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Vertical IQ and Lumos Technologies Announce Strategic Partnership

Vertical IQ

Lumos Technologies, Inc. (Lumos), an innovative small business data analytics and advisory company, and Vertical IQ, a leading provider of Industry Intelligence, have announced a strategic partnership to improve financial institutions’ access to industry-specific information while elevating bankers’ visibility into Small Business Administration (SBA) lending trends and insights. With a shared vision of transparency to empower data-driven strategies, the partnership between Lumos and Vertical IQ will provide clients who advise businesses with unparalleled access to actionable information, insights, and tools. Vertical IQ and Lumos have integrated key data sets of SBA lending trends and industry performance insights for the purpose of sizing market competition, analyzing loan conditions on various industry segments, loan assessment, risk profiling, and predictive credit modeling. The Vertical IQ-Lumos partnership will provide Lumos users with access to more comprehensive industry data, including insights into local businesses’ industry structure, working capital requirements, and financial benchmarks. "We are excited to partner with Vertical IQ to deliver more comprehensive industry data to our clients," said Brett Caines, co-founder and CEO of Lumos. "Vertical IQ's Industry Intelligence will help us provide our clients with deeper insights into industry trends and performance, which will enable them to make more informed decisions." The partnership also will improve the accessibility of industry insights through generative AI as part of the Lumos Business Report. Further, this collaboration will enhance the availability of SBA credit performance data in the Vertical IQ platform. "We are thrilled to partner with Lumos to give trusted advisors the in-depth data and analytics they need to win more business and close more deals," said Paul Hock, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Vertical IQ. "Our actionable Industry Intelligence, combined with Lumos’ SBA credit insights, also will enable credit professionals and lenders to approach industry analysis and all B2B lending with confidence. Our combined data will equip them with automated business summaries that provide the highest-level insights in an easy-to-digest fashion." About Lumos Technologies, Inc. Lumos is an industry-disrupting data analytics company delivering actionable insights, advisory services, and AI-driven technologies with safety and soundness in mind. Backed by expert financial literacy, Lumos provides financial institutions with standardized and automated metrics, powerful decisioning models, and efficient processes with rich, curated data and decades of financial institution literacy at the heart of it all. To learn more about Lumos, visit http://www.lumosdata.com. About Vertical IQ Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., Vertical IQ is a nationally recognized leader in Industry Intelligence. Whether they’re pitching a local brewery or a national biotech company, successful sales, marketing and customer success teams use Vertical IQ to better understand a prospect’s or client’s business challenges before, during and after meetings. Covering more than 97% of the economic revenue in the U.S. and Canada through more than 920 Industry Profiles and 3,400 local economic reports, Vertical IQ equips users with the confidence and credibility to make memorable first impressions and sustain enduring relationships. Contact Details Kelsey Surmacz +1 919-787-4600 ksurmacz@verticaliq.com Company Website https://verticaliq.com/

