Monthly Archives: June 2020

Optus ordered to reveal identity of user who left negative Google review of Melbourne dentist – The Guardian

Posted: June 6, 2020 at 6:10 pm

Optus has been ordered to reveal the identity of a user who left an anonymous review on Google about a Melbourne dentist, who wants to sue the user for defamation damages.

Guardian Australia broke the news in February that Melbourne dentist Dr Matthew Kababbe had successfully compelled Google through the federal court to hand over the details of a user who left a negative review about his business.

The user known only as CBsm 23 claimed the dentist made the experience extremely awkward and uncomfortable and the procedure was a complete waste of time.

Kababbe was successful in obtaining an IP address associated with the review from Google, which revealed it was connected to an Optus account.

The federal court this week served a subpoena on Optus ordering the company to hand over information about which account was assigned the IP address at the time the review was made.

A spokeswoman for Optus did not provide a comment about the case, but said that Optus complies with all government laws and regulations, including court orders.

Kababbes lawyer, Mark Stanarevic of Matrix Legal, told Guardian Australia it had been difficult for Kababbe and some of his other clients to get Google to act on false negative reviews, which he said can be extremely damaging for peoples businesses.

You dont know what business youve lost from the people who didnt come because of the bad review, he said.

We are at the mercy of Google, thats the issue.

It is the latest in an increasing trend of people taking action against Google to find the identities of people behind negative reviews, which Google has beenreluctant to remove.

Stanarevic is also representing Melbourne gangland lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson in her bid to unmask a user who left a negative review about her law firm, Garde Wilson Criminal Lawyers. On Thursday the federal court again ordered Google to provide information about an account that left a negative review Google had not removed, despite Garde-Wilson stating that the law firm had never acted for the user.

Stanarevic said users had the right to anonymity online, but there were limits.

There has to be a balance between freedom of speech and the rights of small business owners at the behest of a global monopoly. Theyre competing rights, he said.

If someone has time on their hands, and has malicious intent to destroy that small business they can actually quite easily do it, he said.

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This Is What The DOJ Is Thinking As It Preps Its Antitrust Case Against Google – AdExchanger

Posted: at 6:10 pm

Department of Justice lawyers have interviewed numerous buy- and sell-side companies since kicking off an antitrust probe of Googles business practices roughly a year ago.

They know their shit now, said one ad tech executive whos had multiple calls and exchanged a flurry of emails with DOJ attorneys since October.

The early calls were about them trying to understand how this industry works, the executive said. But now they understand the landscape, they understand how this consolidation of power has happened and theyre looking for specific instances to prove their case.

And the case is picking up momentum. Fox Business reported in late May that the DOJ has hired unnamed outside counsel, evidence that its close to filing its suit. And sources tell The New York Times that the Justice Department has plans to bring antitrust charges against Google as early as this summer.

A bipartisan coalition of states led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is also probing Google on anticompetitive grounds, an effort that could eventually be merged into the DOJs investigation.

As DOJ enforcers probe both Googles search business and its ad practices and prepare their case, here is what theyve asked.

AdExchanger spoke with multiple people on condition of anonymity who have been questioned in recent months by the Justice Department.

Do you have examples of anticompetitive behavior on the part of Google?

Over the past eight months or so, the DOJs line of questioning has zeroed in on uncovering specific incidents of Google engaging in monopolistic practices.

Theyre looking for the smoking guns, said the CEO of an ad tech company on the buy side.

How was your company affected when Google cut off access to YouTube inventory?

In 2015, Google announced that it would cut off third-party access to YouTube inventory, effectively giving DV360 exclusive access to the largest marketplace for digital video.

The fallout for third-party ad tech was immediate. What was the impact on our company? Well, we lost millions of dollars in revenue, said one ad tech executive.

Former AppNexus CEO Brian OKelley testified during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last year that Googles announcement was a devastating move for his and other ad tech companies.

Pulling YouTube inventory out of AdX is a textbook example of monopolistic behavior, said another buy-side ad tech CEO. Basically, youre creating a second monopoly in the DSP market.

Were you harmed by dynamic allocation?

For years, DoubleClick for Publishers (now Google Ad Manager or GAM) gave preferential treatment to AdX through dynamic allocation, AKA last look. The rise of header bidding was in reaction to this advantage.

