Day: May 9, 2023

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Global Autonomous Corporation (GAC), a Subsidiary of Alpine 4 Holdings Nasdaq: (ALPP), Obtains First of its Kind Three-Part License with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority for GAC to Deploy the Company’s Autonomous Mesh Fulfillment Network in Dubai, UAE

PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Alpine 4 Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALPP), a leading operator and owner of small market businesses, announced that its subsidiary, Global Autonomous Corporation (GAC) has obtained the first of its kind three-part license approval with the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) for GAC to deploy the Company’s Autonomous Mesh Fulfillment Network in Dubai, UAE.

Over the past year, the Company has been actively looking for locations around the world to build out its GAC Mesh Fulfillment Network to be paired with Vayu Aerospace’s G1-MKII VTOL drone and the future US-2 drone platforms. Additionally, each platform will utilize some of the world’s first production ready, Solid-State Batteries supplied by Elecjet Power Cells (a subsidiary of ALPP).

Kent Wilson, CEO of Alpine 4 and Global Autonomous Corporation had this to say, “This three-part license is crucial to GAC’s success, and the Company is grateful for our local UAE consulting firm, Ghani Consulting, who has been working with the esteemed Dubai Civil Aviation Authority on evaluating and granting our license. It is the Company’s understanding that the Dubai Government will only be issuing limited licenses to companies seeking autonomous delivery by drone, with GAC now holding one of them, and with our specific 3-part license being the first of its kind. Of the licensees, GAC has been identified as the only company utilizing a kiosk-based mesh fulfillment network (GMFN) within its deployment strategy. The GMFN is meant to serve as more than mere “package hubs”, with a focus on job creation through the build-out of the kiosks and the employment of staff to operate them.“

The future of autonomous delivery of goods is one of the next great hurdles to overcome. Companies solving this problem will face a litany of issues ranging from regulatory restrictions to user integration, to airframe technologies capable of overcoming economies of scale. At Global Autonomous Corporation, we are solving these problems and combined with the forward-thinking citizens of Dubai, we are set to change the world together!“

3 Part Licensed Activities:

Helicopter Landing Pad (Helipad) Installation-(452029/4210005): “Includes constructing and installing fixed and temporary platforms for helicopters landing, whether on the ground, high rise buildings, oil platforms, including installing all the equipment that enable the safe landing.” This license will allow the Company to build its mesh kiosk system with landing pads for its drones throughout the city of Dubai.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) Service-(100054/5229014) “Includes firms operating unmanned (U A V) and drones to provide various aerial services such as aerial photography, aerial advertising, air show photogrammetry Inspection, surveillance, spraying seeds and fertilizer wildlife protection weather forecasting, firefighting, etc.” This license allows GAC and its fleet of autonomous drones to fly in the airspace above Dubai for the delivery of packages.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drone) Trading-(519017/4773713): “Includes reselling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and Drones controlled by the remote control of a pilot on the ground in order to use for survey, still and video imaging, mapping and inspection.” This license will allow for the Company to expand its service offering to other partners, Joint Ventures, and Corporations in the UAE who need GAC’s service offerings.

About Global Autonomous Corporation: Global Autonomous Corporation’s (GAC) mission is direct and resolute. Create a simple, pleasant, and meaningful user experience to deliver goods autonomously.

https://gacusa.global/

https://elecjetpowercells.com/

https://vayuaerospace.com/

About Alpine 4 Holdings: Alpine 4 Holdings, Inc. is a Nasdaq traded Holding Company (trading symbol: ALPP) that acquires business, wholly, that fit under one of several portfolios: Aerospace, Defense Services, Technology, Manufacturing or Construction Services as either a Driver, Stabilizer or Facilitator from Alpine 4’s disruptive DSF business model. Alpine 4 works to vertically integrate the various subsidiaries with one another even if from different industries. Alpine 4 understands the nature of how technology and innovation can accentuate a business, focusing on how the adaptation of new technologies, even in brick-and-mortar businesses, can drive innovation. Alpine 4 also believes that its holdings should benefit synergistically from each other, have the ability to collaborate across varying industries, spawn new ideas, and create fertile ground for competitive advantages.

