorrow’s future shapers is united by a belief in a world of collaboration, unrestricted by geographical borders.

Western Union President and Chief Executive Officer Hikmet Ersek said, “The world is changing and there is a new economic power shift driven by a new generation of global citizens. They are shaping the future, and inspiring others to do the same. They are redefining globalization to one of ‘personal globalization’ where the pursuit of limitless cross-border movement, cross-border digital communication, and creative lifestyle drives new economic power.

“These inspiring future shapers are the leaders of tomorrow and are looking at how they want the world to be, not only for themselves, but for all. This generation is made up all kinds of future leaders—entrepreneurial, corporate, political, and social influencers. It is vitally important to understand what they think and what they want the world to look like,” said Ersek.

Western Union operates in 200 countries and territories worldwide, and commissioned the survey to gain additional insights into the younger customers it serves through its digital channels.

The following key findings are highlighted as important to millennials (please access supporting data in the Key Findings section below):

Global Citizenship: The Way of the Future

Global citizenship is pivotal for creating the world millennials want for the future, as they believe the concept of belonging to one individual country is outdated. Millennials view connection and collaboration as the most critical steps forward to achieving global citizenship.

Freedom to Be Global Safeguards the Future

The idea of limitless movement empowers millennials, as they believe it will allow them to control their destiny. The majority of millennials believe that creating a more open world will unlock opportunities for better job prospects and result in economic freedom, including the ease of money movement.

Governing the Future

Today, borders going up across the world—and politicians and governments reasserting the concept of the nation state—are leading many millennials to believe that these institutions are not representing their respective views. However, a significant number of millennials are adamant that collaboration is essential and believe that shaping the future is up to them, rather than institutions.

Unity and Inclusiveness

There are mixed sentiments regarding whether the world is at peace, given concerns that increased racism and nativism may pose a threat to global citizenship and an open world. Millennials believe the most important trait to eradicate social discrimination is ensuring that there is respect for diversity.

In tribute to the future shapers of the world, please view Western Union’s #LiveMore #ShareMore. manifesto.

WU-G

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil, and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable, and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments, and to purchase money orders. As of September 30, 2017, the Western Union, Vigo, and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of over 550,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and over 150,000 ATMs and kiosks, and included the capability to send money to billions of accounts. In 2016, The Western Union Company completed 268 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $80 billion of principal between consumers, and 523 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

The 2017 Western Union Global Study
“Globalization: A World View of the Future” Key Findings:

Global Citizenship: The Way of the Future

Global citizenship is pivotal for creating the world millennials want for the future, as they believe the concept of belonging to one individual country is outdated. Millennials view connection and collaboration as the most critical steps forward to achieving global citizenship.

• The majority see themselves as global citizens rather than a citizen of any one country. This view is shared regardless of if they are native, first generation, or foreign born (57%).
• Approximately 90 percent agree that a better global future can be achieved through collaboration. They believe countries need to collaborate, rather than compete with one another, leading to a better global future (88%).
• More than 8 in 10 state that the rise of social media has played a significant role in uniting the world, promoting transparency, encouraging debate on global issues, and contributing to greater community unity (84%).
• Nearly two thirds believe that the free flow of technology (60%) and information (57%) across borders will become easier, but anticipate the flow of political ideas (61%) and people (60%) to become more difficult or remain stagnant.
• The majority view connection as a critical step forward to achieve global citizenship. Staying connected to global news via social media (49%), connecting with people from different cultures (47%), travelling to new places (43%), and interacting with people that are different from themselves (42%) is their way of creating a world they want for the future.

Freedom to Be Global Safeguards the Future

The idea of limitless movement empowers millennials, as they believe it will allow them to control their destiny. The majority of millennials believe that creating a more open world will unlock opportunities for better job prospects and result in economic freedom, including the ease of money movement.