Google opened dynamic allocation to outside demand in 2016, creating a more unified auction, but the damage had already been done, said an ad ops executive at a large publisher. And by law US antitrust authorities are empowered to go after historical actions.

When you talk to regulators about dynamic allocation, their faces light up, the exec said. And thats because the tactics Google used over time impeded the growth of competitors. If Google didnt do dynamic allocation, for example, who knows, maybe a company like Rubicon could have been a competing ad server.

Do you know Googles margins?

Google has shared publicly that publishers receive 68% of revenue for displaying ads with AdSense. But the true margins remain opaque, and Google does not disclose the rev share for other AdSense products.

They have market share from a search perspective and a data perspective, a publishing exec said. You can use things like unified pricing and other methods to convince yourself that youve created a fair marketplace, but really its designed around extracting monopoly margins from a giant pool of demand in Google Ads.

What do you think Googles market share is across the ad server space, the DSP space and the exchange space?

The DOJ was particularly interested in what ad tech folks perceived as Googles market share across its ad products. For what its worth, the United Kingdoms Competition and Markets Authority estimates that Google has more than 90% of the ad server market, between 40% and 60% of the SSP market and between 50% and 70% of the DSP market.

Google doesnt maintain the same dominance across every piece, but, taken together plus their share of the browser market its a different story, said a buy-side ad tech executive. Its about the totality, which is why you cant look at the pieces in isolation.

Does Google have a data advantage?

Google has first-party relationships with consumers through its consumer-facing services, including Google Play, search, Gmail and Chrome (for those who choose to log in). This data doesnt leave the Google universe, but does flow into the Google ad tech stack.

The use of that data in a product like DV360 raises questions and eyebrows, said an executive at a DSP. And thats because Id argue many of those products have their own monopolies as well.

How have Googles privacy policies impacted your business?

Some of Googles rivals are convinced that many of the privacy-related changes Google has made to its policies over the years have more to do with preserving market share than preserving privacy.

One ad tech CEO brought up Googles behavior in the lead up to GDPR as evidence of anticompetitive behavior. In 2018, for example, Google stopped allowing buyers to use the DoubleClick ID for data transfer from its ad server and yanked the DoubleClick ID from its DSP in Europe.

At first, the DOJ lawyers werent inclined to pursue the topic, because anything outside the United States is beyond its scope.

But I talked about how destructive some of these moves were to everyone else other than Google and the fact that the companies affected are US companies and Google, of course, is a US company, the executive said. And then they really wanted to understand how these restrictions impacted our business.

How do you think this situation should be remedied, and if the remedy is a breakup of Google, where would you make the break?

Thats the multi-multibillion-dollar question.

They asked me this very specifically, and its a very tough one to answer, because the answer depends on where you sit, the CEO said. Owning access to the supply, then controlling the connection ofsupply and demandin the exchangeis problematic, because its an opportunity for abuse but so is owning the browser.

The DOJ seems fully cognizant that Googles various businesses form an interconnected web.

An ad ops publishing executive summed it up like this: This isnt one thing, its a million little things: DoubleClick, YouTube, search. I think the DOJ understands that just untying DFP from AdX for example, doesnt fix things.

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Why Facebook Joined Google and Tencent in Gojek Investment – Market Realist

Posted: at 6:10 pm

Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) has invested in Gojeka leading ride-hailing and food delivery provider in the Southeast Asia region. Notably, Facebook joins Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and Tencent in one of Southeast Asias most promising technology startups. Tencent has a successful track record in technology startup investments. For example, Tencent invested in companies like Spotify (NYSE:SPOT), Huya (NYSE:HUYA), and Bilibili before their successful IPO. Also, Tencent Music Entertainment Group (NYSE:TME) was a unit of Tencent before its 2018 fall IPO. Some 16 Tencent-backed startups went public in 2018. The company also sought a stake worth $200 million in Warner Music Group before the record labels IPO.

Before Facebook joined the party, Gojek raised $1.0 billion last year from a group of investors including Tencent, Google, and JD.com.

In addition to its ride-hailing and food delivery businesses, Gojek operates in the digital payments space. Facebook and Gojek want to support local businesses. Gojek has helped bring digital benefits to hundreds of thousands of merchants through its food delivery and payment platforms. According to Facebook, investing in the startup will help bring small businesses into the digital economy. Gojek is based in Indonesia, which is Southeast Asias largest economy.