December 12, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

StakingRewards Platform Creates Comprehensive Guide to ORBS Staking

Orbs

StakingRewards, the leading platform for information on cryptocurrency staking, has created a dedicated guide to ORBS. It provides a detailed breakdown of Layer3 infrastructure project Orbs and a practical guide to staking its native token. The ORBS guide is part of an extensive revamp of the StakingRewards platform. StakingRewards aims to simplify the act of staking Proof-of-Stake (Pos) tokens to participate in network validation and earn rewards. The feature-rich site aggregates data from PoS chains, allowing users to view essential metrics at a glance. This allows crypto holders to make an informed decision about which PoS assets to stake and how to interact with them. The ORBS token now has its own page on StakingRewards that provides a wealth of useful data. Information on net staking flow, APR, risk, reward, percentage of tokens and wallets staked, and much more is supplied. Staking performance can be tracked over time and current token flow can be monitored, making it easy to determine asset inflows and outflows. ORBS stakers can use the StakingRewards portal to view a snapshot of the current staking ecosystem on Orbs and to compare it with the broader PoS market. An integrated calculator allows stakers to calculate their ORBS rewards and to adjust for variables such as compounding or non-compounding rewards. StakingRewards’ ORBS portal goes deeper by publishing a table of ORBS staking providers, known as Guardians. Users can assess the performance of each Guardian and select the provider who aligns with their needs. For the benefit of ORBS holders who have yet to stake their tokens, StakingRewards also provides a step-by-step tutorial that allows beginners to start earning their share of network rewards. StakingRewards is the leading portal for entering the $170B staking industry. It now tracks over 160 yield-bearing assets and more than 17,000 professional staking providers. The addition of ORBS to the StakingRewards platform signifies a commitment to providing users with accessible, reliable, and up-to-date information. In the process, it provides an entry point for crypto holders interested in exploring the world of staking, allowing them to rate assets according to community interest, security, and reward. About Orbs Orbs is an open, decentralized and public blockchain infrastructure. Its flagship products include TWAP and dLIMIT, limit order and TWAP protocols that are 100% decentralized and EVM compatible. They can be integrated with most DEXs and are currently live with exchanges such as QuickSwap, SpookySwap, Thena, and Chronos. Orbs is developed by a dedicated team of more than 30 people, with team members in Tel Aviv, London, New York, Tokyo, and Seoul. For more information, please visit www.orbs.com, or join our community at: Telegram: https://t.me/OrbsNetwork Twitter: https://twitter.com/orbs_network Contact Details Orbs Ran Hammer hello@orbs.com

December 12, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Astar Network invites Projects, Builders & Artists to Join Celebratory NFT Campaign for its Mainnet Release

Astar

Astar Network, a frontrunner in the Japanese web3 ecosystem, announces an NFT campaign for the mainnet release of Ethereum Layer 2 “Astar zkEVM Powered by Polygon''. This presents unique collaboration opportunities for like-minded projects and companies. Campaign Overview: The campaign celebrates the release of Astar zkEVM mainnet, scheduled in Q1 2024. It will spotlight the Astar zkEVM ecosystem, enabling users to explore onboarded projects by completing various on-chain and off-chain quests. Once completed, users will be rewarded with access to exclusive NFTs prepared by Astar Network and participating projects. These projects range from enterprises, popular IP artists, and top web3 applications. Astar Network’s Japanese