Middle East Live

UPPER NYACK, N.Y. 
Fundraising Effort Announced for Morocco Earthquake Victims

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), an international U.S.-based non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of people with chronic disease through better access to care, education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research, has announced a new partnership with Darna Center, the Global Center for Gender, Race and Health Equity, a U.S.-based center with a mission to improve gender, race, and, health equity for women in Africa. Darna means our home in Moroccan dialect.

GHLF and Darna Center's partnership pays particular attention to North Western and Eastern Africa where women’s health issues are at the forefront of concern. As emphasized by The World Health Organization (WHO), there is an immediate need to address the unique challenges women in this region face — from sexual and gender-based violence to poor maternal and perinatal services, to a lack of equal access to health services and care.

Darna Center’s mission addresses the unique challenges that impact overall quality of life of African women, especially women living in and affected by poverty. Its aim is to dismantle the gender and racial disparities that severely restrict their equitable access to health services. By working together with communities around the world, Darna Center strives to be a catalyst for change through transformative research and policy, advocacy and education, and community engagement.

“There is a dire need to address the long-lasting effects of systemic inequities on the lives of African women, especially women who are affected by poverty, and migrant women who face the added burden of racism and xenophobia,” said Dr. Maha Marouan, PhD, Founder of Darna Center.

“In Moroccan dialect, ‘Darna’ translates to ‘our home,’ which describes a collective space of belonging where one feels safe, secure, and cared for. We want Darna Center to be that space, one that provides assistance to vulnerable women by addressing their unique challenges, including health, so they can have a sense of home and belonging. Our mission, however, extends beyond health solutions — we are building a home of hope, dignity, and opportunity for women in the region who need it,” Dr. Marouan said.

The announcement of the partnership between GHLF and Darna Center comes at a pivotal time, following the news of the devastating earthquake in Morocco, which has exacerbated health access issues for women in the area. “This earthquake is a tragedy of scale that should concern us all,” said Shilpa Venkatachalam, PhD, MPH, GHLF’s Director, Patient-Centered Research Operations and Ethical Oversight and President of GHLF North Africa.

“The health care infrastructure and the people of Morocco will have to bear a burden that must not be faced alone, especially given that resources and facilities will be under extreme strain. As a global organization, we feel it's our responsibility to step in and help alleviate some of those strains and to support any relief efforts that we can to the best of our ability. We stand with unified efforts to lift a community of people who have been struck by this terrible disaster.”

With this new partnership, GHLF expands its ability to help and connect with patients across the world. GHLF currently serves North and South America, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and Nepal.

Teaming Up to Give Back

GHLF and Darna Center have teamed up with the National Association of Doctors, a local Moroccan physician organization, to raise funds to assist those urgently in need of medical support after the disastrous earthquake. Funds contributed will be given to the National Association of Doctors to provide the essential medical help and supplies to the Moroccan community. “The impact of this earthquake will have long-lasting effects, so your help is never too late,” said Dr. Venkatachalam. Donations are tax deductible in the United States. Contributors outside the U.S. should consult with their tax advisor or local laws.

About Global Healthy Living Foundation

The Global Healthy Living Foundation is a U.S. based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, international organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses by advocating for improved access to health care and amplifying education and awareness efforts within its social media framework. GHLF is also a staunch advocate for vaccines. The Global Healthy Living Foundation is the parent organization of CreakyJoints®, the international, digital community for millions of people living with arthritis and their supporters worldwide who seek education, support, activism, and patient-centered research in English, Spanish, and French. Our ArthritisPower® patient registry has more than 40,000 consented patients who participate in best-in-class patient-reported outcomes research. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, GHLF started a Patient Support Program, informed by a patient council made up of people living with a wide range of chronic illnesses, that now serves more than 46,000 subscribers. Via CreakyJoints, GHLF also hosts PainSpot (PainSpot.org), a digital risk-assessment tool for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, eRheum, for telehealth and virtual-care support, and a constantly refreshed library of podcasts via the GHLF Podcast Network. GHLF never asks the public for donations. Visit ghlf.org for more information.

Find us online:

Global Healthy Living Foundation: ghlf.org
CreakyJoints Canada: CreakyJoints.ca
CreakyJoints: CreakyJoints.org
CreakyJoints Español: CreakyJoints.org.es
CreakyJoints Australia: CreakyJoints.org.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreakyJoints & https://www.facebook.com/GlobalHealthyLivingFoundation
Twitter: @GHLForg, @CreakyJoints, #CreakyChats
Instagram: @creaky_joints, @creakyjoints_aus, @creakyjoints_esp
TikTok: globalhealthylivingfnd
YouTube: @GHLForg, @CreakyJoints
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ghlf

About Darna Center

Darna Center, the Global Center for Gender, Race and Health Equity, is a U.S.-based global initiative focused on Gender, Race, and Health Equity. Our core mission is to support and improve the quality of life for all African women. We aim to address and reduce the gender and racial disparities that limit their access to health services. By collaborating with communities worldwide, we focus on research, effective policymaking, advocacy, education, and active community engagement.

