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PopID and Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Partner to Deliver Biometric Enabled Point-of-Sale and Self-Checkout Systems First Integrated Products to Be Demonstrated at NRF 2023 (Booth #3323) RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. & PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PopID, a biometric fintech company, and Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, retail's first choice for unified commerce solutions, have announced a partnership to integrate PopPay into Toshiba's front-end point-of-sale and self-service solutions running its ELERA Commerce Platform. PopPay enables consumers to authenticate their identity for payment and/or loyalty using artificial intelligence-based facial verification software. Toshiba will distribute the integrated solutions to the restaurant, quick service restaurant (QSR), convenience stores (C-store), grocery and other retail segments. One of the first fully integrated solutions will feature PopPay biometric cameras incorporated with the Toshiba Pro-X Hybrid Kiosk and will be showcased at NRF 2023 in New York, on January 15-17, 2023. Customers who opt-in can scan items using the Pro-X scanner and then tender the transaction by selecting the on-screen PopPay button to have their face scanned. PopPay then authenticates loyalty and payment without requiring a card or phone. "Whether at restaurants, convenience stores, or in other retail segments, consumer interest in non-traditional payment methods is growing exponentially across the globe with regions previously dominated by cash leapfrogging card transactions into mobile payments," says Rance Poehler, President and CEO of Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. "Even in the U.S., where card payments showed strong acceptance, the adoption of non-traditional payments has seen an uptick. We know the market is ready with Gen Z and Millennials trending in this direction." Younger consumers have learned from prior generations that revolving credit debt is risky therefore driving them to pay via debit, electronic funds transfer, or Automated Clearing House (ACH) because there are no interest fees. MX reports that reduced consumer confidence has many Gen Z respondents supporting the growing interest in mobile payments. The same report cites that most respondents (73%) have connected mobile payment apps to their financial accounts. In addition to their aversion to credit, Millennials and Gen Z also seek more convenience in their retail interactions. The Food Industry Association reports that 53% of Gen Z and 55% of millennial shoppers want greater convenience in their future grocery shopping experience. "With nearly a quarter of America's consumer spending running through Toshiba's point-of-sale solutions, Toshiba is the largest retail-focused solutions company in the U.S. and globally," said John Miller, CEO of PopID and Chairman of the investment company, Cali Group. "This partnership will enable Toshiba's customers to use our technology to increase revenue, drive loyalty engagement, improve operations, and lower costs while enhancing the overall customer experience." "We are excited to partner with PopID to deliver speed, ease of use, and convenience to retailers and their shoppers," continued Poehler. "We look forward to implementing PopPay in new industries to meet growing demand across retail segments." ELERA and its suite of solutions help free retailers from legacy technology constraints. With more control over store operations, retailers can enhance efficiency and productivity at scale. Integration of PopPay for automatic payments offers the retailer offers numerous benefits like faster transactions, higher throughput, reduced stress at checkout for the shopper leading to larger ticket size, increased loyalty participation driven by automation, and lower payment processing fees when integrated into point-of-sale systems, self-ordering kiosks, and drive-thru systems at QSR chains. About PopID PopID provides a comprehensive platform, PopPay, for revolutionizing digital interactions and payments using facial verification. PopPay gives consumers the option of identifying themselves in the most natural way possible – with their face – for ordering and payment – enabling more personalized, secure, and streamlined experiences. To learn more about PopPay, visit www.popid.com. About Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions is a global market share leader in retail store technology and retail’s first choice for unified commerce solutions. Together with a global team of dedicated business partners, we advance the future of retail with innovative commerce solutions that enhance customer engagement, transform the in-store experience, and accelerate digital transformation. To learn more, visit commerce.toshiba.com and engage with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

