Latest news with #SEV
Al-Ahram Weekly
10-07-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Athens business event explores Egypt opportunities - Economy
Business opportunities in Egypt were the focus of a "Discover Egypt" event held in Athens on Tuesday. The gathering, co-organised by prominent Greek business bodies, aimed to boost trade and investment ties between Greece and Egypt. The Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV) hosted the event, with Enterprise Greece, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI), and the Exporters' Association (SEVE) acting as co-organisers. Its core objective was to showcase avenues for strengthening trade and investment cooperation between the two nations, particularly highlighting opportunities in key sectors for Greek businesses within the Egyptian market. With high participation from business leaders, institutional representatives, and diplomatic figures, the event underscored the perceived importance of deepening bilateral economic relations. The event commenced with opening remarks from Vicky Makrygianni, SEV's Director of International Relations; Rozita Kourtali, Board Member of the Hellenic Association of Greek and Mediterranean Workers; Marinos Giannopoulos, CEO of Enterprise Greece; and Panagiotis Hasapis, Executive Vice President of SEVE. This was followed by addresses from Egypt's Ambassador to Greece Omar Amer Youssef and Greece's Ambassador to Egypt Nikolaos Papageorgiou (via video conference). Both emphasised the strategic significance of bilateral relations and encouraged Greek businesses to explore collaborations in Egypt, particularly in areas where they possess expertise and competitive advantages. The first thematic session, "Bilateral Trade and Investment Opportunities in Egypt," featured insights from Mohamed Youssef, Advisor to the President of Egypt's General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), and Eleni Albanti, a senior officer in the i-Services department at Eurobank. The second session, "Doing Business in Egypt," coordinated by Panagiotis Hasapis, included contributions from Stathis Natsis, Executive Director of International Activities at TERNA; Giorgos Sarigiannis, Director of Communication and Strategy at VGROUP; Ioannis Ververidis, Commercial Director of KLEEMAN Group; and Efi Voudouri, General Manager of BAMBAI LTD. Discussions throughout the event highlighted Egypt as a stable and emerging strategic partner for Greece in the North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean region. Participants also noted that trade and investment relations between the two countries demonstrate strong momentum and a consistent upward trend, bolstered by geostrategic proximity, historically robust bilateral relations, and a favourable investment climate in Egypt. Particular emphasis was placed on strategically important sectors such as energy, infrastructure, shipping, financial services, and agri-food, where Greek businesses boast significant expertise and competitive advantages. The total value of Greek exports to Egypt in 2024 amounted to approximately €906 million (compared to €506 million in 2023), recording a spectacular increase of almost 80 percent. This surge is mainly attributed to a significant expansion of exports of fossil fuels, lubricants and related materials. During the same period, Greek imports from Egypt totalled €1.3 billion (compared to €1.4 billion in 2023), recording a decrease of approximately 12 per cent. Overall, bilateral trade exceeded €2 billion, marking an increase of 12 per cent compared to 2023. Greece currently ranks as the fourth-largest foreign investor in Egypt, with more than 200 Greek companies operating in the country. Notably, Greek investments almost doubled in the period 2023–2024, reaching €12.1 million from €5.8 million the previous year—a fact that confirms the growing confidence of the Greek business circle. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE How OnlyFans killed off the strip club: Number of venues falls to lowest level in over a decade
Strip clubs are dying out – and experts blame OnlyFans. Only 103 premises still exist in England, Scotland and Wales, figures suggest. This is down from around 155 in 2022. Nick Ede, one of the UK's most esteemed experts on popular culture, told MailOnline: 'OnlyFans has totally killed the strip club. 'People are now tipping sex workers and strippers using their phones, rather than slipping a 10 pound note in a thong. 'It's also a clear generational thing, too. Strip clubs were seen as sleazy venues, now they are seen as old and out of touch with today's lifestyles.' The statistics, obtained by MailOnline under Freedom of Information laws, also show how standalone sex shops are vanishing. Just 42 now exist, compared to 104 in 2010. Mr Ede added: 'Sex shops will soon die a death because people purchase them from online shops which package and post them discreetly.' MailOnline sent FOI requests to all 350 local authorities responsible for issuing sexual establishment licences in England, Scotland and Wales. Under current laws, all sex premises – including pole dancing venues and standalone shops selling sex toys and paraphernalia – have to apply for new operating licences (SEV) each year. Applications can cost businesses up to £10,000, although fees vary wildly across the