THE NEW NORMAL: 4 TIPS TO BOOST YOUR BUSINESS HYGIENE LEVEL

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Right from the beginning of 2020, the world has been baffled with the sudden outbreak of COVID-19, not only does it impact the entire health ecosystem, but dampening the economy's growth globally. While Malaysia is not spared from this crisis, our government has taken great efforts in placing strict enforcements in the past few months to contain the outbreak, and from July onwards, most of the businesses have started to resume operation such as offices, public premises like retail malls, restaurants and even schools will be fully reopened by the end of July. Despite RMCO giving way to a plethora of new relaxation measures, the fight is not over for this pandemic. Thus, precaution measures must continue to be in place to ensure the highest hygiene level for the safety of everyone. 

As a business owner, how can you protect your employees and visitors?

1. Sanitise your premises regularly
While everyone is pacing back to normal life, regular actions such as retrieving money from ATM machines and getting back to work in office with various electronic gadgets such as laptops, mobile phones and other electronic devices may seem dutiful and alright. But, do you know these machines and laptops have a higher germ count than the average toilet seat, which contains nearly ​5,000 germs​ and ​3,000 germs​ respectively? It may allow the spread of bacteria at your premises if they go on to touch from one surface to another surfaces after using these electronic devices. Generally, carrying out regular sanitation is crucial and important. Initial Hygiene provides ​sanitation services which creates a protective layer on these hot spot touchpoints that last up to 30 days to​ protect your employees and provide a peace of mind for your visitors at your premises.

2. Get the shoes soles sanitised
Did you know that our shoe soles pick up harmful germs and bacteria? These would then be transferred from the shoe soles to your floor/carpet as we enter into your building premises, exposing your employees and visitors to risk of cross-contamination. Hence, it is important to reduce the risk through shoe soles with Initial Disinfectant Ma​t which the base contains Initial Disinfectant Solutions that helps to sanitise and effectively kills common strains of harmful germs and bacteria.

3. Hand hygiene facility is now a necessity
This pandemic outbreak has resulted in increased hygiene awareness whether it is at the workplace or at any public premises. As more working adults resume to work and visitors make regular visits to your premises, common touch points such as door knobs and elevators may contain harmful bacteria which can easily cause cross-contamination via touch. Hence, take proactive steps in protecting your employees and visitors with Initial Auto Hand Hygiene Range,​ to encourage good hand hygiene habits in your premises.

4. Be a socially responsible citizen
As more and more restrictions are relaxed throughout Malaysia, there is some anxiety about complacency among Malaysians. No social distancing, the mask is off while walking around and some may even refuse to register before entering a premises. Don’t compromise these relaxations at your premises as it may affect your business operations if anyone is infected. Mitigate the risk of germs spread by adhering to Health Ministry’s recommendations and ensure your employees and visitors follow these steps before entering your premises.

Everyone has a role to play in

Even though daily statistics has shown the decline of new infections, it should be noted that this reduction is only applicable to the clusters that were tested. Hence, everyone of us has the responsibility to embrace and follow all the guidelines by MOH to avoid a new wave of Covid-19, like what happened in other countries. While we are still fighting with the pandemic, grab this opportunity to learn about self-discipline, maintaining cleanliness, rebuilding relationships with people, and so forth to accommodate the inevitable change in our lives.

About Rentokil Initial Malaysia
Rentokil Initial is part of an international network of over 70 countries with 35,500 colleagues, more than 100 years of combined experience, and a great track record of providing reliable and trustworthy services to businesses globally.

Established in Malaysia for over 50 years, we are the experts delivering essential services in areas such as hygiene and pest control - the foundation of businesses - so our customers can focus on what they do best. Rentokil Initial is characterised by efficient management that supports a national network across Malaysia. That means there's always a Rentokil Initial service technician nearby when a customer needs one - and that we have the range and depth of resources to provide consistent quality service to customers. This makes Rentokil Initial a trusted brand of many different customers ranging from residential, SMEs to large organisations.


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ISW Holdings initialises production of 1MW Proceso S19 Pod5ive Data Center design

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30  -- Nevada-based ISW Holdings Inc (ISW Holdings or the Company) has announced finalisation of the new Proceso S19 Pod5ive data centre design, capable of powering 1MW of computing mining power.

Bit5ive is targeting the first deployments beginning in August, with its initial pod delivery bound to the 100-MW renewable energy Bit5ive LLC (Bit5ive) project in Pennsylvania.

“The S19 Pod5ive Data Center has been engineered from the ground up to deliver an industry leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) score of 1.025,” said ISW Holdings president, Alonzo Pierce in a statement.

“If you eliminate everything superfluous to maximum performance, optimise every remaining factor, and then integrate it into a renewable energy substrate to drive costs down to some of the lowest levels available anywhere in the world, this is what you get.”

The Company formed a joint venture partnership with Bit5ive in May to build and deliver the single most elegant, powerful and efficient data centre pods in the world.

Geared primarily for the cryptocurrency mining industry, the Proceso S19 Pod5ive Data Center offers next-generation, dynamic self-management functionality, plug-and-play operation, virtually non-existent maintenance needs, and an industry best-in-class 1.025 PUE.

The design features include automated environment control with airflow pressure sensor and ‘smart’ evaporator cooler; remote management capability; motion sensor security; and, proprietary miners monitoring and software system.

More details at www.ISWHoldings.com

-- BERNAMA

SmartStream receives highest level of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 -- SmartStream Technologies, the financial Transaction Lifecycle Management (TLM®) solutions provider, has announced certification for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) version 3.2.1, level 1 (the highest level).

According to a statement, the certification provides additional reassurance to serve card and digital payment customers and process personal identifiable information across the world.

The PCI-DSS certification is one of the most trusted, demanded and in a lot of cases mandatory qualifications for solutions partners.

SmartStream’s reconciliations platform and OnDemand (SaaS) services using its flagship solutions: TLM Reconciliations, TLM Aurora and SmartStream Air (Artificial Intelligence Reconciliations), have been certified at the highest level of security standards.

This also includes the departments, staff, locations and processes which support the complete service model.

For SmartStream, achieving PCI-DSS status involved demonstrating high levels of security across the whole organisation, covering domains such as physical security, personnel security, fraud control mechanisms, IT & data security and data privacy - on a fully monitored business environment.

SmartStream chief executive officer, Haytham Kaddoura said: “The process was rigorous, it included revisiting numerous policies, testing security solutions and implementing new processes, it was a collaborative team effort across all of the business units.”

-- BERNAMA

ANOMALI, TIS INTEC GROUP PARTNER TO PROVIDE CYBERSECURITY SERVICES IN JAPAN

Anomali Product Suite Powers TIS’ Threat Intelligence Center

TOKYO, July 29 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anomali, a leader in intelligence-driven cybersecurity solutions, today announced a partnership with TIS INTEC Group, an IT provider serving the needs of domestic and overseas customers spanning finance, manufacturing, and public agencies. As partners, TIS will utilize the Anomali product suite to power its threat intelligence center to deliver enterprise cloud and security operation services across its APAC-region customer base.

“With advanced persistent threats (APTs) and cybercriminals targeting public and private sector organizations in the region, it is critically important that services providers responsible for security understand what they are up against,” said Geoff Noble, Anomali Sr. Vice President and GM, APAC. “With Anomali providing the foundation of its security offering, TIS gains accelerated detection, investigation, and response over the threats that are most impactful to their customers’ environments.”

“With the next Olympic Games and 2025 World Expo scheduled to be hosted in Japan, we’ve seen a surge in cyberattacks against Japanese companies and other entities. With cyber threat actors becoming more organized and sophisticated in skills, traditional reactive security solutions are no longer sufficient. By partnering with Anomali, TIS looks forward to bringing our customers the most advanced intelligence solutions, which help security professionals simplify ever expanding security operations, and empower them with the needed threat intelligence to fulfill their works more efficiently.” According to Shinji Abe, Section Chief of Enterprise Security Services Dept., IT Platform Business Unit, Service Strategy Sector, TIS Inc.