NEW YORK -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Selina Hospitality PLC ("Selina"), (NASDAQ: SLNA), the fast-growing lifestyle and experiential hospitality company targeting millennial and Gen Z travelers, announced it opened its fourth hotel in Australia, Selina Magnetic Island, on December 23rd. The new hotel is a picture-perfect tropical paradise within a 5-minute walk from Horseshoe Bay. Selina Magnetic Island marks the 4th Selina in Australia, joining the rest of the hotels in Brisbane and Melbourne Located right by the Great Barrier Reef, Selina Magnetic Island is perfect for travelers looking for a unique vacation or a new home base for remote working, the hotel offers a range of beautifully-designed accommodations with 145 bedspaces available in the first phase, including powered caravan sites and private room options allowing guests to personalize their stay based on their budget. Surrounded by idyllic beaches, the new property offers a one of a kind getaway for guests to disconnect and explore wildlife and the beach during the day, live music at night, enhancing the experience with food trucks, aussie style breakfasts and local craft beers. "We are so excited to add Selina Magnetic Island to our portfolio. It marks the 5th hotel we have opened this year in the APAC region, 4th property in Australia, and our first truly remote experience in the region," said Gadi Hassin, Managing Partner South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand Selina. "Magnetic Island is home to a beautiful local community and becoming one of Australia's most sought-after tourist destinations; we acknowledge the Wulgurukaba people of Yunbenun, the traditional custodians of the land on which we enter, and recognize their continuing connection to land, waters and community paying our respects to the Elder's past, present and future and all the Aboriginal & Torres Straight Islander people." Selina Magnetic Island marks the 4th Selina in Australia, joining the rest of the hotels in Brisbane and Melbourne. The hotel will offer on-site features, including a swimming pool, wellness deck, CoWork made out of an old refurbished school bus, outdoor bar, pool table, and a unique on-site wildlife park where true Aussie locals will be waiting to meet Selina guests, including turtles, koalas, wombats and crocodiles. About Selina Hospitality PLC. Selina (NASDAQ: SLNA) is one of the world's largest hospitality brands built to address the needs of millennial and Gen Z travelers, blending beautifully designed accommodation with coworking, recreation, wellness, and local experiences. Founded in 2014 and custom-built for today's nomadic traveler, Selina provides guests with a global infrastructure to seamlessly travel and work abroad. Each Selina property is designed in partnership with local artists, creators, and tastemakers, breathing new life into existing buildings in interesting locations in 25 countries on six continents – from urban cities to remote beaches and jungles. To learn more, visit https://whatis.selina.com/ or follow Selina on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Linkedin or YouTube.

HONG KONG -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Now that Asia’s World City is ready to welcome international visitors again, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year in true Hong Kong style. After all, nowhere blends time-honoured CNY traditions with modern energy quite like this buzzing metropolis. In honour of the Year of the Rabbit, here are five of Hong Kong’s most fortuitous experiences to fill your year with good luck, health and prosperity. 1. Take Instagrammable Photos with the ‘Lucky Rabbit’ Brought to you by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, a series of dazzling CNY checkpoints have transformed the harbourfront. For starters, a giant Lucky Rabbit is making its debut on the roof of the Central Pier. Visitors will also discover more hoppin’ displays – each with mesmerising themes, lights, music, and interactive elements – at Admiralty’s Tamar Park, the Wan Chai Temporary Promenade and Tsim Sha Tsui’s Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Fortune Around Hong Kong 19 Jan – 5 Feb 2023 | Across Victoria Harbourfront 2. Hop On Auspicious Harbour Tours On the first day of CNY, it’s customary to usher in luck and prosperity by spending time outdoors. Visitors can embrace the tradition with a scenic Victoria Harbour cruise aboard a historic Star Ferry. Along the way, try to catch the Lucky Rabbit hiding on the ferry! Accrue more good fortune by exploring the CNY-themed harbourfront checkpoints in different ways, like a sightseeing tour on the antique Dukling junk boat or a pedal-boating adventure at the Wan Chai Water Sports and Recreation Precinct. 