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Australia's Ruling Party Seeks to Shut Revolving Door of Prime Ministers

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Australia’s ruling party, trailing in polls ahead of elections next year, moved to stamp out the internal coups that have become a feature of the country’s modern politics and helped deliver six prime ministers in about a decade. Reported by Wall Street Journal 48 minutes ago.

APAC’s most impressive real estate projects crowned at influential MIPIM Asia Awards

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*Winners from China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea **take top honours at region's leading property prizes
*

* *

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 4 December 2018 - The most innovative and iconic property developments transforming skylines across the Asia-Pacific have been revealed at the *MIPIM Asia Awards 2018.*

* *

Projects from China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea were among those that took home the top prizes at the influential awards ceremony, widely known as the "Oscars of the Asian real estate world".

 

Projects from China dominated the top prizes, accounting for seven of the ten top tier Gold Awards. Yet it was Tokyo's Wellcare Garden Fukasawa which earned the prestigious standalone Jury Prize, after the innovative senior citizens home was earlier declared winner of the Best Residential Development.

 

A total of 30 projects were ranked Gold, Silver and Bronze winners, across the ten main awards categories, with the final rankings announced at the recent *MIPIM Asia Awards 2018 *ceremony, hosted at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong on November 28 as part of the MIPIM Asia Summit.

 

Founded in 2007, the MIPIM Asia Awards received a record 122 entries in 2018, from which 30 winners were assessed by an expert jury panel, before being weighted alongside a public vote of MIPIM Asia attendees to decide the final rankings in each category.

 

"The MIPIM Asia Awards are renowned as the premier honour for real estate projects in the APAC region," said MIPIM Director Ronan Vaspart. "This year we welcomed some incredible entries and recognised outstanding winners -- surely the ultimate sign that the region continues to command the world's attention when it comes to ambition and innovation in the property sector."

*MIPIM ASIA AWARDS 2018 WINNERS*

**Pictures of all winners are available for download HERE*

*BEST HOTEL & TOURISM DEVELOPMENT***

* *

*GOLD***

*naked Castle*

Moganshan, Zhejiang Province, China

Architect: naked Design Studio

Developer: naked Group

Owner: naked Retreats

Other: Xiao Hui Design Studio, Tianhua Architectural Design Company

* *

*SILVER** *

*The Murray, Hong Kong a Niccolo Hotel***

Hong Kong SAR, China

Architect: Foster + Partners, Wong & Ouyang (HK) Limited

Developer: Wharf Real Estate Investment Company Limited

* *

*BRONZE** ***

*Conrad Osaka (Nakanoshima Festival Tower West)*

Osaka, Japan

Architect: Nikken Sekkei Ltd

Developer: The Asahi Shimbun, Takenaka Corporation

Other: Yukio Hashimoto (Interior Designer), Nikken Space Design (Interior Designer)

*BEST INNOVATIVE GREEN BUILDING*

*GOLD***

*Marina One Singapore*

Singapore

Architect: ingenhoven architects, Architects 61 Pte. Ltd., Singapore (Architect of Record)

Developer: Mapletree Management Pte. Ltd., Singapore (Project Manager)

 

*SILVER** *

*Menara ASTRA***

Jakarta, Indonesia

Architect: Nikken Sekkei Ltd

Developer: Astra International

Other: Airmas Asri  

* *

*BRONZE***

*Roche Diagnostics (Suzhou) Ltd.*

Suzhou, China

Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

Developer: Roche Diagnostics

*BEST MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT*

*GOLD***

*Shanghai Greenland Center / Greenland Being Funny*

Shanghai, China

Architect: Nikken Sekkei Ltd

Developer: Shanghai Greenland Group Co., Ltd.

Other: East China Construction Group Co., Ltd.

* *

*SILVER** ***

*Barangaroo South*

Sydney, Australia

Architect: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (International Towers Sydney and masterplan), Lendlease Design, FJMT (Anadara apartments), PTW (Alexander apartments), Tzannes (International House Sydney), Tony Caro, Collins & Turner and Durbach Block Jaggers

Developer: Lendlease

Other: Aspect Oculus (Landscape Architect), Right Angle Studio (Retail Strategist)

 

*BRONZE***

*SND Cultural & Sports Center*

Suzhou, China

Architect: Tianhua Architecture Planning & Engineering Ltd.

Developer: Suzhou New District Cultural & Sports Development Co., Ltd.

*
*

*BEST OFFICE & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT*

*GOLD***

*Tencent Corporate Headquarters*

Shenzhen, China

Architect: NBBJ, TJAD

Developer: Tencent Technology Company Limited

* *

*SILVER** ***

*Sunshine Financial City*

Beijing, China

Architect: Nikken Sekkei Ltd, China Architecture & Research Group

Developer: Sunshine Insurance Group

Other: Ohtori Consultants Inc. Environmental Design Institute

* *

*BRONZE***

*Chengdu Luxelake Headquarter Park*

Chengdu, China

Architect: Shanghai JWDA Architects Co., Ltd.

Developer: Chengdu Wide Horizon Investment Group Co.,Ltd

 

*BEST REFURBISHED BUILDING*

*GOLD** ***

*Sfactory*

Seoul, South Korea**

Architect: FRCH

Developer: Ho Kyu Lee

Other: L5AMC

* *

*SILVER** ***

*Laura*

Shanghai, China

Architect: Jiangsu Provincial Architectural Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd.

Developer: KaiLong Group

 

*BRONZE***

*The Mills*
Hong Kong SAR, China

Architect: Nan Fung Development Ltd

Developer: Nan Fung Development Ltd

Other: Thomas Chow Architects Ltd

*BEST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT*

*GOLD** *

*Wellcare Garden Fukasawa***

Tokyo, Japan

Architect: Nikken Housing System Ltd

Developer: The Sankei Building Co., Ltd.

* *

*SILVER** ***

*The Beacon*

Hong Kong SAR, China

Architect: Aedas      

 

*BRONZE***

*The Scotts Tower*

Singapore**

Architect: UNStudio (Amsterdam), Ong&Ong (Singapore)

Developer: Far East Organization

*BEST RETAIL DEVELOPMENT*

*GOLD** *

*Landmark Riverside Park -- Phase II: Danzishi Old Street*

Chongqing, China

Architect: LWK & Partners

Developer: Hongkong Land, China Merchants Shekou Holdings

* *

*SILVER** ***

*HIRAKATA T-SITE*

Hirakata, Japan

Architect: Takenaka Corporation

Developer: SO-TWO. INC

 

*BRONZE*

*WF Central*

Beijing, China

Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

Developer: Hongkong Land

Other: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (LDI), WTIL (Executive Architect)

*BEST URBAN REGENERATION PROJECT*

* *

*GOLD** *

*798 Arts District*

Beijing, China

Architect: SASAKI

Developer: Urbis Development, SevenStar Group

* *

*SILVER** *

*Barangaroo South*

Sydney, Australia

Architect: Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (International Towers Sydney and masterplan), Lendlease Design, FJMT (Anadara apartments), PTW (Alexander apartments), Tzannes (International House Sydney), Tony Caro, Collins & Turner and Durbach Block Jaggers

Developer: Lendlease

Other: Aspect Oculus (Landscape Architect), Right Angle Studio (Retail Strategist)