roots, with its rich culture and traditions, will be seen and felt throughout the campaign. The campaign draws inspiration from the highly popular Japanese capsule machines and the mechanism of attaining random prizes in sphere-shaped capsules. Users will be presented with virtual versions, each customized individually for participating projects, and presented on the dedicated campaign website. Users can interact with each project machine to mint and collect limited NFTs, all while partaking in an immersive storyline that draws from Japanese folklore, further adding an engaging element to the experience. This includes the NFT collection of Japanese-inspired characters that Astar Network is preparing. Those characters can be "upgraded" by users further engaging with the campaign and completing requirements, including the collection of NFTs produced by the projects. Why join the campaign as a web3 project? Exposure As pioneers in utilizing the Polygon CDK (Chain Development Kit), and becoming the largest parachain in terms of market cap in the Polkadot ecosystem, Astar has already built a dedicated user base that spans blockchains. Additionally, Astar Network is working closely with communities based in different regions of the world to further diversify the reach. The target audience goes beyond web3 natives with a user interface that will allow for easy access to digital assets. The campaign is an opportunity for the projects to promote their services to a global audience composed of incoming and current web3 users. Entering Japan Participating in the campaign opens up opportunities for the project to dive into the Japanese web3 market. Astar Network is a central force in driving the country’s web3 adoption by consulting government agencies and collaborating with Japanese enterprises that are increasingly interested in joining the web3 domain. Leveraging connections that have been already established, Astar Network will spare no effort to explore possibilities to approach the Japanese market together with the participating projects. “ We're excited to share the launch of Astar zkEVM with Polygon Labs in Q1 of next year. It's the solution that our enterprise partners need to build seamlessly on Ethereum. Over 320 organizations have joined Astar and are prepared for the next wave of web3 development in Asia in 2024. We are now opening the doors globally to invite projects, artists, and businesses that have yet to explore web3 to get in contact and join Astar zkEVM with this builder-friendly campaign, ” said Maarten Henskens, Head of Astar Foundation. To express your interest in collaborating with Astar Network on this venture, please fill out the following Google form: https://forms.gle/QQsvgevd39PWHCNT9 Once you complete the form, Astar Network’s team will get back to you with more details regarding the timeline of the campaign and the preparation that is needed. Join us in the celebratory Astar zkEVM launch campaign. Astar Network looks forward to exploring innovative collaborations to kickstart the release of mainnet. About Astar Network Astar Network is the gateway for projects across enterprises, entertainment & gaming in Japan and beyond, driving global adoption and delivering web3 to billions. It leverages a cross-virtual machine powered by Polygon and Polkadot to offer customizable blockchain solutions that accelerate web3 adoption. With zk-powered Ethereum L2 Scaling (zkEVM), EVM, WASM, and a cutting-edge ecosystem, Astar delivers robust, secure, and interoperable web3 technology. Astar zkEVM is the new Layer-2 solution to scale a web3 experience on Ethereum with zero knowledge (ZK) technology. Astar Network adds an EVM equivalent environment that is seamlessly compatible with existing smart contracts, developer tools, and wallets on Ethereum. For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Discord | Telegram | GitHub | Reddit | YouTube Contact Details Leora Schreiber pr@marketacross.com

