Interview With Carbon-Credit Procurement Platform CEEZER Founder Magnus DreweliesTrump’s promises to conservatives raise fears of more book bans in USkijiji forums 。

This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. ___ Author: Elizabeth Steyn, Assistant Professor of Law, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary The debate around deep seabed mining has been gaining attention as concerns mount about its potential impacts on ocean ecosystems. The ocean is host to countless species yet to be discovered, some of which could hold the key to breakthroughs in medicine. The impacts of deep seabed mining on ocean biodiversity are still uncertain. At worst, we face losing species without ever knowing them. For instance, one type of mining targets hydrothermal mounds, which are known to be unique ecosystems filled with extremophiles — sea life that has adapted to extreme conditions of heat and toxicity to thrive. It has long been known, then, that deep seabed mining is potentially bad news for ocean life. But deep seabed mining proponents use the language of “necessary sacrifice” to argue that the energy transition “will require trade-offs” for access to the necessary metals. This juxtaposition of biodiversity and the energy transition is a half-truth. While the climate and biodiversity crises are intertwined, we should beware of pitting one against the other. Yet this is exactly what proponents of deep seabed mining are doing. Into this fray come two recent studies published by Planet Tracker, a non-profit think tank focused on sustainable finance. In Race to the Bottom, Planet Tracker concludes that countries would receive minimal financial benefits from deep seabed mining. Mining for Trouble cautions that deep seabed mining would entail huge losses for mining economies. Before delving into the economics of deep seabed mining, it would be useful to understand where the demand is coming from. Energy transition 101 The basic building blocks of the energy transition are critical minerals. These are also known as critical energy transition minerals or critical raw materials. Battery metals such as nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese are particularly important, as they are used to power electric vehicles. With electric vehicle adoption expected to surge by 2040, demand for battery metals is projected to rise dramatically, which will likely lead to an increase in mining. According to the International Energy Agency, clean energy technology minerals are set to triple by 2030 and quadruple by 2040 in a net-zero energy scenario. But the accessible ores of many metals have already been mined. As a result, land-based mining is becoming more technically complex, geographically remote or complicated for other reasons. ‘Battery in a rock’ On the abyssal plains of the deep seabed, there are billions of tons of polymetalic nodules — metal-dense nodes containing nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese. Deep seabed mining organization The Metals Company has dubbed them “a battery in a rock” and plans to begin mining operations in the Clarion Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean in June 2025. To date, issues raised about deep seabed mining mostly concern the lack of a governing regulatory framework, as well as uncertainties about its environmental, ecological and biodiversity impacts. Economic and social risk estimates have mainly focused on impacts to coastal communities who depend on fishing for their livelihoods. The recent Planet Tracker studies change this by highlighting the economic impacts of deep seabed mining. Economic impacts of deep seabed mining Deep seabed mining presents a number of financial challenges. One concern is the potential impact on metal prices. Flooding the metals markets with ocean-mined metals would likely drive down the price of the metals, which would impact the financial viability of the land-based mines that are currently producing them. There are also doubts about the demand for these metals in the quantities predicted. Battery technology is advancing rapidly, with alternatives like lithium iron phosphate batteries — used in 40 per cent of electric vehicles sold in 2023 — eliminating the need for cobalt and nickel. Emerging sodium-ion batteries are set to remove the need for copper. The financial benefits to the International Seabed Authority — an international organization that regulates mining in most of the world’s oceans — would also be marginal. Projections estimate that annual royalties distributed among member countries to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) would range from US$42,000 to US$7.35 million. This amount reflects both deep seabed mining corporate income tax and royalties. In comparison, mining economies would lose more than US$560 billion annually in export earnings. This discrepancy arises because deep seabed minerals don’t belong to any jurisdiction and thus cannot be similarly taxed. Regulatory hurdles To obtain exploration licences for deep seabed mining, UNCLOS requires member states to sponsor a mining