* *

*BRONZE***

*Kennedy Town regeneration*

Hong Kong SAR, China

Architect: Farrells

Developer: MTR Corporation

 

*BEST CHINESE FUTURA PROJECT*

 

*GOLD** *

*Zhuhai Hong Qi Sugar Factory Masterplan *

Zhuhai, China

Architect: Woods Bagot

Developer: Zhuhai Sugar Factory Tourism Development Limited 

* *

*SILVER** ***

*Gala Avenue - Westside*

Shanghai, China

Architect: Benoy**

Developer: CITIC Limited, China State Shipbuilding Corporation

* *

*BRONZE***

*Shanghai Hongkou Stadium and Surrounding Area Urban Design*

Shanghai, China

Architect: SASAKI

Developer: Shanghai Hongkou District Land Resource & Planning Bureau

*BEST CHINESE FUTURA MEGA PROJECT*

 

*GOLD** *

*CITIC Tower*

Beijing, China

Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

Developer: CITIC Heye Investment

Other: Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (Architect of Record), TFP Farrells (Land Bid Concept)

* *

*SILVER** ***

*Alibaba Xixi Campus Phase 4*

Hangzhou, China

Architect: NBBJ

Developer: Alibaba Group

 

*BRONZE***

*Greentown Yiwu Peach Blossom Spring Project*

Jinhua, China

Architect: Hangzhou 9M Architectural Design Co., Ltd

Developer: Yiwu Greentown CCCC Real Estate Development Co., Ltd**

 

*SPECIAL JURY AWARD*

 

*Wellcare Garden Fukasawa***

Tokyo, Japan

Architect: Nikken Housing System Ltd

Developer: The Sankei Building Co., Ltd.

 

*Notes for editors*

*About MIPIM Asia Summit*

MIPIM Asia Summit is the annual property leaders' summit in Asia Pacific organised by Reed MIDEM, is widely seen as a "must-attend" event for leading industry professionals. It features expert-led conference sessions, premium networking accelerators and an exclusive awards gala dinner over a two-day period. Distinguished speakers, senior executives, high-level business professionals and industry experts from around the world will discuss the latest developments and prevailing trends in the property and retail industry. MIPIM -- the world's property market is the leading and largest global property event. The four day event takes place annually in Cannes every 26000 delegates attended in 2018 with 5,400 investors, and 100 different countries being represented.

* *

*About Reed MIDEM:*

Founded in 1963, Reed MIDEM is an organiser of professional, international markets that are essential business platforms for key players in the sectors concerned. These sectors are MIPTV, MIPDOC, MIPCOM, MIPJUNIOR in Cannes, MIP China in Hangzhou and MIP Cancun in Mexico for the television and digital content industries; MIDEM in Cannes for music professionals; Esports BAR in Cannes and in Miami for the esports business; MIPIM in Cannes, MIPIM UK in London, MIPIM Asia Summit in Hong Kong, MIPIM PropTech Summit in New York and MIPIM PropTech Europe for the real estate industry; MAPIC in Cannes, MAPIC Russia in Moscow, MAPIC Italy and MAPIC Food in Milan, MAPIC China Summit in Shanghai and IRF brought by MAPIC in Mumbai for the retail real estate sector. **

 

*About Reed Exhibitions:***

Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organiser, with over 500 events in 30 countries. In 2017 Reed brought together over seven million event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 38 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professional and business customers across industries.

www.reedexpo.com

 

For additional information about the *MIPIM Asia Summit* and programme, please visit here.

To register as press, please contact *MIPIM Asia* local PR partner.

Follow *MIPIM*: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

  Reported by Media OutReach 1 hour ago.

Last Cokes bottled in South Australia

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Coca-Cola is set to produce its last Cokes in Adelaide after a decision to close the local bottling plant, citing barriers to expanding the ageing line. Reported by SBS 50 minutes ago.

Staying a step ahead of the cyber criminals

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Australian cyber revenues will soar to $6 billion by 2026 according to recent statistics published in the 2018 update to Australia’s Cyber Security Sector Competitiveness Plan. Reported by Brisbane Times 33 minutes ago.

Australian Fans Bash Country's Own Media For Insulting Team India Stars

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The ball-tampering scandal in South Africa led to a massive hue and cry in the cricket fraternity with many citing the team culture as being the problematic area. Following the controversy, a ‘cricket culture review’ took place in the country, which branded Cricket Australia as “arrogant” and “dictatorial”. The India vs Australia Test series Down … Reported by The News Articles 49 minutes ago.

Australia: Q3 current account deficit shrinks as export earnings advance - Westpac

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Andrew Hanlan, Research Analyst at Westpac, explains that the Australia's current account deficit (CAD) narrowed in the September quarter and remains well contained with a print of $10.7bn in the September quarter, a $2.8bn improvement on the previous quarter.

*Key Quotes*

“As a share of the economy, the CAD deficit represents 2.2% of GDP which is well below the post 1990s average of 4.2%.”

“An improved trade performance on higher export earnings was key to the smaller current account deficit. The trade surplus lifted to $6.6bn in the period, up from $2.8bn three months earlier.”

“The trade surplus represents a sizeable 1.4% of GDP. Since the mid-1970s there have been only 6 instances when the surplus has been 1.3% of GDP or more (three of which have occurred since the end of 2016).”

The terms of trade advanced by 0.8% in the quarter and rose by 2.7% over the past year. Notably, the terms of trade is now 20% above the low at the start of 2016.” Reported by FXstreet.com 36 minutes ago.

Forex Today: Yen jumps in sync with Yuan, focus on Carney’s Brexit testimony

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Forex today in Asia witnessed good two-way businesses, driven by the US dollar dynamics and the price-action surrounding the Treasury yields. Also, a solid rise in the Yuan against its American counterpart amid the recent US-China trade truce dominated the sentiment across the financial markets so far this Tuesday.

Among the Asia-pac currencies, the USD/JPY pair stalled its march towards the 114 handle and reversed sharply to test the 113 level, as the Yen regained strength following the sell-off in the Treasury yields and a rally in its Chinese counterpart, the Yuan. The Antipodeans also benefited from the Yuan upsurge, but the gains were limited by RBA’s status-quo and tumbling Asian equities. The Asian indices slipped amid stronger currencies that usually weigh on the export-oriented stocks.

Both crude benchmarks traded nearly 0.80% higher while gold prices on Comex firmed up to test the 1250 mark, as the bulls await the sentiment on the European open for fresh trading impetus.

*Main Topics in Asia*

PBOC Governor Yi: Will keep monetary policy flexible - Reuters

US 10-year treasury yield drops below 200-day MA for the first time since November 2017

China considering lowering tariffs on US car imports - China Daily

Saudi oil output hit record high in November - Bloomberg

South Korea, US to hold senior economic dialogue on Dec 7th

Doubts on the rise about the US-China ceasefire - Reuters

Reserve Bank of Australia leaves cash rate unchanged at 1.50%

China's 10-year bond yield hits lowest in 19 months

*Key Focus Ahead*

The EUR calendar remains relatively light today, with no first-tier macro news from the Euroland while the second-liner PPI numbers could offer some incentives to the traders. From the UK docket, the construction PMI for November will be released at 0930 GMT.

In the NA session, the Canadian labor productivity data will drop in at 1330 GMT, followed by New Zealand’s GDT price index due around at 1430 GMT. Also, in focus remains the API weekly crude oil stocks data that will be published at 2130 GMT.

