American directors win international awards with films from Taiwan

Two American filmmakers who have lived in Taiwan for years have recently earned international accolades with short films made in their adopted country.

Directors A.T. Beaune and Barry Hall, who are active in the local English-language performance community, come from live theater backgrounds, but have delved into filmmaking since coming to Taiwan, with auspicious results.

Beaune’s debut film, “Shoe Story,” won the short comedy award at Tagore International Film Festival (TIFF) in West Bengal in August and is still up for other awards, while three of Hall’s shorts have garnered honors around the world.

All of the shorts they have submitted to international film festivals were shot in Taiwan using casts and crews featuring both international and local talent.

Beaune’s “Shoe Story” is a 7-minute film that the director described as “a low-budget film that revels in its low-budgetness.”

“One day I was browsing articles with titles like ‘5 Sure-Fire Ways to Get Agents Interested in Your Manuscript’ and ‘7 Secrets for Creating Your Next Spy Thriller,'” Beaune said when explaining what inspired him to make the film.

“One article said ‘As soon as you drop one shoe you have a story.’ I wondered: Is that true? Shoe Story is about a trio of young artists who share a flat in Taipei. One of them, Shelby, runs an experiment to find out.”

“Shoe Story” is also in contention for a TIFF Sun of the East Award, and has been selected as a finalist in the Paris International Film Awards.

Hall, who started shooting films because of the affect of COVID-19 on the performing arts, has won multiple awards in various categories thanks to his many projects.

“My background is in theater,” Hall said. “I started directing films only because the pandemic made live theater impossible. Despite the similarities, they’re very different art forms.”

He wrote and directed all of his award-winning projects, and they were edited by Huang Li-ting (???).

Hall’s “Nuclear Family,” which he shot in 2020, won best independent film at the Ukrainian Indie Online Film Award in June 2021.

It also took home the critics’ choice award and male lead D.C. Rapier was crowned best actor in the Madras Independent Film Festival’s March-April 2021 awards, and was an official selection at seven other festivals.

His 2021 short, “Over,” has been named as an official selection at 26 festivals, and captured the best editing award at the New York-Istanbul Short Film Festival in September and best experimental short film at the Hodu International Film Festival in the same month. In April, the film had first bagged an award under the same category at the Uruvatti International Film Festival.

Hall’s “A Small Death” was awarded the best one-minute film at the Uruvatti festival in July, and was honored in the same category at Grass Root Film Festival, also based in India, in September.

“I’m always surprised when people relate to my films,” he said, “even to the point of giving them awards. They’re essentially the flatulence of my subconscious given physical form.”

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Taiwan shares endure volatility after U.S. losses

Shares in Taiwan encountered headwinds Tuesday, with the Taiex down 177.59 points amid overnight losses for U.S. markets and growing inflation concerns.

Taiex, the weighted index on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), ended down 1.07 percent at 16,462.84 after moving between 16,349.49 and 16,589.72, with dealers citing old economy stocks — in particular shipping — for the drop.

Turnover totaled NT$278.299 billion (US$9.89 billion) and losses on the broader market capped after the bellwether electronics sector rallied from an earlier downturn with the help of late session buying.

The market opened down 0.30 percent and moved to the day’s low after falling almost 300 points around 9:30 a.m.

Buying was sparked by a 0.70 percent decline on the Dow Jones Industrial Average and a 0.6 percent fall on the tech-heavy Nasdaq index overnight. This came after a spike in international crude oil prices, which dealers said had raised concerns over inflation.

Selling was seen almost across the board, with shipping stocks in focus.

In the tech sector, contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) saw last ditch buying in an attempt to recoup earlier losses and limit the Taiex’s downturn by the end of the session.

Concord Securities analyst Kerry Huang said: “Volatility on the U.S. markets dampened market confidence here, so the local main board came under pressure soon after the market opened and the weakness continued into the end of the session.

“Growing international crude prices raised worries about inflation and also boosted fears over the impact on a global economic recovery amid COVID-19.”

Overnight, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 1.50 percent, while Brent crude, the global benchmark, was also up by the same amount.

Huang said that non-tech stocks were the target of Tuesday’s selling, led by the shipping industry.

The transportation sector, where many major shipping stocks are traded, plunged 7.55 percent.Container cargo shipper Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. ended down 9.71 percent to close at NT$87.40, with Evergreen Marine Corp. down 9.50 percent at NT$90.50, Wan Hai Lines Ltd. down 9.44 percent at NT$153.50.

In addition, bulk cargo shipper U-Ming Marine Transport Corp. down 10 percent — the maximum daily decline — at NT$65.70.

“Retail investors favored margin trading to buy shipping stocks and now heavy losses among these stocks brew margin calls, leading investors to cut their holdings,” Huang said.

