Month: August 2021

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Joint Press Statement on the Visit to Thailand by Foreign Minister of ROK

The following Joint Press Statement was issued on the official visit to Thailand on 26-28 August 2021 by Mr. Chung Eui-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

1. At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, His Excellency Mr. Chung Eui-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK, paid an official visit to Thailand on 26-28 August 2021. During the visit, the two Ministers held a bilateral discussion at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. Minister Chung Eui-yong also paid a courtesy call on General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand.

2. The two Ministers expressed satisfaction with the developments in the Strategic Partnership between Thailand and the Republic of Korea and reaffirmed the commitment to further enhance relations between the two countries, including the implementation of the outcome of the telephone conversation between General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, and His Excellency Mr. Moon Jae-in, President of the ROK, on 28 May 2021 into tangible results. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

On Bilateral Cooperation

3. Both sides welcomed the 10th anniversary of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea on the Thailand-Republic of Korea Strategic Partnership in 2022 and shared the view on the importance of reinvigorating the current Strategic Partnership to align with national development strategies and respond to challenges posed by the changing regional and global strategic landscape as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, the two ministers tasked their senior officials to explore how to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership to a new height and develop a Joint Action Plan towards that end. The Thai side expressed readiness to host the 4th Policy Consultation during the latter part of this year to discuss these matters.

4. Both sides acknowledged the close defense and security cooperation between Thailand and the Republic of Korea and agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in these areas. The two Ministers also looked forward to both sides convening the first bilateral dialogue on cybersecurity to explore possible areas of cooperation related to the realm of cybersecurity.

5. Both sides expressed appreciation for the support and assistance extended to each other in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to collaborate closely towards a sustainable post-COVID-19 socio-economic recovery through a strengthened partnership for (1) future industries, (2) green economy, and (3) health.

6. Partnership for future industries: Both sides affirmed the commitment to facilitate trade and investment, share best practices on the balanced development of industry and infrastructure between urban and rural areas, including smart cities and intensify cooperation in technology and innovation and digital economy as well as human resource development to upskill the workforce. The Thai side encouraged the Republic of Korea to increase investment in high-tech industries such as next generation automobile, smart electronics especially semiconductors, robotics and automation, and bio-health, digital, medical, bio-circular-green industries (BCGs), particularly in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) through the support of relevant public agencies and private organizations from both sides, including the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and the Board of Investment (BOI) of Thailand. The ROK side requested the Thai government’s continued support for the Republic of Korea to participate and invest in major infrastructure projects in Thailand, which open for international bidding.

7. Partnership for green economy: Both sides agreed to explore synergies between Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy model and the ROK’s Green New Deal with a view to promoting green investment and green technologies for sustainable development. Both sides also welcomed the fruitful outcome of the 2nd Joint Steering Committee (JSC) on 11 August 2021 as a step forward in cooperation on water resources management. Both sides noted the ROK’s bid for the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).

8. Partnership for health: Both sides expressed the determination to enhance cooperation in emerging infectious diseases and public health threats and explore collaboration in vaccine research, development, production and distribution. The two Ministers looked forward to finalizing the draft agreement on health cooperation and the convening of the First ROK-Thailand Foreign and Health Ministers’ 2+2 Dialogue on Health Security at the earliest date of mutual convenience with a view to enhancing the partnership between the two countries in this area.

9. Both sides welcomed the vibrant people-to-people relations and educational and cultural exchanges between Thailand and the Republic of Korea and supported a continued collaboration in these fields. The two Ministers also agreed to hold the fifth director-general-level meeting on consular affairs in order to bolster consular cooperation for protecting the rights and interests of their nationals in Thailand and the Republic of Korea.

10. Both sides expressed support to development cooperation between Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) under the MoU on Strengthening Partnership for International Development Cooperation and the 3rd Three-year Action Plan especially in key areas, including healthcare, human resource development, and people-to-people relations through exchanges of experts, joint dispatch of volunteers to target countries, short-term trainings, and provision of scholarships.

On Regional and International Cooperation

11. The Thai side expressed appreciation to the Republic of Korea for the proactive role in sub-regional and regional frameworks, particularly in the ASEAN-ROK, Mekong-ROK Cooperation and ACMECS of which the Republic of Korea is a Development Partner. In this regard, both sides agreed to cooperate for the success of the forthcoming 11th Mekong-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 3rd Mekong-ROK Summit later this year, which would further strengthen the partnership between Thailand as well as Mekong countries and the Republic of Korea towards peace, prosperity and sustainability in the Mekong sub-region. In addition, both sides recognized that ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement has been an important mechanism in accelerating trade and investment in the region and viewed that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) will enable the region to achieve post-pandemic economic recovery. The Republic of Korea reaffirmed the commitment to working with Thailand to materialize cooperation in the said frameworks in line with the New Southern Policy (NSP) and the New Southern Policy Plus (NSPP). Both sides agreed to work closely to launch the ROK-ACMECS Cooperation Project utilizing the ROK’s contribution to the ACMECS fund. The Thai side expressed appreciation to the Korean side for the support for Thailand’s APEC host year in 2022.