Four principles at the core of our business are Synergy. Innovation. Drive. Excellence. At Alpine 4, we believe synergistic innovation drives excellence. By anchoring these words to our combined experience and capabilities, we can aggressively pursue opportunities within and across vertical markets. We deliver solutions that not only drive industry standards, but also increase value for our shareholders.

Contact:

Investor Relations
investorrelations@alpine4.com
www.alpine4.com

Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements and information in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The information disclosed in this press release is made as of the date hereof and reflects Alpine 4 most current assessment of its historical financial performance. Actual financial results filed with the SEC may differ from those contained herein due to timing delays between the date of this release and confirmation of final audit results. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties, including the uncertainties surrounding the current market volatility, and other factors the Company identifies from time to time in its filings with the SEC. Although Alpine 4 believes that the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate and, as a result, the forward-looking statements based on those assumptions also could be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are made as of the date hereof, and Alpine 4 disclaims any intention or obligation to update the forward-looking statements for subsequent events.

Other factors that may affect our businesses include global economic trends, competition and geopolitical risks, including changes in the rates of investment or economic growth in key markets we serve, or an escalation of sanctions, tariffs or other trade tensions between the U.S. and China or other countries, and related impacts on our businesses’ global supply chains and strategies; market developments or customer actions that may affect demand and the financial performance of major industries and customers we serve, such as secular, cyclical and competitive pressures in our Technology, Construction and Manufacturing businesses; pricing, the timing of customer investment and other factors in these markets; demand for our products or other dynamics related to the COVID-19 pandemic; conditions in key geographic markets; and other shifts in the competitive landscape for our products and services; changes in law, regulation or policy that may affect our businesses, such as trade policy and tariffs, regulation and the effects of tax law changes; our decisions about investments in research and development, and new products, services and platforms, and our ability to launch new products in a cost-effective manner; our ability to increase margins through implementation of operational changes, restructuring and other cost reduction measures; the impact of actual or potential failures of our products or third-party products with which our products are integrated, and related reputational effects; the impact of potential information technology, cybersecurity, or data security breaches at Alpine 4, our subsidiaries or third parties; and the other factors that are described in “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

SOURCE: Alpine 4 Holdings, Inc.

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StoneX Global Payments & TIS Partner to Offer Enhanced FX Payment Services for Corporate Treasury & Finance Teams

This partnership enables simplified access to global markets and optimized cross border payments for corporate treasury and finance professionals.

BERLIN KÖPENICK, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2023 / Today, StoneX Global Payments and TIS have formally announced an official partnership agreement. Under the arrangement, StoneX and TIS will combine their extensive experience in cross-border payments and cloud-native payment solutions to create an unparalleled level of global service and coverage for corporate treasury and finance teams.

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The partnership, which leverages both companies’ comprehensive industry knowledge and market-leading software solutions, enables corporate clients to drastically simplify the complexity of cross-border and foreign exchange payments. As a result, treasury and finance professionals can gain total visibility over their FX transactions, as well as full transparency to FX rates before transfers are initiated and executed. Ultimately, this gives corporate clients a more cost-effective and straightforward workflow for their FX payments, as well as increased protection against currency risks and other common international payment challenges. Today, the service provides a gateway into global markets across 140+ currencies and 180+ countries, allowing clients to choose the right payment option in each scenario with a guaranteed payment delivery of 48 hours or less.

“Teaming up with TIS unites their offering in key areas of corporate clients with our strengths in global payment solutions and technology. This enables our customers not only to leverage efficiency and automation potentials but also to benefit from cost savings in the local currency business. We are looking forward to a fruitful partnership with TIS”, said Marc Joppeck, Head of Sales & StoneX Payments Division Germany & Corporate Payments Europe.

