Daily Archives: April 27, 2022

RUSH STREET INTERACTIVE NAMED OPERATOR OF THE YEAR, CUSTOMER SERVICE OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AND SOCIAL GAMING OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AT EGR NORTH AMERICA…

Posted: April 27, 2022 at 10:07 am

RSI Scores Hat Trick by Winning Three Prestigious Awards for BetRivers & PlaySugarHouse Brands

CHICAGO, April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (NYSE: RSI) ("RSI") has been named Operator of the Year, Customer Service Operator of the Year and Social Gaming Operator of the Year at the EGR North America Awards 2022. The EGR Awards are regarded as the gold standard in the online gaming industry, celebrating excellence in the North American online gaming industry. The independent panel of judges for these premier gaming awards, who are all e-gaming experts, recognize the leading operators who have demonstrated outstanding performance over the past year.

For the Operator of the Year award, RSI was judged on its growth and commercial success, player retention, and differentiation and originality of product. RSI stood out from the competition with continued revenue increases, premiere betting content and strong user experience, and its in-house developed online gaming platform.

For the Customer Service Operator of the Year award, RSI was judged on its collaborative and communicative culture as well as continual training and development. RSI differentiated itself from the competition with its unwavering commitment to transparency, excellent customer service and the company's approach to making every player know and feel that they are valued. RSI has won this award every time since its inception.

For the Social Gaming Operator of the Year, RSI was judged on its ability to increase engagement and visitation to land-based casinos while generating growing revenues. RSI's revenue increase, wide selection of game content, strong operations, and in-house developed social gaming software helped RSI rise above the competition to achieve this award.

"It is an honor and especially meaningful for RSI to be recognized by the gaming industry's top leaders for our passion to develop innovative and intuitive betting experiences and for always prioritizing earning and retaining our players' trust," said Richard Schwartz, C.E.O. of Rush Street Interactive. "It's especially rewarding that EGR recognizes that RSI continues to enhance our customer offerings to provide a best-in-class user experience in both social and real-money gaming. The customer service of the year award has only been awarded three times and RSI has won each time, reflecting our dedication to engaging and retaining players."

RSI was previously crowned Casino Operator of the Year, Customer Service Operator of the Year and Social Gaming Operator of the Year at the EGR North America Awards 2021.

"These crowning achievements are a tribute to RSI's talented team," Schwartz added. "Their passion and collaborative spirit, to constantly improve the quality of our real money and social gaming products and customer service, is what leads to such honors."

In North America, RSI develops and operates a proprietary gaming platform powering online casinos and sportsbooks for BetRivers.com andPlaySugarHouse.com. It is currently live in 13 U.S. states and this month launched BetRivers in Canada.

About RSIRSI is a trusted online gaming and sports entertainment company focused on regulated markets in the United States, Canada and Latin America. Through its brands, BetRivers.com, PlaySugarHouse.com and RushBet.co, RSI was an early entrant in many regulated jurisdictions. It currently offers real-money mobile and online operations in thirteen U.S. states: Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Colorado, Iowa, West Virginia, Arizona and Louisiana, as well as in the regulated international markets of Ontario, Canada and Colombia. RSI offers, through its proprietary online gaming platform, some of the most popular online casino games and sports betting options in the United States. Founded in 2012 in Chicago by gaming industry veterans, RSI was named the 2020 Global Gaming Awards Digital Operator of the Year, the 2021 EGR North America Awards Casino Operator of the Year, Customer Services Operator of the Year and Social Gaming Operator of the Year, and the 2021 SBC Latinoamrica Awards Sportsbook operator of the Year. RSI, which received RG Check iGaming Accreditation from the Responsible Gambling Council for its BetRivers.com and PlaySugarHouse.com sites, is committed to industry-leading responsible gaming practices and seeks to provide its customers with the resources and services they need to play responsibly. For more information, visit http://www.rushstreetinteractive.com.

SOURCE Rush Street Interactive

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RUSH STREET INTERACTIVE NAMED OPERATOR OF THE YEAR, CUSTOMER SERVICE OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AND SOCIAL GAMING OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AT EGR NORTH AMERICA...

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Club Pro Guy ‘Lynx’ Up With betPARX Sportsbook and Online Casino… – Casino.Org News

Posted: at 10:07 am

Posted on: April 26, 2022, 09:20h.

Last updated on: April 26, 2022, 02:59h.

Club Pro Guy (CPG) and online sportsbook and iGaming platform betPARX are partnering up.

The satirical character, who depicts a fictional version of a local professional club pro online, has amassed a large following on social media. betPARX, the digital sportsbook unit of Parx Casino, located near Philadelphia in Bensalem, Pa., hopes to influence CPGs millions of fans and turn them into legal sports bettors and online casino players.

CPG unveiled the partnership today through a roughly two-minute video. In the spot, CPG says the gaming affiliation is yet another amenity that will be provided to members of his semi-private Three Jack National (3JN) golf club. The unbuilt Hank Jones signature-designed course is to be constructed west of Kansas City next to Interstate 635.

I believe in giving my members the chance to gamble as much as humanly possible, CPG says in the humorous production. Not only is betPARX affiliated with the PGA Tour, but its also the place to bet on golf.

Excited to #announce a new partnership that's about to take @3jacknational to the next level. @betPARX pic.twitter.com/XSg60mqVul

Club Pro Guy (@ClubProGuy) April 26, 2022

While Club Pro Guy is a satirical person who routinely promotes the local strip club Bottoms Up and Three Jack Nationals beverage cart girl Anastasia, the social media characters arrangement with betPARX is legit. The iGaming and online sportsbook is currently live in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan. The platform is set to launch in Ohio in the coming weeks.

CPG told his followers that betPARX offers an abundance of pre-and in-tournament betting opportunities. But then the outlandish fictitious golf pro comically discussed the dangers of gambling too much.

Say youre watching a tournament on TV and you want to throw 30 bucks on whether Rory McIlroy hits this next green in regulation, CPG said. After a fade into the greenside rough, guess what? Youre down $30 and its time to start chasing [losses].

If youre anything like me, the next thing you know, youre selling counterfeit shafts to your members in order to pay your rent, CPG jokingly continued. Bet where CPG bets. Download the betPARX app.

Caddyshack, golfs most revered comedy flick, features the iconic line, Gambling is illegal at Bushwood! delivered by the character Judge Smails.

Smails, portrayed by actor Ted Knight, responded to Rodney Dangerfields character Al Czervik offering to bet the judge $100 that he would slice his tee ball into the trees. I never slice! Smalls adds, as his drive indeed slices right.

While gambling might have been illegal at the fictional Bushwood Country Club, legal betting on professional golf is today permitted in more than 30 states. But Missouri, home to CPGs Three Jack National, remains one of the states that remains on the sidelines of legal sports betting.

