Doktor Bimbang Kekurangan Iodin Sedang Berulang berita

Doktor Bimbang Kekurangan Iodin Sedang Berulang

January 7, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - NEW YORK — Seorang budak lelaki berusia 13 tahun datang ke klinik dengan leher yang membengkak dengan pantas. Doktor-doktor keliru. Ujian menolak syak wasangka pertama mereka. Tetapi ujian lanjut menunjukkan apa yang mereka—dan budak lelaki itu—telah terlepas: iodin. Seabad yang lalu, kekurangan iodin menjejaskan kanak-kanak di seluruh negara. Ia hilang sepenuhnya selepas beberapa pengeluar makanan mula menambahnya kepada garam meja, roti dan beberapa makanan lain, dalam salah satu kisah kejayaan kesihatan awam yang hebat pada abad ke-20. Tetapi hari ini, orang ramai mendapat kurang iodin disebabkan oleh perubahan dalam diet dan pembuatan makanan. Walaupun kebanyakan orang masih mendapat cukup, penyelidik semakin melaporkan tahap iodin yang rendah dalam wanita hamil dan orang lain, menimbulkan kebimbangan tentang kesan terhadap bayi mereka yang baru lahir. Dan terdapat juga sebilangan kecil, tetapi semakin meningkat, laporan kekurangan iodin dalam kanak-kanak. “Ini perlu diberi perhatian oleh orang ramai,” kata Dr. Monica Serrano-Gonzalez, seorang doktor Universiti Brown yang merawat budak lelaki itu pada tahun 2021 di Providence, Rhode Island. Apakah iodin? Iodin ialah unsur surih yang terdapat dalam air laut dan di beberapa tanah—kebanyakannya di kawasan pantai. Seorang ahli kimia Perancis secara tidak sengaja menemui ia pada tahun 1811 apabila satu eksperimen dengan abu rumpai laut menghasilkan wap ungu. Nama iodin berasal daripada perkataan Yunani yang bermaksud berwarna ungu. Kemudian pada abad itu, saintis mula memahami bahawa manusia memerlukan sejumlah iodin untuk mengawal metabolisme mereka dan kekal sihat, dan bahawa ia amat penting dalam perkembangan fungsi otak pada kanak-kanak. Salah satu tanda iodin yang tidak mencukupi ialah bengkak di leher, dikenali sebagai gondok. Kelenjar tiroid di leher menggunakan iodin untuk menghasilkan hormon yang mengawal kadar jantung dan fungsi badan yang lain. Apabila tidak cukup iodin, kelenjar tiroid membesar kerana ia bekerja lebih masa untuk menampung kekurangan iodin. Pada awal abad ke-20, gondok adalah sangat biasa pada kanak-kanak di sesetengah bahagian pedalaman Amerika Syarikat, terutamanya di “jalur gondok” yang terbentang dari Appalachia dan Great Lakes ke barat laut Amerika Syarikat. Sesetengah kanak-kanak itu luar biasa pendek, pekak, terencat akal dan mempunyai simptom lain daripada sindrom yang pernah dikenali sebagai “kretinisme.” Menambah iodin kepada garam Pakar kesihatan awam menyedari bahawa mereka tidak dapat menyelesaikan masalah itu dengan memberi makan rumpai laut dan makanan laut kepada semua orang, tetapi mereka mempelajari bahawa iodin boleh disembur pada garam meja. Garam beriodin mula-mula boleh didapati pada tahun 1924. Menjelang tahun 1950-an, lebih daripada 70% isi rumah AS menggunakan garam meja beriodin. Roti dan beberapa makanan lain juga diperkayakan dengan iodin, dan kekurangan iodin menjadi jarang. Tetapi diet berubah. , dan walaupun ia mengandungi banyak garam, ia bukan beriodin. Jenama roti utama tidak lagi menambah iodin. Dalam kes budak lelaki berusia 13 tahun itu, dia mempunyai autisme ringan dan seorang pemakan yang cerewet, kebanyakannya hanya makan jenama roti dan mentega kacang tertentu. Dan bagi orang yang memang menggarami makanan mereka, fesyen sekarang adalah untuk menggunakan garam kosher, garam batu Himalaya atau produk bukan beriodin yang lain. “Orang ramai telah lupa mengapa terdapat iodin dalam garam,” kata Dr. Elizabeth Pearce dari Boston Medical Center. Beliau adalah pemimpin dalam Iodine Global Network, sebuah agensi bukan kerajaan yang berusaha untuk menghapuskan gangguan kekurangan iodin. Beliau menyatakan penurunan dalam tahap iodin AS dalam orang Amerika yang disurvei antara tahun 1970-an dan 1990-an. Berapa banyak iodin yang mencukupi? Walaupun pengambilan iodin secara keseluruhannya menurun, kebanyakan orang Amerika masih mendapat cukup melalui diet mereka, kata pakar. Tetapi doktor bimbang itu bukan kesnya bagi wanita dan kanak-kanak, yang paling mudah terdedah kepada kekurangan iodin. American Academy of Pediatrics dan persatuan perubatan lain mengesyorkan agar semua wanita hamil dan menyusu mendapat 150 mikrogram iodin setiap hari. Anda boleh mendapatkannya daripada setengah hingga tiga suku sudu teh garam meja beriodin. Dalam 15 tahun kebelakangan ini, penyelidik AS semakin melaporkan melihat kekurangan iodin ringan pada wanita hamil. Satu kajian Michigan State University terhadap kira-kira 460 wanita hamil di bandar Lansing mendapati kira-kira seperempat daripada mereka tidak mendapat cukup. Banyak vitamin pranatal tidak mengandungi iodin, kata Jean Kerver, ketua pengarang kajian itu. Itulah sebabnya supaya wanita hamil atau menyusu memeriksa label untuk memastikan mereka mengambil multivitamin atau suplemen pranatal dengan iodin. Sesetengah kajian telah mengaitkan kekurangan iodin walaupun ringan kepada IQ yang lebih rendah dan kelewatan bahasa pada kanak-kanak, walaupun terdapat perdebatan tentang tahap masalah bermula, kata Pearce. Pakar mengatakan tidak ada penyelidikan yang mencukupi untuk menentukan kesan kekurangan iodin yang sebenarnya telah memberi kesan kepada penduduk AS dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini. Serrano-Gonzalez berkata beliau dan rakan sekerjanya telah melihat empat kes lain pada kanak-kanak di klinik mereka di Providence. “Kami bimbang ini mungkin semakin meningkat, terutamanya pada pesakit dengan diet terhad,” katanya.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain.
More
McDonald’s Menjadi Syarikat Besar AS Terkini untuk Memansuhkan Amalan Kepelbagaiannya berita

McDonald’s Menjadi Syarikat Besar AS Terkini untuk Memansuhkan Amalan Kepelbagaiannya

January 7, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - Empat tahun selepas melancarkan usaha untuk meningkatkan kepelbagaian dalam kalangan kakitangannya, McDonald’s sedang menamatkan beberapa amalan kepelbagaiannya, dengan alasan keputusan Mahkamah Agung AS dalam pengambilan pelajar universiti. McDonald’s ialah syarikat besar terkini yang mengubah taktiknya berikutan keputusan pada tahun 2023 dan tentangan konservatif terhadap program kepelbagaian, ekuiti dan inklusi. Walmart, John Deere, Harley-Davidson dan lain-lain telah menarik balik inisiatif DEI mereka pada tahun lepas. Tonton: McDonald’s berkata pada hari Isnin ia akan menarik balik sasaran khusus untuk mencapai kepelbagaian di peringkat kepimpinan kanan. Ia juga bercadang untuk menamatkan program yang menggalakkan pembekalnya untuk membangunkan latihan kepelbagaian dan untuk meningkatkan jumlah ahli kumpulan minoriti yang diwakili dalam barisan kepimpinan mereka sendiri. McDonald’s berkata ia juga akan menangguhkan “tinjauan luaran.” Gergasi burger itu tidak menjelaskan dengan lanjut, tetapi beberapa syarikat lain, termasuk Lowe’s dan Ford Motor Co., telah menggantung penyertaan mereka dalam tinjauan tahunan oleh Kempen Hak Asasi Manusia yang mengukur inklusi tempat kerja untuk pekerja LGBTQ+. McDonald’s, yang mempunyai ibu pejabatnya di Chicago, telah melancarkan beberapa inisiatif kepelbagaian pada tahun 2021 selepas beberapa siri saman gangguan seksual yang difailkan oleh pekerja dan saman yang mendakwa diskriminasi yang dibawa oleh sekumpulan bekas pemilik francais McDonald’s yang berbangsa Hitam. “Sebagai jenama peneraju dunia yang menganggap inklusi sebagai salah satu nilai teras kami, kami tidak akan menerima apa-apa yang kurang daripada kemajuan yang nyata dan boleh diukur dalam usaha kami untuk memimpin dengan empati, memperlakukan orang dengan maruah dan hormat, dan mencari pelbagai pandangan untuk memacu pengambilan keputusan yang lebih baik,” Pengerusi dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif McDonald’s, Chris Kempczinski, menulis dalam catatan LinkedIn pada masa itu. Tetapi McDonald’s berkata pada hari Isnin bahawa “landskap undang-undang yang berubah” selepas keputusan Mahkamah Agung dan tindakan syarikat lain menyebabkan ia meneliti dasar-dasarnya sendiri. Landskap politik yang berubah mungkin juga memainkan peranan. Presiden terpilih ialah pengkritik lantang program kepelbagaian, ekuiti dan inklusi. Trump telah melantik Stephen Miller, seorang bekas penasihat yang mengetuai kumpulan yang dipanggil America First Legal yang telah mencabar dasar DEI korporat secara agresif, sebagai timbalan ketua dasar yang masuk. Naib Presiden terpilih JD Vance telah memperkenalkan rang undang-undang di Senat pada musim panas lalu untuk menamatkan program tersebut dalam kerajaan persekutuan. Robby Starbuck, seorang pengulas politik konservatif yang telah mengancam boikot pengguna jenama pengguna terkenal yang tidak menarik diri daripada program kepelbagaian mereka, berkata pada hari Isnin di X bahawa beliau baru-baru ini memberitahu McDonald’s bahawa beliau akan membuat cerita tentang “dasar-dasar yang berjaga-jaga”. McDonald’s berkata ia telah mempertimbangkan kemas kini kepada dasar-dasarnya selama beberapa bulan dan merancang untuk menetapkan pengumuman itu pada permulaan tahun ini. Dalam kepada pekerja dan pemegang francais, pasukan kepimpinan kanan McDonald’s berkata ia kekal komited kepada inklusi dan percaya bahawa tenaga kerja yang pelbagai merupakan kelebihan daya saing. Syarikat itu berkata 30% daripada pemimpin ASnya adalah ahli kumpulan yang kurang diwakili, meningkat daripada 29% pada tahun 2021. McDonald’s sebelum ini komited untuk mencapai 35% menjelang akhir tahun ini. McDonald’s berkata ia telah mencapai salah satu matlamat yang diumumkannya pada tahun 2021: ekuiti gaji jantina di semua peringkat syarikat. Ia juga berkata ia telah mencapai tiga tahun lebih awal matlamat untuk mempunyai 25% daripada jumlah perbelanjaan pembekal pergi kepada perniagaan yang dimiliki oleh kumpulan pelbagai kaum. McDonald’s berkata ia akan terus menyokong usaha yang memastikan asas pekerja, pembekal dan pemegang francais yang pelbagai, tetapi pasukan kepelbagaiannya kini akan dirujuk sebagai Pasukan Inklusi Global. Syarikat itu berkata ia juga akan terus melaporkan maklumat demografiknya. Persatuan Pemilik Francais Hispanik McDonald’s berkata ia tidak mempunyai komen mengenai perubahan dasar pada hari Isnin. Mesej yang meminta komen telah ditinggalkan bersama Persatuan Pengendali McDonald’s Hitam Kebangsaan.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain.
More
Warga Louisiana Adalah Mangsa Maut Selesema Burung Pertama di AS, Kata Pegawai Kesihatan “` berita

Warga Louisiana Adalah Mangsa Maut Selesema Burung Pertama di AS, Kata Pegawai Kesihatan “`

January 7, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - NEW YORK — Kematian selesema burung pertama di AS telah dilaporkan — seorang individu di Louisiana yang telah dikejarkan ke hospital dengan simptom pernafasan yang teruk. Pegawai kesihatan Louisiana mengumumkan kematian itu pada hari Isnin. Pegawai kesihatan menyatakan bahawa individu itu berusia lebih 65 tahun, mempunyai masalah perubatan yang sedia ada dan telah bersentuhan dengan burung yang sakit dan mati di dalam kawanan halaman belakang. Mereka juga menyatakan bahawa analisis genetik menunjukkan virus selesema burung telah berubah dalam pesakit, yang mungkin menyebabkan penyakit yang lebih teruk. Mereka telah mendedahkan sedikit butiran lain mengenai individu itu. Sejak Mac, 66 jangkitan selesema burung yang disahkan telah berlaku di AS, tetapi penyakit terdahulu adalah ringan dan kebanyakannya dikesan di kalangan pekerja ladang yang terdedah kepada unggas atau lembu tenusu yang sakit. Dalam dua kes — seorang dewasa di Missouri dan seorang kanak-kanak di California — pegawai kesihatan belum menentukan bagaimana mereka dijangkiti. Punca jangkitan individu Louisiana itu tidak dianggap sebagai misteri. Tetapi ia adalah kes manusia pertama di AS yang dikaitkan dengan pendedahan kepada burung halaman belakang, menurut Pusat Kawalan dan Pencegahan Penyakit. Pegawai Louisiana menyatakan mereka tidak menyedari sebarang kes lain di negeri mereka, dan pegawai AS menyatakan mereka tidak mempunyai sebarang bukti bahawa virus itu merebak dari orang ke orang. Selesema burung H5N1 menjangkiti burung liar, unggas, lembu dan haiwan lain. Kehadirannya yang semakin meningkat dalam persekitaran meningkatkan kemungkinan orang akan terdedah, dan berpotensi dijangkiti, kata pegawai. Pegawai terus menggesa orang ramai yang bersentuhan dengan burung yang sakit atau mati untuk mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga, termasuk memakai perlindungan pernafasan dan mata serta sarung tangan semasa mengendalikan unggas. ___ Jabatan Kesihatan dan Sains Associated Press menerima sokongan daripada Kumpulan Media Sains dan Pendidikan Howard Hughes Medical Institute. AP bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya untuk semua kandungan.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain.
More
Trump Berjanji untuk Gantikan Ketua Arkib Negara Selepas Peranan Agensi dalam Kes Dokumen Menentangnya “` berita