*Apart from the macro data, we have the following central bankers due to speak later today. *

0915 GMT: BOE Governor Carney’s testimony on the Brexit withdrawal agreement

1500 GMT: FOMC member Williams

1800 GMT: BOE MPC member Vlieghe**

EUR/USD: Euro may pick up a strong bid on sliding treasury yields and rising yuan

The EUR/USD could challenge a key resistance at 1.1402 today, tracking the slide in the 10-year treasury yield and the rise in the Chinese Yuan – an anchor for global markets.

GBP/USD mired in 1.2750 ahead of BoE Gov Carney's Brexit agreement testimony

Today sees the Bank of England's (BoE) Governor Mark Carney testifying before the Treasury Select Committee, alongside three of his Deputy Governors, in London today, with the actions slated to start at 09:15 GMT. 

Gold seen rising to $ 1350 in the next 12 months – Goldman Sachs

In its latest client note, analysts at Goldman Sachs upped the gold price forecasts for the next 12 months.

EUR/USD risks downside this week - Barclays

In the view of the Barclays Research Team, the EUR/USD pair is exposed to downside risks this week amid an expected broad-based US dollar rebound.

  Reported by FXstreet.com 30 minutes ago.

Further information on the rights issue

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Yesterday morning, the Zur Rose Group announced that, in the context of its capital increase it had just completed, the subscription rights of its largest shareholder, KWE Beteiligungen AG, had not been exercised by mistake. KWE Beteiligungen AG's principal bank which reconfirmed receipt of the order to exercise its subscription rights, omitted to forward the order subsequently to the mandated banks.

Yesterday evening, the Zur Rose Group was informed by KWE Beteiligungen AG that it had reached a settlement with its principal bank. The settlement does not include the delivery of shares or their procurement on the market by the principal bank to increase KWE Beteiligungen AG’s shareholding back to the pre-rights offering level.

The Board of Directors, in which KWE Beteiligungen AG is represented, regretfully takes note of this information. Ahead of the capital increase KWE Beteiligungen AG declared vis-à-vis the Zur Rose Group as well as a financial newspaper that it would support the capital increase proportionally by exercising its subscription rights.

*Investors and analyst contact*
Marcel Ziwica, Chief Financial Officer
Email: ir@zurrose.com, phone: +41 58 810 11 49

*Media contact
*Lisa Lüthi, Head of Corporate Communications
Email: media@zurrose.com, phone: +41 52 724 08 14

*Zur Rose Group*

The Swiss Zur Rose Group is Europe's largest online pharmacy and one of the leading medical wholesalers in Switzerland. With its business model, it offers high-quality, safe and cost-effective pharmaceutical care and thus contributes to reducing healthcare costs. It is also characterized by the continuous further development of digital services in the field of drug management in order to increase therapy safety. The creation of added value and a pronounced patient orientation make the Group an important strategic partner for service providers, cost units and industry.

The Zur Rose Group is internationally present with strong brands, including Germany's best-known pharmacy brand DocMorris. The company employs over 1,000 people at various locations and generated a turnover of CHF 983 million in the 2017 financial year. The shares of Zur Rose Group AG are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (securities number 4261528, ISIN CH0042615283, ticker ROSE). The CHF 115 million corporate bond issued in July 2018 is also listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (securities number 42146044, ISIN CH0421460442, ticker ZRO18). Further information at zurrosegroup.com

*Disclaimer*

This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful. This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan.

This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in the United States. The securities of Zur Rose Group AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Any sale in the United States of the securities mentioned in this communication will be made solely to “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in, and in reliance on, Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

This document is not an issuance or listing prospectus or a similar document in the sense of article 652a, article 752 and/or article1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or articles 27 et seq. of the Listing Rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange and was not reviewed by any competent authority. Any offer of securities of Zur Rose Group AG will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, an offering memorandum that will contain detailed information about the group and its management as well as risk factors and financial statements. Any person considering the purchase of any securities of Zur Rose Group AG must inform itself independently based solely on such offering memorandum (including any supplement thereto).

This document does not constitute an "offer of securities to the public" within the meaning of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Union, as amended (the "Prospectus Directive") of the securities referred to herein in any member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"). Any offers of the securities referred to in this document to persons in the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive, as implemented in member states of the EEA, from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of the Securities. In any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Directive, this document is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive, i.e., only to investors who can receive the offer without an approved prospectus in such EEA Member State.

In the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at persons who (i) are investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended) (the "Order") or (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). This document is directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.

This communication may contain statements about the future that use words such as, for example, "believe", "assume", "expect" and other similar expressions. Such statements about the future are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which can cause the true results of the company to differ significantly from that which is expressly or implicitly assumed in these statements. In view of these uncertainties, the reader should not depend on this type of statement about the future. The company gives no undertaking whatever to update such statements regarding the future, or to adapt them to future events or developments. Reported by EQS Group 33 minutes ago.

Ease2pay launches rights offering of 1,539,999 new shares at an issue price of EUR 1.50 per share

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*Rotterdam, the Netherlands – 4 December 2018* – Ease2pay N.V. (“*Ease2pay*”, or the “*Company*”), a mobile payment transaction platform, announces the launch of a rights offering of 1,539,999 new ordinary shares with a nominal value of EUR 0.10 each (the *Offer Shares*), at an issue price of EUR 1.50 per Offer Share (the *Issue Price*). These Offer Shares will be admitted to listing and trading under the symbol "EAS2P" on Euronext Amsterdam N.V. (*Euronext Amsterdam*). Subject to applicable securities laws, the holders of ordinary shares in the share capital of the Company with a nominal value of EUR 0.10 (the *Shares* and the *Shareholders*) at the Record Date (as defined below) will be granted subscription rights to subscribe for the Offer Shares (the *Rights*), provided that in each case they are a Shareholder or any other person that lawfully acquired the Rights directly or indirectly from a Shareholder or from a person that subsequently acquired the Rights who is able to give the representations and warranties as set out below in Annex A (an *Eligible Person*). The Rights will not be admitted to listing and trading on any regulated market.

*Highlights*

· Shareholders will be granted one Right per Share held, exercise of five (5) Rights entitles an Eligible Person to subscribe for one (1) Offer Share at the Issue Price, raising up to EUR 2.3m gross proceeds in case of full subscription
· The Issue Price is EUR 1.50 per Offer Share. This represents a discount of 20.4% to the theoretical ex-rights price (TERP) of EUR 1.88, based on the closing price of the Shares on Euronext Amsterdam on 3 December 2018 and a discount of 23.5% versus the 10-day volume weighted average price on Euronext Amsterdam
· Record date and record time for allocation of Rights is set at 17:40 Central European Time (*CET*) on 6 December 2018, immediately after the closing of trading of Ease2pay's ordinary shares on Euronext Amsterdam
· Subscription period for Offer Shares starts on 7 December 2018 and ends on 18 December 2018
· Rights will be credited to clearing systems and to the accounts of Shareholders on 7 December 2018
· Results of the transaction will be announced on or about 19 December 2018
· Any Rights not exercised by Eligible Persons will be offered to institutional investors in the Netherlands and in selected geographies in the European Economic Area, and outside the United States of America in reliance of Regulation S under the Securities Act by the Sole Bookrunner (as defined below) in the Rump Offering (as defined below)
· The Rump Offering (as defined below), if any, is expected to take place on or about 18 December 2018, after the closing of trading on Euronext Amsterdam

The proceeds from the Offering will be used for i) working capital to enable growth of the Company’s services and platform, ii) to repay EUR 1,471,000 nominal shareholder loans to strengthen the balance sheet and prevent the related burdensome accounting treatment of these shareholder loans in the future. Members of the Company's management board have committed to exercise all rights from their shareholding held through The Internet of Cars v.o.f. (*TIOC*) representing 56.5% of the outstanding share capital, of which the full proceeds will be used to repay outstanding shareholder loans. To ensure minimal useable gross proceeds for working capital, NIBC Bank N.V. has committed to subscribe for new shares from non-exercised rights in the Offering for the difference, if any, between gross proceeds raised in the Offering, excluding gross proceeds from rights exercised by TIOC, and EUR 500,000.

