Quantcast
Channel: Europe Headlines on One News Page [United Kingdom]
Viewing all 65275 articles
Browse latest View live

Donald Trump: US will not be a 'migrant camp'

0
0
Criticism of Europe comes as White House policy on child migrants is attacked from all sides Reported by FT.com 7 hours ago.

What lies beneath: Stunning photos show what's lurking below city streets

0
0
What lies beneath: Stunning photos show what's lurking below city streets Slovakian-born, London-based photographer Tomas Sentpetery decided to delve into some of Europe's top tourist destinations and show a side people rarely see. Reported by MailOnline 6 hours ago.

Hapoel Jerusalem adds Brown from Gilboa/Galil, Mac TA hopes to keep Pargo

0
0
Hapoel Jerusalem adds Brown from Gilboa/Galil, Mac TA hopes to keep Pargo A graduate of the University of Texas, Brown has played six seasons in Europe. Reported by Jerusalem Post 3 hours ago.

London tech organisations unite to double founder diversity by 2020

0
0
London tech organisations unite to double founder diversity by 2020 An initiative to boost access to investment for tech startups founded by women and people from minority ethnicity backgrounds has launched today, backed by JP Morgan Chase.

Spearheaded by Capital Enterprise, a consortium including Tech Nation, Diversity VC and Your Startup, Your Story, are aiming to double the diversity of founders in London tech startups over the next two years.

The campaign aims to raise a total of $20m (£15.1m) of investment for new companies, and create 300 new tech jobs by working with over 50 venture capital firms, angel investors and tech accelerators across the capital.

Capital Enterprise's Alison Partridge, who has been named the architect of the programme, highlighted that members inside even the best performing tech accelerators in London only hold around 10 per cent women, and 20 per cent BAME founders.

*Read more*: PwC unites with 17 companies to create a "pipeline" for women in tech

Later this year, the consortium will also launch a high-profile showcase of stories from under-represented tech founders to illustrate available opportunities in the tech startup ecosystem.

Peter Scher, head of corporate responsibility at JP Morgan Chase said: “The technology sector is critical to London’s economy, but we must improve the diversity of the entrepreneurs that support it.

“Fostering diversity can drive technology innovation, creativity and productivity and create inclusive economic growth. Our investment with Capital Enterprise will give minority and female technology founders, especially in East London, a chance to move up the economic ladder as they start and grow their businesses.”

The news comes as Tech Nation opened applications for its fintech programme last week, as part of HM Treasury's 2018 fintech strategy. The accelerator programme has given birth to some of the biggest names in fintech since it began, including the likes of Zopa, Transferwise, Monzo and Trussle.

*Read more*: The UK has been crowned the tech unicorn capital of Europe

Recent data from the first ever diversity audit of the UK technology sector, organised by Colorintech, showed that only four people on the board of the UK's top 16 technology companies were ethnic minorities, out of a total of 152 board members. Furthermore, only one of those four was a woman.

“There has never been a more important time for Britain to define itself within a bigger picture,” said Tech Nation's COO, MB Christie.

“To compete on the global stage and attract the best talent, our tech sector must take up the banner of inclusion and diversity. Tech Nation is proud to be taking part in this important initiative to support women and under-represented groups access pathways to careers and futures in tech.

“We are looking forward to working with our partners to make sure that the UK tech sector creates opportunities for everyone – regardless of gender, ethnicity, age or disability.” Reported by City A.M. 3 hours ago.

Poland’s integration into EU project spurs football success

0
0
Ex-communist nation benefit from proximity to game’s western Europe stronghold Reported by FT.com 3 hours ago.

The NHS needs reform and automation, not a political bidding war

0
0
The NHS needs reform and automation, not a political bidding war It was the worst kept secret in Westminster, but we finally heard over the weekend that the NHS will receive a funding boost of around £20bn a year.

As with public sector pay increases, the Conservatives perhaps feel that they have to loosen the purse strings a little, given the scare they got at the election last year.

However, we know that this level of increase won’t be enough for the socialists and their acolytes on Twitter. There probably isn’t a level that Philip Hammond could announce that would please them.

*Read more*: The NHS will be kept alive by tax rises, not a fantasy Brexit dividend

It is therefore not a good idea for Jeremy Hunt to enter a bidding war without a broader plan for reforming the health system. We spend around £330m on healthcare every day, so any money is spent pretty quickly. Pouring in more funds will likely be a shorter-than-immediate-term fix.

It cannot be said enough: we are not alone in providing universal coverage. This is something that most of the rest of Europe manages to do, but the better healthcare systems on the continent have acknowledged the need for models that are financially sustainable in the long term.

Britain’s sole focus on spending, without reform, just means we often throw good money after bad.

Theresa May has said that the NHS must reduce waste and increase efficiency, although she seems to have kicked plans for a more radical overhaul down the road. Widespread reform is crucial, but even if there were the political appetite for it, it would take significant time. So what can we do in the meantime?

For a start, we could hit go on hospital builds gummed up by Carillion’s collapse. The most notable of these is the Midland Met hospital in the West Midlands. The longer this is delayed, the more it will drastically increase the cost for taxpayers, and the less money we will have for frontline care.

A sensible financial approach to NHS finances is necessary not just inside hospitals, but in building them too. The authorities should get a move on with the project.