Trump Berjanji untuk Gantikan Ketua Arkib Negara Selepas Peranan Agensi dalam Kes Dokumen Menentangnya “`

January 7, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Presiden terpilih berjanji untuk menggantikan Arkib Negara, sekali lagi meletakkan agensi tersebut di bawah perhatian politik selepas salah urus dokumen sulitnya membawa kepada pendakwaan persekutuan. “Kita akan mempunyai arkibis baru,” kata Trump kepada pengacara radio Hugh Hewitt pada hari Isnin. Agensi tersebut telah menimbulkan kemarahan Trump selepas ia memaklumkan Jabatan Kehakiman tentang potensi masalah dengan pengendalian dokumen sulit oleh Trump pada awal tahun 2022. Ini telah memulakan siasatan yang membawa kepada satu dakwaan, yang akhirnya menjadikan beliau presiden terdahulu pertama yang didakwa atas jenayah persekutuan. Arkibis semasa, , wanita pertama memegang jawatan ini, tidak berada di jawatan tersebut pada masa itu. Beliau telah dicalonkan oleh Presiden pada Ogos 2022 tetapi tidak dilantik sehingga Mei tahun berikutnya. Ini menyusul satu pertikaian mengenai peranan agensi tersebut dalam siasatan ke atas dokumen sulit yang dirampas di di Palm Beach, Florida. Arkibis negara boleh disingkirkan daripada jawatan oleh presiden, yang boleh memilih pengganti yang kemudiannya disahkan oleh Senat, jadi janji Trump untuk berbuat demikian bukanlah sesuatu yang luar biasa. Namun begitu, Trump telah berikrar untuk menghancurkan apa yang beliau sebut sebagai “ deep state”, satu istilah samar yang merujuk secara umum kepada kerajaan persekutuan, termasuk penjawat awam dan birokrat yang menurutnya bermusuhan dengan pandangan ideologinya dan pandangan Republikan secara meluas. Presiden dikehendaki oleh undang-undang untuk menyerahkan kebanyakan rekod mereka kepada Arkib Negara sebaik sahaja mereka meninggalkan jawatan. Apabila Arkib Negara menyedari bahawa beberapa dokumen hilang daripada koleksi mereka selepas Trump meninggalkan jawatan, mereka telah berulang kali menuntut agar beliau mengembalikannya, menurut pendakwaan persekutuan. Trump akhirnya menyerahkan beberapa dokumen tersebut tetapi menyembunyikan yang lain, menurut dakwaan tersebut. Beliau telah didakwa oleh peguam khas Jack Smith atas tuduhan termasuk penyimpanan maklumat pertahanan negara secara sengaja, konspirasi untuk menghalang keadilan dan kenyataan palsu dan perwakilan. Beliau mengaku tidak bersalah dan menafikan melakukan kesalahan. Pendakwa raya selepas kemenangan Pilihan Raya beliau pada bulan November. Ini selaras dengan dasar Jabatan Kehakiman yang telah lama wujud yang menyatakan bahawa presiden yang sedang bertugas tidak boleh menghadapi pendakwaan.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain. ```
More
Stableton Partners with Alta to Expand Access to Global High-Growth Pre-IPO Investments ACN Newswire

Stableton Partners with Alta to Expand Access to Global High-Growth Pre-IPO Investments

January 7, 2025
SINGAPORE, Jan 7, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Stableton, a leader in VC direct secondaries and an award-winning growth equity fintech platform, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Alta, Asia’s leading digital securities exchange for alternative assets.This collaboration aims to expand investor access to high-growth, late-stage private companies, meeting the surging demand for liquidity and diversification within private markets. With more than 1,300 unicorns redefining the industry landscape, substantial value has emerged over recent years. This wave of rapid growth, alongside the advent of sophisticated data providers and enhanced liquidity for the most valuable unicorns, has set the stage for Stableton to unveil the world’s first strategy of its kind, now accessible via Alta. This pioneering strategy delivers investors unparalleled, cost-effective access to a systematic investment approach focused on the world’s Top 20 unicorns, spanning industries including artificial intelligence, fintech, and aerospace.“This growth reflects a significant shift in how investors are approaching private market opportunities, seeking more flexible and transparent solutions,” said Wei He, Head of Investments at Stableton. Alta has demonstrated its capabilities with a track record of over US$53 billion in mandated transactions and more than US$700 million successfully raised for private companies and funds, positioning it as a transformative player in the alternative investment landscape.Stableton’s experience with over 95 transactions, a network of more than 100 sourcing partners, and robust technology- and data-driven investment processes enable access to the leading private technology stocks via portfolios and single investment opportunities. The combination of Stableton's unique investment strategy and Alta, which features over 35,000 direct investor accounts and partnerships with more than 100 financial institutions, promises to elevate accessibility in private markets."Partnering with Stableton represents a significant milestone in our journey to democratize access to the private markets," said Benjamin Twoon, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Alta. "This collaboration introduces a unique investment product akin to an Exchange Traded Fund, offering investors a diversified portfolio and fractional access to a carefully curated group of industry-leading, late-stage private companies. By combining innovation, efficiency, and a data-driven approach, we are advancing our mission to open doors for more investors to participate in this asset class with the same level of rigor, transparency, and diversification as institutional players.”Andreas Bezner, CEO and Co-Founder of Stableton, remarked: ”Partnering with Alta represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide superior access to growth equity investments. By leveraging Alta’s strong digital platform and Stableton’s expertise in pre-IPO secondaries, we’re not just widening the doors for investment—we’re setting a new standard for accessibility and liquidity in private markets. This is about providing investors, from institutional to individual, with opportunities that were previously out of reach and delivering impactful and flexible solutions.”The global unicorn market, valued at $4.7 trillion, continues to show strong investment potential.Alta is committed to tackling the challenge of private market illiquidity with its accessible, efficient, and secure exchange platform. Alta has seen increasing demand this year from investors eager to participate in high impact ventures like, SpaceX, Stripe, xAI and OpenAI. Over the years, Alta raised a total funding of over US$150 million for SpaceX, and recently closed an additional US$15 million for the spacetech firm.Alta’s technology-powered initiatives are transforming the financial landscape by empowering a diverse array of investors to engage in alternative investments and the firm believes that broadening access to capital markets is crucial for fostering sustainable growth and generating new opportunities for communities globally. In acknowledgment of those efforts, Alta has recently been named as a 2024 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum.Konstantin Heiermann, COO and Co-Founder of Stableton, shared insights on the operational benefits of the partnership: “This collaboration with Alta not only broadens our geographical reach but also brings a new level of efficiency and scale to our distribution. This partnership marks an important evolution in how investors engage with private markets, making access more seamless, transparent, and aligned with modern expectations.”This partnership aims to foster a more dynamic investment ecosystem where technology and strategic alliances facilitate the flow of capital into high-potential, late-stage private companies.Together, Stableton and Alta are committed to bridging the gap between traditional investment barriers and forward-thinking solutions, making pre-IPO investments more attainable and impactful for a broader audience of global investors.About StabletonStableton is a VC direct secondaries specialist investment manager and an award-winning growth equity fintech investment platform (Swiss Fintech Awards 2022 winner) that empowers investors and shapers of tomorrow to achieve their full potential. Stableton's mission is to provide superior access to growth equity and pre-IPO deals and portfolios, focusing on secondaries. Investors benefit from institutional-quality investments, product innovation, bankable products with low minimums, and improved liquidity.Stableton was founded in 2018 by Andreas Bezner, CFA, and Konstantin Heiermann, with an international team of over 25 employees across Zurich, Zug, Berlin, and Riga. Our success story includes a CHF 15 million Series A funding round in July 2022 and a FINMA license as a portfolio manager, according to Art. 17 (1) of the Financial Institutions Act (FINIA). Stableton delivers institutional-grade quality with assets over USD 270 million and a track record of over 95 transactions.About AltaAs the leading licensed digital securities exchange for alternative investments in Asia, we are building critical capital market infrastructure backed by some of the most active securities brokerages and bookrunners on the Singapore Exchange - Phillip Securities, PrimePartners and Nomura Holdings (Japan).Empowering Private Markets: Through our Digital Exchange, we enable the tokenization and digital custody of alternative assets. This end-to-end solution simplifies and expedites the trading of smaller asset blocks, ultimately facilitating access and liquidity in private markets. We believe that access to capital markets are pivotal in all economies, we recognize that our role in building this critical infrastructure goes beyond facilitating trades; it paves the way for entrepreneurship, job creation, financial inclusion, and economic resilience, fostering a brighter future for emerging markets and economies.Innovative Financial Ecosystem: Our journey has seen us transition from securities trading and distribution of comprehensive products, including equities, private credit, funds, and asset-backed securities representing real world assets like whiskies and wines, to include fund management and digital custody.Visit us on https://alta.exchange/ For media inquiries, please contact:StabletonLyn MelwaniGrowth Managermelwani@stableton.com AltaDeeksha KakkarMarketing Communications Specialistdeeksha.kakkar@alta.exchange Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More
Asian Financial Forum held next week as the region’s first major international financial assembly of 2025 ACN Newswire

Asian Financial Forum held next week as the region’s first major international financial assembly of 2025