December 12, 2023 07:06 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Investing in the U.S. Health Care Sector with the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV)

Select Sector SPDR

The health care industry is an ever-present sector in the investment landscape, offering steady growth and resilience even during challenging times, thanks to factors like aging demographics, which drive the performance of companies in this sector. For investors looking to gain exposure to this robust market, the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) presents a cost-effective and efficient option. XLV provides broad exposure to core companies within the U.S. health care industry by tracking health care stocks from the S&P 500 Index, weighted by market cap. Top holdings* include UnitedHealth Group (10.54%), Lilly (9.70%), Johnson & Johnson (7.66%), Merck (5.35%), AbbVie (5.17%), and Thermo Fisher (3.94%), representing more than 40% of the fund. About the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) Launched in 1998, XLV is the oldest health care ETF in the market. With over $37 billion in assets under management and a low total expense ratio of 0.10%**, this fund offers easy access to major players in the pharmaceuticals, health care equipment and supplies, health care providers and services, biotechnology, life sciences tools and services, and health care technology industries. The health care industry is one of the largest in the U.S. economy, with demand remaining consistent due to the essential nature of its services. This ETF capitalizes on that demand, providing focused exposure to leading health care names. XLV has proven to be a useful tool for investors seeking strategic or tactical positions in the health care sector. Moreover, the transparency of XLV is one of its main advantages. Investors can follow daily portfolio holdings and weightings at sectorspdrs.com, ensuring they are always informed about their investments. As consumer spending on health care continues to rise year over year, XLV represents a valuable opportunity to capture this steady growth. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLV ) allows easy access to the largest companies in the health care industry. As an investment vehicle, it offers a diversified methodology that can fit portfolios and investment strategies in a broad market manner, making it a practical tool for investors of all sizes. DISCLAIMER: This is a work of research and should not be taken as investment or financial advice. Therefore, Select Sector SPDRs or the publisher is not liable for any decision made based on the publication. About the Company: Select Sector SPDR ETFs offer flexibility and customization opportunities. Many investors have similar outlooks, but no two are exactly alike. Select Sector SPDR ETFs let investors select the sectors that best meet their investment goals. *Holdings, Weightings & Assets as of 11/30/23 subject to change **Ordinary brokerage fees apply DISCLOSURES The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of 500 common stocks that is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market. The index is heavily weighted toward stocks with large market capitalizations and represents approximately two-thirds of the total market value of all domestic common stocks. The S&P 500 Index figures do not reflect any fees, expenses or taxes. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses before investing. One may not invest directly in an index. Transparent ETFs provide daily disclosure of portfolio holdings and weightings All ETFs are subject to risk, including loss of principal. Sector ETF products are also subject to sector risk and nondiversification risk, which generally will result in greater price fluctuations than the overall market. Diversification does not eliminate risk. An investor should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus, which contains this and other information, call 1-866-SECTOR-ETF (732-8673) or visit www.sectorspdrs.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is distributor for the Select Sector SPDR Trust. Media Contact: Company: Select Sector SPDRs Contact: Dan Dolan* Address: 1290 Broadway, Suite 1000, Denver, CO 80203 Country: United States Email: dan.dolan@sectorspdrs.com Website: https://www.sectorspdrs.com/ *Dan Dolan is a Registered Representative of ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc. ALPS Portfolio Solutions Distributor, Inc., a registered broker-dealer, is the distributor for the Select Sector SPDR Trust. SEL007096 EXP 1/31/24 Contact Details Dan Dolan +1 203-935-8103 dan.dolan@sectorspdrs.com Company Website https://www.sectorspdrs.com/

December 12, 2023 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

LimeWire Unveils AI Music Studio: Advancing the Vision of an AI-Powered Audio Workstation

LimeWire

LimeWire, renowned for its pioneering role in peer-to-peer music sharing, today announced its latest foray into the generative AI space with the launch of the LimeWire AI Music Studio. This groundbreaking platform, which allows users to effortlessly create fully ownable AI-generated tracks, marks LimeWire’s second significant investment toward strengthening its AI offering and builds on its September acquisition of AI image generator platform BlueWillow. The LimeWire AI Music Studio introduces a revolutionary, easy-to-use interface that empowers individuals, regardless of their experience, to become music artists. What makes LimeWire’s advancement in the music AI space even more groundbreaking is the combination of generative AI tools across different content types. Users will now, for the first time, be able to generate full-length tracks, create cover images for their work, and publish them all on a single platform. It also incorporates open-source AI technologies, enabling users to retain ownership of the music they create, in contrast to competitors that only offer creation capabilities without ownership rights or rely on Discord communities and complex prompts, limiting users' creative potential. This user-friendly approach reflects LimeWire's commitment to democratizing the creative space, making advanced AI tools accessible to everyone. "The launch of LimeWire AI Music Studio represents a groundbreaking technological milestone, symbolizing not only a stride forward in our pursuit of innovation but a profound commitment to fostering creativity within the dynamic landscape of modern content creation," said Paul Zehetmayr, co-CEO of LimeWire. "As music continues to evolve, so does our dedication to providing aspiring musicians with cutting-edge tools that empower and amplify their artistic expression." The studio's debut lays the foundation for LimeWire's continuous, comprehensive product development plan, aiming to launch a fully-fledged AI-enabled audio workstation in 2024. LimeWire envisions a future where anyone can be a music artist producing full-length tracks, from beats and melodies to lyrics and editable singing voices. This commitment aligns with LimeWire's overarching mission to provide users with best-in-class advanced AI tools, fostering a community of creators who can bring their artistic visions to life. Similar to LimeWire's acquisition of BlueWillow, which marked the convergence of shared vision and innovation, LimeWire’s AI Music Studio combines the strengths of its existing AI Studio interface with advanced generative AI technology. This synergy aims to redefine AI-driven content creation and creativity, placing LimeWire at the forefront of this rapidly evolving generative AI landscape. "Our platform is designed to break down barriers, allowing aspiring musicians and creators to unleash their potential with the power of AI. As we venture into the future of music, it is our firm belief that AI technology should be a catalyst for inclusivity, empowering aspiring musicians from all walks of life,” added co-CEO of LimeWire, Julian Zehetmayr. “By providing accessible AI tools, we aim to level the playing field, ensuring that traditional resource constraints no longer hinder the creative journey.” Looking ahead, LimeWire envisions a vibrant community around its AI Music Studio, where creators can not only share their work but also monetize it. LimeWire's commitment to democratizing the digital creative space extends to the AI-generated music realm, providing users with unprecedented opportunities to earn revenue from their creations. ABOUT LIMEWIRE LimeWire is a leading AI Studio for image, music and video content creation and social platform for content creators, artists and musicians. It is home to a community of over 2 million creators, who have designed more than 500 million AI generated content pieces to date. Through blockchain technology, the LimeWire platform makes AI generated content ownable and tradeable, and allows creators to monetize their content as part of the LimeWire ad-revenue share program. All powered by the LMWR token, the native platform currency.On its mission to make advanced AI tools accessible to all types of creators, LimeWire has closed strategic partnerships with Universal Music Group (UMG), Algorand, Polygon and Google Cloud. Twitter | Discord | Telegram Contact Details Ditto PR Sam Shillet sam@dittopr.co Company Website https://limewire.com/

