February 21, 2022

Focus on climate, Kerry says as international attention turns to Ukraine

Published by
Reuters

By Aidan Lewis CAIRO (Reuters) – Tackling climate change is a security threat that requires accelerated action even as international attention is focussed on Russia and Ukraine, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said on Monday during a visit to Cairo. Egypt will host the COP27 climate conference in November and Kerry said the task for this year was to bring more countries, including Russia and China, on board to set ambitious climate goals, as well as implementing pledges made at COP26 in Glasgow. Kerry, a former secretary of state, said the crisis between Russia and Ukraine made him concerned ove… Continue reading “Focus on climate, Kerry says as international attention turns to Ukraine”

February 21, 2022

VUV Analytics, Inc Announces the Inclusion of ASTM D8267 in Issue 13 of Def Stan 91-091

CEDAR PARK, Texas, Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VUV Analytics, Inc. today announced a significant achievement in their international fuels analysis strategy with the news that ASTM D8267 has been added to Def Stan 91-091.^* With this publication, ASTM D8267 can now be used to analyze and certify conventional jet fuels and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends, instead of older, more complex, and expensive techniques, such as Florescence Indicator Absorption or FIA (IP 156/ASTM D1319) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography or HPLC (IP 436/ASTM D6379).

“Publication of ASTM D8267 into the dominant international standard for jet fuel represents a significant step forward in our global VUV Analyzer™ Platform strategy,” said Clark Jernigan, CEO of VUV Analytics. “Since its introduction, our vision has been to provide a platform approach to the analysis of fuels globally and to comprehend future low-carbon fuel needs in the resulting scope.” He continued, “Now that ASTM D8267 has been included in Def Stan 91-091, international laboratories that test and certify jet fuel have yet another reason to implement our platform. We will continue to bring new international standard methods forward like the upcoming ASTM D8368 for Diesel and Biodisel blends that can help our customers reduce overall operating costs and increase productivity.”

Dan Wispinski, Standards Development Manager at VUV Analytics, noted, “Prior to this publication, testing aromatic content of international jet fuel was limited to either FIA or HPLC methods – both of which have changed little in the 50-plus years since their introduction. ASTM D8267 provides a new approach that is fully automated and takes advantage of spectral verification for more confidence in results. Additionally, ASTM D8267 is easier to use and operate compared to the alternatives and does not require complex calibration curves or the need for sample preparation. ASTM D8267 reports in both mass% and vol% so there is no need for a mass% to vol% calibration. Unlike other methods, ASTM D8267 does not require a bias correction for total aromatics and the results of D8267 can be used in ASTM D3338 to estimate the net heat of combustion. Perhaps most important, ASTM D8267 has better accuracy and precision and covers a wide range of concentrations compared to the alternatives.”

“From an economic perspective, ASTM D8267 is significantly less expensive to operate on a per-sample basis,” said Sean Jameson, Senior Vice President of Business Development. He continued, “When you consider acquisition costs, ongoing consumables and waste costs, and the labor costs required, ASTM D8267 has proven to be 2.5 times less expensive to operate than HPLC and 16 times less expensive to operate compared to FIA on a per-sample basis. Much of this cost difference comes from the need to purchase expensive consumables like hazardous solvents, standards, and sometimes difficult-to-get dyes, as well as the significant labor overhead to run these techniques.”

Learn more about the VUV Analyzer for Fuels and ASTM D8267 at www.vuvanalytics.com.

About VUV Analytics, Inc.

The vision of VUV Analytics is to develop novel solutions and streamlined processes by harnessing the unique capabilities of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) technology. Virtually every compound absorbs in the vacuum ultraviolet spectrum, which is measured by VUV detectors. Universal VUV spectroscopic detectors provide a new dimension of chemical analysis. VUV detectors have been designed especially for gas chromatography and streaming gas applications. Learn more at www.vuvanalytics.com.

Contact

Peter J. Boler

Vice President of Marketing

VUV Analytics Inc.

peter.boler@vuvanalytics.com

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February 21, 2022

Taconic Biosciences® Launches Cage+™, Redefining Colony Management Solutions for the Modern Laboratory

Stewardship Approach Safeguards All Elements of Contract Breeding Services

RENSSELAER, N.Y., Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Taconic Biosciences, a global leader in providing drug discovery animal model solutions, launched Cage+, a holistic, innovative approach to murine contract breeding services. Cage+ delivers complete stewardship of projects from start to finish, allowing investigators to focus on research with confidence that animal model supply is reliable, at the highest quality, and on budget.