3. Experience Unique Hong Kong CNY Traditions The Year of the Rabbit marks the return of many authentic Hong Kong CNY customs for visitors to enjoy! Among the must-try experiences, head to the Chinese New Year flower markets for festive shopping and take in good fortune as blooms signify wealth in Chinese culture. Besides, stock up on luck at the CNY Raceday in Sha Tin, where epic horseraces, lion dance performances and holiday décor await. The energised activity can bring you a lucky start of the year with full power! The Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival in Lam Tsuen is another age-old CNY tradition. Simply jot down wishes on a notecard, tie it to a mandarin and toss it into a legendary tree. If the fruit catches a branch, the wishes may come true. 4. Indulge in Classic Dishes with Modern Twists A time for connection, Chinese New Year brings families together over delicious meals symbolising longevity, fortune and wealth. Year after year, Hong Kong restaurants reinvigorate traditional CNY dishes with fresh ideas. This year, Green Common has reinvented poon choi (or “prosperity stew” made with meat, seafood and veggies) using only plant-based meat alongside vegetarian ingredients. Meanwhile, Häagen-Dazs has transformed traditional nin gou (a sticky rice cake representing prosperity) into a CNY ice cream cake, which also comes with another option of Chinese candy box (meaning togetherness and perfection). 5. Give Creative Gifts of Good Fortune Throughout CNY, Hong Kong people bring gifts to family gatherings to spread goodwill and fortune with loved ones. Putting a spin on tradition, Dang Wen Li by Dominique Ansel has crafted mochi buns in the shape of mandarins – a symbol of good fortune – alongside gift box brimming with sweet delicacies, which features a centrepiece decoration of cute rabbit. On the other hand, The Cakery is whipping up adorable rabbit-themed fondant cookies that are perfect for CNY. Photo credits: Top Hong Kong’s Luckiest Spots to Visit in the Year of the Rabbit |The Cakery; www.mephotohk.com, Green Common, Dang Wen Li by Dominique Ansel, Lam Tsuen Rural Committee Office, Hong Kong Tourism Board (Click on the pictures to view as slideshow)

Fashion in 2023 is projected to be the year of combining edgy futuristic fashion with classical art and patterns. From dystopian future to utopian fantasy, there is a trend for everyone. Gone are the days of a single trend hitting the runway, and the spring/summer collections unveiled all over the world proved just that. Japan - Portugal - South Africa Regardless of colour, pattern or print, evolving body positivity was the whole mood of fashion weeks around the world, celebrating the human body both inside and out, irrelevant of shape or form. Some of the most popular, eye catching trends included voluminous dresses, highlighting an exaggerated hourglass shape. Think Marie-Antoinette resurrected. Burlesque evening and outerwear, deluxe couture and embroidered denim, and print patterns with an emphasis on environment and sustainability all took centre stage. A pleasant surprise, was the new yet old artistic twist of showcasing old master paintings, and classic sculptures on prints and monochromatic pieces. Must Haves Under or over sheer lingerie including corsets, bras and slip dresses dominated the runways from New York to Milan. Matching crop sets, shoulder ruffles, and mini-skirts all made several welcomed appearances, highlighting feminine energy at its core. Perhaps the most fashion forward, must-have trend is the evolving “Loose Look”. Slouchy pants, loose suits and relaxed fit jumpsuits seem to be the forecasted energy for the upcoming decade. Pyjamas as a daytime uniform may be the trend we have all been waiting for. Colours of 2023 Barbie Pink, orange crush, mellow yellow, green to symbolize nature and healing, bright shades of blue and purple, latte and espresso specifically with leather were at the forefront of almost every collection hitting the runway. All designers embraced the full spectrum of colours, centred on previous popular hues from 2022, but with a twist. Nuno Baltazar (L,R) Luís Buchinho | ModaLisboa Oasis (Photos by Ugo Camera) Click to enlarge A Spectrum of Accessories Not one, but many larger-than-life accessories hit the spring/summer 2023 runways, highlighting an array of both vintage and futuristic trends. Clear plastics for both hair accessories and heels were the most prominent yet neutral attraction, accenting almost every look. Large, heavy metal earrings were dominating the dystopian collections. This exaggerated accessory was also on trend with street style looks, demonstrating that over-sized metallic earrings have already hit closets across the globe. The bigger the earrings, the better. A modern take on woven, neutral-coloured bags, the lady bag, and the squash bag in all colours, were accenting the future of handbags. Most notably, for all accessories, green seemed to be the most popular and sought-after colour of all 2023 for accessories. Editor's choice View more runway pictures from Japan, Portugal and South Africa here: http://www.fashionstudiomagazine.com/2022/11/fashion-guide.html

VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dassault Systèmes today announced Urban Renaissance, the most recent installment in its “The Only Progress is Human” initiative to shape a better future. Urban Renaissance showcases Dassault Systèmes’ vision of the city of tomorrow through an innovative 3D video mapping projection designed by Korean artist and researcher Yiyun Kang and projected onto the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. Urban Renaissance is part of Dassault Systèmes’ “The Only Progress is Human” initiative to inspire the use of virtual worlds to drive sustainable innovations Exciting collaboration is with renowned Korean artist Yiyun Kang, who was recently awarded the British Council Alumni Award for Culture and Creativity in 2022. Immersive experience taking place at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul explores how sustainable cities can thrive as urbanization increases “‘Geofuture’ is my large-scale public projection work that maps the DDP in Seoul. Inspired by Dassault Systèmes’ vision of designing our city, this project imagines our future life that will be realized by sustainable innovation,” said Yiyun Kang. “The city of tomorrow needs to be resilient to be sustainable. We need new solutions that enable citizens to benefit from a virtual twin of their city to test solutions in the virtual world before implementing them in the real world,” said Victoire de Margerie, Vice President, Corporate Equity, Marketing & Communications, Dassault Systèmes. “Urban Renaissance will explore how sustainable cities can thrive as urbanization increases. For this, we chose the vibrant city of Seoul, and to collaborate with Yiyun Kang, an exciting, renowned local artist who reflects our vision of urban renaissance – a vision for the sustainable and healthy city of tomorrow.” The reveal of Urban Renaissance and a related talk show will be broadcast during a live event on LinkedIn, YouTube and Dassault Systèmes’ website on January 31 at 17h00 CET. Viewers will have the opportunity to discover the artist’s monumental artwork projected onto the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and learn what the city of tomorrow will look like according to Dassault Systèmes and experts such as Bogdan Zaha from Zaha Hadid Architects. To watch Urban Renaissance live, click here. The virtual twin experience of a city improves quality of life for its citizens With growing populations and an increasing number of climate issues, cities need to be more sustainable and healthy in all aspects, while also continuing the pursuit of a better quality of life for all. This will be possible by creating sustainable buildings, using renewable materials, involving citizens in the definition of the city of tomorrow, providing more inclusive public services, and finding new solutions for mobility, agriculture and greener energy. Dassault Systèmes is leading the way by providing the technology to model, simulate, analyze, visualize and experience complete cities in the virtual world, to improve how they are built in the real world and the quality of life within them. These virtual twin experiences – visual, digital, 3D models that represent reality with scientific accuracy and are tested and perfected in the context of their use – consider the city environment as well as the infrastructure and commodities needed to build it. Citizens, businesses and city officials can use them to work together to imagine a more sustainable, circular future while simulating and understanding the social and ecological impacts of every design decision they make, before implementing the optimal solution. Dongdaemun Design Plaza: a symbolic building for Urban Renaissance The Dongdaemun Design Plaza is the perfect example of what can be designed using Dassault Systèmes’ software, as it was conceived and designed by Zaha Hadid Architects using CATIA - one of Dassault Systèmes’ solutions. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza, abbreviated as DDP, is a major urban landmark in Seoul with a neofuturistic design characterized by its powerful curving forms. The building is the centerpiece of South Korea's design, art and fashion hub and a popular destination for both local residents and tourists. About Yiyun Kang Dr Yiyun Kang received her BFA from Seoul National University, MFA from UCLA’s Design & Media Arts, and PhD from Royal College of Art (RCA). Kang is currently a visiting lecturer at the RCA and a fellow of Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). She held exhibitions at numerous art institutions including the Seoul Museum of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, and participated in international events such as Venice Architecture Biennale (Venice, Italy) and Shenzhen New Media Art Festival. Kang did her artist residency in V&A, Korea National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) and Seoul Museum of Modern Art. In 2020, she participated in the transcontinental contemporary art project CONNECT, BTS as the only