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  • CNN Exclusive: Biden says war with Russia must end before NATO can consider membership for Ukraine | CNN Politics

    CNN Exclusive: Biden says war with Russia must end before NATO can consider membership for Ukraine | CNN Politics

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    CNN
     — 

    President Joe Biden told CNN in an exclusive interview that Ukraine is not yet ready for NATO membership, saying that Russia’s war in Ukraine needs to end before the alliance can consider adding Kyiv to its ranks.

    Biden told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that while discussion of Ukraine’s imminent membership in NATO was premature, the US and its allies in NATO would continue to provide President Volodymyr Zelensky and his forces the security and weaponry they need to try to end the war with Russia.

    Biden spoke to Zakaria ahead of his weeklong trip to Europe, which includes a NATO summit in Lithuania where Russia’s war in Ukraine and Zelensky’s push for NATO membership will be among the key issues looming over the gathering.

    “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,” Biden said. “For example, if you did that, then, you know – and I mean what I say – we’re determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It’s a commitment that we’ve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we’re all in war. We’re at war with Russia, if that were the case.”

    Biden said that he’s spoken to Zelensky at length about the issue, saying that he’s told the Ukrainian president the US would keep providing security and weaponry for Ukraine like it does for Israel while the process plays out.

    “I think we have to lay out a rational path for Ukraine to be able to qualify to be able to get into NATO,” Biden said, noting that he refused Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demands before the war for a commitment not to admit Ukraine because the alliance has “an open-door policy.”

    “But I think it’s premature to say, to call for a vote, you know, in now, because there’s other qualifications that need to be met, including democratization and some of those issues,” Biden said.

    On Friday, the White House announced that the US was sending Ukraine cluster munitions for the first time, a step taken to help bolster Ukraine’s ammunition as it mounts a counteroffensive against Russia. Biden told Zakaria that it was a “difficult decision” to give Ukraine the controversial ammunition, but that he was convinced it was necessary because Ukraine was running out of ammunition.

    The NATO meeting also comes as Sweden is seeking to join the Western alliance, a move that has faced resistance from Turkey and Hungary. Biden told Zakaria he was optimistic that Sweden would eventually be admitted to NATO, noting the key holdout, Turkey, is seeking to modernize its F-16 fleet, along with Greece, which has voted to admit Sweden.

    “Turkey is looking for modernization of F-16 aircraft. And (Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos) Mitsotakis in Greece is also looking for some help,” Biden said. “And so, what I’m trying to, quite frankly, put together is a little bit of a consortium here, where we’re strengthening NATO in terms of military capacity of both Greece as well as Turkey, and allow Sweden to come in. But it’s in play. It’s not done.”

    In the wide-ranging interview, Biden and Zakaria also discussed other key foreign policy challenges, including China, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

    Biden said that he’s confident Chinese President Xi Jinping wants to replace the US as the country with the largest economy and military capacity in the world, but he said that he believes the US can have a working relationship with Beijing.

    “I think there is a way to resolve, to establish a working relationship with China that benefits them and us,” Biden said. “And the last thing I’ll tell you, I also called him after he had that meeting with the Russians about this new relationship, etc. And I said, ‘This is not a threat. It’s an observation.’ I said, ‘Since Russia went into Ukraine, 600 American corporations have pulled out of Russia. And you’ve told me that your economy depends on investment from Europe and the United States. And be careful. Be careful.’”

    Biden said Xi didn’t argue with him and noted that China has “not gone full bore on Russia.”

    “He talks about nuclear war being a disaster, there is such a thing as security that’s needed,” Biden said of the Chinese leader. “So, I think there’s a way we can work through this.”

    Asked whether he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House, Biden said that Israel’s President Isaac Herzog was coming soon to the White House for a visit.

    In March, Biden criticized Netanyahu for his now-scrapped plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary, a rare public instance where the two allies were publicly at odds.