Last month, betPARX became an official sports betting partner of the PGA Tour and the annual Memorial Tournament hosted by one of the sports all-time greats, Jack Nicklaus. The Memorial is played at Nicklaus Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

The PGA Championship is the next of the four majors. 2022 Masters champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the betting front-runner at 12/1. Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, and McIlroy are next at 14/1. Colin Morikawa rounds out the top five at 16/1.

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The Mind Of The Indian Bettor How India Bets Online – ABP Live

Posted: at 10:07 am

Much has been said about the size of Indias betting market - be it online or underground. It is in order of billions, to say the least, with punters finding ways to satiate their betting appetites - whether it is directly on sports or through fantasy gaming. But what hasnt been touched upon much is the psychology of these Indian bettors - how do they approach the whole sphere of online gambling? What do they like and dislike? In this article, we attempt to shed some light on the topic.

Going to a YouGov Research on Global Gambling Attitudes, a study found that up 25 per cent of adults in India agree with the statement I really enjoy betting. This is interesting, considering that India is still somewhat of an emerging and grey market owing to the ambiguity around the legal status of online sports betting and online gambling. But the fact that the proportion is still higher than the regulated, developed markets in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and France is worth noting.

Within this, another subset emerges - among the Indian adults who enjoy betting, 29 per cent of them are intrigued by the idea of making money through fantasy sports.

If we think about it, it does not come as a huge surprise. The fantasy sports segment in India has grown exponentially over the last several years, with platforms like Dream11 and others slightly displacing the traditional betting patterns. Another thing that has helped them a great deal is their legal acceptance by the Indian judiciary system.

Since fantasy sports are deemed as a game of skill and not a game of chance, Indian courts have ruled in favour of online fantasy sports platforms, thus paving the way for country-wide acceptance and popularity.

That said, the fact remains that regular sports betting is still largely prevalent in India. Punters can go on any Indian betting site, place their wagers on sporting events of their choice, and make profits. To put things into perspective, the gambling revenue in India is upwards of $130 billion, as of 2018. By contrast, Dream11 - Indias largest and most prominent fantasy sports platform - made close to $260 million (Rs.2,075 crore) in FY 2020.

It would be an understatement to say that online betting in India is shaped mainly by a cultural perception. More often than not, the negative connotations associated with sports betting give it a bad rap. Some of them include:

However, what drives people to bet in India is to get more out of the sports. A majority of sports enthusiasts believe that getting closer to an immersive, all-around media and sports experience is the essence of real-money gaming. In other words, those who follow sports want to get more of it, and if it makes them money in the process, that is an acceptable outcome. Hence, some take the way of fantasy sports while others adhere to traditional betting.

Whatever may be the case, people want to use their knowledge of sports and their analytical skills to make money on it, despite the fact that Indian laws heavily distinguish the two as a game of skill and a game of chance.

But there are a few other reasons why Indian bettors love to gamble. Of course, the thrill factor or risk-taking is at the top of the list - the adrenaline rush you get when placing a wager, which may sometimes also lead to greater risks, higher bets, and possibly higher losses.

Then, you also have the element of escaping the monotonous routine of daily life and connecting with peers. In this case, betting is sought as an escape mechanism for bettors to deal with emotional issues, loneliness, or boredom by joining a new reality and enjoying it with friends.

As pointed out in ENV Medias Market Paper on Sports Betting,It has been found in psychological studies, however, that it offers an easy way out to cope with stress and other emotional issues. The temporary escape of being slightly anxious about a sports game outcome (even if tied to a certain sum of money) is a sought alternative to worrying about daily demands on a personal, professional, or another level.

Another aspect that appeals to Indian bettors is the glamorous lifestyle associated with big monies. It seems like an easy, quicker route to becoming rich overnight and the same has also been elucidated often in film and mass media culture - the Dream11 ads in this regard take the cake. People consume these advertisements day in and out (thanks to lucrative sponsorship and ad deals) and sooner or later, are likely to give it a try.

The emerging betting market of India holds a lot of promise from a business point of view, but also offers an exciting insight into how the market functions. While people love to bet online, there is a growing userbase of those who prefer fantasy platforms over the traditional betting avenues. Nonetheless, the psyche behind them is quite similar - varying from the thrill of it to leveraging sports knowledge to make money or finding emotional reprieve in the space. But the lack of regulation at the moment still means many are open to the pitfalls of gambling addiction - regulating this market will undoubtedly go a long way in protecting the interests of the users.

DISCLAIMER: This advertisement is an advertorial and a paid feature and the views expressed are that of the Author. ABP and/or the channel neither endorse any gambling activity nor in any manner whatsoever glorifies or supports gambling and is not responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever to all that is endorsed/opined/stated in the sponsored Article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions etc., stated/featured in the same. It is solely the responsibility of the reader(s) to verify and confirm anything stated/featured before attaching any credibility to it. Gaming/gambling activities are highly addictive and are also illegal in many states/jurisdictions of our country. The readers are strictly advised to be extremely cautious, careful, updated and to be well advised on all Gaming Laws and also not to engage in any illegal gambling/gaming activity. Accordingly, reader(s) discretion and thorough due diligence is advised. The said advertorial feature does not in any manner whatsoever lead the reader to engage in any gambling or any unlawful gaming activity and ABP shall not be in any manner responsible for any losses incurred or for any other consequences that the reader may suffer by placing credence and reliance on the contents of this Article.

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"To be the first and only licensed esports gambling site in the American market proves that we’re a credible, legitimate operator" – Yogonet…

Posted: at 10:07 am

Earlier this month, New Jersey debuted its first esports betting platform: the VIE.gg esportsbook, operated by online gambling company Esports Entertainment Group. The announcement was far from being just another licensure, representing a landmark event for a number of reasons. It provides esports bettors with a legal means through which to engage with their passion; confirms the Garden State as a pioneer of online gaming and confirms EEG as a pioneer in this space, which has now become the first licensed esports gambling site in the US market.

"I think it proves to the market that were a credible, legitimate operator," CEO Grant Johnson tells Yogonet in an exclusive video interview. "Weve had many conversations and calls from other groups in other states, and well be able to create accurate financial modeling for what esports gambling looks like." The opportunities opened by the historic launch are mutliple, and Johnson discusses them at large.

Additionally, the executive talks about a second landmark event that also finds EEG at its center -the first sanctioned skill-based wagering event, a Madden tournament held in Hard Rock Atlantic City-, as well as the key features of the company's player-versus-player betting product. EEG invited 8 casino operators, and its internalobjective is to have a casino agreement in place before fall. Lastly, the CEO discusses how the esports betting industry is advancing in the country, and what to expect next from this growing segment.

The company has now launched its esports betting platform in New Jersey, a first for the state. What can you tell us about this landmark event?

Getting through the regulatory process to be the first, and currently the only, licensed esports gambling site in the American market had its own challenges. When you are first doing anything, its always a little bit more difficult.

