Category: Uncategorized

— VNYE to Return with Immersive New Year’s Eve Experience —

NEW YORK, Dec 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — The world’s biggest New Year’s Eve party is returning to the metaverse this year with the relaunch of VNYE, an immersive virtual experience set in the epicenter of New Year’s Eve: Times Square. Through the VNYE app and website, people from across the globe can explore the virtual world of Times Square, play games, and livestream New Year’s Eve celebrations in Times Square and around the world.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211216006118/en/

Jamestown, the owner of One Times Square, which is the site of the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop Celebration, launched VNYE last year as a new way to celebrate New Year’s Eve amid the pandemic and cancellation of in-person celebrations. In total, VNYE reached more than 3.7 million people worldwide in 2021.

“We created VNYE to amplify the New Year’s Eve experience and keep the world connected to Times Square when physical access was limited,” said Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown. “In its second iteration, VNYE will both complement the return of in-person celebrations and serve as a destination in its own right—an immersive virtual world where people from across the globe can gather to celebrate the New Year.”

“Times Square New Year’s Eve is a global celebration that connects the world as we collectively say goodbye to the year past and look with hope to the year ahead,” said Tom Harris, President of the Times Square Alliance. “Jamestown has deepened those connections through this innovative VNYE technology allowing people from around the globe to interact with Times Square and this iconic celebration in ways that we never imagined.”

In the VNYE metaverse, users can create personalized avatars, explore the Times Square Plazas, collect confetti to earn points for additional avatar customizations, and visit the observation deck at One Times Square to view the virtual world of Times Square from above.

Inside One Times Square, users can discover three unique and immersive games: Dance World, where users show off their dance skills; Nature World, where users can take in various nature landscapes and engage in a scavenger hunt to collect pieces of the iconic New Year’s Eve Ball; and Zero G, where users can travel around the globe through a slide experience, visiting an array of the world’s landmarks while earning power-ups and points along the way.

Starting December 31, 2021, users can choose from 11 live camera feeds in Times Square and seven EarthCam live streams of New Year’s Eve celebrations from around the globe, including in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Budapest, Hungary.

At midnight on New Year’s Eve, users can ring in the new year in the Times Square metaverse with a virtual Ball Drop Celebration and fireworks show.

The VNYE app will be available to download in app stores starting December 18, 2021, with livestreams starting December 31, 2021. For more information, visit VNYE.com and follow along at @onetimessquarenyc.

About Jamestown

Jamestown is a global, design-focused real estate investment and management firm with a 38-year track record and mission to create places that inspire. Since its founding in 1983, Jamestown has executed transactions in excess of $35 billion. As of September 30, 2021, Jamestown has assets under management of $13.1 billion and a portfolio spanning key markets throughout the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Jamestown employs more than 400 people worldwide with headquarters in Atlanta and Cologne, and offices in Amsterdam, Bogotá, Boston, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Current and previous projects include One Times Square and Chelsea Market in New York, Industry City in Brooklyn, Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, the Innovation and Design Building in Boston, and Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam. For more information, visit www.jamestownlp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
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Contact

Lisa Serbaniewicz
Jamestown
Lisa.Serbaniewicz@JamestownLP.com

One Times Square:
Elizabeth Latino / Siobhan Stocks-Lyons
Marino
Elatino@marinopr.com / SStocks-Lyons@marinopr.com

Source : Jamestown

–BERNAMA

TAIZHOU, China, Dec 17 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — The “2021 Hehe Culture Global Forum” was held both online and offline in Tiantai County, Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province on December 9. This forum was hosted by the China International Communication Group (CICG), the Information Office of the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, and the People’s Government of Taizhou City, and organized by the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, the Information Office of the People’s Government of Taizhou City, the People’s Government of Tiantai County, and so on.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
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Du Zhanyuan, President of China International Communication Group (CICG); Wu Jing, Vice Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Yukio Hatoyama, former Prime Minister of Japan and Chairman of the East Asian Community Institute; Han Nathan, Consul General of the Republic of Malta in Shanghai; and Li Yueqi, Secretary of the Taizhou Municipal Committee of the CPC, delivered opening speeches. Lu Cairong, Vice President of CICG, presided over the opening ceremony. About 150 people participated in discussions, including government dignitaries from a dozen countries such as China, Japan, South Korea and France, representatives of international organizations, foreign envoys in China, international sinologists, and experts and scholars from relevant think tanks, universities, and research institutions.

Du Zhanyuan pointed out that the Hehe culture, which originated in Tiantai Mountain, can provide positive inspiration for improving global governance and tackling challenges facing mankind. We should foster win-win cooperation and build an open global economy.

Yukio Hatoyama stated that two sides with different views on diplomacy should not refute each other’s viewpoints. Instead, we must work hard to achieve reconciliation in order to have win-win outcomes.