    Biden told Zakaria that he continued to believe a two-state solution was the correct path forward in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and he criticized some members of Netanyahu’s cabinet for their views on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

    “It’s not all Israel now in the West Bank, all Israel’s problem, but they are a part of the problem, and particularly those individuals in the cabinet who say, ‘We can settle anywhere we want. They have no right to be here, etc.,’” Biden said. “And I think we were talking with them regularly, trying to tamp down what’s going on and hopefully, Bibi will continue to move toward moderation and change.”

    Biden also defended his trip to Saudi Arabia last year, telling Zakaria a number of successes came from the visit, such as establishing Israeli overflights over Saudi Arabia. Asked whether the US would provide the Saudis with a defense treaty and civilian nuclear capacity, as Riyadh has requested, Biden said, “We’re a long way from there.”

    “Whether or not we would provide a means by which they can have civilian nuclear power, and/or be a guarantor of their security – I think that’s a little way off,” Biden said.

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  • US gives ‘green light’ to European countries to train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets, Biden official says | CNN Politics

    US gives ‘green light’ to European countries to train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets, Biden official says | CNN Politics

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    Washington
    CNN
     — 

    The US will allow European countries to train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets, a top Biden administration official confirmed Sunday, a potential boon for Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russia’s air superiority.

    “The president has given a green light and we will allow, permit, support, facilitate and in fact provide the necessary tools for Ukrainians to begin being trained on F-16s, as soon as the Europeans are prepared,” national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union.”

    The decision cements a stark turnaround for President Joe Biden, who said earlier this year that he did not believe that Ukraine needed the F-16s. One of the main issues Kyiv’s ground forces have faced as their counteroffensive gets underway is Russian air power holding them back. Russia still maintains air superiority, which makes it difficult for ground forces to advance.

    In May, Biden had informed G7 leaders that the US would support a joint effort with allies and partners to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth generation aircraft, including F-16s, though it was unclear at the time when that training would star.

    The US-made jet has air-to-air refueling capabilities and is compatible with most NATO weapons already being supplied to Ukraine. Despite first entering production in the 1980s, it has gone through several upgrades, making it more advanced and versatile that any jet Ukraine currently has in its fleet, and a fierce rival for most Russian aircraft, with the exception of newer models that Moscow has hesitated to deploy in Ukraine.

    Sullivan noted Sunday that European allies have said they need several weeks to prepare training abilities and that the US would meet whatever timeline they set out.

    “The United States will not be the hold-up in ensuring that this F-16 training can get underway,” he said.

    Turning to US national defense, Sullivan lamented the House-passed defense policy bill that includes the adoption of several controversial amendments that touched on hot-button social issues.

    “This legislation is never getting to the president’s desk because what you’ve seen from an extreme group of Republicans is to put forward a set of amendments that try to mix domestic social debates with the needs the security needs,” Sullivan said.

    The addition of amendments pushed by conservative hard-liners related to abortion policy and transgender health care access as well as targeting diversity and inclusion programs infuriated Democrats – and will now set up a clash with the Democratic-controlled Senate.

    Pressed to acknowledge that the bill was passed along party lines but supported by a majority of House GOP lawmakers, Sullivan argued that the process had been hijacked by a, “small group of Republicans.”

    “A huge number of folks in the House, including Republicans, in my view, are not particularly interested in having politics come into the middle of the (National) Defense Authorization Act,” Sullivan said, referring to the official name of the defense policy bill.

    “So it was a small group of Republicans who essentially created a trap. A circumstance we don’t need to find ourselves in.”

    CLARIFICATION: This story and headline have been updated to better describe the Ukrainian F-16 trainees.

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  • Exclusive: Trevor Reed is expected to make a full recovery after being wounded in Ukraine | CNN Politics

    Exclusive: Trevor Reed is expected to make a full recovery after being wounded in Ukraine | CNN Politics

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    CNN
     — 

    Former US Marine Trevor Reed is expected to make a full recovery after being wounded in battle approximately two weeks ago serving alongside Ukrainian forces fighting Russia, a source close to Reed told CNN.

