Category: 3. Business

Thanks to this collaboration, implemented from early 2026, Selectour customers will now be able to benefit, when booking their trip at one of the 1,000 points of sale or via the company’s website, from a preferential rate Orange Travel eSIM offer. This solution allows them to avoid roaming charges, local eSIM searches, or uncertain and insecure Wi-Fi connections, while staying connected upon arrival at their destination, regardless of their usual mobile plan.

A tailored and simple offer that meets all travelers’ needs

Orange Travel, one of the global leaders in the eSIM¹ market, guarantees quality connectivity in over 200 destinations with:

• A comprehensive range of prepaid plans suited to all needs: “Data, Voice, SMS” or “Data only,” from 1 GB to 500 GB, valid for 7 to 90 days
• Competitive prices starting at €4.99 for Europe and North America, or €7.99 for the Middle East and Africa
• A secure network quality supported by Orange Group’s 700 roaming agreements worldwide, as well as cybersecurity offerings
• Orange Travel’s 24/7/365 customer service

In just a few clicks from the Orange Travel website, Selectour clients can now:

• Select their plan from a complete catalog
• Pay with their local payment method
• Download and activate the eSIM upon arrival at their destination via the mobile app 

 

A high-value partnership for the tourism sector

For Selectour, this alliance enriches its offering beyond booking, responding to the expectations of modern travelers for whom connectivity has become an essential service, alongside accommodation and transportation.

For Orange Travel, it provides privileged access to Selectour’s physical agency networks, allowing the integration of its solution at a key decision-making moment in the travel purchase process. This leverages significant growth potential to strengthen Orange Travel’s presence in the global tourism ecosystem.

This partnership aligns with Orange Travel’s strategy to accelerate distribution through major players in the tourism sector worldwide and to develop a win-win model that creates more value for travel professionals and clients alike.

For more information :

Site Orange Travel

www.selectour.com

Vincent Lahoche, Business Development and Partnerships Director at Orange Travel:
“We started this partnership by supporting Selectour at international events, such as their congress in South Africa. This partnership has been successful thanks to our offers, based on our 700 roaming agreements and Orange Group’s expertise. To meet their needs, we created a personalized co-branded affiliate portal. We are happy to work with one of the largest travel agency networks to offer high-performance connectivity with our ‘eSIM Travel’ offers, tailored for travelers worldwide. Our goal is to strengthen our collaborations with tourism sector players globally.”

Hubert Prades, CIO of Selectour:
“As a longstanding partner of Selectour, Orange naturally becomes our partner for the eSIM Travel offer, designed to improve our clients’ comfort and experience. This solution has been available across all agencies since early January 2026. We are also working on targeted offers and promotions for our clients and international events with Orange Travel.”

 

 

 

1 According to the Kaleido Intelligence ‘Travel eSIM Providers 2025’ study, Orange Travel is classified among the ‘Disruptive Market Leaders’.

 

 

 

 

About Orange

À propos d’Orange

Orange is one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 40.3 billion euros in 2024 and 124,100 employees worldwide at 30 september 2025, including 68,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 310 million customers worldwide at 30 september 2025, including 270 million mobile customers and 23 million fixed broadband customers. These figures account for the deconsolidation of certain activities in Spain following the creation of MASORANGE. The Group is present in 26 countries (including non-consolidated countries).
Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business. In February 2023, the Group presented its strategic plan “Lead the Future”, built on a new business model and guided by responsibility and efficiency. “Lead the Future” capitalizes on network excellence to reinforce Orange’s leadership in service quality.

Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA).
For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com and to follow us on X: @presseorange.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited.

 

About Selectour

Selectour is one of the leading travel agency networks in France, with over 1,200 partner agencies spread across the country. Founded in 1967, the company leverages more than 50 years of experience in the tourism sector, offering its clients quality services, personalized advice, and a wide range of destinations and travel products.

Thanks to its extensive network, Selectour ensures proximity, expertise, and innovation to meet the expectations of every traveler, whether for business trips, leisure, or special events. The company also offers advanced digital solutions, allowing clients to easily book online or through their local agency.

Committed to its core values of engagement, transparency, and professionalism, Selectour continues to evolve by providing travel solutions that respect sustainable development and adapt to new market trends, notably with a strong presence in the responsible tourism sector.

 

BOTHELL, Wash., Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BioLife Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLFS), a leading developer and supplier of bioproduction tools and services for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market, announces it has entered into a multi-year supply agreement with Qkine Limited under which BioLife will distribute certain cytokine and growth factor products manufactured by Qkine for use in cell and gene therapy manufacturing.

The agreement provides BioLife with exclusive worldwide distribution rights to specific Qkine products for the CGT market and non-exclusive rights to Qkine products in the CGT market. In addition, the companies intend to collaborate on a process development and validation program to enable Qkine to package certain of its products using BioLife’s proprietary CellSeal^® Connect vial system, which is designed to be incorporated into closed system and/or automated CGT workflows.

Roderick de Greef, BioLife’s Chairman and CEO, commented, “We are pleased to establish this strategic distribution and CellSeal^® Connect product development relationship with Qkine, a recognized leader in the fast-growing cytokines market. Qkine’s cytokine products are highly complementary to our cell culture supplement offerings and expand the portfolio of solutions we offer our CGT customers. We have specifically identified cytokines along with other biologically active cell culture media components as attractive, fast-growing and profitable adjacent product categories that align with our long-term growth strategy.”

Dr. Robert Scoffin, Qkine’s CEO, added “We are excited to partner with BioLife, a well-respected leader in the bioprocessing tools market. This collaboration brings together our expertise in cytokine innovation with BioLife’s extensive reach and customer relationships in the CGT market. Together, we aim to deliver greater value to customers and help advance the development and manufacture of next‑generation cell and gene therapies.”

Cytokines and growth factors play a vital role in the manufacturing of cell and gene therapies by regulating and stimulating cell growth, activation and performance. According to third-party market research, the current global cytokines market is estimated at $500 million annually and is projected to grow at a mid-teens compound annual rate, reaching $1 billion by 2030, driven by expanding CGT development pipelines.

About Qkine Limited
With headquarters in Cambridge, England, Qkine Limited is dedicated to advancing stem cell and regenerative medicine research by developing high-purity, bioactive growth factors and cytokines. With a focus on scientific rigour and product excellence, Qkine supports cutting-edge biological research and clinical translation worldwide. For more information, please visit www.qkine.com.

About BioLife Solutions
BioLife Solutions is a leading developer and supplier of bioproduction products and services for the cell and gene therapy (CGT) and broader biopharma markets. Our expertise facilitates the commercialization of new therapies by supplying solutions that maintain the health and function of biologic materials during collection, development, storage and distribution. For more information, please visit www.biolifesolutions.com or follow BioLife on LinkedIn and X.

Cautions Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “designed,” “may,” “estimate,” “guidance,” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and beliefs, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of certain of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in filings we make with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available at www.sec.gov. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results and events may differ materially from results and events currently expected by us. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in its expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Media & Investor Relations

At the Company
Troy Wichterman
Chief Financial Officer
(425) 402-1400 
[email protected]

Investors
Alliance Advisors IR
Jody Cain
(310) 691-7100
[email protected] 

SOURCE BioLife Solutions, Inc.

The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Registration Authority (RA) has issued a discussion paper and proposed guidance that formalise how crypto mining will be licensed and supervised as a commercial activity conducted in or from ADGM.

While crypto mining remains outside the financial services perimeter, the proposals set clear expectations on licensing, corporate transparency, operational resilience, and supervision.

Classification and scope

Crypto mining is not a regulated financial service within ADGM; no Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) authorisation is required. 

Under the discussion, crypto mining is a licensable commercial activity. Entities must obtain and maintain an RA Commercial Licence for “Crypto Mining”, and comply with ADGM’s Commercial Licensing Regulations, Companies Regulations, and applicable UAE Federal laws. 

Small scale, non commercial activity by individuals is generally out of scope.

Legal status of mined assets

The guidance confirms that digital assets lawfully generated through mining are recognised as property under ADGM law. Consequently, mined assets fall within the ordinary rules of property and commercial transactions. Although taxation is a federal matter and not governed by the RA, the proposals acknowledge potential tax implications underscoring the need for early tax and accounting alignment.

Recognising mined assets as property does more than confirm that mining rewards can be owned and transferred, it also creates a foundation for more sophisticated commercial arrangements. Once digital assets are treated as property, operators can structure financing, collateral, and security interest arrangements over predictable future reward flows. This allows lenders and investors to assess the value and enforceability of those rights with far greater confidence. However, such arrangements only work if the operator can evidence a clear and traceable record of how those assets were generated. This is why consistent valuation methods, and detailed records of activity become essential. Without well maintained ledgers; capturing timestamps, wallet addresses, and valuation points; counterparties may view the mining operation as opaque or difficult to verify, which can limit funding options or increase the cost of capital. Precise record keeping also reduces the potential for tax disputes where federal tax obligations apply, since regulators and auditors will expect mining entities to substantiate the origin, quantity, and value of mined assets with accuracy.

Licensing expectations and pre application evidence

Applicants, particularly entities conducting larger or more complex mining operations, should expect the RA to request detailed materials that go beyond basic trade licence filings. These may include:

• Detailed Operational Plans
• Infrastructure, Security, and Resilience Plans: 
• On chain Disclosure

Corporate transparency and client facing services

Under the proposal, mining entities must maintain up to date records of ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO), governance, and corporate structure with the RA, notifying it promptly of material changes. Where services are offered to third parties, the RA expects clear, accurate, and accessible information on terms of service, fees, risks, and any handling of client assets. The RA maintains a public register of licensed entities and may publish anonymised, aggregated sector data.