12. Both sides reaffirmed the commitment to ASEAN centrality and bring about the four areas of cooperation under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) into fruition as well as supported the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. Thailand reiterated support to the Republic of Korea for the unwavering efforts to achieve complete denuclearization and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and to advance inter-Korean dialogue, engagement, and cooperation, while the Republic of Korea expressed support for the roles of ASEAN in resolving the situation in Myanmar. Both sides looked forward to the timely and complete implementation of the Five-Point Consensus of the ASEAN Leaders Meeting on 24 April 2021, and agreed to continue to seek ways for providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar.

Source: The Government Public Relations Department

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Thailand’s CCSA advised not to rush into easing lockdown restrictions

A senior respiratory disease expert has cautioned the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) against prematurely easing lockdown restrictions, without strict enforcement of the remaining measures. “More COVID-19 infections will result,” said Associate Professor Dr. Nitipat Jiarakul, chief of the respiratory diseases and tuberculosis section of the Department of Tropical Medicines at the Faculty of Medicine of Mahidol University.

The CCSA is scheduled to meet today (Friday) to consider the Public Health Ministry’s good practice guidelines for the easing of lockdown restrictions, which could allow eateries to provide dine-in services, as proposed by operators of restaurants and eateries in COVID-19 “dark red” provinces.

Dr. Nitipat noted that COVID-19 infections in Thailand have not yet reached their peak and “now, the doves are calling for the easing of restrictions, claiming that the graph of new infections across the country has been declining for the past several days, even though the infection rate is still beyond the capacity of the healthcare system to handle.”

“Calm down please,” pleaded Dr. Nitipat in his Facebook post, as he cited the CCSA’s Order No.23, issued in late May this year, easing certain lockdown restrictions, despite protests from the “hawkish” faction.

Two months later, he said, infections spread like advancing cancer, forcing the CCSA to issue five additional lockdown orders, pointing out that the spread of the disease does not depend on how quickly or slowly lockdown restrictions are eased, but on how effectively the laws or restrictions are enforced.

He asked the people to choose whether they want to live patiently, with COVID-19, for a long time or to live with the virus, constantly apprehensive about the daily numbers of new cases, new severe cases, how many need ventilators and additional deaths.

Dr. Nitipat also took note of an aspect of COVID-19 which is barely mentioned and studied in Thailand, which is the number of recoveries who are unable to resume their normal life, physically and mentally, known as “long COVID”.

He cited the case of the Samut Sakhon governor Veerasak Vichitsangsri, who recovered from the disease after being hospitalised for over 80 days and who is still unable to work as hard as he used to.

He also cited the cases of other recovered patients who whose lungs have been damaged beyond repair by the virus.

Easing of lockdown restrictions, he said, must be done step by step, adding that there must be clear cut guidelines for the public and monitoring.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS)

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Killer cops’ case sheds light on rampant police abuse of suspects, reform unlikely – HRW

Thanks to social media and a whistle blower, who leaked the chilling video of a group of police officers torturing a drug suspect to death, has triggered yet another public outcry against the authorities and a media storm over this blatantly horrendous act and the denial of the suspect’s right to prove his innocence in the justice system, or even to say goodbye to his loved ones.

The leaked video, which shows the 24-year-old victim being suffocated with plastic bags, the key suspect’s connections to celebrities and his unusual wealth, which would take him hundreds of years to acquire on a police salary, have all shed light on police brutality in Thailand and the need for reform.

In an interview, televised live on Thai PBS World on Friday, Mr. Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher on Thailand at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said police torture of drug suspects in custody is “very common”.

“Each year there are cases reported to Human Rights Watch and other human rights groups, but the problem is (highlighted by) what happened in Nakhon Sawan. It happened in front of a camera and the footage was leaked, causing a public outcry and anger, prompting reactions from the Royal Thai Police,” said Sunai.

“In other cases, however, there were no witnesses, no evidence or footage and the families of the victim are also victims themselves, who survived the torture and are too scared to report their ordeals. So, this is only the tip of a very big iceberg in Thailand which needs to be addressed seriously and thoroughly,” he added.

Late Thursday night, the police held a press conference to announce the arrest of the key suspect, Thitisan Uttanaphon, also known as “Joe Ferrari” for his supercar collection, who headed the Nakhon Sawan Muang district’s police station before he and the other officers involved were dismissed from the force.

Unlike many other criminal cases, however, the police managed to infuriate the public even more, by giving him the limelight and a chance to plead that he “did not mean to kill the victim” and that he was not trying to extort 2 million Baht from him, as widely reported. The press briefing seemed to reaffirm the belief among people living in Thailand, both locals and expats alike, that the rich and powerful are, most of the time, getting away with crimes, except for, perhaps, political cases launched against opponents.

“The police press conference last night was, to me, an insult to the public. It was not about reporting the progress of the police investigation or what will be the direction of the investigation, but rather it was about providing an opportunity for the prime suspect in this case, the one who ordered and committed the torture, to offer excuses, which were rather lame. Who do they think they’re trying to fool?” asked Mr. Sunai.

“Thai people are not that stupid. What happened last night at the police press conference did not instill any confidence that justice will be delivered in this case,” the rights researcher added.

Talks about the need to reform the police have resumed, just like talks about army reform were buzzing after the unprecedented mass shooting by a soldier in Nakhon Ratchasima in February 2020. The then army chief Gen. Apirat Kongsompong tearfully promised to reform the force. Not much, however, has been done since and the incident was reduced to a personal conflict between the perpetrator and his superior. This time, Mr. Sunai believes, it will not be very different.

“First of all, the prime minister came into office with major promises to reform the military and the police. We’ve already seen that promises regarding military reform have flopped. Nothing has really happened and, with that, I don’t have any confidence that we will see any serious action regarding police reform,” he said.

“Let’s not forget that, as the prime minister of Thailand, General Prayut is directly in charge of the Royal Thai Police. Seven years have passed, he has done nothing. Do you think he’s going to do it now? No!” he added.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS)

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Covid symptoms last a year for many patients: study

Fatigue and shortness of breath still afflict many patients a year after their hospitalization for Covid-19, according to a new Chinese study calling for a better understanding of the pandemic’s long-term health effects.

Around half of the patients discharged from hospital for Covid still suffer from at least one persistent symptom — most often fatigue or muscle weakness — after 12 months, said the study published in British medical journal The Lancet Friday.

The research, the largest yet on the condition known as “long Covid”, added that one in three patients still have shortness of breath a year after their diagnosis.

That number is even higher in patients hit more severely by the illness.

“With no proven treatments or even rehabilitation guidance, long Covid affects people’s ability to resume normal life and their capacity to work,” The Lancet said in an editorial published with the study.

“The study shows that for many patients, full recovery from Covid-19 will take more than 1 year.”

The study followed nearly 1,300 people hospitalized for Covid between January and May 2020 in the central Chinese city of Wuhan — the first place affected by a pandemic that has since infected 214 million people worldwide, killing more than 4 million.

The share of observed patients with at least one symptom decreased from 68 percent after six months to 49 percent after 12 months.

Respiratory discomfort increased from 26 percent of patients after six months to 30 percent after 12 months, it said.

It found affected women were 43 percent more likely than affected men to suffer from fatigue or persistent muscle weakness, and twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression.

But it said 88 percent of patients who worked before their diagnosis had returned to their jobs a year later.

The study adds to previous research that warned authorities in different countries they must be prepared to provide long-term support to health workers and patients affected by Covid.

“Long Covid is a modern medical challenge of the first order,” the editorial said, calling for more research to understand the condition and better care for patients who suffer from it.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS)

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Enhancing Thailand-Republic of Korea Partnership

With regard to the official visit to Thailand on 26-28 August 2021 by Mr. Chung Eui-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), Mr. Tanee Sangrat, Director-General and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, shared some details of the talks that took place between Mr. Chung Eui-Yong and Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand on 27 August 2021.

Foreign Minister Chung stressed that President Moon Jae-in personally instructed him to visit Thailand, given President Moon’s good relations with the Prime Minister of Thailand. This is Foreign Minister Chung’s first visit to Thailand in his capacity as Foreign Minister. Moreover, it is also the first visit to Thailand by any foreign minister from the ROK in three years.

To Foreign Minister Chung, Thailand has held a special place in his family’s heart since his posting in Thailand 37 years ago. Today, he has witnessed Thailand’s impressive advancements from his posting till the present, and is confident that Thailand will once again become “the miracle on the Chao Phraya River” in the post COVID-19 period.

On the ROK’s cooperation with Thailand on vaccines, which is now the Thai government’s top priority, Foreign Minister Chung informed that the ROK is now vaccinating her people and aims to vaccinate 70 percent of her population by September, in time to celebrate the big autumnal festival in the country. At the end of September, the ROK will also be able to cooperate with Thailand on vaccines.

Foreign Minister Chung said that he had met Korean businessmen and investors in Thailand on 27 August before his meeting with Mr. Don Pramudwinai. During this meeting, he expressed his full confidence in the Thai government’s stability and noted that the ROK had reached top ranking for foreign direct investment in Thailand in the first quarter of this year.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand emphasized strategic cooperation between the strong sectors of both countries, particularly the service sector, which is currently a priority for the ROK, as well as design capabilities. The ROK also has strong potential and best practices in the areas of research and incubation centers for new businesses. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation on AI, technology related to robotics, IoT, cyber security, the green industry, the electric vehicles industry, the construction industry, and cooperation on smart cities.

The ROK proposed a 2+2 meeting between the Foreign and Health Ministers, as well as a summit on industrial cooperation, which the ROK would host.

In addition, both sides discussed ways to enhance Thailand-ROK cooperation under bilateral and multilateral frameworks, as well as military and security cooperation.

The ROK agrees with, and fully supports Thailand’s BCG (Bio-Circular-Green Economy) concept. The ROK stands ready to cooperate with Thailand in all dimensions and also has a new policy, known as the Green New Deal, and the Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 Summit (P4G), which is aligned with Thailand’s BCG concept.

Source: The Government Public Relations Department

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Businesses in Thai border town mulls “sandbox” scheme to lure Malaysian tourists back

The private sector, in Thailand’s border district of Sadao in Songkhla province, is to propose the “Dan Nok Sandbox” scheme to the governor, to reopen the commercial town to arrivals from Malaysia, tentatively in November.

An advisor to the association of business operators in Sadao district, Suthiphong Sitthipataraprapha, told Thai PBS that businesses in the commercial district have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years, resulting in more than 80% of the businesses, which depend heavily on tourist arrivals from Malaysia, being shut down.

He said that, in Malaysia, 31.8 million doses of vaccines have been administered so far, with 41.7% of its population being vaccinated, adding that 70% of the people in Malaysia are expected to be fully inoculated by the end of October, which will coincide with the Thai government’s target date for the reopening of the country to foreign arrivals.

Suthiphong said that all employees in Sadao district must be fully inoculated within October, whereas arriving tourists from Malaysia must show their certificates, to confirm that they are fully inoculated, and have tested negative within 72 hours prior to their arrival.

Meanwhile, Mr. Surapol Kampalanonwat, president of the Association of Travel Businesses of Songkhla province, said the association is seeking at least 30,000 doses of vaccines from the Public Health Ministry, to be injected into employees in the tourism sector in October, adding that it will not be possible for the province to reopen to foreign arrivals if fewer people are inoculated.

He pointed out that, if the “Dan Nok Sandbox” scheme proves successful, similar schemes can be used to cover Hat Yai district, touted as the commercial capital of Thailand’s southern region, which is also being badly battered by the pandemic and the sharp drop in tourist arrivals from Malaysia.

Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS)

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Harrison Street Brings Alternative Investment Expertise to Canada

First closing of dedicated Canadian fund provides investing capacity of more than CAD$550 million for investments in senior living, student housing, medical office, life sciences, storage, and digital assets

CHICAGO and TORONTO, Aug. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Harrison Street, one of the leading investment management firms exclusively focused on alternative real assets, today announced it is bringing its significant expertise investing in demographic-driven alternative assets to the Canadian market and will pursue investments in senior living, student housing, medical office, life sciences, storage, and digital assets throughout Canada. Harrison Street Canada Alternative Real Estate Fund recently completed its first closing and, based on committed capital and targeted leverage, anticipates initial capacity to invest over CAD$550 million in stabilized, cash-flow producing assets with up to 35% invested in value-add strategies. The Fund has received capital commitments from accredited investors, including a variety of institutional investors and prominent Canadian family offices, such as the Hennick Family and senior executives of the firm.

Christopher Merrill, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO at Harrison Street, said, “For more than 15 years, Harrison Street has been a first mover in highly differentiated, demographic driven real estate, first in the United States and then Europe. Now, we are thrilled to bring our deep expertise and track record to the Canadian market. Demographic characteristics in Canada are like those we see in the United States, however, alternative real estate remains underdeveloped compared to the U.S. market. Our expansion into the Canadian market is a natural evolution to our platform and we look forward to identifying attractive investment opportunities for our global investors and partners in the alternative real asset space in Canada.”