New Jersey has always been an innovator in online gambling: they led the charge to get online sportsbooks approved, and thats changed everything in the market. Thankfully, they had that commitment to getting through this process, because there are a lot of things we learned along the way that we didnt expect.

We got through, and now were up. What does that mean for us? I think it proves to the market that were a credible, legitimate operator. We now have five tier-one licenses, but more importantly, for the American market, we have a US license.

Has that opened other opportunities? Yes. Weve had many conversations and calls from other groups in other states; weve presented and participated in the State of Ohio, where we were instrumental in getting esports added to their regulatory framework. We have excellent partners in Ohio, and there are other states were talking to.

We will now have an opportunity to market unrestricted in the state of New Jersey, and well be able to create accurate financial modeling for what esports gambling looks like, because nobody really knows. We all believe that theres a lot of gray market activity that takes place. So we know theres a demand, but we dont know how big it is. We will know that now.

Going to the specifics of the new esportsbook, what are the main features of the product and what options does it give to users?

It functions the same as a sportsbook, the software platform is the same. It has over/under, theres a handicapping system And this will allow for fans of esports betting for the first time to wager on their favorite games; their favorite players; their favorite teams in live tournaments.

Weve also had some of the publishers in direct conversation with the DGE, which is why were able to add a Call of Duty and Overwatch league to the mix. We do know that games like Madden, FIFA, and 2K are very popular in the United States, so were looking at additional titles.

Being first makes us more credible and attractive to the publishers as well. They dont have any need to take any chances if theyre going to do something in gaming. They want to make sure theyre dealing with a transparent, credible operator.

What this will also allow us to do is see which titles are the most popular with the American gambler. Were going to learn which is the biggest title in the North American market with the site.

New Jersey is unique, because it has Philadelphia in the south and New York in the north, so not only it is the 11th biggest state by population - it has the benefit of being geographically desirable because of those two big markets, which are right there. Were going to be able to open the market up to pent-up demand.

There are a lot of gray market bettors right now, and we believe that given the choice of a credible site, a substantial number of those people would rather deal with a licensed platform that is protecting them. Because theyve got the DGE, the SEC, looking up for their best interest.

Because it is a sportsbook license, we will probably, in the future, bring our sportsbook platform in as well. But well be esports-first versus what you see today. Sportsbooks have their product first, and theyll offer a couple of line extensions on some DOTA and League of Legends.Sports will be the line extension for us.

What impact do you expect this historic launch, and the growing interest in esports betting, to have in other jurisdictions? Will they take notes from this launch?

Weve already had some regulatory bodies from other states reach out to us to ask us if we could come and testify at hearings, as theyre exploring what esports look like, and if it should be added to the sports gaming regulatory framework. Our CFO and our head of strategy presented twice in Ohio.

Being now recognized by one of the leaders in the sportsbooks market - that puts us above our peers. When these regulatory bodies consider adding esports, they reach out to us. Weve had three other states reaching out to us; regulators in those states. We expect more of that going forward.

If we talk about big gaming states, we must mention Nevada. Last month, the Esports Technical Advisory Committee had its first meeting. Whats your take on this new entity, and what role do you expect it to play?

One of our staff members -our head of strategy- presented. Obviously, Las Vegas is, the biggest location - its the mecca of gaming in the North American market. It is a key market, and it factors very heavily in our future plans. Thats about as specific as I can get right now.

In regard to other markets outside the US, you have mentioned the opportunity of expanding to Ontario, which has now launched its market. Can you tell us about this market in particular, and others where the company is looking at opportunities?

Ontario is a big landmark. As far as the Canadian market is concerned, I believe it is the most important in the country. Given that we just launched in New Jersey, were just getting started there. But of course, Ontario would be, for the Canadian market, the most important jurisdiction for us to look at.

Another recent landmark achievement for the company in New Jersey was the first sanctioned skill-based wagering event, which was held in Hard Rock Atlantic City. What would you describe as the main takeaways from this event, and what was the reception of the new LANDuel platform like?

There are a lot of very encouraging takeaways. Number one, we learned that gamers want this type of product. Its easy to understand - Im gonna play Madden with you, and were gonna bet 25 on it. I dont have to understand the over/under; or whats the spread. Im not betting on somebody. Its not a gambling product but a betting one, so its regulated differently and you dont need a gambling license.

We took extra steps because we felt that this was a product that casino operators would find interesting to bring to their venues. And what we learned at the event was that the players will come, because they came. We had about 400 people sign up immediately to come out to the event.

Unfortunately, the weekend we picked was during the Final Four in March Madness, and all the hotel rooms were up. That was great for Atlantic City, but it made it difficult for some gamers, who drove in from Ohio to participate. That was a logistical challenge that was difficult to overcome - we wouldnt necessarily try to go head-to-head with the biggest college sporting event.

But the players liked it. The only complaint they had was that they didnt like being restricted to only being able to bet 25 a match. That surprised us - in a positive way, of course, because as a gaming and betting company you want to be able to allow players to bet what they want. We felt with the DGE that it was prudent to sort of cap it at 25 initially, just so that we could get a better feel of what was going on.

Players didnt have to bet themselves. Theyre playing in a tournament, and the betting was optional, all the way through. Some of the players tried to make 500 side bets, but it was a regulated event in the casino and the DGE was present, so we clearly couldnt allow that. But we were encouraged that there was an appetite.

We invited eight casino operators down to come to see the event, and then had a meeting to talk about the product. The operators thought for themselves that this was a product that was interesting to the under-30 crowd. Theyre not getting this crowd back, and that was what theyve been trying to figure out - how they get that younger demographic into their physical venues.

Because its not just betting - they stay in hotel rooms, they buy food, they watch a show. There are a lot of economic trickle-down elements to having this very lucrative demographic in their casinos. So I saw firsthand that of the eight casinos that came out, all eight operators want to follow up, and that was very encouraging.

What is next for the LANDuel platform in general and in regards to integrations with the Hard Rock casino in specific?

We are following up with the operators who came. They want to see some of the mathematics, what this looks like on the economic side What happens if they have a 40-station gaming room or a 100-station gaming room, and just sort of walk through how that could be installed, and how quickly could they get trained and operational.

I would say our objective is to have a casino agreement in place before fall. Thats our internal objective. Im not saying that theres a contract on the table - there isnt as of todays date, but thats our internal objective.

Do you still believe esports betting will become as big as sports in 10 or 15 years? And what role do you expect the company, having entered this space so early, to play within this landscape?

Yes, I believe it will get on the same par as sports betting, but its going to take some time. There were some fairly wild numbers being thrown around the last couple of years about how big esports betting is, but nobody really knows how big it is yet. But well have some hard numbers to work with here over the rest of this calendar year.

