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CGTN: China, Malaysia join forces for high-level strategic community with shared future

CGTN published an article highlighting how visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping has drawn a new development blueprint for China–Malaysia ties for the next 50 years and how the two countries are jointly promoting a high–level strategic community with a shared future to bring more benefits to the two peoples and contribute to regional prosperity.

BEIJING, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Last year, China and Malaysia celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Drawing a new blueprint of bilateral ties for the next 50 years, visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on the two sides to jointly build a high–level strategic China–Malaysia community with a shared future.

To bring more benefits to the two peoples and contribute to regional prosperity, the Chinese president put forward a three–point proposal during his meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Xi called on the two countries to adhere to strategic independence, forge development synergies, and deepen civilizational exchange and mutual learning.

High–quality cooperation

During their meeting, the two leaders both voiced opposition to indiscriminate tariffs, urging joint efforts to resist decoupling and supply chain disruptions with openness and cooperation.

Xi called for responding to the law of the jungle with Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness and responding to the unstable and uncertain world with a stable, certain Asia. In the same context, Anwar said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not endorse any unilaterally imposed tariffs.

Expressing China's willingness to enhance high–quality bilateral cooperation, Xi said the two sides should strengthen cutting–edge cooperation in the digital economy, green economy, blue economy, and artificial intelligence and strengthen the integrated development of the industrial chain, supply chain, value chain, data chain and talent chain.

In his signed article published in Malaysian media outlets, Xi noted that in 2024, China–Malaysia trade reached $212 billion, up by nearly 1,000 times the level at the inception of bilateral diplomatic relations.

China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while Malaysia remains China's second–largest trading partner and the largest source of imports within the ASEAN.

Malaysia was one of the earliest supporters of the China–proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The two countries signed a BRI memorandum of understanding in 2017 and have since reaped fruitful outcomes such as the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” program and the East Coast Rail Link.

After the meeting, Xi and Anwar witnessed the signing of over 30 bilateral cooperation deals spanning AI, infrastructure and agriculture, showcasing the two sides' strong commitments to enhancing high–quality cooperation.

Flourishing civilizational exchanges

Beyond trade and investment, China and Malaysia have also seen flourishing cultural exchange and tourism in recent years.

The year 2024 saw nearly 6 million mutual visits between the two countries, which exceeded the pre–COVID level, Xi noted in his article.

This has something to do with the mutual visa exemption policy. The two countries began a mutual visa exemption policy on December 1, 2023. Last June, China agreed to extend the visa exemption policy until the end of the year 2025, and to reciprocate, Malaysia would extend the visa exemption until the end of the year 2026.

Xi on Wednesday said the two sides should take the signing of the mutual visa exemption agreement as an opportunity to vigorously carry out tourism, youth, and local exchanges and deepen cooperation in culture, education, sports, film and media.

The two countries have carried out a new round of cooperative research on giant panda protection and also agreed to jointly apply for the inclusion of the “Lion Dance” project in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Just last month, the Chinese movie “Ne Zha 2” premiered in Malaysia, where it promptly set new box office records for Chinese films in the market.

As many as 83.6 percent of Malaysian respondents in the latest CGTN poll expressed positive sentiments about China. Meanwhile, the poll also showed 83.8 percent of respondents expressing interest in visiting or studying in China.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025–04–16/China–Malaysia–eye–high–level–strategic–community–with–shared–future–1CCOu6tYBkA/p.html


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9423866)

AI-Media dévoile LEXI Voice au NAB Show 2025, une solution de traduction vocale en direct alimentée par l’IA à la portée mondiale

BROOKLYN, N.Y. et NEW YORK, 16 avr. 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI–Media (ASX : AIM), leader mondial du sous–titrage et des technologies linguistiques basés sur l’IA, a annoncé aujourd’hui le lancement commercial réussi de LEXI Voice au NAB Show 2025, à Las Vegas. Le lancement en direct de cette solution révolutionnaire, qui fournit des pistes vocales en temps réel dans des langues alternatives grâce à l’IA, a suscité un vif intérêt de la part des diffuseurs mondiaux, des producteurs d’événements en direct, des plateformes de streaming et des chefs d’entreprise.

LEXI Voice représente un bond en avant dans la traduction en direct, transformant la diffusion en une seule langue en expérience multilingue, avec des voix synthétiques au rendu naturel, une latence ultra–faible (~8 à 12 secondes) et aucun matériel supplémentaire nécessaire. Résultat : l’accès à un nouveau public, des revenus publicitaires accrus et des économies considérables par rapport à l’interprétation humaine traditionnelle.