Huang added that, to his knowledge, Evergreen Marine shares sat on more than NT$30 billion in margin trading, paving the way for more potential margin calls.

A margin call occurs when the value of an investor’s margin account falls below the broker’s required amount, requiring the investor to either deposit more money or sell some of the assets held in the account.

Huang said although raw material prices remained on the rise, many raw material stocks here still faced selling. “The weakness resulted from fragile market confidence.”

Despite higher crude prices, Nan Ya Plastics Corp. dipped 2.96 percent to close at NT$88.60, while Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp. fell 1.54 percent to end at NT$83.10, and Formosa Plastics Corp. dropped 0.42 percent to close at NT$117.50.

Bucking the trend, Formosa Petrochemical Corp. ended up 0.49 percent at NT$102.00.

Elsewhere, Tung Ho Steel Enterprise Corp. shed 2.56 percent to close at NT$38.00, and China Steel Structure Corp. fell 2.98 percent to NT$58.60.

Textile brand Far Eastern New Century Corp. dropped 0.68 percent to end at NT$29.25, while Eclat Textile Co. dropped 2.28 percent to NT$558.00.

“The bright spot was that TSMC recouped all of its earlier losses,” Huang said.

“Judging from a weaker Taiwan dollar today, I suspect the buying in TSMC came from government-led funds, instead of foreign institutional investors, in a bid to prevent the Taiex from falling further.”

Shares in TSMC ended the day unchanged at NT$575.00, after hitting a low of NT$564.00. Led by TSMC — the most heavily weighted stock in the local market — the electronics index closed down 0.84 percent to end at 777.18, off a low of 770.19.

According to TWSE, foreign institutional investors sold a net total NT$16.76 billion worth of shares on the main board Tuesday.

Among other semiconductor heavyweights, fellow contract chipmaker United Microelectronics Corp. shed 4.26 percent to close at NT$58.50, and integrated circuit designer MediaTek Inc. lost 2.53 percent to end at NT$887.00.

Elsewhere in the tech sector, iPhone assembler Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. fell 2.78 percent to close at NT$105.00. Largan Precision Co., a supplier of smartphone camera lenses to Apple Inc., bucked the downturn, up 2.24 percent to end on NT$2,050.00.

Huang said the Taiex could see short-term technical support at around 16,162 points, which was an intraday low on Oct. 5, but added that investors “had better watch closely how fast crude oil prices and the benchmark 10-year U.S. treasury yield will move higher as the changes will move the global markets.”

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Zoom Named a Leader in 2021 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Meeting Solutions

Zoom Celebrates its Sixth Consecutive Year in the Leaders Quadrant

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM), today announced that analyst firm Gartner has named Zoom a Leader in the 2021 Magic Quadrant for Meeting Solutions. This is the seventh time Zoom has appeared in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Meeting Solutions and its sixth consecutive time as a Leader.

For the Meeting Solutions Magic Quadrant, Gartner analyzed 15 companies in the Meeting Solutions space, naming Zoom as a Leader. Zoom is the highest-scoring vendor across three use cases in this year’s Critical Capabilities for Meeting Solutions: Learning and Training, External Presentation, and Webinar.

“We are honored that Gartner has named Zoom a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for Meeting Solutions,” said Eric S. Yuan, CEO of Zoom. “Zoom simplifies and elevates communications for every business, from the single entrepreneur to the world’s largest enterprises, and we are humbled that so many organizations trust our frictionless, reliable, and secure platform. Zoom will continue to innovate our platform to meet emerging collaboration demands and further deliver customer happiness.”

To read a complimentary copy of the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Meeting Solutions report, please visit zoom.us/gartner.

Disclaimer

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Meeting Solutions, Mike Fasciani, Tom Eagle, Brian Doherty, Christopher Trueman, 7 October 2021 – For Magic Quadrant

Gartner, Critical Capabilities for Meeting Solutions, Tom Eagle, Mike Fasciani, Brian Doherty, Christopher Trueman, 7 October 2021 – For Critical Capabilities report.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Gartner Peer Insights reviews constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-users based on their own experiences, and do not represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates.

Gartner and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

About Zoom
Zoom is for you. We help you express ideas, connect to others, and build toward a future limited only by your imagination. Our frictionless communications platform is the only one that started with video as its foundation, and we have set the standard for innovation ever since. That is why we are an intuitive, scalable, and secure choice for large enterprises, small businesses, and individuals alike. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ:ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Visit zoom.com and follow @zoom.