That said, if we look back in time five years ago, you know how many universities had esports teams? Zero. And now you have over 200 institutions of higher learning that have esports varsity teams. They have intercollegiate teams. And approximately 100 of those schools have scholarship programs.

High schools now have esports and gaming rooms. Thats the critical path; thats the ecosystem thats going to build the industry. As those gamers and their fans get older and they graduate, they get jobs, they have more disposable income. Thats when esports is going to start to get on par with sportsbooks.

Do I think its two years? Not a chance. Do I think 10 years? Maybe. 15 years start to get more realistic, possibly as long as 20, but its going to happen. The gaming industry is already bigger than music and movies, so its already got a huge footprint. There are three and a half billion people that consider themselves gamers.

Its a massive audience; they just have to get comfortable and used to following certain teams that have relevance to them. Were starting to see more leagues stationed in cities, with more structure to those leagues, and were starting to see college and university teams, with the student body that follows them

Its a whole system that has grown. You cant just magically make a boom. It has to mature as the audience matures. So itll get there; I absolutely believe it. Clearly, were committed to it. I think the faster-moving product, though, will be the skill-based product; the player-versus-player product. I think thatll get there more quickly.

But the two are key elements to what will make for a healthy industry, and we have the pole position on both. Were the first for the esports gambling license, and the first with a player-versus-player platform thats been approved by a recognized regulatory body.

Watch the full video interview with EEG CEO on our YouTube channel.

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"To be the first and only licensed esports gambling site in the American market proves that we're a credible, legitimate operator" - Yogonet...

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Nepal shuts down online gambling, crypto sites and apps – Myrepublica

Posted: at 10:07 am

Nepal Telecommunications Authority warns of action if anyone is found involved banned activities

KATHMANDU, April 26: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), the regulatory body for the telecommunications and technology sector, has started taking action to control illegal online economic activities. The NTA has shut down websites and apps including online virtual currency (cryptocurrency), Bitcoin, hyper networking and online gambling.

The authority has said that such online sites and apps are not allowed to be used, operated and managed in Nepal and have been blacklisted. The regulatory body has also urged the people to provide information regarding such online practices and apps through email and has warned of legal action if anyone is found involved in such practices.

The NTA has decided to shut down the website and apps after finding that many Nepalis living in the country and abroad are involved in illegal transactions such as crypto, hyper-fund and networking.

As Nepalis living abroad have increased their investment in illegal networking businesses such as crypto and hyper-funds, the remittance inflow has been declining. This has resulted in the decline of flow of remittances in the country.

The NTA has stated that transactions using digital technologies such as virtual currency, networking marketing and online gambling, which are not legally recognized as monetary instruments in Nepal, are on the rise. The regulator has made it clear that it will help in controlling transactions including illegal cryptocurrency.

Similarly, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested some persons involved in crypto business and has taken action against them.

Earlier, in the case of illegal online gambling, the NTA has been assisting in various technical aspects including identifying and tracking such sites.

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Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey7 Adaptation Has the Potential to Be a Truly Great Science Fiction Movie – tor.com

Posted: at 10:06 am

Edward Ashtons Mickey7 is chock-full of interesting ingredients.

Set at an unspecified point in the future, it sees humanity having migrated to a planet they call Midgard and solved their most immediate issues: theres something like Universal Basic Income (and hence not true poverty) and neither pollution nor overpopulation, industry and agriculture are automated, and the government is democratic (more on this neat little paradise later). In fact, theres quite little to do in this quasi-utopia, which is why humanity spends its free time establishing colonies on distant planets.

However, since colonization missions are treacherous (interstellar travel guzzles energy, making the trips one-way, while physics and technology both place limits on how much can be seenand therefore knownabout the destination), each mission has an Expendable: a person who takes on the most dangerous and lethal jobs, and who, if they get killed, are quite simply reincarnated (read: 3D-printed) with all the memories from their previous upload. Enter our protagonist: Mickey7, the seventh iteration of Mickey Barnes, who volunteered as Expendable on a colonization mission to the icy world of Niflheim. Due to Mickey surviving a situation in which he was left for dead, only to discover that theyve already made a Mickey8 by the time he returns, hes in a spot of trouble in a colony thats already rationing calories, and which has a strong taboo against multiple copies of the same person.

Now, if this were simply a book review, this would be the part where I do that thing book reviewers do, and say Unfortunately, followed by a phrase about how the author doesnt take advantage of the rich potential of his own ideasfor potential there is, in both the worldbuilding and the conceit of an Expendable. But since Mickey7 is slated to be a film starring Robert Pattinson and helmed by Bong Joon-ho, whose Parasite garnered both critical praise and numerous awards, I get to focus on the positive: how an obviously talented writer/director can put all these ingredients together into a tasty stir-fry (or salad. You choose.) of a poignant story.

The most obvious of these delicious ingredients is the deliciously science fiction-y idea of the Expendable. Its probably the concept that caused early reviewers to call the book high concept and thought provoking, even though its a trope thats far from uncommon in science fiction: Star Treks transporters, for example, deconstruct a person molecule-by-molecule only to make a perfect replica on the other end (something The Big Bang Theory made a joke of); Netflixs Altered Carbon (based on Richard K. Morgans books of the same name) is set in a future world where everyones consciousness is backed up to a computer chip compulsorily inserted into their spinal columns, allowing people to change bodies, travel instantaneously, and reincarnate; Joss Whedons Dollhouse essentially equated personality to memory, making for dizzying interchanges between bodies and identities. And thats but a handful of examples.

In other words, the idea of copying, uploading, and downloading personalities and memories, while a thought-provoking one because it destabilizes our assumptions about identity and memory, is also as common as space dust in science fiction. Is an identical copy of you really you? Are you still you without your memories? Is there something like a soul? Science fiction fans have been debating these thorny philosophical questions for decades, and the inclusion of such a trope in a storyworld is not, in itself, a contribution to that storied debate. There has to be something morewhich, in this case, is lacking beyond an occasional cursory allusion to the Greek myth of the Ship of Theseus. Instead, Ashtons novel proceeds swiftly and without question into making Mickey8 the antagonist, vying with Mickey7 for existence (after Mickey7 has an unrelated realization that he doesnt want to die).

Thats easy to do because Mickey8 is inexplicably completely different from Mickey7 and also a little bit of an asshole, a difference in personality that isnt really explained by anything except narrative necessity and this creeping sense I have that Ashton wanted to make it glaringly obvious that a copy of a person with the same memories and identity does not the same person make. Thus, strangely, theres absolutely no discomfort or soul-searching on Mickeys part that Mickey8 is, in some way, him; Ashton writes him as if he were some entirely different person and proceeds apace with the story. Which wouldnt be as frustrating if it werent for the constant namedropping of philosophers like John Locke and a marketing push to make it seem like a sci-fi author whos thought of copying a person has found some kind of philosophical holy grail.