« Les clients nous disent que LEXI Voice offre exactement ce dont ils ont besoin : précision, évolutivité et simplicité, le tout à un prix révolutionnaire », a déclaré James Ward, directeur des ventes chez AI–Media. « Pour beaucoup, la diffusion multilingue devient enfin commercialement viable. »

Différenciateurs stratégiques :

  • Prix : à 30 USD/heure (plus le tarif de sous–titrage LEXI standard), LEXI Voice réduit les coûts de traduction en direct jusqu’à 90 %.
  • Portée de la plateforme : fonctionne parfaitement avec le réseau d’encodeurs mondial d’AIM, Alta (SMPTE 2110 et MPEG–TS), Encoder Pro – HD492 (SDI) et iCap, ne nécessitant aucune nouvelle infrastructure pour les clients existants.
  • Voix de qualité professionnelle : les clients ont salué le ton naturel, l’intelligibilité et la clarté du son généré par l’IA.
  • Plug–and–Play : mêmes planification, API, facturation et support que les flux de production de sous–titrage actuels.

Disponible immédiatement

  • Traduction dans plus de 100 langues
  • Voix personnalisables par région, sexe et ton
  • Glossaire et outils phonétiques pour assurer la cohérence de la marque et des noms
  • Remplacement vocal de l’audio d’origine par l’IA avec mixage audio complet
  • Prise en charge de cinq pistes en langues alternatives maximum par canal

Applications concrètes déjà en cours : LEXI Voice séduit :

  • Les diffuseurs mondiaux pour localiser le sport, les actualités et les divertissements afin de débloquer un nouvel inventaire publicitaire
  • Les gouvernements et législatures pour garantir un accès linguistique inclusif aux séances publiques
  • Les entreprises pour élargir leur portée dans les réunions publiques internes et les communications avec les investisseurs
  • Les plateformes et événements de streaming afin de déployer l’accessibilité à grande échelle pour divers publics mondiaux

Ce lancement s’inscrit dans la feuille de route stratégique d’AI–Media visant à tripler son chiffre d’affaires technologique d’ici à l’exercice 2029 et atteindre un EBITDA de 60 millions de dollars, comme indiqué dans ses communications aux investisseurs pour l’exercice 2025. L’entreprise se concentre sur la croissance du SaaS grâce à son Kit d’outils LEXI en pleine expansion, qui regroupe désormais LEXI Voice, LEXI Brew (IA générative) et LEXI Translate.

« Le NAB a été l’occasion pour nos clients de découvrir en direct la solution complète LEXI Voice et leur accueil a confirmé ce que nous savions déjà : le marché est prêt », a indiqué Ward. « Ce produit ouvre le champ des possibles en matière d’engagement multilingue en temps réel. »

Pour plus d’informations ou pour solliciter une démonstration privée, consultez : LEXI Voice | Levez les barrières linguistiques et augmentez vos revenus

Suivez AI–Media sur LinkedIn pour suivre ses actualités et lire des témoignages de réussite de clients.

À propos d’AI–Media

Fondée en 2003 en Australie, AI–Media (ASX : AIM) est une entreprise technologique pionnière spécialisée dans le langage de l’IA et les solutions innovantes de flux de production des sous–titrages.
En tant que leader mondial, AI–Media fournit des technologies et des solutions de sous–titrage et de traduction de haute qualité, alimentées par l’IA, en direct et sur la base d’enregistrements, à un large éventail de clients et de marchés dans le monde entier.
Pour la première fois en février 2024, AI–Media a dévoilé des données inédites démontrant la supériorité de son produit de sous–titrage optimisé par l’IA, LEXI, par rapport aux processus humains traditionnels plus coûteux.
Grâce à son expérience approfondie du secteur et sa technologie d’IA sophistiquée facilitant la création de solutions qui rationalisent et simplifient les processus, AI–Media permet aux principaux diffuseurs, entreprises et agences gouvernementales du monde entier d’assurer une accessibilité fluide et une inclusivité de leur contenu. Les technologies exclusives d’AI–Media, iCap, LEXI, Alta et LEXI Toolkit, sont reconnues dans plus de 25 pays pour leur précision, leur fiabilité et leur efficacité inégalées.

Contact presse :
Fiona Habben
responsable du marketing mondial
Fiona.habben@ai–media.tv

Une photo accompagnant ce communiqué est disponible à l’adresse suivante : https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15d29007–51d7–4d87–a1e9–4b1b17a8d049

Une vidéo accompagnant ce communiqué est disponible à l’adresse suivante : https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/deb7fa0f–d0c9–4ee2–a4eb–5bb5ca299ed5


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9423769)

AI-Media Introduz LEXI Voice no NAB Show 2025 – Alcance Global com Tradução de Voz ao Vivo Baseada em IA

BROOKLYN, N.Y. e NOVA YORK, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A AI–Media (ASX: AIM), líder global em tecnologia de legendas e linguagem baseada em IA, anunciou hoje o sucesso do lançamento comercial da LEXI Voice no NAB Show 2025 em Las Vegas. A estreia ao vivo da solução inovadora – que oferece faixas de voz em linguagem alternativa em tempo real usando IA – foi recebida com forte interesse por emissoras globais, produtores de eventos ao vivo, plataformas de streaming e líderes empresariais.