Find us online:

https://www.darnacenter.org

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230925311831/en/

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2509202334560
Contacts
Maha Marouan, PhD
Darna Center Founder and GHLF Consultant, North (West and East) Africa Region
mmarouan@ghlf.org
+1-917-244-1511

Shilpa Venkatachalam, PhD
Director, Patient-Centered Research Operations and Ethical Oversight and President of GHLF North Africa
svenky@ghlf.org
+1-646-427-7891

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Thursday, 28. September 2023

Cutting-Edge Series Hits the UAE Market on October 4th 2023.

Xiaomi unveiled its latest Xiaomi 13T Series smartphones in a global launch in Berlin, Germany, on September 26th. These phones are designed for global customers looking to unleash their visual creativity, featuring professional Leica optical lenses for Authentic Leica Imagery. With advanced performance, long-lasting battery life, and a crystal-clear display, the Xiaomi 13T Series promises exceptional smartphone experiences for photography, video watching, and daily use.

The highly anticipated release was revealed in Dubai at an exclusive media launch event held at the Bvlgari Yacht Club. Over 70 attendees, including content creators, tech editors, media, and authorized dealers, witnessed the unveiling of two exciting devices: Xiaomi 13T Pro and Xiaomi 13T. Among the distinguished guests were two renowned Leica Ambassadors, photographers Amit Kar and Hisham Khonji, who brought their unique perspectives and expertise in the world of photography to the gathering.

An experience zone allowed guests to explore the impressive features of the new series, test and experience various smartphone and AIoT products, including the Xiaomi TV A Pro Series, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 priced at AED 149, and the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, which comes at AED 999, leaving them thoroughly impressed.

Arjun Batra, Xiaomi’s Country Manager for UAE and Jordan enthusiastically expressed: "We are thrilled to introduce the Xiaomi 13T Series to our valued customers in the UAE and around the world. This innovative lineup reflects our dedication to pushing the limits of technology, delivering exceptional performance, captivating design, and a seamless user experience."

The Xiaomi 13T Series reimagines smartphone photography for a new era, featuring Summicron lenses co-engineered with Leica. Both the Xiaomi 13T Pro and Xiaomi 13T are equipped with a triple-camera setup, including a 50MP wide-angle lens for impressive dynamic range, a 50MP telephoto lens for stunning portraits, and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens for sweeping panoramic shots. These cameras capture Leica-quality moments while embracing 100% DCI-P3 brilliance.

The Xiaomi 13T Series introduces two distinct Leica photographic styles: Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant Look, along with an array of six Leica filters and four innovative Leica watermarks to ignite your creativity.

Refine your photography with Custom photographic styles in Pro mode, ensuring the preservation of intricate details and vibrant colors. Xiaomi ProFocus technology guarantees sharp action shots and captivating portraits.

Elevate your videography experience with the Xiaomi 13T Pro, which fulfills your video dreams with 10-bit LOG 4:2:0 H.265 video recording, a Rec.709 LUT for precise color accuracy, and impressive 8K video shooting capabilities. The 50MP wide-angle camera is equipped with OIS and EIS for stable footage, while the Xiaomi 13T offers 4K video at all focal lengths and a Pro mode for seamless caption and soundtrack editing.

Both the Xiaomi 13T Pro and Xiaomi 13T deliver an awe-inspiring viewing experience thanks to their 6.67" CrystalRes Display, 144Hz refresh rate, and 1.5K resolution. With a peak brightness of 2600nits, they ensure crystal-clear visuals with vibrant colors, covering the full DCI-P3 spectrum and supporting an astounding 68 billion colors for HDR10+ visuals. Dual speakers with Dolby Atmos® sound enrich your content immersion. Additionally, you can enjoy 100GB of Google One cloud storage for six months and three months of ad-free YouTube Premium.

Exceptional power efficiency and extended battery life are the Xiaomi 13T Pro and Xiaomi 13T hallmarks. The Xiaomi 13T Pro runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset, while the Xiaomi 13T is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra, both featuring a 5000mm (2) VC stainless steel soaking plate for improved thermal dissipation. The Xiaomi 13T Pro supports Xiaomi 120W HyperCharge, enabling a full charge in just 19 minutes, and both models offer fast charging options. Safety features, including ISP, SOA, and DTPT technologies, are integrated to safeguard the 5000mAh (typ) battery.

Xiaomi 13T Pro and Xiaomi 13T come in three elegant colors: Alpine Blue with Xiaomi BioComfort vegan leather, Meadow Green, and Black with a glossy glass back. All are IP68-rated for water and dust resistance, offering style and durability. Xiaomi 13T Pro is priced at AED 2499, offering versatile storage options. Xiaomi 13T, available in Meadow Green and Black, is priced at AED 1799.

Xiaomi commits to innovation and quality with four generations of Android OS upgrades and five years of security patches for Xiaomi 13T and Xiaomi 13T Pro.

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/13t28092023en
Contacts
Joy Hoyek

Joy.hoyek@boopin.com

LOS ANGELES - Tuesday, 26. September 2023

Combination of premium display, reliable performance, and smart features ideal for even the most demanding modern workplace

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lenovo™ has unveiled the ThinkCentre™ M90a Pro Gen 4, setting a new standard for all-in-one (AIO) business desktop computers. Designed to address the needs of modern workplaces and content creators, this powerhouse Windows 11 PC wows with a massive 27-inch QHD display and is equipped with smart features that enhance connectivity, privacy, and usability.