The strong connectivity between TIS and their customers’ back-office systems and banks, following a multi-channel banking approach across any preferred network, makes payment processes streamlined, secure, and efficient. Both TIS and StoneX Global Payments have strong SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) partnerships and are fully compatible with ISO 20022, as well as the full scope of other messaging standards in use today. This means StoneX Global Payments and TIS can offer fully integrated and automated end-to-end processes regardless of the unique requirements presented by specific clients.

Regarding the benefits of this partnership, Jörg Wiemer, Co-founder and CSO at TIS, stated: “The collaboration with StoneX Global Payments enables our customers to significantly reduce FX payments costs and to further streamline cross-border payment processes. With automated, ERP-integrated processes as well as full transparency on cash flows and FX rates and 140+ currency options, and guaranteed delivery within 48 hours, together with StoneX Global Payments, we can offer unmatched services that allow our customers fast and efficient simple access to global markets. We’re excited to push this collaboration further.”

In recent months, StoneX Global Payments and TIS have already proven that the benefits their partnership provides to organizations are critically important. As of October 2022, TIS clients including the award-winning non-profit organization IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) are leveraging the FX payment solution to achieve substantial cost-savings over their previous setup. The partnership continues to deliver outstanding results for many other clients as well.

Moving forward, the combined strength of StoneX Global Payments and TIS is expected to continue creating enhanced global market access and optimized FX strategies, resulting in a partnership that consistently delivers maximum value to corporate clients.

About TIS

TIS helps CFOs (Chief Financial Officers), Treasurers, and Finance teams transform their global cash flow, liquidity, and payment functions. Since 2010, our award-winning cloud platform and best-in-class service model have empowered the entire office of the CFO to collaborate more effectively and attain maximum efficiency, automation, and control. By streamlining connectivity between our customers’ back-office systems and their worldwide banks, vendors, and business partners, TIS enables users to achieve superior performance in key areas surrounding cash forecasting, working capital, outbound payments, financial messaging, fraud prevention, payment compliance, and more.

With over 11,000 banking options, $80 billion in daily cash managed, and $2.5 trillion in annual transaction volume, TIS has a proven track record of combining our unparalleled market expertise with tailored client and community feedback to drive digital transformation for companies of all sizes and industries. As a result, hundreds of organizations and thousands of practitioners rely on TIS daily to gain strategic advantage, monetize data, improve operational efficiency, and better manage risk. Learn more at https://www.tispayments.com/

About StoneX Global Payments

StoneX Global Payments is a product of the StoneX Group and specializes in cross-border payments. We offer tailor-made foreign exchange and payment services for corporates, NGOs, and financial institutions worldwide. Our global network of 350+ correspondent banks help us deliver transparent, secure, and guaranteed payments in more than 140 currencies across 180+ countries. Clients are able to gain access to our services through a highly scalable, efficient, and advanced payment platform that is easy to use.

StoneX Group Inc. and its subsidiaries are a leading provider of execution, risk management, advisory, market information, and clearing services for various asset classes and markets worldwide. Learn more at https://www.stonex.com or https://payments.stonex.com/

Contact Information

Jennifer Knutel
VP Marketing
jennifer.knutel@tispayments.com
978-875-2085

Marc Joppeck
Head of Sales & StoneX Payments Division Germany & Corporate Payments Europe
marc.joppeck@stonex.com

SOURCE: TIS

 

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Consumers across the globe desire humanized experiences when navigating the insurance industry

Duck Creek Technologies launches the second edition of the Global Consumer Insurance Insights survey of over 2,000 global consumers, aimed at refining the strategies that bring insurers closer to consumers worldwide

Boston / London, May 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duck Creek Technologies, the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance, has proudly published its second annual benchmark survey, the 2023 Global Consumer Insurance Insights. The survey reveals strong demand from global consumers for humanized insurance purchasing, switching and communication experiences through digital channels.

The 2023 wave of research – which is being launched at the Duck Creek Technologies Formation ‘23 event for customers and partners from May 8-10, was conducted independently by Research in Finance for Duck Creek Technologies and surveyed over 2,000 policyholders across 13 countries, all of whom held at least one insurance policy.

Aimed at refining the strategies that bring insurers closer to consumers worldwide, this year’s survey is more extensive than the inaugural 2022 edition, with more questions and responses from policyholders across more countries. The survey provides insights for carriers, reflecting consumer preferences and awareness of innovation opportunities, purchasing, and communication methods.

Key findings from the survey include:

 

  • 93% of consumers are confident they have the proper coverage, irrespective of which channel they used to purchase the insurance policy.
  • Once a policy is in place, 44% of consumers prefer human interaction (2022: 35%). At the same time, however, interest in app/WhatsApp usage for buying and switching insurance also increased year-over-year.
  • 46% of global consumers are unaware of embedded insurance. Of those who were aware (37%), almost half said they trust it because of product or retailer quality. Those who do not trust it (26%) find embedded insurance unnecessary and expensive. Those who are unsure (29%) require more information, having had little experience with embedded insurance.

The survey reveals significant positives for insurance providers and clearly shows they are getting it right in many areas. However, it also highlights areas where insurers must reflect and improve further – including bolstering global consumer confidence and trust in insurance.

According to Jess Keeney, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Duck Creek, “As the insurance industry continues to evolve, it is crucial for providers to listen to the needs and preferences of their customers. The 2023 Duck Creek Technologies benchmark survey provides invaluable insights into consumer behaviors and trends, highlighting the areas where insurers can maximize accessibility, accelerate speed to market, and differentiate competitively.”

While the survey shows that carriers around the world are responding quickly to consumer demand for more relevant and timely products and services, it also reveals that a significant number of consumers prefer a humanized experience when interacting with their insurance providers. This emphasizes the importance of exploring ground-breaking and varying communication options to meet the needs of diverse customers.

Keeney adds, “It is encouraging to see that despite the challenging economic environment, people are re-evaluating their insurance needs and considering a wider range of products. Mobile and gadget insurance, travel insurance, and embedded insurance are being purchased more frequently than other types of insurance.

Duck Creek’s 2023 survey is a vital resource for insurance providers, offering unique insights into customer perceptions and highlighting the next opportunities for innovation. We urge providers to delve deeply into the results and continue pushing the frontiers of the insurance industry forward.”

Research in Finance Head of Research, Karen Scott, added, “In the insurance industry, listening to consumers is essential for success. As the Global Consumer Insurance Insights Survey 2023 demonstrates, primary research capturing changing behaviors, user feedback, and satisfaction is invaluable to help inform insurance company strategies, new product development, marketing, and communications plans. Insurers now have access to significant data sets to compare year-on-year, creating a true benchmark series of reports we are proud to support. Ultimately, insurers who prioritize listening to and understanding their consumers will come out on top.”

The 2023 Global Consumer Insurance Insights Survey highlights four key calls to action for insurers:

  1. Maximize accessibility of insurance products to consumers across channels
  2. Accelerate speed to market with the SaaS model
  3. Humanize the consumer experience through digital channels
  4. Leverage the SaaS ecosystem to differentiate competitively

Download the 2023 Global Consumer Insurance Insights Survey here.

About Duck Creek Technologies
Duck Creek Technologies is the intelligent solutions provider defining the future of the property and casualty (P&C) and general insurance industry. We are the platform upon which modern insurance systems are built, enabling the industry to capitalize on the power of the cloud to run agile, intelligent, and evergreen operations. Authenticity, purpose, and transparency are core to Duck Creek, and we believe insurance should be there for individuals and businesses when, where, and how they need it most. Our market-leading solutions are available on a standalone basis or as a full suite, and all are available via Duck Creek OnDemand. Visit www.duckcreek.com to learn more. Follow Duck Creek on our social channels for the latest information – LinkedIn and Twitter.

Drake Manning
Duck Creek Technologies
+1 860 877 3609
drake.manning@duckcreek.com
GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8833259
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Mosa Meat Prepares for Market Entry by Opening Largest Cultivated Meat Campus in the World to date and Working with Two Michelin-starred Chef Hans van Wolde

MAASTRICHT, The Netherlands, May 08, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mosa Meat, the pioneers in the cultivated meat space that grow beef directly from animal cells, opened a new 2,760 square metre (29,708 square feet) scale-up facility in Maastricht on Monday. This fourth facility completes the new Mosa C.A.M.P.U.S. or Center for Advanced Meat Production, Upscaling, and Sustainability for a total footprint of 7,340 square metres (79,007 square feet).

Monday’s program included a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Mayor of Maastricht Annemarie Penn-te Strake, the Governor of Limburg Emile Roemer, and the Mosa Meat team, a cultivated burger cooking demonstration by Chef Hans van Wolde, and tours of the new facility. A select group of 50 investors, journalists and value chain partners from around the world attended the event. The new facility will start the first production runs in a matter of days.

Mosa Meat CEO Maarten Bosch said: “As this scale-up facility comes online next month, we will have the capacity to make tens of thousands of cultivated hamburgers. The facility is designed to grow as demand increases with regulatory approvals and regional market entries, up to hundreds of thousands of cultivated hamburgers per year. And in combination with our contract manufacturer in Singapore, even a lot more. We are excited to debut this great tasting hamburger today that even hardcore carnivores will love.” 

Mosa Meat Co-founder & CSO Dr. Mark Post said: “When we introduced cultivated meat to the world, we predicted it would take 10 years to create a consumer product. Now, almost exactly 10 years later, we have a consumer product that we can start making in larger quantities and that we can start serving to consumers in Singapore, pending regulatory approval” said Mark Post, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Mosa Meat.

Chef Hans van Wolden said: “When I first tried a Mosa Burger as part of the internal development team, I was blown away by the beefy taste and the amazing mouthfeel of the beef fat. It gave me goosebumps. I genuinely believe this new way of making beef can delight connoisseurs and casual beef lovers alike, while enjoying the positive benefits of cultivated beef from a sustainability perspective. I am excited to work with the Mosa Meat team to make future versions even better. 

ABOUT MOSA MEAT

Mosa Meat is a global food technology company pioneering a cleaner, kinder way of making real beef. Our founders introduced the world’s first cultivated beef hamburger in 2013, by growing it directly from cow cells. Founded in 2016, Mosa Meat is now scaling up production of the same beef that people love, but in a way that is better for people, animals, and the planet. A diverse and growing team of 165 food-loving problem-solvers, we are united in our mission to fundamentally reshape the global food system. Headquartered in Maastricht, The Netherlands, Mosa Meat is a privately held company backed by Blue Horizon, Bell Food Group, Nutreco, Mitsubishi Corporation, Leonardo DiCaprio and others. Follow Mosa Meat on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram or visit mosameat.com to learn more about why people #cravechange.

For more information, reach out to press@mosameat.com.

Visual assets from the event will be loaded here by 17:00 CET on May 8th

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/181Qd14IJ9QD55SfwarnohvzO5-rjxtHf

The general Mosa Meat press kit is here:

https://mosameat.com/press-kit

ABOUT CHEF HANS VAN WOLDE

Chef Hans is a Dutch 2-Michelin star chef who converted an old farmhouse outside Maastricht into his restaurant Brut172. Previouslyhe was the chef owner of 2-star restaurant Beluga in Maastricht and has been featured on TV shows like MasterChef and Snackmasters. He has formally joined Mosa Meat’s product development, sensory evaluation and recipe formulation team to complement Mosa Meat’s internal team of food scientists.

www.brut172.com

Attachments

Tim van de Rijdt
Mosa Meat
press@mosameat.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8834249

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Ukraine peace talks now impossible – UN chief

There is little chance that Ukraine and Russia will sit at the negotiating table anytime soon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told Spain’s El País newspaper, noting that both countries still believe they can achieve their goals militarily.

In an interview published on Monday, Guterres said: “Unfortunately, I believe that peace negotiations are not possible at this time.” He explained that Russia seems unwilling “at the moment to withdraw from the territories it occupies” while “Ukraine is hoping to retake them” by force.

The diplomat added that – despite the circumstances – the UN is nevertheless doing all it can to get Kiev and Moscow to negotiate. He cited the grain deal – whose future is currently hanging in balance as Russia is refusing to renew it past May 18 – as the “most important initiative” so far.

According to Guterres, high-ranking representatives are working to arrange a meeting of the parties involved in Istanbul to extend the deal. The official acknowledged that Moscow’s objections are justified, adding that while the export of food and fertilizers from the country is not under sanctions, it is effectively being blocked by “indirect obstacles that remain.”

Speaking to Türkiye’s Haberturk TV on Sunday, Ibrahim Kalin, a top Turkish presidential adviser on foreign policy, opined that, “This war will not end with positional gains, but with a new security agreement between the two global blocs.” He argued that the current conflict is effectively a conflict between Russia and the collective West, which echoes Moscow’s position.

“This war is not between Russia and Ukraine, but between Russia and the Western bloc. Cold War 2.0,” Kalin explained.

The Turkish official noted, however, that at present there is little chance for dialogue as the current “international climate is in favor of war rather than peace.”

Meanwhile, also on Sunday, Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger told CBS News that the conflict in Ukraine may be approaching a turning point. The veteran diplomat predicted that peace talks under the auspices of China might take place by the end of 2023.

The EU and the US were quick to disregard a twelve-point peace plan proposed by Beijing on the anniversary of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed some of the elements of the document, while Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky agreed with some of its points but has maintained the position of not negotiating with Putin’s government.

Source: Russia Today

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International tourist arrivals doubled in 1st quarter: UN

International tourism is on track to catch its pre-virus levels in the first quarter of 2023 with more than doubled tourist arrivals compared to last year, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said on Tuesday. Some 235 million tourists traveled internationally in January-March, the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer data showed. With these figures, international tourism reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels in the three months to March. The Middle East posted the strongest performance as the sole region exceeding 2019 arrivals by 15% in the first quarter of 2023. Europe reached 90% of pre-pandemic levels, led by strong intra-regional demand. Asia and the Pacific made 54% of its pre-virus levels, but this upward trend is set to accelerate as most destinations, particularly China, have reopened. Stressing that in many places tourist arrivals are close to or topped 2019 levels, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "However, we must remain alert to challenges ranging from geopolitical insecurity, staffing shortages, and the potential impact of the cost-of-living crisis on tourism, and we must ensure tourism's return delivers on its responsibilities as a solution to the climate emergency and as a driver of inclusive development." In 2022, revised data showed that over 960 million tourists traveled internationally, making 66% of its pre-virus level. Revenues from international tourism hit $1 billion in 2022, up 50% from the prior year. Europe enjoyed the largest revenues with nearly $550 billion in 2022 or 87% of pre-pandemic levels. Africa rebounded 75% of its pre-pandemic revenues, the Middle East 70%, and the Americas 68%. Due to prolonged border shutdowns, Asian destinations earned about 28%.

Source: Anadolu Agency

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Green energy can replace Russian gas in EU by 2028 with pound 811B investment, report finds

The European Union (EU) can replace Russian gas with green technologies by 2028 with a total capital expenditure of pound 811 billion ($890 billion), according to a new report on Tuesday from the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group, a part of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford. The report, The Race to Replace: The Economics of Using Renewables to Free Europe from Russian Gas, calculates the cost of fully replacing Russian gas for heating and electricity with clean energy. Russian gas accounted for about half of the EU's gas supplies in 2021, while its share dropped to 12.9% by the end of 2022, after the EU's response to Russia's war in Ukraine, in a bid to end reliance on Russian gas by 2028. The total expenditure of pound 811 billion to replace Russian gas with green technologies includes planned spending of pound 299 billion on clean energy as part of the European Green Deal and an additional investment of pound 512 billion in renewable energy and heat pumps. Up to 90% of the required additional investment "could be recouped over the next thirty years by eliminating the need to buy gas," the report said, although it found that policy changes are needed to enable the transition. The report found that public and private funds are crucial to achieving an improvement in large-scale deployment of renewables and heat pumps, auctions for utility-scale wind and solar projects while addressing permitting challenges. It also disclosed the need for deploying rooftop solar panels at speed and increasing support for insulation and the installation of heat pumps. "The transition from Russian gas to clean energy is not only achievable, but offers multiple benefits. Replacing natural gas with wind and solar energy eliminates the need to pay for gas in the future," said Gireesh Shrimali, co-author of the report and head of transition finance research at the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group. The EU is estimated to have paid about pound 5 billion for Russian gas in the first four months of 2023, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). "By eliminating reliance on importing a fossil fuel with volatile prices and supply, the EU can alleviate energy security concerns, address the cost-of-living crisis through energy costs, and advance its goals to achieve net zero emissions and tackle the climate crisis," Shrimali noted.

