Friday 29 March 2019

CROWNBIO AND HUBRECHT ORGANOID TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCE A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE LICENSE TO PROVIDE ONCOLOGY ORGANOID-BASED PRECLINICAL DRUG DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION SERVICES

Partnership combines breakthrough organoid technology with the world’s largest PDX collection to create a unique patient-derived translational research platform
 
SAN DIEGO, March 29 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Bioscience, a global drug discovery and development services company, providing translational platforms to advance oncology, inflammation and autoimmune, cardiovascular and metabolic disease research announced today that parent company, JSR Corporation, has entered into a strategic partnership with Hubrecht Organoid Technology (HUB).
 
The agreement provides CrownBio, a wholly owned subsidiary of JSR Corporation, with an exclusive license to provide preclinical oncology drug development and validation services using HUB Organoid Technology, including access to HUB’s highly characterized tumor organoid biobank. CrownBio and HUB will also launch a collaborative research & development program to accelerate further development of Organoid Technology, while CrownBio will establish a new operations center in Utrecht, Netherlands. 
 
HUB’s adult stem cell-derived organoids, developed by Prof. Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht, are generated using highly standardized, proprietary culture methods. The Organoids faithfully recapitulate tumors in patients and are extensively characterized by pathology, genomics, and sensitivity to known and experimental drugs.
 
“This agreement is a pivotal moment in our growth and the evolution of the company,” said Dr. Jean-Pierre Wery, CEO of CrownBio. “This partnership positions CrownBio at the forefront of global preclinical research by creating an unparalleled translational platform to accelerate drug development and validation.”
 
Building on a global leadership in Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDX), CrownBio will offer comprehensive pharmacology and translational services based on HUB Organoid Technology, establishing a unique platform that incorporates in vitro screening of Patient-Derived Organoids (PDO) and PDX derived organoids (PDXO), matched to downstream in vivo models.
 
“We are delighted with the increased access to HUB Organoid Technology for researchers worldwide through CrownBio’s global reach and preclinical service expertise,” said Dr. Robert Vries, Executive Director of HUB. “Our partnership with CrownBio equips the drug development community with powerful new translational tools to guide the creation of novel and improved treatments for cancer.”
 
About Crown Bioscience Inc.
CrownBio is a global drug discovery and development solutions company providing translational platforms to advance oncology, inflammation, cardiovascular and metabolic disease research. With an extensive portfolio of relevant models and predictive tools, CrownBio enables clients to deliver superior clinical candidates. For more information about CrownBio’s translational oncology platforms visit https://www.crownbio.com
 
About HUB
Hubrecht Organoid Technology (HUB) is an organization founded by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences and the University Medical Center Utrecht. HUB exploits the pioneering work of Prof. Hans Clevers, who discovered methods to grow stem cell-derived human ‘mini-organs’ (HUB Organoids) from tissues of patients with various diseases. The organoids, which are part of the HUB biobanks, are characterized by genome sequencing, expression profiling and sensitivity to known and experimental drugs to establish a database linking genetic and transcriptional information to drug responsiveness. HUB offers licenses to its patented HUB Organoid Technology and access to organoids from the HUB biobank for preclinical drug screening, discovery, development and validation. In addition, HUB is performing clinical studies to validate the technology’s use as a companion diagnostic. More info at www.hub4organoids.eu.
 
Media Enquiries:
Jody Barbeau
Crown Bioscience Inc.
marketing@crownbio.com
 
Source: Crown Bioscience
 
--BERNAMA

Chiba Aqualine Marathon 2020 to be held in autumn

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- Come autumn of 2020, the Chiba Aqualine Marathon 2020, bearing the motto, ‘Run Along the Sea -- Ride like the Aqualine Breeze’, will be held.
The marathon is scheduled for the same year when the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games are held.