“Modern businesses require more than just a high-performing PC, they need solutions that are smart and intuitive, reliable and efficient, and empowers them to create a multi-device ecosystem seamlessly,” said Sanjeev Menon, vice president and general manager, Worldwide Desktop Business in Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. “In this evolving hybrid environment, employees use an average of 2.5 devices for work1 and would like to be provided with both desktops and laptops to allow them to be more productive2. Lenovo’s ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 is the answer for businesses looking for synergy and to make workspaces more flexible, streamlined, and productive.”

Power to Produce Results

The ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 delivers performance when required, expandability when necessary, and results when needed. It’s ready to take on any challenge – packed with cutting-edge components, including Intel® vPro® Enterprise with up to 13th Gen Intel Core™ i9 processors, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 Laptop GPU, and up to 64GB of DDR5 memory. To keep the system optimized, the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 is equipped with Energy Performance Optimizer, which utilizes machine learning to classify tasks and boost performance.

ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 enables ultra-fast file sharing with Thunderbolt 4, capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 Gbps and making transferring videos and gigantic files a breeze3. For professionals demanding even more, the AIO desktop can support an additional 8K or two 4K monitors, can be outfitted with external GPUs and storage drives, and can double as a monitor when connected to other devices.

Accurate and Thoughtful Display

Bigger does not always mean better, except for the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4. Boasting a 27-inch QHD display capable of showing even the most minute detail, the AIO shines at 350 nits and has an sRGB 99% rating, so that designs and artworks accurately reflect the artists’ inspiration and vision.

Individually calibrated to ensure that the same image is identical in every ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4, the AIO not only focuses on the artists’ work, but also on their wellbeing. The premium AIO desktop is Eyesafe 2.0 and Flicker Free certified by TÜV Rheinland and has Natural Low Blue Light technology built into the hardware to reduce eyestrain and fatigue.

Multi-Device Connectivity Simplified

Modern organizations require collaboration across departments, creatives, and devices, and the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 is the solution to creating the ultimate hybrid ecosystem. In addition to the Thunderbolt 4 port, the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 also offers an optional Thunderbolt 3 port4 that allows users to share the display as a Thunderbolt monitor when connected via the included USB-C® cable. Through this feature, users can also share a second M.2 SSD to laptop or PC with super-while enjoying high-speed data transfer rates.

ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 has power to spare and seamless connectivity with other laptops or PCs, but it can also become an extension to mobile devices. Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola and select Motorola smartphone users can connect to the AIO via app, gaining the ability to copy, paste, and drag-and-drop files between the phone and the desktop, as well as stream apps, respond to texts and keep track of notifications without having to use their phones.

“The ability to power through any task as well as to become a hub to multiple devices makes the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 the ideal choice for a hybrid workforce,” added Menon. “A designer can now ideate on his phone from a coffee shop, create and design on his laptop at home and put the finishing touches the next day at work all without missing a beat.”

Designed for the Modern Professional

Privacy, security, and reliability are essential for the modern professional, and the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 seamlessly blends hardware and software to give users peace of mind. Using a unique combination of AI, next-gen Human Presence Detection (HPD) with radar sensor and the RGB-IR camera, the AIO harnesses privacy with zero-touch login and logout that automatically blurs your screen when someone is behind you.

In addition to the array of security features, the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 is built with a discrete TPM 2.0 chip for more secured encryption, comes with ThinkShield to safeguard data and assets, and can block USB storage devices with Smart USB Protection. The AIO is also Mil SPEC tested for durability and reliability5 and is UL Anti-dust certified.

To maintain the performance and security of the ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 as well as other devices in the fleet, Lenovo Device Manager is the preferred endpoint management tool for all users. Built to work seamlessly with Windows 11 and other operating systems, Lenovo Device Manager is a flexible, scalable, cloud based, and zero-touch solution that allows users to connect and configure policies across all devices. Lenovo Device Manager works to optimize and improve device functionality, monitor device connectivity, track hardware and software changes, and more.

Intentionality in Smart Design

The ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 comes with several customer-centric designs to streamline workspaces and enhance user experience, including a phone-docking bar, a built-in cord management base and an On-Screen Display joystick for easy menu selection. For professionals seeking to further amplify their system’s productivity, Lenovo offers a selection of accessories (sold separately), including a Conference Call Base with quad-array mics for 360-degree-far-field pickup and four Harman® speakers for crystal clear sound.

Certified for Microsoft Teams, the Conference Call Base connects to your computer using a Standard USB Type-C interface, is fine tuned for the human voice, and features echo cancellation and AI noise suppression.

Pricing and Availability6

The Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 4 is now available in select markets.