Korean artist; in 2017, she received the Red Dot Award with Deep Surface, a commissioned exhibition by Max Mara. Kang’s work has been acquired by V&A. Kang is featured in Bloomberg’s Art+Technology series and her writings have been published in the Leonardo Journal (MIT Press) and Practices of Projections, published by Oxford University Press. Kang has been awarded the British Council Alumni Award for Culture and Creativity in 2022. She participated in several conferences and symposiums including SIGGRAPH and NEXUS Pavilion, organized by La Biennale di Venezia. Kang also gives lectures at Politecnico di Milano (Milano), SOAS University of London (London), and Sotheby’s Institute of Art (London), Seoul National University (Seoul) and KAIST (Daejeon). Recently Kang had a solo exhibition Anthropause at PKM gallery (Seoul), and her group exhibition Cubically Imagined is traveling from Paris to Hong Kong, Moscow and Beijing. FOR MORE INFORMATION Dassault Systèmes’ The Only Progress is Human initiative Launched in 2020, The Only Progress is Human features a series of “acts” aimed to increase awareness of societal and environmental challenges and inspire the use of virtual worlds to drive sustainable innovations. Prior to Urban Renaissance, these acts included: Virtual Harmony, a unique musical and visual experience demonstrating how virtual worlds can change the way we experience emotions; Water for Life, a set of initiatives to help industry consume smarter and protect the world’s most precious resource; and Living Heritage, a student program to experience six UNESCO World Heritage Sites as they may have existed in the past while nurturing skills to innovate for a more sustainable world. Visit: https://www.3ds.com/progress-is-human About Dassault Systèmes Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating 'virtual twin experiences’ of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production. Dassault Systèmes’ 20,000 employees are bringing value to more than 300,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit our website. © Dassault Systèmes. All rights reserved. 3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass icon, the 3DS logo, CATIA, BIOVIA, GEOVIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3DVIA, ENOVIA, NETVIBES, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM, 3DEXCITE, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and IFWE are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes, a French “société européenne” (Versailles Commercial Register # B 322 306 440), or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.

NEW YORK -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- CertiK, the global leader in smart contract and blockchain security, released its 2022 Web3 Security report. The report offers expert insight into some of the most impactful trends and incidents of 2022, insights on centralized crypto organizations and decentralized blockchain technology, and some of the major bad actors in the Web3 world. The report also details the industry-wide changes that will be needed for Web3 to deliver on its promise of building a freer, fairer system that offers real benefits over incumbent industries. “In addition to falling asset prices and the collapse of some of crypto’s largest centralized organizations, 2022 was the worst year on record in terms of value lost from Web3 protocols,” said Ronghui Gu, co-founder and CEO of CertiK. “Cryptocurrency losses due to hacks, exploits, and scams in 2022 reached another all-time high of $3.7 billion – a 189% increase over 2021’s previous record of $1.3 billion.” The report reveals the top industry statistics and takeaways of 2022: At $625 million, the Ronin bridge incident was the largest ever Web3 heist. The year’s nine separate bridge incidents represented just 1.5% of the total tally, but accounted for over a third of value lost. The fact that the North Korean government-affiliated Lazarus Group was behind the Ronin attack highlights the level of sophistication that Web3 builders are up against. Exit scams continued to be a relatively low value but persistent threat, with more than $200 million lost to 316 such scams. The importance of keeping private keys secure was painfully demonstrated in a number of high-value incidents, many affecting those who had used a third-party wallet generator tool called Profanity. The number of Web3 projects to have secured their services with CertiK reached 5,046 – a 73% increase from the beginning of the year. Download CertiK’s Web3 Security Report 2022 here. About CertiK CertiK is a pioneer in blockchain security, leveraging best-in-class AI technology and expert manual review to protect and monitor blockchain protocols and smart contracts. Founded in 2018 by professors from Yale University and Columbia University, CertiK secures the Web3 world, by applying cutting-edge innovations from academia to enterprise, enabling mission-critical applications to scale with safety and correctness.