But perhaps the culprit here is the medium: text is not well-suited to the complexities of this philosophical conundrum in the way that visual media are. Think, for example, of a series like Orphan Black or the aforementioned Dollhouse, where characters slipped in and out of each others bodies and identities, played by immensely talented actors who imbued each variation of a person with an eerie, almost-imperceptible difference. Perhaps it is this possibility that Bong saw when he reportedly read Ashtons manuscript and decided to make it into a movie. Think of the possibilities of a film, with a talented actor and an acclaimed director, attuned to the rich potential produced by the deeply unsettling fact that Mickeys antagonist is himselfor is he? Think of Pattinson playing the two Mickeys as almost identical, but ones just slightly offand maybe you cant tell which one, while claustrophobic cinematography and crescendoing music makes the whole experience even more uncanny. And maybe what makes Mickey8 the bad guy is precisely his ability to create discomfort through that uncanniness, the way in which hes almost-but-not-quite our Mickey? Imagine the tightrope for an actor to walk, the possibility for a virtuoso performance that makes us question: which of him is the real one? And what does that question even mean?

And what if that similarity were played to its greatest effect through interpersonal conflict? For example, the character of Nasha, Mickeys partner and love interest, unquestionably accepts both Mickey7 and Mickey8 (leading to a truly bizarre threesome; but then again, its not any weirder than your average episode of Star Trek). But what if she wasnt clued in right away, leading to a nightmare scenario of wondering whats happened to her lover and why hes suddenly so different? What if she had to make a choice between the two of them? Which one of them, to her, is more Mickey, the man she loves?

Moving from the personal to the social and political, meanwhile, brings us to a future world made up of yet more building blocks of an excellent story. In Mickeys future, human civilization (which calls itself the Diaspora, a loaded term that begs exploration) has resettled on a different and relatively comfortable planet and, for lack of anything better to do, sends out regular colonization missions. On Midgard, meanwhile, Universal Basic Income is enough to get by, but not much elseand being a historian doesnt pay, because its the professions considered useful, then as now, that have a place: medics, pilots, engineers, geneticists, biologists, soldiers. (There is, admittedly, one cursory reference to poets and entertainers). People like Mickey, on the other hand, scrape by on a government pittance because theres no need for historians. After all, everyone has the equivalent of all human knowledge in their pockets, so why would anyone ever need a historian?

The idea that we have access to all of human knowledge is a tired truism thats been around for at least as long as a smartphone. That doesnt actually make it true, because, firstly: have you heard of paywalls? But, also, and more importantly, historians dont collect facts; they interpret them. They write the books and the articles from which you learn history, and given that Mickeys constantly reading both articles and primary sources, one wonders who did the writing. He also learned history in school, which, as he admits, had a different spin on the Diasporas failures than the articles he reads as an adult, so clearly history is more than just facts than anyone can access; there are interpretations and valences coming from somewhere. Plus, this is a world that seems to have history teachers (and wouldnt it be useful for colony worlds to have a few of those?). This is perhaps a particularly nitpicky example, but its one that makes it painfully obvious that Mickey7 was written by someone who spends a lot more time in the hard sciences than the humanities (and indeed, Ashton is a physicist), and whose worldbuilding, therefore, isnt informed by crucial disciplines like history, social sciences, and anthropology.

Still, what Ashton echoes here is a science fiction trope dating all the way to the nineteenth century, when industrialization, the mechanization of labor, and mass production created anxieties about a future where only efficiency, productivity, and machinery had value. For example, works like Jules Vernes (unpublished in his lifetime) dystopia Paris in the Twentieth Century or Albert Robidas 1882 novel The Twentieth Century portray a future where the humanitiesarts, poetry, and so onhave little value; art can be mass-reproduced and consumed, while literature is condensed and consumed like vitamins. That anxiety has popped up in science fiction sincein works like Fritz Langs Metropolis or Karel apeks R.U.R.and its somewhat borne out by the fact that when theres an economic recession, the first thing that gets cut is arts and humanities budgets.

In other words, theres a storied history here, and an interesting critique to be made about the ways that, as we advance technologically and fulfill human beings basic needsfood, water, shelterwe often leave by the wayside our more spiritual or psychological needs: for art, for culture, for inspiration, for social relationships. This, despite the fact that, in times of crisis, it is the arts we reach forhow many hours of television and books did we consume during the months of pandemic and lockdown? And so, this world, undeveloped as it is, is a bleak one well suited to a critique of our own productivity-obsessed world; in fact, it reads a little like a darker version of a Star Trek future, where humanity has solved all their material needs, and yet instead of looking to the stars for exploration and wonder, we look there to colonize. And Bong, who so aptly critiqued the dehumanization inherent in capitalism in his Parasite, seems well-placed to flesh this blueprint of a world into something dark and familiar, funny and terrifying.

In the process, hell hopefully do something about the plot (or rather, lack thereof), because Mickey does so little throughout the story that if his character were female, the think pieces about agency would practically write themselves. This is despite the fact that their little colony world is full of pressing issues: first, theres two Mickeys, and they can only hide their existence for so long; the local fauna (called creepers) are possibly sentient, acting weird, and eating through the metal enclosure of the colony; the head of their colony is a trigger-happy extremist from a fringe religious sect. Clearly, someone needs to step up and at very least try to solve the mystery of what the locals are up to.

In fact, Mickey himself admits that a fair number of beachhead colonies fail for one reason or another. Id really hate to have this one fail because of me. He sure doesnt hate that idea enough, though, as he spends the majority of the book avoiding being seen in two places at once and reading about failed colonies, until hes eventually found out as a double. The reading is certainly interestingits another place where the social commentary that is science fictions forte peeks out of the cracks in the narrative. For example, theres a colony called Gaults World, a clear allusion to Galts Gulch from Atlas Shrugged, which was built according to a libertarian philosophy and subsequently failed because for a society to function you need things like, you know, infrastructure. Roanoke, meanwhile, is a reference to the obvious: a colony whose residents were taken out by some unknown form of local fauna. These flashbacks to failed colonies also allow the narrative to alternate between past and present, an alternation necessary to cover up the fact that nothing actually happens.

No, really, I cant really summarize the extent to which absolutely nothing happens in this entire book.

Mickey7 was blurbed and reviewed as The Martian-meets-Dark-Matter (and we really must talk about how Andy Weir has become a marketing category in his own right, but thats for another essay), but the only commonality is the snark possessed by the protagonist. A distinctive feature of Weirs characters, however, is that they science the shit out of their problems, to borrow Mark Watneys eloquent phrasing. Its a triumph of brains over brawn that both this graduate of the University of Chicago and its admissions office (which has a cheeky plaque celebrating our fictional alum, Watney) more than appreciates. The Mickey7 equivalent of that would be Mickey using his amateur historian chops to humanities the shit out of this, something of which science fiction does not have nearly enough. If anyone saves the day with their brains, its usually the scientists (see: the Stargate franchise, the Star Trek franchise, as well as characters like the MCUs Tony Stark and Shuri, and the Arrowverses Felicity Smoak)even if theyre often the ones who caused the problem in the first place. Characters like Daniel Jackson and Indiana Jones (whose pictures also adorn our admissions office walls) are notable exceptions, but with much less of a storied history. The former, in particular, rarely gets to use his penchant for language, communication, diplomacy, and history before things start blowing up.