About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of ‘New IT’ technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovo’s world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. To find out more visit https://lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

1Statistic obtained from BYOD Statistics 2022 Zippia.com
2Lenovo ThinkCentre 2022 Changing Workplace Survey
3Actual transfer speed varies due to many factors, including device speed.
4Not a Thunderbolt host port. Connection to a laptop or desktop’s Thunderbolt port done through a single full-function Type C cable (included). Sold separately.
5Lenovo uses the US Department of Defense’s MIL-SPEC standards to test devices against hazardous physical and environmental conditions to determine durability. The Lenovo ThinkCentre MP90a Pro Gen 4 was tested against 10 categories and MIL-STD-12 procedures to prove its toughness. Abuse, like that contained in MIL-STD-12 testing, is not covered under Lenovo’s standard warranty.
6Prices may not include tax and do not include shipping or options and are subject to change without notice; additional terms and conditions apply. Reseller prices may vary. On-shelf dates and color options may vary by geography and products may only be available in select markets. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings, features and specifications at any time without notice.
7Actual available capacity is less and varies due to many factors, including formatting, partitioning and operating system, etc., which utilize part of this capacity. The available capacity may change with software updates.

LENOVO, THINKCENTRE, THINKSHIELD, and THINKPHONE are trademarks of Lenovo. INTEL, INTEL CORE, vPro, Thunderbolt and the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. NVIDIA and RTX are trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation, Inc. USB Type-C® and USB-C® are registered trademarks of USB Implementers Forum. Wi-Fi is a trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance. TÜV is a registered trademark of the TÜV Rheinland Group. Dolby and Dolby Atmos are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. HARMAN KARDON and Harman speakers are trademarks of Harman International Industries, Inc. MOTOROLA, the Stylized M Logo, MOTO and the MOTO family of marks are trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2023, Lenovo Group Limited.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230926150711/en/

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2609202334600
Contacts
Pedro Chen
pchen25@lenovo.com

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Wednesday, 27. September 2023

Her Promise Access Initiative helped prevent 57 million unplanned pregnancies putting the company approximately halfway to its goal of preventing 120 million unplanned pregnancies by 2030

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Organon (NYSE: OGN), a global healthcare company with a focus on women’s health, has been named to Fortune’s 2023 Change the World list for its leadership in helping women and girls around the world take control of their reproductive health. Organon has a portfolio of programs, collaborations, and investments designed to lift women for generations to come through family planning education and contraceptive access. Fortune’s annual list recognizes companies that have had a positive social impact through activities that are part of their core business strategy.

Nearly 50% of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned, leading to health risks and reduced educational and employment opportunities for mother and child – challenges that can span generations.1, 2 Largely caused by a lack of access to contraceptive information and services, this problem is so significant that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has deemed unintended pregnancy a global public health crisis.2

“Organon was founded with a vision to create a better and healthier every day for every woman. Part of that responsibility is to address contraception education and access barriers globally,” said Kevin Ali, CEO of Organon. “While we are incredibly proud to be recognized for the progress we’ve made, our work is far from done. Together with our partners, we aim to prevent 120 million unintended pregnancies by 2030 – a critical step toward realizing our vision of a future in which all 4 billion women and girls worldwide are empowered to be in control of their family planning.”

Organon is increasing access to contraceptive choice globally through cross-sector partnerships that are fueling public health solutions, addressing inequities, and giving women more opportunities to pursue education and economic independence, including:

Establishing Her Plan is Her Power, a $30 million, multi-year global initiative to reduce unplanned pregnancies through global advocacy as well as investments in community-driven solutions in the United States, in low- and middle-income countries, and around the globe.

Advancing the Her Promise Access Initiative, through which Organon works alongside partners to expand contraception availability to the 73 lowest-income countries. The initiative has already helped to prevent 57 million unintended pregnancies to date.

Establishing a new model for advancing progress in women’s health through sustainable financing, which is being used to mobilize capital towards initiatives that might not otherwise receive adequate support. Programs to increase access to sexual and reproductive health education and services are currently running in eight countries in different phases including Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, as well as Thailand, Kenya, and South Africa.

A global grants program, which helps women and girls take control of their reproductive health. The first cohort of grantees includes organizations in 13 countries, including the Dominican Republic, South Korea, Germany, and Thailand.

Fortune's Change the World list is selected and ranked by the editors of Fortune based on the magazine's own reporting and analysis. Nominees are assessed based on the reach, nature, and durability of the company's impact on specific societal problems, degree of innovation, impact on the company, and how integral the initiative is to a company's overall strategy.

For more details on Organon’s ESG strategy, goals, and initiatives, download the full 2022 ESG Report at https://www.organon.com/about-organon/environmental-social-governance/.

About Organon

Organon is a global healthcare company formed to focus on improving the health of women throughout their lives. Organon offers more than 60 medicines and products in women’s health in addition to a growing biosimilars business and a large franchise of established medicines across a range of therapeutic areas. Organon’s existing products produce strong cash flows that support investments in innovation and future growth opportunities in women’s health and biosimilars. In addition, Organon is pursuing opportunities to collaborate with biopharmaceutical innovators looking to commercialize their products by leveraging its scale and presence in fast growing international markets.

Organon has a global footprint with significant scale and geographic reach, world-class commercial capabilities, and approximately 10,000 employees with headquarters located in Jersey City, New Jersey.