Also, the Gojek investment comes a little over a month after Facebook put $5.7 billion into Indias Jio Platform for a 10% stake in the business. As part of the investment, Facebook and Jio will create technology solutions to benefit millions of local businesses in India.

Gojeks main competitor in the Southeast Asia region is Grab. Notably, Grabs backers include SoftBank. Overall, Gojek and Grab want to become Asias super apps.

The Gojek investment should expand Facebooks opportunities in Southeast Asias booming digital economy. Meanwhile, a Google-Temasek study showed that Southeast Asias digital economy could hit $300 billion by 2025. The regions digital economy was valued at $100 billion in 2019.

One of the fastest-growing sectors in Southeast Asias digital economy is digital payments. Facebooks investment in Gojek comes as it gears up to launch a digital payment system called Libra. Facebook counts on Libra to simplify and cut the cost of everyday money transactions for merchants and consumers.

Facebook stock has gained 13% year-to-date and trades above $232. However, the stock has over 20% upside to its highest Wall Street target price at $285.

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Here are 7 steps you can take to secure your phone and data before attending a protest – Business Insider – Business Insider

Posted: at 6:09 pm

Thousands of Americans are protesting police brutality and systemic racism across the nation following the police killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd.

Of the precautions that protesters should consider to stay safe is how to prepare for your phone being broken or lost. It could also be confiscated by authorities, who could then potentially access information about you and those you communicate with. Scores of data are located in the apps on your phone, and your smartphone can also be used as a tracking device.

All of which is to say safeguarding your phone against external forces might be a good step to take before attending a protest.

Here's how to prep your phone before joining a demonstration.

As Vice reports, perhaps one of the most surefire ways to prevent your phone from falling into the hands of someone you don't want it to is to participate in the protest without it.

You can instead coordinate with others by word of mouth. Establish meeting places and contingency plans for regrouping in case the crowd is dispersed and you lose track of each other. Familiarize yourself with the city grid and streets.

You could also buy a burner phone to use solely for the demonstration,The Verge reports. They expire after a certain number of days and can cost anywhere between $1 and $100 Digital Camera World rounded up some in February.

Losing or breaking your phone could mean thousands of photos, notes, and other data could be lost. Consider backing up your phone's contents to a computer or to the cloud, according to Gizmodo.

Thousands of protesters march over the Brooklyn Bridge to demonstrate against the death of George Floyd in New York, United States on June 4, 2020. Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

As PC Mag notes, you can also temporarily delete apps from your phone and then reinstall them at a later date.

By using an encryption key, or password, to unlock your phone, you're creating a barrier between your phone data and anyone that could potentially take advantage of it.

For iPhone users, if you use a passcode to get into your device, then you're set it's already encrypted.

If law enforcement asks you to punch in your password to unlock your phone, you retain your Fifth Amendment right to refuse, as Gizmodo reports.

But biometric methods, such as unlocking with your fingerprint or face scan, aren't as protected in case you're taken into police custody. Officers could still potentially hold your phone up to your face or press your finger to the device to unlock it.

Consider deactivating Face ID and use a strong password instead.

These functions can track your location, a feat that some companies and brands are able to take advantage of for advertising purposes, according to Consumer Reports.

If you don't need Wifi, GPS, or Bluetooth, you can switch them off to prevent your exact location from being monitored. As CR notes, some smartphones are designed to switch these settings back on by default, so be sure to keep tabs on whether or not they stay disabled.

You can read how to stop your iPhone from tracking your location here.

Police stand by as protesters lay down with hands behind their back on Washington Street in front of the Jamaica Plain Boston Police station on June 4, 2020. John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

You can also put your phone in Airplane Mode to prevent tracking, which shuts off WiFi, Bluetooth, and cell data in one fell swoop. As The Verge notes, doing so prevents cellphone carriers from communicating with cell towers to locate you. It also shields against stingray attacks, which is when a device masquerades as a cell tower to connect and gain access to phone data. In 2018, the American Civil Liberties Union found 75 law enforcement agencies across 27 states in the US that owned these types of tools, as The Markup notes.

But Airplane Mode differs depending on what phone you have, so disabling it isn't always an airtight solution.

You can also simply turn your phone off and only use it when you need it. But that can make it more difficult to quickly take photos, record videos, or be able to quickly make an urgent call.