And so Mickey7 seems to provide a perfect set up for Mickey to use all that historian knowledge to save the day, save the colony, save the world; in fact, thats what I spent most of the novel expecting would happen. How amazing would it be if, thanks to all his knowledge about failed colonies, and the ways in which they went wrong, he saw the writing on the wall for this colony, whose crops are failing and who are being attacked by creepers? What if, instead of the creepers just being made to think hes a diplomat through a misunderstanding in the final couple dozen pages, Mickey actually was a diplomat? And in the process, what if the story sent the message that in the future, language, history, the humanitiesall that stuff that gets cut out of budgets firstmatters? Even on a colony thats rationing their food and counting their ammo?

Now thats a story I would watch the hell out of.

Dr. Anastasia Klimchynskaya is a Sherlockian, a Trekkie, and a scholar of science fiction. Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Chicagos Institute on the Formation of Knowledge, she specializes in nineteenth-century science fiction and has appeared widely to speak about her work and the genre, including as a recurring co-host on the Rosenbach Librarys Sundays with Frankenstein program. Find her on Twitter @anaklimchy.

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Galaxy Macau Integrated Resort Extended the Paths of Glory in Forbes Travel Guide, with 6 Five-Star Awards Shining among Asian Luxury Resorts – Yahoo…

Posted: at 10:03 am

Hotel Okura Macau Received Its First Five-Star Distinction, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau Attained Triple Five-Star Accolades Once Again

MACAU, April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 26, Forbes Travel Guide, the world's authoritative luxury travel rating agency, officially released the 2022 global star ratings of hotels, restaurants, and spas. Galaxy Macau, The World-class Luxury Integrated Resort ("Galaxy Macau" in below) showed impressive results yet again. Its hotels won overall awards for their excellent performance and meticulous service and continue to lead in the high-end tourism market. Among them, Hotel Okura Macau achieved its five-star distinction for the first time; The Ritz-Carlton, Macau attained triple crown recognition once again in its hotel, spa and dining; and Banyan Tree Macau continued its five-star achievements on hotel and spa.

Founded in the United States in 1958, the Forbes Travel Guide has published 62 lists. It is the world's most authoritative and influential independent star rating agency for luxury travel. Every year, the organization sends professional reviewers to all parts of the world to evaluate qualifying hotels, restaurants, and spas, conferring star ratings based on 900 objective and stringent standardsthe industry's strictest requirements for the hotels' services and hardware facilities. Galaxy Macau hotels have again been recognized by Forbes, demonstrating their unshakable leadership in the industry for luxurious facilities and thoughtful service.

New Five Stars Milestone

Hotel Okura Macau achieved a milestone breakthrough this year, receiving five-star rating for the first time. As Macau's only Japanese-style hotel with meticulous hospitality, Hotel Okura Macau adopts Japanese elegance into every inch of its delicate and attentive service, a delightful blend of modern comfort and traditional practice, for a unique and unforgettable hotel experience. Founded on the principle of providing the best accommodation, cuisine and service, Hotel Okura Macau offers a harmonious combination of functionality and comfort, creating a quintessentially Japanese luxury hotel experience for Macau. Consistent with Japanese designs, the 488 modern, elegant, and comfortable guest rooms employs natural, fresh, and warm artistic motif of wood, which insulates guests from the hustle and bustle of the city and provides comfort to their bodies and minds. By a service-oriented approach to hospitality, Hotel Okura Macau embodies the spirit of Japanese-style attention to detail and service to the fullest.

Striving for Perfection

Story continues

The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau and its One-Michelin-star Cantonese restaurant Lai Heen, has each been awarded a prestigious five-star ranking in this year's list. The Ritz-Carlton is world-renowned for its legendary service and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau proves no exception in enabling guests to revel in the finest personal service and the best of Asian luxury. The hotel combines classic European styles with modern technology, presenting its interpretation of European style and highlighting Macau's unique Macau-Portuguese charm. With more than 230 elegantly appointed suites and quality facilities, guests can enjoy the luxury services at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau and explore an unsurpassed culinary journey at its three restaurants, including the Michelin-starred restaurant Lai Heen.

Continuing its high-level performance, Banyan Tree Macau and Banyan Tree Spa Macau were awarded Five-Star for the eighth consecutive year. Maintaining its classic touch and drive for innovation has again refreshed people's expectations for luxury vacation experiences. Banyan Tree Macau offers a sanctuary for the senses in the heart of a bustling metropolis. The 256 suites and villas in the hotel, each with an area of at least 100 square meters, are all equipped with private indoor relaxation pools. Each private villa has its own swimming pools with serene gardens. The hotel restaurant provides unique dining experiences, integrating international flavors and creativity while exploring local food culture. The award-winning Banyan Tree Spa Macau is ideal for enjoying a relaxing spa treatment that soothes both the body and mind. All Banyan Tree Macau guests enjoy a sublime & relaxing resort experience, with luxury touches of Thai hospitality.

Continuing to deepen its development in the global resort market, Galaxy Macau will soon welcome two new hotels: Andaz Macau, with art and individuality flowing in its brand's blood, and Raffles at Galaxy Macau, a legendary brand with a history of more than 130 years. The presence of these two prestigious hotel brands will further enrich Galaxy Macau's luxury resort map and add to the trend of Macau becoming a city where cultures meet.

For more information and news about Galaxy Macau, please visit http://www.galaxymacau.com

Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards 5-Star Winners

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotel

Hotel Okura Macau

The Ritz-Carlton, Macau

Banyan Tree Macau

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Restaurant

Lai Heen (The Ritz-Carlton, Macau)

Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star SPA

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau

Banyan Tree Spa Macau

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Galaxy Macau Integrated Resort Extended the Paths of Glory in Forbes Travel Guide

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About Galaxy Macau Integrated Resort

Galaxy Macau, The World-class Luxury Integrated Resort delivers the "Most Spectacular Entertainment and Leisure Destination in the World". Developed at an investment of HK$43 billion, the two properties cover 1.1 million square meters of unique entertainment and leisure attractions that are unlike anything else in Macau. Eight world-class luxury hotels provide close to 5,000 rooms, suites and villas. They include Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel, Hotel Okura Macau, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Broadway Hotel, Raffles at Galaxy Macau and Andaz Macau. Unique to Galaxy Macau, the 75,000-square-meter Grand Resort Deck features the world's longest Skytop Adventure Rapids at 575 meters, the largest Skytop Wave Pool with waves up to 1.5 meters high and 150-meter pristine white sand beach. Two five-star spas from Banyan Tree Spa Macau and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Macau help guests relax and rejuvenate.

