January 13, 2022

INTERNATIONAL PROCESS PLANTS ACQUIRES HIGH-PURITY GAS-TO-LIQUIDS WAX PLANT

IPP Seeks Investors for JV or Takeover

PRINCETON JUNCTION, N.J., Jan. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — International Process Plants (IPP) and its affiliates announced today the acquisition of Juniper Acquisitions LLC, owner of the Juniper Specialty Products commercial-scale high-purity gas-to-liquids (GTL) wax manufacturing plant in Westlake, Louisiana, North America’s only commercial-scale GTL wax production facility. The 10-acre rail and truck-served site, including all intellectual property, is available for purchase, lease, joint-venture, or licensing.

The plant will convert natural gas into 1,100 barrels/day of high-purity Fischer-Tropsch paraffinic waxes used in adhesives, coatings, construction materials, and consumer goods including cosmetics, as well as zero-sulfur light and middle distillates used in transportation fuels and chemicals industries.

IPP is part of a global group that acquires chemical, petrochemical, fertilizer, polymer, and pharmaceutical assets and manufacturing sites that are closing for the purpose of restarting the assets to manufacture the same or different products, or relocation to another site with favorable economics while redeveloping the land. IPP seeks investors to take over or participate in a joint venture to continue the project.

“We are very excited to continue the Westlake GTL wax project. The compelling economics, strong offtake market, low CAPEX requirement, attractive margins on high-purity GTL wax products, with commissioning only 18-months away makes this opportunity ripe for investment,” said Ron Gale, President of IPP. “The completed project is forecasted to achieve a three-year return-on-investment (ROI).”

“With over $400M invested in the project by prior ownership, this offering represents a unique opportunity to enter the high-purity, low carbon footprint GTL wax business in North America at an extraordinarily low capital cost, and faster than any greenfield market entrant,” added Ross Gale, Vice President and Director of Acquisitions at IPP.

About International Process Plants

Since 1978, IPP has grown to be the leading global facilitator of manufacturing growth opportunities in the industrial chemical, specialty chemical, fine chemical, petrochemical, fertilizer, polymer, and pharmaceutical industries. IPP enables sustainable industrial growth by deploying pre-existing and pre-installed assets that are immediately available, at a fraction of the cost and delivery time of brand-new assets. It boasts a global portfolio of 14 complete industrial sites, over 110 complete plants and over 15,000 major pieces of equipment and systems. To learn more about IPP, visit www.ippe.com.

Media Contact:	Customer Contact:
Kath Searle	Ross Gale
P: 617.680.2965	P: 609.586.8004
E: KathS@ippe.com	E: RossG@ippe.com

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1725247/IPP_Logo.jpg

January 13, 2022

Seegene Unveils Blueprint for the Future of Molecular Diagnostics, Including Open Development Platform at the 40th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Seegene Inc. (KQ 096530), South Korea’s leading molecular diagnostics (MDx) company, today, unveiled its blueprint for the future during a presentation at the 40th annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare virtual Conference. Dr. Jong-Yoon Chun, CEO of Seegene, proposed three strategic solutions that induce the world ‘back to normal’ against the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with three solutions, he also introduced the company’s automated, AI-enabled platform with a standard development tool that will empower users to easily develop their own diagnostic assays.

Three solutions for ‘back to normal’

In preparation for returning to normal in 2022, Dr. Chun outlined three solutions. First, it starts with Seegene’s on-site screening solution for mass testing with its fully automated MDx system at various facilities including schools, airports, workplaces, and others. It provides a short turnaround time, economic price, and improved accuracy even for asymptomatic cases, which cannot be detected by rapid antigen tests. The second solution is Seegene’s centralized screening system, with its newly developed diagnostic test that can multiply the test capacity without additional instrument investments in the laboratories. The third solution is syndromic testing for patients with respiratory symptoms. Seegene had already introduced Allplex™ RV Master Assay that can simultaneously differentiate ten targets including COVID-19, Flu, and common respiratory viruses. This assay is the key to open a path towards normalcy as it identifies the exact cause of respiratory symptoms.