• The desire for global citizenship is also about young people safeguarding their future. Almost eight in ten agree the thought of a future with limitless movement around the world empowers them (79%).
• More than two thirds agree they are better off financially due to their ability to live and work in other countries (71%).
• More than eight in ten agree that their ability to live and work in other countries will unlock opportunities for a better job and education (86%), and is a key component to their economic and personal freedom (82%).
• There is also the hope that people and business will work together, and that the exchange of commerce and money will become easier by 2030. More than half believe that sending money to a person in another country is set to get easier by 2030 (56%), with one-third arguing that a single global currency would foster great global unity (29%).
• Eventually, they believe that the world will take on a more globalized outlook, with 79 percent believing that the future will fit with the aspirations of global citizens.

Governing the Future

Today, borders going up across the world—and politicians and governments reasserting the concept of the nation state—are leading many millennials to believe that these institutions are not representing their respective views. However, a significant number of millennials are adamant that collaboration is essential and believe that shaping the future is up to them, rather than institutions.

• More than eight in ten (88%) want to participate or have their say on future matters of global and national significance. They believe technology can enable individuals to make their voices heard more easily.
• Seven out of ten believe future governments will be hybrids of democratic institutions and individuals—representing the power of people (70%).
• More than two thirds believe that shaping the future is up to them as individuals, rather than governments (71%).
• Forty percent believe the creation of a globalized world requires shared responsibility of all. This includes global and national stakeholders, such as international organizations, governments, the private sector, local communities, and individuals, all taking responsibility.
• Many expressed concerns that governments today are not fulfilling their hopes or representing their generation’s views. Two thirds believe that global institutions like the United Nations are more representative of them, rather than national or local governments (61% vs. 48% and 44%). Out of the 15 countries surveyed, millennials in:
  • US, UK, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Germany said, after global institutions, their local government represented them better than their national governments.
  • China, Egypt, Indonesia, and Vietnam said, after global institutions, their national government represented them better than their local governments.
  • Canada, Russia, and the UAE said their national government represented them better than global institutions and their local governments.
  • And in India, they said, global institutions and national governments represent them equally, while in South Africa they believe that their national and local governments represented them equally, after global institutions.

Unity and Inclusiveness

There are mixed sentiments regarding whether the world is at peace, given concerns that increased racism and nativism may pose a threat to global citizenship and an open world. Millennials believe the most important trait to eradicate social discrimination is ensuring that there is respect for diversity.

• Millennials are more divided than they are united about whether or not the world is currently at peace. Nearly 8 out of 10 say the world is more divided now than it was in 2015. More than half believe it will be more divided by 2030 (53%), while more than four out of 10 believe the world will be more united (47%).

• Those surveyed identify racism and a fear of immigrants as the biggest threats to global citizenship and an open world (36%), followed by nationalist politics, religious differences, and outdated immigration policies.
• The most important traits for achieving global citizenship and eradicating social discrimination is ensuring that there is respect for diversity and the ability to embrace other countries. Those surveyed identify respect for diversity (46%), the ability to embrace other cultures (43%), and adaptability (39%) as the most important traits of a global citizen.
• These future shapers believe that tackling issues of racism, xenophobia, religious intolerance, gender inequality, and freedom to be anywhere in the world are important to creating an ideal future world. A future free of racism (42%); barriers based on gender, religion, culture, or nationality (38%); and the ability to live, work, and play anywhere in the world (37%) were cited as the three most important factors for success.

The study consisted of a 15-country survey of 11,060 millennials (ages 20 to 36) with a +1.0% margin of error globally. The survey was completed in the following countries: Australia (n=1,104, +3.0%), Brazil (n=660, +4.0%), Canada (1,004, +3.0%), China (n=731, +3.0%), Egypt (n=578, +4.0%), Germany (n=505, +4.0%), India (n=844, +3.0%), Indonesia (n=716, +4.0%), Mexico (n=654, +4.0%), Russia (n=654,+4.0%), South Africa (n=664, +4.0%), the United Arab Emirates (n=500, +4.0%), the United Kingdom (n=1,009, +3.0%), the United States (n=1,004, +3.0%), and Vietnam (n=523, +4.0%). A full report for each country as well as the global results is available upon request. The research was conducted by Research Now via online interviews from September 26 to October 6, 2017.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171115005572/en/