    Reed is currently receiving medical care in Germany after being evacuated there by MediCare Hubs Kyiv, a German NGO, and FRIDA Ukraine, an Israeli NGO.

    Reed first traveled to Ukraine on November 1 to fight the invading Russian forces, doing so strictly as a volunteer with no affiliation with the US government, the source said.

    Reed, who spent nearly three years wrongfully detained in Russia, told friends and family he was motivated to fight by seeing the depths of Russian oppression firsthand as a prisoner, the source said, adding that Reed said he was honored to serve alongside Ukrainian fighters.

    After Reed’s unit successfully pushed back against Russian forces and recaptured about 2 km of land near Bahkmut, the source said, Reed was wounded along with others in his unit. As opposed to what US government sources told another media outlet, Reed did not step on a land mine. He was injured by shrapnel which he got in both his legs.

    He is “recuperating quickly and hopes to be home soon,” the source said.

    The source says that Reed and his family hope the news media can respect their desire for privacy as Reed recovers from his wound. He will tell his story when the time is right, the source tells CNN.

    Reed was freed from Russian detention in a high-profile prisoner swap in April 2022.

    Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a news conference Tuesday in Tonga said that Reed’s fighting in Ukraine “shouldn’t have any effect” on ongoing negotiations aimed at freeing two Americans who remain wrongfully detained in Russia: Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich.

    “As I’ve noted before, even with countries where we have profound differences, and almost by definition, countries that are arbitrarily detaining or unlawfully detaining Americans are usually countries with which we have profound differences, we manage to find ways to bring Americans home,” Blinken said.

    Another US official noted that “of course” they were concerned about the negative implications that Reed’s situation would have on negotiations, but stressed that the two issues are wholly separate.

    State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel and another US administration official stressed that Reed “was not engaged in any activities on behalf of the US government.”

    “And as I indicated, we have been incredibly clear warning American citizens, American nationals not to travel to Ukraine, let alone participate in fighting,” Patel added.

    “Since the beginning of this war, we have warned that US citizens who traveled to Ukraine, especially with the purpose of participating in fighting there, that they face significant risks including the risk of capture or death or physical harm,” he said.

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  • Powerful Ad Campaign Yields Over 50% Conversion Rate

    Powerful Ad Campaign Yields Over 50% Conversion Rate

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Dec 2, 2020


    SAN DIEGO, December 2, 2020 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Amidst the potential of election fatigue, Cruelty Free International, the world’s leading organization to end animal experimentation, enlisted Kindvertising, a rising star in the advertising industry, to draw public attention to the issue of animal research and testing.

    The results of the campaign were remarkable: over a quarter of a million impressions, 10,000 landing page visits, and 5,400 pledges in less than four weeks—a record 51% click conversion rate. By comparison, Facebook conversion rates typically range between 2.3% and 14.3%. “The campaign exceeded the highest industry benchmarks by nearly four times,” comments Ben Dutter, Media Strategist for the campaign.

    Kindvertising, who has represented the likes of UNICEF, The Nonhuman Rights Project, and Miyoko’s Creamery, launched the month-long campaign, called #MakeTheirVoiceCount, on Facebook and Instagram. Using a series of animal sounds which were translated to English via an interactive landing page, the campaign prompted viewers to recognize that while animals in laboratories may not speak a common human language, their voices—and by extension, their best interests—still matter, and it’s up to compassionate humans to pledge to speak up for them over the next four years. The pledge is still available to view and sign here.

    “People are becoming increasingly aware of how animals are used in testing and awakened to the fact they deserve better lives. The campaign offered helpful information on how people can support alternatives to animal tests, retire dogs, cats, and rabbits from laboratories into loving homes, and the possibility of reallocating billions of laboratory testing tax dollars into more sustainable and humane options,” states Stefania Poletti, Kindvertising’s founder, on the campaign’s success.

    These results follow another successful partnership by Kindvertising and Cruelty Free Europe, which integrated billboards and a Tweetstorm to urge the EU Parliament to enact more meaningful reductions in animal testing. The campaign culminated with the first-ever European Day for Humane Science and generated significant awareness across Europe, as well as the enthusiastic participation of several Members of the European Parliament.

    Readers can learn more about how the animal-centric campaigns represent and improve lives by clicking here.

    About Kindvertising, LLC:

    Kindvertising is a woman-owned advertising agency whose mission is to promote kindness. The company specializes in promoting environmental protection, animal protection, and human rights. For more information, please visit: www.kindvertising.com. To stay up to date on Kindvertising’s initiatives, the organization can be followed on Facebook and Twitter @Kindvertising.

    Press Contact:
    Shanna Loveman, Head of Public Relations
    shanna@kindvertising.com
    805-738-3177

    ###

    Source: Kindvertising, LLC

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  • Powerful Ad Campaign Yields Over 50% Conversion Rate

    Powerful Ad Campaign Yields Over 50% Conversion Rate

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    Press Release
    –


    updated: Nov 17, 2020


    SAN DIEGO, November 17, 2020 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Amidst the potential of election fatigue, Cruelty Free International, the world’s leading organization to end animal experimentation, enlisted Kindvertising, a rising star in the advertising industry, to draw public attention to the issue of animal research and testing.

    The results of the campaign were remarkable: over a quarter of a million impressions, 10,000 landing page visits, and 5,400 pledges in less than four weeks—a record 51% click conversion rate. By comparison, Facebook conversion rates typically range between 2.3% and 14.3%. “The campaign exceeded the highest industry benchmarks by nearly four times,” comments Ben Dutter, Media Strategist for the campaign.

    Kindvertising, who has represented the likes of UNICEF, The Nonhuman Rights Project, and Miyoko’s Creamery, launched the month-long campaign, called #MakeTheirVoiceCount, on Facebook and Instagram. Using a series of animal sounds which were translated to English via an interactive landing page, the campaign prompted viewers to recognize that while animals in laboratories may not speak a common human language, their voices—and by extension, their best interests—still matter, and it’s up to compassionate humans to pledge to speak up for them over the next four years. The pledge is still available to view and sign here.

    “People are becoming increasingly aware of how animals are used in testing and awakened to the fact they deserve better lives. The campaign offered helpful information on how people can support alternatives to animal tests, retire dogs, cats, and rabbits from laboratories into loving homes, and the possibility of reallocating billions of laboratory testing tax dollars into more sustainable and humane options,” states Stefania Poletti, Kindvertising’s founder, on the campaign’s success.

    These results follow another successful partnership by Kindvertising and Cruelty Free Europe, which integrated billboards and a Tweetstorm to urge the EU Parliament to enact more meaningful reductions in animal testing. The campaign culminated with the first-ever European Day for Humane Science and generated significant awareness across Europe, as well as the enthusiastic participation of several Members of the European Parliament.

    Readers can learn more about how the animal-centric campaigns represent and improve lives by clicking here.

    About Kindvertising, LLC:

    Kindvertising is a woman-owned advertising agency whose mission is to promote kindness. The company specializes in promoting environmental protection, animal protection, and human rights. For more information, please visit: www.kindvertising.com. To stay up to date on Kindvertising’s initiatives, the organization can be followed on Facebook and Twitter @Kindvertising.

    Press Contact:
    Shanna Loveman, Head of Public Relations
    shanna@kindvertising.com
    805-738-3177

    ###

    Source: Kindvertising, LLC

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  • Britain’s ‘profound economic crisis’ gives Rishi Sunak only unpleasant choices | CNN Business

    Britain’s ‘profound economic crisis’ gives Rishi Sunak only unpleasant choices | CNN Business

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    London
    CNN Business
     — 

    Rishi Sunak, Britain’s third prime minister in seven weeks, took office on Tuesday with a pledge to fix the “mistakes” of predecessor Liz Truss and tackle a “profound economic crisis.”

    The task won’t be an easy one, he acknowledged.

    “This will mean difficult decisions to come,” Sunak said in his first speech from No. 10 Downing Street.