In connection with Offering (as defined below), the Company has published a Dutch information document. Pursuant to the requirements of this Dutch information document, the Company has included quarterly financials on Q3 2018 on p. 8-10 of the Dutch information document, which are only available in Dutch. A copy of the Dutch information document can be downloaded from the Website (as defined below).

The ratio between equity and debt of Ease2pay is 14/86 as of 30 September 2018. Following the Offering, this ratio is at least 20/80. As a result of the repayment of the subordinated shareholder loans, the company has an additional interest charge of EUR 42,098 with which the shareholder loan is repaid at nominal value. The additional interest expense is due to the fact that the shareholder loan was recognized at 30 September 2018 at an amortized cost price, which is EUR 42,098 lower at 30 September 2018 than the nominal value at which the shareholder loan will be repaid. In October 2018 and November 2018 this shareholder loan was further increased towards the redemption value and in December 2018 the last part will be recognized as a charge in the income statement for Ease2pay, this will result in a higher debt of EUR 42,098, and a lower equity and result of EUR 42,098 for the full year 2018.

Certain post-closing lock-ups have been agreed for Mr Borghuis and Mr van Lookeren Campagne as directors of the Company and indirect shareholders through TIOC, for a period of 180 days from the settlement date which are subject to certain customary carve-outs and possible waiver by the Sole Bookrunner.

NIBC Bank N.V. is acting as (i) subscription agent of the Company in relation to the Offering (the *Subscription* *Agent*), (ii) issuing and settlement agent for Offer Shares (the *Issuing Agent, *the* Settlement Agent*), (iii) the listing agent for Offer Shares, and (iv) sole bookrunner in relation to the Rump Offering, if any, (the *Sole Bookrunner*).

*The Offering Details*
Subject to the terms and conditions set out in any press release of the Company in relation to the Offering (each a *Press Release*), the offering comprises: (i) the rights offering in which Shareholders as of 17:40 CET on 6 December 2018 (the *Record Date*) will be granted one (1) Right for each Share held on that date to subscribe for Offer Shares against payment of the Issue Price (the *Rights Offering*), and (ii) if any, the rump offering in which Offer Shares for which Rights have not been validly exercised during the Rights Offering Period (as defined below) (the *Rump Shares*) may be placed via a private placement with certain qualified investors in the Netherlands and in selected geographies in the European Economic Area, and outside the United States of America in reliance of Regulation S under the Securities Act by means of an accelerated bookbuild offering at the Issue Price (the *Rump Offering* and together with the Rights Offering referred to as the *Offering*).

The Rights Offering is expected to commence at 09:00 CET on 7 December 2018, and to end no later than 15:00 CET on 18 December 2018 (the *Rights Offering Period*), subject to acceleration or extension on the timetable or the withdrawal of the Rights Offering. The Rump Offering, if any, is expected to commence immediately after the closing of trading on Euronext Amsterdam 18 December 2018, and to end no later than 9:00 CET on 19 December 2018 (the *Rump Offering Period, *together with the Rights Offering Period the *Offering Period*), subject to acceleration or extension on the timetable or the withdrawal of the Rump Offering. Subject to acceleration or extension of the timetable or withdrawal of the Offering, listing and trading of the Offer Shares and Rump Shares is expected to commence on or about 21 December 2018. Payment (in euro) for, and issue and delivery of, the Offer Shares and the Rump Shares (the *Settlement*) is expected to take place on or about 21 December 2018 (the *Settlement Date*). The Offer Shares and Rump Shares will be delivered in book-entry form through the facilities of the Centraal Instituut voor Giraal Effectenverkeer B.V. (*Euroclear Nederland*).

The Issue Price per Offer Share is EUR 1.50. Subject to certain exceptions and applicable securities laws, and provided the Company has established to its satisfaction that such action would not result in the contravention of any registration requirement or other legal regulations in any jurisdiction, the Shareholders as of the Record Date will be granted Rights that entitle Eligible Persons to subscribe for Offer Shares at the Issue Price. Each Share held by a Shareholder, immediately after the closing of trading on Euronext Amsterdam at 17:40 CET on 6 December 2018, will entitle such Shareholder to one (1) Right. In accordance to the subscription ratio, every five (5) Rights will entitle a Shareholder who is an Eligible Person to subscribe for one (1) Offer Share at the Issue Price (the *Subscription Ratio)*. A holding of less than five (5) Rights will not give the holder thereof any rights in connection with the Rights Offering and such Rights will, if not transferred, automatically lapse without value. The Rights will not be admitted to listing and trading on any regulated market. The statutory pre-emption rights (wettelijke voorkeursrechten) of the Shareholders in respect of the Offering have been excluded.

Subject to the restrictions set out below, any Shareholder who is an Eligible Person may subscribe for Offer Shares by exercising its Rights from 09:00 CET on 7 December 2018, which is the beginning of the Rights Offering Period, up to 15:00 CET on 18 December 2018, which is the end of the Rights Offering Period. The last date and/or time before which notification of exercise instructions may be validly given may be earlier, depending on the financial institution through which the Rights are held. Any extension of the timetable for the Offering will be published in a Press Release at least three (3) hours before the end of the original Offering Period, which will be placed on www.ease2paynv.com (the *Website*), provided that any extension will be for a minimum of one (1) full business day.

To qualify for allocation of Offer Shares, investors must place their subscriptions for Offer Shares during the Offering Period through financial intermediaries. Different financial intermediaries may apply different deadlines before the closing time of the Rights Offering Period. NIBC Bank N.V., through Euroclear, will communicate to the financial intermediaries, the aggregate number of Offer Shares allocated to their respective investors. It is up to the financial intermediaries to notify investors of their individual allocations of Offer Shares.

Investors participating in the Offering will be deemed to have checked each Press Release and any Additional Information Document (as defined below) and confirmed whether they meet the requirements laid down in the Selling and Transfer Restrictions as set out in Annex B and as stated in any other Press Release and any Additional Information Document (as defined below). If in doubt, investors should consult their professional advisor, their financial institution or broker.

The Rights Offering Period will end at 15:00 CET on 18 December 2018. In case there are unexercised Rights, the Company may decide to offer the Rump Shares from the unexercised Rights via a private placement to certain qualified investors in the Netherlands and in selected geographies in the European Economic Area, and outside the United States of America in reliance of Regulation S under the Securities Act, by means of an accelerated bookbuild offering at the Issue Price. NIBC Bank N.V. will act as Sole Bookrunner for such Rump Offering, if any, which is expected to commence immediately after the closing of the trading on Euronext Amsterdam on 18 December 2018. Any qualified investors who are interested in any Rump Shares may place the orders for such Rump Shares directly with the Sole Bookrunner during the accelerated bookbuild offering in the Rump Offering. The Sole Bookrunner cannot guarantee that the Rump Offering, if any, will be successfully completed.