As the dining destination in Asia, Galaxy Macau offers a wide variety of gastronomic delights, exquisite experiences and ingredients of the finest quality with over 120 dining options from Michelin dining to authentic delicacies; The Promenade Shops at Galaxy Macau is an award winning luxury lifestyle shopping destination spread over 100,000 square meters. Luxury flagship stores, designer boutiques and high-street labels contribute to over 200 world-renowned luxury fashion and lifestyle brands. At The Promenade Shops, guests will find an exclusive range of "Be The First" shopping experiences; Galaxy Cinemas, a 10-theatre 3D Cineplex boasting 4K laser projection; CHINA ROUGE, one-of-a-kind deluxe lounge that evokes the glitz and glamor of Shanghai's golden era with entertainment in luxury and style; and Foot Hub presents the traditional art of reflexology to make you feel more relaxed and revitalized. For Authentic Macau Flavors & Vibrant Asian Experiences, Broadway Macau just a 90-second walk via pedestrian bridge from Galaxy Macau, has over 40 different Authentic Macau & Asian Flavors at its Broadway Food Street.

The 2,500-seat Broadway Theatre plays host to world-class entertainers and a diverse array of cultural events. Meeting, incentive and banquet groups are also well looked after with a portfolio of unique venues in Galaxy Macau and a professional service staff.

Galaxy Macau will welcome the legendary Raffles brand with the opening of an exclusive, all-suite luxury tower Raffles at Galaxy Macau. We intend to follow this by unveiling a brand new chapter with the highly anticipated openings of the Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) with a total MICE space of 40,000 square meters, a 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena and the 700-room and suite Andaz Macau.

For more details, please visit http://www.galaxymacau.com, http://www.broadwaymacau.com.mo and http://www.galaxyicc.com.

SOURCE Galaxy Macau Integrated Resorts

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More leadership needed to drive smart mobility solutions in the SAR – Macau Business

Posted: at 10:03 am

Macau could be a reference in terms of smart mobility but it requires leadership from authorities and entrepreneurs to achieve this goal, a vehicle designer stated in a seminar held today (Wednesday).

The comment was made by the car designer and Global Design Director of AxiusDesign Group, Filipe Bragana, in a talk focused on smart mobility held by the France Macao Chamber of Commerce today.

According to Bragana many smart mobility solutions and policies that could boost the use of electric vehicles in Macau are already in widespread use in cities on the other side of the border, with Shanghai where he usually resides and works a prime example.

This is a hot topic we are trying to find ways to create this but it is a medium to long term process to convince people. When I arrive in Macau Im, always surprised when Im driving, I open the window and all I hear is the noise of motorbikes. In Shanghai, I ride a bike and there are special lanes. Although its a city with 25 million people and cars everywhere, cars will be at least a five meters distance from people, Bragana said.

I felt more in danger and uncomfortable in Macau than riding my bike in Shanghai. This is also not related to the size of the cities since its proportional. What the government in Shanghai has done is work with the different districts, with each district having clear established rules to implement smart mobility solutions.

The designer also gave as an example, traffic lights in Shanghai, which are already equipped with cameras that inform how long the person driving needs to wait and can spot and help fine drivers who cross red lights.

We need some fast technological development others we will always be stuck to how things were 50 years ago. We need to find the best way to adapt these new technologies to vehicles, we need city infrastructure that supports peoples lives, he added.

Bragana added that the electric charging stations he has seen in public streets in the city were not just aesthetically awful but impractical and too spacious.

They are slabs taking the space for car parking, when nowadays we have the technology, as we see in some hotels, where we can just set a small box on the wall and plug your car. Theres even wireless charging. These technologies already exist. Its a matter fo the people that make the decisions have not yet felt the Macau population needs them, he noted.

EV charging stages look from before the industrial revolution. Electric motorbikes safety is already in widespread use in Mainland China, they are safe, not noisy and easy to ride. But in Macau, we still see motorbikes from my great grandfathers time. Macau should not just be providing gambling for people coming but also a positive experience for everyone living and coming to the city.

As of November, 2021 there were 2,241 electric vehicles and 4,536 hybrid energy vehicles, including cars and motorcycles registered in the Macau SAR, while there are currently only 200 electric public charging stations, only two of which are for motorbikes.

The Macau SAR SecondFive-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development for the 2021-2025period emphasizes that authorities will advance efforts to reach peak carbon emissions before the previous target in 2030.

Authorities predict in the plan that the rate of electric vehicles among newly registered vehicles in the city to jump from 9.4 per cent to something between 15 and 20 per cent in 2025.

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Los Angeles reflects on 30th anniversary of deadly ‘multi-ethnic’ riots – Macau Business

Posted: at 10:03 am

A multi-ethnic group of Los Angeles community leaders will gather on Friday, marking 30 years since their city was engulfed in a wave of violence following the acquittal of white police officers for the beating of Rodney King, a Black man.

The deadly 1992 Los Angeles riots inflamed deep-seated tensions across Americas second largest city, as fury in the Black community at racial injustice boiled over and Korean-American and other immigrant shopkeepers bore the brunt of the carnage.

Theres nothing romantic, nothing enticing, nothing beautiful about celebrating what happened for those six days, said J Edgar Boyd, pastor at First AME, the citys oldest African-American church.

But what we have agreed to do, is to take the ugliness and the disparities of those things that happened then, and own them for being reality.

Sprawling Los Angeles has long prided itself on being one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities on Earth.

But racial groups have often clustered in divided communities, from wealthy white Bel-Air to Black Baldwin Hills and Latino East Los Angeles all just a few miles apart.

On April 29, 1992, despite graphic video footage of the beating of King, the closely-watched trial of the four cops ended with verdicts of not guilty.

That night, violence first broke out in then-predominantly Black South Los Angeles, where many mom-and-pop stores were run by Korean immigrants.

Looting gangs brought violence and arson to Koreatown itself, where gun-wielding Korean vigilantes took to shop roofs to defend their properties, in images beamed around the world.

By the end of the anarchy, around 60 people were dead, 2,000 injured and approximately $1 billion in damages had been wrought almost half suffered by Korean-American owners.

The violence was Americas first multi-ethnic riots, said Edward Chang, professor of ethnic studies at University of California, Riverside.

Walking through Koreatown today a trendy, sprawling neighborhood whose name belies the fact it is now majority Latino it is hard to imagine those apocalyptic scenes 30 years ago.

But in 1992, racial tensions were already simmering because of the fatal shootings of two Black customers by Korean store owners in separate incidents months earlier.