For more information, visit http://www.organon.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements and disclosures in this press release are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of words such as "may," “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “will,” or words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding Organon’s efforts to expand access to contraceptive choice. Such statements are based on Organon’s current plans and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause Organon’s plans and expectations, including actual results, to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Organon undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Organon’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including Organon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and subsequent SEC filings, available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

_________________________
1 Bearak, J et al., 2022. Country-specific estimates of unintended pregnancy and abortion incidence: A global comparative analysis of levels in 2015-2019. BMJ Global Health.
2 Nearly Half of All Pregnancies Are Unintended-a Global Crisis, Says New UNFPA Report. United Nations Population Fund. Retrieved September 6, 2023, from www.unfpa.org/press/nearly-half-all-pregnancies-are-unintended-global-crisis-says-new-unfpa-report.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230926715642/en/

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2709202334633
Contacts
Media Contacts:

Karissa Peer
(614) 314-8094

Kate Vossen
(732) 675-8448

Investor Contacts:

Jennifer Halchak
(201) 275-2711

Alex Arzeno
(646) 430-2028

• State of Software Security 2023 Report Finds Software Security Lagging in EMEA, with Almost 20% of Applications Containing ‘High Severity’ Flaws
• EMEA Organisations at Increased Risk from Vulnerabilities in Third-Party and AI-Generated Code

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Veracode, a leading global provider of intelligent software security, today released research indicating applications developed by organisations in Europe, Middle East and Africa tend to contain more security flaws than those created by their U.S. counterparts. Across all regions analysed, EMEA also has the highest percentage of ‘high severity’ flaws, meaning they would cause a critical issue for the business if exploited. High numbers of flaws and vulnerabilities in applications correlate with increased levels of risk, which is particularly notable as software supply chain cyberattacks dominate headlines in 2023.

Researchers found that just over 80 percent of applications developed by EMEA organisations had at least one security flaw detected in their most recent scan over the last 12 months, compared to just under 73 percent of U.S. organisations. In addition, the percentage of applications containing ‘high severity’ flaws was the highest of all regions, at almost 20 percent.

“Our data shows that organisations globally are continuing to deploy a worrying number of applications with a high number of flaws in the CWE Top 25,” said Chris Eng, Chief Research Officer at Veracode. “We did, however, identify interesting regional differences, particularly in terms of third-party or open-source code usage and the ways in which vulnerabilities are introduced across the application lifecycle,” he continued.

Analysis of data collected from more than 27 million scans across 750,000 applications helped to produce Veracode’s latest annual report on the State of Software Security. This new report showcases the EMEA-specific findings from those scans and applications, including results from UK, Germany, France, Italy and across the Middle East and Africa.

Numbers alone don’t convey the consequences of hackers exploiting software vulnerabilities. With organisations across EMEA utilising an ever more complex mix of third-party software to deliver their services, the exploitation of a serious vulnerability can impact thousands of victims at once. Earlier this year, a vulnerability affecting printing software tools PaperCut MF and PaperCut NG was actively abused by threat actors. Up to 70,000 organisations in 200 countries became potential victims, and law enforcement reports found threat actors successfully compromised vulnerable entities in the education sector.

Java and Third-party Code Introduce Significant Security Flaws

The research identified notable regional differences in preferred language usage, with Java revealed to be the preferred language for developers in EMEA. Teams using Java were found to remediate flaws at a slower rate than those using .NET or JavaScript, causing many of these flaws to persist or remain undiscovered for significantly longer. Moreover, as over 95 percent of Java applications are comprised of third-party or open-source code, Java usage is a key factor in the higher percentage of vulnerabilities introduced into applications in the region. This highlights the importance of software composition analysis (SCA), which picks up flaws in open-source code, and the research found a higher proportion of flaws reported by SCA in EMEA than in other regions.

As generative AI continues to gain strong traction in software development, the risk of vulnerabilities from external sources increases. A study, presented at Black Hat in 2022, showed vulnerabilities in 40 percent of code that had been written by large language models trained on vast troves of unrefined data, including millions of public GitHub repositories. It is therefore vital organisations leverage SCA tools to find and fix flaws, empowering developers to take advantage of AI without compromising the security of applications.

Applications Become More Vulnerable Over Time

The research also showed new flaws continue to be introduced into EMEA applications at a far higher rate across the entire application lifecycle than in other regions. While EMEA organisations keep updating applications, there was less of a focus on quality. After a five-year timespan, 50 percent of applications in EMEA continue to introduce new flaws, compared to just over 30 percent for the rest of the world. Overall, the baseline chance that a flaw will be introduced in any given month was 27 percent.

As such, EMEA organisations would benefit from paying more attention to the latter portion of the application lifecycle and scanning applications more regularly. They should also prioritise security training for developers, with the research finding completion of 10 interactive security labs reduces the probability of flaw introduction from 27 percent to about 25 percent in any given month.

“This year’s State of Software Security report shines a light on the importance of security across the entire software lifecycle, as well as the urgent need to address risks posed by third-party and AI-generated code,” Eng added. “Whilst across the board globally we are still seeing a concerning volume of vulnerabilities, these figures are higher in EMEA across almost all measurements. Development teams in this region must take the opportunity to automate software security for regular scanning, and carefully consider their use of AI tools, both to increase security and empower developers.”

The Veracode State of Software Security EMEA 2023 recommends four actions software development teams can take to improve their cybersecurity posture and is available to download on the Veracode website.

The global Veracode State of Software Security 2023 report is available to download.

About the State of Software Security Report

The 13th volume of Veracode’s annual report on the State of Software Security examines historical trends shaping the software landscape and how security practices are evolving along with those trends. This year’s findings are based on the full historical data available from Veracode services and customers and represent a cross-section of large and small companies, commercial software suppliers, software outsourcers, and open-source projects. The report contains findings about applications that were subjected to static analysis, dynamic analysis, software composition analysis, and/or manual penetration testing through Veracode’s cloud-based platform.

About Veracode

Veracode is intelligent software security. The Veracode Software Security Platform continuously detects flaws and vulnerabilities at every stage of the modern software development lifecycle. Prompted by powerful AI trained by trillions of lines of code, Veracode customers fix flaws faster with high accuracy. Trusted by security teams, developers, and business leaders from thousands of the world’s leading organisations, Veracode is the pioneer, continuing to redefine what intelligent software security means.

Copyright © 2023 Veracode, Inc. All rights reserved. Veracode is a registered trademark of Veracode, Inc. in the United States and may be registered in certain other jurisdictions. All other product names, brands or logos belong to their respective holders. All other trademarks cited herein are property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230925296799/en/

Permalink

https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2609202334582

Contacts

Katy Gwilliam

kgwilliam@veracode.com

Emirates Park Zoo become the first zoo in the Middle East to achieve the prestigious accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), marking a significant triumph in the pursuit of excellence and animal welfare.

This milestone accolade positions Emirates Park Zoo as a global leader in the zoo industry, joining an elite group of zoological facilities worldwide that have earned the revered AZA accreditation, often regarded as the Gold Standard in zoo management. The rigorous AZA accreditation process, which takes place every five years, involves comprehensive evaluations across various facets of zoo operations, including animal care and welfare, veterinary programs, conservation initiatives, educational programs, and safety measures.

Dr. Walid Shaaban, Director & CEO of Emirates Park Zoo, expressed his pride in the zoo's achievement, stating, "I am proud of our team and their dedication to delivering excellence at our zoo. Accreditation standards continuously evolve to ensure we are achieving the highest standard for our animals and their wellbeing. At Emirates Park Zoo, we are proud of the valuable zoo experience we provide for our guests from the breakfast with giraffes to the petting zoo we have enabled animal interactions for everyone, this helps us to achieve our mission to promote appreciation of the natural world, wildlife education, and conservation awareness and through this we can help future generations to work towards saving wild species and spaces from extinction."

The AZA accreditation is a testament to Emirates Park Zoo's unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest standards of animal care and well-being. These standards prioritize animal welfare, veterinary programs, conservation efforts, education initiatives, and safety protocols. The inspection team meticulously examines the facility and compiles detailed reports, which are then rigorously evaluated by the Accreditation Commission.

Dr. Walid Shaaban, Director & CEO, further added, "Congratulations to Emirates Park Zoo and Resort for meeting this gold standard in zoo management and care. This accreditation recognizes the dedication of all our team and partners in providing an incredible zoo experience for the UAE community."

Emirates Park Zoo's AZA accreditation underscores its commitment to upholding the highest ethical and operational standards in the zoo and aquarium industry. AZA accreditation is the Gold Standard for zoo management and only a selected few zoos and aquariums worldwide have earned this distinction. This achievement reflects the zoo's dedication to wildlife conservation, education, and fostering an appreciation for the natural world.

-ENDS-

About Emirates Park Zoo: Emirates Park Zoo is a leading zoological facility in Abu Dhabi (UAE) dedicated to the welfare and conservation of wildlife. Situated in a picturesque environment, Emirates Park Zoo provides very unique educational and entertaining experiences for visitors while actively participating in various conservation and educational initiatives.

About the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA): The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. AZA represents more than 240 facilities across North America and overseas, collectively dedicating their efforts to the preservation of wildlife and the education of the public. AZA-accredited facilities adhere to the highest standards of animal care and welfare.

Permalink

https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2609202334587

Contacts

Melwyn Abraham 

melwyn@matrixdubai.com

Najwa Jaberi

najwa@matrixdubai.com

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Tuesday, 26. September 2023 AETOSWire 

Latest software updates seamlessly integrate Design Issue Management and Quality Control into Construction Processes

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- InEight, a global leader in construction capital project management software, has announced new innovations that will help collaboratively resolve design issues early on to avoid re-work, and embed quality control in all construction activities to enable progressive review and turnover of complex, multi-discipline projects.

The new Integrated Quality Management feature will help contractors close the gaps between quality requirements and daily work and mitigate risks that can de-rail successful project delivery. The feature will integrate Inspection Test Plans and checklists with construction work plans, field progress and project documentation, enabling contractors to secure rapid ongoing approval of project turnover requirements while avoiding quality issues or project delays. The feature will provide all stakeholders real-time oversight of project progress, improving accountability, streamlining project handover and supporting greater owner-contractor collaboration.

The upgraded Design Issue Management feature, part of the InEight Model solution, goes beyond clash detection and initiates an RFI, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration to monitor and manage design issues and prevent costly rework, safety issues or delays. The feature will include a user-friendly interface to help collaboratively spot and solve issues before they become costly later in the construction process, enabling adoption of collaborative delivery models such as design-build.