Phone message encryption has its limits, such as in the case of an iPhone user messaging with an Android user the text automatically converts to SMS, which isn't encrypted. So experts have recommended using secure chat apps such as Signal or WhatsApp, according to The Markup.

Signal has seen a spike in user downloads as protests have been held across the US.

As Consumer Reports notes, the app provides a setting that deletes messages soon after the recipient reads it, which can help protect both parties on either end of the conversation in the event that one of them loses their phone.

If you don't do so, and your phone is lost or confiscated, others may be privy to the messages and alerts that appear on your home screen, as The Markup points out.

You'd be protecting both you and the people sending you messages by preventing their texts from appearing.

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Prince Andrew has reportedly been permanently retired as Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich docuseries is released o – LaineyGossip

Posted: at 6:09 pm

Have you watched Filthy Rich yet? Its the Netflix docuseries about Jeffrey Epstein. Throughout the series, and right off the top, Epstein is seen in deposition footage repeatedly pleading the fifth. Im not a lawyer and yes, I knowwwwwww that the fifth amendment has its value in legal situations but if youve watched Filthy Rich, it almost becomes a mockery of, like, common decency. Every time hes asked whether or not he repeatedly preyed on underage girls, whether or not he regularly procured the services of underage girls aka RAPED THEM and whether or not he received gifts of underage girls (!!!) for his birthday, he pleaded the fifth.

If you were accused of all that vileness, and instead of being like, F-CK NO, I WOULD NEVER DO THAT, you plead the fifth, what in goddamn is going on in your grossness of a life?!

What the docuseries makes very clear is that Jeffrey Epstein was surrounded, constantly, by minors. And that it wasnt a secret. The minors werent travelling around in a portable trailer and hidden from Epsteins circle. They were visible to airport employees, tech support who visited Epsteins properties to install his satellite equipment, and to his guests. Or maybe the better way of saying that is FOR HIS GUESTS. Bill Clinton was seen so many times on Epsteins private island, dubbed Pedophile Island, as was Prince Andrew, who was observed, according to one witness, rubbing himself up against a topless Virginia Roberts, then 17 years old.

Epsteins f-cksh-t was condoned then, even encouraged, by the people he spent time with. And its a long f-cking list. Like Ghislaine Maxwell? Find that woman and have her answer to her complicity, at the very least, and her crimes at worst. And the people who were in and out of Epsteins orbit, who would have no doubt noticed that, hey, this dude is constantly accompanied by young girlshow can they explain their inaction?

Because its so NORMAL! Its NORMAL to see 40 year old actors with just-turned 18 year old models. Its normal to see 60 year old rock stars with 18 year old models. Its normal, normal, normal, normal, normal. So normal that crimes become condoned. So normal that crimes become scenery. God that was disgusting to write. I just described underage girls as scenery, like a painting, a sculpture, property. But isnt this the truth? Are we guilty of accepting this normalisation as a part of a worldview that we dont challenge?

To go back to Prince Andrew then, who no one believes despite multiple denials from the British royal family that he had no idea what Jeffrey Epstein was doing, even though Virginias claims have been corroborated by multiple people AND A PHOTO (for f-cks sake!), it was reported a few days ago that hes been permanently retired. According to the Sunday Times:

"The monarchs reportedly favourite child is not expected to represent her on the public stage again," writes the publication's royal correspondent Roya Nikkhah.

"The royal family has 'no plans to review' his position and the Queen is believed to be resigned to her second sons permanent removal from public life."

Shes resigned to it? Like, what? Reluctantly? Like its a concession? Thats another problem right there. An entire royal institution has been mobilised, for years, to protect this man from himself. In doing so, they gaslit a girl whose life was permanently altered by sexual abuse and by extension so many other women who had no allies. Because, of course, the Crown comes first.

The Crown, however, even though theres a series by the same name that airs on Netflix, does not control Netflix. And, as expected, Andrews appearance in Netflixs Epstein docuseries has done major damage to the brand. Millions of people have watched it, millions of people have heard about Prince Andrew and his friend Jeffrey Epstein, the dead rapist pedophile. Millions now have seen that photo, have heard from Virginia and the other survivors, have learned about their trauma. This is now irrevocably Andrews association. And also, by relation, the British royal association. Good look!

On a related note, Prince Andrews ex-wife and life partner Sarah Ferguson just launched a charity. Heres her message on Twitter:

The comments below it are welltheyre facts.

