'Hidden Gem' shines as ship makes splashing arrival in Rotterdam

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 -- The Metals Company has announced the arrival of the 228-metre-long former drill ship renamed the Hidden Gem in Rotterdam, The Netherlands to begin its conversion into what is expected to be the first ship classified as sub-sea mining vessel by the American Bureau of Shipping.

TMC’s strategic partner Allseas acquired the former ultra-deep-water drill ship, which can accommodate 200 people, in March of 2020, as her configuration is well-suited for modifications that will enable the deployment at sea of a 4.5 kilometre-long riser to bring polymetallic nodules up from the seafloor.

“We are very happy to see the Hidden Gem over here in Europe and to see Allseas making such tremendous progress with her,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Metals Company, Gerard Barron.

“The vessel has successfully embarked on the dry dock maintenance phase, which bodes well for a smooth and timely conversion in advance of our pilot mining project in 2022.”

In partnership with The Metals Company (formerly DeepGreen Metals Inc), Allseas is developing a deep-sea mineral collection system to responsibly recover polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor and transfer them to the surface for transportation to shore.

According to a statement, the nodules contain high grades of nickel, manganese, copper and cobalt—key metals required for building electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy technologies.

The Metals Company recently completed its SPAC merger and public listing on the Nasdaq and strategic partner Allseas, a global leader in offshore engineering, congratulated the company.

TMC and Allseas expect the vessel to be operational for pilot nodule collection tests by mid-2022.

More details at www.metals.co.

-- BERNAMA

SEforALL, CPI new research highlights troubling trend in climate change fight

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 -- New research published by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) highlights a troubling trend in the fight against climate change and push to deliver universal electricity access.

This is despite environmental, economic and many other challenges facing coal, pockets of funders continue to finance additional coal-fired generation capacity in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, according to a statement.

The Coal Power Finance in High-Impact Countries knowledge brief, part of SEforALL’s Energizing Finance research series, analyses 18 countries with the largest electricity access gaps (i.e. high-impact countries) to identify those receiving finance for coal-fired power, the sources of this investment, its key drivers and the risks attached.

The brief makes the case that distributed renewable energy generation provides the fastest and most efficient path to increased electricity access in the near-term. 

It recommends a paradigm shift from centralised coal to distributed renewable energy generation to rapidly expand electricity access in high-impact countries, not only for residential household use, but at access tiers that support economic growth.

Ahead of this year’s UN High-level Dialogue on Energy and COP26, the brief recommends a reevaluation of the current geography-based carbon accounting system, which allocates emissions to countries based on their physical origin.

 Instead, implementing a finance-based carbon accounting regime would force policymakers to consider the impact of domestic capital on cross-border emissions and push private investors to align their portfolios with the net-zero ambitions they support.

SEforALL works to ensure a clean energy transition that leaves no one behind and brings new opportunities for everyone to fulfill their potential.

-- BERNAMA

Come 2025, e-commerce powerhouse Asia Pacific, Australasia will generate over US$68.5 billion sales

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 -- Asia Pacific and Australasia will become an e-commerce powerhouse in 2021 and beyond, due to e-commerce sales opportunities of over US$68.5 billion, according to a new report from global market research company Euromonitor International. (US$1 = RM4.140)

In the report, ‘Retail in Transition: Future E-commerce Opportunities in Asia Pacific and Australasia’, exploring digital trends and opportunities in the region, Euromonitor estimates that Asia Pacific and Australasia’s online sales expansion will account for more than 45 per cent of global e-commerce growth from 2020 to 2025.

“Mobile shopping and digital commerce have become new common practices for consumers who are healthier, more fitness centric and value experiences over tangible goods,” says Euromonitor International senior analyst, Emily Leung in a statement.

“The role of the brick-and-mortar store is also shifting from a point of purchase into an experiential centre.”

Food and drinks online sales, in Asia Pacific and Australasia, will nearly double, reaching US$172.8 billion by 2025, with fresh food, alcoholic drinks and packaged food products set to represent more than 57 per cent of total unmet e-commerce opportunities, and driving further growth in the region.

Euromonitor International is the world’s leading provider for global business intelligence, market analysis and consumer insights.