Strategic shift to a MDx platform company

During the presentation, Dr. Chun unveiled Seegene’s strategic shift as a molecular diagnostics platform company, introducing Seegene’s MDx platform for assay development. Until now, commercial MDx development has been a labor-intensive manual process requiring highly skilled researchers and significant resources. “Our digitalized open development platform will overcome the limitations of the current paradigm of MDx development processes by allowing users to rapidly design and efficiently develop their own diagnostic assays”, said Dr. Chun. “We are pleased to provide our technologies, software and know-how to support rapid and standardized assay development which will eventually help accelerate the use of MDx in our daily lives.”

Seegene’s MDx platform integrates proprietary technologies and development know-how that Seegene has developed over the last two decades, with artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated design system. This platform allows platform users, regardless of knowledge and experience in MDx, to develop high multiplex real-time PCR assays, which will eventually fulfill unmet testing needs at a local level.

Finally, Dr. Chun stated the vision that Seegene stepped ahead to a new horizon by evolving to MDx platform company. Through all these efforts, Seegene will ultimately bring MDx into our daily life.

The full video of the CEO’s remarks will be available after the event at www.seegene.com/ir_event.

About Seegene, Inc.

Founded in Seoul, South Korea in 2000 and with subsidiaries in the U.S.A., Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and the Middle East, Seegene, Inc. is an in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) company that has been turning concepts into products through its pioneering R&D activities. Seegene owns its original patent technology including DPO™ (Dual Priming Oligonucleotide) for multiple target amplification; TOCE™, for multiple target detection in a single channel; MuDT™, the world’s first real-time PCR technology that provides individual Ct values for multiple targets in a single channel for quantitative assays.; and mTOCE™ multiplex mutation detection technology. With these cutting-edge molecular diagnostic technologies applied to diagnostic kits and other tools, Seegene has enhanced the sensitivity and specificity of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) to unprecedented levels, providing multiplex PCR products that target and detect genes of multiple pathogens simultaneously, saving testing time and cost. Seegene continues to set new standards in MDx providing new, cost-effective innovations.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1357790/Seegene_logo_Logo.jpg

January 13, 2022

‫شركة LTI تعقد شراكة مع Securonix وSnowflake لتطوير حلول الأمن السيبراني

تهدف هذه الشراكة إلى تطوير منصة LTI المتخصّصة في الكشف عن التهديدات الأمنية النشطة ومعالجتها ( Active XDR )

مومباي، الهند12 يناير / كانون الثاني 2022/PRNewswire/ — أعلنت شركة لارسن آند توبرو لتقنية المعلومات، وهي شركة عالمية متخصّصة في تقديم الاستشارات التقنية والحلول الرقمية (رقم التداول في بورصة مومباي: 540005) (رمز التداول في البورصة الوطنية الهندية: LTI)، عن عقد شراكة مع كل من شركة Securonix، وهي شركة رائدة متخصصة في مجال إدارة سجلات الأحداث الأمنية ومراقبة الأمن السيبراني (SIEM)، وشركة Snowflake، وهي شركة رائدة في أمن الحوسبة السحابية؛ وذلك بهدف تعزيز حلول LTI للأمن السيبراني.

وتأتي هذه الشراكة في إطار سعي شركة LTI لتعزيز إمكانيات منصتها المتخصّصة في الكشف عن التهديدات الأمنية النشطة ومعالجتها (Active XDR) لتتمكّن من الكشف المبكر عن التهديدات الداخلية والخارجية، وتقييمها، ومكافحتها من خلال عمليات تعقب ذكية ومتطوّرة لمصادر التهديدات، والاستجابة الآلية للأحداث الأمنية. وتستخدم منصة LTI بحيرات بيانات خاصّة لحفظ مليارات التحذيرات والسجلات المهمّة والحسّاسة.