Brad Barth, Chief Product Officer at InEight, said: “As demand for construction continues to outpace delivery capacity, owners, designers, engineers and contractors are looking for ways to do more with less. InEight is fulfilling that industry need with an integrated, end-to-end process that enables a highly collaborative approach to issue management and quality requirements, from design through construction and turnover.”

About InEight

InEight provides field-tested project management software for the owners, contractors, engineers and designers who are building the world around us. Over 575,000 users and more than 850 customers worldwide rely on InEight for real-time insights that help manage risk and keep projects on schedule and under budget across the entire life cycle.

From pre-planning to design, from estimating to scheduling, and from field execution to turnover, InEight has powered more than $1 trillion in projects globally across infrastructure, public sector, energy and power, oil, gas and chemical, mining, and commercial. For more information, follow InEight on LinkedIn or visit InEight.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230921745651/en/

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2609202334602
Contacts
InEight media contacts:
Linda Coy, Marketing Director, InEight
pr@ineight.com

Emily Sakamoto, Account Manager, Aspectus Group
emily.sakamoto@aspectusgroup.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Tuesday, 26. September 2023
(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Quectel Wireless Solutions, a global IoT solutions provider, announced today that extensive testing by Finite State, a major cybersecurity consultancy, shows that Quectel’s products substantially exceed industry standards and best practices in multiple security measures.

Quectel engaged Finite State, a third-party expert security firm focused on managing software supply chain risk for the enterprise, to rigorously test Quectel’s IoT modules to demonstrate Quectel’s commitment to transparent, verifiable product security.

The first progress report released to Quectel concludes that its modules’ security score, as reflected in Finite State's risk profiling, started strong when testing began earlier this year and got stronger rapidly as Quectel implemented Finite State’s recommendations. The score improved across the modules tested from an average of 62 to 24 with the highest possible score being 10. The report underlines that this is a significant improvement in Quectel’s security posture with both the initial and current scores far exceeding the industry average score of 98.

"Quectel has embraced security and transparency holistically, in a way that we rarely see from other organizations. Their commitment to make SBOMs and VEX reports available to their customers will make the IoT industry more secure and transparent," said Matt Wyckhouse, CEO of Finite State. "They have built upon their existing security testing processes by integrating even deeper testing into their first- and third-party code, and they've responded to findings in their development process faster than others in their industry, resulting in risk metrics that place them in the top 10% of all connected products we've analyzed," Matt Wyckhouse continued.

Finite State focused its initial penetration testing and analysis on the most critical Quectel cellular modules sold in the U.S. The platforms verified by Finite State represent approximately 70 percent of all North American IoT modules shipped within the last 18 months.

“Quectel plans to continue this third-party penetration testing and security verification for all of its most critical modules and to make it an ongoing and life-cycle process. We also encourage and assist our device original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) customers to do their own third-party testing,” said Norbert Muhrer, president and CSO of Quectel. “These results will guide Quectel as we continue to enhance our cybersecurity implementation on our products. We encourage our competitors to follow us on their own in such approach to make the IoT industry the safe and trusted place our customers expect it to be.”

In addition to penetration testing of its key modules, Quectel announced the release of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) and Vulnerability Exploitability Exchange (VEX) documents for its IoT modules. As an industry-first among IoT module manufacturers, these resources will be made available through the Quectel website. The SBOM and VEX documents will assist customers in this crucial task by providing machine-readable, comprehensive data. The SBOM documents will detail the software components and dependencies within each IoT module, along with licensing and provenance information. The VEX files will provide updated data on the vulnerabilities identified and their status.

Providing SBOM and VEX documents has a cascading effect on the entire IoT ecosystem. As a Module provider, Quectel is integral to the architecture of numerous IoT devices. The transparency and commitment to security will benefit all IoT products built on Quectel’s platforms.

“Our commitment to being both secure and transparent sets us apart,” Muhrer said. “By making this information readily accessible, we aim to empower our customers to make better-informed decisions about security risk assessment and patching prioritization and provide full transparency around our security posture. We are offering a full tool-box of security related measures and consulting to our customers to implement secure devices. Quectel is also collaborating with standards-setting bodies to help develop and then commit to achieving a stringent set of security requirements, including attainment of several key industry and government security certifications,” Mr. Muhrer added.

Separately, Quectel reiterated that its modules maintain the highest standards of data protection and security. “Quectel customers own and control all of the data collected by its modules. Quectel has no access to any of the device data,” said Peter Fowler, senior vice president, North America, Quectel. “Quectel is committed to delivering high-quality, best-in-class, secure IoT modules and go above and beyond industry standard practices by conducting independent third-party cyber security audits.”

Quectel retained Finite State in May 2023 to audit and penetration-test the security of its modules. Its ongoing work includes rigorous security testing, improved software supply chain visibility, and comprehensive software risk management.

About Quectel

Quectel’s passion for a smarter world drives us to accelerate IoT innovation. A highly customer-centric organization, we are a global IoT solutions provider backed by outstanding support and services. Our growing global team of 5,900 professionals sets the pace for innovation in cellular, GNSS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules as well as antennas and services.