Joint customers receive the most advanced, comprehensive, and easy-to-use threat intelligence solutions available. Anomali delivers:

Anomali Lens - Users automatically and immediately know if their organizations are being attacked, who adversaries are, and if the attacks have been successful. With one click, Anomali Lens scans web-based content, detects and highlights all threats identified within, provides easy-to-understand details about them, and tells users if any are already present in their networks. Structured and unstructured web content Anomali Lens scans includes news, blogs, research, bulletins, SIEM logs, other security logs, IR reports, Twitter and other social networks.

Anomali Match - Anomali Match integrates cyber threat intelligence (CTI), MISP data, OSINT, SIEM logs, vulnerability assessment tools, and other big data sources to match billions of indicators of compromise (IOCs) and threats against any that are present in customers’ networks. By providing automated, retrospective analysis for extended periods, users detect threats and compromises that have been present for short and long durations.

Anomali ThreatStream - This leading threat intelligence platform (TIP) integrates data from the widest range of feeds to create actionable threat intelligence. The integrated Anomali APP Store provides users with one-click integration for proprietary and open source threat feeds. The same platform powers trusted collaboration for Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) and Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations (ISAOs).

About TIS INTEC Group
TIS INTEC Group is a leading Information Technology Service Provider headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Over years, TIS INTEC Group has helped customers from different sectors, and across Japan and Asia Pacific, utilize the latest technologies to solve business challenges and succeed in digital transformation.

About Anomali
Anomali® delivers intelligence-driven cybersecurity solutions, these include Anomali ThreatStream®, Anomali Match™, and Anomali Lens™. Private enterprises and public organizations use Anomali to gain unlimited visibility over threats, accelerate detection and investigation, and constantly improve security operations. Anomali customers include more than 1,500 global organizations, many of the Global 2000 and Fortune 500, and large government and defense organizations around the world. Founded in 2013, it is backed by leading venture firms including GV, Paladin Capital Group, Institutional Venture Partners, and General Catalyst. Learn more at: www.anomali.com


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​DUNAMU: MOBILE TRADES FOR STOCKPLUS DOUBLES IN 1ST HALF OF 2020

SEOUL, South Korea, July 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Dunamu (CEO Sirgoo Lee) today announced that mobile trades for Stockplus, the company’s social stock trading platform, more than doubled in the 1st half of 2020, increasing by 117.5% compared to the same period last year. The total trading volume for Stockplus surpassed KRW 100 trillion (approx. USD 83.2 billion) in July 2020.

With mobile trading systems continuing to gain popularity in South Korea, Stockplus has seen a surge in transactions. The platform’s mobile trading volume for the 1st half of 2020 was KRW 24.4 trillion (approx. USD 20 billion), which is nearly KRW one trillion higher than the total for the entire year of 2019.

“COVID-19’s impact on the stock market and high-profile IPOs like SK Biopharmaceuticals has attracted a number of new individual investors, who tend to prefer mobile trading platforms,” said Buster Suh, Dunamu’s Global Communications Manager. “Stockplus’s trading volume has grown rapidly in July and we expect the trend to continue for the foreseeable future.”

In addition to topping KRW 100 trillion in total trading volume, Stockplus also has over four million total app downloads as of July 2020. Stockplus launched in 2014 as South Korea’s first social stock trading platform. It allows investors to trade securities through top brokerage firms and provides premium content such as AI-based analysis and investment strategy reports. Stockplus users can also easily share information via Kakao Talk, the country’s most popular messaging service. Through its versatile and user-friendly mobile app, Stockplus greatly lowered the threshold for investing, providing newcomers with a reliable and engaging entry point into the stock market.

About Dunamu Inc.:

Founded in Seoul, Korea in April 2012, Dunamu Inc. is one of the country’s leading fintech companies. Focused on combining traditional financial services with cutting edge technology, Dunamu operates Upbit, the digital asset exchange with world-class blockchain technology, regulatory expertise, and operational know-how. Dunamu also operates Korea’s top stock trading platform, Stockplus, and provides marketing services and IT infrastructure development for financial firms through its subsidiaries.

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​ALLURION EXPANDS INTO ASIA WITH LAUNCH OF THE ELIPSE® GASTRIC BALLOON WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

​Rapid organic growth in Europe, Middle East, and Latin America sets the stage for further global expansion

Company names John Liljequist as the Director of Sales for Asia Pacific

NATICK, Mass., July 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Allurion Technologies, a pioneering leader in the development of innovative, scalable, and trusted weight loss experiences, today announced entry into Asia with the launch of the Elipse Program in Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Building upon its success in Europe, Middle East, and Latin America, the company’s entry into Asia could impact the lives of over 1 billion people who are overweight or obese in a region that historically has had limited access to non-invasive weight loss treatments.¹

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200728005010/en/

"With the launch of our weight loss program in Asia, our company enters its next phase of rapid expansion,” said Allurion co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Shantanu Gaur, M.D. “Obesity has been on the rise in Asia for decades, but truly frictionless treatment options have been absent. We intend to change that.”

Allurion has already treated over 25,000 individuals in over 30 countries around the world with its 360-degree Allurion weight loss program. According to a study released by the Asian Development Bank Institute, over 40% of adults in Asia are overweight or obese, an increase of close to 20% in just the past 20 years.

"The arrival of the Elipse Balloon in Gleneagles Hospital Penang was a historical moment for all of us involved,” said Dr. Kirubakaran Malapan of Gleneagles Hospital Penang. “I am very confident that this will be an appealing treatment option in our fight against obesity.”


ALLURION EXPANDS INTO ASIA WITH LAUNCH OF THE ELIPSE® GASTRIC BALLOON WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

STAR MEDIA GROUP SELECTS TRITON DIGITAL FOR FULL SUITE OF AUDIO PRODUCTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Triton Digital®, the global technology and services provider to the online audio and podcast industry, announced today that Star Media Group, Malaysia's leading integrated and innovative media group, has selected Triton Digital to power the delivery, monetization, and measurement of its streaming audio and podcast content.

STAR MEDIA GROUP SELECTS TRITON DIGITAL FOR FULL SUITE OF AUDIO PRODUCTS

LDRA CELEBRATES 10 YEARS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

Global leader in standards compliance, automated software verification, software code analysis and test tools continues to champion need for safe and secure design

BENGALURU, India, July 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- LDRA, the leader in standards compliance, automated software verification, software code analysis, and test tools for embedded software for 40 years, celebrates the 10-year anniversary of LDRA South East Asia (SEA) this month. In 2010, the company opened the SEA office to help local and global companies comply with international safety and security process standards across industries such as aerospace & defence, nuclear, rail and education.

LDRA CELEBRATES 10 YEARS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA

MALAYSIA'S LARGEST TIN MINER, MALAYSIA SMELTING CORPORATION, DONATES RM20,000 FOR NEW MOSQUE IN KLIAN INTAN

PERAK, July 28 (Bernama) -- Tin miner and metal producer, Malaysia Smelting Corporation Berhad (“MSC” or “the Group”) has contributed to the development of a new mosque, Masjid Klian Intan located in the district of Pengkalan Hulu, with a donation cheque worth RM20,000.

The cheque was presented by Encik Madzlan Zam, Senior General Manager of MSC’s tin mining operations, to the Jawatankuasa Kariah Masjid Klian Intan during the Mosque Handover Ceremony held on 24th July 2020. The ceremony was attended by a representative of the royal palace of the Perak Sultanate, Orang Besar Jajahan Hulu Perak, Dato’ Meor Roslan bin Dato’ Seri Hj. Meor Ahmad Rashidi.

MALAYSIA'S LARGEST TIN MINER, MALAYSIA SMELTING CORPORATION, DONATES RM20,000 FOR NEW MOSQUE IN KLIAN INTAN

USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao, NETT Council unveil guidance document for hyperloop in US

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 -- US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao and the Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council have unveiled the guidance document on a clear regulatory framework for hyperloop in the United States (US).

According to a statement, the regulatory guidance document for hyperloop is the first of its kind in the world, further proving the US intends to be the leader in the industry.

“This guidance bridges the gap between innovator and regulator, prioritises safety during development without hampering innovation, and promotes mutual awareness between industry and government,” said Chao during the live-streamed event.

Meanwhile, Virgin Group Founder, Sir Richard Branson, in a statement said: “Hyperloop offers a truly unique opportunity to lead the world in 21st century transportation.”

“It takes strong vision to break away from the inertia of the status quo and embrace these opportunities. The announcement today will help lay the groundwork for the United States to take that leadership.

”Virgin Hyperloop has been working closely with the NETT Council over the last year and a half, since its creation in March 2019, to advance its technology and ensure they are able to deploy hyperloop safely and quickly.

This historic announcement not only provides a pathway for hyperloop regulation and deployment in the US, but also establishes hyperloop’s eligibility for federal funding for projects.

As an entirely new category of transportation, hyperloop will unlock exponential growth opportunities for cross-industry manufacturing and development jobs - across construction, aerospace, rail, automotive, aviation, electric vehicles and autonomous control.

-- BERNAMA

COVID-19: Tourism steadily recovers in China's Xi'an ancient capital

KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 -- As China’s epidemic continues to improve due to effective domestic prevention and control measures, the tourism industry is gradually recovering in the ancient capital of Xi'an.

The Xi'an Municipal People's Government recently announced the full resumption of inter-provincial tourism in the ancient capital.

In order to meet the ongoing requirements of COVID-19 prevention and control, measures including limited tourist flows, tour reservations and staggered shifts are now applicable in all scenic spots in Xi'an.

According to a statement, the number of tourists will not exceed 50 per cent of the maximum capacity.

With immediate effect, more than 570 travel agencies and online tourist operators in Xi'an resumed offering group tours. Beginning July 20, 135 movie theatres have resumed operation.

A total of 34 scenic spots will be open to medical personnel for free throughout the year, from Aug 1. Tang Paradise (National 5A Tourist Attraction in China), the Louguantai Ecological Cultural Tourism Resort and over 80 per cent of the city's museums will be also open to public, for free.

In July, Xi'an was named one of the top 10 Internet celebrity cities in China. In addition, the night economy of Xi'an has continued to thrive, ranking fourth in China and first in northern China.

-- BERNAMA

Kanfer Shipping, CGR Arctic Marine to develop cost-saving LNG bunkering vessels

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 -- Kanfer Shipping AS (Kanfer), the Norway-based shipping company has entered into an exclusive agreement with CGR Arctic Marine (CGR), the Norwegian LNG technology company to develop cost-saving LNG bunkering vessels.

Under the licensing and development agreement, Kanfer will exclusively market CGR’s unique Liquid Methane Bunkering Vessel (LMBV) and other technologies to customers in the global LNG bunkering industry, including shipping lines, port owners, traders and fuel companies.

According to a statement, CGR will also apply its advanced technology to Kanfer’s patented Detachable Stern Vessel©, an advanced version of the Articulated Tug Barge that makes break-bulking cargoes of LNG easier, faster and more efficient.

The LMBV is a first for the industry with a plug-in hybrid power system consisting of a modular battery system in combination with pure gas generators.

It is a highly efficient solution that features a single tank and less cargo containment equipment.

This combination improves hull utilisation, reduces weight and maximises insulation surface area.

Another feature of the LMBV is the onboard multi-purpose cargo handling plant, combining cooling, reliquefication and gas recovery operations, allowing safe and pollution-free cargo handling during loading, discharge and gas freeing operations.

“We are bringing CGR’s patented technologies and Kanfer’s LNG marine expertise and capabilities under one roof. Together, we bring to our customers best-in-class designs that reduce complexity, improve operational efficiencies and maximise savings compared with existing solutions,” said Kanfer Shipping Managing Partner, Stig Anders Hagen.

-- BERNAMA

Flywire supports education agents, institutions, streamlines international tuition payments

KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 -- Flywire, a high-growth vertical payments company has announced new enhancements to its digital payment platform to better serve education recruitment agents and institutions worldwide.

As part of its comprehensive receivables solution, the platform enhancements will help agents better manage student information and streamline payment tracking while also enabling education institutions to optimise agent relationships and minimise potential fraud.

Flywire’s solution enables institutions to offer students a highly-tailored, convenient and secure online payment experience – customised by school, country and currency – while also accelerating fund flow, easing reconciliation and streamlining operational expenses.

According to a statement, the solution also enables institutions to create custom payment plans to provide students and families with greater flexibility.

Flywire’s enhanced agent platform connects agents, students and schools to simplify the payment process and provide real-time visibility.

New enhancements include a customisable dashboard, providing agents with the ability to directly send payment reminders to students.

It also provides real-time visibility into the status of all student payment requests; status of all payments made to institutions including payment methods; and easy, secure access to all student payment details including refunds and download receipts.

-- BERNAMA

APIFINY HIRES THOMAS TREPANIER, FORMER SWIFT AND DTCC LEADER, AS DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ROXE

Mr. Trepanier to Help Grow Apifiny’s Roxe Settlement, Liquidity, and Trading Solutions for Banks and Digital Asset Exchanges

SAN FRANCISCO, July 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Apifiny, a leading global liquidity and financial value transfer network, today announced Thomas Trepanier has joined the company to lead the growth of its Roxe^TM global settlement and liquidity solutions for banks, central banks and digital asset exchanges. Mr. Trepanier brings over 20 years of experience in financial services and fintech, serving banks, central banks, stock exchanges, central securities depositories, and asset managers. His experience includes key business development and sales roles with Global Accelerated Ventures (GAV), Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT), and Omgeo (a DTCC company), among others.

At GAV, Mr. Trepanier led customers’ onboarding of innovative methodologies and technologies. Mr. Trepanier was also the head of payments and securities market infrastructure strategy at SWIFT, where he led the go-to-market strategy in Latin America for the organization’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) solution. Prior to SWIFT, Mr. Trepanier was director of Americas relationship management and Latin America sales at Omgeo. At Omgeo, Mr. Trepanier led sales executives and relationship managers in the U.S. and Canada, and successfully launched Omgeo’s presence in Latin America.

“Thomas brings a proven track record developing strategic partnerships, go-to-market strategies and growing business by partnering closely with banks, central banks and other leading financial services companies, ” said Josh Li, Chief Business Officer of Apifiny. “His success in both traditional and digital finance is a powerful combination that will bring tremendous value to our bank and central bank partners and help us execute our vision to accelerate the transfer of financial value anytime, anywhere.”

“Apifiny’s unique instant settlement and liquidity solutions for banks and central banks are ripe for adoption by the types of financial institutions I’ve worked with throughout my career,” said Thomas Trepanier, director of business development for Roxe at Apifiny. “Roxe is designed for banks to settle global payments, remittances, and fiat and digital assets in seconds while saving costs and streamlining operations to help increase tier 1 deposits and topline sales.”

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Halliburton Forms Strategic Agreement With Microsoft And Accenture To Advance Digital Capabilities

HOUSTON, July 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Halliburton (NYSE: HAL), Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today announced they have entered into a five-year strategic agreement to advance Halliburton’s digital capabilities in Microsoft Azure.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200717005090/en/

Under the agreement, Halliburton will complete its move to cloud-based digital platforms and strengthen its customer offerings by:

• Enhancing real-time platforms for expanded remote operations,
• Improving analytics capability with the Halliburton Data Lake utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence, and
• Accelerating the deployment of new technology and applications, including SOC2 compliance, for Halliburton’s overall system reliability and security.

“The strategic agreement with Microsoft and Accenture is an important step in our adoption of new technology and applications to enhance our digital capabilities, drive additional business agility and reduce capital expenditures,” said Jeff Miller, Halliburton chairman, president & CEO. “We are excited about the benefits our customers and employees will realize through this agreement, and the opportunity to further leverage our open architecture approach to software delivery.”

“Moving to the cloud allows companies to create market-shaping customer offerings and drive tangible business outcomes,” said Judson Althoff, executive vice president, Microsoft’s Worldwide Commercial Business. “Through this alliance with Halliburton and Accenture, we will apply the power of the cloud to unlock digital capabilities that deliver benefits for Halliburton and its customers.”

The agreement also enables the migration of all Halliburton physical data centers to Azure, which delivers enterprise-grade cloud services at global scale and offers sustainability benefits. Accenture will work closely with Microsoft, in conjunction with their Avanade joint venture, to help transition Halliburton's digital capabilities and business-critical applications to Azure. Accenture will leverage its comprehensive cloud migration framework, which brings industrialized capabilities together with exclusive tools, methods, and automation to accelerate Halliburton’s data center migration and provide for additional transformation opportunities.

“Building a digital core and scaling quickly across a business is only possible with a strong foundation in the cloud,” said Julie Sweet, chief executive officer, Accenture. “Halliburton recognizes that this essential foundation will provide the innovation, efficiency and talent advantages to do things differently and fast. We are proud to be part of this transformational change, which builds on our long history working with Halliburton and Microsoft.”

The companies expect to complete the staged migration by 2022.


HALLIBURTON FORMS STRATEGIC AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT AND ACCENTURE TO ADVANCE DIGITAL CAPABILITIES

China's hit documentary 'A Bite of Dongguan' shows human interest of 'world factory'

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 -- ‘A Bite of Dongguan’ documentary was recently broadcast on the Internet in China, presenting more than 130 kinds of Dongguan's local ingredients and dishes.

According to a statement, the documentary was planned by the Information Office of Dongguan Municipality, and produced by China's top food and cultural documentary team.

Demonstrating the human interest of the ‘world factory’, it has received nearly 100 million reviews and obtained widespread attention.

Through a series of lively characters and stories, it reveals the diverse food culture of the manufacturing city, displays the well-kept tradition during the city's fast development and shows local people’s attitude for life.

‘A Bite of Dongguan’ is inspired by the city itself, and the people filmed in the documentary. People living in the city, whether local or otherwise, have given Dongguan cuisine new features as being traditional, easy-going, embracing and pragmatic.

The documentary allows locals to find their identity. It also functions as a communication platform for Dongguan to improve city image through local cuisine.

Now, ‘A Bite of Dongguan’ has begun to be released overseas. It is hoped more people in the world will fall in love with Chinese cuisine and understand Dongguan, via its food.

-- BERNAMA

GUOTAI JUNAN INTERNATIONAL RECEIVED 3 AWARDS FROM BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK

HONG KONG, July 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited (“Guotai Junan International”, “GTJAI”, the “Company” or “Group”, stock code: 1788.HK) is pleased to announce that the Company has won three “Excellence Awards” (Ranked 1st) from “Financial Institution Awards 2020” held by the Bloomberg Businessweek, in aspects of FICC services, Initial Public Offerings (IPO) Sponsorship and Risk Management. This is the Group’s 4th consecutive year receiving several awards. The Group has always been growing with corporates and financial institution clients and offering quality investment banking services and solutions. Its solid risk management has won recognitions among the industry.

Fixed income （“FICC”） services continued to reach record highs, gaining a reputation among industry and market participants

Being one of the Group’s rapidly developing businesses, the FICC division’s bond underwriting (also known as “debt capital market”) business began in 2012. With the team's accurate control of the bond market trends, highly efficient execution capabilities, prudent selection of projects and diversified distribution channels, the Group’s fixed income business gains a high reputation in the industry and among market participants. As at the end of 2019, the Group has participated in 528 bond issue projects, playing the role of major underwriter for nearly 70% of them. The team ranked No.2 in Asia (ex-Japan) G3 high-yield bond underwriter league table in term of number of deals.

Corporate finance team seized opportunities to introduce quality cornerstone investors

In 2019, the Group’s corporate finance team secured its presence in major sectors including energy, real estate, property management and finance and completed 8 IPO sponsorship projects. According to Dealogic’s data, the Group was ranked 4th in the market in terms of the number of IPO sponsorship projects. In July 2020, the Group successfully assisted Financial Street Property Co., Limited (stock code: 1502.HK) in its listing on the Mainboard of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong, playing major roles including sole sponsor, sole global coordinator, joint bookrunner and joint lead manager, introducing several high quality institutional investors to the issuer and locking up quality cornerstone investors.

Risk management forges foundation for the Group’s long-term development

In 2016, the Group introduced the development philosophy of “Risk Management Creates Value” ahead of its Hong Kong peers, advocating earning growth indicators including risk-adjusted return on capital. In 2019, Sino-US trade conflict and social unrest in Hong Kong have brought constant impact on the financial market. Under prudent risk management, the Group increased the provision for financial assets for fiscal year 2019 to better cope with the potential risks in the future in a forward-looking perspective, optimizing asset quality and greatly strengthening the Group’s anti-risks capability under volatile market conditions. Currently, Guotai Junan International is rated Baa2/Prime-2 and BBB+/A-2 long term issuer by Moody’s and S&P respectively.

Winner list of “Financial Institution Awards 2020” held by the Bloomberg Businessweek: http://www.bbwhkevent.com/

About Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited (1788.HK)

Guotai Junan International is the market leader and first mover for internationalization of Chinese Securities Company. The Company is the first Chinese securities broker to list on the Main Board of The Hong Kong Stock Exchange by way of initial public offering. Based in Hong Kong, the Company provides diversified integrated financial services. The core services include: wealth management, investment banking, loans and financing, asset management and financial products.

The Company is one of the constituents of HSCI, Hang Seng Composite LargeCap & MidCap Index, FTSE HK index, FTSE HK ex H share index and FTSE4Good index. Guotai Junan International has been assigned “Baa2 / Prime-2” and “BBB+ / A-2” long-term issuer rating from Moody and Standard & Poor respectively.

The controlling shareholder, Guotai Junan Securities Company Limited (Stock Code: 601211.SS; 2611.HK), is the comprehensive financial provider with a long-term, sustainable and overall leading position in the Chinese securities industry. Backed by strong operational support, the Company will be able to further explore the HK and the Asia-Pacific market, aiming to become an important financial institution with market influence in the region.

For more information about Guotai Junan International:

• Official website: http://www.gtjai.com
• 2020 corporate video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEL2YHKwRQA 

View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200720005239/en/

Contact

Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited
Jason Yan and Steven Chen
Tel: 2509 5487, 2509 2604

Source : Guotai Junan International Holdings Limited

P&G EMBRACES NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND WILL MAKE OPERATIONS CARBON NEUTRAL FOR THE DECADE

Reducing GHG Emissions by 50% and Purchasing 100% Renewable Electricity for all Manufacturing Sites by 2030

and

Advancing Natural Climate Solutions that Deliver a Carbon Benefit Equal to Remaining GHG Emissions from Operations

CINCINNATI, July 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) announced a new commitment to have its global operations be carbon neutral for the decade through a series of interventions that protect, improve and restore nature. Recognizing the next decade represents a critical window for the world to accelerate progress on climate change, P&G will go beyond its existing Science Based Target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by additionally advancing a portfolio of natural climate solutions. These efforts will deliver a carbon benefit that balances any remaining emissions over the next 10 years, allowing P&G operations to be carbon neutral for the decade. Based on current estimates, the Company will need to balance ~30 million metric tons of carbon from 2020 to 2030.
P&G EMBRACES NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND WILL MAKE OPERATIONS CARBON NEUTRAL FOR THE DECADE

Spotify Launches In Russia And 12 Additional European Markets

World’s most popular audio streaming subscription service now available to 250 million more people in Europe as Spotify expands to 92 markets worldwide

Spotify is available for free, offering unrivaled personalized music discovery

MOSCOW, July 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Spotify (NYSE: SPOT) today launched its service in 13 new markets across Europe including Russia, one of the world’s top 20 largest streaming markets. Already the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, with today’s expansion, Spotify now reaches a current total of 92 markets worldwide.

Spotify’s 13 new markets include: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine.

As the leading platform driving music discovery on more types of devices than any other service, Spotify’s expansion in Europe comes as consumers in the region embrace streaming. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Russia is the 17th-biggest streaming market in the world and on pace to be the 10th-biggest streaming market by 2030. More than 87 percent of fans in Russia now access music through streaming, compared to 61 percent adoption globally, and 68 percent adoption in the U.S., according to IFPI. Starting today, Spotify is offering both its Free and Premium services in each of its 13 new markets.

“Today’s launch opens the door for nearly 250 million fans to start discovering new music from around the world on Spotify, and for artists in the region to reach the increasingly connected global audience of fans,” said Gustav Gyllenhammar, Spotify VP, Markets and Subscriber Growth. “Launching in these 13 markets is an important moment in Spotify’s journey, especially as we welcome fans and artists in growing music markets like Russia, where streaming is being widely adopted and where we see a significant opportunity for Spotify.”

As a part of Spotify’s expansion announced today, it has introduced 200 new playlists featuring artists from across the region that are available to fans around the world. To highlight Russia’s rich musical culture, for example, Spotify has added almost 100 playlists, including editorially curated playlists like Hip-Hop Cannon and New Music Friday Russia, and “This Is” playlists featuring popular Russian artists. Personalized Spotify playlists like Release Radar, Daily Mix, and Discover Weekly, which are informed by the listening habits of individual fans, are also now available in Russian.

The Spotify app is available to download for free or with an upgrade to Spotify Premium, including Individual, Family, Student (select markets) and Duo Premium Plans. To enjoy music the way you want it, download the Spotify app today via the Android or iOS app store or by heading to www.spotify.com/free.

Click here for further imagery.


SPOTIFY LAUNCHES IN RUSSIA AND 12 ADDITIONAL EUROPEAN MARKETS

Seabras Group subsidiaries emerge from Chapter 11

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 -- The US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, in a recent hearing, has confirmed the joint Plan of Reorganization (the Plan) of Seabras 1 USA LLC and Seabras 1 Bermuda Ltd (the Companies).

Based on a statement, on July 7, the Companies consummated their financial restructuring process and emerged from Chapter 11.

Under the terms of the approved Plan and attendant restructuring, the total outstanding debt of the Companies has been reduced and the debt maturity, extended by approximately six years to September 2028.

The debt amortisation has been re-shaped, and the debt covenants have been revised, all in a way that provides a solid basis for the continued growth of the business going forward.

Seabras Group LLC and investment vehicles advised by Partners Group redeemed and acquired all of the Class A Units of Seabras Group LLC previously held by a subsidiary of SNH Networks LLC (SNH).

This resulted in 100 per cent equity ownership of Seabras Group LLC and its subsidiaries, including the Companies, (the Seabras Group) now being held by entities managed by Partners Group on behalf of its clients.

Coincident with the consolidation and Chapter 11 emergence, Larry Schwartz, Seaborn former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Roger Kuebel, Seaborn former CFO have left Seaborn and the Seabras Group.

Pete Hayes and Don Shassian, Partners Group-appointed Board members, will serve as Interim CEO and Interim CFO, respectively, of the Seabras Group, while Andy Bax will remain as Seaborn Chief Operating Officer.

-- BERNAMA

EFINIX® ANNOUNCES TRION® TITANIUM FPGA FAMILY

SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 15 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Efinix®, an innovator in programmable product platforms and technology, today announced its Trion® Titanium FPGA family.

Trion Titanium FPGAs are fabricated on a 16nm process node and feature Efinix’s Quantum™ compute fabric. Inspired by the Quantum fabric underlying Efinix’s first-generation Trion FPGAs, the Quantum compute fabric adds additional compute and routing capability into its enhanced eXchangeable logic and routing (XLR) cells. Enhanced compute, united with the 3X clock frequency boost afforded by the 16nm process, make Trion Titanium FPGAs ideal for computational acceleration applications while the increased routing flexibility delivers unprecedented utilization ratios.

With the 16nm process node and the 2X efficiency improvement of the Quantum compute fabric, Titanium FPGAs pack loads of processing power into an extremely small die size, taking just a quarter of the area of the previous Trion generation. Additionally, the low power consumption of the 16nm node means that Titanium devices consume a third of the power of Trion devices and overcome all the thermal issues associated with highly integrated applications. This combination makes them ideal for multi-chip, system-in-package (SIP) designs such as those found in mobile, edge compute, AI and IoT.

“FPGAs are increasingly being used as accelerators for computation rather than fixed function logic,” said Sammy Cheung, Efinix founder, president and CEO. “With a re-engineered Quantum compute fabric and a low-power 16nm process, Titanium FPGAs naturally offload edge processors in space constrained applications. When combined with the Efinix RISC-V SoCs announced last month, Titanium FPGAs form the compute core and adaptive hardware acceleration for complete SIP SoCs.”

The Titanium family comprises FPGAs ranging from 25K to 500K logic elements that are available in familiar and easy to mount BGA packages. The FPGAs have a range of hardened IP such as PCIe Gen4, DDR4, 10 Gbps Ethernet, and 2.5 Gbps MIPI controllers for optimum performance and seamless system connectivity in applications ranging from vision systems and industrial automation to edge computing.

“When designing the Titanium family, we started from the ground up,” said Tony Ngai, Efinix co-founder, CTO and SVP of Engineering. “From the re-engineered XLR and the highly efficient DSP capability, to the optimized embedded RAM blocks and the custom designed I/Os, we analyzed system requirements and set about designing the ultimate reconfigurable acceleration FPGA. The result is a truly unique collection of innovations based on Efinix’s patented Quantum architecture.”

About Efinix

Efinix®, an innovator in programmable products, drives the future of edge AI computing with its Trion® and Trion Titanium FPGA silicon platforms. At the Trion family’s core is Efinix’s disruptive Quantum™ FPGA technology which delivers power, performance and area advantage over traditional FPGA technologies. Trion FPGAs, offering 4K to 500K logic elements, have a small form-factor, low-power, and are priced for high-volume production. Our Efinity® Integrated Development Environment provides a complete FPGA design suite from RTL to bitstream. With their Power-Performance-Area advantage, Trion FPGAs address applications such as custom logic, compute acceleration, machine learning and deep learning.

For more information, visit http://www.efinixinc.com.

Contact:

Steve Stratz

Relevanz Public Relations for Efinix

206.300.9134

steve@relevanzpr.com

Source: Efinix, Inc.

--BERNAMA

OVID THERAPEUTICS AND ANGELINI PHARMA ENTER INTO EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP, MANUFACTURE AND COMMERCIALIZE OV101 FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANGELMAN SYNDROME IN EUROPE

• Angelini Pharma obtains exclusive development, manufacturing and commercialization rights to OV101 (gaboxadol) for the potential treatment of Angelman syndrome in the European Union and other countries in the European Economic Area (Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom) and Russia
   
• Ovid Therapeutics will receive an upfront payment of $20 million and additional payments of up to $212.5 million upon the achievement of development, manufacturing and sales milestones, in addition to double-digit royalties on net sales if successfully commercialized
   
• Angelini Pharma will execute the agreement through its new affiliate Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG
   
• Ovid to host conference call and webcast today at 8:15 a.m. EDT

NEW YORK and ROME, July 14 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OVID, hereinafter “Ovid”), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing medicines that transform the lives of people with rare neurological diseases, and Angelini Pharma S.p.A. (hereinafter “Angelini Pharma”), an Italian family-owned pharmaceutical company committed to helping patients with a constant and prevalent focus on Mental Health, Rare Diseases and Consumer Health, announced an agreement in which Angelini Pharma will be responsible to develop, manufacture and commercialize OV101 (gaboxadol) for the potential treatment of Angelman syndrome in the European Union and other countries in the European Economic Area (Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom) and Russia. Angelini Pharma will execute the agreement through its new affiliate Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG. OV101 is believed to be the only delta (δ)-selective GABA_A receptor agonist in development and is currently being evaluated in the pivotal Phase 3 NEPTUNE trial in Angelman syndrome, with topline results expected in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ovid will receive an upfront payment of $20 million and is eligible to receive up to an additional $212.5 million in payments upon the achievement of development, manufacturing and sales milestones for the initial indication (Angelman syndrome), as well as double-digit royalties on net sales if OV101 is successfully commercialized. Ovid will retain all U.S. and rest-of-world commercial rights to OV101.

“We are excited to enter into a strategic collaboration with Angelini Pharma with the goal of bringing OV101, if approved, to the Angelman community in Europe as quickly as possible. Angelini Pharma is an ideal partner for Europe as they have deep regional knowledge, an established infrastructure with a history of successful product launches, and a commitment to improving the quality of life of the patient communities they serve,” said Jeremy Levin, DPhil, MB, BChir, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ovid Therapeutics. “Finding the right partners to bring OV101 to the Angelman community as rapidly as possible is a core part of our global strategy. We believe this partnership with Angelini will help to maximize the potential commercial value of OV101 and achieve our strategic objectives in this important geography."

“Today is a day that we will remember. Through our collaboration with Ovid Therapeutics, we are laying the foundation to developing innovative health solutions for rare diseases, in line with Angelini Pharma’s new strategy,” said Pierluigi Antonelli, Angelini Pharma CEO. “The new business unit Angelini Pharma Rare Diseases AG will contribute to the development, registration, production and, if approved, commercialization in Europe of OV101, Ovid Therapeutics’ very promising drug being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of Angelman syndrome. As of now, there is no effective treatment for this rare genetic disease, characterized by severe psychomotor disability, which manifests itself from childhood. Delivering on our commitment makes us proud both from a scientific and social impact perspectives.”

"As shareholders and executives of Angelini Holding we continue to invest in the pharma area, which today represents half of our Group's turnover,” commented the executive vice president Thea Paola Angelini and the CEO Sergio Marullo di Condojanni. “Our global development and internationalization strategy focuses on business areas with high growth potential. Particularly, we look closely at all the opportunities that can open up, not only in healthcare, but also in the consumer and machinery sector."

Rothschild & Co acted as an advisor to Ovid on the collaboration agreement.

About Angelman Syndrome
Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic condition that is characterized by a variety of signs and symptoms. Characteristic features of this condition include delayed development, intellectual disability, severe speech impairment, problems with movement and balance, seizures, sleep disorders and anxiety. The most common cause of Angelman syndrome is the loss of function of the gene that codes for ubiquitin protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), which plays a critical role in nerve cell communication, resulting in impaired tonic inhibition. Individuals with Angelman syndrome typically have normal lifespans but are unable to live independently. Therefore, they require constant support from a network of specialists and caregivers. Angelman syndrome affects approximately 1 in 12,000 to 1 in 20,000 people globally.

There are no approved therapies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency or rest–of-world for Angelman syndrome, and treatment primarily consists of behavioral interventions and pharmacologic management of symptoms.

Angelman syndrome is associated with a reduction in tonic inhibition, a function of the delta (δ)-selective GABA_A receptor that allows a human brain to decipher excitatory and inhibitory neurological signals correctly without being overloaded. If tonic inhibition is reduced, the brain becomes inundated with signals and loses the ability to separate background noise from critical information.

About OV101 (gaboxadol)
OV101 is believed to be the only delta (δ)-selective GABA_A receptor agonist in development and the first investigational drug to specifically target the disruption of tonic inhibition, a central physiological process of the brain that is thought to be the underlying cause of certain neurodevelopmental disorders. OV101 has demonstrated in laboratory studies and animal models to selectively activate the δ-subunit of GABA_A receptors, which are found in the extrasynaptic space (outside of the synapse), and thereby impact neuronal activity through modulation of tonic inhibition.

Ovid is developing OV101 for the treatment of Angelman syndrome and Fragile X syndrome to potentially restore tonic inhibition and thereby address several core symptoms of these conditions. In both these syndromes, the underlying pathophysiology includes disruption of tonic inhibition modulated through the δ-subunit of GABA_A receptors. In preclinical studies, it was observed that OV101 improved symptoms of Angelman syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. This compound has also previously been tested in more than 4,000 patients (more than 1,000 patient-years of exposure) and was observed to have favorable safety and bioavailability profiles. Ovid is conducting a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial with OV101 in Angelman syndrome (NEPTUNE) and has completed a Phase 2 signal-finding clinical trial with OV101 in Fragile X syndrome (ROCKET).

OV101 has received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation from the FDA for the treatment of Angelman syndrome. The FDA has also granted Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations for OV101 for both the treatment of Angelman syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. In addition, the European Commission (EC) has granted orphan drug designation to OV101 for the treatment of Angelman syndrome. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted Ovid patents directed to methods of treating Angelman syndrome and Fragile X syndrome using OV101. The issued patents expire in 2035 without regulatory extensions.

Ovid Conference Call and Webcast Information
Ovid Therapeutics will host a live conference call and webcast today at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time. The live webcast can be accessed by visiting the Investors section of the Company’s website at https://investors.ovidrx.com/news-events/presentations-events. Alternatively, please call 866-830-1640 (U.S.) or 210-874-7820 (international) to listen to the live conference call. The conference ID number for the live call is 5579257. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company’s website following the live conference call.

About Ovid Therapeutics
Ovid Therapeutics Inc. is a New York-based biopharmaceutical company using its BoldMedicine^® approach to develop medicines that transform the lives of patients with rare neurological disorders. Ovid has a broad pipeline of potential first-in-class medicines. The Company’s most advanced investigational medicine, OV101 (gaboxadol), is currently in clinical development for the treatment of Angelman syndrome and Fragile X syndrome. Ovid is also developing OV935 (soticlestat) in collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited for the potential treatment of rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE). For more information on Ovid, please visit www.ovidrx.com.

About Angelini Pharma
Angelini Pharma, owned by Angelini Holding, is a pharmaceutical Company committed to helping patients with a constant and prevalent focus on Mental Health, including Pain, Rare Diseases and Consumer Health. Angelini Pharma has an extensive and recognized R&D programs, "World Class" production plants and international commercialization activities of active ingredients and market-leading drugs. For further information, please visit www.angelinipharma.com

About Angelini Holding
Angelini Holding is the parent company of an international group operating in the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors. Founded in Italy in 1919, today Angelini group operates in 17 countries with a staff of 5,600 and a turnover of €1,7 billion. In addition to the Pharmaceutical sector, Angelini group operates in Personal and Home Care business area through Fater, a joint venture with Procter & Gamble, in the Machinery field, again in joint venture with P&G, with the group operating in automation and robotics for the consumer goods industry Fameccanica, in Perfumery and Skincare and Suncare with Angelini Beauty. Angelini Holding has recently entered the Baby food market as well through MadreNatura, a joint venture with Hero Group, which offers 100% organic baby food products.

Ovid Therapeutics Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain disclosures that contain “forward-looking statements,” including, without limitation, statements regarding: advancing development of and commercializing OV101, the potential benefits and value of OV101; the anticipated reporting schedule of clinical data for OV101; and the potential benefits and outcome from this collaboration. You can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “will,” “appears,” “believes” and “expects.” Forward-looking statements are based on Ovid’s current expectations and assumptions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include uncertainties in the development and regulatory approval processes, and the fact that initial data from clinical trials may not be indicative, and are not guarantees, of the final results of the clinical trials and are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and/or more patient data become available. Additional risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Ovid’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the caption “Risk Factors”. Such risks may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on Ovid’s business and the global economy. Ovid assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.

Ovid Therapeutics Contacts

Investors and Media:
Ovid Therapeutics Inc.
Investor Relations & Public Relations
irpr@ovidrx.com

Or

Investors:
Steve Klass
Burns McClellan, Inc.
sklass@burnsmc.com
(212) 213-0006

Media:
Katie Engleman
1AB
katie@1abmedia.com

Angelini Pharma Contact:
Daniela Poggio
Head of Global Communications Angelini Pharma
+39 348 6558882
daniela.poggio@angelinipharma.com

Angelini Holding Contact:
Institutional & External Relations Director Angelini Holding
+39 348 6707240
alessandra.favilli@angeliniholding.com


SOURCE : Ovid Therapeutics Inc.

​CHINA'S HANGZHOU SEES URBAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATED WITH WORLD HERITAGE PROTECTION

HANGZHOU, China, July 14, 2020 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

On July 6, eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou launched the "Hangzhou Liangzhu Day" and the first Hangzhou Liangzhu Culture Week, which is also the exclusive festival for the "youngest" (latest selected) of Hangzhou's three world heritages, according to Hangzhou municipal government.

At the 43rd World Heritage Conference held one year ago in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City was included in the World Heritage List. Hangzhou has decided to set July 6 as "Hangzhou Liangzhu Day" and June 24 as "Hangzhou West Lake Day". These two days are the dates when the two renowned sites in Hangzhou were officially included in the World Heritage List.

From the West Lake to the Grand Canal and then to the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, Hangzhou already has three world cultural heritages, indicating that Hangzhou is an ancient city with different cultural heritages demonstrating the clear and complete context of Chinese history and culture.

In Hangzhou, the three sites are all located in urban development centers. This also makes Hangzhou pay special attention to citizens' sense of participation and the symbiosis between human beings and nature in the process of comprehensive protection of the three world heritage sites. An integrated and symbiotic protection method that combines cultural heritage, urban development and urban residents has gradually been formed after years of exploration.

"Liangzhu" means a beautiful continent in water in Chinese. City and water have always been symbiotic in development. The ancestors who laid the foundation of the city always lived by water, and Liangzhu ancient city is no exception. The peripheral water conservancy hub of Liangzhu ancient city is the earliest large-scale water conservancy project site discovered so far in China. It includes complicated irrigation systems and agricultural development and maintenance. It was of amazing significance in an era when human beings had not domesticated horses.

​CHINA'S HANGZHOU SEES URBAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATED WITH WORLD HERITAGE PROTECTION

CHINA EASTERN'S "FLY AT WILL" TICKET PACKAGE FOR UNLIMITED WEEKEND TRAVEL BOOSTS CIRCULAR ECONOMY

SHANGHAI, July 13, 2020 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/--

Over 150,000 people had enjoyed their flights under the "fly at will" air ticket discount package rolled out by China Eastern Airlines (also known as China Eastern) during the past two weekends.

As the first-ever air ticket discount package launched in China that allows passengers to enjoy unlimited weekend flights till December 31, the "fly at will" released on June 18 was priced at 3,322 yuan (about $473.72). The product has been especially welcomed by backpackers and migrant workers. Some netizens even call it "a godsend for long-distance relationship".

As the COVID-19 pandemic has been effectively brought under control in the China, 150,000 passengers flew to enjoy holidays or visit their family by using the ticket package, which has become a hot topic and a phenomenal economic activity in China.

The average passenger load factor of the China Eastern flights from Shanghai to more than ten destinations rose by nearly 20 percent, with the figure of some flights even surpassing 90 percent. Some popular flights have seen the proportion of "fly at will" passengers exceed 90 percent. Although the company has dispatched wide-body aircrafts like B777 and A350 to the hot flights, it still cannot fully meet passengers' growing travel demands.

The ground-breaking move has also caused social discussion. Jeff Yu, a partner in the Beijing office of consultancy Roland Berger, said that the most noteworthy part of the "fly at will" is not only the pricing or business model, but the actual test data, for which will help provide valuable insights into and support for the full recovery of the aviation field.

With the "fly at will" filling a market void and driving travel demands, China Eastern is called a "pathfinder" and "wind vane" by industry insiders and media. There are by far over 20,000 pieces of news reports on the product published by more than 1,000 media outlets. Putting aside the profits and losses, "fly at will" is already a very successful product for its topicality and the publicity, pointed out Xiong Wei, a PhD candidate majoring in aviation law at McGill University.

Other airlines in China have launched similar products following "fly at will". On June 21, China Express launched a similar air ticket packages. On July 1, Hainan Airlines announced that its 12 airline companies will jointly launch an air ticket package with limited destinations.

China Eastern hopes that its "fly at will" can help boost businesses in tourism and hospitality, so that relevant industries can tide over the tough time together, said an executive of the service department of China Eastern. As the COVID-19 pandemic causes a marked impact on economy, a popular ticket package may lead to more positive results in consumption in relevant fields, said Xiong, noting that the social benefits of "fly at will" is already far beyond the profits it can get for the company.

Source: China Eastern Airlines

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=37732

CORRECTED PRESS RELEASE: SEABORN CHARTS COURSE AFTER SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCE FROM CHAPTER 11 OF SEABRAS-1 ENTITIES

BOSTON, July 13 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following the successful emergence from Chapter 11 of Seabras-1 entities, leading subsea cable systems operator Seaborn, today announced the appointments of board members Pete Hayes and Don Shassian, as Interim CEO and Interim CFO, respectively.

CORRECTED PRESS RELEASE: SEABORN CHARTS COURSE AFTER SUCCESSFUL EMERGENCE FROM CHAPTER 11 OF SEABRAS-1 ENTITIES

LANTRONIX OUT-OF-BAND MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS ENSURE SECURE REMOTE ACCESS FOR DATA CENTERS AND DISTRIBUTED WORKPLACES

Streamline remote management of network, server and data centers to securely and reliably ensure business continuity

IRVINE, Calif., July 10 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lantronix, Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a global provider of intelligent edge and secure data management solutions for the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), today announced that its Out-of-Band Management (OOBM) solutions are being used by organizations worldwide to ensure secure remote access and management of global networks and data centers.

LANTRONIX OUT-OF-BAND MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS ENSURE SECURE REMOTE ACCESS FOR DATA CENTERS AND DISTRIBUTED WORKPLACES

BIA Separations extends Asia Pacific coverage with new distribution agreements

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 -- BIA Separations, a leading bio-chromatography development and manufacturing company, has signed agreements with Bioscience companies, GeneX India Biosciences Pvt Ltd (GeneX India) and IT Technologies Pte Ltd (IT Tech).

“We are delighted to have GeneX India and IT Tech on board and look forward to jointly providing researchers and process developers across Asia with our state-of-the-art bioprocessing technologies and services, to enable the accelerated development of cell and gene based medicines,” said BIA Separations Business Development Officer, Ingo S. Nagler.

Both Companies will act as sole distributors of BIA Separations’ products and services across their respective regions of India, and Singapore and Malaysia.

BIA Separations provides research and method development services for the purification of large and complex biomolecules including those with therapeutic applications.

Through the agreements, both distributors will provide academic researchers, CMOs and biopharmaceutical companies access to BIA Separations’ proprietary CIMac™ analytical and CIMmultus™ preparative purification technologies for cell and gene therapies.

This includes viral vectors, nucleic acids, phages and exosomes, according to a statement.

-- BERNAMA

UP TO JPY3 MIL. AVAILABLE FOR "TAKE ON CHALLENGES BEYOND COMMON SENSE!"; KADOKAWA ASCII INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR "INNO-VATION PROGRAM 2020"

TOKYO, July 10, 2020 /Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/--

- Supported by Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications -

- Subsidy for Extraordinarily Ambitious Ideas; No Restrictions on Age, Nationality, Residence of Applicants -

UP TO JPY3 MIL. AVAILABLE FOR "TAKE ON CHALLENGES BEYOND COMMON SENSE!"; KADOKAWA ASCII INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR "INNO-VATION PROGRAM 2020"

Wim Ottevaere joins Biotalys Executive Management Team as Chief Financial Officer

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 -- Biotalys NV, a transformative food and crop protection company has appointed Wim Ottevaere as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), joining the Executive Management Team and will be based in Ghent.

He will provide strategic financial leadership and be focused on supporting the organisation towards its next financing event, according to a statement.

Ottevaere brings more than 40 years of experience in strategic financial roles, raising close to €1billion for multiple biotech companies across various markets. (€1 = RM4.83)

​In addition to his new role at Biotalys, Ottevaere will continue to act as non-executive director for several biotech companies.

Prior to joining Biotalys, until September 2018, he was CFO of Ablynx, a leading Belgian biotech company that was listed on Euronext Brussels and Nasdaq until its acquisition by Sanofi in June 2018 for €3.9 billion.

“As we prepare to bring our first biofungicide to market in 2022, Wim Ottevaere completes our executive team and provides the financial expertise Biotalys needs to support our growth,” said Biotalys Chief Executive Officer, Patrice Sellès.

Meanwhile, Ottevaere in a statement said: “Joining Biotalys at this exciting time in its corporate growth journey, I look forward to working with the rest of the executive team to help Biotalys navigate the journey to its next phase as an international commercial player.”

More details at www.biotalys.com.
​
-- BERNAMA

International WELL Building Institute Opens Enrollment For WELL Health-Safety Rating In Response To COVID-19 With Significant Early Adoption

Empire State Building, Yankee Stadium, Carrier, Uber, Adventist Health, CBRE, JLL, Lendlease, The Related Group, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, Oak View Group, Kilroy, Taipei 101 among iconic buildings and leading organizations that have enrolled to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating, designed to help buildings and spaces confidently reopen in a post COVID-19 environment

NEW YORK, July 9 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) announced that enrollment has opened today for the WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management, with more than 100 organizations and real estate portfolios across the globe already enrolled. Organizations across a wide range of industries and geographic locations have responded swiftly to implement the program’s science-backed guidance as they seek to instill confidence and trust among their staff, stakeholders and the broader community.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005768/en/

The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing building and space types focused on operational policies, maintenance protocols, emergency plans and stakeholder engagement strategies to help organizations prepare their spaces for re-entry in a post COVID-19 environment.

Adapted from features in the WELL Building Standard (WELL) that focus on facilities, maintenance and operations, the WELL Health-Safety Rating is designed to guide and empower the actions of large and small businesses alike in taking the necessary steps to prioritize the health and safety of their staff, visitors and stakeholders. It also serves as an annual process that supports efforts to promote the long-term health and safety of people.

“We’re all eager to get back to our workplaces, back to school, back to traveling, dining, and cheering on our favorite teams and performers,” said IWBI Chairman and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. “As organizations across the globe respond to the COVID-19 crisis through changes in policies and protocols, the WELL Health-Safety Rating delivers the evidence-based health strategies required to help them safely reopen with the confidence and integrity provided by third-party verification.”

Created by IWBI, the WELL Health-Safety Rating is informed by guidance developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), global disease control and prevention centers and emergency management agencies, recognized standard-making bodies, such as ASTM International and ASHRAE, and leading academic and research institutions. IWBI has leveraged insights from its Task Force on COVID-19, established at the outset of the pandemic to help business and building leaders integrate actionable i
nsights and proven strategies in the fight against COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

“This moment has highlighted the critical role that buildings, and those that own and operate them, can play in supporting people’s health, safety and well-being,” said IWBI President Rachel Gutter. “This new rating aims to meet the urgent need to deliver high health and safety standards in all of the spaces we occupy. While longer term design strategies are important in reducing the risks of infectious disease spread, this rating focuses on strategies that can be implemented immediately to address acute threats, using our buildings and spaces as a first line of defense in the fight against COVID-19.”

Demonstrating thought leadership and commitment to the health and safety of their stakeholder communities, the following leading organizations are among the first that have enrolled to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating:


INTERNATIONAL WELL BUILDING INSTITUTE OPENS ENROLLMENT FOR WELL HEALTH-SAFETY RATING IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 WITH SIGNIFICANT EARLY ADOPTION

Black Hat Asia unveils programme details for 2020 virtual event

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 -- Black Hat, the world’s leading producer of information security events, has announced details for its upcoming Black Hat Asia virtual event, taking place from Sept 29 until Oct 2.

Black Hat Asia virtual will offer a robust lineup of content including Trainings, Briefings, keynote and locknote presentations, community and sponsored programming, a virtual Business Hall, Arsenal Program, CISO Summit and networking opportunities.

The two-day Briefings beginning Oct 1, will feature an impressive lineup of talks presented by today’s most influential researchers and professionals, spanning everything from mobile vulnerabilities to industrial controller hacks, Wi-Fi vulnerabilities and others.

According to a statement, a Briefings pass includes online access to all Briefings, community programmes and resources, the virtual Business Hall and sponsored sessions.

On the other hand, Black Hat Asia will offer nearly 15 deeply technical Training courses, led by the information security industry’s top trainers and professionals from Sept 29 to Oct 2.

Courses will span topics ranging from offensive security to malware analysis, pentesting and more.

The virtual Business Hall on Oct 1 and 2 will showcase the latest technology from leading information security solution providers.

A Business Hall pass is free to attend and will include access to all demo tools in the Black Hat Arsenal, sponsored sessions, career-related resources in the Career Zone, virtual networking opportunities and more.

Register at https://www.blackhat.com/asia-20/ 
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-- BERNAMA

Seaborn charts course following successful emergence from Chapter 11

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 -- Seaborn, a leading subsea cable systems operator has appointed board members Pete Hayes and Don Shassian, as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Interim CFO, respectively.

This follows its successful emergence from Chapter 11, according to a statement.

“We are excited about the future and sincerely thank all of our employees, customers, providers and other business partners for their continued commitment to the company,” said Seaborn Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Andy Bax.

“Our world-class team will continue to work hard to deliver innovative advancements and new, industry-leading solutions for our customers and partners for years to come.”

Seaborn’s innovation, expertise and customer-commitment and the global reach and operational experience of Partners Group will allow Seaborn to continue to grow in capability and service offerings beyond cable operation and ownership.

Partners Group is a global private markets investment manager and owner of Seaborn on behalf of its clients.

“We are more than a developer and operator of subsea cable systems. Together with our partners, we are the only network and services provider across the Americas ideally positioned to help our customers by providing the right solutions with more agility than ever before,” added Bax.

Seaborn’s services are provided with the stability of diversified subsea and terrestrial routes delivering fault resilient network architectures, increased security and improved QoS.

This industry leading commitment to service is underpinned by the Seabras-1 subsea cable system, connecting Brazil to the United States, with the lowest latency and highest reliability across multiple POPs in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the New York City metropolitan area.

-- BERNAMA

Global Infrastructure Partners Capital Solutions Funds Announce Secured Term Loan Investment In Colombia's Puerto Antioquia

NEW YORK, NY, July 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a leading global, independent infrastructure investor, announced today that its credit funds, Global Infrastructure Partners Capital Solutions Funds I and II (“GIP CAPS”) closed on a $110 million secured holding company term loan investment  in Puerto Antioquia Holdings S.A.S. Puerto Antioquia is a greenfield multipurpose port terminal to be strategically located in the Northern coast of the Department of Antioquia, Colombia.  Astris Finance, financial advisor to the Sponsors, has coordinated project development and financing.

The Project is owned by a consortium consisting of CMA Terminal Holdings S.A.S, the port operations arm of CMA CGM S.A., the third largest shipping line in the world, Eiffage S.A, a top tier construction company, Puertos Inversiones y Obras S.A.S., an experienced Colombian port owner and operator, and a private consortium of banana producers and exporters (together, the “Sponsors”).

Proceeds from the GIP CAPS’ holding company investment, together with senior debt provided by a group of multilateral banks and equity capital from the Sponsors, will be utilized to fund construction of an approximately $725 million port facilities project.

The Project is underpinned by long term volume commitments with the consortium and will be strategically located as Colombia’s closest port to the Atlantic Coast. It is geographically positioned to capture a large share of dry containers traffic originated from important economic regions of Colombia, including Medellin, Bogota, the Coffee Axis and other hinterland regions.

Puerto Antioquia represents GIP CAPS II’s inaugural investment and GIP Credit’s second capital commitment to Latin America. The CAPS strategy provides customized credit financings for infrastructure issuers in GIP’s core sectors of midstream energy, power, renewables and transport, while leveraging GIP’s significant operating expertise.

“We are very pleased to have entered into this transaction with Puerto Antioquia and its Sponsors,” said Jennifer Powers, GIP Partner and Chair of GIP Credit. “Puerto Antioquia is a landmark project for Colombia and is expected to change the dynamics of trade in the country given its strategic location. It is expected to capture immediate cargo and create a significant positive impact in the Uraba region. The Port will provide significant socio-economic impact to the region, as evidenced by multilateral financing support from its senior lender, one of the most important banks in Latin America.

“This investment exemplifies GIP CAPS’ ability to provide unique credit solutions for high quality, essential infrastructure projects, and our commitment to Latin America where we see unique core infrastructure opportunities. “

Laurent Martens, Head of CMA Terminal said: "We are very happy with this continuing partnership with GIP. They have been a resourceful and proactive partner throughout development. We very much appreciate GIP's unabated support in spite of current market conditions to close the financing of this ambitious project.”



GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS CAPITAL SOLUTIONS FUNDS ANNOUNCE SECURED TERM LOAN INVESTMENT IN COLOMBIA'S PUERTO ANTIOQUIA