قال سانجاي جالونا، الرئيس التنفيذي والعضو المنتدب لشركة LTI: «في عالمنا اليوم، أصبحت الحماية من التهديدات السيبرانية أولوية قصوى لكل شركة. لذا، عقدت LTI شراكة مع Securonix وSnowflake لتزويد منصتها بأحدث التقنيات لتعزيز إمكانياتها في الكشف عن التهديدات الأمنية النشطة ومعالجتها (Active XDR)، ومكافحة التهديدات المتزايدة باستمرار، والتصدي لفيروسات الفدية، وحملات التصيّد الاحتيالي عبر البريد الإلكتروني والتي تستهدف البنى التحتية الحسّاسة والشركات الكبرى والحكومات الفيدرالية».

وقال ساشين نيار، الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة Securonix: «إنّ حل (Bring your own Snowflake) يُعدّ حلًا مثاليًا للخدمات المُدارة؛ لأنّه يقلل بدرجة كبيرة من تكاليف وتعقيدات عملية توسيع نطاق الخدمات المتطوّرة للكشف عن التهديدات والتصدي لها في بيئات العملاء المختلفة. ومن خلال تعاوننا مع شركة LTI، فإنّنا نتطلع إلى توفير حلول إضافية للسوق يمكن من خلالها حماية البيئات السحابية المعقدة للشركات على نحوٍ أكثر فاعلية».

وقال كريستيان كلاينرمان، نائب الرئيس الأول لقسم المنتجات في شركة Snowflake: «يعمل كبار مسؤولي أمن المعلومات (CISO) بالتعاون مع رئيس قسم أمن المعلومات في الشركة على التوصل إلى أفكار ورؤى أكثر ثراءً تزيد من قابلية حلول الأمن السحابي للتطور والتوسّع، وتقلل في الوقت نفسه من التكاليف. وفي هذا السياق، يأتي تعاوننا مع شريكنا الإستراتيجي شركة LTI، المعروفة بابتكاراتها، وقدرتها على مساعدة عملائها على تطوير حلولهم. ونحن نتطلع إلى توسيع شراكتنا معها لتشمل حلول الأمن السيبراني؛ وكذلك مع شركة Securonix الرائدة في هذا المجال والاستفادة من حلها السحابي المبتكر «Bring your own Snowflake» لإدارة سجلات الأحداث الأمنية ومراقبة الأمن السيبراني (SIEM).

يركّز نهج LTI للأمن السيبراني على ضمان استمرارية الأعمال، والحفاظ على سمعة العلامة التجارية، واستيفاء متطلبات الامتثال للسلطات المختصة. وبفضل مراكزها المتطوّرة للمرونة السيبرانية والدفاع السيبراني (مراكز تميّز للأمن السيبراني) تستطيع LTI تلبية احتياجات عملائها وتوسيع نطاق خدماتها المُدارة في مجال الأمن السيبراني لعملائها من الشركات في جميع أنحاء العالم.

عن شركة LTI :

شركة لارسن آند توبرو لتقنية المعلومات (رمز التداول في البورصة الوطنية الهندية: LTI) هي شركة عالمية متخصّصة في تقديم الاستشارات التقنية والحلول الرقمية، ساهمت في نجاح أكثر من 460 عميلًا حول العالم. ومن خلال عملها في 33 دولة حول العالم، تبذل الشركة قصارى جهدها لمساعدة عملائها من الشركات على تطوير عملياتهم وتسريع وتيرة التحوّل الرقمي لديهم. وقد تأسّست LTI في عام 1997 بوصفها شركة تابعة لشركة لارسن آند توبرو المحدودة، وتتمتع بسمعة ممتازة وخبرة فريدة وممتدة تمكّنها من معالجة التحديات المعقدة التي تواجه الشركات في جميع القطاعات. كما يعمل فريق الشركة -المكوّن من أكثر من 40000 موظف- على تمكين عملائها من تحسين فعالية أعمالهم وتطوير عملياتهم التقنية، وتحقيق ميزة تنافسية تسهم في بناء الثقة مع عملائهم وموظفيهم ومساهميهم. لمعرفة المزيد عن شركة LTI، يُرجى زيارة موقع الشركة الإلكتروني على: http://www.Lntinfotech.com، أو متابعة حسابها على تويتر: @LTI_Global.

يمكن متابعة أحدث أخبار شركة LTI على:

· قسم أخبار ومدوّنات الشركة

· حساب الشركة على تويتر ولينكد إن

· حساب الشركة على فيس بوك

رابط شعار شركة LTI: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1044154/LTI_Logo.jpg

January 13, 2022

Covid-19: Africa’s cases pass 10.15 mln – Africa CDC

ADDIS ABABA— The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa reached 10,159,243 cases as of Wednesday evening, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The specialized healthcare agency of the African Union (AU) said the death toll across the continent stands at 232,363 with 9,046,310 recoveries so far.

South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Ethiopia are among the countries with the most cases on the continent, it said.

South Africa has recorded the most COVID-19 cases in Africa with 3,534,131 cases, followed by the northern African country Morocco with 1,012,042 cases as of Wednesday evening.

In terms of the caseload, southern Africa is the most affected region, followed by the northern and eastern parts of the continent, while central Africa is the least affected region, according to the Africa CDC.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

January 13, 2022

Omicron Surge in Africa Showing Signs of Flattening

The World Health Organization reports the surge of the fast-spreading Omicron variant in Africa appears to have peaked and is flattening in most African countries.

This is a bit of good news for a continent that has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is entering its third year. As of now, the World Health Organization reports more than 10 million people in Africa have been infected with coronavirus and more than 230,000 have died.

The UN health agency reports Africa appears to be emerging from its fourth pandemic wave, driven primarily by the Omicron variant, which quickly overtook the delta variant to become the dominant strain. After a six-week surge, WHO says Omicron has recorded its first drop in cases.

If this trend continues, WHO says it will mark the shortest-lived surge so far on the continent. Abdou Salam Gueye is Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response in WHO’s Regional Office for Africa. He says it is premature to let down one’s guard as the latest data was collected during the holiday period, when numbers tend to be under reported.

“Over the past week, cases plateaued compared with the week before, dropped by a little bit—point-two percent. Infections have also declined in three of Africa’s five subregions. Only North and West Africa are currently seeing an increase in cases,” Gueye said.

Anita Graham is in the Department of Pulmonology, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. She says the Omicron variant has accounted for 95-percent of all infections during the region’s huge fourth pandemic wave. However, she says there have been far fewer severe cases, hospitalizations, and deaths than from the more virulent Delta strain.

“However, we are still seeing very serious infections and admissions in patients who are unvaccinated. And also, in patients who have co-morbidity,” Graham said. “Our vaccination remains the best, most effective way of protecting ourselves and our patients from severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

Unfortunately, WHO officials note just 10 percent of Africa’s population of 1.2 billion is fully vaccinated, compared to 50 percent of the wider world’s population. They say the coming months will be critical in Africa’s efforts to improve vaccination rates.

They say Africa has the know-how and the tools to tip the balance against the pandemic if it is given the supplies and means to roll out these life-saving vaccines.

Source: Voice of America

January 13, 2022

8 member states lose right to vote at UN due to unpaid dues

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 13 (NNN-Xinhua) — Iran and Venezuela are among the eight countries whose rights to vote at the United Nations have been revoked due to unpaid dues, a UN spokesperson said.

In his letter to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said a total of 11 countries are behind in their payments, Paulina Kubiak, spokesperson for Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, said at the daily press briefing.

Under Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations, a member state in arrears in the payment of its dues in an amount that equals or exceeds the contributions due for two preceding years can lose its vote in the General Assembly.

An exception is allowed if the member state can show that “conditions beyond its control” contributed to this inability to pay. The UN chief said in his letter that this will be the case for the Comoro Islands, Sao Tome and Principe, and Somalia in 2022.

Iran, Sudan, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Congo, Guinea, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu are the eight countries that no longer have the right to vote, according to the UN chief’s letter.

For each of them to recover their vote, Guterres outlined the minimum amount they must pay. Iran needs 18.4 million U.S. dollars and Venezuela 39.8 million dollars, for instance.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK