SKYDRIVE UNVEILS SD-05 FLYING CAR DESIGN, AIMING TO BEGIN AIR TAXI SERVICE IN 2025

TOYOTA, Japan, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- SkyDrive Inc. has unveiled the design of its commercial model flying car -- the SkyDrive SD-05. SkyDrive is planning to use the SD-05, currently in development, to launch air taxi service in the Osaka Bay area during the world exposition scheduled for 2025 in Osaka, Japan.

"This is another big step towards the realization of flying cars and sky roads," said Takumi Yamamoto, SkyDrive design director. "Two years have passed since the announcement of the SD-03, which successfully completed its public manned flight test in August 2020, and we are very happy to be able to announce its successor, the SD-05."

Headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, SkyDrive is a leading developer and manufacturer of flying cars (*1) and cargo drones in Japan.

Image1: Exterior of the SD-05, currently in development

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105850/202209267185/_prw_PI5fl_to2kn1db.jpg

Video of the SD-05 Commercial Model

Title: SkyDrive SD-05: Zero Emission Flying Vehicle

URL: https://youtu.be/36tDLW-mFiU

SD-05 Overview

The SD-05 is a two-seat, electric-powered compact aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Operated by a driver-pilot, its flight stability is secured with the assistance of a computer-controlled flight system. SkyDrive is developing flying cars with an eye toward realizing a world where they are used in daily life for air mobility much as automobiles are used for daily ground transportation.

"This vehicle is not just a simple means of traveling from point A to B," Yamamoto said. "Based on the design concept of 'giving wings to daily travel,' it's also a safer and more enjoyable travel partner."

SkyDrive is in the process of acquiring a type certificate (*2) for the SD-05 from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), as the first of its kind in Japan. The company continues to work toward initiating practical use of flying cars during the World Exposition Osaka, Kansai, scheduled for 2025 in Japan. The SD-05 is designed to travel up to approx. 10 km and the maximum cruise speed is 100 km/h. However, design and specifications are subject to change and the progress of design development.

Potential applications for SD-05 are currently under consideration, including short-cut transportation through the sky, a unique access to resort facilities, and emergency medical services.

"SkyDrive will continue to design the dreams of the future with the aim of realizing sky roads," said Yamamoto. SkyDrive is also moving to promote its business operations not only in Japan but also outside the country. In the U.S., for example, the company set up an office in September 2022, for the purpose of providing a means of "last mile" air transportation. The company has been developing the market jointly with local authorities and partner companies.

Exterior Design of SD-05

As with SkyDrive's single-seat SD-03 manned prototype aircraft, "progressive" (pioneering and advanced) is the term used to describe the design of the SD-05, which SkyDrive believes is an appropriate descriptor for a new genre of transportation. Viewing the fuselage, or body, of the aircraft from the side, an S-shaped contour suggests a pair of propellers lifting off into the sky. Looking down on the craft from above, viewers see the shape of a pearl-white swallow, a small but agile bird able to soar to great heights.

Image2:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105850/202209267185/_prw_PI6fl_6XF2f9o3.jpg

The aerodynamically advanced airframe design is informed by studies of the streamlined shapes of birds and animals and features both horizontal and vertical tails for added stability in flight. At the top corners of the airframe, 12 motor-propeller units are positioned for flight stability. These reflect flight control technology acquired through more than 1,000 flight tests conducted during development of the airframe.

For the SD-05, specialists from SkyDrive and its partners have worked together in collaboration with JAMCO Corporation (*3), an aircraft interior maker; Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd. (*4), a provider of advanced Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Plastics (CFRP); and Electric Power Systems, Inc. (*5), a leading developer of battery systems that include high-power powertrains for electrified aircraft that are eligible for type certification.

With its mission to lead a once-in-a-century mobility revolution, SkyDrive is developing safer, more secure flying cars through development and repeated demonstration tests of the SD-05 commercial model, leading to a future where air transportation is part of daily life.

"We look forward to seeing everyone at the Osaka Expo in 2025," design director Yamamoto said.

 

Image3:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105850/202209267185/_prw_PI3fl_7710DNlZ.jpg

Image4:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M105850/202209267185/_prw_PI4fl_98ccIudu.jpg

Notes:

(*1) Flying cars, called generally eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft outside Japan, are characterized by electrification, a fully autonomous autopilot, and vertical takeoff and landing. A new advancement in the field of mobility, the development of flying cars is being promoted globally. In Japan, the Public-Private Council for Air Mobility Revolution was established in 2018 for that purpose. The project is expected to lead to taxi services in urban areas, new means of transportation for remote islands and mountainous areas, and emergency transport in times of disaster. A roadmap formulated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the MLIT anticipates the start of business in the mid-2020s.

 

(*2) SkyDrive Press Release on agreement on basis for flying car type certification with MLIT

https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/6379

(*3) SkyDrive Press Release on collaboration with JAMCO Corporation (Only available in Japanese)

https://skydrive2020.com/archives/9549

(*4) SkyDrive Press Release on collaboration with Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd.

https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/6424

(*5) SkyDrive Press Release on collaboration with Electric Power Systems, Inc.

https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/6429

About SkyDrive Inc.:

https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202209267185-O1-P01369p5.pdf

To learn about fundraising for the project, visit:

https://en.skydrive2020.com/archives/7416

For more information, visit:

https://en.skydrive2020.com/

Source: SkyDrive Inc.