Zoom Press Relations:
Beth McLaughlin
PR Specialist
press@zoom.us

October 20th Institutional Diversity & Inclusion Summit to Highlight State of D&I in Institutional Investment, Next Steps

ATLANTA, Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — eVestment, a part of Nasdaq and a global leader in institutional investment data and analytics, has teamed up with the Institutional Investing Diversity Cooperative (IIDC), a consortium of investors and investment consultants, to host an Institutional D&I Summit.

During the virtual summit, institutional asset managers will learn how top consultants and other allocators factor D&I data into manager research, advise investors on D&I and use D&I data in manager evaluations. Sessions are designed to give managers insight into the growing demand for D&I data and an understanding of how that data is used. The summit is set for Wednesday, October 20 from 10 a.m. to noon Eastern Daylight/New York Time.

Featured speakers will include representatives from investment consultants Verus, Mercer, NEPC, Callan and FEG; management consultant McKinsey & Company; the investment and wealth management platform LPL; the OCIO SEI; and The Diversity Project UK.

Institutional asset owners such as pensions, foundations, endowments, family offices and sovereign wealth funds represent diverse stakeholders who increasingly want to know that the asset managers who invest on their behalf demonstrate organizational commitments to diversity and inclusion.

“Institutional investors and their consultants increasingly want to factor D&I considerations into how they evaluate managers,” said summit moderator Michele Shauf with eVestment. “They understand that, as an industry, asset management has considerable opportunity to improve diversity, so they’re keen to benchmark where managers are today and understand what firms are doing programmatically to increase D&I. Managers that fail to include any D&I responses in their database profiles could be disadvantaged.”

eVestment and the IIDC have been at the forefront of standardizing the collection of D&I data, both to give institutional asset owners and consultants access to better data and to make it easier for managers to provide that data. In January, eVestment launched an updated D&I questionnaire in consultation with the IIDC to give managers the opportunity to describe D&I policies and programs at the firm level and to share demographic breakdowns of individual portfolio teams as they are able.

In June eVestment made this D&I data available to investors free of charge in an effort to improve transparency on the topic in the investment business. To view the entire eVestment D&I questionnaire, please click here.

“Knowing where we are on diversity in the industry and how those trends are moving is the key to making the kind of progress the industry is looking for,” said Shelly Heier, President of Verus, which is a member firm of the IIDC. “Getting this data is crucial to understanding where we are now, where progress is being made, where there is still work to be done and which asset managers are really stepping up. This is a topic that isn’t going away.”

The Institutional D&I Summit is open to asset managers and hedge funds who want to learn more about the demand for D&I data and how investors and consultants use it. For more information on speakers, the agenda and on registering, please visit https://www.evestment.com/events/di-summit/#.
Representatives from the media are also welcome to attend the virtual summit. For registrants who are unable to make the live event, a replay will be available online through October 22.

About the Institutional Investing Diversity Cooperative

The Institutional Investing Diversity Cooperative is a collection of institutional plan sponsors and some of the largest and most prominent institutional investment consultants in the industry today. The members of the cooperative are responsible for the stewardship of more than $32 trillion in assets held by institutions in retirement plans, employee health funds, endowments, foundations, operating funds and capital reserves, among others.

About eVestment

eVestment, a part of Nasdaq, provides institutional investment data, analytics and market intelligence covering public and private markets. Asset managers and general partners reach the institutional marketplace through our platform, while institutional investors and consultants rely on eVestment for manager due diligence, selection and monitoring. eVestment brings transparency and efficiency to the global institutional market, equipping managers, investors and consultants to make data-driven decisions, deploy their resources more productively and ultimately realize better outcomes.

Press Contact
Mark Scott
mscott@evestment.com
678 238 0761

Webtel.mobi Describes Requirements for a Sector-Influencing System in USD 10 000+ Trillion P.A. Transaction-Volume Markets

WM provides details of some top-level considerations for creating a Global Exchange and Digital Currency in the USD 10 000+ Trillion Per Annum Transactions Markets – where it is a potential sector-influencer, why its valuation is only USD 224 Billion, and why its revaluation to include its reconfigured TUV Digital Currency will be just as conservative

Extremely Simplified View of the WM Complex System

Extremely Simplified View of the WM Complex System

ST PETER PORT, Guernsey and NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In response to multiple queries received, Global telephony Provider Webtel.mobi (“WM”) provides top-level comment on some of the strategic considerations taken into account when developing a Global Exchange Mechanism and Globally-Operational Digital Currency. A summary of these considerations is as follows:

Understand the Structure of the Global Financial and Economic Systems
The execution-level of the Global Financial and Economic Systems is extremely fractured, but its top-level is not. It is well coordinated at the top-level by a variety of international organizations. Knowledge of the top-level coordinating structures and the volumes in these systems will dispel much of the superfluous discussion that takes place regarding alternative or reform structures and processes. Some examples are:

  • Cryptocurrencies that derive their value from applying Artificial Scarcity through limitation of coins volumes will only ever have maximum value within their systems of USD 1 Trillion to 1.5 Trillion. However, just global FX Gross Payment Obligations exceed USD 18.7 Trillion per day (X 260 = USD 4 862 Trillion per annum) – and this is just one of over 10 markets with daily volumes in the USD multi-Trillions. Cryptocurrencies therefore cannot provide an alternative to the current system from a volume perspective (details of the USD 18.7 Trillion per day FX Market Gross Payment are in the Resources section of this article).
  • Discussions on proposed CBDCs disregard that the majority of all Central Bank Money is already Digital Currency. They also disregard that all Central Banks coordinate their actions under the auspices of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, so they do not pose threats to one another. There is therefore, in reality, no “Digital Dollar” versus “Digital Yuan” threat, or “race” to develop a CBDC (see details in the Resources).

Uninformed debate on these matters should be replaced with informed discussion and clear identification of what is being sought. What is being sought is global digitalization of all currency for both national and international utilization, in a seamless manner, that sees to multicurrency transference, payment, convertibility and redemption – via a functioning global exchange mechanism facilitating any transaction type to, in, or from any country, for States, Organizations, Companies or individuals, that replaces current digital and cash transactions – without destabilizing national economies or the global economy. This is what WM has created.

Attendance to Geopolitical and Geostrategic requirements takes precedence
Development of a globally usable Digital Currency gives access to astronomically large volumes of global market transactions. However, it simultaneously requires attendance to a correspondingly astronomically large number of requirements and responsibilities for the insurance of international stability. This requires satisfactory structuring of Geopolitical, Geostrategic requirements before one attends to the legal, regulatory, economic, financial, commercial, and technical requirements (which are also extraordinarily large in number and scope). This is one of the reasons that WM took nine years to complete its full operational testing to ensure these matters had been satisfactorily attended to.

Adopt an “Evolution not Revolution” approach
The current Global Financial System has multiple inefficiencies and deficiencies – but it nevertheless functions. It is moreover essential that it continues to function until an orderly transition to another system takes place – because if it does not, global anarchy and chaos will result. Merely calling for the current System’s dissolution without offering a functioning viable alternative serves no purpose. Therefore, it is better to examine and understand the causes of the current System’s negative and/or inefficient aspects, and then try to reform them in an evolutionary manner. This is what WM has done with the creation of its fully operational Global Financial System that operates in parallel to the existing system without destabilizing it. This provides for an orderly and voluntary transition to its use – on an elective basis – and does not introduce systemic stress.

Apply a 21st Century Mindset, Structures and Processes
The current Global Financial and Economic Systems functions according to a mindset based on the world as it was structured in (primarily) the 17th to 20th centuries – but primarily in the 19th Century. Moreover, the systems and processes it runs on are 20th Century systems and processes. However, this is the 21st century – and the 19th Century mindset and 20th Century systems and processes simply cannot cope. The problem is they literally cannot be stopped to be rebuilt or restructured. These Systems are like a person on a perpetual-motion treadmill. If the person stops running, he/she will fall. Similarly, if any of the legs of the prevailing Systems are stopped to rebuild or to be restructured, the entire system will fall. These Systems literally cannot stop – and so their existing structures cannot be reformed. This is one of the reasons why WM kept its user-group limited during its nine years of fully-operational testing – precisely so it would be able to shut down its platform 1 to be able to rebuild its Platform 2. With too many Members, it would simply not have been possible for WM to shut Platform 1 down due to legal and regulatory considerations, ongoing financial transactions of businesses and individual members, etc. However, due to its strategic decision, WM was able to shut down its Platform 1 and rebuild its Platform 2 to be completely optimized for 21st Century requirements.

Align with Regulation and Regulators
Often, Regulatory Regimes and Regulators are regarded as situations or entities to be avoided. The polar opposite is the case. A company must always sit firmly within an identified and confirmed sector and its identified and confirmed regulatory requirements – which it should stay within and not stray outside of. Similarly, close contact should be kept with all relevant Regulatory Agencies. They have decades of experience in ensuring market stability, and their experience is invaluable in assisting companies with advice and guidance. They are not opponents – they are a company’s greatest allies in advising against predictable issues before they arise. This is the approach WM has always followed.

