UN voices ‘concern’ over key Yemen port after military claim

Published by
Al-Araby

The UN mission in Yemen’s rebel-held port of Hodeida expressed “great concern” on Tuesday over claims it was being used for military purposes, and demanded access for an inspection. The United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeida Agreement (UNMHA) said the port was a vital aid route for the impoverished country, where a seven-year war has pushed millions to the brink of famine. The Saudi-led coalition fighting alongside government forces accused the Iran-backed Houthi rebels of militarising Red Sea ports and threatened to attack them, after the insurgents seized a United Arab Emirates-flagge… Continue reading “UN voices ‘concern’ over key Yemen port after military claim”

Ozil to Switch Fenerbahce for…RANS Cilegon?

Published by
Football Tribe Asia

Having won promotion into the Liga 1 Indonesia as 2021 Liga 2 Indonesia runners-up, RANS Cilegon FC are not pulling any punches in their preparation for the 2022/23 season. Actor Raffi Ahmad, the owner of the super-wealthy club, has stated that he has intentions to entice former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil away from current club Fenerbahce to his pet project in RANS Cilegon, which would hopefully help the club win the Liga 1 in their very first season there. When it comes to loosening the purse strings for the sake of RANS Cilegon, Raffi is definitely not holding himself back. The likes of Hamka H… Continue reading “Ozil to Switch Fenerbahce for…RANS Cilegon?”

15th Asian Financial Forum opens

Published by
ACN Newswire

HONG KONG, Jan 10, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – Organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the 15th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) opened today as an online-only event. AFF 2022 is a highlight event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the HKSAR. The two-day forum features 60 sessions including keynote speeches and in-depth discussions along with an array of activities such as exhibitions and the AFF Deal Flow Matchmaking Session. All activities at AFF 2022 will be streamed live on the event’s virtual platform…. Continue reading “15th Asian Financial Forum opens”

Madison Realty Capital Raises More Than $2 Billion For Madison Realty Capital Debt Fund V

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Madison Realty Capital (“Madison”) today announced the final close of Madison Realty Capital Debt Fund V LP (“Fund V”), raising $2.08 billion in equity commitments, exceeding the fund’s $1.75 billion target.

Fund V received significant support from existing investors as approximately 70% of the institutional LPs in Madison’s prior fund re-upped into Fund V.  Additionally, 52% of the capital committed for Fund V came from new limited partners, both domestically and abroad.

Madison’s global, institutional investor base has historically included public and corporate pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, insurance companies, family offices and high net worth individuals located in the United States, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Madison has now expanded its investor presence to include Australia, Latin America and Canada, as well as new regions within the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Fund V expands on Madison’s investment strategy to serve as a single source of customized flexible financing solutions for borrowers’ unique needs providing them with speed and certainty of execution.  Fund V originates and acquires loans across asset classes including multifamily, mixed use, retail, office, industrial, land and hotel. Madison invests in transitional and special situation loans as well as provides financing for ground-up development and construction.

In 2021, Madison completed 72 transactions with a gross transaction volume of approximately $6.4 billion across all of its debt investment strategies.

Adam Tantleff, Managing Principal of Madison Realty Capital, said, “Our extensive experience through multiple cycles over the past 17 years is what led both existing and new investors to place their confidence in Madison during this unprecedented time.  We are grateful for the trust they have placed in our team, and look forward to continue executing on our investors’ behalf.”

Madison Realty Capital Debt Fund IV LP held its final close in 2019 and raised $1.14 billion in equity commitments. Since inception, Madison has completed approximately $20 billion in debt and equity transactions.

About Madison Realty Capital 

Madison Realty Capital is a vertically integrated real estate private equity firm that, as of December 31, 2021, manages approximately $8 billion in total assets on behalf of a global institutional investor base. Since 2004, Madison Realty Capital has completed approximately $20 billion in transactions providing reputable 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.
+1 (212) 257-4170
madisonrealty@gasthalter.com

Global Offshore Wind Conference Showcases Best and Latest Research

EERA DeepWind Conference 2022

EERA DeepWind Conference 2022

TRONDHEIM, Norway, Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Offshore wind power will be a key solution for Europe to reach its climate targets, and EERA, SINTEF and NTNU are showcasing the best and latest research and innovation in the field at the EERA DeepWind conference.

Skyrocketing energy prices in Europe and the pressing need to expand renewable energy to solve the climate crisis are making offshore wind more relevant than ever. “Offshore wind has the potential to meet our energy needs many times over,” says conference chair John Olav Tande, Chief Scientist SINTEF, “and we must work quickly to make use of its potential.”