Source: Anadolu Agency

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Head of Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group claims Ukraine ‘tearing flanks’ in Bakhmut

The head of the Russian Wagner paramilitary group claimed on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces are 'tearing the flanks' in the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine. In a video on his Telegram channel, Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed the Ukrainian Armed Forces are regrouping in the Zaporizhzhia region and that they will launch a counteroffensive in the 'near future.' 'They are absolutely clear: the counteroffensive will be on the ground, and not on TV," Prigozhin said. Prigozhin further said that Wagner Group forces will not leave Bakhmut for several more days despite receiving only 10% of shells they had requested from the Russian Armed Forces. 'We were simply blatantly deceived," Prigozhin added. Prigozhin said on Sunday that he was "promised" more ammunition and weapons from the Russian Defense Ministry and 'as much as they need' to continue its fight against Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut. Russian forces have been trying for months to capture Bakhmut, a transport and logistics hub in Ukraine's Donetsk region, part of the largely Russian-speaking industrialized Donbas region. Russia last year, amid its now 14-month-old war on Ukraine, claimed to have annexed the area, in a declaration rejected by the EU, the US, Trkiye, and others.

Source: Anadolu Agency

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Indications for export of malicious software from Cyprus, says PEGA’s rapporteur

There are indications of illicit exports of malicious software from Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria and possibly other countries, the rapporteur of the report of the European Parliament (EP) committee of inquiry investigating the use of the Pegasus software and the corresponding spyware surveillance software (PEGA), Sophie in 't Veld (Renew Europe, Netherlands), said on Tuesday during a press conference, in Strasbourg. At the press conference, an update on the outcome of the votes and the report was given by the President of the Committee, Jeroen Lenaers (EPP, Netherlands), followed by a presentation of the report by rapporteur Sophie in't Veld. Asked by a journalist whether there is evidence that Cyprus is a hub for the use and export of illegal surveillance software, in't Veld replied negatively, explaining that none of the authorities of the states involved are cooperating to provide data. 'But there are more than sufficient indications for illicit exports taking place from Cyprus, from Greece, from Bulgaria, and possibly also from other countries', she said. Responding to that there was no hard evidence, the MEP stressed that the European Commission is the competent authority to investigate as it is responsible for the enforcement, correct and full implementation of EU legislation. She called on the European Commission to take responsibility, saying that the European Commission has asked for clarifications from the authorities in Cyprus, Greece and France but the answer they get is that "everything is fine here. There is nothing to see." This is not enough, she said. Asked by CNA about the consequences for Cyprus if it does not follow the recommendations, she said that this is not in the hands of the Parliament, but of the Commission and the Council. She said that MEPs will continue to put pressure on the Commission, the Council, the Member States, and will also continue to provide support to those, whether it is the media or independent agencies, who are conducting their own investigations. She also stressed that if all checks and balances are eliminated then there is no more democracy and noted that she was very concerned about democracy in Europe. Lenaers referred to the 14-month effort, the findings and the recommendations adopted on Monday, underlining that he expects the European Commission to respond without delay to the recommendations. The final text of the report is expected to be put to vote in the next session of the Parliament plenary. CNA/ZSO/EAN/2023

Source: Cyprus News Agency