British Triathlon arranged a very special weekend camp for the junior girls, the luckily few were Sian Rainsley, Leah Peploe, Fifon Harrett and myself were going to spend time with Helen and Marc Jenkins. Helen is a 2 x world triathlon champion and came 5th at the London Olympics so I was very excited to train with her and get as much advice as possible.
We travelled Friday night to Wales and first stop was the Guest House and then we were off to Helen and mark's house, just a bit excited and nervous all rolled into one. Helen and Mark were kindly cooking us our evening meal which was also going to give us time for lots of questions. Helen chatted to us about her injuries as she has had around 3 years out due to different injuries and the reasons why she never gave up. There was always a goal to keep her motivated but her advice to us was never rush the injury and understand your body whether it is in pain from injury or in pain due to tiredness. The better you know your body and discuss problems with the coaches about the pain the quicker you can find the problem and make it better. Helen kindly shared her story about the build up and racing at the 2012 Olympics at London, very interesting.
Saturday was our first training session which was and easy 3h ride. Normally a 3h ride where I live isn't too difficult but this area in Wales where we were was a little bit hillier but this made for a good training session. We added in to the ride 2x10min efforts tempo pace, this was a great extra as I could put my legs through race pace and a valuable addition to the session. I found this very interesting as this is something that has never been suggested to me before on a steady ride, I will use this session again on my own rides.
Our second session on the Saturday was a 20m run to the pool then a 90 minute swim set. I found the pool session hard as I work at a different intensities and longer reps with shorter rest. My view on the purpose of the session was to work our front end speed for the start of a triathlon to make sure you are in the front pack for the swim and reach the first boey in clear water. I found that this was a hard session as it was at high intensity for long period of time something I don't really do at my club. At the end of the session we used a stack which is a type of a weight machine that you use in the pool this makes a resistance on you and makes it hard to swim. It was a very good exercise and made me realised that I need to work on my strength in the pool, I will suggest using this to my swimming coach.
After a hard day of training we went back to Helens and Marc's for dinner. That evening's conversation was about Helens forthcoming season. We also talked about her training and results as a junior athlete; it was useful to make our own comparison. She started triathlon at the age of 15, quite a bit later than all of the girls on the camp but as Helen came from a swimming back ground the most technique discipline she was already sufficient. We also asked if should could go back and change something what she would change and she would have worked harder on strength and conditioning and possible the results would have been less injuries. It made me realised the little things can be more important then the big sessions for example foam rollering, stretching, core this all helps you stay fit. I went back to the Guest House for bed with my brain full of information, ideas and more questions for the last day.
Sunday our first training session was a steady run for 50 minutes. This was great as we could see the type of surroundings Helen trains in and she also explained the type of runs sessions she does and why she likes to run on different terrain to make it more interesting. The next session was in the gym, Helen felt this was a important part of development. It was our turn to show Helen part of our training with our strength and conditions exercises, all of us agreeing on the importance of them, Helen added that she also does them in front of the TV which is one of the habits I have. At lunch we talked about university life as all of us girls are at the stage of our education were we may need to think about it as an option for our future. Helen and marc both didn't go to university and they talked about why and told us about other ways to train and compete in our sport at elite level. I have not got a set goal at the moment so this advice was very helpful and something I was keen to share with my parents. After a hard weekend of training we finished the weekend in Helen and marcs hot tub which was so cool and a great way to finish the camp.
I would just like to thank Helen and marc for entertaining us in their home and a brilliant training weekend and sharing their triathlon experiences. I would also like to thank British triathlon for arranging the trip for us.


Research has shown that the most successful companies are those whose employees are aligned with the company values. Reinsurance company Swiss Re approached Team Building Asia to design a workshop to enable their staff in Asia to align to the company values in relation to the working practices of the Asia offices.
The Values Platform was held for a two hour session as part of a three day "Press Play" conference at Mandarin Oriental Singapore. All participants were given a set of Value Statements, which were expanded accounts of their existing values and through facilitation were asked whether they agree or disagree with the statement and why. This enabled participants to explore the statements in detail and to align them in terms of their self perception, team preferences and the organisation's goals.
Through the discussions the self perceptions could be aligned with wider team responses, which in turn gave a strong buy-in to a shared team working style, which in turn supported the needs of the organisation.
The alignment was further achieved through a Diamond 9 exercise, where teams edited the Values Statements to create a set of Values, which were ranked accordingly. These ranked values were taken from all teams to create a final set of shared set of values, which all teams were in agreement with.
This enabled all employees to truly be a part of the direction of the company and challenged everyone to fully understand what the company will achieve through its values.
Create, revise or reinvent your organisation's Mission, Vision and Values in this innovative workshop for self, team and organisational alignment.


Valentine's Day is just around the corner and love is in the air! So to celebrate, I decided to record one of my all time favourite songs, Can't Help Falling in Love. Thanks to Sam Rommer for adding some awesome bass, Pete Woodroffe for recording & producing the track and Brian Cadge for filming it.
Here's the video, hope you like it, please share!
Oh, and look out for my Valentine's competition that I'll be launching later this week with a couple of very special prizes!


When my husband and I moved into our new house a couple years ago, we took a big risk. Our tiny neighborhood of ten lots was brand new (a developer had purchased one huge lot and subdivided it into a neighborhood of ten lots). Only four houses were built at the time, and there were no residents yet. We loved the house. And we loved the idea of a small, cozy neighborhood on a quiet cul-de-sac.
But we had some concerns. What if all our neighbors turned out to be assholes? What if they were grumpy old curmudgeons who insisted on bickering constantly over boundary lines? What if we hated them all?
In the end, we took a leap of faith and bought the house. And, now that all ten houses have been built and occupied, we realize that we got very lucky. We know and like all of our neighbors (in fact, several neighbors have become really good friends). We have annual neighborhood block parties and progressive dinner parties. We go to brunch and lunch and yoga together. We have a happy little community plucked from a bygone era. And we love it.
Ove glares out the window. The poser is jogging. Not that Ove is provoked by jogging. Not at all. Ove couldn't give a damn about people jogging. What he can't understand is why they have to make such a big thing of it. With those smug smiles on their faces, as if they were out there curing pulmonary emphysema. Either they walk fast or they run slowly, that's what joggers do. It's a forty-year-old man's way of telling the world that he can't do anything right. Is it really necessary to dress up as a fourteen-year-old Romanian gymnast in order to be able to do it? Or the Olympic tobogganing team? Just because one shuffles aimlessly around the block for three quarters of an hour?
Even smiles can set him off ("The husband just nods back at her with an indescribably harmonious smile. The very sort of smile that makes decent folk want to slap Buddhist monks in the face.").
But, when you get right down to it, Ove has many reasons to be grumpy. His wife, Sonja, the one person he loved in the world, died six months ago. And now he's been forced into early retirement. He feels lonely and purposeless and unhappy. So, he decides to take matters into his own hands . . . and kill himself.
Unfortunately, his plans are repeatedly thwarted by his God-awful neighbors. A new family (which consists of the Lanky One, the foreign Pregnant One, a seven-year-old introvert, and a three-year-old "flapping speech defect") moves into one of the neighboring houses and inserts themselves into Ove's life, demanding his aid and attention at every turn. And, to make matters worse, an ugly Cat Annoyance has showed up in the snow outside Ove's shed, requiring food and warmth. Things are not going as Ove intended.
This book is cutesy and utterly predictable. Each chapter is entitled "A Man Called Ove . . ." or "A Man Who Was Ove . . ." (for example, "A Man Called Ove Drills a Hole for a Hook," and "A Man Who Was Ove and a Woman on a Train"). And, as you would expect, it follows the evolution of the man named Ove. It shows how he got to be the way he is, how he is more complex than his curmudgeonly façade, and how his hard exterior shell can be cracked. It reads quickly (lots of short chapters, lots of silly little adventures), is laugh-out-loud funny in places, and is shed-actual-tears touching in others (I had tears streaming down my face at the end. I blame pregnancy hormones).
It is not particularly deep or thought-provoking, but it is sweet, it has a lovely message, and it will make you smile. It will also make you want to read his new book, released a couple weeks ago, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry. The review for that book is coming up next!
Who should read it: Mom (i.e., people who love a sweet, cutesy book), my Park Overlook neighbors (i.e., people who appreciate great neighbors and happy communities).
This entry was posted in Rating: 3.5/5 and tagged A Man Called Ove, Book review, Book Reviews, Books, Fredrik Backman. Bookmark the permalink.
I loved this little book! I'm looking forward to reading the follow up but I already know that there's no way it can live up to my love for the original.
Also, your neighbourhood sounds amazing!
Your instincts are correct–his new book is not as good as this one. That said, it is still cute, enjoyable, and worth reading. I'll post my review on Monday or Tuesday!
It is amazing! We are very lucky!!
Sounds good–I need a book for the plane!
This would be a perfect plane book for you! You should download it immediately.


Daddi Bahmani Signature is a singular product that faithfully represents the musician's personality. A well-structured look, open and long sounds, playable laterals, powerful bass, X-ergonomic lateral sides. Not only the sound but also the beauty is irrefutable.
• Cover: Special handmade multilayer made of a natural woods mixture.
Prachtig en een zeer mooi geluid.


text:
Mubadala's history is anchored on the vision and legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who championed the establishment of a progressive governmental structure and channeled the UAE's newfound oil resources - struck in the 1950s - towards the creation of critical infrastructure to support healthcare, manufacturing and education for generations to come.
Established in 1984, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) was created to advance Abu Dhabi's natural petroleum wealth for the development of the emirate. Mubadala Development Company followed in 2002 to further diversify the economy. Both swiftly flourished into active worldwide investors across multiple sectors.