The allocation of Rump Shares, if any, is expected to take place shortly after the end of the Rump Offering Period, on or about 19 December 2018. Allocation to qualified investors who subscribed for Rump Shares in the Rump Offering will be made on a systematic basis (pro rata) and full discretion will be exercised by the Company as to whether or not and how to allot the Rump Shares. The Company may, at its own discretion and without stating the grounds, reject any subscriptions by qualified investors wholly or partly. During the Rump Offering, no minimum or maximum subscription amount for Rump Shares will apply.

The results of the Offering will be communicated through a Press Release on the Website.

Any acceleration of the timetable for the Offering will be published in a Press Release at least three (3) hours before the proposed end of the accelerated Offering Period, which will be placed on the Website. In any event, the Offering Period will be at least six (6) business days. If and when the Offering should be withdrawn, which can be done at the sole discretion of the Company, notice thereof will be given as soon as possible by the Company through a Press Release, which will be placed on the Website. Any entitlements in relation to a withdrawal of the Offering, will be deemed to have expired without compensation.

If the Offering is withdrawn and Settlement does not take place, all subscriptions for Offer Shares and Rump Shares will be disregarded, any allotments made will be deemed not to have been made and any subscription payments made will be returned without interest or other compensation. Any transfers of Rights or trades in Offer Shares or Rump Shares prior to Settlement are at the sole risk of the parties concerned. Neither the Company, the Subscription, Issuing, and Settlement Agent nor Euronext Amsterdam accept any responsibility or liability for any loss incurred by any person as a result of a withdrawal of the Offering or the related annulment of any transactions in Shares on Euronext Amsterdam.

The Offer Shares and Rump Shares will be delivered in book-entry from through the facilities of Euroclear Nederland. Payment for and delivery of the Offer Shares and Rump Shares and trading on Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol "EAS2P" is expected to take place on 21 December 2018, in accordance with their normal settlement procedures applicable to equity securities and against payment (in euro) for the Offer Shares and Rump Shares in immediately available funds.

The closing of the Offering may not take place on the Settlement Date or at all if certain conditions or events referred to in the underwriting agreement entered into by the Company and the Sole Bookrunner on 3 December 2018 are not satisfied or waived or occur on or prior to such date. Such conditions include, among others (i) agreement upon the Offer Price and the exact number of Rights, Offer Shares and Rump Shares and entering into a pricing agreement and, (ii) the representations and warranties made by the Company being true and accurate at the date of the underwriting agreement.

*Timetable *
The Company has confirmed the following timetable for the Offering:

Event Time Date
Record Date 17:40 CET Immediately after the closing of trading on Euronext Amsterdam at 17:40 CET on 6 December 2018

 
Crediting of rights to Shareholders’ securities account, start of Rights Offering Period

  09:00 CET 7 December2018

 
End of Rights Offering Period 15:00 CET 18 December 2018

 
Rump Offering (if any)   18 December 2018

 
Results of the Offering, allocation of the Offer Shares and Rump Shares (if any)

    19 December 2018

 
Issue of, payment for and delivery of the Offer Shares and Rump Shares

    21 December 2018
Listing of Offer Shares and Rump Shares on Euronext Amsterdam

  09:00 CET 21 December 2018

For further information on the Offering and the Company, we refer to the Press Releases as published on the website, all information and documents (including a Dutch information document) (each an *Additional Information Document*) as well as any (future) messages from Euronext Amsterdam and/or Euroclear Nederland.

*Contact details*
NIBC Bank N.V.
NIBC Equity Agency Services
T: +31 20 550 8415
E: eas@nibc.com

*About Ease2pay*
Ease2pay is a payment and loyalty transaction platform with which you can turn every smartphone into a cash register and a pin terminal. The app allows consumers to order, pay and save in one operation without using cash registers or pin terminals.

Ease2pay B.V., a subsidiary of the Company, is registered with the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank) (*DNB*) as an exempted electronic money institution (elektronischgeldinstelling) and as an exempted payment service provider (betaaldienstverlener). Due to the applicable exemptions, Ease2pay B.V. is not under the supervision of DNB. Ease2pay B.V. is accredited for Mandate Service Provider and is a certificate holder Collecting Payment Service Provider (CPSP) iDEAL.

*The information communicated through this press release constitutes inside information (voorwetenschap) within the meaning of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (market abuse regulation). *

*For more information, please contact:*

Jan Borghuis
Director

T: +31 (0)10 3074619

*Annex A - **Eligible Persons*

Subject to applicable securities laws, and provided the Company is satisfied that such action would not result in the contravention of any registration or other legal requirement in any jurisdiction, Rights will be granted to Shareholders as at the Record Date. Rights credited to the account of a person who is not an Eligible Person shall not constitute an offer of Offer Shares to such person. A financial institution may not acknowledge the receipt of any Rights, and the Company reserves the right to treat as invalid the exercise, purported exercise or transfer of any Rights, which may involve a breach of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction or if the Company believes, or any of the Company’s agents believe, that the same may violate applicable legal or regulatory requirements or may be inconsistent with the procedures and terms set out in each Press Release or any Additional Information Document or in breach of the representations and warranties to be made by an accepting holder, as described herein.

In accordance with the terms and subject to certain exceptions:

1. the Rights being granted in the Offering may be exercised only by an Eligible Person, subject to applicable securities laws;
2. the Rights being granted or Offer Shares being offered in the Offering may not be offered, sold, resold, exercised, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into jurisdictions other than the Netherlands where the Rights may not be granted and Offer Shares may not be offered pursuant to applicable law, including, but not limited to, the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and Japan, subject to certain limited exceptions (the *Ineligible Jurisdictions*); and
3. any Press Release or any Additional Information Document may not be sent to:

· any person residing in an Ineligible Jurisdiction or with a citizenship from an Ineligible Jurisdiction such that he or she cannot lawfully receive the Rights or participate in the Offering; or
· any Shareholder or any other person residing in a jurisdiction other than the Netherlands where the Rights may be granted and Offer Shares may be offered, but to whom certain restrictions apply, as set out in Annex B to this Press Release, as a result of which he or she cannot receive the Rights or lawfully participate in the Offering (such a person being an *Ineligible Person*).

Persons who are not Ineligible Persons are referred to as *Eligible Persons*.

The Rights will initially be credited to financial intermediaries for the accounts of all Shareholders who hold Shares in custody through such financial intermediary on the Record Date. A financial intermediary may not exercise any Right on behalf of any Ineligible Person and will be required in connection with any exercise of the Rights to certify to such effect.

Exercise instructions or certifications sent from or postmarked in any Ineligible Jurisdiction will be deemed to be invalid and the Rights and Offer Shares will not be delivered to addresses inside any Ineligible Jurisdictions.