More importantly, we must continue the pace of automation in the NHS. Some Trusts have been quick to adopt new technologies, and others which have been slower should take note. The Labour peer Lord Darzi reckons that automation could save the NHS £12.5bn a year, releasing funds to spend elsewhere.

This is the kind of thinking we need in the immediate term – how can we save some money or improve service delivery so that we can allow nurses and doctors to do their jobs with more dignity and less paperwork?

Currently, the vague plans to fund this NHS boost appear to be partly reliant on Brexit, but primarily look like they will involve hiking taxes. And yet the tax burden is about to hit its highest level in nearly 50 years, and the cost of living is still a major concern. We should be doing everything possible to limit the extra strain on taxpayers.

Of course, spending more money on healthcare is not in and of itself a bad thing: as countries get richer, they do tend to spend more on healthcare. But we need a longer-term plan to ensure that we can continue to afford it as the population ages and the profile of healthcare spending changes.

This £20bn boost to funding needs to be the start of a wider conversation about priorities, automation, and reform.

*Read more*: May confirms NHS boost will come from tax rises Reported by City A.M. 3 hours ago.

Europe Edition: Migrants, World Cup, Turkey: Your Tuesday Briefing

0
0
Here’s what you need to know to start your day. Reported by NYTimes.com 2 hours ago.

City Moves for 19 June 2018 - who's switching jobs?

0
0
City Moves for 19 June 2018 - who's switching jobs? Today's City Moves cover property, private equity and investment banking. Take a look at these movers and shakers:

*CBRE*

Real estate adviser CBRE has appointed Charlotte Gannon as a director in its UK client solutions team. Charlotte joins the firm from Cushman & Wakefield’s global occupier services team, where she advised clients on maximising the efficiency of their global real estate portfolios. She has particular expertise in the technology sector, having worked extensively with corporates such as Oracle, Activision and Gartner. As part of her role she also completed secondments at EY, AbbVie and The Crown Estate. Charlotte is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. She has also been ranked as one of CoreNet Global’s 36 under 36 Young Leaders. In her new role Charlotte will be looking to strengthen relationships with corporate occupier clients.

*AGIC Capital*

AGIC Capital, the leading European-Asian private equity firm focused on investments in high-growth sectors, has appointed Sam Breuning as a partner, to lead its newly established London office. Sam has over a decade of experience as an investment specialist in the European private equity market. He was previously a partner at Equistone Partners Europe and began his career as a consultant at Bain & Company. During his time at Equistone, he led and collaborated on a number of transactions across a range of sectors including ChartCo, UK Power Reserve, Audley Travel, The Mill and A-Plan. He will join AGIC’s investment committee and operating board effective immediately.

*Zeus Capital*

Zeus Capital, the independent investment banking boutique, announces senior appointments in corporate finance in London assisting its strategic aim of becoming the UK mid-market leader. Gareth Davies has joined to lead the development of the corporate finance business in London, Dane Houlahan joins as managing director to help build out M&A and Jonathan Broome is joining this September to lead the debt advisory team. Gareth was latterly head of financing and restructuring advisory for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Greenhill & Co. and prior to that was a managing director at Close Brothers Corporate Finance focusing on M&A in the UK mid-market. Dane trained as a corporate lawyer in Australia. He joined KPMG Corporate Finance in the UK in 2004 where he was a senior partner advising on a large number of mid-market trade and private equity focused transactions across a range of sectors. Jonathan was latterly head of UK debt advisory at Lincoln International for over seven years and prior to that was a managing director at Close Brothers Corporate Finance.

The embedded content could not be displayed. Please go to the article to view this content. Reported by City A.M. 2 hours ago.

Should the U.S. Follow Europe in Imposing Stricter Data-Privacy Regulations?

0
0
Supporters say it’s time to counter tech companies’ widespread collection of personal data. Opponents say generic regulations aren’t the most effective way to do that. Reported by Wall Street Journal 1 hour ago.

Celyad Doses First AML Patient at Final Dose Level in CYAD-01 THINK Trial and Begins Dosing First Patient With Second Cycle of Therapy

0
0
· Celyad advances THINK trial to third and final dose level in hematological study arm
· Second cycle treatment amendment in THINK protocol approved and first patient dosed

MONT-SAINT-GUIBERT, Belgium, June 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Celyad (Euronext Brussels:CYAD) (Euronext Paris:CYAD) (NASDAQ:CYAD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of CAR-T cell therapies, today announced the first Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) patient was dosed with the first injections at the third and final dose level of CYAD-01 in the hematological arm of the Phase 1 THINK trial.

“The observed tolerability profile of CYAD-01 to date as a stand-alone administration, along with the signs of clinical activity observed in relapsed refractory AML, highlight its potential for further development for both hematological cancers and solid tumors,” said Dr. Christian Homsy, CEO of Celyad. “We have started administering the third dose level of CYAD-01 in a relapsed refractory AML patient in the THINK trial with no toxicity observed after the first injections. We look forward to completing the dose-escalation segment of the study, and, potentially an expansion phase, and reporting on the interim results of the THINK trial later this year at scientific congresses. In addition, we are happy to report that the first patient to receive a second cycle of CYAD-01 has been injected earlier this month.”

The open label Phase 1 THINK trial is being conducted in the US and in Europe. The dose-escalation segment, conducted in parallel in solid cancers and in hematologic cancer groups, includes three dose levels:  3x108, 1x109 and 3x109 CYAD-01 cells per dose. At each dose level, the patients receive three successive administrations, two weeks apart, of CYAD-01 at the specified dose.