Reduce potential corporate vulnerabilities
Provision of such essential services must be carried out from a sustainable and robust base, so there is no threat to the continuation of the essential services being provided. On a technical and operational level, WM ensured it is in a situation of zero-debt, decentralization of infrastructure to ensure continued operations in all circumstances, reduction of infrastructure and personnel requirements due to the use of a Complex Adaptive System for the majority of its operational, security and administration functions. On a corporate structure level, WM ensured it had no large corporate or institutional shareholders – being funded in totality by its founders and a small group of under 300 private shareholders. It also did not list on any Stock Exchange – despite obtaining eligibility to list on the main board of one of the world’s Top 5 Stock Exchanges in 2011. This is because the large Stock Exchanges are private companies, owned by companies that WM would potentially partially or fully disintermediate in respect of some of their other commercial operations. It would consequently be risky to be listed on an Exchange owned by them. Instead, WM has its own “Share Swap” Facility on its Platform, on which its shareholders and all qualified Members of WM can buy and sell WM shares among each other within an internal and non-public Members-Only Closed Loop system, as supervised by its Resident Agent firm. Therefore, WM’s corporate vulnerabilities have all been mitigated or removed.

Adopt a neutral and non-aligned position both Geopolitical and Commercial perspectives
As WM’s service-provision is to all countries, in all currencies, for all transactions, it has adopted a completely neutral and non-aligned Geopolitical approach regarding all its activities (subject to adherence to all international rules and laws accepted and applied by Guernsey – which includes UK, EU, USA and other guidance and resolutions in respect of sanctions). Similarly, as WM is a System not a product, and the majority of companies worldwide can use its services, it adopts a similarly non-aligned and neutral stance towards all companies – subject again to relevant rules, laws and sanctions lists.

Know and acknowledge your limits, and constantly implement Confidence-Building measures
From Standard Oil Company in the USA to Yukos in the Russian Federation – and for time immemorial – the graveyards of commercial history are littered with the bodies of commercial entities that did not understand or acknowledge the limits of their powers, and tried to take on or defy States. No matter its power or capacity, a company is not a State, and should never overstep its boundaries and try to act like – or defy / take on – a State. Due to the scope and reach of WM’s System – and the transactions volumes it has access to – its requirements and considerations far surpass commercial considerations only, and include the requirements to practice Statecraft. However, at the same time, WM knows and acknowledges its limits, and stays within them. WM also underwent 30+ due diligences in multiple countries internationally, had the Levy Economics Institute thoroughly review the system, and has – through these confidence-building measures – demonstrated its capacities, its regulatory compliance and its restraint worldwide.

Be extremely conservative with pricing and corresponding valuations
It is an unprecedented situation where a company has a System that can provide sector-influencing services globally to, and in, all the world’s largest volume transactions markets – with transaction volumes in excess of USD 10 000+ Trillion per annum – simultaneously and with no immediate competitors. Additionally, due to WM being powered by its Artificial Intelligence Complex Adaptive System, its costs are virtually zero, and its revenue is virtually all net. Therefore, if it applied standard fees in percentage points, its revenues would comprise a significant proportion of global money supply. However, because that situation would be unreasonable – and because WM was built primarily as a reforming structure not a commercial structure – it provides its services at either zero cost or ultra-low cost. Similarly, its previous valuation by a leading global consultancy that valued WM at USD 224 Billion was carried out using extremely conservative workings based on penetrations and earnings on fractions of a percent – in order to overwhelmingly err on the side of caution and conservatism. Even its current revaluation – to include its TUV Global Digital Currency that can be used for all transactions types in digital or cash-replacement format, in all currencies and all countries worldwide – will similarly be carried out with the same extreme and overwhelming conservatism to keep the valuation within acceptable limits.

These represent some of the top-level considerations that were attended to by WM – and which must be attended to by any entity – if providing – or contemplating entry into a situation where one seeks to provide –Services in extremely large-volume and complex markets Global Markets that have the potential to impact on all countries and people.

Resources:

Media Contact:
Nick Lambert: wm@thoburns.com

Basel Committee on Banking Supervision:
https://www.bis.org/bcbs/membership.htm

USD 18.7 Trillion per day Gross FX Payment Obligations
https://www.bis.org/publ/qtrpdf/r_qt1912x.htm

Fate of Standard Oil Company:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Oil

Fate of Yukos:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukos

Research Reports on the Capacities of the WM System:
https://tinyurl.com/TUVresearch

Video on the Capacities of the WM System:
https://youtu.be/XYBrCikUhn8

WM’s urls:
https://webtel.mobi/pc (Tablets / Laptops / Desktops)
https://webtel.mobi (Smart Phones)
https://webtel.mobi/wap (Pre-Smart Mobile Phones)

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/311d9e72-ef0a-4a90-a6ab-57ad6f59755f

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

International Cricket Council Selects Sportradar as Data and Streaming Rights Partner

Partnership to help create untapped opportunities for the ICC to engage with its diverse and large fan base across the globe

LONDON, Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sportradar (NASDAQ: SRAD) (“Sportradar” or “the Company”) today announced a global partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), making them the Official Data Distribution and Official Betting Live Streaming Partner of the ICC. Sportradar is a leading global provider of sports betting and sports entertainment products and services, and the number one provider of business-to-business solutions to the global sports betting industry based on revenue.