With regional offices and support across the globe, our international leadership is devoted to advancing IoT and helping build a smarter world.

For more information, please visit: www.quectel.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230926898165/en/

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2609202334590
Contacts
Media: media@quectel.com

Highlights

With a combination of gaming technology, new AI capabilities and metaverse infrastructure, the metaverse is delivering more interesting, exciting and useful experiences, boosted by the creator economy. For instance, sports has taken the lead in investments and ambitious projects, driven by the appetite of current and new fans for exclusive, fun content that enables them to consume their sport in a unique fashion with their community, and allowing rights owners new and innovative ways to monetize their content.
Having completed its transformation, Improbable is now clarifying its brand mission as a venture builder, creating new ventures based upon its own backbone technology. The company has reorganized and now has three primary areas of activities:
Metaverse technology development
Metaverse and metaversal experiences development
Metaverse venture building, supported by an experimentation arm, Improbable Labs.
The new operating model is lean and comes to improve the company’s capabilities to deliver content at scale. With already 22 events run over the past 6 months, the company’s goal is to deliver close to 300 such events next year.
The technology roadmap focuses on enabling a regular cadence for events, supported by easy to use and affordable content creation tool sets and self-serve functionalities all embedded within the M2 network. A new product will be announced shortly, including advances in rendering that allow for the coupling of Improbable mass-scale technology with generative AI.
2022 financial performance is very solid and meets guidance with a 2.6x improvement at £78m in revenue and £131m in profit improvement.
Innovation Day - Further Details

Held on 26 September 2023, Improbable’s Innovation Day provided for a strategic update on the company and its business and financial performance for 2022. The leadership team highlighted the momentum across the business, including a significant improvement in revenue growth and net profit performance.

Herman Narula, Chief Executive Officer of Improbable, says, “Today showcases how far we have come and validates our metaverse focus, yet there is still so much to go after for this business. Opportunities abound in sports, entertainment and music. Our proprietary technology is able to take fan engagement and experiences to a new level and we gather ever more users excited by new experiences happening in the metaverse. Today demonstrates we have a fabulous set of products overseen by a passionate and dedicated team, delivering robust financial numbers.”

Improbable also unveiled during the event its new positioning: Venture into new worlds and used this to provide a series of updates covering a range of subjects, starting with the market. This was followed by a presentation on the transformation of the Improbable organization; the AI and metaverse technology underpinning the business; the roadmap ahead for its ventures and partnerships arm and finally a financial performance update.

Financially, the business enjoyed revenue growth of 2.6x in 2022 increasing the top line to £78m. The business is getting ever closer to profitability with a £131m reduction of losses in 2022 to £19m.

Dan Odell, the Chief Financial Officer, says “The Improbable business has matured significantly in the past two years and these numbers are testament to that. The focus is now on industrializing what we are doing by being involved in more events with more people where there is scope to drive and monetize engagement levels.”

The business finished 2022 with cash of £140m signposting the support it has from its shareholders and its improved financial profile.

Peter Lipka, Chief Operating Officer, says, “Improbable emerged from 2022 a much stronger, leaner and more resilient entity. We should all be excited for the future as we have a fantastic foundation to build upon and deliver content at scale. Our venture building activity will see us initiate, grow and eventually spin-off a whole new set of businesses exploring the metaverse.”

The core business comprises three distinct activities: metaverse technology development, metaverse worlds and experiences building, and metaverse venture building. Improbable Labs is where creative innovation in product development lies. Ventures and partnerships include work done for large brands such as the recent agreement with Major League Baseball but also more experimental projects such as the Victory League, a soccer fan engagement project. Finally, there are initiatives Improbable seeks to launch or engage in as thought leaders in this space, such as its role as the founding group behind the launch of The Metaverse Society.

Rob Whitehead, Chief Product Officer, highlighted the progress made by the business in terms of its own proprietary innovations. His presentation showcased the order of magnitude improvements to existing games technology, at every level and how Improbable is solving the challenges of networking, rendering, simulation, voice and streaming at scale while embedding new generative AI capabilities.

Further updates about Improbable activities:

The Multiplayer Group (MPG) is currently working across more than 20 significant projects. Many of these games titles are coming to market this year, such as Starfield by Bethesda Game Studios. It launched on 6 September 2023 and surpassed 10 million players within two weeks, making it the biggest ever Bethesda game launch. Other new game releases in 2023 that have been supported by MPG include Mortal Kombat 1 by Netherealms/Warner Bros, Redfall by Arkane Austin/Bethesda Softworks, Lego 2K Drive by Visual Concepts/2K games, Firewall Ultra by First Contact Entertainment/Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Enterprise Insights, launched in 2023, develops accurate digital twins to assess the performance of infrastructure projects. The team is currently focused on supply chains, including the assessment of automated warehouses for a range of multinational companies.
Following our transformation, the Improbable business currently employs around 650 people.
Improbable is a British start-up that has been at the forefront of building virtual worlds for over a decade.

We believe that the metaverse is an opportunity for communities, companies and brands to have a positive social and economic impact in the real world. Today, we are initiating new technologies, models and partnerships to venture further into new worlds.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230926212157/en/

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2609202334608
Contacts
press@improbable.io — marineboulot@improbable.io