operator. While sponsoring states can impose royalties on operators, some arrangements, such as those involving The Metals Company and Nauru, are part of agreements that include no corporate income tax. This, Planet Tracker cautions, can give rise to a “race to the bottom” where member states vie to give operators the most favourable terms. Sponsoring states also face financial risks and can find themselves liable for large amounts when they can least afford it. Papua New Guinea, for example, was left to cover AU$157 million when Nautilus Minerals collapsed. Finally, the financial viability of deep seabed mining itself is questionable. Even if profitable, the environmental remediation costs for deep seabed mining could exceed the value of any metals mined — and the damage may not even be reversible. These financial and ecological concerns paint a bleak picture. Our oceans fulfil an important planetary role, both in terms of climate and in terms of biodiversity. Should we really disturb this balance with deep seabed mining when the numbers don’t even add up? ___ Elizabeth Steyn previously received funding from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She is affiliated with the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) and the Natural Resources Law Teachers Institute (NRLTI). She is a board member of the Canadian Institute of Resources Law (CIRL), a Fellow of the Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies (CMSS) and an International Committee Member of the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (FNREL). ___ This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/deep-seabed-mining-bad-for-biodiversity-and-terrible-for-the-economy-243893 Advertisement Advertisement

The only thing faster than fibre-connectivity in Tiny Township is municipal staff putting together a request on why the township hasn’t received full high-speed internet installation as of yet. During the recent committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Dave Brunelle raised the topic of attending the 2025 Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference in January as a delegate, but wanted fellow council members to put together a reason to ask the province to help Tiny Township. “I know we did a delegation at AMO; it was quite successful and productive,” said Brunelle, referencing a joint-meeting with Midland which resulted in a potential solution to septage issues the township faced. When asked by Mayor Dave Evans what the timeline would be to craft a delegation proposal, members of council replied five business days which resulted in muted laughter from many in the room. Evans asked CAO Robert Lamb if it would be feasible have something within that period, which Lamb affirmed. Conversation went to various topics that the township could address to provincial ministers in attendance, but Brunelle cautioned that their suggestions were on a higher provincial level such as municipal insurance, increased OPP billing costs, reduced infrastructure funding and others; Brunelle asked that something tailored more to Tiny specifically be considered. After further consideration, Lamb proposed that Tiny could request an update on the Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (or SWIFT) project introduced in 2022, a non-profit, municipally-led broadband expansion project aimed at bringing high-speed internet to rural communities across Ontario. Many locations along the Georgian Bay shoreline received fibre installation in recent years, but not many interior areas of Tiny Township. “There are large portions of our community still that we have been waiting, for I think almost three years now,” said Lamb, “...for applications that were submitted to bring a form of high-speed (internet) to all of our concession roads.” He added: “The provincial government has just made a big deal out of a $100-million deal with Elon Musk with his satellite stuff, yet there are very easy wins that wouldn’t cost nearly that much to be getting – even if it’s fibre on the poles rather than buried on the ground on a lot of our concession roads. Lamb stated that a request could be submitted within the timeframe, which the committee of the whole accepted. Following the meeting, MidlandToday asked Lamb about the importance of high-speed internet in rural areas. Lamb replied that the Simcoe County Access Network was an early form of high-speed that connected municipal offices with libraries, schools and hospitals, and it was time to fill remaining gaps. “One of the largest adopters of technologies that you have out there is actually the agricultural community,” said Lamb. “When you see the large production farming that takes place now, the technology those farms are utilizing – and then not having the ability to potentially download that information and get it as quickly as they would – it has productivity means to it as well.” The 2025 ROMA conference delegation correspondence can be viewed on the agenda page on the Township of Tiny website. Archives of council meetings are available to view on the township’s YouTube channel.