O LEXI Voice representa um salto a frente da tradução ao vivo, transformando uma transmissão em um único idioma em uma experiência multilíngue – com vozes sintéticas soando naturais, latência ultrabaixa (~8 – 12 segundos) e sem exigência de nenhum hardware adicional. O resultado: acesso de nova audiência, aumento da receita de publicidade e economia de custos substancial em comparação com a interpretação humana tradicional.

“Os clientes dizem que a LEXI Voice oferece exatamente o que eles precisam: precisão, escala e simplicidade – tudo a um preço disruptivo”, disse James Ward, Diretor de Vendas da AI–Media. “Para muitos, este é o momento em que a entrega multilíngue finalmente se torna comercialmente viável.”

Diferenciadores Estratégicos:

  • Ponto de Preço: Por US $30/h (mais a taxa de legendagem padrão da LEXI), a LEXI Voice reduz os custos de tradução ao vivo em até 90%.
  • Alcance da Plataforma: Funciona perfeitamente com a rede global de codificadores da AIM – Alta (SMPTE 2110 e MPEG–TS), Encoder Pro – HD492 (SDI) e iCap – sem a exigência de nova infraestrutura para os clientes existentes.
  • Vozes de Nível de Transmissão: Os clientes elogiaram o tom natural, a inteligibilidade e a clareza da voz do falante gerada pela IA.
  • Plug–and–Play: Mesmo agendamento, APIs, faturamento e suporte dos fluxos de trabalho de legendagem atuais.

Disponível Imediatamente:

  • Tradução para mais de 100 idiomas
  • Vozes personalizáveis por região, gênero e tom
  • Ferramentas de glossário e fonética para garantir a consistência da marca e do nome
  • Substituição de voz por IA do áudio original com mixagem de áudio completa
  • Suporte para até cinco faixas em idiomas alternativos por canal

Aplicações no mundo real já em andamento: LEXI Voice está atraindo:

  • Empresas de transmissão globais que localizam esportes, notícias e entretenimento, revelando um novo estoque de anúncios
  • Governos e legislaturas garantindo acesso linguístico inclusivo de sessões públicas
  • Empresas expandindo o alcance em prefeituras internas e comunicações com investidores
  • Plataformas de streaming e eventos que ampliam a acessibilidade para diversas audiências em todo o mundo

O lançamento se alinha ao roteiro estratégico da AI–Media para triplicar a receita de tecnologia até o exercício fiscal de 2029 e alcançar um EBITDA de US $60 MILHÕES, conforme descrito nas suas comunicações com investidores no exercício fiscal de 2025. A empresa está focada em impulsionar o crescimento de SaaS por meio do seu LEXI Toolkit em expansão, que agora inclui LEXI Voice, LEXI Brew (Generative AI) e LEXI Translate.

“Foi na NAB foi que os nossos clientes viram pela primeira vez nossa solução completa LEXI Voice ao vivo – e a resposta confirmou o que sabíamos: o mercado está pronto”, disse Ward. “Este produto transforma o que é possível no envolvimento multilíngue em tempo real.”

Para mais informação ou para solicitar uma demonstração privada, visite: LEXI Voice | Break Language Barriers & Grow Your Revenue

Siga a AI–Media no LinkedIn para atualizações contínuas e relatos de sucesso do cliente.

Sobre a AI–Media

Fundada na Austrália em 2003, a AI–Media (ASX: AIM) é uma empresa pioneira de tecnologias especializada em soluções de fluxo de trabalho de legendagens ocultas e de legendagens com base em IA.
Como líder global, a AI–Media fornece tecnologia e soluções de legendagem e tradução ao vivo e gravadas de alta qualidade com base em IA para uma gama diversificada de clientes e mercados em todo o mundo.
Pela primeira vez em fevereiro de 2024, a AI–Media revelou dados inovadores que mostram a superioridade do seu produto de legendagem por IA, a LEXI, em comparação com os fluxos de trabalho humanos tradicionais.
Com a nossa profunda experiência no setor e a sofisticada tecnologia de IA para criar soluções que agilizem e simplifiquem os processos, a AI–Media capacita as principais emissoras, empresas e agências governamentais de todo o mundo a garantir uma acessibilidade total e inclusivo ao seu conteúdo. As tecnologias proprietárias da AI–Media – iCap, LEXI, Alta e o LEXI Toolkit – são utilizadas em mais de 25 países, oferecendo precisão, confiabilidade e eficiência incomparáveis.

Contato com a Mídia:
Fiona Habben
Dirigente de Marketing Global
Fiona.habben@ai–media.tv

Foto deste comunicado disponível em https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15d29007–51d7–4d87–a1e9–4b1b17a8d049

Vídeo deste comunicado disponível em https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/deb7fa0f–d0c9–4ee2–a4eb–5bb5ca299ed5


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9423769)

AI-Media stellt LEXI Voice auf der NAB Show 2025 vor – Globale Reichweite mit KI-gestützter Live-Sprachübersetzung

BROOKLYN, New York, und NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AI–Media (ASX: AIM), ein weltweit führendes Unternehmen im Bereich KI–gesteuerter Untertitelung und Sprachtechnologie, hat heute die erfolgreiche Markteinführung von LEXI Voice auf der NAB Show 2025 in Las Vegas bekanntgegeben. Die Live–Premiere der bahnbrechenden Lösung, die mithilfe von KI alternative Sprachversionen in Echtzeit liefert, stieß bei globalen Sendeanstalten, Produzenten von Live–Events, Streaming–Plattformen und Unternehmensführern auf großes Interesse.

LEXI Voice stellt einen Quantensprung in der Live–Übersetzung dar und verwandelt eine einsprachige Sendung in ein mehrsprachiges Erlebnis – mit natürlich klingenden synthetischen Stimmen, extrem geringer Latenz (ca. 8–12 Sekunden) und ohne zusätzliche Hardware. Das Ergebnis: neue Publikumszugänge, höhere Werbeeinnahmen und drastische Kosteneinsparungen im Vergleich zur traditionellen menschlichen Verdolmetschung.

„Kunden sagen uns, dass LEXI Voice genau das bietet, was sie brauchen: Genauigkeit, Skalierbarkeit und Einfachheit – und das zu einem revolutionären Preis“, so James Ward, Chief Sales Officer bei AI–Media. „Für viele ist dies der Moment, in dem mehrsprachige Lieferungen endlich wirtschaftlich rentabel werden.“

Strategische Unterscheidungsmerkmale:

  • Preisvorteilt: Mit 30 USD/Stunde (zuzüglich des Standard–LEXI–Untertitelungspreises) senkt LEXI Voice die Kosten für Live–Übersetzungen um bis zu 90 %.
  • Plattformreichweite: Arbeitet nahtlos mit dem globalen Encoder–Netzwerk von AIM zusammen – Alta (SMPTE 2110 und MPEG–TS), Encoder Pro – HD492 (SDI) und iCap – ohne dass Bestandskunden eine neue Infrastruktur benötigen.
  • Hochwertiger Klang: Kunden lobten den natürlichen Klang, die Verständlichkeit und die Klarheit der KI–generierten Ausgabe.
  • Plug–and–Play: Gleiche Planung, APIs, Rechnungsstellung und Unterstützung wie bei den aktuellen Untertitelungs–Workflows.

Sofort verfügbar:

  • Übersetzung in > 100 Sprachen
  • Anpassbare Stimmen nach Region, Geschlecht und Tonfall
  • Glossar und phonetische Tools zur Gewährleistung der Markenkonsistenz
  • KI–Sprachersatz des Original–Audios mit vollständiger Audiomischung
  • Unterstützung für bis zu fünf alternative Sprachspuren pro Kanal

Anwendungen für die Praxis bereits in Arbeit: LEXI Voice ist geeignet für:

  • Globale Sender, die Sport, Nachrichten und Unterhaltung lokalisieren, um neue Werbeflächen zu erschließen
  • Regierungen und Parlamente, die einen inklusiven sprachlichen Zugang zu öffentlichen Sitzungen gewährleisten
  • Unternehmen, die ihre Reichweite in internen Rathäusern und in der Kommunikation mit Investoren expandieren
  • Streaming–Plattformen und Events, die Inhalte für ein vielfältiges globales Publikum zugänglich machen

Die Markteinführung steht im Einklang mit dem strategischen Fahrplan von AI–Media, den Tech–Umsatz bis zum Geschäftsjahr 2029 zu verdreifachen und ein EBITDA von 60 Mio. USD zu erzielen, wie in der Investorenkommunikation für das Geschäftsjahr 2025 dargelegt. Das Unternehmen konzentriert sich darauf, das SaaS–Wachstum durch sein expandierendes LEXI Toolkit voranzutreiben, das jetzt LEXI Voice, LEXI Brew (Generative AI) und LEXI Translate umfasst.

„Auf der NAB konnten unsere Kunden zum ersten Mal die komplette LEXI Voice–Lösung live erleben – und die Resonanz bestätigte, was wir bereits wussten: Der Markt ist bereit“, so Ward. „Dieses Produkt verändert die Möglichkeiten der mehrsprachigen Echtzeit–Interaktion.“

Für weitere Informationen oder um eine private Vorführung anzufordern, besuchen Sie: LEXI Voice | Sprachbarrieren überwinden und Ihren Umsatz steigern

Folgen Sie AI–Media auf LinkedIn, um aktuelle Updates und Erfolgsgeschichten von Kunden zu erhalten.

Über AI–Media

AI–Media (ASX: AIM) wurde 2003 in Australien gegründet und ist ein innovatives Technologieunternehmen, das sich auf KI–Sprach– und Untertitelungs–Workflow–Lösungen spezialisiert hat.
Als weltweit führendes Unternehmen bietet AI–Media qualitativ hochwertige, KI–gestützte Technologien und Lösungen im Bereich der Untertitelung und Übersetzung für eine Vielzahl von Kunden und Märkten auf der ganzen Welt.
Im Februar 2024 präsentierte AI–Media erstmals bahnbrechende Daten, die die Überlegenheit seiner KI–Untertitelungslösung LEXI gegenüber herkömmlichen, teureren menschlichen Workflows belegen.
Mit umfassender Branchenerfahrung und ausgefeilter KI–Technologie zur Entwicklung von Lösungen, die Prozesse optimieren und vereinfachen, unterstützt AI–Media führende Rundfunkanstalten, Unternehmen und Regierungsbehörden weltweit dabei, die nahtlose Zugänglichkeit und Inklusivität ihrer Inhalte sicherzustellen. Die proprietären Technologien von AI–Media – iCap, LEXI, Alta und das LEXI Toolkit – werden in über 25 Ländern für ihre unübertroffene Genauigkeit, Zuverlässigkeit und Effizienz geschätzt.

Medienkontakt:
Fiona Habben
Head of Global Marketing
Fiona.habben@ai–media.tv

Ein Foto zu dieser Mitteilung finden Sie unter https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15d29007–51d7–4d87–a1e9–4b1b17a8d049

Ein Video zu dieser Mitteilung finden Sie unter https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/deb7fa0f–d0c9–4ee2–a4eb–5bb5ca299ed5


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9423769)

Sabin Begins Marburg Vaccine Trial in U.S.

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Sabin Vaccine Institute has launched a multi–site Phase 2 clinical trial in the U.S. for its Marburg vaccine candidate, administering doses to the first participants in Melbourne, Florida. This trial builds on ongoing Phase 2 testing in Kenya and Uganda, with initial findings from that research expected in the coming months.

Sabin’s vaccine development efforts, including clinical trials, are becoming increasingly critical as Marburg outbreaks grow in frequency, underscoring the urgent need for vaccines to protect those at highest risk. Sabin supported an open–label Phase 2 clinical trial sponsored by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) by supplying the investigational vaccine during Rwanda’s 2024 Marburg outbreak. More than 1,700 individuals — primarily frontline health care workers — were vaccinated, with first doses arriving within nine days of the outbreak being declared. Data from the RBC trial will be shared with Sabin to support the vaccine’s licensure.

Rwanda’s outbreak ended on December 20 with a case fatality rate of 23%, lower than the historical average of 50%. Fatality rates in outbreaks can vary due to multiple factors, including greater surveillance, prompt detection, supportive care, and the overall response effort. On January 20, Tanzania declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease, which ended on March 13.

Currently, there are no approved vaccines for Marburg virus disease.

For the U.S. clinical trial that began this week, Sabin will recruit 200 volunteers aged 18 to 70 across four locations – in addition to Melbourne, the vaccine will be tested at sites in Dallas, Texas; Huntsville, Alabama; and Peoria, Illinois. The randomized, placebo–controlled, double–blind trial will continue to evaluate safety and immunogenicity, and will monitor vaccinated volunteers for a year.

“Recent outbreaks highlight the urgent need to strengthen our defenses against this deadly and unforgiving disease,” says Amy Finan, Sabin’s Chief Executive Officer. “Sabin’s Phase 2 clinical trials will generate essential data to move this vaccine closer to licensure — and offer a potentially life–saving tool where none exists.”

Marburg is a filovirus, in the same family as the virus that causes Ebola. Like Ebola, Marburg virus disease spreads via direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of infected individuals. It is highly virulent and causes hemorrhagic fever.

“Conducting clinical trials in Africa is key to evaluating the vaccine in regions where Marburg and other filoviruses are most common or endemic,” notes Kelly Warfield, Sabin’s President of Research & Development. “The U.S. trial will give us vital safety and immune response data for non–endemic populations, helping us better prepare for outbreaks and spread of this disease.”

Based on the cAd3 platform, Sabin’s single–dose investigational Marburg vaccine was found to be promising in Phase 1 clinical and non–clinical studies, with results showing it to be safe, while eliciting rapid and robust immune responses.

The Marburg vaccine trials are supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under multi–year contracts between the organizations.

BARDA and Sabin began working together in September 2019 to develop monovalent vaccine candidates for Marburg virus and Sudan virus diseases. To date, Sabin has received around $252 million in contract awards from BARDA for furthering vaccine research and development against these two disease threats.

A Phase 2 clinical trial for Sabin’s Sudan virus vaccine is underway in Uganda and Kenya. The cAd3 Sudan vaccine candidate will also be tested among adult volunteers in the U.S. later this year.

This project has been supported in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services; Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response; Center for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract numbers 75A50119C00055 and 75A50123C00010.

For information about Sabin’s Phase 2 Marburg vaccine trials, visit:
Clinicaltrials.gov — NCT06620003 (U.S. trial)
Clinical.trials.gov — NCT05817422 (Uganda and Kenya trial)
Pan African Clinical Trials Registry — PACTR202306534727467 (Uganda and Kenya trial)

About the Sabin Vaccine Institute

The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. Unlocking the potential of vaccines through partnership, Sabin has built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policy makers and public stakeholders to advance its vision of a future free from preventable diseases. As a non–profit with three decades of experience, Sabin is committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit www.sabin.org and follow us on X @SabinVaccine.

About Sabin’s Vaccine R&D and the cAd3 Platform

In August 2019, Sabin announced exclusive agreements with GSK for Sabin to advance the development of the prophylactic candidate vaccines against the deadly Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan virus, and Marburg virus. The three candidate vaccines were initially developed collaboratively by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Okairos, which was acquired by GSK in 2013. The candidate vaccines, based on GSK’s proprietary cAd3 (Chimpanzee Adenovirus Type 3) platform, were further developed by GSK, including the Phase 2 development for the Zaire ebolavirus vaccine. Under the agreements between GSK and Sabin, Sabin exclusively licensed the technology for all three candidate vaccines and acquired certain patent rights specific to these vaccines.

Media Contact:
Monika Guttman
Senior Media Relations Specialist
Sabin Vaccine Institute
+1 (202) 621–1691
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cdb8a6cd–2ff2–49bd–aeb4–43e859c1b44f


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9423434)

Clinton Health Access Initiative and OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation Launch Strategic Partnership to Expand Vision Care Access Across Africa

KIGALI, Rwanda, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation have announced a multi–year partnership to advance access to eyeglasses and build sustainable vision care systems across Africa. With a shared focus on health equity, the collaboration aims to address one of the continent’s most widespread yet neglected public health challenges: uncorrected poor vision.

In sub–Saharan Africa, an estimated 12.6 percent of the population lives with some form of refractive error, with 3.4 percent experiencing visual impairment due to uncorrected refractive error.¹ This silent barrier limits children’s ability to learn, adults’ ability to work, and older persons’ ability to live independently, often pushing entire families deeper into cycles of poverty. Yet, with access to a simple pair of eyeglasses, over 80 percent of vision impairments can be corrected or prevented.

Recognizing the wide–reaching impact of good vision, this partnership aims to expand equitable access to eye care across Africa through sustainable, system–level solutions. It will focus on:

  • Building local capacity to deliver refractive error services at scale.
  • Strengthening public health systems by establishing optical labs and training local teams.
  • Developing shared tools to track progress toward full coverage of refractive error care.

Through this partnership, the Foundation will support CHAI in significantly expanding access to affordable eyeglasses, accelerating the delivery of vision services across priority geographies. It will also provide technical expertise, equipment, and awareness resources to reach underserved communities.

In parallel, both organizations will work with government stakeholders to co–create implementation pathways and explore long–term integration into national health strategies.

“Poor vision holds people back from learning, working and living with dignity, especially children and older adults. CHAI’s ambition is to get glasses to over 50 million people in five years,” said Frederic Seghers, Senior Director for Assistive Technologies at CHAI. “Partnering with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation helps us move faster and reach farther toward that goal, thanks to their technical expertise and global presence.”

“Vision care has the power to unlock human potential, but too often, it remains out of reach for those who need it most,” said Mustapha Njie, Head of Africa, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. “This collaboration with CHAI allows us to build locally rooted, system–strengthening solutions that last. Their relationships with governments and commitment to inclusive development ensure that every clinic, lab, and pair of glasses contributes to a larger, sustainable shift in how vision care is delivered.”

Implementation begins in April 2025 across multiple countries in Africa, with an initial three–year period and the potential for expansion based on national priorities and programmatic success.

Media Contact:

Tamana Mulchand

[email protected]

About the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation:

The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation is a registered charitable organization dedicated to eliminating uncorrected poor vision within a generation. As part of EssilorLuxottica’s commitment to universal vision care, the Foundation works to expand access for millions in underserved communities worldwide. It is also the global collaborating partner of the World Health Organization’s SPECS 2030 initiative, which focuses on refractive error, myopia prevention, and improving access to vision care in low–resource settings.

Find out more at: onesight.essilorluxottica.com

About the Clinton Health Access Initiative:

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and improving health outcomes in low– and middle–income countries by enabling the government and private sector to strengthen and sustain quality health systems. For more information, please visit: www.clintonhealthaccess.org

¹ Source: PLOS ONE, “Refractive Error and Visual Impairment in Sub–Saharan Africa: A Review” (2022), https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0271313


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9423427)

Zoom Workplace for Frontline now available to improve on-shift communications and work management for frontline workers

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Zoom Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM), announced the launch of Zoom Workplace for Frontline, a purpose–built mobile–first solution that unlocks agentic Zoom AI Companion skills for all frontline workers and managers with paid Zoom accounts. Zoom Workplace for Frontline is designed to streamline on–shift communications and work management tools to help frontline workers—ranging from retail and manufacturing to healthcare and first responders—get more done, do better work, and strengthen relationships.

“Our mission of delivering an AI–first open work platform isn’t just limited to knowledge workers; we’re also thinking about how we can address the needs of frontline workers, who represent over 80% of the global workforce,” said Smita Hashim, chief product officer at Zoom. “Zoom Workplace for Frontline empowers frontline workers to stay connected, access critical information on the go, and streamline daily tasks – ultimately fostering a more engaged, productive, and connected workforce.”

Key features of Zoom Workplace for Frontline include:

On–shift communications:

  • Real–time activity feed on Zoom’s mobile app: Enables workers to access critical shift communications and resources, and tasks at hand to get the job done quickly.
  • Auto–generated on–shift chat groups: Instantly connects employees, clearly identifying on–floor workers and managers, and removes the tedious task of manually creating new chats for every shift.
  • Push–to–talk functionality: Enables seamless real–time voice communication at the push of a button.

Work management capabilities:

  • Shift swapping: Allows employees to request and manage shift swaps directly from their mobile devices.
  • Task management: Streamlines work assignments and progress tracking for improved efficiency with Zoom Tasks.
  • Shift summaries: Provides an overview of key conversations, pending tasks, and other important updates for the incoming shift. Enables shift managers to have oversight on shift progress, attendance, and task reports.

Zoom AI Companion:

  • Automatic shift reporting: AI–generated shift discussion summaries, attendance reports, and task reports expedite shift handoffs.
  • Smart, natural search: Access information trained on knowledge bases.
  • Automatic translation: Chat messages in the user’s preferred supported language.

To learn more about Zoom’s commitment to frontline workers, click here.

About Zoom

Zoom’s mission is to provide one platform that delivers limitless human connection. Reimagine teamwork with Zoom Workplace — Zoom’s open collaboration platform with AI Companion that empowers teams to be more productive. Together with Zoom Workplace, Zoom’s Business Services for sales, marketing, and customer care teams, including Zoom Contact Center, strengthen customer relationships throughout the customer lifecycle. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ: ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Get more information at zoom.com.

Zoom Public Relations
Bridget Moriarty
[email protected]


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9422941)

Bitget Launches Industry-First On-Chain Affiliate Program with 40% Rebates to Support Content Creators

VICTORIA, Seychelles, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has launched a groundbreaking addition to its affiliate program: the first–ever on–chain affiliate initiative in the crypto exchange sector, offering partners up to 40% in rebates alongside existing commission structures. This innovative program bridges centralized (CEX) and decentralized (DEX) trading ecosystems, empowering affiliates to seamlessly monetize their influence across both worlds.

While traditional affiliate programs reward referrals for spot and futures trading, Bitget's on–chain extension allows partners to earn rebates when users engage with Bitget Onchain, a product designed to simplify on–chain trading for CEX users. Affiliates can now tap into the booming DeFi market without requiring their audience to navigate complex wallet setups or sacrifice security.

“Bitget has grown to become a top #5 exchange with the support of its 120 million users. To show our gratitude and work more closely with our ecosystem contributors, we've decided to reward pioneers who help users discover the full spectrum of crypto opportunities—whether on–exchange or on–chain,” said Vugar Usi Zade, Chief Operating Officer at Bitget. “Our affiliates asked for ways to monetize DeFi interest without technical friction, and we listened. This is yet another step from our side to support a community that thrives at the intersection of CEX convenience and DeFi innovation,” he added.

Bitget’s referral program is open to content creators, influencers, and community leaders with 100+ followers through a simple application process. Participants share unique referral links for both traditional trading and Bitget Onchain transactions. They can earn up to 50% commissions on spot and futures trading fees and up to 40% rebates on on–chain activity. The program features tiered rewards, with top performers eligible for the highest payout tiers, incentivizing sustained growth and engagement.

Bitget Onchain removes the traditional barriers to DeFi participation by allowing users to trade on–chain assets directly from their Bitget spot accounts – no complicated wallet setups or private key management required. All transactions benefit from institutional–grade security backed by Bitget's $600M Protection Fund, giving users enterprise–level asset protection without sacrificing DeFi's opportunities. The platform further enhances decision–making with AI–powered asset screening that surfaces high–potential projects in real–time, helping users navigate the vast on–chain landscape with confidence rather than guesswork. From YouTube influencers to Telegram admins, Bitget's Affiliate Program democratizes access to crypto's next growth phase.

Applications are now open via the Bitget Affiliate Portal.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real–time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world–class multi–chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e8613f35–892b–4e0c–a134–abd46ff8f0de


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 1001080680)

While India’s RAMSAR Sites Tally Rises, Wetlands Remain Endangered

Conservationist Asad Rahmani alongside a wetland protection employee in Haigam wetland in north India. Credit: Athar Parvaiz/IPS

Conservationist Asad Rahmani alongside a wetland protection employee in Haigam wetland in north India. Credit: Athar Parvaiz/IPS

By Athar Parvaiz
NEW DELHI, Apr 16 2025 – Late in February, India’s noted ornithologist and conservationist, Asad Rahmani, wrote a letter to a wildlife warden in north India expressing his satisfaction about the availability of water in four important wetlands in Kashmir, where migratory birds from central Asia and Europe arrive annually for wintering.

This letter was in sharp contrast to Rahmani’s earlier concerns about the “deteriorating health” of wetlands in Kashmir and elsewhere in India. Conservationists, activists, and newspaper editorials in India have long been expressing concerns about the “decline” and “neglect” of wetland ecosystems across India. A recent editorial in a prominent English newspaper in India emphasized the importance of action-oriented measures by the federal and state governments for protecting wetlands.

In its Living Planet Report 2024, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) flagged the disappearing wetlands in the south Indian metropolitan city of Chennai (in the chapter “Tipping Point”) as a warning sign of rapid ecosystem destruction, which is not only resulting in acute water shortages but is also making Chennai more vulnerable to floods.

Wildlife enthusiasts such as Rahmani look at wetlands from the perspective of wetlands as wildlife habitats, particularly for birds.  “I reiterate that if we guarantee sufficient and timely supply of water, Kashmir wetlands will again support lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of birds in each wetland. They also have great potential to attract tourists and birdwatchers,” Rahmani, who has also served as the Director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), wrote in the letter seen by IPS.

“Hokarsar [wetland] is important for both resident and migratory waterfowl. As many as 64 species in and around the wetland have been reported during bird ringing studies. The [wetland] is particularly important as a wintering area for migratory ducks and geese and as a breeding area for herons, egrets, and rails,” Rahmani noted.

In his earlier communications in the past few years, Rahmani has expressed serious concerns about the deteriorating health of wetlands and their shrinkage.

Vanishing wetlands in India

On the occasion of this year’s World Wetlands Day on February 2, India designated four new Ramsar sites in three different states, taking the tally of Ramsar sites wetlands to 89 in India.

However, despite adding more Ramsar sites almost every year and celebrating these conservation efforts, many wetlands across India are unraveling and disappearing at an alarming rate—the country has already lost nearly one-third of its wetlands to urbanization since 1940, according to the available data.

Quoting data from the written response of India’s environment ministry to a Right to Information (RTI) application, a report in one of India’s national newspapers on March 24 (this year) revealed that out of India’s estimated over 200,000 wetlands, only 102 have been notified and even these are concentrated in three states and one Union territory. When a wetland is notified by the government in India, it means the demarcation of the wetland’s boundary, its ecological importance, and the need for its conservation are officially recognized and are also made available for public knowledge.

Wetlands are the lifelines that provide freshwater, food, and building materials; regulate floods; recharge groundwater; and even help combat climate change through carbon sequestration, experts say, adding that expanding agriculture, pollution, and unchecked water extraction are pushing these fragile ecosystems—and the species that depend on them—toward crisis.

Rahmani told IPS that there are scores of laws and conservation policies introduced by the federal and state governments in India for the protection of wetlands across the country, but, he said, they “have failed” to ensure their protection.

“We have the Wetland Authority of India and state wetland authorities that have identified wetlands for conservation. But there is hardly anything significant these so-called authorities have done so far for wetland protection. Sometimes the officials of these authorities have no basic idea of the functioning of a healthy wetland,” Rahmani observed.

He said that the Government of India has started several good conservation schemes and projects, such as the Amrit Sarovar project, under which each district will protect 75 wetlands for which money was also given. “[But] this good scheme is mostly used to carry out unnecessary construction in wetlands, such as cemented works in the name of wetland management and tourism development,” he said.

Protecting wetlands

“No wetland should be ‘beautified.’ Nature is beautiful. Keeping local ecology and naturalness in mind, most wetlands can be revived very easily with little funds… no natural wetland lives in isolation… catchment area is extremely important for wetlands revival and conservation,” Rahmani said.

According to Rahmani, small wetlands, important for biodiversity and local people, “are neglected,” and larger wetlands (some of them man-made lakes and reservoirs) “are under threat of hedonistic” tourism.

Faiyaz Ahmad Khudsar, senior scientist, Biodiversity Parks Programme, University of Delhi, said that wetlands are unfortunately often seen as wastelands.

“If there are any specific places for dumping of solid or liquid waste, they are wetlands and streams… similarly, near cities you have wetlands getting encroached upon for construction of houses and other infrastructure,” Khudsar said.

He observed that there has to be a focus on restoration ecology if the degraded wetlands are to be protected. This, he said, can be done by supporting the degraded ecosystems to recover, which needs to be supported by communities, scientists, and the government together. “We have to understand how the restoration is carried out scientifically—looking at the ecological history of the site and reference ecosystems is very important to find out the reasons for degradation,” he said.

IPS UN Bureau Report,

 


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IPS UN Bureau, IPS UN Bureau Report, India