country. Campaigners fighting to keep the sex worker industry alive say the rules have given council bosses 'much greater powers over whether to keep them open'. In total, 184 councils have taken no SEV applications at all since 2010 – when the new rules came into play. The amendment was proposed and passed after a series of objections from local councils to the formation of new or operation of existing strip clubs on the grounds of the impact on the community. Edinburgh, Swansea and Exeter councils have even introduced 'nil cap' orders, which effectively ban new sex venues from opening. Only 50 strip clubs that were licensed in 2010 remain open today. Birmingham is the strip club capital of the country, with 21 active establishments. Liverpool (10), Newcastle Upon Tyne (10) and Manchester (8) follow behind. Meanwhile, Cardiff, Birmingham and Wolverhampton all lay claim to having the most sex shops, with four apiece. Experts believe the erosion of strip clubs and sex shops reflects the overall trend of British nightlife. Around a quarter of UK adults are thought to be teetotal, jumping to over a third of Gen Z, meaning less punters are likely to cross the strip club thresholds after a night out on the town. A 2021 YouGov poll suggests that only a quarter of men would support banning strip clubs outright, with the figure reaching over 40 per cent for women. And earlier research from the pollster shows that the majority of people in Britain think it is acceptable for a person in a relationship to go to a strip club on a stag or hen do. But the advent of OnlyFans has reshaped how some young people engage with sexual content, some experts believe. Data from Ipsos Iris show that in January, 4.4 per cent of the British population – or 2.2m people – visited the site. This was up 64 per cent in a year. Audrey Jones, a campaigner for DecrimNow – the unofficial union for sex workers, disagreed with Mr Ede. She said: 'I don't think OnlyFans has made an impact at all. 'This trend (the decline of strip clubs) was happening way before OnlyFans was a thing. 'They work in different markets and big groups of lads on stag dos... don't go on OnlyFans.' Proliferation of free online porn and cheap subscriptions to creators on OnlyFans does present a cheaper alternative to real life encounters in strip clubs. Ms Jones told MailOnline: 'Strippers are some of the first to talk about when a recession is coming because their customer base is the first thing to go.' Venues don't require SEV licenses if sexual entertainment takes place less than once a month. Sixteen councils didn't respond to our FOI request. Others refused to supply figures. High Street stores such as Anne Summers and Agent Provocateur weren't included in the analysis because they don't need licences to operate.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sexual entertainment venue could open in Glasgow city centre
A sexual entertainment venue (SEV) could be opening in Glasgow city centre. KAAGO HOLDINGS Ltd has applied for an SEV licence to operate at Diamond Dolls on Mitchell Street. If granted, the venue will operate from Monday to Saturday from 11am to 5am, and Sunday from 12.30pm to 5am. Anyone wishing to object or make representations must do so in writing to Glasgow City Council by July 23. Submissions should specify the reasons behind the objection, as well as the name and address of the person submitting. These should be sent to licensingenquiries@ More information about the proposed venue can be found online at
Axios
08-05-2025
- Science
- Axios
Harnessing tidal energy to foster a more sustainable power grid
Tapping into the Moon's energy doesn't require a spaceship — just a bold new approach. Annika Ölme, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Technology Development at SKF, discusses the "next space race" and how innovative technologies are already creating opportunities to harness endless energy from the moon's gravitational pull — right here on Earth. 1. The idea: What is the Faroe Islands Space Program? Ölme: The Faroe Islands is a small island nation between Scotland and Iceland in the Northeast Atlantic. There, together with our customer Minesto, we've built a space program unlike any other in the world. The Faroe Islands Space Program competes with global superpowers to harness lunar resources — without ever leaving Earth. Tidal energy, generated by the moon's gravitational pull, offers a renewable and predictable power source. This untapped natural resource holds tremendous potential to support a more sustainable energy future. 2. How it's done: How are you harnessing energy from the moon? Ölme: As the Moon's gravity pulls on the Earth and its oceans, it creates tidal streams. These powerful flows of water generate immense energy. Through innovative technologies and partnerships, we've supported the development of a way to harness this energy — LUNA 12. LUNA 12 transforms the concept of kites. Rather than soaring through the air, it glides through the ocean at speeds up to 16 knots at a depth of ~ 60 meters, driving water through a turbine to generate energy. The wing uses the hydrodynamic lift force created by the underwater current to move the kite. With an onboard control system, the kite is autonomously steered in a predetermined figure-of-eight trajectory, pulling the turbine through the water at a water flow several times higher than the actual stream speed. The turbine shaft turns the generator which outputs electricity to the grid via a power cable in the tether and a seabed umbilical to the shore. 