Tag: Africa

• The world is at ‘Halftime’ when it comes to achieving 2030 Sustainable Development Goals – but only 15% are on track to be met
• Richard Curtis releases new version of Pacino’s famous locker room speech to mark this halftime point

LONDON, Sept. 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Filmmaker and Sustainable Development Goal Advocate Richard Curtis and his organisation Project Everyone are releasing a special version of the famous ‘Inch by Inch’ locker room speech, delivered by Al Pacino in the Warner Bros. Pictures film Any Given Sunday.

The new cut of the scene puts it into the context of reaching ‘halftime’ for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and includes new lines especially recorded for this version of the scene by Mr Pacino.

The film is being launched today [14 September] to highlight the fact that the world is now at Halftime when it comes to the SDGs.

The SDGs are a collection of 17 goals agreed by world leaders at the United Nations in 2015 which aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.

However, only 15% of the Goals are on track to be met, with the triple impact of COVID-19, conflict, and the climate crisis reversing years of hard-earned progress.

The film is being released as leaders prepare to gather at the UN General Assembly in New York. To highlight that the world is at Halftime when it comes to the Goals, renowned artist Es Devlin has designed and built a unique art installation at UNHQ – the SDG Pavilion – which is kicking off with a ‘Halftime Show’ at 7 pm EST on Monday 18 September featuring global talent and world leaders.

Richard Curtis said: “The Halftime Campaign asks everyone to come together to achieve the SDGs by 2030. I’m genuinely optimistic that with the right action and political will, in seven years, we could be looking back at one of the greatest second-half comebacks of all time. It has been very exciting to work with Al Pacino’s extraordinary speech to illustrate the passion and sense of urgency that is needed to turn things around.”

Video Courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.
ANY GIVEN SUNDAY and all related characters and elements ^© Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s23)

Media contact: cbull@goodnesspr.co.uk

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bcc4f3a-f733-4233-8321-2572934c8967

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc4d4e06-625c-41e0-929a-d7be3d7d35ac

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BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI-Media, the leader in technology-driven live captioning & subtitling, transcription, and translation solutions, is excited to announce its presence at the IBC Show 2023, scheduled to take place from 15^{th –} 18^th September in Amsterdam, NE. The event promises to be a gathering of industry experts, thought leaders, and innovative companies in the broadcast and media technology sector.

As the global leader in captioning and subtitling for the broadcast industry, AI-Media is proud to be part of this influential event. Our Chief Sales Officer, James Ward, will lead our delegation and represent our commitment to excellence in delivering cutting-edge solutions to our clients and partners.

AI-Media’s Chief Sales Officer, James Ward said:

“We are delighted to participate at the IBC show once again. This tradeshow is an exceptional platform for us to showcase our latest innovations and demonstrate how we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the broadcast industry. We’re excited to engage with industry leaders, customers, and partners, and to share our vision for the future of broadcasting.”

AI-Media will be showcasing several key broadcast solutions at the event, the cornerstone of which is our AI-Powered live automatic captioning solution – LEXI. LEXI consistently delivers accuracy rates of over 98%, identifies speaker changes, uses AI to ensure captions don’t interrupt onscreen content and all at a fraction of the cost of human captions. This innovative tool is revolutionizing real-time captioning, providing a cost-effective solution that has been embraced by the world’s leading broadcasters. AI-Media will be conducting live demos at the booth to display this groundbreaking technology in action.

The recently launched AI-powered LEXI Captioning Tool Kit will also be featured at IBC2023, featuring six key solutions each designed to address different captioning needs. LEXI Tool Kit transforms content creation and captioning, offering complete end-to-end solutions for media companies, broadcasters, event producers, educational institutions, and content creators worldwide. Broadcasters can mix and match the Tool Kit components to suit their business needs, accessing solutions including captioning, translation, archiving & search and disaster recovery.