Envion AG has created a technology for the first truly mobile data-center that uses low-priced local energy to mine a broad spectrum of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.). By harvesting locally available clean energy right at the source, envion can operate at lower costs than competitors and at the same time reduces the CO2 footprint of the blockchain industry. Envion aims at decentralizing the highly-concentrated mining market (China holds 80% in Bitcoin mining) and at bringing control of the market back to the users. That’s why envion gives 100% of its mining profits back to its community.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171117005011/en/

Envion - World's Most Profitable Standard of Self-Expanding Crypto Infrastructure (Photo: Business Wire)

Current challenges in the energy and blockchain industries

The blockchain industry is suffering from an ever-increasing energy demand. This can mainly be explained by the fact that transactions take up high amounts of mostly fossil energy. At the same time, envion sees an ever-increasing production of clean regenerative energy, which frequently gets lost due to maxed out energy grids. This results in locally available excess energy, as solar power plants produce overcapacities. These overcapacities can now efficiently be used by envion’s innovative mobile mining units.

Envion’s solutions

Envion has developed fully automated (“industry 4.0”), mobile mining units (MMU) inside standardized intermodal shipping containers that can be shipped to virtually any location in the world within days or weeks, decentralizing the blockchain infrastructure. Envion mobile mining units are designed and built to operate at remote locations near energy sources such as solar plants, wind turbines or hydropower plants. This allows envion to make use of energy overcapacities in a profitable setting. The mobility of the MMU furthermore allows for targeted placement of the units at sites requiring thermal energy and can be used for heating. This way, envion recycles energy consumed in the MMU for external heating purposes in buildings or greenhouses and achieves revolutionarily low electricity prices.

Envion’s MMUs can be integrated into a smart grid and flexibly move energy demand closer to energy supply and hence, take the burden off the grid.

Investment opportunities

Envion’s ambitious goal is to have the lowest cost structure in the blockchain mining industry. By combining GPU-based mining with ASIC mining, investors in EVN tokens receive a 161% ROI after administrative deductions, according to envion’s whitepaper. Its unique position as the only truly mobile mining operation combined with a tested, optimized and streamlined technology puts them among the top players, even in this highly competitive market - but with considerably lower risks involved. The key aspect here is that, following a community-approach, 100% of mining profits will directly go to the EVN token holder community. 75% of this will be distributed to token holders on a weekly basis, the remaining 25% will be re-invested in MMUs to keep on growing the profits for the community. The pioneering company does not stop here, however, they construct and operate mobile mining units for third party operations as well. This means that third party investors acquire envion hardware, while 35% of these profits go directly to EVN token holders.

Altogether this looks like the best way to invest into the high dividend blockchain industry and at the same time minimize risks as envion is not dependent on a single market player.

The investment period (ICO) starts Dec. 1st, 2017. Visit www.envion.org for more information.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171117005011/en/

Vocalink, a Mastercard company, was last night awarded with two prestigious awards - The Overall Winner and the Payments Infrastructure of the Year Award, for its leading technology and expertise, and in recognition for a milestone year that saw Vocalink’s solutions transform the way people and businesses move money across the globe.

2017 saw Vocalink deliver ground-breaking immediate payments solutions both in the US and Thailand as well as enabling access to the UK payments industry through their payments gateway solution PayPort. The business also saw the launch of the new image based cheque clearing system, creating a robust and more efficient system in the UK.

RTP^® in the US: This week, Vocalink announced the launch of RTP^® (Real-Time Payments) in the US on behalf of The Clearing House; one of the most comprehensive real-time payment systems ever created globally that is expected to transform the U.S. payments landscape. Set to empower consumers and businesses to send and receive immediate payments domestically, financial processes that used to take days can now be concluded in seconds. Two banks – U.S. Bank and BNY Mellon – have completed the first live transactions. At its core, the technology behind The Clearing House’s RTP system is an evolution of Vocalink’s highly successful and reliable systems developed for the U.K., Singapore and Thailand. These real-time solutions sit at the centre of the global payments infrastructure and have been designed to ‘run on their own rails’, working alongside and between conventional settlement systems. The TCH system operates 24/7 to process credit transfers, requests for payment, requests for information, confirmation messages, returned and rejected payments and system and service related messages. It also integrates support for multiple transaction channels, including online and mobile.