Details of the fifth running event, including the date of competition will be decided around this autumn.
The Chiba Aqualine Marathon Planning Committee has also laid down a basic plan for the event, including its logo, during its 13th general meeting recently.
For more information, search ‘Chiba Aqualine Marathon’ on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

-- BERNAMA

INAUGURAL ASEAN TOURISM AWARDS JAPAN PRESENTED TO EXCELLENT TOURS TO THE ASEAN MEMBER STATES

Result of the ASEAN Tourism Awards Japan 2018:
https://www.asean.or.jp/en/tourism-info/20190327/

TOKYO, March 29 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- The ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) has awarded eleven tour products in six categories for the trips with destinations to the ASEAN Member States (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) as winners of the ASEAN Tourism Awards Japan 2018.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190328005353/en/

With the successful implementation of the “Mekong Tourism Award” in the past, the AJC has expanded its prizes range by launching the ASEAN Tourism Awards Japan in FY2018 to honour excellent, quality tour products to all ASEAN destinations. It is aimed to encourage the Japanese tourism sector to diversify tour products and to further promote the ASEAN Member States as attractive tourism destinations.

The judging committee consisting of members of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), the Overseas Tour Operators Association of Japan (OTOA), and the ASEAN-Japan Centre, screened 76 entries to choose the winners. Consequently, awards were given to 11 selected tour products in six categories. There was also commendation of influencers to one group and three individuals who contributed to the promotion of tourism in the region.

The awarding ceremony took place at Tokyo Prince Hotel on March 6, 2019 and was participated by some 90 guests from awarded travel agents, land operators and airlines, and representatives of tourism organizations and the governments of the ASEAN Member States and Japan. At the ceremony, Mr. Jun Takashina, Vice Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, commented that the number of foreign visitors to Japan was record high last year; and the ASEAN Tourism Awards Japan is significant not only to recognize quality tour products, but also to encourage more Japanese people to visit the ASEAN Member States, which contributes to vitalize the mutual interaction of people between Japan and the ASEAN region.

The awardees of the ASEAN Tourism Awards Japan 2018 are as follows:

Awardees of the ASEAN Tourism Awards Japan 2018

Note: English tour titles were translated by ASEAN-Japan Centre and are for reference only.

[ New Destination Award ]
Tropical mirage 6 days in Brunei
Awardees: JTB Media Retailing Corp., OVERSEAS NETWORK Co., LTD, Royal Brunei Airlines

[ Luxury Travel Award ]
5 days premium travel to Bangkok and Ayutthaya by Thai Airways' First class
Awardees: CLUB TOURISM INTERNATIONAL INC., SAI Travel Service Co., Ltd., THAI AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL

[ Unique Tour Award (2 products) ]
Try being Cabin Attendant at Malaysia Airline's training center (7 days)
Awardees: PURPOSE JAPAN CO.LTD, Malaysia Airlines

Study tour to learn the latest fair tradings and social businesses in the Philippines (7 days)
Awardees: GLOBE-TROTTER T&E Inc., Girls, be Ambitious Inc., Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air

[ Sustainable Tour Award (2 products) ]
Birdwatching in Negros, the Philippines (5 days)
Awardees: Kaze Travel Co., Ltd., BLUE PLANET EXPLORER, Philippine Airlines

Wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Borneo, Bilit along Kinabatangan river
Awardees: U Tour Service Co., Ltd, Ocean Delight Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia

[ Mekong Award (4 products) ]
7 resorts in Vietnam by Vietnam Airlines
Awardees: NIPPON TRAVEL AGENCY CO., LTD, S.M.I. TRAVEL JAPAN CO., LTD., APEX International Inc., Vietnam Airlines

The new best of Cambodia, 6 days round tour
Awardees: JTB Media Retailing Corp., APEX International Inc., All Nippon Airways

7 days touring north-south Laos, Shangri-la of the great Mekong
Awardees: CLUB TOURISM INTERNATIONAL INC., APEX International Inc., Vietnam Airlines

Club Tourism Special event, 7 superspectacles and festivals in Myanmar in 7 days
Awardees: CLUB TOURISM INTERNATIONAL INC., APEX International Inc., All Nippon Airways