Biomedical and pharmaceutical research has profoundly changed over the past two decades. Studies are more advanced and rapid-paced, compressing the time to produce experimental data required to support well-informed decisions. The novel animal models generated to support these advanced studies have become more complex and precise. Yet, while the contract research service industry has kept pace with biomedical research advancements, the contract breeding industry has remained largely unchanged since the early 1990s. Most providers continue to place the project planning and management burden on investigators, who have neither the time nor expertise to direct service providers on how best to design and manage scaled production of complex animal models.

Taconic’s Cage+ Colony Management Solutions closes the gap between biomedical research program demands and the antiquated approach offered by many contract breeding services. Cage+ employs a holistic approach, combining standard animal breeding and husbandry elements with comprehensive breeding design expertise, project-specific methodology to reduce animal welfare concerns, budget monitoring, and proactive project management and communication. Additionally, this all-encompassing program rapidly expands breeding production through expert-led embryology methods, delivers internationally harmonized animal health standards, and includes the eTACONIC^® web-based project management tool, providing users access to colony information 24/7.

Cage+ allows investigators to fully leverage proven expertise in complex model design and breeding to advance research programs. When coupled with Taconic’s Custom Model Generation Solutions, Cage+ Colony Management Solutions brings a comprehensive and seamless “design to management” service, allowing clients to leverage the most complex genetically engineered models from initial design through to scaled production of study cohorts.

“Researchers should demand better from contract breeding service providers, and this view is the driving factor behind our Cage+ stewardship-based approach to colony management solutions,” said Dr. John Couse, vice president, scientific services. “With Cage+, researchers will view Taconic as an extension of their team, leveraging the collaboration of scientists and experts. Our approach allows investigators to focus their time, energy, and resources on research while trusting their custom model animal development and production to Taconic.”

To learn more about how Cage+ can improve your colony management experience and outcomes, please call 1-888-TACONIC (1-888-822-6642) in the US, +45 70 23 04 05 in Europe, or email info@taconic.com.

About Taconic Biosciences, Inc.
Taconic Biosciences is a fully-licensed, global leader in genetically engineered rodent models and services. Founded in 1952, Taconic provides the best animal solutions so that customers can acquire, custom-generate, breed, precondition, test, and distribute valuable research models worldwide. Specialists in genetically engineered mouse and rat models, microbiome, immuno-oncology mouse models, and integrated model design and breeding services, Taconic operates laboratories and breeding facilities in the US and Europe, maintains distributor relationships in Asia, and has global shipping capabilities to provide animal models almost anywhere in the world.

Media Contact:
Aidan Bouchelle
Associate Director, Marketing Operations
1-518-949-7598
Aidan.Bouchelle@taconic.com

February 21, 2022

LINE FRIENDS to Change Its Corporate Name to IPX, the Digital IP Platform Starting Off the Metaverse and NFT Digital IP Business

LINE FRIENDS announces new corporate name ‘IPX’ as a Digital IP Platform

SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global creative studio LINE FRIENDS announced that they are changing its corporate name to ‘IPX,’ a ‘digital IP platform’ company, officially entering the digital IP based metaverse and NFT business.

Seven years since its establishment, LINE FRIENDS is taking on a new corporate identity for a digital and virtual IP oriented business transformation, beyond offline retail businesses. Now as IPX, the company will expand with a focus on the global fandom based digital IP business ecosystem, leading the metaverse generation. Specifically, IPX will emphasize the ‘IP eXperience,’ and deliver the company values of various IP oriented joy in digital lifestyle to the Millennials and Generation Z. The name ‘LINE FRIENDS’ will remain effective for its Original Characters IPs, offline stores, and its subsidiaries.