--BERNAMA

[INVNT GROUP]™ LAUNCHES HYPNOGRAM™, CREATIVE GLOBAL BOUTIQUE AND STUDIO

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- [INVNT GROUP] THE GLOBAL BRANDSTORY PROJECT™, expands experiential storytelling capabilities with launching of Hypnogram™, a creative global boutique and studio focused on multimedia experiences that span the physical and digital world.

Hypnogram supports brands and organisations by translating ideas and messages into unimagined experiential multi-sensory moments via motion design, tech/art installations, augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, across public and private spaces, including live shows and product launches.

“This multimedia studio led by CEO Pavel Popov, the visionary ex-managing partner at Radugadesign USA and Radugadesign China, deepens our global expansion strategy, augments our core capabilities, and offers clients end-to-end creative solutions that drive audience engagement through immersive, next-generation multimedia experiences and events,” said INVNT CEO and [INVNT GROUP] COO, Kristina McCoobery.

Meanwhile, Popov said: “Our mission is to become an industry-leading agency in multimedia design. When we combine what hypnogram brings to the table with the incredible, diverse capabilities of [INVNT GROUP], we are able to create added value for our partners around the world.”

According to a statement, Hypnogram is based in the U.S., operates globally, and is actively developing the China market, recently launching two 3D billboard projects commissioned by Vivo, a multinational technology company, and one of the leading smartphone manufacturers in China.

[INVNT GROUP]’s addition of Hypnogram enhances the group’s ability to imagine and fulfill creative, immersive, multimedia spectacles that change the relationship between brands and those who come into contact with them.

[INVNT GROUP] represents a growing portfolio of complementary disciplines designed to help forward thinking brands everywhere, impact the audiences that matter anywhere.

-- BERNAMA

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FIRM NAMES CLOUDFLARE A WEB APPLICATION FIREWALLS LEADER

Cloudflare receives highest score among evaluated WAF providers in the strategy category


SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the security, performance, and reliability company helping to build a better Internet, has been named by Forrester Research, Inc. as a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Web Application Firewalls, Q3 2022 report. Cloudflare’s Web Application Firewall (WAF) solutions received the highest possible score in 10 criteria including Innovation, Partner Ecosystem, Community, and more.

“Cloudflare’s WAF is trusted by millions of customers around the world to keep their websites and applications secure. That’s why we continue to innovate at such a relentless pace, to build the best platform for protecting APIs and application web traffic,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. “We're proud to be recognized as a Leader in this space by Forrester and that more and more enterprises choose Cloudflare to fully protect their networks from the most sophisticated attacks.”

In The Forrester Wave™: Web Application Firewalls, Forrester notes, “Cloudflare Web Application Firewall shines in configuration and rule creation,” and that “Cloudflare stands out for its active online user community and its associated response time metrics.” The report continues, “Reference customers praised the ‘custom rule flexibility and richness,’ ‘excellent dashboard and configuration options.’” In closing, the report notes: “Cloudflare is a top choice for those prioritizing usability and looking for a unified application security platform.”

Cloudflare’s global network spans more than 275 cities in over 100 countries and processes on average over 36 million HTTP requests per second, giving Cloudflare unprecedented visibility into network patterns and attack vectors. Cloudflare’s WAF uses these unprecedented insights to help ensure that hackers and vulnerability scanners can’t find or leverage vulnerabilities in web applications and APIs. As a core component of Cloudflare's application security portfolio, customers of all sizes use Cloudflare’s powerful API Gateway to quickly discover APIs they weren’t aware of and easily secure them in just a few clicks.

Forrester evaluated 12 participating vendors based on 24 criteria across current offering, strategy, and market presence. To learn more, please check out the resources below:

• Forrester Wave™ Blog
• The Forrester Wave™: Web Application Firewalls, Q3 2022 Report

About Cloudflare

Cloudflare, Inc. (www.cloudflare.com / @cloudflare) is on a mission to help build a better Internet. Cloudflare’s suite of products protect and accelerate any Internet application online without adding hardware, installing software, or changing a line of code. Internet properties powered by Cloudflare have all web traffic routed through its intelligent global network, which gets smarter with every request. As a result, they see significant improvement in performance and a decrease in spam and other attacks. Cloudflare was named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top Company Cultures 2018 list and ranked among the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2019.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “explore,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these words, or other similar terms or expressions that concern Cloudflare’s expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Cloudflare’s plans and objectives for its web application firewall (WAF) solutions and other products and technology, the benefits to customers from using Cloudflare’s global network, WAF, and other products and technology, the expected functionality and performance of Cloudflare’s global network, WAF,, and other products and technology, Cloudflare’s technological development, future operations, growth, initiatives, or strategies, and comments made by Cloudflare’s CEO and others. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in Cloudflare’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Cloudflare’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2022, as well as other filings that Cloudflare may make from time to time with the SEC.

The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. Cloudflare undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. Cloudflare may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on Cloudflare’s forward-looking statements.

© 2022 Cloudflare, Inc. All rights reserved. Cloudflare, the Cloudflare logo, and other Cloudflare marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Cloudflare, Inc. in the U.S. and other jurisdictions. All other marks and names referenced herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220927005995/en/

Contact

Cloudflare, Inc.
Daniella Vallurupalli
Vice President, Head of Global Communications
press@cloudflare.com

Source : Cloudflare, Inc.

NEW SAFETY LAW, SERIOUS ACCIDENTS PUNISHMENT ACT CHANGING KOREA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- The need for safety management across industrial sites has increased significantly in South Korea recently, with the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA).

As fatal accidents on industrial sites have become a major social issue, the National Assembly has passed SAPA which took effect on Jan 27, 2022, according to a statement.

Although SAPA is not much different from the established Occupational Safety and Health Act as both Acts are aimed at preventing serious accidents while ensuring the safety of workers.

It has expanded the range of those applicable disasters to a great extent with much enhanced punishment for violating the law.

With a surge in market demand to comply with SAPA, various solutions and products have been released to take a proactive approach to prevent accidents and casualties at construction sites.

LG U+ introduced “Smart Safety Solution,” a Bluetooth and machine learning-based smart safety platform.

Meanwhile, GSIL, a smart safety company, launched a smart safety integrated platform “BE-IT” with 4th industrial technologies such as IoT, ICT, and AI, providing a solution to manage safety issues and productivity through integrated safety data in the field.

The K-ConSafety Expo, which will be held at KINTEX in Goyang from Oct 19 to 21, is a great opportunity to meet the latest products and solutions of smart construction safety companies to manage on-site safety and prevent serious accidents.

In addition to LG U+ and GSIL, POSCO ICT will participate as an official sponsor.

More details at www.k-consafetyexpo.com.

-- BERNAMA

BENTLEY, GENESYS COLLABORATE TO PROVIDE 3D MAPPING FOR MAJOR INDIA CITIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- Bentley Systems Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, and Genesys International, a pioneer in advanced mapping and geospatial content services, announced that Genesys’ 3D City Digital Twin Solution for Urban India – the first city digital twin project launched by any Indian company – will be powered by OpenCities 365, Bentley’s infrastructure digital twin solution for cities and campuses.

According to a statement, this massive mapping and surveying project has begun and will capture most of urban India.

Genesys previously partnered with Bentley to successfully pilot an earlier digital twin solution that enabled the smart inventory management of telecom infrastructure using Bentley’s OpenTower iQ software.

Kaushik Chakraborty, Bentley’s vice president, regional executive, Asia Pacific, said: “We are extremely happy to contribute to this massive mapping project of national importance with our technology and services.

“The 3D cities digital twin project will enable our public agencies, service providers, and citizens to deliver or avail services, plan and execute projects, make informed decisions, and improve their quality of life.

“The initiative will also drive the adoption of digital technology in the infrastructure segment. The output from this project will serve as the foundation for initiatives that we can launch to sustain the economy and environment.”

Sajid Malik, chairman and managing director at Genesys International said: “The Genesys 3D City Digital Twin Solution for Urban India, powered by Bentley’s OpenCities 365, will enable us to create and curate city-scale digital twins that empower government and private entities across India to improve their execution, efficiency, and strategising capabilities using the 3D data.”

Bentley Systems employs more than 4,500 colleagues and generates annual revenues of approximately US$1 billion in 186 countries. (US$1 = RM4.614)

For more information, visit www.bentley.com.

-- BERNAMA

UPGRAD HIRES SRIKANTH IYENGAR AS CEO - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Asia's largest higher edtech company, upGrad has announced a senior appointment to its leadership team, with the hiring of Srikanth Iyengar who joins as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) - Workforce Development, effective September 2022.

According to a statement, Iyengar has over two decades of work experience spanning North America and Europe.

In his previous profiles, he led large multinational businesses across diverse industries like tech services and learning/talent upskilling, consistently driving revenue growth and profitability across a portfolio of 2,000 global clients across North America, Europe, and APAC regions.

Welcoming Iyengar in his new role, upGrad Co-founder & MD, Mayank Kumar said: “We continue to strengthen our focus on the global enterprise segment in pursuit of predictable, profitable, and sustainable growth.

“With Srikanth joining our leadership team, we look at leveraging his sharp business acumen and multi-cultural intellect to further sharpen our client focus, strengthen our operational excellence and global presence, and also enhance sales leadership for continued growth.”

In his current role, Iyengar will build and scale a B2B proposition that upskills experienced technology professionals.

With this offering, upGrad is well placed to address a significant and growing technology skills gap in the global marketplace, by delivering a world-class proposition.

It will also be responsible for leveraging the company's unparalleled width of technology curriculums, significantly large alumni community, and proven expertise in delivering tangible learning outcomes.

Iyengar's efforts will be instrumental in setting up a robust ‘Diversity and Inclusion (DnI)’ framework to allow businesses to build a future-ready and productive workforce.

With a strong focus on the US, Europe, and select western markets, Iyengar will continue to work from London, United Kingdom.

-- BERNAMA

THE GLOBE AND MAIL ANNOUNCES THAT LEDDARTECH HAS BEEN SELECTED AS ONE OF CANADA'S TOP GROWING COMPANIES

QUEBEC CITY, Sept 27 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeddarTech^®, a global leader in providing the most flexible, robust and accurate ADAS and AD sensing technology, is pleased to announce its recognition among Canada’s Top Growing Companies for 2022 by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, where LeddarTech ranked 280 out of 430 eligible companies.

The Canada’s Top Growing Companies list ranks Canadian companies on three-year revenue growth. LeddarTech thus continues to be recognized for its market-leading technology and business practices and, most recently, received two awards for its LeddarVision™ sensor fusion and perception software solution.

Canada’s Top Growing Companies is an editorial ranking launched in 2019. It aims to celebrate the boldest entrepreneurial achievement by identifying and bringing the accomplishments of innovative businesses in Canada to the forefront. In order to qualify for this voluntary program, companies had to complete an in-depth application process and fulfill requirements. In total, 430 companies earned a spot on this year’s ranking.

“LeddarTech is very honored to be named by the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies,” stated Charles Boulanger, CEO of LeddarTech. “LeddarTech began in Canada in 2007 with a commitment to developing technology that improves people’s quality of life, increases public safety and encourages greater global environmental sustainability. In 2022 we celebrate our 15^th anniversary, and our commitments have not changed,” Mr. Boulanger continued. “On behalf of the management team, Board of Directors and our employees, I express our collective appreciation for this recognition. We remain motivated to continue our mission to become the most deployed sensor fusion and perception software solution that enables ADAS and AD applications.”

“Canada’s Top Growing Companies recognizes the tremendous ambition and innovation of entrepreneurs in Canada,” says Dawn Calleja, Editor of Report on Business magazine. “The next generation of Canadian businesses can draw inspiration from this ranking.”

“In an uncertain world, the success stories of the companies marked in this year’s Report on Business magazine’s list of Top Growing Companies are a beacon of optimism,” says Phillip Crawley, Publisher and CEO of The Globe and Mail. “The Globe and Mail congratulates them on their achievements.”

About The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 5.9 million readers every week in print or digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2.3 million readers in print and digital every issue. The Globe and Mail’s investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family.

About LeddarTech

Founded in 2007, LeddarTech is a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company that enables customers to solve critical sensing, fusion and perception challenges across the entire value chain. LeddarTech provides cost-effective perception solutions scalable from Level 2 ADAS to Level 5 full autonomy with LeddarVision™, a raw-data sensor fusion and perception platform that generates a comprehensive 3D environmental model from a variety of sensor types and configurations. LeddarTech also supports LiDAR manufacturers and Tier 1-2 automotive suppliers with key technology building blocks such as LeddarSteer™ digital beam steering and the LeddarEngine™, which comprises a highly integrated, scalable LiDAR SoC and software combination that enables the accelerated design of automotive-grade LiDAR solutions with optimized cost-to-performance ratios. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge automotive and mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 140 patents granted or applied for, enhancing ADAS and autonomous driving capabilities.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Contact:
Daniel Aitken, Vice-President, Global Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations, LeddarTech Inc.
Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232 daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Investor relations contact: InvestorRelations@leddartech.com
https://investors.leddartech.com/

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarSteer, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, LeddarEcho, VAYADrive, VayaVision, XLRator and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

SOURCE : LeddarTech inc.

'WE NEED NEW FORM OF MONEY' SOPNENDU MOHANTY, MONETARY AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE AT GLOBAL FINTECH FEST 2022

MUMBAI, India, Sept 23 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Speaking at Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2022, at a fireside chat with Smita Aggarwal, Global Investments Advisor of Flourish Ventures, Mr. Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief Fintech Officer, Monetary Authority of Singapore, said, “In the new architecture of Web 3.0, asset transfers are not only done traditionally, therefore we need a new form of money that transacts on a distributed ledger. Therefore today, the central bank needs to come up with a new form of money - a legal tender that excludes private currencies, as it doesn't act like a payment instrument.” GFF 2022 was organised and presented by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Reserve Bank of India, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), National Payments Council of India, the Payments Council of India (PCI) and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC). It was held between September 20 and 22, 2022 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Pre-event festivities began virtually on September 19, 2022.

“Under the new architecture, tokenisation will enable both asset ownership and transfer of value to happen in real-time,” Mr. Mohanty added.

Talking about the role of new technologies, Mr. Mohanty added, “The new form of money will lead to massive disintermediation whereby the connectivity between the central banks of different nations will not just bring down the cost of cross-border transfers but will also enable one to seamlessly use his local UPI anywhere in the world.”

“We have successfully connected the UPI equivalent network of Singapore known as PayNow, with Thailand’s PromPay, to facilitate seamless cross-border transfers. We are now planning to connect to India by end of this year, and also in Malaysia, which will bring about a significant drop in the cost of cross-border transfers,” he added.

According to Mr. Mohanty, ‘wholesale CBDC’ will not just make cross-border transfers more efficient and cost-effective but will also address challenges pertaining to regulations, processes and compliances.

Elaborating on the new design of retail CBDC, Mr. Mohanty said, “The biggest debate for the central bank is how to deal with this new form of money, which will rest on the four-pronged architecture of – cryptography, ledger, consensus protocol and distribution. The uncertainty really is not around cryptos or smart contracts but around the validation protocol and therefore if we get that right it will transform the entire sector. This is now gradually changing with Ethereum’s transition to ‘proof of stake’.”

“Additionally, the new form of money instead of retail CBDC should be designed as ‘programmable money’ which can be programmed for specific use-cases just like in the case of Covid grants. The retail CBDC can be extremely efficient and cost-effective and can even avert the need of a UPI rail for money transfers. This space needs to be watched out for especially for low-value transfers,” he added.

GFF 2022 is being supported by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency (Invest India), Startup India, Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) and ONDC. Special Partners of GFF 2022 are World Bank Group, United Nations Capital Development Fund, BIS Innovation Hub, KNOMAD, Better Than Cash Alliance and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220922005486/en/

Contact

Anilkumar Yadav, Adfactors PR
anilkumar.yadav@adfactorspr.com

Vidhi Manek, Adfactors PR
vidhi.manek@adfactorspr.com

Source : Global Fintech Fest 2022

BEST'S MARKET SEGMENT REPORT: SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN REINSURERS IMPROVE UNDERWRITING PERFORMANCE, BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

SINGAPORE, Sept 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best notes that reinsurance companies in South and Southeast Asia (S/SEA) posted an improved combined ratio in 2021, although underwriting performance remains pressured with a continued reliance on investments to achieve bottom-line profitability.

The new Best’s Market Segment Report, “Meeting Cost of Capital Elusive for South and Southeast Asian Reinsurers Despite Improved Underwriting Performance,” is part of AM Best’s month-long look at the global reinsurance industry ahead of Rendez-Vous de Septembre in Monte Carlo. According to the report, S/SEA reinsurers recorded an overall combined ratio of 108% in 2021, a five-percentage-point improvement from the recent high in 2019. Despite the improvement in technical performance, AM Best notes that overall return on equity declined to 3.4% in 2021 due to low investment yields amid a prolonged low interest rate environment in most S/SEA markets.

“Although investment returns are expected to increase over the near term alongside a recovery in interest rates, rising inflation in the region is likely to pose challenges in meeting the cost of capital prospectively,” said Kanika Thukral, senior financial analyst, AM Best.

AM Best still expects the segment to see stable growth, supported by the expansion of primary insurance markets with economic recovery and increased insurance penetration. Along with local and regional reinsurers, international reinsurance players have supported the development of S/SEA reinsurance markets as they consider the region to be to be instrumental to their growth and portfolio diversification strategies. In particular, international reinsurers remain crucial to supporting large property, engineering and marine risks.

The report notes that reinsurers in the region have approached 2022 renewals with a focus on achieving technical profitability, due to the expectations of a challenging investment landscape and an inflationary environment. Retrocession price hardening trend continued for loss-hit accounts; however, S/SEA reinsurers have not significantly amended their retrocession strategies and continue to rely on traditional forms of retrocession, despite increasing costs. Instead, market players have sought to focus on prudent exposure management while maintaining or moderately increasing retention levels in view of these retrocession conditions.

“Even with rate improvements in the past two renewal seasons, the pricing increases may not be enough to see significant improvement in technical profitability given expected increases in loss costs should higher inflation persist,” said Michael Dunckley, director, analytics, AM Best. “Reinsurers will need a prudent investment and retrocession strategy, along with continued underwriting discipline.” 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=44205

GUNNING TO BE TOP, IC MARKETS REVEALS NEW GLOBAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- IC Markets, one of the world’s largest Forex CFD brokers, has unveiled its new global marketing campaign at the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament held at the DHL Stadium Cape Town, South Africa last week.

According to a statement, the advertisement will air in 10 countries over the next few months and was created by South African creative agency and filmmaker Silver Bullet Films.

The advert plays on the renewed interest in the 1986 movie Top Gun, following the release of the sequel Top Gun: Maverick, and encourages traders to ‘trade up’ and experience the superior benefits of IC Markets.

Commenting on the campaign, IC Markets Chief Executive Officer Andrew Budzinski said: “Top Gun is an iconic film and is fundamentally about using skill and the right tools to harness potential and to achieve goals.

“We know our traders come to IC Markets because they are drawn to the features and benefits we offer that will help take their trading to the next level.”

Filmed outside Johannesburg by award winning Executive Creative Director Wayne de Lange, the new advertising campaign is IC Markets first major TV campaign since 2021

IC Markets chose the South African capital to film the advert, in recognition of its success in this market since launching in 2020.

The decision to support the South African film industry also follows IC Market’s recent sponsorship of the Rugby World Cup Sevens held in Cape Town.

-- BERNAMA

PERSEFONI ANNOUNCES EXPANSION TO SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE, Sept 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Persefoni, a leading provider of carbon management and accounting platform (CMAP) for enterprises and financial institutions, today announces its newest entity, Persefoni Singapore Pte. Ltd.. This signifies a firm step towards establishing Persefoni as a category leader in Asia Pacific.

Launched in 2020, Persefoni’s SaaS platform enables enterprises and institutional investors to measure, analyze, plan, forecast, and report on their Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, allowing them to manage their carbon transactions and inventory with the same rigor as their financial ones. The company has codified the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP), as well as being the first platform to have codified the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) which enables financial institutions and asset managers to calculate Scope 3, Category 15 financed emissions.

‘Singapore has established itself as the region’s climate hub and has committed policies and resources to make meaningful progress towards fighting climate change. We’re extremely excited to expand Persefoni’s global presence here and build a strong foothold for Asia Pacific.’ said Kentaro Kawamori, CEO and Co-Founder of Persefoni, ‘Together with our partners, such as Bain & Company, we look forward to bringing the most cutting edge climate disclosure and carbon management technology to customers in Singapore and beyond.’

Persefoni Singapore will operate out of Bain & Company’s Global Sustainability Innovation Center (GSIC) located in Singapore where both firms will collaborate to provide market-leading carbon accounting solutions and serve the Asia Pacific region from this launchpad.