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UFC chief Dana White plans to stay on Fight Island for a MONTH as Abu Dhabi is touted as mystery venue – The Sun

Posted: at 6:08 pm

ABU DHABI has reportedly been revealed as the mystery location of the UFC Fight Island.

Dana White has been determined not to let the coronavirus pandemic stop his promotion from airing, holding events in Florida and Las Vegas while much of the world was in lockdown.

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But in a bid to fly in fighters who otherwise would not be able to travel due to the outbreak, White has worked to secure a private island to host fights.

And now Brazilian outlet Combate claim UFC will set up Fight Island in the United Arab Emirates capital city.

Abu Dhabi has over 200 islands, with the one due to be used by White expected to host events consecutively between June 27 and the end of July.

UFC president White is planning to live on the island for the whole of July.

The 50-year-old billionaire said ahead of tonights UFC 250: People are very intrigued by 'Fight Island,' and I'm excited for it.

Right now, we're looking at June, and we're literally gonna knock out three or four [events] in a month. And I'm gonna stay on the island for a month. I'll probably be there the whole month of July.

And even if he still has not confirmed the location, he has vowed to let fans see exactly what he has built very shortly.

He continued: I'll have pictures of the (Fight Island) infrastructure next week and have more details for everybody.

Fight Island could kick off its events on June 27 with a lightweight headline bout between Dustin Poirier taking on Dan Hooker.

However, White says UFC 251, slated for July 11, looks a more likely date.

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White added: Yeah, this is absolutely, positively happening. I've been saying June 27, but it's looking more like July 11.

That's the first date that we're actually bringing in all the different guys from other parts of the world.

Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Poirier at UFC 242 last September when UAE last staged an event.

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Dreaming of your next vacation? Check out these most remote getaways – CNBC

Posted: at 6:08 pm

With the summer months now upon us, and many countries moving to lift months-long lockdowns, dreams of a long-awaited getaway are inching closer to reality.

Portugal, Greece, Spain and Italy are among several European destinationsto announce plans to resume international travel from some countries this month, as the coronavirus-battered tourism industry embarks on its lengthy journey to recovery.

But with the risks of infection still high, many travelers will be opting to replace holiday hotspots with more remote retreats in a bid to avoid the crowds. CNBC's Global Traveler takes a look at some of the most exclusive escapes out there and the steps they're taking to ensure social distancing from lobby to lounger.

An overhead view of Kokomo Private Island, Fiji.

Kokomo Private Island Fiji

Kokomo Private Island, Fiji gives holidaymakers the chance to get away from it all with a stay at one of 26 luxury residences and beachfront villas decorating the 140-acreisland's white sand coastline. Each with their own private pool and direct beach access, the lodgings promise serious social distancing from other guests. However, full exclusivity is also an option with a full island buyout.

As one of 330 islands spanning the 18,274 square meter Fijian archipelago, Kokomo is isolated by nature. Guests can while away the days scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing in the South Pacific's crystal waters, or alternatively indulge at the spa before enjoying local cuisine caught and cooked on site.

Prices for a one-bedroom villa start from $2,790 per night.

The view from the suite at Lembombo Lodge in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Singita

African ecotourism brand Singita is inviting holidaymakers to get back to nature with a secluded safari at one of 15 luxury lodges and camps spanning Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Guests can practice social distancing alongside some of the continent's most protected wildlife, while exploring the countries' vast reserves.

The conservation company recently reopened after implementing new virus guidelines including"health monitoring, stringent hygiene measures and a dedicated emergency evacuation plan." All guests will be asked to disclose their travel history prior to arrival and will undergo regular temperature checks.

Prices for a two-night minimum stay start from around $3,900.

The balcony view from the Romance Suite at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, Florida Keys.

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in the U.S.'s tropical Florida Keys is reopening this month, where guests can enjoy an exclusive private hire. The adults-only retreat, which accommodates up to 60 people, has taken measures to introduce social distancing in all communal areas and will provide personal protective equipment on request.

Located 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Key West, Florida's southernmost point, the 4-acre island is a nature-lover's paradise, with sailing, snorkeling, skydiving, dolphin watching and ecotours all on tap.

Guests can have the 4-acre Florida Keys island to themselves, with rates starting at $250,000 for a 3-night minimum stay.

The view from above of the garden and grounds of Family Coppola Hideaways' Blancaneaux Lodge in Belize.

Family Coppola Hideaways

The Family Coppola Hideaways, passion project of legendary Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola, wants travelers to hide out like the stars at one of four remote retreats spanning Central America. Tucked away in the forests of Belize and Guatemala and accessible by chartered flight, the resorts are "private by design," with extra measures newly introduced to enable privacy when relaxing and dining.

"It was Coppola's desire to have places of refuge to personally visit, places where one can distance and isolate have a private experience with private excursions, private dinners simply enjoying the natural beauty each hideaway provides," Christine Gaudenzi, director of sales and marketing for The Family Coppola Hideaways told CNBC.

Prices start from $140 per night.

The exterior view of Fogo Island Inn perched atop the rocky coastline of Fogo Island in Newfoundland, Canada.

Fogo Island Inn

Fogo Island Innis naturally remote, requiring a 45-minute boat ride or private chartered flight to reach the secluded island off Canada's east coast. Once there, travelers can unwind and take in panoramic views of the expansive North Atlantic Ocean from one of 29 luxury rooms. Alternatively, the entire site is available for buyout.

The award-winning accommodation has introduced strict health, sanitation and social distancing measures intended to cover "all aspects of the guest's journey from transportation to housekeeping procedures (and) dining to excursions," the company told CNBC in a statement.

Prices start from $1,440 per night.

The exterior of Deplar Farm hotel in northern Iceland.

Eleven Experience

Deplar Farm in northern Iceland's Troll peninsula is disguised from view under a grass-sodded roof deep withinthe Fljot Valley. When the country reopens to tourists later this month, guests will be invited to get off the beaten track with daily hikes, cycling trails and sea kayaking trips in the local area.

The 13-bed hotel and spa, which boasts two helipads and is available by the room or for full hire, has implemented a series of new health and safety precautions to reassure visitors, including optional private transfers, increased social distancing and virtual staff correspondence.

Prices start from $2,416 per night.

Exclusive Resorts' 'Owl in the Woods' residence located in Whistler's Kadenwood Estates, British Columbia, Canada.

Remote ski chalet in Whistler Canada

Members-only vacation club Exclusive Resorts boasts access to 400-plus private holiday resorts in 120 destinations, with each accommodation presented as a home away from home. Spend dayshiking the hidden trails of Whistler, British Columbia before hunkering down with a steam room at the secluded four-bedroom, five-bathroom "Owl in the Woods" mountain-top chalet; or chill out in the crystal Caribbean waters of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands at Rosewood Little Dix Bay.

A new mobile app also allows guests a more socially-distanced service, with a range of contactless options including virtual check-in and check-out, complimentary grocery delivery, tailor-made housekeeping and in-residence chefs for those wishing to avoid restaurant crowds.

"Homes will now come equipped with disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) kits for members and their guests. We are also deep cleaning and sanitizing all high-touch areas; removing decorative pillows from beds; increasing cleaning time between stays and more," noted James Henderson, CEO of Exclusive Resorts.

Prices start from $1,395 per day, plus an initial registration fee of $150,000.

The exterior view of a Mahoe Bay two-bedroom villa at Rosewood Little Dix in Virgin Gorda, BVI.

Exclusive Resorts

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A taste of the Maldives: This fruity gin cocktail is a holiday for your tastebuds – Express

Posted: at 6:08 pm

Whether guests want a hearty Italian lunch or a spicy Thai dinner, there are plenty of cosines to choose from, and the resort prides itself on offering something for all palettes.

A spokesperson for Kurumba said: "Kurumba Maldives pioneered tourism in the Maldives as the first private island resort in the archipelago and has since remained one of the finest five-star resorts in this aspirational stretch of islands.

"Visitors can swim in the islands crystal-clear lagoon, wander the lush sultry gardens, discover unique marine life across the house reef, and indulge in some of the freshest flavours and delectable dishes from around the world at the eight restaurants on the island."

Visitors can also arrange more exclusive dining, such as a private, seaside experience dubbed "Sound of the Sea", ideal for nights of romance.

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The Seychelles has reopened to tourists but only to those travelling by private jet – The National

Posted: at 6:08 pm

As more travel restrictions ease around the world, countries are making plans to reopen their borders to tourists.

The Seychelles, where tourism is one of the country's most important sectors, now allows visitors to its remote islands, but only if they're travelling by private jet.

"The destination will only consider visitors from low-risk countries travelling through private jets and chartered passenger direct flights," the Seychelles Tourism Board said.

As well as having to charter a plane to get there, travellers wanting to escape to the islands need to undergo a Covid-19 test before boarding any flight. Negative results have to be sent directly to the country's department of health and visitors must show the results upon landing along with confirmation from their local health authority that the test was taken less than 48 hours before they boarded their private plane.

"Visitors failing to present the required proof will be turned back on the same aircraft," the tourism board said.

The limited reopening is based on the advice of the country's health authority and is designed to limit risk of Covid-19 transmission to people living and working on the 115 islands that make up the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Upon landing in Mahe, all visitors must complete health formalities, have their temperature scanned and have a symptom check. Some travellers may also be selected for a rapid antigen test.

Travellers must have proof of the hotel or resort in which they're planing to stay. They also won't be allowed to leave their resort to travel between islands.

For elite travellers who prefer the ocean over the air, the Seychelles is in reach again as the waters of this corner of the western Indian Ocean have reopened to yachts and superyachts.

But entry is trickier for those sailing in than those on private jet. There are strict rules in place for seafaring travellers, and cruise ships remain banned until 2022.

All vessels must clear immigration at port Victoria and specific clearance is needed if travellers wish to disembark at any of the country's islands. Before this can happen, yachts must spend at least 14 days at sea, with passengers undergoing daily temperature checks.

Plans to reopen Seychelles International Airport to commercial flights are set for July, but visitor numbers will remain restricted for a period once this happens.

There's also set to be a $50 fee (Dh183) for tourists, which will go towards supporting local public health measures.

In May, the Seychelles declared itself Covid-19 free after nine weeks of battling the virus. The number of recorded cases was 11, all of which were found on the main island of Mahe. No cases were reported on Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette Island and the Outer Islands.

The Seychelles is not the only Indian Ocean destination to reopen exclusively to elite visitors.

The Maldives has also reopened to travellers with private jets or charter flights. Regular travellers should wait a bit longer as travel restrictions are expected to ease further in July.

Updated: June 3, 2020 03:55 PM

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The Seychelles has reopened to tourists but only to those travelling by private jet - The National

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Blancpain and Fregate Island Private help the ocean – High Horology Journal

Posted: at 6:07 pm

Fregate Island is the easternmost of the granitic Inner Islands of the Seychelles. It is home to the exclusive Fregate Island Private luxury resort, with just 17secluded villas amidst three square kilometres of pristine nature. Known as a mini Galapagos in the Seychelles, the island has a long conservation history for its terrestrial environment with notable achievements such as saving the Magpie Robin from extinction, and contributing to the development of the Aldabra tortoise colony, which has increased in size from a few dozen to nearly3,500 today. With great success on land, the conservation team of Fregate Island Private began their focus on the surrounding marine environment, especially in terms of the distribution of organisms within the fringe coral reef.

In2018, as part of its long-standing Ocean Commitment program, Blancpain initiated an experimental coral restoration project on Fregate Island in collaboration with Fregate Island Private and Coralive.org. Eight hundred storm-derived coral fragments (corals of opportunity) were transplanted onto eight artificial structures situated at depths between 5 and 7m. Four of these structures use the Mineral Accretion Technology (MAT), a method that applies safe, low voltage electrical currents through seawater, causing dissolved minerals to crystallise on structures, growing into a white limestone similar to that which naturally makes up coral reefs and tropical white sand beaches. The second group of four structures is not electrified in order to act as control. The project provides valuable research data, offering a unique possibility to measure in the same area the efficiency of MAT compared to classical techniques.

To advance understanding of the marine life around Fregate Island, in2019 Blancpain, Coralive.org, and Fregate Island Private associated with BlueNomads.org, the Green Islands Foundation, the University of the Seychelles, and the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust to establish a coral reef biodiversity baseline. More than 700Hectares of seabed were scanned using state-of-the-art technology to document the health, rigidity, and benthic assemblage of the reef. Collected images were then mosaicked to produce a detailed 3D underwater habitat map of corals, sand, rocks, and rubble surrounding Fregate. The gathered data will serve as the basis for a long-term monitoring program of the marine area around the island to study trends in the structure of reef fish and coral communities through year-by-year comparison. Ultimately, the objective is to support discussions on the creation of a new marine protected area around the island.

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Blancpain and Fregate Island Private help the ocean - High Horology Journal

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