In the sub-forums, Chinese and foreign guests held exchanges and discussions on topics such as “maintaining harmony and common prosperity and achieving inclusive development”, and “working together for win-win cooperation”.

During the forum, CICG, the Publicity Department of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, and the Taizhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government signed the Framework Agreement for Organizing Hehe Culture Global Forum on an Institutional Basis (2022-2024). The promotion and release of the multilingual Keywords to Understand China and the “Tiantai Mountain Hehe Culture” event were held during the forum.

Hehe Culture Global Forum is an institutionalized international conference. Starting in 2022, the forum will host international conferences and supporting events every year.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
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Contact

Zhou Biye
Phone: 0086576-88510329
E-mail: tzswwxb001@163.com

Source : Hehe Culture Global Forum

–BERNAMA

SNOMED International released today its refreshed SNOMED CT Case for Investment report.

London, United Kingdom, Dec 17 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SNOMED International released today its refreshed SNOMED CT Case for Investment report. Available on a new interactive platform, the Case for Investment presents evidence that SNOMED CT adds measurable value to a broad range of primary and secondary health processes leveraging SNOMED CT encoded data to enable improved patient outcomes. Through the narrative, the report provides accessible and understandable answers to questions such as, “what is SNOMED CT?”, ‘what makes SNOMED CT unique?’, “how and where is it in use globally?” and “why invest in SNOMED CT?”

SNOMED CT, the most comprehensive and multilingual clinical healthcare terminology in the world, possesses unique characteristics that differentiate it from other classifications and terminologies. Among these characteristics are SNOMED CT’s position as a core reference terminology, its clinically comprehensive 350,000+ concepts supported by a machine-readable semantic network, broad use and mandate in select countries.

Showcasing real world use and outcomes of SNOMED CT is the best way to demonstrate its value, understanding that SNOMED CT must be embedded in a clinical information system, health data & analytics platform or an interoperability solution for it to function. Through the Case for Investment, 10 examples of SNOMED CT use across data entry and integration, clinical information sharing, point of care analytics, population and management analytics and research domains have been featured. Ranging across different countries such as Australia, Canada, China, United Kingdom, United States, continued collection of additional SNOMED CT case studies remains an ongoing priority.

SNOMED International CEO, Don Sweete, commented on the development and outcomes of the Case for Investment. “There has been a tremendous evolution in SNOMED CT over the past 10 years and this report demonstrates the value that it offers healthcare systems and stakeholders worldwide” said Sweete. “With a complement of 41 Members that represent health systems globally, continuously refreshed knowledge and analysis on the nature, utility and value of standards like SNOMED CT can’t be overstated. Health system decision-makers need to be equipped with clear knowledge of how their investments in SNOMED CT translate into positive outcomes for the health of their nation’s citizens.”

In terms of conclusions, the report presents SNOMED CT as a scalable and “fit for purpose” clinical terminology, adhering to international criteria, data quality and suitability requirements. A part of the bigger picture, SNOMED CT is one of many contributing factors to improving patient outcomes, and studies show that the use of SNOMED CT-embedded systems can provide significant qualitative and quantitative patient outcome benefits.

Looking forward, SNOMED CT must also contemplate how it enables the future needs of medicine and research. A healthcare industry that is ever evolving, the future opportunities for SNOMED CT will be driven by new healthcare data sources and new healthcare technologies such as national cohorts, big data and AI, clinical genomics, phenomics and environment, etc.

Experience the breadth of the SNOMED CT Case for Investment through the organization’s interactive value platform at value.snomed.org.

Attachment

• Explore the value of SNOMED CT

Kelly Kuru
SNOMED International
comms@snomed.org

SOURCE : SNOMED International

· The latest deployment significantly improves the livelihoods of two upland communities by securing a 24/7 reliable water supply using carbon-neutral technology

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Dec 16 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — Beyond2020 returns to Southeast Asia following key sustainable engagements in Indonesia and Cambodia, with a deployment that is uplifting the lives of 18,000 people in The Philippines by enhancing water access and reducing water costs by 85%. Four hydraulic ram pumps and 13 kiosks are being used to impact 3,000 residents in the village of Cabagnaan in the Province of Negros Occidental and 15,000 people in 14 villages across Altavista in the Province of Leyte.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: 
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The innovative technology is an enhancement of a system created more than 240 years ago that brings water uphill without the use of electricity or fuel and the emission of harmful gasses.

Launched by the Zayed Sustainability Prize in partnership with several leading organisations, the Beyond2020 initiative exemplifies the humanitarian legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan by donating sustainable technologies and solutions to vulnerable communities worldwide. The Philippines marks the tenth deployment of Beyond2020, which effectively addresses some of the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges, providing quality healthcare, nutritious food, essential energy, and access to safe water for drinking and sanitation.

H.E. Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, UAE Ambassador to the Philippines, said: “As a wide-reaching humanitarian initiative spearheaded by the UAE government and its wise leadership to drive sustainable economic growth globally, Beyond2020 offers crucial and life-transforming solutions to beneficiaries worldwide. The initiative’s deployment in the Philippines offers communities innovative water technology solutions that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of rural residents through long-term impact, paving the way for an easier, safer and more sustainable lifestyle.”

H.E. Al Zaabi added, “The UAE and the Philippines share a common vision towards building a more prosperous and sustainable future for their people, in accordance with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Moreover, the collaboration complements our historically close bilateral relations across multiple avenues. By tackling water scarcity, the drive to further optimise a vital resource for the benefit of communities in the Philippines, also coincides with the recent launch of the UAE’s ‘Principles of the 50’ that seek to stimulate socio-economic growth through humanitarian aid. They are important guiding principles inspired by the enduring legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed, based on his core values of sustainability, humanitarianism and global cooperation.”

The communities of Cabagnaan and Altavista, that are located on different islands, share the same challenges, whereby water is not available and has to be fetched from a source located further downhill from the community. The deployment utilises a holistic ram pump water system by the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc. (AIDFI), a 2020 Zayed Sustainability Prize finalist under the ‘Water’ category.

The Philippines Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Hjayceelyn M. Quintana added, “We are pleased to see the introduction of these essential, environmentally-friendly and life-changing solutions by the Beyond2020 initiative. The notable reach and impact of the technology supports the Philippine government’s drive to improve public services and the health of our citizens, with water being a key priority for social welfare and sustainable development.”

“We are confident that the mobilisation of international action that empowers and supports our communities’ ability to access and manage water resources will promote widespread benefits to the daily lives of impacted beneficiaries. We therefore extend our gratitude to the initiative and its partners whose involvement has been central to the realisation of the project on the ground today.”

H.E. Ólafur Grímsson, Chair of the Zayed Sustainability Prize Jury and former President of the Republic of Iceland, said, “Beyond2020’s latest project in the Philippines demonstrates the power of leveraging an innovative solution by our global community of winners and finalists and exploring its long-term capacity for beneficiaries. The initiative also demonstrates the power of collaboration as the Prize and its partners have impacted communities in 10 countries to-date, with further deployments scheduled for 2022.”

In addition to providing clean water for drinking and sanitation, the carbon-neutral technology offers residents the opportunity to improve or pursue water-related livelihoods such as vegetable gardens, aquaculture, and livestock breeding, while facilitating a more conducive environment to avoid several waterborne diseases stemming from dirty water. Furthermore, access to improved hygiene grows in prominence given the importance of handwashing in preventing the spread of COVID-19, a pressing concern for vulnerable communities worldwide.

Ten deployments have been rolled out to date under the umbrella of Beyond2020, with another nine in progress. Completed deployments include vital energy, health, water and food-related solutions in Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, Jordan, Egypt, Cambodia, Madagascar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and The Philippines.

Beyond2020 brings together a leading number of partners which include Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mubadala Petroleum and Masdar.

For more on the Prize, visit: https://zayedsustainabilityprize.com/

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: 
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Contact

Medhat Juma
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
T: +971 561399482
Medhat.Juma@hkstrategies.com

Erika Spagakou
Hill+Knowlton Strategies
T: +971 551398765
Erika.Spagakou@hkstrategies.com

Source : Zayed Sustainability Prize

–BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) — Adagio Therapeutics Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has provided an update following external in vitro analyses to evaluate neutralising activity of ADG20 against the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant.

The in vitro data generated through both authentic and pseudovirus testing of the Omicron variant show a greater than 300-fold reduction in neutralising activity of ADG20 against Omicron, according to a statement.

Additional analyses are ongoing, and the company plans to engage with regulatory and government agencies to assess the role ADG20 can play for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, particularly as the industry’s understanding of the epidemiology and impact of Omicron and potential new variants develops.

“Due to the highly conserved and immunorecessive nature of the epitope recognised by ADG20, we anticipated that ADG20 would retain neutralising activity against Omicron, consistent with activity observed in in vitro models with all other known variants of concern,” said Tillman Gerngross, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Adagio.

ADG20 is an investigational monoclonal antibody (mAb) product candidate designed to provide broad and potent neutralising activity against SARS-CoV-2, including variants of concern, for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 with potential duration of protection for up to one year with a single injection.

In previously disclosed in vitro studies, ADG20 retained activity against prior variants of concern including Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma.

In addition, in vitro data demonstrated retained neutralising activity of ADG20 against a diverse panel of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the Lambda, Mu and Delta plus variants.

The safety and efficacy of ADG20 have not been established, and ADG20 is not authorised or approved for use in any country. Adagio is currently evaluating ADG20 in global Phase 2/3 clinical trials for both the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

More details at http://www.adagiotx.com.

— BERNAMA