*Representations and warranties by Eligible Persons*
Subject to certain exceptions, if a person (i) accepts, takes up, delivers or otherwise transfers Rights, (ii) exercises Rights to subscribe for Offer Shares, or (iii) purchases, subscribes for, trades or otherwise deals in Offer Shares being granted or offered, respectively, in the Offering, will be deemed to have given, made, and in some case be required to explicitly confirm, each of the following representations and warranties to the Company, to the Subscription, Issuing and Settlement Agent and to any person acting on behalf of either the Company or the Subscription, Issuing and Settlement Agent, unless in the Company’s or NIBC Bank N.V.'s discretion the Company waives such requirement:

1. It is not located inside an Ineligible Jurisdiction;
2. It is not an Ineligible Person;
3. It is not acting, and has not acted, for the account or benefit of an Ineligible Person;
4. It will not offer, sell or otherwise transfer either a Right or an Offer Share to any person located in an Ineligible Jurisdiction (which will be deemed to be satisfied when trading Offer Shares in the marketplace through Euronext Amsterdam); and
5. It was a Shareholder as at 17:40 CET on the Record Date, or such person lawfully acquired or may lawfully acquire Rights, directly or indirectly, from such a Shareholder or from a person that subsequently lawfully acquired Rights.

The Company, the Subscription Agent, Issuing Agent and Settlement Agent and any persons acting on behalf of the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of this person’s representations and warranties. Any provision of false information or subsequent breach of these representations and warranties may subject that person to liability.

A person acting on behalf of another person exercising its Rights or purchasing Offer Shares (including, without limitation, as a nominee, custodian or trustee), will be required to provide the foregoing representations and warranties to the Company and the Subscription, Issuing and Settlement Agent with respect to the exercise of Rights or purchase of Offer Shares on behalf of such person. If such person does not provide the foregoing representations and warranties, neither the Company, nor the Subscription, Issuing and Settlement Agent nor any persons acting on behalf of either the Company or the Subscription, Issuing and Settlement Agent, will be bound to authorise the allocation of any Shares to such person or the person whose behalf is acted for; neither will they be liable for any damages incurred as a result thereof. *Annex B - Selling and Transfer Restrictions*

*General*
No action has been or will be taken to permit a public offering of the Rights or the Offer Shares in any jurisdiction other than the Netherlands. Receipt of a Press Release or any Additional Information Document will not constitute an offer in those jurisdictions in which it would be illegal to make an offer and, in those circumstances, all Press Releases are for information purposes only and should not be copied nor redistributed. If an investor receives a copy of a Press Release or any Additional Information Document, such documents may not be treated as constituting an invitation or offer to the recipient, nor should the recipient in any event deal in Offer Shares, unless, in the relevant territory, such an invitation or offer could lawfully be made to the recipient and Offer Shares can lawfully be dealt in without contravention of any unfulfilled registration or other legal requirements. Accordingly, if a recipient receives a copy of a Press Release, the recipient should not, in connection with the Offering, distribute or send the Press Release, or transfer Offer Shares to any person in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would or might contravene local securities laws or regulations.

Subject to certain exceptions, financial intermediaries, including brokers, custodians and nominees, are not permitted to send or otherwise distribute any Press Release, or any other Additional Information Document to any Ineligible Person.

Persons and/or companies such as financial intermediaries, including brokers, custodians and nominees into whose hands this Press Release comes, are required by the Company and NIBC Bank N.V. to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each country or jurisdiction in or from which they purchase, offer, sell or deliver the Offer Shares or have in their possession or distribute this Press Release, in all cases at their own expense.

Subject to the specific restrictions described below, if a recipient of a copy of the Press Release, or any Additional Information Document (including, without limitation, his or her nominees, custodians and trustees) is outside the Netherlands and wishes to sell, transfer or exercise Rights or subscribe for or purchase Offer Shares, the recipient must reasonably believe to comply with the applicable laws of any relevant territory including obtaining any requisite governmental or other consents, observing any other requisite formalities and paying any issue, transfer or other taxes due in such territories. Neither the Company, the Subscription Agent, Issuing Agent, Settlement Agent nor Euronext Amsterdam accept (i) any legal responsibility for any violation by any person, whether or not an Admitted Institution, prospective subscriber or purchaser of any of the Offer Shares, of any such restriction, (ii) any legal responsibility or liability for any loss incurred by any person as a result of a withdrawal of the Offering or the related annulment of any transactions in Shares on Euronext Amsterdam.

The information set out in this section is intended as a general guide only. If a recipient of a Press Release, or any Additional Information Document is in any doubt as to its position, he or she should consult his or her professional advisor without delay.

*Selling Restrictions*

United States
The Rights, Offer Shares and Rump Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (*Securities Act*) and may not be offered, granted, sold, taken up, delivered, renounced or transferred in or into the United States. In addition, until 40 days following the commencement of the Offering, an offer or sale of the Rights, the Offer Shares and Rump Shares within the United States by any financial institution (whether or not participating in the Rights Offering) may violate the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company has no intention to register any part of the Offering in the United States or make a public offering of the Rights, Offer Shares or Rump Shares in the United States. The Rights, Offer Shares and Rump Shares are being offered and sold in the Netherlands in selected geographies in the European Economic Area, and outside the United States of America in reliance of Regulation S under the Securities Act.

European Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, other than the Netherlands (each, a *Relevant Member State*), an offer of Offer Shares may not be made to the public in that Relevant Member State, except that an offer of Offer Shares may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time under the following exemption under the Prospectus Directive, if and only to the extent it is implemented in that Relevant Member State, namely to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive; provided that no such offer of Offer Shares shall result in a requirement for the publication by the Company or any initial purchaser of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes hereof, the expression an* offer to the public* in relation to any Offer Shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the Offering and any Offer Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to any Offer Shares, as that expression may be varied in the Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State.

The expression *Prospectus Directive* means Directive 2003/71/EC (and any supplements and/or changes, including Directive 2010/73, if and in so far implemented in any Relevant Member State),  including any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State. The Sole Bookrunner has not and will not offer any Rump Shares in the Netherlands and in selected geographies in the European Economic Area, other than exclusively to qualified investors (gekwalificeerde beleggers) as defined in Section 1:1 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het Financieel Toezicht) or to legal entities which are 'qualified investors' as defined in the Prospectus Directive.

United Kingdom
In addition to the restrictions identified above, any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Article 21 FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the Offer Shares may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in the United Kingdom in circumstances in which Article 21(1) FSMA does not apply or if an exemption (as set out in the FSMA (Financial Promotion Order 2005) applies.

*Annex C - Disclaimer*

These materials are not for release, distribution or publication, whether directly or indirectly and whether in whole or in part, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction.

These materials are for information purposes only and are not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy the securities of Ease2pay N.V. (the *Company*, and such securities, the* Securities*) in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

The Securities have not and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the *Securities Act*) and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Company has no intention to register any part of the offering in the United States or make a public offering of Securities in the United States.

No communication or information relating to any offer or sale of the Securities of the Company may be disseminated to the public in jurisdictions, other than The Netherlands, where prior registration or approval is required for that purpose. No action has been taken that would permit an offer of the Securities of the Company in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in The Netherlands.

The Company has not authorised any offer to the public of the Securities in any Member State of the European Economic Area (other than the Netherlands). With respect to any Member State of the European Economic Area (other than the Netherlands), and which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each a *Relevant Member State*), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of Securities requiring publication of a prospectus in any Relevant Member State. As a result, the Securities may only be offered in Relevant Member States to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive. For the purpose of this paragraph, the expression "offer of securities to the public" means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Securities to be offered so as to enable the investor to decide to exercise, purchase or subscribe for the Securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

No action has been taken by the Company that would permit an offer of Securities or the possession or distribution of these materials or any other offering or publicity material relating to such Securities in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.