We expect that a total of three AML patients will receive the third and final, highest dose level. To date in the THINK trial, CYAD-01 has already shown signs of clinical activity at lower doses in AML patients who have received one cycle of CYAD-01 treatment per protocol ranging from complete response to stable disease. Celyad previously reported the world’s first complete response by a CAR-T cell therapy, without pre-conditioning, in a patient with refractory and relapsed AML.

Based on the promising signs of activity observed to date, Celyad has started to evaluate if a second cycle of administration of CYAD-01 could improve or prolong the clinical responses. A first patient at the second dose level has successfully started his second cycle of treatment without any toxicity observed to date.

*About Celyad *

Celyad is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of specialized CAR-T cell based therapies. Celyad utilizes its expertise in cell engineering to target cancer. Celyad’s Natural Killer Receptor based T-Cell (NKR-T) platform has the potential to treat a broad range of solid and hematologic tumors. Its lead oncology candidate, CYAD-01 (CAR-T NKG2D), has been evaluated in a single dose escalation Phase 1 clinical trial to assess the safety and clinical activity of multiple administrations of autologous CYAD-01 cells in seven refractory cancers including five solid tumors (colorectal, ovarian, bladder, triple-negative breast and pancreatic cancers) and two hematological tumors (acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma). Celyad was founded in 2007 and is based in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, and Boston, Massachusetts. Celyad’s ordinary shares are listed on the Euronext Brussels and Euronext Paris exchanges, and its American Depository Shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market, all under the ticker symbol CYAD.

 
*For more information, please contact:*
 
*Celyad*
*Christian Homsy, CEO and Patrick Jeanmart CFO *- T: +32(0) 10 39 41 00 –* *investors@celyad.com **
*Nicolas Van Hoecke, Director, Investor Relations & Communications *- T: +32(0) 10 39 41 84 – *nvanhoecke@celyad.com *
*For France: **NewCap*

*Pierre Laurent* and **Nicolas Mérigeau **-** **T: + 33(0)1 44 71 94 94 - celyad@newcap.eu* *
*For Belgium: Comfi*
*Gunther De Backer *and* Sabine Leclercq *- T.: +32 (0)2 290 90 90 - celyad@comfi.be 
*For the U.S.: LifeSci Investor Relations*
*Daniel Ferry *- T.: +1 (617) 535 7746 - celyad@lifesciadvisors.com* *
*Public Relations: Allison Blum* - T:+1 (646) 627 8383 - *allison@lifescipublicrelations.com*
 

*Forward-looking statements *

This release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the safety and efficacy of CYAD-01 and the new mAb manufacturing method used to manufacture this drug product candidate; statements concerning the ongoing and planned clinical development of CYAD-01. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might cause actual results, financial condition and liquidity, performance or achievements of Celyad, or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular it should be noted that the interim data summarized above are preliminary in nature. The THINK trial is not complete. There is limited data concerning safety and clinical activity following treatment with the CYAD-01 drug product candidate. These results may not be repeated or observed in ongoing or future studies involving the CYAD-01 drug product candidate. These forward-looking statements are further qualified by important factors and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies and clinical trials, and our research and development programs; our ability to advance drug product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials; our ability to successfully manufacture drug product for our clinical trials, including with our new mAb manufacturing process and with respect to manufacturing drug product with the desired number of T cells under our clinical trial protocols; our reliance on the success of our drug product candidates, including our dependence on the regulatory approval of CYAD-01 in the United States and Europe and subsequent commercial success of CYAD-01, both of which may never occur; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals; our ability to develop sales and marketing capabilities; the commercialization of our drug product candidates, if approved; the pricing and reimbursement of our drug product candidates, if approved; the implementation of our business model, strategic plans for our business, drug product candidates and technology; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our drug product candidates and technology;  our ability to operate our business without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights and proprietary technology of third parties; cost associated with enforcing or defending intellectual property infringement, misappropriation or violation; product liability; and other claims;  regulatory development in the United States, the European Union, and other jurisdictions; estimates of our expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and our needs for additional financing;  the potential benefits of strategic collaboration agreements and our ability to enter into strategic arrangements; our ability to maintain and establish collaborations or obtain additional grant funding;  the rate and degree of market acceptance of our drug product candidates, if approved; our financial performance;  developments relating to our competitors and our industry, including competing therapies and statements regarding future revenue, hiring plans, expenses, capital expenditures, capital requirements and share performance. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in Celyad’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and reports, including in its Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on April 6, 2018 and subsequent filings and reports by Celyad. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document and Celyad’s actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Celyad expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law or regulation. Reported by GlobeNewswire 1 hour ago.

Kuros Biosciences to Present Promising Clinical Case Studies with MagnetOs at Leading Spine Surgery Conference

0
0
SCHLIEREN (ZURICH), Switzerland, June 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kuros Biosciences (SIX:KURN) will this week present results from several investigator-led clinical case studies of MagnetOs Granules at the 15^th annual State of Spine Surgery Think Tank, a leading conference uniquely dedicated to innovation in spinal surgery.The case studies, in which MagnetOs Granules were implanted in the spine, were performed by Alwyn Jones MB ChB, BSc, MSc, FRCS, FRSC (Orth), Consultant Orthopaedic Spinal Surgeon at Spire Cardiff Hospital in the UK.