Spanning 275 top-tier matches, the partnership covers eight of the ICC’s leading men’s and women’s tournaments, starting in October with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup hosted by India in the UAE and Oman, through to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, also hosted by India.

Cricket has an estimated two-and-a-half billion fans worldwide. The partnership will create more opportunities for the ICC to engage with this fan base through Sportradar’s network of 1,000 media and sports-betting clients across 80 countries.

David Lampitt, Managing Director, Sports Content and Partnerships at Sportradar said: “Cricket is among the most popular sports globally, and we see huge potential to grow its fan base still further, helping fans interact with the game on an even deeper level.

“Our partnership with the ICC is an exciting step towards engaging those new fans and, with the full breadth of our unique technology powering it, we will deliver enhanced cricket content globally – across a range of platforms.”

Finn Bradshaw, Head of Digital at ICC said: “Innovative use of sports data is one of the key pillars of our digital strategy. This partnership with Sportradar will help us grow our global cricket fanbase and deepen our engagement with it.”

Backed by the technology and specialist cricket capabilities of InteractSport (part of Sportradar), Sportradar will deploy its Cricket Live Score Plus (CLS+) data-capture tool, enabling fielding positions and actions to be plotted for the very first time. The CLS+ solution will provide deep, rich, live ball-by-ball match data to media platforms via bespoke feeds and dedicated channels, at super-low latency.

Sportradar will integrate the official ICC data into its established Premium Cricket Service (PCS), creating an enhanced provision for sportsbook operators, while the new data will also be used to power the ICC’s digital platforms, including icc-cricket.com and the official ICC mobile app.

Additionally, Sportradar’s Integrity Services will provide the ICC with bet monitoring and reporting for all 275 matches through its Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS). UFDS uses advanced technology to scan the worldwide betting market and has a global team of integrity experts providing analysis on irregular betting patterns, with any suspicious matches subsequently reported to partners.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The full list of competitions included in the partnership are ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021; ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2022; ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022; ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022; ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2022; ICC World Test Championship Final 2023; ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023; ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

About Sportradar
Sportradar, the leading global sports technology company creating immersive experiences for sports fans and bettors. Established in 2001, the company is well-positioned at the intersection of the sports, media and betting industries, providing sports federations, news media, consumer platforms and sports betting operators with a range of solutions to help grow their business. Sportradar employs more than 2,300 full time employees across 19 countries around the world. It is our commitment to excellent service, quality and reliability that makes us the trusted partner of more than 1,600 customers in over 120 countries and an official partner of the NBA, NHL, MLB, NASCAR, and FIFA. We cover more than 750,000 events annually across 83 sports. With deep industry relationships, Sportradar is not just redefining the sports fan experience; it also safeguards the sports themselves through its Integrity Services division and advocacy for an integrity-driven environment for all involved.

www.sportradar.com

Source: Sportradar Group AG

Media Contact: Sandra Lee, Global Head of Communications, Sportradar

Email: comms@sportradar.com

Philips launches Pediatric Coaching to enhance MR imaging patient experience for young children

October 11, 2021

  • Holistic, play-based coaching can help reduce use of general anesthesia [1] and lower the risk of healthcare-induced trauma in many pediatric patients who feel anxious during MRI scans
  • Philips Ambient Experience solution uses augmented reality, gamification, and ‘buddy system’ techniques to engage and guide children through their entire MRI scan journey, from the home to the hospital

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced the launch of Philips Pediatric Coaching, a holistic solution designed to be a less stressful experience for parents and their children undergoing MRI scans. Using gamification and ‘buddy system’ techniques to prepare children and their parents beforehand, the solution helps guide young children through the MRI procedure to significantly enhance the patient experience. Pediatric Coaching is the latest initiative launched within the Philips Ambient Experience portfolio, featuring a wide range of dedicated solutions to help enhance the experience of patient and staff.

Acquiring high quality images in pediatric MRI can be challenging for both radiologists and the child undergoing the scan. Fear of the unfamiliar environment of an MRI system can be stressful for a younger child, making them agitated and unable to lie still, which is required for good image quality. As a result, scans are often performed under sedation or general anesthesia, which according to parents, carries disadvantages such as post-scan irritability for the child and concerns of repeated anesthesia exposure [2]. Having to resort to such measures or deal with a conscious but distressed child is challenging for hospital staff, increasing procedure time and costs. By helping to empower children during an MRI scan, the Philips Pediatric Coaching solution overcomes many of these issues.

“As adults, many of us can experience anxiety and stress during an MRI exam, and this is especially true for our youngest patients. By removing factors that can trigger stress, we are enhancing the patient engagement experience for pediatric patients to help improve outcomes,” said Werner Satter, General Manager Philips Healthcare Environment and Experience Design. “With Philips Pediatric Coaching, we deploy gamification to help children better prepare for their MRI scan in a non-threatening environment at home, interacting with the same character and voice like Ollie the Elephant and friends, who also coaches them at the hospital, and can even coach them during the MRI procedure itself.”

To prepare for their MRI scan, children are provided with a gamified mobile app that familiarizes the child and their parents with an MRI procedure in a playful way. The app also introduces the child to a virtual ‘buddy’ they can role-play with to perform an MRI scan – for example, pretending to be the system operator and helping their buddy to lie still in order to get the best picture. The app also uses augmented reality to allow the child to explore the MRI system at home before entering the hospital. Many parents express a willingness to help prepare their child ahead of time, and by playing alongside their child, they can also learn more about the procedure.

When the family visits the radiology department, the same familiar virtual buddy interacts with the child as they play with Philips’ newly enhanced ‘Kitten Scanner’ – a small scale  educational scanner that allows children to scan various toy animals and view what’s inside each animal for a better understanding of the upcoming procedure. When the child has their scan, their buddy’s familiar voice and image are projected onto Philips’ Ambient Experience in-bore Connect solution, to guide the child through the scan procedure by coaching them, for example, on when and how to hold their breath. With the new Pediatric Coaching Solution, parents are reassured, and the child is empowered and well prepared, helping ensure the high-quality images needed for an accurate diagnosis of the child’s condition are captured.

Today’s announcement follows a similar child patient-centric initiative between Philips and the Walt Disney Company EMEA earlier this year to test the effects of custom-made animations, including specially-made Disney stories, within Philips’ Ambient Experience hospital environments. An overview of breakthrough innovations in pediatric imaging to help improve care for younger patients, including how to reduce pediatric patients’ fear and anxiety, is also discussed in a recent blog article by Dr. Julia Dmitrieva, KOL Engagement Leader for Precision Diagnosis at Philips.

The Philips Pediatric Coaching Solution is being launched at the 2021 International Pediatric Radiology Congress (IPR 2021), October 11 – 15, 2021, in Rome, Italy. Next to the MRI journey, Philips also plans to make its Pediatric Coaching available in other diagnostic imaging modalities such as CT. The solution will also be demonstrated in the Philips booth at the upcoming 2021 Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting (RSNA 2021), Nov. 28 – Dec 2, 2021, in Chicago, USA.  Join Philips at RSNA 2021 where the company will spotlight its latest advanced technology driving connected workflows and smart diagnostic systems, to increase efficiency and diagnostic confidence in precision care.

[1] Rung SB, Christensen, NL, Jensen K, Jensen IbE. Children centered care: Minimizing the need for anesthesia with a multifaceted concept for MRI in children aged 4–6. European Journal of Radiology. 2018;107:183–187.
[2] Walker, B., Conklin, H. M., Anghelescu, D. L., Hall, L. P., Reddick, W. E., Ogg, R., & Jacola, L. M. (2018). Parent perspectives and preferences for strategies regarding nonsedated MRI scans in a pediatric oncology population. Supportive Care in Cancer, 26(6), 1815-1824.

For further information, please contact:

Mark Groves
Philips Global Press Office
Tel.: +31 631 639 916
E-mail: mark.groves@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2020 sales of EUR 19.5 billion and employs approximately 82,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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Innovation Zed Announce Non-Invasive Continuous Glucose Monitoring Project and Appointment of a New Researcher

Innovation Zed Logo

Innovation Zed Logo

DUBLIN, Oct. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Innovation Zed Ltd., developer of novel diabetes technologies (the InsulCheck range), announced further advancement in their research of technologies for non-invasive Continuous Glucose Monitoring and a new researcher to this project, Dr Rui Wu.

Innovation Zed, headquartered at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at University College Dublin, who develop technologies to improve the health and quality of life for individuals living with diabetes, has taken another leap forward in the development of a non-invasive glucometer.

Innovation Zed has collaborated with the Irish Research Council (IRC) and University College Dublin (UCD) in advancing their research into non-invasive Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems. As a result of this collaboration, Innovation will build on previous work with both the IRC and UCD in advancing a non-invasive multi-sensor approach to recording acute changes in the blood glucose levels of individuals living with diabetes.

“We are delighted to advance our research into a non-invasive CGM system,” said Dr Dean Minnock, CEO, Innovation Zed. “We pride ourselves on taking on the complex technological challenges with our sole aim of easing the stresses caused by diabetes, and this project is no different.” The monitoring of glucose fluctuations is a vital aspect for acute control and improved long-term health outcomes, making it a significant component in the daily life of people with diabetes. Currently, commercial Blood Glucose Meters require a finger prick whilst Continuous Glucose Meters require the insertion of a filament underneath the skin, resulting in small wounds that can be the cause of pain and infections. “There is a clear need for alternative options that are non-invasive, painless, discreet and easy to use, and this is a further step in the right direction,” he continued.

Innovation Zed has already brought to market various technologies to support multiple daily injection (MDI) insulin users with add-on technology that automatically collects essential usage data. Available under the “InsulCheck” brand, these technologies are designed to inform insulin pen users of their injection history and trends. “We have tremendous experience in designing and developing best-in-class, patient-centred products with the desire of leaving no patient behind when it comes to supporting them. Our partnership with SHL Medical has been instrumental in our ability to design, develop and bring to market these solutions,” said Dr Minnock.

Dr Rui Wu has joined this project as the lead researcher and will be bringing extensive subject knowledge and new focus to the project. “I am delighted to be involved in this project and to be working with Innovation Zed on this fascinating project,” said Dr Wu. Dr Wu has recently completed a postdoctoral research post at UCD and is supported in this project by Prof Madeleine Lowery, Head of Biomedical Engineering at UCD.

“This non-invasive glucometer project is the latest addition to several exciting projects here at Innovation Zed,” said Dr Minnock. “This is also the first of many fascinating announcements we will be making over the next 12 months. Our strategy of bringing cutting-edge diabetes management technologies to a wider audience is advancing strongly, and we are constantly improving on our portfolio of offerings”.

Media Contacts

Dean Minnock
CEO at Innovation Zed
deanm@innovationzed.com

Editors Notes

Innovation Zed designs connected health solutions that support drug adherence and Condition Management. As technologies continue to evolve, it opens new and exciting possibilities for connected healthcare to deliver increased freedom and control to patients. That is why Innovation Zed is actively developing and researching new methods to improve drug adherence and optimise treatment to enable more personalised condition management. www.innovationzed.com.

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Caring gibbon thwarting Taipei Zoo’s spring-cleaning plans

The Taipei Zoo has been hoping for months to do a deep clean of its white-handed gibbons habitat, but the generosity of one of the primates has unwittingly given the zoo a headache and forced it to delay the cleaning, originally planned for early May.

To get the job done, the zoo has to tried to lure the family of four gibbons away from the outdoor exhibition area by placing food in the inner enclosure, allowing zookeepers to safely sanitize the outdoor area uninterrupted.

The plan has backfired, however, because of the kindness of one of the three gibbon siblings that reside there, the zoo said in a lighthearted press release.

The father and the middle sibling of the family have had no qualms entering the indoor location containing their food, but the oldest and youngest siblings have kept their distance.

Unwilling to leave his brothers behind, the most carefree of the gibbon siblings has gathered food left in the indoor enclosure and brought it to his brothers rather than waiting for them to go inside, thereby thwarting the facility’s hygiene-maintenance plans.

The kindness of the gibbon has given zookeepers a major headache, and the zoo, having run out of ideas, has appealed to members of the public to come up with new ways to get the apes into the indoor enclosure.

The exhibit is designed as a natural ecosystem able to naturally deal with waste, including through the addition of other animals and organisms such as tortoises and insects, according to the zoo.

But the buildup of debris such as fallen leaves, mud, and excrement over time is too much for the small habitat to handle, and it requires a thorough cleaning once every two years, with the most recent one scheduled for the beginning of May.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Offices, schools closed in 2 Hualien townships due to tropical storm

Offices and schools in Hualien County’s Xiulin and Wanrong townships in eastern Taiwan were closed at 6 p.m. Monday in anticipation of Tropical Storm Kompasu affecting those areas into the night.

Bureau forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun (???) said heavy rain will become apparent Monday night and into early Tuesday morning as Kompasu moves closer to Taiwan.

Accumulated rainfall of between 400 and 600 millimeters has been forecast for the two mountainous townships and other hilly parts of the county in the 24-hour period until 2 p.m. Tuesday, said bureau forecaster Hsieh Pei-yun (???).

In other mountainous areas of northern Taiwan as well as Yilan and Taitung counties, the accumulated rainfall is expected to be 250-490 mm, she said.

The storm will also bring strong winds to some parts of the island, including areas north of Yunlin County and coastal regions in eastern Taiwan, Hsieh said.

As of 2 p.m. Monday, Kompasu was located 396 kilometers south-southeast of Eluanbi, the southernmost point of Taiwan, moving westward at a speed of 26 kilometers per hour, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).

It was carrying maximum sustained winds of 90 kph, with gusts of up to 118 kph, the CWB said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel