Author: Pop Card

The European Commission has awarded a significant contract to a consortium led by Eutelsat, Hispasat, and SES to develop and manage IRIS², the European Union’s multi-orbit satellite connectivity network. Designed to support Europe’s digital sovereignty and resilience, the IRIS² system aims to provide secure, high-speed connectivity across EU Member States, improve crisis response, and support key infrastructure. The project, set to become fully operational by the early 2030s, will bridge connectivity gaps and align with Europe’s strategic goals in communication and defence. The IRIS² project is structured as a public-private partnership (PPP) between the European Union, the European Space Agency,…

Geidea, a leading financial technology provider in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META), has announced a strategic collaboration with tpay, the region’s prominent digital payment connector. Together, the companies aim to transform the digital payment landscape by introducing an integrated payment platform that combines Direct Carrier Billing (DCB), card payments, and e-wallet options. This platform seeks to streamline digital transactions and expand access to digital financial services in key META markets, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The collaboration comes amid projected growth in digital payments across the META region, where the market is expected to…

A significant shift in consumer loyalty to traditional credit cards has emerged in the UK, as rising demand for personalisation and financial flexibility are driving people to consider alternative financial products. The findings are detailed in Marqeta’s latest report, the 2024 State of Credit, which surveyed 3,000 people globally, including 1,000 from the UK. Marqeta, a Nasdaq-listed financial technology firm specialising in modern card issuing solutions, found that 48% of UK respondents currently hold credit cards that do not offer rewards or loyalty benefits – a trend that has prompted calls for more personalised options. More than half (53%) of…

MBM Motorsports has signed 2ONE Nicotine Pouches, a leading brand in tobacco-free nicotine products, as a multi-race sponsor for the conclusion of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series. The No. 66 2ONE Nicotine Pouches / Coble Enterprises Ford Mustang Dark Horse will be competing at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway in November, driven by Josh Bilicki and Chad Finchum, respectively. In the Martinsville race on 3 November, Bilicki, who has 23rd as his highest finish at the track, will take the wheel of the No. 66 car for the Xfinity 500. This marks Bilicki’s fifth NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville…

Erickson Coaching International, a leading provider in global coaching education, has been recognised as the Distinguished Coach Education Provider of 2024 by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) at the ICF Impact Awards. This prestigious honour, awarded in an in-person ceremony in Athens, Greece on 28 October, arrives just ahead of Erickson’s 45th anniversary, celebrating nearly half a century of contributions to the coaching profession. The ICF, known as the global credentialing body for coaches, grants this award to recognise excellence in coach education, highlighting Erickson’s dedication to equipping credentialed coaches across the world. With training offered in 14 languages and…

Haiper, an AI-driven platform specialising in visual content creation, has unveiled its latest model, Haiper 2.0, designed to significantly raise the bar for AI-generated video and image quality. The new model, announced this week, introduces hyper-realistic outputs produced at record speed, aiming to redefine standards for both professional creators and casual users. Haiper 2.0 integrates advanced transformer-based technology with the latest in diffusion techniques to enhance video realism and coherence. According to Haiper, the upgraded model will not only reduce rendering time but also improve video quality to near 4K resolution, a feature the company plans to roll out shortly.…

People’s Partnership, the organisation behind The People’s Pension, has completed a significant technological shift to improve its customer service experience for its 6.7 million members across the UK. The workplace pension provider has migrated its Contact Centre operations to a cloud-based platform with the help of IPI, a contact centre specialist and solutions provider. This change aims to enhance operational efficiency, bolster system resilience, and offer customers more choice. The switch to the Genesys Cloud platform, implemented with IPI’s assistance, is part of a broader strategic programme by People’s Partnership, which serves around one in five UK workers through workplace…

AI-powered identity verification firm Jumio has launched an advanced biometric tool, Jumio Liveness, which aims to counter increasingly sophisticated fraud techniques without sacrificing user experience. The tool, unveiled at the Money20/20 USA conference, is designed to go beyond traditional fraud prevention, addressing issues such as deepfakes and injection attacks with enhanced AI technology. Bala Kumar, Jumio’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, said that Jumio Liveness seeks to keep businesses ahead of the evolving fraud landscape. “Our goal is to help businesses stay ahead of threats like deepfakes, ensuring legitimate users can access services securely without added complexity,” Kumar stated. The…

Renowned Tao Healer Dr. Zhi Gang Sha to Host First UK Workshop on Tao Calligraphy Healing Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha, a globally recognised spiritual healer and Tao Grandmaster, is set to lead his first in-person event in the UK on 2nd November. Known for his unique approach that fuses ancient Taoist wisdom with contemporary medical insights, Dr. Sha will host a full-day workshop in central London to demonstrate his Tao Calligraphy healing method. This session will provide participants with the opportunity to explore techniques designed to enhance mental, physical, and emotional well-being. A specialist in both traditional Chinese…

Xsolla Expands Payment Solutions to Boost Game Developer Reach in Southeast Asia Global video game commerce company Xsolla has announced a significant expansion of its payment solutions in Cambodia and Indonesia, introducing eight new local payment options in Cambodia and twelve in Indonesia. This development aims to support game developers targeting the growing gaming markets across Southeast Asia (SEA) by making payment processes more accessible and convenient for users. The move is part of Xsolla’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in SEA, where mobile and digital gaming are on the rise. Xsolla’s Chief Strategy Officer, Chris Hewish, underscored the…