Monthly Archives: December 2023

Accessories, Lifestyle

Acer’s at it again! Here’s A Bevvy of Bags & Luggage In Time for Your Holiday Travels

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It shouldn’t surprise us anymore when gaming brands come up with lifestyle products. However, when it comes to Acer, it’s a whole new ball game. The company recently expanded into home appliances with its acerpure lineup. Now, the company is bridging the gap even further with a foray into luggage and expanding its backpack offerings even more. The latest additions include the Predator Robust Luggage, the Acer Melbourne Luggage series, and the Acer Austin Backpack.

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Predator Robust Luggage:

Acer’s Predator Robust Luggage brings the iconic disposition of the Predator Gaming lineup and blends it with practicality and durability. The luggage is fitted with a TSA customs password lock which ensures secure yet swift clearance when travelling. The luggage’s interior is filled with multiple compartments for a well-organized travel experience. The silent double-row wheels let you glide effortlessly and quickly. The large capacity of the 22-inch Predator Robust Luggage ensures that you’ll be able to pack everything you need for your trip. It also comes with handles that allow you to carry it horizontally so you’ll be able to load and unload the luggage more conveniently.

Acer Melbourne Luggage Series:

The Acer Melbourne Luggage series seeks to embody Acer’s approach to its extensive laptop series in a piece of luggage. It is crafted with a robust three-layer PC shell from Germany giving it much-needed sturdiness and strength. Rivet reinforcement technology ensures structural integrity, and two alloy anti-collision corners, along with a TSA customs password lock, provide an extra layer of protection.

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Acer Austin Backpack:

The Acer Austin Backpack is built with functionality, versatility and minimalism in mind. It’s minimalistic design is complemented with ergonomic engineering. Acer focused on helping reduce shoulder and back strain during daily commutes and business trips. Its lightweight construction, combined with a professional aesthetic, makes it the perfect solution for individuals on the move.

Pricing & Availability:

All the luggage and bags are currently available at Acer concept stores across Malaysia.

ItemPrice (RM)
Predator Robust Luggage (22-inch)RM1,999
Acer Melbourne Luggage (20-inch)RM999
Acer Melbourne Luggage (24-inch)RM1,099
Acer Austin BackpackRM369
Computers, Gaming, News

Acer Unleashes Power-packed Nitro V 15 Gaming Laptop; Price Starts at RM3,099

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Acer Malaysia has unleashed the Acer Nitro V 15 gaming laptop! The new entry into the Nitro lineup is packed to the brim with gaming-centric specifications and promises an unparalleled gaming experience at its price point. The best part? It’s arriving just in time for the holiday season.

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The Acer Nitro V 15 revamps the Nitro gaming laptop in more than one way. It’s not only got a brand new, edgy design. It’s also pushing the boundaries when it comes to value for money. Gamers can maximise their investment with a 13th Gen Intel Core i5 processor that is complemented by either an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 or RTX 2050 graphics card, ensuring seamless gameplay for casual gamers. The laptop’s commendable combined power draw of 180W and 170W for the respective graphics cards sets it apart, providing up to 30% more Frames Per Second (fps) compared to counterparts with lower Max Graphics Power (MGP).

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One of the standout features of the Nitro V 15 is its captivating 144Hz 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display. Striking the perfect balance between power and style, this laptop is built to cater for more than just gaming. Gamers embarking on careers in graphics design or even multimedia should be able to breeze through with the Nitro V 15. The powerful laptop comes complete with a 512GB Solid State Drive (SSD) storage and 8GB of DDR5 5600Hz RAM. You’ll be able to expand the RAM up to 32GB for future gaming demands.

Acer is offering a 2-year warranty for the Nitro V 15. The first year also comes with an international warranty.

Pricing & Availability:

The Acer Nitro V 15 with the RTX2050 is priced at RM3,099. The RTX4050 version, on the other hand, will set you back RM3,899. It’s immediately available at Acer concept stores nationwide and the Acer e-store.

Customers who purchase the Acer Nitro V 15 before December 31, 2023, will enjoy gifts worth up to RM637. These gifts include a Nitro Urban Gaming Backpack, a 3-year subscription to Trend Micro Internet Security, a Logitech G Wireless Gaming Mouse, and credit for the Touch ‘n Go eWallet.

Early adopters can also participate in a quiz through www.a-redemption.com. If you do, you’ll stand a chance to win extra rewards totalling up to RM50,000 in the Holiday Giveaway.

PR Newswire

CGTN: On climate change, we’re running out of time, not options

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BEIJING, Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Beijing, the strong, fast-beating heart of Chinese prosperity, has been known as a safe and stable city free from natural calamities. But not the summer of 2023. Throughout the season, the mercury soared, with daily highs consistently hitting over 40°C. Then as the capital had a relative respite from sweltering heat, there came the heavy rain, flooding and displacing thousands of people.

As Beijing recovered, some horrible but similar trend is echoing all around the globe: the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century scorched Lahaina, Hawaii; the devastating floods that destroyed a quarter of the city of Derna, Lybia; extreme heat and worsen drought in Chile and the Horn of Africa; rising sea level for island countries… “Humanity has opened the gates of hell,” as the UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted, “we are heading towards a dangerous and unstable world.”

Although the alarm bell keeps ringing, we should not lose hope and give up. But rather, it’s high time to take actions. China and the United States, as the world’s two largest economies, have shown their political will by the milestone Sunnylands Statement. And looking back a bit further, from the Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement, binding targets to limit emission and temperature increase have been set through joint efforts.

And China has walked the talk for achieving its goal of carbon peaking and neutrality. From transforming deserts to cleaning up the air, to developing new technology, shifting energy structure, and raising public awareness on a healthier lifestyle. China is doing everything to cultivate a more sustainable cycle of nature, to pay off previous ecological debts, avoid new debts, and strive to save our planet in more creative ways.

If climate change is a global concern, the burden is not equally shared. On the one hand, developed countries are responsible for most of the heat-trapping emissions since the Industrial Revolution. On the other, developing countries have lower emissions, but are bearing the brunt of a hotter climate. Promises from some of the world’s biggest economies haven’t been panning out, delayed by political deadlock, bureaucratic hurdles and debates over new rules to expedite aid from development banks and private donors.

An injustice burns at the heart of the climate crisis and its flame is scorching hopes and possibilities, as world leaders are warning. “We cannot continue,” Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados called, “to put the interest of a few before the lives of many.”

How to make sure the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, with all pulling in the same direction? It needs leadership, vision, and multilateralism. China, along with the rest of the world, is taking the lead to give its best shot, bringing down the price of renewable energy, sharing knowhow for deploying sustainable projects, and transitioning to a low-carbon era. With climate change being a global issue, only in a global approach and by joint efforts can we translate the will into concrete outcomes, and mitigate the climate we changed.

PR Newswire

EcoBalance, KazBeef, and rTek Launch Climate Smart Beef Pilot Program at COP28

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DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — EcoBalance Global, a US-based leader in carbon storage projects, Kazbeef, a subsidiary of Yerkin Tatishev’s Kusto Group, and rTek, a Rakurs Consulting Group company, have partnered to launch the first-ever pilot ranch outside the United States that will deliver the world’s first climate smart beef, using carbon insets, backed by 3rd party validation and blockchain technology.

The pilot has been launched at COP28 in Dubai following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the companies. The project will not only enable blockchain transacted environmentally sustainable cattle outside the United States but will also show the world that the livestock and farming industry can be part of the net-zero solution.

The foundation for the KazBeef pilot is EcoBalance Global’s Framework that supports ranches in deploying a specialized rotational grazing program which allows increased carbon capture in the soil, and utilizing machine learning satellite technology to monitor sustainable land management, focusing on accurate carbon accounting. This is backed up by the Framework’s carbon trade and risk management platform to administer all the requirements of the Framework in conjunction with the blockchain.

As part of the program, rTek, a Rakurs Consulting Group company based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, will leverage its expertise in remote sensing and MRV development, particularly in precision agriculture, to support the pilot program.

The 10-year pilot project is expected to demonstrate the world’s first carbon inset beef supply chain. It is scalable, with the goal of using EcoBalance’s Framework as a global standard for sustainable and climate smart beef supply.  

Tellan Steffan, EcoBalance Global said:

“We are delighted to launch the pilot project with the signing of the MoU with our partners at KazBeef and rTek at COP28. This program will enable Kazakh farmers to have the world’s first working carbon storage project on their land that can be scaled and the means to create and market low carbon beef products.

One-third of all human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions, are generated from food systems, and it is hoped that the EcoBalance Framework can offer a comprehensive solution for the reduction of carbon emissions in the agricultural sector and establishing a template that can be scaled globally.” 

Established in 2011, KazBeef has consistently showcased its dedication to environmentally conscious farming practices, while maintaining a high quality operation which includes more than 15,000 heads of cattle and produces more 6,000 tons of beef per annum.

In its partnership with EcoBalance Global, KazBeef has found a partner that is equally focused on the development of pioneering farming methods, driven by a mission to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and provide new revenue for local farmers.

EcoBalance Global’s pilot ranch in North Dakota has created over 18,000 registered soil carbon credits, while simultaneously producing and tracking 900 head of climate smart cattle.

Commenting on KazBeef’s announcement and its participation at COP28, Yerkin Tatishev, the Chairman of Kusto Group, said:

“Kazbeef is a pioneer in environmentally conscious farming and ranching practices.  Through this new partnership, we are leading the way in carbon capture in agriculture thanks to our partnership with EcoBalance Global. It is my hope that our efforts can be a model to many others and I am delighted that this has also been recognised through our participation in Kazakhstan’s pavilion at COP28.

“COP28 offers a unique opportunity to discuss the ongoing transition in global food production and farming, and I am proud that KazBeef will play an integral role in creating a more sustainable future for us all.”

Dosym Kydyrbayev, Managing Partner, Rakurs Consulting Group, said:

“As we embrace the challenges and opportunities of environmental sustainability in Kazakhstan, it’s crucial to recognize the pivotal role of innovative technologies and data-driven approaches. Companies like rTek are at the forefront of this transformation, offering vital solutions in soil sampling, MRV, standards adoption, and QA processes for carbon projects.

To advance Kazakhstan’s decarbonization goals, the private sector must commit to long-term collaboration with governments, local, and international bodies. With this project and others, we aim to support our nation’s ecological goals but also to position Kazakhstan as a leader in climate action and sustainable development.”

About EcoBalance Global

EcoBalance Global is a US based carbon reduction project developer, consultant, and carbon program manager. We utilize our relationships with farmers, ranchers, and landowners to develop projects that biologically enhance their soil, sequester and store carbon, as well as increase vegetative production. We have developed a robust Soil Carbon Sequestration and Storage Framework (Framework) to assist the agriculture industry at large to lower their carbon footprint.  Our Framework employs methodologies and procedures to address the diverse environmental requirements for farms and ranches around the world.

Through our Framework, we can increase carbon removal and storage rates that we are able to certify through a third-party registry and use verified carbon insets in the Framework life cycle analysis process. We facilitate the use of carbon insets tied to products coming from the land (beef, lamb, cereal grains, etc.). The carbon reduced products enter the supply chain where they may be counted towards Science Based Target Initiatives (SBTi) goals resulting in a low or no carbon footprint product that can be directly tied back to the land it came from. Our business delivers a high value-added quality product that rewards the stewards of the resources for excellent management and provides distributors with a product that they can have complete confidence in.

About KazBeef

KazBeef is a vertically integrated group of companies which produce the leading marbled beef in Kazakhstan under the KazBeef brand. The KazBeef brand and operation reflects the concept of ‘from farm to folk’ and KazBeef is leading an ambitious program to transform Kazakhstan’s vast arable land into a global production and export hub for premium beef products.

KazBeef is a part of the Kusto Group, which employs thousands of people in more than nine countries, across industries as diverse as agriculture, construction materials, real estate, and retail. Chaired by Yerkin Tatishev, Kusto Group is leading the way in developing innovative solutions to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The company employs over 8,000 staff and has an annual turnover of more than $1bn. In 2013, Kusto Group permanently moved its headquarters from Almaty to Singapore.

About rTek

rTek, a member of Rakurs Consulting Group, has been dedicated to providing sustainable technology solutions in Kazakhstan since 2018.

Their recent focus includes several ongoing natural carbon sequestration projects, involving grasslands, croplands, and afforestation, reflecting a deep commitment to environmental sustainability. 

Based in Almaty, rTek is not only an active contributor to Kazakhstan’s sustainability landscape but also is represented in key industry organizations through its founders’ roles in the Qazaq Green Association, responsible for a new standard for carbon emissions verification in Kazakhstan. rTek also is an active leader in research projects throughout the country, including several key multi-year studies initiated by ADB, World Bank, FAO, and the Kazakh Government focused on rangeland sustainability and agricultural water management, and precision agriculture technologies.

PR Newswire

Global Methane Hub Announces the Enteric Fermentation Research & Development Accelerator, a $200M Agricultural Methane Mitigation Funding Initiative

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The Largest-Ever Globally Coordinated Funding Investment in Livestock Methane Mitigation Research Announced at the COP28 Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum

The public, private and philanthropic partnership includes Bezos Earth Fund, Quadrature Climate Fund, Gerstner Philanthropies, High Tide Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Zegar Family Foundation, Danone and more

DUBAI, UAE, Dec. 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, at COP28, the Global Methane Hub (GMH) announced a more than $200 million funding initiative between public, private and philanthropic partners including the Bezos Earth Fund, Quadrature Climate Fund, Gerstner Philanthropies, High Tide Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Zegar Family Foundation, Danone, the Governments of Ireland, New Zealand and the United States, for research and development (R&D) technologies to meaningfully address and reduce methane emissions from livestock. 

The Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator, or Accelerator, is the largest-ever, globally coordinated investment of breakthrough research tackling livestock methane emissions. The Global Methane Hub announced the intention to establish the Accelerator at COP27 as an AIM for Climate Innovation Sprint. The Accelerator will unite funders, guided by a science oversight committee, to invest in a globally coordinated research plan. This strategy aims to address gaps in current research and enhance existing efforts. The strategy includes work on exploring new and alternate livestock feed additives, tools to breed low-methane livestock, immunological studies for a methane vaccine, understanding the organisms in the rumen and their functions, and lowering the costs of measurement, essential to generate evidence for regulatory approval and validation of mitigation technologies.

About 40% of the world’s methane emissions come from agriculture, and 70% of that is due to enteric fermentation. This process happens in cows’ digestive systems when sugars are broken down into methane and released through belching. Unfortunately, current research on enteric fermentation is not extensive or coordinated enough to provide efficient and transformative solutions to significantly benefit farmers.

This is the latest milestone to mark the impact GMH is having on global methane reduction efforts since its founding in December 2021.

“The Accelerator is a prime example of the role philanthropy can play in driving substantive climate action and strategically aligning the key players working to solve the most pressing issue of our time,” said Hayden Montgomery, Agriculture Program Director at the Global Methane Hub. “With this effort to synchronize and consolidate public-good research on enteric methane, we aim to make multiple solutions to reduce enteric methane available quickly and provide proof of the efficacy of livestock mitigation technologies.”

“We know that cattle are responsible for most agricultural methane emissions. Promising technological and scientific solutions exist, but for too long, monetary and regulatory barriers have slowed progress and prevented critical research,” said Andy Jarvis, Director of Future of Food at the Bezos Earth Fund. “The Global Methane Hub’s Enteric Methane R&D Accelerator stands to change all of this, unlocking the resources needed to discover and develop low-cost solutions that will dramatically reduce methane emissions from livestock by 2030.”

“Through the Accelerator, we are poised to make a significant impact in driving innovation towards solutions to reduce enteric methane globally,” said Richard Lawrence, director and co-founder of High Tide Foundation. “I would like to thank Danone for stepping up as the first corporation committed to the Accelerator and I encourage others to do the same.”

“As a dairy company, curbing methane emissions is the fastest and most impactful way to slow down global warming,” said Olivier Verdelet, Vice-President Agriculture Cycle at Danone. “To do so, collaboration will be instrumental as we seek for new solutions, speed and sizable impacts. We are eager to collaborate with the Global Methane Hub and other partners to accelerate and test scalable innovations in the field. We believe this will help us build a sustainable, future-fit dairy category that is at the core of our mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible.”

Agricultural methane is projected to increase 40% by 2050. We would have to reduce emissions by 50% in order to meet the accords of the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature rise to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Reducing methane emissions from all sectors, including agriculture, is the fastest way to mitigate climate change.

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PR Newswire

EVE Energy Brings Battery Products Showcase for China International Supply Chain Expo

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BEIJING, Dec. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — EVE Energy Co., Ltd., (“EVE Energy”) a leading global lithium-ion battery manufacturer, presents its cutting-edge consumer, power, and energy storage battery products in the inaugural China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) 2023 in Beijing, to demonstrate its commitment to low-carbon emissions and sustainable industry practices.

Immersion Cooling Battery Pack
Immersion Cooling Battery Pack

EVE Energy has been focusing efforts on advancing green energy applications in smart homes, urban transportation, and the energy internet sectors. This approach has been part of EVE Energy’s broader strategy to facilitate the low-carbon transformation of various industries and contribute to building a greener industrial ecosystem. At CISCE 2023, EVE Energy is taking a significant step in sharing a new approach to industry-wide carbon reduction, focusing on comprehensive solutions for consumer, power, and energy storage field.

Centered around the theme “EVE Energy is always by your side“, the company’s booth, located at Booth H21 in Hall W4 (Intelligent Automotive Chain) at China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Venue) in Beijing, immerses visitors in scenarios of intelligent transportation and smart living. The display includes a diverse array of products, such as, medical batteries, consumer batteries, power batteries, energy storage batteries, battery systems, and three-dimensional models of energy storage containers. Additionally, EVE Energy shares insights into its dual carbon practice and industrial chain layout.

EVE’s consumer batteries are known for their long life, high reliability, enhanced safety, and low discharge rates. Recognized by various industry customers for their high quality and comprehensive solutions, EVE has supplied over 1.7 billion smart meter batteries worldwide, leading in sales and exports for six consecutive years in China. EVE’s consumer lithium-ion products are trusted by top-tier global brands, and its cylindrical batteries power prominent power tool and electric two-wheeler brands.

