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Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
The great ice debate: Why Americans pile it on while Europeans keep it chill
A debate sparks between America and Europe over ice in water. Americans expect ice, while Europeans often don't serve it. This difference reflects cultural norms and historical habits. The US embraced ice commercially, while Europe values tap water quality. The debate highlights differing preferences and environmental considerations. Travelers should understand these customs. It is all about tradition and personal choice. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The humble ice cube—a hero at the bottom of an American glass, a rare sight in Europe 's cafés—has ignited a cross-continental controversy that's far more than a culinary afterthought. Every summer, as American tourists clutch tepid water in Paris or Rome, social media inflates with incredulity, memes, and gentle mockery under the hashtag #IceWaterDebate. But what lies beneath the surface of the cube? Authors and experts see more than a trivial travel squabble: the ice divide is a window into culture, climate, and even people have traced this chilly divide as deeply as Amy Brady, author of Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks - A Cool History of a Hot Commodity. Brady recounts how America's love affair with ice began in the 19th century, when Boston's 'Ice King,' Frederick Tudor, pioneered the mass harvesting and global shipping of New England lake ice. 'The US became the first nation to make ice a household staple,' Brady writes, describing how, by the early 20th century, 'no respectable American home or hotel would serve drinks without it.'American travelers to Europe have expressed surprise and sometimes frustration at the European tendency to serve drinks, especially water, without ice. On platforms like TikTok , US tourists share clips highlighting the scarcity or outright absence of ice cubes in European beverages, a stark contrast to US customs where ice is often generously added to drinks. This has led to a viral, humorous, and sometimes bewildered conversation dubbed the " Ice Water Debate " between the two the European perspective, serving drinks without ice is common and tied to local preferences and historical habits. Europeans, particularly in northern countries, often drink tap water straight or with minimal chilling, as they trust the quality and prefer the natural flavor unaltered by melting ice. For example, Scandinavian countries consider access to clean tap water so reliable that ice is not deemed necessary for hydration. Europeans also point out that many public places and hotels offer free water refills and emphasize hydration through readily available tap American habit of filling glasses with large amounts of ice stems partly from a preference for extremely cold drinks and the use of ice to dilute the drink slightly as it melts. This habit dates back to commercial ice availability and cultural norms that celebrate chilled beverages, especially in warm climates or fast-paced lifestyles where refreshing coolness is prized. The debate touches on dietary and environmental considerations as well, with some Europeans noting that the US consumption of ice might contribute to higher energy and water on water consumption habits also highlight the differences. Studies indicate that water intake in some European countries is below recommended levels compared to the US, though accessibility to clean water is widespread in Europe. This paradox is partly due to differing drinking patterns and social customs around hydration versus beverage suggest this debate is largely about what individuals are accustomed to rather than objective advantages of one approach. European residents emphasize that the absence of ice does not reflect a lack of hydration but a cultural norm where water quality and drinking practices differ. American travelers are encouraged to adapt to local customs and understand the reasons behind these differences, which ultimately relate to each region's infrastructure, climate, and if you're parched in Provence or sweating in Seville and the server delivers a cool—but never cold—glass, you're not being shortchanged. You're sipping on centuries of tradition, personal preference, and maybe a pinch of passive-aggressive iced or not.
CNN
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Why Americans can't chill out about ice-free European beverages
It's a sticky, boiling hot day in Paris, London, Rome, Athens or any other heatwave-stricken European destination. You flop down in a cafe after a morning spent on your feet. You order a refreshing cold drink. The beverage arrives and it's lukewarm. No ice cubes to be seen. You flag down the server and ask for the same again, this time with ice. It arrives with a solitary, sad-looking ice cube that melts before the first sip. 'So, I started saying, 'Oh, can I get extra ice?' And then they give just two ice cubes…' recalls New Yorker Isabel Tan, who has first-hand experience of Europe's froideur when it comes to adding frozen H20 to liquid refreshment. 'Eventually, I was like, 'Okay, let me just see what they'll do if I just ask for a bucket of ice…' So I asked that, half as a joke. But they brought out a small bucket of ice. I was in Italy, and it was really, really hot… So it kind of worked out.' Just as there are — at least broadly speaking — cultural differences in how some US folks and Europeans handle the tap water versus mineral water question, there's also a divide when it comes to the iciness of beverages. After Tan successfully ordered the ice bucket in Italy she jokingly posted about her experience on TikTok. Her video is part of a slew of memes, TikToks and Instagram Reels that have popped up in recent summers as Americans decamp to Europe and come face to face with resolutely room-temperature drinks. That social media trend is capturing, as historian Jonathan Rees puts it, a genuine, 'historically determined' cultural difference. 'The entire world does not have as much interest in ice as the United States does,' says Rees, the author of 'Refrigeration Nation: A History of Ice, Appliances, and Enterprise in America.' 'We are very much accustomed to having ice in just about everything. It's very much an American thing.' Another author, Amy Brady, whose book 'Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks – A Cool History of a Hot Commodity' contemplates the environmental consequences of populating so many aspects of life with frozen chunks of water, agrees. 'Americans are unique on the world stage in terms of our absolute obsession with ice,' she says. 'Americans are unique on the world stage in terms of our absolute obsession with ice.' Amy Brady, author of "Ice: From Mixed Drinks to Skating Rinks – A Cool History of a Hot Commodity' That rings true for Tan, who is originally from Singapore and grew up around different attitudes toward refrigeration. 'It's a cultural thing in the Asian culture to believe that drinking warm drinks is actually better for you,' she says. Years in New York converted Tan to the icy way of life. 'Even in my Stanley Cup right now, there are ice cubes,' she says, gesturing to the giant water bottle in her hand. 'I definitely prefer ice drinks. Even in the winter, I will drink an iced coffee… ice drinks year round.' UK-based Claire Dinhut has a different perspective: 'I personally really don't like ice, nor do I even like the taste of water,' she tells CNN Travel. Dinhut is half American, half French, but despite spending time in Los Angeles as a kid, she never got on board with the American love of ice. She's lived in Athens, Prague and now the UK, and is grateful that living in Europe means she avoids mounds of ice in drinks. Her preference? 'A good sorbet.' 'I find that ice dilutes the overall flavor of the beverage, falls on your face and spills your drink when you try to drink it, and is a good way for people to hide the actual amount of drink in a cup,' says Dinhut. The European verus US ice divide might have gained attention online in recent years, but it's not a new thing. Brady points to historic examples of 'people from around the world coming to America and being shocked.' 'I uncovered essays and letters from Charles Dickens, the famous 19th century English author, who came to America and was shocked and frankly disgusted by what he called the mounds of ice overflowing from American drinks,' recalls Brady. 'We were a spectacle to others because of our obsession with ice.' Rees says the American problem of sourcing ice on their travels goes back more than 100 years. 'People in the late 19th century, once they were hooked on ice, would ask Europeans for ice and be baffled when they couldn't get it.' So, just how did Americans become so ice-obsessed? Rees says the American love of ice can be traced back to Frederick Tudor, a businessman and entrepreneur in 19th century Boston who made such a fortune selling frozen water that he became known as the 'Ice King.' 'He, with a lot of help, came up with a way to cut ice off ponds and streams, packed it into ships and sent it all over the planet,' says Rees. 'He sent ice to India. He sent ice to the Caribbean. He sent ice to the American South. That is the beginning of the ice industry.' And even with all these ice exports, there was leftover ice lying around. 'Nobody knew what to do with it,' says Rees. 'So, Tudor began to give ice away to American taverns… They would put it in their drinks, and then people would sort of get hooked on having their drinks cold, and then they would come back and buy it from him later. And it worked fabulously well. He created a market. He became very rich.' Tudor was by no means 'the first person in the world to put ice in a cocktail,' Brady says – no one really knows who was – but people living in hot climates have always looked for ways to cool down. 'His innovation was to bring ice to people living in climates where ice didn't form naturally.' As the 19th century rolled into the 20th, ice was cemented as a status symbol in the US. 'Marketing campaigns talked about ice like they would talk about an automobile or a TV set,' says Brady. 'To own an icebox would be the way to signal to your neighbors that you have arrived, you know, as a middle-class American, who has kind of, quote, unquote, made it financially.' In Europe, ice never gained the same popularity — not in the 19th century and not today. Whereas Americans look upon ice with glee, generally speaking Europeans view ice as unnecessary, and even a little gross. 'I'll order iced drinks during the summer out of necessity,' says Dinhut. 'But I will chug the drink as to not actually let it get watered down and change the flavor.' Ice expert Rees explains that it's true that, 'when you put ice in your drink, it automatically dilutes it.' He says that when it comes to Americans and ice, 'it's as much about what Americans are used to as it is about taste. It's a little crazy. But Americans have loved ice for so long that we're willing to make that sacrifice. We're willing to pay extra in order to have our drinks diluted in particular ways.' As a quintessential US lover of ice, Rees waxes lyrical about 'the little crackling noise when you place it in there, the tinkle when the ice hits the side of the glass.' 'That makes me very happy for some reason,' he says. When Brit Lacey Buffery moved to the US five years ago she noticed the amount of ice 'right away.' At first, she found the icy pint glasses of tap water served in restaurants 'too cold.' But in time, she adapted. 'I've gotten used to and now really like a very cold drink,' she says. Her British partner, meanwhile, has remained steadfast in his anti-ice perspective. He'll specifically request no ice. 'That confuses servers as I don't think they see that regularly,' says Buffery. As she acclimated to life in the California, Buffery was also taken with US refrigerators — which are often twice the size of typical UK fridges — 'Americans have the largest refrigerators in the world,' confirms the ice historian Rees — and often come with an inbuilt ice dispenser. 'I have never had a fridge in the UK with an ice dispenser,' says Buffery. 'We would make squash in a jug as a kid and store it in the fridge for the summer. And we would obviously have an ice tray in the freezer, but you couldn't have much ice as it wasn't easily available.' On social media, Buffery points out free soda refills are commonplace in the US but rare in Europe, suggesting this also plays a part in the ice debate — 'We pay per drink in the UK, and who wants to keep paying for a ton of ice with a little soda?' Still, it intrigues Buffery to reflect on how much her habits have changed over her half decade in the US. She and her husband intend to move back to the UK soon, and when they do, Buffery says she will be hunting down a US-style fridge as soon as possible. Buffery's experiences suggest a lot of the ice-versus-no-ice debate is about what you're used to. While historically, northern European countries were cooler in summer than certain US states, the climate crisis has led to increased summer temperatures in cities like London and Paris. But ice can still be elusive. 'My understanding is to a certain extent it's easier to get ice than it used to be all over Europe, but it is still the exception rather than the rule,' says Rees. In many European destinations, there's no guarantee the establishment where you're dining or drinking will have ice. There isn't, as some TikToks have suggested, an ice shortage in Europe. It's just not the cultural norm. And whereas US hotels typically have ice machines in the corridor, and grocery stores sell giant bags of ice, this isn't generally commonplace outside of North America. 'One of the first things on a list that a host might send a party guest is 'who's bringing the ice?'' says ice historian Brady. 'That's very much an American thing.' Canadian Zoe McCormack — 'not American, but very much the same ice culture,' she says — lives in Paris. She tells CNN Travel she often struggles to track down ice in restaurants in the French city. She says she's less bothered by the iceless drinks in the winter months, but she still hates the lukewarm water, served in tiny 'shot glasses.' 'I don't really drink hot coffee, hot tea and stuff like that. So when they bring lukewarm water, I just find the taste weird,' she says. McCormack also suggests the lack of air conditioning in Europe plays a role — and the generally warmer fridges. When she buys a can of iced tea or soda that's been stored in a European grocery store chiller, 'the drink is not that cold.' When McCormack can, she reaches to the back of the shelf, searching, often in vain, for the coldest can she can find. 'The grocery store is not air conditioned, it's crazy, and you're reaching into the back to try and grab the drinks in the back, because those have probably been there the longest and are the coldest, and sometimes even those aren't that cold. And I'm like, 'Oh my gosh, I just need something refreshing.' But it's so hard to find.' If you're an American heading to Europe this summer getting anxious about ice — and possibly a lack of air conditioning and tap water too — rest assured that there are other ways of staying cool in the heat: gelato, sorbet and granita, to name a few. A jug of tinto de verano in Seville will be full of ice, while a glass of rose in Provence will be chilled to perfection. Plus, Europe isn't a monoculture. Every destination will be different. 'I gotta admit, I really like ice, but I understand when I'm traveling that I'm not going to be able to get it in every single place, and sometimes I'm not going to be able to get it at all,' says the historian Rees. He adds: 'But that's all right. I leave the United States specifically so that I can try other people's cuisines, which includes their drinks and they may not have ice in them.' Brady echoes this, suggesting viewing an iceless European beverage as simply a cultural difference, rather than a frustration, and taking it as opportunity for 'self-reflection.' 'Try to resist what might be an immediate reaction, which is, 'Oh, this tepid water, this tepid tea is less good or less clean, or less tasty, less delightful,'' she advises. 'That is a very American, specific perspective. And, putting that aside, also just experiencing how other people around the world develop their own culinary tastes and preferences will make life much more interesting… And it'll just keep you from being a jerk.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NiCE Actimize X-Sight AI Enterprise Platform Increases Modernization of KeyBank's Financial Crime Operations
KeyBank also leverages NiCE for its workforce augmentation capabilities utilizing intelligent automation to streamline operations and drive productivity across service touchpoints HOBOKEN, N.J., June 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NiCE Actimize, a NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) business, today announced that KeyBank has increased the modernization of its financial crime operations with the X-Sight AI Enterprise Platform, an advanced portfolio of solutions which effectively address the financial services institutions' (FIs) most pressing challenges. KeyBank is one of the nation's largest bank-based FIs. KeyBank's objectives in its modernization were to tackle a variety of operational challenges, while enhancing overall efficiency. Now fully live with fraud and anti-money laundering capabilities, the advanced SaaS platform is designed to reduce disruptions caused by system downtime or performance issues so that KeyBank can now more swiftly resolve issues and achieve enhanced overall system reliability and a smoother, more dependable banking experience. With built-in agility derived from NiCE Actimize's Integrated Fraud Management (IFM) system, KeyBank can now more quickly adapt workflows and implement new compliance measures in response to changing regulations and new types of fraud. KeyBank incorporated NiCE Actimize's ActOne case management capabilities into the modernized approach and additionally updated its platform with the addition of X-Sight Enterprise for Anti-Money Laundering, including CDD capabilities. "KeyBank sought to future-proof its operations, and NiCE Actimize's advanced X-Sight AI Enterprise platform provided a seamless path," said Amy Brady, Chief Information Officer, KeyBank. "We were challenged by increased costs associated with manual system upgrades and patches. By replacing our previous solutions, we have ensured consistent performance and minimized system downtime, allowing the organization to respond more effectively to evolving regulatory changes." Explained Craig Costigan, CEO, NiCE Actimize, "The X-Sight AI platform helps firms simplify the complexities of managing multiple deployments, providing a comprehensive view of transactions and potential risks. One significant benefit is that the platform ensures banks can utilize the most advanced capabilities without the delay of manual updates. This enables the adoption of future innovations such as advanced analytics which enhance fraud detection and regulatory compliance." In addition to being a NiCE Actimize customer, KeyBank also leverages NiCE's AI-powered workforce augmentation capabilities to boost operational efficiency and enhance both employee and customer experiences. By introducing forecasting and scheduling with greater automation and precision, leadership improved reporting accuracy and hit service level goals all year. The standout achievement: hundreds of 'man-hours' saved during the busiest time of the year through NiCE's self-service PTO bidding, freeing resources to optimize service, and providing employees with more flexibility. About KeyCorpIn 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189 billion at March 31, 2025. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit KeyBank Member FDIC. About NiCE ActimizeAs a global leader in artificial intelligence, platform services, and cloud solutions, NiCE Actimize excels in preventing fraud, detecting financial crime, and supporting regulatory compliance. Over 1,000 organizations across more than 70 countries trust NiCE Actimize to protect their institutions and safeguard assets throughout the entire customer lifecycle. With NiCE Actimize, customers gain deeper insights and mitigate risks. Learn more at About NiCENiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) is transforming the world with AI that puts people first. Our purpose-built AI-powered platforms automate engagements into proactive, safe, intelligent actions, empowering individuals and organizations to innovate and act, from interaction to resolution. Trusted by organizations throughout 150+ countries worldwide, NiCE's platforms are widely adopted across industries connecting people, systems, and workflows to work smarter at scale, elevating performance across the organization, delivering proven measurable outcomes. Trademark Note: NiCE and the NiCE logo are trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE's marks, please see: Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Mr. Costigan, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the "Company"). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believe," "expect," "seek," "may," "will," "intend," "should," "project," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in general economic and business conditions; competition; successful execution of the Company's growth strategy; success and growth of the Company's cloud Software-as-a-Service business; rapid changes in technology and market requirements; the implementation of AI capabilities in certain products and services, decline in demand for the Company's products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties in making additional acquisitions or difficulties or effectively integrating acquired operations; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company's dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners; cyber security attacks or other security incidents; privacy concerns; changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, the effects of additional tax liabilities resulting from our global operations, the effect of unexpected events or geo-political conditions, including those arising from political instability or armed conflict that may disrupt our business and the global economy; our ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law. View source version on Contacts Corporate Media Contact Cindy Morgan-Olson, +1 646 408 5896, media@ ET Investors Marty Cohen, +1 551 256 5354, ir@ ETOmri Arens, +972 3 763 0127, ir@ CET Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
NiCE Actimize X-Sight AI Enterprise Platform Increases Modernization of KeyBank's Financial Crime Operations
BUSINESS WIRE)-- NiCE Actimize, a NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) business, today announced that KeyBank has increased the modernization of its financial crime operations with the X-Sight AI Enterprise Platform, an advanced portfolio of solutions which effectively address the financial services institutions' (FIs) most pressing challenges. KeyBank is one of the nation's largest bank-based FIs. KeyBank's objectives in its modernization were to tackle a variety of operational challenges, while enhancing overall efficiency. Now fully live with fraud and anti-money laundering capabilities, the advanced SaaS platform is designed to reduce disruptions caused by system downtime or performance issues so that KeyBank can now more swiftly resolve issues and achieve enhanced overall system reliability and a smoother, more dependable banking experience. With built-in agility derived from NiCE Actimize's Integrated Fraud Management (IFM) system, KeyBank can now more quickly adapt workflows and implement new compliance measures in response to changing regulations and new types of fraud. KeyBank incorporated NiCE Actimize's ActOne case management capabilities into the modernized approach and additionally updated its platform with the addition of X-Sight Enterprise for Anti-Money Laundering, including CDD capabilities. 'KeyBank sought to future-proof its operations, and NiCE Actimize's advanced X-Sight AI Enterprise platform provided a seamless path,' said Amy Brady, Chief Information Officer, KeyBank. ' We were challenged by increased costs associated with manual system upgrades and patches. By replacing our previous solutions, we have ensured consistent performance and minimized system downtime, allowing the organization to respond more effectively to evolving regulatory changes.' Explained Craig Costigan, CEO, NiCE Actimize, ' The X-Sight AI platform helps firms simplify the complexities of managing multiple deployments, providing a comprehensive view of transactions and potential risks. One significant benefit is that the platform ensures banks can utilize the most advanced capabilities without the delay of manual updates. This enables the adoption of future innovations such as advanced analytics which enhance fraud detection and regulatory compliance.' In addition to being a NiCE Actimize customer, KeyBank also leverages NiCE's AI-powered workforce augmentation capabilities to boost operational efficiency and enhance both employee and customer experiences. By introducing forecasting and scheduling with greater automation and precision, leadership improved reporting accuracy and hit service level goals all year. The standout achievement: hundreds of 'man-hours' saved during the busiest time of the year through NiCE's self-service PTO bidding, freeing resources to optimize service, and providing employees with more flexibility. About KeyCorp In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $189 billion at March 31, 2025. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit KeyBank Member FDIC. About NiCE Actimize As a global leader in artificial intelligence, platform services, and cloud solutions, NiCE Actimize excels in preventing fraud, detecting financial crime, and supporting regulatory compliance. Over 1,000 organizations across more than 70 countries trust NiCE Actimize to protect their institutions and safeguard assets throughout the entire customer lifecycle. With NiCE Actimize, customers gain deeper insights and mitigate risks. Learn more at About NiCE NiCE (NASDAQ: NICE) is transforming the world with AI that puts people first. Our purpose-built AI-powered platforms automate engagements into proactive, safe, intelligent actions, empowering individuals and organizations to innovate and act, from interaction to resolution. Trusted by organizations throughout 150+ countries worldwide, NiCE's platforms are widely adopted across industries connecting people, systems, and workflows to work smarter at scale, elevating performance across the organization, delivering proven measurable outcomes. Trademark Note: NiCE and the NiCE logo are trademarks of NICE Ltd. All other marks are trademarks of their respective owners. For a full list of NICE's marks, please see: Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including the statements by Mr. Costigan, are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of NICE Ltd. (the 'Company'). In some cases, such forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as 'believe,' 'expect,' 'seek,' 'may,' 'will,' 'intend,' 'should,' 'project,' 'anticipate,' 'plan,' 'estimate,' or similar words. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the Company to differ materially from those described herein, including but not limited to the impact of changes in general economic and business conditions; competition; successful execution of the Company's growth strategy; success and growth of the Company's cloud Software-as-a-Service business; rapid changes in technology and market requirements; the implementation of AI capabilities in certain products and services, decline in demand for the Company's products; inability to timely develop and introduce new technologies, products and applications; difficulties in making additional acquisitions or difficulties or effectively integrating acquired operations; loss of market share; an inability to maintain certain marketing and distribution arrangements; the Company's dependency on third-party cloud computing platform providers, hosting facilities and service partners; cyber security attacks or other security incidents; privacy concerns; changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, the effects of additional tax liabilities resulting from our global operations, the effect of unexpected events or geo-political conditions, including those arising from political instability or armed conflict that may disrupt our business and the global economy; our ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; the effect of newly enacted or modified laws, regulation or standards on the Company and our products and various other factors and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'). For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting the company, refer to the Company's reports filed from time to time with the SEC, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise them, except as required by law.