PromptPay in Thailand: Earlier this year, Vocalink had unprecedented success with the launch of PromptPay in Thailand that went live on the 21 January 2017. Created for Thailand’s main interbank payments provider, already 36.2 million Thai citizens have signed up to PromptPay (more than half the population) with 47.3 million payments already made and 23 banks signed up. Billions of Thai Baht flow through the PromptPay service, of which over a quarter has been the transfer of benefit payments from the government to people. At present the system is handling in excess of 35,000 transactions per day. The launch of real-time payments is a breakthrough for Thailand and part of a government-led strategy to bring 21st century banking services to all communities in Thailand. PromptPay will accelerate adoption of mobile payments, address financial inclusion and support the expansion of Thailand’s burgeoning digital economy. At the same time, it will reduce Thailand’s reliance on a physical banking infrastructure and cash. For the banks, the provision of an adaptor has greatly reduced the cost of entry to real-time payments.

Paul Stoddart, CEO, Vocalink, a Mastercard company:

“We are delighted to have been recognised by the industry for what has been a milestone year for Vocalink. Working with The Clearing House, RTP^® is a best-in-class, functionally rich system capable of meeting the demands of today’s U.S. economy while building a system robust enough and flexible enough for further innovation. In Thailand, PromptPay has been an outstanding success that is now revolutionising payments for the country’s 60m population offering them access to instant payments via mobile, online and ATM channels for the first time. At home, we have supported the up and coming challenger banks, such as Starling Bank and financial institutions through our payment gateway product PayPort, which helps to facilitate a level playing field between established financial institutions and challengers, enabling immediate payments for all kinds of Payment Service Providers (PSPs).”

Vocalink, a Mastercard company was also recognised for the successful project delivery of all of its innovative world-class payment solutions in the back-drop of ambitious timescales and the need to resolve a range of significant challenges, such as different messaging standards and banking practices, with new innovations and creative solutions - including the new cheque clearing system that was launched last month.

– ends –

About Vocalink

A Mastercard company, Vocalink designs, builds and operates industry-leading bank account-based payment systems. Our technologies power the UK’s real-time payments, settlements and direct debit systems, as well as the UK’s network of over 70,000 ATMs. In 2016, we processed over 90 percent of salaries, more than 70 percent of household bills and almost all state benefits in the UK. In addition, our proven real-time bank account-based payment solutions provide more payment choice to customers in Singapore, Thailand and the United States. For payment news and insight from Vocalink visit CONNECT - http://connect.Vocalink.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171117005259/en/

UAE Exchange officials receiving the awards

• Fame Excellence Award 2017
• India’s Greatest Brand Award 2016-17

• Step 1: Register your account at www.tauruscoin.com 
• Step 2: Deposit BTC and then you can Buy TRC 
• Step 3: Start trading with TRC then earn profit

Andersen Global is proud to announce a new presence in Venice-Mestre, on the Venetian mainland in Italy through the expansion of Italian member firm, Andersen Tax & Legal. In addition, the Milan office will relocate at the end of November. The new office in Mestre and new location in Milan have been established to better serve the growing client base in Italy. Andersen Tax & Legal now has six locations in Italy: Milan, Brescia, Rome, Venice, Mestre, and Monza.

Andrea De Vecchi, Office Managing Partner of Andersen Tax & Legal in Italy, and Regional Managing Partner in Europe shared, “Our new location in Venice-Mestre and expanded presence in Milan allow us to better serve our clients and continue to build our capabilities within the region. Through this expansion, we are able to reach new markets and also improve the quality of life for our employees.”

Venice-Mestre is a significant location because of its strategic positioning and high population within the center of the mainland of Venice. Andersen Tax & Legal in Italy has been a member of Andersen Global since 2014. The firm will continue to provide tax, financial, accounting, and law consultancy for both domestic and foreign companies and individuals.

“The addition of a new office location and the expanded space in Milan demonstrates the success of the Italian team, and positions us for substantial growth in the future. The expansion of our practice in Italy enables us to more seamlessly deliver best-in-class service,” remarked Global Chairman and Andersen Tax LLC CEO, Mark Vorsatz.

Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 2,300 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 77 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171120005239/en/