Separating itself from LINE Corp. in 2015, LINE FRIENDS initially focused on developing its offline retail business. However, through a rapid digital transformation strategy prior to the pandemic, LINE FRIENDS broadened its business in character IPs from merchandise to life-like IPs as dynamic virtual influencers. Through shifting offline stores virtually, LINE FRIENDS also succeeded in expanding its digital brand experience and strengthening its online commerce, transforming into a digital IP business. In the process, the company’s total IP transactions reached around USD 833 million last year with around 28% CAGR in total IP transactions since 2016, and a 31% increase in online sales compared to 2019, despite the pandemic.

Recently, IPX unveiled ‘FRENZ,’ a new IP generating platform where users can create their own character IPs reflecting their own personality and taste, that can be expanded into other metaverse and NFT services, officially beginning its character centered digital IP entertainment business. IPX, through strategic partnerships and investments with other platforms and service companies in metaverse and NFT business, will continue to support the growth of ‘FRENZ.’

To secure diverse IPs, IPX will discover promising IP holders in fostering high growth potential IPs. For the overall digital IP market, IPX will implement a business support program for their IPs’ commercial and license businesses, and even expansion into digital areas such as metaverse services and NFT games. Much like BT21, WDZY, TRUZ and other IPs, IPX also plans to launch the new virtual character IPs in collaboration with global artists in fashion and entertainment industry, continuing its expertise and creative capabilities in virtual character IP, developing afresh virtual IPs and joining hands with partners in various industries, including entertainment and gaming.

“IPX’s creative capabilities and unique moves continue to break the framework of the existing character business, shifting from retail oriented to digital business and targeting over 40 million fandom worldwide including Millennials and Generation Z,” said James Kim, CEO of IPX. “With this change of corporate name, IPX will pioneer new metaverse and NFT businesses with its competitive IPs to build the digital IP business ecosystem that allows anyone to create and share their own character IPs, leading the ‘digital IP entertainment business.’”

About IPX (FKA. LINE FRIENDS)

IPX is a new corporate name of LINE FRIENDS, a global character brand that originally started from Original Characters including BROWN, CONY, SALLY created for use as stickers for the leading mobile messenger app LINE and its 200 million active users worldwide. Upon rapidly transforming its offline business to digital, the total Intellectual Property (IP) transaction reached USD 883 million in 2021, and IPX announced itself as a ‘digital IP platform’ company to enter the digital IP based metaverse and NFT business.

IPX officially began its digital IP entertainment business by unveiling ‘FRENZ,’ a new IP generator platform where users can create their own character IPs and further use them expanding into metaverse and NFT services. Through strategic partnerships and investments with blockchain gaming, NFT, and metaverse companies, IPX will continue to expand its own technology and expertise. Moving forward, IPX will collaborate with global artists from the fashion and entertainment business in developing new influential virtual IPs, as well as discovering promising IP holders and fostering them to expand their scope in digital IP business areas such as NFT, leading the digital IP centered metaverse generation.

IPX has created popular IPs – ‘BT21’ (BTS), ‘WDZY’ (ITZY), ‘TRUZ’ (TREASURE) – and expanded its IP-based business by partnering with global media and game companies including Netflix (original animated series), SUPERCELL (Brawl Stars) and NEXON (KartRider), further diversifying and strengthening its competitiveness in digital contents. Recently, IPX opened its first ever virtual store on the global metaverse service, ‘Play Together’ and expanded the boundaries of its popular IPs to virtual character influencers to win the hearts of Millennials and Generation Z worldwide. IPX currently operates in 15 markets worldwide including Seoul, New York, LA, Tokyo, and Shanghai, and also operates in 15 online sales platforms.

Media Contact:

Sage Park, Account Manager, Ketchum
Tel: +822-5599-622
Email: sage.park@ketchum.com

LINE FRIENDS announces new corporate name ‘IPX’ as a Digital IP Platform

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LINE FRIENDS announces new corporate name ‘IPX’ as a Digital IP Platform

February 21, 2022

Clubessential Holdings Announces International Acquisition of Innovatise

Innovatise’s myFitApp member app solution is an essential marketing tool for gyms

Innovatise

CINCINNATI, Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Membership-management software company, Clubessential Holdings, announced the acquisition of Innovatise, the company behind myFitApp, the leading member app and hybrid business platform for gyms and fitness studios. Already a major provider of membership- and club-management SaaS solutions for boutique fitness franchisors, under its ClubReady brand, and enterprise-fitness operators under its Exerp brand, this acquisition strengthens Clubessential Holdings’ product portfolio and international presence serving over 6,000 fitness clubs, and 7 million members, in 17 countries.