Risk-based supervision and enforcement

Supervision is suggested to be risk sensitive. The RA’s toolkit, as part of the discussion paper includes periodic reporting, thematic reviews, third party audits, and on site inspections, potentially unannounced and, where applicable, at overseas locations managed from ADGM. Enforcement options range from warnings and remediation directions to financial penalties and licence suspension or revocation.

in our view, ADGM’s latest guidance on crypto mining marks a meaningful elevation in the regulatory treatment of digital asset infrastructure. By setting out a technology neutral, commercially focused licensing regime, the framework has the potential to finally bring structure and predictability to an activity that has rapidly scaled but often without clear supervisory anchors. The proposed requirements, ranging from beneficial ownership transparency and rigorous governance standards to operational resilience, cybersecurity expectations, and risk based oversight, reflect a deep understanding of both the innovation and the vulnerabilities inherent in mining operations. The guidance also addresses a long standing industry gap by clarifying how entities headquartered in the jurisdiction should manage and supervise their global mining portfolios, reinforcing the need for consistent standards across borders. Overall, this is a significant step toward aligning global mining operations with mature regulatory principles while preserving space for responsible technological evolution.

Conclusion

ADGM’s proposals elevate crypto mining to a professionally governed, transparently supervised commercial activity. For serious operators, the framework offers legal certainty on asset status, a credible licensing route, and a robust platform for regional or global headquarters balanced by heightened expectations on governance, security, disclosure, and cross border oversight. Proactive preparation during the consultation window will position market participants to meet, and help shape, the final standards.

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Proud to be celebrating 20 years in Abu Dhabi

A&O Shearman advised the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) in connection with the financing arranged by the joint venture Baltic Storage Platform. This financing supports two battery energy storage projects located in Estonia: Hertz 1, inaugurated in Kiisa on February 2 and now fully operational, and Hertz 2, currently under construction in Aruküla.

Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has published a new insights paper, Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Türkiye, examining the drivers of gender pay disparities in one of Europe’s most important fashion sourcing hubs. Launched during a closed-door industry roundtable at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector in Paris, the insights paper explores how structural factors, including occupational segregation, care responsibilities, and limited data visibility, continue to shape pay outcomes for women in Türkiye’s textile and apparel sector, while highlighting opportunities for coordinated action across policy makers, brands, other buyers, and suppliers.

 

The insights paper draws on a facility-level survey of 43 Turkish textile and apparel manufacturers, interviews with trade unions and worker associations, and input from social sustainability experts including the Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP), the Fair Labor Association (FLA), and the Anker Research Institute (ARI). The findings offer a nuanced picture of pay equity in a sector that employs nearly one million formally registered workers and contributes approximately 7.8% of Türkiye’s national GDP.

 

Key Findings:

Unpacking Pay Equity in Fashion: Türkiye highlights several key insights into pay equity within the Turkish fashion manufacturing industry:

 

• Türkiye’s gender pay gap is estimated at between 15.6% and 17.4%. The EU average of around 12%. The insights paper cautions, however, that headline pay gap figures alone can mask deeper structural inequalities within the sector.
• Gender pay disparities are driven largely by structural factors rather than unequal pay for the same work, including occupational segregation, differences in career progression opportunities, cultural norms, access to training, and the distribution of care responsibilities.
• Women remain concentrated in lower-paid production, sewing and quality control roles, while men are more prevalent in higher-paid technical and supervisory positions – a key driver of persistent pay inequalities.
• The insights paper finds that limited measurement and disclosure of gender-disaggregated wage data continues to hinder companies’ ability to identify where inequality sits – and therefore to address it effectively.
• Ongoing economic pressures, including inflation and rising production costs, have placed sustained strain on the sector. Despite this, many manufacturers are making concerted efforts to maintain formal employment, comply with labour laws and protect jobs, demonstrating resilience in challenging conditions.

 

Closing gender pay gaps is not only a social imperative but a business one.  Improving pay equity can strengthen workforce morale, retention and long-term resilience, while supporting alignment with evolving EU regulatory and buyer expectations. As EU pay transparency and due diligence requirements increasingly affect global supply chains, brands sourcing from Türkiye require greater visibility into wage practices across their supply chains.

What is GDP?published at 06:34 GMT

06:34 GMT

Today’s figures show how the UK economy is performing, using a measure called GDP – Gross Domestic Product.

GDP measures the size and health of a country’s economy by assessing how much is produced, spent and earned over a period of time.

But the measure doesn’t tell the whole story, especially important aspects of people’s living standards or how wealth is shared.

Generally, economists, politicians, and businesses prefer GDP to grow steadily – as it means people are spending more, more jobs are being created, and more tax is being paid.

If GDP shrinks for two quarters in a row, this is known as a recession, which can lead to pay freezes and job losses.