January 7, 2025
- The 18th Asian Financial Forum 2025 (AFF) will be held on 13 and 14 January (Monday and Tuesday), attracting more than 3,600 and finance and business heavyweights- Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, the forum will examine new global business opportunities in different industries in 2025, exploring how Hong Kong can leverage its strengths as an international financial centre to seek breakthroughs in a period of change- This year’s AFF has invited more than 100 global business leaders and policymakers to speak, including Prof Justin Lin Yifu, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank (2008-2012); Prof Stuart Russell, Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum's Council on AI; Dr Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman of Sinovation Ventures; and Joe Tsai, Chairman of the Alibaba- Representatives from organisations such as AXA, Citigroup, Federated Hermes, HSBC, Lenovo, Primavera Capital Group and more will showcase Hong Kong’s draw as an international financial and business hub- The Gulf Cooperation Council Chapter, a new addition to this year's forum, will focus on opportunities in financial collaboration between member states of the GCC and Hong KongHONG KONG, Jan 7, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – The 18th Asian Financial Forum 2025 (AFF), co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) on 13 and 14 January (Monday and Tuesday). As the region’s first major international financial conference in 2025, the forum will examine the landscape for new business opportunities in various industries and regions in the coming year and promote global cooperation, and is expected to attract more than 3,600 finance and business heavyweights.Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, the AFF will bring together more than 100 global policymakers, business leaders, financial experts and investors, entrepreneurs, tech companies and economists to share their views on the shifting global economic landscape and financial ecosystem. These industry experts will dissect the risk management strategy, discover new business opportunities, and explore how Hong Kong can seek breakthroughs in a period of change.First flagship financial event to showcase Hong Kong's financial strengthsLaunched in 2007, the AFF has become a flagship financial event for Hong Kong and the broader region, highlighting the city's pivotal role as a globally renowned financial hub with a highly competitive economic and business environment. Amid a rapidly changing global macroeconomic landscape, and shifts in geopolitical dynamics and monetary policies, Hong Kong's financial services sector continues to leverage its strengths across various domains, drawing on its world-class business infrastructure and robust regulatory regime to help drive cooperation and mutual success across Asia and around the world.Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government, said: “Hong Kong’s financial market went through a lot of reforms and innovation last year. We have also launched a roadmap on sustainability disclosure in Hong Kong and issued a policy statement on responsible application of artificial intelligence in the financial market with a view to boosting green finance and sustainable financing. The upcoming Asian Financial Forum will gather the top-tier of the financial and various sectors from all around the world, the Mainland and in Hong Kong and hence is the perfect occasion for us to showcase to the world the new momentum and latest advantages of Hong Kong in the financial realm. Participants will also have a chance to learn more about how Hong Kong can partner with them to explore new collaborations and development areas while expanding their network here.”Luanne Lim, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, of HSBC, said: "The global economy faces greater uncertainties in 2025 compared to 2024. However, robust growth in India and ASEAN nations, combined with increased policy support from Mainland China, is expected to keep Asia’s (ex-Japan) GDP growth at a strong 4.4%, well above the global average of 2.7%.” Against this backdrop, this year’s Asia Financial Forum is aptly themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine” and will focus on high-potential markets such as ASEAN, the Middle East (particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council countries), and the role that Hong Kong can play. Ms Lim said Hong Kong's unique role as a bridge between the mainland and international markets allows it to support mainland enterprises expanding globally. She added that Hong Kong is committed to attracting global talent and investors, driving growth for both mainland and international businesses.Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “As we move into the new year, different economies around the world are facing challenges in maintaining economic growth. As an international financial centre, Hong Kong is playing an important role both as a ‘super-connector’ and a ‘super value-adder’ to link the world, enabling investors and fundraisers to leverage the city’s professional services and investment platforms to facilitate collaboration and create business opportunities. This year's forum not only brings together heavyweight speakers and thought leaders but also builds on the success of previous years to provide a business platform for international participants, promoting financial and business cooperation and working together to launch new engines for growth.”Exploring new trends as the world’s economic centre of gravity continues its shift eastReflecting on a trend where the world's economic centre of gravity continues to take an eastward shift, Christopher Hui will host two plenary sessions on emerging prospects in the region on the first day of the forum (13 January). The morning session of Plenary Session I will feature H.E. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, finance ministers from countries such as Pakistan and Luxembourg, and Yoshiki Takeuchi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), who together will explore the financial policy outlook for 2025. In the afternoon, Plenary Session II will bring together leaders from multilateral organisations to share their views on the role of multilateral cooperation in regional economic development. Speakers will include Roberta Casali, Vice-President, Finance and Risk Management, Asian Development Bank; Jin Liqun, President and Chair of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); and Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Moreover, a new session, the Gulf Cooperation Council Chapter, will bring together HE Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), speakers from the Middle East and local experts to discuss prospects in fostering financial cooperation and investment between the member states of the GCC and Hong Kong.Also on the first day, Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, will host the Policy Dialogue session with speakers including European representatives such as Philip Lane, Chief Economist and Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, and Dr Olli Rehn, Governor of the Bank of Finland. The discussion will explore the opportunities and challenges arising from the global shift towards more accommodative monetary policies and national authorities’ strategic deployment of measures to revitalise their economies and accelerate growth through innovation.The panel discussion on China Opportunities returns this year with senior figures invited to analyse investment prospects under China’s commitment to technological innovation and its impact on global business. The panellists included Li Yimei, Chief Executive Officer of China Asset Management; and Ken Wong, Executive Vice President of Lenovo and President of Lenovo Solutions & Services Group.Top economist and leading AI expert take the stage at keynote luncheonsAnother highlight of this year’s AFF will be the two keynote luncheons featuring thematic speeches by two distinguished guests: Prof Justin Lin Yifu, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank (2008-2012), and Prof Stuart Russell, Co-chair of the World Economic Forum Council on AI. These two prominent figures will dissect the evolution of the global economic landscape amid changing international dynamics, and examine how artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a new driving force for rapid global economic growth respectively.Exploring hot topics in the financial and economic sectorsThe afternoon panel discussion, Global Economic Outlook, will feature a special address from Liu Haoling, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Investment Officer, China Investment Corporation. The panel will analyse international economic trends and provide insights into business opportunities and wealth accumulation in emerging industries and regions in 2025.Other sessions titled Global Spectrum, Dialogues for Tomorrow and Thematic Workshop will feature in-depth discussions focusing on the latest industry trends, including AI, Web 3.0, sustainability, philanthropy and family offices. As AI becomes increasingly widespread and diversified in its societal applications, the second day of the forum will introduce a special session, Dialogue with Kai-Fu Lee, in which Dr Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman of Sinovation Ventures, will discuss the transformative power of AI and its impact on technological advancements in the global business ecosystem.Exploring the impact of sustainable disclosure on investment strategiesSustainable finance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations have become an irreversible global trend. In 2025, Hong Kong is set to fully align its regulatory framework with the sustainability disclosure standard of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Sue Lloyd, Vice Chair of the ISSB, will join other experts in discussing how adopting international financial sustainability disclosure standards can strengthen market confidence in Hong Kong's capital markets, address post-COP29 implementation in Asia, and share strategies for sustainable investing across three separate sessions. In addition, the Breakfast Panel on the second day will focus on the flows of transition finance in shaping a sustainable future in the Greater Bay Area and beyond. Furthermore, the HKTDC has partnered with EY to conduct a joint market survey on sustainable development, aiming to explore the views and practices of Asian businesses and investors on topics such as sustainability reporting, sustainable finance and preparations for dealing with climate change. The results of the survey will be unveiled on the first day of the forum.Expanding cross-border opportunities through the HK global investment platformAs a key element of this year’s forum, AFF Deal-making offers one-on-one matching services for project owners and investors. More than 270 investors and 560 projects are expected to participate, with investment opportunities across industries such as environmental, energy, clean technology, food and agriculture tech, healthcare tech, fintech and deep technology. The exhibition sections of the AFF – Fintech Showcase, InnoVenture Salon, FintechHK Startup Salon and Global Investment Zone – will attract more than 130 local and global exhibitors, international financial institutions, technology companies, start-ups, investment promotion agencies and sponsors, including Knowledge Partner EY, HSBC, Bank of China (Hong Kong), Standard Chartered Bank, UBS, Prudential, China International Capital Corporation (CICC), Huatai International and more. Notably, the InnoVenture Salon will provide a platform for more than 100 start-ups to showcase innovative technologies in a variety of fields such as finance, regulation, sustainability, health and agriculture, supported by more than 110 Investment Mentors and Community Partners.IFW 2025 creates synergies with AFF to boost mega event economyInternational Financial Week (IFW) 2025 runs from 13 to 17 January with the AFF as its highlight event. This year’s IFW will feature more than 20 partner events, covering a wide range of global financial and business topics, including private equity, family offices, net-zero investing and generative AI. As the region’s first major financial event of the year, the AFF attracts top global enterprises and leaders to Hong Kong, creating connections between capital and opportunities. The forum assists industry professionals in seizing opportunities in the new year and helps promote the mega event economy in Hong Kong.This year, the AFF has collaborated with various organisations to provide special travel, dining and shopping discounts and privileges for overseas participants joining the event. Activities include Peak Tram and Sky Terrace trips, the iconic Aqua Luna red-sail junk boat, and guided tours of Man Mo Temple and Tai Kwun arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Participants can also enjoy dining discounts and guided tours from the Lan Kwai Fong Group, as well as the Winter Wonderland at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Happy Wednesday at Happy Valley Racecourse, all designed to immerse overseas visitors in the vibrancy and diversity of Hong Kong.Websites:Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/enProgramme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programmeSpeaker list: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakerMedia representatives who would like to conduct interviews with AFF speakers should submit interview requests to ayiu@yuantung.com.hk or lsong@yuantung.com.hk by 8 January 2025.Photo download: https://bit.ly/3DIqYZLJoining today’s press conference to share key highlights and introduce the distinguished lineup of speakers for the 18th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) were: Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government (second left); Luanne Lim, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, of HSBC (second right); Patrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC (first left); and Jack Chan, EY China Chairman, EY Greater China Regional Managing Partner and Knowledge Partner of the AFF (first right)Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR GovernmentLuanne Lim, Chairperson of the AFF Steering Committee and Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong of HSBCPatrick Lau, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDCJack Chan, EY China Chairman, EY Greater China Regional Managing Partner and Knowledge Partner of the AFFMedia enquiriesYuan Tung Financial Relations:Agnes YiuTel: (852) 3428 5690Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hkLouise SongTel: (852) 3428 5691Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hkHKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Katy WongTel: (852) 2584 4524Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.orgClayton LauwTel: (852) 2584 4472Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.orgHKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.comAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More
CleverTap Predicts Key Trends for Customer Engagement in 2025 ACN Newswire

CleverTap Predicts Key Trends for Customer Engagement in 2025

January 7, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO, CA & MUMBAI, Jan 7, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - CleverTap, the all-in-one customer engagement platform, has published a report on the top five trends that will shape the marketing and customer engagement space in 2025. It provides an analysis of the future of the customer engagement and retention landscape, offering insights into the strategies companies are expected to adopt in the upcoming year.With the initial euphoria of GenAI waning out in just a year, organizations are in the midst of conversations about its tangible business value and outcomes. As AI transitions from being a disruptor to an enabler in 2025, here are some key customer engagement and retention trends that are sure to make an impact in 2025.1. From Push to Pull: Generative AI-driven Wave of Customer InteractionsWith GenAI’s mass adoption in 2024, communication has moved from brand-led to customer-led. Industries saw a shift in their customers using queries as their primary medium to interact with the brand. 2025 will further solidify this trend from brand-driven click and swipe-based interactions (push) to user-driven, prompt-based dynamic, conversational experiences (pull) powered by GenAI. While the number of touchpoints for marketers will be reduced, the quality of exchange will become more important once businesses understand how to optimize it. The rise of GenAI will continue to bring high efficiency, enabling brands to gain real-time insights and feedback, and empowering them to make swift improvements.2. Personalization vs Privacy: Navigating a Balanced ApproachPersonalization is the norm for marketers. However, for today’s customers, hyper-personalisation only works when executed contextually and transparently. Marketers therefore will have to take a privacy-first approach while crafting meaningful experiences. Moving forward, investment in mechanisms for first-party and zero-party data collection will be vital, along with strict adherence to privacy regulations. By prioritizing transparency and safeguarding user data, businesses can foster deeper trust and loyalty among their customers.3. Martech’s Evolution from a Fixed Tech Stack to a Living CartographyThe Martech landscape is changing rapidly to meet new demands and most businesses still operate with rigid and fragmented tech stacks consisting of traditional siloed tools. This poses a challenge for marketers as the failure of one tool can create a domino effect causing problems in the entire stack. To address this, the concept of "living cartography" holds immense promise. Unlike traditional stacks, this concept envisions a dynamic, interconnected ecosystem where tools adapt and evolve in real-time. This approach fosters seamless data exchange and reduces the risk of system-wide failures by minimizing dependencies across tools. For marketers, this shift means greater agility in meeting the growing demand of ever-changing customer preferences. 4. The Rise of AI AgentsAI agents are the next evolution in the AI landscape, poised to grow significantly this year. Their value lies in the ability to act beyond basic response mechanisms, driving smarter interactions. Companies will focus on AI agent functionalities to analyze real-time sentiments and tailor recommendations for customers while also providing 24/7 multi-lingual support. From a business standpoint, the use case will include boosting operational efficiency and improving decision-making. Eventually, we will see AI clones of marketers for processes like customer support, and sales interactions. AI copilots will enable businesses to get a competitive edge by automating tasks and optimizing workflows.5. Customer Retention over Acquisition The current economic and geopolitical situation alongside a shift in customer priorities has exacerbated the challenge of acquiring new customers, making the process more expensive as well. Companies have recognized the value of customer loyalty as opposed to the “growth at any cost” outlook and the industry is now focussing on customer retention as a strategic priority. In addition to hyper-personalization, brands will continue to innovate their loyalty programs and incentives to meet customer expectations. Anand Jain, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer, CleverTap said, “AI's promise in marketing will truly come alive in 2025 – where it will transition from being a mere disruptor to a trusted enabler, unlocking authentic, customer-driven engagement. As brands navigate this new paradigm, success will come down to building genuine connections and striking a healthy balance between personalization and privacy, all while staying adaptable in the face of customer demands. At CleverTap, we remain committed to guiding businesses through these shifts, empowering them to advance their capabilities and drive meaningful, enduring customer relationships.”Click here to download the report, The Customer Engagement Crystal Ball: Top Trends to Watch Out for in 2025.About CleverTapCleverTap is the leading all-in-one customer engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value. CleverTap is trusted by over 2000 brands like Decathlon, Domino’s, Levis, Jio, Emirates NBD, Puma, Croma (A Tata Enterprise), Swiggy, SonyLIV, Axis Bank, AirAsia, TD Bank, Ooredoo, and Tesco to help build personalized experiences for all their customers. The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering speed and cost efficiency at scale.Backed by top-tier investors such as Accel, Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, CDPQ and 360 One, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, with presence across Seattle, London, São Paulo, Bogota, Mexico, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, Vietnam, and Jakarta.For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/X: https://twitter.com/CleverTapForward-Looking StatementsSome of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap's belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.For more information:SONY SHETTYDirector, Communications, CleverTap+91 9820900036sony@clevertap.comASHMIT CHAUDHARYAssociate Consultant, Archetype+91 8850752121ashmit.chaudhary@archetype.co Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More
Elucidation of part of the Mechanism by which Lecanemab Slows the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease JCN Newswire

Elucidation of part of the Mechanism by which Lecanemab Slows the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