The key clinical outcomes at six months were improved back and leg pain. The most important fusion outcomes were good incorporation of MagnetOs in the posterior fusion bed, graft resorption and remodeling to bone, and progression towards fusion.

Key takeaways from the case studies were:

· MagnetOs Granules were well‐tolerated and no device related adverse events were reported in the small cohort of patients requiring spinal fusion
· MagnetOs Granules were easy to apply as a stand‐alone graft or when mixed with bone marrow aspirate (BMA) or local bone
· Resorption and remodeling of MagnetOs Granules was evident from as early as 3 months post‐implantation
· MagnetOs Granules promoted spinal fusion in a mixed cohort of patients when implanted using 5 different surgical approaches

Alwyn Jones said: "I implanted MagnetOs in a cohort of five patients requiring spinal fusion in 2017 and I’m very pleased with their progress. In all cases, my radiographic data indicated remodeling of MagnetOs and progression towards a fusion. All five patients had a reduction in pain, improvement in disability index and improved clinical symptoms compared to their pre-surgical assessment. This initial experience has encouraged me to use MagnetOs in my broader clinical practice."

Joost de Bruijn, Chief Executive Officer of Kuros, said: “The results from these investigator-led clinical case studies with MagnetOs are very gratifying and underline the interest of the clinical research community in our CE marked product. The MagnetOs Granules were easy to apply and showed clear clinical benefits for patients, giving them an improved quality of life with less pain.”

MagnetOs promotes local bone formation equivalent to current gold standard, autograft. MagnetOs is a bone graft substitute intended to fill bony voids or gaps of the human skeletal system and promote the formation of bone at the implanted site. A substantial number of clinically relevant and predictive studies have demonstrated its equivalence to the current gold standard (patient’s own bone, which may not be available in sufficient quantities and/or involves morbidity, costs and pain associated with its harvesting from another healthy site of the patient’s body). MagnetOs is a bone graft comprising biphasic calcium phosphate with an advanced submicron surface topography that directs bone formation after implantation. With its unique submicron surface topography, MagnetOs preferentially directs early wound healing toward the bone-forming pathway, resulting in an osteoinductive claim in Europe. MagnetOs is available as granules and as a putty formulation.

The State of Spine Surgery Think Tank, formerly known as the Cabo Meeting, takes place June 21-23 in Aruba.

*For further information, please contact: *  
Kuros Biosciences AG  Media & Investors
Michael Grau Hans Herklots
Chief Financial Officer LifeSci Advisors
Tel +41 44 733 47 47 +41 79 598 7149
michael.grau@kurosbio.com  hherklots@lifesciadvisors.com

*About Kuros Biosciences AG 
*Kuros Biosciences (SIX:KURN) is focused on the development of innovative products for bone regeneration and is located in Schlieren (Zurich), Switzerland and Bilthoven, The Netherlands. Visit www.kurosbio.com for additional information on Kuros, its people, science and product pipeline.

*Forward Looking Statements*
This media release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are urged to consider statements that include the words “will” or “expect” or the negative of those words or other similar words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include scientific, business, economic and financial factors, Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no responsibility for updating forward-looking statements or adapting them to future events or developments. Reported by GlobeNewswire 1 hour ago.

Conte: Germany is aware EU needs to change its migration policy

0
0
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said yesterday (18 June) she wanted to support Italy in its efforts to reduce the number of migrants arriving on its shores, possibly handling asylum requests for Europe in non-European countries including Libya. Reported by EurActiv 1 hour ago.

Fast Europe Open: Draghi speaks, Sweden unemployment

0
0
Reported by FT.com 1 hour ago.

Can the UK economy cope with sustained house price falls?

0
0
Can the UK economy cope with sustained house price falls? Brexit uncertainty is far from over. Indeed, as we approach the crunch point in negotiations over the summer, we expect rhetoric of hard Brexit and a cliff edge to reach a crescendo, before a final deal is agreed in September or October.

Meanwhile, business and consumer confidence are likely to continue to suffer, causing decisions on large purchases or investments to be delayed if not cancelled.

The slump in house price growth is just another example of poor sentiment. While buy-to-let investors have had to endure an increase in stamp duty and a tightening of mortgage tax relief, Brexit is also cited as a major factor by most providers of house price data.

Annual growth in house prices started to turn down in the run-up to the Brexit referendum in 2016, and has since slowed dramatically to leave prices on average nationally stagnant.

Most surveys that provide a regional breakdown show that London and the South-East have led the slowdown, with high-end properties, particularly in the capital, seeing significant declines in prices.

This is attributed to high net wealth individuals both postponing purchases, but also many leaving the country due to Brexit uncertainty.

The downturn in the upper-end of the market has now trickled down and out to other regions, with some of the national surveys reporting falls for the national average.

*UK house prices are treading water*

If house prices truly start to fall, and negative momentum starts to build, history suggests that it would take years to halt the decline.

This would not only be negative for consumers, but also lenders and public finances; the latter is far too reliant on tax revenues from property transactions.

For the time being, there is plenty of liquidity in the banking system to continue to provide loans, and the proportion of risky loans is very small compared to the period before the global financial crisis of a decade ago.

Banks have also been forced through regulations to increase their capital reserve buffers, and so should able to withstand a small correction in house prices. However, should a correction turn into a crash, then there are very few policy tools remaining for the Bank of England (BoE) to use.

· Which countries are most at risk from a trade war?
· How to cope with a 10% market fall

Interest rates are already at historic lows, at 0.50%, with attention centred on when they will rise. And of course the health of the property market is heavily influenced by rates. The timing of rises may be critical.

The sharp decline in economic growth for the UK in the first quarter year forced the Bank to cancel what was seen as a near certain rate hike in May.

During March, money markets had priced in a 100% chance of a hike in May, only for the probability to collapse following the GDP report in April that revealed the effects of the “Beast from the East” storms that hit northern Europe. The shift in sentiment is shown in the chart below.

*Implied probability of a BoE rate hike in May 2018 (%)*

Source: Bloomberg, Schroders Economics Group. 1 May 2018.

Regular followers of our output will be aware that we disagreed with the market and left our forecast unchanged in the last quarter, which proved to be the correct call.

The next BoE Inflation Report is due in August, which provides the Bank another opportunity to raise interest rates.

In our view, this is still too soon to tighten policy, largely because Brexit negotiations will be reaching a head at the same time. Sentiment is likely to be particularly poor as a result.

This suggests the Bank should wait until November (in line with our forecast), when there should be much more clarity on Brexit with the end of negotiations.

This time, the market is in greater agreement with our November forecast.

Rate rises, whenever they come, will only put further pressure on Britain’s stalled property market.

· This commentary is an excerpt from the monthly Schroders Economic & Strategy Viewpoint [for professional investors only].

Important Information: The views and opinions contained herein are of those named in this article and may not necessarily represent views expressed or reflected in other Schroders communications, strategies or funds. The sectors and securities shown above are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered a recommendation to buy or sell. This communication is marketing material.

This material is intended to be for information purposes only and is not intended as promotional material in any respect. The material is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument. The material is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for accounting, legal or tax advice, or investment recommendations. Reliance should not be placed on the views and information in this document when taking individual investment and/or strategic decisions. Past performance is not a guide to future performance and may not be repeated. The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amounts originally invested. All investments involve risks including the risk of possible loss of principal. Information herein is believed to be reliable but Schroders does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. Reliance should not be placed on the views and information in this document when taking individual investment and/or strategic decisions. The opinions in this document include some forecasted views. We believe we are basing our expectations and beliefs on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of what we currently know. However, there is no guarantee than any forecasts or opinions will be realised. These views and opinions may change. Issued by Schroder Investment Management Limited, 31 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QA. Registration No. 1893220 England. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Reported by City A.M. 42 minutes ago.

Changes to Telenor Group's Executive Management and new CEOs in Thailand and Myanmar

0
0
Telenor Group today announced management changes in Asia, in addition to changes in the Group staff functions. 

"Being able to utilise expertise and hands-on experience across markets is among the great advantages of having strong positions in both Scandinavia and Asia. We rely on managers and experts who dare to step out of their comfort zone and take on challenges where they can learn and develop. I'm pleased to announce a set of changes that will make us stronger for the future and enable us to continue to deliver what matters most for our customers," said Sigve Brekke, President & CEO of Telenor Group.

*Management changes in Asia*

The Board of Directors of dtac has appointed Alexandra Reich as new CEO, replacing Lars Åke Norling who has already accepted a position outside Telenor Group. Reich joined Telenor Group in November 2016, and currently serves as CEO of Telenor Hungary and Head of Telenor Group's Central Eastern Europe cluster. She will take the helm of dtac prior to the end of the current CEO's tenure.

Sharad Mehrotra has been appointed CEO of Telenor Myanmar. Mehrotra joined Telenor in 2008 and has served in senior management positions in India and Myanmar, most recently as CEO of Telenor India. Mehrotra replaces Lars Erik Tellmann, who has been appointed to a senior position in Telenor's Emerging Asia cluster supporting management, partnerships and business development of the cluster. The change is effective 1 August 2018.

Albern Murty, the CEO of Digi in Malaysia, will join Telenor Group's Executive Management team as responsible for the Developed Asia cluster. Murty will retain his CEO position in Digi and oversee Telenor's operations in Thailand and Malaysia, effective 1 August 2018.

*Strengthening ownership capabilities at Group*

Wenche Agerup, currently Head of Corporate Affairs and member of Telenor Group's Executive Management, will head up a new unit, Group Holdings, which will be responsible for strengthening the follow-up and development of Telenor's investments in digital growth areas, telco-adjacent businesses and other areas like real estate and global wholesale. Agerup will enter her new role from 1 July 2018. The process to find a new Head of Corporate Affairs is ongoing. In the interim, Håkon Bruaset Kjøl, SVP and Head of Public and Regulatory Affairs will act in the role.

Telenor Group's Financial Services and Health sector operations, active in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar, will change reporting lines to the Emerging Asia cluster.

*Changes in the Corporate Affairs function*

Siri Birgitte Bang Berge, currently Head of Group Legal, has been appointed General Counsel with immediate effect. She will report directly to the President & CEO.

Severin Roald, who has served as SVP and Head of Group Communications since 2015, has accepted a position outside Telenor. The process to find his replacement is ongoing.

*Media contact: *

Atle Lessum, VP Telenor Group Communication 

+47 415 05 645

atle.lessum@telenor.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 49 minutes ago.

Severin Roald new Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs in Statkraft

0
0
*(Oslo, 19 June 2018) Severin Roald (42) has been appointed new Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs in Statkraft. He is currently SVP, Head of Group Communication in Telenor Group.*

- I am very pleased that Severin Roald has accepted the position as SVP Communication and Public Affairs in Statkraft. This is a very important area for us and Severin has broad and international experience in strategic communication and leadership in complex organisations, says Jon Vatnaland, EVP Corporate Staff.

Roald has extensive communications management experience from senior positions in both Telia Norway and Aker Solutions, before Telenor. In addition, Roald has more than 10 years of service as advisor in the PR industry, including Burson-Marsteller in Norway and Middle East, where he was Country Manager for Qatar. Roald holds a Master of Arts in Communication Management from Australia.

- Statkraft is the largest generator of renewable energy in Europe and the demand for pure energy creates significant opportunities for further growth. I am looking forward to heading the Communication and Public Affairs unit; building good teams and competence, and helping Statkraft strengthen its position in Norway and internationally, says Severin Roald.

The position as SVP Communication and Public Affairs is new, and Roald will assume the position from 1 January 2019 after ending a period of paternity leave.

About Statkraft
Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has 3400 employees in 16 countries.

*For more information:*

Knut Fjerdingstad, media spokesperson, Statkraft AS
Tel: +47 901 86 310
knut.Fjerdingstad@statkraft.comwww.statkraft.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 49 minutes ago.

PrismPlus Releases Puzzle Game "Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle" for PlayStation (R) 4 and PlayStation (R) VR in Europe

0
0
TOKYO, June 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PrismPlus Co., Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo's Nakano-ku district, announced the official release of puzzle game "Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle" in Europe on June 19 (Tuesday) for PlayStation^® 4 and PlayStation^® VR.

Image download link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/79xQe9c6XMOH2m1y2 
Link for the official English trailer: https://youtu.be/AXlrgvXrH8M 
(Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/201806124904-O1-YBAeqar8)

Product summary (European version)
Title: "Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle"
Platforms: PlayStation^® 4 and PlayStation^® VR (download only)
Genre: Puzzle game
Price: 11.99 euros
Release date: June 19 (Tuesday), 2018 

Click here to purchase the game:  
https://store.playstation.com/?resolve=EP4678-CUSA11823_00-ROOMS20180506V00

Soundtrack
Title: "Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle Original Soundtrack"
Platforms: PlayStation^® 4 and PlayStation^® VR (download only)
Genre: Game music
Price: 0.99 euro
Release date: June 19 (Tuesday), 2018 

Click here to purchase the soundtrack: 
https://store.playstation.com/?resolve=EP4678-CUSA12118_00-ROOMS20180506OST

What is "Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle"?
"Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle" is a sequel to "Rooms: The Main Building," a final nominee in the student division of the Independent Games Festival.

Image download link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qId0HNW8HwZJBzHD2

Rooms Series Awards

· 2006: Korean Indie Games Festival, Grand Prize
· 2007: Independent Games Festival, Student Finalist
· 2014: INDIE STREAM AWARD, Best of Art
· 2015: Korea Games Award, Independent Game Award
· 2015: Korea Games Award, PC/Console Game Award

Story and gameplay

"Rooms: The Unsolvable Puzzle" features a mysterious story with "Anne," a young girl trapped in an antique-style mansion who solves a plethora of puzzles made of rooms.

Image Download link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/SOXdMhoq58TlNQjA3

Guide Anne and help her move rooms around like a sliding puzzle while unveiling the mystery. Enjoy the whimsical world and experience a unique gameplay.

Image Download link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/HkQQegSdoThM90jN2

For more information, please visit: 
Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/prismplus_JP
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prismplusgames/ 
Official YouTube: https://goo.gl/xCHvFf

^©2018 HandMade Game. Published by PrismPlus Co., Ltd. Reported by PR Newswire Asia 13 minutes ago.

Irish Continental Group concludes an additional €80 million financing facility with the European Investment Bank

0
0
Irish Continental Group PLC (“ICG”) announces that it has concluded an additional financing facility with the European Investment Bank (“EIB”).

This additional facility comprises a committed €80 million drawing limit and is available for drawing during July 2018.  Repayments are on an amortising basis over a 12-year term. The interest rate applicable to the facility has been fixed at 1.616% per annum.

The facility will be used to finance the construction of the second new vessel for ICG’s Irish Ferries operations announced in January and which is due for delivery during 2020. This vessel when delivered will be the largest cruise ferry in the world in terms of vehicle capacity and provide the group with an effective 50% increase in peak freight capacity.

The above facility is in addition to the suite of financing agreements announced in December 2017 comprising;

· A 12-year amortising loan provided by the EIB comprising a committed €75 million drawing limit, now drawn at a fixed interest rate of 1.724% per annum and maturing during 2030;
· Multicurrency private loan shelf agreements with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Pricoa Capital Group comprising total uncommitted drawing limits of USD275 million and tenors of up to 15 years, whereunder one series of loan notes has been issued amounting to €50 million on a 7-year bullet repayment term, maturing November 2024 with a fixed interest coupon of 1.4% per annum;
· A 5-year multicurrency revolving credit facility provided by Allied Irish Banks  and Bank of Ireland available to September 2022 and extendable by up to a further 2 years, comprising a committed €75 million drawing limit together with an additional uncommitted limit of €50 million; and
· An overdraft and guarantee facility of €16 million provided by Allied Irish Banks PLC renewable annually.

This additional facility provided by EIB supports the groups long term infrastructural investment in our fleet which will enhance “the bridge” from Ireland to the UK & Continental Europe that is a vital part of the continued success of Ireland’s open economy.

*19 June 2018*

*END*

*Enquiries:*          

Eamonn Rothwell, CEO                  Tel +353 1 607 5628

David Ledwidge, CFO                    Tel +353 1 607 5628

Q4 Public Relations                          Tel +353 1 475 1444 Reported by GlobeNewswire 20 minutes ago.

Barefoot Networks and FOX Networks to Demonstrate the Power of Programmable Forwarding for Professional Broadcast Networks

0
0
Barefoot Tofino™-powered switch running FOX Networks' P4 program implementing forwarding plane functions to switch SMPTE ST 2110-20 HD uncompressed video streams

GENEVA, June 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Network Technology Seminar (NTS) 2018, June 19-20, 2018, Barefoot Networks and FOX Networks, with support from the open networking experts at STORDIS, will showcase the application of Barefoot's 6.5Tb/s Tofino™ switch ASIC and P4 language for broadcast media network environments.Programmable forwarding plane technology is the ultimate development of Software-Defined Networking (SDN), allowing complete flexibility with what a switch can do in manipulating packets and making forwarding decisions. P4-programmable forwarding planes enable use-cases that are not possible with fixed-function switching silicon, giving users the ability to create simple and scalable packet processing pipelines that meets their unique needs. The richness of the open P4 ecosystem with a high-performance, networking domain-specific processor, such as Barefoot Tofino, empowers network owners and operators to create new functions and features at the forwarding plane-level to extract more value out of the network.

"I'm thrilled to see the advent and the uptake of P4-programmable forwarding plane technology and the value it could add to the broadcast IP media space," said *Willem Vermost, senior IP media technology architect at EBU*. "As the professional grade live video production infrastructure is moving to IP in its core, new opportunities become available for the broadcast industry. A collaboration between FOX Networks and Barefoot Networks using P4 and Tofino is a great example of one of the many possibilities that lie ahead of us."

"As broadcast media transmission increasingly becomes packetized with Live IP technology, having a programmable forwarding plane is crucial for enabling a rich set of network applications," said *Thomas Edwards, vice president of engineering and development at FOX Networks.* "With Tofino and P4, we've been able to implement custom forwarding plane functions to make intelligent switching decisions on media streams by looking into packet headers and applying rules that enable us to increase the performance and efficiency of our IP production infrastructure."

"Barefoot Tofino and P4 enable novel use-cases for a variety of deployment scenarios, including the professional network media infrastructure," said *Alexander Jeffries, CEO of STORDIS.* "We are excited to work with FOX Networks and Barefoot to demonstrate the versatility of our Tofino-powered BF6064X system and the end-user programmability with P4 as showcased by FOX Networks' use-case of composing media streams in real-time on the programmable network switch."

"We're delighted to collaborate with FOX Networks and STORDIS as they showcase the power of P4-programmable forwarding planes, like our Barefoot Tofino series of Ethernet switch ASICs," said *Prem Jonnalagadda, director, product management at Barefoot Networks.* "Barefoot Tofino allows users to define the packet processing functions they want in software using P4 so new features can be realized and deployed at a rapid pace with no tradeoff in performance. We believe the P4 programmability of Tofino will bring forth new and exciting forwarding plane applications for IP production infrastructure, accelerating the adoption of Live IP technology for broadcast media networks."

In a testament to the agility of P4-programmable forwarding planes, the live demonstration builds upon what was shown last year showcasing FOX Networks' use of a Barefoot Tofino-powered switch from STORDIS. Specifically, this year's demo will highlight how P4 and Tofino enable the forwarding plane to perform packet processing functions to parse SMPTE ST 2110-20 headers and dynamically compose video from output that is switched using Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) timestamp and video row number. The open-source P4 program implementing this forwarding plane logic is developed by FOX Networks, and the STORDIS BF6064X is a 64-port 100GB bare-metal switch powered by a 6.5Tb/s capacity Tofino ASIC.

FOX has also open-sourced its P4 code for other use cases, including RTP header field-based packet forwarding and load balancing, as well as applying Network Address Translation (NAT) to multicast-replicated packets, which today's fixed-function switches cannot achieve.

· *WHEN*: June 19-20, 2018, 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM CET
· *WHERE*: EBU NTS, L'Ancienne-Route 17A, CH-1218 Grand Saconnex, Geneva. The demo can be seen at the STORDIS table in the Courchevel room on the 1st floor.

EBU NTS takes place annually at EBU's headquarters in Geneva and brings together broadcast experts dealing with IP production infrastructure, as well as IT network and storage specialists who work with broadcast media content.

The 2018 conference consists of focused presentations from prominent experts in the field, provides the opportunity for participants to attend several in-depth tutorials at both introductory and advanced levels, and lines up an array of cutting-edge technology demonstrations. It also provides networking opportunities with peers and experts from the international broadcasting industry.

To meet with Barefoot Networks and STORDIS at EBU NTS 2018, please contact info@barefootnetworks.com or harsha.vardhan@stordis.com.

*About Barefoot Networks*
Barefoot Networks launched in 2016 after two years of developing technology that built switch silicon with a forwarding plane that is defined in software while not compromising on performance. Barefoot empowers network owners and their infrastructure partners to design, optimize, and innovate to meet their specific requirements and gain competitive advantage. In combining the P4 programming language with fast programmable switches, Barefoot has also created an ecosystem for compilers, tools, and P4 programs to make P4 accessible to anybody. Backed by Google Inc., Goldman Sachs Principal Strategic Investments, Alibaba, Tencent, and by premier venture capital firms Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Andreessen Horowitz, Barefoot Networks is headquartered in Silicon Valley. For more information, visit https://barefootnetworks.com/. Follow us on Twitter: @barefootnetwork. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barefootnetworks. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/barefoot-networks.