December 12, 2023 06:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

"Midstream doing what it should" - VettaFi

HANetf Holdings Limited

VettaFi Head of Energy Research Stacey Morris speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive about the latest developments in the midstream sector of the energy industry. Morris explains that despite softening oil prices softening since late September, the midstream sector has been "doing what it should" and providing a robust defence for investors. She says that the index underlying the Alerian Midstream Energy Dividend UCITS ETF (MMLP) rose 7% in November despite a 6% fall in WTI prices over the same period. "What we like about the midstream space is that these companies can generate free cash flow whether oil is at $60, $80 or $100/bl. That's allowing to really execute on paying dividends and buying back their equity." When pressed on what's next for oil prices, Morris describes the outlook as "murky" and highlights what she considers a lack of upside drivers heading into 2023 and increasing supply from outside the OPEC+ group. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

December 12, 2023 05:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Contract Management Institute Announces New Governance Board

National Contract Management Association

National Contract Management Association’s (NCMA) Contract Management Institute (CMI), an institution dedicated to advancing the profession of contract management is thrilled to introduce its newly appointed Governance Board for the 2023-2024 term. These accomplished professionals will play a pivotal role in guiding the strategic direction of CMI and ensuring the organization's success. "Having had the privilege of working alongside these distinguished professionals throughout my career, I am absolutely thrilled and deeply proud to welcome them to the newly revitalized CMI," stated CMI's Executive Director and former Department of Homeland Security Chief Procurement Officer, Soraya Correa. "Their exceptional expertise and dedication will undoubtedly contribute to our shared vision, and I look forward to the extraordinary journey ahead." NCMA Chief Executive Officer, Kraig Conrad will become the Board Chair for CMI. He expressed his excitement, saying, "I am delighted and honored to serve as Chair for the Institute. CMI is poised to become an important extension of NCMA, providing valuable resources to elevate our profession. I look forward to our journey together and the positive impact we will make." Denyce Carter, the current Board Chair of NCMA, will be joining Kraig Conrad as a distinguished addition and Vice Chair to the CMI board. She said, "I look forward to being part of an initiative that identifies and creates ways to enhance contract management practices, ultimately improving the profession for the workforce and the broader acquisition community." Along with Mr. Conrad and Ms. Carter, the Governance Board includes several accomplished professionals – including three NCMA past Presidents – that bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the CMI board, representing a diverse range of organizations from government agencies and industry leaders to top consulting firms. The full list includes: Amanda Christian, Senior Vice President of Subcontracts and Procurement at CACI International Inc. She is responsible for setting direction, policy, and procedures based upon corporate-level strategy, and ensuring that procurement and subcontracts personnel provide value and contribute to the overall success of the company. Amanda is a Past-President of NCMA and served on its Board of Directors for seven years. She is a Fellow and currently serves on the Board of Advisors. Alan Chvotkin, Partner at Centre Law Group where he specializes in federal government contracts law and its policies and practices, including counseling companies on a wide range of matters from contract formation and performance through disputes and claims. Mr. Chvotkin is a Fellow of NCMA and currently serves on its Board of Advisors. Kim Denver, Senior Vice President and Chief Contracts Executive at Leidos, leads a team of over 250 contracts professionals, overseeing a diverse portfolio of thousands of active contracts, and previously held a key role as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Procurement. Mr. Denver currently serves on NCMA’s Board of Advisors. Wendy Masiello is currently an independent consultant, having retired from the U.S. Air Force as a three-star general in July 2017. During her 36-year career with the Air Force, she served as director of the Defense Contract Management Agency; deputy assistant secretary (contracting), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition; and program executive officer for the Air Force’s $30 billion service acquisition portfolio. She is an NCMA Past-President, and currently a member of the Board of Directors for KBR Inc. and Board of Advisors for NCMA and the Public Spend Forum Debra Scheider is Vice President, Corporate Contracts for Lockheed Martin Corporation. She is responsible for leading the Corporations Contracting, Industrial Development, and Estimating work encompassing policies, strategies, training, and procedures across the Corporation. Ms. Scheider is Past-President of NCMA and served on its Board of Directors for nine years. She is a Fellow of NCMA and currently serves on the Board of Advisors. She is a Director for the Procurement Round Table. Karla Smith Jackson, currently serving as the Senior Procurement Executive, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, and Assistant Administrator for Procurement at NASA, is a seasoned professional with extensive expertise with more than three decades of federal contracting experience. Her noteworthy background is in program management, acquisition, and contract planning. She is currently a member of the NCMA Board of Directors. Charlie Williams, President, CWilliams, LLC., held a number of pivotal roles that significantly contributed to the field of contract management., Notably, he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Contracting for the United States Air Force, Director of the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), Commissioner on the Section 809 Panel, President of the NCMA Board of Directors, Chair of the NCMA Standards Consensus Body, a valued member of the NCMA Board of Advisors, and a distinguished Member of the NASA Advisory Council. CMI is dedicated to fostering excellence in contract management by conducting research, studies, and analyses that promote engagement, standards, professional development, and enhanced business practices. The new Governance Board will play a pivotal role in guiding the organization's strategic direction and ensuring the continued growth and success of CMI. For more information about the Institute and its Governance Board, please visit ncmahq.org/cmi. The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) – www.ncmahq.org – stands as the premier contract management organization whose mission is to collaborate towards a globally recognized contract management profession that strengthens its nexus with related acquisition communities. Serving approximately 20,000 members in both the public and private sectors, NCMA propels the growth, advancement, and impact of practitioners through a steadfast commitment to serve through the open exchange of ideas in neutral forums. Contact Details National Contract Management Association Holly DeHesa +1 281-865-3296 holly.dehesa@ncmahq.org Company Website https://www.ncmahq.org

December 12, 2023 05:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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UAE royal family members attend China-UAE Youth Football Match during COP28

China-UAE Football Match and Climate Action Comic Exhibition

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Media OutReach Newswire - 12 December 2023 - Recently, 198 Parties gathered in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to attend the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). Their aim is to find solutions for humanity in the race against time to combat the climate crisis. Participating guests perform the kick-off for the football match. (Photo/China News Service) On Dec. 3, a spirited football match took place at the Football Academy Field, 20 kilometers away from the Expo City Dubai, where COP28 was ongoing. The competing teams were Dragon Twelve Football Club and Fair Play Club, representing youth from China and the UAE respectively. "We all love sports," said Sheikh Mohammed Jamal Al Qasimi, a royal family member of Sharjah, the UAE. Watching the match, he said that both sports and paintings are universal "languages" that can transcend cultural differences and language barriers, facilitating a shared understanding among people from different countries. Players from both teams during the match. (Photo/China News Service) After an intense match, the Chinese young players from the Dragon Twelve Football Club emerged victorious. An 11-year-old player from the Fair Play Club expressed his delight at meeting many Chinese friends and learning about environmental protection. "This is great!" he said. Other UAE royal family members including Sheihk Alharith Hamed Al Qasimi, Sheihk Sayed Bin Al Qasimi, and Ms. May Mohammad also watched the match. Sharjah royal family members Sheikh Alharith Hamed Al Qasimi, Sheihk Alharith Hamed Al Qasimi and Sheihk Sayed Bin Al Qasimi, visit the Climate Action Comic Exhibition. (Photo/China News Service) Before the match began, UAE royal family members, along with Chinese delegates including Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of Ecology and Environment of China and head of the Chinese delegation to COP28, visited the Climate Action Comics Exhibition. The Exhibition was displayed both online and offline at the China Pavilion during COP28. Artworks from artists aged 3 to 72, hailing from many countries, depicted their diverse understanding of low carbon across nations and generations. "All the comics at the exhibition look very good. We need to plant more trees to protect the Earth in the future," said Meng Xiangyun, a seven-year-old Chinese girl who lives in Dubai. Her artwork Protecting the Earth was also selected for the exhibition. Her innocent strokes delineate elements concerning ecological civilization including afforestation, green transportation, and garbage sorting. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, president of COP28 UAE, along with Xie Zhenhua, China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, paid their visits to the China Pavilion as well. Participating guests and little players from both clubs. (Photo/China News Service) Sheikh Alharith emphasized that the event showcased successful cooperation between China and the UAE in addressing climate change. "With COP28 underway, organizing such a green and low-carbon event is not only innovative but also encourages public participation," noted Sheikh Mohammed. The China-UAE Youth Football Match and Climate Action Comic Exhibition was hosted by Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai, China News Network, and BRI International Green Development Coalition, and co-organized by Bank of China Dubai Branch. Contact Details Media Contact Wen Tianxia guojixinwenbu@chinanews.com.cn

December 12, 2023 04:49 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Greencoat UK Wind capacity passes 2GW but still "has to be patient"

Greencoat UK Wind PLC

Greencoat UK Wind PLC (LSE:UKW) Investment co-Manager Stephen Lilly speaks to Thomas Warner from Proactive after the company announced it has completed the acquisition of a 49.9% interest in Kype Muir Extension wind farm from Banks Renewables. Lilly provides more detail about this latest step in a long-term deal and says it has propelled Greencoat's capacity to over two gigawatts. Lilly also addresses Greencoat's cautious capital allocation strategy, acknowledging the challenges in raising equity and the importance of judicious investment decisions. Despite opportunities for expansion, current market conditions limit their ability to acquire new assets. The company has prioritised shareholder value through strategies like buybacks and dividend increases, with the recent dividend being raised to 10 pence. Furthermore, Lilly expresses frustration over the market's perceived undervaluation of Greencoat's return on investment. He stressed the significance of returns over yields, especially in a rising interest rate environment. Lilly believes the market has not fully appreciated the combined value of Greencoat's dividends and reinvestments but says Greencoat UK Wind is "well placed... so we're not unduly worried - we just have to be patient." The interview also touched on personnel changes within Greencoat, specifically the transition of Laurence Fumagalli, a long-time colleague of Lilly. Matt Ridley, a familiar face in the UK wind sector and current Head of Private Markets at Schroders Greencoat, is set to succeed Fumagalli, ensuring continuity in the company's leadership. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com

December 12, 2023 03:32 AM Eastern Standard Time

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