Jonathan Turnbull, Managing Director and Head of Canadian Transactions for Harrison Street, added, “Similar to how Harrison Street has built its business in the U.S. and Europe, relationships with best-in-class developers and operators on a local and national level is a critical component to our successful execution in Canada. Accordingly, we have a robust and actionable pipeline of off-market opportunities with multiple partners across our sectors of focus and several investments, closing in the near term, are in partnership with operators who are new to the Harrison Street platform. Additionally, our strategic alignment with Colliers, one of the top global players in commercial real estate will further amplify our reach into the market.”

About Harrison Street

Harrison Street is one of the leading investment management firms exclusively focused on alternative real assets. Since inception in 2005, the firm has created a series of differentiated investment solutions focused on demographic-driven, needs-based assets. The firm has invested across senior housing, student housing, healthcare delivery, life sciences and storage real estate as well as social and utility infrastructure. Headquartered in Chicago with offices in London and Toronto, the firm has more than 195-employees and approximately $36 billion in assets under management and is owned by its senior leadership team in partnership with Colliers International Group Inc, one of the top global players in commercial real estate, creating long-term stability and strong alignment with investors. Clients of the firm include a global institutional investor base domiciled in North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Latin America. Harrison Street has been awarded Best Places to Work by Pensions & Investments for the last seven consecutive years and was named 2020 Global Alternatives Investor of the Year by PERE. For more information, please visit www.harrisonst.com.

About Colliers

Colliers (NASDAQ, TSX: CIGI) is a leading diversified professional services and investment management company. With operations in 66 countries, our more than 15,000 enterprising professionals work collaboratively to provide expert advice to real estate occupiers, owners and investors. For more than 25 years, our experienced leadership with significant insider ownership has delivered compound annual investment returns of almost 20% for shareholders. With annualized revenues of $3.3 billion ($3.6 billion including affiliates) and $45 billion of assets under management, we maximize the potential of property and accelerate the success of our clients and our people. Learn more at corporate.colliers.com, Twitter @Colliers or LinkedIn.

Media contacts:

Nathaniel Garnick/Grace Cartwright
Gasthalter & Co.
(212) 257-4170

Andrea Cheung
Global Manager, Communications
Colliers
andrea.cheung@colliers.com
416-324-6402

This information is not intended to be an offer or solicitation to buy or sell securities. Any such offer or solicitation will be made only by means of the Confidential Offering Memorandum relating to the Fund. Access to information about the Fund is limited to investors who qualify as “accredited investors” in the applicable Canadian jurisdiction, pursuant to other prospectus exemptions, or internationally, pursuant to local laws.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release contains financial projections and other forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainty. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions made by management. Sentences or phrases that use words such as “expects”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “hopes”, “plans”, “may”, “can”, “will”, “projects,” and others, are often used to indicate forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean a statement is not forward-looking. By their very nature, such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these uncertainties and risks are difficult to predict and beyond Harrison Street’s control. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance, results or events. Harrison Street assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events.

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Leading Banking-as-a Service (BaaS) Provider Finaptic Chooses Acuant to Power Trusted Onboarding

Acuant will provide KYC and Identity Verification tech for seamless, compliant financial solutions

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acuant, the leading global Trusted Identity Platform for fraud prevention and AML compliance, today announced a new partnership with Finaptic, Canada’s only end-to-end, white-label Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) provider. As the company quickly expands, Finaptic will leverage Acuant’s fully automated technology for Onboarding with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Document Verification to meet Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulation and compliance standards.

Finaptic is a leading end-to-end banking-as-a-service (BaaS) provider that combines the power of a traditional banking platform with the flexibility of a modern technology stack to create better customer experiences. Located in Canada, Finaptic’s platform allows companies across all major industries to easily offer value-added, fully compliant banking products to their customers and build brand loyalty. Real time, event-driven technology allows its partners to embed a full-range of banking products into their own branded user experiences.

“At Finaptic, our purpose-built platform incorporates cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and data privacy by design, bringing the trust and security which Canadians expect in banking. Our modern, flexible platform is designed to deliver the next generation of banking experiences through the client’s preferred distribution point,” said David Furlong, co-founder and CEO of Finaptic. “We are very pleased to announce this partnership with Acuant; leveraging Acuant’s technology allows us to securely onboard clients remotely while seamlessly meeting compliance needs.”

To provide Finaptic’s partners the most trusted customer experience, Acuant is collaborating with Finaptic to provide its best-of-breed technologies customized to their use case and level of risk. Finaptic is leveraging Acuant’s fully automated KYC and Identity Verification for fast, secure and robust identity proofing.

“We are excited to partner with Finaptic and provide exactly what they are looking for,” said Yossi Zekri, President and CEO at Acuant. “They value the strength of our platform and that they are able to customize solutions to meet their individual use cases, all while being managed via a single API and a single contract. We look forward to their continued growth and success as their trusted partner.”

About Acuant
Acuant’s Trusted Identity Platform is at the forefront of empowering businesses and governments to transact with trust in an ever-increasing digital world. Enabling the creation, ownership and ability to verify and securely share a digital identity, Acuant’s inclusive technology is accessible to the entire global population.

AI-powered, industry leading identity verification, regulatory compliance (AML/KYC) and digital identity solutions deliver unparalleled results and operational efficiency with omnichannel deployment. Acuant verifies identities in seconds anywhere your customers want to transact, providing superior customer experiences to fight fraud and fast-track trusted identities.

Completing more than 1.5 billion transactions in over 200 countries and territories, Acuant powers trust globally for industry leaders in finance, crypto, retail, healthcare, gaming, hospitality and more.

Acuant Media Contact
Malini Gujral
marketing@acuant.com

Finaptic Media Contact
press@finaptic.com

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2cf1d462-0399-4209-ae96-7ba9ac9228c3

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Philips spotlights smart diagnostic and treatment solutions driving clinical confidence and workflow efficiency at ESC 2021

August 26, 2021 

  • Company’s innovative, integrated imaging systems, devices, software, informatics and services support greater efficiency, enabling high-quality care for a growing volume of complex cardiac patients
  • Early detection, accurate diagnosis, precise treatment and easy follow-up are enabled by data-driven, streamlined workflows

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced the launch of its digital experience during the virtual European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2021 Congress, taking place August 27-30, during which it will showcase its latest suite of solutions to help improve outcomes for patients with cardiovascular disease by enabling quick, confident diagnoses, and efficient, effective treatments. During the congress, Philips will demonstrate its continued leadership in cardiology across its integrated portfolio of solutions throughout the entire cardiac care journey, from early detection, diagnosis and treatment, to long-term follow-up.

Cardiovascular disease has become the number one healthcare challenge globally and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide [1]. The costs associated with cardiovascular diseases are rising significantly, with an expected growth in cost of 101% by 2035 [2]. The demands on cardiology departments are higher than ever before, forcing clinicians to balance the delivery of high-quality care for a growing volume of complex patients, while dealing with the pressures to improve departmental efficiency at the same time. Definitive diagnostics, innovative procedures and personalized patient management are essential to help address these most challenging demands.

“From emergency care to diagnosis and treatment, to care into the home, cardiac care teams need the right information and support available at their fingertips across the entire cardiac patient journey,” said Bert van Meurs, Chief Business Leader of Image Guided Therapy at Philips. “Philips is uniquely positioned to integrate imaging, devices, software, informatics and services at each point in a cardiac patient’s journey to help deliver results now, while positioning for future success. At this year’s ESC virtual congress, we continue our longstanding leadership in cardiology, as we demonstrate the latest smart solutions to help improve the precision diagnosis and effective treatment for patients in cardiac care, driving better outcomes and lower cost while improving the patient and staff experience.”

Philips cardiology experience at the Virtual ESC 2021 Congress
Visitors to the Philips virtual experience during ESC will see how Philips’ solutions help strengthen clinical confidence with robust data and advanced technologies to give insight to provide the right care at the right time, improving outcomes for even the most complex patients. Building efficiency throughout the care pathway, Philips is streamlining communication between devices and systems to identify and address operational improvements to optimize resources and help reduce costs. By improving cardiac care experiences with user-friendly tools and streamlined workflows, Philips is helping relieve pain points for staff and enhancing comfort for patients.

Technology highlights in diagnostic and treatment solutions at this year’s virtual ESC congress include:

  • Philips Spectral CT 7500 for advanced cardiac imaging. The new Philips Spectral CT 7500, designed to support diagnosis, builds on Philips’s strong reputation in cardiac imaging by delivering fast cardiac scans with excellent coronary vessel visualization, and now layers of spectral information for every exam. The spectral detector allows the Spectral CT 7500 to be the only system that will acquire spectral cardiac data in the same time and place for all patients, from pediatrics to bariatrics. This latest intelligent system has demonstrated a 34% reduction in time to diagnosis [3], a 25% reduction in repeat scans and a 30% reduction in follow-up scans [4] compared to conventional CT. The time-saving spectral workflow is fully integrated, enabling spectral chest scans. Intelligent workflows of Philips IntelliSpace Portal simplify advanced vessel analysis, comprehensive cardiac assessment, lung nodule assessment, and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) to expand cardiac and ED trauma capabilities.
  • New innovations in ultrasound enhance clinical efficiency and diagnostic confidence. Philips’ new echo imaging, quantification, and tele-health technologies help improve clinical confidence, automate repetitive tasks, and remotely and securely connect clinicians and patients. Philips brings together the EPIQ CVx and Affiniti CVx ultrasound platforms, TOMTEC advanced analysis, Collaboration Live remote decision support and Philips multi-modality image and information management solutions (IntelliSpace Cardiovascular) in an end-to-end workflow, for a fully integrated experience in echocardiography.
  • Improved workflow and patient focus in image guided procedures. Philips will demonstrate the integration of its Interventional Hemodynamic System and market-leading portable Patient Monitor IntelliVue X3, providing advanced hemodynamic (blood flow) measurements at the tableside in the cath lab and continuous monitoring of key vital signs throughout the patient journey [5]. The integration provides the opportunity for monitoring during image-guided procedures on the Philips Image Guided Therapy System – Azurion, improving workflow with comprehensive patient records that support timely clinical decision-making during interventional cardiology procedures and beyond.
  • Cardiology informatics solutions drive actionable insights to enhance cardiology care. Philips Cardiovascular Informatics solution provides a consistent end-to-end intuitive workflow for easy access to a patient’s cardiovascular pathway. By connecting and integrating disparate clinical systems across the enterprise, the cardiology care team can make fast clinical decisions based on the data when and where it is needed. Philips cardiology informatics solutions, smart intelligent algorithms and predictive analytics work seamlessly to help optimize patient throughput.

Advanced cardiac monitoring from the hospital into the home
Philips cardiac care solutions and BioTelemetry’s leading remote cardiac patient monitoring  have transformed the cardiac care pathway. Now, individuals with complex co-morbidities can emerge from a cardiac event or procedure to live independently with the confidence of 24/7 clinical oversight with advanced cardiac monitoring including monitoring of wearables and implantable devices for a complete end-to-end solution across acute and non-acute settings, from the hospital into the home.

Philips hosted webinars and symposia sessions during ESC 2021
ESC delegates can join Dr. Roberto Lang of the University of Chicago Medicine, along with Dr. Pepe Zamorano of the University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain and Dr. Eric Saloux with Coen University Hospital, France during an Ultrasound Satellite Symposia session on August 28 at 8:00AM CET, as they present results on new imaging technologies under investigation. ESC attendees can also join Dr. Tim Leiner, Professor of Radiology at Utrecht University Medical Center in the Netherlands, who will share the latest results and advantages of cardiovascular imaging with the next generation Spectral CT 7500.

On August 27 at 10:00AM CET, Dr. Borja Ibáñez, Director of Clinical Research of the National Center Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) in Spain will also be presenting results from ultra-fast cardiac MR scanning, reducing MRI evaluation of the heart to a few minutes. Visit the Philips ESC Engagement Hub for the full list of Philips hosted webinars throughout the event.

For more information, join the Philips virtual experience at ESC 2021. Visit www.philips.com/cardiology and the Philips Press Backgrounder for more information on Philips full suite of integrated imaging, devices, software, informatics and services enhancing precision heart care. And join @PhilipsLiveFrom to follow Philips for updates throughout the event.

[1] European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2017.
[2] RTI International for the American Heart Association. Projections of Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence and Costs: 2015–2035.
[3] Andersen, MB, Ebbesen, D, Thygesen, J, et al. impact of spectral body imaging in patients suspected for occult cancer: a prospective study of 503 patients. Eur Radiol (2020). Results from case studies are not predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-020-06878-7.
[4] Analysis by CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock Arkansas and University Hospitals of Cleveland. Results from case studies are not predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.
[5] Philips Interventional Hemodynamic System with Patient Monitor IntelliVue X3 is available in the majority of markets worldwide. Philips’ continuous patient monitoring solution is available for sale in markets across Europe, Middle East and APAC, with further expansion planned later this year. It is not available for sale in the U.S.

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 17.3 billion and employs approximately 77,000 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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Heineken® gives sports fans three more reasons to cheer

Heineken® unveils new UEFA and Motorsports partnerships
Bringing fans together over world-class sports

AMSTERDAM, Aug. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The hope, the cheers, the suspense, the celebration – and having the very best of times before, during and after a sports event… it’s what fans want, now more than ever. That’s why Heineken® is announcing new partnerships to provide even more top performances for fans to cheer on with UEFA’s Women’s Champions League, UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and 2025, and W Series, the international single-seater motor racing championship for female drivers.

Fans can look forward to world-class sport, accompanied by exclusive DJ sets to round off the action and emotion. For Heineken® it’s a new chapter in its commitment to fans, building on thriving partnerships within football and motorsport.

Bram Westenbrink, Global Head Heineken® Brand, said:

“We are committed to delivering great shared moments to consumers all over the world and our sponsorships are exciting platforms to connect with fans through their passions and enhance their experiences. By extending our partnerships in football and motorsport to include W Series, UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and 2025, we are enabling more thrilling experiences for all.”

Julia George, Global Sponsorship Manager for Heineken®, said:

“Our multi-year deals with W Series, UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and 2025 enable us to create even more world-class experiences to enhance the sports that fans love. And we know that fan passion is not determined by gender, but by coming together over the love for the sport and the world class athletes. That’s why we are proud to announce extensions to our partnerships in football and motorsport.”

Nadine Kessler, Chief of Women’s Football at UEFA, said: “We are delighted to expand our fantastic 25-year relationship with Heineken® through to the UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and 2025. This expansion demonstrates Heineken®’s continued commitment to being an advocate and supporter of the whole of European football, women’s and men’s, and the amazing fans, players and coaches who make these tournaments so special.”

Catherine Bond-Muir, CEO of W Series, said: “This partnership marks another exciting step forward for W Series and our mission to further the interests and prospects of female racing drivers. Heineken®’s commitment to supporting us shows how W Series is going from strength to strength enhancing the way our fans watch racing through exceptional experiences. We know the incredible support that Heineken® brings through their outstanding engagement with racing fans across the world and we are delighted to partner with Heineken® for this incredible journey.”

Heineken®’s partnership with UEFA women’s tournament will extend through until the end of the 2024/25 season. The partnership will provide Heineken® with additional ticketing, hospitality, branding and pouring opportunities as well as digital fan activations including the Heineken Goal of the Round, and in stadium activations and experiences for fans like the Heineken Best Seat in the House.

Heineken®’s multi-year deal with W Series will give the premium beer brand at-track visibility at races, Heineken® 0.0, digital activation ‘Heineken Star of the Track’, its continued support to responsibility through When You Drive Never Drink and – of course – track-side fan experiences throughout the season. 2021 is a big year for W Series, which launched in 2018. For the first time the championship will join eight Formula 1, Grand Prix races across the season, giving motorsport fans the opportunity to watch the world’s top female drivers compete.

The announcement of these new sponsorships is celebrated in a new film featuring Heineken® ambassadors Thierry Henry and David Coulthard, alongside Pernille Harder, Melanie Leupolz, Jamie Chadwick, and Naomi Schiff. The film captures the shared magic, drama and excitement of sports – that is what makes it so special for the fans.

The short film can be viewed in full here: [link]

A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below:

Heineken More Moments: Heineken More Moments

Notes to Editors:

Press Enquiries: Archie Patch (Edelman) archie.patch@edelman.com /heinekenglobalpr@edelman.com

About HEINEKEN:

HEINEKEN is the world’s most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through “Brewing a Better World”, sustainability is embedded in the business.

HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We employ over 80,000 employees and operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. HEINEKEN has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken Holding N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY).

Most recent information is available on HEINEKEN’s website: www.theHEINEKENcompany.com and follow us on Twitter via @HEINEKENCorp.

About W Series:

W Series is a free-to-enter championship, launched in October 2018, that provides equal opportunities for women.

W Series drivers are selected purely on their ability and the series’ cars are mechanically identical, which means that W Series races and championships will be won by the most talented drivers.

The more high-profile female role models it can create, the more W Series believes it will bring more females into the sport. Central to W Series’ mission is the idea that if you can see it, you can be it.

Le Castellet, Spielberg, Austria, Silverstone, UK, Budapest, Hungary, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, Zandvoort, Netherlands, Austin, USA, Mexico City, Mexico

For more information, including Championship Standings, visit W Series website: www.wseries.com

About UEFA Women’s Champions League:

A new UEFA Women’s Champions League format will be introduced from 2021/22, including a 16-team group stage as well as centralised marketing and TV coverage.

The change was agreed by the UEFA Executive Committee in Nyon as the first direct outcome of the UEFA women’s football strategy #TimeForAction, which aims to double the reach and value of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The change means a 20% increase in the number of matches, or a 39% increase excluding the first round which is played in the form of mini-tournaments, and gives the tournament more competitive games and increased visibility and quality. The new format was developed by UEFA in close collaboration with the clubs and the European Club Association and will set a new benchmark for an international women’s club football competition.

The 2021/2022 Final is set to be hosted in Turin.

For more information, including group standings and fixture lists, visit www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague.com.

About UEFA Women’s EURO 2022:

UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 will be played from 6 to 31 July in England, across 9 stadiums, with 15 other nations joining the host country for the tournament.

The 16 sides will be drawn into four groups of four, with the top two in each section progressing to the knockout phase. . The draw for the group stages will take place on the 28th of October 2021. The final will take place at Wembley Stadium on the 31st of July 2022.

For more information, visit www.uefa.com/womenseuro/.