January 7, 2025
TOKYO, Jan 7, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - A collaborative research group led by Professor Kenjiro Ono of the Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, and Eisai Co., Ltd., used a newly developed measurement system for lecanemab-associated amyloid-β protofibrils (Lec-PF) to demonstrate that the concentration of Lec-PF in human cerebrospinal fluid is elevated in patients withAlzheimer's disease at all stages, from mild cognitive impairment to mild and severe dementia, compared with non-Alzheimer's disease controls. Furthermore, this research identified that the concentration of Lec-PF in cerebrospinal fluid is significantly correlated with biomarkers reflecting neurodegeneration.Lecanemab (*1) is a unique dual acting antibody that selectivity binds to amyloid-β protofibril (PF *2) in addition to removing plaque, and is a treatment for patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD *3) (collectively referred to as early AD). The results of this study suggest that PF which is captured by lecanemab (Lec-PF), is present in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, and that Lec-PF is a highly toxic pathological protein that causes neurodegeneration. This research has revealed part of the mechanism by which lecanemab demonstrates its effect of slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.Based on these findings, it may be possible in the future to measure Lec-PF concentration in cerebrospinal fluid before and afterlecanemab treatment to assess the treatments efficacy. In addition, because the concentration of Lec-PF in cerebrospinal fluid correlates well with neurodegenerative markers such as total tau (*4) and neurogranin (*5), it is expected that these findings could also be useful in predicting the prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease patients.This research was published in the online version of the international academic journal Annals of Neurology at 18:30 on January 6, 2025 (US Eastern Standard Time).Research Background and ObjectivesThe amyloid cascade hypothesis is a leading theory regarding the cause of AD, which states that amyloid beta (Aβ) (*6) abnormally aggregates outside of neuron, followed by the formation of tau neurofibrillary tangles, which causes damage to neuron and leads to the onset of the disease. PF is more neurotoxic than amyloid fibrils and plaque, which are the final stages of abnormal aggregated Aβ, and it is believed that PF may cause neurodegeneration (reference: Amin L and Harris DA. 2021). Lecanemab is an anti-PF antibody that has been used in medical practice since 2023 as a treatmentfor early AD. However, there have been no previous reports of measuring PF concentrations in human biological samples, and the profiles of PF, which is the therapeutic target of lecanemab, across the full AD continuum have not yet been understood.In this study, the research group used a newly developed, highly sensitive Lec-PF measurement system to measure the concentration of Lec-PF in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in subjects with preclinical AD (*7), mild cognitive impairment due to AD, and AD dementia, as well as patients with SNAP (suspected non-AD pathophysiology) (*8) and people with normal cognitive function, and analyzed the association between Lec-PF and Aβ40, Aβ42, phosphorylated tau (p-tau) 181 (*9), p-tau 217, total tau, and neurogranin.Summary of Research ResultsThe Lec-PF CSF concentration was significantly higher in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia due to AD (MCI+,AD+ groups in Figure 1) than in those with normal cognitive function (YNC and AMC groups in Figure 1).Correlation analysis was conducted between the concentration of Lec-PF in cerebrospinal fluid and other cerebrospinal fluid markers (Aβ42, Aβ42/40 ratio, p-tau 181, p-tau 217, total-tau, neurogranin).Future DevelopmentsMeasuring the Lec-PF concentration in CSF before and after lecanemab treatment may be useful in assessing the efficacy of lecanemab treatment. In addition, because the concentration of Lec-PF in CSF correlates well with neurodegenerative markers, it may also be useful for predicting the prognosis of AD patients.This research was supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Research and Development Grants for Dementia (Grant No. 22dk0207053), Grants-in-Aid for Transformative Research (Grant No. 23H03850), and Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant Nos. JP19k07965, JP22k07514).Fig. 1 Cerebrospinal fluid lecanemab-related amyloid protofibril (CSF Lec-PF) concentrations according to clinical diagnosis and amyloid positivity/negativityDescription of Figure 1Boxes in boxplots indicate interquartile ranges andhorizontal lines indicate medians.Abbreviations for each group: YNC (young normal control amyloid-negative), AMC (age-matched control amyloid-negative), CI- (cognitively impaired amyloid-negative), CU+ (cognitively unimpaired amyloid-positive), MCI+ (mild cognitive impairment amyloid-positive), AD+ (AD dementia amyloid- positive), CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)*p < 0.05Figure 2 Correlation between cerebrospinal fluid markers and cerebrospinal fluid lecanemab- related amyloid protofibrils (CSF Lec-PF)Description of Figure 2The black line and the red line indicate the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the Spearman correlation coefficient between CSFLec-PF and each cerebrospinal fluid marker in the entire subject group and in the amyloid-positive subject group, respectively. The black and red dots indicate the median value of the Spearman correlation coefficients. A large discrepancy between the black and red lines reflects the significant impact of the status of being either Aβ positive or negative.In this analysis, in all subjects (black line), the correlation coefficients between CSF Lec-PF and all measured biomarkers, namely Aβ42, Aβ42/40 ratio, p-tau 181, p-tau 217, total-tau, and neurogranin, were all 0.2 or higher, indicating significant correlations between CSF Lec-PF and these biomarkers.In the amyloid-positive group (red line), the Spearman correlation coefficients were 0.634 (CI: 0.409- 0.786) between CSF Lec-PF and CSF total-tau, and 0.434 (CI: 0.260-0.581) between CSF Lec-PF and CSF neurogranin, respectively, indicating a strong correlation between CSF Lec-PF and the two biomarkers. On the other hand, the correlations between CSF Lec-PF and the brain Aβ accumulation biomarkers, CSF Aβ42 and the CSF Aβ42/40 ratio, were both relatively low. This indicates that the amount of CSF Lec-PF is more strongly associated with neurodegeneration than the accumulation of Aβ in the brain.Published PapersJournal name: Annals of NeurologyPaper title: Lecanemab-associated amyloid-β protofibril in cerebrospinal fluid correlates with biomarkers of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lecanemab-associated amyloid protofibril concentrations correlate well with neurodegenerative biomarkers in AD)Authors: Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara, Kazuyoshi Shuta, Hidetomo Murakami, Yukiko Mori, Junji Komatsu, Chizuru Kobayashi, Steven Hersch, Kanta Horie, Kenjiro Ono (Moeko Shinohara, Kazuyoshi Shuta, Hidetomo Murakami, Yukiko Mori, Junji Komatsu, Chizuru Kobayashi, Steven Hersch, Kanta Horie, Kenjiro Ono)Date of publication: January 6, 2025 (US Eastern Standard Time). DOI: 10.1002/ANA.27175Terminology(1) LecanemabLecanemab is a treatment for early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and is an antibody that selectively binds to amyloid protofibrils, which are considered to be particularly neurotoxic among amyloid beta aggregates. In September 2023, lecanemab was approved in Japan as a treatment for slowing progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to AD.(2) ProtofibrilsProtofibrils are large Aβ aggregated soluble species of 75-5000 kDa, and are believed to contribute to the brain injury that occurs with AD and are considered to be the most toxic form of Aβ, having a primary role in the cognitive decline associated with this progressive, debilitating condition.(3) Alzheimer’s diseaseAD is a progressive brain disorder that gradually impairs memory and cognitive ability, eventually leading to a condition knownas dementia that interferes with daily life. In the brains of patients with AD, changes such as structures called senile plaques that form due to the accumulation of a substance called amyloid-β, abnormal tangles of neurofibrillary changes (neurofibrillarytangles caused by the abnormal phosphorylation of tau protein), and loss of neurons are observed. These changes progress over a long period of time.(4) Total TauTau protein is a type of microtubule-associated protein that is found in large amounts in neurons and glial cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In neurodegenerative diseases, including AD, the concentration of total tau in CSF increases as the disease progresses. For this reason, total tau is used as a marker of neurodegeneration.(5) NeurograninNeurogranin is a neuron-specific postsynaptic protein that is found in large amounts in areas such as the cerebral cortex andhippocampus. Neurogranin in CSF is used as a marker for neurodegeneration.(6) Amyloid beta (Aβ)Amyloid-β (Aβ) includes peptides generated by the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- secretase and γ-secretase, such as Aβ40, which ends at position 40 of the C-terminus, and Aβ42, which ends at position 42 of the C-terminus Aβ42 inparticular has a high aggregating tendency, and in AD, there is a decrease in Aβ42 concentration in CSF and an increase in the Aβ40/42 ratio, which is known to show a strong correlation with the amount of amyloid accumulation measured by amyloid PET testing.(7) Preclinical Alzheimer’s diseaseA stage of AD before cognitive impairment has occurred.(8) SNAP (suspected non-Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology)SNAP is an abbreviation for suspected non-AD pathophysiology. The term refers to a condition that involves neurodegeneration similar to that seen in AD, despite normal results of amyloid PET scans, CSF Aβ40/42 ratio, and CSF Aβ42. In this study, the CI- group (cognitively impaired amyloid-negative group) in Figure 1 corresponds to patients with SNAP.(9) Phosphorylated tauThe accumulation of phosphorylated tau protein is considered to be a cause of neurofibrillary tangles, which are pathological traits of AD. Many phosphorylation sites are known in tau protein, among which tau protein phosphorylated at threonine residue 181 (p-tau 181) and tau protein phosphorylated at threonine residue 217 (p-tau 217) are frequently seen in AD. For this reason, p-tau 181 and p-tau 217 in CSF are used as biomarkers for AD.ReferenceAmin L, Harris DA. Aβ receptors specifically recognize molecular features displayed by fibril ends and neurotoxic oligomers. Nat Commun. 2021;12:3451. DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-23507-zContact for InquiriesRegarding research content Kanazawa University Professor Kenjiro OnoTEL: +81-(0)76-265-2292Email: onoken@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jpAssociate Professor Moeko Shinohara TEL: +81-(0)76-265-2292Email: m-nohara@med.kanazawa-u.ac.jpEisai Co., Ltd.Kanta HorieE-mail: kanta_horie@eisai.comPublic Relations OfficerGeneral Affairs Section, General Affairs Division, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences Administration Department, Kanazawa UniversityRina YamadaTEL: +81-(0)76-265-2109E-mail: t-isomu@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jpEisai Co., Ltd. PR Department TEL: +81-(0)3-3817-5120 Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More
$INDX Token Pre-Sale Kicks Off as CryptoIndex.com Paves the Way for Decentralized Indexing SeaPRwire

$INDX Token Pre-Sale Kicks Off as CryptoIndex.com Paves the Way for Decentralized Indexing

January 7, 2025
New York, NY – January 07, 2025 – (SeaPRwire) – Just as the S&P 500 dominates Web2, CryptoIndex.com is set to lead the way in Web3. Unrivaled, the first-ever decentralized index protocol, offers the largest database of high-yield indexes and pioneers the big market game. The $INDX token pre-sale began on December 19th, providing an early opportunity to participate in the platform’s growth. CryptoIndex.com Mechanics: Achieving a Big Goal Driven by an expert team from Visa, Binance, TechCrunch, and more, CryptoIndex.com is a platform with a bold mission — to democratize access to the cryptocurrency market and empower users with the tools to manage, create, and invest in decentralized crypto indexes. To fulfill its mission, CryptoIndex has carefully crafted flexible mechanics. For instance, users can shape their own portfolios from over 10,000 tokens, adjust weights, and set fees. It offers sector-specific indexes (e.g., DeFi, GameFi) and tools for different risk profiles. At the same time, users can create indexes that align with different risk profiles — from conservative to aggressive strategies. A voting system allows index holders to influence rebalancing and changes to the index composition. Additionally, to actively engage users, CryptoIndex collaborates with influencers and institutional investors, offering rewards for participation in governance and content creation. In terms of security, all transactions and index activities are recorded on the blockchain, and regular audits and smart contract verifications ensure the platform’s reliability. How the $INDX Token Drives the Platform The entire platform is fueled by the INDX token, which offers multiple benefits for users. By purchasing a subscription with INDX tokens, users can create and manage their custom indexes. Locking INDX tokens in incentivized pools provides fee discounts, while staking rewards users with additional tokens, encouraging long-term engagement. Index creators can monetize their work by earning a percentage of fees from their indexes and boosting visibility through token-based advertising. The platform also rewards users through referral programs, loyalty incentives, and liquidity provision, ensuring growth, stability, and active participation. Why the $INDX Token Pre-Sale is an Advantage The $INDX pre-sale, which began on December 19th, offers an opportunity to secure tokens before the platform reaches its full potential. As CryptoIndex expands with new features like leveraged index trading and DAO governance, outlined in the 2025 roadmap, the $INDX token will be at the heart of everything. With big plans to reach a $1 billion TVL by the end of 2025, the platform is on track for massive growth. Social Links Telegram: https://t.me/cryptoindexcom X (Twitter): https://x.com/IndexCrypto Media Contact Brand: CryptoIndex.com Contact: Media team Email: press@cryptoindex.com Website: https://cryptoindex.com
More

Kess Energy Launches New Communities Initiative amid Brazil’s Mining Boom

January 7, 2025
Brasília, Brazil – January 07, 2025 – (SeaPRwire) – Kess Energy, a leading junior lithium miner based in Brasília, Brazil is proud to announce the launch of a ground-breaking organization, “Comunidades Avança Brasil” or Communities Forward Brazil (CFB), aimed at ensuring that the economic and social benefits of Brazil’s flourishing lithium mining boom are rapidly and equitably shared with local communities impacted by disruptive operations. The Brazilian lithium sector is experiencing an unprecedented expansion, driven by surging global demand for renewable energy solutions and electric vehicle technologies. While the industry has brought significant economic opportunities, there remains an urgent need to translate these gains into tangible improvements in the lives of communities living near mining sites. “Mining is a transformative force in our economy, but its true success lies in its ability to uplift the people and communities most affected by our activities,” said Inato Ramirez, Chairman of Kess Energy. “Through Communities Forward Brazil, we aim to work collaboratively with industry peers, local governments, and NGOs to create actionable solutions that address local needs—from infrastructure and education to health and environmental conservation.” Communities Forward Brazil’s key objectives include: Community engagement: Establishing open dialogue forums to listen to the concerns and aspirations of local residents. Fair redistribution of benefits: Advocating for policies that ensure a greater share of mining revenues is reinvested in local community projects. Sustainability and innovation: Partnering with stakeholders to implement environmentally sustainable practices that balance development with ecological preservation. Transparency and accountability: Promoting ethical business practices and transparent communication regarding mining activities and their impact. Kess Energy invites other mining industry players to join Communities Forward Brazil in creating a unified platform to champion sustainable development and community empowerment. “By joining forces, I think it’s possible that we can redefine the narrative of mining in Brazil,” added Mr. Ramirez. “Our goal is to ensure the legacy of the lithium boom is not only wealth creation for big business and shareholders but also the elevation of the communities who are the heart and soul of our nation.” About Kess Energy Kess Energy is a junior lithium mining company dedicated to meeting the increasing global demand for lithium through responsible and sustainable mining practices that respect and consider the needs of the communities in which its assets are located. With a portfolio of high-quality lithium assets and a commitment to innovation, Kess Energy is well-positioned to play a pivotal role in the energy transition while enabling communities to share in the commercial benefits of its business. Please contact +55 61 4042 9257 or visit our office at Centro Empresarial Varig, SCN QUADRA 04 BL B – Asa Norte, Brasília – DF, 70714-900, Brazil. Media Contact Brand: Kess Energy Contact: Joseph Hera Email: contact@kessenergy.com Website: https://kessenergy.com
More
Toyota to Share Progress on Woven City at CES 2025 JCN Newswire

Toyota to Share Progress on Woven City at CES 2025

January 7, 2025
Toyota City, Japan, Jan 6, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Toyota Motor Corporation will make a presentation on Woven City at the CES 2025 press conference.The press briefing will be live streamed on this webpage. Video from the presentation will be available on-demand after the live stream.Live stream detailsDate / TimeMonday, January 6, 2025, 13:00 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time)Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 6:00 a.m. (Japan Standard Time)*The starting time is subject to change depending on the circumstances.Toyota attendeeAkio Toyoda, Chairman of the Board of Directors (Representative Director)Event detailPresentationRelated Content:CES 2025 Teaser: Welcome to Woven CityToyota Times: Akio Returns to CES―Mark the Calendar for January 7! Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More
Mazda to build Module Pack Plant for Cylindrical Lithium-ion Batteries for Automotive Use in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture JCN Newswire

Mazda to build Module Pack Plant for Cylindrical Lithium-ion Batteries for Automotive Use in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

January 7, 2025
HIROSHIMA, Japan, Jan 6, 2025 - (JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) has announced that it will build a new module pack plant for automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The new plant will produce modules and packs of automotive cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells procured from Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Energy). The completed battery packs will be installed in Mazda's first battery EV that uses a dedicated EV platform and will be manufactured at Mazda's vehicle plant in Japan. The annual production capacity is planned to be 10 GWh.Under the 2030 Management Policy, Mazda is steadily preparing for electrification technologies based on the multi-solution strategy that provides a variety of technological options to meet customer needs and regulatory changes, in order to contribute to solving the social issue of curbing global warming. In the field of batteries, one of the key components of electrified vehicles, the company signed an agreement with Panasonic Energy in May 2023 to procure cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for automotive use, and in September 2024, the plan to expand battery production and technology development through this collaboration was certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as a "plan to ensure stable supply of storage batteries. Based on the plan, Mazda will provide its customers with its unique battery-electric vehicles that offer a high level of design, convenience and driving range by using the battery module packs produced at the new plant. The plant will also contribute to local employment and economic development.Mazda will continue to evolve "Joy of Driving" based on the value of "Radically Human" toward the year 2030, and will aim to deliver "Joy of Living" by creating exciting mobility experiences in our customers' daily lives.About Mazda’s Brand Essence “Celebrate Driving”Mazda's Brand Essence is “Celebrate Driving”. “Celebrate Driving” delivered by Mazda is not just about driving performance. Choosing a Mazda prizes the owner with confidence and pride. Driving a Mazda leading up to urge to take on new challenges. Not just our products but every encounter with Mazda evokes the emotion of motion and makes customers' hearts beat with excitement. All of these are contained in our brand essence of “Celebrate Driving”. For more information, visit www.mazda.com. Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More
Musim Penyakit Berjangkit Sedang Marak. Inilah Penyakit Yang Sedang Merebak “` berita

Musim Penyakit Berjangkit Sedang Marak. Inilah Penyakit Yang Sedang Merebak “`

January 6, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - Musim cuti membawa bersama-sama selesema kepada ramai rakyat Amerika, dengan 40 negeri melaporkan kadar penyakit yang tinggi atau sangat tinggi minggu lepas, menurut . “Ramai yang dijangkiti selesema di luar sana,” kata Carrie Reed dari Pusat Kawalan dan Pencegahan Penyakit (CDC). Sudah tentu, terdapat beberapa jenis kuman yang menyebabkan demam, batuk, sakit tekak, dan simptom seperti selesema yang lain. Salah satunya ialah COVID-19. Satu lagi ialah RSV, atau virus syncytial pernafasan, yang merupakan punca biasa simptom seperti selesema tetapi boleh membahayakan bayi dan warga emas. Data kemasukan hospital CDC yang terkini dan petunjuk lain menunjukkan bahawa virus selesema semakin meningkat berbanding kuman lain, kata Reed. Beberapa strain selesema bermusim mendorong kes, tanpa satu pun yang dominan, tambahnya. Hospital pediatrik telah sibuk sejak November dengan RSV, tetapi “selesema kini menyertai pesta ini,” kata Dr. Jason Newland, pakar penyakit berjangkit di Nationwide Children’s Hospital di Columbus, Ohio. “Sekarang kita benar-benar mula bergolek,” tambahnya. ”Hospital kita sibuk.” Di mana penyakit selesema adalah paling tinggi Satu petunjuk aktiviti selesema ialah peratusan . Tahap itu minggu lepas adalah hampir sama dengan puncak musim virus pernafasan musim sejuk lepas—yang berlaku pada masa yang sama tahun ini. Reed menyatakan bahawa kebanyakan orang mengelakkan temu janji perubatan semasa cuti jika mereka boleh, jadi data pada lewat Disember mungkin berat sebelah oleh orang yang mendapat penyakit secara tiba-tiba. Aktiviti selesema minggu lepas adalah sangat hebat di Selatan, Barat Daya, dan barat Amerika Syarikat. Negeri-negeri yang melaporkan jumlah penderitaan yang lebih sedikit kebanyakannya berada di dataran tinggi utara Great Plains dan di New England. Setakat musim ini, CDC menganggarkan, terdapat sekurang-kurangnya 5.3 juta penyakit selesema, 63,000 kemasukan hospital, dan 2,700 kematian—termasuk sekurang-kurangnya 11 kanak-kanak. Tidak jelas sama ada musim virus pernafasan musim sejuk ini akan lebih teruk daripada yang lain. Setakat ini ia kelihatan agak biasa, sekurang-kurangnya untuk kanak-kanak, kata Newland. Cara melindungi diri daripada penyakit bermusim Pegawai kesihatan AS mengesyorkan agar semua orang berumur 6 bulan dan ke atas mendapatkan , dan mereka mengatakan bahawa masih belum terlambat untuk mendapatkan suntikan. Anda juga harus mengelakkan daripada menyentuh mata, hidung, dan mulut anda kerana kuman boleh merebak dengan cara itu, . Anda juga harus mencuci tangan dengan sabun dan air, membersihkan permukaan yang kerap disentuh, dan mengelakkan hubungan rapat dengan orang yang sakit. Kuman lain sedang diperhatikan CDC juga telah memerhatikan peningkatan penyakit daripada norovirus, sejenis kuman perut yang teruk, dengan 91 wabak dilaporkan pada awal Disember. Penyiasat juga telah memerhatikan dengan teliti satu lagi jenis virus influenza, versi Jenis A H5N1 . CDC 66 kes manusia AS yang dilaporkan tahun lepas, tetapi tiada satu pun daripada mereka pada minggu lepas. Kes-kes itu adalah “agak sporadis” dan risiko keseluruhan kepada orang ramai masih rendah, kata Reed. Hampir kesemuanya telah dikesan kepada hubungan langsung dengan haiwan yang dijangkiti, tanpa bukti penyebaran antara manusia.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain.
More
Ketua U.K. Kecam ‘Dusta dan Maklumat Palsu’ Selepas Serangan Daripada Elon Musk “` berita

Ketua U.K. Kecam ‘Dusta dan Maklumat Palsu’ Selepas Serangan Daripada Elon Musk “`

January 6, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - LONDON — Perdana Menteri Britain, Keir Starmer, pada hari Isnin mengecam “kepalsuan dan penyebaran maklumat palsu” yang katanya telah menjejaskan demokrasi U.K., sebagai tindak balas kepada serangan bertubi-tubi. telah menunjukkan minat yang sengit dan tidak menentu terhadap politik Britain sejak Parti Buruh tengah-kiri dipilih pada bulan Julai. Musk telah menggunakan rangkaian sosialnya, X, untuk menyeru pilihan raya baru dan menuntut Starmer dipenjara. Pada hari Isnin, beliau menyiarkan undian dalam talian untuk 210 juta pengikutnya mengenai cadangan: “Amerika harus membebaskan rakyat Britain daripada kerajaan mereka yang zalim.” Ditanya mengenai komen Musk, Starmer mengkritik “mereka yang menyebarkan kepalsuan dan maklumat palsu seluas dan selaju mungkin,” terutamanya ahli politik pembangkang Parti Konservatif di Britain yang telah menggemakan beberapa dakwaan Musk. Musk mengenai U.K., menciap semula kritikan terhadap Starmer dan tanda pagar TwoTierKeir – singkatan bagi dakwaan tidak berasas bahawa Britain mempunyai “pengawasan dua peringkat” dengan penunjuk perasaan sayap kanan dilayan lebih keras daripada penunjuk perasaan pro-Palestin atau Black Lives Matter. Baru-baru ini, Musk telah memberi tumpuan kepada penderaan seksual kanak-kanak, terutamanya beberapa kes yang menggemparkan bandar-bandar di utara England di mana sekumpulan lelaki, kebanyakannya dari latar belakang Pakistan, telah didakwa kerana mengasuh dan menyalahgunakan puluhan gadis. Kes-kes ini telah digunakan oleh aktivis sayap kanan untuk mengaitkan penderaan kanak-kanak dengan imigresen, dan untuk menyerang ahli politik kerana didakwa menyembunyikan “kumpulan pengasuh” kerana takut dilihat sebagai perkauman. Musk telah menuntut siasatan awam mengenai kes-kes tersebut. Satu siasatan telah dijalankan di bawah kerajaan Konservatif sebelumnya, walaupun banyak cadangan yang dibuatnya pada tahun 2022 masih belum dilaksanakan. Musk juga telah menuduh Starmer gagal membawa pesalah ke muka pengadilan ketika beliau menjadi pengarah pendakwa raya England antara tahun 2008 dan 2013. Menjawab soalan selepas ucapan berhampiran London, Starmer mempertahankan rekodnya sebagai ketua pendakwa raya, dengan menyatakan bahawa beliau telah membuka semula kes-kes yang ditutup dan “menukar keseluruhan pendekatan pendakwaan” terhadap eksploitasi seksual kanak-kanak. Beliau juga mengecam bahasa yang digunakan oleh Musk terhadap Jess Phillips, seorang menteri kerajaan yang bertanggungjawab untuk memerangi keganasan terhadap wanita dan kanak-kanak perempuan. Musk memanggil Phillips sebagai “apologist genosida rogol” dan berkata bahawa beliau patut dipenjara. “Apabila racun daripada sayap kanan membawa kepada ancaman serius kepada Jess Phillips dan orang lain, maka bagi saya, satu garisan telah dilanggar,” kata Starmer. “Saya menikmati perdebatan politik yang sengit, perbahasan yang teguh yang mesti kita ada, tetapi itu mesti berasaskan fakta dan kebenaran, bukan berdasarkan kepalsuan.” Starmer sebahagian besarnya mengelakkan menyebut nama Musk dalam jawapannya, mungkin bimbang memberi beliau lebih perhatian. Canselor Jerman, Olaf Scholz, , telah mengambil pendekatan yang sama. Scholz berkata beliau kekal “tenang” terhadap komen peribadi yang kritis yang dibuat oleh Musk, tetapi mendapati ia membimbangkan bahawa jutawan Amerika Syarikat itu berusaha untuk terlibat dalam pilihan raya umum dengan parti Alternative for Germany (AfD). Starmer berkata isu utamanya bukan catatan Musk di X, tetapi “apa yang dilakukan oleh ahli politik di sini untuk mempertahankan demokrasi kita?” Beliau berkata beliau bimbang tentang ahli politik Konservatif di Britain “yang terlalu mengidamkan perhatian sehingga mereka memperbesarkan apa yang dikatakan oleh sayap kanan.” “Sebaik sahaja kita kehilangan pegangan bahawa kebenaran itu penting… maka kita berada di jalan yang sangat licin,” katanya.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain.
More
Bekas Pengacara Fox Sports, Skip Bayless, Didakwa Salah Laku Seksual dalam Saman oleh Bekas Jurusolek Rambut “` berita

Bekas Pengacara Fox Sports, Skip Bayless, Didakwa Salah Laku Seksual dalam Saman oleh Bekas Jurusolek Rambut “`

January 6, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - LOS ANGELES — Seorang wanita yang bekerja sebagai jurusolek rambut untuk Fox Sports mendakwa dalam satu saman bahawa bekas pengacara Skip Bayless telah membuat beberapa kemajuan yang tidak diingini terhadapnya—termasuk tawaran sebanyak $1.5 juta untuk melakukan hubungan seks dengannya. Peguam bagi Noushin Faraji, yang merupakan jurusolek rambut di Fox selama lebih daripada satu dekad, sedang menuntut ganti rugi yang tidak dinyatakan daripada Bayless, Fox Sports dan syarikat induknya, Fox Corporation, menurut salinan saman yang difailkan pada hari Jumaat di Mahkamah Tinggi California di Los Angeles. Aduan tersebut mendakwa eksekutif Fox mewujudkan persekitaran kerja yang tidak mesra yang membenarkan pengurus kanan dan personaliti di kaca TV termasuk Bayless untuk menyalahgunakan pekerja tanpa takut akan hukuman. Associated Press biasanya tidak mengenal pasti, dalam teks atau imej, mereka yang mengatakan mereka telah diserang secara seksual atau mengalami penderaan melainkan mereka telah mengenal pasti diri mereka secara terbuka seperti yang telah dilakukan Faraji dengan memfailkan saman tersebut. Peguam untuk Bayless, Jared Levine, tidak segera membalas mesej telefon dan teks AP yang meminta komen. Mesej e-mel dan telefon yang ditinggalkan di syarikat bakat Bayless tidak segera dibalas. Bayless tidak dapat dihubungi secara langsung untuk mendapatkan komen. Fox Sports dalam satu kenyataan berkata bahawa mereka mengambil dakwaan tersebut dengan serius tetapi tidak mempunyai komen lanjut memandangkan saman yang belum selesai. Faraji mendakwa bahawa kemajuan oleh Bayless, yang bermula pada tahun 2017 dan berterusan sehingga tahun lepas—termasuk pelukan yang lama, ciuman di pipi dan komen daripada Bayless bahawa dia boleh mengubah kehidupan Faraji jika dia melakukan hubungan seks dengannya. Pada tahun 2021, dia mendakwa dalam saman itu, Bayless menawarkan Faraji $1.5 juta untuk seks dan, selepas dia menolak, kemudian mengancam kerjanya. “Cik Faraji tahu bahawa dia cuba menekan beliau untuk melakukan hubungan seks dengannya, tetapi dia terus mengulangi bahawa dia seorang profesional yang perlu bersikap baik kepada semua bakat,” kata saman itu. Bayless bekerja untuk Fox Sports sehingga 2024 apabila rancangannya dibatalkan selepas penarafannya jatuh menjunam dengan pemergian hos bersama beliau, Shannon Sharpe. Faraji berkata beliau dipecat pada tahun 2024 berdasarkan alasan yang “direka-reka”. Saman itu menyatakan bahawa beliau pada mulanya kekal senyap tentang layanannya di Fox, kerana percaya bahawa dia mungkin berada dalam bahaya jika dia mendedahkannya kepada umum. Saman itu juga mendakwa pekerja Fox tidak dibayar gaji penuh atau gaji lebih masa mereka. Ia meminta status tindakan kelas bagi pihak pekerja lain yang didakwa terjejas. Pada tahun 2017 Fox Sports memecat ketua pengaturcaraannya di tengah-tengah siasatan mengenai dakwaan gangguan seksual.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain.
More
Pengacara Golden Globes, Nikki Glaser, Memahami Tugasannya “` berita

Pengacara Golden Globes, Nikki Glaser, Memahami Tugasannya “`

January 6, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - Nikki Glaser mencapai sasarannya. Dari saat dia mengalu-alukan tetamu di Beverly Hilton dan penonton di rumah ke “malam terbesar Ozempic,” pengacara majlis itu menetapkan nada yang tepat—campuran jenaka, rendah diri, dan sindiran yang ringan—untuk memuaskan kedua-dua penonton yang berbeza itu. Glaser dikenali, antara lain, kerana komedi penghinaannya yang pedas. Namun dalam monolog pembukaannya yang ringkas dan merujuk kepada pelbagai perkara, dia meyakinkan calon-calon bahawa “Saya tidak di sini untuk mengejek anda malam ini.” Kerana siapakah dia untuk mengejek sekumpulan selebriti berpengaruh sebegitu? “Anda semua boleh melakukan apa sahaja—kecuali memberitahu negara siapa yang perlu dipilih,” Glaser berseloroh. Kemudian dia mengambil langkah kedua yang singkat ke dalam kegelisahan politik sekeliling: “Anda akan dapatkannya pada kali berikutnya. Jika ada.” Anugerah Golden Globes mempunyai sejarah mengupah pelawak yang berani melanggar batasan sebagai pengacara, untuk kebaikan (contohnya, standard berganda jantina di Hollywood) dan keburukan (contohnya, betapa membosankannya rancangan yang diacarakannya). Glaser, yang entah bagaimana merupakan pengacara wanita solo pertama Golden Globes, sesuai dengan tradisi itu. Dia telah berada di mata umum selama lebih daripada satu dekad, mengimbangi kerjaya stand-up dengan peranan dalam filem seperti dan tugas TV seperti , rancangan temu janji realiti yang sedikit sinis yang diacarakannya. Tetapi 2024 merupakan tahun terbesarnya setakat ini. Seorang pelawak roast veteran, persembahannya dalam acara langsung Netflix yang banyak ditonton, The Roast of Tom Brady, menjadi viral pada Mei lalu. (Pada : “Sukar untuk meninggalkan sesuatu yang bukan teman wanita hamil anda.”) Tidak lama kemudian, HBO mengeluarkan program khas terbarunya, Someday You’ll Die, yang dicalonkan untuk Anugerah Golden Globe pada hari Ahad. ( memenangi anugerah tersebut.) Persembahan yang amat lucu itu menunjukkan kegembiraan Glaser dalam menyentuh isu-isu sensitif, dari jenaka mengenai harapan agar seorang teman wanita hamil keguguran kepada perbincangan mengenai pornografi gangbang sebagai metafora untuk kehidupan. Tetapi ini bukanlah jenis jenaka yang dijangkakan oleh penonton acara anugerah, dan ia juga tidak sesuai untuk waktu siaran utama. Ini membantu menjelaskan mengapa begitu ramai pelawak popular telah gagal dalam tugas pengarangan mereka; Jo Koy diingati kerana kegagalannya di pentas Golden Globes tahun lepas dengan satu . Koy, yang mendapat tugas itu hanya beberapa minggu sebelum siaran, dilihat sebagai malas dan tidak bersedia, seolah-olah dia bukan sahaja tidak menonton mana-mana tajuk yang dicalonkan, malah tidak kisah untuk menontonnya. Sebaliknya, Glaser diumumkan sebagai pengacara pada Ogos lalu dan telah mengusahakan bahan sejak itu—satu yang melibatkan ujian jenaka yang diasah dengan pasukan penulis di hadapan berpuluh-puluh penonton secara langsung. Seorang pelajar teliti pengacara anugerah terdahulu, dia mengatakan: “Orang ramai mahukan darah kerana mereka mahu saya melakukan apa yang saya lakukan di Roast [Brady]. Orang ramai yang bukan selebriti suka melihat selebriti dijatuhkan.” Malangnya, Glaser menjelaskan, “persembahan yang diingini oleh orang ramai di Amerika Tengah bukanlah persembahan yang boleh saya lakukan” kerana seorang pelawak yang tidak dapat memenangi hati bintang-bintang akan menenggelamkan dirinya sendiri dengan gagal mendapatkan gelak ketawa dan tepukan di dalam dewan. Pendekatan itu berhasil dalam monolog yang menyeronokkan dan bijak, walaupun tidak pernah benar-benar mengagumkan. Glaser kelihatan benar-benar teruja berada di atas pentas, dan semangatnya itu menular. Apabila dia mengejek selebriti di khalayak ramai, sindirannya lembut tetapi direka dengan baik: “Anda mempunyai bulu mata yang paling cantik—di bibir atas anda,” katanya kepada . Pujian tidak langsungnya kepada teman bintangnya dalam filem fiksyen sains yang panjang dan perlahan, : “Saya terjaga untuk semua babak anda,” lakonan dalam yang terkenal panas? “Saya memberi dua ibu jari.” Glaser memanfaatkan sepenuhnya dua topik yang dijamin akan mendapat sambutan hangat dalam bilik yang penuh dengan golongan Hollywood: ketidaklogikalan ekosistem penstriman dan ketakutan kolektif terhadap pentadbiran Trump yang bakal datang. digambarkan dengan tepat sebagai “filem yang paling berani untuk dimainkan secara automatik selepas Is It Cake?” Terdapat jumlah humor politik yang tepat. “. . ,” Glaser menyenaraikan. “Ini bukan sekadar perkara yang terdapat dalam ; ini adalah rancangan TV yang dicalonkan malam ini.” Dia membuktikan bahawa dia tidak takut untuk menyentuh isu sensitif dengan jenaka yang menyatakan bahawa adalah “lebih bercas seksual daripada kad kredit .” Sepanjang malam, dia bijak mengekalkan bahagian-bahagian selingan ringkas. Di mana pengacara lain mungkin benar-benar meneruskan persembahan muzik yang sengaja dibuat teruk -meets- yang dimulakannya, dengan berpakaian penuh kilauan merah jambu dan topi miter logam, Glaser memotongnya dengan panggilan telefon yang dibuat-buat dari orang-orangnya di belakang pentas: “Tunggu, ini buruk? Semua ini buruk? Saya memalukan diri saya di hadapan ?” Dalam satu jenaka yang mesti ditulis secara spontan, dia menyatakan bahawa Mario Lopez (yang disebut dalam ucapan penerimaan Kieran Culkin yang comel dan sedikit kacau) telah mendapat lebih banyak pujian daripada pemenang daripada Tuhan. Dia juga mendapat gelak ketawa yang ceria dalam beberapa saat yang diberikan kepadanya, sebelum anugerah terakhir malam itu disampaikan, dengan penerangan yang amat rawak tentang sebagai “bekas pemain dram untuk System of a Down.” Apabila pelawak mengacara acara anugerah, mereka sering melakukan kesilapan ke arah salah satu daripada dua ekstrem, sama ada merawat tugas itu seperti satu lagi persembahan, dengan jenaka yang disesuaikan untuk peminat mereka dan bukannya khalayak yang lebih luas, atau memberikan persembahan yang sepenuhnya hambar, tanpa meninggalkan kesan suara mereka sendiri. Glaser berjaya dengan mengimbangi gaya pedas dan merendah diri untuk tugas yang diberikan. “Anda berada dalam semua perkara,” katanya kepada Glen Powell dalam monolog. “, , kepala saya ketika saya melakukan hubungan seks dengan teman lelaki saya.” Ia adalah jenaka yang anda boleh bayangkan menikmatinya dalam salah satu program khas Glaser yang meriah—hanya bukan salah satu yang cukup provokatif untuk membuat anda malu, terkejut, dan ketawa pada masa yang sama.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain.
More
Biden Tandatangani Rang Undang-Undang untuk Menaikkan Bayaran Keselamatan Sosial bagi Jutaan Pesara berita

Biden Tandatangani Rang Undang-Undang untuk Menaikkan Bayaran Keselamatan Sosial bagi Jutaan Pesara

January 6, 2025
(SeaPRwire) - WASHINGTON — Presiden Joe Biden pada hari Ahad telah menandatangani rang undang-undang yang meningkatkan pembayaran Keselamatan Sosial untuk pekerja awam semasa dan bekas, yang melibatkan hampir 3 juta orang yang menerima pencen daripada tempoh perkhidmatan mereka sebagai guru, bomba, pegawai polis dan dalam pekerjaan perkhidmatan awam yang lain. Penyokong mengatakan Akta Keadilan Keselamatan Sosial membetulkan ketidakseimbangan selama beberapa dekad, walaupun ia juga akan membebankan Dana Amanah Keselamatan Sosial, yang menghadapi krisis keinsolvenan yang bakal berlaku. Rang undang-undang itu membatalkan dua peruntukan—dan—yang bagi penerima jika mereka mendapat pembayaran persaraan daripada sumber lain, termasuk program persaraan awam daripada kerajaan negeri atau tempatan. “Rang undang-undang yang saya tandatangani hari ini adalah mengenai cadangan yang mudah: rakyat Amerika yang telah bekerja keras sepanjang hayat mereka untuk memperoleh pendapatan yang jujur sepatutnya dapat bersara dengan keselamatan dan maruah ekonomi—itulah tujuan keseluruhan sistem Keselamatan Sosial,” kata Biden semasa majlis menandatangani di Bilik Timur Rumah Putih. “Ini adalah satu perkara yang besar,” katanya. Biden disertai oleh pemimpin buruh, penyokong persaraan, dan ahli-ahli politik Demokrat dan Republikan termasuk penaja utama perundangan, Senator Republikan Maine Susan Collins dan Senator Demokrat Ohio yang akan meninggalkan jawatannya, Sherrod Brown, yang menerima tepukan gemuruh daripada hadirin majlis tersebut. Perkhidmatan Penyelidikan Kongres menganggarkan bahawa pada Disember 2023, terdapat 745,679 orang, kira-kira 1% daripada semua penerima faedah Keselamatan Sosial, yang faedah mereka dikurangkan oleh Pampasan Pencen Kerajaan. Kira-kira 2.1 juta orang, atau kira-kira 3% daripada semua penerima faedah, terjejas oleh Peruntukan Penghapusan Windfall. menganggarkan pada bulan September bahawa menghapuskan Peruntukan Penghapusan Windfall akan meningkatkan pembayaran bulanan kepada penerima yang terjejas sebanyak purata $360 menjelang Disember 2025. Menamatkan Pampasan Pencen Kerajaan akan meningkatkan faedah bulanan pada Disember 2025 sebanyak purata $700 untuk 380,000 penerima yang mendapat faedah berdasarkan pasangan yang masih hidup, menurut CBO. Peningkatan itu akan menjadi purata $1,190 untuk 390,000 atau pasangan yang masih hidup yang mendapat faedah balu atau duda. Jumlah tersebut akan meningkat dari semasa ke semasa dengan pelarasan kos sara hidup biasa Keselamatan Sosial. Perubahan itu adalah untuk pembayaran dari Januari 2024 dan seterusnya, bermakna Pentadbiran Keselamatan Sosial akan berhutang pembayaran tertunggak. mengatakan pesuruhjaya Keselamatan Sosial “akan melaraskan jumlah insurans utama setakat yang diperlukan untuk mengambil kira” perubahan dalam undang-undang. Tidak jelas dengan serta-merta bagaimana ini akan berlaku atau sama ada orang yang terjejas perlu mengambil sebarang tindakan. Edward Kelly, presiden Persatuan Antarabangsa Bomba, berkata bomba di seluruh negara “gembira melihat perubahan itu—kami telah membetulkan kesalahan selama 40 tahun.” Kelly berkata dasar itu “jauh lebih teruk bagi pasangan yang masih hidup daripada bomba yang membayar kuota mereka sendiri kepada Keselamatan Sosial tetapi menjadi mangsa sistem pencen kerajaan.” IAFF mempunyai kira-kira 320,000 ahli, yang tidak termasuk beratus-ratus ribu pesara yang akan mendapat manfaat daripada perubahan tersebut. “Sekarang bomba yang dibayar sangat sedikit kini mampu bersara,” kata Kelly. Brown, yang sebagai senator Ohio memperjuangkan cadangan itu selama bertahun-tahun, tewas dalam pilihan raya semula pada bulan November. Lee Saunders, presiden kesatuan buruh Persekutuan Amerika Negeri, Daerah dan Pekerja Perbandaran, mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Brown atas sokongan beliau. “Lebih daripada dua juta pekerja perkhidmatan awam akhirnya akan dapat mengakses faedah Keselamatan Sosial yang telah mereka bayar sepanjang kerjaya mereka,” kata Saunders dalam satu kenyataan. “Ramai akhirnya akan dapat menikmati persaraan selepas seumur hidup berkhidmat.” Presiden Persatuan Pendidikan Kebangsaan Becky Pringle berkata undang-undang itu adalah “satu kemenangan bersejarah yang akan meningkatkan kehidupan pendidik, responden pertama, pekerja pos dan lain-lain yang mendedikasikan kehidupan mereka untuk perkhidmatan awam di komuniti mereka.” Dan walaupun sesetengah Republikan seperti Collins menyokong perundangan itu, yang lain, termasuk Senator John Thune dari South Dakota, Rand Paul dari Kentucky dan Thom Tillis dari North Carolina, mengundi menentangnya. “Kami mengalah kepada tekanan saat ini dan bukannya melakukan ini secara lestari,” kata Tillis kepada Associated Press bulan lalu. Namun, penyokong Republikan rang undang-undang itu berkata terdapat peluang yang jarang berlaku untuk menangani apa yang mereka gambarkan sebagai seksyen undang-undang persekutuan yang tidak adil yang menjejaskan pesara perkhidmatan awam. Masa depan Keselamatan Sosial telah menjadi isu politik utama dan merupakan titik pertikaian utama dalam pilihan raya 2024. Kira-kira orang, termasuk pesara, orang kurang upaya dan kanak-kanak, menerima faedah Keselamatan Sosial. Perubahan dasar daripada undang-undang baru akan menambahkan lebih banyak kerja pentadbiran kepada Pentadbiran Keselamatan Sosial, yang kini berada pada tahap kakitangan terendah dalam beberapa dekad. Agensi itu, yang kini berada di bawah sekatan pengambilan pekerja, mempunyai kakitangan kira-kira 56,645—tahap terendah dalam lebih 50 tahun walaupun ia . Laporan pemegang amanah Keselamatan Sosial dan Medicare tahunan yang dikeluarkan pada Mei lalu menyatakan bahawa dana amanah program itu tidak akan dapat membayar faedah penuh bermula pada tahun 2035. Undang-undang baru itu akan mempercepatkan tarikh keinsolvenan program itu kira-kira setengah tahun. Bersama-sama dengan mengesahkan Akta Keadilan Keselamatan Sosial, lebih awal dalam kepresidenannya Biden telah menandatangani Akta Butch Lewis kepada undang-undang, yang menyelamatkan pencen persaraan dua juta pekerja kesatuan. —Penulis Associated Press Stephen Groves menyumbang kepada laporan ini.Artikel ini disediakan oleh pembekal kandungan pihak ketiga. SeaPRwire (https://www.seaprwire.com/) tidak memberi sebarang waranti atau perwakilan berkaitan dengannya. Sektor: Top Story, Berita Harian SeaPRwire menyampaikan edaran siaran akhbar secara masa nyata untuk syarikat dan institusi, mencapai lebih daripada 6,500 kedai media, 86,000 penyunting dan wartawan, dan 3.5 juta desktop profesional di seluruh 90 negara. SeaPRwire menyokong pengedaran siaran akhbar dalam bahasa Inggeris, Korea, Jepun, Arab, Cina Ringkas, Cina Tradisional, Vietnam, Thai, Indonesia, Melayu, Jerman, Rusia, Perancis, Sepanyol, Portugis dan bahasa-bahasa lain. ```
More
2025 Toys & Games Fair, Baby Products Fair, Stationery & School Supplies Fair open today ACN Newswire

2025 Toys & Games Fair, Baby Products Fair, Stationery & School Supplies Fair open today

January 6, 2025
- Themed New Play for All, the trio of fairs brings together more than 2,500 exhibitors from 34 countries and regions- The number of exhibitors at Hong Kong Baby Products Fair achieves a record high; over 380 well-known toy and baby products brands in the Brand Name Gallery- The three fairs reveal several product trends, including digitisation, green toys, and the popularity of cross-age group products- Asian Toys & Games Forum will be held tomorrow, gathering international experts to discuss the social responsibilities of the toy industryHONG KONG, Jan 6, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – Kicking off a brand new year, the 51st HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, the 16th HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and the 23rd Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair, jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, launched today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and will take place over four consecutive days.Hong Kong SAR Government Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Algernon Yau, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Acting Executive Director Sophia Chong, and HKTDC Toys Advisory Committee Chairman Bryant Chan officiated the Joint Opening Ceremony of the Toys & Games Fair and Baby Products Fair today, launching the 51st edition of Asia's flagship Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair.Algernon Yau, HKSAR Government Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, said at the opening ceremony: "Entering the 51st year of the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, I have full confidence that the event, together with the concurrent Hong Kong Baby Products Fair, will continue to feature different innovative and distinctive products that are intriguing to all and, more importantly, facilitate business promotion and consolidate Hong Kong's position as a global sourcing as well as convention and exhibition hub.”Sophia Chong, HKTDC Acting Executive Director, said: "This year's Toy Fair marks an important milestone and a new chapter for the toy industry. The three fairs are themed New Play for All, and feature multiple zones, from toys for infants and toddlers to collectible toys designed for adults with a childlike spirit, as well as STEM education toys, smart-tech toys & games and green toys, catering to the needs of all age groups and meeting market demand.“The three fairs have drawn over 2,500 exhibitors from 34 countries and regions, including pavilions from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia and Europe, presenting cross-industry business opportunities to visitors. The HKTDC has proactively arranged more than 200 buying missions from over 40 countries and regions, and invited various Hong Kong-based international buyers and local enterprises including several large international e-commerce platforms, importers, department stores, specialty stores, retail chains, and procurement offices, creating new opportunities for the industry,” added Chong.Three fairs reveal multiple product trendsSeveral product trends from this year's exhibitors provide visitors from other industries with cross-industry business opportunities. These include:- Digitised products: Many traditional toy and game manufacturers and brands are integrating electronics and new technologies with toys to enhance playability, such as the Dynamie Pixel Piano (Booth: 1E-C02), Upset Dog (Booth: 1C-F02), and the NASA Spirit Rover (Booth: 1C-F33).- Learning and play combined: In the hope that kids can learn while having fun, many parents choose toys that can improve cognitive, social, intellectual, and aesthetic development. As a result, there is a greater demand for educational and intellectual products, such as the Giant Panda Anatomy Model (Booth: 1D-C12), Adventure Globe (Booth: 1E-A02), Children's Play Sofa (Booth: 3F-G04), and Water Transfer Painting Set (Booth: 5B-B01).- Demand for sustainable products: As sustainable consumption has grown, more parents are inclined to choose eco-friendly toys to reduce their environmental impact. Examples include straw DIY marble run blocks (Booth: 1C-D02) and the Voices of Nature series of puzzles (Booth: 1D-A08).- Cross-age groups products: There is a growing popularity of toy designs and styles that cater to a wide range of age groups. Toys are no longer just for children; adults and even elderly are collecting toys, making the collectibles market a significant part of the toy industry. The Astro Boy Mechanical Clear Version (Booth: 1D-A26) is one example. The fair is actively developing the ageing market as well. For instance, a Hong Kong exhibitor has designed a wall game suitable for both the elderly and children, where the user must rotate cogs with both hands, and the vibrant visual stimulus helps to enhance concentration and left-right brain coordination (Booth: 1D-D22).Exhibition space growth in multiple zones at the Toys & Games FairToys & Games Fair saw an expansion in exhibition space in two major zones. This includes the Electronic & Remote Control Toys (up 40%) and Educational Toys & Games zones (up 7%). The Green Toys zone makes a welcome return and showcase eco-friendly and innovative products with a Green Leaf Label displayed at the booths of green exhibitors for buyers’ easy reference. This year, over 370 exhibitors have the Green Leaf label, an increase of 70% from the last edition.Funded by the Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund of the Trade and Industry Department, HKSAR Government, the Toys Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong and FHKI Group 19 (Hong Kong Toys Council) present the first ESG Pavilion to showcase toys incorporating Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) elements, including products made entirely from eco-friendly or recycled materials. Exhibitors are using various creative methods to promote sustainable development, emphasising the value of social responsibility and ESG fundamentals.This year’s Toys Fair has an impressive pavilion lineup, including exhibitors from Mainland China, Taiwan and Korea, as well as selected European exhibitors at the Spielwarenmesse eG’s World of Toys Pavilion. Exhibits include Glow-in-the-Dark Slime (Booth: 1CON-068), Genius Square board game (Booth: 1CON-061), and more. The Hong Kong Brand Toy Association (HKBTA) Pavilion once again promotes the local creative industry and trendy toy products to international buyers.Record number of exhibitors at Baby Products FairWith more than 660 exhibitors, this year's Hong Kong Baby Products Fair boasts the most exhibitors ever. The popular ODM Strollers and Gear zone is back for the second consecutive year, featuring over 80 exhibitors, making it easier than ever for buyers to source products from original design manufacturers. The Selection of Europe Pavilion returns and feature, for the first time, the UK’s Baby Products Industry Association putting a spotlight on quality European baby brands and products, such as cribs and hearing protection earmuffs. This year sees the return of several popular pavilions, including well-known Korean and Hong Kong Children, Babies, Maternity Industries Association pavilions. Making their debut this year is the Zhejiang Zhili pavilion presents an array of high-quality infant and children’s clothing.The Toys & Games and Baby Products Fairs continue to feature the popular Brand Name Gallery, bringing together over 380 well-known brands from around the globe, including ABC Design, AURORA, Eastcolight, Hape, Masterkidz, Osann, Rastar, Uncle Bubble and Welly, allowing buyers to source the latest designs and high-quality products from a variety of brands.Jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair features the latest school and office supplies, creative art supplies and gift stationery. Various high-quality stationery brands are showcased, including 555, AP Group, CJP, Chung Tin, Colorlutions, Diakakis, Kaywin, Kuoda, Marshmallow, MUST, Renga, Sayyed, Tercel and Zhengda, among others, presenting innovative products.Asian Toys & Games Forum explores the important roles of toys everyday lifeThe Asian Toys & Games Forum will be held tomorrow (7 January). Themed Beyond Fun and Play: Fostering Social Responsibility in the Toy Industry, international toy and game industry experts will discuss the industry’s latest topics, including The Toys and Games Market Outlook and Opportunities by Clifton Chiu, Senior Research Analyst, Euromonitor International (Hong Kong), The Power of Play for Healthcare and Wellness by Dr Vinci Cheung, Psychologist, Head of Family and Child Services, The Companions CCM Ltd, Integrating AI Smart Toys into Social Life by Larry Wang, Founder & CEO, FoloToy Creative Pte Ltd, and Designing Toys for Active and Better Ageing by Dr Sittha Sukkasi, Senior Researcher in Environment Research Group, MTEC, NSTDA, while a representative of the Hong Kong Toys Council will host the discussion and explore with the speakers on the opportunities for the toys industry in the health sector and the ageing market.In today’s The Evolution of Stationery in the Digital Era at the Stationery & School Supplies Fair, John Yeung from Google Hong Kong, Professor Siu Cheung Kong from The Education University of Hong Kong and Mike Cheung from Microsoft Hong Kong will dive into the new demands for stationery from the current Generation Z, Generation Alpha, and the ageing market, as well as the profound impact of artificial intelligence and technology on the field of education.Other seminars will cover popular topics such green toys trend, green stationery, baby products market trends, latest toy safety regulations, toy specifications, testing and certification. Helping buyers and sellers to broaden their business networks and learn about the most recent market trends, there are many networking events, buyer forums, product demo and launch pad, and seminars throughout the fair period.The three exhibitions offer buyers a one-stop sourcing platform, creating more cross-industry business opportunities. Under the EXHIBITION+ model, the fairs integrate physical exhibition and the Click2Match smart business platform for online business meetings. The online exhibition is accessible until 16 January, to sustain and create greater business opportunities for the industry. Buyers can also scan QR codes at exhibitor booths using the Scan2Match service to bookmark their favourite exhibitors, browse product information and engage with exhibitors even after the fair to make for more business connections.Photo Download: https://bit.ly/4gLIIBBThe Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair open today. The four-day fairs run until 9 January at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, bringing together more than 2,500 global exhibitors from 34 countries and regions(Front row, from left to right) HKTDC Toys Advisory Committee Chairman, Bryant Chan, Hong Kong SAR Government Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Algernon Yau, HKTDC Acting Executive Director, Sophia Chong, and the Toys Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong President, Mr Samson Ko officiated the Joint Opening Ceremony of the Toys & Games Fair and Baby Products Fair todayThe first ESG pavilion at the Toys Fair showcases toys incorporating Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) elementsThis year’s Toys Fair has an impressive pavilion lineup, with exhibitors from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, and Korea, as well as the World of Toys Pavilion to promote creative products to international buyersThe Toys & Games and Baby Products Fairs continue to feature the popular Brand Name Gallery, bringing together over 380 well-known brands from around the globeWith more than 660 exhibitors, this year's Hong Kong Baby Products Fair boasts the most exhibitors ever. This photo shows a booth at the "Selection of Europe" PavilionHong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair showcases creative art supplies, gift stationery and the latest school and office suppliesFair WebsitesHKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair: hktoyfair.hktdc.comHKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair: hkbabyfair.hktdc.comHong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair: hkstationeryfair.comMedia enquiresPlease contact HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department:Sharon HaTel：2584 4575Email：sharon.mt.ha@hktdc.orgJane CheungTel：2584 4137 Email：jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.orgAbout the HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More
Spectral Achieves Major Patent Milestone Related to Quantum Computing ACN Newswire