The conference this year will be opened by Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Marte Mjøs Persen. Keynote speakers include – among many others – Manager of Offshore Wind Technology at Equinor, Hanne Wigum; professor at the North China Electric Power University’s Renewable Energy School, Yongqian Liu; and Senior Policy Officer at the European Commission, Matthijs Soede.

DeepWind features top experts and leaders in the fields of offshore wind policy, technology and research. Topics addressed this year are:

  • New turbine and generator technology
  • Grid connection and system integration
  • Met-ocean conditions
  • Operation and maintenance
  • Installation and sub-structures
  • Wind farm control
  • Wind farm optimization
  • Experimental testing and validation
  • Sustainable development

For the second year in a row, the conference will be held online due to the ongoing pandemic. This provides a unique opportunity for people around the world who are interested in offshore wind power to participate and get up-to-date with the latest and best research and innovation in the field.

Anyone wishing to participate can register now to join us online 19-21 January!

The conference is organised by the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), Norwegian research institute SINTEF, and Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU.

About SINTEF

SINTEF is one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations. SINTEF is a broad, multidisciplinary research organisation with international top-level expertise in the fields of technology, the natural sciences, medicine and the social sciences. We conduct contract R&D as a partner for the private and public sectors, and we are one of the largest contract research institutions in Europe. https://www.sintef.com/

For media accreditation, more information or interviews please contact:

Edwin Shankar, +47 415 23 012, edwin.shankar@leidar.com

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Foreign capital, blamed for depleting Indonesia’s fish stocks, is set to return

Published by
Mongabay

JAKARTA — The Indonesian government plans to reopen its capture fisheries sector to foreign investment, prompting concerns among marine observers about a return to the rampant illegal fishing practices that previously depleted the country’s fish stocks. The fisheries ministry has drafted a regulation that, among other things, will welcome back foreign investment in Indonesian companies that catch marine fish. The country’s capture fisheries sector, which serves both the domestic and export markets, has since 2016 excluded from foreign investment in an effort by then-minister Susi Pudjiastuti t… Continue reading “Foreign capital, blamed for depleting Indonesia’s fish stocks, is set to return”

EdifyOnline and MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) Announce Exclusive Collaboration

Multi-Year Contract With MIT-WPU

Edify Online Corp

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EdifyOnline, an education technology company, announced today that it has signed a multi-year contract with MIT-WPU (Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, India), with the sole objective to collaborate and build a virtual center of scientific and educational research focused to meet the challenges of the present and the future, to deliver online education programs that are both sustainable and scalable.

“EdifyOnline is pleased to partner with MIT-WPU. This multi-year relationship with MIT-WPU in India will be a testament to show unbundling of higher education works and that when faculty from around the world share knowledge beyond boundaries, they can deliver improved learning experience to their students,” said founder/Chairman Anil P. Agarwal.

“Partnering with a progressive and cutting-edge leader in the educational space, like MIT-WPU, is a significant milestone for EdifyOnline, and we look forward to working together for many years,” echoed co-founder/CEO Vik Agarwal.

MIT-WPU prides itself on offering a holistic education catering to an individual’s educational, physical, as well as spiritual well-being. The teaching methods employed are the perfect blend of theoretical and practical knowledge, industry visits, guest lectures, peace programs, student exchange programs and rural immersion visits. This transforms the students into winning personalities, making them physically fit, mentally alert, intellectually sharp and spiritually elevated.

“This partnership represents a paradigm shift in online education and will be a critical component of what drives the success of our online programs moving forward,” said Shri Rahul Karad, Executive President of MIT-WPU and a visionary behind this agreement to raise the bar for online education around the world. “With the help of EdifyOnline, I envision building collaborative relationships with U.S. universities to enable students on both sides to spend a semester on respective campuses, exposing them to international culture, knowledge, and understanding.”

“In the last six months of 2021, MIT-WPU faculty and international faculty provided by EdifyOnline worked diligently for the benefit of our students on more than 100 courses. We are excited to quadruple our collaboration in 2022,” said Dr. R.M. Chitnis, Vice Chancellor, MIT-WPU.

About MIT-WPU

Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), (previously Maharashtra Institute of Technology), Pune, India, was established in 1983, which is today amongst the top educational institutions in India. MIT-WPU has an ecosystem to be a leading University of Excellence, promoting the “Culture of Peace” through a “Value-based Universal Education System,” with a firm belief that “Union of Science and Spirituality alone will bring peace and harmony to the mankind.” MIT-WPU is driven by universal values, ethos, culture and traditions for the well-being of the global society at large, which imparts education in Engineering & Technology, Management Science, Commerce, Economics, Pharmacy, Law, Design, Education, Governance, Liberal/Fine Arts, Media/Journalism, Peace Studies, Sustainability Studies, and Hotel Management. http://www.mitwpu.edu.in

About EdifyOnline 

EdifyOnline is driving innovation and advancing the accessibility and quality of education by enabling motivated Subject Matter Experts (adjunct professors and instructors) from around the world to support the needs of higher education institutions by creating course content, providing guest lectures, facilitating online learners’ experiences and/or providing full end-to-end course instruction. EdifyOnline is a full end-to-end provider, from finding to managing talent, and uses self-managing techniques and tools while maintaining the highest ethical and moral standards. EdifyOnline’s mission is to provide unique paid opportunities for the underserved subject matter expert population in a central online marketplace. EdifyOnline’s mission aligns with higher education institutions and the objective of increasing the accessibility and scalability of high-quality education. www.EdifyOnline.com

Media: apa@edifyonline.com

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Following EFSA Ban of Food Additive Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), Blue California Launches Clean-label Food Grade Whitening Agents as Alternatives

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Following food authority EFSA’s ban of food additive titanium dioxide (TiO2), Blue California, the producer of natural science-based ingredients, launched novel food-grade whitening agents as a clean-label alternative to replacing potential health risk white colorant titanium dioxide.

“Brands that seek to replace the titanium dioxide white colorant will find many benefits to Blue California’s patent-pending food-grade whitening agents,” said Cuie Yan, Ph.D., vice president of encapsulation. “Our alternative to titanium dioxide is industry-changing with opacifying or whitening effects and excellent sensory benefits with a delicious creamy/rich mouthfeel, and contains proprietary ingredients that may have additional benefits such as supporting cognitive health.”

One of the most widely used food pigments is titanium dioxide (E171), an odorless powder that enhances foods’ white color or opacity. The most common titanium dioxide products are chewing gum, candies, pastries, chocolates, coffee creamers, and cake decorations. Titanium dioxide is also used as a pigment in paints and medicines.

In recent decades, concerns about the risks of titanium dioxide consumption have grown. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) categorizes titanium dioxide as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) at a maximum of 1% weight, but other organizations have issued warnings.

New governing rules in Europe are in action for producers to reformulate their products during a six-month window of phasing out titanium dioxide (E171). This follows the food authority European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) decision deeming titanium dioxide (E171) as “not safe” in 2021, and now a complete ban in 2022. France suspended the use of titanium dioxide in January 2020.

“Our clean-label, food-grade, and effective whitening agents are heat and pH stable for a variety of applications that match the performance of titanium dioxide yet overcome its safety concerns,” said Yan. “We’ve innovated these solutions as safe alternatives for brands that need to reformulate products rapidly due to government authorities concerns, bans, and phasing out titanium dioxide.”

Blue California’s patent-pending food-grade whitening powders have a similar size in diameter to the traditional titanium dioxide with higher L values (whiter), as shown in Table 1 below:

Table 1. Color and particle size comparison between Blue California’s novel food-grade whitening agents versus titanium dioxide whitening powder.

Sample ID Color Measurement Redispersion Diameter
L a b nm
Titanium Dioxide (reference) 96.06 -0.26 1.54 310.5
Novel Food Grade Whitening 1 97.42 -0.09 1.45 266.4
Novel Food Grade Whitening 2 97.43 -0.09 1.95 278.2
Novel Food Grade Whitening 3 97.48 -0.11 1.43 305.0

Note: The a and b ‘Color Measurement’ values are color depth markers of red, green, blue, and yellow. The ‘Redispersion Diameter’ measures the particle size.

The food-grade whitening agents have been tested in chewing gum compared to titanium dioxide. The whitening effect results of Blue California’s whitening agents are as remarkable as titanium dioxide. The whiteness increases as the dosage increases.

“We’re ready to collaborate with product developers to replace titanium dioxide with a clean-label, delicious, and safer whitening agents in their product lines,” said Yan.

About Blue California

Blue California is an entrepreneurial, science-based solutions provider and manufacturer of clean, natural, and sustainable ingredients used in food, beverage, flavor, fragrance, dietary supplements, personal care, and cosmetic products. For more than 25 years, Blue California has built a strong reputation for creating value in these diverse natural products and nature-inspired industries.

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Ana Arakelian
Blue California
+1-949-635-1991
ana@bluecal-ingredients.com