The release, publication or distribution of these materials in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which they are released, published or distributed, should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus.

*Attachment*

· Press Release Launch Ease2pay Reported by GlobeNewswire 29 minutes ago.

Sport24.co.za | King Kohli eyes crowning glory in Australia

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Virat Kohli is at the top of his game but he must get his other batters to perform if he is to grab the crowning glory of India's first Test series victory in Australia. Reported by News24 30 minutes ago.

Dr. Ron Roberts On Sex Work And Millennials – Interview

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Dr. Ron Roberts is an Honorary Lecturer in Psychology at Kingston University, a Chartered Psychologist and Assoc. Fellow of the British Psychological Society. His new book is Capitalism on Campus: Sex Work, Academic Freedom and the Market.

*Your book chronicles the rising rate of UK university students who work in the Adult Entertainment (AE) industry over the past two decades. Can you summarize why you think this is happening?*

The marketisation of higher education, with the pushing of costs onto students: student loans and tuition fees, plus the abolition of maintenance grants. In addition to this, young people are living in an insecure hyper-materialist culture in which there are few well paid jobs available for them and yet increased demands to live well and participate in the consumer society. On top of all that the ‘mainstreaming’ of sexual consumption, and the move of the middle classes into different forms of sex work, as increasingly everyone must pay to keep the rich wealthy.

*Are the rates of uni-student AE participation lower in Western countries with small or non-existent tuition fees, like Austria?*

I could only speculate – there simply isn’t the data and researchers face serious difficulties trying to do the work. What we do know is that here (the UK), the US, in various countries in Europe and Australia, students have turned to sex work.

*Do you think prostitution should be legalized, decriminalized in the Nordic model or should the government try to prevent women from wanting to become prostitutes through jobs programs/social welfare/etc.?*

The Nordic model is a disaster, with evidence suggesting it is doing women no favours and only making the lives of sex workers more difficult and more dangerous. Personally I’m in favour of decriminalizing sex work. The women and men who work in the sex industry have a hard enough time as it is without the pressures that the law imposes.

*The US Federal Reserve has spent trillions on post-Recession quantitative easing. Should the US government buy up the toxic asset that is the $1.5T student debt burden?*

Another interesting question… If quantitative easing involved putting money directly into people’s hands (or bank accounts) it might have a much bigger effect on kick-starting economic activity. Rather than the Government buying the loans back, I would suggest a tax, either on capital gains or on corporate profits, to pay for it. University education provides free training in many ways for corporate America. It is high time that they paid for the benefits they get from these highly educated workers.

*Should university education always be free?*

In a nutshell, yes.

*What do you think is the highest source of skyrocketing tuition fees: the conversion of universities to de facto corporate-vocational mills, the shifting of the bill from governments to individual students, or the explosion in the number of private universities?*

All these factors you mention are essentially the same – the corporatization of education – the consequence of neoliberalism, which can only recognize the supposed costs of different activities and never the value. Turning universities into degree factories is going to have a whole host of negative consequences down the line. In fact, some of these unintended consequences are already here, like a society that has lost sight of how important critical thinking is.

*You express a healthy skepticism of psychology, writing, “Psychology has been a willing accomplice in the privitisation of stress… with an enforced diet of positive thinking, psychotherapy, counseling, CBT [cognitive behavioral therapy] and mindfulness.” Do you think over-diagnosing and classroom/technological changes are responsible for most of the rise in rates of mental illness among young people?*

I’m very skeptical of the whole concept of mental illness. I prefer to see issues in terms of the distress inflicted on people by the lack of power -both in their immediate environment and beyond.

But for sure, younger people are living and being brought up in an increasingly ‘toxic’ environment for human well-being. Over-diagnosis is certainly problematic. Throughout the Western world, we are seeing what are essentially moral and political problems and what Thomas Szasz used to call ‘problems in living’ passed off as medical issues. Thus, problems that are properly situated in larger social, economic and interpersonal contexts are being represented as individual ‘psychiatric disorders’. As the system collapses and continues in the same vein, we can expect to see more of the same – an extreme example of the way classical economics externalises all the costs of the current system of production.

*Do you think the aggressive treatment of children with medium-impact disorders like Asperger’s and ADHD is the social equivalent of trying to force a round peg in a square hole? For instance, many of society’s greatest innovators are socially atypical.*

We have lost sight of the fact that it is OK to be different – a ‘healthy’ society depends on it. One doesn’t need a medical diagnosis for it to be OK to be a bit different.

*You’ve written a couple books that are critical of Western psychology. As a psychologist, how would you reform the field?*

Perhaps I haven’t really got the space here…but I do see some encouraging signs (1) that psychology is making bridges with the arts and other disciplines (2) that the medical model of psychiatric disorder is increasingly being shown to be bankrupt and that 3) the intrinsically political nature of the discipline is being recognized. I’d like to see more emphasis on people: students and staff being encouraged/allowed to ask their own questions and for the discipline to comprise programs of study that people design for themselves – perhaps in collaboration with others.

*Are helicopter parenting and an exam-based educational system emotionally stunting children in the UK?*

I think there is a good case to be made that they are. In the UK, there is an obsession with testing and ranking. This is having a very damaging effect on people’s educations.

*You write about how political correctness from fellow professors has stifled your research into uni-student AE workers. Do you think political correctness (PC) in UK universities is limited to this narrow field or is it a much wider issue?*

I wouldn’t describe it as political correctness – more the intentional suppression of academic freedom. The universities have forgotten that people who engage in sex work are human beings doing their best to make sense of this life. I do find it interesting that the discussions of academic freedom on UK campuses – about no-platforming various speakers for example- never discuss the real and much bigger problem of the curtailment of academic freedom in order to satisfy the corporate interests of universities and big business. Young people are struggling to gain control of their lives in an era when so much effort is being extended elsewhere to take it away from them.

*Is PC outrage culture a major social driving force with UK students?*

I personally do not think so. Blaming student politics is a convenient distraction from the real problems on campus. Reported by Eurasia Review 2 minutes ago.

Asian stocks falling back as risk appetite sours, Nikkei ticks towards ¥22,000

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· *Risk appetite is falling back in Pacific Asia, with indexes retreating and erasing recent gains.*
· *The US-China tariff agreement from the weekend is beginning to look paper-thin, with little to no key details being provided.*

Asian equities are falling back once more after seeing early signs of a global risk recovery following last weekend's G20 Leader's Summit, which saw a temporary tariff truce agreed to by the US and China, with the two sides vowing to return to the negotiating table.

This week's early risk run appears to have run out of steam however, with investors seeing more questions being raised than answered following this weekend's perceived walk-back of US-China tariffs, but equity markets are beginning to sour again in the face of the growing unknown. US President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping agreed to drag both sides back to the trade talks table anew, and promised to impose a 90-day grace period on Trump's planned tariff rate hike on China in January, but market participants are having trouble finding consensus on when this 90-day period even starts, with several White House heads delivering conflicting start dates, and little explanation has been delivered as to how the two sides intend to meet in the middle of current trade disputes.

Japan is seeing the worst of the risk-off revulsion, with the Nikkei 225 declining -2.35% alongside Tokyo's Topix index, which is in the red for -2.35%. Chinese indexes are also retreating, albeit at a more measured level, with Shanghai's CSI 300 down -0.35% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng declining -0.60%. Australia's ASX 200 bourse is also down for Tuesday, declining -1.00%, although emerging markets remain on-balance, with the MSCI broad Asia-Pacific index up on the day for an impressive 2.00%.

*Nikkei 225 Technical Levels*

Nikkei 225

Overview:
    Today Last Price: 22075
    Today Daily change: -5.5e+4 pips
    Today Daily change %: -2.43%
    Today Daily Open: 22625
Trends:
    Previous Daily SMA20: 21898.32
    Previous Daily SMA50: 22323.33
    Previous Daily SMA100: 22599.12
    Previous Daily SMA200: 22407.19
Levels:
    Previous Daily High: 22720
    Previous Daily Low: 22535
    Previous Weekly High: 22435
    Previous Weekly Low: 21484
    Previous Monthly High: 22570
    Previous Monthly Low: 21180
    Previous Daily Fibonacci 38.2%: 22605.67
    Previous Daily Fibonacci 61.8%: 22649.33
    Previous Daily Pivot Point S1: 22533.33
    Previous Daily Pivot Point S2: 22441.67
    Previous Daily Pivot Point S3: 22348.33
    Previous Daily Pivot Point R1: 22718.33
    Previous Daily Pivot Point R2: 22811.67
    Previous Daily Pivot Point R3: 22903.33

  Reported by FXstreet.com 9 minutes ago.

Aaron Finch sustains painful blow in nets ahead of first Test against India

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[Australia], Dec 4 (ANI): Australian batsman Aaron Finch on Tuesday sustained a painful blow on his right hand after being struck by a bouncer by pacer Mitchell Starc while practicing in the nets Reported by Sify 3 minutes ago.

FFA arrange fixture in South Korea, but Socceroos don't want to travel

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Australia are unlikely to commit to bringing their full-strength side to South Korea next June, potentially fielding a second-string squad. Reported by Brisbane Times 1 hour ago.

Cricket-Rohit, Vihari to battle for India spot in first test

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India selectors are expected to choose between specialist batsman Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Hanuma Vihari for the series-opening test against Australia in Adelaide starting Thursday. Reported by Reuters India 2 hours ago.

Australia: 2.35% the next likely target for 10yr ACGBs - TDS

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Prashant Newnaha, Senior Asia-Pacific Rates Strategist at TD Securities, notes that the Australian 10yr bond yield broke below 2.50%, a level that has historically served as a strong floor.

*Key Quotes*

“We run through the list of offshore factors that should keep Australian 10yr ACGB yields below 2.50%. Macro risk remains elevated and from a cross asset perspective key levels are close to or have already been breached. Offshore moves could drive 10yr ACGBs to 2.35%.”

“We were positioning for AU-US 10yr wideners in our Annual Outlook, but our -45bps entry point has remained elusive. ACGBs should lag offshore driven rallies in rates, but the underperformance is unlikely to be that significant.”

“The Aus 3s10s curve is more likely to flatten on offshore leads. The RBA resistance to cut rates remains high in our view. We also question whether lower rates will help if lending standards are being tightened. A break below 52bps is looking more likely.”

  Reported by FXstreet.com 2 hours ago.

SA Tesla battery ready to go national

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Operators of South Australia's giant battery are keen to expand the technology across the nation after a report found the battery has exceeded all expectations. Reported by SBS 1 hour ago.

Sport24.co.za | Australia axe Marsh as Khawaja returns against India

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Australia sprang a surprise by axing all-rounder Mitch Marsh for the first Test against India, as Usman Khawaja's return was confirmed despite the shock of his brother's arrest. Reported by News24 2 hours ago.

Australia: Online sales grows 0.7% in October – NAB

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Australia’s NAB Online Retail Sales Index (NORSI) in October (+0.7% mom s.a.) accelerated relative to September (0.3%) and the 12 months to growth slowed in October, with sales up 14.7% compared to September (16.7%), points out Brien McDonald, senior economist at NAB.

*Key Quotes*

“Trend online retail sales also slowed.”

“ABS data on traditional retailers showed month on month seasonally adjusted sales rose (0.2%) in September, almost on par with NORSI in that month.”

“Our revised estimate puts Australian online spend at around $28.5 billion over the 12 months to October 2018. This is equivalent to 9.0% of spending at traditional bricks & mortar retailers, as measured by the ABS in the 12 months to September 2018.”

“Generally moderate slowing for seven of nine categories in October, with only two categories accelerating in 12-months to growth terms.” Reported by FXstreet.com 2 hours ago.

Aeris Resources to adopt innovative helicopter method in upcoming Torrens drilling

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Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX:AIS) will use an innovative helicopter-supported drilling method for an upcoming diamond drill program at the Torrens Joint Venture Project in South Australia. This method has been designed to minimise disturbance on the environmentally sensitive Lake Torrens salt lake landform. The joint venture partners Aeris (70%) and Argonaut Resources NL (ASX:ARE) have awarded two key contracts for the drilling and helicopter services in preparation for the drilling program. READ: Aeris Resources ready to drill massive Olympic Dam style target Mobilisation of equipment is expected to start in mid-December with work having been completed on an access road to the edge of Lake Torrens. The stage I drilling program consisting of 8-10 drill holes targeting depths of 700-1,500 metres and focusing on the highest priority targets is planned to begin in mid-January. READ: Aeris Resources completes retail entitlement offer to raise a total of $35.1 million Aeris Resources executive chairman Andre Labuschagne said the appointment of drilling and helicopter contractors marked the start of an incredibly exciting period for the Torrens Joint Venture.  “Drilling on a salt lake using helicopter support to minimise our footprint presents a number of technical and logistics challenges as well as opportunities.” Specialised heli-portable rig The drilling program will be helicopter supported utilising a specialised heli-portable diamond drill rig. Ten 6-metre by 2.8-metre raised work platforms will be transported by helicopter onto the lake and bolted together to act as a stable platform on the lake surface. The drill rig will be flown onto the platform in 16 sections and then re-assembled. Personnel, equipment, drill consumables and other materials will be also transported via helicopter from the exploration camp to the work platform. Labuschagne said: “Developing an environmentally-sensitive solution has taken a little longer than we originally anticipated, however it is important to get these details right up-front so that once the equipment and personnel are on site we can focus on drilling. READ: Aeris Resources reduces debt by US$20 million Located within the Stuart Shelf region of South Australia, the project is 50 kilometres from Oz Minerals’ Carrapateena deposit and 75 kilometres from BHP’s Olympic Dam mine. The Torrens Anomaly is a large regionally significant coincident magnetic and gravity anomaly with a footprint in excess 120 square kilometres, which is greater than Olympic Dam. Encouraged by BHP results Aeris and Argonaut are encouraged by a recent discovery by BHP Billiton Limited (ASX:BHP) of a discrete gravity anomaly around 45 kilometres southwest from Torrens. Labuschagne added: “BHP’s recent ASX announcement of exploration results from its nearby EL 5941 is very exciting and reaffirms the view of the JV partners that the Torrens project is located in a highly prospective IOCG province.” Reported by Proactive Investors 1 hour ago.
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