-- BERNAMA

Reimagining ADAS and AD Solutions, Join LeddarTech at Three Major International Events in September

QUEBEC CITY, Sept 9 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LeddarTech®, a global leader in Level 1-5 ADAS and AD sensing technology, is pleased to announce its participation in several digital and in-person events during September in the capacity of both an exhibitor and presenter. These global events will showcase LeddarTech’s comprehensive end-to-end technology platforms, which enable customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility markets. These featured solutions include the LeddarVision™ sensor-fusion and perception platform and the cost-effective, scalable LiDAR development platform based on patented LeddarEngine™ technology.

“The acceleration of autonomous driving depends heavily on the ADAS solutions being developed today,” stated Daniel Aitken, VP of Global Marketing, Communications, and Product Management at LeddarTech. “These upcoming events highlight LeddarTech’s scalable and flexible reimagined approach with LiDAR and sensor-fusion and perception solutions that address individual customer needs,” he continued. “We are especially pleased to have Mike Thoeny, President of the Automotive Business Group at Flex, co-host one of our sessions. We look forward to you joining us for one or all of these events,” Mr. Aitken concluded.

Industry Tech Days – September 13-17 (Digital)

Industry Tech Days brings essential insights in electronics, everything from edge intelligence design to next-generation automotive sensors, delivered LIVE straight from industry experts to your desktop or mobile device.

Join LeddarTech for two presentations:

• “Sensor-Fusion and Perception Solutions for Key ADAS and AD Applications” (Use Case), featuring Youval Nehmadi, Engineering Director, LeddarTech Sensor Fusion and Perception Platform Research & Development Center, Israel.

• “Why Flexible Platforms Are Required for Future ADAS/AD Deployments,” by Frantz Saintellemy, LeddarTech’s President and COO, and Mike Thoeny, President of the Automotive Business Group at Flex.

Register for free here.

China International Optoelectronic Conference (CIOE) / MEMS Seminar – September 16-18 (Live in Shenzhen, China)

CIOE is China’s largest optoelectronic industry event, held in the Shenzhen World Convention and Exhibition Center. Mr. Horry Cheng will represent LeddarTech on the panel for “LiDAR and 3D Camera Sensing Technology & Applications,” and LeddarTech will also exhibit at this prestigious event.

Register here.

Automotive LiDAR Conference 2021 – September 21- 23 (Digital Event)

This conference is one of the only events exclusively focused on automotive LiDAR technologies and applications. The conference sessions will present the various approaches in developing a LiDAR system and explain the reasons for choosing one approach over another.

• Join LeddarTech’s CTO Pierre Olivier on September 21 at 2:00 p.m. EST for his featured presentation “Combining LiDAR, Radar, and Camera: Sensor Fusion Challenges and Solutions.”

Register here.

For a complete list of LeddarTech’s upcoming live and virtual events, please visit leddartech.com/events.

About LeddarTech

LeddarTech is a leader in environmental sensing platforms for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. Founded in 2007, LeddarTech has evolved to become a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing and perception challenges across the entire value chain of the automotive and mobility market segments. With its LeddarVision™ sensor-fusion and perception platform and its cost-effective, scalable, and versatile LiDAR development solution for automotive-grade solid-state LiDARs based on the LeddarEngine™, LeddarTech enables Tier 1-2 automotive system integrators to develop full-stack sensing solutions for autonomy level 1 to 5. These solutions are actively deployed in autonomous shuttles, trucks, buses, delivery vehicles, smart cities/factories, and robotaxi applications. The company is responsible for several innovations in cutting-edge automotive and mobility remote-sensing applications, with over 100 patented technologies (granted or pending) 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 Product Management, LeddarTech Inc. Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ext. 232 daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarSteer, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, VAYADrive, VayaVision, 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.

MAJID AL FUTTAIM LAUNCHES AI POWERED CARREFOUR CITY+; THE REGION'S FIRST CHECK-OUT FREE STORE

 · Carrefour City+ offers customers a fast, seamless and contactless shopping experience

· From start to finish, the new store explores a holistic approach to Artificial Intelligence
· Customers simply pick their products and walk-out with no staff interaction or checkout 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Majid Al Futtaim – the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia – is setting new precedents for retail with the launch of the region’s first check-out free store, Carrefour City+. Opened today in Mall of the Emirates, the new convenience store provides a fast, seamless and contactless experience using cutting-edge, artificial intelligence technology. Customers use their phones to access the store, pick their desired items and simply walk out without having to queue and pay at the cash register.

Carrefour City+ was inaugurated by H.E Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications along with Alain Bejjani, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Holding and Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail.

Store access and shopping payment is enabled via the current MAF Carrefour App. Once inside Carrefour City+, every item picked up by customers will then be automatically added to a digital shopping basket and the purchase will be completed by simply walking out. Not only is the shopping journey faster, but also completely contactless, with no store staff interaction necessary.

“Carrefour City+ has been designed to make life easier by using technology to remove friction and enhance the retail experience,” revealed Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail. “The store represents a huge leap forwards for retail in the UAE and region as Carrefour continues to innovate to meet the needs of the present whilst anticipating future shopping trends.”

A first for Carrefour worldwide, City+ deploys artificial intelligence and state of the art technology to identify thousands of products with pinpoint accuracy, improving inventory management and simplifying shopping for customers. Carrefour City+ stocks over 1,300 items including snacks, beverages, packaged food and food-to-go meals as well as basic essentials. It can easily be found near the entrance of the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station link for anyone wishing to try the world’s most advanced, ‘simply walk out’ shopping technology.

Carrefour City+ is a prime example of the role of the private sector in supporting the UAE’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy to become a leading global hub and an open lab for the Fourth Industrial revolution’s application. It is also in line with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy that aims to make the UAE the first in the field of AI investments and applications in various sectors. Having established a reputation for innovation, modernity and technology, this retail revelation from Majid Al Futtaim contributes to the UAE’s transformation into an international technology hub as the government takes concrete steps towards establishing a strong, digitally enabled economy.
 

Media Contact: 

Mina Kiwan – Media Relations
E: mina.kiwan@ogilvy.com
D. +971 (0) 4 305 0325
M. +971 (0) 55 2426806

Raed Matarbazi – Communications Manager
Carrefour UAE
E: RMatarbazi@mafcarrefour.com
M. M +971 (0) 56 417 9771

About Carrefour

Carrefour was launched in the region in 1995 by UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim, which is the exclusive franchisee to operate Carrefour in over 30 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and fully owns the operations in the region. Today, Majid Al Futtaim operates over 375 Carrefour stores in 17 countries, serving more than 750,000 customers daily and employing over 37,000 colleagues.

Carrefour operates different store formats, as well as multiple online offerings to meet the growing needs of its diversified customer base. In line with the brand’s commitment to provide the widest range of quality products and value for money, Carrefour offers an unrivalled choice of more than 500,000 food and non-food products, and a locally inspired exemplary customer experience to create great moments for everyone every day. Across Carrefour’s stores, Majid Al Futtaim sources over 80% of the products offered from the region, making it a key enabler in supporting local producers, suppliers, families and economies.

About Majid Al Futtaim

Founded in 1992, Majid Al Futtaim is the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

A remarkable business success story, Majid Al Futtaim started from one man’s vision to transform the face of shopping, entertainment and leisure to ‘create great moments for everyone, every day’. It has since grown into one of the United Arab Emirates’ most respected and successful businesses spanning 17 international markets, employing more than 43,000 people, and obtaining the highest credit rating (BBB) among privately-held corporates in the region.

Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates 28 shopping malls, 13 hotels and four mixed-use communities, with further developments underway in the region. The shopping malls portfolio includes Mall of the Emirates, Mall of Egypt, City Centre malls, My City Centre neighbourhood centres, and five community malls which are in joint venture with the Government of Sharjah. The Company is the exclusive franchisee for Carrefour in over 30 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, operating a portfolio of more than 375 outlets and an online store.