Spectral Achieves Major Patent Milestone Related to Quantum Computing

January 6, 2025
SEATTLE, WA, Jan 6, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - Spectral Capital Corporation (OTCQB: FCCN), a pioneer in Quantum as a Service (QaaS) computing and decentralized cloud infrastructure, is pleased to announce the achievement of a major patent milestone as the first step in its plan to become a globally competitive leader in quantum computing patents."According to the World Intellectual Property Organization ("WIPO"), there were 350,000 patents filed worldwide in classical computing. Analysts estimate there are less than 40,000 patent applications that have ever been filed in quantum computing. This tells us that there is an enormous opportunity to innovate and protect innovation within quantum computing. We intend to compete hard to assert US intellectual property dominance within the quantum computing space," said Spectral chairman Sean Michael Brehm."As of today, Spectral will have filed 61 patents in the field of quantum computing. We intend to file a total of 104 patents in quantum computing by the end of January 2025, completing the initial patent filing from our acquisition of the Vogon Cloud technology. With the acquisition of Verdant Quantum and Quantomo combined with the innovations being championed by Dr. Wolf Kohn, Dr. Moshik Cohen and Chairman Sean Brehm, we have committed to filing more than 500 patent applications by the close of 2025," said Spectral's Chief Executive Officer, Jenifer Osterwalder. "According to the leading source of patent filings worldwide, The Patent 300 List, Nvidia had 464 patents issued in 2023. To be a global top 100 company in patents requires around 450 patents issued. Spectral intends to have 500 filings by the end of 2025, but these will be concentrated in quantum computing and hybrid computing. This will make us a global intellectual property leader in the field. Our innovations run the gamut, from unique methods to use synthetic data and Monte Carlo simulations to reduce quantum computing errors to novel approaches to the commoditization of cyber security in the quantum era. Spectral is proud to contribute important innovations that can help to maintain US dominance in this strategically critical domain. These patents secure our deep quantum technology platform, encompassing decentralized cloud, computing, advanced quantum algorithms, quantum databases, and room-temperature quantum chips," concluded Brehm.About Spectral Capital CorporationFounded in 2000 and based in Seattle, Washington, Spectral Capital (OTCQB:FCCN) is a technology startup accelerator and quantum incubator. We specialize in Quantum as a Service (QaaS), leveraging our proprietary Distributed Quantum Ledger Database technology (DQ-LDB) to offer secure, advanced storage and computing solutions.For more information, please visit www.spectralcapital.com.Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and FCCN's growth and business strategy. Words such as "expects," "will," "intends," "plans," "believes," "anticipates," "hopes," "estimates," and variations on such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although FCCN believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of FCCN. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in FCCN's business; competitive factors in the market(s) in which FCCN operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in FCCN's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. FCCN expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in FCCN's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.CONTACT:Spectral Capitalcontact@spectralcapital.com Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More
AI Connect to Launch Revolutionary AI Agent, Redefining Financial and Technological Innovation SeaPRwire

AI Connect to Launch Revolutionary AI Agent, Redefining Financial and Technological Innovation

January 6, 2025
Singapore – January 06, 2025 – (SeaPRwire) – AI Connect, a leading Singapore-based technology company, proudly announces the upcoming launch of its ground-breaking AI Agent. This cutting-edge solution is designed to transform the way individuals and businesses operate in financial, technological, and crypto sectors. Scheduled for release between Q2 and Q3 of 2025, the AI Agent is set to redefine automation and decision-making across industries. Empowering Innovation across Industries AI Connect’s AI Agent marks the next frontier in artificial intelligence, blending dynamic, multi-step decision-making capabilities with seamless adaptability. Its robust design enables autonomous task execution, independent problem-solving, and interaction with external systems, making it a vital tool for professionals and enterprises. Top 10 Advanced Applications for AI Agents 1.⁠ ⁠Cryptocurrency Trading: Execute automated trades, identify market trends, and optimize portfolios across various blockchain platforms. 2.⁠ ⁠Forex Trading: Provide precise predictions for currency fluctuations and manage forex trading operations. 3.⁠ ⁠Commodity Market Analysis: Monitor global markets and uncover profitable trading opportunities in assets like gold, oil, and agricultural products. 4.⁠ ⁠Financial Portfolio Management: Develop and execute comprehensive, data-driven investment strategies tailored to individual needs. 5.⁠ ⁠DeFi Protocol Management: Optimize participation in decentralized finance platforms, including staking, liquidity provisioning, and yield farming. 6.⁠ ⁠Algorithmic Trading: Build and implement proprietary algorithms for equities, derivatives, and bonds. 7.⁠ ⁠Tax Optimization and Accounting: Automate bookkeeping, generate financial statements, and uncover tax-saving opportunities with AI accuracy. 8.⁠ ⁠Predictive Financial Insights: Provide actionable forecasts for market movements, enabling better decision-making. 9.⁠ ⁠Cybersecurity Monitoring: Detect and neutralize potential threats in real-time for financial systems and business environments. 10.⁠ ⁠Customer Engagement in Financial Services: Deliver personalized advice and solutions for financial product users. “With our AI Agent, AI Connect bridges the gap between innovation and usability. This technology is designed to empower users to excel in financial markets, optimize operations, and unlock unprecedented growth opportunities,” said John Branning, Communications Director at AI Connect. Revolutionizing the Crypto Landscape The AI Agent stands at the forefront of blockchain integration, transforming cryptocurrency trading, DeFi management, and token ecosystems. Its secure and scalable design leverages blockchain to ensure transparent operations, making it an ideal solution for the rapidly evolving crypto economy. A Vision for the Future AI Connect’s AI Agent represents a leap into AI 2.0, where autonomous systems move beyond basic functionalities to deliver proactive, high-level solutions. Designed for scalability and efficiency, it embodies the company’s vision of creating cutting-edge AI tools that empower industries and communities alike. Join the AI Revolution AI Connect invites technology enthusiasts, industry professionals, and investors to explore the potential of its AI Agent. As a trusted leader in artificial intelligence, AI Connect continues to innovate, pushing boundaries and creating solutions that redefine the future. About AI Connect AI Connect operates under *FinTechBay Pte Ltd*, headquartered at 160 Robinson Road, #14-04, Singapore Business Federation Centre, 068914, Singapore. As a leader in artificial intelligence, the company is committed to delivering innovative, practical solutions that drive efficiency, growth, and technological advancement. By harnessing the power of AI, AI Connect is building tools that empower communities and revolutionize industries. Social Links X: https://x.com/AiConnects_io TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aiconnects Media contact Brand: AI Connect Contact: John Branning Email: hello@aiconnects.io Website: https://www.aiconnects.io The article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire ( https://www.seaprwire.com/ ) makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. Sectors: Top Story, Corporate News SeaPRwire provides real time press release distribution for companies and organizations to 6,500+ media outlets & 3.5 million professional desktops in 90 regions. It distributes press releases in different languages, including: IndonesiaFolk, IndoNewswire, SEATribune, IDNewsZone, LiveBerita, DailyBerita, TaiwanPR, SinchewBusiness, AsiaEase, BuzzHongKong, SingapuraNow, TIHongKong, TaipeiCool, TWZip, AsiaFeatured, dePresseNow, THNewson, KULPR, VNFeatured, MENAEntry, HunaTimes, DubaiLite, ArabicDir, BeritaDaring, TekanAsia, JamKopi ...
More
Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 with Spritzer: Embrace Heartfelt & Refreshing Moments ACN Newswire

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 with Spritzer: Embrace Heartfelt & Refreshing Moments

January 6, 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, Jan 6, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - This Chinese New Year, Spritzer invites Malaysians to cherish heartfelt moments for a refreshing experience this festive season through its heartwarming campaign that brings families and friends closer together. As we usher in the Year of the Snake, Malaysia’s leading mineral water brand, Spritzer is excited to present its Chinese New Year (CNY) 2025 campaign that highlights the importance of open-hearted conversations, combining tradition with a modern touch while bringing loved ones closer together.At the heart of the campaign is Spritzer’s touching short film, “Speak from the Heart”, a tale reminding us to express ourselves with sincerity, respect and understanding, starring actors and brand ambassadors, Koe Yeet and Jaspers Lai with special appearances by Yagood and Jobroseph. This latest campaign is yet another reflection of Spritzer’s values which are deeply ingrained into its commitment to creating positive impact in society and doing good for humanity.Spritzer celebrates Chinese New Year in 2025 with “Speak from the Heart”, a short film to remind us to embrace the spirit of the seasonA Film to Inspire – “Speak from the Heart”The film tells a story familiar to many young Malaysians, about a young man named Jasper who is approaching his 30s and feeling the pressure from his family to settle down. With the Chinese New Year festive season approaching and his anxiety rising, Jasper enlists a hairstylist played by Koe Yeet to pretend to be his girlfriend for the day. With her humour, quick wit, and ability to hear the inner thoughts of others, Koe Yeet helps Jasper navigate conversations with his nosy aunt turning a potentially stressful situation into a memorable and light-hearted experience.“Speak from the Heart” channels the true spirit of the Year of the Snake, by reminding us to tap into wisdom, charm, intuition and elegance to glide through the complexities of life and relationships with our loved ones. Check out Spritzer’s short film, “Speak from the Heart”, which is available on the Spritzer Group’s YouTube channel today!Festive Gifts & Memorable Moments with SpritzerSpreading the festive cheer, Spritzer is offering exclusive gifts with purchases of its high-quality beverage products to add to the excitement of the season. Customers who buy RM38 worth of Spritzer products will receive a free Spritzer CNY Ceramic Bowl, while those who spend RM18 will get a free Spritzer CNY Retro Mug. These special edition items are sure to add a touch of tradition to your festive get-togethers.Spritzer’s Natural Mineral Water is also available with a special edition CNY bottle label to add to the festive excitement. Rich in silica to promote healthy skin, hair and nails, it is perfect for staying hydrated throughout the celebrations. In addition, Spritzer Sparkling, available in original and lemon flavours, makes for a refreshing beverage on its own. Spritzer Sparkling contains no sweeteners or calories, and is perfect for pairing with food, gifting to loved ones, and serving at gatherings.From inspiring short films to exclusive gifts, Spritzer’s CNY 2025 heartwarming campaign is designed to fill your festive season with cheer and positivity. Don’t miss out on the chance to embrace heartfelt traditions while enjoying the refreshing benefits of Spritzer’s beverages this Chinese New Year.Spritzer’s “Speak from the Heart” short film is available on the Spritzer Group YouTube channel. For more details about Spritzer’s Chinese New Year campaign, please visit our website at https://www.spritzer.com.my/.For more high-resolution photos, please download them here.About SpritzerSpritzer, Malaysia’s No.1 bottled water brand since 1989, sources its water from a 430-acre tropical rainforest in Taiping. The water undergoes a natural filtration process through underground rocks for over 15 years, enriching it with essential minerals like Silica, which benefits skin, bones, hair, and nails.As a leader in smart manufacturing, we use advanced technology to ensure quality and safety. Our packaging is 100% recyclable and made from recycled materials, reflecting our commitment to sustainability. Tested annually by SIRIM, our products are free from microplastics.Spritzer offers a full range of products, from Natural Mineral Water and Sparkling Water to Distilled Water and Fruit-flavoured Beverages, catering to every lifestyle and occasion. With a vision to become a circular brand by 2030, we are committed to sustainability and delivering quality you can trust.Spritzer—nature, innovation, and sustainability in every bottle. For more information, please visit www.spritzer.com.my. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.
More