While founded in the US, Persefoni has a global team of over 300 with strong footholds in the UK and Japan. In 2021, Persefoni raised the largest funding round in climate-tech SaaS history. The company has since established itself as a global leader in carbon management and accounting, with notable customers and partners across North America, EMEA, and Asia.

Earlier this year, Persefoni was identified as a Leader in The Forrester New Wave™: Sustainability Management Software, Q1 2022. Persefoni received the highest possible scores in carbon calculation and performance monitoring criteria, as well as in product vision, execution roadmap, and market approach criteria. Persefoni also received among the top scores in the strategy category. With respect to the Persefoni platform, the report noted: “Due to its focus on carbon accounting, Persefoni is best for banks, asset managers, and large multinational companies in need of greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting automation and financial reporting.”

About Persefoni

Persefoni Inc. is a leading Climate Management & Accounting Platform (CMAP). The company's Software-as-a-Service solutions enable enterprises and financial institutions to meet stakeholder and regulatory climate disclosure requirements with the highest degree of trust, transparency, and ease. As the ERP of Carbon, the Persefoni platform provides users a single source of carbon truth across their organization, enabling them to manage their carbon transactions and inventory with the same rigor and confidence as their financial transactions. Learn more at persefoni.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220916005169/en/

Contact

Persefoni AI, Inc.
pr@persefoni.com

Source : Persefoni AI, Inc.

MADISON REALTY CAPITAL ORIGINATES $315.6 MILLION LOAN FOR THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL AND RESIDENCES IN NEW ORLEANS

 NEW YORK, Sept 20 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Madison Realty Capital, a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm focused on debt and equity investment strategies, today announced that it has provided a $315.6 million loan to Carpenter & Company, Inc. and Woodward Interests, LLC for the completion of the renovation at the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences New Orleans located at 2 Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Josh Zegen, Managing Principal and Co-Founder of Madison Realty Capital, said, “The Four Seasons New Orleans is well positioned along the Mississippi River, between the French Quarter and Central Business Districts, to capitalize on the demand from New Orleans’ robust tourism market and expanding business district. We are pleased to leverage our familiarity with the Four Seasons brand to deliver a timely and customized financing solution to an experienced borrower group for a well-recognized New Orleans landmark with exciting cultural attractions.”

The 341-key Four Seasons hotel opened in July 2021 and is part of a mixed-use tower that includes 92 residential condominiums on the top floors. Operated by the Four Seasons, the residences have a private entrance from the hotel and offer one- to three-bedroom units and four-bedroom penthouses. To date, the property has sold 50% of the condominiums.

The 33-story hotel and residence offers event space and amenities including two restaurants, a lobby and bar, full-service spa, fitness center, outdoor pool, and private gardens. The highly awarded hotel was named a “Best Hotel in New Orleans” and one of the “Best New Hotels in the World” by Travel + Leisure; a “Best of the Best” New Hotels in the World by Robb Report; and a “Best New Hotel in the Country” by USA TODAY 10Best. Additionally, the building is home to Vue Orleans, a unique indoor and outdoor observatory with panoramic views of the city and historic and cultural exhibits.

Richard Friedman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Carpenter & Company Inc., said, “Madison Realty Capital has significant expertise investing in Four Seasons projects and we are pleased with their team’s ability to work quickly and provide certainty of execution. We look forward to moving to the next stage of this exciting project as we raise the hotel quality bar in New Orleans with the customized and flexible financing Madison delivered.”

Madison Realty Capital has significant experience investing in Four Seasons Hotels. Notable transactions include a $210 million loan to Fort Partners for the construction of the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale and $105 million loan to Fort Partners for the acquisition and modernization of the Four Seasons Hotel Miami.

Riaz Cassum and Henry Schaffer from JLL Capital Markets arranged the financing.

About Madison Realty Capital 

Madison Realty Capital is a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm that, as of August 31, 2022, manages approximately $9.5 billion in total assets on behalf of a global institutional investor base. Since 2004, Madison Realty Capital has completed approximately $21 billion in transactions providing borrowers with flexible and highly customized financing solutions, strong underwriting capabilities, and certainty of execution. Headquartered in New York City, with an office in Los Angeles, the firm has approximately 70 employees across all real estate investment, development, and property management disciplines. Madison Realty Capital has been frequently named to the Commercial Observer’s prestigious “Power 100” list of New York City real estate players and is consistently cited as a top construction lender, among other industry recognitions. To learn more, follow us on LinkedIn and visit www.madisonrealtycapital.com.


Nathaniel Garnick/Grace Cartwright
Gasthalter & Co.
(212) 257-4170
madisonrealty@gasthalter.com

SOURCE : Madison Realty Capital

INVESTOPIA, SALT DECLARE NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- Investopia, the global investment platform launched by the UAE Government in September 2021, announced new strategic partnership with SALT, a premier global thought leadership forum, at SALT New York 2022.

According to a statement, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding outlining collaboration on a joint event to take place in 2023 in the UAE.

The agreement was signed by Mohamed Naser Al Zaabi, CEO of Investopia, and Anthony Scaramucci, Chairman of SALT, in the presence of Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Chairman of Investopia, and Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of ADDED.

“Investopia’s main objective is to create a global ecosystem for investment,” said Bin Touq Al Marri. “Through this partnership, Investopia and SALT will collaborate to bring together investors and business leaders from all over the world to discuss trends shaping the future of investment and identify investment opportunities in sectors that will define the economy in years to come.”

As strategic partners, SALT and Investopia will work together to organise a prestigious, invitation-only conference featuring the world’s leading investors, entrepreneurs and policy experts. The event will mark Investopia’s second annual conference and SALT’s second Middle East edition, following the success of SALT Abu Dhabi 2019.

“We are thrilled to bring SALT back to the UAE, which is an important crossroads of capital and epicentre of innovation,” said Scaramucci. “The debut editions of both Investopia and SALT Middle East were transformational events, and we can’t wait to collaborate to host what will be one of the premier gatherings on the global calendar.”

The gathering will be hosted in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.

Al Shorafa, Chairman of ADDED said: “Against the backdrop of a continuously evolving global market, convening with international peers to tackle current trade and investment headwinds, assessing economic indicators and exchanging expertise and perspectives is of vital importance if we are to stay ahead and pre-empt for shifts in market trajectories.”

-- BERNAMA

WATTPAD BRINGS SOME OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN WEBNOVELS TO PODCASTS ON SPOTIFY

Fans of leading Indonesian and Filipino Wattpad authors can now look forward to a more immersive audio experience through podcasts.


MANILA, Philippines & JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept 19 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Wattpad, the global entertainment company and leading webnovel platform will launch a series of podcasts created by popular Wattpad authors exclusively on Spotify. Some of the biggest names in webnovels in Indonesia and the Philippines will bring their stories to life through a range of podcasts, with 20 titles available to listeners on the world’s most popular audio streaming platform.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220915005721/en/

Indonesian and Filipino authors including Pit Sandi whose hit story My Ice Girl has over 22M reads on Wattpad, Ma. Cristina Lata, author of the 321M-read sensation, The Four Bad Boys and Me and Ariesa Jane Domingo of For Hire: A Damn Good Kisser (42.1M reads) will launch shows ranging from intimate explorations of an author’s creative journey to personal musings on everyday life from the lens of an author. Fans can also look forward to behind-the-scenes commentary on their favorite web novels from Ventre Canard, author of Caught in His Arms (56.2M reads); and April Avery, whose Titan Academy of Special Abilities has over 55M reads on Wattpad, among others.

“Southeast Asia is home to many of the most successful and influential authors on Wattpad,” said Kelly O’Mara, Director of Account Management, Wattpad Brand Partnerships. “As Wattpad’s first major podcast deal in Asia, our partnership with Spotify will fuel our fans' love for the literary world through audio. Wattpad's authors have built enormous global fandoms for their work, writing stories that will continue to inspire a generation of readers.”

“Indonesia and the Philippines are brimming with creativity and brilliant storytellers. This is why we’re thrilled to work with Wattpad to bring their authors to Spotify where they’ll have a chance to take listeners deeper into their craft, inspiration and lives. By adding podcasts to their Wattpad webnovels, it will allow the authors to engage with their fans in a unique way and reach new fans and listeners,” says Carl Zuzarte, Spotify Head of Studios for Southeast Asia.

The podcasts will premiere on September 17 in the Philippines and on September 30 in Indonesia. Each podcast will have 24 episodes and stream weekly on their respective Spotify Podcast pages.

Some shows include:

• Dy-dengar by author Dyah Ayu Arumsari Abdullah: The popular Indonesian author will share details of her life as a GenZ, giving her fans a more intimate look at her hopes and dreams for the future. Her podcast will also touch on relationships, as well as her anxieties and fears in life and everything in between.
• Love and Wander with Tina by author Ma. Cristina Lata: The Filipino author will discuss love and other topics that make the mind wander, sharing letters from fans on the topic. Each podcast episode will tackle sub categories of love from balancing relationships and career, past romance, to love languages.

As part of the partnership, Wattpad and Spotify will host two live panel discussions with creators at the Manila International Book Fair on September 17 and Indonesia International Book Fair on November 12.

About Wattpad

Wattpad’s vision is to entertain and connect the world through stories. A leading webnovel platform and home to a community of 90 million people who spend over 23 billion minutes a month engaged in original stories, Wattpad has democratized storytelling for a new generation of diverse Gen Z writers and their fans. Alongside Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, the company’s TV, film, and publishing counterpart, Wattpad combines art and science to unearth incredible stories and cultivate the fandoms driving the future of entertainment. The company is proudly based in Toronto, Canada.

Wattpad has had a stream of hit adaptations in the Philippines and Indonesia via Wattpad WEBTOON Studios. A group of Vidio Originals adapted from Wattpad has broken records for the streamer, the company has a growing imprint with Bliss Books in the Philippines, and LUV IS: CAUGHT IN HIS ARMS, from Wattpad WEBTOON Studios and GMA7, is set for release early next year.

About Spotify

Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music.

Discover, manage, and share over 82 million tracks and 4 million podcast titles, for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features including improved sound quality and an on-demand, offline, and ad-free music listening experience.

Today, we are the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with a community of more than 433 million users, including 188 million Spotify Premium subscribers, across 183 markets. We are also the largest driver of revenue to the music business today.

For more information, images, or to contact the press team, please head over to our press page at https://newsroom.spotify.com/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220915005721/en/

Contact

Lauren Hopkinson
lauren.hopkinson@wattpad.com

Source : Wattpad

SABIN SECURES ADDITIONAL US$21.8 MILLION FROM BARDA TO ADVANCE MARBURG VACCINE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- The Sabin Vaccine Institute announced it is receiving an additional US$21.8 million under an existing contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). (US$1 = RM4.527)

BARDA is part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

According to a statement, these funds advance development of a vaccine against Marburg virus disease, a virus that is related to Ebola Zaire which killed 2,200 people during the last major outbreak that ended in 2020.

“Beginning Phase 2 clinical trials for the Marburg vaccine is a pivotal milestone for us and we appreciate BARDA’s continued confidence in our work and support for this critical next step,” said Sabin Chief Executive Officer, Amy Finan.

“Vaccines remain our best bet against death and disability from deadly viruses. I am hopeful that in the years ahead, we can offer this life-saving vaccine to every person who needs it.”

The Sabin Marburg vaccine is the only candidate currently slated for a Phase 2 clinical trial. Marburg is among the world’s deadliest viruses, resulting in the death of approximately half the people the virus infects.

Currently, there are no approved vaccines or treatments for the disease. As recently as July this year, two people in Ghana died after being infected with Marburg virus, reinforcing the urgent need for medical therapies.

The latest tranche of funds enables Sabin to conduct a randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial among adults in the U.S. to further evaluate the safety and the efficacy of the Marburg vaccine candidate and advance non-clinical vaccine dosing studies.

The Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. will begin after Sabin has initiated a same-stage trial in Africa, currently scheduled for 2023. Sabin will also undertake a non-clinical study on the vaccine candidate during this phase.

More details at www.sabin.org.

-- BERNAMA

ENABLE FIBRE BROADBAND SELECTS INCOGNITO SOFTWARE SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT NEXT-GEN NETWORK

 

Incognito delivers automated service orchestration and assurance to enhance network efficiency and customer experience VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Incognito Software Systems Inc., a leading global provider of broadband service orchestration software solutions for digital service providers, announces that Enable, provider of ultra-fast fiber broadband for greater Christchurch, has selected its next-gen broadband OSS solutions to deliver a more efficient, customer-centric network powered by automated service orchestration and assurance. By leveraging Incognito’s solutions, Enable can introduce closed-loop processes to reduce the time-to-market for new fibre products and deliver a quality subscriber experience. As a growing network provider for fiber (FTTH) services, Enable was seeking support for the roll-out and expansion of their next-gen, multi-vendor network. They needed to implement a reliable and robust orchestration platform allowing them to efficiently launch and scale ultra-fast broadband services across their network, reduce the need for manual processes, and maintain a comprehensive view of network and service performance. By adopting Incognito’s Service Activation Center (SAC) to deliver automated service activation, fulfillment, and order management, Enable will benefit from closed-loop operations to enable B2B2C service provisioning using standards-based APIs. Enable is also leveraging the industry-awarded Digital Experience (DX) platform to orchestrate voice services on next-gen network equipment, as well as monitor and manage ONT devices with real-time KPI analytics and diagnostics. Incognito’s solutions offer autonomous closed-loop operational processes that deliver the following benefits: Increased operational efficiencies and reduced cost and time to provision with automated end-to-end service orders and workflows. Seamless, comprehensive real-time view of network performance across all network devices. Automated anomaly detection and root cause correlation to resolve issues quickly. Improved customer visibility of service-impacting events. Automation of service fulfillment requests with comprehensive order management dashboard and reporting. Enable is well-positioned for strategic growth. “Incognito’s solutions provide the security, stability, and efficiency we need to deliver an exceptional network to our customers across the greater Christchurch community,” said Johnathan Eele, Chief Executive Officer at Enable. “We are pleased to be working with Enable as a strategic partner in their continuing quest to innovate, smash boundaries, and improve the customer experience as part of their rollout of ultra-fast fiber broadband services,” said Pete Koat, Chief Operating Officer at Incognito. “Automating the provisioning and orchestration processes ensures less manual work, while the proactive solution ensures fewer customer calls are made during the customer lifecycle. We are proud to work together with Enable to achieve their goals through increased efficiency and reduced costs and to drive industry leading broadband services in their community.” The Incognito Service Activation Center (SAC) is an industry flagship solution used around the world by premier telecommunications and broadband service providers. The modular platform automates orchestration and service activation while streamlining back-end processes to reduce operational costs. The award-winning Digital Experience Solution (DX) is a unified and secure platform that features TR-069 Auto Configuration Server and TR-369 User Services Platform support to monitor and manage endpoint devices over any network. About Incognito Incognito Software Systems Inc. provides service orchestration software and services that help digital service providers manage the next-generation broadband experience. Founded 30 years ago, Incognito has over 200 customers worldwide, including Claro, Cox, Digicel, Globe, and Orange, leveraging its solutions to fast-track the introduction of innovative broadband services over fiber, cable, and fixed wireless technologies, while delivering a great customer experience. The company is a division of the Lumine Group, a portfolio of Constellation Software Inc., the largest independent software company in Canada. Visit www.incognito.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Enable Fibre Broadband Enable is a fiber (FTTH) wholesale network provider based in New Zealand, providing ultra-fast broadband services for the greater Christchurch region as part of the national ultra-fast broadband initiative. Enable's network currently covers about 200,000 homes, businesses, and schools with the aim of connecting their community with unlimited opportunity. Visit www.enable.net.nz or follow on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com:  https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220914005198/en/ Contact Media Matt Mariani Digital Marketing Manager, Incognito Software Systems +1 613-762-996 Matt.mariani@incognito.com Source : Incognito Software Systems Inc.