“The digital member experience, especially in the form of hybrid fitness offerings, and the ability for gyms to easily market to members have become essential to gyms’ success,” commented Randy Eckels, CEO of Clubessential Holdings. “Innovatise’s myFitApp branded member-app platform allows members to access live streaming and on-demand fitness classes. These solutions transform the member experience of any membership- and club-management solution and give gym operators the marketing tools to succeed.”

Headquartered in Germany, and with over 2,300 gyms across the globe, Innovatise is advancing its technology to meet the evolving member and operational needs of the world’s top fitness brands. Fitness businesses need tools to deliver outstanding user experience and a marketing platform to acquire and retain customers. To meet this need, Innovatise has developed an integrated marketing, commerce, and hybrid platform comprising branded mobile apps, integrated member experiences with self-service, booking, payment, content, access control, messaging and digital fitness. These solutions provide a powerful addition to fitness platforms, enabling studios and operators to connect with and provide hybrid fitness classes to their members at home.

“The gym market is rapidly growing and evolving,” commented Thomas Schuster, CEO of Innovatise, “As part of Clubessential Holdings we’ll build on the rapid growth we experienced in 2021 and accelerate, not only in Europe but around the world.”

Clubessential Holdings was established in 2016 with a vision to acquire and grow category-leading, membership-management software companies; unlock the power of a shared, integrated-payments platform; and fully digitize their customers’ and members’ experiences. Clubessential Holdings is focused on providing industry-leading technologies and services, as well as committed to growth in the European market.

Clubessential Holdings LLC

Clubessential Holdings is fulfilling their global mission of investing in and creating cutting-edge, category-defining businesses by providing a full suite of membership and club management Software as a Service solutions to private clubs, public clubs, health & fitness clubs, military organizations, municipalities, and college athletic programs. Across six brands – Clubessential, ClubReady, Exerp, foreUP, PrestoSports, and Vermont Systems – the company offers a variety of forward-thinking technology and services which help more than 10,000 customers attract, engage, and retain members and fans for life. For more information, visit the following websites: clubessential.com, clubready.com, exerp.com, foreupgolf.com, prestosports.com, and vermontsystems.com.

Innovatise

Innovatise is the developer of myFitApp, an open, hybrid fitness platform gyms & health clubs use to communicate their brand, retain members, acquire new ones and deliver digital fitness using the unique power of mobile. With over 2,300 gyms and over 10M App downloads worldwide, we are leaders in providing marketing-focused, branded apps for gyms, particularly in the UK and DACH. Our UK customers include GLL, Everyone Active, Bannatyne and Gymbox. In DACH our customers include JustFit, Fitnessloft, Elixia, Smile X and PureGym. To learn more, visit www.myfitapp.com. Follow on LinkedIn and Facebook.

CONTACT:

Marilyn Cox
Chief Marketing Officer
Clubessential Holdings, LLC
513.322.4194
mcox@clubessential.com

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Image 1: Innovatise

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Innovatise

February 21, 2022

Sydney Has International Travellers Feeling Good as Borders Reopen

Destination NSW welcome first arrivals after two years

SYDNEY, Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Destination NSW proved today why Sydney city is still the number one Australian destination for international visitors, providing the first international arrivals in almost two years with a memorable and energising welcome back to the Harbour City.

An entourage of drag queens and surf lifesavers, iconic characters synonymous with Sydney and NSW, were the ultimate welcoming committee for all travellers arriving from destinations including Los Angeles, Tokyo, Singapore, San Francisco, London and Vancouver on the first day of international borders reopening.

Complimentary coffees and fresh juices were also part of the welcome activity, together with a musical rendition of Feeling Good by Phat Brass, the track recently recorded for the New South Wales Government’s state marketing and promotional campaign, Feel New South Wales, and ensured all arriving travellers were feeling good on their return into Sydney.

The welcome activity was a collaboration between Destination NSW and Sydney Airport and coincides with the second phase of Destination NSW’s Feel New marketing campaign to send the message to all travellers that Sydney and NSW are open and will excite, energise and inspire travellers through their unique and diverse natural and cultural experiences.