    The United Kingdom was already sliding towards a recession when Truss took office in September, as soaring energy bills ate into spending. Now, Sunak has another headache: He must restore the government’s credibility with investors after Truss’ unfunded tax cuts sparked a bond market revolt, forcing the Bank of England to intervene to prevent a financial meltdown. Borrowing costs, including mortgage rates, shot higher.

    Accomplishing this goal will require delivering a detailed plan to put public finances on a more sustainable path. (A government watchdog warned in July that without major action, debt could reach 320% of the UK’s gross domestic product in 50 years.)

    The problem? There’s little appetite for government spending cuts after years of austerity in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. Plus, failing to help households deal with surging living costs could prove politically devastating and further weigh on the economy.

    “It’s not a particularly pleasant economic hand to be dealt [as] a new prime minister,” said Ben Zaranko, a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

    Finance minister Jeremy Hunt got the ball rolling last week when he reversed £32 billion ($37 billion) in tax cuts that formed the bedrock of Truss’ plan to boost growth.

    Yet Sunak and Hunt — who will stay in his job — still need to find between £30 billion and £40 billion in savings to bring down public debt as a share of the economy in the next five years, according to calculations by IFS, an influential think tank.

    “It is going to be tough,” Hunt said in a tweet. “But protecting the vulnerable — and people’s jobs, mortgages and bills — will be at the front of our minds as we work to restore stability, confidence and long-term growth.”

    Sunak and Hunt won’t have the option of going light on the details. If investors don’t buy into their plan and borrowing costs shoot up again, getting the situation under control would only become trickier, as interest payments on government debt rise.

    “If markets don’t [see] the plans as credible, then filling the fiscal hole could become even harder,” said Ruth Gregory, senior UK economist at Capital Economics.

    One area Sunak may be tempted to tap is the social welfare budget. Questions have swirled about whether the Conservative government may try to avoid boosting state benefits in line with inflation, as is customary. (American recipients of Social Security will receive the biggest cost-of-living adjustment in more than four decades next year.)

    Most UK working-age benefits would typically go up by 10.1% next April based on inflation data. But there’s speculation the increase could be linked instead to average earnings, which are growing at a much slower rate than inflation. That could save £7 billion ($8 billion) in 2023-24, according to IFS.

    Such a move would prove controversial, however — especially since benefits have not kept up with rampant inflation in 2022.

    “I would like to see if we could find a way to increase benefits by inflation, but what I will say is that trade-offs are involved,” former Conservative cabinet minister Sajid Javid told ITV this week.

    A more palatable option, at least for households, would be extracting more taxes from corporations.

    Hunt has already said that corporate taxes will rise from 19% to 25% next spring. The Financial Times has reported that Hunt could also target earnings from oil and gas companies by extending a windfall tax on profits.

    In an interview with the BBC earlier this month, Hunt said he was “not against the principle” of windfall taxes and that “nothing is off the table.” Higher taxes on the financial sector are also under consideration, according to the Financial Times.

    Industry groups are already circling the wagons. Banking trade association UK Finance said its members already pay “a higher rate of taxation overall than any other sector,” and urged the government not to “risk the competitiveness of the UK’s banking and finance industry.”

    Sunak could also walk back Truss’ commitment to boosting defense spending to 3% of the economy by 2030, though that carries its own political risks given Russia’s war in Ukraine. Other countries in the region, such as Germany, have said they will ramp up military investments, and the United Kingdom may be loath to fall behind, Zaranko said.

    Investors and economists expect that the government will announce a mixture of tax increases and spending cuts shortly. Hunt is due to reveal his plans in greater depth on October 31.g

    “Despite the fiscal U-turns, the government will still need to show a fiscally credible path next week in the budget to balance the books,” Sonali Punhani, an economist at Credit Suisse, said in a note to clients this week.

    That could exacerbate the country’s downturn. The Bank of England has projected that the United Kingdom is already in a recession, and a gauge of business activity in October slumped to its lowest level in 21 months.

    “We are seeing quite a dramatic shift in the fiscal outlook from being much looser than we expected just a few weeks ago to being much tighter than we expected,” Gregory of Capital Economics said. “I think the risk is that the recession is deeper or longer than we expect.”

