EMGA secures US$ 50M debt finance for Kazakhstan’s MFO KMF

LONDON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emerging Markets Global Advisory LLP (EMGA) announces they have secured a US$50M facility senior debt facility from JICA, The Japan International Cooperation Agency.

KMF Chairman of the Board Shalkar Zhusupov: “This is the first time that KMF has entered into a partnership with JICA, whose goals and mission are close to our own. We are grateful to EMGA and JICA for their trust and support. The funds from JICA will be used to implement projects to support micro and small enterprises, including rural entrepreneurs, which will create new opportunities and contribute to their economic growth.”

EMGA’s Head of Investment Banking and Managing Director Sajeev Chakkalakal said, “We are delighted to have arranged this new landmark debt facility for our long-standing client KMF. It has been a real pleasure to work with them again, as they continue to solidify their position as the largest MFI in the country, and further strengthen their financial position in spite of turbulent times.”

EMGA’s Managing Director Jeremy Dobson added, “This new financing will help KMF deliver on their stated mission; to continue to help entrepreneurs throughout Kazakhstan, and to develop their business with a greater focus on female owned businesses and in rural areas.”

MFO KMF is one of the leaders in Central Asian microfinance sector. The company aims to establish long-term partnership relations with clients based on mutual trust, understanding and respect. MFO “KMF” disburses clients individual and group loans for the following types of activity: business, trade, crop farming and cattle-breeding, production and services and consumer lending.

JICA: The Japan International Cooperation Agency is a governmental agency that delivers the bulk of Official Development Assistance for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries, and the promotion of international cooperation.

Emerging Markets Global Advisory Limited (EMGA), with offices in London and New York, helps financial institutions and corporates seeking new debt or equity capital. EMGA’s multi-national team combine the decades of experience necessary to complete transactions on behalf of their clients within the world’s emerging markets and frontier economies, including Kazakhstan which remains a key market. With a proven track record in capital formation and strategic advisory throughout diverse economic cycles, EMGA continues expanding its geographic reach and service offering, solidifying its place in the market as one of the industries pre-eminent emerging markets focused niche investment banks.

Contact details
info@emergingmarketsglobaladvisory.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000933917

ASICS Global Study Shows Link Between Regular Exercise in Teenage Years and Positive Mental Wellbeing in Adulthood

ASICS State of Mind Study
Moving your body as a teenager will also move your mind as an adult
Moving your body as a teenager will also move your mind as an adult
  • Global ASICS study of 26,000 people reaffirms the connection between movement and the mind and uncovers a direct link between teenage physical activity and adult mental wellbeing
  • Each additional year a teenager remains engaged in exercise is associated with improved State of Mind scores in adulthood, with the ages of 15-17 identified as the most critical years for staying active
  • Yet, younger generations are disengaging from exercise earlier and in larger numbers, potentially impacting their mental wellbeing now and for years to come

LONDON, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, ASICS is announcing the results of its second Global State of Mind Study, which reaffirms a positive link between physical exercise and mental wellbeing and uncovers a link between being physically active in teenage years and positive mental wellbeing in adulthood.

The study of over 26,000 respondents across 22 countries found that the more people exercise, the higher their State of Mind scores1. Across the globe, respondents who are regularly active2 have an average State of Mind score of 67/100, while inactive3 people have a much lower State of Mind score of just 54/100.

What’s more, the study uncovered that being physically active in your teenage years directly impacts your mind later in life. Participants who engaged in exercise throughout their adolescence report higher activity levels and State of Mind scores as adults. The findings indicate that remaining active as a teenager is key to establishing good exercise habits that last into adulthood and positively impact adult mental wellbeing.

In fact, the study was able to pinpoint the ages of 15-17 as the most critical years for staying active and when dropping out of exercise significantly affects your mental state for years to come. Those who regularly exercised at 15-17 years old are found to be more likely to remain active later in life and report higher State of Mind scores as adults (64/100 vs 61/100) than those who weren’t active during these years.