Mubadala Investment Company was created in 2017 through the merger of IPIC and Mubadala Development Company, resulting in the creation of a future-focused global investment company of significant scale and prominence for Abu Dhabi.
In 2018, the Abu Dhabi Investment Council became part of Mubadala, doubling the value of the group with its globally diversified portfolio. This move distinguishes Mubadala as the clear Number 2 Sovereign Wealth Fund in Abu Dhabi and third in the UAE.
Today, Mubadala Investment Company operates across a diverse portfolio spanning more than 50 countries globally, continuing the vision of our founding father.
Mubadala Investment Company was established to realize the vision of the founding father of the United Arab Emirates- the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Central to this is the growth and continued diversification of the economy, which lays the foundation of a thriving nation.
About Mubadala
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi
Mahmood Ebraheem Al Mahmood
Abdulhamid Mohammed Saeed
Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak
H.E. Eng. Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei
Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi
Homaid Al Shimmari
Ahmed Saeed Al Calily
Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi
Musabbeh Al Kaabi
Khaled Abdulla Al Qubaisi
Hani Barhoush
Samer Halawa
Carlos Obeid
Saeed Al Mazrouei
UAE Investments
Disruptive Investments
Real Estate & Infrastructure Investments
About Abu Dhabi
Our contribution to a diversified economy
2020Apr
Mubadala Investment Company completed the sale of 42.9% stake in Medgaz pipeline, to Naturgy and Sonatrach in a deal worth approx. AED 2.2 billion (575 million Euros).
2020Mar
Mubadala committed US $100 million to BlackRock's Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Fund III. BlackRock is one of the world's largest asset managers, with an accomplished track record of investing across the energy infrastructure value chain.
Mubadala Investment Company sold a 39% stake in Borealis, one of Europe's leading petrochemical companies, to OMV. The USD $4.68 billion transaction is the biggest acquisition in OMV's history and the largest single transaction ever for Mubadala.
In one of the first privatizations in the conventional power sector in the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mubadala has signed an agreement for the Talimarjan Power Complex with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and JSC Thermal Power Plants. The agreement establishes a roadmap for the future implementation of the transaction that will include the acquisition, development, financing and operation of the Talimarjan Power Complex.
Masdar and Saudi Arabia's Acwa Power signed agreements with Azerbaijan's Ministry of Energy to develop, build and operate a 200-megawatt solar PV project located 75 kilometers southwest of the capital, Baku.
2019Dec
EGA completes its historic project to export its home-grown technology to Aluminium Bahrain after becoming the first UAE industrial company to license its technology internationally in 2016.
2019Nov
Sanad Capital, the aerospace asset leasing and financial solutions company, has completed delivery of its 12th engine to Etihad Airways. The delivery marks the final tranche of a USD $280 million, 12-engine deal signed between the two Abu Dhabi aerospace companies in 2016.
Mubadala Aerospace merges aero maintenance and capital businesses; Sanad Aerotech, Sanad Powertech and Sanad Capital combine to create 'new industrial champion'
Masdar signs JDA for the development of up to 400MW of solar projects in Armenia. The investment adds between US$300 million and US$320 million into the Armenian economy.
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside the oil and gas sector singed a long-term agreement with The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), to supply EGA with the majority of the calcined petroleum coke produced by its new Carbon Black and Delayed Coker (CBDC) facility in Ruwais. Calcined petroleum coke is used in the aluminium smelting process. EGA will now source up to 40% of its calcined coke from within the UAE, reducing its logistics costs and reliance on imports.
2019Oct
Mubadala in collaboration with the Human Resources Authority (HRA) and Zayed Higher Organization (ZHO) held a ceremony in recognition of the 760 Emiratis, including 12 People of Determination, to join 15 of our UAE-based portfolio of companies.
Mubadala purchased USD $50 million of NextDecade's Corporation common stock in a private placement, further strengthening NextDecade's capital position as the company continues to develop its Rio Grande LNG project, the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export solution linking Permian Basin associated gas to the global LNG market.
Mubadala partners with AMERRA Capital Management LLC to support the acquisition by Andromeda Seafood Group of majority stakes in two European fish farming companies: Nireus SA and Selonda SA. The integrated business will be Europe's leading producer of farmed Sea Bass and Sea Bream.
Mubadala Investment Company completed the sale of a minority stake in Cepsa, Europe's fourth largest industrial company by revenue in Spain. Following the transaction, Carlyle holds a 38.5% interest and Mubadala remains the majority shareholder in Cepsa, holding the remaining 61.5%.
2019Aug
EGA starts the first bauxite exports from its $1.4bn Guinea Alumina Corporation mining project. This marks the completion of EGA's strategic expansion upstream in the aluminium value chain to create an integrated global aluminium giant.
2019Jul
In support of the UAE's efforts for Sustainable Partnerships and Sustainable Investments, Mubadala participated in the UAE's official delegation, which celebrated 35 years of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and the People's Republic of China.
2019Jun
Sanad Aerotech announced the company's biggest deal to triple the number of Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines serviced annually and increase its workforce by 42%. The USD 6.5 billion (AED 23 billion) deal over nine years will see Sanad Aerotech provide complete overhaul services for Trent 700 to operators globally.
Mubadala invests alongside GHO Capital in Sterling Pharma Solutions. Sterling is a UK-based contract development & manufacturing organization whose customers include large pharma and biotech players. The investment supports Sterling's drive into international markets.
2019May
Mubadala acquires 2% of Enagás, Spain's leading natural gas transmission company and a global leader in operating LNG regasification terminals.
Mubadala Aerospace's Turbine Services & Solutions (TS&S), the leading Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider for aircraft engines, gas turbines and driven equipment, has unveiled a new identity for its MRO business.
Yahsat and Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation entered into a joint venture to provide commercial Ka-band satellite broadband services in Brazil.
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank merged with Union National Bank, and the combined entity acquired Al Hilal Bank as its Sharia-compliant lending unit, creating one of the biggest retail-banking powerhouses in the UAE.
EGA starts up its US 3.3 billion Al Taweelah alumina refinery, which expands EGA's presence upstream in the aluminium value chain. As the UAE's first alumina refinery, it heralds a new industrial activity for the nation.
Abu Dhabi Global Market, becomes home to a newly established US $1 billion fund, Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners.
The Fund seeks to realize commercial returns by partnering with top tier and up-and-coming investment firms and industry-leading businesses and professionals who will benefit from building a meaningful and sustainable presence in Abu Dhabi.
EGA, Mubadala and Dubal came together to setup new AED 1 billion state-of-the-art power block in Dubai with the aim to save costs and reducing environmental emissions.
EGA, Mubadala and Dubal collaborate on a new AED 1 billion state-of-the-art power block at the Jebel Ali smelter that will increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental emissions.
Masdar received the prestigious Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (DAST) in the Mobility Management category for its initiatives to promote walking and cycling at Masdar City.
Mubadala invests US $130 million in Equinox Gold.
The proceeds will be dedicated to refinance a portion of its existing corporate and project debt, for general and working capital purposes and toward construction of Phase 1 of its Castle Mountain gold mine in California.
Abu Dhabi invests over AED 1bn to drive tech transformation through Hub71.
As an active investor, Mubadala has a strong track record of deploying capital and building partnerships in the tech sector all over the world.
Hub71 provides a platform for us to bring together our global networks, investment experience and strategic expertise so that early and growing tech companies who are ready to scale up, can do so successfully within this region.
2019Feb
Mubadala Petroleum, a portfolio company of Mubadala, signs a Public Shared Contract with PTTEP Energy Development Company Limited to hold a 40% participating interest in Thailand's Erawan gas field when the current concession ends in 2022.
OMV to establish a Refining and Trade Hub in Abu Dhabi.
Virgin Galactic makes space for second time in ten weeks with three on board.
ADCB, Union National Bank and Al Hilal Bank announced merger plans to create a powerful UAE banking group.
Amana Healthcare acquisition brings long-term care to the Gulf, providing long-term care, specialized rehabilitation, and home healthcare services.
Cepsa & ADNOC awarded first contract for the development of the world-scale LAB project in Ruwais Derivatives Park.
Yahsat successfully launches high-speed satellite broadband services in Brazil.
Virgin Galactic reached space successfully on its first spaceflight crewed vehicle built for commercial and passenger service with two astronaut pilots onboard.
Masdar, in partnership with Manchester University will be inaugurating the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), or what is known as the Masdar Building. Masdar, is the principal funder of the purpose-built research Centre at the University of Manchester in England aimed at marketing products and technologies made from a "wonder material" known as graphene.
Through a long term partnership between Injazat and the Ministry of Interior, Hassantuk Alarm Transmission Equipment (ARC) was inaugurated providing state-of-the-art Alarm Transmission Equipment connected to building fire and life safety systems ensuring that any emergency or building maintenance alarms are transmitted within milliseconds.
Mubadala Utilities and the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) signed a Joint Development Agreement and formed a consortium to co-develop Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plants in the Northern Emirates.
The objective of the collaboration is to meet the growing water demand in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through utilizing an efficient water generation system.
2018Sep
Mubadala Petroleum enters the Russian market through a joint venture with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the sovereign wealth fund of Russia, and Gazprom Neft aimed to develop oil fields in Tomsk and Omsk regions of Western Siberia.
The project marks Mubadala Petroleum's first investment in the Russian oil and gas sector.
Mubadala opens an office in San Francisco, its first office in the U.S. for its Venture Capital business overseeing early growth investments and managing the SoftBank Vision Fund investments.
Mubadala invested in Outset Medical, a Silicon Valley-based medtech company delivering first-of-its-kind technology into the growing US $15 billion global dialysis market.
Yahsat completed the acquisition of the UAE's first home grown satellite operator, Thuraya, set to significantly expand Yahsat's current satellite solutions portfolio on both commercial and government fronts.