With IP video production at the forefront of innovation in the broadcasting landscape; broadcasters can look to AI-Media’s ALTA solution for their IP compatible closed captioning and subtitling encoding solution. ALTA supports global broadcast standards including SMPTE-2110, MPEG-TS inputs, and can output 2110-40, DVB subtitles, DVB TTML, DVB Teletext and SMPTE 2038. Deployable as a standalone virtual machine, a pre-packaged AMI or turnkey physical server, ALTA can fit into any production workflow. Along with effortlessly handling six languages per instance, ALTA also supports the insertion of advertising cues using SCTE-35 and SCTE-104. With ALTA, AI-Media is helping broadcasters elevate their IP video broadcasts to new heights of reach and accessibility. Also available at the booth will be our range of SDI Hardware Encoders, including our Encoder Pro (HD492) 1 RU caption encoder – now synonymous as the broadcast standard for SDI encoders.

We’re also excited to provide customers with an early look at our upgraded LEXI Translate solution, which is the next level of language accessibility within our LEXI Tool Kit. This soon to be released version boasts unmatched accuracy in real-time translation, allowing broadcasters to distribute content to a wider audience than ever before.

Join AI-Media at IBC 2023, September 15-18, RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre, Booth #5.C31. Attendees are encouraged to book a meeting with the AI-Media team to discover our range of end-to-end broadcast captioning solutions.

About AI-Media

Founded in Australia in 2003, technology company AI-Media is a global leader in live and recorded captioning, transcription and translation solutions. The company helps the world’s leading broadcasters, enterprises and government agencies ensure high accuracy, secure and cost-effective captioning via its AI-powered LEXI automatic captioning solution. LEXI captions are delivered to millions of screens worldwide via AI-Media’s range of captioning encoders and its iCap Cloud Network – the world’s largest, most secure caption delivery network. Globally, AI-Media delivers over 8 million minutes of live and recorded media monthly. AI-Media trades on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX:AIM). For more information, please visit AI-Media.tv.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/976356bd-2ae1-4f56-89ed-437f9da454a2

Media Contact:
Fiona Habben
Senior Marketing Manager – Global
Fiona.habben@ai-media.tv

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8921516

Supply of drug substance manufactured under cGMP supports first-in-human clinical study for RBI-4000 novel self-replicating RNA (srRNA)

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Curia, a leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization, today announced that its partner, Replicate Bioscience, has received IND clearance from the FDA and has dosed the first participant with RBI-4000, a self-replicating (srRNA) rabies vaccine, in a Phase 1 clinical study utilizing clinical material developed as part of the collaboration with Curia.

Curia conducted process development, scale-up and cGMP manufacture of srRNA RBI-4000 drug substance. At approximately 10,000 bases, this srRNA is significantly larger than a conventional linear mRNA and has been historically difficult to manufacture at the scales required for clinical development. Curia’s analytical method development and qualification of the assays were also critical to the release of this srRNA molecule.

“Curia is proud to be a pioneer in manufacturing this new class of srRNA technology by delivering RBI-4000 srRNA drug substance to our partner Replicate in support of their Phase 1 clinical trial,” said Christopher Conway, President, Research & Development, Curia. “We are dedicated to providing advantaged solutions from development to cGMP manufacture for our customers in the mRNA field.”

This new class of srRNA vaccine offers a number of potential improvements to existing mRNA vaccines, including lower dosage requirements and improved tolerability. The advancement also opens the door for further RNA innovation for use in vaccines and therapeutics with fewer constraints on molecule size.

“Our collaboration with Curia helped us manufacture a new class of self-replicating RNAs which have the potential to deliver improved bioactivity, tolerability and efficacy profiles as compared to other RNA technologies,” said Nathaniel Wang, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Replicate. “Curia scaled up a process for longer RNAs that enabled large-scale production at yields, purity and potency to support Replicate’s Phase 1 clinical trial.”

Curia is committed to being a partner of choice from discovery and development through manufacture and commercialization, providing a full suite of services to support small and large molecule, drug substance, drug product aseptic fill-finish and laboratory testing at every phase of the drug development life cycle.

About Curia
Curia, formerly AMRI, is a leading contract research, development, and manufacturing organization providing products and services from R&D through commercial manufacturing to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical customers. Curia’s nearly 4,000 employees at 29 locations across the U.S., Europe, and Asia help its customers advance from curiosity to cure. Learn more at CuriaGlobal.com.

Curia Contact Information:
Viana Bhagan
+1 518 512 2111
corporatecommunications@CuriaGlobal.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8920285

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Under its new identity as “AIM Congress,” the Organizing Committee of the World’s Leading Investment Platform will once again gather together regional and international leaders, thinkers, and innovators at the 13^th edition of the event taking place from 7 to 9 May 2024 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

To be anchored on the theme “Adapting to a Shifting Investment Landscape: Harnessing New Potential for Global Economic Development,” AIM Congress 2024 is supported by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) as lead partner.

To be hosted again in the UAE’s vibrant capital, AIM Congress 2024 plans to surpass the success achieved by its last year’s edition which attracted 10,313 participants and 693 speakers from 175 countries.

His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, expressed his enthusiasm for AIM Congress 2024, stating that, “For more than a decade, AIM Congress has been steadfast in its commitment to promote global economic cooperation and harness the potential of countries especially emerging markets. Amid the backdrop of the shifting global investment scene, it is all-important for countries to adapt and explore new avenues for growth. For its 2024 edition, AIM Congress will continue to be the leading venue where the world’s key economic stakeholders congregate to facilitate dialogue and pave the way for impactful investments that propel a brighter, better future for each and everyone.”

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADDED, said: “Building on the remarkable success of AIM’s previous edition, we are raising the bar to meet the expectations of the global investment community. As the Capital of Capital, Abu Dhabi is leading global conversations on investments outlook and dynamics in an era characterised by mega shifts. Our approach to inward and outward investments is guided by our unwavering commitment to place human development, sustainability, and advanced technology at the core of socio-economic plans at local and international levels, support of ESG agendas, and enhance synergies through international cooperation to improve life for all.”

For his part, Dawood Al Shezawi, President of AIM Global Foundation, commented: “In the face of the various challenges confronting our world today, coupled with the continued decline in global economic growth, emerges the announcement of AIM’s new identity as AIM Congress, which positions itself as a premier venue for investment, providing the optimal platform for esteemed leaders and decision-makers around the world to collectively address our most pressing issues, reshape the global trade and investment landscape, and ultimately foster positive, enduring social and economic impacts in diverse regions worldwide.”

AIM Congress is built upon a foundation of its five key pillars – FDI, FPI, Startups, SMEs, and Future Cities – that underpin the event’s objectives and provide a framework for its activities.

For more details
Shreya Verma – +971 521133926
shreya.verma@aimcongress.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000839289

London, Sept. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Prax Group (“Prax”) – a British multinational, independent global energy conglomerate dealing in crude oil, petroleum products and biofuels, with a complete integration across the oil value chain, from upstream to midstream and downstream – has announced the successful closing of a new privately placed c.US$300 million (equivalent) Term Loan Facility (the “Facility”).  The Facility achieved a substantial oversubscription and was upsized from an original US$250 million, with four institutions participating in the transaction, including three new lenders.

The Private Credit team at HSBC Bank plc (“HSBC”) acted as Sole Mandated Lead Arranger of the transaction. Funds managed by institutional investors including Chimera Abu Dhabi (“Chimera”) and Orchard Global Asset Management (“Orchard Global”) acted as lenders alongside HSBC.

Ben Lahnstein, Group Chief Financial Officer, Prax, said: “The success of the transaction highlights the confidence our lending groups have in Prax and the depth of our banking and investor relationships. This latest funding has diversified our funding sources and strengthened our balance sheet.  It provides us with a solid financial platform from which to execute future M&A activities, and deliver sustainable, profitable growth.”

The new Facility will be used to refinance the maturing five-year term loan tranche from 2018, as well as for strategic acquisitions.

| ENDS |

Notes to Editors

About The Prax Group: Headquartered in the UK, the Prax Group is a British multinational, independent exploration and production, refining, storage, distribution and sales conglomerate dealing in petroleum products and bio-fuels. The Prax Group has a complete integration across the whole oil value chain, from upstream to midstream and downstream, with offices in London, Houston and Singapore. The Group strives to limit its carbon footprint and to embrace the advent of transitional fuels.

www.prax.com

Corporate Headquarters:
Prax Group
York House
45 Seymour Street
London W1H 7JT
United Kingdom
Email: press@prax.com

Attachments

• THE PRAX GROUP ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL CLOSING OF A USD300 MILLION PRIVATE CREDIT FACILITY
• RoSPA Oil & Gas Sector Award

Prax Group
press@prax.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8921162

BofA Securities and BNP Paribas Exane share first place as top research provider in the Developed Europe survey

BofA Securities, HSBC and J.P. Morgan share top spot in Emerging EMEA

LONDON, Sept. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Institutional Investor Research (II Research) surveys are the leading provider of market sentiment in the financial industry. Research budgets remain flat and asset managers are using fewer analysts, but demand for bespoke opinion means that close client relationships and “trusted source” status becomes more important than ever before. With MiFID regulations potentially being rolled back across Europe and UK, the focus on the provision of quality research advisory services may result in a more competitive environment and we may see an increase in research teams across the industry.

There were no changes to the industry and country sector categories this year. The 2023 Developed Europe Research results reflects the opinions of 5,462 portfolio managers and analysts (up from 4,692 in 2022) from 1,813 institutions (up from 1,696 in 2022). The total number of votes has also increased from last year, by 11%. Over 180 firms have submitted centralised or coordinated votes, underscoring the robust nature of the results as an accurate reflection of market sentiment.

Results Highlights

Developed Europe Research

The Leaders’ Board remains intensely competitive, with seven companies competing for the honour of being rated best research house. BofA Securities and BNP Paribas Exane were ranked in first place, both with 38 published positions. J.P. Morgan once again follows in third place taking 31 positions with UBS achieving fourth place with 30 ranked teams. Barclays built on the momentum they gathered in 2022, gaining three published positions and rising to 5^th overall; Morgan Stanley places sixth. The largest gain on the Leader’s Board came from Jefferies in seventh, which gained 10 positions from 2022. Citi, Bernstein and Kepler Cheuvreux take the final three places in the Developed Europe Top 10, displacing Credit Suisse that shared joint 11^th place with Societe Generale.

BNP Paribas Exane once again claims first place in the analyst-ranked tables with 44 positions, followed by BofA Securities (41), J.P. Morgan (35 positions) and Barclays (31), which climbed two places.

Emerging EMEA Research

HSBC and J.P. Morgan were joined by BofA Securities as joint first place in the Emerging EMEA Leaders’ Table all with 17 published positions. Morgan Stanley took fourth place with 8 positions. Citi and UBS shared fifth.

In the commission-weighted analyst tables, the top three positions were unchanged; HSBC came first with 33 published positions, followed by J.P. Morgan with 22 positions and BofA Securities with 18. Morgan Stanley pushed up seven places to 15 to take fourth and UBS came fifth place with 13 positions to complete the leading winners. Vote participation up 14% this year with 934 voters from 286 companies.

David Enticknap, Head of II Research said “With MiFID regulations potentially being rolled back across Europe and UK, the focus on the provision of quality research advisory services may result in a more competitive environment, and we may see an increase in research teams across the industry. The Institutional Investor rankings represent the gold standard in assessment of quality in equity research, recognised globally for the integrity of the process and depth of coverage.”

The results can be found here: https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/research

For more information, or a demo on how to interrogate the data, contact Augusta McKie, Sales Director Research (EMEA), augusta.mckie@iiresearch.com

To share your position on your website content, advertisements, communications and marketing collateral, please contact marketing@iiresearch.com.

Media contact

David Bowen, Director of Marketing, Institutional Investor Research david.bowen@iiresearch.com

About Institutional Investor Research

For over 50 years, Institutional Investor has been conducting independent research surveys with global investment professionals who evaluate and determine the best performing sell side service providers, asset managers and CEOs, CFOs, IROs and IR Programs across Europe, Emerging EMEA, Asia Pacific, North America and Latin America. The research data independently captures evaluations of companies, investment professionals and executives from investment managers, banks, research providers and corporate issuers, to deliver detailed peer-to-peer comparative analyses every year; the feedback helps inform strategic decision making and improve resource and process management.

Follow Institutional Investor Research here https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/11222447

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