In comparison, respondents who dropped out of exercise before the age of 15 displayed the lowest activity levels and lowest State of Mind scores in adulthood. 30% are still inactive as adults and they are shown to be 11% less focused, 10% less confident, 10% less calm and 10% less composed compared to those who were able to exercise throughout adolescence.

In fact, every year a teenager remained engaged in regular exercise is associated with improved State of Mind scores in adulthood. Those who stopped exercising before the age of 15 display an average State of Mind score 15% lower than the global average, while a decline in physical activity at 16-17 and before the age of 22 reduced their average scores by 13% and 6% respectively.

Worryingly, the study also uncovered an exercise generation gap, with younger generations being increasingly less active. 57% of the Silent Generation (aged 78+) said they were active daily in their childhoods compared to just 19% of Gen Z (aged 18-27), showing a concerning trend of younger generations dropping out of physical activity earlier and in larger numbers than the generations before them.

Globally, members of Gen Z have the lowest State of Mind scores with an average of 62/100 compared to the Baby Boomers’ 68/100 and the Silent Generation’s 70/100.

Professor Brendon Stubbs, a leading researcher in exercise and mental health from King’s College London, said: “It is worrying to see this decline in activity levels from younger respondents at such a critical age, particularly as the study uncovered an association with lower wellbeing in adulthood”.

Gen Zs across the world are already exhibiting the lowest State of Mind scores (62/100) in comparison to the Silent Generation (70/100), so this could be hugely impactful for future mental wellbeing across the world.”

Tomoko Koda, Managing Executive Officer for ASICS, said: ASICS was founded on the belief that sport and exercise benefit not only the body, but also the mind. It’s why we’re called ASICS: ‘Anima Sana in Corpore Sano’ or ‘Sound Mind in a Sound Body’. The results of our second global State of Mind Study show how important it is that young people stay active and the impact this can have on their minds for years to come. At ASICS, we’re committed to supporting and inspiring people to move for positive mental wellbeing throughout their lifetime.”

To find out more visit:
https://www.asics.com/us/en-us/mk/stateofmindstudy2024

NOTES FOR EDITOR

About the ASICS 2024 State of Mind Study
The 2024 State of Mind Study was conducted between 17 November – 21 December 2023 and explored the relationship between exercise and State of Mind across the world.

Over 26,000 people were surveyed across 22 markets including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, UAE, the UK and the US. Each market sample was nationally representative by age and gender.


1The ASICS State of Mind score is out of 100, calculated based on the accumulative mean scores across ten cognitive and emotional traits – positive, content, relaxed, focused, composed, resilient, confident, alert, calm, energized.

2150 minutes or more of physical activity per week (as defined by Sport England).

3Less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week (as defined by Sport England).


Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body,” is an old Latin phrase from which ASICS is derived and the fundamental platform on which the brand still stands. The company was founded more than 60 years ago by Kihachiro Onitsuka and is now a leading designer and manufacturer of running shoes as well as other athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit www.asics.com.

The stripe design featured on the sides of the ASICS® shoes is a registered trademark of ASICS Corporation.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/25d28040-7b04-44cb-a421-97418e91c297

MEDIA CONTACTS:
For further information or to organise interviews, please contact [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000933726

AI-Media Unveils Enhanced Lexi Tool Kit at NAB 2024

World Leader in AI-Powered Captioning Solutions Introduces the new LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded

AI-Media Launches LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) Captioning Solution

World Leader in AI-Powered Captioning Solutions Introduces the new LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded at NAB Show 2024

NEW YORK, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  AI-Media, the global leader in AI-powered captioning, is set to unveil two new products at the prestigious NAB Show 2024, scheduled from 14-17 April in Las Vegas USA. Renowned for its cutting-edge innovations serving the broadcast industry, AI-Media’s latest offerings; LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery) and LEXI Recorded are poised to revolutionize the captioning market.

In addition to showcasing numerous updates on products such as LEXI and our IP and SDI range of encoders, AI-Media is most excited to showcase the new LEXI DR product, a groundbreaking solution that ensures uninterrupted captioning delivery even in the face of cloud and connectivity disruptions. With LEXI DR, broadcasters can rest assured that their captions will always remain on air with minimal interruption, thanks to seamless caption workflow integration, on-premises redundant servers and flexible setup options via virtual machines or hardware. This solution offers 99.99% caption uptime, scalability with up to 10 instances available per LEXI DR unit plus the confidence that data is secure with robust encryption and security measures. LEXI DR exemplifies AI-Media’s commitment to providing reliable, resilient, and secure captioning solutions for the broadcast industry.

AI-Media will also introduce LEXI Recorded, designed to streamline the captioning process for recorded content. The solution offers unprecedented turnaround speed and cost efficiencies making it perfect for time-sensitive news clips, highlights, and promos. LEXI Recorded boasts features such as bulk processing, accuracy above 98%, flexible file output types, multilingual options, plus can be integrated into the caption workflow so files can be captioned without leaving the media management system. With LEXI Recorded, broadcasters can ensure fast, cost-effective captioning of their recorded content with unmatched precision and ease.

“At AI-Media, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said James Ward, Chief Sales Officer at AI-Media. “We are thrilled to unveil LEXI Recorded and LEXI DR at NAB Show 2024, showcasing our relentless pursuit of excellence in captioning technology. LEXI DR represents the ultimate component in achieving full captioning automation. LEXI DR completes the automation of the captioning process. Previously, human intervention served as a backup, but LEXI DR revolutionizes this by eliminating the need for manual oversight.”

In addition to the product launches, AI-Media will feature an “Innovation Station” at their NAB booth, where attendees can explore exciting new technologies that are part of the company’s product roadmaps. Previews will showcase advancements in generative AI and its application in crafting topic models, also referred to as custom dictionaries. These topic models enhance accuracy by offering contextually relevant word suggestions and pronunciations based on themes, topics, and subject matter. Additionally, previews will feature innovations such as speaking subtitles or dubbing, as well as automated audio description. AI-Media is able to leverage decades of broadcast experience to ensure their captioning solutions are interoperable across different workflows, video standards and regions. As a leading innovator in the captioning industry, AI-Media remains committed to driving progress and shaping the future of accessible media worldwide.

For more information about AI-Media and its groundbreaking captioning solutions, visit:

AI-Media: AI-Media.tv

LEXI DR (Disaster Recovery): https://hubs.ly/Q02rWtMD0

LEXI Recorded: https://hubs.ly/Q02rWtLS0

About AI-Media:

Founded in Australia in 2003, AI-Media is a pioneering technology company specializing in innovative captioning workflow solutions. As a global leader, AI-Media provides high-quality AI-powered live and recorded captioning and translation technology and solutions to a diverse range of customers and markets worldwide. For the first time in February 2024, AI-Media was able to unveil groundbreaking data showcasing the superiority of its AI captioning product, LEXI, over traditional human workflows. This milestone further solidifies AI-Media’s position as the foremost AI technology leader in live and recorded captioning workflow solutions. With a commitment to utilising our deep industry experience and sophisticated AI technology to create solutions which streamline and simplify processes, AI-Media empowers leading broadcasters, enterprises and government agencies globally to ensure seamless accessibility and inclusivity in their content. Ai-Media (ASX: AIM) commenced trading on the ASX on 15 September 2020.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0fde5af3-8765-4882-abaa-03746dcde8af

Media Contact: Fiona Habben – [email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9086266

NTDC ensures nonstop power supply on Eid


In compliance with the instructions of Ministry of Energy, National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited has completed all necessary preparations to ensure uninterrupted power supply throughout the country on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

In a statement, the company’s spokesman said that a central control room has been set up to maintain close liaison with National Power Control Center and all distribution companies which will work round the clock during Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

Source: Radio Pakistan

Moon sighted, Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated on Wednesday


The crescent of Shawwal has been sighted and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated tomorrow (Wednesday) in the country.

This was announced by Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad after presiding over the meeting of the committee in Islamabad this evening.

According to the Spokesperson of Ministry of Religious Affairs, the meetings of Zonal Committees were held in the provincial capitals.

Source: Radio Pakistan

PM felicitates Yusuf Gilani, Syedal Khan on election as Chairman, Dy Chairman Senate


Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has felicitated Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Syedal Khan Nasir on their election as Chairman and Deputy Chairman Senate respectively.

In his felicitation message, the Prime Minister expressed his best wishes for future endeavours of the two leaders.

He said the election of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman are continuity of the democratic process.

The Prime Minister hoped that the new Chairman and Deputy Chairman would play their key role for upholding the constitution and development of the country.

He also expressed the hope that the newly elected Chairman and Deputy Chairman would also play their proactive role in legislation for the country’s development and prosperity and welfare of the people.

Shehbaz Sharif said the Senate of Pakistan has a pivotal role in strengthening all the federating units and ensuring the democratic process.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has congratulated Yusuf Raza Gilani and Syedal Khan Nasir on their electio
n as Senate Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

In a statement, he expressed satisfaction over the completion of democratic process in the Senate.

He said the election of Chairman and Deputy Chairman is a reflection of the confidence of the people of Pakistan.

He said Yusuf Raza Gilani and Syedal Khan are experienced and seasoned politicians, expressing the confidence that they will play their constructive role for the development of the country and supremacy of the constitution.

The Information Minister noted the upper house has an important role to strengthen the federating units and upholding of democratic norms.

Source: Radio Pakistan

PM, UAE President exchange Eid greetings, reiterate desire to enhance ties


Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today called UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and extended his best wishes and conveyed warm greetings on the blessed occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

During their most warm and cordial exchanges, the Prime Minister lauded the strong bonds and close cultural, religious and historical affiliation between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

While expressing his gratitude for the warmth extended by the leadership of the UAE upon his assumption of office, the Prime Minister underscored that his government’s highest priority would be to transform the traditionally fraternal ties with the UAE into a mutually beneficial economic partnership between the two brotherly states.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan reiterated UAE’s strong support to Pakistan and reaffirmed the shared desire of both sides to further strengthen these fraternal ties meaningfully.

The Prime Minister extended a warm and cordial invitation to the UAE President to undertake an official visit to Pakist
an.

In response, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also extended a warm invitation to the Prime Minister to undertake a visit to the UAE with both leaders underscoring the importance of frequent interaction between them.

Source: Radio Pakistan

PM announces to expand network of Danish School System


Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has announced to expand the network of Danish School System.

He was addressing a ceremony held in connection with inspection of the construction site of Danish School in Islamabad today.

He said Danish schools will also be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

The Prime Minister said being the Chief Minister of Punjab, he laid foundation of Danish Schools in the province to impart quality education to the students particularly in remote and backward areas.

He said thousands of students are now rendering their services in different fields and promoting the country’s image after completing their education from these schools.

Shehbaz Sharif expressed his regret that thousands of children are out of schools today. However, he expressed the government’s resolve to get these children enrolled into schools.

He said the government will also provide and ensure complete funding for construction of Danish Schools in other provinces
, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Prime Minister assured making all out efforts on emergency basis for promotion of education in the country particularly in far flung areas.

He announced that Danish School in Islamabad will be constructed on thirty acres of land and will be equipped with all modern equipment and facilities.

The Prime Minister also directed the Secretary Education to complete this project within six months instead of two years.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that progress without education is not possible.

He said the government is working to expend the scope of Danish School system across the country.

The Minister said the government will also play proactive role for improvement of education sector in the country with an aim of creating job opportunities for the youth.

Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui appealed all segments of society to come forward and play their due role and work for the bright future of our coming generations.

Source: R
adio Pakistan