Mubadala, through its assets companies, is playing an active role in eliminating pollution caused by plastics and supporting various environmental causes, with Borealis playing a pivotal role.
For over a decade, the Borealis Social Fund has contributed to various United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDG) to support and action various social and environmental causes, such as Project STOP.
Multidisciplinary teams of surgeons at Cleveland Clinic
Abu Dhabi performed multiple transplant surgeries from a deceased donor on the same day, including the UAE's first double-lung transplant.
Mubadala together with AMEERA Capital Management LLC – the current owners of Andromeda Group - agreed to acquire majority stakes in two European fish farming companies: Nireus SA and Selonda SA.
The agribusiness sector is strategically important to the global economy and has significant potential for value capture. Aquaculture is one of the most promising sub-sectors, where the deployment of new technologies can drive productivity improvements and accelerate growth.
Mubadala Ventures will manage a US $400 million fund to invest in leading European technology companies. In partnership with SoftBank Group, the fund will target founder-led, high growth technology companies with global scale and impact. The fund will work closely with early-stage UK and other European funds.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi performed three transplant surgeries from a deceased donor on the same day, including the UAE's first double-lung transplant. Cleveland Clinic
Abu Dhabi continues its progress as the UAE's first and only multi-organ transplant center, working in partnership with other organizations to help improve the health of the community.
Mubadala Petroleum signed an agreement to enter the Egyptian market by acquiring an interest in the Shorouk Concession that encompasses the giant Zohr gas field in the Mediterranean Sea ― the largest gas discovery ever made in the Mediterranean.
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), received its first shipment of bauxite ore in preparation for the commissioning of its under-construction Al Taweelah alumina refinery. The 61,450 ton shipment of bauxite sailed to the UAE from the Republic of Guinea in West Africa in 33 days.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, the sovereign wealth fund of Russia) and Mubadala Petroleum, the UAE-based leading oil and gas exploration and production company, announced the creation of a joint venture with PJSC Gazprom Neft to develop several oil fields in the Tomsk and Omsk regions. This project is Mubadala Petroleum's first investment in the Russian oil and gas sector.
Novealis Holdings LLC -- a joint venture between Borealis and NOVA Chemicals -- has entered a 50/50 JV with Total, to create Bayport Polymers LLC ("Bay-Pol).
The JV will encompass Total's existing Bayport, Texas polyethylene facility, a new Borstar® technology polyethylene unit at Total's Bayport site, and the ethane steam cracker that is under-construction at Total's site in Port Arthur, Texas.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed a project development agreement with Cepsa for a new, world-scale Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB) facility in ADNOC's refining and petrochemicals complex in Ruwais, UAE.
Mubadala Investment Company together with its partners in China committed US $1 billion towards 10 opportunities as part of the US $10bn joint investment plan between
Abu Dhabi and Beijing in line with the emirate's plans to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons sector.
Investcorp invested in four rental apartment communities and a student-housing complex for US $286 million. It also invested in four industrial portfolios comprising of 2.7 million sq. ft. and over 40 buildings in a deal worth US $206 million. Mubadala is the largest shareholder with a 20 percent stake in Investcorp, a Bahrain-based alternative investment company.
Mubadala sold its 60 percent stake in EMI Music Publishing to Sony for US $4.75 billion. EMI Music Publishing owns or administers over two million songs. The sale represents a milestone for our private equity business and provided liquidity for reinvestment.
Injazat and MDC Business Management Services launch a strategic partnership to build a Hybrid Cloud Platform in Abu Dhabi for the Mubadala Group of Companies. The platform will align to the principle of in-country data sovereignty and will facilitate the expansion of the shared services offering helping to attract global partnerships with key international IT vendors of futuristic technologies like block chain, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality and other capabilities of digitization.
Cepsa started production at the Timimoun natural gas field in Algeria, marking the company's first start-up of a natural gas field. The industry partners involved are Sonatrach and Total.
Cepsa with multiple industry partners, won three hydrocarbon exploration and production blocks in shallow-water areas in the Tampico-Misantla basin in the Gulf of Mexico; one of the largest hydrocarbon producing areas in Mexico, signifying the company's first entry into the country.
At the Global Aerospace Summit, Strata announced its first contracted statement of work for the 777X program, enabling the company to expand its role as a direct composite aero structures supplier to Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Mubadala signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Greece's new economy development fund – Taneo – a fund of funds investing in Greek venture capital funds to create a EUR 400 million co-investment platform.
Mubadala signed an MoU with the South Korean Semiconductor Association to expand commercial ties between the two entities. The partnership will promote the development of business opportunities as well as further knowledge transfer and collaboration on investment and market competitiveness.
Masdar reached a collaborative agreement with Khazna for a new project that will increase solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment in Abu Dhabi. It is incorporating innovative solar PV at its data center facilities at Masdar City.
Abu Dhabi Investment Council became part of the Mubadala Group following an announcement issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
It follows a number of Abu Dhabi initiatives to further enhance the Emirate's competitiveness, creating an investment vehicle of significant scale to drive greater economic diversification and growth.
Mubadala Petroleum signed a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for Andaman I, awarded by the Government of Indonesia. The PSCs have the potential to unlock a new material gas play for domestic consumption in North Sumatra and indeed long-term export to regional markets.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed an agreement with Cepsa, awarding it a 20 percent stake in Abu Dhabi's offshore concession. This concession agreement marks an important moment for Cepsa and our close relationship with ADNOC, with whom we are working with on a number of projects in the upstream, downstream and petrochemical sectors.
Turbine Services & Solutions – the leading MRO service provider – will collaborate with Honeywell on a regional first. The two companies have joined forces to introduce Honeywell's Maintenance and Inspection (M&I) voice system into TS&S' operations in Abu Dhabi.
A US $50 million grant backed by several UAE entities, including Masdar, is set to provide power to several Caribbean nations sustainably. Now in its second phase, the UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund (UAE- CREF) represents the largest current investment in the region's renewable energy sector, and will result in clean energy development in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, St. Kitts & Nevis and St. Lucia.
Yahsat launched Al Yah 3 – its third satellite - and expanded its k-band coverage to an additional 19 markets in Africa and marks the company's entry into the Brazilian market.
Masdar has agreed to deliver over 800 MW of wind power in Egypt alongside Elsewedy Electric and Marubeni Corporation. In a first-time partnership, the entities will collaborate to build on existing renewable energy capacity in Egypt.
Masdar signed a share purchase agreement (SPA) with Akuo Energy ― a leading French IPP in renewable energy ― to enter into the Krnovo Wind Farm, Montenegro's first wind energy project. Masdar will acquire 49 percent of Krnovo Green Energy, a subsidiary of Akuo Energy and Montenegro-based LLC, that owns the 72-megawatt (MW) onshore wind farm.
Comprising 26 GE wind turbines, the Krnovo wind farm is powering approximately 45,000 households. It also displaces an estimated 80,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.
Mubadala signed a MoU with the UAE Ministry of Health & Prevention, to explore cooperation across eight key healthcare pillars including support in establishing new centers for diabetes, cancer care and screening services as well as collaboration on neurosurgery, laboratory examinations for new medications entering the UAE, and bio-banking and genomics.
Cepsa and Masdar signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore renewable energy projects, with a special focus on wind and solar.
Mubadala made its first strategic investment in Lonza – the global market leader in advanced biologics manufacturing. This investment positions Mubadala at the cutting-edge pharma and medtech.
Yahsat is currently manufacturing its third satellite, Al Yah 3, planned for launch in 2017. Al Yah 3 will extend its commercial Ka-band coverage across an additional 19 markets, including several in Africa, where it will reach more than 60% of the population. Al Yah 3 will also support Yahsat's first entry into Brazil, where it will cover more than 95% of the population.
Mubadala Investment Company was officially launched following the merger of Mubadala Development Company and International Petroleum Investment Company. The new company has around US $125bn (AED 459bn) in total assets, and was formed following a royal decree by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, who issued a law to create one of the largest state-owned investment funds in the world.
US $15 billion commitment by Mubadala to the US $100 billion SoftBank Vision Fund, a major technology and innovation-focused vehicle which will enable us to gain further exposure in the technology sector.
Cepsa and ADNOC signed a project development agreement for the world-scale Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) facility in Ruwais, Abu Dhabi.
Cepsa obtained 5 EPDs for its products making it the world leader in the LAB sector. Annually Cepsa produces 600,000 tons of LAB, the main raw material used to make biodegradable detergents.
EGA produced a record 2.6 million tons of cast metal in 2017, exceeding 2016's production and making EGA the third largest producer of primary aluminum outside China.
Mubadala completed the sale of a 40% stake in Tabreed to ENGIE, a worldwide energy leader for AED 2.8 billion. Mubadala remains the largest shareholder of the Abu Dhabi based district cooling utility company.
Imperial College London Diabetes Centre's new Zayed Sports City branch records 13,000+ parient visits for H1 2017.
Mubadala sold 85 million shares worth 4.18 billion dirhams (US $1.139 billion) in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). Mubadala remains the largest shareholder.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Healthpoint performed the first pediatric glaucoma procedure in Abu Dhabi, marking the beginning of a new era in ophthalmologic healthcare for the children of the nation.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES expanded its global manufacturing footprint by further investing in the US, Germany, Singapore and expanding to Chengdu, China.
Masdar inaugurated its third wind farm in the UK ― the Dudgeon Offshore Windfarm ― bringing the combined power generating capacity of all three projects to 1 gigawatt (GW) of clean energy, supplying nearly 1 million homes.
Mubadala sponsored the Rio Open, that takes place in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil annually and is South America's largest tennis tournament as well as the first ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Brazilian history. This qualifies Rio Open as Rio's largest annual sporting event and one of the few ATP 500 clay court tournaments in the world.
Strata and Solvay signed agreement for UAE's first aerospace materials Joint Venture to supply Boeing 777X with advanced composite materials
40 GE GEnx engines repaired and overhauled by Turbine Services & Solutions for regional and global airline customers.
Turbine Services Solutions announced the delivery of the first full-life 50,000 hour overhaul service on a Siemens Industrial Trent gas (SGT-A65TR) turbine at ADPIC 2017.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES ramped up its most technologically advanced facility at Malta, upstate New York, delivering 14nm technology to some of the largest fabless players in the industry at best-in-class product yields.
Strata Manufacturing delivered inboard flaps to Airbus. Strata Manufacturing completed the delivery of its first set of A350-900 inboard flaps to Airbus.
EGA opened its first office in China and continues to make progress on its 12-million-ton bauxite export mine in Guinea.
Nova Chemicals announced the acquisition of the largest petrochemicals facilities in the United States, the Geismar, Louisiana olefins plant for AED 7.7 billion (US $2.1 billion), marking a major entry into the US market.
Mubadala Petroleum received approval for the development of the CRD oil and gas field offshore Vietnam, which will be operated by Repsol.
Nova Chemicals formed a US $1.5 billion joint venture with Total and Borealis to build a 1 million metric ton per annum, ethane steam cracker in Port Arthur, Texas.
Ardian ― the French world-class private investment company ― confirmed it would commit up to AED 9.1 billion to private equity funds managed by Mubadala Capital.
Physicians at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of Mubadala's healthcare network and the region's leading heart care center, created history by successfully completing the United Arab Emirates' first full heart transplant.
Al Maryah Island officially celebrates the opening of the five-star luxury hotel, Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi, situated in a prime waterfront location. At the end of the year, the hotel provides a new focal point for celebration when Al Maryah Island welcomes 14,500 people to the biggest New Year's celebration in the capital.
A Masdar-led consortium wins the bid to develop Phase III of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park – the largest single-site strategic solar energy project of its kind in the world.
Solar Impulse 2 lands in Abu Dhabi, having circumnavigated the world without a drop of fuel – a distance of more than 40,000 kilometers. A bold and innovative undertaking supported by Masdar and Abu Dhabi, Solar Impulse promotes the use and benefits of clean technologies.
EGA launches construction of its 12 mtpa bauxite mine in Guinea.
It is announced that Mubadala will hold a US $2.2 billion stake in BP on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Government.
Strata signs a number of significant agreements at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK, including two contracts with Airbus worth $1 billion US to manufacture additional composite parts for both the Airbus A350 and A320. The company also signs a multi-year contract with Boeing to manufacture vertical fins for the 787 Dreamliner family.
Aabar Investments signs a senior, unsecured, non-guaranteed five-year facility of €3.6 billion with a lead syndicate of global banks, serving to refinance several of its pre-existing facilities. The new facility is arranged on tighter terms than previously, reflecting the company's improved credit profile and its strategic importance.
Cepsa receives an Edison Award – a prestigious international innovation accolade – for its pioneering ship loading system.
IPIC and OBIB, the Austrian state holding company, become the two core shareholders of OMV, an integrated, international oil and gas business and Austria's largest listed industrial company.
The ADCOP staff accommodation building in Fujairah, an IPIC project, receives LEED Gold Certification through the US Green Building Council for New Construction Rating System.
XOJET, a private aviation charter company within IPIC's portfolio, names Etihad Airways as its first commercial airline partner. The partnership will offer seamless connectivity to private jet and commercial passengers flying XOJET in the US, and on Etihad Airways flights worldwide. With more than 40 owned and operated Challenger and Citation jets, XOJET is the third largest private jet company in the US with a market share of over 30% for US trans-coastal private jet flights.
Borealis fully acquires two German plastics recycling companies, both considered technology leaders in the recycling of mixed post-consumer plastic waste and among Europe's largest producers of post-consumer polyolefin recyclates.
Furthering commercial and governmental ties between the UAE and Algeria, Cepsa and Borealis sign agreements to promote further development of the Algerian industrial sector. Cepsa enters into a global agreement with Algerian company Sonatrach to renew and extend Cepsa's upstream presence in the North African country, while Borealis and Asmidal sign a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly evaluate opportunities for melamine production.
For the second consecutive year, GEM receives the Maritime Safety and Security Award, recognizing the company's top-tier safety and security improvement initiatives.
Aabar Properties completes the construction of three residential projects in Abu Dhabi: The Views at Saraya (122 units), as well as The Wave (229 units) and The Kite (126 units) on Al Reem Island.
H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy, is appointed as Managing Director of IPIC.
SUMED successfully launches the first phase of the Ain Sukhna Product Hub project, which is expected to yield additional revenue of US $45 million per year and a corresponding increase in dividends, subsequent to the launch of its second phase.
Cepsa commissions its second phenol facility, to be located in China; with a capacity of 250,000 tons per annum, the new facility makes Cepsa the world's second largest producer of phenol, a chemical used in the production of engineering plastics that are in turn used in windshields, optical media, household appliances and electronics, among other everyday items.
Nova Chemicals begins using shale gas as feedstock (input) for its petroleum products, a more cost effective solution that results in significantly increased profits.
A multispecialty hospital located on Al Maryah Island, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi provides direct access to the world's best healthcare providers. It is specifically designed to address a range of complex and critical care requirements unique to the Abu Dhabi population.
Mubadala and Trafigura create a joint venture to invest in base metals, including copper and zinc. As part of the agreement, Mubadala acquires a 50% stake in Trafigura's flagship Spanish mining operation, MATSA.
Mubadala establishes Cognit, a joint venture with IBM Watson, to provide IBM's cognitive computing system, Watson, to organizations in the MENA region.
Mubadala takes ownership of Minesa, a Colombian company focused on developing a world-class gold mining operation.
The Tafila Wind Farm in Jordan, the region's first utility-scale wind power project, is inaugurated.
Al Taweelah Alumina is incorporated and the Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) board gives notice to proceed with the Al Taweelah Refinery Project, which will give EGA greater control over its supply chain and enhance the UAE's competitive position in the aluminium sector.
Production commences at the Nong Yao oil field operated by Mubadala Petroleum in the Gulf of Thailand; the additional production makes Mubadala Petroleum the second largest crude oil producer in the country.
Abu Dhabi Global Market, the capital's international financial center, officially opens for business on Al Maryah Island.
IPIC and Orascom Construction partner with the Egyptian Government to develop a 2,000-3,000 megawatt coal-fire power plant in Egypt.
Cepsa and Cosmo Energy enter into a strategic partnership to identify and develop mutually beneficial opportunities in Abu Dhabi.
QADIC makes its first investment, a commitment to Southeast Asian private equity fund, Navis Asia Partners, which allows QADIC to enter consumer and retail sectors in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia. QADIC's second investment, made the same year, is a commitment to a US mid-market focused private equity fund, CCMP Capital, based in New York.
A state-of-the-art facility with a capacity of eight million tons of liquid natural gas per annum, Oil Search's Papua New Guinea LNG facility supplies natural gas by shipping it to fast-growing Asian markets.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES completes its acquisition of IBM Microelectronics, a transaction that includes IBM's two wafer fabrication facilities, IP in the form of more than 16,000 patents, and world-class technologists. In the same year, GLOBALFOUNDRIES enters into a strategic partnership with Samsung to deliver the next generation of industry-leading semiconductor chips.
A company comprised of assets from Mubadala, Tawazun and Emirates Advanced Investment Group, Emirates Defense Industries Company (EDIC) is established to bring together the capabilities of the UAE's defense manufacturing and services into a single integrated platform.
Mubadala and Trafigura acquire a 65% stake in Porto Sudeste do Brasil, a private port terminal with the capacity to handle 50 million tons of iron ore annually.
A successful exploration and drilling campaign in Malaysia Block SK320 results in three new multi-TCF (trillion cubic feet of gas) discoveries.
OMV enhances its position in Norway through an investment in Stat Oil, a leading international energy company. The transaction increases OMV's working interest in exploration and production, as well as opening up key development opportunities.
Arabtec Holding is awarded an AED 2.4 billion contract to construct the world-class art museum, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, expected to open in 2017.
Healthpoint, an integrated practice hospital, opens its doors, offering four centers of clinical excellence and specialized services; today, the hospital treats approximately 1,200 patients each day across 21 clinical services.
Emirates Aluminium and Dubai Aluminium join to create Emirates Global Aluminium, a leading aluminium company with interests across the value chain, from bauxite mining through to alumina refining and primary aluminium smelting. The company's creation makes the UAE one of the largest primary aluminium producers in the world.
The Rosewood Hotel Abu Dhabi and The Galleria luxury shopping center on Al Maryah Island open their doors, the latest developments to attract residents and visitors to Abu Dhabi's business and lifestyle destination.
Masdar launches two groundbreaking clean energy projects. The first, Shams 1, is the largest concentrated solar power plant in operation regionally. Located in Abu Dhabi's Western Region, it produces energy for 20,000 UAE homes. The second, London Array, is the largest offshore wind farm in the world, and generates power for more than half a million homes.
Mubadala and Russian Direct Investment Fund establish a US $2 billion co-investment fund to pursue opportunities in Russia. In subsequent years, Mubadala also establishes similar sovereign investment partnerships in France and China.
Mubadala signs agreements with Airbus and Boeing which will generate over AED 16 billion (US $4.4 billion) of aerostructures manufacturing work at Strata, through to 2030. In a point of local pride, Etihad Airways begins operating aircraft with Strata-manufactured primary parts the same year.
Ruby gas field, located in Indonesia's Makassar Strait, becomes the first project in Mubadala Petroleum's international portfolio taken through the full upstream cycle, from initial exploration through to production.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES begins semiconductor production at FAB 8 in the state of New York, among the largest public-private construction projects and most advanced factories in the US.
Mubadala Petroleum is established as a world-class oil and gas exploration and production company that will contribute to the UAE's energy security and extend the nation's hydrocarbons expertise; today, it has interests in eight countries, including a number of assets in Southeast Asia.
Jointly created by Mubadala and Abu Dhabi Airport Company (ADAC), Nibras Al Ain Aerospace park is launched as a catalyst for the growth of a global aerospace cluster in Abu Dhabi; it is expected to create 10,000 jobs by 2030.
Developed and owned by IPIC, the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) is a 48-inch diameter onshore pipeline that transports 1.5 million barrels per day of crude oil – around half of the UAE's total production.
US $500 million Al Falah Growth Fund completes its first investment, providing US $50 million of growth capital for a coal-fired power plant in Kazakhstan. Its second investment, completed the same year, is the acquisition of Kazakh poultry business, Alsad; the latter's performance improves significantly thereafter, and today it generates positive earnings.
OMV's holding in Petrom, a Romanian business-to-business gas supplier, delivers solid returns; in particular, Petrom increases its capacity through the upgrade of its Petro-Brazi refinery, among the largest refineries in Eastern Europe.
Arabtec Holding is awarded a contract worth AED 10.8 billion for the construction of the Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport, expected to open in 2017.
Yahsat launches Y1A, its first satellite, providing satellite communications across 64 countries for both public and private customers. Its second satellite, launched in 2012, extends services to an additional 28 countries. Today, the company's satellites connect more than 140 countries across the Middle East, North Africa, and Central and Southwest Asia.
A new campus for Zayed University, developed by Mubadala, is inaugurated; the institution today accommodates up to 7,000 male and female students across all campuses.
IPIC increases its ownership of Cepsa, Spain's leading energy company, to 100%, in line with its focus on expanding its oil exploration and production footprint.
Through its investment in one of Malaysia's largest banks, Aabar becomes the second largest shareholder of RHB Bank. The acquisition adds to Aabar's growing portfolio of financial services investments; today, RHB Bank operates over 330 branches in ten countries.
Aabar Investments makes its initial investment in Arabtec Holding, one of the largest construction contractors in the Middle East. Over time, Aabar has continued to increase its ownership and currently holds a 36.1% stake.
Six months after opening its doors in Al Ain, Strata Manufacturing delivers its first complete aerostructures ord expanding its product portfolio with the aim of becoming a Tier One supplier of high quality component aircraft products for original equipment manufacturers.
Aabar Investments launches its real estate arm, Aabar Properties, specialized in the design, construction and handover-to-completion of residential, commercial, retail, hospitality and mixed-use projects. To date, Aabar Properties has more than 26 projects in the UAE alone.
Aabar Investments acquires an interest in one of Italy's biggest banks, UniCredit, becoming its second largest shareholder. Today, UniCredit operates a network of more than 6,200 branches in 31 countries and employs a workforce in excess of 117,000 employees.
Aabar Investments makes its initial investment in Virgin Galactic, a company focused on developing spacecraft that will provide suborbital flights to space tourists.
Mubadala leads the development of a state-of-the art new campus for UAE University, the first comprehensive national university in the country.
Operating in Papua New Guinea since 1929, Oil Search issues a five-year exchangeable bond to IPIC, to be converted at its maturity to equity in the company. Oil Search's primary asset is its 29% interest in the Papua New Guinea LNG project developed and operated by Exxon Mobil.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES, a wholly owned Mubadala business, becomes fully functional; today it is the world's first full-service semiconductor foundry with a truly global manufacturing and technology footprint.
Production commences at Emirates Aluminium's facility in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, today one of the world's largest single-site primary aluminium producers.
IPIC makes a strategic acquisition in petrochemicals company, Nova Chemicals; today, the company is ranked among North America's leading producers of plastics and chemicals, and since joining the IPIC portfolio has increased ten-fold in value.
Aabar Investments acquires the private banking business of AIG and rebrands as Falcon Private Bank, with a focus on providing wealth management solutions to high net worth clients in the Middle East and Europe.
Mubadala and GE establish a global partnership that includes R&D, clean energy, aviation, industry and corporate learning initiatives, as well as utilizes GE's global learning network.
Masdar City is established as an innovative eco-city focused on sustainable urban development. The city's nucleus is Masdar Institute, a research university dedicated to cutting-edge solutions in the fields of energy and sustainability.
Mubadala's oil and gas unit, which later becomes Mubadala Petroleum, acquires Pearl Energy from Aabar, including a portfolio of operated exploration, development and production assets in Southeast Asia.
IPIC acquires an interest in Aabar Investments PJS, an Abu Dhabi-based diversified investment company active in real estate, financial services, commodities and aerospace.
A 50/50 joint venture investment fund between IPIC and Kazakhstan entities, the US $500 million Falah Growth Fund is established to focus on mid-market investment opportunities in Kazakhstan, Russia and the CIS states across sectors such as oil and gas, power, food production, infrastructure, natural resources and real estate.
IPIC acquires a 4.1% stake in power company Energias de Portugal, a leading generator, distributer and supplier of electricity in Portugal.
Mubadala increases its stake in Advanced Micro Devices, a US-based semiconductor company that designs and integrates technologies for intelligent devices, to 19.3%.
A 50/50 joint venture between IPIC and Qatar Holdings (a subsidiary of QIA), QADIC is established in Doha as a diversified global investment company with committed capital of US $2 billion. QADIC focuses on mid-market investment opportunities across a broad range of sectors.
IPIC acquires a 20.8% stake in Cosmo Energy, Japan's largest oil refining and marketing company, which engages in crude oil exploration and production operations in the UAE and Qatar.
Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is established, the first French higher-education institution to open in the Gulf region, as well as the first international campus for one of the world's oldest and most prestigious universities.
Imperial College London Diabetes Centre opens its first Abu Dhabi facility in partnership with the UK's Imperial College London, offering the highest level of specialized care associated with diabetes. It goes on to establish two other world-class branches in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi in 2011 and 2016, respectively.
Masdar is established with a mission to develop and invest in a commercially viable new-energy sector in Abu Dhabi and around the world. Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a premier international sustainability event, is also established; the event has gathered momentum year on year, and in 2017 saw approximately 38,000 people from 175 countries attend, including thousands of industry experts.
Injazat Data Systems is founded to provide market-leading IT solutions, including data center hosting and managed services; it goes on to become the only Tier IV data center in the region.
OMV buys a 50% stake in Petrom, the largest corporation in Romania and the largest oil and gas producer in Southeast Europe, marking IPIC's first entry into the Eastern European market.
In a joint venture with Emirates National Oil Company, Oman Oil and Thales, IPIC establishes Gulf Energy Maritime, today rated among the top ten independent product/chemical tanker companies in the world.
One of the largest energy investments in the Gulf region, Dolphin Energy is established as a joint venture between Mubadala, Occidental Petroleum and Total to produce and transport gas from Qatar's North Field to the UAE and Oman. Dolphin now meets approximately 30% of the UAE's energy requirements.
Established by the Government of Abu Dhabi to advance the emirate's economic diversification, Mubadala goes on to become an active investor across multiple sectors in more than 20 countries.
In one of its first efforts to create synergies across its international portfolio, IPIC extends OMV's expertise into Pakistan through PARCO.
IPIC acquires a 64% stake in Borealis, one of the world's largest producers of polyolefin – a polymer produced from oil and natural gas. Borealis in turn creates the Abu Dhabi-based petrochemical company, Borouge, a groundbreaking joint venture with ADNOC that brings key production capabilities to the UAE.
Tabreed is established to deliver sustainable, energy-efficient and cost-effective cooling services to millions of people across the GCC. Mubadala is a long-term strategic shareholder in Tabreed.
IPIC acquires a 14.8% stake in SUMED (Arab Petroleum Pipelines Company), which owns oil pipelines that extend across Egypt from the Gulf of Suez to the Mediterranean. Approximately 80% of Arab Gulf crude oil travels via SUMED to Europe's refinement centers.
A joint venture between the Government of Pakistan (60%) and IPIC (40%), PARCO has the most modern refinery in Pakistan with a capacity of 100k barrels per day, significantly enhancing Pakistan's economic growth.
IPIC's 24.9% stake in OMV, one of Austria's largest listed companies, brings with it refining knowledge and technology, greater exposure to the hydrocarbon value chain and a platform to expand into Central and Eastern Europe.
Cepsa, one of Spain's leading integrated energy companies, is the first addition to IPIC's portfolio. Today, it is the world's largest producer of raw materials for household essentials such as detergents and personal care products, with 11,000 employees across eight countries.
The International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) is established by the UAE's founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to advance the vision of using Abu Dhabi's natural petroleum wealth to build a modern, diversified economy. IPIC goes on to create a portfolio of investments in 18 leading companies spanning 30 countries worldwide.
How does a global investment company measure progress?
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Hey everyone! Welcome to my blog! I'm really excited to begin this journey. My intention is to use this space to discuss anything related to nutrition and fitness, but most specifically to eating whole foods for optimal performance, and of course, training with kettlebells. So keep an eye out for a new posts.
So here I am, with the start of my new blog. A quick introduction, in case you don't already know: I'm a registered Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Sports Nutrition Advisor. I'm also a Personal Trainer and Certified Kettlebell Instructor. I've owned KB Strength & Wellness for a little over a year now, and will soon be doing this full time! After 14 years at Healthyway Natural Foods, I am stepping away to pursue my dreams of nutrition consulting, kettlebell training, writing, lecturing, and just generally being awesome!
So thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks so much for your support.


SBE's award-winning SLS Hotels brand has become synonymous with timeless elegance, intrigue and a heightened guest experience. With the unveiling of the SLS Hotel South Beach, the highly-anticipated encore to the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, SBE ushers in Philippe Starck's long-awaited return to South Beach.
SBE's award-winning SLS Hotels brand has become synonymous with timeless elegance, intrigue and a heightened guest experience. With the unveiling of the SLS Hotel South Beach, the highly-anticipated encore to the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, SBE ushers in Philippe Starck's long-awaited return to South Beach.
Unless notified prior to, or at check-in, $100 (subject to change) penalty will apply to departures that occur earlier than the date specified on the original reservation.


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It's engagement season: Study says more millennials are asking for donations to fund their weddings
Data suggests millennial couples are asking for help to pay for their big day.
by: Stephanie Metzger
Posted: Jan 2, 2020 / 09:11 AM CST / Updated: Jan 2, 2020 / 09:27 AM CST
There's a good chance you know someone who put a ring on it over the last few weeks.
The December holidays are a popular time for engagements, as many people are surrounded by friends and family.
But holiday engagements aren't the only marriage trend. A new study suggests a rise in the number of young couples who ask for financial help when paying for their weddings.
The study, conducted by jewelry designer Jean Dousset, surveyed 1,850 newlywed couples on how they handled their big day.
According to the survey data, 15% of couples asked for donations to their wedding fund, while one in five couples asked for donations to a honeymoon fund. On the other end, 30% of wedding guests donated to wedding or honeymoon funds when asked.
The data also suggested a dip in tradition. Past generations usually turned to the bride's family to fund the wedding, but this survey data found that less than 20% of the weddings were paid for exclusively by the bride's family.
Instead, couples seem to being "going Dutch" on their big day, as nearly half said they paid for their wedding ceremony and reception themselves, and split the costs evenly.
According to The Knot, the national average cost of a wedding is about $34,000.
When it comes to common wedding traditions, the couples surveyed still adhered to some old trends. Seventy-one percent said they had a wedding cake and 62% of brides said they wore a white dress. Receiving lines and assigned or divided seating seem to be on the way out as popular trends, as just 16% of couples said they had a receiving line and 19% had assigned seating.
Click here to see the full set of data.
by Christopher Buchanan / Jan 18, 2020
ATLANTA — Atlanta Police confirm an officer-involved shooting at Lenox Square in Buckhead.
Details surrounding the incident are still limited however police did confirm that the incident escalated into an officer-involved shooting.
DES MOINES -- Due to the winter storms that rolled through Iowa on Friday accompanied by frigid temperatures and harsh winds on Saturday, 20 churches around the state have called in to WOI to help get the word out about canceled Sunday services for January 19.
Here is a list of those churches:


Mage Wam Atha (My left hand) A Seli Films production, directed by Linton Semage has been selected for the 55th International Film Festival in Locano, Switzerland. The 35 mm, colour film of 90 minute duration with English sub-titles will be screened at the festival under the title "Pickpocket". This is the first time that a Sinhala film from Sri Lanka has been selected to one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.
Semage told that his second film " Mage Wam Atha" based on a script by Piyankara Ratnayake was screened at the Kerala film festival. "I am grateful to the Asian Film Centre for making it possible to attend the festival. I must also say that I am very thankful to the National Film Corporation for providing me financial assistance to produce this film".
He further said that second copy of this film was be screened simultaneously in Sine Manila festival, an attended the Fukuoka Film festival, Japan from September 13 to 23, in Calgery, Canada in October, in Oslo in November.


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Home/SpongeBob Squarepants Movie Bubbles Up Next Week
SpongeBob Squarepants Movie Bubbles Up Next Week
Eric Olsen November 9, 2004	1 Comment 55 Views
(click pic for four, count 'em four, trailers)
The Bob is coming NEXT WEEK. Yes, the SpongeBob Squarepants Movie opens November 19 and the spigots of publicity are fully open. Even reclusive marine biologist-turned-animator Stephen Hillenburg is talking, at least to the NY Times.
The cool, indie-rocking movie soundtrack is already out, the sweepstakes is on (grand prize: a $50,000 caravan to the Cayman Islands), and the product tie-ins are many and various.
According to the Times, the story is a bit more linear than a typical SpongeBob cartoon:
Something nefarious is afloat in the depths of Bikini Bottom: King Neptune's crown has been stolen, and the prime suspect is Mr. Krabs, proprietor of Mr. Krabs Krabby Patties. Despite evidence to the contrary — not to mention having been turned down for a long-awaited promotion at the restaurant — SpongeBob (voice of Tom Kenny) refuses to believe that his boss is responsible and teams up with his best friend, Patrick (voice of Bill Fagerbakke), on a mission to Shell City, where he hopes he can exonerate Mr. Krabs and return the crown to its rightful owner in the process. Of course, this is no easy task; once outside the relative safety of Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob is faced with the overwhelming dangers of the sea, not the least of which being Plankton and a scheming bottom-dweller hell-bent on oceanic domination. Among those who lent their vocal chords to the film include Scarlett Johansson, Jeffrey Tambor, and Alec Baldwin
Grand, epic, herculean!
David Edelstein ponders the ramifications and speaks with Hillenburg:
ELEVEN minutes: such a piquant unit of time. Shortish, but plenty long enough for SpongeBob SquarePants to bound out of his undersea bed; feed his pet snail, Gary; leave his pineapple house in Bikini Bottom; bid a cheery good morning to his imbecile buddy, Patrick the starfish, emerging from under his rock; and make happy tracks to the Krusty Krab, a fast-food restaurant where SpongeBob loves loves loves serving trademark Krabby Patties, even if the avaricious owner crab and killjoy squid co-worker find his happy-go-lucky enthusiasm for minimum-wage drudgery bizarre and annoying.
….Those 11-minute episodes of Hawaiian-slacker whimsy, set against flower-cloud backdrops inspired by Polynesian fabrics and punctuated by ukulele music and SpongeBob's dolphin-on-a-sugar-high chortle, have made Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob SquarePants" a phenomenon not only with little kids, but also with big kids, college students, stoners, gays – pretty much everyone who walks on land or shells out, so to speak, for the tie-in merchandise.
Seventy-five minutes: That's the unit Mr. Hillenburg and his fellow SpongeBobians have been wrestling with for the last two years making "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie"
…."To do a 75-minute movie about SpongeBob wanting to make some jellyfish jelly would be a mistake, I think," he said, taking a break from his post-production labors here, where he is also working on the fourth season of the television series. "This had to be SpongeBob in a great adventure. That's where the comedy's coming from, having these two naïve characters, SpongeBob and Patrick, a doofus and an idiot, on this incredibly dangerous heroic odyssey with all the odds against them."
….[Hillenburg] looks more like a surfer dude. He has a compact, muscular frame, perfect for long boards, and he'd like to hit the waves again, actually, when the movie is finished and he can take a short break. Described by colleagues as a perfectionist workaholic, Mr. Hillenburg has coped with the explosion of SpongeBob mania by doing his best to wall himself off from it.
….Mr. Hillenburg even resisted pressure from Nickelodeon and Paramount to make a SpongeBob movie, saying no for more than a year until it hit him – while watching "The Iron Giant" and "Toy Story" with his son – that it would be a challenge to give SpongeBob and Patrick something more cinematically consequential and inspiring to do, as long as it could be done without losing what he calls the SpongeBob "cadence."
Scientist-surfer Hillenburg has problems with fast food tie-ins:
Mr. Hillenburg said, evenly: "Yeah, well, my take on that is that we shouldn't do that. In the show, the whole point of the fast food – the fact that SpongeBob loves being part of the fast-food chain, and that being a manager is his ultimate dream: it's ironic. It's something that most people don't think is a great thing to try to achieve. And we didn't want to suddenly become the people serving up food that's not that good for you – especially kids. We work with Burger King, and they make toys and watches. But to actually take the step of pushing the food, that's crossing the line. I don't want to be the Pied Piper of fast food."
….To understand "it," you have to know what "SpongeBob" means to Mr. Hillenburg: "The show is about watching an innocent character in this world that he lives in. And the movie is about embracing innocence. It's saying that the childlike mind is O.K. It's saying that dorks can be really important."
At least animated ones – let the guileless triumph and may all your Bikinis find their Bottoms!
Tags Animation Video
About Eric Olsen
Career media professional and serial entrepreneur Eric Olsen flung himself into the paranormal world in 2012, creating the America's Most Haunted brand and co-authoring the award-winning America's Most Haunted book, published by Berkley/Penguin in Sept, 2014. Olsen is co-host of the nationally syndicated broadcast and Internet radio talk show After Hours AM; his entertaining and informative America's Most Haunted website and social media outlets are must-reads: [email protected], Facebook.com/amhaunted, Pinterest America's Most Haunted. Olsen is also guitarist/singer for popular and wildly eclectic Cleveland cover band The Props.
@amhaunted
Music Review: 'Fuck These Fuckin' Fascists' The Muslims
Listen to 'Fuck These Fuckin' Fascists' by The Muslims and join the good fight while enjoying some great music and righteous anger.


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Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/ac75fd9775ed42f4b650829cd1c76850
Yadier Molina
Marcell Ozuna
Wainwright gets 150th win as Cards sweep Brewers
By The Associated PressApril 25, 2019
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, April 24, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.
Last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.
Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.
Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth.
St. Louis' three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016.
Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits.
PHILLIES 6, METS 0
NEW YORK (AP) — Rhys Hoskins homered off reliever Jacob Rhame and taunted him with a slow jog around the bases a night after Rhame buzzed him with two fastballs, and struggling Philadelphia beat New York.
Hoskins was furious after Rhame sailed two pitches over his head with two outs in the ninth inning of New York's 9-0 win Tuesday. The slugger faced Rhame again in the ninth Wednesday, flipping his bat emphatically after hooking a two-run shot over the wall in left.
It took Hoskins 34.23 seconds to touch 'em all, the slowest trot in the majors this season.
Velasquez (1-0) struck out six and allowed three hits in five innings, dropping his ERA to 1.99, as the Phillies avoided a three-game sweep.
Jason Vargas (1-1) allowed Bryce Harper's RBI double in the first but was otherwise strong.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Rookie Chris Paddack shut down baseball's highest-scoring offense for his first victory, holding Seattle to one hit in seven innings and retiring his final 19 batters, nine by strikeout, San Diego beat AL West-leading Seattle.
Paddack and relievers Trey Wingenter and Kirby Yates combined on a two-hitter.
Ian Kinsler homered off Felix Hernandez (1-2) and the Padres swept the two-game series. They've beaten the Mariners six straight times and won three straight overall following a six-game losing streak.
The 23-year-old Paddack (1-1), who lowered his ERA from 2.25 to 1.67, was brilliant in his fifth big league start. He got into and out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, and after that it was lights out.
Yates pitched the ninth for his 12th save in as many chances.
CUBS 7, DODGERS 6
CHICAGO (AP) — Javier Baez and Jason Heyward each hit three-run homers in the sixth inning, and Chicago overcame a wild start by Cole Hamels to beat Los Angeles.
Baez chased Walker Buehler with a long, tying drive to left on an 0-2 pitch with two outs.
Pinch-hitter David Bote followed with a double to deep center against Scott Alexander (1-1). Willson Contreras was intentionally walked and Heyward lined a 2-2 pitch to the basket in left-center.
Hamels matched his highest walk total in three seasons with six over 5 2/3 innings after issuing none in winning his previous three starts.
Brad Brach (2-0) got the final two outs in the sixth. Pedro Strop walked pinch hitter Max Muncy leading off the ninth. But he struck out Enrique and got Justin Turner to hit into a double play for his third save in four chances.
GIANTS 4, BLUE JAYS 0
TORONTO (AP) — Drew Pomeranz and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, Pablo Sandoval homered for the second straight game, and San Francisco completed a two-game sweep of Toronto.
Buster Posey, Brandon Belt and Evan Longoria all hit RBI doubles as the Giants won their second straight following a season-high four-game losing streak.
The Blue Jays were shut out for the first time since opening day, when they lost 2-0 to Detroit in 10 innings.
Pomeranz (1-2) allowed two hits, both singles, in a season-high six innings. He walked two and struck out five to win for the first time since Aug. 10, 2018, with Boston.
Clay Buchholz (0-1) allowed four runs and six hits in five-plus innings. He walked none and struck out two.
ASTROS 7, TWINS 1
HOUSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched eight dominant innings, and Carlos Correa, Michael Brantley and Josh Reddick all homered to lead Houston past Minnesota.
Verlander (4-0) retired the first 10 batters before Jorge Polanco crushed a pitch into the second deck in right field in the fourth inning. Verlander retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced.
In Verlander's last three starts, he has given up three runs in 21 innings with 27 strikeouts.
Kohl Stewart (0-1) gave up five runs and eight hits, striking out one and walking three in six innings.
RED SOX 11, TIGERS 4
BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez had three hits and Eduardo Rodriguez pitched six strong innings as Boston rebounded from a doubleheader sweep to beat Detroit.
The defending World Series champion Red Sox avoided their fourth losing streak of three games or more.
Martinez hit two singles, a double and drove in a run, and Christian Vázquez had two RBI singles.
Nicholas Castellanos had an RBI single for the Tigers, a day after their first doubleheader sweep in Boston since 1965.
Rodriguez (2-2) gave up a run on two hits, striking out seven and walking three.
Tyson Ross (1-3) allowed four runs in five innings.
ROYALS 10, RAYS 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay ace Blake Snell lasted one out into the fourth inning in his return from a broken right fourth toe as Kansas City cruised to victory.
The 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner, who hurt the toe attempting to move a decorative display in his bathroom on April 14, allowed three runs, five hits, two walks and struck out three during a 65-pitch outing.
The left-hander (2-2) had given up one run and nine hits over 19 innings in three starts prior to the injury.
Adalberto Mondesi hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, Billy Hamilton had two hits and two RBIs, and Jakob Junis (2-2) gave up one run and four hits in five innings for the Royals, who stopped a five-game losing streak.
INDIANS 6, MARLINS 2
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jose Ramirez homered and drove in four runs, Jake Bauers' eighth-inning single scored the go-ahead run and Cleveland beat Miami.
Martin Prado's two-out homer for Miami tied the game in the top of the eighth, but the Indians responded by scoring four times to snap a three-game losing streak.
Ramirez hit a two-out homer in the first and had an RBI single in the third. His eighth-inning double added two runs and capped Cleveland's big inning.
Adam Conley (0-3) walked Carlos Gonzalez to begin the eighth. Bauers slapped a ground ball through the open left side of the infield to score Gonzalez. Francisco Lindor's two-out single added another run. Leonys Martin was hit by a pitch and Ramirez doubled into the right field corner.
Nick Wittgren (1-0) struck out two in the eighth.
ATHLETICS 6, RANGERS 5
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Chad Pinder's two-out RBI single in the ninth inning lifted Oakland over Texas.
Stephen Piscotty singled with one out off Chris Martin (1-1) and then stole second base. After Khris Davis flied out, Pinder looped a soft hit into right field. Piscotty slid into home plate to beat a wide throw home from Nomar Mazara as the A's dugout emptied, mobbing Pinder near first base.
Matt Chapman and Marcus Semien homered to help the A's complete a three-game sweep.
Mazara homered twice for Texas and Logan Forsythe also went deep as the Rangers fell to 2-7 on the road.
Blake Treinen (1-1) retired three batters and got a big double play in the ninth to earn the win.
ROCKIES 9, NATIONALS 5
DENVER (AP) — Raimel Tapia had two doubles and drove in three runs to back a solid outing from German Marquez, and Colorado beat Washington.
Charlie Blackmon homered and Trevor Story extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double and a triple. Nolan Arenado had three RBIs, David Dahl had three hits and Wade Davis picked up his third save. The Rockies have won eight of their last 10.
Juan Soto homered for the Nationals, who have yet to win more than two games in a row this season.
Marquez (3-1) pitched in pain in his previous start because of an infected tooth. He had it pulled after the loss to Philadelphia on Friday and battled through seven innings Wednesday.
The Rockies scored the next nine runs off Anibal Sanchez (0-3) and Washington's bullpen.
DIAMONDBACKS 11, PIRATES 2
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ketel Marte homered twice and Arizona won at Pittsburgh for the ninth straight time.
Marte extended Arizona's lead to 5-1 with a solo shot in the fifth inning and drove a three-run shot, his sixth homer this season, into the left-field bleachers in the eighth.
Arizona's nine-game winning streak at PNC Park is its longest in an opponent's stadium. The Diamondbacks have not lost in Pittsburgh since May 29, 2017.
Merrill Kelly (2-2) gave up two runs on six hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out five.
Jordan Lyles (2-1) lasted five innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts.
BRAVES 3, REDS 1
CINCINNATI (AP) — Ozzie Albies homered on the game's first pitch and Ronald Acuna Jr. scored from first base on Yasiel Puig's fifth-inning error, helping Atlanta beat Cincinnati.
Acuna scored easily when Puig misplayed Nick Markakis's line drive single to right, allowing it to skip under his glove and roll to the wall for a two-base error.
Mike Soroka (1-1), in his second start of the season and seventh of his career, tied his career high with seven strikeouts while allowing five hits and one run with three walks in 5 2/3 innings.
A.J. Minter pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.
Tanner Roark (1-1) got through five innings, allowing six hits and two runs with three walks and four strikeouts. He also hit a batter.
ORIOLES 4, WHITE SOX 3
BALTIMORE (AP) — Stevie Wilkerson hit his first major league homer, John Means pitched five effective innings on his birthday and Baltimore beat Chicago.
Baltimore won two of three to capture its first series since April 1-3 in Toronto. The two straight victories are the Orioles' most since a four-game run that began at Yankee Stadium on March 30.
Wilkerson's second-chance solo shot off Ervin Santana (0-2) put the Orioles up 4-1 in the fourth. Earlier in the at-bat, Wilkerson walked to first base after apparently being hit by a pitch, but a replay proved otherwise.
Means (3-2) marked his 26th birthday with a career-high six strikeouts. The lefty allowed one run and four hits.
Mychal Givens worked the final two innings for his first save.
YANKEES 6, ANGELS 5
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — DJ LeMahieu singled home Tyler Wade with the tiebreaking run in the ninth, and the Yankees rallied from a five-run deficit for their sixth consecutive victory, over the hapless Angels.
Wade made up for an earlier baserunning mishap when he got a two-out single off Ty Buttrey (1-1) and stole second. LeMahieu then drove in his third run of the night for the Yankees, who trailed 5-0 after five innings before rallying to win at Angel Stadium for a franchise-record sixth straight time.
CC Sabathia fell short of recording his 3,000th career strikeout while yielding four earned runs and six hits over five innings for the Yankees.
Andrelton Simmons hit two homers off Sabathia, and Kole Calhoun added a three-run homer during the Los Angeles' four-run fourth inning.
But the last-place Angels blew it all in their ninth loss in 10 games, and the no-name Yankees just kept winning.
Jonathan Loáisiga (1-0) pitched three innings of two-hit relief in his first game back from the minors. Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


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Spin devices get a paint job
Physicists created a new way to fabricate special kinds of electronic components known as spintronic devices. These high-performance, low-power devices have a promising future, so efficient ways to make them are highly sought after. The new fabrication method is interesting because it uses organic molecules which are relatively easy to configure for different purposes. Layers of molecules could be painted or printed onto metals to create new electronic functions.
In a nutshell, spintronic devices may one day supersede many electronic devices. This is because spintronics is a more efficient way to perform some functions that electronics can at present. Whereas electronic devices depend on a flow of charge in the form of electrons in motion, spintronic devices exploit a different property of electrons known as spin. This is related to the electron's angular momentum and the flow of spin is called a spin current.
There are several challenges to realize useful spintronic devices. Among these are to find ways to induce a spin current and once that's achieved, to imbue spintronic components with useful functions such as the ability to retain data for use as high-speed memory. Research Associate Hironari Isshiki and his team from the University of Tokyo's Institute for Solid State Physics have found a novel and elegantly simple way to tackle both of these complex challenges.
"We successfully demonstrated an efficient conversion of spin current to charge current in a copper sample thanks to a simple coat of 'paint.' This layer is only one molecule thick and comprises an organic substance," said Isshiki. "The device's conversion efficiency is comparable to that of devices made with inorganic metallic materials such as platinum or bismuth. However, in comparison to the inorganic materials, organic materials are much easier to manipulate in order to produce different functionality."
This organic layer is made of a substance called lead(II) phthalocyanine. A spin current injected into the surface covered by the molecule is efficiently converted to a familiar charge current. The researchers experimented with layers of different thickness to see which would be most effective. When the layer was a single molecule thick, the molecules aligned into an ordered arrangement which yielded the most efficient spin to charge current conversion.
"Organic molecules in particular offer spintronic researchers a high degree of design freedom as they are relatively easy to work with. The kinds of functional components we hope to see are things that could be useful in the field of high-performance computing or in low-power devices," explained Isshiki. "The incredibly thin layers required also mean we might one day create flexible devices or even devices you could create with a special kind of printer."
The next steps for Isshiki and colleagues are to explore other configurations of organic layers on conductive materials to realize novel spin functionalities. They also wish to investigate conversion of charge into spin current, the reverse process to that seen in this demonstration. This area of research aims to greatly accelerate the study of spintronics with organic molecules.
Hironari Isshiki, K. Kondou, Sei Takizawa, Koki Shimose, Takeshi Kawabe, Emi Minamitani, Naoya Yamaguchi, Fumiyuki Ishii, Akitoshi Shiotari, Yoshiaki Sugimoto, Shinji Miwa, and Yoshichika Otani. Realization of spin dependent functionality by covering a metal surface with a single layer of molecules. Nano Letters. DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02619
This research is supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan under grants JP26103002, JP17H05180, JP17K14077, JP18H03880, JP26102017, JP18H04481, JP15H03561 and JP17H05215.
Otani Laboratory https://www.issp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/maincontents/organization/labs/otani_group_en.html
Institute for Solid State Physics http://www.issp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/index_en.html
Research Contact
Professor Yoshichika Otani
Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo
5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581 JAPAN
Tel: +81-4-7136-3507 Email: yotanil@issp.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Research Associate Hironari Isshiki
Tel: +81-4-7136-3507 Email: h_isshiki@issp.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Ms. Madoka Mochida
Email: press@issp.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Mr. Rohan Mehra
Division for Strategic Public Relations, The University of Tokyo
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5841-0876 Email: press-releases.adm@gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp
About the University of Tokyo
The University of Tokyo is Japan's leading university and one of the world's top research universities. The vast research output of some 6,000 researchers is published in the world's top journals across the arts and sciences. Our vibrant student body of around 15,000 undergraduate and 15,000 graduate students includes over 4,000 international students. Find out more at https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/ or follow us on Twitter at @UTokyo_News_en.
Related Molecules Articles from Brightsurf:
Finally, a way to see molecules 'wobble'
Researchers at the University of Rochester and the Fresnel Institute in France have found a way to visualize those molecules in even greater detail, showing their position and orientation in 3D, and even how they wobble and oscillate.
Water molecules are gold for nanocatalysis
Nanocatalysts made of gold nanoparticles dispersed on metal oxides are very promising for the industrial, selective oxidation of compounds, including alcohols, into valuable chemicals.
Water molecules dance in three
An international team of scientists has been able to shed new light on the properties of water at the molecular level.
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Water is all around us and essential for life. Nevertheless, research into its behaviour at the atomic level -- above all how it interacts with surfaces -- is thin on the ground.
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A study by Marcos Barp and Felipe Arretche from Brazil published in EPJ D shows a model of the interaction between positrons and simple molecules that is in good agreement with experimental results.
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Rep. Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas was a long time political ally of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee until he defied his party's stand in the contentious impeachment case of then Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona in December, last year.
For refusing to sign the impeachment complaint against Corona, Congressman Mandanas claimed that he was stripped of the chairmanship of ways and means as well as the vice chairmanship of the economic affairs panel. He later resigned from the president-led Liberal Party.
The three-term representative of the 2nd District of Batangas (he was also a three-term governor of the same province) narrated his version of that incident when he guested a dinner-press conference on Tuesday, October 30, at the Mayflower Restaurant in Chinatown, Los Angeles. The evening event was hosted by the newly organized Filipino American Press Club of California headed by Thelma Calabio. Also in attendance were members of the Karilagan and the Skyline Lions Club.
Mandanas traced his membership in the Liberal Party to year 2004 when there were only 16 of them including then Congressman Noynoy Aquino. Their group figured in an unsuccessful attempt to impeach then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. When the 2007 election came he was the only member of the Liberal Party in Batangas province and was the only one who campaigned for Aquino in his bid for a seat in Senate.
"Of course in 2010 there were already many who joined the Liberal Party when Noynoy ran for President and won… especially after we won, ha. So that's why I became Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. I chose that because I'm an investment banker and a CPA by profession," said Mandanas.
Regarding the conflict with his fellow party members later on, Congressman Mandanas alleged that he did not sign the impeachment complaint against Corona as a matter of principle and because it is a violation of procedure for him to sign a document without being able to read it first. He explained that what was presented to them was only the signature page that includes the space where to sign the oath. By signing "you swear to God that they are true, and that you have already appreciated the evidence," he said.
Of course, he didn't sign, he said, and subsequently was told by the Majority Leader that "hey…if you sign kasama ka ni PNoy, pag di ka pumirma kalaban ka ni PNoy." (Hey… if you sign you are with PNoy otherwise you will be considered an enemy of PNoy.) Like Mandanas the former chief justice is from the same province of Batangas.
Gonzales II also said that Mandanas had been advocating issues contrary to the position of the party, such as his call that local government units should have a share in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) from earnings collected by the Bureau of Customs.
On the IRA issue, Mandanas had this to say: "I saw that there is a portion of the collection of national taxes which according to the Constitution and to law should go to the local governments, the barangays, to the municipalities, cities, and the provinces." What's happening is that such portion is being used for national projects. That amounts to misappropriation of funds, said Mandanas.
Mandanas informed that when he was still Governor, he sued in the Supreme Court the administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and won P60 Billion for the provinces, barangays and cities. The amount was used to improve education, health and local projects. When he became chair of ways and means, Mandanas reportedly found out that the irregularity is still prevalent in the Noynoy government. Worse, there were accumulated amounts that goes back to the administrations of Presidents Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Macapagal-Arroyo. Instead, the current administration told him to get used to it already. One month after he was replaced in the Ways and Means Committee he sued the Aquino administration for P150 billion. The case is pending in the Supreme Court, he said.
Mandanas also criticized President Aquino's "Matuwid na daan" concept of government saying that governance is not only a matter of fighting graft and corruption. The president should have development programs and the six "Cs:" That means Aquino should not only be clean but competent, committed, compassionate and have courage and character as well.
It may be noted that the previous issue of PinoyWatchDog carried a story about a community forum at the Philippine Consulate General where Congressman Mandanas joined Deputy Consul General Daniel R. Espiritu and Vice Consul John G. Reyes in a discussion about voter registration and dual citizenship with community leaders and members of the press.
However, in terms of the number of voters, we still are not a factor in California because of the low percentage of our voters, Mandanas said. "Here in California even if you include the ones in Washington or Arizona all the way out to Texas, you just have about 50,000 registered." That's what he was told by the personnel of the Consulate in LA and also in San Francisco, he said. On the other hand, he conceded that it is really difficult to register and vote in our election system compared to that of the U.S. Additionally, election day here is not a holiday unlike in the Philippines where it's almost the whole week. He also mentioned that even those already registered to vote here has very low turnout in the actual voting.
Mandanas said that he will not be running for any office when his term ends next year. He is now the national treasurer of the United Nationalist Alliance composed of the PDP-Laban headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and the party headed by former President Estrada and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, the Partido ng Masang Pilipino.
There is the prospect of bringing to the U.S. Filipino candidates "to excite the Filipinos here," Mandanas said. There is also a suggestion that Filipinos here should invest like fifty dollars each for the candidates' expenses. "We're considering to have attraction like Congressman Pacquiao who is with UNA incidentally," he said. December 1 was mentioned as possible date for the candidates to come.
Rep. Mandanas: "Yes, yes, that is a sound issue that is being discussed right now.
Mandanas said that a politician is a different matter because he has already given up the right to privacy. A politician cannot sue you even if you call him a crook. He also touched on the issue of plagiarism; that in the Philippines is not a crime, only a civil liability.


Dollar on a fishing hook reflecting in water.
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Mid-aged man and woman in a fishing boat, fishing together on an overcast day.
Midaged man and woman in a fishing boat, trolling and fishing together on an overcast day.