[ Jury’s Special Award ]
Special tour of YTV Asa Para! (TV program) and JTB "Hello, Myanmar"
Awardees: JTB Corp., JTB-Polestar Co., Ltd., Singapore Airlines

[ Commendation of influencers ]
  • Generasi Wonderful Indonesia Chapter Jepang
  • Ms. Hiro Nishiuchi
  • Ms. Loveli
  • Ms. Ayumi Amemiya
 
For further details, please visit the AJC website at:
https://www.asean.or.jp/en/tourism-info/20190327/

[ ASEAN-Japan Centre ]

The ASEAN-Japan Centre is an intergovernmental organization established by the ASEAN Member States and Japan in 1981. It has been promoting exports from ASEAN to Japan while revitalizing investment, tourism as well as people-to-people exchanges between the ASEAN Member States and Japan.
URL: https://www.asean.or.jp/en/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190328005353/en/

Contact

ASEAN-Japan Centre
Junko Nukiyama
TEL +81-3-5402-8118
FAX +81-3-5402-8003
E-mail: toiawase_ga@asean.or.jp
1F, Shin Onarimon Bldg., 6-17-19 Shimbashi,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004 Japan

Source : ASEAN-Japan Centre
 
--BERNAMA

Thursday 28 March 2019

MIZUHO BANK SELECTS SMARTTRADE AS ITS CORE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER FOR THEIR NEXT GENERATION FX PLATFORM

TOKYO, March 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- smartTrade Technologies, a global leader in multi asset, end-to-end trading solutions for the Sell and Buy sides, has been selected by Mizuho Bank Japan to deliver their next generation e-FX platform.
 
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190328005063/en/
 
Mizuho required a proven end-to-end FX trading solution to strengthen their leading position via the addition of innovative functionality delivered with a quick time to market. Mizuho’s core requirements included an advanced and open out-of-the-box solution allowing them an easy injection of their own intellectual property, advanced algos and AI, whilst supporting them in constantly assessing new technologies to obtain further improvements.
 
smartTrade’s LiquidityFX platform has seen tremendous global growth and adoption in the past few years by providing low latency connectivity combined with sophisticated aggregation, execution, smart order routing, order management, distribution, analytics and risk management. By selecting the LiquidityFX solution, Mizuho Bank will centralise the aggregation process as well as optimising and internalising the management of their very significant FX flows. Not only will this generate considerable cost savings for Mizuho it will also create new opportunities for their clients.
 
Hiroaki Aoyama, Global Head of FX at Mizuho, commented: “We are pleased to announce that we have selected smartTrade’s solution for developing our core e-FX distribution system. The e-FX sphere, today, undeniably plays more than a central role within Mizuho Bank, both internally and through client facing channels. We would like to strengthen our FX business by partnering up with smartTrade and utilizing their LiquidityFX platform.”.
 
“After a thorough review process, we are very pleased that Mizuho has selected our LiquidityFX platform to support their e-FX growth. The combination of our low latency connectivity and execution stack combined with sophisticated pricing and distribution functionality will allow them to enhance their execution and risk management efficiency.” said David Vincent, CEO of smartTrade Technologies.
 
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190328005063/en/
 
Contact
 
Lara Michel
+44(0)20 7469 0920 (ext.250)/ +44(0) 782 355 0134
 
Source : smartTrade Technologies
 
--BERNAMA

ESG INVESTMENT IN ASEAN IS PROMISING; HOWEVER, CHALLENGES REMAIN, AJC SAYS IN A NEW STUDY ON ESG INVESTMENT IN ASEAN

TOKYO, March 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- ESG investment has been implicitly and unsystematically undertaken among the ASEAN firms but it is promising, according to a study on the ESG Investment in the ASEAN region released by the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC).
 
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190327005869/en/
 
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment has gained momentum around the world and the force is moving towards Asia, especially in the ASEAN Member States. Against this backdrop, AJC, an intergovernmental organization of ASEAN and Japan based in Tokyo, issued a study “ESG Investment: Towards Sustainable Development in ASEAN and Japan” (https://www.asean.or.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/ESG_web.pdf) to urge investors to invest responsibly by understanding ESG investment and contribute to the better and sustainable investment environment and society in Japan and the ASEAN Member States.
 
Major messages of the study are as follows:
 
ESG investment is for all investors
Since ESG investment is originally from the financial market, it is commonly perceived that ESG investment is only for financial investors. However, ESG factors should be a priority for all investors, including investors in the real sector or entrepreneurs. ESG is not only important as a signal to investors, but, as it is conducive to business objectives and value-generating, it is crucial for maximizing profit for all companies. ESG can even help new companies and small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance their productivity and competitiveness. Therefore, all companies, regardless of their sizes and whether they are listed on a stock market, should integrate ESG investment in their core business strategies and consider ESG investment as an essential part of the growth strategies.
 
ESG investment is moving away from niche to norm
There is growing demand for ESG investment around the world and gradually to Asia, especially ASEAN. In particular, ASEAN-5 shows a promising trend of ESG investment, whereas more efforts are necessary for the rest of the member states.
 
ESG investment associates with higher profitability
ESG investment helps firms lower costs and boost up revenues and profits. Our main finding shows that ESG firms’ profitability is, on average, higher than that of non-ESG firms. The ratio of net profits to total revenue is 11.4% for ESG firms as opposed to 9.6% for non-ESG firms.
 
ESG investment has been implicitly and unsystematically implemented among the ASEAN firms
This implies potential growth of ESG investment in ASEAN countries. The main challenge is that, even though, ESG factors are found in firms’ sustainability and governance strategies, those firms find difficulty to fully integrate ESG investment in their core business strategies. Therefore, further efforts should be spent on the explicit and systematic integration of ESG investment.
 
ESG investment is implemented creatively and innovatively among ASEAN entrepreneurs
AJC found that ASEAN ESG firms are very creative and innovative in integrating ESG investment in their business strategies. Taking into account ESG factors, they offer new business solutions and products to their clients, while utilizing new technology and innovation in their production.
 
ESG investment in ASEAN is promising; however, challenges remain
At present, ASEAN firms have not fully integrated ESG investment in their core business strategies. This challenge is constituted by several factors, including a) wrong perception towards ESG investment, b) limited capability to fully integrate ESG investment, and c) insufficient guideline and supports from exchanges and the government. In addition, there is still a weak link between the ESG investment and the achievement of the SDGs. Further progress by firms, exchanges, and policymakers is particularly important given this context. These challenges should be addressed urgently to take advantage of the growth potential for ESG investment.
 
ESG investment can be fully integrated into core business strategies through the following practical steps: a) changing perception towards ESG investment to recognize the increasing importance of and demand for ESG; b) planning for an effective ESG strategy by pursuing quantifiable targets and understanding sustainability issues faced by a specific business and industry; c) taking actions with creativity, flexibility, and innovation to turn challenges into opportunities; and d) working with peers and involve all stakeholders to make full use of the combined knowledge and economies of scale.
 
ESG investment should be further promoted and supported by exchanges and the government: Regulators and policymakers can help further the progress of ESG investment by a) communicating benefits of ESG investment as firms’ misperception towards ESG investment is among the top agenda; b) implementing a mandatory sustainability disclosure regulation for both listed and non-listed entities; c) providing specific guideline and supports, e.g. individual consultation session, a dialogue that includes all stakeholders, among others; d) evaluating firms’ ESG performance periodically to promote a competitive environment among firms and involve all stakeholders in the monitoring process; e) taking advantage of the digital age; and f) emphasizing the linkage between ESG investment and SDGs to create a better, more sustainable investment environment and society.
 
To download the paper, please visit the AJC website at
https://www.asean.or.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/ESG_web.pdf
 
ASEAN-Japan Centre

The ASEAN-Japan Centre is an intergovernmental organization established by the ASEAN Member States and Japan in 1981. It has been promoting exports from ASEAN to Japan while revitalizing investment, tourism as well as people-to-people exchanges between the ASEAN Member States and Japan.
URL: https://www.asean.or.jp/en/
 
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190327005869/en/
 
Contact
 
ASEAN-Japan Centre
Junko Nukiyama
TEL +81-3-5402-8118
FAX +81-3-5402-8003
E-mail: toiawase_ga@asean.or.jp
1F, Shin Onarimon Bldg., 6-17-19 Shimbashi,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004 Japan
 
Source : ASEAN-Japan Centre
 
--BERNAMA

KYRIBA ANNOUNCES PLANNED $160M GROWTH ROUND LED BY BRIDGEPOINT

New capital will be used to fuel further product innovation, enhance customer support and expand open partner ecosystem
 
SAN DIEGO, March 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kyriba, the global leader in cloud treasury and finance solutions, today announced that it is in advanced talks with Bridgepoint, an international private equity group focused on investing in market-leading businesses, to receive a $160M investment round to accelerate innovation and growth of its enterprise platform. The deal, once closed, would give Bridgepoint a majority stake in the business, and value Kyriba at $1.2 billion. Daher Capital, Iris Capital and Kyriba Chairman and CEO Jean-Luc Robert will remain as investors in the company.
 
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190327005850/en/
 
“Bridgepoint will help us fulfill our mission of enabling CFOs and treasury executives to be more agile and efficient in managing their global cash and liquidity,” Robert said. “In today’s complex and highly volatile business environment, finance leaders need real-time visibility and pinpoint control over their cash operations to maximize growth and opportunity.”
 
Kyriba’s cloud platform seamlessly connects siloed financial systems – banks, ERPs, and other systems – to enable global organizations to improve key capabilities for cash and risk management, payments and working capital optimization. Through its open ecosystem, Kyriba enables strategic partners to access its platform and create value-added services that no other vendor can offer.
 
Kyriba’s unique value proposition resulted in a record growth year in 2018, including surpassing $110M in revenue and netting 229 new clients. In January, Kyriba announced its plans to acquire FiREapps, a leader in enterprise currency management, which will create the industry’s most robust, end-to-end solution for managing FX risk.
 
“We are very pleased to be engaged with Kyriba in this next stage of growth. Kyriba is a fast-growing company with an impressive track record of double-digit expansion and is the global market leader in cloud-based treasury management software solutions,” said Andrew Sweet, a New York-based partner at Bridgepoint. “With a market-leading offering and leadership position in the French and US markets, Kyriba is now well positioned to expand globally and we anticipate that further investment in R&D in particular will support its development in providing clients with comprehensive, end-to-end liquidity management solutions.”
 
With the new capital, Kyriba will enhance product development, customer support and expand its ecosystem. It will specifically invest $60M into product innovation over the next two years.
 
Bridgepoint is an international private equity firm, with 12 offices across the US, Europe and Asia, and more than $20 billion of assets under management. Bridgepoint has extensive experience of partnering with management to support the growth of similar software businesses, including Efront (the leading alternative investment management software) and Calypso (a leading provider of capital markets software for financial institutions).
 
“I would like to thank the investors who have supported Kyriba throughout its growth and enabled us to get to this important milestone, including Upfront Ventures, Bpifrance, Sumeru Equity Partners and HSBC,” Robert said. “This transaction has provided a strong exit for them while establishing a strong future for Kyriba.”
 
Kyriba will continue to be led by Jean-Luc Robert and will operate with its current management structure and strategy.
 
About Kyriba Corp.
 
Kyriba empowers financial leaders and their teams with award-winning solutions for cash and risk management, payments and working capital optimization. Kyriba delivers a highly secure, 100 percent SaaS enterprise platform, superior bank connectivity and a seamlessly integrated solution set for tackling today’s most complex financial challenges. Thousands of companies, including many of the world’s largest organizations, rely on Kyriba to streamline key processes, protect against loss from fraud and financial risk, and accelerate growth opportunities through improved decision support. Kyriba is headquartered in San Diego, with offices in New York, Paris, London, Tokyo, Dubai and other major locations. For more information, visit www.kyriba.com.
 
About Bridgepoint
 
Bridgepoint is an international private equity firm. With over $20 billion of assets under management and over $30 billion of capital raised to date, it typically focuses on acquiring well managed companies in attractive sectors helping companies and management teams by investing in expansion, operational transformation or via consolidating acquisitions. Bridgepoint has offices in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Luxemburg, Madrid, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Stockholm and Warsaw. www.bridgepoint.eu

Earth Networks protects African airspace via aviation early warning system

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- Earth Networks has completed a new aviation early weather warning system for one of Africa’s largest air navigation service providers, the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA).

The system is designed for air traffic management and airport operation professionals to issue alerts on severe weather and lightning threats that can potentially affect air and land operations.

Earth Networks said the early warning system included real-time lightning detection, on-the-ground weather monitoring, a web-based severe weather monitoring and alerting platform, severe weather data and visualisation tools and short-range point forecasts.

ASECNA Aeronautical Meteorology director, Moctar Mahfoud said there were areas in Central Africa affected by heavy cloud cover and thunderstorms for a staggering nine months in a year.

“The need to have real-time information about weather phenomena that can cause severe turbulence and plane diversions is crucial,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Earth Networks Global Sales senior vice-president, Jim Anderson expressed excitement with the operational results and its clear impact on safety and operational efficiency improvements in the African airspace.

“Working with ASECNA, we have substantially enhanced the ability to detect, track and alert for severe weather across an airspace, 50 per cent larger than all of Europe. These capacity improvements will have significant economic benefits across much of Africa,” he added.

Earth Networks comprehensive weather monitoring, visualisation, alerting and forecasting decision support tools help the aviation industry reduce delays due to weather, eliminate false alerts and provide safe operating conditions during flight and on the ground.

-- BERNAMA

Wednesday 27 March 2019

KEIO PLAZA HOTEL TOKYO HOSTS JAPANESE SWORD CULTURE, ARMOR EXHIBITION - "JAPAN'S SOUL AND BEAUTY OF SWORDS AND ARMOR BY LEGENDARY ARTISANS"

TOKYO, March 27 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo (KPH), one of Japan’s most prestigious international hotels located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, will host a special exhibition entitled “Japan’s Soul and Beauty of Swords and Armor by Legendary Artisans” displaying beautiful Japanese swords and armor from April 25 (Thursday) to June 27 (Thursday), 2019 in the 3rd floor lobby of our Hotel. This exhibition is part of our series of cultural programs designed to introduce various aspects of Japanese culture to our guests visiting the Hotel from over 100 different countries around the world. Various precious and old swords and armor made during the Heian Period (794-1185) and other periods of Japanese history will be displayed, along with “tsuba” (Sword handle guards separating the handle from the blade) and other ornate sword fittings. On May 14, two masters of sword-drawing from Ryushin Shouchi School will give a live performance in the Main lobby from 5:00 p.m.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005414/en/
 

Seven swords from various periods in Japanese history dating back to the Heian Period (794-1185) to as recent as the Heisei Period (1989-2019) will be displayed to demonstrate the differing techniques used and improvements made over time. Visitors to the exhibition will gain a good sense of the aesthetic beauty reflected in patterns left on the swords from tempering as part of the forging process, small one centimeter detailed ornaments, “tsuba” sword handle guards, and other aspects of the swords displayed. Swords have been one of the most important symbolic items reflecting the warrior class spirit in Japanese history, and their relevance as highly revered cultural and art items remains strong in modern day Japan.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=34146

DOCOMO to Further Expand 5G Trials with Overseas Partners

— Initiates business co-creation with cross-border partners —

TOKYO, March 27 (BUSINESS WIRE)-- NTT DOCOMO, INC. announced today that it has agreed with enterprises and organizations in the United States and Israel as well as Japan to collaborate in trials involving a 5G mobile test network established in Guam with the aim of verifying 5G-compatible systems and equipment for new business solutions.

The trials will involve Field Partners, Solution Partners and DOCOMO as the provider of the 5G test network. Solution Partners will develop and provide solutions incorporating 5G systems and equipment and Field Partners comprising companies and organizations will use these solutions in practical applications on an experimental basis for testing and verification.

The Field Partners include the electricity utility Guam Power Authority, the University of Guam Office of Information Technology, and major enterprises and organizations in Guam engaged in such diverse fields as bridal services and a marathon administrative office. They will test various solutions that incorporate 5G’s extra-high-speed, large-capacity and low-latency technologies, including a remote training system using high-definition virtual reality, a monitoring system using AI surveillance cameras to detect suspicious individuals, and many others.

DOCOMO also announced today that it has launched its DOCOMO 5G Open LabTM GUAM, its first center outside of Japan for verifying 5G technologies. The facility will provide a 5G trial environment that companies from Japan and other countries can use to verify 5G solutions. Field Partners will be able to use the network for outdoor testing of new services that incorporate equipment compatible with 5G networks. To utilize this network, in addition to Japanese companies, a number of overseas ventures with advanced 5G technology have announced that they will participate in cross-border 5G testing with DOCOMO as part of the 5G Open Partner Program. The program promotes partner collaboration with the aim of creating innovative 5G services. There are already more than 80 overseas companies and organizations participating in the program.

Going forward, DOCOMO will further collaborate with partners in Japan and overseas, to create new value and businesses through 5G that solve social issues for a brighter future.
 
5G Trials Overview
Fields
Partners
 Solution Partner(s) Details
Guam Power Authority
(electricity utility)
Humaneyes Technologies Ltd.
(Israeli VR camera developer)
5G virtual-reality training
Live video using a 360-degree high-definition VR camera (Vuze XR) for remote training of new technicians
Aegis Systems Inc.
(U.S. developer of object-detection AI)
5G monitoring with AI technology
High-speed video processing of AI surveillance cameras to reduce costs of nighttime surveillance at an electrical substation
University of Guam Office of Information TechnologyPLEN Robotics Inc.
(Japanese developer of facial-recognition technology)
5G education
Low-cost AI-based robot system for identifying examinees at test sites via high-speed, low-latency 5G network
Smart Home Sentry, Inc.
(U.S. developer of motion-detection AI)
5G monitoring with AI technology
High-speed processing of video from AI-based surveillance camera to detect abnormal behavior and suspicious individuals on campus at night
ARLUIS Wedding Guam
(Guam-based wedding services)
AMATELUS Inc.
(Japanese developer of video streaming software)
5G live streaming of multi-screen video
High-definition video system incorporating multiple cameras to allow people to richly experience wedding ceremonies from remote locations
United Airlines Guam Marathon OrganizerFlashframe
(U.S. photo-sharing platform provider)
5G sports
High-speed, large-capacity, low-latency system for uploading official photos from United Airlines Guam Marathon 2019 this coming April 14
 NS Solutions Corporation
(Japanese system integrator)
Meritech Co., Ltd.
(Japanese software developer)
Space Entertainment Laboratory
(Japanese integrator of aerospace technologies)
5G drones
System for wide-area, extended-flight monitoring of remote areas, such as the ocean and jungles, using special ocean-going drones
 JTB Corp
(Japanese travel agency)
5G tourism
Services to provide tourists with increased safety, convenience and excitement
  Sony Corporation
(Japanese electronics maker)
 
5G AI robotics
Remote outdoor operation of concept vehicle equipped with high-definition video cameras and high-definition 4K digital signage
 
DOCOMO 5G Open Lab is a trademark of NTT DOCOMO, INC.
 
About NTT DOCOMO
NTT DOCOMO, Japan's leading mobile operator with over 77 million subscriptions, is one of the world's foremost contributors to 3G, 4G and 5G mobile network technologies. Beyond core communications services, DOCOMO is challenging new frontiers in collaboration with a growing number of entities ("+d" partners), creating exciting and convenient value-added services that change the way people live and work. Under a medium-term plan toward 2020 and beyond, DOCOMO is pioneering a leading-edge 5G network to facilitate innovative services that will amaze and inspire customers beyond their expectations. DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (9437). www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english.

Contact

For further information, please contact:
NTT DOCOMO
Mr. Michael Bristow or Ms. Saori Yoshimatsu
Public Relations Department
Tel: +81-3-5156-1366
Fax: +81-3-5501-3408
Website: www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english

Source : NTT DOCOMO, INC.

MFPC TO ORGANISE FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOP IN KUCHING MARCH-END


KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- To equip Malaysians with basic financial literacy, the Malaysian Financial Planning Council (MFPC) will organise a one-day workshop on March 30 in Sarawak.

The Financial Literacy Workshop will be held at the Islamic Information Centre in Kuching.

The programme is aimed at helping Malaysians make better financial decisions as according to data, they lack successful money management knowledge.

This is MFPC’s third public road show after organising similar sessions in Johor and Negeri Sembilan earlier this year.

As part of the council’s digital transformation, a gamification platform will be used during the event. MFPC’s ‘My Money & Me’ programme has received UNESCO’S honourable commendation.

The programme has the endorsement of the regulators and support of the Employees Provident Fund, Inland Revenue Board, Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia, Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia and Permodalan Nasional Bhd.

MFPC president, Michael Kok Fook On said by providing Malaysians with basic education on personal finance and understanding wealth management, the move would significantly contribute to their capability to lead a sustainable lifestyle and indirectly, contribute towards the country’s long-term development.

MFPC is an independent body set up with the noble objective of promoting nationwide development and enhancement of the financial planning profession.

More details on the workshop at http://www.mfpc.org.my/

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday 26 March 2019

EUROMONITOR INTERNATIONAL UNVEILS GLOBAL SPORT CLUB ATTRACTIVENESS INDEX

DUSSELDORF, Germany, March 26 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Global market research company Euromonitor International published the first edition of the Global Club Attractiveness Index today, revealing the world’s top performing sports clubs ranked by their commercial attractiveness in 2018.
 
Euromonitor International’s new report shows that European football clubs from leagues such as La Liga, the Premier League and the Bundesliga, as well as teams from the major US leagues dominate the ranking.
 
According to Euromonitor International, the top five sport clubs are:

1. Real Madrid is the most followed sports club globally with over 226 million followers on social media platforms. The club continues to invest heavily in growth markets, inking broadcast deals in India and seven new South Asian countries.

2. FC Barcelona is the runner-up in this ranking with a record total ticket spend of USD91.9 million and one of the highest average attendances in football as well as the second highest social media following globally.

3. Manchester United boasts a history of success both locally and internationally. The Red Devils are one of the strongest professional sports brands globally, ensuring lucrative broadcast and commercial revenues for the club.

4. Arsenal is placed second in the Premier League ranking with a strong performance in total ticket spend and total attendance. In the 2017-2018 season the club managed to rank first in total ticket spend in Premier League as its average price for a home match increased from USD57 to USD74.

5. Bayern Munich has become synonymous with success on the pitch, as well as in the commercial sense. Unlike many of its European peers, the club has generated profits for over 20 consecutive years.
 
“Football clubs in Europe claim the top spots in the Global Club Attractiveness Index. Those clubs contain the key factors of success, from strong local support to extensive digital media footprint globally, guaranteeing a high return on investment for sponsor companies,” comments Egle Tekutyte, sports analyst at Euromonitor International.
 
Register now to receive a free copy of the report: https://bit.ly/2Wf74dH
 
ABOUT EUROMONITOR INTERNATIONAL
 
Euromonitor International is the world’s leading provider for global business intelligence and strategic market analysis. We have more than 40 years of experience publishing international market reports, business reference books and online databases on consumer markets.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190326005119/en/
 
Contact

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Soren Buchheister
Communications Associate - Euromonitor International
Tel: +49 211 89094423
soren.buchheister@euromonitor.com
 
Source : Euromonitor International
 
--BERNAMA