For information on Sydney, check out sydney.com.
#feelnew #feelnsw #feelnewsydney

Media Assets

Images and video assets can be accessed here

Media Contact

Wayne Mitcham, Amio Limited – wayne@amio.nz

About Destination NSW

Destination NSW is the lead NSW Government agency for the State’s tourism and major events industry and is responsible for devising and implementing strategies to grow the State’s visitor economy. Our particular focus is driving tourism and acquiring and developing major sporting and cultural events for Sydney and regional NSW. In addition, Destination NSW is the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) with the aim of securing more international conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and exhibitions.

Iconic Sydney characters welcome passengers back to Sydney, Australia

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Destination NSW welcome first arrivals after two years

February 21, 2022

FIBA, Smart begin Philippines’ hosting of 2023 FIBA World Cup

Published by
Philippine Star

Franco Luna – Philstar.com February 21, 2022 | 5:58pm MANILA, Philippines — The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) formalized its partnership with Smart Communications Inc. to cover the highly anticipated FIBA games on Monday. In a press release sent to reporters Monday, Smart said it is set to kick off its coverage of the upcoming FIBA games as the official global brand partner of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as part of its partnership with the FIBA. FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be jointly hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia as events in the World Cup’s group phas… Continue reading “FIBA, Smart begin Philippines’ hosting of 2023 FIBA World Cup”

February 21, 2022

Universities: 3 Universities From the US, China and Italy Launch ACE, a Triple Degree in Business Administration

Initiative of Luiss Guido Carli, Renmin University of China and George Washington University

Luiss Guido Carli University launch “ACE”, which stands for “America, China & Europe”, a brand new triple degree in Business Administration

Luiss Guido Carli University (Rome), Renmin University of China (Beijing) and George Washington University (Washington, DC) are launching “ACE”, which stands for “America, China & Europe”, a brand new triple degree in Business Administration which – by bringing together three different countries, with their managerial and institutional cultures – represents an absolute new entry.

ROME, Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Luiss Guido Carli University (Rome), Renmin University of China (Beijing) and George Washington University (Washington, DC) are launching “ACE”, which stands for “America, China & Europe”, a brand new triple degree in Business Administration which – by bringing together three different countries, with their managerial and institutional cultures – represents an absolute new entry.

The highly innovative and geographically itinerant four-year ACE degree programme will give students the opportunity to obtain three degrees, one for each University, valid and recognised in the United States, China and Europe, and to aspire to positions of responsibility in multinational and global institutions. This international learning experience will allow students to immerse themselves in the economic, social and managerial culture of the three continents.

Enrolled students will spend the first year at their respective Universities learning the fundamentals of economics and management.

They will then jointly attend the second, third and fourth years in the three capitals, starting from Luiss University in Rome, moving on to Renmin University in Beijing, and concluding their studies in the United States, at George Washington University. The enrolment fees for ACE are in line with the university fees of the student’s home university for the entire duration of the course.

“The ACE degree programme, the result of a partnership between Luiss, Renmin and George Washington University, places Italy at the centre of the international higher education scene and aims to respond to the need to train ‘future-ready’ global managers capable of working and interacting in increasingly multicultural contexts,” said Luiss University Rector Andrea Prencipe. “Drawing an ideal read thread between the capitals of Rome, Beijing and Washington, in line with our Strategic Plan and an innovative educational model, means for us training professionals with a cosmopolitan character and encouraging the international mobility of talents,” he added.

“Renmin University of China, one of China’s top universities, is the first institution to introduce business education programmes in the People’s Republic of China. Our university also benefits from close industrial ties and a large alumni network,” said Liu Wei, President of Renmin University of China.

“In 2019,” he continued, “Renmin University of China and Luiss Guido Carli University jointly launched the Social Sciences Universities Network (SSUN), the first university network in the humanities and social sciences worldwide that contributes to the growth of future global leaders. This new “ACE” Global BA is a significant milestone for SSUN in exploring innovative models of talent development. What makes this triple degree programme unique is its ability to integrate the strengths of three world-class universities in the social sciences, giving graduates a strong competitive advantage in the labour market.”

For more information:
LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director
Barbara Sanicola – barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it
+39 02 26305578 M +39 333 3905243

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/774bf4c9-c88f-4cf2-9cef-f9ae51366480

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.