    A weaker economy would present its own complications.

    No one wants to repeat the errors of the brief Truss era, when her gamble that unfunded tax cuts would jumpstart growth backfired spectacularly.

    But business groups are warning that completely abandoning the objective of boosting Britain’s anemic economic growth would create problems, too.

    The austerity of the 2010s produced “very low growth, zero productivity and low investment,” Tony Danker, head of the Confederation of British Industry, told the BBC on Tuesday.

    “The country could end up in a similar doom loop where all you have to do is keep coming back every year to find more tax rises and more spending cuts, because you’ve got no growth.”

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  • CT Interactive expands its presence in Montenegro via new content deal with SBbet.me | Yogonet International

    CT Interactive expands its presence in Montenegro via new content deal with SBbet.me | Yogonet International

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    Online gaming content provider CT Interactive announced a new strategic deal with operator SBbet.me, thus expanding its presence in Montenegro. According to a press release, the supplier will provide its new partner with a list of “the most successful products that have proven to be a hit around the world.”

    The list of products that Sbbet.me users will gain access to includes games like Bloody Princess; Champagne and Fruits; Dice Quest; Dice Valhalla; Doctor Winstein; Fire Egg; Fruit Galaxy the Wheel; Hyper Cuber; Lord of Luck the Wheel; Monkey Kingdom; Queen of Flames the Wheel; The Golden Duck; Treasure Chase; Fruits and Bells; Aztec Gold 20 and Fruitball Heroes.

    Milena Tsankarska, Head of Business Development EMEA at CT Interactive, commented on the deal: “We are so happy that our presence is growing so fast in the Montenegrin territory. Earlier this year, we announced that a new package of our cutting-edge products has been certified for Montenegro.”

    “Since then, we have helped a lot of local operators increase their clientele and better their players’ experience. For us, it is a great pleasure to partner with Sbbet.me,” she added.

    For his part, Aleksandar Spadijer, CEO At Sbbet.me, said: “We’re delighted to team up with CT Interactive. Their portfolio is outstanding, and we are sure that through it we will provide our clients with a world-class gaming experience.”

    In addition to extending its footprint in Montenegro, the latest deal is also in line with the company’s expansion goals in the European market. Last month, the business signed an agreement with The Ear platform. Online casinos from all over Italy have now access to the exclusive games of CT Interactive. 

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  • CT Interactive expands Bulgarian presence by taking its games live with Everbet | Yogonet International

    CT Interactive expands Bulgarian presence by taking its games live with Everbet | Yogonet International

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    Online provider CT Interactive has integrated its premium content with Everbet, one of the newest licensed online betting operators in Bulgaria, thus further solidifying its presence in the country.

    Through this partnership, Everbet users will access a selection of CT Interactive’s slot titles, including 40 Treasures, Lucky Clover, HOT 7’s X 2, Chilli Fruits, Duck of Luck, and more.

    Milena Tsankarska, Head of Business Development EMEA at CT Interactive, commented: “Our company is thrilled to contribute to Everbet’s journey through its gaming mix of an exciting and diverse portfolio, which promises a gaming adventure like no other.”

    For his part, Kiril Kirilov, CRM at CT Interactive, added: “Integrating with Everbet is not just about expanding our reach; it’s about crafting an immersive gaming environment. Players can anticipate an array of engaging titles that showcase our dedication to innovation and quality.”

    “The collaboration with CT Interactive represents a significant milestone for Everbet. Their dedication to pushing the gaming boundaries resonates seamlessly with our vision,” said Reinis Kolnejs, CPO at Everbet.

    “We’re especially eager about introducing their games and the Hot Luck Jackpot, which will add an extra layer of excitement for our valued customers,” he concluded.

    In line with its expansion plans, earlier this month, the provider took its content live in Spain exclusively with online operator Casino777. Through this deal, Casino777’s customer base will have access to CT Interactive’s games, the supplier announced via a statement. 

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