3. The background: Who's behind this innovation? Ölme: The Faroe Islands Space Program is a collaboration between SKF, Minesto, and the Faroe Islands. SKF is the world's largest bearing manufacturer with a commitment to improving energy efficiency and reducing CO2emissions. Minesto is an ocean energy technology developer. The Faroe Islands, along with the inter-municipal community power company SEV, has one of the world's most ambitious energy transition initiatives, aiming to reach 100% renewable electricity by 2030. SKF designed the bearing and sealing systems for the rudders and elevators of the kites, and we collaborated closely with Minesto to optimize the LUNA 12 kite for demanding operational environments. The result is a cost-competitive tidal energy technology poised for large-scale deployment. The initiative underscores the critical role of cross-industry collaboration and knowledge-sharing in accelerating innovation, advancing the shift to renewables and shaping a more sustainable energy future. The Faroe Islands Space Program serves as a blueprint for broader cooperation across sectors. 4. The impact: What's the long-term potential here? Ölme: The Faroe Islands, with its strong political will, unique ocean conditions, and supportive infrastructure, provide an ideal setting to test and scale this groundbreaking technology. Today, LUNA 12 is connected to the Faroese power grid, but as the project is in its pilot phase, electricity production is still in humble volumes. LUNA 12 is the first megawatt-scale kite in operation, delivering a tenfold increase in capacity compared to earlier models. With a rated power of 1.2 megawatts, it could supply enough electricity to power around 200 homes for a full year once fully operational. The next goal is to implement a new 200 MW tidal energy facility. This could meet 40% of the Faroe Islands' expected electricity needs in 2030, providing renewable electricity to the nation's 50,000 people and 70,000 sheep. Today, ocean energy is still a small part of the renewable energy mix. But we've identified at least 3,000 other "Faroe Islands" out there with the potential to harness this technology to generate renewable energy. If they were all to join, moon power could replace all coal power capacity currently under development globally. 5. Looking ahead: What's next for this project and SKF's future innovations? This is just one example of how SKF works with customers to advance new approaches and innovations in energy technology development and across other sectors. We recognize the powerful role we can play in reducing friction in projects and applications worldwide. Anywhere bearings are used, there's an opportunity to enhance efficiency and reduce friction, and we're proud of our innovations across the globe — and beyond — in making that a reality.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public asked for views on town's strip club policy
A council is asking people to give their views on possible changes to its licensing policy for sexual entertainment venues (SEVs). Cheltenham Borough Council says while it cannot take a moral stance over licensing SEVs because they are legal, it knows their presence splits opinion in the town. It is proposing to bring in a limit of two SEVs in a designated area of central Cheltenham. The council says it cannot impose a "nil limit" as venues would be able to call on a legal exemption. The nightclub Under the Prom is regularly granted a license to operate a SEV when there is horse racing at Cheltenham Racecourse. The borough council says it is better to have licensed venues operating legally as unlicensed SEVs pose a risk to performers and the public. One of the proposed changes is to extend the designated area within Cheltenham to include a greater section of the Promenade. Another change would be SEVs being confident their licenses would be renewed on application if there is no "significant change" to the character of the local area. However, the borough council also plans to introduce a limit of two SEV licenses for the town centre - there is currently no limit. Councillor Victoria Atherstone, borough council cabinet member for safety and communities said it was important to "ensure safety for all, across all venues in the town centre". She said the council did this by regulating and licensing their activities. "Adopting a nil limit throughout the entire borough would not stop such [SEV] businesses from operating, as they would use an exemption that allows any business to operate a SEV, legally, without needing to inform the council or needing to get a licence. "This is not the safest way to operate and historically our licensing committee has voted to oversee and regulate, rather than allowing such businesses to operate unlicensed and unregulated." The public has six weeks to share its views on the council's policy, which will then be in place for three years. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Strip club granted licence during Cheltenham races Women's groups speak out over strip club licence Include us in lap dancing debate, say performers Cheltenham Borough Council