NBC will honor John Madden on Thanksgiving by taking the original Madden Cruiser on one last road trip

US President-elect Donald Trump says he will direct his Justice Department to "vigorously pursue" the death penalty to protect Americans from "violent rapists, murderers, and monsters" when he takes power on January 20. Trump's statement on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday was in response to President Joe Biden's announcement on Monday that he had commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal inmates on death row, converting them to life in prison without parole. "As soon as I am inaugurated, I will direct the Justice Department to vigorously pursue the death penalty to protect American families and children from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters," Trump said. Trump restarted federal executions during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021 after a nearly 20-year pause. Biden, who ran for president opposing the death penalty, put federal executions on hold when he took office in January 2021. Unlike executive orders, clemency decisions cannot be reversed by a president's successor, although the death penalty can be sought more aggressively in future cases. The Trump transition team on Monday had denounced Biden's decision, calling it abhorrent and favouring convicts who are "among the worst killers in the world."

Vancouver Island cyclists set Canadian, world Hour Records for age classesClaro Enterprise Solutions Expands Technology Service Offerings to Accelerate Mergers and Acquisitions Integrations

LAS VEGAS , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The leading charging solution provider TESSAN has announced its participation in CES 2025, where it will present its latest innovations designed to enhance connectivity and convenience for users. Visitors can explore the brand's new offerings at Booth 30562 in the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 2. "Tessan aims to be a reliable companion for users in their lives and travels, ensuring that they stay connected at home or on the go. Participating in CES 2025 is also an opportunity for us to deepen the connection with more users, offering them a tangible experience of our commitment to innovation and sustainability," said Alex, CEO of TESSAN. At the heart of TESSAN's showcase are products that reflect its core values: simplicity and convenience, innovation and efficiency, as well as sustainability. Every product is designed with a user-centric approach, integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices to meet modern demands. A highlight of the exhibit will be the 140W Universal Travel Adapter, designed for global use with EU, UK, US, and Australian plugs. Its lightweight, compact design makes it travel-ready. USB-C ports offer up to 140 watts for fast charging, while USB-A ports provide 18 watts. It can charge multiple devices simultaneously, including smartphones, laptops, cameras, and CPAP machines. Advanced safety features, like double-patented auto-resetting fuses, ensure secure operation. Another innovation on display is the 100W Charging Station. Compact and designed to save space, this multi-functional device can charge up to nine gadgets simultaneously at high speed. Its sleek upright design combines style with functionality, while robust safety measures safeguard devices from overcurrent, voltage surges, and overheating, ensuring uninterrupted charging around the clock. For electric vehicle owners, TESSAN will showcase its Level 2 Smart EV Charger, a high-performance charging solution that delivers up to 11.5kW/h, offering remote control via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, off-peak scheduling, and adjustable currents. Compatible with most North American electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, its SAE J1772 connector and water-resistant, fireproof design ensure safety and reliability. These innovative products have not gone unnoticed in the industry. In May 2024 , TESSAN was recognized at the MUSE Design Awards, earning gold and silver honors for its Intelligent Charging Set, multi-functional fast charging socket, and Household EV AC Charger. These accolades reflect the brand's dedication to blending exceptional design with cutting-edge functionality, resonating with users worldwide. Beyond technology, TESSAN remains deeply committed to environmental sustainability. In August 2024 , the brand received ClimatePartner certification, signifying its alignment with eco-friendly practices. Most recently, it announced a collaboration with the non-profit organization One Tree Planted, launching an initiative to plant 10,000 trees as part of its efforts to mitigate climate change and support global reforestation. As a brand committed to empowering users to explore the unknown while safeguarding the planet, TESSAN continues to lead through innovation, sustainability, and meaningful action. CES 2025 promises to be an exciting opportunity for audiences to witness these values brought to life. About TESSAN TESSAN, a trusted partner in charging solutions, is committed to enriching experiences both at home and during travel. The brand offers a wide array of products, including multifunctional power strips, travel adapters, wall extenders, and smart home devices. Supported by a robust R&D and production team, TESSAN develops innovative socket products for users across the globe. With the trust of over 20 million users, TESSAN empowers their journeys from home to every destination, promoting environmentally conscious electricity usage. For more information, visit www.tessan.com or the TESSAN Amazon store , and follow TESSAN on Facebook , Instagram , and YouTube . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ces-2025-preview-tessan-to-showcase-charging-solutions-for-enhanced-connectivity-and-convenience-302338829.html SOURCE TESSANNew cloud migration, cyber security, and managed service solutions for growing organizations to streamline technology integration, enhance security, and improve operational efficiency. MIRAMAR, Fla. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Claro Enterprise Solutions, a single-source technology solutions provider for growing organizations , announced expanded services to support merger and acquisition activity on buy-side and sell-side, as companies seek cost efficiencies and technology modernization. The expanded consulting, implementation and managed service offerings make it more expeditious for investors and acquired companies to merge technology infrastructure while improving cyber and physical security, productivity and performance. "Claro Enterprise Solutions was the optimal decision as our customer sought to stand up managed IT services for a multi-national organization. Claro Enterprise Solutions had all the technology solutions they needed, plus an impressive flexibility and mindset that ensured the integration of the acquired entity was completed successfully. They deployed Cloud Migration Services and a Managed CyberSOC for incident response, while understanding the client's complex infrastructure. The client was pleased with the overall outcome and would use them for further acquisitions, as well as overall solutions and services," said Alex D'Angelo , Vice President at Ten Oaks Group. After announcing a major expansion of its cyber-physical product-specific offerings in early 2024, Claro Enterprise Solutions is now rolling out additional standard and custom service offerings. While these are not limited to Mergers and Acquisitions use cases, as they support any company seeking ways to simplify and unify cyber security , cloud , IoT , and connectivity technology infrastructure , they have already seen an uptake from the investor community. Services include: Cloud Data Security The Solution for Collaboration Security Management for Microsoft 365TM combines powerful tools with expert managed services to safeguard the organization's sensitive information while adhering to industry standard regulations. Through an initial assessment, Claro Enterprise Solutions will create a customized remediation plan to address data exposure and risks, assuring compliance with the strictest regulations. Through managed services, Claro Enterprise Solutions monitors how the information is being shared, reducing the risk of oversharing and exposure of sensitive information. Claro Enterprise Solutions' services cover the entire Microsoft 365TM journey, from migration to backup, policy enforcement, and risk reduction. Solution for Collaboration Security follows the NIST 2.0 standard, ensuring a comprehensive approach to data security needs. Whether during the due diligence period or after the independent entity is established, they identify and govern what cloud-hosted data is shared with whom, flag any compliance-related activities, and enforce policies. In one customer assessment, over 30,000 abandoned links were discovered and promptly remediated, and over 100 hours were saved in manual IT configuration and reporting. Cloud Data Migration Claro Enterprise Solutions' Cloud Migration Services professional and managed services move newly acquired and existing (Microsoft 365)TM end users onto shared cloud infrastructures, safely and securely. Customers also use migrations to deploy multi-Cloud strategies to reduce impact should a single Cloud provider experience an outage, or to meet local data storage compliance requirements. To address key security challenges in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), Claro Enterprise Solutions introduces its " Microsoft 365TM Readiness Suite ". This comprehensive solution streamlines Microsoft 365TM integration with three core components: Cloud Migration Services , Cloud Backup , and Collaboration Security Management Data Risk Assessment. Each offering includes implementation support, providing M&A companies with a turnkey solution to identify risks, enhance security, and optimize their Microsoft 365TM investment during organizational transitions. The Microsoft 365TM Readiness Suite empowers businesses to navigate complex IT integrations efficiently, ensuring protected information sharing and safeguarding critical data throughout the M&A process. Cyber Threat Detection & Response As incidents impacting worldwide operations have shown, the complexity of today's technology ecosystem can inadvertently affect companies at any time. As part of Claro Enterprise Solutions' expanded technology services, it offers a robust suite of cyber threat detection and response capabilities designed to enhance security during critical Mergers and Acquisitions integrations. Claro Enterprise Solutions' Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and CyberSOC solutions provide continuous monitoring, advanced threat detection, and rapid incident response, ensuring that any security threats are identified and mitigated promptly. Claro Enterprise Solutions' MDR service leverages sophisticated tools and expert analysts to detect and respond to threats in real-time, minimizing the potential impact of cyber incidents. Claro Enterprise Solutions' CyberSOC , a managed security operations center, adds another layer of protection by offering 24/7 monitoring and incident management, allowing companies to maintain an agile and resilient security posture even during the most complex mergers. Additionally, Claro Enterprise Solutions' Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Management services are crucial for identifying and addressing potential weaknesses in both legacy and newly integrated systems. Penetration testing simulates cyber attacks to expose vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, while the vulnerability management solutions continuously scan and assess the environment to ensure that any potential security gaps are identified and remediated before they can be exploited. Together, these solutions provide a comprehensive approach to cyber threat detection and response, empowering companies to navigate the complexities of Mergers and Acquisitions with confidence, knowing that their infrastructure is secured against evolving threats. About Claro Enterprise Solutions Claro Enterprise Solutions is a single-source IT solutions provider backed by global Latin American service provider América Móvil (NYSE: AMX). Claro Enterprise Solutions' cyber-physical approach to integrated solutions helps growing organizations strengthen security, increase productivity, and optimize performance. Our experts independently identify, implement, and manage technical solutions leveraging innovations in AI, Cloud, IoT and security. Claro Enterprise Solutions has earned a Great Place To Work® CertificationTM and is headquartered outside Miami in Miramar, Florida . Find us online at usclaro.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/claro-enterprise-solutions-expands-technology-service-offerings-to-accelerate-mergers-and-acquisitions-integrations-302313641.html SOURCE Claro Enterprise Solutions

The history photo this week says so much about simpler times. It’s a photo of Vernon’s Jeff Hurmuces in his home on Christmas Eve, 1952. Look at the fantastic black-and-white photo courtesy of the Museum and Archives of Vernon. Look closely. Photos of family framed, hanging on the wall, some level, some askew. The Christmas tree in the corner, clearly a live tree with a star on top, minimal lights and the always-present tinsel at the time. Christmas cards were regularly hung from string going wall to wall, and you can see Mr. Hurmuces received at least 19 cards that year. And the food. My word, the food. The drink. Something for every palate in this pic. Hurmuces was the co-owner of the highly successful National Cafe, in the old National Hotel, according to his niece, Gayle, who lives on Vancouver Island and who pays tribute to her uncle on her website, Eatinscanada.com. Hurmuces owned the cafe with another Vernon legend, Nick Alexis, as well as Tom (Curly) Pulos and Gus Haros from 1935-1963. Curly’s daughter Evinia (Pulos) Bruce wrote a letter to The Morning Star in 2004 explaining how the National Cafe had a chocolate factory in the back and a soda fountain up front, where such concoctions as the Graveyard Milkshakes ( a mix of every available flavour) and the Three Men In A Tub original sundaes were created and dished out. The National Cafe, said Bruce, was the “largest and most known restaurant in the block (2900-30th Avenue) all during the Second World War due to the thousands of soldiers training at the army camp on Mission Hill.” On Dec. 9, 2021, the highly popular Facebook page Vintage Vernon ran the exact same photo, courtesy of the museum. Gayle commented that her uncle Jeff was her best friend when she was a little girl. The same photo hangs in her home, she said. And a man named Ronald Smith commented that “Jeff was a real gentleman, and was always very kind and polite with my mother and me.” Smith also mentioned that he worked for Capitol Taxi as a kid and had many interactions with Curly Pulos.Canadian precious metal stocks are experiencing a powerful bull market phase thanks to an equally strong bullish trend in gold prices. However, the trend hasn’t remained limited to gold stocks; many are riding the momentum as well. A few other metal stocks, even though they are unrelated to this market, have also experienced a powerful upward surge. Collectively, there are three metal stocks that you should consider looking into, considering their powerful bullish momentum. They may help you achieve decent gains, even if you work with a modest amount of capital. A gold stock Let’s start with the gold stocks since gold prices are still surging. While many giants in this segment have seen serious gains, smaller players like ( ) are surging even more robustly. With a market capitalization of just $533 million, this little stock has risen about 197% in 2024 alone. It can easily double its capital in the next six months if it manages to sustain this pace. This Toronto-based company operates primarily in Guyana and has two different projects in the country. The projects are still in exploratory stages, but the results look quite promising. It recently secured exploration rights on a 30,000-acre parcel from a local entity. Both of the company’s projects are on very promising parcels of land, and the prospects of high-grade gold discovery are one of the factors fueling the stock’s surge. A silver stock ( ) is headquartered in Vancouver. The company focuses on the extraction of high-grade silver from relatively stable regions. Its current production-grade mine, the Cerro Los Gatos Mine, is in Mexico. The company is both operating and exploring in the heart of the country’s silver belt. Silver prices are also experiencing an upward surge, and the trend stretches back to 2023, though it’s not very linear. As a result, the stock has also been bullish for over a year and has grown by about 183% in 2024 alone. It experienced a minor slump recently but has really picked up the pace in the last two weeks. The stock is overvalued right now, but that’s not too big a price to pay for the kind of growth it’s offering. However, it would be wise to keep an eye on silver prices to identify when the stock’s bullish trend might end. An antimony stock Antimony is not a precious metal, but its demand is rising because of its use in electronics and potential use in solar panels and new battery technologies. This has brought companies like ( ) into the limelight. This Idaho-based company is working to revive an old Stibnite Gold Project because once it is up and running, it may be able to meet about 35% of the U.S.’s antimony demand (in the first six years). The nature of this project (revival instead of new mining operations) and the fact that it’s directly tied to renewable power make it an interesting buy from an perspective. More importantly, it’s a rapidly growing stock that has risen over 315% this year alone, and this kind of momentum can help you double your capital in less than four months (if it’s sustained). Foolish takeaway The three metal stocks are worth considering, regardless of the amount of capital you are working with. All three companies can double your capital in less than a year if they sustain their current growth pace. And if they manage to keep it up for more than a year, the returns can be reasonably enormous.

The discovery of missing hiker Vendula "Wendy" Rose, 38, in the Talladega National Forest has brought a somber close to a weeks-long search. Local officials, including Sheriff Jon Daniel and Coroner Adam Downs, took to social media this week to share their appreciation for those involved in the search efforts while expressing condolences to Rose’s family. Rose, a Marysville, Ohio, resident, was reported missing on Oct. 3 after failing to return from a hiking trip. Her body was discovered Nov. 30 by a hunter near a remote campsite near Alabama 281. Authorities confirmed on Dec. 4 that the remains were hers. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Woman Living with Ultra-Rare Disease Talks 'Reclaiming' Her Identity After Spending Life Feeling Like 'a Diagnosis' (Exclusive)BetterCo and 5FSoftware now partners: 5F integrates AI module for onboarding and compliance 11-27-2024 07:28 PM CET | IT, New Media & Software Press release from: 5FSoftware GmbH BetterCo and 5FSoftware now partners: 5F integrates AI module for onboarding and compliance (© ) Regensburg, 20.11.2024 – The integration of the AI-supported onboarding and compliance module from BetterCo into the 5F platform will make know-your-customer (KYC) processes and anti-money laundering compliance easier for law firms in the future. Founders1 GmbH, a legal tech expert and provider of the BetterCo onboarding and compliance platform, and 5FSoftware GmbH have entered into a partnership. As part of this collaboration, BetterCo's AI-supported onboarding and compliance module will be integrated into the 5F platform. The module supports law firms in accepting new clients quickly and in a customer-friendly manner and efficiently ensures compliance with the requirements of the German Money Laundering Act (Geldwäschegesetz, GwG) as part of the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process. In the legal sector, the challenges posed by complex legal requirements and heterogeneous workflows are considerable, which can lead to serious gaps. The complex KYC process in particular, which is required under the Money Laundering Act, poses problems for law firms. By integrating BetterCo's onboarding and compliance module into the 5F platform, law firms can now handle the entire process of client acceptance and onboarding completely digitally. Company data and beneficial owners are automatically determined and clients receive pre-filled, digital questionnaires for self-disclosure. The module automatically checks organizations and their contacts against lists of politically exposed persons (PEP), sanctions and negative news, enables their continuous monitoring and summarizes all results in a risk analysis and documentation. The client database can also be included in these processes via import interfaces. "The partnership with BetterCo and integration into the 5F platform is a logical and correct step into the future for us. By using the new onboarding and compliance module, law firms and companies can reduce the risk of breaches of regulations, thereby avoiding fines and reputational damage. The module also optimizes process efficiency and promotes digitalization, resulting in greater transparency and faster processes. The BetterCo module is an excellent addition to 5F." Andreas Baier, founder and CEO of 5FSoftware "Compliance is already crucial for law firms when opening new files. With the BetterCo compliance module, all tasks of the KYC process in onboarding can be handled digitally and stored centrally. This reduces effort, lowers risks and speeds up processes considerably. We are delighted to have gained another important partner in 5FSoftware, which complements its products with our specific onboarding and compliance expertise." Eckhard Ortwein, founder and CEO of BetterCo About 5FSoftware GmbH With its 5F platform, 5FSoftware GmbH from Regensburg enables efficient and clear work and communication processes for law firms and companies. In addition to structured collaboration with external contacts, such as clients, customers and suppliers, 5F also includes the mapping of internal company processes. 5F is used as a central communication channel in various areas with similar requirements, such as tax consultancy, auditing, legal advice or management consultancy. As an integrated communication solution, 5F fits seamlessly into existing software landscapes and enables central control of all work processes by connecting to document management systems (DMS) and other tools. Flexible interfaces and secure authentication processes ensure constant access to all important information and thus promote productivity and data quality. Customers are supported in optimally integrating 5F into their software environment in order to exploit the full potential of their IT infrastructure. More information at: 5fsoftware.com About Founders1 GmbH Founders1 develops and markets the AI-powered onboarding and compliance platform BetterCo, tailored for regulated industries such as legal, tax and finance. Companies can use BetterCo to serve their clients in a compliant, efficient and collaborative environment. BetterCo's no-code technology makes it easy to digitize even complex onboarding and compliance processes. Thanks to the open integration architecture, these processes can be seamlessly integrated into existing products, systems and databases and these can be enriched immediately. The use of AI automates processes and adapts them to the individual context. With BetterCo, onboarding processes are efficient and customer-centric and the associated compliance processes are carried out in a compliant manner at the same time. The BetterCo compliance module has already been integrated into their own products by market leaders such as stp.one and Wolters Kluwer. More information at: betterco.ai Contact us 5FSoftware GmbH Rudolf-Vogt-Straße 21, 93053 Regensburg, Germany Web: www.5fsoftware.de E-mail: info@5fsoftware.de Phone: +49 941 204 903 0 5FSoftware GmbH Rudolf-Vogt-Straße 21 93053 Regensburg Germany https://www.5fsoftware.de Herr Lennart Mahling l.mahling@5fsoftware.de About 5FSoftware GmbH With its 5F platform, 5FSoftware GmbH from Regensburg enables efficient and clear work and communication processes for law firms and companies. In addition to structured collaboration with external contacts, such as clients, customers and suppliers, 5F also includes the mapping of internal company processes. 5F is used as a central communication channel in various areas with similar requirements, such as tax consultancy, auditing, legal advice or management consultancy. As an integrated communication solution, 5F fits seamlessly into existing software landscapes and enables central control of all work processes by connecting to document management systems (DMS) and other tools. Flexible interfaces and secure authentication processes ensure constant access to all important information and thus promote productivity and data quality. Customers are supported in optimally integrating 5F into their software environment in order to exploit the full potential of their IT infrastructure. More information at: www.5fsoftware.de This release was published on openPR.

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