Majid Al Futtaim operates more than 500 VOX Cinemas screens as well as a portfolio of world-class leisure and entertainment experiences across the region including Ski Dubai, Ski Egypt, Dreamscape, Magic Planet, Little Explorers and iFLY Dubai. The Company is parent to a Fashion, Home and Specialty retail business representing international brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, AllSaints, lululemon athletica, Crate & Barrel, Maisons du Monde, LEGO and THAT, a Majid Al Futtaim fashion concept store and app. In addition, Majid Al Futtaim operates Enova, a facility and energy management company, through a joint venture operation with Veolia, a global leader in optimised environment resource management.

www.majidalfuttaim.com

Please follow us on
https://www.youtube.com/user/majidalfuttaim
https://twitter.com/majidalfuttaim                 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/majid-al-futtaim
https://www.facebook.com/MajidAlFuttaim
https://www.instagram.com/majidalfuttaim
https://majidalfuttaim.medium.com/

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6908791c-aaed-49db-8666-9283cdc9cb67

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1d14528-d3b4-4fa2-8e8c-9d8c22276ed6 

Source: Majid Al Futtaim - Carrefour

--BERNAMA

OKEX ACCELERATES NFT ADOPTION WITH DEFI HUB, NFT MARKETPLACE

OKEx continues its commitment to the advancement of the crypto industry and decentralized finance with the launch of DeFi Hub

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Sept 3 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKEx (www.okex.com), a leading global cryptocurrency spot and derivatives exchange, today announced the launch of a decentralized digital asset ecosystem, DeFi Hub. The platform currently features two core products: NFT Marketplace and DeFi Dashboard.

The NFT Marketplace is an end-to-end NFT platform built to empower creators and inspire collectors. Via the platform, anyone can buy, sell and trade NFTs directly, with zero fees paid out to OKEx. What makes NFT Marketplace even more unique is that anyone can use the platform to mint their own NFTs of any kind, using the OEC or Ethereum blockchains.

Newly minted NFTs will be available for sale on NFT Marketplace and creators are given the flexibility to set their own royalty fees. Signalling OKEx's commitment to protecting the interests of creators, royalty fees for creators are then paid out to them in every subsequent transaction on NFT Marketplace's secondary market. The NFT Marketplace also lets users import NFTs that have been generated on other supported platforms.

DeFi Hub also offers a way to view and manage decentralized assets across major blockchain networks and DeFi protocols. The DeFi Dashboard displays both a full portfolio view, as well as a separate view for digital collectibles. 

"The NFT market is growing rapidly in popularity, creating a need for a comprehensive system for managing NFTs," said OKEx Director Lennix Lai in a statement. He continued: 

"With DeFi Hub, we’ve created an NFT Marketplace that will accelerate NFT adoption by making it easier than ever for anyone to create, exchange, and sell NFTs. We’re also thrilled to launch DeFi Dashboard to bring much-needed improvements to users’ visualizations of their cryptocurrency portfolios." 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=40916

CRADLEPOINT DELIVERS INDUSTRY'S FIRST 5G ENTERPRISE ROUTER FOR THE WIRELESS WAN ERA

Enterprise-class branch routers with native 5G deliver new levels of WAN speed, agility, and resilience without compromise, enabling immediate roll-out of 5G applications across the globe

DENVER, Sept 1 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Big 5G World -- Cradlepoint, the global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions, is continuing its mission to enable businesses to connect beyond the limits of wired networks through the expansion of its second-generation 5G product portfolio. The Cradlepoint E3000 Series 5G Enterprise Router, orderable now, is the industry’s first enterprise-class router that provides businesses with fast, agile, secure, and resilient 5G connectivity for primary, failover, or SD-WAN use cases without traditional performance compromises.

Business models are shifting to streamline operations, enhance competitiveness, and respond to evolving customer demands post pandemic and this has placed increased value on network speed and agility, as well as heightened security. With this shift, and proliferation of 5G services, enterprises are now migrating towards a more Wireless WAN. A recent report from IDC forecasts the market for enterprise wireless routers to reach $2.98 billion by 2024

“The pandemic has drastically altered the business climate, forcing companies to embrace technology like 5G to enable their WANs to become more agile and resilient,” says Donna Johnson, Cradlepoint VP of Product Marketing. “Cradlepoint is making the Wireless WAN a reality with products like the E3000 5G Series Enterprise Router, giving customers 5G branch connectivity without compromising enterprise-class management, features or performance.” 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=40886