Also highlighted at the exhibition are its innovative Mr. Big energy storage product, previously showcased at RE+ 2023 in the US, as well as its signature Immerision Cooling Battery Pack, previously showcased at IAA 2023 in Germany. The Immersion Cooling Battery Pack is applied to sedans and PHEVs with high safety, high power and ultra-fast-charging characteristics. The battery pack can be charged from 10%-80% SOC in just 9 minutes which has improved 55%. 

With 22 years of dedication to the lithium battery field, EVE Energy has mastered core technologies in consumer, power, and energy storage batteries, offering comprehensive solutions widely applied in the Internet of Things and Energy Internet domains. The company has established a full industry chain layout, spanning from nickel-cobalt-lithium mining to battery materials, production, recycling, and remanufacturing, positioning itself as a globally influential lithium battery platform company.

In its quest to build a low-carbon industrial infrastructure, EVE Energy has adopted a “next-door supply” strategy, recycling materials from spent batteries to reduce resource waste. The company’s technological innovations have increased the recovery rate of valuable metals and expanded industrial chain cooperation in resource recycling. In November 2022, EVE Power, a subsidiary of EVE Energy, received carbon-neutral certification for its eleventh factory in Hubei. Leveraging its expertise in building zero-carbon factories, EVE Energy aims to complete three such facilities by 2025. Additionally, the construction of EVE Energy’s environmentally friendly battery factory in Hungary, slated for completion in 2026, will incorporate solar and energy storage systems, promoting efficient use of clean energy and advocating for green electricity production to continually manage carbon emissions.

For more information about EVE Energy, please visit https://www.evebattery.com/en.

About EVE Energy

Founded in 2001 and listed in Shenzhen in 2009, EVE Energy has developed into a global player in the market, providing core technologies and comprehensive solutions for both consumer and power batteries, especially in the Internet of Things and the Energy Internet. Currently, EVE Energy has set up a research institute with 60 doctors and over 5,300 interdisciplinary R&D engineers in materials, electrochemistry, structure design, and electronic circuit design, obtained over 6,700 patents in China. The company launched a carbon reduction roadmap with a series of low-carbon reduction efforts in energy use, the manufacturing process, the supply chain, and resource management, and was named a “National Green Factory.”

PR Newswire

Shanghai prioritizes efforts to improve people’s livelihood

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BEIJING, Dec. 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A report from People’s Daily: Chinese President Xi Jinping inspected a government-subsidized rental housing community and learned about the city’s efforts in constructing government-subsidized rental housing projects in Shanghai on Nov. 29.

It is reported that the rental housing community provides affordable rental accommodation for new urban residents and young people.

The rental pricing takes into account both market prices and the income levels of the targeted group. Each apartment in the community is equipped with independent cabinets, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Public spaces such as shared kitchens, laundry rooms, recreational areas, and book corners are also provided.

Shanghai is a megacity. It attracts frontline workers and managers across the country engaging in its urban construction and function. They are important contributors to the city’s development and orderly operation.

In recent years, Shanghai has actively explored the provision of more rental housing with good location, high quality and low rent for frontline laborers, thus better satisfying their actual demands. It has implemented precise supply to ensure their life and work in Shanghai with more safety, comfort and dignity, which have been welcomed by the targeted group.

Adhering to the principle that “cities are built by the people and for the people,” Shanghai has been working to promote high-quality development, improving people’s living quality, and pursuing high-efficiency governance, to make urban management more science-based, refined and intelligent, and to make people’s life more convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable.

In the construction of the city, Shanghai always puts the people’s needs in the first place. It has expedited efforts to revitalize and transform old buildings and urban villages.

This year, the city has renovated 85,200 square meters of lower-grade, scattered, old housing and refurbished 247,700 square meters of aging residential properties. Ten urban village renovation projects have been launched.

Shanghai is actively exploring sustainable development models for urban renewal, while establishing and improving relevant policy systems and mechanisms.

Remarkable progress has been made in key urban renewal projects, such as the Fangua Long in Jing’an District, the ancient Panlong Town in Qingpu District, and Wukang Building in Xuhui District. Meanwhile, an additional 68,000 affordable rental apartments have been constructed.

With an aim to build an urban space that is not only livable but also enjoyable and engaging, Shanghai has worked to ensure coordinated development, management, and quality enhancement of the Huangpu River and the Suzhou Creek.

The Suhe Bay Green Space, a maritime park in the North Bund, and the Dongjiadu Road Skywalk have become popular destinations for citizens and visitors. Furthermore, eight kilometers of riverside paths in Pudong and Minhang have been connected and opened to the public.

Shanghai is accelerating the construction of sponge city demonstration areas and pilot zones for green and low-carbon development, to enhance the overall quality of the city. This year, it has built 75 “beautiful blocks.”

To build a green, smart, and resilient metropolis, Shanghai has reinforced the management of green building projects, and advanced the development of green urban spaces.

This year, approximately 2.6 million square meters of ultra-low energy-consuming buildings are underway, complemented by energy-saving renovations in 5.3 million square meters of existing public structures.

Shanghai has been solidifying the digital infrastructure of urban governance, pursuing digital transformation in all areas of urban construction and management. Particular attention has been focused on gas supply safety, while the control and emergency response to major risk sources are fortified, to forge a robust security line for this megacity.

These explorations and practices of Shanghai are the epitome of China’s commitment to sustainable development and the promotion of new urbanization.

In recent years, China has been continuously advancing a people-centered approach to new urbanization, strengthening the construction of major projects to ensure people’s livelihood, and improving the quality of life for its citizens.

It has accelerated the renovation and upgrading of urban pipelines, increased the availability of inclusive elderly care and medical services, improved urban ecology through the construction of “pocket parks,” and continuously enhanced public fitness facilities.

In the first seven months of this year, investment in the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water in China increased by 25.4 percent. During the same period, renovation was launched for a total of 46,600 old urban residential communities nationwide, benefiting 7.95 million households.

PR Newswire

Embracing the New Horizon, Towards the Shared Future

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SUPCON Celebrates 30th Anniversary

HANGZHOU, China, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — November 23rd, SUPCON (688777.SH, SUPCON.SW) held the 30th Anniversary celebration event themed “Embracing the New Horizon, Towards the Shared Future” at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center. The event witnessed the gathering of over 6,000 SUPCON group members sharing the joy of three decades of remarkable achievements. More than 100,000 global spectators participated in the online livestream.

The opening ceremony featured Congratulatory Speeches from distinguished guests, including Mr. Gao Chong, Deputy District Mayor of Binjiang High-tech District in Hangzhou, Mr. Wang Zizong, Vice Chief Engineer and General Manager of Information and Digital Transformation Management Department at SINOPEC, and Mr. Gu Jiandang, General Manager of Phoenix Contact China. Founder of SUPCON, Mr. Chu Jian, delivered the keynote speech titled “Moving Forward, Achieving Excellence”, extending gratitude to all friends who have supported SUPCON over the 30 years. “Looking ahead, the future is full of uncertainty,” he said, “however, I hope SUPCON would make certain to persist in five key aspects: Create value for customers and society. Do the right and tough things. Stay focused and be reliable. Keep passionate and pursuit excellence. Maintain open and foster cooperation ecosystem.”

The following program unfolded in three chapters: “Crossing Mountains and Seas”, “Embracing High in Clouds” and “Dancing with the Stars”, each corresponding to the momentous stages of SUPCON’s development. SUPCON’s growth mirrors the rapid ascent of Chinese industry and urbanization. Beginning 30 years ago, SUPCON aligned the company vision “make industry smarter, make life easier” with the national initiative to enhance industrial capabilities, and started the journey from small-to-medium-sized chemical projects to MAC projects for million-ton-ethylene plant and ten-million-ton refinery complexes, smart city megaprojects and national strategic projects. Today, SUPCON stands as a public and global entity, continuously embracing new challenges alongside industrial partners and nearly 30,000 process industry clients. The celebration featured a ceremony where representatives from prominent partners stamped the mark of SUPCON’s 30th Anniversary, symbolizing the opening of SUPCON’s next chapter towards a better shared future with global partners.

Following the celebration on the 23rd, the IMPACTS Industry Conference & Exhibition themed “Intelligent, Green, Safe” was successfully held on November 24th under the guidance and support of the Economy and Information Technology Department of Zhejiang, the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang, Hangzhou Municipal government and relevant bureaus.

Mr. Zhang Dengfeng, Secretary of the Party Committee of Binjiang High-tech District and Mr. Li Min, Deputy Director of the Economy and Information Technology Department of Zhejiang delivered opening speeches, extending congratulations and expressing high expectations for SUPCON to seize the opportunities presented by the digital economy development, and contribute to achieving technological self-sufficiency and deepening digital transformation of the national manufacturing industry.

At the plenary session themed “Sustainable High-Quality Development in the Digital Era”, Mr. Li Peigen, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology delivered a report titled “Surpass the Advanced with AI Assistance”. He emphasized the huge potential of applying generative AI in design, where AI will play a leading role, with only essential human guidance. He believes this shift is expected to bring more sense of order and optimization chances to manufacturing activities.

Mr. Qian Feng, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at East China University of Science and Technology delivered a report titled “Integration of Digital Reality to Facilitate Digital Transformation of Traditional Raw Materials Industry”. He highlighted the significance of production chain, supply chain and value chain enhancing synergy with intelligent applications, involving AI decision-making assistance, autonomous operation, smart HSE management, etc. This will contribute to achieving green, low-carbon, high-quality and resources & energy effective production.

Mr. Bob Gill, General Manager of ARC Advisory Group Southeast Asia, delivered a speech under the title “Digital Transformation Trends in the Process Industries”. He highlighted the significance of digital technologies in terms of building new business models and new capabilities, pointing out that the modern control systems can be enablers of the digital transformation. We should take the advantages of emerging technologies from both IT and OT, increase agility, flexibility and resilience to retain a competitive advantage.

Mr. George Cui Shan, Chairman and CEO of SUPCON Technology, presented the keynote speech “Exploration & Practice of Intelligent Plant in Process Industries”. He emphasized the necessity of traditional enterprises to enhance automation, digitization and intelligent transformation, and introduced SUPCON “1+2+N” Smart Enterprise Architecture, representing 1 plant operating system, 2 automation (process automation and business automation), and N industrial Apps. The plant operating system serves as the “data base”, integrating with the intelligent Operation Management & Control system (OMC) as the “control base,” the Advanced Process Engineering eXpert (APEX) as the “model base,” and Perception of all Readable Instruments, Devices and Equipment (PRIDE) as the “perception base”, the plant wide interconnection is set. All assets and all data become one piece like the skin and the nerves system of the enterprise, enabling the production process and business operation to be measurable, controllable and predictable.

The whitepaper titled “Insights into Future Plant Trends in Process Industries” jointly authored by the China Institute of Electronic Technology Standardization, Petro-Cyber Works Information Technology and SUPCON Technology, was officially released at the conference. It is to address the core concerns of the process industries such as oil & gas, petrochemicals, chemical, power, non-ferrous metals, iron & steel, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, etc. The whitepaper combs through the priorities and painpoints, summarizes typical approaches and practical implementation paths, provides insights into the evolving trends of future plant, and systematically outlines the implementation elements of Intelligent Plant Process Automation (PA)+Business Automation (BA).

At the following panel discussion themed “Integrating Digital Technologies in Traditional Industries, Advancing Together in the New Era”, influential figures including Mr. Zhu Sendi, Emeritus Director of Expert Committee of the China Machinery Industry Federation, Mr. Pang Guanglian, Vice Secretary General of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, Mr. Wang Zizong, Vice Chief Engineer and General Manager of SINOPEC Information and Digital Transformation Management Department, Ms. Cai Lianchun, Global Vice President of SK geo centric, Mr. Hu Baishan, Vice Chairman and President of Zhejiang NHU, and Mr. George Cui Shan, Chairman and CEO of SUPCON Technology, shared their approaches and practices around China’s new-type industrialization thrust. They delved into the crucial topics such as the new-quality productivity, intelligent manufacturing, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, low-carbon practices, global business layouts, etc. The sparkling discussions provided in-depth analysis of the current industrial situation and prospected trends of the future development, calling for wide and deep collaboration towards high-quality sustainable development.

The afternoon featured 4 parallel sessions focusing on smart manufacturing, ecological co-construction, low-carbon buildings, and industrial control chips respectively. The distinguished guests included frontline experts, scholars and representatives from high-profile institutes, organizations and enterprises including MIIT, ITEI, Jiangsu Association of Automation, NAMUR, OPAF, CNPC, Tongkun Group, Daikin Fluorochemical, Luzhou Laojiao Group, Hobré Instruments, Petro-Cyber Works Information Technology, DMS Corporation, EPEC, Lenovo, ABB Measurement & Analytics China, Rockwell Automation China, Dahua Technology, Alibaba Group, ARC Advisory Group, TTWisdom, gongkong Data Technology, etc.

Concurrent with the conference, SUPCON and nearly 20 ecological partners showcased the products, solutions, technologies and success stories focusing on automation, digitization and intelligent plant at the exhibition.

Reflecting on the vibrant hues of the past and casting a gaze into the light of the future, SUPCON is poised to ride the dynamic tides and set sail towards the next glory hand in hand with the esteemed global partners.

Media Enquiries: 

Meifang Wang
wangmeifang@supcon.com

https://mma.prnasia.com/media2/2290662/SUPCON_Nov_24_event.mp4
PR Newswire

Algorand Foundation Announces Strategic Investment in Digital Payment Platform, HesabPay

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HesabPay showcased at the Algorand Impact Summit in New Delhi

NEW DELHI, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Algorand Foundation announces a strategic investment by Algorand Ventures in HesabPay on stage today at the Algorand Impact Summit in New Delhi, where business leaders, policymakers, NGOs, and developers convened to discuss how blockchain can be part of the solution to the world’s most intractable challenges.

Courtesy of HesabPay
Courtesy of HesabPay

HesabPay is the first and only interoperable digital payments platform in Afghanistan, utilizing the speed and reliability of the Algorand blockchain. Initially built as a solution to the humanitarian aid crisis, more than a dozen organizations, including the World Food Programme, have used the platform to send funds directly to beneficiaries in Afghanistan. HesabPay has since expanded its use cases and now allows users to buy airtime, pay electric bills, and send digital funds to other users.  HesabPay has facilitated 51,000 humanitarian cash transfers and has been used to pay over 1.3 million electricity bills.

HesabPay is a critical tool for Afghanistan, where 85% of the adult population is unbanked, according to the World Bank.  A recent study by the London School of Economics (LSE) trailed nearly 2,500 Afghan women receiving aid via HesabPay and found that “digital payments can be an effective and transparent way of helping those most in need.” The study found that over 98% of the money transferred digitally was spent as local purchases in the first eight weeks, with the women surveyed reported skipping fewer meals and eating a more nutritionally diverse diet both while receiving the payments and for several weeks afterward.

“In the case of HesabPay, it was apparent to us from the beginning that the solution they are offering was critical for some of the world’s most marginalized populations,” says Matt Keller, head of impact and inclusion at Algorand Foundation. “It is only fitting that we announced this investment at the Algorand Impact Summit, demonstrating how blockchain can serve as an efficient, reliable, and transparent solution for the global unbanked.”

Also at the Impact Summit, Algorand announced partnerships with Mann Deshi, Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

For more information, please visit https://algorand.foundation.

About Algorand Foundation

The Algorand Foundation is dedicated to helping fulfill the global promise of the Algorand blockchain by taking responsibility for its sound monetary supply economics, decentralized governance, and healthy and prosperous open-source ecosystem. Designed by MIT professor and Turing Award winning cryptographer Silvio Micali, Algorand is uniquely capable of delivering on the promise of a borderless global economy. It achieves transaction throughputs at the speed of traditional finance, but with immediate finality, near zero transaction costs, and on a 24/7 basis. 

PR Newswire

Knocking the Door Open

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BEIJING, Dec. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China.org.cn on mysteries behind Nixon’s 1972 China Visit:

Knocking the Door Open
https://youtu.be/6OGZS2rGEO4

Tang Wensheng is the interpreter for Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai during Nixon’s visit and the previous visits of Henry Kissinger.

She can tell us stories behind Nixon’s 1972 China visit and help us understand how the past may inform our future.

By 1971, after more than two decades of  isolation and  hostility across the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Table Tennis Team became the first American sports delegation to set foot on Chinese soil since 1949.

Normalization of relations between the two rival nations during the Cold War was gradually realized thanks to ping-pong, an unlikely diplomatic tool.

Before that, the U.S. government had managed to improve relations with China, which would be good for the U.S. to contend against the Soviet Union. For example, Nixon told a journalist of Time that if there was anything he wanted to do before he died, the thing was to visit China.

In August 1970, journalist Edgar Snow came to China. On the early morning of Dec. 18 1970, Mao Zedong invited Edgar Snow to have a conversation.

Tang Wensheng remembered, halfway between the seats and the door, Chairman Mao and Edgar Snow stopped and had a few more words. And the chairman said, no matter the changes, our relationship remains like this. And he said in English, “standing”.

“I was rather taken aback because he meant they had a standing relationship, and they were indeed standing there. But I didn’t know how he knew that the word ‘standing’ not only meant that they were standing there, but that there was a kind of relationship, standing relationship. That really took me aback. I thought that was also a sign he was learning English to converse with more people.”

As journalist Edgar Snow wrote in “A Conversation With Mao Zedong,” published in April 1971, Mao said he welcomed rightists such as Nixon to visit China because the problems between China and the U.S. would “have to be solved with Nixon”.

In July 1971, Kissinger, who served as National Security Advisor under the administration of the then U.S. president, visited China secretly, to pave the way for President Nixon’s visit to China in February 1972.

Tang Wenshegn said, “History will have its ups and downs. But eventually, it always goes forward. We just have to work for the better because that is in the interest of us all.”

The Cultural Sit-Down with Wang Xiaohui
http://cul.china.com.cn/node_1008104.htm
Mysteries behind Nixon’s 1972 China Visit
https://www.facebook.com/chinaorgcn/videos/1961657100867130/
https://twitter.com/chinaorgcn/status/1723927396318068917