Neither of the killers of Lee Arthur Mitchell and 15-year-old Latasha Harlins spent a day in prison, broiling resentment between communities riven by stark economic and cultural divides.

It was not necessarily an intent to go after Korean American businesses the intent was to respond to the lack of justice that was continually perpetuated upon the Black community, said Boyd.

But for many protesters, the perception accurate or not of Koreans as absentee shop owners with no interest in pouring back into the community part of what they took out made them easy targets, said Boyd.

According to David Ryu, a teen at the time of the riots who becameLos Angeles first Korean-American councilmember, the violence was less a Korean-Black conflict and more the poor fighting the poor.

Back in the 1990s, Korean-Americans were just the latest group to set up in inner-city Los Angeles, following earlier Jewish, Italian and Eastern European store owners.

Ryus parents had sold their toy store not long before the building was torched by looters.

Because they couldnt get mad at white America, or the powers-that-be, they got mad at the person in front of them, said Ryu, drawing a link to the citys Watts Riots of 1965.

This time, anger was displaced on the Korean-Americans, he said.

According to Chang, viewing US race relations as an anti-Blackness or Black-versus-white issue is an East Coast bias that ignores Los Angeles complex tapestry.

In 1992, Los Angeles police decided not to protect and serve the community they were supposed to Koreatown was abandoned, recalled Chang.

Korean immigrants had no choice but to defend their stores. That was their livelihood, that was their American Dream.

For some, there are parallels with recent attacks on Asian-Americans, which have risen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, hate crimes against Asian-Americans rose over 300 percent last year.

This Friday, Los Angeles leaders will gather to highlight ties between their communities, including a First AME community service held in a building financed by a Korean bank.

Thats a great milestone. They did it when we could not get other (banks) Black or otherwise to do it, said Boyd.

What were going to do on the 29th is to show the world, and Los Angeles, that we intend to be big enough to mitigate the breaches that took place on that infamous day.

by Andrew MARSZAL

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VinFast kicks off its Plant The Future project – Macau Business

Posted: at 10:03 am

PHU QUOC, VIETNAM Media OutReach 27 April 2022 VinFast officially kicks off its groundbreaking ceremony for the Plant the Future project. This project aims to realize VinFasts commitment to the VinFirst program Pioneers Gratitude to Pioneers globally.

Within this project, for each reservation made for a VF 8 or VF 9 from January 5, 2022, to May 30, 2022 (California time, USA), VinFast will plant one tree and contribute to projects that plant trees and restore forests in the world.

With over 65,000 global reservations for its VF 8 and VF 9 electric vehicles as of April 2022, at least 65,000 new trees will be planted.

This is considered a special and meaningful gift from VinFirst pioneer customers as they join hands with VinFast in the journey to create a sustainable and green future.

Through the Plant the Future project and the production of environmentally-friendly smart electric cars, VinFast hopes to inspire and actively advance a green lifestyle, and push toward a greener, more sustainable future for our planet.

About the project, Mr. Emmanuel Bret, VinFast Deputy CEO Global Sales & Marketing, said, The Plant the Future project reflects VinFasts pledge to commit to an electrified mobility revolution and a green future. One of the key concepts of the project is providing a gift from our pioneer customers to the environment, as we join hands to create a sustainable future for all.

The project is divided into phases and is expected to be implemented in various parts of the world.

In the first year, the project is being implemented in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, in collaboration with Vinpearl (a member of Vingroup) and the Phu Quoc National Park Management Board, with the permission of the Provincial Peoples Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Kien Giang Province.

The Plant the Future project aims to increase forest cover, protect the ecological environment, improve the environmental landscape, and reverse the effects of global climate change at Phu Quoc National Park.

Phu Quoc National Park is a historic forest that plays a vital role in biological and ecological conservation research. With over 29,596 hectares, Phu Quoc National Park includes three major forest ecosystems and is home to mangroves, indigo, secondary forests, and more. It is also home to rare and endangered animals, with five species listed in Vietnams Red Data Book and 104 bird species listed in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)./.

Exclusive offers for VinFirst customers

Customers in the US, Canada, and Europe who reserve VF 8 or VF 9 vehicles by May 30, 2022 (California time, USA) will receive one e-voucher for USD 3,000, CAD 3,500, or EUR 2.500 toward a VF8, or one e-voucher for USD 5,000, CAD 6,000, or EUR 4.200 toward a VF 9. The savings continue, as VinFirst customers also receive one free VinFast level 1 portable charger and free ADAS and Smart Service packages. VinFirst also unlocks access to other exclusive benefits. VinFirst customers receive a 7-day Vinpearl resort tour package that includes a three-bedroom beach villa for four people at one or multiple Vinpearl hotels in Vietnam. VinFirst customers also receive the exclusive VinFirst NFT, giving them premium access to VIP privileges in future VinFast campaigns and events via their blockchain wallets. In addition, VinFast will plant a tree on behalf of each customer for a sustainable future.

Established in 1993, Vingroup is one of the leading private conglomerates in the region, with a total capitalization of $35 billion from three publicly traded companies (as of November 4, 2021). Vingroup currently focuses on three main areas: Technology and Industry, Services and Social Enterprise. Find out more at: https://www.vingroup.net/en.

#Vingroup

VinFast a member of Vingroup envisioned to drive the movement of global smart electric vehicle revolution. Established in 2017, VinFast owns a state-of-the-art automotive manufacturing complex with globally leading scalability that boasts up to 90% automation in Hai Phong, Vietnam.

Strongly committed to the mission for a sustainable future for everyone, VinFast constantly innovates to bring high-quality products, advanced smart services, seamless customer experiences, and pricing strategy for all to inspire global customers to jointly create a future of smart mobility and a sustainable planet. Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.com.

#VinFast

Vinpearl is a pioneering brand in hotel management, leading in creating and improving tourism and resort services in Vietnam. Vinpearl possesses Vietnams largest international five-star hotel, resort, spa, conference center, F&B service, golf course, and amusement park chain. After 18 years of operation, Vinpearl now holds 45 facilities, with 18,500 hotel rooms and villas, three theme parks, two amusement parks, two animal safaris, and four golf courses nationwide across 17 cities and provinces. The company plans to expand nationally and internationally within the near future.

#Vinpearl

Phu Quoc National Park is a national park on Phu Quoc Island, in the Kien Giang Province of Vietnams Mekong Delta Region. This park includes land and sea area, protecting oceanic species such as dugong.

This park was established by the Decision 91/2001/Q-TTg on June 8, 2001, signed by the Prime Minister of Vietnam to upgrade Northern Phu Quoc Islands Preservation Zone to Phu Quoc National Park. The park covers 29,596 ha, comprising 8,786 ha of strictly protected area, 22,603 ha of biological restoration area, and 100 ha for administration and service.

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VinFast kicks off its Plant The Future project - Macau Business

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