Barefoot Networks, the Foot Logo, Tofino are trademarks of Barefoot Networks.

*About STORDIS*
STORDIS is a leading provider of Open Networking infrastructure with a strong presence in the broadcasting, telecommunication and security industry. Headquartered in Germany and with an office in the UK, STORDIS is specialised in developing, delivering and supporting tailor-made networking solutions for customers worldwide. As a full solution provider, STORDIS offers various services likes consultancy, hardware sourcing and technical support to enterprises of any size. The company runs two of the most advanced labs for Open Networking hardware in Europe and helps to train developers and engineers on new technologies like P4 with their lately established STORDIS ACADEMY. For more information, please visit: www.stordis.com.

*MEDIA CONTACTS:*
*For Barefoot Networks:*
Morgann Dulle
barefoot@10fold.com
+1 (479) 586-1377

*For STORDIS GmbH:*
Mr. Johannes Kuhnle
johannes.kuhnle@stordis.com
+49 (0) 711 34 21 58 – 27 Reported by GlobeNewswire 20 minutes ago.

Air Europa SUMA Expands Partnership With Points To Enhance Loyalty Program

0
0
Air Europa’s loyalty program leverages Points Travel services for members to gain access to over 300,000 hotels

TORONTO, June 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Points (TSX:PTS) (Nasdaq:PCOM), the global leader in powering loyalty commerce, today announced that it has expanded its partnership with Air Europa SUMA, the loyalty program of Air Europa, to leverage Points Travel services, the industry leading white label hotel platform for access to over 300,000 hotels at the click of a button.Through a single integration with Points’ Loyalty Commerce Platform, which powers Points Travel services, Air Europa SUMA’s members now have the ability to earn or redeem miles when booking on over 300,000 hotels across the globe. This significant program enhancement follows a successful partnership launch in 2017 with Points, when Air Europa SUMA leveraged Points’ platform to offer its program members the ability to buy miles to redeem for flights with Air Europa or its partner airlines.

“This is a great opportunity for our Loyalty Program to incorporate Points’ hotel booking services to be able to offer more benefits and Miles to our customers,” said Sandra Lenis, Senior VP Product & Customer at Air Europa. “Air Europa SUMA is one of the most generous Frequent Flyer Programs around the world, and there is no doubt that Points Travel services will bring additional successful services to engage our shared customers.”

“As Air Europa SUMA is a relatively new program, we are delighted that they chose Points to partner with to support their impressive growth. Through a single integration into our Loyalty Commerce Platform they have the ability to add multiple products to their program without the hassle of working with multiple organizations,” said Rob MacLean, CEO of Points. “This partnership should empower Air Europa SUMA’s members to do more with their miles. We look forward to continuing to support their program growth, leveraging our platform to power new features and offering more flexibility to members for many years to come.”

Points Travel can be quickly integrated into any loyalty program's web and mobile properties to create a highly-converting, travel eCommerce offering that is program-branded and leverages the capabilities of the Points Loyalty Commerce Platform. The user experience is simple and intuitive, taking members from consideration to purchase in just a few clicks, ultimately rewarding members with thousands of points or miles as well as being able to redeem points for bookings at thousands of hotels and car rental companies around the world.

For more information, visit the Air Europa implementation of the Points Travel platform at - https://sumahotels.pointshound.com

*About Points International*
Points, (TSX:PTS) (Nasdaq:PCOM), provides loyalty e-commerce and technology solutions to the world's top brands to power innovative services that drive increased loyalty program revenue and member engagement. Currently, the Company has a growing network of nearly 60 global loyalty programs integrated into its unique Loyalty Commerce Platform. Points offers three core private or co-branded services: its Loyalty Currency Retailing service sells loyalty points and miles directly to consumers; its Platform Partners service offers developers transactional access to dozens of loyalty programs and their hundreds of millions of members via a package of APIs; and its Points Travel service helps loyalty programs increase revenue from hotel and car rental bookings while offering members more opportunities to earn and redeem loyalty rewards more broadly. Points is headquartered in Toronto with offices in San Francisco and London.

For more information, visit company.points.com, follow Points on Twitter (@PointsLoyalty) or read the Points blog. For Points’ financial information, visit investor.points.com.

*About Air Europa
*Air Europa is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, formed by 20 airlines that provide access to a global network with over 16,270 daily flights to 1,057 destinations in 179 countries. The Air Europa fleet is one of the most modern in Europe. It consists of 51 aircraft with an average age of less than 4 years old. The company is part of the Globalia Group, the largest Spanish tourism conglomerate, and it is a leader in environmental conservation processes. In 2011, a report by the German environmental organization Atmosfair described Air Europa as “the world's most efficient airline in short and medium-distance routes”. In 2017, Air Europa transported more than 10.3 million passengers.

More information about Air Europa can be found on its official website www.aireuropa.com or its social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.

*CONTACT*
Points Media Relations
Catherine Lowe
Catherine.lowe@points.com
+1 649-539-1310  Reported by GlobeNewswire 20 minutes ago.
Viewing all 65275 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images